A MOM E N T I N T I M E A L E X L AT H A M | A R C H I T ECT U R E U N D E R G RA D UAT E P O RT F O L I O
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PERSONAL
PHOTOGRAPH, “POP”
AUGUST 2013, CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK CITY
How many times do we wish we could just press pause in our lives? Just to sleep in a little longer, maybe have a few more hours to work on a project, or simply pause to enjoy a moment, whether it be a view, a feeling, a sound... With design, we can. As designers we can envision a perfect moment and bring it to life. With our minds, hands, and abilities, we can create this moment, draft it, refine it, and ultimately bring it to reality. As an architecture student, I have spent my undergraduate career molding, thinking, creating, and crafting these moments into intricate pieces of my design philosophy and how I see the world- as a place with meaning, harmony, and beauty, that can be captured in a moment and created to last much longer.
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susta in ab l e i n n ova t i on
t he hu nte rs an d h unted
com p ressi on an d release
t hro ug h th e voids
THROUGH THE VOIDS THE EFFECT OF NATURAL LIGHT ON DESIGN
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The goal of our project in Barcelona was to thoughtfully redesign the interior and rooftop area of an existing parking deck in the center of a L’eixample block. The assigned program was a market. The light projects a pattern throughout the day causing parallel light paths crossing diagonally across the main floor which my partner, Chase Hoke, and I used to form our market plans, using each moment that light passes through the building as purpose for different elements in our design.
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By researching the light patterns in the preexisiting structure, I was then able to use the results to form the new design structure for the next phase of the project. JUNE 21 SEPT 21 and MAR 21 73.5 50
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Porosity diagrams allow us to see how the light filters from the roof to the cellar through the use of voids in the floors and ceilings to allow light to pass through. The light capturing cone, right, shows how light is captured and dispersed into the building at all times of day.
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THROUGH THE VOIDS
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HUNTERS AND HUNTED WHEN NATURAL ANIMAL FORM INSPIRES DESIGN
After choosing an endangered animal and conducting research on the species, I was to allow some aspect of the animal to inspire my building’s design, which was to eventually become a conservation center. I chose the endangered barbary serval, pictured right. When hunting, the feline creature pauses in a crouched position and then launches into an attack where the serval “claps” its paws together to attack its prey. The undulating curves of every moment in the feline’s hunting physique come to life in the form of the building. The arched shoulder planes form the curves of the building while the altering heights are extruded from the spiked motion as the serval moves from crouch to pounce when hunting its prey.
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A R C H 3 5 2 | C L E M S O N | S P R I N G 2 0 1 3 | P R O F E S S O R A N N E M A R I E J AC Q U E S
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FLOOR I
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FLOOR II
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FLOOR III
1 LIBRARY/MEDIA 2 LIBRARY STAFF 3 RESTROOMS 4 STORAGE 5 CLASSROOMS 6 WWW SPACE 7 MULTIPURPOSE
8 AMPITHEATER 9 ENTRY HALL 10 OFFICES 11 CONFERENCE 12 LOUNGE 13 PORCH AREA 14 LIVING QUARTERS
The site is located in the popular Falls Park in Greenville, South Carolina alongside the Reedy River. The conservation center includes many areas for both education and enjoyment. The WWW space acts as a connection to other animal protection agencies around the world while the entry hall doubles as an exhibit space while a multipurpose area on the first floor can be used for events such as fundraisers, lectures, and presentations.
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ANTICIPATION
LEAPING
POUNCING
HUNTERS AND HUNTED
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COMPRESSION AND RELEASE
WHEN OPPOSING FORCES FORM A DESIGN
Beginning the semester with the design of an apparatus to support a chosen rock, pictured right, we evolved our design into an on-campus nondenominational worship space. Our programming required a sanctuary as well as a fellowship hall. In my project, I included a sloping roof opening up to the views of Lake Hartwell and the rolling hills of Clemson, South Carolina. I also incorporated a green roof on the second floor reminscent of the moss on my rock from the beginning of the semester, reiterating my focus on the balance between organic and inorganic. Along with balance, I noticed the transition from open space to enclosed space when moving from the open space at the site’s entrance, to the arboreal enclosed space within the site, reminscent of Frank Lloyd’s Wright’s compression and release idea, although in my building the idea is reversed.
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This idea of transitioning from open to enclosed occurs not only from one’s journey from the site entrance into the building, but also within the building itself. The expansive entrance halls forms a multipurpose space as well as room for circulation to both the fellowship hall and sanctuary.
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PROGRAMMING DIAGRAMS
PARKING LOT C-02
stadium parking residential
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SITE GEOMETRY
VENTILATION LIGHT LIGHT VENTILATION
SOUTH ELEVATION
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KEY 1. FELLOWSHIP HALL 2. JANITOR’S CLOSET 3. FEMALE RESTROOM 4. MALE RESTROOM 5. STAFF OFFICE 6. MECHANICAL ROOM 7. ELEVATOR 8. FIRE STAIR 9. ORNAMENTAL STAIR 10. SANCTUARY
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LOWER FLOOR PLAN
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CONSTRUCTION SECTION scale scale
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COMPRESSION AND RELEASE
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sustainable i n n o vat io n a ze ro waste init iat ive
Through my H202 Sustainability class, we were asked to begin a project focused on any area of sustainable practice. I chose to focus on sustainable packaging and was joined by sophomores Madison Andrews and Nikki DeMass, under our professor Dr. Leidy Klotz. In my design, a 6-sided bamboo cube can be taken apart to form coasters for the polyethelene cups which are packaged and stacked inside of the cube. The idea is for the cube itself to act as both the packaging and the product, inspiring consumers to consider the negative effect waste has on our environment and how we can begin to change this issue.
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the coaster
After much prototyping, a final design was chosen to form the most efficient and successful cube. Each bamboo constructed and laser-cut side of the cups’ “packaging” can be taken apart to be used as a coaster.
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Made more horizontal than vertical to fit more succintly inside of the cube, each cup will be a reusable and dishwasher safe drinking aid made of the translucent plastic material, polyethelene.
At the conclusion of the fall 2013 semester, we received $2,500 in grant money to continue and advance our project in the spring, with our idea receiving the winning number of votes for the best project. Madison, Nikki, and I plan to continue our prototyping in both materials and designs, as well as possibly advancing into other product+package combinations in a creative inquiry next spring.
SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION
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“Millie”
Oil on canvas
“Playground”
Mixed Media
Watercolor study I
“Reach”
“Gaze”
Oil on canvas
Colored pencil
ART SAMPLE
Watercolor study II “First Try”
Acrylic on canvas
After experimentation in a wide variety of mediums, from watercolor to pencil to oil and more, I am continuously working to develop a clear style, but still find myself wanting to experiment in the seemingly endless variety of art media. As evident from this sample, I have yet to choose a favorite medium, as the enticing opportunity to draw or paint with something new seems to distract me from focusing in one style of art expression.
CURRICULUM VITAE ALEX LATHAM EDUCATION CLEMSON UNIVERSITY Architecture, B.A. May 2014 Spanish minor GPA 3.8 WORK INTERIOR DESIGN INTERN May-August 2013 EXPERIENCE Nicole Norris Design Studio; Sumter, SC INTERIOR DESIGN INTERN June-August 2012 Melissa Ervin Interior Design; Charleston, SC ARCHITECTURE INTERN May 2012 Jackson and Simms Architects Sumter, South Carolina
HONORS PRESIDENT’S LIST DEAN’S LIST
4.0 GPA over 3.5 GPA
STUDENT CALHOUN HONORS COLLEGE ACTIVITIES STUDENT GOVERNMENT Public Relations Committee AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS Communications Chair FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES (FCA) KAPPA KAPPA GAMMA SORORITY CLEMSON WELCOME LEADER Helped transition incoming freshmen to college GREEK GAZETTE Monthly newsletter; member of writing and design teams UNITED STATES GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL (USGBC)
ALPHA LAMBDA DELTA Honor Society LIFE SCHOLARSHIP
$5,000/year
TRUSTEE SCHOLARSHIP $1,000/year PHI KAPPA PHI Honor society for top 7.5% of juniors at Clemson University TAU SIGMA DELTA Honor society for top 20% of architecture students at Clemson University RESEARCH GRANT $3,000 Sustainability project award towards continued research in Spring 2014
COMMUNITY FCA Mission Trip to Washington D.C. SERVICE Spring Break 2013 Worked with Earth Sangha in sustainable landscaping FCA Mission Trip to New Orleans Spring Break 2011 Worked to help repair homes damaged in Hurricane Katrina
ALEXANDRA LATHAM
Sources for images within portfolio
PHONE: 803.236.6024 EMAIL: AKLATHA@G.CLEMSON.EDU ADDRESS: 2795 WINDMILL DRIVE SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA 29150
1- http://www.worldzootoday.com/2009/02/18/african-wildcat-rests-at-the-zoo/ 2- http://www.shtfpreparedness.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/vista-wallpaper-bamboo.jpg