Architecture Portfolio by Colin Gast

COLIN GAST

UNDERGRADUATE PORTFOLIO / 2013

COLIN GAST Candidate for B.S. in Architecture, 2014 Northeastern University 626 Forest Ave, Wilmette, IL 60091 gast.c@husky.neu.edu

01 CAMBRIDGE LIBRARY 02 POTSDAMER TUBES 03 COPLEY SQUARE ANALYSIS 04 STRUCTURES: TECTONICS 05 PROFESSIONAL WORK 06

THICKENING ASSEMBLY SQUARE

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THICKENING ASSEMBLY SQUARE Fall 2012 [ sixteen weeks ]

OBJECTIVE _masterplan the post-industrial and riverside site of Assembly Square in Somerville, MA MOVES _thicken and activate site edges and systems that currently exist as independently operating dividers _weave together productive and place-making zones using a taxonomy of active and residual site systems _in the node, site systems mix together and connect the

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Thickening Assembly Square

REGIONAL MAPPING

This mapping analyzes the region as a network of edges and barriers that includes major highways, hills, and most significantly the river network of the Mystic and Charles. On a regional scale, negotiating these edges involves the locating of waypoints or landmarks that include the Bunker Hill monument and Bostonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skyline. The edges also divide and produce significant neighborhood fabrics.

TAXONOMY

The taxonomy of systems to the right consist of both active and residual tools. By thickening and activating these systems the site becomes productive and place-making.

Permanent Edges

Landmark Views

REVERE EVERETT

CHELSEA

POWER PLANT

SOMERVILLE

CHARLESTOWN EAST BOSTON INNER BELT CAMBRIDGE

BUNKER HILL MONUMENT

SHIPYARDS

SKYLINE

< Thickening Assembly Square

Pedestrian Path Vehicular Path

[ active systems ]

GROUND PLANE

FOREST

[ residual systems ]

WATER

VIEWS

CIRCULATION

Thickening Assembly Square

SOMERVILLE

Thickening Assembly Square

I-93

TREE GRID

COMMER

RCIAL

SUB - TAXONOMY

The sub-taxonomy consists of the 3 thick systems used to activate the site. The ground plane tool is broken down into 3 types: porous, wood, and hardscape. These distinctions are used to manipulate spaces and their tectonics. The forest grid is broken down into low, medium, and high density. These distinctions manipulate circulation, views, and edges. The last active tool, water, remains constant in its manipulation but still varies in use. HIGH TIDE KAYAK LAUNCH (floating)

LAUNCH RAISES AND LOWERS WITH TIDE

Porous

FISHING PIER (fixed) TIDAL POOL

Wood

GROUND PLANE LOW TIDE

Hardscape

Low Density

Medium Density

FOREST TOWER ENTRY GREYWATER TREATMENT FIELD

COMMUNITY ENTRY

High Density

SWIMMING POOL

DRAINAGE POOL

WATER

PLAZA

NODE

Water

MARSH Thickening Assembly Square

BOARDWALK

MARSH

FILTRATION FIELD

DRAINAGE POOL

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FILTRATION FIELD

THE NODE

9 AM

altitude: 50.83º azimuth: 105º

The node of the district plan is the culmination and mixing zone for all the active and residual systems. It acts as a programmed recreation, office, and residential community center but also as the transition between the more formal spaces of the plaza and the natural scape of the Mystic River. The diagram below shows how the tower above the recreation facilities is carved by the sun to create occupiable public space beneath it.

NOON

altitude: 70.83º azimuth: 190º

9 AM

altitude: 15.8º azimuth: 137º

Gym

ria

Treatment Field

3 PM

altitude: 45.87º azimuth: 260º

TER

WIN

STIC

SOL

NOON

altitude: 27.85º azimuth: 181º

PM 3 PM

altitude: 14.78º azimuth: 224º

Cambridge Library

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CAMBRIDGE LIBRARY Fall 2010 [ eight weeks ]

OBJECTIVE _design a branch library for the Cambridge, MA community MOVES _distinguish sunken library functions from the elevated community program _use key site-program relationships to create paths that subsequently form programmatic pods _push lower ground plane through to upper green space to create two defining volumes

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Cambridge Library

AUDITORIUM

COMPUTER / RESEARCH LAB

READING ROOMS CHILDREN’S CENTER LOUNGE

NODE

COMMUNITY LIBRARY

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Potsdamer Tubes

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POTSDAMER TUBES Spring 2012 [ twelve weeks ]

OBJECTIVE _infill a medium-rise housing project on Berlin’s revitalizinging Potsdamerstrasse MOVES _create a system of individual structural tubes to act as a porous mass filling the gap _aggregate 5 types of units into a sectional jigsaw _residual space from placing the units is envisioned as “expansion points” for which adjacent units can consume

Potsdamer Library Tubes < Cambridge

Potsdamer Fashion House Tubes

PLANS

LEVEL 3 / 1:200

TUBE EXPANSION

The system of individual structural tubes act as a pourous mass filling the gap of the infill site. Each tube is a singular unit; five types of units cater to different residents and customizations. As units are placed, residual spaces are created. These spaces serve as “expansion points” for the adjacent units to inhabit if necessary. When not in use by residents, these spaces can be rented as hotels, microunits, or SRO’s.

LOCKERS

BAR

UNIT TYPES CAFE

STORE

DISTRIBUTION OF TUBE VARIATIONS OFFICE

PARKING

SINGLE 0

STARTER

FAMILY

LIVE/WORK

LUXURY

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Potsdamer Tubes

SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES

family unit

The individual concrete tubes can serve a few different active and passive heating benefits. In the winter months, active heating within the concrete cores themselves emit heat on all sides of the tube structures. In the summer, the tubes act as a thermal mass where sunlight heat is absorbed and during the day and released into the living spaces at night. Finally, by the nature of the concept, all the tubes transfer heat to their adjacent units.

activation of concrete core / winter

thermal mass / summer AM

thermal mass / summer PM

transfer between units

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Copley in Time

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COPLEY IN TIME

LATE 20th

. ST r H UT rido MO or RT W C S to

Summer 2012 [ seven weeks ]

John Hancock Tower

LATE 19th

Boston Public Library Fairmont Hotel/MFA

N DO EN AR CL

TIN

N HU

. ST

OBJECTIVE _analyze Bostonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Copley Square through a presentation board of digital representation

STON

BOYL

MOVES _map Copley Square through a historical lens

MES

ST. JA

AVE.

STON

BOYL

ST.

MID 19th

MID 20th

Rowhouses

DATA TIMELINE

. ST lace H k UT ec MO ld N RT ra DA Eme to

_develop a base map, historical diagram, data timeline, and sectional perspective

The map above was the initial representation of Copley Square for this project. This map spurred the historical lens through which the other maps investigate. The base map lays out key historical periods and their respective significant buildings.

institutional hospitality commercial mixed-use

< Potsdamer Tubes

Late 19th Century

Trinity Church Old South Church

BASE MAP

The map below graphs the historical transformation of Copley Square through the changes in program type. The transition from a residential and institutional-heavy area to a commercial-based attraction is clear.

Mid 19th Century

ST.

Mid 20th Century

Late 20th Century

Mid 21st Century

PRESENTATION BOARD Structures: Tectonics

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STRUCTURES: TECTONICS Fall 2010 [ one week each ]

OBJECTIVE _design and build a basswood-framed watchtower _draw a properly detailed CMU wall section MOVES Watchtower _pay special attention to sizing, connections, openings, and roof drainage _meet all requirements, including: one angled wall windows on all sides of 2nd level proper sizing to span distances minimum 4â&#x20AC;&#x2122; cantilever CMU Wall Detail _include correctly drawn materials, connections, windows, flooring, and roof

_dimension and label all components

_provide a light shelf detail

< Copley in Time

2’-11”

roof drain drip flashing dowel

shallow green roof rigid insulation sedum

roof decking 2 x 10 roof rafters

gypsum board wood casing

9’- 4”

light shelf

furring air space cavity rigid insulation

Batt insulation between furring stripes

CMU

3” wood decking

1’-5”

wire tie

CMU bond beam weep hole

rowlock sill

8’-5”

wood sash wood stool and apron

finished floor

11’

subfloor

protection board

metal tie straps

8’

membrane

poured in place concrete foundation wall rebar basement floor slab

perimeter drain drainange mat crushed stone

weld wire fabric

protection board upper barrier compact gravel

Professional Work

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PROFESSIONAL WORK Fall 2011 [ August - December ]

DESIGN ON THE EDGE _built a final display model for a city-wide exhibition _the model is of Wrigleyville, with the Youth Center project being located on the “L” Red Line adjacent to Wrigley Field

4’0”

REGENTS PARK _worked in a design team for an apartment complex renovation in a concept development phase _co-developed concepts for ground floor, entry, vehicular circulation, and roof terraces _produced hand sketches and diagrams _built a large scale study model of entry and roof terrace

3’6”

DESIGN ON THE EDGE REGENTS PARK

< Structures: Tectonics

entry lobby

entry driveway + facade

corner fitness entry

Resume

COLIN GAST 626 Forest Avenue Wilmette, IL 60091 gast.c@husky.neu.edu 8 4 7 . 6 0 2 . 0 7 6 6

[ education ]

Northeastern University

Boston, MA [ May 2014 ]

Candidate for Bachelor of Science in Architecture Minor in Urban Studies

Honors: Deanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Scholarship Recipient, Deanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s List Activities: Freedom by Design, Habitat for Humanity, AIAS Related Coursework: Design Studios (8), Environmental Systems, Design Tactics, Growth & Decline of Cities & Suburbs, Structures - Statics, Structures - Tectonics, Innovation!

Semester Abroad in Berlin

Berlin, DE [ Spring 2012 ]

Northeastern University architecture studies

Related Coursework: Architecture and Urbanism in Berlin; Sustainability Seminar; Urban Housing Studio; Elementary German

[ relevant experience ]

Studio Gang Architects Intern

Responsibilities: Worked closely in project-specific design teams Built study and final models on multiple projects Co-developed initial design concepts for a tower renovation Measured and documented as-builts on multiple projects Archived past projects and maintained office procedures

[ skills ]

Digital: Autodesk Revit, AutoCad, Google SketchUp, Kerkythea, Vray, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, Excel, Microsoft & Macintosh Operating Systems Manual: Model making, hand sketching Language: Intermediate knowledge of Spanish, basic knowledge of German

[ awards / leadership ]

Award winner in Illinois IDEA Regional Drafting Competition

[ interests ]

Wakeboarding Seinfeld Music festivals

Chicago, IL [ 2011-2012 ]

Thanks for your consideration