ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO KENNETH BRABHAM JR
To me, architecture is expression. Expression that is constructed, unlike most other works of art. Expression that posseses the power to influence and improve the quality of life for people and communities, even if on a subconscious scale.
As designers of our everchanging world, I believe that we must recognize this social responsibility and create with not only the best interests of the present but also ensuring not to compromise the best interests of the future. We must lead the shift in thinking through change, beginning within our industry. Therefore, much of my interests reside in topics of sustainability, social equity, materials and building systems.
URBANIZED ABIDING CULTURE DESIGN FOR DIPLOMACY CASTING THE EPHEMERAL MARKETHALL | ASHEVILLE CULTURAL ARTS CENTER | CHARLESTON EMBASSY | BRASILIA PROJECTS TRADITIONAL MEDIA 2 34 17 12 7 4 EDUCATIONAL FACILITY | DETROIT PROFESSIONAL VIGNETTES 24
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“Architecture is a visual art, and the buildings speak for themsleves”
- Julia Morgan
PROJECTS
2
3 | URBANIZED
URBANIZED
MARKETHALL | ASHEVILLE
The markethall is a study on massing, volume and facade. Analyses of urban wall conditions throughout the city influence the markethall’s form and facade. Spaces encased in glass, and wrapped in a perforated corten steel wrapper characterize the design. A carved central void offers outdoor but covered three season market operation, while the remaining enclosed spaces house year-round market operation, food service and other building services.
ARCH 3500 | FALL 2018
urban analysis massing strategy
Close proximity of facades along major streets create an urban wall condition that is interrupted in intervals, creating a rhythm.
Masses collectively possess a stepped, staggering roof line, mimicking the opposing street elevation. Intervals of interruption found within the city fabric are reflected in the broken facade.
5 | URBANIZED
1/64” = 1’ - 0”
SITE
CARVE
site plan
PUSH
carved void creates a naturally ventilated circulation path
perforated corten steel facade filters natural light
= + section perspective CIRCULATION FACADE
URBAN WALL
ABIDING CULTURE
CULTURAL CENTER | CHARLESTON
ARCH 3520 | SPRING 2018
The cultural center’s design responds to the deep heritage within the Gullah-Geechee culture. The narrative begins with the diaspora of natives from their motherland, Africa, continues through times of bondage and examines settlement patterns of African Americans post slavery. Despite modern attempts to uproot and dispose of such an influential culture, the community center aims to serve as a base for the revitalization of a neglected community.
*client: 7 Mile C.A.G.E. Organization
ABIDING CULTURE | 8
of enslaved Africans were brought through the ports of Charleston, SC.
Post slavery, African people began developing their own communities along parts of the lower east coast, now known as the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. Specifically in Charleston, communities like 7 Mile adorned Highway 17 and were developed oppurtunistically, lacking strict formalities. Despite the lack of pronounced order, such communities remain held together through their relationship with Hwy 17 and their internal street systems that weave the community together.
The masses on site lack a strict ordering logic. They are oppurtunistically placed, just as the buildings within the communities were. However, the canopy, analogous to Hwy 17, serves as the binding element.
9| ABIDING CULTURE
40%
approx.
Charleston, SC Hwy 17
SC GA NC Cooper River Hwy 17 Remley’sPointGreenhill
TheVillage
Charleston,
1 2 3 4 5 6 1/64” = 1’ - 0” SITE HWY 17 floor plan
Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor
Snowden
2 Mile 7 Mile Porcher Bluff 6 Mile 4 Mile
SC
1- Entry Lobby
2- Community Center 3- Gymnasium
4- Exhibition
5- Indoor Retail 6- Outdoor Market
materials
Materials are chosen to provide the design with a similar rawness to the various crafting traditions of the culture. These traditions, such as basket weaving, often used products directly of the earth. Buildings on site are constructed from rammed earth and reclaimed stone, overtaken by vegetation, while thin tree trunks shade the outdoor market from the southern sun.
ABIDING CULTURE| 10
rammed earth reclaimed stone
view to entry lobby
view of outdoor market
11|DESIGN FOR DIPLOMACY
DESIGN FOR DIPLOMACY
America: green, embracing and contemporary. The design aims to portray these three core American values while being conscious of its foreign contexts; all while keeping security at its forefront. The complex features two embracing masses that adorn an existing axis of gardens, resembling a respectful handshake. The reflected arrangement of these masses provides for two distinct entrances, further securing the site.
*project presented to KCCT Architecture and Bureau of Overseas Building Operations in Washington, DC
U.S. EMBASSY | BRASILIA ARCH 3510 | FALL 2019
EMBRACE
concept diagrams: GREEN
America is green through its efforts to preserve sustainable landcapes. The design utilizes an axis of existing gardens as an ordering logic.
concept diagrams: EMBRACE
America embraces through its will to accept and appreciate Brazilian, amongst other, cultures. The masses resemble an embracing of hands, representing the strong relationship formed between the two countries.
concept models: CONTEMPORARY
America is contemporary through the advancement in technology that allows for unprecedented use of materials. The design employs large spans and cantilevers using a pre-cast concrete product.
13| DESIGN FOR DIPLOMACY GREEN encourage sustainable developments and landscapes
through accepting and supporting Brazilian culture via acknowledgement and appreciation of monumental figures
Each facade exploits the use of a tessellated rhombus, as featured on the Brazilian flag. The rhombus is reflected in the overall configuration of the two masses as each half of the shape come together.
Eixo Monumental* (*monumental axis; lined with federal and civic buildings)
Embassy of Portugal
U.S. Embassy
DESIGN FOR DIPLOMACY|14
north elevation south elevation east elevation west elevation
French Embassy Embassy of the Netherlands
Russian Embassy
National Congress Building site context
floor plans
1/64” = 1’ - 0”
An open concept floor plan provides a fresh take on diplomatic work environments, inviting a higher level of collaboration amongst workers.
Consulate
Public Entry (citizens)
Service Entry
Level 3
Executive Office
Political Suite
Level 2
Management Office
General Services Office
Public Affairs Suite
EO Economics Suite
Level 1
Citizen Services (consulate)
Cafeteria
Library
Atrium
Collaboration Zone
New Office Building (NOB) / Chancery
Private Entry (employees)
DIPLOMACY
15| DESIGN FOR
view of atrium
The atrium features a social stair and shared workspace, intended to pull staff from the traditional office into an open work environment.
section
The majority of the design employs precasted double-T beams to achieve large, uninterrupted spans, while the atrium is embraced by forked columns.
perspective
CASTING THE EPHEMERAL
EDUCATIONAL FACILITY | DETROIT
ARCH 4520 | SPRING 2019
in collaboration with: Victor Mardikian, Kylie Walker, Ellen Harris, Rushabh Patel
Awarded the Clemson University Undergraduate Prize in Design
The Detroit River Workshop abstracts the user’s relationship with water to promote issues on water scarcity, pollution and climate change in the Great Lakes ecosystem. The project integrates adaptive reuse with new design elements such as an Inhabitable Wall to capture and showcase the resilient spirit of the city in an effort to create a center that educates, empowers and celebrates the citizens of Detroit.
GATHER
Defined as piazza, this portion of the wall anchors a lively gathering space, inviting interaction. Small perforations in the wall allow for infill.
EDUCATIONCORE
APPROACH
A rammed concrete wall, formed from the debris of Detroit’s past, protrudes from the existing structure, signaling entry. Continuing the length of the site, the wall guides users through various spaces and down to the riverfront.
EVENTCORE
EXHIBITIONCORE
REFLECT
At the water’s edge, the Inhabitable Wall intersects the Detroit Riverwalk. The nexus provides users with an oppurtunity to explore and enjoy the river’s edge in a peaceful setting.
INHABIT
This covered portion of the wall serves as an exterior corridor, leading to the riverfront. Larger perforations allow for human unhabitance.
CASTING THE EPHEMERAL|18
renderings by Victor Mardikian & Kylie Walker
axonometric drawing by Ellen Harris
The adaptive reuse project repurposes Detroit’s Brodhead Naval Army to celebrate resilient efforts of the individual, expand on the existing presence of adaptability within the city and rescale the issue of water scarcity by empowering citizens to conquer on the individal level.
Belle Isle
Downtown Detroit
digital media collage by author & Victor Mardikian
CASTING THE EPHEMERAL|20 designate shift displace erode site model by author
digital media collage
The resilient spirit of the city inspires the Detroit River Workshop to recast the city’s past for its future. education
event core
core
longitudinal sections by author & Victor Mardikian
The Inhabitable Wall repurposes building fragments from demolished sites as aggregate. The bustling history of Detroit is now casted onto the site and encourages users to leave their trace.
model by author
CASTING THE EPHEMERAL|22 exhibition core
“Details are not the details, they make the design”
- Charles Eames
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PROFESSIONAL VIGNETTES
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Emory University School of Nursing
Atlanta, GA | completed in 2022
Created the as built Revit model to aid in the processes of interior renovation and coordinated clash detection amongst several consultants. Also designed and developed key moments contributing to a sequence of highly functional spaces for a world-leading healthcare institution.
PROFESSIONAL VIGNETTES|26
Atrium Health Medical Office Building
Charlotte, NC | completed in 2021
Designed key moments within the building, including the main reception/ waiting lobby while also ensuring a successful carrying of design concept through the construction documentation phase.
27| PROFESSIONAL VIGNETTES
Blueprint Church
Atlanta, GA | unbuilt
Served as lead designer, faciliting daily design effort and engagements with a client group to design a 20,000 ft2 expansion to an existing facility in order to accomodate additional programming, increased community outreach and a new, refreshed look.
PROFESSIONAL VIGNETTES|30
Kitchen_One
2023
Charleston, SC | completed in
“When I see a white piece of paper, I feel I’ve got to draw. And drawing, for me, is the beginning of everything”
- Ellsworth Kelly
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TRADITIONAL MEDIA
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35| DRAWING
Venice, Italy
Charleston, SC Charleston, SC
DRAWING | 36
37| DRAWING
BROTHER, graphite + watercolor
DRAWING | 34
COUSIN, graphite + watercolor
education
Princeton University
Master of Architecture, 2024
Clemson University
Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, 2019
Minor in Sustainability cum laude
selected honors + awards
2021- 2024 Princeton University Fellowship
Spring 2019 Clemson Undergraduate Prize in Design
Spring 2018 Ray Huff Award for Excellence
2017 Robert P. Madison Architectural Scholarship
2015 Congressional Black Caucus Visual Arts Scholarship
tools
Sketching
Drafting
3-D Modeling | SketchUP, Revit, Rhino
Visualization | Enscape, Adobe Suite
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
https://issuu.com/kennethbrabham digital portfolio
Kenneth A. Brabham, Jr.
88 College Rd West #2612, Princeton, NJ 08544 | (843)224-8370 | kb4303@princeton.edu
Currently an ambitious graduate student striving to advance in professional development and accelerate growth into a purposeful career in architecture. Although currently focused on obtaining licensure, my long term goals include leading a renown design firm with a strong emphasis on work that ultimately improves the quality of life for people and communities.
experience
Architectural Intern | Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
June 2022 - August 2022
Worked cooperatively in a large, fast paced office environment to make effective contributions during the early design and developement phases of multiple large scale, international projects.
Architectural Consultant | Joseph Hobart Weiss
December 2021 - current
Working alongside an experienced architect, implementing contemporary BIM modeling methods to aid in improved project documentation, visualization and delivery.
Architectural Apprentice | The Beck Group
May 2019 - August 2021
Worked integrally within various design teams to effectively contribute to the design, developement, documentation and delivery processes of several award winning projects of varying types and scales.
Physical Asset Development Intern | Metanoia
January 2018 - August 2018
Designed and developed small scale projects intending to revitalize an under-served community through an asset based developmental approach. These projects catered to strengths found within the local neighborhood, fostering the existing residents’ overlooked efforts into fruition.
lantern crafted from sapele & resin infill ARCH 4770 | SPRING 2018