Architecture Portfolio Chase Foster
Arch 201- Mixed Use Development 2023 Assignment: We were tasked with creating a Mixed-Use Development that covered half a block in the Montrose area of Houston, Texas. The focus of the course was making a development that fits with the site’s context, which is highly diverse. We were given the additional requirements of including ten residential units, four offices, a multipurpose room, and a cafe, each with their respective square footage requirements. On top of that, half of the area had to be a public park and include fourteen parking spots.
Response: The overall principle of this development is to open up the space to Montrose and the greater community, specifically along Montrose Street. When
developing the layout of the buildings, the plot was divided in half. The Montrose side would be for public use, the park, the cafe, and the multipurpose room. At the same time, the other half would contain semi-private programs, including offices and residences. This was then bisected by a horizontal line, creating the two primary structures and, in turn, creating the courtyard. The cafe and multipurpose room are located at the park’s edge, welcoming people and bridging the public into the structure. The courtyard running east to west through the site divides the program, creating a north and south building. The north contains offices and the cafe while also providing space for parking. The southern structure includes residential housing and a separate multipurpose room. The courtyard also divides the residential and office programs with trees and rises through the curving pattern. When the curve reaches the park, it branches out, breaking from the pattern and orthogonal structure of the buildings. This creates paths from the community to the development, connecting them. The trees in the central courtyard provide a division between residential and office space and shade from the south sun for the first and second floors. The second floor is offset from the first in the north and south. This provides shade for residents on the south structure and shade for parking on the north. This offset also provides circulation around the courtyard on the second floor, which contains residential space and a small public area. The central theme when designing the internal layout of the units was flexibility between spaces. Each residential unit has a grouping of interior walls or cores encasing the bathrooms and storage. This grouping then creates hallways and rooms between it and the exterior walls. On top of this, each residential unit contains sliding walls/doors to open up or divide rooms depending on usage. This idea of interior cores is also present in the office spaces, utilizing the same layout to create a backdrop for the room and space for a bathroom and storage. The same idea is included in the Multipurpose room, creating a space for restrooms and storage while providing a background for the area and presentations. Through these features, the development opens up and connects to the Montrose community while preserving semi-private and residential spaces.
Montrose Elevation
1’=1/8”
Section A
Floor 2
1’=3/32”
Floor 1
1’=3/32”
1’=1/8”
Marshall Elevation
1’=1/8”
C Section B
1’=1/8”
B Section C
1’=1/8”
A
Arch 201- Mixed Use Development
MARSHALL
MONTROSE
ALABAMA
Site Plan
N
1’=1/32”
Arch 201- Mixed Use Development - Model
Arch 102 shape as a first assignment. From there, we were instructed to extrude it into a three-dimensional form. Only then were we told what the building would be: A community center located in the Houston Botanic Garden. From there, we were given a square footage of 15k-20k square feet that the form needed to be scaled up to. After that, we were assigned the programs with their respective square footage. It was interesting to make the form fit with the assigned programs. The form came before the function was known.
2nd FLOOR PLAN
COMMUNITY ROOM 2 REST--ROOM
Assignment: This was the final assignment of the class, and it was the culmination of the semester’s previous assignments. We were first told to create a basic
A
Response: The governing principle of this project comes from its stepped, repeating nature. This originated in the primitive models, which featured stepped rectanAUDITORIUM
B
LIBRARY
gles of decreasing size and offset. This created an inherent horizontal and vertical organization that was utilized by the programs. The rooms fit within the horizontal divisions of the building on the plan, creating a stacked organization. This is interrupted by the vertical passageway of the lobby and event space, providing circulation. These are emphasized by the fenestration on either end of the passageway, providing a limited view through the building and exhibiting this. These features tie the interior to the exterior and highlight the main idea of the repeating organization of program and form.
C SECTION A
1’ = 1/16” EAST ELEVATION
1st FLOOR PLAN
COMMUNITY ROOM 1
SECTION B
TE
WEST ELEVATION
OF FIC ES
UI
A
AUDITORIUM LOBBY
B
SECTION C
C
SOUTH ELEVATION
LIBRARY
GALLERY
EVENT SPACE
NORTH ELEVATION
Arch 102 - Renders SITE PLAN
1’ = 1/32”
Arch 102 - Model
Arch 101 Assignment: This assignment was part of an ongoing semester-long exploration. Working from the floorplans of two assigned houses, we combined them into
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3
one singular plan with a justifiable logic. From there, we collaged those plans into a matrix with multiple variations. The plans were then extruded in different formations before the final assignment. In the final project, we were given a plot of land by the Menil Drawing Institute in Houston, Texas, to create a pavilion. The shape of it would be based on the past assignments and taking the extrusions from the previous one.
Response: The main intention of this project was to create a space that simultaneously merges with the surrounding environment/ground and immerses the view-
er. The pavilion rises from the ground in one corner to achieve this, creating a natural yet definitive slope. The slope blends with the ground while the peak is at a height similar to the surrounding structures. These features keep it grounded in its context, making it belong there. It creates a sense that the pavilion was constructed from the site, it was not placed on top of it. The sloped sides and sunken spaces make it a part of the landscape and merge it with the environment. The building achieves its immersion by keeping the spaces below ground level. The spaces are hidden from the sidewalk, which invites the viewer to enter the pavilion to experience it. The surrounding buildings are almost entirely obstructed when entering, so the pavilion and its peak become the only views present. This is then mixed with varying levels of coverage, from the shade to the roof to the beams. The sunken depth and coverage work in tandem to insulate the viewer in the pavilion experience. These aspects blend with the site’s environment and immerse the viewer in the pavilion.
2
1
PLAN
South Elevation
3/32” = 1’-0”
SECTION 1 FACING NORTH
WEST ELEVATION
3/32” = 1’-0”
EAST ELEVATION
3/32” = 1’-0”
SECTION 4 FACING EAST
AXON 3/32” = 1’-0”
3/32” = 1’-0”
3/32” = 1’-0”
3/32” = 1’-0”
SECTION 3 FACING WEST
NORTH ELEVATION
3/32” = 1’-0”
3/32” = 1’-0”
SECTION 2 FACING SOUTH
3/32” = 1’-0”
Arch 101- Renders
Architecture Technology These are the first and final projects in my Architecture Technology class, which focused on creating models that showcased tension and compression forces based on assigned constraints. These were group projects; my roles were creating designs with the team and constructing and photographing the models.
This is the first assigned project to create a balancing structure that relies on tension and compression forces. Our concept revolves around the elegant simplicity of triangles. Triangles, with their inherent stability, form the basis of our design. These triangles, of varying sizes, are arranged in captivating patterns, each layer interlocking with the next. The key lies in the continuous movement of connected triangles, creating a dynamic equilibrium. The triangles are oriented, so the vertical forces can move continuously through each triangle between the layers, acting transparently. Each layer in the design is an active component, supporting the next and providing horizontal stability to the others. Each triangle relies on the other, creating an exciting and unique balance of forces.
This project came from our second assignment (not included), where we created variations of a three-layered structure supported by three sizes of triangles. From that past assignment, we chose this variation due to its symmetrical features and how each force is distributed downwards onto another support, creating a branching pattern. Refining our last project, we took the design and removed the center of the triangles, producing what is shown, which allowed for greater visibility through the structure. From there, we focused on supporting the floors’ and ceilings’ centers and edges. We first added a truss in the center of the second floor, supporting the 3rd and holding it up.Additionally, we added four columns on the top, which cables ran through. These cables are connected to the 2nd floor and the center of the roof. When pressure is placed on the roof or the edge of the floor, it is counteracted by the cables. Finally, we added cables crossing each layer in three different spots to resist rotational forces. These counteracted forces going in either direction on each layer. The result is the project shown in a 12” x 12” x 18” model.
Personal Projects A collection of some of my 3d digital work. They were produced using Blender 3d and edited using Photoshop and Illustrator. I create the works in my free time between projects and over breaks. I mainly focus on creating realistic renderings and trying new techniques with each project. Further work available on my Artstation Portfolio: https://www.artstation.com/chase92
Architectronica: Motion Graphics This is a collection of motion graphics I created for Architectronica. Architectronica is an EDM-themed party hosted by the architecture department at Rice for the campus. I was contacted after one of the organizers saw my previous digital work. Using their input, I had the opportunity to create these five animations to achieve their vision and aesthetic. In each one, the main character/s at the center slowly rotate around while the wires around them move and vary. The final work was projected at the event.
Past Revit Work I have experience using Revit for basic Arch Vis. These examples were created when I was in high school; they were based on plans and elevations I was provided. I did these for family friends who wanted a way to see what the house would look like in 3D, or wanted to see what siding would look nice on the house. I also did a couple for a contractor who wished to have a visualization of the plans they were making. All the projects were given to me in plans and elevations since there were no 3D models of them, and the plans were provided in either Autocad or PDF format. They were a great opportunity and one of the earliest things that got me into architecture.
These renderings were done for a contractor who was building a shop and wanted to see what the interior additions would look like. I rendered a couple of views for them so they could better visualize the project. This included interior views of the wooden structure and overall views of the shop. It also made some custom assets like the beams supporting the shop. (2020)
This was another arch-vis project for a contractor where they needed a 3d rendering of the project so it was easier for the clients to visualize it. I was given the plans and elevations and created the three-dimensional model and renderings. (2020)(2020)
This is a house that I modeled and rendered for a family friend after their old one was lost in a fire. Having got the plans from an architect, they wanted to see what their future house would look like in 3d. I was happy to help them and provide them with the renderings. Later, I also provided them with different siding variations since they wanted to see what metal siding would look like on the structure. (2019)