Portfolio: Tiffany Carlson

TIFFANY CARLSON CALIFORNIA POLYTECHNIC STATE UNIVERSITY

PERSONAL STATEMENT

A general theme literally runs through this portfolio. The section- the cut- is spatial, and expresses the way in which we actually inhabit the world. As a drawing, it is the link between the analytical and the human, the devised and the perceived. While in my work the section is frequently not highly complex, I believe it captures the essence of my designs, linking the built and the lived. In fact, this link is perhaps the more important, although also more subtle, theme within the pages. For me, architecture is an issue of ethics- in the end, buildings are places for people, so people must be at the forefront of any sensitive and ethical design. Context, culture, and use are always my starting point, and always the foundation of my work. This focus on the human side of design has led me to develop a fascination with juxtaposition, which is typically the condition of life. Conflicting needs, desires, and circumstances naturally draw lines in the sand, but frequently they point in opposing directions. In my work, I attempt to read these lines, understand their trajectories, and implement a gesture through building which brings them together to form a more meaningful whole. It has taken many forms, mitigating the private and the public, the land and the sea, and even the realm of knowledge and the world of ignorance. But in the end, the important thing to me is that my work is about an and, not an or. Architecture is not an end in itself- it should not ignore or re-devise its surroundings, but explore and reinterpret them. It is a way of framing the world. The world is already given.

1890 Elder Ave [email protected] Boulder, CO, 80304 303 . 250 . 5005

PERSONAL STATEMENT

MEMORIAL/LIBRARY Boston, MS

i, KØBENHAVN KUNSTHAL Copenhagen, Denmark

CITY/GARDEN TERMINAL New York, NY

VETERANS HEALTH CAMP Pando Valley, CO

SKETCH BOOK

VERTIGATA Stockholm, Sweden

INDEX

4th Year

3rd Year

4th Year

3rd Year

5th Year

MULTI-SCALE PLANNINGLATERAL THINKING

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

SITE-CONSCIOUS DESIGN

CONTEXTUAL RESEARCHCREATING COMMUNITY

THINKING WITH THE HANDS

URBAN ANALYSISTHE PUBLIC/PRIVATE THRESHOLD

MULTI-SCALE PLANNING

From Old CityFrom New Development

FROM NEW DEVELOPMENT

FRO

M O

LD C

ITY

Points of Interest

Vertigata is derived from “vertikal gata”, which means “Vertical Street” in Swedish. It is the International First Place winning proposal by VOX for the 2011 Chicago Mock Firm Competition. The criteria was to design a commercial skyscraper for Stockholm.

Stockholm is a city with a unique urban infrastructure, utilizing metros, trams, buses, and bicycles as the primary methods of transportation. The metro systems, as well as the typically Scandinavian walking street, are important features of the city’s culture. The city is also especially conservative in regards to changes to its skyline, which is mostly scattered with church steeples and industrial smoke stacks.

The strategy for the submission combined all of these key considerations. First, on the interior, it is a vertical expression of the horizontal urban fabric, utilizing two speeds of movement: a vertical metro elevator that stops only at key points in the building, as well as a vertical walking path, where inhabitants can shop, eat, and enjoy multiple points of interest along the way. Secondly, it derives its exterior form from the desire to blend into its surroundings when viewed from the old city, while fully expressing itself as unique when viewed from newer developments to the west and south.

VERTIGATAMULTI-SCALE PLANNING

The Vertical City

The Horizontal City

YEAR 4

to learn more, visit http://www.archdaily.com/142930/vertigata-vox/

MIND-MAPPING GROUP BRAINSTORMING

Multifunctional

US & THEMvs

US THEM

Invisible barriers

Glass?

All forms of waste/ exhaust/heat produced by

the occupants needs to be utilized. UP

quantity waste = UP quantity

reuse

Yes, this is where we can experiment

with the vertical stacking, wrapping,

and intertwining of spaces.

Ecosystem of Community

To be open and playful the building must seduce the

user at multiple levels/moments

during their experience of

the building.

Mutual voyeurism

unobtrusivevisual exposure

partial exposure =

enticement

The task becomes linking & interspersing & layering spaces to

avoid ‘dumbing’ the space.

A building where people can

pram/park their children

Shutter space (also creates

suspense)

nodes are the solution. center should be highly visible as

well.

The base of the building and the top of the building must be highly visible for the public to see

fromk close and afar.

Layered System to bring nature in

Outdoor and green (I mean natural, not

LEED) is necessary for

mental/physical health, and culturally.

The air is de�nitely necessary, but complex

in a skyscraper. How to make a

typically internal building use the

outside world as well?Interconnected sustainable

systems

So at some level the building ought to be

didactic? Needs to be interesting

but not over the top to get the point across.

Equality- accessible spaces for all types

of users. Premium space

reserved for public use.

Should it be orderly or haphazard? To

which type of user do we aim this

seduction?

multidirection people watching

vs

unidirectional spectacle

So it needs to be a SAFE building

and a VISUALLY CLEAR building too.

CLEAR VISUAL SPACE

We have to de�ne the appropriate

attractions for a commercial space... for a

skyscraper too

How to create a community...

random interactionsgroup space

pleasant environmentfun (attraction) spaces

public (retail?)

commercial

Maybe it’s the attraction and/or USE of space that

makes it more.

Participatory design?

Spaces that blend into one another &

connect di�erent users; �exible, open design

Casual- an interesting idea for an o�ce space... but very

necessary to reduce sense of elitism. How?

Don’t want to be functionalist per se, but

the building should have a

form/aesthetic that is clearly

uni�ed with its intended voice and use.

This relates to simplicity-of intention, design,

detail. Such high quality because quanitity is low and FOCUS is

attained.

Mies Van der Rohe + addition

static & formal

interactive & fun

public

o�ce

spectacle retail

BLUR threshold

function, hierarchy, nodes,

circulation, speed

Does it become something like the original column

style of the typology then?

Maybe not anarchy... Danish/Swedish

equality isn’t about no rules BUT

LOTS of rules...So a formal way to

reduce sense of hierarchy and elitism?

Yes, open �oor plan that gives

positive spaces to even those who

do not ‘pay’.

The caution we have to take is not to

produce a dumbed down

product to meet the universal client.

Still has to be livable. No one likes the outdoor panoramic view on a

tower. SO WINDY! What

can we do to make outdoor spaces usable

and livable?

And it’s absolutely necessary that we

form a compromise. It

has to be comfortable in terms

of both.

Heat umbrellaHospitable outdoor

space

Con�ict of making a “healthy” building from a

typology that is trying to keep out very harsh elements.

People become aware of building/sustainability issues.

Educational

A lot of views, light, air. Programs overlay/overlook

OverlapInformal breakout zones

No private (kitchens) facilitiesBreak rooms

Create a space that people feel is ‘theirs’ and it will stay pretty

self-maintained/cleaned

Blend/mix/overlap

Is this visual interaction or something more?

Mixed useVibrantCasual

Potential

Don’t make it turn into modernism... “clear

programming” still needs room to change/be interpreted.

Building function is apparent form.

Ouside public theater

How to pull interest/ vibrant life/ public space from the

ground up through a skyscraper

building as theater

building as lookout

Is the entire building open/accessible 24/7?

The same level of voyeurism that happens on the S-tog or

maybe the harbor bath

See it, know

how to reach it, not beaten

over the head with it

Random dispersion of program/circulation

No hierarchyAnarchy

Random dispersion of program/circulation

No hierarchyAnarchy

So we come up with a framework to ensure people

interact and no exclusivity forms.

Bill of Rights?

or

or

Universal designEverything for everybody.

What is premium space?

No doors? Open atrium

highly detailedhandicapped accessible

A skyscraper that makes even the homeless feel at home.

Balcony, ramp gardens, roof walk

How to create green/public space

wrapped around the building

A building

that achieves:healthy indoor

climate, context setting situatedness, energy e�ciency and water management

Floor plans with multiple points of

attraction

Sienna tower

entice through

from, serial vision, nodes

formalized sustainability

vs tangible sustainability

SafetySpectacleVisual ConnectionsNodesBlendingCommunityRulesScaleInclusivitySustainabilityExterior SpacesFunctionalism

BRAINSTORMING SESSION ANALYSIS

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9

10 11 12

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9

10 11 12

PACKAGING DIAGRAM

LATERAL THINKING

Amphitheater

Am

phith

eate

r

Atrium

Atr

ium

Baths

Bath

s

Cafes

Cafe

s

Diskotek

Dis

kote

k

Jazz Bar

Jazz

Bar

Kindergarten

Kind

erga

rten

Lobby

Lobb

y

Offices

Offi

ces

Panoramic View

Pano

ram

ic V

iew

Park

Park

Playground

Play

grou

nd

Restaurant

Rest

aura

nt

Retail

Reta

il

Skybar

Necessary Adjacency

Skyb

ar

Spa

Possible Adjacency

Spa

Transit Terminal

No Adjacency Necessary

Tran

sit T

erm

inal

Node Analysis:Adjacency Diagram

MOVIE STILLS

SCHEMATIC SITE PLAN CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN

bus

metro

tram

USABILITY DIAGRAM

VERTIGATALATERAL THINKING

to learn more, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi5lc8xJfyc

YEAR 4

The Mock Firm Competition was composed of two tasks- the design task, and a branding task, which asked each team to invision themselves as an architecture firm, in all its facets. Our firm was built on a framework of collaboration and cross-polinization, which materialized into a process of lateral thinking between the three teammates. By bringing our unique backgrounds to the table, we were able to build a solid framework for our conceptual work, and deeply question the social relevance of the skyscraper in the modern city.

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

Set in the world of Fahrenheit 451, the satirical novel by Ray Bradury, where books are banned and firefighters are giving the task of burning them, the building serves both as a memorial to fallen firefighters as well as a hidden library for secret dissenters.

The design exists within a narrative, and therefore is an exploration of change over time; a monolithic concrete structure was built in the distant past as a symbol of heroism and sacrifice. It contained a long corridor which ended in a meditative light shaft. Over time, an

authoritarian regime took power, and the heroic lost its meaning to the people. Secretly, the memorial was altered, and deep within its walls, a library was hidden. However, both have been forgotten beneath a haze of scaffolded LED television screens.

Like the book from which it comes, the building is a satire, questioning the replacement of genuine memory, emotion, and knowledge with our modern instantaneous culture.

YEAR 3

MEMORIAL/LIBRARY

public distraction

forgotten memories

wanderers’ lodging

meeting room

staff quarters

lecture hallled screens

scaffolding

framed glass ceiling

community space

children’s library

book collection

meditation garden

reading room

gathering area

hidden knowledge

CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

PUBLIC

PRIVATE

THE PUBLIC/PRIVATE DIVIDE

i, KØBENHAVN KUNSTHAL

In downtown Copenhagen, across from the famous Tivoli Gardens, the i Kunsthal is located at the heart of the city’s cultural, historical, and political nexus. Typically art museums are exceedingly exclusive places, where only those with time and money can enter and enjoy the space. However, this kunsthal is designed to open itself up to the public, serving daily functions, while at the same time protecting the artwork, and producing a sense of intrigue to lure guests in.

The building has two parts, one open and one private; one for the public, and one for the patron. The public building has a glass facade which creates visual clarity, and a dynamic atrium connects the two buildings via catwalks. The private building is covered by textile strips, creating diffused light on the interior and gentle shadowplay from the outside. The interior has a completely open plan for playful use and reuse.

UP

ENTRY

lobby

gift shop

cafe/panoranium

level 3: traveling collection

level 2: permanent collection

level 1: media collection

DO

WN

DO

WN

YEAR 4

PRIVATE

THE PUBLIC/PRIVATE DIVIDE

1

2

4

35

6

8

710 11

4

7

12

9

3

i, KØBENHAVN KUNSTHAL

YEAR 4

URBAN ANALYSIS

In order for the Kunsthal to be successful in a Scandinavian setting, a deep understanding of the site on both a local and urban scale was necessary. The importance of the site, in the context of the cultural nexus, meant that the facilitation of community interaction would be required, and it became a primary focus of the design. At the same time, the urban fabric, surrounding buildings, and climate conditions all played a primary role in decision making for the form of the kunsthal.

step 1: place bar on site respond to: climate & light

step 2: split bar into two respond to: existing urban fabric

step 3: extrude footprint 3 stories respond to: adjacent buildings

step 4: push building underground respond to: programmatic needs

step 5: tilt up front lawn area respond to: public cultural dynamic


This project, sited in Cooper Square, adjacent to Cooper Union, in Manhattan, New York, is multi-dimensional, and involved rethinking the city’s transportation system through the addition of an above ground high speed light rail system, as well as designing a transportation terminal that would link the light rail with the existing subway station near the square.

CITY/GARDEN TERMINAL

YEAR 3


The design addresses the unique issues of a raised building in an urban environment, and explores how light can be maximized for those on the ground. The design utilizes prefabricated parts, made of frosted glass and translucent concrete to limit shadow casting on the street level. At the same time, the spaces create a fluid and changing experience, emphasizing the feeling of being in the air. Specifically, the Terminal explores the juxtapositions of exposure and safety, open and closed, urban fabric and isolated greenspace. The final result is a set of three buildings- a great hall and two platforms, connected by glass bridges, which address both programmatic and conceptual aims.

The Veterans Health Camp was the design component to my senior thesis project, which focused on how architecture can be a catalyst for social change, as well as inspire mental and physical health. The Camp is envisioned as part of a nation-wide series of healing centers, which help decommissioned soldiers transition back into civilian life. It provides a decompression space for men and women to address physical and emotional trauma, as well as to prepare for the many aspects of civilian life- work, family, finances, and more.

The Camp is located on a steep southern slope in Colorado’s Pando Valley, 10 miles West of Leadville. Working with this site was a challenge which required landscape and architecture to intertwine, and lead to a u-shaped terrace with a central plaza.

The ultimate goal of the complex is to help veterans find healing through a deeper connection with nature, so all activity focuses on the link between self and the surrounding context. The central plaza works as the primary node of the Camp, and allows nearby access to nature. Views of the valley below and distant peaks are highlighted, outdoor walks mingle with the aspen, and all tectonics in the design reflect the Colorado landscape- shearing, sheeting, and meandering.

The main organizing principle of the camp is a distinction between interpersonal (group focused) spaces, and intrapersonal (internal, contemplative) spaces. They are divided by a naturally flowing seasonal stream, and clearly differentiated in form, materials, and scale.

CREATING COMMUNITY

VETERANS HEALTH CAMP

YEAR 5

CREATING COMMUNITY

low-impact green roof

sauna

group room

private rooms

library

staff quarters

sleeping spaces

sun rooms

small rooms

applied knowledge studio

lecture hall

dining hall

lobby

DIED DURING DEPLOYMENT

SOUGHT PTSD/DEPRESSION TREATMENT

DISPLAYED PTSD/DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS

EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT TRAUMATIC EVENT

DID NOT EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA

WAS WOUNDED PHYSICALLY

DEATH AND TRAUMA PER 1,000 TROOPS IN IRAQ & AFGHANISTAN

CONTEXTUAL RESEARCH

DIED DURING DEPLOYMENT

SOUGHT PTSD/DEPRESSION TREATMENT

DISPLAYED PTSD/DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS

EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT TRAUMATIC EVENT

DID NOT EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA

WAS WOUNDED PHYSICALLY

DEATH AND TRAUMA PER 1,000 TROOPS IN IRAQ & AFGHANISTAN

Both the thesis and design project required extensive research into foundational knowledge in order to be successful. For the Veteran’s Camp, this research primarily focused on soldier and veteran issues, mental health, and restorative architecture. A deep understanding of the site, and mountain environments was also necessary in order to bridge the gap between ideas and the built realm.

DEATH & TRAUMA PER 1,000 TROOPS IN AFGHANISTAN & IRAQ

Individual

Group

Family

Community

Therapist

WellnessTeam

ProblemsEmotions

SolutionsCognition

SupportUnderstanding

SupportUnderstanding

KnowledgeIdeas

KnowledgeIdeas

ExperiencesConcerns

ExperiencesConcerns

KnowledgeUnderstanding

KnowledgeUnderstanding

FrameworksUnderstanding

ConcernsEmotions

FrameworksSuggestions

ConcernsQuestions

FrameworksIdeas

PossibilitiesIdeas

WHOLISTIC THERAPY FLOW MODEL

VETERANS HEALTH CAMP

YEAR 5

CONTEXTUAL RESEARCH

Instead we train...

... so a soldier returns safely

Basic Training & AIT

Civilian Life

Civilian Life

Combat

We must train again...

... so a soldier stays healthy

Civilian TrainingProgram

Civilian Life


Civilian Life

Combat

...because physical success is uncertain

Civilian Life

Combat ?

We wouldn’t do this...

... we ignore long-term mental success


Civilian Life

Civilian Life

Combat

But the problem is...

?

Instead we train...



Civilian Life

Civilian Life

Combat




Civilian Life


Civilian Life

Combat


Civilian Life

Combat ?




Civilian Life

Civilian Life

Combat


?

Instead we train...



Civilian Life

Civilian Life

Combat




Civilian Life


Civilian Life

Combat


Civilian Life

Combat ?




Civilian Life

Civilian Life

Combat


?

Instead we train...



Civilian Life

Civilian Life

Combat




Civilian Life


Civilian Life

Combat


Civilian Life

Combat ?




Civilian Life

Civilian Life

Combat


?

sheltered exposed

camp focused

valley focused

visually protected

visually exposed

visual access point

closed form

open form

SITE & PROGRAM ANALYSIS

THINKING WITH THE HANDS

SKETCH BOOKTHINKING WITH THE HANDS

To see my ongoing thesis book, Drastic Shifts: New Paradigms for How we Transition our Soldiers Home, a study of how architecture can serve as an intervention and healing mechanism in the reintegration of soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan, please visit http://issuu.com/tmcarlson/docs/drastic_shifts

To see my completed thesis book a study of how architecture can serve as an intervention and

healing mechanism in the reintegration of soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan, please visit

Portfolio: Tiffany Carlson

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