IDEAS Architectural portfolio
Brittany Porter M. Arch, B.S. Arch, LEED GA #: 404.983.7882
@: brittporter@gmail.com
www.brittporter.com
Atlanta’s City Market Under Retrofit, Digital Photograph, 2011
Table of contents 4
growing from the landscape Rural Visitor Center on Whidbey Island
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suburban catalyst A Study on Seattle Design Review
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sustainable urbanism Designing a Walkable Eco-District for Vietnam
22 If All the sky were paper Living Memorial and Museum 28
solar book Photovoltaic Installation Made for Two
32 Professional Work 34 Bio
DESIGN DIAGRAMS
DESIGN DESIGN DIAGRAMS DIAGRAMS
Growing from the landscape
Ebey’s Landing National Historic Reserve Visitor Center Program: Interpretive exhibit space: rotating and permanent, cafe, bathroom facilities, outdoor dining, & means of orientation/information gathering. Brief: Design a visitor center for Ebey’s Landing that represents its remarkably varied landscape of prairies, historic farmsteads, woodlands, saltwater beaches and mountain views. The reserve is 22 square miles, with 17 active farms dating to the original donation claims, and contains over 400 contributing structures in the historic district. The center of the Reserve is the historic town of Coupeville, founded by New Englanders in 1853 as a port town. Vision: “Create a contemporary structure that feels integrated with the historic context and as if it was always meant to be there. The built form will appear to grow from the landscape and will age in place just as the surrounding weathered barn structures have.“
Concept Diagram
“Gradient of Enclosure” The corten steel roof provides shelter from wind and water, while still allowing visitors to feel as if they are out in the landscape, similar to the feeling of being in a wooden barn.
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Permeable Space Enclosed Space Sheltering Roof
Visibility On The Hill The site was selected for its vista views of the majority of the Reserve. Rather than having visitors understand the Reserve via maps and pamphlets, they can visually orient themselves within the Reserve and see their destinations. Connections to historic destinations There many historic houses and trails that connect to this site. This allows visitors to park at the Center, become oriented within the Reserve and immediately engage in it without having to get back in their car. Permeable shell The built form of the center is one of permeable shelter so that it operates like balcony seating at a theater, with the landscape as the stage. Much like a barn, the corten roof shelters a sunspace that is accessible 24/7 whether the Center is open or not. Materiality Corten makes allows the roof to weather with age, much like the wood of a barn that splinters and warps over time. It also blends in with the colorscape of the agricultural landscape.
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Site Plan Scale
South elevation
West elevation
East elevation
North elevation
ck e d g ace n i w nsp e Vi Su +
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Suburban catalyst
A Study on Seattle Design Review Process Program: Mixed-use housing with flats, duplexes over commercial and community space and livework townhomes on a pedestrian corridor through the site. Brief: Housing in the United States is desnifying, even in established single-family detached neighborhoods. Architects of multifamily housing often have to fight the NIMBY (Not in My Backyard) outrage because of this. Designers and policy makers in Seattle, Washington have attempted to remedy this with their Design Review Process - multifamily housing in sensitive areas or with high public visibility has to pass a series of reviews by the Design Review Board, during which time the neighbors of the future project are able to attend and voice their concerns. The focus of this studio therefore was on producing drawings and graphics that are most easily read by non-architects, while also addressing the concerns and needs of the public within the design. The studio concluded with a professional digital presentation and jury style review similar to that of Seattle’s process. Vision: “Create a catalyst for sustainable suburban living that embraces the River Road community by providing a neighborhood destination that identifies with the local do-it-yourself identity
Community survey: What do you think of higher density in your neighborhood? VEHCILE TRAFFIC
VRC BRIDGE
TRADITIONAL
RIVER
RIVER ROAD
RIVER ROAD LOCATION
BIKE PATH
STRENGTHS
THREATS
PARK
SOIL ENVRIONMENT MATURE TREES
COMMUNITY CLOSE KNIT
NORTHWEST LANDSCAPE INVOLVED
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PROUD RESIDENTS
SUBURBIA
SINGLE STORY LOVERS
WILL GO UNDER UTILIZED
PRIVACY EXPECTATION
Dwelling trends: need for live/work units on the rise 38 million home based businesses in the U.S..
78% of Americans want to work from home 1 Million Home Entrepreneurs
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River bike path co rr
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ENCOURAGE PATH USE CONNECT TO TRANSIT
FENCING
MIXED USE MEDIUM DENSITY
BETWEEN ROAD AND PATH
NEIGHBORHOOD CURB APPEAL
NODAL DEVELOPMENT
ZONING
REPRESENT PAST AND FUTURE
ABOVE-GROUND POWER LINES
WEAKNESSES
OPPORTUNITIES PROXIMITY TO HISTORICAL LOTS
RUNDOWN HOMES NEGLECTED COMMERCIAL
EDGE/END OF RIVER ROAD
COMMUNITY NODE
GATEWAY TO NEIGHBORHOOD
SMALL GRAVEL ROAD
SITE ACCESS
NO RIVER ROAD CURB INFRASTRUCTURE
AUTOMOBILE ORIENTED ROAD
NOT WALKABLE
FIVE TRAFFIC LANES
STRIP-MALL TYPOLOGY
NEIGHBORHOOD AMENITY The project utilizes its prominent location on the main neighborhood corridor street and its new mixed-use zoning overlay to establish a new language for retail and commercial in the neighborhood. The livework units provide and opportunity for light industrial manufacturing in a neighborhood that prides itself on its DIY, previously farmer based, identity. COMMUNITY NODE A destination is created with a grand iconic tower that presents itself at the gateway of the neighborhood. With shopping, market space, access to the popular bike path along the river, and rental space for community functions on the path, the project uses its idea location to connect the neighborhood to each other and to all of its great amenities. Leave the car behind The central portal of the building opens up onto an active interior courtyard with southern exposure that then leads pedestrians and bicyclists out to the recreational bike path and adjacent park.
View of livework unit backs (north facade)
View from river road (west facade)
Facade study
View of livework units on plaza (south facade)
D B A
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Capacity 66 units = 20 units/acre 4,700 sf of commercial on river road 3,900 sf of commercial on bike path A B C D E F G
Key Flats & townhomes over commercial Public plaza Parking (22 spots) Livework duplexes Flats over commercial Livework rowhouses Parking (24 spots)
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Sustainable urbanism
Designing a walkable ecodistrict for Vietnam Team: Chris Becker, Amy Fisher, Brittany Porter & Casey Hagerman Program: 2.000 hectares; Tourism based industry, cultural and civic centers, financial district, housing, beach front development, schools, and support facilities. Brief: The population of Vietnam is rapidly growing, particularly in the areas surrounding Quy Nhon. The University of Oregon was approached by the city to imagine a more sustainable development model that provides for the needs of locals and creates destination spots for tourists. Vision: “Create a sustainable pedestrian oriented Eco-district that conserves land with its compact size and preserves the beauty of the surrounding natural environments while celebrating the local cultural heritage.�
Hanoi
QUY NHON
Ho chi Minh city 19
Step one: define grid
Street grid is at a 30° angle from the cardinal directions in order to avoid streets that are over exposed in the summer or under exposed in the winter. Streets are parallel to prevailing winds to allow for passive cooling of the district’s public realm.
Step TWO: create grain
The grain of the city encourages walkability by being dense but with low building heights that provide a human scale. A system of main arterial streets, green corridors, and alleys exist for preserved view corridors and access to the ocean.
Step three: form based code
Without prescribing exactly what will be built within the designed framework - a form based code denotes building heights, openspace, build-to-lines, building functions, and parking.
Walkability is Sustainability A pedestrian-oriented development is achieved by encouraging a walkable environment and most limiting motor vehicle access. Principles to encourage walking:
• Curb-less streets • Parking on the perimeter • Integrated public transit • Small block sizes • Mixed land use • Greenspace network • Stormwater management prevents flooding
Naturally occurring water management wetland
Preserved natural environments
Parking on the city edge
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10cm = 400m
Human scale streets & transit
Support local fisherman
Public squares as nodes of activity
Park promenade
TUBE HOUSE STREET SECTION & PLAN 3 METER
Streetscapes A language of building height to street width ratios are strategically placed throughout the design. A system of narrow alleyways placed throughout residential buildings create a sense of community and a chance for neighborly interaction.9m The wider park promenade acts as the foundational spine of community interaction. This highly public space also allows tourists to comfortably observe and participate in local life.
9m
Parkway Corridor with Natural Trails
3M Alley
Scale: 1 CM = 1M
3m
SCALE: 1CM =
3m
SCALE: 1CM =
9m 9M Promenade
32M32m park
UBE HOUSE STREET SECTION & PLAN METER WIDTH
PROMENADE SECTION 9m 1:100
9m
9m
6M Road
9M Street
6m
9m SCALE: 1CM = 100M
6m SCALE: 1CM = 100M
9m 9M Promenade
Green corridors A bioswale system exists throughout the green spaces of the district. The east/west9m openspace that was conserved acts as fingers that stretch across the shorter dimension of the district and filter water into a wetland at the north of the site. This allows for large amounts of water that are collected on the permeable streets to escape the district and avoid flooding.
If All the sky were paper A living memorial and museum
Program: 30,000 - 45,000 SF; Theater, memorial garden, permanent and rotating galleries, cafe, and administration space. Brief: Design a Living Memorial that will preserve letters from soldiers while memorializing their efforts. The two main charges of the building are to preserve and present letters from soldiers and families during times of war (the museum aspect), and to creatively present those letters through the interpretive arts (the living museum aspect). Chapman University’s recent presentation of “If All the Sky were Paper” is an possible permanent tenant of the theater space. Vision: “Experiences of war circulating around a healing center. Create a gallery and theater experience that applies the pressures of war onto the visitor while providing moments of relief from a central memorial garden.”
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PROCESS
PROCESS Sketches and Models
The design process in sketches and physical models laying out the change in main idea.
UNION STATION
Week 2 War form (chipboard) penetrates peace form (white board), representing the gravity of war and the way it disrupts peace. The war form was designed to house the theater from the beginning.
Powell’s Books Week 3 War form (chipboard) penetrates peace form (white board), representing the gravity of war and the way it disrupts peace. With the addition of two residual peices of gallery space on either side of the war form.
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY CRAFT
Week 4 War form (red) penetrates peace form (white board), with the addition of a tower form for looking out onto the city/humanity.
SOUTH PARK BLOCKS
Week 5 The tower is now a vertical garden and the war form hovers over a public plaza that is the result of the open corner of the building.
Circulating around a healing center At the heart of this courtyard building is a vertical garden that transcends the vertically of the museum experience in order to provide every gallery with a view of the vegetation and water feature. The interior edge of the galleries are made of glass, which washes the inner most layer of columns with light and creates a room within a room. This “room” allows for moment of reflection or relief from the letter exhibits and views of the green core. Forest Of Columns The columns holding up the mass of the theater speak to the dense foliage of Portland’s adjacent South Park Blocks and give one the feeling of being lost or trapped in a forest.
Entrance and orientation space move you below grade, creating clear separation between the public realm and the museum interior. Tree-like columns reflect the adjacent park blocks while providing a sense of being lost in a dark forest.
The bridge juxtaposes “real world� and sheltered interior as you move from the galleries to the theater.
Galleries circulate around the vertical memorial garden and move you between light and dark spaces with moments of reflection.
Vertical garden acts as a memorial garden that you can move through. Rainwater trickles down the walls over extruded words of wisdom.
Solar book
Photovoltaic installation made for two Team: Tim Niou, Michael Fox, Brittany Porter Program: Building integrated, residential scale photovoltaics that can be easily installed with two people. Brief: This project occurred within ten days from conception to full scale construction. It began with a two hour charette in which the two most promising schemes from the class were chosen for construction by student teams. The design Needed to be easily transported by one or two people and should be able made to install onto a typical wood frame residential home. Construction was completed in a digital fabrication lab using a 5-way CNC router and plasma cutter. The Solar Book is currently operating and produces power 500 watts for portable electronics outside of the architecture building’s cafe. Vision: “Create building integrated solar that opens and closes like a book for easy transportation and installation on a variety of homes with unique solar angle requirements.”
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*Transportation*
*Hook*
*Unfold* *Finito* *Install Base*
*attach to base*
Wooden cnc’d arms
Laminated arms
Adjustable spine
Open book
Book mounted
Fully installed
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bio Brittany Porter is a Master of Architecture candidate at the University of Oregon. She enjoys holistic design solutions that reach a level of poetic harmony visible from every scale of the project. Her current work investigates a module for multifamily dwelling in San Francisco that provides a service to the greater neighborhood while mitigating the city’s housing crisis. Brittany has a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Georgia Institute of Technology and is a LEED Green Associate. Her future focuses are on multifamily housing, urban design, suburban densification and retrofits, urban infill and the creation of healthy, happy, sustainable communities. Specialties: design technologies and software, environmental sustainability, passive heating and cooling strategies, sustainable urban design principles, and the psychology of communities.