Charles Bickford Design Portfolio 2024

Thoughtful Intent i ons

Who is Charlie Bickford

Growing up in a very rural part of Washington, I have found a lot of peace within the forest. The forest brought me solace, but with that lonesomeness lingered as well. Much of my childhood has shaped me into the designer I am today. Being aware of what values I hold close throughout my life and what I want to contribute to the world is what pushes me to use design as a way to reinforce culture, confidence, and heart of people. Although growing up in isolation felt lonely at times, I found that being able to express myself openly within this environment cradled a sense of freedom. This freedom to express oneself is why I believe space and architectural design can uphold these identities of individuals and cultures.

Home Schoo l

Project

Midtown East Manhattan, the heart of one of the busiest business districts in New York City, has undergone a major transformation from a strictly business-oriented place to a conglomeration of uses. This post-pandemic world has opened up the urban fabric to not rely on single-use zoning laws but rather flourish through mixed-use environments. “Home School” takes advantage of this opportunity by placing itself right in the center of this business hub as something unique. Combining elementary education and housing into a single building offers all the daycare benefits that a school can provide right outside your doorstep. This concept bridges time and efficiency within the fast-paced city, freeing up more time for parents to focus on their daily tasks rather than stressful commutes around the city for their child.

The location is crucial when it comes to a Montessori School; it not only provides the luxury of convenience to the dwelling spaces above but also acts as a central hub for commuter families to drop off their children right by their workplace in Midtown East Manhattan. 71% of Manhattan workers commute from other boroughs or regions around NYC. The pandemic has opened up the rare opportunity for this margin to get considerably smaller. The schools primary goal is to Cater to families that commute and need a convenient place for their younger child to go. Additionally, it offers subsidized housing to teachers and staff who work in the school. This ensures that “Home School” provides an equal opportunity for the residents who can afford it, the staff who work there to uphold it, and the surrounding community that relies on it.

Creating Common Center

As I continue with this project, I will strengthen the guiding principles to be reflected in every space. These principles are what unify the building, both in the school and the living spaces above. Making sure the details uphold the Montessori aesthetic while manifesting its own unique identity is what makes this adaptive reuse project important.

Pediatric Fac i l i ty

Healing Steps

Pediatric Facility

December 2021

The Pediatric Facility fosters mental health awareness through incorporated trauma-informed design. The goal of this building is to create a safe space designed for children of all ages who seek help with behavioral health or substance abuse. Incorporating trauma-informed design, it was important to think about the process one goes through when seeking mental help. Creating a place of refuge in the lobby was an important first step. Here, people can interact with the biophilic design and be with themselves or with their families. Secondly, a place of prospect is in the in-between corridor space before going into the group therapy spaces. Here, groups can interact with themselves or with others before entering group therapy. It creates an axial view of the healing garden beyond. In the healing garden, this creates a place of reflection. These spaces are important to the users, especially after leaving the therapy rooms. It is important not to hide these mental steps when it comes to mental health but to incorporate them both in practice and architecturally.

Healing Steps

“Prospect”

Space before entering group therapy

“Refuge” Waiting space

Wall-washing as primary lighting option because this method isn’t super direct on the users, which can cause stress. Avg

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Directional Lighting

Directional lighting that can lead the user through the spaces creating clear circulation and wayfinding.

Open vs Intimate Lighting

Illumination over the spacial arrangement of private vs public edges within the circulation space.

the Dog Bar- K

The Dog Bar-k

June 2023

This section looks into some of the technical drawings I worked on for this community bar in Springfield, Oregon. This is a membership-based bar where locals can bring their dogs and interact with friends. Balancing the clients’ wants with design intent, “The Dog Bar-k” makes for a playful bar for both humans and dogs. Focusing on the need for a membership-based system, it is key to think about how members, dog owners, and casual customers enter the facility and use the various dog parks and amenities. Splitting down the center of the building creates an axis for staff and customers, creating private and public centers. This split makes for very clear wayfinding for both the casual customer and the regular members who bring their dogs. Thinking about how people move and approach the site is the backbone of where the spaces fall into place. While trying to incorporate the architectural features of the original building and giving it a new modern aesthetic, has shown me the beauty in these technical drawings that I once found intimidating.

Textile Facil i ty

The textile facility is designed for the Ahmadabad, Indian community at the forefront, creating a safe space for artists to master their traditional weaving craft or establish a public domain for people to drop off their old clothes to be made into new fibers. This aspect is what makes this building such a communal place. The use of Le Corbusier’s very intentional open plan and the integration of the program vertically is how the building functions. The first floor serves as the base for the upcycling process, where staff can take old clothes, break them down, and transform them into new fibers to be spun or shipped out commercially. The second floor takes advantage of Le Corbusier’s ramp for public engagement. Here, the community can participate in traditional weaving classes, observe how the upcycling process works, and even donate their old clothes to be upcycled. Lastly, the second floor acts as the product of the upcycling process. In this space, there are traditional weaving areas for artists and a showroom to display the final product. Weaving the spaces vertically is what creates this communal engagement with the site, bringing back the traditional techniques that India is known for.

Interior Axonometric

Vertically weaving three distinct zones

Traditional Practice

Community Engagement

Upcycling

Ahmadabad, India

Site Map Isometric

Goals

Incorporate Traditional Practice

Create a Communal Market

Consider all Seven Seasons of India: Spring, Summer, Monsoon, Autumn, Pre-Winter, Winter

Flexible Spaces for Different Use

Mold Le Corbusier’s Five Points with Individual Design Intent

Spatial Diagrams

Furn i ture

The Guest Table

November 2023

As a college student and a city dweller, the spaces I call home tend to be small. Thus, The Guest Table provides an opportunity that melds function in these small urban spaces while providing atmospheric warmth to the space. When in its table formation, the two legs can join together to create a level surface for the tabletop to sit on. When stored in the wall formation, the legs slot into the wall component that I call the backbone. This provides shelf space for keepsakes while also showcasing a woven canvas art piece. Early on in the design process, I acknowledged that a modular language would create a simple and intuitive use for the furniture piece. The simple geometries with curved edges make for an understated statement piece. As spaces tend to get smaller in urban centers, it is important to design in a way that is flexible while also maintaining the individual’s style in their own space.

Shelf Formation

Table Formation