Anna Gribanova
Virginia Tech
Anna Gribanova
Virginia Tech
Russian Embassy Architectural Installation Hydrogen Filling Station How to MEND Terminal A House for a Philosopher Undergraduate Thesis: work in progress
Light studies / plaster model
5’
10’
Light study plan
Sectional model
Sectional model
Hand-drawn rendering
photograph / St. Benedict Chapel, Switzerland
Architectural Installation Fort Monroe, Virginia The visitor arrives on foot. He walks along a narrow bridge down to the water. His visit starts here. The boat shakes a little before the calmness of the water overpowers it. Surrounded by rough grey stonewalls he notices a vibrant orange structure. The boat turns the corner and orange hides within grey. The boat ride takes him around the fort’s perimeter. With every corner the visitor suspects to see that playful orange. He is fooled by fort’s irregular plan. Turning the sharpest corner of the fort, the visitor is finally content. The whole structure is coated with cedar shingles. He steps onto the wooden platform. Shingles become his guide, pointing towards the entrance. His path is not long, but when he turns the corner the view suddenly changes. The perspective is more intense. The darkness surrounds the visitor. He enters one of the casemates of the fort. Suddenly the shingles turn the angle into a wall. They disappear and he is left in a stone room. The only items that remained in the room are wooden chairs randomly placed. Nothing distracts him. He is left alone. At the end of each visit the viewer is asked to take a shingle with them. With every visit installation changes. The structure and the path are remained. Time passes and the once-enclosed tunnel opens up, as to signify the nature’s force.
spring 2008 / VSAIA competition
100’
200’
300’
Site Plan of Fort Monroe
5’
10’
15’
Plan
Axonometric construction assembly
Computer rendering
Hydrogen filling station A careful examination of folding planes and creating paths was the focus of this ten-day competition. Two separate paths lead to the hydrogen station. One follows the curve and stops under the canopy. The other walks up to the structure, turns the corner and hides within the wall. The wall is arranged of two outer skins and an inner core of an insulating material to form a monolithic unit.
photograph / Willimann-Lotscher House, Switzerland
spring 2007 / competition / second place winner
Folding plane study models
Folding plane study models
Computer rendering
5’
10’
15’
Site plan
Exploded axonometric of construction assembly
How to MEND Terminal A
A collaborative competition examined to bring spaces of intimacy to a such immense place as Dallas - Fort Worth International Airport. An extensive research of circulation and handling of an airport concluded into an efficient system through the airport. Introduction of a new roof system that would light up the structure, creates a character for the transitory building. The new green gardens not only create fresh air within the building, but are pleasant to the passanger’s eyes. Overall the new circulation, green gardens and roof structure produce a sense of security for the travelers.
Google Earth image of DFW airport, Texas
spring 2008 / collaborative competition
Boards compiled with another student
to mend (v.) to free from faults or defects; to improve in manners or morals; reform; to put into good shape or working order again; patch up; to improve in health; heal
tools needed
scissors site plan of Terminal A green marker yellow marker blue marker
1
To start the process of mending, always follow design advice thoroughly before you demolish anything. For instance, it has been recommended that Terminal A itself become a place plentiful of natural light and fresh air, where water and energy conservation abounds and a generous public meeting space can be found.
2
UNUSED SPACE. Determine the location of the old train right-of-away, take the scissors and cut it out. This deserted train right away will be used as the main garden hall in order to clean the indoor air and provide spaces of comfort, security and intimacy for American Airlines workers and passengers.
3
MISUSED SPACE. Take the scissors and cut out the surface parking; a rain garden that filters pollutants carried by urban storm water will take its place. Parking covers 70% of the surface area within the site of Terminal A. This intensifies runoff, creates a heat island effect, and is the least enhancing solution to a complex parking problem. Additional parking will be added above existing structures.
4
UNDERUSED SPACE. Additionally, the top half of the central parking structure will be removed and utilized as the main check-in plaza. Take the scissors and cut out the central parking structure. A generous public plaza is critical not only for the clarity of circulation and check-in, but it also fulfills the need for an uplifting space that serves as a third place where people may lesiure.
5
Good work! Now that you have cleaned the wounds of Terminal A, you can begin to mend the gaps.
6
Gently place on top the healing roof that will protect this precious new place and serve as the breathing skin for Terminal A.
Diagrams / Board 1
Rendering of interior gardens / Board 3 / hand-drawn perspective done by another student rendered by Anna Gribanova
Security has been drastically changed from a narrowness of a funnel to the porosity of a sponge. While in line, travelers can see the floors below in anticipation of exploring the space.
Lounges provide the view and the fresh air from the gardens below. Travelers are able to enjoy the feeling of being outdoors while shopping.
Offices now receive abundant daylight creating an open space with access to the garden. A lunch on the patio is always a pleasure to the employees who now have a place to leisure.
tree
column diagram of a tree column
House for a Philosopher Between bright-blue sky and grey rocky earth, the burnt red-orange wall is seen from afar. It is set away from the noise of the town, reminding the visitor to listen to the melody of the wind playing among the leaves on the ground. From afar, the wall serves as a guide for the eyes, but when approached, the hand unconsciously reaches for the wall to feel the velvety surface and coldness of steel. The wall leads the visitor to concrete stairs. As the visitor begins to descend, another wall begins to rise enclosing him. The staircase slows the visitor with its irregularity. He looks up and sees a slit of blue sky. At the bottom, the stairs become very narrow. A small gap of green grass is seen between the steel walls, though it is impossible to reach the garden. The visitor turns left and enters the Philosopher’s House. Inside, the concrete walls make a sharp contrast against the steel, surrounding the garden. In the room for contemplation, time is recorded within the aging steel, the color of the grass and the movement of the clouds.
photograph / K+N House, Wollerau-ZĂźrich Switzerland
fall 2007 / study-abroad
Weathering of steel
Gap between stair and wall
Slit of blue sky and green grass
Texture of grass against smoothness of steel
Detail renderings
Site plan
5’
Plans
10’
15’
Cross sections
5’
10’
15’
Longitudinal sections
Interior rendering
School for the Blind and Visually Impaired Richmond, VA
Architecture is perceived in its entirety by means of human senses. The geometry of a room is understood through materiality, verticality, horizontality, as well as acoustics, smells and touch. This study focuses on creating a space that speaks to these senses. A comprehensible system is introduced to guide the visitor through, constructing a mental map of senses and memories of the building. The system strongly focuses on the floor surface since it is the first plane a visitor touches. With changing topography and materiality of the floor surface the visitor understands the barriers and remembers the thresholds. A single continuous element that begins on the exterior of the building guides the visitor not only by tactile understanding of it, but also an auditory perception of the element. Within the building direct light is used for directionality; it becomes an identifiable object. Diffused light is only used to bring in the light wherever needed. Stairs are highlighted with a subtle first step and the contrast of the material. The comprehensible system is set up in such a manner as to hear the space before seeing it, to understand the space before confronting it, and to feel the space before touching it.
photograph / sound sculpture aluminum, brass, copper, threaded steel rods, oak
fall 2008 / thesis: work in progress
COMPREHENSIBLE SYSTEM: Elements:
single continuous element leading the visitor through auditory perception of the element tactile understanding of the element topographical floor surface decline to a threshold incline to a barrier exaggerated corner slant to a side materiality of the floor changes based on the location //specify topographical ceiling lower ceiling: space for concentration: quiet taller ceiling: loud space: transitional materiality //specify direct light used for directionality: becomes an identifiable object diffused light is used for lighting up the space direct light is used to highlight the entrance:threshold //transition becomes memorable transitional space: intensified direction stairs are highlighted with a subtle first step contrast in material understanding the outside environment where applicapable pull in the soundscape block off when needed //view of landscape = view of soundscape framing of the sound making the sound visible outside space for interaction: courtyard //follows the same system walls slant for quiet area enclosing the visitor walls open up towards the top for loud public areas sense of smell serves as a guide to cafeteria
15 Student Projects Ed: Markus Breitschmid ISBN: 978-0-9795-4727-0 Copyright © 2008 Corporis Pages: 64 - 69
Hedy Nerito - Fotomodella Ed: Markus Breitschmid ISBN: 978-0-9802-2740-6 Copyright © 2008 Corporis Pages: 14, 17, 20 / 21, 22 / 23, 24 / 25, 90, 94 / 95
Publications
Thank you.