B. Arch 2015 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Michael Cormier mikewcormier2@gmail.com [860] 966 5903
Design Statement: In a technological era, it is imperative to not lose a sense of why we design spaces to live and work in. The intention driving my work parallels the design process. I strive to create spaces where the social condition governing a space is given as much emphasis as the desire to innovate construction systems with the technology of our time.
Table of Contents
Studio Designs Transition Series [fall 2010] Beacon For Humanity [Spring 2011] The Cocoon Complex [Spring 2012] Interstitial Limits [Spring 2014] Blurred Boundaries [Fall 2013]
1-2 3-6 7-11 12-16 17-21
Material Investigation Minimal Surfacing [Spring 2013]
22-25
Exhibitions & Installations The Machine Starts [Fall 2012-Spring 2013] The Hyde At Rensselaer [spring 2012]
26-28 29-30
Professional Work The Kenwood Academy Proposal [2015] Normanside Country Club Revamp [2015]
31-32 33-34
Transition Series
Initial engagement with the discipline involved learning to make connections. no adhesives were allowed in order to promote the understanding of how pieces interlock. This tectonic study tested methods of sliding and convergence to stabalize moving components.
12
Transition Series
Exploring methods of transitioning from one space to another, components of varying thickness come together in a strong interplay of spatial qualities. Expressing rhythm within continuity, these pieces serve to study the art of composition in three dimensions. Light and shadow possess a dynamic mirrored by the relationship of space and void.
Beacon For Humanity
Mars E{x}ploration Given a foreign terrain, we must come to understand how mankind is to adapt. The Lyot Crater, the deepest point in Mars’s northern hemisphere, provides a site upon which to build. In order to gain an understanding of the land’s different qualities, the roots of their creation are mapped out.
Beacon For Humanity
34
The urgency to discover a martian morphology was of utmost priority. atmospheric differentiation dictates changes in gravity, Aeolian and Aquatic forces carve away the basalt of the ground and dust devils are simply part of a normal day. the conquering of such a place calls for a beacon to our frontier.
Beacon For Humanity
Introducing a team-based style of design, my partners (Tom & Matthew) and I explore how this martian construct is to find its relationship to the site.
56
Beacon For Humanity
The heart of the building welcomes the occupant and embraces our race’s essence in the new world. the tower is the lighthouse of knowledge where one climbs to their own understanding of the new world.
The Cocoon Complex
North
Academic Apartment Multiplex Former City hall Site Monument Square, Downtown Troy, NY
The Cocoon Complex
5
3
N
78
1
2
1 2 3 4 5
Bedroom Bathroom Bedroom Kitchen Split Living/Dining
4
Exploded Axonometric of Construction Logic Paradigm Reversal: Accepted Role of Mass replaced by void
Studying Paul Rudolph’s Healy House for Tropes, the entire structure was rebuilt physically and digitally to learn of the architect’s intentions.
Private Space
transition Space
Public space
Negotiated Balance
Overlapping degrees of Enclosure
Formal Arrangement
The Cocoon Complex Ground Floor
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Vestibule Public Kitchen Laundry Facility Exercise Facility Retail Space [Ground Level] Library Maintenance Utility Storage Private Study
Second Floor
Inspired from Rudolph’s design this 14-room complex embodies the same architectural principles as his floridian vacation home, adapted to their new site and program. The Cocoon is an organ of social interaction and human development, surrounded by the rigid perimeter of disciplined study. The mass to void relationship rethinks the academic complex layout, while the courtyard parti questions the relative importance of study versus individual growth as a scholar.
The Cocoon Complex
North Elevation
910
East Elevation
West Elevation
South Elevation
The complex is wrapped in a dense cladding that provides shading for the interior and gives the complex its unique character on the exterior. More importantly, this cladding is densely patterned everywhere except where the Cocoon breaks the perimeter, stressing the importance of the social spaces breaking past the rigid educational spaces.
The Cocoon Complex
Out of necessity, the Kunsthaus Zurich plans to extend its site into an entirely new building situated directly across from the existing site. With a continuing desire to house genres of art from all historical and modern eras, the Kunsthaus Zurich Extension seeks to create a unifying exhibition space that does not create a precidence or hierarchy. With the collection of many solid masses, the programmatic space of the new galleries will employ the affect of wandering, as a clear linear progression of space is not defined. Visitors will be able to create their own personal experience and will feel invigorated to return to the Kunsthaus to their path again and again. The exterior, a free standing shell, delineates the masses from not only the existing Kunsthaus, but the city of Zurich as well. It clearly marks the presence of a collective entity being housed within its boundaries. Beyond its delineation from the city, the varying aperture dimensions create a spectrum from very public to very intimate moments, giving gallery visitors privacy when desired. Lastly, the Kunsthaus extension will act as a connection between the existing site as well as the public library to the north. The open atrium will continually perform as a buffer between the busy city street and the calming sculpture garden.
1112
Interstitial Limits
Interstitial Limits Originally brought through schematic design by the American/German firm Barkow-Leibinger architects, my partner (Dominick Petrella) and i continued their competition entry through the Design Development phase. Realizing a working construction system and enhancing the performative quality of the space constituted our main goals.
Childrens Library of Zurich ends the movement through the sculpture garden and acts as a gate between the Kunsthaus Extension and the University
Sculpture Garden The program of the Kunsthaus will extend the back hill as a sculpture garden and gathering place for the locals
Kunsthaus Extension The 55x55 meter extension will be dedicated to providing exhibition space to contemporary and new age artists. The gallery spaces are open and encourage visitors to explore the installations in their own way. Along with contemporary work, the extension will house the entirety of the E.G. Burhle collection, containing over 150 works. The main atrium space of the Kunsthaus remains open at all times and will hopefully become a vessel for residents moving through the city throughout the day
Zurich Kunsthaus Although it houses the art collection of Zurich, roughly 10% is shown to the public due to size limitations. With the addition of the extension the Kunsthaus will be able to display more work.
Interstitial Limits
Gallery Development
22m
Space left open for direct garden connection
55m 55m 1m
Exterior Shell and interior galleries
9 square utilized to divide space
Further divisions define galleries
1314
Entirety of extension
Renaissance Contemporary New Media Impressionist French 4m
Swiss
15m
Breaks represent new gallery/exhibition
Literal adaptation would lead to small and unusable galleries
Grouping different blocks would also create awkward gallery spaces
Leaving original 8 blocks untouched diminishes with linear progressions
2
6
3 7
1C 6
1C
1C
1B
Floor Plans
1B
3 3
1C
1C
1C
1C
1B
1B
1C
5
1B 7
9
1C
1A 8 11
1B
4 1C 1A
1A
3
10
1C 1C
1A 1C 1C 1C 1C 4A
1C 1B 1C 3
3
Interstitial Limits Diagrid Development ETFE Inlay
Facade Cladding
Space Frame Steel Diagrid ETFE Inlay
Elements to be removed Single Panel
Remaining Structural Elements
Facade Development Pattern of Density [Privacy-Shading-Intimacy]
Overall Screen Design [Optimize Natural Light]
Areas open to interact with facade
Required Openings
Facade Breaks [Permits Passage]
Responsive Facade
Exterior Shell
1516
Interstitial Limits
Blurring Boundaries
The world of 2050 is proving to be one of extreme diversity within the family. Grandparents will have the social lives of teens, single parents will still be supporting entire households on a sole income and children will be connected worldwide through advancing telecommunication. The home becomes more than a dwelling that protects them from the elements; it is the machine that functions to keep them together.
Blurring Boundaries
85 mil
Numbers
CLIENT: Single father with 10-year-old daughter and an elderly live-in grandfather LOCATION: Chicago, IL STYLE: Row House
2050
41% of births occur outside of marriage Less than 10% of college educated women are born from births outside of marriage 60% of high school educated (or less) women result from births outside of marriage
75 mil 2030 SENIOR CENTERCOMMUNITY ACTIVITIES RELAX IN THE PARK
Most External level from the home [within the community]
44 mil 2010
HEAD TO COMMUNITYCENTER RETURN HOME
20 mil
WALK AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
RETURN HOME
1960
9 mil 1940
10pm
Grandfather 70 years old Typical Day
BED
8pm
FAMILY BONDING
TV RELAXLAUNDRY PERSONAL TIMETALK TO FAMILY
Words
LUNCH DINNER
6pm
LAUNDRYHELP WITH HOMEWORKRELAX
HOUSEHOLDCLEANING
85 mil 2050
DINNER PICK UP DAUGHTER
4pm
Most intimate level within the home
BREAKFAST FAMILY BONDING
WORK
WAKEUP BED
BED
Most intimate level within the home
2pm
FAMILYBONDING
WAKEUP
LUNCH
BREAKFAST
12pm DINNER
10am WORK
Father 40 years old Typical Work Day
RELAXSNACKPLAY
Positives Successful home management Acceptance of responsibility Commitment to family Care of self Open communication Maintain traditions and relationships
10pm
Daughter 10 years old Typical School Day
8am
BREAKFAST
DROP DAUGHTEROFF/ GO TO WORK
WAKEUP
BED
8pm
1718
Employers fear the availability of single parents [tougher time climbing social class] “doing it in isolation” single motherhood was once prevalent among minorities, now it is evenly spread among the races
GO TO SCHOOL
6am
4pm
6pm
8pm
6am
10pm
FAMILY BONDING
DINNER
6pm
4pm
LAUNDRYHELP WITH HOMEWORKRELAX
GO HOME
Most External level from the home [within the community]
CLASS
Most intimate level within the home
PICK UP DAUGHTER
LUNCH
RECESS
CLASS
Most External level from the home [within the community]
AFTERSCHOOLPROGRAM
G
WORK
time spent in the home
BED
BED
2pm
Negatives 12pm
10am
8am
BREAKFAST
WAKEUP
8pm
6am
10pm
time spent in the community
LUNCH
Visitation and custody between parents Conflict Less time to spend with children The break-up’s effect on children Disruption of family relationships
time spent absent from home
DROP DAUGHTEROFF/ GO TO WORK
WORK
Through a synthesis of statistics and projections, the clients’ daily routines are mapped against one another with relation to the most intimate moments within the home versus the most external moments within the community. this ‘contextual mapping’ serves as a basis for determining what the most effective functions of the home are when trying to promote family bonding.
Blurring Boundaries daughter
bath
Blurring boundaries is a layering concept that replaces physical partitions with perceptible boundaries. Occuring over multiple levels, the connection between different spaces allows occupants of the house to remain aware of the sensations and presence of the other spaces.
Family Scale: Bedrooms and bathrooms are walled in, while all other spaces exist on platforms open to the rest of the home. Spatial density dictates a room’s boundaries instead of 2x4’s and dry-wall. Cantilevered platforms never run the extent of the house’s width, always allowing sounds and views from other parts of the houe to penetrate the occupied space.
father
Sleeping Level bath
dining
foyer
cooking
meditative
Public Level
Meditative Level
bath
grandfather
Private Space [sleeping, bathing] entertain
Public Space [cooking, entertaining, bonding]
Introspective Space [reading, drawing, reflecting] Entertain Level
Blurring Boundaries
Community Scale:
The family exists as a component in the larger neighborhood, not to be closed off from the other components. The home acts as a permeable barrier that can allow all or nothing through itself based on a particular moment’s desire.
1920
The house is enclosed with hydraulically powered louvres; the roof members are transparent on both sides for lighting purposes, while the exterior walls are transparent on the outer layer and opaque on the inner layer for privacy in the closed condition. This performative envelope is completely sealed in the closed condition for inclement weather, then has varying degrees of permeability when open.
OPEN CONDITION
CLOSED CONDITION
Blurring Boundaries Environmental Scale: Making full use of the resources the site provides, this translucent system floods the space with natural light. The intentional avoidance of floor plates running full width allows it to carry through each level. Having adjustable apertures allows the system to dictate the degree of natural ventilation, reuniting the occupant with nature. The site’s natural supply of water is used for plumbing and is then recycled back into the site. the home has a glazing system that captures maximum solar energy to power the home’s electric functions.
A transparent luminescent solar concentrator system makes up all of the louvres glazing in order to generate as much of the home’s required electricity as possible.
The Louvre system allows natural light into all points of the home, staggering floor plates allows it to travel down each level
Household amenities exist within the home already
Perforated roof louvres allow water to penetrate into the walls of the wet program
Water is then filtered for clean use
After the water has been used, a secondary filter system cleans under ground level before becoming ground water recharge
Architecture is to exist within, not atop nature. In the world of 2050 our homes will be utilizing renewable resources as the primary supply of lighting and plumbing, all of which is powered by an embedded TLSC system. The home is blurring the boundary between program and site.
Minimal Surfacing
2122
Material Exploration
Minimal Surfacing
Design Challenge: Tearing In Drying Process
Phase 1: 10 Minutes
Phase 2: 20 Minutes
Phase 3: 30 Minutes
Phase 4: 40 Minutes
Contraction of the liquid during the congealing process leads to a tearing in the surface upon the completion of solidyfing
Minimal Surfacing
Wire only borders gelatin, keeping 2 separate systems Through absorption each module shares a connection with the next, creating a unified manifold
Fabric absorbs gelatin, unifying the 2 systems
2324
Bubble solution added to gelatin for greater elasticity
Minimal Surfacing
2526
The Machine Starts
The Machine Starts Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center Spring 2013
The Machine Starts
HEAVY DUTY HINGES: 3 per fold, 30 folds, $10 each:
$900.00
1lb (90)(1)=90lbs
WIRE ROPE PULLEY: 1 per pipe end, 18 total, $7.50 each:
$135.00
1.2lb (18)(1.2)=21.6lbs
PAINT: black, 10 gallons, $50 per 5 gal bucket:
$100.00
PLYWOOD: 18 half sheet cuts, 6 full sheet cuts, total:15 sheets $40 each:
$450.00
1.56lbs/sq foot (15)(4x8)(1.56)=748.8lbs
WIRE ROPE CLIPS: 3 per cable end, 27 ends, $2.25 each:
$182.25
.1lb (27x3)(0.1)=8.1lbs
CARBON REINFORCED STEEL CABLE: 2 spools, $163 each:
$326.00
0.12lb/ft (1320)(0.12)=158.4lbs
PIPE END FITTINGS: 18, $6.00 each:
$108.00
1lb (18)(1)=18lbs
SWIVEL FLANGE: 3, $25.00 each:
$75.00
.5lb (3)(0.5)=1.5lbs
3/4” STRUCTURAL STEEL PIPES: 9, 10’ each: $160.00 (potentially $100.00 extra for shipping) 2.44lbs/ft (9)(10)(2.44)=219.6lbs
TOTAL: $2436.25 1266 lbs
2728
The Machine Starts
The Hyde At Rensselaer
2930
The Hyde At Rensselaer
The Hyde Museum, located in Glens Falls, NY, requested that a studio’s semester be dedicated to designing schemes for an addition to their existing museum. After proposing extensions based on different pieces within the museum’s collection, an exhibition of all the schemes is designed and installed in the Hyde Museum itself. The installation was a part of the museum’s showings for a two month period.
The Kenwood Academy One of albany’s largest historic monuments, the Kenwood Convent Campus [1859], has been asking for a revitalization for a handful of years. a multifamily residential complex is a joint-proposal between 3t Architects and one the area’s largest construction firms.
A detailed SHPO packet is drafted with every structural change to the existing conditions necessary for a residential conversion.
The Kenwood Academy
3132
The existing plans were used as a starting point for organizing an optimized spatial layout to comfortably allow three different types of units to coexist in the convent.
KENWOOD ACADEMY Existing Conditions- Apartment Conversion
3/23/15
Normanside Clubhouse
A completely Revit based project, the country club is rebuilt in order to have a working digital model. The new layout can then be visualized and compared against the existing conditions to clearly demonstrate benefits of the resulting occupiable spaces.
The Normanside Country Club is located in the town of Delmar, New York. Home to luxurious weddings, golf outings, corporate events, fine dining and specialty events, this eighty-eight-year-old establishment is looking to revamp their club’s interior space. A central bar and surrounding dining rooms are reconfigured for a more continuous, free-flowing layout.
Normanside Clubhouse
3334
The new layout allows for much more interaction between entertaining spaces while allowing back of house functions to occur smoothly and out of the way. These interior changes will allow Normanside to host events of a larger capacity as well.
Normanside Country Club Ground Floor Plan
2/17/15