Urban Design

I don't know if its the fact I was raised right outside of a large city.  Or that I spent most of my teenage years on and off the subway exploring Washington DC seeing the good and the bad. But, I have become more and more interested in urban design. As I drive through Greensboro, I imagine crowds of people at City Center Park, or walking down Elm St.  I wander what is downtown Greensboro missing during the day and during the night that does not constantly invite people to it. Cities have become my passion. 

"No urban area will prosper unless it attracts those who can choose to live wherever they wish". - Jonathon Barnett

Individual Design

The ceiling plane and floor plane in this retail space create a very dynamic space.  The colors draw your attention to the store.  While the merchandise contrast with the color.  Changes in floor color, and ceiling heights creates a movement throughout the space.  

 

These images introduce me to some retail designs, as well as bookstore designs.  I chose these studies because they had some impact on ideas that have followed our design process so far.  

  

Interest in the open stairway, stair design, and programming of stair and checkout space.

 

Stanford University Bookstore

Thinking forward

  

The feedback given during the midterm exam, influenced my focus on the central core.  Prior to the critique our group knew we needed to look at the central core, form, function and aesthetic more closely.  In the sketches, I have changed the form and added function to the reasoning for changing the form.  Since our focus is on views, I turned the central core into a tower that looks out onto Greensboro.  The tower is taller and wider, and I gave it purpose to going to the top.

Working Model

This model was completed for our midterm review of our building on the Lee St. site. I had the oppurtunity to work on a site model for the first time, and this was very beneficial.
The model above explored the scale and porportion of the central core to the two separated buildings. The wood blocks on site show the scale of surrounding builds, and how the building designed contrast the scale, material, and form of existing buildings.

Assignment 3.0 = Materials Study

After reaching a proposal for the building, individually we looked at materials that could compliment, work well, or contrast; the form, site, campus community and/or greensboro. The materials I chose contrasted the campus community but complimented the idea of the buildings form. I found some sustainable materials that compliment each other on the exterior, but contrasted with the interior materials. Adding color to the exterior of the building makes different elements of the building standout. The interior materials have a natural look, but provide different textures. I chose these because our major and interest make us hands on people, and the textures in the building provide a different feel.

Perforated Metal- intended to be used as an exterior element that attaches to the building and works as a shade over the N and S side of the building. This material adds to the idea of creating movement throughout the building. The application of this material leads one's eye across the facade of the building to the main entrance.

Local Recycled Rock- used along with a cement sealant as a wall application. This is an interior material, intended to be used where pin-up space is not. This type of wall adds texture to the interior environment. Because we are hands on people, the interior materials have different textures rather than all smooth surfaces.

Cork furniture- gives personality to furniture. Has ability to tack notes, or projects onto furniture.

Bamboo Slats- overhead application, creates level changes in the ceiling

assignment 2.0 = Midterm Building Proposal

Side facing campus

Side facing lee st.

After long nights over the course of a week and a half we reached a breakthrough in the proposal of this building.  With the orignal idea of an art form, we designed a building that uses different materials than others in greensboro to standout from lee st, the height of the building can oversee to other iconic buildings or important places in greensboro and the central circulation route connects the two buildings (private & public).

Furthermore we must explore the design, material and form of the central space that connects the two buildings.  This structure is an important element to the concept for our design, and must standout more.  

final spring break of undergrad

Spring Break I visited the National Building Museum in Washington DC. I couldn't take pictures in the gallery, but it was nice to see the work of an Architect who designed areas/spaces/lookouts along 18 National tourist routes in the mountains of Norway to allow tourist to take in the beauty of the country. The spaces were built on different sites (site models were included with extreme changes in topography) with different concepts to give tourists exposure to different parts of Norway nature.
http://www.nbm.org/exhibitions-collections/exhibitions/detour.html

Trip toward Atl.... didn't quite make it