Architecture Design Portfolio by Grace Choy

GRACE

DESIGN PORTFOLIO

GRACE

Bachelor of Architecture 371 Fort Washington Avenue Apartment 5B New York City, NY 10033 510.585.8374 gracehchoy@gmail.com

DESIGN PHILOSOPHY After five years of being an architecture student, working at several design firms, and studying in Europe, it has become apparent to me that architecture should truly be about the users for which it is built, along with the people and environment that are affected by its presence. This entails an understanding of culture: personal culture,

societal culture, and global culture. To counter the practice of mere object-making, architecture must question the status quo of the practice as it exists today, for it is uniquely positioned to respond to societal issues in order to improve both the built environment and the interactions that thrive in the midst of it.

EMBOLDENED THESIS TOPIC

“Creativity Emboldened” focuses on architecture’s role in counteracting boredom, disengagement from space, and the mere consumption of experiences by providing spaces that engage individuals in the present moment through means of creative authorial control over their experiences.

LOCATION

San Francisco, California

DESCRIPTION

Linking the two sides of the Embarcadero, this 400,000 square-foot culture house is a demonstration project of the potential of architecture to engage individuals in the present moment in time. It consists of an auditorium, an innovation center, three cinemas, a multi-purpose recreation center, classrooms, a library, art/exhibition galleries, and a farmer’s market/food culture center. The atrium space is comprised of manipulatable platforms and programmatic dividers that serve to link the various program elements together. As the experience of each individual is based on timing and perception, no experience is the same for two people. Through the use of the moving elements, visitors must be actively engaged in the space, navigating the catwalks and platforms to reach their next destination. It is the hope that this stumble-upon quality of the space will encourage people to participate in activities that they might never have otherwise chosen to experience had they not visited the culture house.

CULTURE HOUSE AERIAL

SITE ANALYSIS

LIG MA

RKE

TRE

THE

RKE

ADE

ARC

EMB

ADVISOR

Doug Jackson

MAJOR STREETS

Intersection of Market Street and the Embarcadero

RAIL

TRE

THE

ADE

ARC

EMB

BAR T

CIRCULATION

Pedestrian circulation along Market Street and the Embarcadero

0 2 | C R E AT I V I T Y E M B O L D E N E D LIG

RAIL

LIG

RAIL

CIRCULATION

Public transportation with above-ground light rail and underground BART

RKE

TRE

THE

RKE

ERO

CAD

AR EMB

LIG

ROOFTOP ACTIVITY

TRE

RKE

ERO

CAD

BAR

EM THE

RAIL

LIG

TRE

THE

ADE

ARC

EMB

RAIL

PIER 1/2

BAR T

EMBARCADERO 4

HYATT REGENCY ONE MARKET ST.

BAR T

HYATT REGENCY

FERRY BUILDING PIER 1

RKE

MARKET MIXED OFFICE/RETAIL HOTEL

CIRCULATION

SURROUNDING BUILDINGS

LIG

PIER 1

TRE

THE

FERRY BUILDING PIER 1

S A N F R A NCIS C

MARKET MIXED OFFICE/RETAIL HOTEL

Y O BA

Open plaza / green space currently used for outdoor markets and events RAIL

ONE MARKET ST.

ADE

ARC

EMB

OPEN SPACE

Site primarily surrounded by mixed-use facilities

HYATT REGENCY

FERRY BUILDING

ONE MARKET ST.

Vehicular traffic along Market Street and the Embarcadero

EMBARCADERO 4

MARKET MIXED OFFICE/RETAIL HOTEL

Y S A N F R A NCIS C O B A

PROPOSED MASSING

Culture house bridging over the Embarcadero

BUILDING DIAGRAMS

PROGRAM (FEET) performance art auditorium farmer’s market & food culture

PROGRAM (TRUSS)

art museum learning center

LONG SECTION 04

A 60-foot high truss system and collector beam system embedded in the feet support the mass of the culture house.

CIRCULATION Two sets of escalators, one in either foot, guide visitors into the mass of the culture house. A series of interstitial stairs and ramps connect the different program elements together.

innovation center cinema convention center

0’

PRIMARY STRUCTURE

40’

GREEN SPACE

PROGRAMMATIC PLATFORMS

Green space is present at the ramped entrance, the roof, and the entrance on the opposite side of the Embarcadero, which leads straight to the bay.

In constant motion, mechanized platforms (some large enough to hold events for many people and some purely for circulation) are held up by tracks.

CATWALK & TRACK SYSTEM

PROGRAMMATIC DIVIDERS

Catwalks and tracks run the entire length of the building, connecting the various program elements and holding up movable programmatic platforms and dividers.

In constant motion, mechanized programmatic dividers connect the various program elements together, creating an ever-changing environment.

SECTION PERSPECTIVE OF ATRIUM ACTIVITY

COMPONENTS Each of the individual components move independently of each other along a fixed track system along the long axis of the culture house, creating different scenarios and interactions depending upon program to program connection. 06

tiered platform

regular platform

oblique platform

flat platform

fold-down divider

sliding panel divider

enclosed divider

flat divider

SCENARIOS (MORNING)

M3 M2 M1

M1: EMBARCADERO HISTORY

Exhibition content is interchangeable throughout the day. Connecting the gallery space and innovation center, todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exhibit teaches visitors about the history of the site.

M2: LIBRARY/READING ROOM

In the morning, the central library space connects the learning center and the screen attached to the cinema.

M3: SPORTS VENUE

The sports platform connects the recreation center and the learning center, creating a central location for many people to meet and play.

SCENARIOS (AFTERNOON)

A3 A2 A1

A1: IMPROMPTU FASHION SHOW

In the afternoon, the larger platform is shifted to connect the gallery and innovation center, allowing for a fashion show to occur.

A2: TEACHING LAB

Making use of the same platform from earlier in the morning, the teaching lab utilizes the table surfaces and the cinemaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s screen.

A3: VENDOR

During lunchtime, the vendor connects the recreation center and the learning center, providing a place for people to socialize.

SCENARIOS (EVENING)

E3 E2 E1

E1: CONCERT

At night, a concert draws a large crowd to the culture house, utilizing not only the movable platforms but also filling up the flanking program units.

E2: MOVIE

Connecting the learning center and the cinema, the evening screening of a classic film draws a wide demographic.

E3: POP-UP BAR

After a long day at work and school, the pop-up bar is an inviting place to spend time with friends and meet new people.

OVERALL MODEL

DETAIL MODEL

INNOVATION LOCATION

Copenhagen, Denmark

TYPE

Adaptive Reuse and Addition, Innovative Danish Product Design Showroom and Workspace

DESCRIPTION

As the major focus of the project is to educate the public about innovative Danish product design, the line between the work done inside of the incubator areas and the public functions begin to blur. In this mutual relationship, the people working in the incubators show the inquisitive public what is new in innovative product design while the public provides the observations about daily life and needs in order for new products to be designed in the first place. The other issue at hand is how to treat the existing building in an adaptive reuse project. Keeping the main structure exposed and the defining INNOVATIVE characteristics of the building intact are of prime importance. Doing this also refers back to the design process in general in INNOVATIVE ? that new designs always take precedent from what has come beforehand. Although INQUISITIVE there are new elements within the building ? that make it modern, the character of the existing building remains, creating a INQUISITIVE harmony between the two.

INNOVATORS

ADAPTIVE REUSE / ADDITION EXTERIOR

PUBLIC

CONCEPT PARTI

PUBLIC

With these issues in mind, this revamp INNOVATIVE on the Carlsberg site concentrates on the concepts of clarity, exposure, and the dissemination of knowledge in relation INNOVATIVE ? the to the dialogue between the public and workers.

ADVISOR

INNOVATORS

and the south sides of the building, maximized views occur in those directions. The majority of

EXISTING

PUBLIC

Michael Cederfeld 1 4 | E X P L O R I N G I N N O VAT I O N

EXISTING

INNOVATORS

INQUISITIVE ?

INQUISITIVE

VIEWS As the largest facade area exists on the north

PUBLIC

NEW

the Carlsberg site can be seen to the south and up-scale housing projects can be seen to the north. While the building axis exists in the eastwest direction, the axis of visual connections and design rationale is in the north-south direction.

PROGRAM

CIRCULATION

GROUND FLOOR horizontal circulation

vertical circulation

KNOWLEDGE SPACES

FIRST FLOOR lobby

exhibit

cafe

administration

addition

incubator

incubator support

private

The incubators are supported by the existing mushroom columns on the ground floor. They â&#x20AC;&#x153;floatâ&#x20AC;? above the exhibit space, creating a dialogue between the innovators and the public. Much like the incubators, the learning center floats above the ground floor. It mimics the incubators because they serve the same purpose in that they provide knowledge for the public.

SUN & WIND

CIRCULATION

The building has primarily an east-west axis,

The main circulation path, both pedestrian and

allowing for a large south facade to take

vehicular, that is the closest to the building

in daylight and heat. Without tall buildings

is located towards the north. To access the

near the warehouse, the project receives an

warehouse, visitors can take the path west of

abundant amount of sunlight. The dominant

the building and enter from the front. Because

wind comes from the south-west direction,

the open courtyard space south of the building

and with the building having an east-west axis

facilitates social interaction, the south side

similar to that of the wind direction, efficient

of the building is the most strategic place to

cross ventilation can occur.

position the front facade. 15

EXHIBITION AREA

SOUTH ELEVATION SCALE 1:300

EAST ELEVATION SCALE 1:300

ffice office

learning center

lobby

auditorium

labs and reading spaces

lobby

exhibit

cafe

auditorium

kitchen

incubator

exhibit

office

meeting

office

cafe

exhibit

LEARNING CENTER ADDITION

INCUBATOR AREA

office

kitchen

learning center

auditorium UP office

meeting

office

PHYSICAL MODEL

office

learning center

labs and reading spaces

workshop

incubator

exhibit

incubator

lecture

incubator

labs and reading spaces

incubator

exhibit

admin

auditorium

workshop

storage

LONG SECTION UP SCALE 1:300

office

auditorium

incubator

incubator auditorium

auditorium

REUSE SECTION SCALE 1:300

ADDITION SECTION SCALE 1:300

meeting w DN

exhibit

incubator

inc

FLEXIBILITY LOCATION

Copenhagen, Denmark

TYPE

Urban Infill, Furniture Showroom

DESCRIPTION

Contemporary Danish furniture draws from what was successful in the past and is characterized as simple, functional, innovative, and aesthetic. In keeping with the pieces of furniture that it houses, the four-story furniture showroom reflects the same characteristics while respecting the historical context of the site on which it sits. Because it is important to allow individuals inside of the building to control their immediate environment in order to meet their comfort needs, a flexible and easily manipulatable facade system was developed for the occupants of the showroom. As both the rooms and facade are divided into thirds, replicating the rule of thirds utilized on the facades of many of the buildings on StrĂ¸get, each of the major functions has control of its own folding screen system. The manipulation of the screens throughout the hours of the day makes the overall facade an ever-changing element on the major pedestrian street.

ADVISOR

Michael Cederfeld

URBAN INFILL EXTERIOR

PROGRAM

CIRCULATION private

The public functions of the showroom and the sales office are concentrated on the bottom two floors while the more private staff functions are located on the top two floors. staff rooms and offices

circulation core

conference rooms

mechanical and private core

showroom and sales

18 | CONTROLLED FLEXIBILITY

public

The circulation core and the mechanical/ private core are situated in the back of the building to maximize the public functions in the front.

showroom

SHUTTER FLEXIBILITY

GROUND LEVEL SHOWROOM CLOSED

SEMI-OPEN

OPEN

SHUTTER DETAIL

track

sliding rod

shutter rod

connector rod

hinge

SECOND LEVEL CONFERENCE ROOM

FLOOR PLANS GROUND LEVEL

SHOWROOM m

FIRST LEVEL

CONFERENCE ROOMS m

sales

furniture showroom

SECOND LEVEL

SHOWROOM & SALES

furniture showroom

outdoor show room

kitchen

conference room presentation room

THIRD LEVEL

STAFF ROOMS AND OFFICES

dining admin office

admin office

I N T E G R AT I O N LOCATION

Frederiksberg, Denmark

TYPE

Culture House

DESCRIPTION

A c ul t ure ho us e in Denmark i s m u c h l i k e a l arge-s cale community c e n t e r i n t h e U ni t ed States. Compone n t s o f t h e c u l ture house include a thea t e r, d i n i n g a r e a s, rea d i ng and media ro o m s, an d m u l t i -purp ose exhibition s pac e . Up o n a r r i val on t h e site in Frederik sb e r g , w h i ch i s a relatively affluent are a w i t h t h e core d emographics being y o u n g f a mi l i es or t he elderly, what w as s tr i ki ngl y evident was the co n t rast b e t w een t he st atic elements an d t h o se w hi ch showed movem e nt. A s t h e si t e i s t he inters ection of m aj o r m od es a nd layers of trans po rt at i o n a n d t he m ov ement of people , t h e c u l ture house reflects this lay e r i n g an d m ovement o f both people an d i d e as b y creat i ng a n ode for interac t i o n fo r e v e r yone i n the city. It is a c u l t u ral h u b f or t he i nt ermingling of the su r r o u n d i n g a r e a s, a rt i sts, and the public as an i n t eg ral p art of life in Frede ri k sb e rg .

ADVISOR

FREDERIKSBER

G ALLE

CULTURE HOUSE EXTERIOR

Bo Christiansen RO

NODAL CONCEPT

PLATANVEJ

SITE PLAN

individual units form an interlocking structure that embraces the node.

above-ground movement below-ground movement common node

above-ground movement individual units form a interlocking structure that embraces the node

below-ground movement

FREDERIKS

common node

BERG AL

FREDERIKSBERG

ALLE

FREDERIKSBERG

ALLE

PLATANVE J

FREDERIKSBERG

common node

individual units form a interlocking structure that embraces the node

below-ground movement

above-ground movement individual units form a interlocking structure that embraces the node

PLATANVEJ

2 0 | N O D A L I N T E G R AT I O N

METRO EXIT

COLOR INSPIRATION

The hues are drawn from materials, surfaces, and landscaping surrounding the site in Frederiksberg.

PROGRAM theater

media / reading

STRUCTURE Each of the major program spaces is housed in a separate block, which when composed together, embraces the â&#x20AC;&#x153;node.â&#x20AC;? The exhibit space supports the program blocks above it. When put together, the intersections of each of the blocks are where vertical visual connections occur, whether it be by means of stairs or double and triple height spaces.

The cantilever is supported by tensioned diagonal bracing, and their forces are brought all the way to piles in the ground. structural members highlighted in red represent those in tension

dining / meeting exhibit lobby

piles deep in the ground

DINING HALL

THEATER

NORTH ELEVATION

WEST ELEVATION

10m

OPERABLE PANEL

GLAZING

INSULATION

STEEL STRUCTURE

Because theaters are a major attraction along Frederiksberg Alle, the dominant cantilever of the building houses the theater of the culture house, leading visitors to the most important and grand function of the building. A series of operable panels allow light to penetrate the space when necessary or close for the use of only artificial lighting, dependent upon the functionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs.

THEATER DETAIL SECTION 0

1.5m

T R A N S F I G U R E D

COMMUNITY LOCATION

Somerville, Massachusetts

TYPE

Open Building Competition

DESCRIPTION

The Open Building Competition challenges students to design buildings and outdoor spaces within a specified site, based on the existing urban fabric. As the site is situated in a location that links the residential, commercial, and industrial areas of Somerville, designing an urban setting that fosters a sense of community among the many different people of the city was of major significance. In addition, providing outdoor spaces and buildings within the urban context that were versatile enough to withstand the test of time and the ever-changing functions was crucial for the area to be sustainable. In order to meet these goals, it was important to create nodes of common outdoor areas such as town squares and parks that are inviting to the wide demographics of the city. The site promotes the use of more sustainable transportation methods, such as the bus, train, and bicycle. As Somerville is known for its art scene, it was beneficial to integrate the existing art school and studios with art walls that weave the entire site together. Overall, creating an urban environment that embodies unity, adaptability, and human connections, which were major characteristics that guided the final design, was of prime importance.

MAIN GREEN PATH

ADVISOR

Curt Illingworth

COLLABORATOR Francisco Choto

24 | TRANSFIGURED COMMUNITY

SITE CIRCULATION vehicle

train

pedestrian

bus stop

PHASE TWO PROGRAM

PHASE ONE PROGRAM bicycle

medical clinic

train station

parking

medical clinic

business hotel

residential

assisted living

clinical office

existing

medical school

gym

clinical office

parking

retail

residential

offices

assisted living

offices

train station existing

GREEN PATH AT NIGHT

100’ 200’

400’

PUBLIC SQUARE AND POND

SITE PLAN The sit e int egr at es t h e su rrou n di n g c i t y by m e a n s o f m u lt ip le tran sp or t at ion met ho ds ru n n i n g t h rou gh t h e a re a . T h e m e d ic a l a n d cl i n i cal o ffices are sit ua t e d on t h e l ow e r e n d of t h e s it e w h ile t h e m o re p ub l i c spaces such as bu si n e ss off i c e s, re t a i l , a n d g y m a re lo c a t e d a t the nort h end of t he sit e , st ra t e gi c a l l y pl a c e d n e a r t h e b u s s t o p a n d t h e trai n s t at io n. As t ime progre sse s, h a l f of t h e m e di c a l o ff ic e s t u r n in t o a med i cal scho ol, wit h bri dge s i n t e gra t i n g bot h f u n c t io n s . I n a d d it io n , h al f of t he clinical off i c e s t u r n i n t o a ssi st e d l i vi n g w h ile t h e c u r re n t l arger assist ed living bu i l di n g t u r n s i n t o a h ot e l f o r p ro f e s s io n a ls vi s i ti ng So merville. 25

OPEN THEATER

ASSISTED LIVING HOME ATRIUM

PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION

LEVEL 1

public space 26

LEVEL 3

LEVEL 2

private/service space

atrium

residential units

LEVEL 4 hallway

stairs/elevators

SUMMER SOLSTICE

SUMMER SOLSTICE WINTER SOLSTICE

GREEN ROOF

OPERABLE WINDOW UNITS

WINTER SOLSTICE

PIVOTING BRACKET

WEATHER BARRIER PANELS CROSS VENTILATION

CROSS VENTILATION

STACK VENTILATION

BRICK CLADDING CONCRETE FLOOR SLAB

I-BEAM CROSS VENTILATION

SOLAR PANEL LOUVERS

BUILDING SECTIONS

WALL SECTION

Th e d esign o f t he as si st e d l i vi n g h om e su pport s g o o d a ir q u a lit y b y natural means o f cros s ve n t i l a t i on a n d st a c k ve n t i l a t io n . I t a llo w s t h e w i n ter sun t o penet r at e t h e bu i l di n g w h i l e bl oc k i n g t h e d ire c t s u m m e r l i gh t. In addit io n, a gre e n roof se rve s a s a h e a t m o d e r a t o r w h ile p rovi d ing growing po t e n t i a l .

To re la t e t o t h e s u r ro u n d in g b u ild in g s , a b r ick clad d ing is us ed fo r m o s t o f t h e d e s ig n e d b u ild in g s w it h in t h e s ite. Op er ab le p er fo r ated p anels ( w it h f r it t e d s o la r lo u v e r s o n t h e s o u t h facad es ) are als o inco r p o r ated to a llo w t h e o c c u p a n t s t o c o n t ro l t h e c om fo r t lev el o f the s p ace in which t h e y o c c u p y.

CIRCULATION

LEVEL 1

horizontal circulation

LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3

LEVEL 4

vertical circulation 27

MÖBI PROJECT

Entry for the Annual Vellum Furniture Competition

TYPE

Sculptural Steel Piece that Functions as Multiple Seating and Table Configurations

DESCRIPTION

Möbi is an ambiguous metal sculpture and furniture piece whose function is derived from the subjective nature of the user’s perspective. A chair no longer has to be just a chair, nor a table merely a table. The ambiguity of this particular piece gives the user the opportunity to utilize his creativity to manipulate the furniture to be more than its typical use. At its initial position, the piece may have elements of a standard chair and is therefore utilized as such by the user. However, seeing additional non-standard elements makes the user wonder why they are present, prompting him to realize that there are other potentials and possibilities for this piece of furniture. The connected nature of the entire steel ribbon is seen as a unified piece where the inner face of one position is the outer face of another, but with the variety of possibilities of chair space, table space, leaning space, ambiguous art piece, etc. that was not anticipated, Möbi has created multiple functions and has ultimately changed the space in which it is situated, which is dependent on the subjective view of the user who is manipulating it.

ADVISOR

Doug Jackson

AWARD

Best of Show Trip to Milan to Attend the Salone del Mobile

28 | MÖBI

MODEL: DONNA MENA

CONSTRUCTION PROCESS

6 7

1 3

6 5 1

1 welded to 2

3 welded to 4

5 welded to 6

4 welded to 1

6 welded to other two sets

8 welded to mid-

Finalized welded piece

length of set

SCENARIOS

chair position

alternative chair position

table surface position

leaning surface position

ambiguous sculptural 29