Thesis Video

Click here for a video summary of my thesis terminal project as an undergraduate at the University of Oregon

Final Thesis Booklet

Click here for a link to my thesis booklet containing the initial research and design definition as well as the following design work and final presentation images.

Structure and Elevations

North  Facade

                                            Northwest  Corner and West Facade Development

Presentation Video

South Waterfront Project

Moving Forward: Design Considerations

BIOSYNERGIES: I have put a lot of focus and effort into the building and site interactions with water and I think that they are working toward a successful design. To move forward, I need to refine the design and create stronger connections between the water interactions on vertical and horizontal surfaces, as well as the transition from stormwater to the reintroduction into the Willamette River. The building response to the solar environment also needs to be addressed more. I will be placing more focus on the south side of the residential tower to integrate solar strategies more elegantly into the design.

ORGANIZATION: The spatial order and hierarchy seem to be working well in the plan, but could be expressed more in the section. There is a lot of opportunity for carving into the site more and creating more dynamic educational and artistic spaces.

EXPERIENCE: Organizationally it would make sense for the users, but I need to develop the interior of the building much more. I have been focusing on the exterior movement through the site and how people would interact with water, but I think there is a lot of opportunity to explore the experience of water within the building as well.

FACADE: My design has a very strong gesture to the public on the facade tower, and a much more subtle, organized expression on the podium level. I need to develop them further to either be more cohesive or work off of each other as very separate statements. My next step will be to make a decision of which would work better in this site and community, and communicate my ideas best. The transitional spaces between indoor and outdoor also leave opportunity for development.

TECTONICS: At this point I believe the structure and skin to be appropriate, but the development of the underground parking and the tower skin system will be the deciding factors.

Plans and Sections

Perspectives

Winter Final - larger images will be posted soon

Water Inspiration: Atelier Dreiseitl

Tower Facade Explorations

Material Study: Ductal

Midterm Review

I think that my current project will be a key asset to creating a community identity for the south waterfront. One aspect which I could develop more is creating more outdoor centers and engaging with the public more. One way in which I could do this is by integrating recreational spaces for both the residents and students to utilize.

Water is an extremely versatile resource and I think that I can use it in a very powerful way integrated with my building structure to display the dynamic qualities and aslo use it as a medium for the transference of heat as well as for general occupant needs. The water can be harnessed at the end of the visual display to transfer heat between building functions internally as well as externally potentially on a district scale.

Organizationally the building has a rather clear system, but the residential tower does need to be better developed which will in turn affect the ground levels and lobby access, so that will be my next step to make the spatial relationships more concrete.

Midterm Presentation

This week I presented my current design progress at a midterm review. Below are the perspective drawings from the presentation that I have developed thus far.

Below is the full midterm Presentation

Macro Site Design: Reflection

This is my current progress on the over all site design for my project. My concept for the site design is a mediation through the site. This applies to the larger context of storm water from the local environment being treated through the site before it reaches the willamette, as well as the program mediating the interaction of the public with the environment through art. I think that this metaphor works with the engaging and dynamic character I want my site to have, but it can be strengthened by reaching further and developing the design to integrate and interact with the actual waterfront and environment more. 

To make my project more effective, I need to develop the interaction with the water directly, whether it is dealing with the river or stormwater run off. I have mentioned before a system that would be capable of retaining storm water and then using it to transfer heat where needed. At the district level this would be a proposal, but my building should be self sustaining and utilize this system on a smaller scale so that it can be an example and model for a system that other buildings could plug into. Another resource which I should account for is the wind that could be harnessed at the housing tower. Although the tower is not my focus, there is a lot of potential for energy at that part of the program. 

Micro Bio Structure: Reflection

As I was working my way through this exercise I struggled with how to best integrate biomimetic strategies to the building without an actual building design. I learned through my project, and those of my classmates, that some of the better designs are metaphorically linked to natural inspiration. I think it would be helpful for me to take a step back and think of the application in a more abstract way which will allow more flexibility when applied to my future building design. Using more digital tools to help me envision how my biomimetic envelop could be incorporated into the building will guide me to more of a feasible design.

I will be moving forward with this project by better developing the structural system of the rain screen so that it is a more integrated part of the building. I think that precedent studies of successful similar structural systems and physical testing of model skins will be the most beneficial to the refinement of the design.