Alex Bullo
Academic Design Work Translations Institute of Applied Geometry Pillow Bacchanal
(2011) (2012) (2013)
Professional Design Work Wuzheng Suite Floating Oculus Water Street Community
(2015) (2014) (2014)
Technical Work Miscellaneous (2012-2015)
Translations in Light and Volume A collection of models and drawings
Abstraction: (n) the process of formulatng general ideas or concepts by extractng common qualites from specific examples. Translaton: (n) the rendering of something into another language. It is a process of interpreting, re-coding, and re-stating a language, while not being verbatim/literal. This project was an exercise in translating between form, light and volume. The design prompt was to envision a spatial reality beyond a given painting through physical modeling (chipboard). From this model new forms were abstracted based on how light occupied these volumes (stacked museum board). A third model was sculpted from new volumes found in the light model (rockite).
1.
given painting
2.
light model
sections
light sculpture
Institute of Applied Geometry Investigations into the roles and transparency of the public institution
The Institute of Applied Geometry explores the relationship of the societal institution with the greater public. The institute houses private research labs and a multi-story fabrication lab as well as public galleries, a lecture hall and a library dedicated to the research of applied geometry. The design utilizes circulation, hidden volumes, and spatial memory to encourage the public to question the unseen and ultimately develop a curiosity about the role and transparency of government funded institutions.
The Public Institution Institution (n.)- any structure or mechanism of social order and cooperation governing the behavior of a set of individuals within a given community — may it be human or a specific animal one. Institutions are identified with a social purpose, transcending individuals and intentions by mediating the rules that govern cooperative living behavior.
riverside perspective
sattelite view
South Loop Chicago SOCIOLOGICAL INSTITUTIONS 2
1
3
1 2
2
Chicago Fire Department Chicago City Council
1
3
Richard J. Daly Center
4
Dirksen Federal Building
5
Kluczynski Federal Building
6
Chicago Board of Trade
ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS 4
3 4
4
2
5
1
5 2 1
5
1
City College of Chicago
2
Kellstadt Graduate School of Business
3
Depaul University
4
National Louis University
5
American Academy of Art
6
South Loop Elementary
3
6
CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS 3
1
Chicago Cultural Center
2
Chicago Symphony Center
3
Chicago Public Library
4
Museum of Contemporary Photography
HEALTH INSTITUTIONS
6 4
1
Health Research and Educational Trust
2
Northwester Memorial Hospital
3
Illinois Psychiatric Society
4
Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council
5
US Food & Drug Administration
Public Functionality
Government
Resources
social inquiry
research
experimentation
data
Education Oversight
Board of Trustees
Conduct and Transparency culture
culture
education
education
sociology
sociology
health
health
research
US Food and Drug Administration
culture
Art Institute of Chicago
culture
education sociology
sociology
health
research
John Marshall Law School
education
health
research
Chicago Institute for Psychoanalysis
existing institution
Quincy Park
footprint
site
circulation
transparency
private public
hidden seen
a
cker Dr.
The institution uses transparency and public circulation as mechanisms of awareness to establish a language of privacy. Public functions and circulation are put on display while the institution’s inner workings are concealed through manipulating volume, spatial memory and wall thickness. Channel glass panels and varying levels of transparency are also utilized to offer the public limited views of the private arm of the institution while still maintaining its privacy.
X X X X
X
X
X
X
X
X
A device derived from the logic of a camera lucida was used to generate a deep understanding of site visibility. This informed the institution’s footprint, determined the moments of reveal and ultimately informed the design of the final form.
Iterative Models
Final Model
Final Model
0’
-10’
-10’
-10’
0’
GO RIV CHICA
S WACKER DR.
ER
0’
-10’
2. Library
1. Lobby
Gallery Fabrication Lab Institution Entry
PLANS 1/12” = 1’ 0”
0’
N
JACKSON BLVD
Fabrication Contol Conference Room Research Space Institution Circulation
3. Cafe
Research Space Institution Circulation
4. Gallery/Exhbition Space Auditorium Balcony Research Space Office Space
5. Outdoor Gallery
Administration Offices Office Space Fabrication/Research Bays Conference Room Outdoor Lounge
Pillow Bacchanal An investigation into pliable structures and utopias
Pillow Bacchanal is a series of super-scale outdoor furniture objects that invite lounging, imaginative play, and the pursuit of wanton pleasures. Beggining with a rigorous investigation of the material properties of stuffed fabric membranes, the project poses questions about the role structure and the nature of pliable bodies: What are the architectural possibilities of pliable materials that are something less than perfectly structural? When a material system tends to slump instead of span, is there an architectural future for that system? In response to these queries, Pillow Bacchanal proposes a future where the slump of pliable materials is valuable for its posture, its carriage, and the precise ways in which it can suggestively initiate interactions with an audience.
By Alex Bullo & Lex Moss
Inspiration
(Wikimedia commons)
Diatomes by Ernst Haeckel
(Wikimedia commons)
Le Garde Meuble
Bacchanalia by Peter Paul Rubens
Baroque Sofa
No Sympathy for the Devil by Auguste LĂŠveque
Anatomy of a starfish (biologycorner)
Pillow Bacchanal sets out to accommodate man’s most primal pleasures: bathing, lounging/eating, and dreaming. The posture and character was inspired by the playful scenes and human forms depicted in roman bacchanal paintings. Meanwhile, the objects’ structure and mechanisms were influenced by biological states of slump and aggregation. Baroque furniture was also influential in its surface treatments and attitude towards the human form in states of relief.
form development
aggregations
“The Bather”
water filter water pump water retainment tank water supply tank concrete high density composite foam foam rubber comoposite spring
“The Sleeper”
Professional Work
Wuzheng Suite
Shandong Wuzheng Group is China’s largest manufacturer of commercial trucks and agricultural equipment. This design is for a boutique hotel to house visiting dignitaries and VIP guests at the Wuzheng global headquarters in Rizhao, China. A central steel cladded bathroom mimics seams of the vehicle body, while the object provides a natural division between office and residence. A new process was created where uniformity, a mark of quality, is created without molds on the curved structure. Photographs are exhibited to narrate the tradition of farming and Wuzheng’s place in society and time. The suite houses a small office, a living room and a bedroom.
Plan
Office
Bedroom
1. Use steel rods and bolt holes to hang top plate from ceiling. Can be done in phases: phase 1 phase 2 phase 3
3
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N2
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T4 T5
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S 3 TT1
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T9
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Do
T8
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T9
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Inner structure
S3
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T8
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NS
1 or
Do
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p To
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T1
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NS
T1
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N1
2. Once top plate is hung use + cuts to locate the position of the bottom plate. The + cuts must be aligned with a straight vertical line.
9. Door 2 must be assembled in counter clockwise order starting with stud T9, followed by door studs S4-S7 and DH2. Finish door frame assembly with stud T8.
4
N1
1 N1
2
or
N2
N1 NS se 11 No 2 T TS T13 T1
3
N1 2
N1
T7
T8
r1
o
Do
T4
T6
N5
N3
bolt splice plates on underside once pieces are fit together
T3
N7
N4
10 mm rod
T4
T7
S4
1
or
T5
T6
T6 T7
T3
S1
Do
S3
N5
NS
NS
T3
S2
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N2
T2
T2
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T1
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il Ta
il Ta
N1
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ilin Ce
10. Assemble door 1 by starting with stud T3, then attaching door studs S1-S3 and DH1. Finish door frame assembly with stud T4. N3
2 N1 1 N1
1 N1
N1
3 N1 2 N1
T4
r1
o Do
T7 Stud swing direction changes at stud T7
Door structure
1.
2. -UH d1
-UH d1
-LH d1
-LH d1
d1 -1
d1 -2 d1 -1 d1 -3 d1 -2 d1 -4 d1 -3
d1 -4
-TP d1
optional tensioning cable
3.
4.
-UH d1
-LH d1
R d1 -1
d1 -2
L
d1 -3
d1 -4
-BP d1
P
-O
d1
Bathroom interior
The client expressed a desire for a unique bathing experience. Inspired by the sensation of standing in a bamboo forest, a pivoting frosted glass screen was designed to separate the bathing and vanity spaces. The seamless tile, extended ceiling and screen work to cultivate an experience that is both boundless and unique. screen design process
ecnei
neercs
Corridor Design In this corporate hotel, movement under projected shadows create a reference to the forest canopy. Innovated lighting system allows glow of the wood screens from underneath to enhance the transition from work to rest. Industrial precision conveys company's core values, while the hightech is used to command the natural, paralleling the client's line of business.
=
Canopy Panel Assembly
=
=
Urban Energy Works
3 panels stacked 3 panels in random stacked 3 panels orientation in random stacked and in orientation random order to orientation and achieve orderfoliage-canopy to and achieve order to foliage-canopy achieve effect. foliage-canopy effect. effect.
We sought to ease the arrival experience through the integration of natural atmospheres. We landed on the experience of walking under a tree canopy as we found this to be closely related to rest and retreat.
Floating Oculus
The Floating Oculus project was a series of studies for a full season resort on the Changchingling Reservoir near Rizhao, China. The objective was to design a self-sustaining stationary 50 sq m. dwelling that could be constructed for around $100k. The design process was focused around constructability, the dwelling experience and establishing a strong connection with the landscape. The oculus featured above was one of four presented. All proposals can be constructed out of aggregated standard shipping containers and can be assembled entirely on site.
Site plan and proposals
概念2
1m .5m
2m
3m
4m
20’: 0 40’: 2 59 sq m
Weight Distribution
Framing Membrane Sheathing Drywall Solar Panels Overnight Guests Day Visitors Luggage Food Sofa Not Dining Chairs Bed w/ headboard Dining Table and Chairs Cabinets Lamps BBQ Cabinets Sinks Countertop Shower Tub Toilet Mini Fridge Electric Cooktop Hot Water heater Water in the water heater Cold water tank Solar Inverters Pumps Wiring Waste Tank Waste in the Waste Tank Framing Drywall Siding Framing Drywall Floor Joists SubFloor Hardwood Flooring Steel Beams Corrugated Steel Angles Floats
01
000 2000 30004 000 5000 6000 lbs
Buoyancy System
Total material cost: $13,500 (from quotes)
Water St. Community
This proposal for Water St. carries forward Ypsilanti’s self-sufficient and industrial values while connecting to its natural surroundings. The design extracts the opportunities of the river’s bend, maximizing views from residential, commercial and public spaces. Energy is generated through solar panels and heat recovery from an adjacent municipal compost site, helping to achieve zero net carbon emissions. An expansive elevated greenhouse adds momentum to Ypsilanti’s farming revival, providing new business opportunities while also symbolizing the regeneration of the city.
site plan
water st.
elevated greenhouse (9700 sq ft) ground level commercial (8200 sq ft) semi-underground market (8200 sq ft)
residential 96,000 sq ft. 40 (1350 sq ft) double units 74 (450 sq ft) single units zero utility cost (all units) river side view (5 out of 6 units) district heat from Ypsilanti compost center located nearby at Waterworks Park in partnership with Agrilab Technologies.
michigan ave.
river st.
parsons st.
south st.
N 50ft
100ft
200ft
The Water St. proposal seeks to help breathe life into Ypsilanti by creating space for community interaction and entertainment. The communal plaza features a commercial greenhouse, multilevel parking, mixed retail and commercial space, and an underground market. This plaza connects to downtown Ypsilanti via riverside trails and Michigan Ave to reduce vehicular use and help cultivate further urban development.
Site Location
42.240061 N, 83.610893W
michigan ave. huron river
section diagram
The development includes six stories of residential units situated along the Huron River. Circulation corridors are replaced with multi-level units on the second and fourth floors allowing 85% of the units to have a river view. The circulation spine has window breaks every four units to allow in natural light and unique elevated views of the trees along the bank. Single units on the top floor have access to a private roof patio which is shaded by a solar array and can be united with adjacent patios. Resident parking is located beneath the structure to allow a connection between the plaza and riverside.
river view
water st.
two story single unit one-story single unit
corridor
two-story unit
5/6 units get river view, all units get outdoor space.
Technical Work
Design, representation and fabrication
Design and modeling (Rhinoceros)
Design and construction
Documentation and representation (Rhinoceros and Illustrator)
Design and modeling
Documentation and representation (Rhinoceros)
5 mm steel panel
bottom arm
b.b. thinset tile
spindle no. 74015 1/4�-20 machine screw reinforced bottom plate
Wood Floor (f.f ) 1.5 mm circular steel cover (38 cm dia.) ?? support for steel cover
20 mm
tile 18 mm
9 mm 23 mm
14 mm
12.5 mm
6 mm steel bottom plate
layer of infill
mortar
60 mm
steel pivot box 78 mm
Design and representation (Rhino and Illustrator)
98.5 mm steel stud 6 mm tile (2 cm x 2 cm) 6 mm thinset 6 mm backerboard
L-channel 16 gauge (1.5 mm) steel panel ~3 mm black caulk
10mm x 10mm x 1mm steel angle
8 mm dia threaded rod
Wood Flooring (f.f.)
5 mm tile
10 mm 14 mm
25 mm 11 mm
~ 20 mm mortar
1.14 mm adhesive tape
6 mm
~5 mm ~5 mm
Design and representation (Rhino and Illustrator)
nut welded to baseplate 6 mm baseplate
Representation (AutoCAD and SketchUp)
Representation (AutoCAD and SketchUp)
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
AP+12
855 S. University Ave Ann Arbor, MI
Tappan Hall
Utility Drawings
U-1.0
Documentation and representation (AutoCAD)
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
Documentation and representation (AutoCAD)
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
design Inc.
Documentation and representation (AutoCAD)
A-4.2
Documentation and representation (AutoCAD)
ZI Custom
6795 East Nine Mile Road Warren, Michigan 48091 (586) 497-9889 (586) 497-9895 www.zicustom.com
Panelization, data management and representation (AutoCAD)
3 1.0
Kitchenette Horizontal Section
PROJECT:
SCALE:1" = 1'-0"
4 1.1
5 1.1
Detroit, MI 48323 PROJECT NO: 3-302-17
Quicken Fulfullment - Federal Reserve 150 W. Fort
3 1.1 6 1.1
1 1.1
7 1.1
3 1.0
REVISIONS: MARK
DATE
DESCRIPTION
ISSUED BY ZI CUSTOM L.L.C. FOR APPROVAL APPROVED AS IS
2 1.0
Kitchenette Elevation
APPROVED AS NOTED
SCALE:3/4" = 1'-0"
REVISE AND RESUBMIT
SIGNATURE
DATE
PLEASE RETURN ALL SIGNED AND DATED DRAWINGS TO ZI CUSTOM L.L.C.
WORK ORDER NO: 00 FILE NAME:
C:\USERS\ABULLO\DESKTOP\ZI JUNE 2013\QUICKEN\FEDERAL RESERVEQUICKEN FULFILLMENT\CAD FILES\CABINETS
AUTHOR: ZI Custom DRAFTER: A.BULLO SCALE: As Noted PRINT DATE: Jun 26, 2013 - 1:48pm SHEET TITLE:
MILLWORK DETAILS PROJECT NO:
3-302-17
SHEET:
1 1.0
Kitchenette Plan
2 1.0
SCALE:1" = 1'-0"
SHEET:
1.0 2
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Hardware specs and representation (AutoCAD)
6795 East Nine Mile Road Warren, Michigan 48091 (586) 497-9889 (586) 497-9895 www.zicustom.com
ZI Custom PROJECT:
LAYER 1 QUANTITY 1
SCALE:1"=1-'0"
ASSEMBLY DIAGRAM
5
2
SCALE:
3.1
SCALE:1"=1-'0"
Detroit, MI 48323 Project No: 3-302-17
4 3.1
LAYER 2 QUANTITY 1
Quicken Fulfillment - Federal Reserve 150 W. Fort
3 3.1
3.1
LAYER 3 QUANTITY 1
REVISIONS: MARK
DATE
DESCRIPTION
SCALE:1"=1-'0"
ISSUED BY ZI CUSTOM L.L.C. FOR APPROVAL
LAYER 1
APPROVED AS IS APPROVED AS NOTED REVISE AND RESUBMIT
SIGNATURE
DATE
PLEASE RETURN ALL SIGNED AND DATED DRAWINGS TO ZI CUSTOM L.L.C.
LAYER 2
LAYER 3
WORK ORDER NO: 00 FILE NAME:
\\LS-CHL-V2AA5\SHARE\ENGINEERING\FEDERAL RESERVE- QUICKEN FULFILLMENT\CAD FILES\THREADED ROD FINAL
AUTHOR: ZI Custom DRAFTER: A.BULLO SCALE: As Noted PRINT DATE: Jul 26, 2013 - 8:10am SHEET TITLE:
MILLWORK DETAILS 6 3.1
PROJECT NO:
Custom Standoff
3-302-17
SCALE:1:1
SHEET:
*QUANTITY=1100
1 3.1
CLOUD SECTION
SCALE:1"=1-'0"
***TOTAL QUANTITY=20***
3.1
SHEET:
8
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ZI Custom
6795 East Nine Mile Road Warren, Michigan 48091 (586) 497-9889 (586) 497-9895 www.zicustom.com
Fabrication engineering and representation (AutoCAD)
Detroit, MI 48323 Project No: 3-302-17
Quicken Fulfillment - Federal Reserve 150 W. Fort
PROJECT:
3 3.2
ROD LENGTHS
SCALE:-
REVISIONS: MARK
DATE
DESCRIPTION
ISSUED BY ZI CUSTOM L.L.C. FOR APPROVAL APPROVED AS IS APPROVED AS NOTED REVISE AND RESUBMIT
SIGNATURE
DATE
PLEASE RETURN ALL SIGNED AND DATED DRAWINGS TO ZI CUSTOM L.L.C.
WORK ORDER NO: 00 FILE NAME:
\\LS-CHL-V2AA5\SHARE\ENGINEERING\FEDERAL RESERVE- QUICKEN FULFILLMENT\CAD FILES\THREADED ROD FINAL
AUTHOR: ZI Custom DRAFTER: A.BULLO SCALE: As Noted PRINT DATE: Jul 26, 2013 - 8:11am SHEET TITLE:
MILLWORK DETAILS PROJECT NO:
3-302-17
1 3.2
ROD PLACEMENT
SCALE:-
2 3.2
CLOUD ELEVATION
SHEET:
3.2
SCALE:-
SHEET:
9
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Fabrication engineering and representation (AutoCAD)
Hand drawing (ink)
Hand drawing (pencil)