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ALEXANDRA VDOVINA portfolio 2018 - 2020
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ACADEMIC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GRID PROJECT
COMMUNITY CENTER
STUDY CASE
PROFESSIONAL COLLAGES
SHIPPING CONTAINER DESIGN
// ACADEMIC // UC Berkeley Studio // 2019
GRID PROJECT This project explores transformations upon a set of intersecting planes. I started with three planes intersecting each other in the middle. Keeping the initial center, I made iterative changes based on a rigid grid system. Since there was no context for this project, I limited myself with a rectangular system that includes different dimensions depending on the side.
The planes of the original bounding box were assigned a grid layout, with differently dimensioned grids for each axis. This grid system dictated the order and form of the transformations.
the initial intersection and first iterations
last iteration and its sections
// ACADEMIC // UC Berkeley Studio // 2019
COMMUNITY CENTER This project is the continuation of the previous assignmemt and explores applying the grid system to a sited and programmed building project. While the previous project didn’t have any context, the community center is located on an existing site. The site intersection of College Ave and Claremont Ave in Berkeley - creates multiple restrictions for the initial grid. The initial grid projections are created from drawing lines from Armanino Court and Claremont Avenu. This step created the acute angle within the crid. By duplicating the grid different directions, I discovered 3 dimensional channels that could contain stairs or programs (or both) within them. Since the community center consists of very flexible programs, the channels were a great fit for them. One if the channel became a gallery space, while other is a reading and multimedia space.
Vertical connections in the volume appear not only through the tubes but also through the double heights or spaces that open through from the first to the fourth floor. For example, the main stairs that connect the first floor to the second are exposed to the vertical open volume that continues up to the fourth floor. Third floor balcony is open to the volume at one of the administrative offices. Another example of an open space is above the gallery. Both spaces contribute to the overall volumetric variety and create a different experience while moving around the building.
site analysis
initial formation with the axis drawn from the site
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1 lobby 2 cafe 3 bike storage 4 commercial 1 LOBBYspace 2 CAFE 5 gallery 3 BIKE STORAGE 6 gallery office 4 COMMERCIAL SPACE 7 community storage 5 GALLERY 6 GALLERY OFFICE 8 community meeting area 7 COMMUNITY STORAGE 9 reading and periodical area 8 COMMUNITY MEETING AREA 10 computer roomAND PERIODICAL AREA 9 READING 10 COMPUTER ROOM 11 administrative office 11 ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE 12 children’s area 12 CHILDREN’S AREA 13 restroom 13 RESTROOM 14 ELEVATOR 14 elevator 15 BALCONY 15 balcony
first floor plan
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second floor plan
third floor plan
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fourth floor plan
The first level only contains those programs that should be easily accessible for people who walk in the building and pedestrians. For example, a cafe on the first level is visible and accessible on a busy College avenue. On the next levels the program spaces get more fluid and some of the spaces are interchangeable, to accommodate the community center’s various uses. For example, reading area can be interchanged with the community meeting area. The grid system was flexible enough to permit creation of variety of spaces and rigid enough to guide the design process and produce a cohesive spatial language.
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// ACADEMIC // UC Berkeley Studio // 2020
THE INNOVATION CENTER CASE STUDY I studied The Innovation Center UC (Santiago, Chili)by Alejandro Aravena. The case study examined the building’s performance, envelope, spacial organization, and its relations to the enviroment. The key idea of the buidling was reversing a curtian wall building - creating opaque exterior walls and placing curtain walls inside as an atrium. Within the opaque skin, the architect developed a series of openings and a central atrium. These openings allow for natural ventilation, light, and program division and distribution. The analytical drawing analyzes relationship between the main solids and voids.
studying the reversed envelope using wood blocks
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This analytical model emphasizes all the features that the architect intended to include - atrium, set back windows, 4 types of spaces etc. To represent the monolith feeling of the facade I decided on using a color that would represent heaviness - black.
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// PROFESSIONAL // Conexwest, Shipping Container Distributor // Design and 3d modeling // 2018
OPTION I
POP UP CONTAINER PROPOSAL The shipping container design was a proposal for Spinnerie Restaurant that wanted participate in Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco. I created two proposals that demonstrate two different unfolding systems. The main goals were to create the maximum seating spaces and keep the restaurant’s famous style. The advantage of using the shipping container was its mobility. Both of the proposals suggest that all the equipment is stored in the shipping container while it’s being transported. The first proposal suggests that three of the side walls an be opened and used as a floor area.
OPTION II The second proposal suggests that an angle of corner of the container can be opnened and used as a shade.
// PROFESSIONAL // Decorist // Sketch Up, Photoshop // 2019
COLLAGE RENDERINGS The following renderings and collages are samples of my work for the interior design firm Decortist. I designed and rendered interiors for clients, as well as senior designers. Also, I created the collages for the blog posts featuring different products.