Hands Make Architecture
Christopher Locke Architecture Portfolio
M. Arch. 2014 Applicant
“Architecture drives my
soul to manifest designs for humanity. But where the hands of architecture help me, they can also obstruct
me.”
“My ultimate goal in life is to leave an engraved stamp on Earth while at the same time enriching the lives of others. My faith has given me the astounding challenge of using design to break the repetitive cycle the world has become accustomed to. My past experiences have prepared me to take on such a monumental task.” “This portfolio highlights my design process using various methods including hand parti making and the composition of conceptual studies into the social design of buildings.”
Hartford, The City of the Heartbeat
- Personal Statement
Thank You For Your Consideration
01 West Brookfield, MA
Nipmuc Community Center
UMass Amherst Design V Fall 2013 Client: Nipmuc Tribe Theme: Off Grid Regerative Design
Objective: The Nipmuc Tribe (people of water), currently has 3,000 living members without space for any tribal gatherings. The goal of this project was to work with the tribe to develop a project that could become a model for what the tribe wants. The biggest consideration for this design was the tribes request for an off-grid building that embodies regenerative design and methods. This reflects the tribes relationship with the earth. Vernacular of Water & Design
The circle is a very prominent figure in the tribe’s vernacular, it represents the cycle and various patterns of life. My interpretation incorporates methods of basket weaving to create a parti that begins to tell the relationship of spaces, systems, and its relationship to the human body.
Weaving Upward
Weaving Downward
Circulairty
Contemplation Space Spaces & Hospi-
Design Parti
Off Grid Systems Living Machine Primary Water Treatment Grey Water Catchment Solar Heat Gain
My sectional study of the Nipmuc Community and Educational Center embodies the relationship between on site physical entities and possible building mechanisms. The living machine and other water catchment systems follow the flow of the parti models created previously and on the below image.
Water flows from the top of the building to the center where it is treated. Inside of this closed process water from the site is managed stratigically for efficient reuse by the tribe. The Nipmuc Resource Courtyard brings the external ecosystem into the center of building, here the tribe will have a opportunity to have a feeling of nature throughout the year, which bridges the gap between the human element and mother nature.
Systems Diagram
Water Catchment Diagram
Sectional Parti Study
Water
Weaving Structural Member
Heat Flow
Structural Support
Nipmuc Community and Education Center Program Program Key 1. Exterior Classroom 2. Gathering Space 3. Nipmuc Resource Courtyard 4. Seconday Wetland Treatment 5. Observing Balcony 6. Lobby 7. Restrooms 8. Kitchen 9. Archives 10. Emergency Shelter 11. Classroom Space Primary Wetlands
12. Storage/ Library 13. Wood Chimney
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Primary Wetlands
South Elevation South West Elevation
Bas Relief Section BB Model Using gluams reinforces the curvature of the roof structuraly. Columns help to support the roof, but most of it is supported by rammed earth walls. Gluams are resistant to tension and compression which in turn makes it perfect for spanning.
and Educational Center
Section-AA details the water catchment system that is guided by the curvature of the roof. The water is deposited into the Nipmuc Resourse Courtyard for further treatement. This tertiary grey water treament space gives the tribe the ablility to have drinking water from on site rather than using unsustainable bottled water.
Water Catchment
Standing Seam Roof
Wood Decking
Glulam and Perlins
Exploded Structural Axon
Gestural Model
Nipmuc Community and Educational Center
Gathering Space
Pow-Wow
Nipmuc Resource Courtyard
Gathering Space From Balcony
Cultural Signifigance The gathering space was the most important entity of this project, because of the importance of the Pow-Wow. This event is a large gathering for the Nipmuc in which they celebrate their culture and spiritual presence. Many of the dances and movements involve circular promenades. An outer ring is reserved for the crowd to watch the Pow-Wow, in addtion to this, booths may be set up to sell merchandise and teach visitors and younger tribe members about their culture.
02
Holyoke,Massachusetts
Creation of City Art Node
UMass Amherst Design lll Fall 2012 Artists: Andreas Gursky & Rachel Whitehead Theme: Live/Work and Public
Early Project Study: 16’x16’x16’ Interlocking Spatial Cube Observation: Passage of Central Light and Formation of Floor Plates
Two Person Spatial Study
Holyoke, Massachusetts is an old factory city that is now undergoing strategic revitilization and revival. The site of my project lies within the art node. My project is situated within the art node and had the goal of combining elements of the city’s plan by incorporating public access into the design my artist home. The challenge of live-work elements in addition to limited space were approached by considering the passage of light through the center of the floor plates that wrap around to create the artist spaces. These areas are juxaposed in close quarters. They either share a common wall or space where each other’s presence must be respected. The public can enter the building from a rear alleyway or front entrance into a two-floor gathering space.
The resulting spatial interlock sketches and ideas for the Artist Live-Work Project shows the relationship between floor plates and the artists spaces. Circulation partterns were then studied. The most appropriate movement seems to revolve around the the outer edges of the building. In the center of my parti model negative space is surrouded by circulation ramps. Here is where a possible light passage could exists.
Perspective Movement Drawing
e Site Analysis Andreas Gursky
3 Point Entry Access Relationship to Holyloke Urban Fabric Impact of Building Site to Art Node
Surrounding Site Development
Rachel Whitebread
Gallery
District Sectors
Node Development
Holyoke residents and vistors
Client use of pace and camparison
Stimulation of new lively andcapitalizes intersection, Avenuetooff Main�. The utilization of the rearwalkway alleyway onthe the“Artists opportunity allow public access Epic center new activity. from twoofdifferent directions. In addition, the artists can use the alleyway as a drive up unloading dock. The possible movement around the new building can stimulate the art node, and as a result make the near interesection a lively epicenter for urban growth.
Gallery
Railroad & Roadways
Program Sculptor Studio
Andreas Gursky
Gallery/ Open Lobby Exterior Space Access
Luminoscity
Volume of Space Living Space Working Space-
Photograp Studio
Rachel Whitebread
Holyoke residents and vistors
Client use of pace and camparison
Gallery/ Open Lobby Exterior Space
Gallery/ Open Lobby
Access
Luminosity
Exterior Space
Volume of Space
Access
Living Space
Working Space
Luminosity
Volume of Space
Sculptor Studio
Artist Over Lapping Living Quarters
pace Working Space-
Contemplation Space Building Public Gesture
Photographer Studio
3 Client Interaction
rking Space
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Gallery/
Public Entry / Gallery
Volume of Space
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Floor PlanS The artist floors are shared: there is a common wall that seperates each person. Beetween them also lies a central light atrium which carries light throughout the entire building from Gallery/ Open Lobby Exterior Space top to bottom.
Sculptor Studio Sculptor Studio
Access
Andreas Gursky
Luminoscity
Artist Over Lapping Living Quarters
Volume of Space Living Space Working Space-
Gallery/ Open Lobby Exterior Space Access
Luminoscity
Artist Over Lapping Living Quarters
Volume of Space Living Space Working Space-
Photographer Studio
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Photographer Studio
3 Client Interaction Gallery/ Open Lobby Exterior Space Rachel Whitebread
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Access
Luminosity
Volume of Space
Gallery/ Open Lobby Exterior Space
Access
Living Space Luminosity
Working Space Volume of Space
3 Client Interaction Living Space
Working Space
Public Entry / Gallery Public Entry / Gallery
parison
Gallery/ Open Lobby Holyoke residents and vistors
Client use of pace and camparison
Exterior Space Gallery/ Open Lobby
Access
Luminosity Exterior Space
Volume of Space
Access
Luminosity
Volume of Space
Lower gallery
Upper Gallery First Level Entry Scale 1/4”=1’0” First Level Entry Ground Level Scale Scale 1/4”=1’0” First Level Entry Scale 1/4”=1’0” Ground Level Scale 1/4”=1’0” Scale 1/4”=1’0”
1/4”=1’0”
Central Light Atrium & Creases
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vel Living
1/4”=1’0”
-Programatic Layout in Section and Space Inter
Artist 1st 1st Level Living Floors
Ground Level Scale 4”=1’0”
Roof Top
-Programatic Layout in Section and Space Interactions
1st Level Living 1st Level Living Scale 1/4”=1’0” Scale 1/4”=1’0”
Sculpture Studio
Artists 2nd Level
2nd Level Living 2nd Level Living Scale 1/4”=1’0” Scale 1/4”=1’0”
Upper Sculpture Stud Upper Sculpture Studio Space
Holyoke Live-Work Interior Perspectives
Sectional Cuts
Section BB
Sectiion AA
East View
Central Light Atrium
South View
Exterior Perspectives ` The final design of my building overhangs the walkway to encourage the public to approach the building. There are two entrances in the front both leading to the galleries. The cantilever inhabits an interior sun room where both artists can enjoy views of the city and use as a entertaining space for visitors. The central light atrium helps to bring light directly into the center of the building. The floors above exist around this and receives light from above and from the atrium. Visitors also get to enjoy this moment when looking upward when in the galleries.
03 Amercan University of Sharjah (United Arab Emirates) Spring 2013 Wall Inhabitation Placemaking Public Inhabitation Public Installation The main goal for this project was to manipulate a brick wall and illustrate the control of systems. My design observations of pulled cheese, which has an interesting texture, became a basis for my design. There are two systems at play, a gradient of voids from left to right and extrution of bricks that creates the pulling found in cheese. This would eventually sit in an open space. I chose a park for this project. Its placement would become a part of the landscape without disturbing it. The brick wall could become a landmark and catalyst for human activity. The shading such a wall could provide in this warm climate is key.
Plan View & Wall Undulation
Section Cut View & Push-Pull Sequence
Front Elevation
MDF Brick Wall Model
Park Installation Scene
04 Dubai, United Arab Emirates Bastakiya Artists Court Yard House Spring 2013 Historic Culutal Site CourtYard House Private/Public
Bastakiyah is an historic cultural site in old Dubai. The challenge of this project involved designing an artist’s home with public access that uses some of the venacular of the existing site. An existing courtyard sits adjacent to the site. Incoporating this large space into the design of my artist’s home is very important. The goal of the final design revolved around the circular movement around the pathway of my building. This sequence would then lead visitors back into the main courtyard outside the building.
Site
Movement and space abstraction
Traditional Court Yard
Public Accessible Courtyard
Open Courtyard
Strong Emphasis Of Four Way Intersection
Batsakiyah has many narrow pathways that can be found throughout the site that help to control air confulence. Tight spaces become wind funnels that flush cooler air into gathering areas. I used this venacular as a natural cooling mechansim within the design of my building. The pathway that becomes the entryway to my artist house funnels coolor air into the opening the courtyard. This also influences the circular movement around the buidling.
Rounded Edge
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Point of Access 2: North Entry
Private Artists Space
Public Galley/CourtYard
Bastakiyah Courtyard House Drawings My building design preserves the circular studies seen on the previous page, helping to influence movement. The central light that seeps into the courtyard helps to brighten the entire space from top and bottom.
Front Courtyard to Alley Way
Public Level
N Gallery
Artists Level
Section
Artist Studio/Living
Courtyard House Entry Sequence Bastakiah Wall Section
Spaces for Contemplation and Public Viewing
Stone Brick
Weep Hole
Bastakiya Wall Section
Wall Flashing Steel Counter Flashing
The pathway to entering the galley creates a smooth transition and sequence from an interior space to a covered, un-conditioned space. Accessing the building in this manner still allows visitors to have views of the adjacent courtyard. The large spaces allow for gathering areas to coexist with walkways. The artist’s studio sits above the courtyard. From here the artist has the opportunity to have multiple views of the visitors. He or she can see who enters the space and leaves. The rest of the builfing also has views of the center courtyard and exterior courtyard. The Mashrabiya, an Islamic term that describes an elegant screen, serves as a shield to protect the artists from the sun and visitors who may look into the studio space.
Rebar Concrete
Cant Strip Base Flashing
Gravel Metal Sheathing
Metal Plate
Sheetrock
Balloon Insulation
Balloon Insulated Roof Interior Wall Finish
Window Window Seal Stone Brick Mortar
Steel Plate Balloon Insulation
Concrete Floor Insulated
Floor Membrane
Plaster Wall
6’-0” Rebar Rebar Plaster
Concrete
Stone Pavement
Concrete Slab Gravel Earth
Footing Earth
North Elevation
CourtYard Elevation
Chris Locke Material & Wall Sectio
05
Amherst, Massachusetts Community Project Suburban Site Focus Human Gatherings
The development of my Research Institute involved collecting information on people and movement. When studying the Lovell House, by architect Richard Neutra, I noticed that the interior spaces have characteristics that are condusive of human movement and social spaces. I used the floor plan of the house and abstracted it to become a spatial diagram. From here I developed the basis of my final design. This diagram is similar to a puzzle where the pieces have to be connected.
Research Institute of Human Experience
My Parti‘s studies are abstractions of the Lovell House spatial diagrams. I extracted parts of the diagram and extruded it to create three dimensional spaces. I tried to connect these spaces with each other to derive a program of spaces. The introduction of light helps to coordinate movement and points of entry. Rotating the models was a techinique that reinforced the importantance of light and its relation to the illumination of spaces.
Parti study
Parti In Rotation
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Gathering Spaces Library/Study Space Gathering Spaces Administration/ Event Space
Library Event Space Administration
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The beauty of this project includes the various views that vistiors have within the building. South-facing large windows allow for maximum solar gain so that little artificial light is needed to brighten the interior spaces. Visitors are never subject to tight spaces. Light and large openings to other spaces make vistors feel connected to others no matter where they may be. DN
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
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Southern Perspective
Final Model
Section AA Section Sections South & North BB
06
My Perception of Sound Comparative Musical Sound Systems & Music Comparing Music Styles Music and Emotion
Studying music in terms of melodies and rhythms was a very interesting theme for this project. I have a plethora of muscal preferences. As a result I decided to compare the tones of different songs with different genres. I chose three songs and compared the the hooks. I used Windows Music Media Players as basis for comparing the sound waves of each portion of song. Collaging of 3 Sounds Genre: Hiphop Artists: Jay-z Song: Thank You Genre:Dancehall Artist: Mavado Song Pepper
Genre: Rythm & Blues Artist: R. Kelly: Song: Echo
Experiment Spring 2011
07
Close Encounters
Human Claustrophobia Spring 2011
Relation of Spaces to Body Tension & Fear Body Part Abstraction
Most people do not enjoy spaces that are tight and unusual. The majority of the time this is in regards to areas relative to our entire body. But what about our individual pody parts? Can they experience claustrophobia? The creation of this wood chamber box emphasized the fear and uncomfortable feeling we have when our heads are encouter small areas. Pieces of wood were inserted into the chamber while I spoke about my project, as a result my emotions were captured thus revealing d the truth about the fear we face.
08 The Capturing of Self & Art Emotions of Photography
Photography captures an instant moment in time when a composition of the photographers choice is thought to be ideal. The images below capture the emotion of art and human personality. The obscurity of the images hide the identity of the subjects, leaving an opportunity for deeper interpretation of what the image really means.
Facial Discrepancy
Christopher Locke c..lllocke@gmail.com
Permanent Address 30 South Barn Hill Road Bloomfield, CT 06002 Home: (860) 769-7399 Cell: (860) 249-4014
College Address University of Massachusetts Amherst 374 Whitmore Building Amherst, Mass 01003
OBJECTIVE:
To gain acceptance into a 2 or 2.5-year architecture program that has focus in urban planning and architecture design. My career objective is to become a licensed architect; I plan on achieving this goal by working hard and continuing to think creatively about architectural spaces.
EDUCATION:
B.F.A. (Architecture and Design 2014) University of Massachusetts Amherst American University of Sharjah ( United Arab Emirates) Cumulative GPA: 3.22 Acquired Skills: - Rhinoceros 5 / Sketchup + VRay Renderer - Revit Architecture - 3DS Max & Grasshopper
EMPLOYMENT:
- Auto Cad Drawings - Professional Model Building - Adobe Creative Suite
Tai Soo Kim Partners Architects, Hartford, CT Architecture Intern - Created building models
for firm
- Research and of marketing improvements - On site construction work
- Auto CAD drawings - Organization of construction files documents
Capital City Concepts, East Hartford, CT Account Manager
- Marketing of Television Products - Relationships - Mentor Training
- Contacted potential voters - Public Speaking
University of Massachusetts Amherst, MA
Residential Assistant Van Meter Hall Fall 2012 – Present
- Residential floor supervisor - Residential hall event coordinator - Serve as student resource
HONORS: Extracurricular Activity:
- Community service work - Work cluster office hours
AWARDS - Athletic Scholar Award, 2008 & 2009 - ACE Murray Scholarship - Connecticut Building Congress Scholarship - Chancellor Award Art Tuition - Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents Award
Associations - AIAS (American Institute of Architecture Students) Secretary, Spokesman - Black Student Union Public Relations Officer - North United Methodist Church Member
Christopher Locke Hands Make Architecture
University of Massachusetts Amherst Architecture + Design 14’ M. Arch Fall 2014 Applicant Address: 30 South Barn Hill Road Bloomfield, CT 06002
Email: c.lllocke@gmail.com (860) 249-4014
Thank You For Your Time