PORTFOLIO
AUSTINFERGUSON
HEALING SANCTUARY
07
OPERATING ROOM PROTOTYPE
23
URBAN HOSPITAL
39
CITY ROOTS BATHHOUSE
53
WAR + PEACE MUSEUM
61
Spring 2016 Graduate
Fall 2016 Graduate
Fall 2015 Graduate
Spring 2014 Undergraduate
Fall 2013 Undergraduate
HEALING SANCTUARY
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HEALING SANCTUARY Spring 2016 | ARCH 8960 | Professor Byron Edwards Graduate Greenville, SC
This individual project called for the design of an integrative cancer center sited in Greenville, South Carolina. The program called for both traditional clinical methods of cancer treatment along with various forms of alternative medicine. The combination of these two methods would provide cancer patients in the upstate with a holistic approach to cancer treatment. The alternative medicines included a design for the first Maggie’s Center in the U.S. These centers are popular in the U.K. as a sort of community center to help patients deal with their cancer through community and socialization with other patients. The three components of holistic healing [ mind, body, and spirit ] manifest themselves as physical spaces within the cancer center.
Holistic Spirit
Mind
DESIGN GUIDELINES I began the project by developing a set of design guidelines that were ideas I wanted the design to strive for throughout the entire process. Several of these developed in response to aspects of the existing cancer center that I felt had a negative impact on the patient experience.
1. Reduce the Scale
2. Focus on Nature
LINAC Vaults
Chapel
Maggie Center
Body
Body
Spirit
HOLISTIC TREATMENT CONCEPT
Mind
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The driving idea throughout the entire project was to submerse patients in nature and create a feeling of sanctuary or respite from the difficulties of battling cancer. The program is based on an existing cancer center that was built on the same site in 2013. I was very disappointed with the building during a visit because the main waiting area looked out to the parking lot, and the whole building stood out on what had been turned into a flat, stark site. Therefore, the center is set deep into the site for this design to begin to separate the patient from their outside stressors as they enter the site. I want patients to surround themselves with nature and hopefully recognize the cycles of growth, decay, and regrowth that takes place in nature and are similar to the processes going on in their bodies during cancer treatment.
A
B
9
S
? 3. Integrate Building + Site
4. Form a Place of Respite
5. Create a Comfortable Environment
K
Infusion Bays Infusion Bays
TLT
TLT
Priv.
Priv.
Priv.
Priv.
Staff Lounge + Lockers TLT
Nour. Multipurpose Room
I
Inject
Soiled
Inject
Recep.
T TL
H
T TL
S
rge p La rou m G oo R
10
TLT
Infusion Pharmacy
e Cent
er
TLT
Infusion Bays
Maggi
Clean
Integrative Therapy Rooms
TLT
Infusion Bays
TLT
TLT
MECH.
J
G
Mens
Clean
Office
S
MECH.
Chap
Office
Womens
el
Draw .
Lab
Draw . Draw . Dra w. TLT
Fin.
F
E
Records + Fax Sched.
Sched.
Sched.
Soil. EVS
Work Area
TLT
Clean
TLT
Consult
TLT
Office
Exam
Office
Exam
Clean Soil.
Exam
Proc. Exam Exam Exam Exam Exam Exam Room
TLT TLT
Exam
B
Exam Exam
EVS
Medical Oncology Admin. Area
Recep.
Consult Work Area
Proc. Office Room
LEVEL 1 FLOOR PLAN
SECTION A
2
Fin.
Reg.
Fin.
Retail Pharmacy
N
Reg.
M
Boutique
3
4
5
6
14
Exam Exam Exam Exam Exam
Proc. Room Office Office
7
L
13
A
1
Reg.
Resource Center
9 Work Area
TLT
Sched.
Exam Exam Exam Exam Exam Exam
Proc. Room
C
Fin.
12
Cafe
D Office
Reg.
8
10
11
ARRAY PROGRAM
Office Office Audit
Adm. Office Office Office Pall. Care Ast Research Pod
Research Pod Consult Consult
Navigators
J
Cancer Registry
Support Programs
V.A. Stor.
I
TLT Education Classroom
Research Storage
Office Office Office Office
Lounge
Inject Inject
Stor. MECH.
TLT
Dosimetry
CT Cont.
Recep.
CT Sim.
Recep.
H
Consult
Physics Lab
Consult
Clean
Hot Lab
FILL IN SUPPORT
Soil Exam
Exam Exam
Rad Tech
TLT
Exam
Sub Wait
S
G
Conf.
Mobile PET Dock
Cancer Registry
Clinical Trials
Research Conf.
K
Exam Pat. Hold Pat. Hold
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Exam
Contr ol
S
Contr ol LINAC
F
1 LINAC
Contr ol 2 LINAC
E
3
Materials Management
3
4
5
6
LEVEL 0 FLOOR PLAN
7
8
9
10
CONNECT ALL PROGRAM
11
INTEGRATE INTO SITE
SECTION B
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APPROACH
K
K
J
J
I
I
H
H
G
G
N
F
F
M
E
E
12 L 13
D
14
9
11
10
C
B
A
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
LEVEL 1 FRAMING PLAN K
K
J
J
I
I
H
H
G
G
N
F
M
E
F
13
E
12 L 13
D
3
4
5
6
7
9
8
10
11
14
9
10
11
C
B
A
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
LEVEL 0 FRAMING PLAN
S S
LEVEL 1 MECHANICAL
S S
LEVEL 0 MECHANICAL
A monolithic stone wall runs through the site and project along the ridge of the topography. This wall serves as both a landmark for wayfinding and an element for directing circulation throughout the building. Patients will enter the building along the wall into the main lobby. From this point, patients will either go left to the clinics, right to the infusion bays, or down to radiation oncology. They also have the choice to continue following the axis created by the wall to the chapel in the garden courtyard or to the Maggie’s Center at the bottom of the site.
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Since the site slopes away towards the north, the infusion bays have the appearance of sitting up in the air. This condition gives patients the opportunity to look out at the canopies of the surrounding trees on the site. The northward facing bays also allow ample amounts of sunlight into the space without the discomfort of direct sunlight for patients. The roof of the infusion bay slopes up to allow sunlight to filter through clerestory windows and exposed wood trusses.
Medical Oncology Infusion + Aphaeresis
Maggie Center
Radiation Oncology Clinical Treatment Alternative Treatment Administration Administration
Public | Support
15
Chairs for family and guests
8 3/4’ TYP.
6 1/2’
10’ TYP.
Moveable laminated glass dividers
Easy visualization for staff INFUSION POD DETAIL
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LEVEL 0 LIGHTWELL
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VIEW TO COURTYARD FROM LOBBY
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O P E R AT I N G R O O M PROTOTYPE
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OPERATING ROOM PROTOTYPE
Fall 2016 | ARCH 8950 | Professor David Allison Graduate Medical University of South Carolina | Charleston, SC Austin Ferguson | Zhiqin Liu | Leah Bauch | Rachel Matthews | Lindsey Hofstra | Qian Dong | Shirui Lin | Yingce Huang This design project was conducted as one of many components for the project Realizing Improved Patient Care Through Human Centered Design in the Operating Room (RIPCH.OR) which is sponsored by a grant from AHRQ. Our studio joined this four year long research project during its second year, after the research team’s initial studies and analysis of exiting operating room conditions. The studio was charged with helping the research team synthesize their findings and create a prototype for a universal operating room. The design project began with the development of design guidelines that set the basis for what our O.R. design would achieve. The main focus was creating a surgical environment that would increase safety, efficiency, and effectiveness for all types of surgeries and settings. The studio worked side by side with nurses, surgical techs, anesthesiologists, residents, and surgeons from the Medical University of South Carolina to develop and test our designs. We would meet with a pediatric and orthopedic surgical team from MUSC every three weeks to discuss changes to the design. Our designs were tested with the surgical teams through a variety of methods, beginning with a tape-on-the-floor mock-up and concluding with a full-scale cardboard mock-up. These mock-ups allowed us to test various room sizes, configurations, and personnel flows through the room during all phases of surgery.
DESIGN GUIDELINES
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Optimize the ability to change over time
Optimize positive experience for all users
Optimize clinical outcomes, health + safety
Optimize sustainable strategies
Optimize efficiency + effectiveness
1
Provide appropriate + controlled access to daylight
• Windows + window walls to the exterior • Borrowed or indirect light • Electronic opacity
2
Provide flexible + controllable artificial lighting
• LED + OLED lighting fixtures • Ambient Light • Control Dashboard
3
Maximize visual awareness in the O.R.
• Provide windows from adjacent spaces • Smart glass technologies
4
Provide integrated digital information displays in multiple locations
• Digital O.R. • Wall of knowledge • Wearable monitors
5
Plan the O.R. to optimize movement and flow
• Parallel Processing • Locate storage in convenient locations • Establish clear functional room zoning
6
Employ a flexible room + suite chassis
• Flexible Infrastructure • Use of modular walls systems
7
Incorporate plug + play systems
• Prefabricated wall / ceiling systems • Modular furnishings and equipment
8
Minimize institutional clutter
• Ceiling mounted items • Eliminate unnecessary surfaces
9
Design features that minimize surface + airborne contaminations
• Ultra clean ventilation • Antimicrobial lighting and material • Hands-free control
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O.R. CONFIGURATION A 22' - 0"
1
SUITE LCC AYOUTS
2
The initial room layout we explored followed the same clean core model that MUSC currently uses in both of their hospitals. There is a door located at both short ends of the room; one leading to the clean core, and the other from the semi-restricted corridor. Both doors lead into a circulating zone (CZ) that keeps traffic out of the anesthesia zone (AZ) and the scrub zone (SZ). A characteristic of all the schemes is angling the bed to provide for easier access and circulation, while making the most use of the corner of the room by creating an anesthesia “nook�. Inroom storage has been minimized to a single recessed storage cabinet each for anesthesia and the circulating nurse.
A
26' - 0"
14' - 3"
A.Z.
C.Z. S.Z.
13' - 0"
B
OR
OR
CLEAN CORE
OR
OR
26 C 12' - 3 1/2"
12' - 3 1/2"
O.R. CONFIGURATION B
SC a 22' - 0"
1
2
3
A
14' - 3"
A.Z.
26' - 0"
GB&A
13' - 0"
C.Z. S.Z.
C
C
B
SUITE L AYOUTS The second configuration explored a room layout where there is only one door into the room, which would allow for large window walls or smart walls at the foot of the room. This configuration and the remainder of the configurations will be used in a single corridor or work core setting. Therefore we studied how an auxiliary space could be added next to the room to serve as either a control room or storage room. This extra space could also provide future expansion of the O.R. as outpatient procedures are expected to become more complex in the future.
OR
OR
SINGLE CORRIDOR
SC b
OR
OR
OR
OR
SINGLE CORRIDOR OR
WC a OR
OR
OR
WORK CORE
WC bOR
OR
OR
OR WORK CORE
12' - 3 1/2"
12' - 3 1/2"
15' - 0"
OR
OR
SC a
O.R. CONFIGURATION C B
A
SUITE L AYOUTS
C
C.Z.
C GB&A
S.Z.
12' - 3 1/2"
2
22' - 0"
A.Z.
12' - 3 1/2"
S.Z.
1
This configurations moves the point of entry to the foot of the long side of the room with the scrub sink adjacent to it. Through simulation testing, we found this configuration works best for orthopedic procedures where the surgical team may switch to different sides of the bed. The door at the foot of the bed allows the circulation zone within the room to easily shift in order to keep surgical team members out of the scrub zone who are not needed there.
OR
SINGLE CORRIDOR
SC b
OR
OR
OR
OR
SINGLE CORRIDOR OR
OR
WC a OR
OR
WORK CORE
WC bOR
OR
OR
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OR WORK CORE
26' - 0" 14' - 3"
OR
OR
13' - 0"
OR
O.R. CONFIGURATION D 22' - 0"
1
2
13' - 11"
A
26' - 0"
C GB&A
14' - 3"
A.Z.
C.Z. S.Z. C GB&A
13' - 0"
B
C
12' - 3 1/2"
12' - 3 1/2"
15' - 0"
SUITE L AYOUTS
3
The final configuration we explored and tested is one that utilized induction rooms off of the long side of the room. Case studies illustrated that these rooms are most useful for pediatric cases where the majority of time is spent prepping and anesthetizing the patient. The surgical teams we had simulating this layout in the full-scale mock-up were skeptical of the functionality of this configuration in relation to their current outpatient surgery model. However, we did study the possibility of just using one auxiliary room that could serve as either a prep room or induction room depending on the procedure.
INDUCTION
OR
OR
INDUCTION
INDUCTION
INDUCTION
SINGLE CORRIDOR INDUCTION
INDUCTION
INDUCTION
OR
OR
WC c SC c
OR
INDUCTION
INDUCTION
INDUCTION
OR INDUCTION
INDUCTION
WORK CORE INDUCTION
INDUCTION
OR INDUCTION
OR INDUCTION
OPERATING ROOM PHASES 1
2
A
1
A
A.Z.
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2
A.Z.
C.Z.
B
S.Z.
S.Z.
C
ROOM READY • Bed is set in the angled position • Instrument tables are pushed up against the wall in the scrub zone • Both anesthesia and circulating cabinets are pre-stocked with essential supplies to prevent team members from having to leave the room during surgery
C.Z.
B
C
PATIENT PREPARATION • The patient is brought in by a member of the anesthesia team, possibly assisted by the circulating nurse • The patient is transferred to the surgical table and then transport gurney is taken out of the room • The scrub nurse prepares the instrument tables in the scrub zone while the anesthesiologist induces the patient • The circulating nurse is taking notes, verifying patient information, and going through any pre-surgical checklists
1
2
1
2
A
A
A.Z.
A.Z.
C.Z.
B
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C.Z.
B
S.Z. S.Z. C
INTRAOPERATIVE • The surgical team performs a “time out” to ensure they have all the correct information about the patient and procedure to be performed • The surgeon stays on one side of the patient, usually assisted by a surgical resident on the opposite side of the patient. The scrub nurse is next to the surgeon, handing them the necessary instruments • The anesthesia team remains stationary throughout the surgery, monitoring patient vitals • The circulating nurse charts during the procedure while assisting any team member and retrieving needed supplies
C
POSTOPERATIVE • The surgery is completed and the surgeon or resident will close the surgical site • The anesthesia team bring the patient out of anesthesia while the surgeon completes their charting • The scrub nurse or tech counts all instruments and supplies, and prepares them for disposal or sanitation • The patient is transferred to a transport gurney and taken to a post-op recovery area after they are stable.
VIEWS IN THE O.R. | PATIENT PREPARATION 1
2
1
A
30
1
A.Z.
C.Z.
B
S.Z.
3
2 C
3
VIEWS IN THE O.R. | INTRAOPERATIVE 2
1
1
A
A.Z.
31 2
C.Z.
B
S.Z.
2 C
3
VIEWS IN THE O.R. | POSTOPERATIVE
1
2
A
B
1
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1 C
ELEVATIONS Laparoscopic view for surgeons / residents
A
Surgical safety checklist
View over surgical site for anesthesia team
Clock for entire surgical team
B Glass wall panels for circulating nurse “whiteboard�
Electrical outlet for mobile workstation docking position
KEY PLAN + RCP 1
2
A
22' - 0"
1
2
A
A
B
B
13' - 0"
B
26' - 0"
14' - 3"
C
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D C
C
12' - 3 1/2"
Gloves + hardwired phone on inside face of wall
C
Patient vitals via Samsung transparent smart glass technology
D Control panel via Samsung transparent smart glass technology
12' - 3 1/2"
MOCK-UP SI M UL AT I O NS
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The full-scale mock-up was an invaluable part of the project that allowed us to validate some of the assumptions we made in our design for the operating room. Surgical teams from MUSC ran through various scenarios to test the room configurations. Personally, I was charged with the design, coordination, and management of the mock-up. I was responsible for $7,000 of the research grant in order to construct the mock-up and two scale models of the operating room.
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OPE RATING R O O M M O D E L
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URBAN HOSPITAL
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URBAN HOSPITAL
Fall 2015 | ARCH 8970 | Professors David Allison + Ray Huff Graduate Medical University of South Carolina | Charleston, SC Austin Ferguson | Zhiqin Liu | Jessica Welch This project challenged student groups to both masterplan the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) campus and design a new hospital that would have the potential to function for 50+ years. Masterplanning the campus was our initial task in order to create an urban fabric that would allow our future hospital design and the campus to thrive in the coming years. The location of the campus within the historic peninsula of Charleston posed many unique challenges. Four key components that we focused on with our masterplan was the impact of future flooding, improved public transportation, increased green space, and diversifying uses within the campus. Raising the public realm out of the flood plains while still creating a strong pedestrian presence was an extremely complicated balance to achieve.
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Designing the new MUSC general hospital for the campus was the second part of this assignment. We had to solve many of the same problems of flooding and creating a pedestrian-friendly atmosphere that we faced with the campus masterplan. The main focus of the design was to create a flexible and adaptable skeleton for the hospital that could easily transform over the years. A lifespan of over 50 years is intended for this hospital design. Our group established several design guidelines as a means of directing our design throughout the process. Continuity of these guidelines throughout the design process ensured that we achieved a hospital that had the ability to adapt to changes in healthcare or the city, connect to the urban fabric, and provide patients and visitors with connections to nature.
01 FLOOD I NG
A large challenge with this site is that in the next 50 years the majority of the MUSC campus will be under water. As designers, this is important as we seek to design for future sustainability. Therefore, we need to look at the possibility of elevated structures.
02 TR A N S P O RTAT ION
Currently, the campus has a fairly good bus loop around it. However, this is the only form of public transportation. This means that cars are a huge issue on the campus due to a lack of other option for those wishing to enter.
Capture Diverse Modes of Access
Implementation of Green Strategies Meditation Between Pedestrian + Vehicles
Active Green Axis
03 GREEN S PAC E
MUSC boasts an array of small green spaces. However, none are very large or well situated to encourage gathering. Without a main green area, many of these scattered spaces are not used.
04 ZO N I N G
Currently, the campus has an extreme lack of diversity in functional uses. There are very few reasons for pedestrians to enter the campus unless they are sick. As such, it is not currently acting as a destination but rather a place you only visit when sick.
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01
Flexibility For The Future
Our goal with the project was to make a hospital that could last for the next 50 years. Therefore, we needed to make sure the design was fluid enough to allow for changes with the climate, population and changing urban fabric of Charleston. Our design was created to adapt to as many different conditions as we could imagine. DESIGN STRATEGIES: 1. Truss over the operating suite 2. Pull away rooms from the exterior walls 3. Soft areas 4. 90’ x 90’ modules
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02
Separation of Public + Private Spaces
The ability to separate front and back of house spaces was key in order to create a comfortable and calm environment for hospital visitors. We decided upon a very simple parti of one spine of divided public and private circulation that could be continuous throughout the entire D&T podium. DESIGN STRATEGIES: 1. Central circulation core 2. Front + back of house Public Access Service Access Emergency Access SITE ASSUMPTIONS
STACK PROGRAM
ESTABLISH CENTRAL CORRIDOR
CREATE PUBLIC SPACE
03
Connections to Nature
One of our main goals within this building was to create plenty of occupiable outdoor space in order to allow our hospital to provide amenities to the community at large. We want it to be a location that provides calm natural spaces to patients but also provides beautiful outdoor spaces sought after by the healthy people of the community. We want the hospital to be a sought after area for all. DESIGN STRATEGIES: 1. Outdoor roof gardens 2. Lightwells 3. Permeation of green space
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04
Connection to the Urban Context
The last main goal of this assignment was to make sure that our building fit into the master plan context we had created during the last phase of the project. We want our building to provide services and amenities to the community as well as connect into our elevated walkway and the neighboring ART Building. We intend for it to be a structure that is embraced by the community at large. DESIGN STRATEGIES: 1. Integration of elevated walkway 2. Connection to the ART building 3. Materiality of the context SITE PLAN
CONNECT TO THE PUBLIC WALK
EXTRUDE PATIENT TOWER
PERFORATE THE BUILDING
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VIEW FROM COURTENAY ST. + BEE ST.
Imaging
Cafe
A
Imaging Support
Imaging
B Emergency
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Lab
FLOOR 1 PLAN In-Patient
SECTION A
0
60
Green Space
0
60
FLOOR 2 PLAN
120
Staff Space
120
Public Space
Diagnostic + Treatment
Inter.
Pre-Op
Surgery PACU Surgery
Surgery
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FLOOR 3 PLAN
SECTION B 0
TYPICAL INPATIENT PLAN
60
120
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STACK I N G D I AG R A M
Ground floor parking raises the entire hospital out of the flood plain while a central circulation core separates public and private spaces within the diagnostic + treatment block.
FLOOR 12 | MECHANICAL
FLOOR 5-11 | PATIENT TOWER
FLOOR 4 | MECHANICAL
FLOOR 3 | SURGERY
FLOOR 2 | IMAGING
FLOOR 1 | EMERGENCY DEPT.
GROUND | PARKING In-Patient Green Space Staff Space Public Space Diagnostic + Treatment
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CITY ROOTS B AT H H O U S E
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CITY ROOTS BATHHOUSE Spring 2014 | ARCH 3510 | Professor Bo Garland Undergraduate City Roots Urban Farm | Columbia, SC AIA SC Merit Award
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City Roots is an urban farm located in the heart of Columbia, SC. Surrounded by an airfield, abandoned industrial buildings, and a residential neighborhood, the farm provides a distinct departure from the adjacent context. The existing farm covers just less than three acres of land and is located on the site of a former laundry company that polluted the top soil of most of the farm. While some of the land is unfit for growing, the farm makes most of its profit from the production of microgreens. This project undertook the master planning the expansion of the farm to an adjacent site while each student in the studio was assigned an element of the master plan to further develop. I chose to pursue the design of a new bathhouse for City Roots.
The bathhouse could become a landmark for the farm much like a windmill or a silo on a traditional farm.
I started the project by researching the idea of permaculture and the various systems that would need to be incorporated into the design. City Roots is an organic farm that strongly believes in permaculture, which is a movement that promotes sustainable architecture and regenerative, selfmaintained agricultural systems. I intended to utilize systems that would not require additional plumbing or electricity through the site. The use of biowaste, greywater recycling, and solar water heaters will help to further the ideals of permaculture on the farm, as the workers strive to make the farm an example of environmental responsibility.
composted biowaste
greywater run off
provide natural nutrients
used for irrigation
and soil for plants.
of plants and trees.
60% of biosolids are land applied nationally.
greywater accounts for 70% of residential waste water
solar gain helps to break down solid waste into nutrient rich biowaste.
prevent resources from being wasted during daily activities.
rainwater harvesting and solar heater for shower.
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1 CAMERA OBSCURA +private
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EXPOSURE became the driving theme for the bathhouse. The theme was instantly an interesting approach to such an intimate and private space not only because it is contradictory, but also because it would create a unique connection to certain aspects of the farm. Each restroom is opened up to the farm in some way while still retaining the privacy of the occupant. The shower for WWOOFing workers is located within the tower that is open to the sky. While visitors are unable to see inside the shower, they are able to climb to the stairs surrounding it to reach an observation deck at the top. The tower allows for visitors to view the entire farm from one perspective while also visually providing a connection to the farm from the adjacent residential and industrial areas.
+exposing exterior to interior
2 SLICE
+public +frames a view
3 BLIND +public
+sensitivity to the environment
CT
SE INTER
E
T ERSEC
INT
1.
Two axes are intersected to create quadrants of public and private.
E X T R UE DX ET R U D E
4.
A tower is extruded to become a landmark.
E
2.
ALIGN
SITE
W
ELEVAT
E
ALIGN
SITE
W
One row aligns with the site axis, while the other aligns East to West.
3.
ELEVAT
E
The entire structure is elevated for compost toilet collection.
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34° ANG
EXPOS
LE
E
34° ANG
EXPOS
LE
5.
The roof angled for optimal sunlight collection to power a small water pump and heater.
E
6.
The structure is exposed and creates a connection with the farm.
The materiality of the project is a simple palette of WOOD, STEEL, and CONCRETE. The hope is that all the materials could be reclaimed from waste products or from the demolition of neighboring buildings for the expansions of the farm. The final product is a sustainable, yet a lasting landmark for the farm.
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ROOF FLASHING 1” METAL CORRUGATION 1” WOOD SIDING 5/8” OSB SHEATHING FELT PAPER 2 x 6 FRAME | RAFTER RECLAIMED + POURED CONCRETE
REMOVAL
WALL DETAIL 0’ 1’
2’
SECTION A 0’ 1’
5’
BLIND
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SLICE
CAMERA OBSCURA
WAR + PEACE MUSEUM
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WAR+PEACE MUSEUM Fall 2013 | ARCH 3530 | Professor Nicholas Ault Undergraduate Piazzale S. Francesco D’Assisi | Genova, Italy Austin Ferguson | Grace Goldman | Katie Johnson
This was a group project completed during my study abroad with Clemson’s School of Architecture in Genova, Italy. Living and learning in Genoa gave me the unique experience of working on a project where I was entirely removed from my element in terms of site, culture, and social norms. The end result of the project was to create a combined memorial and museum for the people of Genova that would represent war and peace. We were required to curate the museum and decide what pieces would be used to represent the themes of war and peace. My group decided to challenge this specification by not using any art in our museum, but instead create places through the manipulation of architectural space to present the ideas of the project. An initial idea that would create a poetic solution through an abstract and unconventional process.
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The project began with a simple analysis of the site on a micro, meso, and macro scale. Our analysis included not only physical relations, but also the historical and cultural context of the site which formed six individual themes. The analysis was composed in the form of an analytique that were then combined into a complex layered image. These three images would provide the basis for creating geometries that would define our building.
SPATIAL ANALYSIS
THRESHOLDS
DETACHMENT + CONNECTION
WALL AS A BARRIER
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
NATURAL VS. ARTIFICIAL
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TENSION
SUBTRACTIVE VS. ADDITIVE
GRID
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A 3m x 3m offset grid is formed through the analysis of spatial geometries. This grid regulates all circulation paths and defines the interior spaces. At every grid intersection is placed a column that is used to symbolize man. Every column is identical, but the treatment of the columns in each space dictates the themes of war and peace and their affect on man.
DOWN
UP
N
DOW
UP
UP
LEVEL 1
LEVEL 0
LEVEL -1
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WAR
dark, bearing down, broken and suspended columns, confusion, ambiguity, mirror creates feeling of an infinite environment
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soft glowing light, full double height columns, water on the floor to symbolize peace, man’s affect on peace, rippling, reactive
PEACE
The transitions between spaces are arranged so that a visitor is not able to preview or catch a glimpse of what they are about to experience until they have fully entered the space.
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Leaving the peace space, visitors will enter the courtyard of columns which serves as the memorial. A single column is missing to represent the absence or death of man due to the struggle between war and peace. It is a subtle intervention that is not necessarily meant to be immediately noticed.
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