EMILY SPERBER
D ES I G N P ORT F OL I O
CONTENTS DESIGN:ACADEMIC: TRANSITIONAL HOUSING: SPRING 2007 JAPANESE CONSULATE: SUMMER 2008 EBB + FLOW: ROMAN BATHS : FALL 2008 ACCESS: DEFINING PATHWAY: FALL 2009 SLOW-MOW: MATERIALS: FALL 2009 TRANSIENT HOME: MOBILITY + HOMELESS RELIEF: SPRING 2010
DIGITAL:MEDIA + FABRICATION: CULTURAL SHIFT: SUMMER 2008 CULTURAL ENDURANCE: SUMMER 2008 SUPER - FLAT: SUMMER 2008 DIGITAL BARNACLES: FALL 2009 FLUID MOVEMENT: FALL 2009
DESIGN:BUILD: A-WEEK 2007: FALL 2007 A-WEEK 2008: FALL 2008 SLOW - MOW: FABRICATION : FALL 2009
DESIGN:PERSONAL: STATE OF REFLECTION: SUMMER 2009 LIL’ RUGGERS: SUMMER 2009 ORGANIC TRANSFORMATION: FALL 2009 NESTLED VESSELS: SPRING 2010 TRADITIONAL SECTIONS: SPRING 2010
DESIGN
A C A D E M I C
TRANSITIONAL HOUSING: s. claiborne ave. + cadiz st., new orleans, louisiana description: multi-family housing consisting o f s e v e r a l d i f f e r e n t s i z e s o f accommodations that aim to serve as affordable, temporary housing for those rebuilding their own homes. the project utilizes multiple vertical circulation cores that allow residents to identify personally with their part of the building, and a facade comprised of a diamond shaped geometries that allow for flexible fenestration placement.
JAPANESE CONSULATE: st charles + st joseph, new orleans, louisiana description: a japanese consulate to serve the new orleans area. located on a prominent street adjacent to the street car this project aims to be a place to educate the community. the project adopts the power of simple volumetric shifts and subtle elevational changes exemplified in traditional japanese architecture. variations in transparency and opacity of both interior and exterior walls allow light to transmit through the entire building, and exterior spaces are present on all levels of the building. small quiet gardens are specific to interior program and provide personal, meditative spaces.
longitudinal section
separate
abut
conceptual diagrams
overlap
slide
third floor
ground floor
second floor
EBB+FLOW:ROMAN BATHS: via arenula+the tiber river, rome description: a public bath and recreation complex to bridge between ancient roman use and modern roman need. located on the pulse of the city, the tiber river. the project’s concept emerges from the ways in which water sculpt and create space, as well as from the importance that water and public fountains play in roman culture. the project aims to reintegrate the socially engaging public bath program with the city’s urban fabric by spanning the vertical distance between the roman streets and the tiber river through both the flow of water and the physical presence of the program. materially the project emerges from the wall itself, and on the street level the public piazza activated the river’s edge. the flow of water is present throughout all of the program, either audibly, visually or tactily, originating at the street level piazza and terminating at the river’s edge.
COLD BATHS
HOT BATHS
SAUNA
sectional perspective: cold baths
CURTAIN
CASCADE
SMOOTHES
FLOWS
OVER
STRIATES
FALLS
EDGE
INDENTS
POOLS
UNDER
CARVES
DRAINS
DIVISION
CHUTE
PUNCHBOWL
conceptual diagrams
ACCESS:DEFINING PATHWAY:caffin ave.+florida ave., 9th ward, new orleans, louisiana description: this project was a part of a studio allied with the make it right organization. this project represents the first half of the semester that was devoted to the rehabilitation of the bayou bienvenue, once a thriving cypress swamp that has now been destroyed due to salt water intrusion. this particular project aims to link the neighborhood streets to the levee that boarders the bayou, and hides it from public view completely. a series of similar yet varying shading and seating structures activate the space, define the pathway, frame the destination, and provide a lighted pathway to the bayou itself. the iconic pink fabric used in the shading device links the project to the make it right brand and mission.
SLOW-MOW:MATERIALS: make it right target zone, 9th ward, new orleans, louisiana description: also designed for make it right, this project is a portable home for goats to be used as sustainable lawn mowers. the design problem revolved around the given size of a standard trailer, and fabricated steel frames as the structure, and the utilization of a specific material, timbersil, and minimal waste of material. this design solution offers a subtle shift from totally closed to more open, both from top to bottom and side to side using standard size material. this scheme allows for varied enclosure for the goats, varied degrees of exposure to outsiders, and the ability to seamlessly disguise hung doors.
SHELTER OPERATIONS
EXPAND:rigid structure, storage compartment
PUBLIC SPACE:TRANSIENT TO SEDENTARY
SURFACE FOLD:minimal structure, flat-pack
SPIN OPEN:rigid structure, storage compartment
POP-UP:minimal structure, flat-pack
TRANSIENT HOME:MOBILITY+HOMELESS RELIEF: nyc, ny description: thesis proposal through partnering social and municipal services the project embraces the dual programing of public space (transitional and sedentary) through small architectural elements that provide public seating and personal shelter for the homeless without hindering choice or dictating schedule. the project focuses on neighborhoods in manhattan, that through a study of poverty rates, current homeless encampments, park spaces and social and supportive services, are lacking in adequate homeless shelter. this project explores five specific locations, columbus park, union square park, bryant park, the south west corner of central park, and the north east corner of central park, and how urban furniture, which is already used by the homeless and sleeping space, can relate to the specific neighborhood, serve the community, and provide security, privacy, and protection for homeless individuals without dictating location or schedule. each individual unit includes radiant heating, personal lighting, and interior space for personal belongings.
COLUMBUS PARK
bryant park
et
UNION SQUARE PARK
union square ne central park columbus
4 feet
BRYANT PARK
personal shelter
seating surfaces
utility+security
personal storage
sw central park
et
4 fe
8 fe
SW CENTRAL PARK NE CENTRAL PARK
COLUMBUS PARK
UNION SQUARE PARK
BRYANT PARK
SW CENTRAL PARK
WOOD SLATS:
COMFORTABLE, FAMILIAR SITTING SURFACE
RIP-STOP NYLON: BREATHABLE, TRANSLUCENT FABRIC
ALUMINUM:
LIGHTWEIGHT SUPPORT STRUCTURE
CONCRETE:
DURABLE, INSULATIVE AND ABLE TO CONCEAL UTILITIES
NE CENTRAL PARK B R YA N T PA R K
OPERATED USING UNIVERSAL TOOL radiant heating
transitional system
lighting
personal storage
COLUMBUS PARK
UNION SQUARE
NE CENTRAL PARK
SW CENTRAL PARK
DIGITAL
M E D I A + F A B R I C AT I O N
CULTURAL SHIFT:kyoto, nara, ise, yokohama + tokyo, japan description: juxtaposing traditional and contemporary, green and grey, this aims to show the wide range of experience in japan. the images transition from bottom to top, from ground to sky. the images capture aspects of japanese architecture and culture in both the most traditional and most contemporary instances. though there is a clear continuity in the use of clean lines and meticulous detail, there is a clear departure from the use of natural materials. this composition exhibits the contrast between soft and hard, vibrant and subtle, traditional and contemporary.
CULTURAL ENDURANCE:kyoto + yokohama, japan description: using ink on mylar this series compares how one traditionally jap an ese b u ild in g an d o n e contemporary japanese project can both ultimately embrace the same uniquely japanese sensibility. the upper series describes the ryogen zen temple complex in kyoto, and the lower series describes the yokohama port terminal in yokohama. the two series are meant to explore the ways in which traditional japanese sensibilities have endured the change and transition from ancient, spiritual architecture to contemporary, commercial design.
SUPER-FLAT:omotesando, tokyo, japan description: by reinterpreting the flatness of much of japanese art, both contemporary anime and traditional ink wash, t-shirt designs were created for one of the many projects we visited in japan. this design explores the relationship between the japanese tradition of origami, creating three dimensional objects from paper, and the folded appearance of the surfaces that make up the volume of MVRDV’s gyre building in tokyo.
gyre shopping centre.
DIGITAL BARNACLES:NATURAL DIGITIZATION description: in collaboration with whitney huver this project was an exploration of how certain digital software, namely soft image_xsi, could be used in a way to abstract, adapt, and reinterpret a biological structure in a prototypical way that could have architectural implications. this project looks initially at the sea barnacle as an individual unit, that repeats and varies based on location and environment. based on this an individual object was designed that could connect with others like it, and vary based on its elevation, on order to create varying degrees of porosity through an animated process. the design was conceived as a system that could eventually evolve into a facade/fenestration system. stereolithography and 3d printing technologies were used to physically realize this project.
FLUID MOVEMENT:PROCESS + FUNCTION description: in collaboration with whitney huver the project was first conceptualized with the desire to explore the movement and dynamism of liquid through animation. the project focuses on the way that liquids deform and evolve through space and time. from this focus the investigation narrows to the way in which liquid travels along a vertical wire. from the point of origin to the point of descent the apparent flow of liquid changes in speed and volume. the light fixture itself is broken down into three strands of pieces. these strands begin at the top with he origin of the flow of liquid, that then disperses along the height of the cables. the individual elements themselves are broken into smaller elements by continuous horizontal lines that both create a visual continuity across the piece but also, as in changes from more to less dense, from top to bottom, refers to the motion of the liquid over time. this project utilized animation to generated form and stereolithography and 3d printing technology to physically realize the process.
3D PRINTED ELEMENT PLASTIC STOP ACRYLIC DISK 3D PRINTED ELEMENT
ACRYLIC DISK 3D PRINTED ELEMENT
DESIGN
B
U
I
L
D
A-WEEK 2007:lusher elementary, willow st. + pine st, new orleans, louisiana description: a set of several seating, eating and shading surfaces designed and installed by a group of students in a nearby elementary school over the course of a week under the guidance of architect wendell burnette. through the assembly of treated wood, threaded rod, and pvc spaces, a variety of interlocking surfaces created seating, eating, and shading structures that could be used by the school’s students at lunchtime.
A-WEEK 2008:farmer’s market, girod st. + magazine st., new orleans, louisiana description: one of several bike racks designed, built and installed over the city of new orleans for various needy organizations. this one in particular needed to be both portable and collapsible. under the guidance of architect eric carlson. this particular rack was designed for a green market with limited storage space. the bike rack had to be transportable and easily assembled. the rack itself broke down into two pieces, and then collapsed to a minimal width to fit into a very narrow storage space.
SLOW-MOW:FABRICATION: make it right target zone, 9th ward, new orleans, louisiana description: after working with make it right on potential projects to help strengthen their plan for urban agriculture, the urban build studio completed design, construction documents, and in the end, fabrication of a mobile goat house. the goat house is meant to house up to a dozen goats that could be moved around to serve as green lawn mowers. the project is constructed of steel frames, standard dimensions of timbersil, a glass impregnated wood that is rot-proof, and washers, screws, and fasteners.
DESIGN
P E R S O N A L
STATE OF REFLECTION: northern california description: graphic representation of a trip to northern california. the strips of images are not meant to be recognizable as specific locations, but the compilation of the fragments are meant to express the colors, textures, and culture of the area. the overlay of the somewhat abstracted poppies, iconic flowers in that part of the country, establish another layer of depth to the composition.
LIL’ RUGGERS:BRANDING: new york city, new york description: lil’ruggers is a tag rugby organization in new york city, and is the first of its kind (catering to 3-7 year olds) in the united states. i worked closely with the founder of the company on an identity that would be playful and age appropriate, and that would also retain some of the tough, ruggedness that is intrinsic to the game of rugby. from rugby balls to jerseys and clothing tags, so business cards, fliers and internet advertisements, the little pup appears in the traditional “crouch” pose.
lil'ruggers tag rugby for kids
www.lilruggers.com
ORGANIC TRANSFORMATION:CERAMICS description: this project is a formal exploration based on an organic element, in this case, ginger root. the forms are all basic vessels, and as they progress from first to last morph from the most literal and least functional to the most abstract and the most functional. the forms utilize texture, pattern and tone to connect them as a set. they are primarily black, grey and white, with accents of metalic and green hues. the forms were coil construction and both raku and conventionally fired.
NESTLED VESSELS:CERAMICS description: this project is a series of related vessels: cup, dish, bowl and spoon. the objects both physically and visually relate to each other. the forms of the objects are simple, recognizable forms with slivers cut out of them. these cuts do two things, they ensure that the objects touch the ground on four points, rather than on a flat bottom, and they create a quadrant of volumes on the interior. the objects finishes are both glassy and matte, and a simple geometric lines add interest and connect the interior to the exterior. the forms are molded forms and have been high-fired.
TRADITIONAL SECTIONS:CERAMICS description: this project is a collection of functional vases. these vases embrace traditional vase forms, and combined and offset in a way that their profiles are revealed. the vessel is meant to be viewed in the round, and the profiles and angles change as you move around it. the surface treatments are meant to express both the different forms as well as their cohesiveness. the forms are molded forms and were soda fired.
Emily Sperber LEED AP Tulane University, B.Arch, M.Arch 2010 esperbs@gmail.com 914.774.0546