PORTFOLIO by LILA TAFF

WORK BY LILA TAFF

CONTENTS ACADEMIC THE LIBRARY THE AMPLIFIER WINTER HAVEN SYMBIOSIS INTERSECTION

01 02 03 04 05

PROFESSIONAL STUDENT REFUGE 06 CONVERGENT/DIVERGENT 07

PERSONAL BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS Z E P HY R FIGMENTATION FOXY

08 09 10 11

UP & AROUND

a practical approach to intellecutal enlightenment in the form of a public library, lecture hall, art gallery, & print shop.

studies of the entrances explore both the idea of descending prior to ascention & of entering at grade, providing choice & opportunity for examination of choice.

faรงade studies determine implementation of an gallery at the summit to showcase cerebral enlightenment in its highest forms.

the library is a beacon for intellectual advancement. it arises from apparently nothing & presents multiple upward paths. based loosely on the ancient idea of the

buddhist stupa, it represents a physical manifestation of enlightenment. one path takes the visitor on a journey around the building. alternatively, a

central elevator takes the viewer directly to the top.

the skin lifts away from the ground level, offering a peek into a space teeming with intellectual stimuli.

THE AMPLIFIER an educational forest intervention conceived & constructed by ten people in ten days with the aa visiting school: marking the forest that will continue to serve the bauman family tree farm and the oregon forestry educational program, forests today & forever, until it returns to the forest.

elevation & plan drawings show the structure effectively emerging out of the ground & twisting up a preexisting way into the forest.

as the visitor turns to reflect on the passing experience, the view has completely shifted: the tactile skin has pushed through to the exterior & the structure now frames the fabricated environment & meadow ecosystem.

it begins and ends with decay. looking to the forest itself for inspiration, we conceptualized the building as a process. constructed with untreated scrapwood from the lumber mill that buys these douoglas firs, the amplifier emerges from (or digs into) the ground intentionally to acelerate the decay of the material and visually demonstrate this aspect of forestry in the educational program.

the amplifier pulls the visitor into the forest from the edge of the meadow. a pause in front of the opening provides an opportunity to educate on the transitioning from one ecosystem to the next. an increasingly enclosing passage through the threshhold of the forest edge creates a moment to consider the transition before being pushed out into entirely contrasting environs.

WINTER HAVEN

transitional housing and services for yeah! (youth engagement advocacy & housing)

phase one, in which the existing facilities are modernized to include kitchen, temporary transitional housing, & other services.

phase two, in which an addition is made to the site including semi-permanent housing, internet cafĂŠ, and laundry services.

SYMBIOSIS

a biological circus in which grown-ups roam a childlike jungle of cerebral & physical entertainment

the historical maps indicate the growth of the landfill since the 1930s. the 1973 represents the current condition.

1937

1949

1959

1968

above plane : circus, film, pub, biologists planar : circulation (bridges, wheeled activities)

below plane : fortune telling, martial arts, acupuncture, chiropractic

1973

present

amongst an experimental jungle are sited a series of pavillions housing a variety of functions from unicycle races to acupuncture clinics.

symbiosis offers an escape from any normal lifestyle into the imagination of biologists working to create an environment where both exotic species

of plant and animal life coexist with modern american demands for entertainment and spectacle.

INTERSECTION a museum placed strategically to divert the typical routes of foot traffic on the uc berkeley campus & take advantage of the shifting grade to emphasize the importance of the pause & perspective

intersection is an art gallery housing traditional, multimedia, and experimental art installations. based on

movememt mapping, it is situated along a path less taken to draw the visitor out of habituary travel, offering a new vantage point on

getting from a to b. subtle shifts in grade and light enhance the experience of art by taking the visitor out of an expected approach.

curiouser and

from east entry

as seen from intersection

site plan

scale: 1/16”=1’-0”

into main gallery from top of stairs

curiouser

wurster hall

1 2

boalt hall

3 3

ground floor plan

tectonic section

1 entry 2 gallery 3 digital gallery 4 open

scale: 1/8”=1’-0”

kroeber hall

site plan

upper floor plan

tectonic section

1 entry 2 gallery 3 office 4 lecture 5 restrooms 6 garden

scale: 1/8”=1’-0” 2

scale: 1/16”=1’-0”

bancroft way

light a

sections

scale: 1/8”=1’-0” wurster hall

05 at night

boalt hall

section a

as seen from wurster hall, fourth floor

section b

section c

light

section d

STUDENT REFUGE

modernizing the laney college student center & revitalizing the core of a diverse campus in oakland, california with wlc architects, inc.

at the heart of a city in the midst of revitalization and transition, this school remains a cornerstone. since it has long lacked a sense of unity, we reinvigorated the student center in order to allow for a more coalescent

student population, while maintaining diversity with level-by-level programming.

CONVERGENT/ DIVERGENT introducing adaptive & prescriptive learning environments to shift the standard of education at pinole valley high school with wlc architects, inc.

SITE PLAN OPTIONS:

CONVERGENT / DIVERGENT

ALL OPTIONS

PLAN OPTIONS:

ADAPTIVE + PRESCRIPTIVE ENVIRONMENTS

GATE

BUILDING FOOTPRINT VARIATIONS PINOLE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL | WCCUSD | WLC ARCHITECTS, INC.

OPTION_4A

PROJECT: 1019700 | DATE: APRIL 7, 2011

PINOLE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL | WCCUSD | WLC ARCHITECTS, INC.

NCE

SCIE NCE

SCIE

FIRE LANE

PREP PREP

G FOOTPRINT VARIATIONS

NCE

SCIE

PINOLE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL | WCCUSD | WLC ARCHITECTS, INC.

PROJECT: 1019700 | DATE: APRIL 7, 2011

WKR

PARKING (120 SPACES)

SCIEN

PREP

GUIDANCE

ASPH.

GATE

PLAN OPTIONS:

CORE CR

WK N

OPTION 2

CO RE

FIRE LANE

G FOOTPRINT VARIATIONS

CORE CR

PINOLE VALLEY RD

OPTION 1

PINOLE VALLEY RD

CORE CR

DROP-OFF

CUST

SCIEN

UTER

COMP LAB

PARKING (90 SPACES)

PARKING (120 SPACES) DROP-OFF PARKING (84 SPACES)

NCE

SCIE

O PHOT

ART 148 SPACES

52 SPACES

GATE

PINOLE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL | WCCUSD | WLC ARCHITECTS, INC.

FLOOR_3

PROJECT: 1019700 | DATE: APRIL 7, 2011

SCALE:1”=100’

PARKING (120 SPACES)

FIRE LANE ASPH.

PARKING (90 SPACES)

PARKING (120 SPACES) DROP-OFF

DROP-OFF PARKING (84 SPACES)

PINOLE VALLEY RD

PINOLE VALLEY RD N

FITNESS

OPTION 1

OPTION 2

FIRE LANE

E CR

FIRE LANE

PARKING (120 SPACES)

COR

ASPH.

E CR

PARKING (90 SPACES)

GATE

40' G. K BLDBAC SET

E CR

COR

LOBBY N

OPTION 2

CR WKRM

FIRE LANE

AGE

LANGU LAB

CORE

DAN IR

PARKING (126 SPACES)

CORE

CR HEALTH CLINIC

CORE CR RR

N C

OPTION 4

PARKING (120 SPACES)

CORE CR

MP CO LAB

CORE CR

FIRE LANE

CORE

DRA

PINOLE VALLEY ROAD

OPTION 3

CHO DROP-OFF

PINOLE VALLEY ROAD

DROP-OFF

WKRM

PARKING (78 SPACES)

ASPH.

INFORMAL LEARNING

SET

40' G. K BLDBAC

DROP-OFF

PINOLE VALLEY RD

MP CO B LA

RR RR

FIRE LANE

ADMIN

PARKING (90 SPACES)

LIBRARY

MAXIMUM OPEN SPACE

DROP-OFF

SET

40' G. K BLDBAC

OPEN SPACE BUILDING

OPTION 2

THEATRE

SET

40' G. K BLDBAC

ACTIVE COMMON SPACE

PINOLE VALLEY RD

FLOOR_2

FIRE LANE

DROP-OFF

PARKING (126 SPACES)

SET

40' G. K BLDBAC

PINOLE VALLEY ROAD

DROP-OFF

OFFICE

EQUIP

LOCKER

PINOLE VALLEY ROAD N

OPTION 3

CAFETERIA

PARKING (78 SPACES)

SCALE:1”=40’

COR

WEIGHTS

OPTION 4 E CR

COR

AUX GYM

GYM

E CR

PINOLE VALLEY ROAD E CR

COR

OPTION 4

UP K

SNAC BAR

STO DRY

WC N

FRID

SET

40' G. K BLDBAC

ROOM

KITCHE

CAREER CENTER

TERIA

CAFE

SPEED LINE

CAF STOR

CER

CORE CR

TE RR

LIBRARY

DECENTRALIZED ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATIVE AREA VISIBLE FROM ADMIN COMMON SPACE

the design process involved presenting four options to the various invested parties (student body, faculty, administration, and general public). we combined elements of each option into the final version.

ADMIN

CORE CR

LOBB

PINOLE VALLEY ROAD

CORE CR

ATE

THE

CORE CR

CUST

STA

BAN

IT PTA

STAFF E LOUNG

AMIC

DROP-OFF

CUST

CTE

DRESS

LIBRARY

PIAN LAB ING

ING

GREEN

FLOOR_1

ADMINISTRATION

COSTU STO STOR

NE SHO

SCE

E CR

SERV WIND

CUS

T OFF

CARTS

COR

SERV WIND

OFFI

FIRE LANE

OPTION 4

GYMS

COR

DROP-OFF

WCCUSD FACILITIES OPERATIONS CENTER 1300 POTRERO AVENUE RICHMOND, CA 948043748 TEL.: (510) 4125657 FAX: (510) 4125661

NEW CAMPUS

X X

1 A1.3

BOUNDARY

X X

55 GNV BUILDING

61.45

59.76

IRRI\PA 59.43

60.56

72.2

2900 PINOLE VALLEY RD PINOLE, CA 94564

PINOLE VALLEY HS

http://www.wccusd.net/

NEL

59.70

RAMP

60.61

x 60.46

EP 60.48 60.59

1 A1.1

1 A1.2

x 60.55

in pursuit of students’ academic engagement, it occurred that engagement with the school environment is integral. by dispersing administrative functions for security and student accessibility, we created a

RANCHO CUCAMONGA  FOLSOM  BAY AREA 55

72.2

BAY AREA

71. 5

2600 TENTH STREET SUITE 500 BERKELEY CALIFORNIA 94710

70. 5

x 60.61

69. 5 68. 5

4'0"

5'0"

67. 5 67

H Y

x 60.43

BOL

18 2.2

TEL: 5104501999 FAX: 5104502525 www.wlcarchitects.com

x 60.56

BLDG F3 (FUTURE)

17 2.2

DITCH

KEY PLAN

P R

S P

1.70%

DITCH

A R

T A N

0.91%

BUILDING D

1.78%

BUILDING E T

STEP

DITCH

ED ARCH NS KEVIN MacQUARRIE C25998 013115

ST A

BLDG F2 (FUTURE)

CT ITE

L IC E

x 60.34

OF CA LIFO

(58.3)

IN FIRE LINE

BUILDING C

STAFF PARKING LOT

BUILDING A STUDENT PARKING LOT

CONSULTANT

VISITOR PARKING

DITCH

FIRE LINE IN

N IA

73.5

73. 5 72. 5

BLDG F1 (N.I.C)

IDENTIFICATION STAMP DIV. OF THE STATE ARCHITECT DEPARTMENT OF GENERAL SERVICES

BUILDING B

01XXXX

APPL

ENTRY

AC DATE

STOP

NOENTRY

ENTER

DROPOFF

ENTER

NO ENTRY

BUS DROPOFF

FLS

REVISION SCHEDULE DATE DESCRIPTION 07/29/11 02/20/12 03/30/12 09/05/12 01/18/13 04/26/13

WALL

PINOLE VALLEY RD

100% SD SUBMITTAL 50% DD COORDINATION SET 100% DD SUBMITTAL 50% CD COORDINATION SET COORDINATION SET COORDINATION SET

DRWN:

Author

CHKD:

DATE:

09/12/12

SCALE:

PROJECT NUMBER:

Checker 1" = 50'0"

1019700

space that students could feel comfortable in and take ownership of. the final design keeps exterior open space as a priority, creating opportunities for impromptu and atypical learning opportunities.

BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS

an installation which challenges the notion of participation and connection by creating a feedback loop. it asks audience members to move from spectator to participant. the piece is an analogue to the world and illuminates the inevitability of creation and interaction.

08 although the installation was not presented as it was conceived, there were layers of lessons in the process. personally, it became an experience of accepting imperfection. publically, it continued to engage and delight an audience with both its vulnerability & strong will. installed at swarm gallery, oakland, california.

a promotional booklet for the exhiition

ZEPHYR

part one of an immersive photographic installation at hive gallery, in which a series of photographs is taken from a moving train & viewed through layers of varying translucencies, at a frame rate slow enough for the viewer to observe the subtle shifts in the passing landscape

a selection of the photographs from z e p h y r: part one.

the making of the light boxes

ZEPHYR

part two, in which films looping on opposite walls and a mattress padded floor begs the viewer to make a choice about how to engage with the space

REVIEWED IN THE EAST BAY EXPRESS BY ALEX BIGMAN The artist’s immersive installation situates the viewer between a Midwestern blizzard and The Salton Sea. Much is made of so-called immersive installations — works that consist as part of the manipulation of ambient factors like illumination and noise. But you can tweak the lights all you want and play whatever tunes you like; if the experience is boring, in what sense can we call it immersive?

Lila Taff, a graduate of UC Berkeley’s architecture program, understands that immersion is not an attribute of a space itself but rather the way that people engage with it — and “engagement,” she noted, “we can measure by how long people spend inside.” Zephyr, her two-part immersive installation now at Hive Gallery, is testimony to her success in this regard: Once inside this enchanting space, you’ll find it very hard to leave.

The photos depict a blizzard that Taff viewed through the window of a train hurtling through Nebraska. The steel boxes do evoke train windows to an extent, but the progression of backlit images ultimately yields a more cinematic effect, like an old movie played at a crawling pace. The depicted storm gradually intensifies toward conditions of total whiteout, as the images themselves bathe the installation in a warm, nightlight-like glow.

The first room gets its illumination from a series of light boxes — backlit photographs behind panes of honey-tinged surfboard resin, encased in steel boxes.

In the next room, Taff has covered the floor in blacksheeted mattresses and illuminated the space with blue and purple fluorescent lights, effecting a cool

coziness in contrast to the previous room’s warm austerity. Two video projections play on opposite walls, each capturing a drive through the desert after a rain. Sometimes we see another car drive past, or the artist explore a dramatic landscape. Mostly, though, there is not a soul in sight — just road. In the way of soundtrack, Taff fills the space with William Basinski’s Disintegration Loops — the eerily enchanting result of an attempt by the composer to digitize some magnetic tape recordings, during which the old magnet actually fell off, producing a sonic index of disintegration.

There is an analogy here. Taff’s films take place in the environs of Southern California’s Salton City, a remote spot that developers, marketing it as the next desert oasis in the 1950s, literally parceled into plots of land between paved streets, only to find themselves with a ghost town, for few came and most who did eventually left. “It’s the failed American dream,” said Taff. But she quickly rephrased. “It is the American dream,” she said. “This is one idea of freedom — to come, park where you want, and not be bothered by anybody.”

In the disintegration of the developers’ cookie-cutter plans, a sort of unpredictable utopia emerged. And when Taff looks at her lightboxes, you can see she senses a similar beauty in the gusty, blinding buildup of snow. “I’m constantly reminded that everything changes; that nothing is permanent,” she said. In Zephyr, she invites the viewer to enjoy a perhaps unexpected solace in this. Zephyr runs through November 29 at Hive Gallery (301 Jefferson St., Oakland). HiveStudios.org

stills from the films depicting a trip down open desert road.

everything we create is a portrait of ourselves.

a mess of photographic works clockwise from top left: naked; uprooted; elusion; departure. (all winners of the eisner prize in photography, 2009 & 2010.)

FOXY

a bicycle built from scratch

BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU’VE GOT & ALWAYS ASK FOR MORE