Architectural Design Portfolio
Contact Information: John Hu blugreen.design@gmail.com (310)908-6450
Table Of Contents: Architectural Design Projects (2007-2010), Pasadena City College 20A The Alumni Commons: Surface Architecture..............................5-11 10B The Alhambra Bicycle Kitchen: Exchange & Connection......... 13-21 Spatial Study: Spatial Sequence.............................................. 23-28 Found Space: Subtracted Cube................................................30-34 12B The Eames House Case Study.................................................36-38 14 Plywood Design Production: "Tablair".......................................40-42 The Art Gallery Art Works...................................................................................44-48
The Almuni Commons: Surface Architecture Arch. 20A Fall 2010 Instructor: Coleman Griffith
Description: In recent years, landscape architects and architects have jointures in creating buildings that interact with surface at the site. The goal is to investigate the opportunities of design inventions by combing landscape and architectural building design, as opposed to traditional box-shaped, symmetrical structures. Objective: Design an architecture that interacts and emerges with surface at the site. The design can be used as a complementay site for student affairs and faculty meetings and become part of the college's system of structures. Site Program: snack shop, botanical garden, outdoor gathering lounge and restrooms Process: First Stage: Concept Development and Rule Set Reverse osmosis is chosen as the concept in the development of design. Second Stage: Site Analysis The site is looked at both locally and regionally.
Bi-nuclear words: permeability, balance
First stage: Research and Concept Development Reverse osmosis is a filtration method that removes many types of large molecules and ions from solutions by applying pressure to the solution when it is on one side of a selective membrane. The result is that the solute is retained on the pressurized side of the membrane and the pure solvent is allowed to pass to the other side. To be "selective," this membrane should not allow large molecules or ions through the pores (holes), but should allow smaller components of the solution (such as the solvent) to pass freely.
Second stage: Analysis of the Site
Circulation at regional scale
Circulation at local scale; traffic
Circulation at local scale; density
Circulation developed for the design
N
Site Plan
Final Stage: Surface Integration with the Site The design focuses on the principle that the structure will blend in with site. Section drawings, as well as plans and renders, are shown .
Long Section
Interior Perspective View
Floor Plan
Short Section
Perspective View
Perspective View, overlooking the design project from the R building
The Alhambra Bicycle Kichen : Exchange and Connection Arch. 10B Fall 2008 Instructor: Coleman Griffith
Description: The Alhambra Bicycle Kitchen and Tourist Center is a non-profit community bicycle space, dedicated to educating the comunity on bicycle repair and maintenance and promoting a velo-centric way of life in America's most car-dominated city. The design project is located in the former Andy's Gas Station located on Westmont and Valley blvd. Objective: Design a community center that accomdates the needs of repair shop for bicycles as well as a gathering place for the cycling community; and establish connection with Arch. 20b site. Process:
First Stage: Concept and Rules Development The concept chosen for this design project is a braking mechanism called the regenerative brakeing. Found in vehicles such as hybrid and electric cars, the system can recapture kinetic energy that is lost unlike traditonal fricition-based brakes. Second Stage: Stie Analysis The site is located by the end of 710 freeway, with arch. 20b just west from Andy's gargage. Traffic circulation will be looked at for emergence for both cars and bicycles.
Bi-nuclear words: Linkage & Conversion First Stage: Concept Development Concept: Regenerative Braking Regenerative braking recaptures energy from a car's momentum during slowing down. The main function of the system is that it resuses otherwise lost engery.
Rules: Recapture: reclaiming energy partially that is otherwise lost Recharge: re-energized and restore Reuse: remaking energy regarded as a waste product as an useful element in a system
Second Stage: Site Analysis
Site for the project
Arch. 20B site
710 Freeway
Ramp Entrance/ Exit to Arch.20B Project
Conference Room
Outdoor Area Adminstratiom Office
RR Storage
Interior Bike Repair Workshop
Tourist Office Ramp Entrance/ Exit
Bike Repair Station Repair made easy with a good repair station. This station is a customized, foldable mobile workstation well-suited for indoor repair. The station includes a clamp, a bike kickstand stabilizer and internal compartments for quick access to tools, accessories and a PC tower for more advanced diagonistics for problems.
Long Section
Site Program: Office 150 sq. ft. Conference room 300 sq. ft. Interior bicycle repair area: work tables and tools. Storage of parts and bicycles. Tools and bicycles must be secured each night. Movable workstations. Tourist office 250 sq. ft. Bathrooms: M, F separate accommodate 3 persons each. Accessible from inside, outside and Outdoor gathering and work areas .
Final Stage: Design The final design is based on the developed rule sets and program diagram. The new intervention now serves as an "add-on" to the existing building. A connection to the arch. 20b site is also established.
Side view of the Alhambra Bicycle Kitchen
Section A
Legend 1 Tourist Office 2 Adminstrative Office 3 Interior Bike Reapir Shop 4 Sheltered Outdoor Area
Ground Plan
View of the ramp connection to the Alhambra Bicycle Kitchen, coming from the transit design project of Arch. 20B
Section B
Legend A Tourist Office- 2nd Floor B Community C Restroom D Conference Room E Open to Below F Ramp Access to Arch. 20B Site G Ramp Access to Valley Blvd.
2nd Floor Plan
Spatial Study: Spatial Sequence Arch. 10B Fall 2008 Instructor: Coleman Griffith
The Mosewich House, located at British Columbia, Canada. By D'Arcy Jones Design. Single-family dwelling, 2003-2004 Description: Exploration of the interior spaces of modern home of choice and the study of spatial properties such as circulation, private and public spaces, as well as sequential acessibility of these spaces. Objective: Demostrate understanding of spatial relationships in a given common interior space and revealation of sequenial order through the use of both digital and physical model. Process: First Stage: Identifying Spaces For the first part of the spatial study the circulation is examined critically since it's defining the experience of accessing spaces. Second Stage: Three Dimensional Model Diagramming Images of spatial diagrams in 3d solids of spaces of private, public and circulation, are shown for comparison.
First Stage
Ground level
Basement level
Second level
Digital Model Disassembly
Second Stage
Private only
Private + Circulation
Private + Public
All Spaces
Final Stage
(1) Model with nothing removed
Final Stage: Spatial Sequence Digital Model, The Revelation of Spatial Sequence The rendered images above narrate how spaces are accessed sequentially. Notice that circulation block will be removed before public spaces do so that the complete disassembly of the model can be done in a sequential order.
(2) Front courtyard removed
(3) Kitchen+two story space and family room removed
(4) Living room+two story sapce and stairway removed
(5) Second story hallway removed
(6) Studio and Study are removed
(7) Basement hallway removed
(8) Model with everything removed
Found Space : The Cube Subtracted from Within Arch. 10B Fall 2008 Instructor: Coleman Griffith
Description: Locating and identifying spaces that are often overlooked and ignored of their potential as functional spaces in their respective environment. The spaces are then documented and digitally constructed as three dimensional objects. Objective: Gather fogotten spaces and transform them into threedimensional contour objects and subtract them from a cube. Process: First Stage: Gathering Fogotten Spaces The site of chosen found spaces is located in Pasadena City College; the picture shows the view of Shatford library facing south. Mutliple pictures are made into a collage. Second Stage: Digital Documentation Showing documented and illustrated found space objects in sequence, presenting the progression of objects being transformed.
First Stage
(1) Found spaces are documented
(2) Transforming spaces into three dimensional objects
(3) Spatial objects being arranged as a single form
Axonometric viewof the cube with acrylic layers
Second Stage
(4) Spatial object is placed inside the cube
(5) Object is differenced with the cube
(6) Cube is then contoured
Final Stage: Rendered Interior Perspective View
The interior view of the cube after being subtracted and contoured from spatial objects is shown here. This view, in particular, effectively defines differences in spatial relationships such as postive vs. negative spaces and solid vs. void.
The Eames House Case Study Arch. 12B Spring 2007 Instructor: Peter DeMaria
Description: This home is designed by Charles and Ray Eames, the landmark of modern architecture of the mid-20th century. The case study analyzes spatial properties of interior spaces. Objective: Constructing a 3-D replica model of the Eames House using digital software. The spatial relationships inside the house are closely examined.
First stage
Process: First Stage: Plan and Section Drawings The drawings will become the foundation for building the 3-D digital model. Precision is important here as there are parts of the house that require attention to detail. Second Stage: Construction of the Digital Model Exhibiting the series of images of the model in sequential order of how the house would be built in actuality, as well as digitally. Final Stage: Digital Model Rendering The digital model is rendered with the aid of a computer software.
second stage
(1)Building the trusses
(2)Building ground floor pavement and rooftops
The Eames House Digital Model
(3)Adding interior spaces, floors and walls
(4)Adding exterior window frames
(5)Adding exterior window glasses
Plywood Design Production: "Tablair" Arch. 14 Fall 2009 Instructor: Coleman Griffith & Dinicio Valdez
How efficient is the design? During the fabrication process the tablair uses about 7.5 of all 8 2'x2' pieces, or about 93% usage in material!
First Stage
Second Stage 96.0000 24.0000 23.0000 10.0000 15.0000 24.0000 5.3633
48.0000
12.2500
11.7500
12.2500
11.7500
4.0000
Description: The design project focuses on creatiing an object/scrupture/furniture with a piece of plywood with size limitations. Objective: Using no hardwares and glues, create a design with a 8'x4' plywood that can be self-substained structurally. *"Tablair" is a hybrid word of "table" and "chair" Process: First Stage: Exploring Design Ideas. The main goal of design focuses on being efficient without sacrificing functionality and dualibility. The sketch shows the early stage of development of the furniture that is intended to be a dual-functioning piece. Second Stage: Planning and Configuring. The plan drawing shows how the design is being used on a 8'x4' plywood, with measurements included. Final Stage: Fabrication and Digital Model. The *Tablair is a dual-purpose piece in one sleek, sustainable design. The hybrid design of the Tablair pushes the boundaries between the desk and table to the limit. It's both decorative and functional, and while being very resource efficient at the same time.
Tablairs being used in a space Final Stage
Perspective view
Perspective view facing removable chair
Removable chair detached from the table
Chair in seating configuration
The Art Gallery: Artworks from 2006 to Present
Still Life- High Reflectivity Objects Completed in summer 2007 Medium used : charcoals, pencil
Still Life- High Contrast Objects Completed in summer 2007 Medium used : charcoals, pencil
Still Life- Landscape Sketch Completed in summer 2007 Medium used : charcoals, pencil
Still Life- Shiney objects Completed in summer 2007 Medium used : color charcoals, pencil
Marker Rendering- Still Life with Metal Objects Art 18, Fall 2007 Instructor: Joel Bell
Marker Rendering- Still Life with Wooden Blocks Art 18, Fall 2007 Instructor: Joel Bell
Marker Rendering- Still Life with Mutliple Objects Art 18, Fall 2007 Instructor: Joel Bell
Marker Rendering- Still Life with Plastic and glass Art 18, Fall 2007 Instructor: Joel Bell