Allison Burrell | Portfolio

ALLISON BURRELL Master of Architecture 2015 Harvard Graduate School of Design

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CONTENTS The Ambiguous Edge The Space of the Perimeter (an embassy in Cuba) Advisor: Jeffry Burchard Thesis Spring 2015

Indebted Architecture Instructor: Preston Scott Cohen Spring 2014

Artificial Ground Instructor: Spela Videcnik Spring 2013

B e r k l e e To w e r Instructor: Danielle Etzler Fall 2012

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The Ambiguous Edge T h e S p a c e o f the Peri m eter ( an Embassy in C uba) Advisor: Jeffry Burchard Thesis Spring 2015 Site: US Interests Section, Havana, Cuba

A rchi tecture has b ecome sk in an d b o n e s , b u t w h e r e d o e s t h a t le a ve s pace? De p t h is a forgot t en con c e p t ; t h e t h r e s h o ld d e vo id o f s p a t ia l co ns equence. As archit ect ure becom e s t h in n e r, t h e s p a c e o f t h e p e r im e t e r has been red uced t o a single lin e : t h e fa c a d e . T h is s in g le lin e h a s res ul ted f rom economic and t echn o lo g ic a l fa c t o r s t h a t h a ve e n c o u r a g e d a mo del o f efficiency.

Thi s hard e dge manifest s it self m o s t c o m p le t e ly in t h e a r c h it e c t u r e o f embas s ies . U.S. emb assies, in pa r t ic u la r, h a ve r e s ig n e d t o b a r r ic a d in g thems el ves against t heir foreign sur r o u n d in g s . W it h t h e r e n e w e d d ip lo m a t ic ef f o rts between Cub a and t he Un it e d St a t e s , t h e o ld U . S. e m b a s s y in Cuba pres ent s a p roblem at t he p e r im e t e r : t h e e xis t in g b u ild in g d o e s no t ref lect t he soft ened relat ions h ip b e t we e n t h e t wo c o u n t r ie s . I t is an embas sy primed for change. T h e b u ild in g it s e lf r e p r e s e n t s a t ime when archit ect ure was at it s flat t e s t – r e m o vin g t h e in t e r s t it ia l s p a c e that eng ag es it s surroundings. T h r o u g h a n a d d it io n , t h e s p a c e o f t h e f acade can b e ex t end ed t o a perime t e r, c r e a t in g n e w s p a t ia l h ie r a r c h ie s at the edg e . This new perimet er cr e a t e s a g r a d ie n t o f s e c u r it y ma kin g t h e buil ding f ee l more pub lic t han it a c t u a lly is .

T h e Am b i g u o u s Ed g e

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The US Embassy in Havana, Cuba in 1977

Dissolution of the Perimeter Temple of Poseidon Col onnad e Colonnade Colonnade

Eng a g e d Co lumn Engaged Column (440 BC ) Engaged Column

Temple of Poseidon (440 BC)

PPunched u n c h e dWindow Window Punched Window

House CCurtain u r t aLever i n Wall Wa ll P e rPerformative f o r m a t i ve Wall Wa l l Curtain (1951) Wall

Lever House

Performative Wall

(1951)

meter (an embassy in Cuba)

Per ime te

r Per ime te

r

Inter io

r

Te m pl e o f Po se i do n

Inter io

r

L e ve r H o u s e

the Perimeter (an embassy in Cuba)

Renai s s ance archit ect ure p roduce d e xt e n d e d t h r e s h o ld s a n d a mb ig u o u s bo undaries t hrough t he use of p ortic o s a n d p o r c h e s . T h is wa s a p e r ime t e r o f purpo s e, one which was occup ia b le a n d c a t e g o r ic a lly b o t h in t e r io r a n d exterio r. S ince t hen, t he p erimet e r h a s b e e n c o n t in u a lly r e d u c e d , a n d has f inal l y d isappeared wit h t he in t r o d u c t io n o f t h e c u r t a in w a ll. To d a y, the primacy of t he facade is reinfor c e d wit h t h e e n h a n c e m e n t o f t h e e d g e as an impe net rable b arrier.

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Through the use of the existing facade mullions, fins were developed in a translation from Cartesian to radial geometric relationships. The cur ved edge was utilized to remove the front face of the building and reduced the primacy of the facade as surface. These fins work to draw the far away edge of the building all the way out to the public. This system doesn’t just thicken the facade it creates new spatial hierarchies at the perimeter.

1. 10 Deg ree R ad i a l I n te r s e c t wi th E x te r io r C u r ve

2 . D raw t a ng ent l i n e f rom ex t er i o r i nt er s ect p o i nt s b a ck t o cent er

3. Creat e 5 colona d e s p a c in g o n f ro n t a n d 3 f o o t p romenad e s p a c i n g o n th e b a c k

4 . E s t a bl i s h col on a d e wa l l s b a s ed on i n t er s ect i on s of t a n g en t l i nes w i t h ex t er i or cur ve

5. Creat e ver t ical fi n c e n te r l i n e s b a s e d o n e x i s ting f acad e a n d i n te r s e c t p o i n ts

6 . A d jus t col on a d e t o co nn ect b a ck t o fi ns

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The new perimeter creates a new front face to the building which had previously been the side. This redirects the new entr y facade away from the old one which was tied to the old relationship of the two countries.

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At the ver y edge of the fin the surface splits and opens up into a colonnade for the public. The resulting geometr y further removes a front face as the public are continually offered changing entrances as they move around the building.

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Through the use of a double helix stair, the two populations of the building can co-exist, making the public feel more invited into the building, while at the same time controlling what the public has access to.

Deep into the interior an atrium opens creating a double perimeter with the void space. In recognition of the project as an addition, the new building begins to peel away from the old facade to create this atrium space.

T h e Am b i g u o u s Ed g e

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Indebted Architecture Instructor: Preston Scott Cohen Spring 2014 Site: Washington DC Program: Hotel

The intent of this studio was to create a building which appeared to be implicitly transformed on its exterior. The transformation of a given type yielded intermediate typological definitions within the final building, that were indebted to the parent typology. The intent of this project was to turn a U-shaped building into a courtyard building by allowing it to twist closed on itself. After the initial formal transformation was applied to the building, the pressures of site and program imposed their own restrictions on the form. As the floor plans worked to resolve these many constraints, the most banal elements of architecture became the most extraordinary in their reaction to transformation.

I n d e b t e d Ar c h i t e c t u r e

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1

2

3

4

5

6

midpoint

endpoint

midpoint midpoint endpoint

The building typology was first adjusted to the adjacencies of the site then the form was flipped on top of itself to close the U-shaped building into a courtyard building. As the form resolved the transformations, the connections created a formal language where the radiating wings appeared the same, but were created from different geometric relationships.

In the first floor plan of the building, the plan has already been transformed based on its siting strategy. The upper left side of the plans shows the typical normative double loaded hotel corridor that exists in U-shaped typologies.

I n d e b t e d Ar c h i t e c t u r e

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W ithin one of the radiating wings an atrium opens up for the hotel program. The main staircase is set directly adjacent to this atrium and must re-orient itself within the plan as the outer form of the building changes.

I n d e b t e d Ar c h i t e c t u r e

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Six th F loor Plan

SIXTH FLOOR PLAN 5/64” = 1’0” WASHINGTON, DC

SEVENTH FLOOR PLAN 5/64” = 1’0” WASHINGTON, DC

T h ird F loor Plan

As the exterior form begins to enclose into a courtyard building, the plan attempts to remain aligned to the original organization of the lower plans, but eventually must re-align itself.

I n d e b t e d Ar c h i t e c t u r e THIRD FLOOR PLAN 5/64” = 1’0” WASHINGTON, DC

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Artificial Ground Instructor: Spela Videcnik Spring 2013 Site: New York Program: Urban Scheme & Mixed Use Building

W hat beg an as an urb an p lannin g e xe r c is e in h is t o r ic c it y g r a ft in g , became a st ud y of art ificial lands c a p e a n d d u a lit y in a n u r b a n s it e .

Bel o w the e levat ed ground which wa s p la n n e d a s t h e “ Ro ma n H ill� lie s a meg a-s truct ure cont aining a shopp in g ma ll, a r t is t g a lle r ie s , a n d lo w r e n t apartments. Ab ove t he art ificial gr o u n d e xis t s h ig h e n d lo ft a p a r t me n t s .

The o nl y c onnect ion bet ween t he s e t wo w o r ld s is t h e s e c t io n a l vie ws o btai ned th rough t he plunging c o u r t ya r d s . T h e u r b a n p la n w a s d o n e i n co l l abo rat ion wit h Ev an Cerill i, P h i Ng u ye n , a n d Tim Z e it le r. T h e architectura l p roposal was d one in c o lla b o r a t io n wit h Tim Z e it le r.

Artificial Ground

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MEDIUM BLOCKS MEDIUM BLOCKS MEDIUM BLOCKS

SECONDARY RIMARY PRIMARY PROGRAMPROGRAM SECONDARY PROGRAMPROGRAM PRIMARY PROGRAM SECONDARY PROGRAM

MEDIUM MEDIUM BLOCKS BLOCKS MEDIUM BLOCKS

PRIMARY PRIMARY PROGRAM PROGRAM SECONDARY SECONDARY PROGRAMPROGRAM PRIMARY PROGRAM SECONDARY PROGRAM MULTI-FAMILYMULTI-FAMILY

MULTI-FAMILY RETAIL RESIDENTIALRESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL

MULTI-FAMILY MULTI-FAMILY MULTI-FAMILY City Grafts RESIDENTIALRESIDENTIALRESIDENTIAL

RETAIL

RETAIL COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL RETAIL COMMERCIAL

RETAIL RETAIL COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL COMMERCIAL

Block Development

POLYGONAL BLOCK 1_ORIGINAL POLYGONAL BLOCK 2_PEDESTRIAN RING 2_PEDESTRIAN 1_ORIGINAL1_ORIGINAL POLYGONAL BLOCK Polygonal 2_PEDESTRIAN RING 1.

Original Block 2. Pedestrian Ring RING

1_ORIGINAL 1_ORIGINAL POLYGONAL BLOCK BLOCK 2_PEDESTRIAN RING RING 1_ORIGINAL POLYGONAL BLOCK POLYGONAL 2_PEDESTRIAN RING 2_PEDESTRIAN

4. Insert Courtyard

5. Add Pedestrian Access

3_BLOCK 3_BLOCK CORNERS CORNERS 3_BLOCK CORNERS 3. Block Corners

3_BLOCK CORNERS 3_BLOCK CORNERS 3_BLOCK CORNERS

6. Adjust for Sun Angles

The urban scheme was developed through grafting other historical cities into the site. Four cities were chosen to merge into a new urban scheme. The best qualities from each of the four cities, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, and Chicago, were carried into the Gowanus plan. Paris was chosen for its boulevards, Rome for 4_COURT YARD/ PUBLIC SPACE SUN 5_PEDESTRIAN ACCESS/ SUN itsYARD/ Piazzas, Barcelona for its block structure, for its river6_WINTER condition.

4_COURT PUBLIC SPACE 6_WINTER SUN 5_PEDESTRIAN ACCESS/ SUNand Chicago 4_COURT YARD/ PUBLIC SPACE 6_WINTER SUN 5_PEDESTRIAN ACCESS/ SUN ANGLES ANGLES

ANGLES

4_COURT YARD/ 4_COURT PUBLIC YARD/ SPACE PUBLIC SPACE 5_PEDESTRIAN 5_PEDESTRIAN ACCESS/ SUN ACCESS/ SUN 4_COURT YARD/ PUBLIC SPACE 5_PEDESTRIAN ACCESS/ SUN ANGLES ANGLES ANGLES

6_WINTER SUN 6_WINTER SUN 6_WINTER SUN

Artificial Ground 7_SUMMER SUN SHADE

8_BLOCK HEIGHT_STREET

9_GREEN SPACE

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At the edge of the site, the Roman Hill was introduced to provide views of the river to the housing planned for the area. In order to reduce the negative impact to the surrounding context this hill became man-made programmed space.

Artificial Ground

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The urban plan above the artificial ground created by the man-made hill is kept intact. The only acknowledgment of the mega-structure below are the interior courtyards which plunge deep below the ground level of the housing.

Artificial Ground

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The courtyard of the housing units above are drawn down into the mega-structure below to provide the only connection between the two spaces. This provides daylighting and an organizational structure for the shopping mall and galler y space located below while keeping the urban scheme of housing intact above.

Artificial Ground

Ground Floor Plan Scale: 1/32” = 1’0”

Ground Floor Plan - Shopping Mall

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Berklee Tower Instructor: Danielle Etzler Fall 2012 Site: Boston Program: University, Mixed Use

The f o cus of t his mult i- use build in g is t o c r e a t e a p la c e wh e r e m u s ic ia n s l i ve. B y f o c using on t he perform e r a n d p r o xim it y o f p e r fo r ma n c e , t h e pro j ect ai ms t o visually merge both t h e le a r n in g a n d livin g s p a c e s o f t h e buil ding . Th e lower part of t he b uild in g is c e n t e r e d a r o u n d t h e a u d it o r iu m to eng ag e the pub lic in performanc e . T h e d o r m g r id is s p lit o p e n , c r e a t in g a s pati al s hift as t he classrooms p r o t r u d e in t o t h e o p e n a t r iu m s p a c e .

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Section BB 1/16” = 1’0”

The section through the atrium space demonstrates the spatial shift that takes place between the gridded dorm wings on either side to the open performance space of the atrium.

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UP DOWN

UP UP

The more formal performance space in the lower levels of the building is centered around the auditorium, while the performance space in the upper part of the building is more informal and centers around the atrium.

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UP UP

Above the podium, classrooms and practice spaces protrude into the atrium. This central space puts the more informal performances on display to the building’s residents and the city as a whole.

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The atrium opens up the performance to the occupants of the building, as well as the city at large. The students emerge from the regular dorm space into an atrium full of performances.

The auditorium connects the disparate programs of the street, entr y lobby, student cafeteria, and galler y space. The connecting views to the auditorium further reiterate the musicians performance as the central programmatic element of the building.

Be r k l e e To w e r

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