MICAELA CUISANA
UNDERGRADUATE PORTFOLIO 2020
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ASHEVILLE MUSEUM OF EVOLUTION MULTIMODAL TRANSIT HUB FORSYTH ECO PARK REVERBERATION SPECTORIUM
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ASHEVILLE MUSEUM OF EVOLUTION DURATION: 10 WEEKS CLASS: SENIOR CAPSTONE LOCATION: ASHEVILLE, NC YEAR: 2020
The Asheville Museum of Evolution (AMOE) is a museum designed to celebrate the power and beauty of processes. The building itself expresses this through the exposure of regular building materials to nature and it’s impact throughout time. Through architecture, the building demonstrates the beauty of failure such as cracks, exposed structure, and the natural state of materials themselves. The museum’s target is to let the user appreciate evolution as a way of learning and overcoming obstacles. Musems are educational places where society is used to learn about historical,
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scientific, artistic, or cultural interests though exhibitions; here, I want the building itself be the art and learning feature. To further explain the process of transience and imperfection, nature is the main focus. The museum has a central/ radial organization where the garden is the center. This is used to portray the importance of learning from nature. The plants located in the center of the building will cause humidity and erosion in the building, which will eventually make it decay. This is exactly what is meant to show, the acceptance of trancendence.
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PRECEDENT
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
NATURE
separated
a
FORM
MATTER
eminence
divided single purpose materials
AESTHETICS temporary
SINGLE MATTER
PART
PART
PART
perform
perform
perform
FUNCTION
FUNCTION
FUNCTION
perform
perform
perform
FUNCTION
FUNCTION
FUNCTION
GROW resilience
join
EVOLVE
ASSEMBLY LINE
a
fast
SINGLE MATTER
cheap
edit
modular
DESIGN
PROPERTIES
framing
PRODUCTIVITY & STABILITY
through
turned
CREATIVE HUMANS
COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING
MATERIAL ENGINEERING
into create
MECHANICAL ADJUNCTS TO PRODUCTION PROCESSES
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DESIGN-INSPIRED NATURE
SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
PROPOSAL
MAN MADE VS NATURE Transitional Life Cycle Beauty of Failure A building that will eventually disappear
BUILDING past
EXPOSE BUILDING TO NATURE present
NATURE future
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EVOLUTION Traditional building methods will be replaced with nature-based ones. 1 part= multiple functions
BIODETERORATION “any undesirable change in the properties of a material caused by the vital activities of organisms” “the process by which “biological agents (i.e., live organisms) are the cause of the structural lowering in quality or value” (Rose, 1981). Biodeterioration is usually referred to as microbiologically induced deterioration (MID).
Microorganisms affect the concrete mainly by contributing to the erosion of the exposed concrete surface, reducing the protective cover depth, increasing concrete porosity, and increasing the transport of degrading materials into the concrete that can accelerate cracking, spalling, and other damage and reduce the service life of the structure.
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CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
NATURE Nature Driven Conditions Architecture steps forward to bring the user closer to nature and its properties
PROTOTYPE 1
VS.
SILK PAVILION
CNC Deposite Silk Fiber & Silkworm Construction. created of 26 polygonal panels made of silk threads machine.
ART Raw Galleries Art (evolution) steps forward
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STAGE 1
PROTOTYPE 2
PROTOTYPE 3
SILK PAVILION
SILK PAVILION
CNC Deposite Silk Fiber & Silkworm Construction. created of 26 polygonal panels made of silk threads machine.
Inspired by the silkworm’s ability to generate a 3D cocoon out of a single multi-property silk thread (1km in length)
STAGE 2
STAGE 3
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SITE MANIPULATION Development of site plan features that will interact with nature and the users experience. Different architectural elements working together to create an innovative system.
01_NETWORKS
02_LANDSCAPE
Systems working together responding to site conditions and working with natural features.
Challenging and manipulating site topography to create different conditions within the site.
WATER TREATMENT
GATHERING
Amphitheater
Bioswale
Mounds Water Channel
Stormwater collection in underground plaza
Elevated Courtyard
Stormwater collection in elevated paths
Water pump
(oxygenation and mixing of water to prevent stratification)
Educational Garden
Stormwater ponds
ENERGY
Water feature
Flywheel Generator
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Transforming kinetic energy into electrical energy
Underground Entrance
03_BUILDING Initial massing and final location for the building responding to site analysis
04_PATHS
05_SECTIONS
Experiencing the site at various levels and through different conditions
Sectional details of how paths interact with the site.
PEDESTRIAN & BIKE
A
Bike and pedestrian encounter
Environmental Conditions
B Water seating
Elevated paths
C
Water Runoff
Bike & pedestrian bridge
Biking on water shore
D
Frame view
Mass adapted to site (river view and elongation)
E Into nature
On top of nature
Program and site development
F
Water feature
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SITE PLAN
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Vehicle Road Water Bike Path Pedestrian Path Greenery Building Underground Seating
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FLOOR PLANS
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9
4
7
6
5
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LEVEL 1
3
1. Lobby 2. Auditorium 3. Green Room 4. Loading Area 5. Storage 6. Climatizing Room 7. Mechanical Room 8. Electrical Room. 9. Utility Storage 10. Service Elevator
2
1
6
5 7
3 4
LEVEL 2 2
12
1
14
9
11
8
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1. Garden Entrance 2. Gallery 1 3. Gallery 2 4. Resting Area 5. Restrooms 6. Storage 7. Gallery 3 8. Resting Area 9. Shop 10. Gallery 4 11. Garden Entrance 12. Garden
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8 13
6 4
7
5
11
10
12
2
LEVEL 3
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1 15
3
1. Balcony 2. Gallery 5 3. Janitor Closet 4. Gallery 6 5. Workshop 6. Workshop Growing Pods 7. Laboratory Gallery 1 8. Restrooms 9. Storage 10. Resting Balcony 11. Laboratory 12. Laboratory Growing Pods 13. Laboratory Gallery 2 14. Gallery 6 15. Gallery 7
8 7 4
3
9
5
10
6 2
1
LEVEL 4
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1. Gallery 8 2. Restrooms 3. Interior Balcony 4. Cafe 5. Cafe Balcony 6. Tree Canopy Bridge 7. Gallery 9 8. Storage 9. Resting Balcony 10. Exterior Circulation 11. Riverview Room
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S-E SECTION
SUNLIGHT CAPTURE
4
GALLERY APPROACH BATHROOMS
3
RESTING BALCONY GALLERY 2
GARDEN ENTRANCE GALLERY
1
LOBBY AUDITORIUM 0
S
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E
S-E SECTION
4
INTERIOR BRIDGE INTERIOR BALCONY
3
GALLERY
2
GARDEN
GALLERY
1
STORAGE
0
S
E
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E-N SECTION
4
SKYLIGHT 3
BALCONY
EXPERIENCIAL CORRIDOR 2
LABORATORY
EXPERIENCIAL CORRIDOR 1
GARDEN
E
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N
S-W SECTION
4
RIVER VIEW
EXTERIOR CORRIDOR
3
GALLERY
GALLERY
2
GARDEN
SHOP
1
W
S
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SITE SECTION
01_LONGITUDINAL SECTION 20
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01_ INTERIOR VIEW TO GARDEN
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USER EXPERIENCE AXONOMETRIC
ROOFING SYSTEM VERTICAL IRRIGATION
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BRIDGE
LABORATORY
BUILDING DECAY
AUDITORIUM
1
SHOP
3
2
Building encourages humans to engage with nature through programatic elements. The building counts with sustainable systems to provide the optimal conditions for plant growth within it. 23
DETAILS 01_VERTICAL IRRIGATION SYSTEM
Vertical Sprinkler System
Water pipe (rainwater)
Concrete finishing Wall insulation Interior wall
02_ROOFING SYSTEM
Glazing
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Rainwater Collection
Insulation
Steel structure
Wide flange
Passive Heating collected from southern sunlight
WALL SECTION
03_TRELLIS ROPE SYSTEM The building’s facade incorporates this system to create a fast way for plants to grow sticked to the building. Through out time plants will cover the building completely.
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FINAL OUTCOME
01_TRANSITION
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The building is meant to disappear with the years, and that is what will give it essence and beauty. The purpose is to watch how the building decays, and how that process is both beautiful and a learning outcome. It show how methods we used to think were successful will always be replaced by better ones, and that is just a life cycle.
01_EXTERIOR BUILDING DECAY
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MULTI-MODAL TRANSIT HUB DURATION: 3 WEEKS CLASS: STUDIO VI LOCATION: ASHEVILLE, NC YEAR: 2020
The transit hub is designed to serve the community of Asheville. It provides convinience by connecting Hall Fletcher neighborhood, the Art’s District, the community college, Downtown Asheville and the Asheville Museum of Evolution. With this hub I intended to promote ridership by providing a social gathering space, street art, bus and bike stops and walking paths. Besides helping with the city traffic and public transportation, the hub promotes Asheville’s main cultural features, street art. The project’s main focus is human interaction. Shifting away from the typical bus stop shed, the hub is located underground, unnoticeable from a street point of view. The idea is to create an experience out of a daily task. When emerging into the building one will find a series of skylights that
will connect the user with Asheville’s street art, travelers and nature. The skylights are designed to create a unique human interaction with people in both levels. Transportation hubs are places where people from various places unite but none of them interact. Leaving a safe distance from one level to the other, it is easier for people to wave at each other, wanting to be in the spotlight. Additionally, the hub plays an important role in framing art from both the upper and lower levels. Skylights create a complex order to point specifically into the works of art. The lower part of the building is meant to accomplish the functional aspects of the hub, while the upper level is designed as a human playground, all surrounded by nature
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TRANSPORTATION ANALYSIS
01_BUS ROUTE AND STOPS
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02_RAIL
03_STREETS
04_SIDEWALKS
05_BIKE
06_TRAFFIC LIGHTS
MASTER PLAN The project is located near Asheville Arts Distric with a close connection to Downtown Asheville too. Strategic location for the bus stop as there are no near stops near the site.
DOWNTOWN
ARTS DISTRICT
SITE
ASHEVILLE, NC
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CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT BUS STOP 01_RECONSIDERING TRANSPORATION METHODS Engaging human interaction
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ARTIST INVOLVEMENT 01_ARTIST MOLLY MUST Molly Must is an artist originally from West Virginia but now lives in Asheville. She has a long-standing interest in storytelling, collectivism, monuments and public history. Molly began painting murals by herself in Asheville, one of her most famous works is the Lexigton Ave Murals. A 3000 sq ft mural underneath the Interstate 240 bridge over Lexington & Broadway Avenues.
02_PURPOSE
LOCAL Being a local artist, it will make the place unique from the city and will promote local artists.
PHOTOREALISTIC The realness of the paintings call peoples attention and will encourage people to come closer.
COLOR Paintings have a lot of bright colors, they grab people’s attention and brighten the enviroment.
01_INTERIOR VIEW 33
SECTION // DETAILS
01_ BIOSWALE
02 SKYL
Glazing
Plants that can tolerate water conditions
Road Amended Soil Geotextile
Mulch or Compost
Existing Soil Perforated PSD Pipe Bedding for PSD Pipe
Steel structure
Reinforce concrete
04_LONGITUDINAL SECTION 34
2_ LIGHT
03_ RETAINING WALL
Grade Paving
Concrete block
Rebar
Reinforced concrete cupola structure Insulation
Weepholes
Celling
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FLOOR PLANS
01_FIRST LEVEL
02_SECOND LEVEL
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EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC
01_SKYLIGHTS
02_MOUNDS
03_COLUMNS
04_ENCLOSURE
05_ARTWORK
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01_EXTERIOR VIEW
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FORSYTH ECO PARK DURATION: 10 WEEKS CLASS: STUDIO III LOCATION: SAVANNAH, GA YEAR: 2019
Forsyth Park is a central hub for Savannah, Georgia. Located at the historic distric of the city, the park renders itself successful as it has hundreds of visitors daily flowing in and out at any given time. Forsyth is a place where locals, students and especially tourists interact with each other and perform both leisure and sport activities. This project wishes to create a cohesive system that is able to integrate the various sectors of community through multi-purpose spaces that foster health, family and environmental awarness. Forsyth Eco Park promotes the users experience through planned tactics combined with program that will react correspondingly to the
site and human behavior analysis. Design comes into place when seeking an upcycle of the park. Critically thinking how the existing spaces work and how to distribute the new ones in an efficient way was extremely important. Forsyth Eco Park incorporates a sustainable system that will benefit the community and the environment, creating human bonds with nature and the ones that surround. The project focuses in nature’s cycle of giving back, promoting and serving the community. Through the process, it can be appreciated how architecture influences in both a micro and macro scale the interaction with the environment and the users.
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PROPOSAL The project specifically tackles community, discovery, balance and ecology through various architecture tactics. This proposal is improving the existing conditions by shifting the single perspective of the park into an integrated and adventurous path.
PROPOSED
EXISTING
COMMUNITY
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DISCOVERY
BALANCE
ECOLOGY
SITE ANALYSIS 01_INITIAL PARK PARTI Initial Parti
Field
Fragance Garden
Basketball Courts
Fountain
Mechanical
Green Space
Playground Parking
Tennis Courts
Green Space
Field
Coffee Shop
Monument
Amphitheater
Zones
1
2 Nature
Commercial
3
4
Residencial
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02_COMMERCIAL VS RESIDENTIAL
03_GRID EXTENTION
04_ZONING
05_AMENITIES USAGE MATRIX
Fields
Rain
Wind
Sunlight
Daylight
Winter
Rain
Wind
Sunlight
Daylight
Summer
Rain
Wind
Sunlight
Daylight
Spring/Fall
LOW
Parking Green areas Sidewalks
MEDIUM
Amphitheater Tennis Courts Basketball Courts
HIGH
Playground Fountain Monument Fragance Garden Mechanical
High Medium Low
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SITE PLAN
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SUSTAINABILITY
Forsyth Park covers 1.4 million square feet of Savannah Historic Distric. The park is an opportunity to give back to the community and the environment. If all the annual rainfall is collected in the park, it will add up to 96,000 gallons of water that can be used for irrigation purposes and treated for potable water for the Historic Distric. Emphasizing community, the philosophy of the landscape amenities focuses in giving back it resouces and preserving the site.
Water mixed with waste from fish tank The tank empties nutrient-rich water into grow bed feeding the plants. The grow medium and plants filter the water
Flood Tank
Bacteria is cultured in the grow beds and fish tank to break ammonia into nitrites and then nitrates
Grow Be
d
Fish produce ammonia rich waste. They can withstand high levels of nitrates.
Kinetic Energy into Electrical Energy
Water collection for food production
Fish Tank
S
NIC
APO AQU
01_AQUAPONICS
EES
TR Natural water collection and cooling
tor
l Genera
Flywhee
step
=
7
watts
02_ENERGY TIDES
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LES
TI RGY
ENE
Aerated clean water returns to the fish tank
1
Water collection in metal louvers
Rainwater Collection Water collection and cooling
Ecology and cooling
Distribution
Water collection and shading
F
OO NR
EE GR
Aquaponics
Irrigation
RE
ST
U CT RU
N
O RC
TIO EC L L
TE WA
B
E AW U AQ
Potable Water
03_WATER COLLECTION
Capture
Evaporative Cooling (Dehumidification)
Store
Distribute
04_AQUAWEB
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EXPLODED AXONEMETRIC
Systems of the long span structure and how the work together in the park. 01_METAL LOUVERS
Water Collection and Shading Systems
02_EFTE ROOF
Protection and Visibility Systems
03_WELDED CONNECTION 48
04_CONCRETE FOUNDATION
05_VOLTED CONNECTION
AMENITIES DAILY USAGE
11pm
FALL/SPRING
10
12am
1am
Running
2a
pm
m Soccer m 3a
pm
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Rugby
8p m
m 4a
Frisbee
5am
7pm
Tennis Basketball
6am
6pm
Workout Yoga Walking 5pm
7am
Turism
m
4p
8a
m
Play
9a
m 3p
Picnic Reading
m
Tanning 10
Dog Walk
m
am
2p
11am
12pm
1pm
01_EXTERIOR RENDER 49
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REVERBERATION DURATION: 10 WEEKS CLASS: STUDIO IV LOCATION: TOKYO YEAR: 2019
Tokyo is one of the largest cities with the third leading economy in the world. The city has a population of 9.273 million people with a population density of 6,263.97 people per square kilometer as of December 2017. Why does all of this matter? This major economic stability is the product of Japanese hard work and perseverance. However, it’s also the cost of an unbalanced lifestyle focused almost entirely on corporate success. This workaholic culture is a product of Japan’s postwar era in an effort to imporve the economy. Consequently, one of the major issues in Tokyo today is overwork and stress intensity. Karoshi is the formal term used for death by overwork in the Japanese workspace. Deaths are commonly caused by heart attacks, stroke and suicide, brought by high amounts of work (60 hours per week).
The objective of the tower is to expose the citizens of Tokyo to their traditional, ancient philosophies about well-being, mindfulness and spiritual growth and enlightment. The goal is to break the current stress by offering a place that stimulates the connection and transcendence from body-mind-soul. The building is inspired on the concept of designing mindfulness from traditional Japanese architecture and garden design.Japanese spatial concepts contribute one’s awareness of the present moment as a part of a therapeutic or meditative technique. The project provides the opportunity to blur the boundary between space and body, a feeling of being underwater. Evolo Competition 2020 (Collaboration with Martina Iturralde and Rafaela Oleas)
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CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT 01_ CONCEPT APPLICATION Spirit-Higher Self Mind-Consciousness Physical-Body -Senses Nature-Grounded-Earth
02_SOUND FEATURE
EXTERIOR Sound that travels outside the building calling people around the city. 52
INTERIOR Sound that travels inside the building resonating and creating mindfulness in people
03_SOUND IN THE CITY
The building performs as a sound tower that emits gentle yet powerful frequencies into the city, as a reminder of the time people must take from their day to focus on their well being. The sound waves created by the Tibetan Bowls, Gongs, Chimes and Harps travel through the atrium and are amplified within the building as well as out of it.
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FLOOR PLANS // SECTION
04_SPIRITUAL
03_TRANSITIONAL
02_TANGIBLE
01_GARDEN
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01_TANGIBLE AREA- RESTING FABRICS
02_SPIRITUAL AREA- MEDITATION SPACE 55
01_ INTERACTIVE POOLS
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02_ ATRIUM VIEW
ISONOMETRIC DIAGRAMS
01_SPIRITUAL Sound and Void
These spaces mark the end of the journey by allowing the person’s mind, soul and energetic frequencies to transcend into peace through sound and meditation.
02_TRANSITIONAL Light and Water
This space is meant to blur the boundary between the physical and spiritual realms and produce a feeling of lightness of harmony throughout the body. The feeling of serenity that is attained allows one to become intuned with one’s self.
03_TANGIBLE
Physical Interaction
The opportunity of play and discovery in community allows the release of individuals’ stressors. In turn, through intergration and feeling active, the invidual becomes conscious about its very present surroundings in order to transcend from it.
04_TRADITIONAL JAPANESE GARDEN Nature
The first stage is meant to prepare the individual for the journey that awaits. We come from nature, it is the origin of life, so naturally it should be it that guides our immersion into a life of mental wellness. The Japanese traditional garden connects the citizens to their roots and ancient phyloophies about mindfullness.
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01_INTERIOR VIEW OF GARDEN
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01_INTERIOR VIEW OF SOUND SOURCE
02_INTERIOR VIEW OF INTERACTIVE NETS 60
EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC
Bamboo and Glass Atrium
01_ BAMBOO AND GLASS ATRIUM
White Concrete Buttresses
02_ WHITE CONCRETE BUTTRESSES
Steel Frame
03_ STEEL FRAME
Silk Fibers Woven Skin
04_ SILK FIBERS WOVEN SKIN 61
01_INTERIOR VIEW OF LIGHT ROOM 62
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SPECTORIUM
DURATION: 10 WEEKS CLASS: STUDIO I LOCATION: URBAN VS RURAL YEAR: 2018
“A place to see and to be seen” was the designated program for this project. Being a conceptual topic, the approach was personal and challenging. The project applies concepts from different fields not related to architecture, in order to create a “non-googleable” typology. The application of various concepts build up a hollistic design, exploring more than the building itself. In return, showing how “seeing” is applicable to our current society.
really are, that is the problem being tackled in this project.
In relation to light, the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible; the design of this building enhance the three main principles of light (Reflection, Refraction and Diffraction) through architecture. The purpose is making a connection with society and shifting the mindset of behaving differently around people. One is only reflected into itself as it is reflected into others. Applying We currently live in a society where peo- reflect, refract and diffract through the ple act in a particular way to fit in, cons- process of identifying, differentiating (ditantly trying to fit others standards. It versity) and contradicting mutually, this has been proven that as humans we have architectual experience looks forward in different and particular behaviors when providing the opportunity for human bebeing watched. Society forces people to ings to express their true self. cover with individual “masks” of who they
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CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT 01_ISSUE
“Masked society” Metaphor between society and masks as masks cover the true identity and makes everyone look the same.
“To see and to be seen” Changing behavior when being watched (Panopticon)
02_LOCATION
CITY
Hypothetical location between a rural and an urban place
NATURE
TRANSITION
Origin and Pure State
Transformational climb learning from the “roots”
Modern and Complex State
03_ CONCEPT APPLICATION REFLECTION
Encouraging an experience of bouncing and reflecting oneself. Getting to know one’s personal identity through only seeing yourself in an enclose space with reflective surfaces.
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REFRACTION
The change in direction of people’s perspective by passing from one medium to another. Transitional space between the natural and the complex outside.
2
DIFFRACTION
The end of the process by which one spreads out fearlessly who they are and infects other people to do the same.
3
04_ POLYSEMIC
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MASSING MODELS // MATERIALITY
01_SUN PATH
To increase daylight, the building elongetes in the WestEast direction to maximize the users experience for a longer amount of time.
02_VERTICAL CIRCULATION
Stairs designed to help the client escalate the building using a common method to focus more on gazing architecture and the human interaction.
03_DIVIDING SPACES
Each one of the spaces is designed to accomplish one of the three main concepts of the project; reflextion, refraction and diffraction (bottom to top). The stacked arragement emphazises the need of each on of the elements to create a final piece.
CONCRETE
Hard and solid material that frames specific views. It also partially blocks views to intrigue the user and further explore.
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VS.
GLASS
Translucent material that will allow the user to view in multiple directions without the limitation of a surface intersection
EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC
01_RECTANGULAR HORIZONTALS (Glass)
Glass surface used to engage the user to glaze up and down.
02_POLYGONAL HORIZONTALS (Concrete)
Simple shape design to increase sight conditions and not a complex path.
Transparent and unsual surface to walk on, creates a sense of unsteadiness.
Engaging the user to look forward and backwards (surroundings)
Polygonal shape to drive the user into different perspectives of seeing
Common walking surface that will encourage the user to explore further
03_L-SHAPE VERTICALS (Concrete and Glass)
Concrete surfaces faces the West-East facade to block direct sunlight
04_SINGLE VERTICALS (Concrete)
W
N
Structural Elements S
S
E
Glass surfaces face the North-South facade to allow the sun reflection in
Major structural element
N
Oriented facing North-South facade to optimize sunlight conditions.
05_MAIN GRID
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REFLECTION
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REFRACTION
DIFFRACTION
ELEVATION - SECTION
EAST FACADE
ELEVATIONS
SOUTH FACADE
NO
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SECTION // ELEVATION
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01_POLYSEMIC
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micacuis@gmail.com 9127134640 issuu.com/micaelacuisana linkedin.com/in/micaela-cuisana/ 77