TABLE OF CONTENTS
A collection of selected architectural works through my graduate education at SCI-Arc in Los Angeles, professional experience at JOHNSON FAIN (Los Angeles), Robert A.M.Stern Architects (New York), AUX Architecture (Los Angeles), Gensler (Los Angeles), POPULOUS (New Delhi) and Crab Studio (London).
JOHNSON FAIN, Designer II
Luxury Condominiums Luxury Condominiums
Gongyi Road Tower
RAMSA, Designer II
JOHNSON FAIN, Designer I
Mixed Use Development Mixed Use Development Luxury Condominiums
Commerical Office Library Chapel Table of Contents 57 53 43 15 07 31 37 23
Part of Design Team
April 2024 - On Going
Henan Road Tower
Part of Design Team
May 2023 - On Going (Under Construction)
St. Callistus Chapel
Part of Design Team
August 2022 - Completed
City National Bank
Part of Design Team
March 2022 - On Hold
Paramount Library
Part of Design Team
July 2022 - Completed
14 Fifth Avenue
Part of Design Team
July 2021 - On Going (Under Construction)
8th & Figueroa
Part of Design Team
March 2019 - Completed
IMT Sherman Oaks
Part of Design Team
March 2019 - On Going (Under Construction)
AUX Architecture, Junior Architect
Gensler, Intern Architect
CRAB Studio, Intern Architect
Creative Office and Theatre 75
VDM: Therapeutic Performing Arts Theatre
Part of Design Team
October 2017 - Completed
Downtown Creative & Theatre
Part of Design Team
January 2018 - Completed
The Great Wall on Fig: EBB ‘ N FLOW
University Building Museum
POPULOUS, Graduate Architect
Recreational Club 79 83 87
Southern California Institute of Architecture SCI-Arc (M.Arch II)
Internal Competition
August 2016
University of Vienna (Competition Entry)
Part of Design Team
August 2014
Guggenheim Helsinki (Competition Entry)
Part of Design Team
September 2014
Oberoi Club 360
Part of Design Team
March 2015
Public Appearances: “A Stealthy Space Invader”
In collaboration with Corie Saxman
Spring 2015
Design Development
In collaboration with Kiran, Siddardha, Yasamin, & Palak
Fall 2016
PROFESSIONAL WORK
JOHNSON FAIN
Robert A.M. Stern Architects
AUX Architecture Gensler
POPULOUS Crab Studio
Project: Gongyi Road Tower
Site: Taichung, Taiwan
Program: Luxury Condominiums
Employer: JOHNSON FAIN
Details: Concept - CA Phase
Status: DD Phase
Notes:
Commissioned by Pao Huei, a leading real estate development company, the project is a 32-story residential high-rise in Taichung City, Taiwan’s central Seventh District. A few blocks from Toyo Ito’s National Opera House, this premier residential tower comprises 120 luxury residences. Located on the first floor are common amenities including tea rooms, lounges, private dining and a library. A swimming pool with spa and sauna, is located on the roof of the scooter parking. The large site provides gardens designed for outdoor social activities, events and dining.
The west facade of the tower has a distinct 2-story expression and climbs up to form the roof lounge with unobstructed views of the cityscape. A similar 2-story expression is also featured across the other elevations but is aligned flush with the adjacent finish. A deep mullion extension frames the curtain wall system and adds depth to an otherwise flush design.
The building is designed as an unitised curtain/ window wall system. A unique “stack joint” shows how the lower and upper units of the distint 2-story expression come together during construction.
Gongyi Road Tower
GONGYI RESIDENTIAL HIGH-RISE
Taichung, Taiwan
GONGYI
SCALE: 1 : 250 2
WEST ELEVATION (HUIWEN ROAD)
SCALE: 1 SOUTH
The building podium is adorned with a 2-story window system and stone piers. A glass canopy is added at all exterior doors for weather protection.
Also seen in the above rendering is the flush 2-story expression with deep mullion caps.
Podium
The site plan shows the centrally located motor court with the building situated to clear the sky plane steback. The expansive site is lusciously landscaped with tropical themed gardens.
A large at-grade scooter parking is off Dadun 14th street along with access to the 3 levels of subterranean vehicular parking.
DAPINGSTREET
The drawings above show the 2-story facade system on the west elevation of the building.
Building Crown
Project: Henan Road Tower
Site: Taichung, Taiwan
Program: Luxury Condominiums
Employer: JOHNSON FAIN
Details: Concept - CA Phase
Status: CA Phase
Notes:
Commissioned by Pao Huei, a leading real estate development company, the project is a 32-story residential high-rise in Taichung City, Taiwan’s central Seventh District. Adjacent to Toyo Ito’s National Opera House, this premier residential tower comprises 132 luxury residences. Located on the first floor are tea rooms, lounges, private dining and a library. A swimming pool with spa and sauna, gym, yoga and juice bar occupy the second floor overlooking gardens designed for outdoor social activities, events and dining. Private balconies are distributed throughout the typical residential floors, and penthouse suites on the top four floors enjoy large linear balconies with unobstructed views of the cityscape.
Henan Road Tower
HENAN ROAD RESIDENTIAL HIGH-RISE
Taichung, Taiwan
Design Criteria
BUILDING GRID
WINDOW WALL INFILL
North Elevation
CURTAIN WALL, VERTICAL EXPRESSION DEEP MULLION EXTENSIONS
CONCEAL HORIZONTAL MULLIONS VERTICAL MULLIONS ALIGN WITH THE MAIN ENTRANCE
Curtain Wall with Vertical Expression Deep Mullion Extensions Concealed Horizontal Mullions
Building Grid
Window Wall Infill
EXPRESSED SLAB EDGE COVERS
UNIFORM STEPPED MASSING
Expressed Slab Edge Covers
Uniform Stepped Massing
EXPRESSED FRAME AT BUILDING TOP NORTH FACADE ALIGNS WITH SOUTH FACADE
Expressed Frame at Top of Building
HENAN ROAD
Recessed Window Wall with Vertical Expression Concealed Horizontal Mullions
RECESSED WINDOW WALL EXPRESS VERTICALS
CONCEAL HORIZONTAL MULLIONS CONCEAL WINDOW FRAMES
Concelead Window Frames
DESIGN CRITERIA
NORTH FACADE
Henan Road Tower
SHIZHENG ROAD HENAN
HENAN ROAD
Top of Building - East
The top of building drawings above show the expnsive balconies connecting to the master bedroom in the premier upper level residences spanning across the bathroom along the east elevation of the building. Additionally, the elevations illustrates the conversion of the shaft into the mechanical screen at Level 29 and above which accomodates the cooling tower and other mechanical eqipment.
Heated Pool at Level 2 of the Amenity Podium
Pool Deck
Project: St Callistus Chapel
Site: Garden Grove, California
Program: Chapel
Employer: JOHNSON FAIN
Details: SD - CD Phase, Permitting, Construction
Administration
Status: Completed
Notes:
Five years after the completion of Christ Cathedral, The Catholic Diocese of Orange commisioned Johnson Fain to transform the undercroft of the St. Callistus Chapel and Columbarium.
The undercroft serves as an important extension of the recently completed Christ Cathedral. The new Chapel accommodates smaller gatherings of approximately 200 congregants and includes two side chapels, a columbarium, and a Bishop’s Crypt. Design elements were borrowed from the Cathedral above, such as the randomized limestone wall panels, the multi-stone floor patterns, and the pew design. A lighter palette was chosen for the millwork and wood ceilings, which allowed the low ceilings of the Chapel to appear more generous. Artists were engaged to create sacred art for the wall behind the altar, the side chapels, the Bishop’s Crypt, and the Columbarium. Design elements such as wrought iron doors and illuminated quatrefoils were incorporated as a gesture to the Cathedral design above.
St. Callistus Chapel
ST. CALLISTUS CHAPEL
Garden Grove, California
The above illustrative plan shows the clear organisation of spaces and extent of the detail stone flooring across the project. A large entry vestibule is flanked on two sides by smaller waiting rooms. The main chapel is further flanked flanked by two smaller shrines, one oval and one octagonal. Behind the chapel is the exclusive bishops crypt bordered on two sides by columnbariums. The columbariums are connected via corrdiors to the waiting rooms, offering an alternative circulation path.
Chapel Level Plan
Columnbarium
St. Callistus Chapel
Entry Vestibule Octagonal Shrine
Project: CNB National Bank
Site: Beverly Hills, California
Program: Corporate Office
Employer: JOHNSON FAIN
Details: SD Phase, Historic Council, Pricing
Status: On Hold
Notes:
Johnson Fain was commissioned by City National Bank to renovate their 1950’s built corporate headquarters in Los Angeles, a 7 story building in Beverly Hills, California. The project involved major upgrades to the building envelope, typical floor plan and structural system which in turn triggered a voluntary seismic upgrade for the building.
Beverly Hills, California
Design Criteria
The exploded axonometric drawing explains the different systems involved in the project.
The ground level of the building is split into two major spacescommercial office to the west and branch bank to the east.
Roxbury Dr. Elevation
Project: Paramount Library
Site: Paramount, California
Program: Library
Employer: JOHNSON FAIN
Details: SD - CD Phase, Permitting, Construction
Administration
Status: Completed
Notes:
Johnson Fain was commisioned by LA County Public Works and LA County Library to undertake a comprehensive renovation of Paramount Library.
Originally built in 1966, the Paramount Library remained largely untouched as a design relic of past decades. Since then, the city has championed funding for the renovation of the Paramount Library with massive support from the community. The new renovations include a community meeting room, group study rooms, and administrative offices. Tailored to the needs of the community, the library serves its members through offering increased technological access, a variety of seating and spaces, and modern amenities.
The transformative design features elements such as a hydroponic wall, a sculptural entry desk, and communal areas. Designated spaces throughout the library offer every age group a place of belonging and further engages the community. The interior highlights an inviting, warm color palette through its furnishings and finishes. The hydroponic wall located near the entrance serves as a welcoming feature while a series of light fixtures replicating skylights brighten the space through swatches of light.
The main lobby wall is fitted with a living wall.
Main Lobby
1/4"
The 50’s mid-century inspired building features an array of windows placed at varying heights and of varying sizes to enhance both the exterior and the interior space. Building Elevation
.Project: 16 Fifth Avenue
Site: Greenwich Village, Manhattan,New York, USA
Program: Luxury Condominiums
Employer: Robert A.M. Stern
Details: DD-CD Phases
Status: In Construction
Notes:
16 Fifth Avenue is a 224 feet, 19- story luxury residential tower located in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York. The Flemish Bond brick facade with juliet balconies, stone cornices, deorative fluted pilasters along with a modern metal orangery structure on the south crown emulates the multiple architectural styles found in the Greenwich Village Historic district in which the project is located. The east crown is adorned by a unique triple arched window with a juliet balcony. Portions of the building’s upper floors are set back on the east facade to create private outdoor terraces for select residences.
16 FIFTH AVENUE - GREENWICH VILLAGE (LUXURY CONDOMINIUMS) New
York, NY
The enlarged South Crown above shows the 17th and 18th floor penthouse. The living room on the upper level forms the centre of the crown. The exterior has been designed as a modern interpretation of an orangery which opens up onto a 400 sq.ft. terrace.
South Crown
South Elevation East Elevation (Fifth Ave. Elevation)
A simple symmetric window placement along the south elevation is topped with the orangery structure and private terrace forming the crown of the building.
Portions of the building’s upper floors are set back on the east facade to create private outdoor terraces for select residences. The several different variations of balconies, juliet balconies and stone cornices adorns this elevation of the building.
Enlarged Entry Base
Stone Cornice Details
Orangery Documentation at 100% DD
Gym and Yoga Room
Project: 8th & Figueroa Tower
Site: Downtown Los Angeles, USA
Program: Residential + Mixed Use Development
Employer: JOHNSON FAIN
Details: DD Phase
Status: Completed
Notes:
The 41-story residential tower is situated on a prominent one acre site, the 8th & Figueroa mixeduse project enjoys a highly visible position on the western edge of downtown Los Angeles. The 424,489 square foot project includes 438 residential units and approximately 7,500 square feet of ground floor commercial spaces. A mix of studio, one and two bedroom units are provided. Six levels of parking, three subterranean and three aboveground, provide 519 parking spaces. The roof of the parking podium serves as a residential amenity level featuring a pool, fitness room, lounge, dining area, meeting and game rooms. Residential units are located on levels seven through 40 and the roof features a landscaped deck with an indoor lounge. Key sustainability measures include a high performance façade, low flow plumbing fixtures, low water demand landscape design, building materials with recycled content and a close proximity to major transit systems.
8TH & FIGUEROA TOWER (MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT)
Los Angeles, CA
North Elevation
West Elevation
East Elevation
Project: IMT Citrus Commons
Site: Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, USA
Program: Mixed Use Development
Employer: JOHNSON FAIN
Details: SD-CD Phase, Permitting, Construction
Administration
Status: In Construction
Notes:
The first phase of the project includes the seismic upgrade and renovation of the former Sunkist Headquarters in Sherman Oaks, California. The building, originally designed by A.C. Martin is now deemed a historic building. The project restores the landmark modernist building, pays tribute to the region’s agricultural heritage and integrates it into a pedestrian-centric urban village. The historic 126,674 square foot office building will be re-imagined as a creative office environment, surrounded by gardens and outdoor gathering spaces and centered on the historic central atrium, replanted and refurnished.
The second phase of the project includes the design of two new residential buildings with approximately 190,000 Sq. Ft of residential area made up of 250 units and 30,000 Sq. Ft of retail area. The unit mix comprises of Studio’s, 1-Bedroom, 2-Bedroom and select townhome units. The ground floor includes a generous leasing office along with several resident amenity spaces such as a work lounge, mail room and cafe. The building has been designed in accordance with the design and building service requirements of a high end grocer who accounts for 70% of the retail space of the project.
The two residential buildings, have at Podium Level a pool deck and an outdoor recreational area for the residents respectively. The highest rated corner 2-bedroom units have been designed with a floor to ceiling storefron system at the corner to maximize natural light and corner views.
IMT ICON Sherman Oaks
IMT SHERMAN OAKS (MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT)
Los Angeles, CA
step massing down one story
remove building ‘c’
rotate ourtyards 180 degrees increased setback
relocate parking garage and limit left handed turn
reove central plaza, add new linear park
Massing Diagram
The above diagram shows the change in massing of the project based on feedback received from the neighbors and the community.
IMT ICON Sherman Oaks
Building B Ground Floor Plan
The above drawing is part of the 90% CD set submitted to the Los Angeles Building Department for permitting.
Building B of the IMT Mixed Use project has the main entrance to the project (being called Citrus Commons). It houses the leasing centre and mail room. It also has a retail component namely a cafe and boutique shops. Also situated along the north face and west face are townhome units each with a semi-private outdoor patio.
A Ground Floor Plan
The above drawing is part of the 90% CD set submitted to the Los Angeles Building Department for permitting.
Building A of the IMT Mixed Use project contains the larger retail portion of the project. The majority of the floor plan is taken up by a high-end grocer. There is also dedicated square footage for restaurants. The ground floor also houses a Business Lounge for use by the tenants of the project.
Buidling
Exterior Rendering at Grocer Entrance
IMT ICON Sherman Oaks
Project: Vista Del Mar
Site: Los Angeles, USA
Program: Therapeutic Performing Arts Theatre
Employer: AUX Architecture
Details: SD-CD Phases, Permitting
Status: Completed
Notes:
The project is a renovation and addition to an existing building on the Vista Del Mar campus in Los Angeles, CA. The project converts an existing Church Building into a Therapeutic Performing Arts Centre for children with special needs.
The 300 seat theatre is the heart of the project with various rehearsal and practice spaces, classrooms and other programs surrounding it.
The design intent of the facade was to develop a play of transparencies so that any movement within can be seen from the outside thus attarcting more people to the building.
VDM: THERAPEUTIC PERFORMING ARTS THEATRE Los
Angeles, CA
REUSE OF EXISTING VOLUMES & PUBLIC SPACES
NEW LANDSCAPE CONFIGURATION AND ENTRIES
Diagram Study
The project is broken up into the existing spaces to be re-used, the new addition, public and landscaped areas and the central performing space.
ADDITION OF NEW VOLUMES
PERFORMANCE SPACES
AUX ARCHITECTURE
2017.10.27
Axo
DISTRIBUTION DIAGRAMS: 3 DIMENSIONAL VIEW
E1 CLASSROOM / REHEARSAL ROOM
E2 CLASSROOM / REHEARSAL ROOM
E3 DRESSING ROOMS / RESTROOMS
E5 CLASSROOM
THEATRE SUPPORT SUPPORT REHEARSAL SPACE / CLASSROOM
B1 BREAK ROOM / GREEN ROOM
B1 BREAK ROOM / GREEN ROOM
B2 MAINTENANCE ROOM
B1
B2
B5
B6
B7
B8
L3 BOX OFFICE LOBBY
L1 LOBBY - LOWER
L1 LOBBY - LOWER
L2 LOBBY - FRONT OF HOUSE
L2 LOBBY - FRONT OF HOUSE
B5 OFFICE
B2 MAINTENANCE ROOM B5 OFFICE
B6 PUBLIC RESTROOMS
B6 PUBLIC RESTROOMS
B7 MECHANICAL / UTILITY ROOM
B7 MECHANICAL / UTILITY ROOM
B8 ARTIST’S LOBBY
B8 ARTIST’S LOBBY
B11 CIRCULATION THEATRE & BLDG. SUPPORT
B11 CIRCULATION THEATRE & BLDG. SUPPORT
B12 CIRCULATION LOBBY
B12 CIRCULATION LOBBY
B13 CIRCULATION THEATRE SUPPORT
B13 CIRCULATION THEATRE SUPPORT
B14 TERRACE
B14 TERRACE
B15 LOADING DOCK
B15 LOADING DOCK
B16 MECHANICAL ROOM
B16 MECHANICAL ROOM
B17 MECHANICAL ROOM
B17 MECHANICAL ROOM
B18 MECHANICAL ROOM
B18 MECHANICAL ROOM
KAUFMAN THERAPEUTIC ARTS & DANCE CENTER
Axo Program Diagram
The above diagram shows the program breakup of the new building. The program is broken down into 5 major categoriesTheatre, Theatre Support, Lobby, Rehearsal and Support Spaces.
GLORYA KAUFMAN THERAPEUTIC ARTS & DANCE CENTER
Main Lobby Area
The main lobby area has the box office with a custom wall graphic and installation.
Main Central Stair
The main staircase from the lower level up to the theatre level is exposed to a lot of natural light and also has a custom suspended feature light.
Project: Downtown Theatre
Site: Los Angeles, USA
Program: Creative Office and Theatre
Employer: AUX Architecture
Details: Concept-DD Phase
Status: Completed
Notes:
The project comprises of a Creative Office Space and Bar and Performing Arts Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles.
The project has explored various exterior facade options starting with a more traditional and contextual brick facade but an interplay of the massing to give it a unique form.
The project further went on to explore more exterior facade options with a more modern and contemporray aesthetic.
The creative office space is cradled by the bar and performing arts theatre. The two programs gives the building an extremely unique front condition.
bar and creative office entrances on the front but still allow the buidling to behave and look as one cohesive structure.
Project: Jonathan Club G-WALL Design Competition
Site: Los Angeles, United States
Program: Green Facade
Employer: Gensler
Details: Competition Entry
Status: Winner
Notes:
The competition was an internal all-intern design competition to build a green wall for the facade of the Jonathan Club parking structure on Figueroa Street in Los Angeles. The competition had an extremely tight budget of $100,000. The brief insisted on representing the history and prestige of the Jonathan Club through the design of the green facade which would be built over the existing facade.
The Great Wall on Fig: EBB N’ FLOW
Los Angeles, United States
The Jonathan Club is a monument of success, layered with history and relevance. A club that is prestigious, but does not wish to advertise itself in ways that could bring unwanted attention.
That being said, the facade of a building is an image. In turn, this image becomes the branding of its inhabitants, a representation of that organization’s mission and characteristics. What will this image tell the world about the Jonathan club?
The Jonathan club has transcended many generations, its roots run deep, it is layered with moments of history, in stories as well as in architecture. This is part of the reason we did not want to conceal the historic facade of the jonathan club, but instead add
another layer of history to it.
The copper facade system frames the monumental entry, and plays homage to its neighboring brick. The perforated pattern is derived from the existing brick pattern. As the pattern traverses the facade, it trails off, highlighting the unity of the old and the new, but also acknowledging the progressive nature of the organization.
The use of copper in paring with the existing white stone creates a sense of timelessness. As the building ages it will continue to naturally gain more layers, the copper will oxidize and the vertical garden with flourish, solidifying its position as a landmark in downtown Los Angeles.
The monolithic presence of the new metal facade pared with the verticality of the existing facade, demands respect and attention, the facade itself becomes a destination in addition to the club.
.Project: University of Vienna Competition
Site: Vienna, Austria
Program: School of Pharmacy
Employer: CRAB Studio
Detaiils: Competition Entry
Status: 3rd Place
Notes:
The proposal is for the school of pharmacy building and student union offices of the University of Vienna. The scheme is based on the concept of a sandwich with two major program blocks at the top and bottom housing the more straight forward program like the parking and the offices.
The middle levels house the more open programs (like the ingredients of a sandwich) of the school of pharmacy and the student union offices. Provision has been made for multiple outdoor recreational spaces for the students.
UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA COMPETITION
Vienna, Austria
Exploded Axonometric View
Elevation
.Project: Guggenheim Helsinki
Site: Helsinki, Finland
Program: Art Museum
Employer: CRAB Studio
Details: Competition Entry (Sept 2014)
Notes:
The project is a competition entry for the Guggenheim Museum in Helsinki, Finland. The design is inspired Sir Peter Cook’s acclaimed Kunsthaus Graz building.
GUGGENHEIM HELSINKI COMPETITION
Helsinki, Finland
Usability Diagram
The Guggenheim Art Museum is primarily a series of four simple – and thus ‘curator-friendly’- rectangular galleries lit by large elliptical northlights. These give good but deliberately emphasized natural light : so that one is aware of an identifiable character to each gallery.
From the street entrance one is immediately attracted to a large ‘scoop’ in the interior that is dramatically lit by a south facing rooflight that constantly enlivens a displayed feature. The public rooms and Information centre are grouped around this area.
From there the public has two options : to perambulate up a gentle ramp to view the galleries in an anti-clockwise direction or quickly
rise up the escalator to view the galleries in a clockwise and downwards direction. These routes are ‘hooded’ paths in the tradition of a calm cloister.
We believe in the encouragement of the casual or ’interwoven’ perusal of art as well as the determined ‘gallery visit’ and therefore the building is seen as a form of resort. Hence several deliberate additions to the basic brief : a central winter garden in which sculpture can be seen, plus a roof garden for summer use and a major feature in the form of a ‘trumpet’ enclosure. Visible from the city centre, this has several roles : as a shelter for major art statements that will be seen from the city, as a frame for electronic art displays and as a summer concert venue –acting together with the roof garden.
Guggenheim Helsinki
The building focuses inwards upon the galleries, cloister and garden : but the small framed openings into the galleries, the bursts of light at the corners and the single view of the harbor through the restaurant - filtered by its two skins of glass are discrete reminders of the outside world.
The restaurant is very much part of the waterside world with a tangential route for occasional use that links the roof garden and trumpet deck down to a bar above the kitchen and on down to the lower bar at the far corner of the building with views out towards the sea.
The design offers a subtle materiality for the building, with zincfaced rooflights and upper roof that becomes a series of zinc striations that gradually incorporate occasional grey larch timber strips, the proportion of larch increasing by the middle of the wall until the lower part is completely clad in larch. The base of the building is faced in black glazed brick with the ‘pavilion’ elements clad in glass brick (with appropriate parts backed-up by blockwork walls) so that a series of ‘filtered-light’ conditions spill into the building.
The body of the building creates a sculpted form and profile – effective in the grey Nordic light (as was understood by the Jugenstijl builders in Helsinki), encompassing an instinctively understandable sequence of events.
Elevation and Section
Project: Oberoi Club 360
Site: Mumbai, India
Program: Indoor Recreational Club
Employer: POPULOUS
Details: Concept - CD
Status: Complete
Notes:
The project is a high end interior for the Amenities floor of a multi-storey building in Mumbai.
In a city like Mumbai, with extremely little outdoor recreation areas and green space, the challenge of this project was to create an outdoor like space on the 11th floor within a building.
Another challenge on this project was to hide all the structure to create a fluid space. The task of hiding these large columns was carried out by wrapping them with deforming vessels to enclose spaces that can be used for backroom activity. This helped achieve an outer single fluid and open recreational space.
OBEROI CLUB 360 Mumbai, India
Indoor Gymnasium Oberoi
Ceiling Plan - 100% DD
Reflected
Enlarged Elevations - 100% DD
Oberoi
Children’s Play Area
ACADEMIC WORK
Southern California Institute of Architecture
M.ARCH II
Project: Federal Courthouse
Site: Downtown Los Angeles
Program: Courthouse
Instructor: Tom Wiscombe
Completion: April 2016
Notes: In collaboration with Corie Saxman
The project will explore architecture as a world through radical interiority. The point of departure will be el-Khoury’s concept of “hollow monoliths”, where the solidity of a monolith needs to be undermined by its emptiness. Architecture, of course, can never be actually empty, so it will be the task of the project to use combinations of actual void with the illusion os the void, as well as use techniques such as liners, habitable poche, nested objects, and extrusions from new grounds.
The globalization of cities today is such that they are constituted by private, discreet entities and illusion of public space/ This is even the case in so-called “public” buildings, which often have such high security that they are de facto private spaces.
Finally, the project will explore blackness, in terms of dark, glossy, reflective, and matte materiality. The intention is to produce the illusion of vastness and depth - even when there is none - such as in science fiction monoliths, black holes or infinity chambers.
PUBLIC APPEARANCES: ‘A Stealthy Space Invader’
Studies Program Studies
A highly intensive formal study starting from converting 8-bit space invader images into 3d and. The process then led to the combination of multiple objects and further slicing through the the object to create large figural qualities on the object.
A series of different program studies as shown above to understand the different adjacencies within a courthouse. There has also been an attempt to break the program organisation of a traditional courthouse.
Formal
The aim was to achieve a strong figural quality but still allow the building to blend in or relate to the exisiting urban fabric of the city of Los Angeles.
The aim was to create a highly complex and intricate interior with a sense of vastness. The idea of creating multiple worlds with multiple grounds was also a driving factor behind the interior of the building.
Formal Studies Interior Studies
Sectional Development
The above study shows the different sectional conditions through the building. The aim of this study was to achieve a sense of vastness and the feeling of being in a different world within the building. The sections also show the multiple grounds created by the extremely complex interior of the building.
Reflection Studies
This study has been done to help develop the tectonics of the building. These have led to the development of meta and micro seems which help break up the envelope of the building.
Tectonic Study
The reflection study on the adjacent page has helped in the development of meta and micro seems on the building.
Circulation Diagram
In a traditional courthouse, the circulation is broken up as back of the house and front of the house. In this case, it translates to the public entering through the front of the building, and the judges using a more secure and unseen pathway. We chose to flip this typology on its head by revealing the judges circulation and concealing all others within the poche. This stemmed from the idea of the public being a more integral part of the justice system. The public is now able to keep an eye on those who traditionally held all of the power.
The judge’s circulation manifests itself as bridges, these bridges gain articulation as they move throughout the vast space. The judges circulation is not only exposed within the vast space itself, but through the use of fenestration, which reveals the judges movement to and from the courts.
All other Circulation through poche
Judges Bridges
Two Modes of Circulation
Final Building on Site
How can a space invader infiltrate a city without it becoming an icon?
At a glance, the geometry seems to conform to the surrounding cityscape, quite possibly a tower-plinth scenario. This conglomeration of orthogonal geometry maintains this tower-esque appearance, further imbedding itself within the city fabric.
But does it fit?
As the viewer draws closer, the figure reveals itself. Hovering in an imbalance, it brings with it a sense of uneasiness.
The gestural undercuts of the figure challenge the tower-plinth typology by producing stark ground conditions.
As the tower grounds the figure, the figure in turn un-grounds the towers, creating a constant negotiation and tension.
As this typology shifts, it is no longer a tower-plinth, but rather a tower-figure.
Lower Plan
The program has been divided into four independent clusters, each operating as its own functioning building, within a building. The figure holds the vast space which allows for more variations on programs, while the more rigid programs reside in the two towers.
Sectional Drawing
The vast space within the figure is layered with articulation which varies in scale, some being 3 stories high, able to hold program, and others being so tiny one could only crawl through.
The space then begins to generate its own atmosphere by allowing for multiple grounds within the interior world.
This loss of scale emphasizes the vastness of the space, making you unaware of where you stand in relation to the courthouse as a whole.
Model Photograph
This complexity of the interior is then reflected onto the exterior façade in combination with “contextual” imagery.
This has led to the addition of another layer of finite surface articulation onto the exterior of the building.
The high fidelity of the articulation unifies the tower-figure into a whole, rather than two noticeably separate entities.
Model Photographs
Project: Design Development
Site: Los Angeles, USA
Program: Federal Courthouse
Instructor: Herwig Baumgartner, Brian Zamora
Completion: December 2016
Notes: In collaboration with Kiran Nayak, Siddardha Challamala, Palak Mandhana, Yasamin Fathi
Phase 1: At the outset the following steps were undertaken to begin the design documentation process:
•Understanding the complexities of the design and the need for multiple structural and other systems integrated together.
•Locating primary vertical circulation cores and important habitable spaces.
•Research and selection of materials used for the Building Envelope System.
Phase 2:
•Early development of StruWctural and Building Envelope Systems by implementation of a specialised Mega-truss and ““Egg-Crate”” Facade.
•Developed Plans and Section showing structural and building envelope systems.
•Initial response to environmental considerations and incorporation of active and passive system.
Phase 3:
•Finalised Structural and Building Envelope Systems by implementation of a Mega-truss and ““Egg-Crate”” Facade.
•Implementation of various active and passive systems in response to different environmental considerations.
•Egress, ADA and Fire Regulations incorporated into developed design solution.
•Initial Cost Proposal.
DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
Structure Build-Up
The building design involves extremely large cantilevers and undercuts which required an effective, lightweight, cost efficient and durable system. Non-Continuous cores required a specialised solution. The building has a small footprint but widens towards the middle. This requires a specialised column system and truss to support the slabs.
A.05.01
A.05.01
STEEL FRAMING AND COLUMNS
Structure Build-Up
Three reinforced concrete cores provide lateral stability to the structure and vertical support for the steel mega-truss platform. Rigid and better at supporting immense gravity loads, the concrete shear wall construction is the structural backbone of the building.In order to support the massive cantilevered slabs and overhangs of the building, a steel mega-truss is employed, balanced and fixed to the concrete cores. Steel is lightweight and allows for a long span cantilever condition avoiding the need for additional columns. The exterior envelope is constructed of a steel diagonal grid allowing for long span and a relatively lightweight approach to the design of the facade system.
This ‘exoskeleton’ supports the entire weight of the building’s facade, and also provides additional strength to the structure against strong lateral and seismic forces.
The building envelope is constructed of composite metal panels. This system is highly customizable to the various shapes and sizes of the unitized design. These metal panels are supported by an ““Egg-Crate”” steel grid system which affords the flexibility to achieve the variations in form of the building design. The Diagrid exoskeleton that supports the ““Egg-Crate”” transitions seamlessly from a vertical load-bearing to overslung and underslung long span roof system. These multiple conditions appear within the same structural system but have different performative and structural effects.
Facade Chunk
Window & Facade Detail
Tinted Glazing to allow for diffused natural light in office spaces. Titanium Zinc Panels are used as the exterior finish of “Egg-Crate” facade system. They allow for the desired aesthetic of color and texture that is appropriate to the design. They are also extremely durable compared to other available material finishes. The material allows for welding to form large seamless panels. Titanium Zinc panels also have a high strength to weight ratio making it a lightweight solution. The “Egg-Crate” system implemented for the building envelope accommodates the highly articulated design of the facade.
Facade to Ground Connection Detail
HILL STREET
Section Drawing
Roof to Facade Detail
Environmental Analysis
Environmental Considerations
It is extremely important for a building to have a low carbon footprint, low energy usage and address environmental concerns. It is also important to stay true to the design without any significant changes to the aesthetic value of the building.
Operable Windows to allow for natural ventilation. This helps reduce energy usage by reducing the usage of active systems.
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