ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO JACKIE KATCHER IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY SELECTED WORKS 2012
CONTENTS STUDIES INSTRUMENT OF LIGHT
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NATURAL LAYERS
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PROJECTS URBAN RETREAT
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HEALING LANDSCAPE
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STUDIES
INSTRUMENT OF LIGHT KRUKOWSKI STUDIO SPRING 2012
In the beginning of our architectural education, it is important for us to understand light and how it interacts within a space. So naturally, we explored light through an architectural study called “The Instrument.” As I explored light and its vast qualities, I found translucency, reflectivity, and density to be the most fascinating. I began my exploration by creating an oculus in which to examine light and reflective qualities it has within the oculus. The oculus was constructed using an origami module method in which each module interlocks with one another. After exploring light through the eye, I next explored translucency and density at a human scale so that one is surrounding by this quality of light. I did this using the same origami module method as before, but this time creating an entire blanket of trace paper modules so that it wraps around the body, capturing them in light. When wrapped in this instrument of light, the user experiences the radiating effects of light on one’s soul.
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NATURAL LAYERS IN COLLABORATION WITH JOSHUA SANDERS GOCHE STUDIO FALL 2012 Before analyzing a site’s capability, one must understand the layers of the site and how they interact with one another. So to develop our site anaylsis skills, we observed Ledges State Park in Boone, IA. This site is a public park with a diverse topography, a creek that runs through the middle, and many places to explore and relax. Because our study took place during Labor Day weekend, there were many people to observe and evaluate their interactions within the park. This led to our discovery of nodes and lines of sight based on elevations within the site. By understanding the human interactions within the site, we developed a model based on these observations. In our concluding observations, we produced a drawing that demonstrated the natural layers that already exist within the site and overlayed the human layers to further understand the relationships developed between nature and man.
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PROJECTS
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URBAN RETREAT KRUKOWSKI STUDIO SPRING 2012
After “The Instrument� study, the focus of this project was, of course, light and how light can be used to retreat from the life of the city. Upon developing the program for our project, it was important for us to understand the sociological and psychological impacts that architecture has on its environment and the people of Chicago. Since the site was located in Dusable Park, next to Lake Shore Drive and Navy Pier, it was crucial for us create a transitioning from the loud, busy city to a quiet, relaxing retreat center. After mapping and plentiful research of the area, it became apparent to me that creating a meditation retreat would be the most beneficial and most desired for an escape from the city life. The transition from the city to the quiet is not only taken into account on the exterior, but also on the interior so that the program is laid out in a transitioning order. The proposed mediation retreat, in transitioning order, includes a communal kitchen for eating meditation practices, central courtyards for walking meditation practices, six overnight lodging units, and finally, a group meditation space for insight meditation practices. During the warmer months, users can freely walk on outdoor pathways and/or practice solitary meditation using mediation pods located along the pathways. Each of these spaces utilizes its own natural lighting technique to create an overall relaxing atmosphere, allowing them to focus on themselves so that they can give back to others.
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HEALING LANDSCAPE IN COLLABORATION WITH JOSHUA SANDERS GOCHE STUDIO FALL 2012
After developing our methodology from the “Natural Layers� study, we automatically began to recognize the layers of our new site. The site is located in between St. Charles and Winterset, IA on a 40-acre rural plot of land. Currently, this site consists of three main conditions: agricultural production, prairie/meadow with rolling hills, and dense woods. One of the most unique features about the land that we found to be quite fascinating is its topography and how it transitions within the site. This led us to investigate the large swale in between two of the largest hills on the site as a possibility of where to build. Our exploration of the site led us to analyzing the natural layers or the existing conditions of the site, such as the soil types and stability, and the human perception layers, such as the view corridors and lines of sight. After anaylzing the site and looking at covered bridge precedents from around the area, we realized that there was a strong potential for the building to engage with the swale by bridging the gap and emphasizing the elevation change within the site. The proposal for the site was a caregiver retreat center that would not only serve the medical community, but also the local community by bringing them together to produce food as a whole. By the act of growing and producing food for one another, this emphasizes the need to help and to heal each other at the same time, allowing both communities to grow even stronger. The retreat gardens includes a lounge/gathering space, communal kitchen, indoor/outdoor dining, greenhouse, eight private overnight lodging units, and fruit and vegetable production gardens with a potting shed and potato cellar.
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