DESIGN & FABRICATE
A work sample by
KYLE McALPIN
HORT WOODS SEATING AREA State College, PA 6 Weeks Prof. Nida Rehman Campus Construction At the boundary of Penn State’s architecture library is an unused patio, projecting sharply into Hort Woods, a protected natural area. My first-year design studio built a seating attraction at this intersection for the casual use of Penn State students and faculty. Since this site is within view of my studio desk, I have been able to observe the final product in all four seasons over the last four years. I have seen how it weathers, who uses it, and how it is treated. It’s rewarding to see the project in use as it ages and it’s popularity as a study spot confirms the research and hard work that my group put into this project.
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The opposing orientation of each bench causes these bands of light appear on the east bench in the morning and on the west bench in the afternoon, and change width as the seasons progress. The patterns of light and shadow are playful and dynamic as they move around the flagstone patio. The original condition of the underused patio outside the architecture library. The presence of the stone walls is celebrated with their inclusion in the design of the new bench. The stone wall is integral to the success of this project as a comfortable study area. A view from Hort Woods looking back towards the architecture building. The split curve flips orientation midway to create two useful spaces. Each bench offers a unique combination of privacy and engagement with the natural area of Hort Woods.
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Four years after its completion, the seating attraction is still used vigorously. It’s present condition is a testament to the high-quality craft of this bench, despite the client’s low budget and use of simple materials and hardware.
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The simplicity of the build has contributed to its durability. A module consisting of four unique boards is joined by a trapezoidal spacer to bend the bench into shape.
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Next project: Woodworker’s Gallery
WOODWORKER’S GALLERY State College, PA 1 Week Design Charrette A Furniture Maker’s Museum A woodworker’s shop needs a gallery to accompany it. The complementary relationship of this simple program is experienced at the intersection of the two volumes. The intersection of the shop and the gallery provide a visual and auditory connection between fabrication and display, completing the story ingrained in each piece of furniture.
Matching transparent facades put the gallery as well as the woodworker’s shop on display, equalizing the importance of the two individual spaces. Both the product display and the production methods are housed in a space that welcomes interest from the outside public. Perpendicular stone piers support the planar roof, grounding the hard-edged volumes.
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Bottom Floor
1 Shop 2 Storage 3 Bathroom Second Floor Above
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Top Floor 4 5 6 7
Balcony Entrance Gallery Floor Kitchenette Roof Overhang Above
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Both spaces take advantage of the slope of the site. At ground level, the shop opens up to the street giving easy access to move around raw materials. Three of its walls are buried in the ground, reducing the amount of escaping noise and designating wall space for shop tools and storage. The gallery is perched on top of the shop, using the shop roof as interior exhibition space as well as blending into an outdoor balcony. This exterior space provides the opportunity to seamlessly continue the gallery displays to the outside when desired.
Next project: Jewelry Box
JEWELRY BOX Accessory Organization Designed specifically for my mother, this jewelry box is home to a collection of sixteen pairs of earrings. The walnut case provides the rails for two red oak drawers to slide into place. The box’s heavy construction is emphasized by its thick, dark walnut boards and oversized box joints.
To make organization and access a priority, each drawer is a removable tray with cylindrical partitions sized for one item each. The contrast in material identifies the difference in function of each component.
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