ConnieLeePortfolio2024

SELECTED WORKS //

CONNIE LEE //

PORTFOLIO

SELECTED WORKS // CONNIE LEE //

FALL 2023

MYVATN, ICELAND

INSTRUCTOR:

GEORGE JOHNSTON

Located in northern Iceland next to Lake Myvatn, a beer spa is proposed to replace a souvenir shop next to Hotel Sel. Connecting guests to the Aurora Borealis, Myvatn craters, Hverfjall volcano, and the amazing landscape that surrounds the site. This building joins the essence of nature with an experiential journey. The final location of the site was based on three main factors: the adjacency to the hotel, the panoramic views of the Skútustaðagígar craters, the proximity of the main highway, and the symbolic connection to the Hverfjall volcano.

By extending these matrices, a “plinth” was formed, creating a foundation for the beer spa to rest on. Inspired by the ethereal skyscapes of James Turrell, the design concept aims to forge a profound connection between visitors and the celestial canvas above. At ground level, the entrance to the beer spa stands distinct and separate from the main entrance, delineating two distinct experiences for visitors. The cafe, souvenir shop, and brewery is located on the first floor and is inclusive to all visitors, separate from the beer spa on the second floor. The spa’s

Beer spa render Idea sketch

James Turrell Skyscapes

Beer spa diagram

entry begins at the ground level, adjacent to the hotel. Visitors transcend to the second floor, where they will travel through the main hallway. There, guests are greeted by vertical wooden panels, simultaneously serving as an ambient light experience and a protective shading device. The beer bath, relaxation room, and changing rooms have sawtooth roofs, framing the aurora borealis at night to the north and blocking the sunlight from the south. The journey culminates on a terrace offering a breathtaking 360-degree panorama of the surrounding landscape

and celestial spectacle. A vertical language permeates the structure. Stark black wood cladding adorns the exterior, contrasting with the transparent glazing of the ground floor to create a weightlessness to the spa, like it is floating.

Exploded axon

Site plan

Cafe diagram

Site photo

Plans

Terrace render

Physical model pictures

Transition space diagram

Section Hallway diagram

02 JARDINS DE MARIA

MATILDE ALMENDROS

SUMMER 2023

BARCELONA, SPAIN

INSTRUCTOR:

MARK COTTLE + SEKOU SAMUELS

COLLABORATOR:

FATIMA JARQUIN

Main streets

Existing nearby illas

Metro stations

Nearby schools

On ramp render

Top view diagram

In the heart of Eixample, this project seeks to revitalize an urban garden by blending its rich historical context with modern design elements. Jardines de Maria Matilde Almendros is a small interior garden, named after Catalan radio broadcaster and actress, Maria Matilde Almendros. Due to overpopulation and the rapid growth of buildings, the site, a once open space for children to play, is reduced to a small area with limited sunlight and poor ventilation. A hotel was built in 2015 which significantly decreased the size of the garden.Today, the garden remains

a cherished refuge for many seeking tranquility from the busy streets. This initiative seeks to reclaim the space for its original purpose, reintroducing children to the space while embracing the diverse needs of the community. Nearby activities such as main roads, other gardens, and metro stations, were analyzed to provide context for demographics and circulation patterns. Inspired by the original materials found on site—glass blocks, brick, and concrete—the intervention carefully integrates these elements. Prioritizing accessibility, the layout incorporates

GRAN VIA ROCAFORT STATION

JARDINS DE MARIA

JARDINS DE TETE MONTOLIU

MARIA MATILDE ALMENDROS

an arrangement of ramps and stairways, guiding visitors along a well-planned circulation path. Mirroring the existing brick arches onto a blank concrete wall, the design introduces playful nooks and seating areas, paying homage to the site’s history and materials. Continuous brick nooks along a wall offer children opportunities for exploration and play, while a spacious seating area ensures parents can supervise their little ones comfortably. Additional seating areas, including benches positioned along ramps and a secluded space behind a ramp, provide ample

opportunities for relaxation and contemplation. This rejuvenation project, rooted in a deep respect for its cultural legacy, aspires to create a vibrant and inclusive community space that harmoniously balances the old and the new.

FALL 2022

DECATUR, GEORGIA

INSTRUCTOR:

MEHMET S. BERMEK

COLLABORATOR:

KELSEY PAYNE

Nine Bridges photo

Kagome pattern

Column location

Exploded Axon

Process diagrams

The Nine Bridges Country Club is composed as three buildings: the main clubhouse for regular members, a VIP members area, and accommodations VIP members. Each building is composed of a different structural system and are presented in a modern sense of traditional construction methods in South Korea. The portion focused on in this study is the main clubhouse, specifically the atrium. The atrium space of the main clubhouse is composed of timber columns and roof with an envelope of clear glass providing a transparent and open

space. The timber columns are created from a kagome pattern, which has long been used in Japanese basketry. Kagome is geometrically referred to as trihexagonal tiling, consisting of equilateral triangles and regular hexagons arranged to fit perfectly and create a six pointed star. The laminated timber columns arranged in a radial pattern climb vertically and curve to become horizontal members at the roof plane joining in precisely and seamlessly with the kagome pattern.

FALL 2022

ROCINHA, BRAZIL

INSTRUCTOR:

STUART ROMM

COLLABORATOR:

NIKNAZ

TILLAVALDYYEVA

SITE

FAVELA ROCINHA

ATLANTIC OCEAN

SITE

SITE

The House of the People, nestled within the vast rainforest of Rocinha, Brazil, serves as a multifunctioning space for the community. Inspired by the intricate beauty of Islamic tessellation patterns, the building radiates like a lantern amidst the dense rainforest. Inside, a subtle curvature in the interior panels delineates two distinct zones, forming a mini atrium. This central hub, adorned with faceted hemispherical vault structures, serves as the heart of the building, housing essential elements such as elevators, pathways, and graceful staircases leading to the

grand rooftop. Throughout the structure, faceted hemispherical vaults not only captivate the eye but also serve a practical purpose, defining various spaces including the entrance, private sanctuaries, and the expansive rooftop. Solid aluminum plates adorning the bay windows provide efficient shading, ensuring optimal energy usage and maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures. The pleating exhibited on the facade aims to limit sunlight in private areas, while increasing sunlight in more public areas. Islamic tessellations are ancient decorative

patterns that symbolize order and peace, described as the “beauty of heavens brought down to earth”. Beginning with a simple circle, these patterns undergo mathematical transformations, yielding an array of designs that can stretch into infinity. The discovery of Girih shapes, including the decagon, bobbin, pentagon, bow-tie, and rhombus, provided a means to systematize these intricate patterns. As the exploration of Islamic tessellations progressed, the development of adapter tiles such as the pyra, kite, and cone allowed for

creative variations and smoother transitions between primary Girih tiles. To start, symmetry, girih tile connections, and transformative operations were analyzed through precedents. Next, by combining various girih and adapter tiles, a configuration field was established, offering a diverse canvas for further exploration. A specific section of this configuration field was selected for in-depth analysis, which was then further analyzed through a physical model employing operations such as rotation and scaling. These tangible explorations provided

DECA (72°)

BOWTIE PYRA KITE

PENTA (36)°

BOBBIN

RHOMB CONE BOAT NAVETTE

PENTA

DECA (36°)

Section Plan

Exploded Axon

valuable insights into the interplay of shapes and transformations, three-dimensionalizing two dimensional planes and allowing for the formation of implied spaces. The pleating process starts with a two dimensional girih tile. Points on the vertices are lifted to dimensionalize the tile starting from the exterior border. This helps ensure that the 3D tile can still connect to different tiles. In the first model iteration, which explored pleating, subtracting, and extruding, the bobbin and bow tie shapes were extruded after completing the pleating process by folding

each girih tile. The extruded bobbin introduces pockets of space, while the bowtie structure provides support for the pleated fields and ensures horizontal continuity throughout the composition. The second model iteration aimed to explore pleating, bending, and lofting. Pleated fields are created on the exterior panels. The panels are bent gradually, creating a telescoping effect, explored in the physical model. At the core of the composition lies a central decagon, lofted at an angle of 72 degrees, inducing a twisting effect that infuses dynamism into the

THE HOUSE // 7535 SF

• Small Cafe Table - 360

• Seating (Small) - 240

• Seating (Medium) - 300

• Cafe Booth / 130

• Small Food Booth - 450

• Office - 400

• Lobby - 450

• Kitchen - 225

• Creative Space - 450

• Library - 600

• Dining Area - 600

• Athletic Activites - 600

• Roof Food Booth - 600

• Museum - 600

• Open Garden Area - 400

• Auditorium - 1100

SELF-EDUCATION // 6680 SF

• Face-To-Face - 300

• Face-To-Face - 450

• Face-To-Face - 1200

• Gardening Class - 350

• Ecology Class - 350

• Geology Class - 350

• History Class - 350

• History Of Music - 350

• Craft Making - 300

• Spirtuality + Religion Class - 350

• Biology Class - 350

• Samba Dance Class - 600

• Samba Drumming Class - 500

• Music Class - 300

• Fashion Studio - 300

• Capoeira studio - 280

SELF-GOVERNING // 3695 SF

• Private Tables - 75

• Private Tables - 300

• Private Tables - 360

• Presentation Room - 380

• Presentation Room - 450

• Presentation Room - 650

• Library Of Local History - 450

• Computer Archives - 290

• Clinic - 450

• Counceling - 290

structure. Further experimentation with lofting techniques was demonstrated by elevating the remaining decagons and their accompanying interior star shapes, showcasing a diverse range of spatial transformations. Inspired by the explorations of the physical and digital models, a massing model was created to align with the programmatic requirements. The program is divided into two sides, separating government and education programs. The house programs operate mainly on the entry level and bottom floors. This allows visitors to

easily navigate the building and to connect with different demographics. The pleated facade of the building responds to the activities of the interior spaces. Through subtle manipulations, the vertices of the 3D Girih shape are pinched along the x and y axes, strategically channeling sunlight into public areas such as the presentation room and expansive classrooms.

Roof Render

Activity room (Capoeira)

Roof diagram

ANALYSIS

FALL 2022

ATLANTA, GEORGIA

INSTRUCTOR:

MEHMET BERMEK

COLLABORATOR:

KELSEY PAYNE

Photos: © Alexandre Georges (1965)

The word ‘entelechy’ originates from Aristotle’s writings in Greek, and has three meanings, first the realization of potential, second a vital principle guiding development of an organism, and third, simply, the soul. This word became the title of John Portman’s first personal family home located in Atlanta, Georgia: Entelechy I. Entelechy I focuses on a popular Portman concept of “space within space”, imitating the order of nature. First featuring large multi-use columns, as if they were large tree trunks giving the space a certain rhythm, and second by

featuring a hierarchical zoning of the house based on public verses private function. This hierarchy is further accentuated by the double height of the public, or entertaining, zone. There are three helical staircases in the entirety of the building, one specifically for the public zone, one for the general family (private)zone, and one specifically for the primary suite, connecting the primary bedroom and bathroom with Portman’s office. As one of John Portman’s first works, it informs the rest of his buildings and his unique philosophies imbedded in them.

1-1

MACON, GEORGIA

INSTRUCTOR:

HAYRI

DORTDIVANLIOGLU

Site plan

Site photos

Exterior view

Located within the rural confines of Macon, Georgia, this single and double micro hotel cottage explores the interplay between solidity and void through the manipulation of interior and exterior spaces. Drawing inspiration from the rich local history of Macon, Georgia, the building pays homage to the vernacular architecture of the region, particularly the “shotgun house.” Embracing this historical influence, the structure is conceived as a vertical interpretation of the traditional shotgun house, with each floor seamlessly connected in a linear fashion akin

to the layout of its horizontal counterpart. Elevated 15 feet above the ground, the first level serves as a versatile platform traversing each floor. This design fosters an immersive indoor/ outdoor experience, challenging conventional notions of spatial boundaries. The platform is enclosed in glass, featuring a sliding door that is tailored to each floor, enhancing accessibility. However, the rooftop floor welcomes occupants with a distinctive single-panel door, inviting them to explore panoramic views of nature. Within the interior, each floor offers captivating

vantage points of the level below, fostering a sense of interconnectedness and continuity. The building’s facades showcase strategic extrusions, delineating occupiable areas and adding depth to the facades. Decorative wooden slabs further define the division between public spaces, such as the living and dining areas, and more intimate zones like the bedroom and workspace. The slabs also act as shading devices, specific to the activities of interior spaces. Wrapped in timber slabs, the structure seamlessly blends with its natural surroundings,

immersing visitors with the surrounding landscape. The vertical orientation of the slabs adds an intriguing dimension to the exterior aesthetics of the cottage. Public areas, like the living and dining rooms, are strategically positioned at the lower levels, for convenience. In contrast, private sanctuaries such as the bedrooms and workspaces are nestled towards the top, providing tranquility and seclusion. Each space boasts its own distinct outdoor area, providing residents with a variety of captivating views to enjoy.

SUMMER 2023

BARCELONA, SPAIN

INSTRUCTOR:

MARIA VALASQUEZ

2020 - 2021

GRIP (2020) // a drawing of my sister’s hands // graphite on paper // 10’’ x 12’’

STILL LIFE (2021) // exploring shadows, tone, reflections, and the fluidity and rigidity of objects // graphite + charcoal on paper // 13’’ x 9’’