ALEX HALL
DESIGN PORTFOLIO
01
reCAPTURE SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION CENTER A R C H
4 0 3
F A L L
2 0 1 9
Located within the Paint Branch River watershed, reCAPTURE facilitates cohesion between the built environment and the floodplain. Using the river as a lens, the need for stormwater management becomes overt. This project explores the role of water and topography in environmental systems and as tool for spatial exploration.
I N T ER S E C T
E X T EN D
I N T ER AC T
SINK
FLOW
ALEX HALL
DESIGN PORTFOLIO
N
N
SI T E PL AN
SE C O N D FLO O R
N
FI R ST FLO O R
ALEX HALL
DESIGN PORTFOLIO
CL A S SRO O M SE C T I O N
REAC T On a rainy day in College Park, water sweeps down the field and pools up at the entrance of campus. In order to mitigate this issue, the building encircles the oversaturated ground and provides multiple measures against flooding. The roof’s unique rising form allows for rainwater collection at the midpoint of the building which is diverted into cisterns and treatment systems inside.
I T ER AT I VE M O D EL S
R E U S E Native vegetation lines the site and properly processes storm water unlike the current groundcover of mown grass. Plants like Golden Ragwort and Milkweed fill the constructed wetland that flows naturally around the building. The wetland filters water and then the roof collection system directs excess water within the building’s toilets and sinks.
ALEX HALL DESIGN PORTFOLIO
e e f e d . r s s
E X H I BI T I O N SE C T I O N
R E N E W Building orientation is equally symbolic as well as it is a strategic sun shading technique. Minimizing the Eastern and Western facades allows for controlled Northern and Southern light. Vertical fins flow along the facade tying in the classic brick color of campus as well as controlling ambient light. The massing of the building allows for elongated Eastern and Western facades.
R E C A P T U R E Rising out of the landscape, the building benefits from the thermal properties of the earth. The concept of a partially buried building inspired the use of geothermal fields to provide a sustainable energy source. Carefully extending from the topography, the green roof houses another garden area as well as decreasing impermeable surface.
R E C L A I M reCAPTURE is a project that reclaims the flooded land and revitializes it. Residents from the City of College Park and students alike are drawn to the idyllic Chapel Fields. As the second largest open green space on campus, this activates a corridor lengthening McKeldin Mall all the way to College Park’s downtown commercial area.
O FFI CE SE C T I O N
02
LIGHTWELL URBAN INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABILITY A R C H
4 0 3
F A L L
2 0 1 9
In contrast to the city of Baltimore, LightWell embodies sustainability. The building is inspired by the natural phenomenon of fractals as well as solar patterns. As a result of tall buildings surrounding the site, controling sunlight became paramount to the building’s design. A solar analysis shows the most concentrated areas of sunlight throughout the day. This study informed the building’s “lightwells”, or three sided courtyards.
N
ROOF PLAN
THIRD FLOOR
SECOND FLOOR
FIRST FLOOR
ALEX HALL
DESIGN PORTFOLIO
I T ER AT I VE M O D EL S
ALEX HALL DESIGN PORTFOLIO
The repetitious nature of fractals is replicated by tree-like columns, louvers, and rectangular courtyards. Light enters these courtyards at optimal times throughout the day and reduces solar glare. The Southern and Western louver systems are equally efficient, oriented vertically and horizontally, respectively. Relative regularity occurs within the patterns of fractals and the same movement is found in the structural system. Branch-like columns define spaces within the building. Similar language flows outdoors creating a breezeway underneath the first floor of the building. Rainwater collection is a pertinent issue in the neighborhood as the area does not have much permeable land. The large cutouts in the building facade are combined with the green roof ’s absorption to reduce the building’s impact on stormwater drainage. The courtyard cutouts also respond to the environmental site context in a meaningful way. By mapping the sun’s path throughout the day, I was able to determine the optimal position for daylighting strategies. Through the process of overlaying different shadow maps on the site, a clear
pattern was established. Light enters these courtyards at certain times throughout the day and reduces solar glare and effectively uses solar gain. Baltimore is mildly warm city meaning the building systems should reflect that and focus on cooling. Intense summer temperatures, low summer wind speeds, and city heat island effect reveal the need for passive cooling systems. The green roof accommodates this necessity by providing natural insulation between the sun’s harsh rays and the building. Additionally, three courtyards serve the building’s need for fresh air and natural ventilation. Although Baltimore is relatively warm, the climate only allows the use of natural ventilation for about 40% of the year. Efficient mechanical systems pick up where natural ventilation techniques are no longer productive. As the annual insolation in the city is high, the large area of glazing needs to be properly managed. This was completed by the use of louvers on the South and West facades. Solar gains are controlled in the summer and heat is allowed to penetrate in the winter as a result of the carefully calculated louver system.
03
FRACTURE FROM BASTION TO MODERN ART A R C H
4 0 2
S P R I N G
2 0 1 9
Set in the idyllic Bastion delle Ginevra, our focus was to breathe new life into the defensive walls of Medieval Florence. Fracture Studios is home to three young sculptors who live and work inside the crevice nestled in the Tuscan landscape.
ALEX HALL
DESIGN PORTFOLIO
“In the summ in the bra
“Hidden in the fabric of a medieval bastillon, the modern ar t galler y is undisruptive of the lush Tuscan setting. “
WE ST-E A ST SE C T I O N
ALEX HALL DESIGN PORTFOLIO
mer time the entrance is entangled anches of fresh olive trees , which provide an aromatic aura.” “The Fracture” acts as the divide between public and private areas as well as the convergence of nature. Located on a hillside and facing due South, the fissure in the archaic wall acts as a sundial as it brings golden light into the space as well as a viewfinder above the city. Florence’s rich architectural history is split open to welcome new ideas, not broken from its roots.
N
SI T E PL AN
RIVER MARKET
m ar ke t to r i v e r
PLAZA MARKET
r e claim the f ie ld
r ev i t ali ze t h e ri v e r
RIVER PARK
TEMPORARAL TRANSITIONS
ALEX HALL
STEP TOWARDS COMMUNIT Y PLACEMAKING A R C H
4 0 8
S P R I N G
2 0 2 0
Construction of the new Purple Line in Riverdale Park, Maryland threatens small businesses and community life. As architects, how can we make incremental progress in the community and ultimately restore a tributary of the Anacostia River? Through interviews and site analysis, we identified key areas located near the future Riverdale Park metro stop. These are temporal installations of a larger master plan that creates nodes within the community. From the Plaza Del Alamo in the South towards the Megamart Market at the Northwest end of the are we created a series of parklets to welcome visitors and residents alike. W O R K
I N
P R O G R E S S
DESIGN PORTFOLIO
04
05
CREATIVE WORK OTHER ARTISTIC E XPRE S SIONS
I N D I V I D U A L
P R O J E C T S
A sampling of creative endeavors done during the past two years. Graphite drawings were completed for the application to the B.S. in Architecture program at the University of Maryland. The oil painting was produced as a result of a course during my education abroad experience in Florence, Italy.
graphiet on paper.
oil on canvas.
ALEX HALL
DESIGN PORTFOLIO
graphiet on paper.
NA XOS , GREECE . 2019
thank y ou for y our time and consideration.
ALEX HALL, B.S. ARCH, 2020