Andrew Anderson - Selected Works by _AKADA_

ANDREW KENNETH ANDERSON

916.903.3507 DANDERSON.29.BE@GMAIL.COM

EDUCATION

ASSOCIATES IN ARCHITECTURE - COSUMNES RIVER COLLEGE: HIGHEST HONORS B. ARCH - NEWSCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN: SUMMA CUM LAUDE, TAU SIGMA DELTA HONOR SOCIETY

AWARDS

1ST PLACE: CSI DESIGN COMPETITION SACRAMENTO 2013 FINGERPRINT AWARD: CAL POLY SLO DESIGN VILLAGE 2014 OUTSTANDING DESIGN AWARD 3RD YEAR UNDERGRADUATE CLASS

S E L E C T E D A

WORKS

Ungrounded Information Portland: In the Network F.S. - Dichotomous Thesis Extracts - Information Formalization

W O R K S E

2 10 18 26

[UN]GROUNDED INFORMATION Libraries have been described as the most democratic of spaces, the place where everyone is granted equal access to information. This library embraces that function as the driving force in its design. The current political situation in the united states, in which net neutrality, freedom of press, and the very concept of information itself have all come under attack, creates the demand for a building which limits its engagement with, and dependance on the political ground on which it stands. Libraries today have information transfer at three scales. The inividual scale, which stands outside of time and place, the community scale, which is rooted in time and place, and the global scale, which stands outside of time and place. These three scales must intertwine and blend, providing the full range of informational understanding. The interior of the building must be open and flowing, allowing the full blending to occur. Disconnecting from the ground, symbollically and functionally demands that the building have increased scope, which is facilitated by some commercial aspects and increased community hosting opportunitys. It must also be energy self sufficient. Protection from place and ground, and non-orientability will allow this building to separate itself symbolically. The library is a typology with a long history of humanist intention, and is viewed as, possibly, the most democratic of spaces. It is a public space, with strong connections to the community, which provides free access to information to any who enter it. This democratic nature is mirrored in the real impacts of that free access to information. In the past, it has been those technologies or circumstances which allow information to spread more easily, that have allowed for the more free, democratic society we are lucky to inhabit. The design of libraries has been steadily shifting from a place for the storing of books, with somewhat limited access and heavy controls, to a place that is open and provides free access to books, then again to a place for access to the internet and computers, and finally to a place that includes all of these elements, as well as a place for the community to gather and events to be held. The new library, due to limits in their budgets, require the ability to generate revenue from their activities, while still remaining fundamentally free of charge. In service of this need for economic self-sustainability, program including a cafe, used bookstore, event hosting, and a theater have been included in this library. As facilitating the free exchange of information is the most important mission of libraries, it is important to understand how informa-

PARK

STAFF LOUNGE OFFICE MAKER SPACE

RESTROOM JANITOR

WORKROOM & RECEIVING

STORAGE ROOM

SR4

STORAGE CLOSET TEEN COLLECTION

HOME WORK

SERVICE DESK

LAB

CONFERENCE ROOMS

SR2

EVENT SPACE

READING

OUTDOOR READING

THEATER SEATING

COMPUTING COMPUTER SPACES

THEMED ENTRANCE

STORYTIME AREA

NEWS STAND CAFE

SR3 INDIVIDUAL

OUTDOOR EVENT

SR 1

JUVENILE

SERVING ROOM

EARLY LITERACY STACKS

MEETING ROOMS

COMMUNITY ROOM

STORAGE GREEN ROOM

MARKETPLACE CONVERSATION CAFE

LIVING ROOM

HOLDS SELF-CHECKOUT CUSTOMER SERVICE DESK

PUBLIC ENTRY

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY BOOKSTORE TRAIN PLATFORM ENTRY MAIN RESTROOMS

'-0

/2"

/ 1'-

'-0

DN /1 /8" 91

2 1/2" / 1'-0"

NORTH CEDROS AVE

5/8" / 1'-0"

DN DN

LOMAS SANTA FE DRIVE

NORTH

TRUE

NOR TH

SECTION PERSPECTIVE

TRUE

NORTH

NOR TH

WORKROOM AND RECEIVING 117 447 SF RESTROOM 116 55 SF

UP LOUNGE 115 225 SF

STORAGE 114 115 SF

OFFICE 113 170 SF ELEVATOR 118 79 SF

CAFE 110 461 SF

HOLDS 119 48 SF FRONT DESK 120 84 SF

ENTRY, SELF CHECK, LIVING ROOM, READING ROOM, MARKETPLACE 121 2754 SF

BOOKSTORE 109 508 SF

WOMEN'S 111 194 SF

UP JANITOR 106 47 SF

MEN'S 112 197 SF

CR STORAGE 108 82 SF

CONFERENCE 105 123 SF

COMMUNITY ROOM 100 2023 SF

CONFERENCE 104 143 SF

EVENT 102 507 SF

THEATER 101 1287 SF

SERVING 107 177 SF

OUTDOOR EVENT 103 193 SF

tion flows within it. It seems that there are three scales of information exchange which occur. The first is the interpersonal scale, exemplified by the author-reader exchange and the librarian-patron exchange. This scale of exchange exists in a liminal state, in which place and time have little bearing. The second scale is that of the locale, or community. This scale brings groups of people together from a specific area and allows the exchange of place specific information; it is heavily linked to place. Finally, communications technologies have now made available a global information scale which allows for the incorporation of both other information scales, and an overarching network of other informations. It allows for a deep suspension of time and place. The combination of these three scales is essential for any serious understanding to take place, and thus essential to the fundamental function of the library. As such, the interior of this library has blended the scales in such a way as to promote cross-scale interaction, as much as possible. It uses a wall of books as a way to create mystery and allure, drawing individuals into it, in order to encourage their learning. Its layout, circulation, plan, and section have all been dedicated to encouraging free motion through an open space, which symbollically represents the free access to information.

Unfortunately, the current political system in the United States has recently featured attacks on net neutrality, freedom of press, and the idea of reliable information. As such, this library seeks to detach itself from the ground of the state in which it resides, creating a tension with the inherently community oriented nature of the building. Through a variety of ungrounding strategies, the building disrespects the ground, and breaks away, seemingly floating, unreadable, non-orientable: detached from place and time (at least for the 1st and third scales). It is also designed so as to be self-sufficient, economically, and functionally separated from its governing bodies, through energy efficient design.

SOLAR PANELS OVER FURRING STRIPS SINGLE-PLY ROOFING THREE INCHES OF RIGID INSULATION STEEL FRAMING WITH BATT INSULATION WOOD PANELS

3” CONCRETE 3” METAL DECK METAL FRAMING 5/8” GB

3” CONCRETE CURB SEALED GREEN ROOF DRAINAGE MAT RIGID INSULATION CONCRETE INSULATION STEEL FRAME

STEEL FRAME 12” RETAINING WALL OPERABLE DUAL GLAZED SELECTIVE EMISSIVITY CONCRETE SKIM COAT RIGID INSULATION PLYWOOD SHEATING METAL FRAMING W/ BATT INSULATION 5/8” BG 12” CONCRETE ON CONCRETE BEAMS

PORTLAND : IN THE NETWORK Portland is a specimen of historical network functions working with, and through, an urbanizing environment. The development of the city has been inextricably intertwined with the development of transportation systems, both human oriented and goods oriented. the recent trend towards dematerialization has demanded a paradigm shift, which portland, as a forward thinking city, must embrace. this shift manifests as the necessity for the transportation of goods //now digital//, and people, on a global scale. The deep analysis of portlandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economic, environmental, social, political, and experiential systems, conducted through the lens of network theory, has yielded a series of interventions. specifically tailored to the ford district, and the assumed masterplan, these nodes should engage the network. To not only create a thriving â&#x20AC;&#x153;district,â&#x20AC;? but to also engage larger networks in which buildings do, necessarily, serve as important agents. The engagement of citizens is a related goal, however, here the urge to define citizens must be resisted, as clear definition must, in most cases, imply stasis. This intervention seeks to engage the network, by providing spaces that are powerful, yet adaptable. the driving necessity here is to create the structure through which to influence larger networks, through interventions both large and small. This project has recently become essentially poignant, throughout the course of its development, due to recent political events. It was conceived as a framework within which, through the implementation of strategies like convergence, bridging, and emergence, problematics spawned by systems at different scales can be countered within the immediate local network. Nevertheless, larger scale networks have also been taken into account, providing a comprehensive plan for the development of a relatively self supporting district in portland. The complexity of the issues in which these buildings attempt to engage, provides a counterpoint for the essentially reductionist methods typically demonstrated by contemporary architectural thought, in which singular concept is interpreted as integrated design. This project attempts to integrate user experience, programmatic functionality, environmental performance, accessability, social issues, historical context, and data-informed future projections by providing a series of spaces which are essential, and absent from the district otherwise. These spaces are: +a transit confluence, wherein current and future transit networks will converge, making the ford district the entry to downtown portland proper. +a cultural concluence, wherein current residents and future corporate occupants can co-occupy adaptable spaces as needed. +a residential bridge, wherein the distinct nature of this

particular site can be capitalized upon to provide upscale living. The project took into account the variety of other proposed programs throughout the studio, and proposed, in turn, the necessary connective program. Those necessities were diverse and this diversity should be demonstrated by the product, despite having a very unified expression. Very serious consideration was taken of the seires of contextual and and environmental factors which influenced the various formal and systematic concepts, and the complexity inherent in these is also demonstrated by the project. Historic is augmented by futuristic, blended yet distinct, and the industrial interwoven into the cultural.

F S

D I C H O T O M O U S

FS-Dichotomous is a solution for a firehouse program on Chollas parkway in the Chollas Triangle area of San Diego. It attempts to relate a series of disparate elements in a way that is both efficient and aesthetically powerful. There were many goals for this project related to both of these desirable outcomes. In terms of efficiencies, circulatory, environmental, organizational, and experiential efficiencies sit at the fore of the building, while the site demands community efficiencies and envrionmental efficiency in order to create a park that makes up for the intrusion of the firehouse upon it. The building attempts to display aesthetic principles including definition and inclusivity, unity and articulation, nature vs manufacture, site vs object, and mass vs lightness. The dichotomies that underpin these principles, as well as the dichotomy between efficiencies and aesthetics are the basis for this design and serve as the inspiration for everything from its form to organization to materials to siting and on. The firestation is in itself dichotomous as a place of work and a place of living, demanding both comfort and dynamism, nature and technology. The FireStation Dichotomous attempted to consider parts of its design with equal rigor regardless of the principles of its author. For example, organization might be given an equal amount of consideration as form, materiality may be given equal consideration to site, etc. This process allowed for constant feedback between design solution progress, and analytical understanding of other elements and principles, allowing each element to affect the others regardless of the exact order in which they were considered. For these purposes diagrammatic process has been emphasized, in order to allow abstract and figurative functions to process all parts of the design iteratively and recursively. The organization of the building was first determinded through considering the experiential needs of each of the spaces. These were compared and placed into a proximity chart. Meanwhile use and occupancy groups were likewise considered, breaking the spaces into groups. These two sets of groups were used to determine connections between specific rooms, and therefore between groups. Circulation paths were also considered before determining these connections and circulatory spaces were included to amplify the functionality of these rooms, as well as to provide experiential spaces. These groups were then organized on the site to supply environmentally beneficial climatic orientation, for systems efficiencies, and to take advantage of the site topography, views, and the future plans of the siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s possible reorganization. With the building siting and organization beginning to coalesce, specific opportunities relating this to the site arise, and began to influence the building and the possible site design. Meanwhile the formal qualities of the building were beginning to develop, pulling from the need for efficiency in operation, and the aesthetic goals of communicating the dichotomies that lay within

its program. Manufactured strong form protects the inhabited residential and administrative functions of the building, while the performative areas are built of forms that pull from natural processes and respond to conditions allowing for the building to be passively enhanced. These were also informed by the experiential needs of the occupants, and allow for considered lighting, shading, and phenomenological affect. Each grouping was given its own formal qualities and the identifying factors of each is preserved while they still attempt to be seen as a unified object. The building has a goal of pushing firefighting into the future by the incorporation of high tech firefighting techniques. It contains a drone dock, expanded control center, and sensing and communication equipment located in its tower. It also attempts to create a very hygenic and efficient firehouse system through the separation of work areas, materials, and environmentally enabled systems. Another important goal of the firehouse is to provide firefighters with a healthy and restorative environment for living. This is accomplished by providing them with a large connection to nature, a passively comfortable atmosphere that can adapt to their needs, plenty of light, and ample individual and community space.

The firehouse shares with the site the need to interact with the community, while also providing for the effective and secure functioning of the firehouse. In the building this is accomplished through directed circulation spaces and distinct public areas, while the park is divided through the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s siting. Further needs: The further development of this project will involve further consideration of the dichotomous nature of the project and how these impact the design. I would like to explore the possibility of communicating these more impactfully, and allowing them to impact the design with more clarity and power. The dichotomy between additive and subtractive forms was expressed but should be explored more thoroughly, as should the separation between nature and manufacture, and site and object. I want to design a cafe and utility room on the site for use of those in the park, and community garden, as well as the firefighters. These should both connect and be separate from the firehouse and the two should make each other stronger. I want to explore materiality, structure and systems more, in order to create a realistic and practically informed design. I also want to build upon the enhanced functions Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve proposed, in order to make this design the true firehouse of the future.

FIRESTATION

FLAGPOLE

COMMUNITY GARDEN STORAGE

COMMUNITY GARDEN PLOTS

METAL PANEL SINGLE PLY ROOFING MEMBRANE RIGID INSULATION CORRUGATED STEEL ROOF TRUSS ANCHOR BOLT GB 8X16 CONC. COLUMN PER STRUCTURAL DWG RIGID INSULATION WOOD PLANK SIDING POLISHED CONCRETE PERFORATED DRAIN PIPE RIGID INSULATION GRAVEL FILL

PARAPET CAP COUNTERFLASHING SINGLE PLY ROOFING RIGID INSULATION PLYWOOD SHEATHING 5/8" GB 6" LIGHT STEEL FRAMING BATT INSULATION WOOD SHADERS ON FRAME LOW-E DOUBLE GLAZED SLIDING GLASS PANEL THERMALLY BROKEN 4X4 STEEL COLUMN #4 STEEL REINFORCING BAR CONCRETE FOOTING

CAFE

CAFE PARKING

INFORMATION FORMALIZATION Current architectural expression is often informed by abstracted diagrammatic representations of the determining conditions of a given project(Schumacher, 2010). This process pulls individual factors out of their context, in order to understand and address them, resulting in solutions which are, at best, layered composites of a series of partial solutions. The theory of wicked problems, however, proposes that most problems are composed of a network of interrelated factors which must be considered in an interrelated manner, if an effective solution is to be found (Skaburkis, 2008). Outside of the architectural field, industries like finance, medicine, engineering, and climatology are turning to big-data, in order to inform their decision making with complex understandings of their particular determinants(Sherman, 2014). Much investigation is being done on how to effectively represent this information in comprehensive visualizations in the form of interactive data models. This new form of information representation allows for the simultaneous investigation of the multitude of factors that impact a given design, as well as the relationship between those factors, however, exploration of the spatial and formal implications of its usage in architecture has remained limited. Through an analog process to that which allows current architects to expand their formal and spatial vocabulary through the use of diagrammatic “abstract machines” (Berkel and Bos, 1999), formal and spatial conditions of a novel, complex nature should arise from the use of this new method of data representation as the basis of the design process. In the introduction to the book “The Diagrams of Architecture,” Garcia presents a contextual basis for the understanding of diagrams: relating their historical and theoretical bases with their functions. He states that diagrams, in their more current and impactful form, are based, mainly, upon the theoretical definitions related by Deleuze. Deleuze, in turn, based these definitions on the work of Francis Bacon, Marcel Proust, and Michel Foucalt. Deleuze describes the diagram as an “icon of relationships, which specifies… the relations between unformed/unorganized matter and unformalised/unfinalised functions” (Garcia, 2010). Garcia goes on to explain that diagrams are used in architecture to fulfill a variety of representational functions: “descriptive, explanatory, normative, interpretive, prescriptive, projective, and predictive” (Garcia, 2010). Indeed, diagrams are used throughout the design process, for analysis, synthesis, and communication. While the communication of information to others is an effective use for diagrams, there are major problems associated with their use in processing information to be used as “‘influences’ to be taken into account while preparing a ‘solution’ to the varied problems they propose” (Vidler, 2010). Nevertheless, much architectural

investigation since at least the 1980â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s has focused around the use of diagrams, as the basis for design methods intended to generate novel spatial and formal systems (Schumacher, 2010). One of the major issues with the use of diagrammatic information representation in the analysis and generation of architecture is that diagrams, by their nature, require a reductionist approach (Shane, 2013). The theories of networks, complexity and chaos, and wicked problems propose that most issues are made up of interrelated causal actors, whose structural relationships inform their manifestations at least as much as do their individual qualities, and effective solutions can seldom be implemented if they address only some issues (Anderson, 2016). As such, the abstraction and simplification of information in the search for architectural concept is problematic. The field that may provide a solution to this issue is data science, through the use of big-data. This buzz-word is used to describe large amounts of diverse data, which is being generated, collected, and accessed at an exponentially growing rate (Valerdi, 2017). As most industries are beginning to turn to this information for insight (Deutsch, 2015), there is work being done to find visualization techniques which allow a more comprehensive and exploratory model of information comprehension, that is still accessible to the human mind (Fuchs & Hauser, 2009). These

new theories of representation allow visualizations to communicate the complexity that is needed to address issues, and relate complex systems of determinants in an intelligible manner. The complex, interrelated nature of these data models will provide the architectural field with a system of representation that is more closely related to its membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; function as the agents in charge of relating disparate systems into coherent and affective compositions. Additionally, as it is apparent that architectural expression is directly related to methods of representation (Olsberg, 2013), it follows that this new method will result in novel formal and spatial manifestations. This thesis proposes research in a series of areas, which, when synthesized, holds the opportunity for an expansion of formal and spatial vocabularies of architecture. The first area of investigation is into the theory of representation of information which relates to diagrams, and the subsequent connection of these theories to architectural expression. Deleuzeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s theories, as well as the texts and works of architects who engaged these theories will serve as

studies in this area. The second area of investigation is the value of complexity, and the related value of big data, in understanding information. The third area of investigation is into current theories of data visualization, especially of large sets of data. The analysis and relation of these theoretical foundations will inform the experimental manifestation of architecture which will make up the thesis design.