Rock | Paper | Scissors
A Portfolio of Work by Andre LH Baros
Andre LH Baros, Architect For the last 9 years, Andre has been an integral member of Wheeler Kearns Architects (WKA) where, starting in 2003, he implemented the office’s transition to the Revit building information modeling platform by training and providing ongoing support to the entire staff. Additionally, as WKA’s most facile and literate computer-aided modeler, renderer and in-house tutor, he complemented the WKA’s skill-set with: complex modeling, photo real material analysis and rendering, building performance analysis and in-house sustainability efforts. Simultaneously, a part of WKA’s design-oriented studio environment, he served as project architect and designer on various projects such as the Shore Drive residence and Lakewood Residence and project team on many award-winning projects, such as the Orchard and DePaul residences. Prior to Wheeler Kearns Architects, Andre spent 3 years at Harry Weese Associates as an intern on teams for various projects in design and documentation as well as advanced 3d modeling and rendering. Andre has a 5 year Bachelor of Architecture Degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology and is a licensed architect in the State of Illinois. Andre concentrates on leveraging technology to get work done and is extensively involved with Revit Architecture and Revit MEP and has experience with 3ds Max, AutoCAD, Ecotect, Maxwell Render, Windows Small Business Server, the Adobe Suite, Excel, and other programs. For the past 3 years, Andre has served as the President of the Chicago Loop Revit User Group. Because of his facility with digital design tools, Andre both explores design ideas on the computer and explores the computer as a design tool seeking forms, solutions and beauty in ever changing ways. With a strong focus on sustainable design, Andre has extensive project experience in Custom High-End Residential Architecture and K-12 schools with additional project experience in theatre and art facilities, high-rise core and shell, institutional and restoration work. Both Andre’s work and life have focused on sustainability to the extent to which he has done television and newspaper interviews on sustainable living.
“... a rigor for design...” This portfolio represents work completed while at Wheeler Kearns Architects, a Collaborative Practice, between 2000 and 2009. It is presented with gratitude to the amazing team of people past and present which made the Wheeler Kearns Architects studio environment possible. Thank You. The completed projects presented are my own work, but always completed as part of a team. The ideas presented are, to the extent that anything is unique, my own. What I will always take forward from Wheeler Kearns is a rigor for design. A rigor which always seeks a solution which is beautiful, responsible and world changing, even if only a little bit.
Built Work
Un-Built Work
Ideas
Shore Drive Residence Arts & Communications Building, Trinity Christian Collage DePaul Residence (Office) Orchard East Residence Support Orchard West Residence Support Lake Shore Drive Residence Support
Lakewood Residence Museum of Public Housing Montessori School of Lake Forest Fargo Residence Oak Park River Forest Pavilions Wind Tower
Twisting Tower Studies Parametric Studies Charette Studies
Photo by Andre LH Baros u
Shore Drive Residence
2003-2008 3500 ft2
A private single family residence on Lake Michigan, this project is built around 3 central ideas: a flow of space from room to room and from inside to outside, an orientation to maximize the potential of the lot while keeping the house “Not So Big� and a response to the climate and seasons which works with the site without compromising comfort. The house creates a series of private outdoor spaces which progress from a front entry garden to a private courtyard and then to the feature view of the lake front. I served as Project Architect under the tutelage of Principal Mark Weber with the occasional but vital support of Chris-Ann Spencer. Working with the client from concept through construction I had the good fortune of closely collaborating with the builder Tim Chupp of Pivotal Custom, the millwork team at Woodlogic and the design build Geothermal Heating and Cooling contractor Crown Wheele.
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Photos by Andre LH Baros
POCKET TOP EDGE OF SKYLIGHT FRAME INTO MASONRY WALL. ALIGN GLAZING TO FACE OF STUCCO METAL COPING ON CONTINUOUS CLIPS THROUGH W ALL EXHAUST VENT W ITH DAMPERS FIXED SKYLIGHT, ALUMINUM FRAME, PTD TO MATCH STAIR STRUCTURE
STUCCO OVER INSULATED MASONRY UNITS TO HAVE STRUCTURAL SHELLS ON INSIDE OF HOUSE AND FACE SHELLS ON OUTSIDE.
ALL EXTRIOR DOOR OUTSW ING WITH INSW ING SCREEN UNLESS OTHERW ISE NOTED GARAGE ROOF TO BE FULLY INSULATED TO STRUCTURAL DECK, SIMILAR TO MAIN HOUSE ROOF FIXED UPPER UNITS, UNLESS OTHERW ISE NOTED FOR EGRESS
CABLE BALUSTER AT CENTER OF STAIR, OPEN TOP CHANNEL TO ALLOW ACCESS TO LIGHT FEEDS. CONTINUOUS COPPER FLASHING, TYP ALL WALLS, CURBS, AND PENETRATIONS
GRILL AT CEILING LINE AND THROUGH ROOF EXHAUST w/ MOTORIZED DAMPER
WOOD COLUMN CLADDING AND AIR DIFFUSSER TRIM BY WINDOW MANUFACTURER OPERABLE LOW ER UNITS W ITH SCREENS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED TITUS PENCIL-PROOF BAR GRATES AT SUPPLY AIR SLOTS ON SECOND FLOOR. CONCEALED UPLIGHT AT ENTRY CANOPY
ALL VOIDS AT EXTERIOR PENETRATIONS TO BE FILLED WITH EXPANDING FOAM INSULATION
STAINLESS STEEL COAT TREE, CONCEALED MOUNTING IN FLOOR AND CEILING NO SCREEN DOOR AT FRONT ENTRY DOOR
STAIR LIGHTING ON EXTRA LONG PENDANT MOUNTS. ROUTE W IRING TROUGH STAIR STRUCTURE FROM ROOF CAVITY METAL STAIR STUCTURE (STAIR A) TAPERED TRUSS ROOF STRCTURE ROOF CAVITY TO BE FILLED SOLID WITH INSULATION. FABRIC SCREEN AT CENTER OF STAIR METAL HANDRAIL, INSIDE EDGE OF STAIR ONLY
GARAGE SLAB ON GRADE WD. STAIR AT GARAGE
SEE STRUCTURAL FOR HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL REINFORCING WOOD STAIR TREADS AND LANDINGS
RADIANT TUBING CONTINUOUS CONCRETE IN SLAB FOOTING, ON GRADE TYP. CONTINUOUS CONCRETE FOOTING, TYP.
UNDERGROUND DUCTWORK, COORD. ALL WALL PENETRATIONS WITH MANUFACTURER CONCRETE SLAB ON METAL DECK SUSPENDED GYP. CEILING, FRAME AS REQUIRED AT DUCTW ORK
ICMU BLOCK W ALL, INSULATED UNITS CONTINUE TO FOOTINGS AT ALL EXTERIOR W ALLS, STUCCO ALL VISIBLE PORTIONS.
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT PRODUCT
Second Floor
First Floor
Basement
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The stair is the pivot point of the Shore Drive Residence. The detail, like the project is unobtrusive and efficient.
Photo by Andre LH Baros p
This stair uses a center spine of cables and lights set within a lightweight steel frame to subtly slip between the spaces, walls, and millwork which bound it while simultaneously tying them together with light. A rain of light from the skylight refracts through two floors before reaching the basement and drawing people up through the house. Like the strings of a harp, the cables and lights are woven through the stair treads for maximum vision, light, and safety with a minimum of material.
Rendering of stair from landing q
Photo by Andre LH Baros p
Arts & Communications Building, Trinity Christian College 2003-2008 60,000 ft2
Academic Academic Support
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Art Circulation Mechanical Stage Stage Support
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Support
The home and public face of this small private college’s arts program, this building is anchored by a 200 seat black box theatre, bringing together diverse smaller uses and spaces oriented to a courtyard and ravine behind. UP
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DN Academic Academic Support Art Circulation Mechanical Stage Stage Support Support
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I was involved with this project primarily during the design development phase as it evolved from concept sketches to a political map of departments and their needs. I was also involved in coordination with diverse consultants; Morris Architects and Planners, theatre, Shuler Shook, theatre and lighting, Threshold Acoustics, acoustic engineering, WMA Consulting Engineers, MEP, Rubinos Mesia Inc, structural and civil engineering.
Rendering of South Entry q
Photo by Evan Thomas p
Rendering of Outdoor Performance Area q
Rendering of second floor lobby q
Phase I & II, Rendering by Andre LH Baros p
Phase I, Photo by Evan Thomas p
Photo by Evan Thomas pq
Rendering of Black Box Theatre p
West Loop Loft
2002-2003 1800 ft2
This loft residence in Chicago’s West Loop Neighborhood was an exercise in downsizing for empty nesters who no longer needed the large spacious Gold Coast apartment Wheeler Kearns had designed for them years before. As project architect, I was involved in all aspects of the project from concept design to final finishes and move in. Filled with light and color, the design was driven by the client’s extensive collection of antique furniture, ceramics, and art for which we coordinated closely with the interior designers, R. Perlman Designs, to create an eclectic mix of style and function.
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT PRODUCT
Photo by Jun Fujinuma pq
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT PRODUCT
L U H P N A S 4 8 -3 K O E R IT V T E L A IN H C S
R PLT N 4SA 38 K-3 E A O T VI H EO INA S ILETS U CH
Owner
Unnamed Project number
Project Number
DePaul Residence
2001-2005 5000 ft2
A private single family residence in Chicago, I was involved with the project Architect, Larry Kearns and the team in various capacities. One specific area was the home office, which, perched above the kitchen in the double height family room/ library space, was the heart of the home.
Third Floor Plan
Second Floor Plan
First Floor Plan N
Study Rendering of kitchen and office p tPhoto by Steven Hall, Hedrich Blessing
Study Rendering of library and office p
Photo by Steven Hall, Hedrich Blessing u
Orchard West
2001-2007 15,000 ft2
qConstruction Diagram for Double Groin Vault
Study Rendering of interior stone p
One of a series of houses designed, sized, and detailed like a museum, this large private single family residence in Chicago took many years to complete. Larry Kearns was the project lead for the entire time - I joined the team several times for specific tasks. I helped with sketches and research during the preliminary design stage, detailing and coordination during construction documents, and many renderings along the way. One very specific area was the detailing of the elliptical groin vault over the library which included details such as the one below, tight structural coordination and full size templates for the steel and gluelam fabricators.
Study Rendering of Front Entry q
Photo by Steven Hall, Hedrich Blessing p
Study Rendering of library | dining room u
Orchard East
The pinnacle of a series of houses designed, sized, and detailed like a museum, this large private single family residence in Chicago took a large team to complete. That team was led and coordinated by Dan Wheeler. At times the whole office was involved in this case study project, which has won many awards. I was part of that team at various times, primarily coordinating the 2D and 3D project documents as well as leveraging the 3D data for hundreds of renderings.
Study Rendering of cladding systems p
2002-2007 15,000 ft2
Lake Shore Drive Residence 2007-Present 10,000 ft2
Study Rendering of kitchen q
The most recent of a series of houses designed, sized, and detailed like a museum, this private single family residence is under construction as of early 2010. I was primarily involved with the team during preliminary design and design development. Returning to the team during construction to help with kitchen and stair details and renderings.
Study Rendering of stair and railing pq
Lakewood Residence
2008-Present 3,000 ft2
This single family home in Chicago’s Wrigleyville neighborhood is an effort to take an existing Greystone two-flat and make it as green as possible. The client’s primary motivation for every decision was to be as sustainable as possible within the budget. I was responsible for all aspects of the project except construction which is scheduled to begin in early 2010.
First Floor Plan Study N
tMaterial Studies of Master Suite
SOLAR HOT W ATER PANELS
322.1. 1 ENGI NEERED TRUSSES FOR ROOF STRUCTURE 440.3 WATER BASED FINISHES ON INTERIOR WOODWORK, TYP.
224.2 OPERBLE CLEARSTORY AT TOP OF STAIRS.
440.2 ZERO VOC PAINT, SEE SPEC FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATI ON
CEILINGFANS AT TOP OF STAIR
324.3 NO LUAN UNDERLAYMENT, NO LUAN TO BE USED IN PROJECT
NO RECESSED LIGHTI NG / SPEAKERS IN INSULATED CEILINGS.
323.1 ENGINEERED TRUSSES FOR FLOOR STRUCTURE 323.1 LVL BEAMS FOR FLOOR STRUCTURE
410.3 ALL INSULATION TO BE FORMALDEHYDE FREE (NO ADDED UREAFORMALDEHYDE)
110.R1 SILT BARIER AND DUST FENCE TO BE MAI NTAINED THROUGHOUT CONSTRUCTION PERIOD. ENSURE THAT NO WATER OR DEBRI S LEAVES THE SITE. --AVOID REMOVING FRONT YARD PAVING UNTIL PROJECT IS READY FOR NEW LANDSCAPE WORK. PROTECT AND MAINTAIN EXPOSED SOIL WITH FILTER FABRICS/GEOTEXTILES. --PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN FILTERS AT ALL INLETS TO SEWER SYSTEM. ( OR INSTALL TEMPORARY PLUGS TO PREVENT SILT, DIRT, SOIL, CONSTRUCTION WASTE AND OTHER DEBRIS FROM ENTERING THE SYSTEM DURING CONSTUCTION) THIS INCLUDES INLETS IN THE STREET EFFECTED BY CONSTRUCTION.
110.1 EXISTING MASONRY PARAPETS WALLS TO BE REBUILT AS REQUIRED. 221.5.2 HARD-DUCTED RETURN AIR SYSTEM TO ALL BEDROOMS. 110.1 EXISTING MASONRY SHELL TO REMAIN EXCEPT AS REQIRED FOR NEW OPENINGS
470.3 DRYER VENTED WITH SMOOTH METAL DUCT 321.2 FSC CERTIFIED LUMBER FOR ALL INTERIOR FRAMING
325.1 LVL OR GLUE LAM BEAMS FOR ALL BEAMS NOT REQUIRED TO BE STEEL
221.7 ALL DUCT JOINTS SEALED WITH DUCT MASTIC OR APPROVED TAPE 221.8 ALL DUCT WORK LOCATED IN CONDITIONED SPACE
371.1 & 371.2 ALL FLOORS ARE RECLAIMED WOOD PLANK EXCEPT TILED AREAS AS NOTED IN PLANS. 440.4 WATER BASED URATHANE FINISH, FACTORY APPLIED. 380.5 ALL CASING AND TRIM TO BE PTD FORMALDEHYDE FREE MDF (NO ADDED UREAFORMALDEHYDE)
380.2 ALL MILLW ORK TO BE CRYSTAL GREEN-CORE (100% RECYCLED PARTICLEBOARD W/ NO ADDED UREA-FORMALDEHYDE) BOXES AND 100% RECYCLED GREEN-CORE MDF DOORS OR APPROVED EQUAL.
310.1 COAL FLY ASH (CLASS 'C') CONCRETE FOR ALL NEW CONCRETE WORK, SEE SPEC. FOR ADDITI ONAL INFORAMATION 310.2 RECYCLED CONCRETE FOR AGGREGATE FOR ALL NEW CONCRETE WORK. SEE SPEC FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATI ON 310.6 USE VEGETABLE OIL RELEASE AGENTS ON ANY FORMS USED FOR NEW CONCRETE. SEE SPEC FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
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First Floor Plan
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT PRODUCT DN
3747 N. Lakewood Avenue Chicago Illinois 60613 110.R1 SILT BARIER AND DUST FENCE TO BE MAI NTAI NED THROUGHOUT CONSTRUCTION PERIOD. ENSURE THAT NO WATER OR DEBRIS LEAVES THE SITE. --MINIMIZE DAMAGE TO SITE SOILS UNTIL PROJECT IS READY FOR NEW LANDSCAPE WORK. --PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN FILTERS AT ALL INLETS TO SEWER SYSTEM. (OR INSTALL TEMPORARY PLUGS TO PREVENT SILT, DIRT, SOIL, CONSTRUCTION WASTE AND OTHER DEBRI S FROM ENTERI NG THE SYSTEM DURING CONSTUCTION)
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PRESENTATION FIRST FLOOR
Second Floor Plan
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3747 N. Lakewood Avenue Chicago Illinois 60613
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT PRODUCT
BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT PROD BY AN AUTODESKPRODUCED STUDENT PRODUCT Y AN AUTODESKPRODUCED STUDENT PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT PRODUCT
PRESENTATION SECOND FLOOR
Third Floor Plan
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Typical Plan and Section Details p
Montessori School of Lake Forest
2005-2006 8,000 ft2
This LEED Seeking design was an attempt to move the Montessori School of Lake Forest’s farm based junior high program from an old farm house to a formal school building. The design was resolved through an online exercise in which the whole school community was invited to comment on the evolving design through a blog. I took over as project architect at the end of preliminary design and carried the project through construction documents and permitting at which point the necessary funding had not been raised to continue.
RAIN WATER STORAGE TANK
RAIN WATER STORAGE TANK
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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT PRODUCT
Solar Path Study pPRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT PRODUCT
tStudy Rendering of Classroom Daylighting
Study Rendering of Exhibit Hall q
Study Rendering of Entry q
Study Rendering of Exhibit Hall q
Competition for the Museum of Public Housing 2008-Present 3,000 ft2 This competition sought design concepts for converting a vacant CHA building on Chicago’s Near West Side into an accessible public museum. As part of the small team with Chris-Ann Spencer and Tom Bader, I was responsible for the concept and modeling of the glass roof which provided a day-lit accessible route through the building to expose and display the historic units.
Study Rendering of Entry q
Study Rendering Overview q
The center of this single family home in Fargo North Dakota was to be the “World of Learning.” One of my roles on the project was to detail and describe the three dimensional twisting which brought daylight from the skylight above to the library below.
Fargo Residence
Unbuilt (project canceled during construction)
Study Rendering at First Floor u
pStudy Rendering of Concessions Pavilion
Oak Park River Forest High School Athletic Pavilions
These two pavilions were part of a master plan to re-build the athletic fields and sports facilities by closing a street which divided the school from it’s outdoor spaces. Part of the concept for the new pedestrian way, these two pavilions were ultimately cut from the project due to a lack of funding. My roles, in addition to rendering, included engineering coordination and detailing.
Study Rendering of Open Pavilion p
Johnny’s Ice House West
This Ice Rink on Chicago’s West Side is seeking to be the first LEED Silver certified ice rink. Playing a supporting role on this project, I supported Project Architect Mark Weber’s team with Parametric Revit families for the corrugated curtain wall system, daylight analysis, lighting studies and renderings.
Study of Skylight glazing p
2007-Present 60,000 ft2
Parametric Studies of Corrugated Translucent Panels and Lighting
Wind Tower | Garden Tower This building is conceptualized to be functional, viable, and sustainable for 250 years. Over that time, change can be accommodated across all facets except overall form. The massing, a collection of smaller buildings, is oriented to benefit from exposure to the sun, wind, rain, and the city. The skin of the building is a terra-cotta rainscreen spanning over ribbon windows which punctuate a super-insulated foam wall. Air and water-tight, the foam-filled walls reduce the heating and cooling loads while reducing noise and increasing
comfort. The terra-cotta rainscreen system provides a long-term skin for the building and utilizes a photo catalytic surface to clean itself. Ribbon windows, optimized for daylight and views, are operated and maintained by each user. Invisibly integrated into the facades and tied to the mechanical system, zones of tubing collect thermal solar energy on the south side, and reject heat on the north side allowing the building to self regulate temperature. Capping off each roof and sky garden, green spaces provide several layers of
protection for the roofing material below. Shaded from the destructive UV radiation of the sun and insulated from abrupt thermal swings, the roof membrane can be long lived. Hidden from view, the roofs of the building collect rain as the sole source of water for irrigation.
Form Diagram
Urban Oasis
Site Urban Density and Connections
Wind Maximizing potential
Sun Harvesting Light and Energy
The building serves as an urban oasis in many ways. As a building built to last 250 years, it is designed to begins its journey as an amenity-rich residential tower. Every unit has sweeping views of the city and access to outdoor green space. Below grade parking provides access to shared vehicles and general parking. A restaurant on the ground floor serves fresh food grown on the roof. The floor plans can accommodate units from small 600 ft2 to 1,200 ft2 to full floors of 16,000 ft2.
The building maintains the density expected in a skyscraper located in an urban context. Similar to a conventional skyscraper, this building enjoys generous transit connections which heighten its sustainability. It is connected to other cities through national and regional train lines, and to closer locations with rapid transit, pedestrian, bike, and car sharing routes. It is also located a short walk from many of the City’s major cultural institutions. The ambition of the building is not simply to take less, but to possibly export energy.
In order to harness wind blowing from any direction, locations where its velocity is maximized - corners - are increased in number. Instead of a single monolithic building, the massing is divided into three radial wings. At the vertical corners of each wing, wind turbines are integrated into the structure to harvest energy.
In response to solar exposure, the floor plates of each wing are narrow to allow daylight to reach all regularly occupied spaces. The south facing exposure is maximized to capture as much direct sunlight as possible on opaque surfaces for thermal and photovoltaic power.
Function Changing Times
Biomass Ecosystem Restoration
The people, plants, and animals in the building will change most frequently. Much like the precedent of a Chicago loft building, the open floor plates are intended to accommodate a variety of uses over time: Initially a rental residential unit, in 50 years an office unit, in 100 years possibly an urban farm, in 150 years a nonindustrial use, and possibly in 250 years to return to a home again. Possibly changing as often as the occupants, the garden spaces are oriented to groups of floors providing direct access from each interior zone of the building.
The original biomass of the site is restored to green space with a series of sky gardens. Located at various plateaus from ground to roof level, the sky gardens capture sun and water and host a number of uses. Gardens, playgrounds, greenhouses, farms, or wildlife habitat, can occupy these green zone. Uses can evolve and change over time, all the while cleaning the air and water which reaches the site.
Rendering at street levelq
A building which consumes less and gives more, by connecting to the earth, the sun, the wind, and the community.
Twisting Tower A Revit 2008
Parametric Tower Studies changing radius, rotation, and fin size
A series of studies for a tower inspired by Architect Santiago Calatrava’s Chicago Spire.
Twisting Tower B Revit 2009
8째 Rotation
4째 Rotation
Parametric Tower Studies changing radius and rotation
A series of studies for a tower which scales from a circular base to an elliptical top. Shown with different per floor rotations.
16째 Rotation
12째 Rotation
pIncident Solar Radiation Study at 8째 Rotation
Twisting Tower C Revit 2010
Parametric Tower Studies changing rotation
A windswept variation of the wind tower, done as an independent study to find a form which more dynamically expresses the project’s green concepts.
Tower with no rotation
Interstitial space with no rotation
Tower with 1° rotation
Interstitial space with 1° rotation
Tower with 2째 rotation
Interstitial space with 2째 rotation
Tower with 3째 rotation
Interstitial space with 3째 rotation
Unbuilt Schemes 2000-2009
Rainscreen cladding studyq
Charette Schemesq
For every scheme advanced at Wheeler Kearns, there were at least 2 schemes passed over or merged. Some were too prosaic and some too esoteric, but in the end, many were not as appropriate as the selected or as good alone as mixed with another. Below is a sampling of concepts consumed along the way.
Parametric Cladding Studyu
Parametric Study of woven mesh structuresp Charette Schemesq
Parametric Study of woven mesh structuresu
Parametric Studies 2003-2009
Charette Schemesq
Throughout the transition to and implementation of Revit, there was an ongoing series of studies in using the parametric and generative capacity of Revit to study forms and details.
Parametric Study of Random Skylight Systemu
“It is alarming that publications devoted to Architecture have banished from their pages the words Beauty, Inspiration, Magic, Spellbound, Enchantment, as well as the concepts of Serenity, Silence, Intimacy, and Amazement. All of these have nestled in my soul and though I am fully aware that I have not done them complete justice in my work, they have never ceased to be my guiding light.” Quoted from Louis Barragan’s acceptance speech of the Pritzker Prize
Parametric Heredity and Branching experiments, 4 variables