John Baxter Taylor Smith M. Arch Portfolio
BSBA International Business ‘11 University of Denver
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Contents New York/Paris Introduction to Architecture Past Work
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Columbia University GSAPP Shape of Two Cities: New York/Paris Fall 2012 Critics: Jane Kim, Thomas de Monchaux, Eduardo Rega The New York/Paris program is a yearlong architecture program run by the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. The first semester takes place on the Columbia University campus in New York. The second half of the program is spent at Reid Hall, Columbia’s affiliate campus in Paris. The program is focused around the design studio, which in itself is focused on fashion and blending a physical New York site with a conceptual Paris site. Each project gradually increased in scale, moving from the body to a fashion atelier. Each studio group rotated through the cirtics, with each group having two of the critics twice.
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(left) Sightlines and movement through the site.
Site: Orchard St between Delancy and Broome, New York City Critic: Jane Kim
The analysis of the site focused on the relationship between one’s head movement and the direction travelled. A prosthetic device was created to align this relationship as one entity. 6
(above) Prosthesis on site. (right) Elevation of device.
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(above right) Using the structure. (above, far right) Space invader. (bottom) Space suit.
Site: Fashion District Critic: Thomas de Monchaux
I became obsessed with the ideas of space invader and space suit, both derived from George Perec’s Species of Spaces, which became the two focus points of this design for a changing room.
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(above, left) Space invader and space suit woven into model.
Site: Bryant Park and the Pompidou Center Critic: Eduardo Rega
(above) Speed and focus.
One’s path of movement is dictated by the end destination. Comparing the paths of someone looking for an acceptable spot to read and another person running back to work lead to the creation of bleachers that inhibit and enhance movement. 10
(above) Plan and elevation. (above right) Using the bleachers. (right) Effect of the structure on the site.
(above) See and seen.
Site: Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center Critic: Eduardo Rega
After studying a security guard while being studied by the same security guard I latched on to the idea of seeing and being seen. I created a fashion atelier that represented this idea inside the architecture and on the site by using the exisitng architecute and infesting it with my program.
(left) Atelier open to the public. (above, left) Atelier during a fashion show. (above, right) Site plan.
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(below) Elevations. (right) Plan.
(left) Impact of architecture on the Lincoln Center Opera House.
Site: Paris Opera House Critic: Jane Kim
(above) Impact of existing structure on views and movement.
Compressing and expanding views and collapsing and enlarging space was the focal point of the fashion atelier designed for the Paris Opera House Atrium. 16
(above) Effect of the atelier in the Atrium. (right, above) Collapsing and enlarging space (right) Compressing and expanding views.
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(right) Axonometric representation of the atelier in the Atrium.
(left) Conceptual collage demonstrating effect of model on the Paris Opera House.
Columbia University GSAPP Introduction to Architecture Summer 2012 Critic: Thomas de Monchaux The Introduction to Architecture program is a five week summer intensive class held by Columbia University, GSAPP. The class is designed for students that have little to no experience with architecture and introduces the students to the subject in a graduate setting. The whole program revolved around a vacant site at the intersection of 125th street and Lenox Avenue in Harlem, Manhattan and using a PS1 MoMA young architects installation as a source of inspiration.
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Site: 125th and Lenox Ave, Harlem
Experiencing the site during rush hour led to the documentation of movement from animate and inanimate objects over the course of two traffic cycles.
Site: Living space
Analyzing everyday activities over a 24 hour period was the basis for representing the space I inhabit. Actions are split between the morning when time is rushed and evening when time is relaxed. 23
Site: Wendy, PS1 MoMA
(left) Detail of the axonometric representation of Wendy. (above) Group experience at the site.
As a group we studied the installation at PS1 and diagrammed our experinence at the site. Wendy, the installation, became the focus for the rest of the term and inspired out later work. The above diagram represents our groups movements in, around, and under the installation during a hot summer day. Our movements track that of the suns shadow cast by Wendy. 24
(right) Axonometric representation the Wendy Installation.
Site: Outside of Avery, GSAPP
I created a wearable Wendy based on my experience at the site that limited vision while focusing sight. The diagram above shows my movements in front of Avery Library trying to find the entrance. Each problem encourted on my journey resulted in a pause of activitly.
(above) Wearable Wendy experience. (opposite page) Mugshots.
(top left) Wendy unwrapped. (top right) Wendy cut out. (right) Cross sections.
Site: 125th and Lenox Ave, Harlem
As a group we unwrapped the fabric of Wendy and used it as a source of material to create a row of interconnected town houses on our site in Harlem. The results are shown from the unroll to the finished model to the diagram of the livable Wendy.
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(right) Diagram of the the space and path in the model.
University of Denver Drawing Fall 2010 Instructor: Alfredo Ortiz The following work was created during my senior year in college in a basic drawing class. It was my first real exposure to formal drawing, and became the foundation of all future work. The assignments built up particular drawing skills and used several types of media extensively throughout the course.
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(right) Paint brushes in a jar with water. (middle) Eggs and shadows. (far right) Vermeer recreated.
Project Eats Community Garden Shed Spring 2012 Build It Green! NYC is a not for profit that, in conjunction with other nonprofits throughout the New York City area, seeks to develop stronger communities. Build It Green diverts waste from the land fill through donations and provides discounted building supplies and home goods to the public. While working with BIG I was exposed many community driven groups and enjoyed helping them complete their mission. This particular project was conducted by Projects Eats, a nonprofit focused on bringing awareness of healthy eating to underprivileged communities in New York City. This particular site is located in Harlem. I helped design and source the necessary materials from Build It Green, and then helped build the shed on the community garden site.
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(top right) Side of shed. (top, far right) The completed shed.
(bottom, far right) Front and side of shed. (bottom, right) Staging the materials for the shed.
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John Baxter Taylor Smith 554 Fowler Avenue Pelham, NY 10803 jbsmith53@gmail.com 914.374.2589