ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN PORTFOLIO SPRING 2015
J OHN W. L YNCH
CONTENTS 04
ECOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION 05
06
CYCLAMEN PERSICUM
SELF-SUSTAINING TERRARIUM 07
TERRARIUM | ELEVATION
08
TERRARIUM | DIAGRAMS 10
TERRARIUM | MODEL 14
15
SITE ANALYSIS | STEEPLE MAPPING
16
SITE ANALYSIS | VERTICALITY STUDY 18
19 20
SITE ANALYSIS
VERTICAL GREENHOUSE
VERTICAL GREENHOUSE | CONCEPT SECTION
VERTICAL GREENHOUSE | CONCEPT FLOORPLANS 22
VERTICAL GREENHOUSE | CONCEPT MODEL 24
VERTICAL GREENHOUSE | FLOORPLANS
28
VERTICAL GREENHOUSE | ELEVATION 29 30
VERTICAL GREENHOUSE | SECTION VERTICAL GREENHOUSE | MODEL
ECOLOGICAL ORGANIZATION CYCLAMEN PERSICUM
Cyclamen is a perennial native to Europe and the Mediterranean region that grows from tubers. They tend to be a favorite in garden beds because they are hardy and can tolerate cold climates. Plus, they are low maintenance and pest resistant. Cyclamen does best in rich soils with high humus content that drains freely.
04
Most cyclamen species originate from the Mediterranean, where summers are hot and dry and winters are cool and wet. The species is summer-dormant: their leaves sprout in the autumn, remain through the winter, and wither the next spring. Cyclamen Purpurascens and Cyclamen Colchium, however, originate from cooler regions in mountains, and their leaves remain through the summer and wither only after the next year’s leaves have developed.
C Y C L A M E N
05
cyclamen perisicum studies.
SELF-SUSTAINING TERRARIUM
DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING CONDITIONS
In selecting the plant Cyclamen Perisicum, three major systems were needed to create a self-sustaining environment: 1) cooling mechanism to maintain temperatures at or around 60o F; 2) root-based, drip irrigation to prevent corroding of the plant’s leaves; and 3) a dappled-shade environment to mimic the plant’s natural forest floor home.
06
Because of the essential need for these systems to maintain dynamic operating conditions, their functional units were used as the core of the terrarium’s visual aesthetic. Pulling on precedents such as the Pompidou Center, the unit is centered around a system of tubing that runs from the bottom to the top in a visual array. Moreover, the tubing system fulfills all necessary functional criteria to maintain a self-sustaining environment by collecting water and dispersing it for drip irrigation near the system’s base, and then collecting the interior unit’ excess heat and ventilating it through the top. This tall chimney of tubes also works with the alternating transparent greenhouse facade to give the plant dappled sunlight exposure.
B T E R R A R I U M
07
self-sustaining cyclamen terrarium. east elevation. 3/8� = 1�
B
heat ventilation because hot air rises, opening in the tubes - now running vertically towards the top of the system - allow for the warmer air to exit the system. this natural phenomena is known as the stack effect and allows for natural ventilation
drip irrigation
08
excess water running through the plant’s soil or condensing down post-precipitation is collected in openings in a series of slanted pipes that redirect the water to a reservoir to be pumped back up to the platform for drip irrigation
cool air flow as the hot air exits the top of the space, the vacuum within the relatively enclosed volume creates a natural ventilation as cool air is pulled in through the apertures down below
self-sustaining cyclamen terrarium. section B-B. air & water flow diagram. 3/8� = 1�
dappled shade
T E R R A R I U M
to create a dappled shade effect for the plant, an alternating panel greenhouse surrounds the interior space, allowing for brief sun exposure in certain areas over time
09
self-sustaining cyclamen terrarium. isometric system unit. exploded exterior walls. 3/8� = 1�
10
self-sustaining cyclamen terrarium. tubing details. 1/32” polystyrene, 1/16” clear acrylic, 1/8” diameter clear vinyl tuping, sand, soil, water
T E R R A R I U M
11
self-sustaining cyclamen terrarium. 1/32” polystyrene, 1/16” clear acrylic, 1/8” diameter clear vinyl tuping, sand, soil, water
SITE ANALYSIS | 1017 LAFAYETTE AVE, ST. LOUIS, MO VERTICALITY
Inspired by the towering church steeples that speckled the urban horizon from various viewpoints on the site, a small study was done on verticality in the urban sphere of St. Louis. In a “section cut” of the city, structures that dominated the atmospheric level of urban density were highlighted and compared with other levels within St. Louis’ urban sphere.
14
In studying verticality as a phenomena, the sense of rising upwards to a narrower point became the primary subject of moving forward. By inverting the vertical forms created by church steeples, water towers, and the Gateway Arch, viewers could experience a new and ephemeral way to rise above the primary urban density levels.
S I T E S T U D Y
15
st. john nepomuk catholic church steeple. street corner visibility views.
16
st. louis urban sphere section cut. photo collage.
S I T E S T U D Y
17
VERTICAL GREENHOUSE FORM & ECOLOGY
The greenhouse design stems from both the initial terrarium, as well as the phenomena of verticality inspired by the site location in Soulard. Early designs focused heavily on the inversion of height, leading to unique structural elements that resembled inverted steeples and held growing floor plates winding upwards in an inverted manner.
18
As the design progressed, the idea of pushing the structural nature of the building as both a functional element and an aesthetic element stemmed from the dual nature of the self-sustaining terrarium. The inverted steeples were adapted into an entirely new structural skin. The skin consisted of modulated triangular systems that, in addition to supporting the entire structure, served as the planting beds for the greenhouse’s fauna. The final stages of the greenhouse’s design process returned to the ephemeral effect moving upwards through the building would have on visitors. To reinforce this growth upwards, floor-plates and wall partitions were arranged to force spiral movements as one progressed to the higher floors, and stairs and inclines were dispersed for a constant upward motion.
G R E E N H O U S E
19
vertical greenhouse concept section. graphite on paper. 1/4� = 1’
20
level 4 floorplan. vertical greenhouse concept. graphite on paper. 1/4” = 1’
level 3 floorplan. vertical greenhouse concept. graphite on paper. 1/4” = 1’
G R E E N H O U S E
21
level 2 floorplan. vertical greenhouse concept. graphite on paper. 1/4� = 1’
vertical greenhouse. concept model. 1/16” polystyrene, 1/8” polystyrene hollow rods, 1/64” polystyreene rods, 1/16” basswood, 1/2” foam core, foliage
G R E E N H O U S E
23
A
+ 03’ 03” 00’ 00” + 37’ 00”
+ 17’ 03”
24 + 29’ 00”
A
fifth level floorplan. vertical greenhouse. 1/16” = 1’
G R E E N H O U S E
A
00’ 00”
+ 03’ 03” + 24’ 00”
+ 17’ 03”
25
+ 22’ 00”
+ 20’ 00”
A
fourth level | floor plan | 1/4” = 1’ fourth level floorplan. vertical greenhouse. 1/16” = 1’
+ 29’ 00”
A
00’ 00” + 03’ 03”
+ 19’ 03” + 17’ 03”
26
+ 11’ 00” + 09’ 00”
A
third level floorplan. vertical greenhouse. 1/16” = 1’
G R E E N H O U S E
A + 03’ 00”
00’ 00” + 03’ 03”
+ 05’ 03”
- 11’ 06”
A
second level floorplan [ground floor]. vertical greenhouse. 1/16” = 1’
27
28
west elevation. vertical greenhouse. 1/16” = 1’
5
+ 37’ 00”
4
+ 29’ 00”
3
+ 19’ 03”
2
+ 05’ 03”
1
- 11’ 06”
G R E E N H O U S E
29
section A-A. interior & exterior rendering. vertical greenhouse. 1/16� = 1’
vertical greenhouse. final model. 1/16” polystyrene, 1/8” polystyrene hollow rods, 1/64” polystyreene rods, 1/16” basswood, 1/2” foam core, 1/8” diameter clear vinyl tubing, soil, foliage
G R E E N H O U S E
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32
G R E E N H O U S E
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601 H EATHERCREST C OURT | S IMPSONVILLE , SC 29681 | 864-263-8890 JWLYNCH @ WUSTL . EDU