ANDREA SLAGER
ARCHITECTURAL PORTFOLIO
Philosophy ARCHITECTURE IS NOT ABOUT THE DESIGNER, ARCHITECTURE IS ABOUT THE PEOPLE IT SERVES. On every project, I believe it is important to focus on the client requirements and potential satisfaction with the outcome of a project. In designing, I focus on the users experience of a space and allow it to influence the design in every way possible. I walk through the spaces in my mind and create interactions in the space that are desirable and fitting for the function of the space. Every project presents challenges that the design must over come. No matter what the challenge might be, I strive to overcome those challenges in innovative and thoughtful ways. Pushing a design to overcome any issues that arise is an area that I pride myself on doing well while maintaining a user and client mentality as I analyze the space. Architecture is not just a building but a space for people to interact and live. A poor design leads to an undesirable space with poor interactions. The goal of every design is community oriented and meeting the needs of the users of the space.
Table of Contents 4 Christian Church Design 10 Riverkeeper 16 Stair Design 21 Field Sketches
Christian Church Design The church is designed to accommodate a 400 seat Mission Christian Church in the Chicagoland area. The plan involves a first phase build and an expansion plan for a 600 seat sanctuary and a fellowship hall as well as more classrooms.
The sanctuary space is vaulted and stained glass panels are used to manipulate the lighting in the sanctuary and allow for some shading. The verticality of the space emphasizes the important liturgical areas of the church, namely the processional to the stage where preaching and worship take place. Another key area of the church is the entry and fellowship area. Community is an important value in the Christian church and it is emphasized in plan and elevation with a dramatic height and open area for meals and other events that encourage community.
Riverkeeper A Riverkeeper is an organization that monitors bodies of water and the habitats within them. The riverkeeper building services as a place for the community to interact with the Riverkeeper and the habitats themselves, as well as becoming educated about the best ways to use this local body of water the Riverkeeper serves.
The building site sits within the 100 year flood plain. The building is designed to allow for flooding in times of heavy rainfall. The lower portion of the building floods and is blocked off from the upper portion of the building until the water level drops. The building is designed dramatize the reveal of the river through the journey through the building. The direct views of the river are blocked while inside upper level of the building and reveals the river once a visitor enters the lower level.
Stair Design The stair is designed to explore the idea of tensegrity. We built the stair using only a tread, four rods, and wire. The tension in the wires hold all the pieces in place and keeps them from touching. This was designed as a group project.
Field Sketches In May 2014, I spent a month traveling in Italy, Czech Republic, Germany, and the Netherlands. We toured many churches, some government buildings, and a few villas. The trip allowed us to see some of the great works in other countries and engage with the culture there. These drawings were completed on the trip, in pencil and watercolor.
Amsterdam Canal Church, Berlin
Villa d’Este, Rome