Post on 17-Aug-2015
FOUR YEARS LATER
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HI I’M ALEXThis is not a picture book. This work is a
testament of the four years that I have
spent at the University of San Francisco. It is
about me, it is about how I see design, and
it is about how I have grown throughout my
studies in architecture. The works displayed
are not all my best works. Rather, they are
pieces that helped me to learn the most.
STUDIO 3
STUDIO 4
STUDIO 5
STUDIO 7
STUDIO 2
STUDIO 1
STUDIO 2
SPACIAL GENERATOR
STUDIO 4
BICYCLEWORKSHOP
COMPETITION
VISITOR CENTER
STUDIO 3
WRITER’S RETREAT
STUDIO 5
ARTS EDUCATIONCENTER
STUDIO 7
TENDERLOIN CLINICREDESIGN
I’m from a small suburban
city called Newark. It is
located in the bay area.
When I was in highschool
I had the idea of studying
architecture because it
seemed to be a happy
medium between art
and science. If I didn’t
study architecture, I
probably would have
chosen to study computer
science. I honestly had no
idea what encapsulated the
fi eld of architecture, but the
thought of getting to draw
and make things instead
of sitting and listening to
lectures was intriguing.
These pages will hopefully
give a little overview about
me as well as my experience
in architecture school over
the past four years.
HOW I SPEND MY FREE TIME
THOUGHTS DURING ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL[AN AFFINITY-BASED TIMELINE]
THINGS THAT INTEREST ME
FREE TIME
READING
CALLIGRAPHY
DRAWING
NETFLIX
DRINKING
COFFEE
CYCLING
May be an inaccurate depiction since this action is
often done simultaneously with all other things.
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*
YE
AR
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YE
AR
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YE
AR
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STUDIO 1 STUDIO 2 STUDIO 3 STUDIO 4 STUDIO 5 STUDIO 7
Which grad school should I go
to after this?
Architecture school is
getting diffi cult.
I think I want to design
small-scale housing.
Should I even be in
architecture school?
I think I want to design
for communities.
I still have a lot to learn. I
want to use design to help
communities in need.
I need a break.
Dane Howard | Global Design Leader/Entrepeneur, eBay
“THE STORY OF HOW YOU DID IT
IS AS IMPORTANT AS WHAT YOU MAKE.”
01 | SPACIAL GENERATOR
SPACE AS ANABSTRACT EXPRESSION
In this project, I began to explore space as an abstract idea. I
chose the word “folding” and tried to create spaces that “folded.”
The requirements was that the spaces I came up with had to fi t
within a 1’ x 1’ x 1’ cube and the section drawings had to be done
on a single piece of vellum without using an eraser.
F O L D I N G
C H A L L E N G E S
When I think of folding, I think of origami. Origami takes
something fl at and two dimensional and turns it into
something that has three dimensions by contorting
the original shape into diff erent forms. To create spaces
that fold, I started drawing a section with solids that
intersected at a perpendicular angle. I then built
my physical model based on the drawings and then
added diagonal pieces to intersect the perpendicular
spaces. The intersections by the diagonal lines futher
contorted the spaces from cubes into other forms.
This project was a unique challenge for me as a young
designer. As a perfecitonist, not erasing my work and
learning to build on to it was one of the hardest things
for me to do. This project helped me to realize one of
my design weakneses and allowed me to recognize
design as a process of trail, error, and happy accidents.
The process also challenged me to think of space as
something metaphysical and not something always
defi ned by physical characteristics.
02 | WRITER’S RETREAT
A RETREAT FOR CONTEMPLATION
The concept for my writer’s retreat is to create a space for
contemplation that acts as a balance between the steep
cliff side and the open ocean. The journey away from the hillside
through the retreat gives the user a chance to experience
diff erent areas of contemplation. The various spaces lead the
user to a 180 degree view of the surrounding ocean and aims
to evoke a feeling of awe. Within the fi nal contemplation area
rests a piece of the cliff side for the user to sit on and stare out
into the endless ocean.
C O N C E P T R E V I S I O N
The following year, I decided to revisit the studio project in a revit class. I took some of the
structural diffi culties that I had with my original concept and simplifi ed my design decisions to
achieve the same spacial qualities using an approach that simplifi ed my design choices.
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B1
B2CE
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GATHER REST THINK DREAM
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ENTRY/GATHERING
RESTING SPACE
BALCONY
PRIVATE REFLECTION AREA
AUDIAL REFLECTION
VISUAL REFLECTION
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ENTRY/GATHERING
SIT/READ/WRITE
BATHROOM
BEDROOM/STUDY
CONTEMPLATION
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03 | BICYCLE WORKSHOP
BICYCLE WORKSHOP
For the bike workshop, I started by analyzing the physical
characteristics of a piece of machinery. I studied a small cog and
was inspired by the idea of “clockwork” - multiple small pieces
that interweave together to create one cohesive functioning
machine. For my building, I developed this concept along with
rotational motion as the driving design factors.
O B J E C T
S K E T C H E S
This project was the most diffi cult one for me because my end results were not
equal to the many things that I had learned and my designs did not develop
as I hoped. In this project, I challenged myself to get away from using model
making as a crutch and instead focused on learning to see three dimensional
designs through drawing. My professor told me that if it isn’t drawn on paper
or made in a model, then you aren’t thinking about it. Ever since that point, I’ve
drawn, jotted down, or built every thought that I’ve had on design.
T H O U G H T S
04 | ARTS EDUCATION CENTER
A SAN FRANCISCO CENTERFOR THE ARTS AND EDUCATION
The arts education center acts as an anchor at the intersection
of a main thoroughfare and the waterfront edge. The building
stands larger than the surrounding buildings, allowing its scale
and visual access to the program within to draw people in from
the park and shopping areas. The arts education center acts
as a connection between the larger industrial scaled historical
buildings and the waterfront.
SOUTH ELEVATION
SECTION
S K E T C H E S
C O N C E P T P R O G R A M
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ENTRY
EXHIBIT SPACE
RESOURCE CENTER
LOADING DOCK
AUDITORIUM
WORKSHOP
CAFE
ARTIST STUDIO
PRODUCTION OFFICE
ADMINISTRATION
RESTROOM
EXTERIOR TERRACE
STORAGE
GROUND FLOOR
SECOND FLOOR
THIRD FLOOR
CIRCULATION ENTRANCES ANDVISUAL PERMEABILITY
SITE MAP
20TH ST
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05 | VISITOR CENTER CHARRETTE
UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCOVISITOR CENTER DESIGN COMPETITION
The University of San Francisco hosted a 36 hr design charrette
competition to create a concept for an upcoming visitor’s center on
the university campus. The concept for our project was to create
an intersection between USF’s history and the future growth of
the university. The building’s “past” section features elements of
spanish-infl uenced architecture such as the courtyard and re-uses
the original guard rail. The “present” section intersects the “past”
at a perpendicular angle and orients itself towards a view of the
lower campus. The inside of this section acts as a gathering space
for cold days and also an informational space for prospective
students, USF guests, and alumni. Our design concept won fi rst
place in the competition.
Our group began the design process by visiting the site and
breaking down the programmatic needs of a visitor’s center.
We decided on that the history of USF was a signifi cant
element and that we wanted to make the visitor’s center
attractive to prospective students and also able to relate
back to USF’s spanish infl uenced architecture.`
Our team consisted of
four people from three
diff erent majors.
I DEAS C O N C E P T
The building itself is a representation of USF’s rich history and propsective future. The intersection
between the past combines historic elements with new growth on campus. The walls are made of a
polished concrete and utilizes fl oor to ceiling window panels like that of the newest building on USF.
The design for the visitor’s center celebrates the recent development on campus and aims to rest in
context with the university’s historic design.
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EXTERIOR GATHERING
ENTRY/RECEPTION
INFORMATION CENTER
LOOK OUT
RESTROOM
FACILITY/STORAGE CLOSET
06 | TENDERLOIN CLINIC
A REDESIGN FOR A CLINIC IN NEED
Located in the heart of the Tenderloin district of San Francisco,
the health and wellness center provides free treatment to those
in need. The center was in need of a renovation, so our team went
in to evaluate the needs of the workers and created a proprosal
for a new design that would address issues of circulation, privacy,
storage space, and ventilation.
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01 - Nurse Workstation
02 - Workstations
03 - Specialist Offi ce
04 - Dental Offi ce
05 - Storage and Sink
06 - Psychologist Offi ce
07 - Offi ce
08 - Consultation
09 - Reception/ Waiting
P R O P O S A L
P R O C E S S
For this project, we visited the clinic and
discussed the various changes. Privacy,
storage, and air circulation were the three
biggest challenges. We took original plan and
came up with a new design that would allow
for better air fl ow, better access to supplies,
and increased privacy. During the process our
team worked to make as minimal changes as
possible since the clinic ran on a very tight
budget and received most things through
various donations.
ORIGINAL PLAN
NEW PLAN