Giuliana Copertino Architecture Portfolio

Giuliana Copertino

3D point cloud of the Basilica di San Lorenzo in Florence, Italy.

Architectural Apparitions

Pavilion honoring San Lorenzo’s architects and artists Florence, Italy

Nestled in the courtyard of Basilica di San Lorenzo, the pavilion stands as a tribute to the architects and artists who shaped its five hundred year history. Inspired by the basilica’s arch forms and inset corners of the bays between the arches, the pavilion’s bottom floor serves as an exhibition space, showcasing artifacts and works from the Basilica’s creators.

Ascending to the upper level, visitors discover a screening room. By day, an aperture in the roof bathes a curved wall with natural light, symbolizing the basilica’s ever-changing narrative. As night falls, the same curved wall transforms into a canvas for projected documentaries and images, that tell the story of the city’s vibrant culture. Like the basilica itself, the pavilion has a temporal transformation in function and aesthetic.

Encased in a reliquary, or box, the pavilion’s final model unfolds. Opening different walls of the box reveals diverse interior and exterior perspectives, reminiscent of San Lorenzo’s multifaceted history. This action of folding and unfolding encapsulates the essence of the basilica, inviting viewers to explore its rich legacy, adapting, while being firmly rooted in the past like the city

Professor: Constance Vale

Washington University in St. Louis Summer 2023

In situ drawing of the Basilica delaminating the elevations of the bays and loggia, projected onto the plan view of the church.

Figural fragments based on the forms of the arches and their vaults, as well as the inset corners of the bays.

West facing section cutting through the exhibition space, garden, screening room, and a balcony.

Photos of the unfolded model.

Render of the research center’s central courtyard, where both researchers and visitors can relax.

Biodiversity Research Center and Archive

Forest Park expansion St. Louis, MO

Forest Park is one the largest urban public parks in the United States, boasting 1,300 acres, and several microbiomes, including prairies, wetlands, and woodlands. However, these natural elements are undermined by the several roadways that cut into the park, making it largely unwalkable, and endangers native wildlife. Thus, Forest Park is threatened by habitat fragmentation.

As habitat loss studies are field-research based, this project serves as a refuge for scientists to return back to and synthesize information. Upon returning from the field, researchers can store their equipment and collaborate with their colleagues in the GIS analysis space and conduct experiments in the lab and garden. The eastern public wing features reception areas, a gallery, and open archives and study spaces. While the public and private spheres are somewhat partitioned, researchers are encouraged to engage with the community. The open courtyard is the local and symbolic center of the facility. There, the program fosters moments for both leisure and education, with seating areas, an outdoor classroom, and a stage for events.

Professor: Sharvari Mhatre

Washington University in St. Louis Spring 2023

Layered 2.5D model of precedent analysis drawings of the Olivetti Showroom and the Zinc Mine Museum. The most prominent images are the lighting analysis and sections of the museum, and the stair proportions, floor, and exterior arches of the showroom.

Concrete casting composition for the research center’s floor plan.

Third floor plan

Second floor plan

1. public entry/reception

2. lavatory

3. gallery

4. library/archive

5. office

6. field research storage

7. researchers’ entrance

8. outdoor classroom

First Floor Plan

East facing showing lab spaces, an outdoor classroom, storage areas, a lounge, and a restroom.

Site plan showing the research center, located adjacent to the Jewel Box, a greenhouse at Forest Park.

The research center situated in the site.

Giuliana Copertino

Photo of final section model proposal with louvers oriented for solar shading.

CHICAGO reFRAMED

Live/work tower for artists Chicago, IL

CHICAGO reFRAMEd is a 25-story tower along the Chicago River, at 319 Lower North Water St.

Focused on urban transformation, and communal spaces, the tower blurs the lines between private and public realms. The tower responds to dynamic site conditions, with both a riverwalk and street level. A bold cantilever over the riverwalk invites visitors to experience the building before entering.

Plaza cones, serving as winter gardens, mark the entrance. A central spiral ramp seamlessly connects the riverwalk to street level, integrating with the urban fabric. The building’s form, shaped by conical voids, culminates in a primary public space formed by the intersection of two of these voids, featuring a café, open studio, and gallery. Cream-colored louvers adorn the facade, oriented for solar shading, while providing views from all four sides.

CHICAGO reFRAMEd transcends traditional structures, offering a transformative statement in Chicago’s urban landscape. Through thoughtful design, it fosters a dynamic blend of artistic creativity, public engagement, and a harmonious relationship with the surrounding environment.

Professor: Chandler Ahrens

Washington University in St. Louis Fall 2023

Massing model, made from a series of planes and conical voids that impress contour lines into the form. The plaza level has a series of occupiable cones, which serve as winter gardens, and a large opening at the center, where a spiral staircase brings the user from riverwalk level to street level.

The original facade study model. The design was developed into the site strategy.

Primary public space floor plan 1. gallery 2. open studio 3. library 4. cafe/bar 5. restroom

Massing model in the site, next to the Chicago River.

Interior perspective showing the view from the drawing studio into the exhibition space, and the casting studio beyond.

Sculpting Spaces

Live/work space for sculptor Rachel Whiteread 1944 Cherokee Street, St. Louis, MO

The Cherokee Street neighborhood of St. Louis is known for its vibrant arts culture, including live music venues and art galleries. This space for living, making, and exhibitng art is for sculptor Rachel Whiteread, and pays homage to her renowned exploration of solid and void, aligning with her sculptural practice. The layout emphasizes the contrast between compression and release, echoing Whiteread’s manipulation of space and form.

At the heart of the design is the exhibition space, where Whiteread’s ‘Untitled (Stairs)’ (seen in the render on the left) project takes center stage. Natural light streams through a grid-patterned glass ceiling, creating a dynamic interplay of light and shadow that accentuates the sculptural qualities of her work.

Adjacent to the exhibition area is a dedicated casting studio, equipped for working with various materials such as resin and concrete. A flexible layout allows for seamless transitions between the creative process and the display of finished pieces.

The studio’s architecture reflects Whiteread’s meticulous attention to detail, with carefully curated spaces that invite contemplation and reflection. A small drawing studio at the front of the lot provides a tranquil retreat for creative inspiration, while a private stairway leads to Whiteread’s living quarters—a minimalist yet functional space designed for both relaxation and artistic contemplation.

Professor: Aaron Schump

Washington University in St. Louis Fall 2022

Concrete casting modules that interlock into different configurations.

North facing section showing the drawing studio and living space for Rachel Whiteread.

East facing section showing the casting studio, exhibition space, the drawing studio, and living

Physical model photos showing the main living space and the casting studio.

Composite render of the pavilion in the City Museum’s first floor.

Section of the pavilion, showing how the beams conform to the contours of the body.

Flexible Frames

Play structure located within the City Museum St. Louis, MO

The St. Louis City Museum is home to several artist-built playgrounds and installations. This project proposes a yoga play pavilion, located at the entrance of the building, amidst the Enchanting Caves and aquatic installations.

The pavilion’s activity fits into this serene context, as acts as a quiet refuge from the otherwise lively space. The yoga pavilion is comprised of five multilevel containers. The openslat form allows for the insertion of beams, which can be grasped to help guide stretches. The beams can be inserted at any height, making them adaptable for any visitor, young or old. The user moves around the pavilion in a counter-clockwise motion, and returns through all the containers to exit. The base of the pavilion is occupiable, tall enough for a child to run around or crawl through. Thus, the pavilion serves as frames, boundaries where movement transpires, where people are encouraged to explore their own flexibility within this flexible framework.

Professor: Carl Karlen

Washington University in St. Louis Spring 2022

Composite of the extruded floor plans of Alvar Aalto’s house and studio and the Schindler House. The resulting string-like elements from this addition and subtraction exercise are denoted in red.

Final physical model of the pavilion.

Floor plan of the pavilion.