LB portfolio: ALL ABOUT the PROCESS

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Laura Butera

(610) 731 1014 420 Howard Rd. Gladwyne, PA, 19035 LFButera@gmail.com

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Wayfinding Castle Heights

Hildreth Hill Geneva, NY

Geneva New York is made up of eleven different neighborhoods but most city residents do not identify with their neighborhood.

I worked on a project to try to create a stronger sense of identity and a belonging through the use of design.

I explored two particular neighborhoods; Castle Heights and Hildreth Hill.

I sketched different houses, streets, and buildings to try to capture the essence of each neighborhood before designing logos for each.

Castle Street

Logo Options and Early Renditions

The neighborhood voted on logos to represent Castle Heights and Hildreth Hill.

Final Logos

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Neighborhood logos provide a more defined sense of community, futhering the level of cohesion and pride within the entire Geneva community.

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Inventory of Wayfinding in Hildreth Hill Neighborhood

While I was working on the logos I was also taking inventory of all the street signs in the same two neighborhoods. I found that all of the street signs could describe where you were, but did not convey neighborhood identity. This provided an opportunity to merge the two projects.

Key:

Former Street Sign Poles: 15 Signs: 30

Classic Street Sign Poles: 5 Signs: 10

Former Neighborhood Watch Sign Signs: 12

Current Street Sign Poles: 6 Signs: 12

Current Neighborhood Watch Sign Signs: 4

Wayfinding Options for Geneva Wayfinding, as defined by Kevin A. Lynch, is “a consistent use and organization of definite sensory cues from the external environment�. After looking at case studies of cities with successful systems, I proposed different options that could work well for Geneva.

Banner

Identification Sign

Gateway Sign

Sign Toppers

Proposal and Signs Today Since we were doing an inventory of all the street signs in Geneva the optimal option was what is referred to as a sign topper, a small sign that sits on top of street signs. A colleague and I proposed our project to the City Manager and the Director of the Department of Public Works. Our proposal was accepted and implemented.

An Active Destination TEMPORAL: Major institutions used at different times of the year

COMPLIMENT: Space used all year round

The Fenway area of Boston has two distinct areas adjacent to one another, both heavily trafficed by pedestrians, yet each acts very independently from the other. As illustrated in the time lines, Boston University and Fenway Park are used at opposite times of the year.

Strategized Location What if we could bridge the gaps of time and space? I chose a location in between these temporal locations that would bring BU students, Red Sox fans, and comuunity members together all year long.

With programs that attract BU students, baseball fans, and local community members, this active destination becomes a connective element for people, space, and time.

Our environment shapes our morals and the way we live. Through it’s architecture and programming this area creates a healthy, active and interactive community. The unique architecture encourages social engagement and each building is designed to contain multiple mixed use programs that will activate the space all day, all year.

Examples of how each building can be used at any time of day, during any time of the year.

Analyzing Pallets

space

line

movement The simplicity and functionality of the wood pallet is what inspired this project. I began by diagraming the wood pallets and then converted these drawings into three dimensional objects.

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space

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space + line + movement movement

Maintaining a rule of connection, the space, line, and movement structures were combined to create one large structure. After creating one cohesive piece, I narrowed in and focused on the connection of pieces. This led to the next part of the process.

System of Construction: “Crate”

I focused on a detail that emphasized the connection of sticks and planes. By enlarging the scale every detail had to be considered of how these pieces would work together in the Connection Study.

Connection Study

Size: 18’’ x 18” x 103/4” Oak, wheat board, pine

System of Construction The system of construction of the Connection Study helped me understand the connections and turn it into an inhabitable space.

Thin planes held by thick blocks meets in a finger joint at the corner where the method of construction is reversed.

Human Experience The language used throughout the Connection Study and now applied to the Inhabitable Space maintains a simplicity and a rhythmic balance. This simplicity makes the Site Model welcoming and inviting and also speaks to the adaptability and user-friendliness of the Site Model.

User Friendy: Users can alter their experience in the Inhabitable Space by physically sliding the blocks or benches to their liking. Moving these pieces can change the amount of sunlight or privacy desired.

Site A specific site was chosen which altered the way I designed the site model. Things considered with a specific site in mind were: view, feeling of enclosure, and reasons for use.

Photography I believe photography should make the viewer notice something exciting about an ordinary scene.

After

Art & Design

Charcoal

Sketchbook

Woodblock Print

Woodblock Print

Watercolor

Skills

Work Experience

Education

Laura Butera

(610) 731 1014 420 Howard Rd. Gladwyne, PA, 19035 LFButera@gmail.com

blankblank 84 82 Hobart & William Smith Colleges - Geneva, NY

B.A. - Magnum Cum Laude

Architectural Studies major with minor in Studio Art Harvard University - Career Discovery Program, Urban Design HWS Architectural Semester Abroad Program - Rome, Italy The Shipley School - Bryn Mawr, PA

Laura Butera Design

Provide various design services for clients such as architectural renderings Pall Mall Art Advisors

Analyze photographed art collections and assign information accordingly AmeriCorps Summer of Service

Assisted in urban restoration and design of community gardens Geneva Neighborhood Resource Center

Designed street signage and wayfinding graphics for the city of Geneva, NY Point B Design/Build

Assisted architects in design and construction of private art museum

2008-2012 2012 2010

2012-present 2013-present

Proficient in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, SketchUp 3D Design,Word, Excel, PowerPoint Working knowledge in Italian language Skilled in many studio art mediums for drawing, painting, printmaking, etc.

2011 2011 2010

Additional Experience Awards

Jane Goodall Institute - Roots & Shoots Program

Teaching environmental concepts to elementary school children Campus Activities Board, HWS Colleges

Executive Board Member and Director of Public Relations

Directed and designed graphic materials for all major campus events One Million Calls for Clean Energy

Co-founder, 7,000+ blank 83 member organization for clean energy Habitat For Humanity - Gulf Coast Mississippi

Assisted in reconstruction of areas affected by Hurricane Katrina Women’s Safety Awareness Workshop Leader

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Geneva Childcare Center - Teaching Assistant The Senior Architecture Prize - HWS Colleges

For leadership, service, and academic achievement in Architecture The President’s Civic Leadership Award -HWS Colleges

For outstanding contributions to public and community service HWS Dean’s List Honors (6 of 7 semesters)

Journal of Global Perspectives - Artwork selected for book publication

Team Leadership Award - HWS Campus Activities Board

First Place - Lexus Environmental Challenge College Scholarship Award

2010-2012 2009-2012 2009-Present 2007, 2008 2009-2011 2009-2012 2010 2012 2012 2008-2012 2012 2009 2008