jennifer howell portfolio

The architectural sculpture aesthetically analyzes the concept embodied in Dagoba’s mission to return nature and culture back to Costa Rica. It metaphorically orchestrates the idea of nature’s transformation from human manipulation back to an organic state.

coca retail // charette

“Costa Rica is one of most highly valued tourist destinations in this planet. This small piece of land includes all of the necessary components to satisfy the taste of thousands of travelers visiting each year. The territorial division of Costa Rica includes 7 provinces, which are: San José, Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Guanacaste, Puntarenas, and Limón. Together they offer an attractive tourist destination, of almost limitless possibilities, that include extensive rainforests, volcanoes, rivers traveling through the mountains, beaches and natural resources safeguarded by an important organization of national parks and forest reserves.”

Connecting back to nature allows the exterior to act as a metaphor for nature within the interior by extending beyond the border of the space. Elements are then transformed from chaotic movement to carefully delineated angular forms. The transformation architecturally orchestrates the relation and transitions between man and nature.

At Dagoba, “Our passion for the environment inspires our pursuit of Full Circle Sustainability, whereby we strive to achieve high standards in quality, ecology, equity, and community. We’re working with coca cooperatives in Costa Rica to sponsor re-forestation programs, partnering with urban greening programs in the US, purchasing green power for our manufacturing plant and creating recycled content packaging with soy based inks”.

solar decathlon // the solar homestead

The Solar Homestead: Solar Decathlon

The Solar Homestead was Appalachian State University’s entry in the US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011. Appalachian State University does not have an Architecture or Engineering program. Our core team was one of the smallest and unlike most competing teams, we did not outsource our construction. We placed 3rd in the Architecture Contest, 2nd in Communication, and won the People’s Choice Award.

Worked as the project graphic architect to design and detail signage, marketing materials, and public exhibit components in coordination with the architecture team to produce visual communication materials-such as renderings- and marketing team to produce signage, exhibit materials, and reflective take away materials.

integrated storage

Fenestrations in interior allow reasonable traffic flow and allow the occupant to

experience the Froebel form

FORM

Abstract blocking of deconstruction of interior form

deconstructed interiorforms shelving for merchandise display

graphicexterior surfaces for brand advertising

destruction // froebel building blocks

artwork // photography

artwork // water color

concept // cultural resource center

Visualized a cultural resource center emphasizing the cultural and architectural elements of Thailand. Created a common dominator between the strong divide in public [rural] and private [sacred] design in Thai culture. Explored the concept of a topographic map that expressed organic forms, embodying the cultural idea of human integration into nature. Architecturally expressed this by creating overlapping and offset organic forms. Incorporated a central void and vertical elements which are representations of rural architecture. Dotted lines represent the footprint of the existing structure. Decided to form the interior environment void of a connection to the existing curtain wall to solidify Thailand’s cultural and architectural unique existence.

youth // inner city arts center