Architecture Portfolio
Kerry DeWan
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Selected Work Thesis Progress 4-13
Pop-Up Cafe 14-15
Room in Garden 16-19
Ten x Ten x Ten 20-23
Concrete Study 24-25
Synergic Architecture
Fifth Year Thesis, Jim Bassett Synergy [noun]: the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. The investigation of two entities meeting is a statement that can be applied to any scale, element or aspect of architecture. Removing most factors of architecture while studying the interaction of two, allows for a deeper rooted understanding of what the relationship needs in order to be read as a whole. By establishing a foundation of understanding in the abstraction, allows for the thesis to develop in layers while keeping the ideas flexible. Synergy can be expanded into studies of materiality, structure and program. Expanding this study into the different components of architecture will create a more cohesive, meaningful study.
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Diagrammatic Constraints These diagrams were the bridge between the abstract studies of synergy and the phsyicality of architecture. Simplifying each architectural idea into diagrams provides a broad foundation for the design process.
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Furniture Compound Located in the small Vermont Town of Quechee, the furniture compound explores the programmtic functions of public and private spaces. Consisting of three programs: a public gallery space, a workshop, and three residencies, synergy is applied to the architecture. Situated on a steep slope between an open field and dense woods, the compound embraces the natural beauty of the Quechee Gorge. The building begins to organically forms along the topography of the landscape, synergizing the natural and man made. Each space has a specific orientation to emphasize the surrounding views. 8
Function of the Spaces Each program of the complex has specific requirements. By sectionally studying each space, the construction, structure, and material demands encourages deeper consideration of the scales synergy can be applied. By studying the three different programmitic spaces of the complex seperately, enhances the importance of the individual entities that make up the whole.
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Pop-Up Cafe
Fifth Year, Virginia AIA Competition The three-day competition encouraged students to consider temporary architecture. The Pop-Up Cafe located in two parking spaces on Virginia Tech’s campus, is assembled by a series of parts. Inspired by the building technique of kit of parts, the cafe allows of mobility, while having a sturdy presence. The lower portion of the walls are off-site assembled concrete blocks that the steel fame sits above. A perforated panel, allows for filter light to enter on the south side. The interior space changes throughout the day, bringing a playfulness to the small space. The exposed structure allows the inhabiter to understand the assemblage of the structure.
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Room in Garden
Third year, Patrick Doan Where the natural and man-made world meet there is a unique opportunity to manipulate the landscape as a transitional area into a space for reflection. Adding architecture to a natural environment is something to be carefully considered. In this project, the built structure blurs the lines of interior and exterior. Following a walled path, the occupant’s views are directed out towards the natural forest. At the end of the path, a reflecting pool separates natural path from the landscape. Here, human intervention is seem in the wooden path that continues to the steps and up to the room. The room is an extension of the path, not an independent space but not a simply transitional space. Here, there is a choice to continue through on path, or an opportunity to step off into the room and reflect.
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Relationship with the Natural and Man-made Located in a wooded area, the room acts as a separation space between the natural forest and controlled garden. Controlling the heights and direction of the formwork of the concrete walls, frame the reflection space and directs the eye towards the formal stepping of the designed garden. When entering the room, the sense of control is modified into the human scale. The furniture becomes apart of the spatial and encourages the dweller to understand the space through physical interaction.
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Ten x Ten x Ten
Fourth Year, Paul Emmons and Jodi La Coe Situated in Old Town Alexandria, this project integrates a controversial film of its time with the changing views of today’s society. Charles and Ray Eames’ innovative viewpoint in their film Power of Ten inspired me to apply the mathematical system of exponents to the different scales of grids used in my project. Layering these scales to design a cohesive space, I was able to design a theatre about the journey through a building more than the literal idea of jumping scales. This project was a fusion between the reference of Power of Ten and the integration of code and zoning requirements of the town of Alexandria.
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First Floor
Second Floor
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Third Floor
South Elevation
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From 10 x 10 Grid to 10 x 10 x 10 Cube The shift from two dimensional to three dimensional addresses more spatial qualities of the power of ten. Systemmatically applying the proportion of the modular 10 x 10 x 10 cube manifests the physical understanding of the power of ten.
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Concrete Study
Second year, Aki Ishida Partners: Daniel Zendejas, Min Do, and Jake Tessier The versatility of concrete is enhanced by the formwork that contains it. Concrete becomes the embodiment of the formwork designed. In a group of four, we created a permeable concrete wall using the same shape iterated sixteen times. I fabricated the six reusable formwork. I also managed the proportion of aggregate and water when mixing the concrete. The proportion was crucial keep a cohesive color and material composition throughout each iteration.
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