ALEX DIAZ interior design pratt institute
pg 6
carved
pg 12
revitalization
pg 22
satori
pg 30
glass house
pg 38
house 3000
pg 44
deviant acts of design
pg 52
introduction to thesis
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CARVED
The objective for my very first Design I studio project consisted of creating a c o n t a i n e r. M o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y, i t h a d t o house a randomly chosen fruit. I received the rambutan. Faced with a fruit I had never seen before, let alone never eaten, I dissected it. I studied it. I mapped it. I carved it’s shape from 150 sheets of museum board.
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T h e r a m b u t a n h a s a n a g g r e s s i v e e x t e r i o r. H o w e v e r, I f o u n d t h e e d i b l e f l e s h o f t h i s funky fruit to be very delicate, almost feminine.
plan | elevation | section
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This juxtaposition of textures inspired the container ’s appearance. The rigid and stark exterior reveals a delicate move to create a space.
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REVITALIZATION
The Bedford Branch Public Library is located not very far from Pratt Institute, in a part of Brooklyn called Bedford Stuyvesant-- better known as Bed Stuy. I t w a s s o r t o f a s a d , l i t t l e l i b r a r y. I t i s f r e q u e n t l y c r o w d e d b y a f t e r s c h o o l c h i l d r e n f r o m P S 3 B e d f o r d Vi l l a g e , a g r a d e s c h o o l a c r o s s t h e s t r e e t . H o w e v e r, m o r e g a t h e r around the computers than actual books. I wanted in my design to bring the book back-- creating a dynamic and universal space that inspired the revitalization of reading.
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Inspired by the drawings of Italian architect Francesco Borromini, and his grand gestures in his churches, I systematically laid out a floor plan based on the preexisting architecture.
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plan
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cross section | longitudinal section
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SATORI The final project of Design IV consisted of a group effort to design a hostel. As an added element, the hostels were placed all around the world. Our studio was assigned the cultural city of Kyoto, Japan. Our studio was broken into the three smaller groups based on program: reception, dormitory and garden. I was part of the garden. My individual role included designing and arranging the garden’s hot tubs, as well as creating the models and AutoCAD drawings. A l l m e m b e r s : B e n j a m i n B o r g e l l a , Vi v i a n H o , S a r a n g L e e , A s h l e y N g a i w i n g , R o b R o b e r t s , J e n n i f e r Ts a i & B e c c a Wo n g
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The basis of our designs came mostly from the tatami mat. I t s p r o p o r t i o n s l a y d i r e c t l y w i t h t h e h u m a n b o d y. This helped inform our placements of cutouts. We wanted e a c h c u t o u t t o f r a m e a v i e w o r i n f o r m t h e v i e w e r. progression of models
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detail of plan drawing
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“Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commo.�
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GLASS HOUSE
This project began as a retail store and developed into a cultural space. The client was Housing Works, a company whose mission is to help the h o m e l e s s o f N e w Yo r k C i t y. From this idea developed the Glass House: an open space for everyone. The main structure of the space is a ramp that l e a d s g u e s t s u p t o t h e 3 r d f l o o r. The store is also complete with its own health f a c i l i t y, f o r t h o s e i n n e e d .
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Our design charrette consisted of the breakdown and analysis of a bag. What inspired my space’s final form was the consistent overlapping of materials.
initial sketch model
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Level 5 40' - 0" Level 4 36' - 0"
Level 3 24' - 0"
Level 2 10' - 0"
Level 1 0' - 0"
1
South Elevation 3/16" = 1'-0"
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caption text
final model
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HOUSE 3000 Current design encourages the destructive habit of over collecting. We have closets and drawers and boxes used to horde u n n e c e s s a r y t h i n g s a n d h i d e t h e m a w a y. The over consumption of useless things distorts who we are. Instead, we should be selective in what we own, because what we own reflects us. The apartment of the future, House 3000, puts everything on display. In a naked field of vision, the only thing you will see is us.
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I n s p i r e d b y m o d e r n a r t i s t To m Wesselmann, and his views on America and over consumerism, I developed this idea of voyeurism.
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4 5
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3 6 1
1. Entrance 2. Guest Bathroom 3. Entertaining Area 4. Reading Space 5. Kitchen 6. Dining Table 7.Work Table 8. Guest Bed 9. Lounging Area 10. Master Bed & Bath
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1’
5’
10’
detailed motion drawing
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DEVIANT ACTS OF DESIGN The start of Design V consisted of having to choose a deviant act. Mine was graffiti. First we mapped and diagrammed the action. Then, through the lens of the act, we created drawings and based a model after them. L a s t l y, w e c r e a t e d a s t r u c t u r e t h a t c o u l d h o u s e t h e deviant action. The goal of this project was to explore designing through drawing and model making techniques in a unique and abstract context.
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Through the careful study of the art of making graffiti, I was able to map out the movements found in the arm. We were asked to pick a few verbs to associate with our action. My project revolved around the verb: overlap.
00:02
00:05
00:08
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My drawing was inspired by the same lines and angles I found in my initial diagramming. When it came to developing a model, I used a similar s t r a t e g y, c o n s i d e r i n g t h e t e r m o v e r l a p t h r o u g h o u t .
“Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commo.� caption text
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B
A P L A N C U T AT 3 ’
P L A N C U T AT 6 ’
SECTION CUT A
SECTION CUT B
The last step was then to create a space to facilitate the action. I allowed the geometry to be derived from the act of spray painting. The planes of the model help the artist to perform the act by becoming a stencil.
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INTRODUCTION TO THESIS REGAINING RESILIENCE Helping the Homeless of N e w Yo r k
Resilience is a word that has been used more and more frequently over the past decade. But what does it mean? For thesis we were given this term in which to extrapolate our ideas from. F i r s t I e x p l a i n m y o w n d e f i n i t i o n o f r e s i l i e n c y. This allowed me to develop my concept. Then I explain at an abstract glance where I hope to take my project.
A n d r e s S e r r a n o , R e s i d e n t s o f N e w Yo r k ( M e o w
Wolfman), 2014. Copyright of the Artist. Courtesy of More Art
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A n d r e s S e r r a n o , R e s i d e n t s o f N e w Yo r k ( C h r i s C a h i l l ) , 2 0 1 4 . Copyright of the Artist. Courtesy of More Art
CONCEPT
The most resilient systems on Earth are found in
the previously homeless that will live here. This will include
nature. These structures are comprised of parts that can be
therapy rooms, communal spaces, cafeterias, and most
easily replaced, shifted and manipulated. The best example
i m p o r t a n t l y, i n d i v i d u a l a p a r t m e n t s , a m o n g o t h e r p r o g r a m s .
of these resilient organisms are people.
How
the
concept
will
drive
space
planning
and
Mankind is made up of parts in that we have our bodies,
development is in the construction of different, changeable
our homes, our jobs, and our families that make up who we
walls types. These wall types will be completely movable and
are. When we lose one of our “pieces� we have some sort of
allow for room shape changes.
system to replace or fix what we have lost.
The space will be made of parts that are easily
H o w e v e r, a g r o w i n g p r o b l e m i n o u r s o c i e t y i s t h o s e who have lost their resilience-- the homeless.
manipulated
and
transformed
to
fit
whatever
program
is needed. These wall types will vary in materiality and
Homeless people is an example of resilience being
mechanisms depending on the program most needed.
misplaced for the time being. They simply need help in restoring their missing parts. This ranges from needing medical
consulting
to
providing
a
stable
environment
including a home and a job. This concept of systems made of parts will follow throughout my entire design process. I am imagining a space that has multiple programs to help facilitate the needs of
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A n d r e s S e r r a n o , R e s i d e n t s o f N e w Yo r k ( D o n a l d G r e e n ) , 2 0 1 4 . Courtesy of More Art
AT A GLANCE
Resilience is found in systems that are comprised of parts
near the water that is home to many families and on the line
that affectively create the whole. The best example of this
of gentrification. It is also located in an area that does not
are people. We are comprised of parts in that our bodies,
h a v e f a c i l i t a t e s f o r t h e h o m e l e s s n e a r b y.
homes, jobs, and families make up who we are.
I am imagining a residential building for individuals and
My purpose is the idea of Reinstating the Resilience of
families for those who were previously homeless and are now
t h o s e w h o h a v e l o s t i t , s p e c i f i c a l l y t h e h o m e l e s s o f N e w Yo r k
being given the opportunity to start again. This facility will
C i t y. I i n t e n d o n d o i n g t h i s b y m a k i n g i t e a s i e r f o r t h e m t o
also provide services daily for other homeless people, such
adapt back into society by providing them with the structure
as food, healthcare, and beds.
of a stable life.
I s t u d i e d t h e B o w e r y M i s s i o n a s a c a s e s t u d y. T h e y a l s o
A p r e c e d e n t I e x p l o r e d w a s t h e N a k a g i n C a p s u l e To w e r.
have the same ideals of providing support for homeless. They
It was similar to my concept in that its architects wanted to
had several methods of providing structure for their guests,
create an ‘organic’ system of construction. They comprised
r a n g i n g f r o m l o n g t e r m s t a y, t o o v e r n i g h t g u e s t s .
their apartment building out of modules that could be replaced or change as the user did. It was made of parts that created
I hope to create a space that pieces back together the parts missing from the lives of the homeless.
the whole. Although ultimately a failure, I learned from it the basis of what systems work and those who don’t. M y s i t e i s 2 4 0 K e n t A v e , B r o o k l y n , N Y. I c h o s e t h i s s p e c i f i c location because I felt this was an area that could allow someone to rehabilitate themselves. It is a beautiful location
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