PETER MITCHELL FLORA
Portfolio
P: 210.260.3972 W: mitchflora.com E: mitchflora@utexas.edu
PROJECTS
PLAZA SALTILLO MIXED-USE
AUSTIN, TX
PILOTI
AUSTIN, TX
CORNELL FOREST EDGE
VAN ETTEN, NY
SEAHOLM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
AUSTIN, TX
P. TERRY’S BURGER STAND
AUSTIN, TX
PLAZA SALTILLO MIXED-USE AUSTIN, TX
Design IV 4 weeks Professor Dean Almy Partners for urban plan: Hannah Frossard Partners: Jayme Greene UTSoA Design Excellence 2015
As defined in the Plaza Saltillo Station Area Plan, “The Transit Oriented District (T.O.D.) is a compact, walkable, mixed-use development connected to high quality public transportation, which balances the need for sufficient density to support convenient transit service with the scale of the adjacent community.” The Plaza Saltillo T.O.D., located between E 6th Street and E 3rd Street, within two decades will be enveloped in the urbanity of Downtown Austin. The solution is to design an urban plan that morphs the T.O.D. into an Eccentric Nucleus for the expansion of East Austin, while addressing the needs of the existing communities.
An Eccentric Nucleus, defined in A Pattern Language, is a community core formed by local services and a transition between the nearest major urban center to a subculture — East Austin. The urban plan is a high density bulge adjacent to downtown inwardly swelling by accomplishing four goals to create a dense fabric that will extend through East Austin. Four main goals of this urban design: 1.Concentrating local services along a central artery 2.Improving pedestrian and street connectivity 3.Utilizing public space as an organizational framework 4.Concentrating residence and jobs to transit stations
A. Sketch influenced from A Pattern Language explaining the concept of Eccentric Nucleus
A. PLAZA SALTILLO MIXED-USE
B. Urban plan overlay onto existing conditions highlighting green space and transit routes
B. AUSTIN, TX
Sections taken across Urban Plan depicting program on street level and within proposed buildings
North
PLAZA SALTILLO MIXED-USE
AUSTIN, TX
A. A. Eccentric Nucleus Urban Plan with mixed use design overlaid onto an areal photograph B. Transportation diagram of Eccentric Nucleus Urban Plan with mixeduse site C. Public space diagram of Eccentric Nucleus Urban Plan with mixed-use site PLAZA SALTILLO MIXED-USE
B.
C. AUSTIN, TX
The mixed-use design is the flagship to my group’s urban design, Eccentric Nucleus, which defines public assembly and proximity to services as the organizational framework to high density housing in East Austin. Contrasting the typical Texas doughnut design found adjacent to the site, the design carves out the initial code massing to create public space and street connections. The housing then becomes the solidity that defines these public spaces in scale and program. To the east, the building becomes the bookend to the major park created through my group’s urban strategy. This face is a defining wall of housing and is activated by
the grocery store front. To the south, housing continues the zoned massing, but carves out elevated social balconies. The main lobby is located on the southwest corner closest to the new light rail stop also created by my group’s urban strategy. The mixed use design moves from the scale of the city to the unit to study and exploit the relationship of urban housing and its setting within an urban fabric. The design addresses all sides allowing public space to enter or be bordered. East Austin within twenty years will become an extension of downtown, and the design becomes the transition between downtown Austin’s urbanity to East Austin’s culture.
A. Sketch showing the carving of the code massing to create public spaces and street connections
A. PLAZA SALTILLO MIXED-USE
B. Rendering looking at the north facade on the corner of 5th and Waller St.
B. AUSTIN, TX
RESIDENTIAL
COMMERCIAL SERVICES
A.
PLAZA SALTILLO MIXED-USE
A. Exploded axon of levels of residential in grey vs. commercial in red B. Section cut through public spaces and residential units. Red dashed line is the code massing
B. AUSTIN, TX
A.
PLAZA SALTILLO MIXED-USE
B.
A. Typical tower floor plans B. Exploded axon of layered facade to typical unit to the street AUSTIN, TX
Rendering looking at the south facade, including the main lobby, from the proposed light rail stop on 4th Street
PLAZA SALTILLO MIXED-USE
AUSTIN, TX
PILOTI
AUSTIN, TX
Environmental Controls I 4 weeks Professors: Keith Simon Professors: Matthew Tanteri Partners: Maxwell Baird Partners: Will Powell
PILOTI is a slender, wood and concrete fixture, developed to increase overall luminance within a space through primarily uplighting strategies. Just as important, and equally considered throughout the design process, is the aesthetic effect of the luminaire in the space while on and off. The commanding presence anchors the room; reading as a strong monolithic sculpture during the day, and at night becoming a far more intricate source of ambient light. The plywood housing has been CNC routed to leave only the last layer of material where the pattern occurs. Since the material is never penetrated, there is no sign of modification to the wood when the light is on. The design hides all structure, working to create a piece that has massive qualities while remaining extremely delicate. Initially developed for residential applications, PILOTI’s scale and strong sense of materiality easily make it applicable in commercial architecture.
A. Sketch of LED tape light placement within the lamp. Each wide panel is lit by a parallel LED. A. PILOTI
B. Picture taken of CNC routed pattern
B. AUSTIN, TX
A.
PILOTI
B.
AUSTIN, TX
PILOTI
AUSTIN, TX
CORNELL FOREST EDGE VAN ETTEN, NY
Design V 6 weeks Professor Hope Hasbrouck
As defined in the landscape design guidelines of the Cornell Master Plan: “Cornell’s landscapes are essential not only to the image of the campus and research extensions, but also to the university’s academic mission and quality of life. They are a fundamental part of Cornell’s social infrastructure, providing spaces for casual interaction, recreation, and celebrations, while furthering teaching researching and outreach. Future developments will require the maintenance and improvement of historic landscapes and the creation of new ones. Indeed, landscapes will provide the framework and setting for future development.” Design began with a series of mappings across multiple scales: region, territory, and site. The focus of these studies was to inform a thesis that integrates the project to its wider social and geographic context and to select a site for the research campus.
A. CORNELL FOREST EDGE
A. Continental map depicting the location of the two ecoregions
B.
B. Elevation change map of the Finger Lakes Uplands/Gorges and the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau Map at region scale VAN ETTEN, NY
CORNELL FOREST EDGE
B. VAN ETTEN, NY
When studying across these scales, a pattern of forest structure was discovered. The gorges of this region in New York organize the region dominated by forests creating clear breaks and boundaries. The location of the Field Campus was selected for its existing culture, infrastructure, and function as the main gate into the research forest. In addition, the site strongly relates to the valley created by the Banfield Creek that breaks through the center of the Arnot forest. Due to its existing culture and traditions, the research campus design aims to emulate the old Field Campus, while improving the
link to its landscape. The most sacred element of the Field Campus is the open field that all buildings bound. This field is the location of all outdoor training and social events for residents and visitors within the Arnot Forest. Architecture is used to articulate the edge conditions or extend past them creating a design that considers the site and its buildings as a single living ecosystem. A research campus at the edge of Cornell’s Arnot Research Forest aims to spatially define the physical and experiential link between a research facility and the landscape of research, creating a new social framework intertwined with the land.
A. Concept diagram of edge conditions
A. CORNELL FOREST EDGE
B. Composite Map of the Arnot Research Forest depicting location of site. The existing Field Campus is the farthest south location and the far right satellite image.
B. VAN ETTEN, NY
ECOLOGY
INFRASTRUCTURE
PROGRAM
A.
CORNELL FOREST EDGE
VAN ETTEN, NY
CORNELL FOREST EDGE
VAN ETTEN, NY
SEAHOLM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER AUSTIN, TX
Design 6 - Sound Building 8 weeks Professor Gary Wang UTSoA Design Distinction 2016
To stimulate the current lakefront and city edge, the landscape plan extends the two environments of city and lake front into each other to activate the current underutilized and dormant edge. Each extension concludes with an icon, the Seaholm Performing Arts Center and City Hall Park. This project is an exploration of the city extension, which is sited across from the new library. Diagrammatically the building consists of four major moves: Extend. Fill. Connect. Landmark In plan and section, the performing arts center is organized to receive its audience, transition them through a service corridor, and entertain them in large event spaces.
The design will serve as an open stage for Austin’s diverse social and cultural identity to be displayed becoming an iconic landmark both aesthetically and experientially along Lady Bird Lake. The original concept focused on creating an iconic lantern from the view along the lake, extending the street level out, and creating a front yard on the east side of the building on lake level to act as the main reception. The west side is to be mostly dug into the hillside acting as the back of house. The building’s roof serves as the public plaza between the major developments in the Seaholm District of residences, the new library, and the Seaholm intake development.
A. Concept sketch of the landscape plan
A. SEAHOLM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
B. Rendering looking at the lobby space viewed from the northside stair
B. A. AUSTIN, AUSTIN,TXTX
SEAHOLM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER CITY HALL LAKEFRONT PARK
A. A. Image Description
AUSTIN, TX
AKE LM INT
AKE LM INT
SEAHO
SEAHO
S CÉ
S CÉ
AR
AR
E ÁV CH
E ÁV CH
D. ZR
D. ZR B DY LA
B DY LA
IR
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D
D
KE LA
KE LA HIKE
AIL E TR
& BIK
HIKE
EXTEND
AIL E TR
& BIK
FILL
Pier extends city environment out into lakefront to activate edge condition.
Mass fills space between pier and lake providing space for program
1
3
1 AUSTIN CENTRAL LIBRARY 2 BLACK BOX THEATER 3 RESTAURANT 4 ADDITIONAL STAGE 5 PERFORMANCE HALL
SEAHOLM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
2
4
AKE LM INT
AKE LM INT
SEAHO
SEAHO
S CÉ
S CÉ
AR
AR
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D. ZR
D. ZR
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TO HIKE
AND BIKE
TRAIL
TO OAL
SH EE CR L AI K TR
B DY LA
B DY LA
IR
IR
D
D
KE LA
KE LA TO HIKE
AND BIKE
TRAIL
HIKE
CONNECT
AIL E TR
& BIK
LANDMARK
Terraced stairs and boardwalk connect to existing trails
Observation tower and outdoor stage establish an iconic landmark
5
AUSTIN, TX
4
2
4
6
3
5
1
7
3 1 10
8 2
9
1
1
1 EMPLOYEE LOUNGE
LAKE LEVEL
1 PERFORMANCE HALL
1 OUTDOOR STAGE
2 STORAGE
2 BUS STOP
3 MECHANICAL ROOM 4 BLACK BOX THEATER 5 ADDTIONAL STAGE 6 BACK STAGE 7 STAGE MANAGER’S OFFICE 8 TICKETING BOOTH 9 BACK STAGE 10 INFORMATION DESK
SEAHOLM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
STREET LEVEL
3 RESTAURANT 4 CESAR CHAVEZ STREET
1 EMPLOYEE LOU
TR AI L EE K CR SH OA L AUST (UND IN PUBL IC ER C ONS LIBRARY TRUC TION )
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RKIN
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STO P
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SEAH (PLA OLM INT NNE A D RE KE USE )
HAV
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)
HIKE
HIKE
AND
BIKE
AND
BIKE
TRAIL
AUSTIN, TX
TRAIL
SEAHOLM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
AUSTIN, TX
Rendering looking at south facade from kayak in Lady Bird Lake
SEAHOLM PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
AUSTIN, TX
P. TERRY’S BURGER STAND AUSTIN, TX
Michael Hsu Office of Architecture 3 weeks Partner: Micah Land Role: Intern
P. Terry’s Burger Stand is a growing and popular fast food restaurant in the Austin area. Near the intersection of I-35 and 290, this P. Terry’s stands as the most prominent of its fourteen locations and is the new flagship location. I was brought onto the project to design a drive-thru awning and two large planters on a budget of $10-12K. The drive-thru awning’s design derives from two simple moves: 1. To emulate the building’s form and Googie style 2. Provide shade and drain water caught on the awning into the plant bed below. The awning acts as a smaller crystal shard budding off from the larger shard, which is the building.
The two large planters were inspired by the large facets and triangular shape on the roof and site. They define the circulation within the interior. The larger planter is situated at the entrance to point customers to the ordering line, and the smaller planter is located in front of the order/pick up counter to point to the soda cove and the exit. Each planter was designed with the intent of seating branching off the non-faceted, back sides of the planters: the larger with booth seating and the smaller with a bar table and seating. After design, I presented to the client, submitted construction/bid drawings, and reviewed fabrication drawings/installation.
A. Sketch of drive-thru awning concept
A. P. TERRY’S BURGER STAND
B. Picture taken of overall building. Drive-thru awning is located on east side.
B. AUSTIN, TX
A. North elevation submitted for construction bid
P. TERRY’S BURGER STAND
B. West elevation submitted for construction bid
A.
B.
AUSTIN, TX
A.
P. TERRY’S BURGER STAND
AUSTIN, TX
RESUMÉ
EDUCATION
EXPERIENCE
The University of Texas at Austin Bachelor of Architecture 2018 Career GPA: 3.7
Michael Hsu Office of Architecture (3 Months - Summer 2016) Intern; Austin, Texas Led interior design through CD Designed custom furniture / Reviewed shop drawings Produced permit & bid construction document set LPA, Inc. (3 Months - Summer 2015) Intern; San Antonio, Texas Led schematic design Organized client presentation material Produced construction documents
Business Foundations Certificate 2018 Fundamental background in business
ACHIEVEMENTS UTSoA Design Distinction (Spring 2016) Honored for comprehensive studio project Third Year “Sound Building” Studio UTSoA Design Excellence (Spring 2015) Honored for exemplary studio project Awarded to 1 out of 60 students Exhibited in Mebane Gallery (Summer 2015) College Scholar (2015) Ranked top 20% in UTSOA
SKILLS Architectural Design SketchUp \ Revit \ Auto CAD \ Rhino Arc GIS \ Grasshopper
OCO Architects (3 Months - Summer 2014) Intern; San Antonio, Texas Assisted in schematic design Created master plan and model
EXTRACURRICULARS UTSoA Mentor Program Mentor; U.T. School of Architecture Guide and train incoming freshmen Concordia Lutheran Church Praise Band Volunteer Musician; San Antonio, Texas Lead worship service for 1000+
Rendering V-Ray \ SU Podium \ 3DS Max
AXP PROGRESS
Graphic Design Illustrator \ Photoshop \ InDesign
1,356 / 3740 Hours (36% completed as per AXP 2016)
Digital Fabrication CNC Routing \ 3D Printing \ Laser Cutting
REFERENCES
HOBBIES
Maija Kreishman (Partner) Michael Hsu Office of Architecture kreishman@hsuoffice.com
Music Piano (13 yrs) \ Guitar (12 yrs) \ Drums (5 yrs)
Mark Oppelt (Principal) LPA, Inc.; moppelt@lpainc.com
Sports Basketball \ Raquetball \ Ultimate Frisbee
Dean Almy (Associate Professor of Architecture) UTSoA; dja3@utexas.edu
P: 210.260.3972 W: mitchflora.com E: mitchflora@utexas.edu