Abigail Smith Architecture Undergraduate School Portfolio
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Table of Contents 04
Catenary Hanging Structural volumes and analog designing
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Light House Vine City Community Center
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Falling Piedmont Park Poolscape
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Roof Roller Derby Rink and Gallery
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Tripod Library Experimental Visual Representation
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The Bridge Building Art Museum for Abelardo Morell
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Catenary Hanging PROJECT TYPE: Research and Design STUDIO 7: Lars Spuybroek DATE: Fall 2015 LOCATION: Chicago, IL TEAM: William Moore & Abigail Smith A catenary curve is a curve that accounts for the self weight of a hanging material. The only external force acting on the curve is gravity. Because of this, all of the force is in tension resulting in a perfectly structural form. By inverting the curve and inverting all of the tension into pure compression, architects and experimentalists such as Antoni Gaudi have utilized this structure to create architectural masterpieces. This research and design studio began with studying Frei Otto’s work with remodeling Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia. We began to study the curve using simple metal chain which has necessary weight, length of links and flexibility to be an introductory modeling material. Through numerous iterations of trials experimenting with four main variables (width, length, shear, and intersection/connection points), an archive of understanding was created. From there, larger chain models were constructed to learn about the created spaces within the tiers of curves. Orthogonal first tiers resulted in simple layered spaces, while more organic first tiers resulted in opportunities for complexity and different types of voids. The next step was to transform the model from pure tension to pure compression. Designing a machine transitioned into the machine designing the form. Chipboard was the selected material connected with wire pint joints. The intricate process included manufacturing the chipboard chain, hanging the chain and freezing the chain. Chicago was chosen as the desired site. Frank Gehry’s Millennium Park structures created a welcoming environment for the catenary hanging model. Located on the shore of the Navy Pier, the reflection of the structure in the water acts as a constant reminder of the inversion from tension to compression . On the other side of the structure, the highway facilitates the experience of the weaving the naves as the vehicles pass. Naves facilitate circulation. In this case, the circulation is enjoyed internally and externally to the building. This research project carries on the work of Antonio Gaudi and Frei Otto. Hopefully this immaculate structural system will continue to be used in future architecture around the world. 4 | Abigail Smith | Catenary Hanging
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Widening Anchor Symmetrical
Lengthening Chain Symmetrical
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Lengthening Chain Asymmetrical
Widening Anchor Asymmetrical
Lengthening Chain Asymmetrical
Widening Gap Symmetrical
Changing Intersection Symmetrical
Widening Anchor Asymmetrical
Widening Anchor: Shear Symmetrical
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First Tier
Second Tier
Third Tier
Left Rear View
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Fourth Tier
First Tier
Second Tier
Third Tier
Fourth Tier
Right Side View
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First Tier
Second Tier
Third Tier
Fourth Tier
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The Light House PROJECT TYPE: Community Center STUDIO 6: Michelle Rinehart DATE: Spring 2015 LOCATION: Atlanta, GA The community located around Martin Luther King Boulevard has been affected heavily by the decisions of the local government in a quest to bring tourism and attention to Atlanta. The Dome is located just east of the site surrounded by three college campuses. The program of this multi-use space is a community center ďŹ lled with a library, a learning kitchen and an auditorium space. This community center acts as a beacon drawing the neighborhood to the programs and opportunities it has to offer. This building has to be accepted by the community through the process of experience. Solar ďŹ ns allow for the building to have a range of privacy depending on the interior program. A traditional light house has a central spiral staircase and a lantern. These two straights have informed the design. The program is laid out in order of public to private space starting with the public gallery and lobby space and ending with a roof top garden with an outdoor classroom, bar and reading space. The main spiral staircase is placed on display and acts as viewing platforms for the layers of the building. For example, the learning kitchen and the dining space are displayed behind glass curtain walls to allow for transparency of action. At night, the building will light up the sidewalks and areas around the site in proportion to the interior program: the more public the program, the more light. This building serves as an invitation to the community to learn and grow from each other and the surrounding opportunities.
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Ground Floor Plan 1. Main Lobby Space 2. Gallery 5. Exterior Hallway 6. Exterior Courtyard 7. Auditorium Lobby
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First Floor Plan 1. Kitchen 6. Outdoor Dining 7. Indoor Dining 8. Kitchen Office
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Second Floor Plan 1. Checkout Desk 2. Public Meeting Room 3. Periodicals/Newspapers 4. General Stacks 5. Reference 6. Reading Area 9. Computer Terminals 10. Children’s Section 11. Office/Conference Rooms
Roof Plan 1. Bar 2. Reading Space 3. Outdoor Classroom 4. Garden Space
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Falling PROJECT TYPE: Poolscape STUDIO 4: Zachary Porter DATE: Spring 2014 LOCATION: Atlanta, GA The poolscape is located within Piedmont Park, a lively and beautiful park located in Atlanta, Georgia. The pools are created from seven concave triangles that have fallen into the earth and carved out voids of different depth and shape. This project was utilized to experiment with model making and representation. Starting with local precedent studies of ground conditions around Atlanta, the ďŹ rst gold chipboard model was created. Setting those ideas momentarily aside, a plastic vacuum form model was created to mimic an altered topography of the site. The ďŹ nal design was created through multiple iterations of digital and physical model making. Resin poured on top of gold paint was used to represent and highlight the water. Some triangular tips were left standing as sculptural additions to the design, while others were hidden for circulation and lines of sight. A small cafe or refreshment bar is located under the main central tip with the restrooms and changing rooms hidden in the earth. https://vimeo.com/110329035 20 | Abigail Smith | Falling
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Roof PROJECT TYPE: Roller Derby Rink STUDIO 3: Daniel Baerlecken DATE: Fall 2013 LOCATION: Atlanta, GA The roller derby rink is located on top of the Underground Atlanta Parking Garage. This project focused on the roof and began with local precedent studies of residential roof studies around Atlanta. Roof types used for inspiration were the gable roof and the hip and valley roof. A grid was created to allow for multiple iterations of roof typologies and to better separate the program below. The final design was chosen for its playful adaption of traditional residential roofs. The secondary program is a children’s museum that would utilize the roller derby rink while not in use by clubs and other organizations. Directly above the rink is an oculus allowing natural lighting into the space. The roof becomes part of the children’s museum as it mirrors into a skewed octahedron. Within each of these octahedrons, there are climbing cores where children and adults can travel up and down throughout the museum. With this close interaction, visitors start to appreciate this roof in a new light.
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Roof Assem blag
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UpUp UpUp
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Tripod Library PROJECT TYPE: Library STUDIO 4: Zachary Porter DATE: Spring 2014 LOCATION: Atlanta, GA This design facilitated experiment of representation through drawing. The three legs of the building were separated and unrolled to allow for a flat drawing that showed every piece of the outer facade. It is almost like an instructional diagram, explaining how to assemble this form from a piece of paper. Visitors enter through the feet of any of the three legs and are welcomed into a triangulated space filled with knowledge and opportunity to learn. The triangular windows allow for a transparency of the library and its shelves without harming the books. The legs sprouted from a rectangle broken up into triangulated geometries. As the legs move vertically, this rectangle twists and complicates the facade and plans until they reach the roof. Here the original rectangle is exposed to the sky and is connected with a flat y-shaped rooftop reading garden. Visitors are allowed to enter the roof top space shown exploded from the rest of the building in the drawing to the right. This space is the only space other than the ground that connects all three legs. Neighboring legs have multiple doorways and hallways that connect the different volumes within the interior levels. It is meant to be a piece of sculpture; a work of art that is full of information and life.
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A19d A20c
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The Bridge Building PROJECT TYPE: Photography Museum STUDIO 5: Volkan Alkanoglu DATE: Fall 2014 LOCATION: Atlanta, GA Starting with iterations of abstract Illustrator line drawings, this design originated with its plan. The art museum is located on a very narrow site within midtown Atlanta hosting a permanent exhibit and an interchangeable exhibit. This line drawing was selected for its complex densities and curves that already diagrammed movement through a space. After analyzing the inspirational line drawing, the bridge was created linking the main entry room and temporary exhibition room to the cafe and auditorium space. The main gallery space is located on the bridge reecting on the main artist’s work. The height and volume of the space were determined by the density of the lines within the original drawing. METHOD: line to line A.
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A. 100% teal, 0.7 pt, continuous, 300 B. 100% teal, 0.2 pt, continuous, 300 C. 100% yellow, 0.2 pt, continuous, 300 D. 100% yellow, 0.7 pt, continuous, 300 E. 100% yellow, 0.7 pt, continuous, 300 F. 100% teal, 0.2 pt, continuous, 300 36 | Abigail Smith | The Bridge Building
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Ground Floor Plan 1. Lobby 2. Outdoor Amphitheater 3. Auditorium 4. Stage 5. Storage 6. Office
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Second Level Floor Plan 7. Secondary Gallery 8. Main Gallery 9. Cafe 10. Restroom 1 11. Restroom 2 12. Kitchen 13. Storage
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Third Level Floor Plan 14. Lounge/Bar 15. Private Space/Storage 16. Office Space Long Section 17. Main Entrance 18. Front Lobby 19. Secondary Gallery 20. Main Gallery 21. Cafe 22. Auditorium 23. Lounge/Bar 24. Outdoor Amphitheater Short Section 25. Main Gallery 26. Secondary Gallery 27. Outdoor Amphitheater
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Short Section 2 28. Main Gallery 29. Outdoor Balcony 30. Lounge/Bar 31. Outdoor Amphitheater
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Roof
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1. Main Lobby 2. Secondary Gallery 3. Main Gallery 4. Cafe 5. Offices 6. Kitchen 7. Restrooms (2) 8. Fire Stairs 9. Lounge/Bar 10. Auditorium Stage 11. Private Office 12. Auditorium Seating 13. Outdoor Amphitheater 44 | Abigail Smith | The Bridge Building
Entrance
Entrance
Outdoor Balconyy
Outdoor Amphitheater
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