architecture portfolio
matthew efteland meefteland@gmail.com issuu.com/matthewefteland
soledad public plaza project site section, ink on mylar
contents
orphanage nursery re-design
design / build volunteer project
orphanage staff housing complex planning, design, and construction documents
oaxaca stamp museum research and documentation
soledad public plaza
urban planning / public spaces
floor, wall, roof
model as design tool
saint john’s abbey church rendering and visualization
sendai mediatheque structural analysis model
treetop hermitage design for one
lake shore cabin site conscious design
orphanage nursery re-design design / build volunteer project
description
Foundation For His Ministry (FFHM) is a well established organization with several orphanages throughout Mexico. Hogar Para Ninos in Vicente Guerrero is their oldest and largest home for children. I had the opportunity to visit and volunteer there on multiple occasions before being asked to update their nursery (cuna).
skills / tasks • • • • • • • • • • • •
documented and analyzed site interviewed nursery staff consulted with engineer and contractor created sketches and diagrams (iterative process) prepared design proposal presented proposal to orphanage founder and staff adapted design in light of feedback produced set of construction documents oversaw demolition and framing installed custom skylight flashing conducted follow-up inspection and interviews received great reviews from client
central courtyard nursery dedication covered play area
orphanage site plan
chalkboard paint name placard “is this my room!?” new kitchen children’s bathroom
old nursery plan
view from playroom into bedroom A bedroom A mother’s room view from playroom into entry way
re-designed nursery plan
orphanage staff housing complex
multi-family residential - construction begun
description
The success of my first project for the Hogar Para Ninos led to a second, much larger endeavor. FFHM founder Charla Pereau requested my assistance with designing a building to house 30+ orphanage staff and their families. The final design includes 18 units ranging from one to three bedrooms. A covered arcade and three staircases provide easy access to the two levels. The desire was for simple yet quality living quarters, so the structure was designed to make efficient use of space, materials, and energy while providing a safe and comfortable home for its residents.
skills / tasks • • • • • • • •
responded promptly to request for design work interviewed client(s) to inform design consulted with engineer and contractor drew up design proposal presented to FFHM founder, orphanage director, and construction manager adapted design based on feedback provided drawings in both metric and imperial followed up with construction manager after delivery of drawings
bougainvillea vines
staff housing floor plan
laying the first blocks demolition of the old motel
north elevation
south elevation
transverse section
2
1 3
4
1 2
3
oaxaca stamp museum research and documentation
description
Four unique courtyards house a collection of rare Mexican stamps. Mexican architect Daniel Lopez combined these four traditional courtyard houses and introduced some modern elements to create this beautiful museum.
skills / tasks • • • • •
selected courtyard building for close study photographed and measured space analyzed relationships between courtyards and street created hard line drawings showing spatial relationships prepared final set of ink drawings on mylar
statues at museum entrance tree peeks over courtyard wall reflection pool in final courtyard axonometric drawing, ink on mylar
bamboo canopy 4
courtyard 2 section
courtyard 3 section
soledad public plaza project urban planning / public spaces
description
The Soledad plaza, situated between two major thoroughfares in Oaxaca City features two major churches, the City Hall, and a performing arts school. Despite its rich heritage and ideal location, it is far less popular than the public spaces of the Zocolo and Santo Domingo. One of the challenges of this particular site is that there is a significant elevation drop from Ave. Morales to Independencia, resulting in a lot of retaining walls dividing the space. Our group was tasked with creating a proposal to improve the Plaza through various design interventions.
skills / tasks • • • • • • •
studied precedents through diagrams created model of existing space collaborated as a team to develop a design proposal to improve traffic flow, draw people into the space, and serve as a landmark for the city referenced indigenous and colonial styles while incorporating modern design elements built many process models for critique and feedback presented final model and drawings to panel of local architects final model submitted to local museum for display
soledad church facade
soledad plaza santo domingo oaxaca city map zocolo
Indep en
Av. Mi gu
dencia
el Hida lgo
Zocolo
Reform
a 5 de M
ayo
so Valdiv ie
Tmayo
orelos
ucion
Pino S uarez
aria M
Calle d e la
Jose M
Santo Domingo
Juarez
Soledad Plaza
Las Mariposas
Stamp Museum
La Constit
Rufino
Porfirio
Diaz
Ignacio A llende
model of final proposal
plan drawing of final proposal
floor, wall, roof model as design tool
description
This design project aimed to develop our ability to perceive spatial relationships and proportion. We were given a set of pre-dimensioned shapes of three distinct materials that we were to use to define a series of programmed spaces: an eating space, a sleeping space, and a space for reflection. We were instructed not to concern ourselves with the practical requirements of a typical structure, but rather with the space-defining properties of the basic structural elements of floor, wall, and roof.
skills / tasks • • • • • •
created clay and cardboard mock-up models to study spatial relations listened to and responded to criticism and feedback practiced envisioning design elements at full scale adjusted proportions until they were appropriate to the human scale incorporated proportions and balance into design produced final presentation model with high quality materials and craftsmanship
bird’s eye view
view of reflection space view of eating space from south overhead view
saint john’s abbey church computer rendering and visualization
description
This is the first in a series of buildings designed by Marcel Breuer for a master plan to expand St John’s campus to twice its size. The innovative design demonstrates the flexibility of cast concrete to take on virtually any shape and texture. Breuer’s mastery of light and shadow make this space stunning to behold
skills / tasks • • • • • • • •
researched building design and construction scanned drawings and re-drew in Auto CAD exported Auto CAD drawings to 3DS Max constructed complex computer model applied textures and lighting to surfaces made custom stained glass texture in Adobe Illustrator produced series of high resolution images rendered series of video walkthroughs and edited final presentation in Adobe Premier (scan qr code below)
side aisle
baptismal view from balcony stained glass window
sendai mediatheque structural analysis model
description
For our Materials and Methods course we were tasked with making a scale model that represented an understanding of the structural components of an existing building. My partner and I chose to model the Mediatheque of Sendai, Japan by Architect Toyo Ito because of its revolutionary design and structural system. A thin lightweight steel honeycomb floor structure is supported by a series of angled interlocking steel tubes that make up the hollow “seaweed columns” that weave their way through the building’s seven levels. These artistic structural elements are prominently displayed through the all-glass curtain wall system surrounding the mediatheque.
skills / tasks • • • • • •
researched building design and structure analyzed drawings to gain necessary comprehension of building composition created scaled digital drawings in Auto CAD to laser cut model elements utilized spreadsheets and diagrams to calculate length and angle of each structural member determined appropriate order of assembly to achieve necessary fittings and stability presented final model with thorough explanation of structure
rooftop lattice
section cut through three floors
double glazed south facade floor detail
view through east facade
Treetop Hermitage design for one
description
The concept of a secluded and peaceful spiritual retreat is one that has been common to religious practices throughout history. This project aimed to give an imaginative twist to the traditional hermitage. The position of the retreat high in the treetops lends itself to an elevated spirit and a unique perspective on the world. The foliage surrounding the small dwelling provides a subtle spectacle of fluttering light and sound. The resulting sense of calm displacement lends itself perfectly to calling out ones inner self.
skills / tasks • • • • • • • •
researched hermitage typology studied tree houses produced study models and sketches sought out critique from peers constructed SketchUp model rendered visualizations in Kerkythea laid out presentation boards presented proposal to panel including professor, client and architect
renderings floor plan elevation
sketchup model colored in photoshop
lake shore cabin site conscious design
description
This senior architecture studio project involved a thorough site study and incorporated passive solar and other environment-conscious design elements. The final cabin has two inhabitable levels, as well as an observation/stargazing tower. The cabin features two bedrooms, two and a half baths, as well as a loft with sleeping space for six.
skills / tasks • • • • • •
conducted thorough site survey determined appropriate building location and orientation to maximize views and passive solar heating incorporated site plant and mineral color palate into exterior finishes studied heavy timber framing and cabin design allowed structural system to inform design produced final model including context
site photo
site section / plan panoramic view of site from lake
Section AA
N A
A
east elevation photoshop drawing
ground level floor plan
second level floor plan
south elevation photoshop drawing
objective To acquire an entry level position at an architectural firm. To develop my architectural skills as part of an innovative design team.
technical skills Proficient in AutoCAD, 3DS Max, SketchUp, Kerkythea, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Microsoft Office Suite, basic engineering calculations, modeling and sketching.
built work Orphanage Nursery Re-Design Volunteer Project Completed September 2012 Orphanage Staff Housing Complex Volunteer Project Construction begun May 2013
education Bachelor of Science in Architecture, College of Design, University of Minnesota
employment Front End Manager Rainbow Foods Minneapolis, MN Nov 2002 - Present • Direct and instruct cashiers and courtesy employees in job duties and expectations • Address customer needs efficiently and effectively • Troubleshoot computer and technical issues
resumé
matthew efteland meefteland@gmail.com find me on linkedin.com