Brian Ray Barber | Architectural Design Portfolio
Portfolio|Architectural Design
2014
Projects
The following is work that I have done while at the University of Michigan in the 3 year Master of Architecture program. The projects are a mixture of precedent studies and design challenges. The core of our curriculum is a studio track with a strong theoretical component. Construction, environmental design, and technology based seminars are the compliment to the central studio based education.
Experimental Martian Settlement Hollywood, CA
Building Enclosure Systems|Winter 2014
The proposed facility in the Hollywood Hills above Los Angeles is meant to closely mimick the first structure to be built by humans on the surface of Mars. Its purpose would be to extract water from the surface soil which is then used to grow food and plants for the inhabitants of the outpost. Utilizing the high winds often found on Mars, the facility’s initial power source is a large wind turbine on the top floor. Because of the nature of the project, it must be completely self-sustaining, employing additional methods of generating power once the system is up and running such as solar power, and biomass production.The structure is built into a mountainside in an effort to mediate the harsh temperature differences found during a typical Martian day. The facade also faces south in an effort to optimize and control the amount of direct sunlight in an effort to mimick the amount of sunlight found on the surface of the red planet.
Cahuenga Peak, Hollywood, CA 34.1370째 N, 118.3258째 W
wind patterns The project is strategically placed to take full advantage of sun and wind exposure.
January
April
July
October
Biomass-producing glazing wind turbine
solar panels
Food growth/experiment/research
Inhabitant residence
Wind turbines
Energy-producing solar panel glass
Biomass panels
Precedent Study: Moore House by Robert Metcalf
Building Anatomies|Winter 2014
Focusing on built houses in Ann Arbor designed by Robert Metcalf, we were to analyze the building systems, construction, and site as a group of four. The project was meant to mimick the atmosphere of an office, each member of the team was assigned an area of focus within the project.
Drawing prepared by: Robyn Wolochow, Kate Flynn, Grant Herron, Brian Barber (site)
MOORE HOUSE ROBERT METCALF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, 1955 SITE: winter
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MOORE HOUSE ROBERT METCALF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, 1955 SITE: summer
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Delirious Detroit
Studio|Fall 2013
In the fall of 2013, our studio focused on Detroit as the site of our major, semester-long project. We were given the opportunity to research a given part of town and then choose a specific site within that area. I chose the former site of the Michigan State Fair along Eight Mile Road as a site as social condenser. We were also given a text as a point of departure, mine being Rem Koolhaas’ “Delirious New York”. This example led me to a project that is a reimagination of the history of Detroit. Taking into account political, economic, and social factors around the turn of the Twentieth century, my project examines a critical point in the history of the city where the future could have turned out differently.
Delirious Detroit In 1904 Detroit was a bustling city with the hopes and promises of a new century. Technology was making life easier. In four years time, henry ford would make the newly invented automobile affordable for almost anyone. Detroit was set to become the economic center of the United States. Emma Whitney was a young woman that dreamt of becoming an architect. Her father had moved them to Detroit from Western New York after the death of her mother. While emma’s father, David, Had dreams of turning the city into the next New York, emma had dreams of turning it into the next Paris..........
the Whitney building (Dad’s “Home”)
the whitney house (Emma’s Hideout)
Sell it!!!!! I’ll build another skyscraper!!!!!!
the woodward plan
emma’s plan included an underground tower made entirely of glass. she had seen images of one in a newspaper during one of her many visits to berlin. if she mounted lights on the mine walls she could control the intensity and duration of the light. for emma, daylight was too harsh and night time was too dark. she could finally find a happy medium and effect the mood with colored glass on the facade of the building.......it would be brilliant.
The woodward plan had so obviously been modeled after the parks of europe, like the gardens of versailles. Her Grandmother had left emma a plot of land that her father wanted to sell so the state could use it for the fairgrounds. Emma had plans to turn it into an urban garden, full of flowers and vegetables for the people who lived in the city. Her plan was perfect.. She had drawn it out, how could her father argue?
detroit 1904
garden plan
glass: meant to control the visual atmosphere of each floor of the underground tower. lights: powerful new lighting used in baseball parks for night games. steel frame: the frame is also new technology. used in the mine to protect against any mine collapse. the vast salt mines could also be used for other activities, like golf, tennis, and swimming in the underground lakes.
above ground the gardens could serve the community. she could raise flowers and vegetables. Perhaps she could even rent out plots to folks who need a garden. The amphitheatre could hold concerts and other community events. maybe she would even open up the underground club to the public. afterall, one of the things that bothered her about her father was his eliteism.
monument to modernism
amphitheatre/elevator
axon Garden plots amphitheatre
monument
elevator
Area of Surface Program: 135 Acres Area of Underground Program: > 1500 acres
section
1200’
4.62 mi site
saltmine
1200’ saltmine the site of the gardens sits on top of vast salt mines....... the perfect place for her secret society. emma dreamt of building glass skyscrapers underground, a concept her father could never understand. 4.62 mi
detroit was such a beautiful city, with a promising future.......
emma dreamt of planning out the rest of the city. She thought that one day detroit really could be another Paris....of the midwest!
place de la concorde
perhaps........
Brian Barber
Vertical Sculpture Park
Studio|Spring 2013
In the spring of 2013, our studio project was based on a site in a Pittsburgh neighbor known as “The Strip�. It is a tourist area with stores, restaurants, and bars. The challenge was to design a cultural center that would fit within the area of what is currently a small parking lot.
Elevation
RESTROOMS
CAFE
EXHIBITION
PERFORMANCE
PERFORMANCE
PLAN|LOWER LEVEL
PLAN|FLOOR 1
EXHIBITION
EXHIBITION
PLAN|FLOOR 2
PLAN|FLOOR 3
EXHIBITION
EXHIBITION
PLAN|FLOOR 4
PLAN|FLOOR 5
This page: Vertical Sculpture Park model in site model Facing Page: Vertical Sculture Park perspective drawing in site 30� x 40�
MPdL Studio
Summer 2013
During the summer between my first and second years of the M.Arch program I worked for MPdL Studio in Ann Arbor. Owned by Monica Ponce de Leon, the Dean of the school of architecture at Michigan, the firm was busy producing models for an exhibition as well as current projects that were in the proposal stages. It was my job to finish rhino models and prepare the files for stereolithography, or 3d printing. The school owns four printers, so it was also my responsibility to oversee the printing process and deliver the models back to the office. The first model shown is part of the ceiling system within a proposed public library in Florida. The second set of images is from a large-scale model produced for the exhibition “Michigan Modern�, at Cranbrook Academy.
Facing page: Zcorp print of Pampano Library ceiling system This page: ABS model, St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Muskegon, MI
Artwork
2010 - present
Constellations, broken safety glass, wood, light 2011
Loup River: A Story of Faith, sandcast glass 2012
When Stars Came to Earth, blown glass 2012
Pollen, blown glass 2010
Goblets, blown glass 2012-present
Brian Barber T:206.372.6658 E: barberb@umich.edu
Ann Arbor, MI August 2012 - Present
Responsible for processing 3d modeling files, maintaining printing machines, running prints on Zcorp and ABS machines.
MPdL Studio
Ann Arbor, MI June 2013 - August 2013
Worked on 3d prints for an exhibition as well as current projects. Prepared Rhino files for print from massing models to meshes.
Glassybaby, LLC,
Seattle, WA July 2009 - August 2010
Led glassblowing team, coordinated production tasks, quality control.
Manifesto Corporation/Resolute Lighting
Seattle, WA September 2001 - July 2009
Led hotshop team, organized work schedule, production schedule, and quality control, and consulted with designers on new products.
Education
M.Arch Candidate
June 2012 - May 2015
Taubman College of Architecture, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
MFA / Glass
September 2010 - June 2012
The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio President, Glass Club Treasurer, Graduate Student Art Club Member Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
Core Student Program
February 2000 - January 2001
Penland School of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina
BFA / Glass
December 1999
The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
Skills Photoshop Illustrator InDesign Rhino Revit Autocad 3d printing
basic
intermediate
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advanced
www.brianraybarber.com
Taubman College FabLab
1261 Bending Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Experience