My desire to learn extends well beyond the boundaries of the classroom. I routinely take on new and difficult challenges that test both my mental and physical limits. Recently, I have endeavored to master the principles of algorithmic coding while training for and completing an Olympic size triathlon. This thirst for knowledge, coupled with a stubborn determination, has driven me to succeed in all aspects of my academic, athletic and professional careers. I am originally from South Kingstown, Rhode Island where I grew up working alongside my father on various small scale construction projects. Professionally, I am entering my fifth and final year in the Bachelor of Architecture Program at Philadelphia University and I will graduate in May of 2014. My designs conceptualize architecture as a kinetic system. No longer is the built environment to be considered static, but rather a compilation of active components that can engage their users and surroundings. These ideas are developed through an understanding of geometry not only in the traditional sense, but also as a more complex system of relations between components. I appreciate you taking the time to view my work, and I look forward to becoming a contributing member in the Architectural community.
Kyle Burke
Philadelphia University Bachelors of Architecture ‘14 burke9296@philau.edu issuu.com/burke9296
SKILLS Rhino, Python, Grasshopper, Kangaroo, Rhinoscript Arduino, Processing Autocad, Revit, 3ds Max, Ecotect, Vasari Photoshop, After Effects, Illustrator, Indesign Cabinetry, Detailing, Interior Design Wood Working, Welding, Metal Working Hand drafting, Marker Rendering, Sketching, Photography
CONTENTS
PhilaU Spring ‘13 Revit 2013
Business Venture Summer ’13 Revit, Photoshop
Blubell Kitchens Summer ’13 AutoCAD
DIS Fall ‘12 Rhino 4, Photoshop, AutoCAD
DIS Fall ‘12 Rhino, Photoshop
Philau Fall ‘13 Rhino 5, Python, 3ds Max
PhilaU Fall ’13 Rhino, Photoshop
PhilaU Fall ‘10 Hand-drafting
PhilaU Fall ’13 Arduino, Model Making, After Effects
PhilaU Spring ’13 sketchup, photoshop, autocad
Dis Fall ‘12 Photoshop
PhoneTag
Nordic culture House Botanical Storm Tower Archeological site Patch Adam’s Clinic
Riverside Pavilion Steam Bathroom Living Showroom Stewardson Competition Digital Baton
Photography
Phone Tag Nightclub Business Venture
In a society dominated by social media, personal communication has become a novelty. However, many young professionals are looking to break the mold and meet and interact with people on a more personal level. Going out on the town has returned as an opportunity to meet and interact with new people, yet the traditional club or bar scenes are ill equipped to encourage such communication. Phone Tag is a combination of the Northern European model and local pub model of the Philadelphia area. Phone Tag is a model based upon thirds. Two thirds of the bar is devoted to being outgoing and meeting new people, while the remaining third caters to people who want a more private venue. One of the largest pitfalls of the current bar model is that even if two people are able to create a mutual connection, there is nowhere within the bar setting in which to peacefully enjoy each other’s company. The idea of comfort is seldom found in the intimidating American bar scene, and never in the club scene. Phone Tag looks to bridge the gap between the large public social venue and the intimate comfort that can be found in the Northern European Model.
New Nordic Warehouse Copenhagen Harbor
The New Nordic Warehouse pays homage to the industrial past of Copenhagen harbor as well as the utilitarian timber frame construction techniques of the time period. The Warehouse shall serve as a space to house Nordic cultural exhibits from the fields of architecture, cuisine, and fashion. The building retains the qualities of the vernacular Danish warehouse while utilizing modern industrial techniques. In addition to each Nordic country having a chance to display their collections, each country will also have their own garden in the covered courtyard as well as a platform in the reflecting pool. This studio was taken in conjunction with a detailing course and thus the detailing informed the language for the project as a whole. The objective was to reinterpret the utilitarian techniques used in construction while retaining the qualitative essence of a vernacular Danish warehouse.
Botanical Storm Tower North 23rd and Arch
Philadelphia is among several major metropolis areas in the North East that still relies on a combined Sewer Infrastructure. Sixty percent of Philadelphia and all of the Center City area divert storm water into combined sewers. However, under flood conditions, which can occur as often as sixty times a year, the rainwater overloads the infrastructure and millions of gallons of untreated sewage and storm water are released into the Delaware River Valley. The Botanical Storm Water Tower is designed to remedy this situation by creating a new rainwater collection system. The Tower will be constructed at the center of a rainwater collection network that will be built beneath raised bike lanes. The water will be pumped to the tower where it will be filtered through biofiltration plates and a chemical process. Once the water has been purified to drinking quality, it will be pumped to the municipal reservoir for storage. The Tower will also be a regional rail stop and a public transportation hub. Not only will the tower increase public access to green modes of transportation, but it will also serve as a public extension of the Schuylkill River Walking Trail. The algorithmic form of the Tower is driven by the need to maximize rainwater capture while minimizing the visual impact from the city. The core of the tower is a glazed tulip with pedals of biofiltration sweeping up the southern faรงade.
Archeological Site Kelly Drive
The pump stations of Philadelphia played a crucial role in the founding of the city, as they redirected water from the river, through reservoirs and eventually into the city grid. The archeological center is designed to reflect the history of man’s endeavors to control and utilize water. The visitor is led through the building in a way that mimics the movement of water throughout the city. In the center, there are various points of constriction and tension which are relieved by open spaces and voids. The unique design invites visitors to consider the importance of pump stations to both historic and present day Philadelphia.
Patch Adams Clinic Allegheny Avenue
The Patch Adams clinic is currently being proposed to various Allegheny community groups on a schematic level. The concept is to introduce the model of a free health clinic, which has proven successful in West Virginia, into the urban fabric of Philadelphia. The project’s form was heavily influenced by its NetZero goal. The building is separated into two bars which provide greater south facing exposure. Additionally, the building is set into the slope allowing the north facing walls to be buried into the hillside. Such a design creates an enclosed courtyard between the buildings, providing much needed protected outdoor space in the neighborhood. Some of the programmatic elements that surround the courtyard include: a community space, library, small presentation space, fitness center, childcare center, and the clinic.
Riverside Pavilion
Pennsylvania Wilderness The Riverside Pavilion was a short project designed in Revit. Given a generic site, a pavilion was to be created that would serve as a small get away home for a suburban Philadelphia couple. The project presented a modelling problem in trying to create a concrete beam system that could be applied to a complex curve. Due to Revit modeling constraints, beams cannot be placed onto complex planes and thus the project appeared to be a dead end. However, this constraint was eventually overcome by applying the beam as a mullion to a curtain system and then attached to the underside of the roof plane.
BlueBell Kitchens
Steam Bathroom Details This professional project was completed while working for BlueBell Kitchens. Once the project completed the layout phase, I was entrusted with the detailing and construction document phases. The biggest challenge arose while specing the steam generator that was intended to be housed underneath the cabinets adjacent to the shower. I discovered that the cabinets were too small to house the generator. However, by working with the steam generator technicians and the contractors, I was able to devise the creative solution of placing the generator in a custom housing in the attic. In addition, I worked in conjunction with several other suppliers to create detailed drawings to insure the precision and quality of the curbless shower that the client desired.
Prefab Living Showroom Danish Competition
This project was a competition hosted by a Danish prefabrication manufacturer to create a living showroom. Working in collaboration with Robert Mosby of Tulane University, we started by travelling to the factory for a tour and a meeting with the factory coordinators. This visit provided a unique opportunity to learn about the Danish prefabrication process and to see their building techniques. The project description was to create a living showroom using the existing factory while maintaining their day to day function. Our proposal utilized an operable spine which created an artery through the natural ‘deadzone’ that existed because of the unique structure of the building. We also designed a seating system that could collapse within itself and be stored underneath the spine when not in use.
Stewardson Competition Arts District, Ridge Avenue
The Arts District on Ridge Avenue is as a collection of venues. A venue is a moment created for performance. For the artist, it is an easel. For the musician or actor, it is a stage. For the Athlete, it is their field of play. The Arts District creates venues for all of these disciplines. Within the contained corridor resides the main outdoor stage. The Stage is framed by a brick arch assembled from the bricks of the previous Art Garage. Proceed up the courtyard ramp and look into studios of artists who live above their workshops. At the North West corner of the site is the indoor performance space. Capable of holding 200 people, the new Arts Garage will play host to poets, musicians, and theater performers. In the pocket of the southern block is the athletic space. Framed by a thirty five foot rock climbing wall, this flexible space can play host to a variety of activities. In its normal state, the space becomes the outdoor seating for the large restaurant/ cafĂŠ. For the small businesses that occupy the corridor, each storefront becomes a frame for their respective art.
Digital LED Baton
Arduino Programming As part of our Kinetic Architecture studio, we were tasked with designing a simple kinetic system to further our knowledge of Arduino based programming. I chose to create a relay between localized photocells associated with a corresponding LED. Each acrylic housing acts as an autonomous unit which reads the light levels of its surroundings. The code begins by creating an average reading from the photocell to develop a normal reading as well as a threshold which will trigger the glowing effect of each light. The relay can be started using a flashlight to break the threshold of a single or multiple photocells. Once one light is activated, the light from its LED is powerful enough to activate the any photocells within its immediate vicinity. The blocks were designed to be configured together into a monolithic cube and arranged and assembled creatively by the user. Based upon the configuration, the relay changed its order based upon shadows and proximity. See the video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViSXwUMPF98
Kyle Burke Philadelphia University Bachelors of Architecture 2014 burke9296@philau.edu