ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO
SELECTED WORKS | 2016 - 2020
AARON DAVID BEST
B.ARCH 2021
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S I. THE FACTORY Studio IV | Fall Semester 2020 | Instructor: Katie Donahue II. EYES OF THE SKIN Studio V | Spring 2021 | Instructor: Brad Tomecek II. MARK BRADFORD MUSEUM Studio III | Spring Semester 2020 | Instructor: Zahra
III. EXPLORATIONS IN STEROTONIC DESIGN Studio II | Fall Semester 2019 | Instructor: Brian Dale V. INTERNSHIP Internship | December 2020 - present | K-Works Studio VI. PERSONAL ART PROJECTS 2018 - 2020
THE FACTORY Affordable needs of gathering
Studio IV lead by Katie Donahue Partners: Lindsey Tekrony, Mason Wilson Nov. 2020
LIVE/WORK project designed to artists and creatives, and create space for the
meet the a public community.
As the first collaborative studio project, the design aims to serve the River North Arts District and the greater Globeville Neighborhood by addressing specific needs within these communities. As the area has experienced a significant economic boom over the past decade, the need for afforable housing for creatives in the area has increased. Because of this, The Factory aims to revatilize the community through the incorporation of affordable artist residency spaces, galleries, and store fronts.
THE FACTORY | Site Analysis
P U B L I C U R B A N
S P A C E
I N T H E E N V I R O N M E N T
By analzying the surrounding site context specific community needs became more evident: the need for affordable housing and work spaces to provide creatives in the area a space to live as well as produce work, and community spaces for the public to c ongreagate. In the past decade The RiNo District has experienced a significant economic and development boom which has raised property tax and rent, forcing many creatives out of the area. Because of this, the design sought to resolve both of these issues by becoming a LIVE/ WORK space with a community component. .
Concept | 4
CONCEPT SKETCH
FORMAL SCHEME
THE FACTORY | Elevations + Ground Floor Plan
Ground Plan
West Elevation
|6
South Elevation
North Elvation
Top View
THE FACTORY | Sectional
|8
THE FACTORY | Graffiti Artist
1st Floor Graffiti Gallery
First Floor (Exhibit)
North Sectional
2nd Floor Graffiti Studio
Second Floor (Studio)
3rd Floor Live Space
Third Floor (Live)
East Sectional
| 10
Vertical Skatepark, View 1
Vertical Skatepark, View 2
THE FACTORY | Photographer
2nd Floor Photography Studio
First Floor (Gallery)
North Sectional
3rd Floor Communial Space
Second Floor (Photo Studio)
3rd Floor Live Space
Third Floor (Live)
East Sectional
| 12
Photography Gallery
THE FACTORY | Skatedeck Designer
1st Floor Skatedeck Store Front
First Floor (Skateshop)
North Sectional
2nd Floor Skatedeck Manufactuer
Second Floor (Skatedeck Manufactuer)
3rd Floor Live Space
Third Floor (Live)
East Sectional
| 14
Central Street Skatepark
Central Skatepark
EYES OF THE SKIN
Personal Design Project Completed in Feburary, 2021
“Modernist design at large has housed the intellect and the eye, but it has left the body and the other senses, as well as our memories, imagination, and dreams, homelesss” - Juhani Pallasmaa
After reading Eyes of the Skin by Juhani Pallasmaa, I was forced to question my own design process, and broaden the senses I design with. My main takeaway from the book was this: architects should have an understanding of the materials they are working with, and work with the nature of the materials in designing buildings. Rather than approaching architectural concepts purely from the perspective of abstract form, I wanted to test my understanding of materials.
Because of this, Eyes of the Skin is a realtively simplistic design. It is a birdhouse maker space that doubles as an observatory. The senses I continously thought about when designing were sight, texture, smell, sound , and temperature. All of these senses are drawn to a very primal nature as the structure lacks any insulation or temperature control, and is made up entieraly of wooden beams. All of this achieves a design which engages each of the senses in an incredibly primal way.
EYES OF THE SKIN | Overview BIRDHOUSE| Introduction
CONSERVATION
Birdhouses are placed on the top part of the structure allowing birds to nest within.By doing this the space becomes a community for the bird population, allowing birds to lay eggs and safely raise young.
SOUND
Beyond just a bird observatory, the space will also allow users the oppertunity to listen in to the unqiue a varied birdcalls. A number of birds are likely to nest here such as bluejays, sparrows, robins and so on. The varied amount of bird calls that will be present
NATURE
(Birdhouse Enclosure)
WORKSHOP
(Birdhouse Craftsman)
OBSERVATORY
Through its unqiue placement, Birdhouse will allow visitors to see a varied amount of birds from the environment in a controled viewing experience. The space also doubles as a birdhouse workshop, meaning visitors can participate in creating additions to the building.
SMELL AND TOUCH
The process of building birdhouses requires a lot of wood. because of this, the structure is composed entierly out of wood from the surroundings. In tern, the smell of sawdust will also add an extra element to the design.
OVERVIEW
Designed with the intent to bring the viewer closer to nature through the senses of touch, smell, sound, and vision. Eyes of the Skin is a makers space designed to accomodate a birdhouse maker. The craftsmans workshop doubles as an observatory and conservation space, allowing visitors to experience the sounds of birdcalls and see a numer of different bird species within the area. Sustianable design practices were considered in the design. Because of this, the structure is made entierly of locally sourced timber and refranins from using concrete or steel supports.
MODEL
EXPLODED AXO
Wood Facade
Birdhouses
Wooden Supports
Wood Floor
Renderings | 18
North Approach
East Approach
North Facade
Entrance (Interior)
Work Bench
EYES OF THE SKIN | Floor Plans + Elevation
N
N
| 20
South Facade
THE MARK BRADFORD MUSEUM
Studio III Instructor: Zahra Sante Fe Arts District, Denver, CO Completed Nov. 2019
Gallery design to showcase the visual art of Los Angeles based artist Mark Bradford. Located in the growing arts distric of Sante Fe in Denver, CO, The Mark Bradford Museum is an exploration in materiality, layering of spaces organized along a datum line, and the industrial vernacular.
THE MARK BRADFORD MUSEUM | Manifesto
In the city, you’re always looking around, observing everything. In some neighborhoods, your life can depend on it. The details change constantly. -Mark Bradford
What if there was a museum that not only displayed the work of the artist, but translated the visual language of the work into the design of the building? By analyzing the work of Mark Bradford, careful consideration was taken to ensure
that
translated
into
concepts layering organize
the that
of
key the
concepts
of
vernacular
of
represented
materiality, information,
the and
Bradfords the
building.
Bradford’s usage the
of
work
were These
art
datum industrial
are
lines
to
urban
vernacular. These concepts were seen as being vital in either the presentation of Bradfords work, his artistic process or in the urban setting of downtown Los Angeles, where his studio is based.
Program Organization + Formal Scheme| 24
PROGRAM ORGANIZATOIN NON-GALLERY SPACE
PRIMARY CIRRCULATION
FORMAL SCHEME
GALLERY SPACE
SHAPE
EXTRUSION
MASSING MODELS
SUBTRACTION
PROGRAM ADDITION
MARK BRADFORD MUSEUM | Sectional + Floor Plans
A1
North Sectional A1
A1
1st Floor
2nd Floor
3rd Floor
West Elevation
| 26
The West Gallery houses a curated selection of Mark Bradfords larger works. Some of the works from the curated selection are over 400 Sq Ft.
West Gallery
A small community center is located on the 2nd floor. This will house a resident artist who engages in public art related events such as open studio hours and painting classes.
Upon entry visitors a greeted with a receptionist area and educational space to purchase tickets and learn more about the artist the museum is based around, Mark Bradford
3rd Floor Coffee Bar
The East Gallery is somewhat smaller than that of the West Gallery. Because of this, the space will house some of Bradford smaller works in a more upclose and intimate setting.
After visiting the galleries, patrons can head up to the 3rd floor, relax, and drink some coffee or have a delicous pastry from the 3rd floor coffee bar.
CUBE DESIGN.
| MONOLITH IN
STEREOTONIC
FORM
8 X EXPLORATION
8
X STEREOTONIC
8”
EXPLORATION
Studio IV lead by Katie Donahue Partners: Lindsey Tekrony, Mason Wilson Nov. 2020 awarded design excellence
F o r the purpose of this project we were asked to design an 8 x 8 x 8” cube. Beginning with small graphite illustrations. Then the developement of handmade models, which were convereted into 3D renders using Rhino 3D. We went through many iterations over the course of 6 weeks that had us experiemnt with different architectual elements such as hiearchy and cirrculation. All of this accumulated in a total of 12 drawings illustrating isometric cuts, perspective drawings using charcoal, sectionals, diagrams, and plan and elevations. . The purpose of this assignement was to develope our understanding of 3D space, specifically primary, secondary and tertiary elements that develope hierarchy, spatial and void relationship, and sequence.
MONOLITH | Hierarchal Drawings
Initial Thumbnail Sketches
4 X 4” graphite drawings
Finalized hiearchal concept drawing
This project began by creating hierarchal 2D drawings. These drawings would become the basis for the design.
Design Development | 30
INTERIOR CHARCOAL RENDERINGS
2nd Floor
Ground Floor looking up
Form development models
1st Floor
MONOLITH | Elevations + Isometric Cuts
Sectional Elevation 1
Sectional Elevation 2
Sectional Charcoal Rendering
Final Plaster Model, View 1
Final Plaster Model, View 2
Final Model | 32 38 Epicenter
PROFESSIONAL WORK
PROJECTS YOGA &
HOUSE LOW-RISE:
Internship with K-Works Sutdio from December 2020 - present Projects showcased: Yoga House on a Cliff Low-Rise: Affordable Housing
ON AFFORDABLE
A
SHOWCASED: CLIFF HOUSING
I was brought on to a small team to work on architecture vizsualizations for two competitions.
YOGA HOUSE ON A CLIFF | Visualizations
| 36
VRAY, PHOTOSHOP, RHINO 3D
Low-Rise: Housing Ideas for Los Angeles| Visualizations
| 38
VISUAL ART PROJECTS
A selection of commissioned art projects from 2016-2020 that showcase artistic curiosity and ability in a range of mediums and scales
PSYCHEDELIC ASCENSION
| 42
PSYCHEDELIC ASCENSION INK AND ACRYLIC ON CANVAS BOARD 16 X 20”, OCT. 2020
Snake Bite
SNAKE BITE SPRAY PAINT ON BRICK 1,500 SQ FT. | SEPT. 2018 As part of the Fort Collins Mural project in Fort Collins, CO
| 44
Soundscape VISUAL ART | Soundscape
| 46
SOUNDSCAPE Ironlak Spray Paint on Brick 3,200 Sq Ft. | Sept. 2018
As part of the Downtown Greeley Arts District in Greeley, CO
Process Video
AARON DAVID BEST
3722 E COLORADO AVE, DENVER, CO, 80231 aaron.best@ucdenver.edu (970)-518-5796
P R O F I L E Undergraduate earning a Bachelor’s in Architecture from the University of Colorado, Denver, in Fall 2021, with previous education in Fine Art from the University of Northern Colorado. E D U C A T I O N + University of Colorado, Denver Bachelor of Science in Architecture January 2018 - present + University of Northern Colorado Bachelor’s in Fine Art August 2016 S O F T W A R E
“The architect and the designer are the deciders of our reality. They are the greatest link between the imagination and reality, and how we go about living our lives.”
+ + + +
Visualizations | Vray, Photoshop Drafting | Revit 3D Modeling | Rhino 3D, Sketchup, Revit Graphics | Illustrator, InDesign
F A B R I C A T I O N CNC Router, 3D Printing, Hand Modeling
E X P E R I E N C E + Architecture Visulization Lead K-Works Studios, December 2020 - present Lead in the development of architectual visualizations for projects. Incorporate feedback into iterations. Producde high-fidelity renderings for competitions in an efficent manner using programs ranging from Vray to Photoshop. + Assistant to the Super Intendant Diversified Builders, June 2020 - December 2020 Assist super intendant in organizing material throughout works site and ensuring the cleanliness of the site, manage day laborers, assist in reading blueprints and layout. + Architectual Designer Freedom by Design, Janurary 2020 - May 2020 Work with a small team of 5 to redesign the interior of a local cafe in Denver, CO. + CU Denver Mentorship Program June 2020 - present Meet once a week with an architect in Denver to discuss projects give insight into the buisness side of architecture, and develope relationships outside of classroom.
+ Public Mural Colorado Crush September 2018 Submit a proposal for a buisness to complete a large-scale 2,000 sq ft. outdoor mural as part of the annual Colorado Crush artist festival. + Graffiti Artist Fort Collins Mural Project October 2018 Submit a proposal to compete in a public art mural open call. Work alongside buisness owners in developing and executing a sign for their buisness. C O M P E T I T I O N S + Low-Rise:Affordable Housing in Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Feburary 2021 + Yoga House on a Cliff Beebreeder Portugal, Spain December 2020 + Icelandic Meditaiton Cabin Beebreeder Iceland November 2019