LAURA K HARPER
LAURA KATHRYN HARPER
LAURAHARPER@MAIL.USF.EDU
(904)866-0480
CORE DESIGN PORTFOLIO
2015/2016
USF SA+CD
T A B L E OF C O N T E N T S TROPICAL ARCHITECTURE Michael Halflants - Summer 2016
St Armand’s Residence
CORE DESIGN
002-0021
I
Steve Cooke - Fall 2015
Machine de Phenomene
022-033
Machine de Phenomene pt II
034-043 044-055
Space into Place
CORE DESIGN
II
Mark Weston - Spring 2016
The War Memorial
056-075
San Juan Pavilion
076-087
CORE DESIGN III Michael Halflants - Fall 2016
Port Tampa City Library Extension
088-107
The High Line
108-129
TROPICAL ARCHITECTURE Summer 2016
Michael Halflants
Final model
ST ARMAND’S RESIDENCE Sarasota Florida
Zoned RSF-2
335 N. Washington Drive Sarasota FL 34236
The St Armand’s residence is a home designed for a site located in Sarasota, Florida. The design implements the use of passive cooling strategies. The private spaces of the home are conditioned while the gathering spaces are unconditioned. The design allows opportunities for the residents of the home to escape or embrace Florida’s subtropical climate. The design is meant to limit the need for air-conditioning and encourage occupants to embrace the outdoors. The circulation of the home is exterior. However, conditioned spaces are connected with single entry vestibules to minimize the loss of cool air when entering and exiting conditioned spaces. All conditioned spaces have large doors and windows that can be opened to allow for airflow as an alternative to air-conditioning.
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• 3 bedrooms/ 2 1/2 baths • spacious master bedroom with connection to the pool • laundry closet in proximity to master bedroom and pool • passive cooling systems • exterior living room space • small office space separated from bedrooms • 500 sq ft pool with infinity edge • terrace with view of the gulf • 1 car garage with 15’ ceiling + custom 13’ door
Second floor plan
First floor plan
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Southeast view
Northwest view
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North-facing view
Northwest view
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Walkway over water from master bedroom to pool
Southeast view
The St. Armand’s Residence boasts a grand 30 foot, double height exterior entry space. Seven louvers on the east side of the home provide shade for the exterior living room style space as well as privacy from the neighboring home. The house is made of concrete with a white limestone Thermocromex cladding. This gives the home its white finish that minimizes heat absorption and eliminates the need for paint.
View from second floor
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Entry from the front door aligns occupants with the exterior living space and the infinity pool. The stairway to the second floor circulates around an atrium space blurring the lines between inside and outside.
view from main entry
view of exterior living space
View of Southeat side of the house
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CORE DESIGN I Fall 2015
Steve Cooke
Watercolor section + cross-section of final model
MACHINE DE PHENOMENE Case study :“Return”
Machine de Phenomene is a project that began with the exploration of the characteristics of light in the film “Return” + the translation of light studies into architectural situations. Two-dimensional diagrams generated constructed surfaces + were then folded into spatial constructs. The design implements the use of an armature from which the spaces are rooted. The design is a series of spaces implementing the use of different materials creating a variety of light conditions.
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Machine de Phenomene Pt I started with the constructing of an armature and a series of spaces that emerged from the vertical and horizontal axis of the armature. The model created spaces with infinite perspective views extending the focus to the outside and allowing more light into the spaces.
Final model
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Top of east view of final model
East detail view of final model
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North view of final model
Detail view of final model
This project challenges the lightness of a mass in the way it anchors itself to the existing wooden axis. The model created a secondary axis that diagonally connects the vertical and horizontal lines enclosing the spaces between the horizon and the intervention.
East view of final model
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Watercolor section of final model
M A C H I N E D E P H E N O M E N E PT II Generator: Machine de Phenomene Pt I watercolor
Machine de Phenomene is the intersection of ideas and maps which serves as an exercise in spatial detailing. Part II of Machine de Phenomene was generated by a study + reinterpretation of the watercolor section + cross-section from pt I. Pt II derived from the reinterpretation of the representation of lines + tones as spaces + voids + circulation. The armature was rotated and elevated, spaces became voids + tones and lines became circulation.
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Machine de Phenomene Pt II originated from the watercolor drawing in Pt I. From that graphic, I took the original angle feature and transformed it into circulation for Pt II. The circulation allows a person to move through as well as around the structure to experience it in part + as a whole. As an occupant moves through and up the structure the spaces gradually become more enclosed. When the occupant reaches the highest point they will be at the most isolated space in the structure.
Final model
Main circulation stair, final model
Final model views
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The materials of this project were used with the intent of creating different lighting conditions. The main principle idea being, that the gathering spaces would be the kept the brightest and most open.
View from top looking down
Aerial view of final model
Final model
SPACE INTO PLACE ABOTT TOWN Fictional town created for initial process
Abott Town is a historic site for the Battle at Ft. Charlotte. The victory of the English over the invading French army was lead by General Abott. Annually, celebrations are held outside the fort in remembrance of the brave soldiers who fought that day and in celebration of General Abott’s victory. Boat tours are held on the river and guides tell the tale of the day Abott Town was heroically defended from a French invasion. The project implements the use of an armature that represents a wall and fort. Perpendicular the wall of the city, the fort reaches out toward the water. The program spaces are built off of the edge of the wall and the fort connecting the city level to the ground level below. The fort also serves as a connection between the river and the city.
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Lecture space
River
Library
City
Gallery
Final Plan Drawing
047
City level
Lecture space
Gallery
Library
Section drawing - View from water’s edge
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The program includes a lecture hall + gallery space + library. The river is accessed through a procession through the built spaces. Occupants are encouraged to explore the spaces regardless of their ultimate destination.
Final model views
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View of lecture space
Aerial view of ground conditions + main spaces
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In the model, plexiglass is used to represent a connection back to the water. The design of this project has a heavy focus in tectonic connections + systems.
Final model
C O R E D E S I G N II Spring 2016
Mark Weston
Layered plan process drawing
THE WAR MEMORIAL
This project began with the exploration of defining different conditions. The War Memorial includes a tower + floor/celing condition + a wall. The concept of a war memorial generated the idea of destruction. The original state of the site was a rectangular tower on a vacant unobstructed plain. At the site of the tower a plane crashed into the field and slid across the plain fragmenting the ground + forming the wall + floor ceiling condition. The impact created a ripple effect fragmenting the ground, shifting and fracturing the rectangular tower + splitting the ground + creating an opening for the floor/ceiling condition.
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Initial Process - small spacial process model created without the use of adhesives. Photographed images of model printed on transparencies and layered for reinterpretation of spaces.
Process model images
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Process section model + sketches exploring the connections between the tower + floor/ceiling + wall.
Series of process sketches
Process section model views
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Process Diagrams
View of wall at plane crash site
Diagrams show the initial state of the tower on an empty plane + rotation of the tower during the crash + the fragmenting of the ground resulting in the formation of a wall.
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Diagrams of tower + floor/ ceiling condition+ wall. Diagrams show the effects of the impact and how it helped to shape the site + structures.
Process Diagrams
Layered plan drawing
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Initial impact site + floor/ceiling
Final model views
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Initial point of impact + floor/ ceiling condition
An annotative device on the final model marks the initial point of impact of the plane crash. Tower + wall connection
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Floor/ ceiling condition
Wall at crash site
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Plan view of final model
Site map
SAN JUAN PAVI LION San Juan Puerto Rico
98 Calle Norzagaray San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico
The site of the San Juan Pavilion is located on a triangular piece of land between the Galleria Nacional and the street of Cale Norzagaray. The design of the pavilion is a polygonal volume that punctures through a fractured overhead condition. This overhead condition is a gridded concrete waffle slab that drapes across the site. Pieces of the grid have fallen through and been arranged on the ground to create seating conditions + planters for the spaces below.
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Diagram of overhead condtion
The pavilion includes two office spaces + director’s office + conference room with a small waiting area. The program also includes, three bathrooms located on the bottom floor with easy public acces.
Top level plan
Bottom level plan
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The pavilion is accessed through a private entrance to offices spaces located along the sidewalk in front of the Galleria Nacional + a public entrance at the street level for the public spaces below.
Section facing south
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The concrete blanket serves to shade the exterior spaces of the site. It was developed through an exploration of chiaroscuro. The design strictly controls the light cast upon it, creating sharp shadows on the spaces beneath it.
Final model views
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Concrete waffle slab detail
C O R E D E S I G N III Fall 2016
Michael Halflants
Final model
PORT TAMPA CITY LIBRARY Tampa, Florida
Inspiration: Louis Kahn, Phillips Exeter Library
4902 W. Commerce Street Tampa FL 33616
The Port Tampa City Library is an historic building, opened in 1926, that was the location for the First Bank of Port Tampa. In 1994 the building was made a landmark and in 1998 the building reopened as the Port Tampa City Library. The Port Tampa City Library Project is and extension to the existing 5,700-square-foot Neo-classical library building. The extension includes a stack area + reading area, children’s stack + reading area, cafe, periodicals section + lecture hall. The exterior of the existing building has a marble base and glazed white terracotta tile. The extension is designed to be built in the same material. Inspired by The Phillips Exeter Library by Louis Kahn, the extension design has a strong focus on natural light + implements the use of heavy building materials. The extension is designed in three basic volumes, each distinguished by its form + program.
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Level 1
Level 2 Exisiting: Refernce desk Periodicals Storage Restrooms
Exisiting: Offices Conferece room
Extension: Stack area Lecture Hall Computer Learning Lab Children’s Libray Courtyard space
Extension: Stack area + seating/ study space Computer Lab Terrace space
Level 3
Level 4 Extension: Cafe
Extension: Additional Cafe dining space
Final plans
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Final section model light detail
Final section model
Section model cuts around the connection between the existing building + the extension. The section cut was made through the extension’s first + second floor stack areas and central courtyard space.
Final section model
Final section model exterior view
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Final model
Final model
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Aerial view + natural light design feautres
The existing library building and the extension are connected only by a small glasses enclosure. This allowed the existing building to remain mostly unchanged from its original historic design. The circular courtyard space has controlled access to the outside. Thus, allowing patrons the ability to enjoy the space with a book + only need to checkout upon exit through the original library.
Second floor stack area
View of connection between existing + extension
Connection to existing building + first floor stack area
Children’s library + reading area Artist of drawings E1-4: Elizabeth Harper (artist also featured as model)
T H E
H I G H
L I N E
New York, New York 511 W. 26th Street New York NY 10001
The High Line project is a 130 foot tall library for rare books located on the High Line in New York. The building sits between an existing commercial building and the High Line. In front of the building is a large plaza space. The program includes an archive + restoration studio + gallery space + cafe + lecture hall + study rooms. The library is designed as large, sterotomic, concrete volume that protects the rare books within it. Inside of the massive exterior is a delicate glass volume that houses the rare books. The volume punctures through the levels and is suspended from a structure in the ceiling of the 8th level. The structure cuts through the exterior walls of the building creating voids and allowing light to penetrate the spaces around it. The top level of the building has a glass floor allowing visitors of the building to walk above the structure and look down to get a unique perspective + unique understanding of the function of structure + its relationship to the volume. The building has sunken in the site 5 feet below ground level .The plaza gently slopes downward from street level the meet with the base of the building for entry from the plaza.
Final section drawing
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Level 9 Gallery
Level 8 Archive Young Adult’s Section Study rooms Level 7 Archive Childnre’s Section Level 6 Archive Cafe with Terrace space/ Outoor seating area Level 5 Archive Archive Librarian area Restoration Studio Level 4 Archive Bookstore Restoration Studio Level 3
Level 2
Archive Archive reading area Offices Security office Archive
Level 1 Lecture Hall
Final floor plans
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The volume is suspended from a large concrete structural system that connects beams and cables to suspend the volume above the bottom level. Within the volume shelves hold the libraries collection of rare books. The volume also contains a reading room where rare books can be accessed by appointment.
Section model structural detail
Section model of volume + supporting structure
Openings in the building are located primarily on the North side of the building. North glass provides consistent color and intensity of daylight, without annoying glare. The reduce the amount of direct sunlight coming through windows while still providing views out + down the High Line.
Final model
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View of cafe terrace space
View of plaza/ ground level entry
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The voids in the sterotomic exterior of the building are strictly controlled to allow for access + penetration of light. At night lights from within the delicate core volume illuminate the building and the plaza .
Final model night time views
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View from street corner
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Entering plaza + ground level
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The restricted access volume penetrates through the second to eighth floor with a four foot gap between the volume and the surrounding floor plates.
View entering from the plaza + street level
Exterior cafe seating area
View from level 9 looking down through glass floor
DEDICATION This portfolio is dedicated to my wonderful mentor (a job you will never escape!) I can hardly imagine making it to where I am today without you. Thank you for always being my voice of reason and for all that you’ve taught me.