Christina St.John Student Portfolio by Christina St.John

CHRISTINA

ST.JOHN SELECTED WORKS

CORNELL UNIVERSITY B.ARCH 2010

C H R I S T I N A J O Y C E S T. J O H N

EDUCATION

EXPERIENCE

Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning, Ithaca, NY Bachelor of Architecture, May 2010 Cumulative GPA: 3.75

Handel Architects LLP, San Francisco, California Architectural Intern

Cornell AAP in Rome, Rome, Italy Coursework focused on architectural history and design

Fall 2008

Latin America II, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru Extensive travel and study of South American Architecture

Summer 2008

Cornell In Greece, Crete, Greece Observation of Greek culture and language through emersion

Summer 2006

HONORS / AWARDS

Summer 2009

Designed and modeled a structural scheme for Rosewood Abu Dhabi outdoor bars • Produced marketing floor-plans for web-based advertising • Contributed to residential development landscape design, completing construction specifications and communicating directly with the contractor • Constructed digital models (Rhino, SketchUp) for various projects CU Green Architectural Designer/ Executive Team Member CU Green (interdisciplinary sustainability team)

Spring 2008

Developed a passive cooling housing model for the Palamanui development plan (Hunt Development and Charles Schwab), reducing project energy consumption up to 30% • Designed and presented a comprehensive presentation for developers, architects and environmental lobbyists involved in the project

Cornell Tradition Fellow (scholarship awarded for merit, community service, and work)• Deans List (all semesters)• Edward Palmer York Memorial Prize 2006 (design competition)

LSC Design, York, Pennsylvania Architectural Intern

SKILLS

3D Printing and Plotting TA 2009-Present Send student files and assist with Z Corporation 3D prints • Assist students with PDF file preparation and printing to plotters

3-D Programs Rhino, Grasshopper, Rhino Paneling Tools, V-Ray, SketchUp 2-D Programs AutoCad, Adobe (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat Professional), Microsoft Office Machinery 3-D printing, CNC milling, Wood shop, Laser cutting Other Design Graphic design (logo design for Tuff Designs and CU Green), Freehand sketching, pen and ink, digital photography

Summer/ Winter 2007

Improved schematic design of a local church project and contributed to the oversight of changes in construction documents • Constructed physical and digital models • Carried out and assisted in CAD drafting

Entrepreneur 2004-Present Pen and ink home portrait business Leveraged personal relationships to create a consistent clientele for commissioned pen and ink home portraits • Expedited marketing strategies • Delivered professional packages

ACTIVITIES AAP Dean’s Student Council Fall 2009 Student representative to the Dean • nominated by the Department of Architecture B.Arch Student Representative Fall 2009 Student representative to the Architecture Chair • elected by the student body Director of Publicity and Advertising Alpha Phi Fraternity 2006-present

2007

SELECTED WORKS

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S 01_

C O M B I N AT O R I A L F O R M advisors: Thom Mayne, Val Warke, Andrew Batay-Csorba FALL 2009

05_

09_

P R O G R A M PA R K

advisor: Andrea Simitch FALL 2008 - Rome, Italy

P R O M I S C U O U S PAT T E R N S : C r y s t a l C a n o p y advisor: Paul Anderson - collaboration: Courtney Song (‘10) FALL 2007

13_

V I B R O -W I N D F U N N E L S advisor: Dana Cupkova - collaboration: Jamie Pelletier ('10), Sebastian Hernandez ('12), Ian Janicki ('12) FALL 2009

17_

AGGREGATION advisors: Michael Chen, Kari Andersen

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21_



THE VARIENT advisor: Martha Bohm - collaboration: Timothy Liddell (‘10)

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25_



STRUCTURE MODELING advisor: Mark Cruvellier

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27_



BRIDGE DESIGN advisor: Jurg Conzett

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



  COMBINATORIAL FORM: The production of organizational systems, capable of maximizing differentiation, commensurate with the complexity of 21st century programmatic demands and situational contingencies. SITE: 3:10 boundary condition PROGRAM: undefined PROBLEM: based on the Morphosis ASE Design Center project, combinatorial technique is employed to create re eate an architectural space within the given boundary. COMBINATORIAL COMPONENTS (original components of ASE Design Center): line as boundary, line as void, o oid, line as line, solid as object STRATEGY: The four components are strategically manipulated and combined based on intuition to create archia tectural form. Through various stages of trial in technique, the original four components begin to take on newly ew wly defined characteristics within the greater combinatorial form.



void

boundary

line

object





  PROGRAM: master plan>> residential housing, commercial retail, business offices SITE: Pigneto region of Rome, Via del Pigneto To accommodate the needs of the area, a master plan development was created as a continuous park. Varying park proro roo ourrurgrams were applied to the site, the buildings lifting from the ground and retaining the applied park activity on a sloped surwit w ithin ith hiin h n face. Residential program was developed in a vertical manner of shifting surfaces, providing a more private existence within the park while addressing the plane of the elevated highway and surrounding buildings. The master plan provides a continuntttinu nti inu uu ous landscape within a dense city. Initial site analysis focused on the shift of the city grid. Volume of built program was introduced to address the shift, providing vid g visual access from surrounding buildings into the park.

site analysis: site inserted within a shift of the city grid through observation of the shift if plan, views from adjacent buildings were documented. volume was lifted from the ground, considering the views of adjacent buildings. required program was inserted underneath, and park conditions were applied above. surrounding buildings retained views directly into the green space

garden

skate

picnic

playground pool

theater

01 7

residential program

commercial and business program

application of park program

ground-level commercial retail

garden

skate

picnic

playground pool

theater



 

 PROGRAM: suburban housing unit SITE: undefined INITIAL PROJECT OBJECTIVE OBJECTIVE:: Create a suburban housing unit following new urbanist design ideals beginning with the development of s sophisticated wall paneling system. NEW URBANIST CHARTER: CHARTER: principle 7. “Cities and towns should bring into proximity a broad spectrum of public and private uses to support a regional economy that benefits people of all incomes. Affordable housing should be distributed through the region to match job opportunities an avoid concentrations of poverty.” OBJECTIVE: to disrupt established perceptions of wealth STRATEGIES: suppress the facade; introduce unusual relationships concerning lot size, lot ownership, housing type, house size

SOLUTION underground community creating an opulent landSOLUTION: scape of highly articulated canopies providing diverse interior environments of lighting and programmatic distribution.

INITIAL PANELING SYSTEM STUDIES: ridge rate determines potential opportunity for natural light (through implemented porosity) and water filtration

Flat to ridge rate: --->30%

Flat to ridge rate: --->50%

Flat to ridge rate: --->90%

Potential of panel for gradual light and shadow variation through very slow rate of change from dark to light, as well as from flat to ridge

Potential of panel for water filtration system through pathways carved through the more pronounced ridging towards the top of the panel

Distributions of porous regions allow for consistent pattern on natural light sources

ROOF PANELING SYSTEM:

11 SOLUTION underground community creating an opulent landscape of SOLUTION: highly articulated canopies providing diverse interior environments of lighting and programmatic distribution. RESULT: interior square footage, lotsize and housing type become ambiguous from the exterior of the subterraean neighborhood STRATEGIES:: suppress the facade; introduce unusual relationships conSTRATEGIES cerning lot size, lot ownership, housing type, house size

TYPICAL HOUSING TEPLATE vs. applied ATYPICAL HOUSING TEMPLATE typical suburban housing template .16 5+<'

.16 190'45*+2

*175' 6;2' 5+<'

.#4)'

+0&+8+&7#.

5+0).'Ä(#/+.; .#4)'

5/#..

5*#4'&

5+0).'Ä(#/+.; 5/#..

010Ä':+56'06

/7.6+Ä(#/+.; 70+65

RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM APPLICATION: based on VISUALL ACCESS high porosity ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------low porosity

Outdoor space – living room – kitchen – formal dining – formal living – office – bedroom – bathroom – storage

(applied) atypical housing template: introduces unusual relationships to discourage typical perceptions of wealth

.16 5+<'

.16 190'45*+2

*175' 6;2' 5+<'

.#4)'

+0&+8+&7#.

5+0).'Ä(#/+.; .#4)'

5/#..

5*#4'&

5+0).'Ä(#/+.; 5/#..

010Ä':+56'06

/7.6+Ä(#/+.; 70+65

  

 PROJECT FOCUS: understanding the recent development of vibro-wind technology, create a facade skin or free-standing structure capable harvesting the kinetic energy resulting from wind acceleration. VIBRO-WIND TECHNOLOGY: TECHNOLOGY: considering vibration resulting from wind colliding with blunt objects, vibro-wind technology employs piezoelectric material to collect and convert kinetic energy resulting in oscillation to usable energy. SOLUTION: taking advantage of the structural properties of the voronoi system, an aggregation of funnels was produced to accelerate wind speed. The design calls for oscillators to be placed within the funnels at points of optimal wind conditions. SYSTEM PROPERTIES: PROPERTIES: the structure can take on various properties based on scale and application. Interstitial spaces are capable of taking on heating and cooling properties while providing required storage for piezoelectric hardware. The structure may become inhabitable at large scales, and provide shading at smaller scales.

Wind patterns were modeled in Virtual Wind, showing evidence of optimal acceleration within the funnels.

Virtual Wind simulation

initial sketches

A 1:1 model was constructed representing a selection of a complete aggregation. Built from a thin gauge stainless steel, the voronoi system provided rigorous structural integrity. Construction strategies provided efficient construction and limited hardware. 1

10 10.1

4.1

7.1

8.1 6.1 3.1

2.1

1.1

9.1

5.1

10.2

1.2

8.2

5.2

3.2 7.2

2.2

6.2

9.2

4.2

4.3

1.3

2.3

7.3 8.3

3.3 10.3

5.3

9.3

6.3

6.4 3.4

8.4

5.4

1.4

9.4

7.4 10.4

2.4

4.4

4 1.5

10.5

7.5

4.5

3.5 9.5 6.5

2.5

6.6

oscillating pattern as a result of the collision of wind and blunt object

cross section (oscillator placement)



  PROJECT APPROACH: Through the study of digital blends, paper models were created using an aggregate unit design. The models were created to study volume, surface, and structure. Material was limited to white bristol and an staples. The final model study was successful in creating a rigid form with unique surface character and substantial volume. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT: After specific site studies, the study model was manipulated and placed on site to accommodate circulation and program. SITE: Cornell University, east ave. PROGRAM: Student Center (study space, dining,gallery, performance space)

expansion: formal theater

transtional space: informal>> display (gallary) to attract pedestrian traffic

overlap>> informal / versitile cafe / study



 

 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: luminaire design APPROACH: considering a specific site in Collegetown (Ithaca), a luminaire is created to accommodate appropriate lighting for the space. A full-scale model was crafted to test lighting conditions. DESIGN DESCRIPTION: DESCRIPTION: the luminaire allows for varied lighting conditions as a result of adjustable strips which can be opened and closed to permit different degrees of light into a space. The strips behave functionally as well as aesthetically as the variation results in the possibility of numerous physical patterns

side projection:

side projection (degree) closed1 (lux) open1 0 7.7 9.5 15 10.4 20.3 35 10.5 21.2 55 13.7 17.6 75 16.3 17 90 17.4 18.5 105 16.3 17 125 13.7 17.6 145 10.5 21.2 165 10.4 20.3 180 7.7 9.5

wall mounted:

180

270

180

(lux) varied1 9.5 17.4 24.7 33.3 37.8 29.7 37.8 33.3 24.9 17.4 9.5

(lux)

wall mounted (degree) closed1 (lux) open1 (lux) varied1 (lux) 0 21.6 23.2 22.7 15 10.3 11.5 13 35 7.7 9.6 8.8 55 4.2 4.3 5 75 2.1 2.2 3.1 90 2.4 2.6 3.2 105 2.1 2.2 3.1 125 4.2 4.3 5 145 7.7 9.6 8.8 165 10.3 11.5 13 180 21.6 23.2 22.7 195 10.3 34.2 36.3 215 7.7 29.2 28.3 235 4.2 12.1 10.5 255 2.1 1.3 1.4 270 2.4 1.3 1.5 295 2.1 1.3 1.4 315 4.2 12.1 10.5 335 7.7 29.2 28.3 355 10.3 34.2 26.3

position of panels

materials: steel, bamboo, plexi glass

elevation of structure without metal strips

top, front, and side elevation of metal strips varied

  

PROJECT: 3/16 scaled structural model of the Church of the Sacred Heart in Munich, Germany. Model includes rigid frame structure, facade doors, interior wall system base MATERIALS: brass, wood DESCRIPTION:: The main structure of the building is a rigid frame construction comDESCRIPTION prised of rectangular portal frames. These frames include rigid joints (employed by the connection strategy of welding) and fixed ends. The integrity of a fixed frame transfers loads mainly by flexure. Interior loads acting against external loads include moment, shear, and axial forces. While the Church of the Sacred Heart stands over 15 meters tall, its structure is treated as a single-story rigid frame. Multiple bays occur laterally on the side elevations, but do not occur longitudinally.

  

PROBLEM: bridge design to replace the existing suspension bridge above the Cascadilla Creek Gorge on Cornell’s Campus ( > 60ft. grade change) SOLUTION: a curved, sloping bridge This sleek design was successful in its simplicity. Structurally, the curve allows the bridge to be fixed on both ends, improving rigidity. Minimal structure is required underneath, providing an elegant and unobtrusive design within the surrounding peaceful environment.