Lucien Menair Academic Portfolio 2008-2012
Lucien Menair Academic Work: 2008-2012 Bachelor of Science In Architecture University of Texas At Arlington School of Architecture Summa Cum Laude 1201 Sundale, Ennis Texas, 75119 lucien.menair@gmail.com 972-268-0754
Skygate 5
Contents
Horton Plaza 17
M.O.P.A 25
[poly]tectonic_cloud 35
Modified Site 41
Transitory Domain 51
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Skygate
Chicago, Illinois Design Studio III Professor John P. Maruszczak Airport of the Future competition
Between long waits, space constriction, limited, boring views, and the hassle of getting to and from the airport, flying has become an absolute chore. This has not always been the case. During the golden age of flight, flying was considered to be the most luxurious form of transport available. Whatever the route cause of the degradation, the airport of the future needs to at least offer an alternative to the contemporary incarnation of air travel. A new paradigm, or at least a restart of an old one, must then be used. In the past, the lighter-then-air airship provided a glimpse into the future, where aircraft were less like missiles they are today, and more like elegant cruise ships. On a cruise, the journey is just as important as the destination. This is the analogue that the airport of the future must follow in order to solve the problems of the present. Modern has allowed current airships to be just as safe, if not safer than traditional flight methods.
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Scalar Relationships Due to traffic and weather avoidance, airships most often fly between 650 and 1000ft. A fundamental scalar relationship is determined by holding an object at arms length and viewing with the naked eye. It is determined that objects under four inches begin to diminish in detail and objects over four feet begin to become too large to understand in their entirety. Scaling this relationship provides an analogue between the distance of the human arm and the view distance from a comfortable position aboard the airship. It is determined that objects and geographical features between 100ft and 1000ft would be most appealing to human eyes.
Geoscape The continental united states is shown in geographical terms. The white areas articulate desirable landscape. Desirability is determined by searching for zones of topography that have the densest changes in elevations, such as cliffs, and steeply inclined hills and mountains within a specific height range according to the above basic scalar relationship.
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STEP ONE: Air Ways
The continental United States is studied for the most appropriate destinations and routes according to popular appeal and geographical interest.
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Hancock Tower [100 floors; 1,127ft] Trump Tower [96 floors; 1,389ft] Aon Center [83 floors; 1,136ft] Sears/Willis Tower [108 floors; 1,451ft]
Targets: The City of Chicago is well known for it’s outstanding skyline. The four tallest buildings provide four unique possible locations for the intervention.
Transfer The CTA elevated train system offers an efficient network of inter-city and intracity public transportation. The proximity of the “El” thus determines appropriate vicinity to possible site locations.
Buzz The popular adoption of geotagging for amateur photography provides a method to map human interest within a city. The Flickr API is used to list and subsequently plot coordinates for photographs posted to the flickr photo-sharing website with visualinterest related tags, within a region. The resulting map varies in density (human interest) according to quantity of photos taken at each location, giving an accurate depiction of the city seen through eager human eyes.
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STEP TWO: Landing Sites
The landing region is analyzed to locate an ideal location for docking station.
The goal of the landing site is to provide a physical and figurative threshold of entry into the city. Siting the intervention in close to proximity to existing public transportation allows Skygate to have the best possible functionality as an airport. Additionally, carefully selecting the location that affords the best views of the most densely populated human interest spots ensures that visitors and travelers will be enamored by the cityscape. After careful analysis and study, the Hancock Tower provides the best combination of both integration into Chicago’s infrastructure as well as breathtaking views of the rest of the city. It’s northern position in downtown offers single views of nearly every other significant buzz location in downtown Chicago.
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Power Telecommunications Water/Waste Circulation Structure
I: Existing Building The Hancock Tower is 100 stories tall containing a unique structural system of exterior x-braces with a load bearing central core containing all infrastructural elements.
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II: Extracted Core The core of the building is extracted and analyzed for points of entry. The vital systems of power, telecoms, water and waste, and vertical circulation are spliced into for Skygate’s functions.
STEP THREE: Graft
The target host is spliced into; it’s infrastructure extruded upwards to sustain the system above. A completely separate paradigm for air travel requires a completely different paradigm for the airport itself. Traditional airplanes require long runways and enormous amounts of airspace for take off and landing operations. This necessitates airports to be far outside the cities that they serve, effectively disconnecting the traveler from the world. Airports occupy a strange world of non-space and non-time, removed from reality. The unique nature of airships allows them to occupy a very small footprint for take off and landing. This presents the opportunity to attach the airport itself directly to a large tower, therefore directly integrating the airport within the fabric of a city. To facilitate this landing facility, the host building must share it’s infrastructure, and provide an attachment point for the Skygate.
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STEP FOUR: Hardcode
Programmatic and Infrastructural elements are installed into the project.
Instead of a large, complicated facility, Skygate follows the analogy of the dock for sea-going vessels. This small, simple space provides a far more intimate zone for travelers, providing a space of memories rather than one of anxiousness. Skygate, then, is an elevated platform that soars above the city it serves, softly suspended around it’s core by a large lifting membrane, reinforcing the analogy of sea travel. Skygate is a modular system, allowing the system to be erected in popular locations quickly. The architecture therefore should be appropriate for the form of travel, rather than the specific location. The emphasis is on visual lightness and tension, analogous to the construction of the airship itself.
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Section
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Section Key 1. Lifting Membrane 2. Tension Cables 3. Cable Pulley 4. Extruded Core 5. Airship Section 6. Upper Platform 7. Docking Station
8. Elevator 9. Tower
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Horton Plaza Polykinectic Cloud
San Diego, California Design Studio III Professor John P. Maruszczak With Diego Wu Law Horton Plaza 3.0 Competition Finalist
Poly-kinetic Cloud is a performative system of elements linking the Horton Plaza shopping district to San Diego transportation and the historic Horton Plaza Park. Using a fundamental methodology of mapping human movement and psychogeography within the site area, a site circulation system and plan is generated which then allows a layering of programmatic elements. A multiconfigurable and active tensioned membrane system is raised above the plaza allowing for a high degree of performative actions. The Polykinetic Cloud utilizes a deployable members allowing for larger or smaller areas of shade and mild weather protection, a variably transparent membrane to control lighting conditions during the day, and an internal LED matrix to provide efficient and infrastructurally light-weight night lighting for the entire plaza. These combined elements allow for a efficient, agile, and highly versatile urban space that can host a wide variety of events and activities as well as provide a new cultural heart for downtown San Diego.
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Horton Plaza
Extracted Geometry The existing mall is studied, and it’s unique geometry is extracted to articulate a basic layout on the outdoor space.
Human Movement Anticipated human moment originating from San Diego’s public transportation system into Horton Plaza is mapped, establishing zones to be defined topographically by altering the ground plane.
Human Movement Bus Stop
Development The schematic layout is derived from a combination of extracted geometry and mapping of human movement.
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Site Plan
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Programmatic Diagram: As an extension of Horton Plaza, the new urban park must perform a variety of functions. Polykinectic cloud chiefly serves as an entrance to the mall, so it’s circulation is simple and straightforward, guiding visitors into the main entrance of the mall. The space also serves as an outdoor park that can support a diverse array of functions. The existing building within the space provides a solid, blank wall from which different functions such as live music and movies can be set against. The folded green plane provides leisure and recreation space in the San Diego sun, and can also provide seating for performances in the plaza.
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Outer Frame_1 Outer element of polykinectic cloud, assuring structural integrity
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Tension System_2 “Soft structure� provides flexibility and kinetic ability 2 Membrane_3 Translucent membrane embedded with LED matrix provides both shade and light
Folded Topography_4 Ground plane is folded upwards to create multi-use space and theatre-like seating
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Extruded Ground_5 Native ecologies are extruded to create distinct spatial zones
Topography Frame_6 Structural system consisting of steel honeycomb tub elevates the topography
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udy aza Phase One: Spring and Summer In spring and summer, the membrane provides the maximum amount of sun protection for the plaza, providing a comfortable environment for recreation and performances
Phase Two: Fall In fall, the polykinetic membrane mimics natural vegetation by beginning to change color and gradually providing less shade just as trees would as the leaves fall.
Above: Extracted inner-plaza circulation determines landscaping element locations. Opposite: Night and Afternoon perspectives
Phase Three: Winter During winter, the membrane folds to it’s smallest configuration allowing natural light to warm the plaza.
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Museo dell’Opera del Duomo
Florence, Italy Design Studio II Professor Steven Quevedo
Museo dell’Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore (M.O.P.A.) is the museum dedicated to the construction of the “Duomo” of Florence, Italy. This design expands the existing museum to feature more exhibits including special galleries for the Doors of Paradise, a scale replica of the cathedral itself, a sectional, interactive model of Filippo Brunelleschi’s dome, a gallery for the perspective, and a theater for conferences. The building is situated on the eastern corner of Piazza Del Duomo, an urban area of Florence that dates back to Roman times. The objective of the project, then, is to create a unique museum experience while preserving the tradition and cultural heritage of Florence.
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I Siting The museum addition is first conceptualized with a collage incorporating aspects of facade, section, site plan, vignettes and details. From this collage, the axial conditions of the site are established with the predominant crossing black lines, which contribute to the formal organization of both plan and facade.
II Section The section of the main gallery spaces of the museum is designed to maximize visitor experience and enjoyment. The large front gallery holds both a scale model of the cathedral and, in the space above, a cross-section of the dome through which visitors are able to walk and experience as they observe the model from the mezzanine.
III Facade The facade of the museum is contextually linked to it’s unique site within the Piazza Del Duomo by use of materials and geometry. Pulling the traditional roofing material of Florence, the terra-cotta tile, down to the facades of the building allow it to anchor the corner of the Piazza while also endowing the museum with a unique character. The visual cornice line and the repetitive geometry of the arcades of the neighboring buildings are continued to maintain a familiar rhythm.
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One Concept
The museum is conceptualized with drawing studies.
Final Studies
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Two Operation
The program of the museum is developed.
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Curator’s Residence Level The top level of the building contains a private residence for the curator of the museum. Within the residence, there is a large central studio space with natural light emanating from large light tubes.
Gallery Level II The mezzanine level of the main gallery contains a small cafe as well as terraces overlooking the main exhibits.
Gallery Level I The main level of the galleries provides exhibit space for the doors of paradise, and a large model of the Duomo. The main entrance and bridge between the old museum and the new extension is also on the main gallery level.
Conference Level (Ground) Within the ground level, there is an entrance to the conference and business parts of the building, with a large auditorium. In addition there is a large gallery for the perspective as well as an outdoor courtyard.
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Facade The facade is designed to filter and diffuse natural light while making a contextual link to the surrounding buildings. The system is based on a module of one terra-cotta tile. Each tile is arranged so that there is a small gap on all sides allowing a measured amount of sunlight to penetrate the outer facade. These tiles are then arranged into subsequently larger groups until an entire panel section is filled. These panel sections are attached (see construction detail top right) to a tile armature which is then attached to an aluminum outer curtainwall. An inner curtainwall holds this frame, as well as the translucent diffusive glass to the main structure of the building.
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Facade System Key 1. Glazing 2. Inner Frame 3. Outer Frame 4. Tile Armature 5. Tile Group 6. Single Tile
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[poly]tectonic_ Cloud
Arlington, Texas Digital Fabrication I Professor Bradley Bell With Ricardo Leon
This project is an exercise in combining traditional architectonic practices and principles while leveraging digital development and fabrication. The goal of the exercise is to construct a light screen measuring 36� by 36� while utilizing digital development techniques such as vector drawing, 3D modeling, computer rendering + light simulation, and paneling scripts, as well as digital fabrication equipment such as CNC milling, laser cutting, and 3D printing. In addition to these digital practices, the project also utilizes some standardized hardware to increase cost and production efficiency.
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I Portrait
Development
Creating the light screen.
The development process begins by developing a concept of digitally fabricated, three dimensional pointillism. A portrait of pointillist father George Seurat is converted into a dot matrix form with two separate fields. A curved surface of the final screen’s dimension is developed. From this curved surface, parametric paneling tools are used to transform the curved surface into joined, flat, polygonal surfaces. The dot matrix layers are then projected onto the paneled surface to create apertures for light to pass through. The paneled surfaces are overlaid on top of each other. The non-alignment of the holes allows the light to become more or less diffused, depending on the density of the holes in each location.
II Dot Matrix
III Separation
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Original Surface
Paneled Surface
Punch Holes
Overlay
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Fabrication
Constructing the light screen.
The fabrication process begins by selecting two materials with different light properties to articulate different light effects depending on viewer angle. The materials chosen are frosted plexiglas and birch plywood. The materials are then cut by a computer controlled laser cutter. The layers are assembled using standard allthread and associated hardware, and laser cut neoprene washers. A simple base is constructed with MDF to house the lighting system, fluorescent tube lights.
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Exploded View
Perspective
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Modified Site
Arlington, Texas Basic Design II Professor John P. Maruszczak With Ricardo Marin
This exercise is a study of transformation. The process begins with drawing in two dimensions as a way of understanding two-dimensional space, that is space on paper. The two dimensional space is then transferred, through extrusion, into a three-dimensional sectional model. The model is not a representation of the original drawing, but a new construct in and of itself. Next, a multipart operable device is developed and implanted into the model. Finally, the entire project is figuratively buried and then excavated to reveal new spaces, new volumes, and a integrated topography within the site. The resulting system is not merely an addition or intervention upon an existing structure, but an entirely new architectural construction.
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Stage One Operable System
The villa is reconfigured and retrofitted with a dynamic operable shading system.
Prompt Maison Cook, designed by Le Corbusier in 1926 serves as a starting point for the exercise.
Sectional Study The villa is drawn and studied in section.
Dissection The section is partitioned into five equal parts.
Reconstitution The section is sliced along the partition lines and reconfigured to produce new zones into which an operable system can be implanted.
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Perspective of model
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Phase One 7:30 AM
Phase Two 10:00 AM
Phase Three 1:00 PM
Phase Four 6:30 PM
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Composite
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Stage Two Reclamation
The altered villa is buried and selectively excavated to explore volumetric and topographical possibilities within the interstitial space.
I: New System
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II: Buried
III: Excavated
Topographical Development Burying the project allows a conceptual investigation based upon excavation and topography. The exercise begins by thinking of the interstitial zones, or voids, of the project being completely solid. From there, a plan is developed to articulate zones of circulation through the solid mass, interlinking each of the voids. These new voids within the solid are then inverted to become solid and the rest of the infill is deleted, in the same manner as fossil recovery. The resulting zones are further developed in three dimensions topographically, in the form of a physical model made of chipboard. After this interstitial topography is developed, it is extracted from the structure and grafted onto a new structure, allowing it to exist as a separate entity.
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Final Study
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Transitory Domain
Arlington, Texas Design Studio IV Professor John P. Maruszczak With Diego Wu Law Sociodesign vignette competition: Fringe Architecture Honorable mention
Transitory domain is an investigation of space that exists in between states. These sites are ephemeral in nature as they move from one period of activity to another. This physical fringe state is mirrored in the ephemeral thoughts of the urban wanderer. With endless global turmoil and economic hardships, there are more people than ever in a metaphysical limbo of transience, as they move from one mental state to another. Transitory Domain seeks to join both the mental and physical manifestations of the ephemeral through a type of urban cartography, in which the wanderer explores the fringe.
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A city is examined on the basis of zones in between purposes or of uncertain futures.
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Two Fringe Site
An individual fringe site is explored and analyzed.
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1. Wanderer Jacket The wanderer’s jacket contains everything he/she needs to fully explore the depths of the fringe. Integrated bathing, power, and navigation allow the wanderer to remain outdoors for extended periods of time.
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2. Power Autonomous, multiconfigurable devices use lighter-than-air microstructures with a solar membrane to collect and store sunlight to recharge the wanderer.
Autonomous Habitation Each site within the fringe is occupied by a type of autonomous architecture. Instead of fixed, rigid buildings, the infrastructure is lightweight and adaptive, with a single prototypical element that serves various functions. This passive approach allows the fringe sites to retain their character and avoid becoming magnets for tourism or any type of capitalistic transformation such as gentrification or renewed sprawl.
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3. Water The device attaches to nearby water sources and refills as necessary, ensuring the wanderer a reliable source for hydration and hygiene.
4. Shelter While in use by the wanderer, the autonomous structures become shade and shelter, protecting the him from moderate weather and sunlight, as well as recharging and re-hydrating.
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