Architectural Design Portfolio
"The success of the masterpieces seems to lie not so much in their freedom from faults-indeed we tolerate the grossest errors in them all-but in the immense persuasivenss of a mind which has completely mastered its perspective." Virginia Woolf, From "The Death of the Moth"
Contact Information: John Hu blugreen.design@gmail.com (626)222-4348 Education: 2nd year student designer Area of Interest: Sustainable, environmentally friendlier design, recycled building materials and home housing/civil design Software skills: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign, AutoCAD 2012, Rhinoceros 4, Maxwell Render 2 Personal Hobbies: Free-hand landscape sketches, marker rendering
2011
2009
2008
2007
Table Of Contents: Architectural Design Projects (2007-2011), Pasadena City College 20B The Boiler House Core........................................page06-15 10B The Alhambra Bicycle Kitchen.............................page16-25 Spatial Sequence Model......................................page26-31 The Found Space................................................page34-37 12B The Eames House Case Study...........................page40-41 14 Plywood Fabrication Design................................page44-45 Art The Art Gallery: Artworks(omitted)......................page48-51
The Boiler House Core Arch. 20B Fall 2011 Instructor: Coleman Griffith
The Boiler House Core Description: Reinventing and re-innovating architectural design soultions with transformable/flexible spaces as the primary goal. The Boiler House will house a new architecture school for students and faulty at Pasadena City College. The design will revolve around a cluster of support spaces or "core". Objective: Design an architecture school that will accommodate the needs from both students and faculty staffs. Efficiency of space usage and transformable spaces are key highlights. Design Process: First Stage: Concept Development and Diagramming. "Adaptability" emerged from external reference "chamelon's color change" and learning theme "operant conditioning", is chosen as the concept of the design. Second Stage: Site Analysis.The site is looked at the regional for existing circulation at the site. Lightning condition is an important factor here as it helps in determining the movment of the wall/roof panels throughout the course of the day. Concept: Chameleons are born with special cells that have a color, or pigment, and under the chameleon's outer skinthat is know as chromatophores. The top layers of chromatophores have red or yellow pigment and the lower layers have blue or white pigment. When these pigment cells change, the chameleon's skin color changes. Messages from the brain tell the cells to enlarge or to shrink, as well as letting cell pigments mix like paint. A chemical called melanin also helps chameleons turn color. Melanin fibers can spread like spiderwebs through layers of pigment cells. Their presence causes skin to darken.
Site Plan
First stage: Research and Concept Development
Bi-nuclear words: Concealment and Revealiation
Operant Learning, Google Image 5
Color changing of a chameleon's skin
Second stage
Light and shadow study:
Circulation
Morning
Noon
Evening 6
Final Stage: Transformable Panels and the Core From concept "adaptability", the transfromable wall/roof panels manifest the idea of being adaptable with changing enivornment conditions. These panels can be moved utilitizing the electric motor located at the core that can also power the elevator. The disecting panels can change according to the time of the day, the time of classes taking place and light, weather conditions, and are able to fold away when not needed.
Bottom Level Floor Plan
Short Section A1
7
Long Section B1
Interior Rendering: Bottom Level 8
Program: Studio(2) Classroom(2) Computer Lab Supply Shop Office Machinery Room Gallery Restroom Printing Shop Lobby
9
Ground Floor Plan
Upper Level Floor Plan
Short Section A2
Long Section B1
Interior Rendering: Ground Level 10
Roof Enclosure
Core
Platform
Exploded Axonmetric Perspectives
11
Interior perspective view of roof panels and core
12
The Alhambra Bicycle Kichen Arch. 10B Fall 2008 Instructor: Coleman Griffith
Alhambra Bicycle Kitchen Description: The Alhambra Bicycle Kitchen and Tourist Center is a non-profit community bicycle space, dedicated to educating the comunity on bicycle repair, maintenance and promoting a velocentric way of life in America's most car-dominated city. The design project is located in the existing Andy's Gas Station located on Westmont and Valley blvd. Objective: Design an architecture that serves as an add-on of the existing building and providing the needs of a gathering place for the cycling community. Establish a connection with the arch. 20b master plan Design 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 and Program.The site is located near the end of 710 freeway, with the site of architecture 20b just west from Andy's gargage. Traffic circulation will be looked at for emergence for both cars and bicycles and the symbolic relationship between the two transportation vehicles. Development of program is also focused here. Concept: 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.
First Stage: Concept Development
Process of regenerative braking
Reclaiming energy
Recharge energy
Re-use energy
Aerial View of rendered Site Plan
Second Stage: Site Analysis Ramp Entrance/ Exit to Arch.20B Project
Conference Room
Outdoor Area Adminstratiom Office
RR Storage
Interior Bike Repair Workshop
Tourist Office Ramp Entrance/ Exit
Existing Traffic Flow
Program
Final Stage: Program and Form.The site is located near the end of 710 freeway, with the site of architecture 20b just west from Andy's gargage. Traffic circulation will be looked at for emergence for both cars and bicycles and the symbolic relationship between the two transportation vehicles. Development of program is also focused here. 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 . Bike Repair Station: The heart of repairing jobs performed at the bike kitchen. 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 compartment for a PC tower for more advanced diagonistics for repair-related issues.
Site Section
Repair Staion
Front Rendering
Ground Floor Plan
Long Section
Second Floor Plan
Exterior Rendering
Short Section
Showing the bridge connection coming from 20B site , facing the Bicycle Kitchen
Spatial Sequence Model Arch. 10B Fall 2008 Instructor: Coleman Griffith
Spatial Sequence Model 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: Development of 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: 3D Model Diagramming Images of spatial diagrams in 3D solids of spaces of private, public and circulation, are shown for comparison.
The Mosewich House, located at British Columbia, Canada. By D'Arcy Jones Design. Single-family dwelling, 2003-2004
First Stage
Mosewich House Floor Plan
Ground level
Basement level
Second level
Exploded axonometric view of the digital model
Second Stage
Private only
Private + Circulation
Private + Public
All Spaces
Final Stage: Spatial Sequence Digital Model, the revelation of spatial sequence. Rendered images with dissembling diagrams below narrate how spaces are accessed sequentially. Notice that circulation block (in red) will be removed before public spaces (in blue) do so and how the users access spaces in a sequencial manner.
Final Stage
(1) Model with nothing removed
(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
The Found Spaces Arch. 10B Fall 2008 Instructor: Coleman Griffith
The Found Spaces 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 three-dimensional 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
Rendered perspective view
Second Stage
(3) All are being arranged as a single form
(4) Spatial objects is placed inside the cube
(5) Object is differenced with the cube
(6) Cube is contoured
Final Stage: The rendered interior view of the cube. After being subtracted and contoured, view of the cube interior 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
The Eames House, by Charles and Ray Eames, courtsey of Google image
The Eames House Case Study 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. 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.
First stage
Floor Plans
Second stage
Eleavtions
(1)Building the trusses
The Eames House Digital Model
(2)Building ground floor pavement and rooftops
(3)Adding interior spaces, floors and walls
(4)Adding exterior window frames
(5)Adding exterior window glasses
Plywood Fabrication Design Arch. 14 Fall 2009 Instructor: Coleman Griffith & Dinicio Valdez
Plywood Fabrication Design Description: The design project focuses on creatiing a prefab object that can be a scrupture, a furniture piece or anything that cab be held together. There's a size constraint in which how big the plywood panel is used. 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" Design Process: First Stage: Exploring Design Ideas. The main goal of design focuses on being efficient without sacrificing functionality and dualibility. The pencil 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: Rendered Digital Model and Assembly 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.
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
The efficienicy of material use: During the fabrication process the tablair uses about 7.5 of all 8 2'x2' pieces, or about 93% usage in material.
Final Stage
Perspective view
Showing removable chair
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
Still Life- High Reflectivity Metal Objects Art 18 Instructor: Joel Bell Medium used : Markers, fine tip pen and white gouache
Still Life- Wooden Objects Art 18 Instructor: Joel Bell Medium used : Markers, color pencils
Still Life- Assorted Objects Art 18 Instructor: Joel Bell Medium used : Markers, color pencils, fine tip pen and white gouache
Still Life- Assorted Objects Art 18 Instructor: Joel Bell Medium used : Markers, color pencils, fine tip pen and white gouache