two thousand and thirteen
MICHAEL COON an architectural porfolio
cover image is the inside of a pavilion lantern for the cascade aids project art auction installation design-build: art installation
contents design-build art installation mapping identities of Portland urbanism: interpreting the city community and tectonic expression landscape and the natural order
preliminary light and projection studies Left & middle: effect of projecting video through a prism. Right: effect when video is projected through a chandelier crystal
conceptual model (series of pavilions) From left: series of images of the conceptual model demonstrating projection effect. Model built in collaboration with Katie Barmore McCollum
DESIGN-BUILD ART INSTALLATION Cascades AIDS Project Art Auction Installation
Approached by a director within Cascades AIDS Project to create an architectural installation for their annual art auction, we were asked to design a piece that would convey the journey individuals face when infected with HIV or AIDS. This design-build process led to the development and fabrication of seven pavilions composed to create a tunnel-like structure. Each pavilion was split into three pieces: the column, roof, and lantern. A prism was predominantly displayed on the column that symbolically represents significant members within the CAP organization that the artists wanted to honor. To represent a feeling of disarray, we varied the heights, order, and layout of the pavilions as well as the intensity of the ‘fractured’ effect on the column sheathing. From a projector placed inside the column we projected video of member testimonials up onto the roof, which was then reflected down onto the conceptual ‘lantern’. Combined with a specific color of the rainbow and video of natural migration happening in life, each pavilion had its own program with the last pavilion being white to represent the feeling of unity the CAP organization tries to instill in individuals living with HIV or AIDS.
full-scale mock-up and fabrication Far left: construction of column for full-scale mockup. Middle left: sheathing process for typical lantern. Middle right: collaboration led to the ‘fractured’ effect of columns. Far right: pavilions were designed to be modular to ensure easy transportation to memorial coliseum (event location)
Right: panoramic photograph of pavilion roofs with reflective film
final installation and event night Left: backside of final installation during the evening of the art auction. Middle: detail image showing the reflected projection effect on a lantern. Right: image from the entrance of the final installation showing guests exiting at end of CAP event
conceptual collage Above: collage illustrating how users interact with the moon by wearing white attire, helping reflect the moon’s light onto the fields for harvesting
facility context & conceptual collages Left: map illustrating where in SE Portland the facility is located. Middle & Right: collages illustrating the activation of the cleansing and preserving phases of the facility by the moon’s light.
MAPPING IDENTITIES OF PORTLAND Preserving facility for Portland urban farmers
Designed to celebrate night specific phenomena and preserve generations in history using Portland’s rich network of community gardens, this canning facility for Portland urban farmers reshapes the understanding of the nighttime condition. Located in the center of SE Portland’s many community gardens and also in the darker area of Portland, this facility studies and celebrates process of canning and its relationship to the harvest moon as well as the natural seasons. Separated into three phases, the harvest, cleansing, and preserving, the facility uses the harvest moon’s natural movement through the night sky to provide light and ultimately activate the spaces and specific programs within the building. This canning facility extends the life of community gardens by creating a once a year ritual of passing on traditions and sharing knowledge between members’ family and community through canning.
design perspectives From left: series of perspectives illustrating the three main spaces and their respective programs within the building (harvest, cleansing, and preserving
diagrammatic section Above: sectional diagram demonstrating how the harvest moon’s movement through the sky and luminosity activates and programs the facility as the moon moves across its ecliptic
context research map Above: research mapping analyzing the varying transportation induced intensities on neighboring communities
preliminary and final conceptual drawing / models Left: conceptual drawing illustrating the experimentation with how to reconnect the neighbors of east Portland. Middle: preliminary concept model. Right: final conceptual model illustrating how ‘strands’ can bring together disconnected neighborhoods at a single point in the form of a crossing
URBANISM: INTERPRETING THE CITY Crossing Sullivan’s gulch
Based on the Interpretation and analysis of the Sullivan’s Gulch corridor I have identified ‘neighborhood discontinuity, program incompatibility, and green disconnectivity’ as issues faced by the neighborhoods along the corridor. In response I designed a series of program specific ‘streetscapes’ that when combined with a series of ‘urban junctions’ and ‘retrofitted interchanges’ would together unify the disconnected communities. These streetscapes create an urban identity designed to energize and activate separated neighborhoods unifying them at a singular crossing over the gulch in the form of a conceptual braid.
conceptual collages From left: series of collages representing the three different strands (activity, communal, and agriculture) designed to reconnect neighboring communities
diagrammatic (street) section From left: sectional diagrams illustrating how to program existing streets by varying surfaces, spatial organizations and activity junctions of different ‘strands’ to promote neighborhood interaction
HOMELESS MEDICAL + SERVICES Typ Wall Section (arch 381) Scale 1 1/2” = 1’-0” Arch 361 Garrett Martin
METAL COPING / COUNTERFLASHING ANCHOR BOLT IN WOOD BLOCKING BASE FLASHING CANT STRIP STONE BALLAST ROOFING MEMEBRANE POLYSTYRENE FOAM INSULATION VAPOR RETARDER LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE ROOF DECKING 2" MIN SITE-CAST CONCRETE TOPPING
michael coon
WELDED WIRE FABRIC REINFORCING
6" PRE-CAST CONCRETE HOLLOW CORE SLAB GROUTED SHEAR KEY LOCK LIGHT-GAUGE METAL STRAP ANCHOR STANDARD SUSPENDED DROP CEILING
STEEL ANCHOR BOLT 3" SITE-CAST CONCRETE WINDOW FRAME WITH REINFORCING
STEEL ANCHOR BOLT STEEL CLIP ANGLE HIGH-DENSITY NEOPRENE BEARING STRIP 8" TYP MODULAR CONCRETE MASONRY UNIT PORTLAND CEMENT GROUT FILL LONGITUDINAL STEEL DOWEL REINFORCING EXTRUDED POLYSTYRENE FOAM INSULATION ACRYLIC STUCCO FINISH 2 X 7 NOMINALLY DIMENSIONED TYP METAL PIPING
METAL STUD CAVITY WALL LIGHT-GAUGE STEEL CONTINUOUS RUNNER (TOP PLATE) TYP GYP BOARD SEALANT 3" SITE-CAST CONCRETE WINDOW FRAME WITH REINFORCING
6" TYP LIGHT-GAUGE STEEL STUD 5/8" TYP GYP BOARD VINYL BASE-MOLDING STRIP LIGHT-GAUGE STEEL CONTINUOUS RUNNER (BOTTOM PLATE) SOLID TONGUE AND GROOVE WOOD DECKING
4" MIN TYP CONCRETE SLAB ON GRADE WELDED WIRE FABRIC REINFORCING 6-MIL POLYETHYLENE MOISTURE BARRIER POLYSTYRENE PROTECTION BOARD 4" MIN TYP DRAINAGE ROCK TYP CONCRETE EXPANSION JOINT
DRAINING ROCK BACKFILL RUBBERIZED WATERPROOFING MEMBRANE NON-BIODEGRADABLE CANT STRIP 4" MIN PERFORATED FOOTING DRAIN PIPE LONGITUDINAL STEEL DOWEL REINFORCING TENSILE STEEL REINFORCING 18" BELOW FROST LINE CONTINUOUS CONCRETE FOOTING
detailed wall section Left: section cut through the building’s east facade illustrating different tectonic and design elements (wood rain-screen siding with protruding window seating that doubles as therapy space)
preliminary concept model & building section Left top & bottom: concept model demonstrating the ‘pulling apart’ of the building. Right: east-west building section illustrating building amenities inlcuding the main design element unifying the building’s two progams (fireplace) and how people interact with each other and the building
community and tectonic expression homeless medical + services and awareness gallery
In response to an identified need of Portland, I designed and developed in collaboration with Amaya Navarrete a homeless center and gallery capable of rethinking Portland customs and initiate change. Intent on providing medical services and facilities to the homeless we designed a building that would service a similar ‘need’ but though different services. By conceptually pulling apart the building to create and central courtyard and amenities that would facilitate opportunities for improved health and selfsufficiency, the design offers homeless individuals a way out of poverty. The gallery ‘Awareness’ strived to make the uninformed aware of the effects homelessness has on the body and within the context of the issue offer a distinct opportunity of multiple perspectives that allow new ideas in the movement to combat homelessness.
Plan Orthagonals Scale 1/8” = 1’0”
lounge
detailed floor plans Left: floor plans for all three levels indicate program, entourage and landscape elements
restrooms
fireplace
tool shop
gallery entrance
reception desk
courtyard
gallery desk
living room
tc
office
gallery entrance
waiting room lobby
waiting nurse station
tc
tc
gallery office
restrooms
tc
reception desk
cart lockers
level one restrooms laundry facilities
open below living room gallery storage
scsc
sc
internet access
sc
restrooms waiting
sc
sc
sc
hygiene facilities
hygiene facilities
main gallery space
sc
main gallery
level two ltc
ltc
ltc
ltc
ltc
restrooms
ltc living room
ltc
waiting
ltc
dining hall
cooking facilities
restrooms
ltc
media center
studio space
long term desk
ltc & studio gallery
terrace
level three 0’ 5’ 10’
20’
40’
design perspectives From left: series of exterior persepctives illustrating how the homeless interact with the east, north, and west sides of the building and gallery
mixed-media ‘narrative’ Above: mixed-media perspective built around a narrative designed to illustrate the coffee shop’s cozy glow on a typical overcast Portland evening
conceptual collages From left: series of space-generating experiential collages illustrating approach, arrival and interaction within the coffee shop
LANDSCAPE AND THE NATURAL ORDER Slow-drip coffee shop on Mt. Tabor
Situated on a steeply sloping site in the park-like setting of Mt. Tabor in SE Portland, I designed a traditionally-focused coffee shop centered around the idea of slow-drip coffee preparation. This traditional coffee shop is sited to reinforce the disconnection between downtown Portland and its inhabitants. The project features a meandering path stepping down Mt. Tabor’s hillside to capture commanding views of downtown Portland while using the movement of water as a design element to foster a leisurely perspective on life. The materials of the project establish a sense of place where people can gather, learn, live, relax, and recreate.
‘textured’ site and building sections Left: north-south site section demonstrating movement and natural daylighting conditions in space. Right: east-west section illustration meandering paths and reservoirs
testing and final design models Left: wind-tunnel testing model investigating passive cooling strategies for coffee shop. Middle & right: images of final design model showing the coffee shop in its context of Mt. Tabor