EXPLORING THE INFINITE ABYSS A COMPOSITION OF MY EXPLORATION OF DESIGN
Chris Hazel design
profile
Into the AbyssI was asked by a mentor as to why I chose my title, associating my exploration of design with an abyss. For me, the abyss is not a loss of, but a separation from the known. Everything is a new exploration, a reaching of uncharted territory. This is design. Design must be innovative and inventive. It must explore new possibilities and be unafraid to plunge into unknown areas. There is no set path for design; it is a chaotic network, ever changing and always exciting. This portfolio is not presented as a sample of my work; it is a composition of my exploration. This is my current state in the abyss, but, I am nowhere near the end.
finding depth: in composition
lexicon A architecture student’s nest lexicon K lexicon E eye over hazelwood
spring 2011 spring 2013 spring 2011 spring 2011 spring 2012
go nuts natural structure relations malleable bone elyzabeth
spring 2013 spring 2013 spring 2013 spring 2013 spring 2013
fabric cave tension urban escape
spring 2013 fall 2013 fall 2011
weightless stand A|L|S|O motion
in space in meaning
fall 2012
in action
december 2012 summer 2013 fall 2013
content
the last repose
in form
finding depth: in composition
lexicon - A ink, brush & nib foundation design spring 2011
architecture student’s nest ink, brush & nib foundation drawing spring 2013
Page 2 lexicon - E graphite & stamp foundation design spring 2011
finding depth: in composition
lexicon - K graphite & ruler foundation design spring 2011
design studio one spring 2012
floor plans
finding depth: in composition
neighborhood contextual map
site contextual map
programming
section
physical model
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finding depth: in composition
A site in the Hazelwood neighborhood of Pittsburgh was chosen for this project. After extensive analysis to create a two-dimensional map of influence lines across the site and further neighborhood, a program for a police station was presented as a way of implementing order to the area. My program attempted to create an eye over the neighborhood, while creating a hierarchy of power where people are at the top, police are below, and prisoners are at the bottom. The contextual map was then ‘folded’ to envelop the program and create the architecture.
finding depth: in form
go nuts graphite foundation drawing spring 2013
right-hand sketch
left-hand sketch
natural structure 16 & 19 gauge wire foundation sculpture spring 2013
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finding depth: in form
relations chipboard & paint foundation sculpture spring 2013
finding depth: in form
malleable bone le beau touchĂŠ clay foundation sculpture spring 2013
elyzabeth chalk pastel foundation drawing spring 2013
Page 8 tension digital painting perspective drawing fall 2013
finding depth: in space
fabric cave charcoal foundation drawing spring 2013
finding depth: in space architectural studies seminar fall 2011 public pavilion deconstruction
private pavilion deconstruction
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Public
site plan
physical site model
finding depth: in space
Private
finding depth: in meaning
design studio two fall 2012
System Elements
This studio examined the possibilities of creating something complex from something simple. The first project required the me to define a series of arbitrary elements in the form of lines, planes, and volumes. These elements were then combined through a set of explicitly defined rules to form components. These components were then combined, following the same rules, in order to create a continuous system.
Components
Modified System
The components were then modified through a series of mechanical steps to deconstruct each one. Similar to the first project, a continuous system was made out of the modified components using the defined rules that formed the original components.
Modified Components
Expose
To suddenly reveal; exhibit
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To make something known
finding depth: in meaning
Reveal
finding depth: in meaning
design studio two fall 2012
Separating
The program called for a final resting place on top of Mount Washington, over looking the city of Pittsburgh. My scheme worked to assist in physically, mentally, and emotionally separating the living from the dead.
-Crypt
-Viewing
-Multi-purpose -Administration
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-Counseling
finding depth: in meaning
converge
distribute
divide
separate
-Reflection
bend
-Entry
finding depth: in meaning
design studio two fall 2012 1.Crypts 2.Viewing Room 3.Entry 4.Reflection Area 5.Counseling 6.Viewing Room 7.Administration 8.Viewing Room 9.Multi-Purpose Room 10.Reflection Area 11.Reflection Area
finding depth: in meaning
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finding depth: in action
Weightless Stand
December 2012
Furniture Design/Build
Between semesters, I decided to design and construct a television stand for my Pittsburgh apartment. The intent was to create a minimal structure that would allow maximum open storage space while still creating organization between items. By using two thicker perpendicular supports near the exterior with smaller supports echoed on the interior, I was able to distribute the load to create a stand this is structurally stable and physically minimal.
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Summer 2013 Artificial LandScape Artificial LandScape Object A L S OObject
Team: Renaissance 3 Architects Competition: FIGMENT NYC | City of Dreams Pavilion PASTCompetition & FUTURE
The future will be built upon cities of the present, just as current cities were built upon
their forebears. Resting upon biodegraded the unwanted refuse of the In designing a pavilion for New York City’s Governors Island,nut trees weandsearched for Lexington subway stands a military post beginning its journey into the future. an opportunity to create a multitude of dwelling spaces with a minimal physical The current demolition of unused military houses provides the foundation for the islands future. The education of a sustainable society requires the understanding gesture. The design resulted in a ‘carpet’ over the South Parade Grounds ofof this foundation. A place that reveals both its past and present provides an education of its life cycle guides our future action. the island. A mixture of plant life would create aandsoft grid dictated by the strict grid of Manhattan. Occupants of the pavilion would be greeted by a small DESIGN undulation of the carpet filled with discarded construction debris from across On approach, the parade grounds reveal a new growth with a past that is hidden Fill Mounds beneathfor its profile. A city grid, formed by a grass and flower carpet, definesas an interthe island. The resulting design would allow a calm, minimal landscape a Grid stitial space between the parade ground and rising grass mounds beyond. Interaction Grass and Flower “Carpet” within the landscape creates new opportunities to experience the island. retreat from the life of the city.
Manhattan
With only a few simple gestures, the fill mounds create a variety on spatial conditions.
Project Team: Rachel Furmanski, Chris Gruendl, Chris Hazel, Jozef revealing Petrak A gathering place is discovered the history of the landscape and foundation its current canopy structure is rooted. The canopy gestures back toward the Diagrams, Modeling: Chris Hazel Rendering: Jozeftocitywhich Petrak to which its history is forever intertwined
Ferry Approach
Governor’s Island
Views of Manhattan
Walking Approach Pavilion Site
SITE
SECTION
ALSO
finding depth: in action
A|L|S|O
motion
fall 2013
Young Architect’s Studio Competition AIA Pittsburgh
finding depth: in action
The Great Allegheny Passage is a 300 mile bike path connecting Washington D.C. and Pittsburgh. The design intent behind motion was to create and undefined object of no specific space or form. The object would stretch from where the GAP enters Pittsburgh in Homestead to the Point downtown. The random make-up of form in the object would provide anyone with the ability to dwell at any point along the path. It would provide a resting place for bikers, a guide for runners, or a play space for children. The object is about creating a haptic experience for residents and visitors of Pittsburgh. It would allow the users to define the architecture, and therefore, define our city.
finding depth: in action
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people | power