Brandon Holcombe
A Study of Architecture as a Series of Experiences
“Architecture is a series of successive events... events that the spirit tries to transmute by the creation of relations so precise and so overwhelming that deep physiological sensations result from them, that a real spiritual delectation is felt at reading the solution, that a perception of harmony comes to us from the clear-cut mathematical quality uniting each element of the work.� -Le Corbusier
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STEM School Fall 2013
Education Center Fall 2013
Hybrid Home Spring 2013
Shelter Home Spring 2013
Olympic Plaza Spring 2013
Hiking Shelter Spring 2013
Chapel Fall 2012
Table of Contents l 3
STEM School
Site - Blacksburg,VA Professor - Elizabeth Grant Second Place Competition Winner
4 l Fall 2013
Design Challenge
A six week competition sponsored by CEFPI (Council for Educational Facility Planners International) with the challenge of designing a progressive elementary school incorporating the elements of a STEM school, as well as security and safety, circulation, and student interaction.
Design Concept
A school to study, understand and celebrate water. Children learn best by experiencing, so incorporating and exaggerating a natural phenomenon will encourage the students to study that phenomenon. Rainy days tend to be gloomy and demotivating, but using the rain to create a beautiful event at the school will excite kids to come to school especially on rainy days. This will also allow the children to learn about the water cycle, by truly experiencing it. They will also be able to see and understand the concept of storing rain water to use throughout the school.
1st FLOOR WET CONDITION
Private (Students in same class interact)
2nd FLOOR DRY CONDITION
Semi-Public (Students in same grade interact) Public (All students interact)
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6 l Fall 2013
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Learning From Water
To understand water is to understand cycles, natural forces, and to an extent, living organisms. Learning from water gives children the opportunity to see a broader scope of our world. Children begin to understand cycles that exist, but are not seen. They develop an awareness and understanding of natural forces that affect the world around them. Instead of seeing the rain, they understand why it is raining. Instead of seeing flowing water, they understand why the water is flowing that way. The children begin to understand that without water, life would cease to exist. As the children progress through the years of elementary school, they will experience their surroundings changing as the water provides life for plants and organisms. They will begin to understand the patterns that exist in nature. They will learn the various ways that we use water as a resource and how we can recycle it. They will understand that it is not something to take for granted and they will learn to celebrate water.
8 l Fall 2013
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Center for Education
Site - Pulaski,VA Professor - Elizabeth Grant Fourth Place Competition Winner
A six week competition sponsored by RCI, a roofing, waterproofing and exterior wall system design company, with the challenge of designing an educational facility to teach members of the community a construction trade of choice. As well as to consider how to create a successful building envelope. Also, to consider how the program would help the dwindling population of a once industrial town revitalize their community.
10 l Fall 2013
Design Concept
A site on the main intersection of the town called for a monument to the revitalization of the community; a design that would forever remind them of their struggles and triumph. Choosing to design a school to teach structural systems introduced the idea to create a Brutalist concrete building that would symbolize the community holding their ground in the face of adversity.
First Floor
The first floor envelope is pushed back to expose the large concrete columns to the public, creating a colonnade along the sidewalk. The second floor envelope is pushed beyond the columns to create a unique studio space for the studying contractors. These studios overlook a triple height space designed to house a steel vibration test structure. The studios also have access to a roof terrace overlooking the intersection.
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12 l Fall 2013
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Roof Design
Roof drainage patterns were pushed by the sponsor because of their background in roofing and waterproofing. Gutters and downspouts would have been a blemish on the facade. Therefore the interior columns were made big enough to handle a roof leader coming down through them in order to drain the roof without the use of gutters. The water would then drain to the basement into a water catchment system designed to house enough water to be able to flush the toilets in the building and cut down on water costs.
14 l Fall 2013
WATER PROOF ROOF MEMBRANE CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE VAPOR BARRIER STEEL TIES RIGID INSULATION STEEL REBAR REINFORCEMENT
CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE STEEL REBAR REINFORCEMENT STRUCTURAL INSULATION BLOCK RIGID INSULATION WATER PROOFING
Envelope Design
As a result of the envelope weaving through the structure, a lot of questions were raised about the integrity of the envelope. Therefore, a more thorough and complete wall section was necessary. Keeping the integrity of the envelope and the integrity of the structure was a challenge. To construct this would require numerous concrete pours because of the way the insulation has to weave with the wall. Thermal bridges unfortunately occur at every column, but because of the heat loads from electric lighting and computers that won’t be a problem during the cooler months that the school would be operating.
VAPOR BARRIER BRICK VENEER
COLUMN IN BACKGROUND TAPERED INSULATION WATER PROOFING PERFORATED PIPE AT 1/4” PER FOOT SLOPE PAD FOOTING IN BACKGROUND
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Hybrid Home
Site - Kunming, China Professor - Christian Ganshirt
Design a row home that is open to streets on both sides and has a public service on the ground floor. Have two apartments for residents on the upper floors and a separate entrance for them.
16 l Spring 2013
Design Concept
Second Floor
First Floor
How can one successfully separate business and residential in the same building? Using separate entrances for the tenants and the public is a start. The first and second floor would be a coffee shop and lounge for the public. The tenants would use a separate entrance that takes them directly Fourth Floor to the third floor. The stairwell uses a light well to bring down light from the outside to create a nice experience when coming home from a long day. The business areas are open to both sides of the building to welcome in the public. The residential areas focus views upward to distract from the business below. Third Floor
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18 l Spring 2013
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Disaster Shelter Home Site - New Orleans, LA Professor - Christian Ganshirt
This three week project pushed the idea of how to create a home out of a disaster shelter. It raised questions such as: What is a home? How can one design a home based on pre-manufactured modular shelters? How can this home encourage others to do the same? 20 l Spring 2013
B
N
Design Concept
A
The concept was to create a home that would stand out and push people to understand that a disaster shelter can one day become a beautiful home for a family. The reason for glass is to allow people from the street to catch glimpses of a family in this home, but there had to be a way to create privacy while maintaining those glimpses. The wooden sliders were the solution. The family would be able to create as much or as little privacy as the felt fit at the time.The sliders do not continue around the back in order to open up to the backyard and connect more with nature. A
B
N A-A
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22 l Spring 2013
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Olympic Plaza
Site - Amsterdam Professor - Christian Ganshirt
Design a plaza at the end of a newly constructed bridge for the 2028 Summer Olympics. The design should address the question of use after the Olympics. The bridge will be for foot transportation as well as tram transportation, which should drive how the design relates to the bridge.
24 l Spring 2013
Design Concept
The idea behind this design comes from the strong history of boat transportation in Amsterdam. Therefore, the idea of a marina seemed logical. However, in order to use the traffic flow to the designs advantage, a boat market was incorporated. This market would allow for boat owners to dock and sell goods off of their boat, not unlike a normative flee market. This would create an interaction between the community of Amsterdam and the tourists that would come for the games. A hotel also seemed necessary, in order to give the city more room to house tourists.The hotel would stand as a sentinel for the plaza and creates a defined threshold for boats. The top floor would be all glass and lit up at night to act as a lighthouse, beckoning boats and people to come to the plaza. The amphitheater would be was one of the few requirements. The design and orientation of it was to allow people to use it not only when there’s a show, but also to watch boats on the river.
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26 l Spring 2013
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Appalachian Trail Shelter
Site - Appalachian Trail near Blacksburg
A ten day competition to design a shelter for Appalachian Trail hikers that will provide views and also protect from the elements. The shelter is allowed no moving parts and the practicality of construction should be addressed. 28 l Spring 2013
Design Concept
A below-ground sleeping quarters allows for a separation of spaces. The upper level would be mostly used for eating and watching the sunrise and sunset, while the protected underground area would be for sleeping. The earth would protect from wind as well as keep the space somewhat thermally comfortable. The peanut shell shape addresses the east-west views of the site. It allows for two separate spaces for dining and socializing with fellow hikers.
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Chapel
Site - Virginia Tech Campus Professor - Christian Ganshirt
Design a non-denominational chapel that inspires self reflection. The site is directly adjacent to the architecture studio and is surrounded by a few large buildings. There is also a large tree in the middle of the site that can either remain or be cut down. Questions that were raised: What is a chapel? How can a space inspire self reflection? 30 l Fall 2012
Response to the Site
Located on a major entry point to campus and surrounded by large academic buildings, the site did not support the idea of a quiet contemplative space. Also, being a small site added to the challenge of taking people away from the chaos of campus. To address this, the promenade wraps around the main space in order to create a barrier between worlds. The open-air ramp, located on the east side of the chapel, would entice others to go to the chapel. It would show people gradually disappearing as they progress down it. On the other side, large concrete walls would be constructed to encase the tree and isolate the people inside the chapel in their own world.
N
10
50 25
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Design Concept
The design was forced to respond to the busy nature of the campus. How can one be taken away from the hustle and bustle of campus and immersed in a completely different world. This challenge was complicated by the small size of the site. A study of architectural promenade began. Inspired by Alvaro Siza’s swimming pool in Portugal, this chapel takes one away from campus using ramps, turns, and various lighting and spacial situations. After studying what a chapel should be, the existing tree became the culmination. Isolation of “nature” would become the catalyst for contemplation and self reflection.
32 l Fall 2012
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34 l Fall 2012
Brandon Holcombe bh9193@vt.edu (302)6687898
Thank You!