Portfolio 2021 by gautam99

Gautam Pradeep Portfolio B.Arch 2021

Chapters A - Academic Projects 1. Inside Out 2. Symbiote in the City

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3-7 8-11

B - Design-Build Projects 1. Prisma .......................................... 12-16 2. Nature of the Game .......................................... 17-20 3. Kessler’s Fantasia .......................................... 21-22 C - Miscellaneous Projects 1. Ceramic Printing .......................................... 2. Mold & Modularity .......................................... 3. Surfaces/Transforms ..........................................

(left) MC Escher inspired tiling pattern

21 22 23

a.1 Inside Out Landscape x Architecture Spaces as we know them are generally defined by their boundaries. How can we break past the design of the silhouette and into the transition into sculpting the volume? How do rigid constraints deliquesce to make way for the spatial voids? The project looks at creating spatial conditions that focus on transitionary spaces and critiques understanding of the space as “inside” or “out.” We strove to create an experience where the outside is as much a part of the experience of the building as is the interior. The brief called for a semi-permanent structure to act as the “Westbrook Heritage Center.” This heritage center would function as a historical and cultural information depository. It would preserve the heritage of Winterset and act as an exhibition and preservation space of local art. The site is part of the Westbrook Artists Site, a collective that supports local art and research on the rural condition. This inspired the architecture to take cues from nearby structures and responds to the rural landscape through form and materiality.

Course: Arch 301: Landscape x Architecture

Software/Plug-ins: Rhino, V-Ray, Photoshop, AutoCAD

Teammate: Jaya Tolefree Instructor: Ayodele Iyanalu Location: Winterset, Iowa

Exterior Perspective

Site Analysis Site Analysis The Westbrook Artists’ Site (WAS) is the result of urbanization and is an Site Analysis Site Analysis attempt to integrate the rural and urban. This site celebrates the Iowan The Westbrook Artists’ Site (WAS) is the result of urbanization and is an

prairie and restores theSite sie as an effort of restoring the rural but The Westbrook Artists’ (WAS) is thenot result of urbanization and is an The Westbrook Artists’ Site (WAS) the result of urbanization andIowan is an attempt to integrate the rural andisurban. This site celebrates the furthening attempt tourbanization. integrate the rural and urban. This site celebrates the Iowan attempt to restores integratethe thesie rural andeffort urban. This site celebrates thebut Iowan prairie and as an not of restoring the rural prairie and restores the sie as an effort not of restoring the rural but prairie and urbanization. restores the sie as an effort not of restoring the rural but furthening furthening urbanization. furthening urbanization.

Hydrographic Map Hydrographic Map Hydrographic Map Hydrographic Map

Site Impressions The Westbrook Artists Site functions to understand the condition of the “rural” against as well as with the “urban.” This was a part of the initial study of the site and placed the conversation in that juxtaposed context.

Accessibility The site itself experiences a strong North-Western wind along with South/South-Eastern winds over the year. The amount of precipitation is The site itself experiences a strong North-Western wind along with the in experiences May but peaks underNorth-Western 5 inches in summer The highest site itself a strong wind months. along with The site itself experiences a strong North-Western windof along with South/South-Eastern winds over the year. The amount precipitation is South/South-Eastern winds over the year. The amount of precipitation is South/South-Eastern the5year. The precipitation is the highest in May butwinds peaksover under inches inamount summerof months. the highest in May but peaks under 5 inches in summer months. the highest in May but peaks under 5 inches in summer months.

Accessibility Accessibility Accessibility

The geographical terrain played a big role in the evolution of the building as it was shaped by the different natural conditions that exist on the site. The watershed channels that run through the site act as boundaries and thresholds along with the denser forest cover, which is a rare phenomenon in the natural landscape. A lot of effort goes into replenishing the natural prairies that existed before urbanization, so we had to be mindful to limit any external impact on the site.

Forest Cover Forest Cover Forest Cover Forest Cover

Road Access Westbrook Artists Site Major Site Attractions Project Site Forest Canopy Site Map

Site Conditions Site Conditions Site Analysis Site Conditions Site Conditions

South East Elevation

Form x Site Rigid to Fluid The final form was inspired by the organic forms found in the site characterized by the river and the sharp terrains, which created a gradient from sharp to smooth throughout the site. This created an expression of organic response by the building’s acoustic and daylighting features as it wraps around and melts into the rigidity enforced by the programs. This allowed the architecture to create spatial conditions similar to the experience of walking through the site.

Form Finding North West Elevation

Preliminary Sketches North East Elevation

South West Elevation

Topography inspired abstraction

Elevations

Third floor

Second floor

First floor

Floor Plans

Section x Site Plan

Interior Perspective

a.1 Symbiote in the City Parasitic architecture and urban uplift New York has always been a vertical city. With skyscrapers in abundance, this city has embraced vertical living since the Singer Tower in 1908, to the One world trade center. The growth of this has been attributed to the efficiency of building high and tall. It allows us to combat the high density of population and allows us to create spaces that cater to a larger population. However, the boom of skyscrapers has come with the death of the streets of NYC. The streets have turned dark and windy, and now it is a hostile space for communities. This is one of the reasons the Highline has been met with such enthusiasm from the people of New York. It pushed the street plane higher up, providing citizens access to a much more comfortable pedestrian experience. The zoning laws also add to the sustainability of this experience by creating a less dense space for citizens to breathe in. A change in urban density is important for healthy communities and thus leads the project. The architecture follows by trying to flow into the street.

Course: Arch 302: Parasitic (Air-Rights) Architecture in NYC: Student Housing + Vertical Campus

Software/Plug-ins: Rhino, Grasshopper, DIVA, ghPython

Teammate: Carolan Hoffman Instructor: Bosuk Hur Location: Chelsea, Manhattan, NYC

New York City: Verticallity as a Socio-economic gauge, situation abstraction

New York City: Democratized verticallity resolution abstraction

Floor Plan

Section

DIVA Irradiance study on facade

Interior Render

Facade System effectively cools solar irradiance on building through controlled expansion depending on the amount of irradiance to achieve balanced cooling.

Model Exterior Photograph

Context Isometric Drawing

b.1 Prisma Motion and Response Looking at movement in the site through both natural phenomenons and the more abstract, nature is understood and becomes the muse for this occupiable artifact. The project takes shape through the collaboration of clients with designers through repeated interaction and collaboration. What manifests is the creation of a structural skeleton that flows through space, creating spaces serving multiple functions.

Course: Arch 202: Design Build

Project Client: Reiman Gardens

Teammate: Multi-Studio Collaborative Project

Location: Reiman Gardens, Ames, IA

PRISMA was the product of a multistudio collaborative design build. All work shown except for final installation is independent work unless stated otherwise.

Project Duration: Jan-May 2018

Responsibilities • Design • Model making and Prototyping • Visualization • BIM Leader • Construction/ Assembly Documentation • Fabrication file generation

Project Lead: Nicholas Senske

Software/Plug-ins: Autocad, Rhino, Grasshopper, Kangaroo, Lunchbox, Illustrator, Photoshop,

Final Design Illustration

Site Impressions Scales of Motion Motion happens at multiple scales in the site like the wind blowing across the treetops, drainage paths carving reliefs onto the ground, visitors leaving trails of the times they left the built path on mini adventures across the site, etc. The phenomenological experience of visiting the site permeates the representation of its orthographic identity, which exists beyond the perceived encounter. The different scales of motion is represented as a set of drawings that document these findings.

Experiential Site Plan

Plan We are able to see the winds favored directions to run havoc. The topography is a fingerprint of drainage as it carved the site over time. Roads and paths act as constraints on travel, which the visitors gain the power to ignore as they lead their own journeys through the site. Section The stars move across the sky, blazing paths in their wake. The wind moves through the site exerting nature’s pressure on any obstructions. Water flows through the varied topography during the rain while people flow with the sun.

Experiential Site Section

Cohesion

Fabrication

W 12-13 13C

12D 12B

Program, materials, and light Multiple design iterations were made to test out different aspects of movement through the usage of form, material, details, etc. Three major parts that stood out were the usage of tensile members to provide a fun lounge space, mobile iridescent panels as a way to project the symphony of light (and activated by wind), as well as a wooden form that tip-toed through the site.

1/4” Cable System

Hammock Modules

4x4 Structural System

Addressing complexity Moving from SD to DD, we had to make corrections to the preliminary model to account for details added and updated site conditions. I was given the responsibility to lead the 3D modeling of the sculpture. Due to the connection and relationships of all the different parts with each other, changes in each individual part had rippling repercussions on other members. This led to a need to adjust the structure and the framework multiple times. This was addressed by implementing grasshopper scripts to supplement modeling workflows to accelerate design.

Deconstructed final design Site-informed Charretes Using what we had learned from all the iterations, we came to the final iteration which put together the different aspects discussed into one cohesive form that wove its way through the site creating an organic space that melted in with the park.

4B 3-4

5-6

O H

8B 6-7

Alpha 14-15 15D

13D

15B Y

15-17

17D

10-11

9-10

14-16 Beta

14C

16A

11C 10C

7-9

Gamma 11D

16C Theta 16-17

17A Z

S 9C

K 7D

2-3

8-9

10B

4C 3-5

11-12

Infill Modules

13-14

1-2

Resolving joints through 3D models and physical mock-ups Joints There were 30 complex joints with three joints that had five wooden members coming in at very complex angles. We proposed metal hubs as a connector using a metal pipe attached to metal fins that would embed into the wood as an alternative. After a structural consultation, we were informed that using the metal hubs on all joints would greatly help the structural integrity, and this also helped simplify the connections.

Group charretes addressing circulation and site

30 unique joints

Final Installation

b.2 Nature of the game Gardens and Games Games have always had the potential to be a tool for learning. Games like chess and checkers have long been introduced to children and adults alike, creativity, probability, empathy, planning in the long and short term, etc. Reiman Gardens, a local garden organization, wanted to utilize the engaging nature of games as a means of promoting attendance, a tool for engaging with the park, as well as introducing concepts of ecology to visitors: kids and adults alike. The organization reached out to Iowa State University, and specifically Professor Reinaldo Correa, who is the lead designer of 8 games that were eventually created as part of this initiative. I worked under Professor Correa as a Junior Designer in a group of 15 students. The Nature of the Game exhibit involved creating eight interactive sculptures that took the form of familiar household games. Our goal was to educate park visitors on the various aspects of ecology like: • • • •

Illustrating the complex relationships formed because of the food web and food chain Importance of pollination Native species Different habitats

While I provided input at various levels in all games built, I was mainly responsible for the following games: • BEEz Maze • Connect Food • Food Web Chess •

Connect Food

Responsibilities • Design • Model making and Prototyping • Visualization • Construction/ Assembly Documentation • Fabrication file generation Project Duration: October-April 2019 (Personal Involvement) Project Lead: Professor Reinaldo Correa Project Client: Reiman Gardens Software: Autocad, Rhino, Illustrator, Photoshop, AutoCAD

BEEz Maze

Food Web Chess

b.2.1 Bee-z maze Bzz.. Bzz.. BEEz maze evokes through its simple design the journey of bees as they pollinate the environment. Bees get pushed around as children learn the importance of bees and their connection to the natural world.

PDL1

PDS1

PDL2

Target Visitor Age Group: 12 months + PDL3

Personal Contributions: • Design Development • Prototype model construction • Construction Drawings • Fabrication File Preperation • Visualization

PDS2

Final Installation

Prototype Model

Site Plan

b.2.2 Food Web Chess Checkmate! Food Web Chess is a game inspired by chess that tries to educate players on the concept of a food web. We re-imagine the pieces of chess as participants in an ecosystem. Interactions between species as the game progress’s evoke the complexities of relationships built up in its real-world counterpart. Animals representing each piece was selected through discussion with the clients to represent different facets of the food web. Target Visitor Age Group: 7 years + Personal Contributions: • Schematic Design • Design Development • Prototype model construction • Construction Drawings • Fabrication File Preperation • Visualization

Final Installation in Reiman Gardens

Part B1 (1/4” Aluminium) Part A (1/4” Aluminium) Part B2 (1/4” Aluminium)

Basswood model

Proposal render

Material render

Base Plate (1/2” Aluminium)

Part B1 (1/4” Aluminium) Part A (1/4” Aluminium) Part B2 (1/4” Aluminium) Base Plate (1/2” Aluminium) Continuous Weld

Assembly diagram

Final design iteration

b.2.3 Connect Food Three in a Row! Connect food is inspired by the game connect four and tries to teach players about the habitats of insects. This game uses butterflies and moths as the main characters, and players try to match host plants, nectar plants, caterpillars with the right insect. Through the game, we hope to show how insects depend on their habitat and how we should be aware of them to protect them. Target Visitor Age Group: 6 years + Personal Contributions: • Design Development • Prototype model construction • Construction Drawings • Fabrication File Preperation • Visualization

Final Installation in Reiman Gardens

3D print + Chipboard Model

Orthographic drawings

Material render

b.3 Kessler’s Fantasia Watch Out Above? Space debris is one of the biggest challenges to space travel that the space industry has had to face in recent years. With the years of space missions and satellites launched, we have generated a field of debris orbiting the earth as a consequence of reaching for the stars. The debris has formed due to flagrant displays of power through missile tests, as well as accidental debris caused due to collisions. Our group took on the challenge of representing this issue that has roots in cold war treaties as a spatial exhibit. Artists Statement The expanding vacuum that exists beyond Earth evokes a sense of astonishment and discovery. Space exploration is breaking technological boundaries and displaying the capabilities of the establishments in control. As advancements are made, we often forget the failures and outlived technology that has been left behind. The space debris’s arbitrary encapsulation of the Earth’s atmosphere is raising new questions. The artifacts that once fueled space exploration have now fallen into disrepair. The power struggle that exists and fuels space exploration has been slowly creating a new issue that keeps unfolding. The fragmented decay that traps the Earth does not restrict itself with the rule of law, which brings the political struggle to a new front. The ruins that remind us of the failures and accomplishments of yesterday for someone to attempt a solution, currently halted by the regimes of yesterday. As technological and space exploration keeps advancing, and debris keeps entrapping the Earth,we wonder how the ruins will shape our future?

Course: Arch 403: Black Contemporary Imaginary

Location: Black Contemporary Artists Gallery, Ames, IA

Teammates: Ahmed Elwalid, Samantha Stumpner, Vyankatesh Chinchalkar Project Duration: September-December 2020 Instructor: Peter P. Goche

Final Installation Photographs

c.1 Parametric Ceramics Parametric definition building Working in the Computation+Construction Lab under Professor Shelby Doyle introduced me to the realm of ceramic 3D printing. I was responsible for overseeing multiple ceramic printing requests as well as teaching students the process of ceramic printing. I took on the challenge of simplifying the design process as well as added new parametric workflows to allow creation of more diverse designs. The following prints are one example of the different ways I was able to implement parametric design processes to create adaptable geometries. Software/Plug-ins: Rhino, Grasshopper, Lunchbox, Weaverbird, ghPython, Xylinus Hardware: Potterbot Advisors: Shelby Doyle, Erin Hunt

Sample surface deformation (surface automatically lofted from input curves)

Test Print

Final Product

Script Transforms: Surface -> Single printable curve -> G-Code

Final print

c.2 Mold & Modularity Equations and Geometries We started this project with an interest in organic forms and its tiling. This started us on our experimentation with curves and circular tiling techniques. We looked into MC Escher and a few other sources for inspiration on tiling. What we were interested in were smooth forms and heterogenous stacking. His tiling method created organic tesselation using Islamic tiling as an inspiration, in which he customized the sequence by adding components that can interlock with each other. Our modules were designed based on the organic form of a ginko leaf which was tiled to produce a stackable module.

Evolution of module with molds

Modifying module for fenestration affordance

The molds themselves for the module evolved over multiple iterations as we minimized pour holes and removed seam marks. This project challenged us to think past the 3D file and into the fabrication logic and processes that take place in translating these visions to reality. Software/Plug-ins: Rhino Hardware: Dremmel 3d45 Printer

Preliminary Mold Trials: Failed due to fractures at seams and removal issues

Teammate: Tuyen Le Instructor: Shelby Doyle Course: Arch 433: Digital Fabrication

ginko leaf (inspiration)

Final Molds: Removed excess seams + added support material

Unmolding

Stacked modules

3D printed molds articulate the surface as the molds are cast.

c.3 Math & Forms Equations and Geometries Alan Schoen came up with the gyroid in 1970. A gyroid is a triply periodic minimal surface with no rotational symmetry or straight lines within the figure. It is a shape that has recently found a lot of enthusiasm due to its stronger compressive strength as infill patterns as well as it’s beauty. 3D printing has been instrumental in being able to fabricate gyroids, and to this end I also used this geometry to test resin printers like the Form 2. For the artwork produced by this interesting geometry, I was inspired by James Dalessandro’s work and attempted to morph the gyroid through mobius transformations to create more interesting spatial scenarios with the gyroid geometry. Software/Plug-ins: Rhino, Grasshopper, Lunchbox, Millipede, Kangaroo, V-Ray Hardware: Form 2 SLA 3D Printer Advisors: Shelby Doyle, Erin Hunt

Aggregating gyroids

3D Printed Gyroid (SLA Printing)

Artwork using mathematical transforms on aggregated minimal surfaces