Portfolio by Lara Fischer

TABLE OF CONTENTS

De-Stress Point in St.Louis

Urgent care in Yemen

Transition center in Romania

Memento Moritoriun, siteless

The Oxer, Savannah

Cube House, Los Angeles

Tree house pavillion, siteless

DE-STRESS POINT IN ST.LOUIS, MISSOURI DESIGNING FOR VETERANS WITH PTSD Studio 4, Fall 2016, Professor Dudzik

Veterans who fought for freedom for the United States of America are heroes, but those heroes can sometimes suffer from PTSD. Post traumatic stress disorder is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault. 5% of male soldiers and 10% of female soldiers are likely to suffer from PTSD. The symptoms of PTSD are flashbacks, avoidance, hypervigilance, nightmares, re-experiencing phenomeon, fatigue, insomnia, depression, irratibility, and anxiety. Architecture can be a trigger for these symptoms by creating dark spaces, tight enclosures, gatherings on rooftop, spaces with no visibility, or outdoor gathering setting, for example. Architecture can be a problem for people suffering from PTSD, but there are solutions to design a building in which the veterans could feel safe in. Those solutions can be open structure, filtering of light within spaces, open space with boundaries, a concealed environment, a simple roof line, some view points through the facade, to incorpate more intimate spaces and to create personalize outdoor space.

Concept

When veterans come back from war with PTSD, they need to find a place where they feel confortable and safe, while not feeling vulnerable. Located in St.Louis, I chose to rotate my building by 4 degress towards East to directly face the St.Louis arch. The clinic part and the housing have different entrances and are made of different materials indicating that the veterans are not living in a medical building. Each level has a balcony placed in the middle or in a corner of the east facade in order to create a private space for the residents while avoiding gathering spaces. Nature is present with the gardens on the first and second floor, as well as on the metal mesh, designed in the shape of leaves.

2 programs/ 2 materials

Safety device/ metal skin

Individualization/ balconies

Privacy/ louvers

Natural light/ windows

Nature/ private gardens

Therapy/ dog friendly

Concept models

The first model is composed by two buildings, differentiated by materials. I already had in mind a design that accuratly show that the housing part is separated from the clinic. The problem about this idea was that the patients would need to go out and come back in which makes their feeling of being a patient even more important, and which is something I wanted to avoid.

The second model came put from the inspiration of the Panopticon by Bentham. Obviously not for the prison part, but the idea of a self-focused security building, in which the occupants would look for each other.

The feedbacks on the two precedents models made me think of how to combine the different ideas that I had. I combined two different â&#x20AC;&#x153;languagesâ&#x20AC;?. The organic shape was supposed to welcome the clinic and the restaurant, while the straight edge higher part was the housing. The feedbacks on this model were mainly to work the organic shape and the define it, and instead of having a straight edge building, to keep only a rectangle.

The site / 3740 Lindell Blvd, St.Louis, MO

Sun diagram

Site circulation

Site orientation towards the St.Louis Arc

Winter sun path

Car circulation Summer sun path

Pedestrian circulation

Elevator Emergency stairs

Housing building Mental health clinic Public restaurant

Floor plansFloor plans

Floor plans

20ft

5 83

35 35

35 35 3

'1 UP Underground level

1. Ramp to parking 2. Parking 3. Music room 4. Exterior garden

Restaurant

Ground level

5. Entrance clinic 6. Entrance housing 7. Restaurant 8. Staff lockers (men) 9. Staff lockers (women) 10. Doctor 1ofces 11. Staff room 12. Housing private gym 13. Yoga room 14. Restaurant’s kitchen 15. Secoundary entrance for housing

5. Entrance clinic 6. Entrance housing 7. Restaurant 8. Staff lockers (men) 9. Staff lockers (women) 10. Doctor ofces 11. Staff room 12. Housing private gym 13. Yoga room 14. Restaurant’s kitchen 15. Secoundary entrance for housing

1 A

9 15

Underground level

20ft

UP UP

14 83

83 83

2 11

12 10

19 '1

Ground level

Level 1 A

5. Entrance clinic 6. Entrance housing 7. Restaurant 8. Staff lockers (men) 9. Staff lockers (women) 10. Doctor ofď&#x192;&#x17E;ces 11. Staff room 12. Housing private gym 13. Yoga room 14. Restaurantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen 15. Secoundary entrance for housing

Waiting room on level 1

16. Clinic check in 17. Files and medication room 18. Waiting area 19. Exam room 1 20. Exam room 2 21. Exam room 3 22. Service closet 23. Individual therapy 1 24. Individual therapy 2

2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3

20ft

18.5

20ft

18.5

20ft 20ft

20ft

32 UP UP

UP UP

35 31

33 UP

3330

16 17

29 17

2123 22

18 28

19 21

20 22

Level 1 A

29 27

Level 1

3 B

16. Clinic check in check in 25. Individual 3 therapy 3 16. Clinic 25.therapy Individual 17. Files and medication 26. room Biofeedback therapy control roomcontrol room 17. Files and room medication 26. Biofeedback therapy 18. Waiting 18. areaWaiting area 27. Biofeedback therapy treatment 27. Biofeedback therapyroom treatment room 19. Exam room 1 28. Large group therapy room 19. Exam room 1 28. Large group therapy room 20. Exam room 2 29. Small group therapy room 20. Exam room 2 29. Small group therapy room 21. Exam room 3 30. Classroom 21. Exam room 3 30. 1Classroom 1 22. Service 22. closet 31. Storage31. room Service closet Storage room 23. Individual 1 therapy 32. 23.therapy Individual 1 Classroom 32. 2Classroom 2 24. Individual 2 therapy 33. room 24.therapy Individual 2 Mechanical 33. Mechanical room 35. Terrasse35. Terrasse

39 36 UP

36 UP

Level 2

Level 2 A

Levels 3,

36. Housing36. cafeteriat Housing cafeteriat 37. Cafeteria kitchen 37. Cafeteria kitchen 38. Terrasse38. Terrasse 39. Mechanical room 39. Mechanical room

40. Bedro 41. Bedro 42. Bedro 43. ADA b 44. Balco 45. Living 46. Bedro 47. Bedro 48. Mech

East elevation 20ft

20ft

59 60

67 52

Levels 3, 6, & 9

40. Bedroom 1 41. Bedroom 2 42. Bedroom 3 43. ADA bedroom 1 44. Balcony 45. Living room 46. Bedroom 4 47. Bedroom 5 48. Mechanical room

63 56

Levels 4, 7, & 10

Levels 5 & 8

49. Bedroom 6 50. Bedroom 7 51. Bedroom 8 52. Living room 53. Balcony 54. Bedroom 9 55. ADA bedroom 2 56. Bedroom 10 57. Mechanical room

58. Bedroom 11 59. Bedroom 12 60. Living room 61. Balcony 62. Bedroom 13 63. Laundry room 64. Bedroom 14 65. Bedroom 15 66. ADA bedroom 3 67. Mechanical room

20ft

0ft

20ft

20ft 20ft

20ft

49 50 49 50 51 50 51

5859 5859 60

57 52

5352

56 55

5554 5554

66 65 66 65 64 65 64

7, &4,10 LevelsLevels 4, 7, Levels &4,10 7, & 10

5&85&8 LevelsLevels 5 & 8Levels

49. Bedroom 6 49. Bedroom 6 Bedroom 49. 6 50. Bedroom 7 50. Bedroom 7 Bedroom 50. 7 51. Bedroom 8 51. Bedroom 8 Bedroom 51. 8 52. room Living room 52. Living 52. Living room 53. Balcony 53. Balcony 53. Balcony 54. Bedroom 9 54. Bedroom 9 Bedroom 54. 9 55.bedroom ADA 2 55. ADA 2 bedroom 55.bedroom ADA 2 56. Bedroom 10 56. Bedroom 10 56. Bedroom 10 57. Mechanical room 57. Mechanical 57.room Mechanical room

58. Bedroom 11 58. Bedroom 11 Bedroom 58. 11 59. Bedroom 12 59. Bedroom 12 Bedroom 59. 12 60. room Living 60. Living 60. room Living room 61. Balcony 61. Balcony 61. Balcony 62. Bedroom 13 62. Bedroom 13 Bedroom 62. 13 63. Laundry room room 63. Laundry room 63. Laundry 64. Bedroom 14 64. Bedroom 14 64. Bedroom 14 65. Bedroom 15 65. Bedroom 15 Bedroom 65. 15 66. ADA 3 66. ADA bedroom 3 bedroom 66.bedroom ADA 3 67. Mechanical room 67. Mechanical 67.room Mechanical room

69 68

69 68 70

77 71

77 62

61 60

53 B

59 61 60

20ft

76 74

6970

20ft

73 72

11 Level Level 11 Level 11

68. Computer room room 68. Computer room 68. Computer 69.bathroom Men 69. Men 69.bathroom Men bathroom 70. Women bathroom 70. Women bathroom 70. Women bathroom 71.private Semi living1room 71. Semi living 71.private Semi room private living1room 1 72.private Semi living2room 72. Semi living 72.private Semi room private living2room 2 73. Balcony 73. Balcony 73. Balcony 74.tables Pool area area 74. Pool area 74.tables Pool tables TV75. room 75. TV75. room TV room 76. Isolation room room 76. Isolation room 76. Isolation 77. Mechanical room room 77. Mechanical 77.room Mechanical

Terrasse level 2

Living room levels 5 & 8

West elevation

Section B

URGENT CARE IN YEMEN Studio 1, Fall 2015, Professor Thompson

This urgent care in Yemen was the first realistic project I worked on. It was a â&#x20AC;&#x153;realâ&#x20AC;? project, where the creative process had to take into consideration more than just form, space, and order. Everyone was free to choose a type of health care, and a location. I started my research on the different kinds of health care I could design, and urgent care seemed like a challenging project. My research took me to Yemen, a country in need of medical care. During the 20th century, Yemen faced a civil war. Following the war, they were plagued by a series of unfortunate events, including the arrival of the terrorist group Al-Quaida, and then becoming the target of the U.S drones strikes, targeting the terrorist group. This country has been in war for a long time and multiple hospitals have been destroyed.

To create a safe place for the population, my solution was to create a building with an underground level that has the same properties as a bunker. The exterior look of the urgent care is composed by eleven masses, all inclined at different angles. The different angles allow the adaptation of windows on the roof, which let in natural light to light up the interior. Overall, the exterior is meant to evoke a feeling of protection. The second part of my concept comes into play on the interior. I wanted to create a space where patients could focus on themselves and on their well-being, instead of the war. There is also an inside garden that is meant for the patient to turn their focus to positivity. I also designed a curvilinear ramp that is meant to facilitate smooth circulation that encourages patients to relax.

GROUND FLOOR

UNDERGROUND FLOOR

entry and waiting room

reception desk and triage rooms

staff entry and ramp

trauma room

SECTION

Section 1 ramp showing 1" = 10'-0"

CIRCULATION SECTION

Roof 15' - 0" level 2 10' - 0"

Level 1 0' - 0"

Underground -13' - 0"

Upper level general floor plan Lara Fischer

TRANSIT STATION IN ROMANIA Studio 2, Winter 2016, Professor Strother

Sinaia is a small city located in Romania. Its train station and the center of the city are not on the same altitude, which pushes the population and tourists to take a detour, or by taking steep stairs, to get to the city from the train station, and vice versa. The solution I found to solve this problem was to create a building that would avoid the need to make severe cuts through the site and that would implement the use of indegenous materials in the area. The movement and the floor shapes are the result of the study of the ruschita marble, a marble only found in Romania.

After studying the ruschita marble, the main ideas that came out of it were superimposition, layering, and the imperfection of the material. The pathway showing on my conceptual model was taking from the study of a cut of ruschita marble. The triangular forms, which later influence my floor plans, embrace this path. The irregular roof line, as well as the modification of the topography, are sloped to prevent the pooling of snow and rain.

Conceptual model

Physical model

Level 3 (city level)

Level 2 (ticket office)

Level 1 (restaurant)

Ground floor (train station level)

Site plan

The landscape surrounding the site is composed by mountains and vegetation. I wanted to design this building in a way that would fit in the slope so as to not compromise the landscape, while highliting the views from the inside. Natural terrasses on each level have the purpose of introducing nature within the building.

Elevation down hill

Section

View of level 1

View of level 2

My goal for this project was to create a place that does not compromise the character of the site or its surrounding nature, that opens to views of the landscape from the inside, to design a cohesive and natural movement that would not take too much space but that would be easy to understand, and finally, a simple interior made of the materials found in Romania. I proposed a very simple interior design that could be decorated with local art. The off white walls match the grey, white, and light pink of the ruschita marble.

MOMENTO MORI-TORIUM, SITELESS Studio 3, Spring 2016, Professor Singeisen

EXTRA PROJECT

INFLATABLE MOBIUS STRIP Designed by: Lara Fischer Lydia Bauer Joao Leao Freitas Alex Wickes

To form an idea of the possibilities as well as the limits of sitelessness, our teacher made us design and build inflatables. Those inflatables had to be big enough to fit the four members of the team designing it, and could only be made of plastic and tape. We got our idea from a mobius trip, and more particularly the Klein bottle, which is the 3d design of a mobius trip. Our first step was to build our Klein bottle in rhino. That way, we were able to get the shape that we wanted, and to know how to cut each plastic sheet for the construction part. The second step was to transfer the rhino file to revit, and to explode it. We had all the mesurements we needed to cut every piece of plastic that we needed and how to assemble them. Finally, we made some calculations to determine how strong the source of air had to be.

The concept was the focus of this project. To form a complete, complex concept, the developping process was long. A large part of my development involde the research into the following areas: program & client, design foundamentals, history & theory, site & siteless, and technology & construction.

CLIENT & PROGRAM

Concept models were another step in our developement. 12 models were required in a first part, then 3 other, and finally we picked one of the 3 that we found most succesful.

Model step 1: 12 models

ACCEPTANCE Level 1

MEMORIES Ground level

FINDING YOUR WAY Underground level

The momento moritorium’s intention is to remind us that we are to die. If we were immortal, we would not have as many reasons to achieve, or try to achieve our dreams. Neither would we have goals that give us a reason to live. In this idea, my momento moritorium celebrates life. Going down to darkness then going up to the light represents the idea that death would be less of a fear if we did not have regrets about our lives. The underground level is called “finding your way”. The purpose of the underground labyrinth is to represent life and all the complications we have to face. This space is covered by a glass ceiling on which a water pond sits. The water element, dripping from the roof of the upper part of the building, represents the french expression “la vie n’est pas un long fleuve tranquil”, meaning that life is not a quiet river. After we face our fear and complications in the labyrith, we get into stairs that bring us into the second level, “memories”. Those stairs are in between cavities with water running in them. The sound of the water falling can be overwelming and should introduce a feeling of urge. At the top of those first stairs, two dark rooms bring a breaking point to the emotional trip. This is the time to remember your life, memories, achievements and maybe regrets. The last experience in the emotional trip is the stage of “acceptance”. After finding your way, remembering why you started, this last part is going back to light, going up. It is the part where you are supposed to accept your past, what happend and what you want to change. It ends in a relaxing place, where you can sit, look at the landscape in front of you, and move on.

FINDING YOUR WAY

MEM

MORIES

ACCEPTANCE

THE OXER Fundamentals 3, Professor Wacta, Summer 2014

Horse riding is not a movement based on the human, or at least not entirely. Is is a team sport in which a human does his best to make the horse more confortable to execute the jumps or the dressage movement the right way. This discipline combines two type of movements that I got inspired from. The first one is the human movemement that is angular, quite, and composed of straight lines. In another habd, the horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s movements are smooth, really powerful and

Located in the courtyard of the Savannah College of Art and Design Museum, this project had for goal to combine two types of activities. I chose to create an exhibition building for the SCAD students work, and the ground level would be a restaurant.

FLOOR PLANS Level 1

Level 2

SECTION

Level 3

Level 4

CUBE HOUSE IN LOS ANGELES Fundamentals 2, Professor Reno, Spring 2014

FLOOR PLANS

Basement 1/4" = 1'-0"

level 1 1/4" = 1'-0"

16'

1 A111

Level 1

Basement

A111

1 A111 1 A111

Kitchen and dinning room

Kitchen and dinning room Master bedroom Master bedroom

Wine ceillar UP

Wine ceillar

A112

A112 1

A112

Entrance Entrance

1 A111

Level 2

Level 3

A111

Basement 1/4" = 1'-0" 1

Basement 1/4" = 1'-0"

level 1 1/4" = 1'-0"

A111

level 1 1/4" = 1'-0"

16'

Living room

Dance studio 1

A112

Dance studio

A112

Office

Level 2 1/4" = 1'-0"

Level 3 1/4" = 1'-0"

16'

Located on a cliff of Los Angeles, this house is made out of for cubes that have been cut and rearrange to create a dynamic building while dealing with the 45 degres slope.

TREE HOUSE PAVILLION Fundamentals 1, Professor Strother, Winter 2014

This pavillion was my first architecture project. The goal of this studio was to learn the fundamentals of designing a building. To do so, our quarter started with different exercises, that allowed us to explore space, entry, organization, circulation, for the first time.The pavillion making was the result of all the exercises done before. The objective was to design and make a pavillion that represented the arrival of my entry and path. I had to explore the repetitive nature of my original structural serial exercise and investigate two ratios between “ground footprint” and “air footprint”.The base plan making exercise was the last step. Its objective was to design and make a new base/ground plane for my path, entrance and pavilion. My new base plane should clarify, strengthen and reinforce the unity between my path, entrance and pavilion,

The serial serie consisted on picking an arrangment from the previous exercise and creating a clustered plan, a radial plan, grid, centralized, and linear plans. I picked a different one than the one i started with, and I decided to go with a concept to help me design my pavillion. I wanted to include nature in my structure. I did not have to deal with a site yet so I decided to include a tree on whatever I was going to design. I had in mind an observation point, open to everyone, where adults and children could enjoy different points of view of the surrounding nature. I added facades with a triangular pattern to create movement on the inside of the pavillion