John Wofford
Selected Works
///John Wofford/// john@johnwofford.net issuu.net/jwoff 803.414.8168
///Architecture/// ACADEMIC Montgomery: Thesis
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Rome: Religare Institute
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Chicago: Tower
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Venice: Night Club
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Montgomery: Boathouse
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Auburn: Intermodal Station
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Vertical Landscape
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PROFESSIONAL Meyer Davis Studio Inc
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///Art&Photography/// 2D/3D INVESTIGATIONS 44 PHOTOGRAPHY Portraits 46 South Carolina Sleeps
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Italia 50 RESUME 52 3
///ARCHITECTURE///
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Thesis: Overlook Tower 85
Montgomery, AL Fall 2010 - Spring 2011 Prof. Behzad Nakhjavan Our thesis assignment was to design a project to improve the struggling downtown area of Montgomery, Alabama. The difficulty with such an open ended assignment is finding a place to start. I investigated and worked on many different ideas to fix the city, but “fixing it” was not the right approach. I needed to look deeper and again ask myself the difficult question of: What does Montgomery really need? After intense studies and research I decided to create a much needed pedestrian connection to the River Walk for the Neighborhood of Cottage Hill. I chose Overlook Park for my site because it’s the only area in Montgomery where you can tie together the downtown, neighborhood, and River Walk. The drastic slope of the site led to the creation of a public elevator. This evolved to become a tower, observation deck, and a monument in the landscape. It’s more than just utility- it’s an icon for Montgomery.
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Trainyard
Chennault Circle ab Al r
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Maxwell Air Force Base
View upon entering
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The need for a pedestrian friendly neighborhood access to the riverwalk drove my final thesis decision. Montgomery’s existing access points are downtown and are built for cars. The closest access point to the neighborhood is part of a parking deck. I explored my options and decided that the unused land known as “Overlook Park” would be an ideal site for several reasons. Overlook Park’s proximity to residential areas, downtown, and the proposed river walk make it a unique spot. You cannot tie all three together anywhere else.
Riverwalk Amphitheater Biscuits Stadium Union Station
The city’s connections determined my site.
Alabama State Capitol Rosa Parks Museum
I-65- Birmingham
St. Andrews Catholic
I-85- Atlanta
Existing Connection Proposed Connection Cottage Hill Overlook Park Train Tracks Planned River Walk Existing Pedestrian Route
200 ft
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Maxwell Blvd
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Hanrick St
Clay St
Herron St
The height of the tower was a result of the steep topography along the riverfront. The level change is 140’. The tower’s observation area is just high enough to see over the houses of the cottage hill neighborhood- giving visitors unobstructed views of the city and surrounding area. The tower has 3 main levels: the entry courtyard from the park along the riverwalk, the pedestrian bridge, and the meditation space/ observation deck. The elevator stops at each level and provides ADA accessibility for the tower’s main features. Level 0 pedestrian entry
Level 0 pedestrian entry
Level 1
Level 0
Level -1
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prismacolor Kelly Wilson Workshop
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1_Courtyard Entry 2_Slanted Stairs 3_Pedestrian Bridge Entry 4_Cable Stairs 5_Meditation Space 6_Observation Space
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Religare Institute Rome, Italy Spring 2010 Prof. Scott Finn The Religare Institute is a modern take on the Roman Baths. Situated in downtown Rome near the Coliseum- the project was sited on an existing park. Instead of taking away a beloved piece of the community, I decided to instead lift up the park and build under it. Placing the spa underground allows for noise and light regulation. It creates an intimate grotto feel and transports the guests away from hectic city life to renew themselves.
we felt concern about building on a park so...
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we lifted up the lawn...
and manipulated the landscape to provide access
Piazza Celimontana
Via Claudia
entrance elevation from Via Claudia
section from Piazza Celimontana
The spa is a process that begins at the cleansing pool. From there you can either walk or swim by the different specialized spa rooms. The different spas drain into the long mixing pool that runs the length of the grotto. This provides a unique way of interacting and previewing the nearby rooms. Each spa drains into the mixing pool, providing the guest with a glimpse of what lies within. For example, upon experiencing a cold spot guests can exit the pool with nearby stairs and enter the frigidarium. Or or if the smell of eucalyptus piques the senses, spa-goers can take a relaxing stop in the aromatherapy room. Whatever their preference- they tailor their own experience at the Religare Institute. The spa terminates at the silent garden- under the ground, but open to the sky. This space holds yoga classes, spiritual guidance, and therapy.
mixing pool
1_lockers 2_cleanse 3_massage 4_caldarium 5_tepedarium 6_frigidarium 7_hydrotherapy 8_salt bath 9_sauna 10_steam room 11_aromatherapy 12_silent garden
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hydrotherapy- silent garden beyond
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spa theater amphitheater classrooms atrium plaza restraunt observation area
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Chicago Tower Chicago, IL Fall 2009 Prof Tarik Ă–rgen The Chicago Tower was a mixed use project in downtown across from Mariano Park. The program required a theater, commercial space, parking, a sports complex with basketball and racquetball, and apartments. The building has a small footprint to create a public area as an extension of the park. The large cantilevered theater has an amphitheater underneath to encourage community events and to give people a place to gather. The public and private realms within the building are separated by a garden. The residents get to mingle in their own private garden on the roof of the gym. Their apartments are above and the semi-public facilities are below.
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section B
section A
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Floor 1
Floor 2
Gym Floor
The ground floor gives a space back to the public. The sunken area outside the restaurant entrance creates a gathering area that can be used as an amphitheater. The first floor store fronts were pushed back on the corner to keep them in line with the street edge.
The second floor contains the theater entrance. The theater above relates to the public space below. The retail area on Rush St. expands to maximize window space and square footage.
The gym level contains a basketball court and racquetball area. The weight room is stacked on top of the changing rooms. The racquetball courts have glass sides and are next to expansive windows giving them an open air feel.
Typical Housing Floor
studio
1 bedroom/ 2-3 if stacked
1 bedroom: dual level
studio
The Skin The skin protects the building, offers privacy, frames views, and controls light. It is constructed of polished steel box bands that react to the need of the building by twisting and bending. With residential units, strips of the skin rotate to block residents from looking onto their neighbor’s porch, but allow them to look outward towards the city. 23
gym level facade
yoga room
gym
theater
restaurant
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su mm er
section B
ter win
The slope of the theater seating is slanted to align with the winter sun angles in Chicago. On cold days, the sun penetrates as far possible into the site. During the summer days it shades people gathered in the amphitheater.
commercial
gym
section A
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living
Night Club Venice, Italy Spring 2009 Prof. Paul Zorr ZEITGEIST: “Spirit of the Times” The digital revolution has given us a new world of opportunities for design, music, and experiences. The orthogonal nature of the building is a nod to the pixel- the building block of digital imaging. The building’s form is pixelated- an abstract reference to the digital world that surrounds us. The canal facing facade is reminiscent of waves in the water or the sound waves in the club. The pixelated undulation morphs into a cornice like piece that runs along the side of the structure. It references classical Venetian style and expands the floor area of the balcony. The courtyard and the first floor are an open layout which allows people to move freely through a crowded area. The space can be opened to the outdoors when the weather permits. This saves on cooling costs and gives the club an open air feel. The roof of the glass enclosure retracts and doors slide open to aid in cross ventilation.
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INVESTIGATIONS The project had an open ended program. I began by studying the influence of digital technology on architecture. The program progressed when I discovered the recently unveiled piezoelectric dance floor. I wanted to explore a piece of technology and how people interface with it. This launched my investigation into sustainable entertainment and clubbing. The building utilizes passive cooling and other low impact technologies. There are ways to reuse water and cut down on waste in a bar- a place that is largely about consuming.
Boat House & River Walk Montgomery, AL Spring 2008 Prof Justin Miller The program required a boathouse for rowing sculls along the Montgomery River Walk development. The project also needed to work in the future expansion of pedestrian walkway. I decided to bring the river walk through the building and allow the public to view the boats and activities going on inside. The wooden wall blocks harsh direct southern light and shades the building in a constantly changing array of shadows. As the visitors’ journey continues towards the river the wall grows and begins to disintegrate. This allows more light through and increases the view, pulling people forward. The wall controls views from the grassy River Walk. It vignettes the rowing sculls on the Alabama River, the River Walk, and the amphitheater. The boathouse uses the center point of the curve from the existing amphitheater to shape the building. This keeps it in context and allows for a greater area for the boats to maneuver.
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The wooden skin of the building was designed by hand, but in order to achieve openings in their precise location I constructed a 3D model. I carefully arranged each board to hide the structure behind it and obfuscate the window frames. I wanted openings such as doors and windows to appear as a moment of disintegration rather than a plane with clean edges. After creating a 3D model with all the correct openings I digitally unrolled the surface and laser cut it to cut opening exactly. Once I curved and bent it into shape it fit perfectly in with the rest of the physical model. The skin achieves a more uniform appearance as a single composition.
entry and parking
changing rooms and riverwalk
boat storage and dock
The model splits along one of the radii to form two section models.
Intermodal Station Auburn, AL Spring 2008 Prof. Justin Miller The Auburn Intermodal Station was a project that explored the idea of bringing a light rail from Atlanta to Auburn. It would rejuvenate the railways and provide travelers with a bus stop to get to their local destination. The program included a train platform and a waiting area for the bus riders. The form of the building was inspired by the streamlined train engines of the 1930s - 1950s.
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entrance
process through study models
train platform
entrances
Vertical Landscape Summer 2007 single tile
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For this challenge we were to make a landscape from a tile. I reiterated the tile 9 times- each time with an increasing element of chaos. For my second landscape I decided that the two half panels should work together. By combining them it give the impression that the landscape is lifting up and flying away.
Professional Work New York City, NY Summer 2009 Meyer Davis Studio Inc. Dubai Mall
For my internship with Meyer Davis Studio I helped construct a digital model for the Oscar de la Renta store in Dubai. I rendered the scenes using materials from the actual store. The entrance rendering was selected for inclusion in the September 2009 issue of Time Design and Style.
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///Art&Photography///
End Table polished concrete fall 2009
laser cut cardboard mold
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Hand Drawing graphite 2007, 2008
Montgomery Faรงade prismacolor fall 2010
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Portraits 1_silver gelatin print, 2010 2_polaroid, 2011 3_negative scan, 2011 4_digital, 2010 5_digital, 2010
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South Carolina Sleeps digital
Italia figure/ground study 120 film
JOHN WOFFORD
+1 803.414.8168
3411 Heatherwood Road Columbia, SC 29205 USA
issuu.com/jwoff johnwofford.net
Education Auburn University - Auburn, AL
2006 - 2011
International Study - Rome, Italy
Spring 2010
Hammond School - Columbia, SC
2006
Meyer Davis Studio Inc. - New York City, NY
Summer 2009
College of Architecture Design and Construction Bachelor of Architecture Degree
Diploma Earned
Experience Architectural Intern Experience with: upscale interior architecture, materials, furniture, designers, manufacturers, AutoCAD, site visits, and organization
Pre-College Work Experience - Columbia, SC
numerous part time summer jobs including Rosen Appraisal (organization, office assistance, photo documenting projects)
Activities & Honors Invited to exhibit thesis at “The Future is Now� and City Development Department - Montgomery, AL ASAP Architecture Camp Counselor - Auburn, AL ALAGASCO Design Competition, Top 10 AIAS Member, 5th Year Representative, Beaux Arts Chair Social Fraternity: Pi Kappa Alpha, Upsilon Chapter
Summer 2011 Fall 2009 2007 - 2011 2006 - 2008
Clemson Architecture Camp
Summer 2005
Web Chair: redesigned website to finish capital campaign
Skills AutoCAD, Revit, Rhinoceros 3D, Grasshopper, Digital Project, Sketchup, Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Flash, Office, Laser Cutter, Model Making, Final Cut Pro, Ableton Live
Interests digital & large format photography, cinematography, radio & event DJ created custom portfolio site: johnwofford.net from the ground up
Summer 2011
“Forgotten Paul Rudolph” negative scan, 2011
JOHN WOFFORD
john@johnwofford.net issuu.com/jwoff +1 803.414.8168