ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO CHAY R. R. PHELPS
SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY
2022
ARCHITETCURE PORTFOLIO 01 02 03 04 05 06 07
Pioneer Homes
pgs 01 - 06
Ocean Detox
pgs 07 - 12
Hagathor Tower
pgs 13 - 22
Chiminea House
pgs 23 - 28
Weiss Grove
pgs 29 - 32
Desiccation
pgs 33 - 36
Mecca Flats
pgs 37 - 12
Works completed utilizing: Rhino, Vray, Photoshop, Adobe Suite, and various model making processes.
PIONEER HOMES The 15th Ward, Syracuse, NY In collaboration with Wesley Feero
01
02
Ward 15 and Urban Renewal; The Erasure of a Thriving Black Community Ward 15 was once a bustling community of black Syracuse culture that provided for over 1,500 local residents. As the United States sanctioned systematic redlining, unethical legislative policies, and community erasure in the name of Urban Renewal during the mid 60’s, Ward 15 became decimated and divided. Many lives were displaced directly next to the newly constructed I-81 Through-way and now live with the constant roar of a major infrastructural highway.
Reckoning with the themes of displacement, we utilized the column and the map as an iconography which could be manipulated to columns of I-81, have been repurposed as an iconoclastic monument in celebration of past, present and future black Syracuse.
Seen above is a map of the city, which has been red lined and physically cut apart, splicing the community threads. Concrete has been poured into the gashed wounds, further dividing the neighborhoods, as I-81 did, during the mid 60’s. Click here or scan the QR code to view this process
03
PIONEER HOMES; THE 15th WARD
04
Embedded within the structural columns of I-81 lives the memories of those who lost their homes, neighborhood, and community. This model seeks to excavate and archive these memories.
05
Spanning over three feet in length, this model further investigates the forgotten memories left behind of a deserted community. By physically chiseling into the concrete, we hope to reveal lost memories and the misdeeds they have been through.
PIONEER HOMES; THE 15th WARD
06
OCEAN DETOX Red Hook, Brooklyn, NY
02
08
Climate Change And Sea Rise; The Future Red Hook Crisis By year 2100, the Red Hook area of Brooklyn is under water, sea level rise over the past century has led to portions of
ecosystem. This, alongside the toxic waste deposits on the riverbed from the early 1900's has turned the Hudson River into a Superfund site. The atmosphere, having experienced a quality decline along with the seas and rising global temperatures is now improving as global efforts increase. One such effort includes the environmental installation of an active sewer
Once the island’s reservoir reaches max capacity, it returns to its docking station at the newly constructed Red Hook Harbor and Ferry Port to deposit its cumulation.
09
OCEAN DETOX, RED HOOK
Seen in these images is the design for the tip of the Red Hook Harbor and Ferry Port. Each terminal consists of a peninsula that allows for docking of ships and islands, which then transforms into an array of tide pools during low tide for guests to interact with the marine biology. Above is a sectional model made from layered chipboard and weathering paint.
10
Made from hand cut chipboard, foam, and weathering paint. Portions of the foam have been melted with acetone to give it a rough and coral like texture.
Made from a variety of different foams weathering paint and fake moss. The upper portion of the image shows the islands docked at the main terminals.
11
OCEAN DETOX, RED HOOK
06
12
HAGATHOR TOWER SAN DIEGO, CA In collaboration with Lex Portelli
04
14
A Tower Fit For A Cult; Designing and Narrating Sci-Fi Architecture The Cult of Hagathor has existed for several years as a disconnected string of believers around the continental United States focused in rural California. Believing that their creator is an alien force residing in the eye of Jupiter’s storm, which was responsible for the formation of the half born sun. They believe that by surrounding themselves with the gases present on the planet brings them closer to their god, and that the higher they are in Earth's atmosphere, the easier it is to receive god’s blessings. They have recently acquired the funding needed to construct a dedicated headquarters from an exceptionally wealthy group of adherents, and now request the construction of a tower in LA as a holy city for their following.
15
HAGATHOR TOWER, SAN DIEGO
The project seeks to create this tower according to the narratives and beliefs of the cult of Hagathor, while compositing a number of objects and architectural styles to produce an appropriately monumental structure for the cult’s needs. The project needs to serve as a self contained base of operations which can run with minimal
Dormitories, prayer spaces, dining halls, the smooth and uninterrupted continued operation of the building.
16
17
HAGATHOR TOWER, SAN DIEGO
By starting with designing a kit of parts the model essentially built itself. Our strategy was to take an object, modify it, stack it; which grew into a tower. With each new iteration, the model would grow taller and more detailed. A fully working structure of the building. Piping and HVAC become intertwined with the structure and the narrative. This model is comprised of over 400 unique parts that create a high density tower.
The three tower complex of Hagathor emphasizes social hierarchies within the cult, as spaces become more reclusive as one goes up, while the different classes of the cult reside in different towers. The service tower controls the systems of the building, while the aspirant and devotary towers divide the classes to ensure absolute devotion at the highest levels of the doctrine.
18
19
HAGATHOR TOWER, SAN DIEGO
From Digital Conception to Physical Reality Seek
Tasked to transform our digital model into a used items, whether it be from the garbage can or a Good Will. These items would be space from within.
Paint
Painting is an essential step in “defamiliarizing the objects. Color blocking and completing with trim highlights transforms our everyday materials into new and unique forms. The Destijl paint colors work well being all primary colors and give the model a bright, yet unsettling tone.
Bash
Finally, through kit-bashing and greebling, we took each individual piece and brought them together into one cohesive model. These pieces started as a kit of parts and then transformed into something incredibly new
20
21
HAGATHOR TOWER, SAN DIEGO
model, we sought to capture the made spaces within. We created a series of vignettes to show how the cult would utilize and experience the tower. comes to life and truly showcases its enormous size. Standing over 6’ in height and 4’ in width, the model is larger than the average person.
Custom platforms, railings, window details and level of depth and detail into the model.
22
CHIMINEA HOUSE Svalbard, Norway In collaboration with Jason Moline, Andrew D’Angelo, and Wesley Feero
03
24
Tiny House, Big Space; Optimizing The Micro Experience The Chiminea House references traditional domestic architecture, centering everyday life around the massive concrete chimney in the center of the plan serves multifunctiuonally, from housing the bed to heating the kitchen oven. The hearth’s four sides cater to four programs essential to everyday life: working, cooking, relaxing, and sleeping. With no walls dividing interior space, movement is unrestricted throughout the Chiminea house; however, program is still implied through differentiation addition furniture is designed to be functional and small 400 square footprint. For example, the bed in the back of the house can be folded into the hearth, bathroom space.
Like its namesake the chiminea, the house achieves versatility through simplicity, taking advantage the hearth to serve a primary role in everyday life.
25
CHIMINEA HOUSE, SVALBARD
20’ Having a footprint of only 20’ by 20’, the Chiminea House maximizes the available space by optimizing furniture and utility placement. By placing the hearth at the center of the plan, the heat is equally distributed throughout the home.
26
27
The upper level of the space accommodates the living needs of the resident, while the lower half allows for
CHIMINEA HOUSE, SVALBARD
Wood Structure to Chimney Detail
Glass Mullion to Chimney Detail
Wood Frame to Cement Base Detail
28
Heated Floor and Crawl Space Detail
WEISS GROVE
05
GALWAY LAKE, NY In collaboration with Jason Moline Andrew D’Angelo, and Wesley Feero
A Lake shore Cabin Set to Be Built in 2022 Located off the shore of Galway Lake, this house was designed for a family member looking to renovate their second cabin on their property. We were tasked to draft schematics of the existing building and transform it into a beautiful lake shore residence. Original plans, details, demolition plans, and renders were submitted to the owner’s architect and is currently set to start construction in the summer of 2022.
Much time and effort went into researching the local region’s codes and regulations, as well as optimizing space and sustainability.
30
31
18’ 8”
3’ 2”
3’
3’
3’ 2”
3’ 2”
5’ 9” 8’ 4”
22’ 1/4”
7’ 11 1/4”
3’2”
Galway Lake Residence 4/12/2021
NORTH ELEVATION Rear Facade
0’
2’
4’
8’
WEISS GROVE, GALWAY LAKE
32
DESICCATED LANDSCAPES 06 SALTON SEA, CA In collaboration with Jason Moline
34
Lessons From The Salton Sea; Building Amidst A Water Crisis Humanity’s interference within the global hydrological cycle has resulted in countless and the desiccation of surface water systems. Our project’s scope revolves around this desarid regions of California, amidst the warming Sea and Owens Lake. We seek to unveil the array of catastrophic impacts this has on our habitat and the environment, as well as express our concerns of anthropocene, but the overwhelming neglect humanity has exhibited towards our hydrological landscapes.
We then ask, how should we build during this crisis.? How can we create sustainable yet beautiful forms and spaces in the most arid regions of our globe?
27
DESICCATED LANDSCAPES
So much water goes into the manufacturing of basic construction materials. This total is furthered by many of the current building practices used by contractors around the nation. We seek to develop both material and construction processes to decrease the total water consumption of our architecture By super heating sand and silica at over 1600 degrees Fahrenheit, we have begun development of a new and innovative Zero-Water material that can be made on site. This material has the potential to revolutionize the way we design in arid regions, as well as have the ability to be molded into unique architectural forms. Our goal is to take something that has once been a hazardous nuisance to the community, and transform it into a shelter away from the dangerous toxins.
28
Mecca Flats Blues IIT, Bronzeville, IL
38
Mecca Flats Blues; A Glimpes Into A Forgotten Community Mecca Flats Blues seeks to give the viewer a glimpse into the lives of those who resided within the largest apartment complex ever built pre-1900’s. By utilizing found footage, 3D narration, the video is able to contextualize the Mecca community within the greater Bronzeville neighborhood. The project attempts to avoid becoming “poverty-porn” by putting a face to the name and truly examines those who lived in and fought for their home. With the development of IIT itself, and the recent excavation of Mecca Flats in 2018, the video tries to capture the entire arc of the Mecca and allow for a greater audience to develop an understanding and appreciation of the events that once transpired.
Click here or scan the QR code to view the video