Nicholas Gascon University of South Florida School of Architecture and Community Design Core design Portfolio 2019-2020
Just keep going.
Contents
Core I Machine de Phenomena
11
Charleston FLARP Center
25
Core ll Moon Landing Memorial
47
Miami Relief Center
77
Core lll Rodenkirchen City Hall
103
Dia Art Museum
129
CORE I
Machine de Phenomena Core I - Project 1 Professor Mark Weston - GA Jeraldy Stephanis
The project began with visual investigation of a movie called “Persepolis” in terms of the compositional relationships depicted in it’s scenes. The narative was then drawn, and from it, physical landscape models were made. The landscape acted as a promenade taking you beneath the vertical machine before you entered it. Within the Machine de Phenomena architectural moments were generated reflecting the spatial experiences constructed from frames seen in the movie.
[11]
C’est pour toi .
Process The narrative is drawn depicting the shot from the scene and made into a landscape with a promenade leading into the machine. To the left: the drawn narrative. Above: Drafts of the landscape, the promenade, and the intervention.
[13]
Final Model The Machine juxtaposes the horizontality of the ground and the promenade takes you beneath its mass returning you to the entrance along its side. The core acts as a threshold circulating you between the spaces vertically. Below: Draft tower models To the right: Final model
[15]
[17]
Final Model The skin acts as a threshold for the light allowing it to pierce through it creating different phenomenas of light throughout the machine. It pushes out at moments creating habitable space opening it to the outside. Above: Perspectives To the right: Top elevation of final model
[19]
3
5
2
4
1
Sections and Plans Sections and floorplans showing the sequence of spaces and how light enters were hand drawn and tonned digitally. To the left: Sections and plans Above: Interior perspectives
[21]
Exploded Axonometric The hand-drawn and digitally tonned axonometric highlights the systems that make up the machine. Below: Legend To the right: Exploded axonometric
A
The constructed ground and the promenade leading into the machine.
B
The core and the wireframe of the constructed floorplates.
C
The floorplates and the circulation connecting them.
D
The skin of the front elevation with transparency.
E
The skin of the right elevation with transparency.
C
E
B
D
A
[23]
Charleston FLARP Center Core I - Project 2 Professor Mark Weston - GA Jeraldy Stephanis The impact of the FLARP that occured along St.Philips church in Charleston can still be seen in the warped cityscape it erupted from and even 16 years after the incident, the site still needs to be monitored to avoid another breakout of the virus it brought. The alien FLARP has not only warped the landscape along its impact but formed a new element which has been studied and its energy harnessed to create advancements in technology. The Charleston FLARP Center showcases these technological advancements produced by the research lab it houses while also connecting Queen Street to the Church’s graveyard, the once hazardous fissure of the FLARP.
[25]
Site Analysis The fissure created by the FLARP runs diagonally through the narrow site of the FLARP Center which is enclosed by two neighboring buildings to the East and West. The intervention is dug into the fissure and also connects the once divided street to the Church’s graveyard. Site: St.Philips Church, Charleston, South Carolina To the left: Site analytique
[27]
Process A 1/32’ = 1� model of the site was built along with 5 massing models of the same scale and sketches of the section and plan were drawn with the program in mind. Afterward models of the immediate site with the intervention incorporated were made. Above: Draft models To the right: Initial Sketches
[29]
Final Model Scale: 1/16’ = 1”
[31]
Physical Section The ground floor connects Queen Street to the graveyard and you circulate up from the lobby and emerge to an outdoor terrace beside the neighbouring Eastern building. The second floor is the museum overlooking Queen’s Street and the third floor is the testing lab overlooking the museum. The testing lab takes you back along the Eastern skin to the FLARP observation lab overlooking the graveyard. To the right: Chunk being removed from full model Below: Western skin with core and main building.
[33]
[35]
1
UP
UP UP
Lobby
DOWN
2 Locker Room
UP
Museum
3
DOWN
Observation Lab
Testing Center
DOWN
Sections and Plans Scale = 1/8’ : 1”
[37]
Exploded Axonometric Scale = 1/8’ : 1”
D
Floorplates and Circulation
C
3D-Printed Core and Wireframe
B
Skin and Transparency
A
FLARP Center
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Elevations To the left: Perspectives Above: Elevations
[41]
[43]
CORE II
Moon Landing Memorial Core II - Project 1 Professor Trace Gainey - GA Mira Tabbalat The war for the moon has left it’s surface scared and shifted by humanity’s greed and thirst for power. The moon landing memorial takes you on a journey through three main nodes; the wall, the floor ceiling, and the tower, interconnected by a promenade. The three interventions and promenade serve as a means to explore the historic site from multiple points of view through different spatial experiences and meaningfull unity. The memorial not only acts as a monument of the great war but also reminds humanity of how far weve come since man’s firsts steps on the moon and what we can accomplish through synoecism.
[47]
Process This project started with the drawing of a line, square and a dot on a sheet of paper which then became the wall, floor ceiling, and the tower. These nodes were then made on a landscape connected by a promenade within the fissure left on the landscape. Above: Initial drawings and first draft To the right: Finalized drawing
[49]
A
B
C
Process The final graphic was made through collaged birdseye view inversed black and white pictures of the process nodes printed on transparent film paper. The collage was then drawn on and digitally tonned to add scale, hierarchy, and direction . Right: Drafts of each node Left: Finalized drawing
[51]
Final Draft
Final Model
[53]
Final Model Scale: 1/64’ = 1”
[55]
Drawings. Above: Long section scale: 1/16’=1” To the left: Sketches
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The Wall
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The wall grows out of the fissure with opaque and transparent layers allowing glimpses of the tower before submerging beneath the moon’s surface to take you to the floor ceiling. Paths weave into each other taking you to scattered points of interest overlooking the landscape and the floor ceiling.
[61]
Crystal formations found growing beneath the surface have been refined into a solid building material used as the cores of each node. Above: Landscape and crystal formations To the right: Wall to floor ceiling connection
[63]
Floor Ceiling
[65]
The floor ceiling explores the relationship between the floor, ground, promenade and the fissure it emerges from. It becomes a grand space sunken into the ground that you emerge from covered by the weaving ceiling above. The second level overlooks the entire landscape and the promenade is cut into the moon taking you to the memorial’s final destination.
[67]
The Tower [69]
At the end of the uphill journey, the tower floats above the promenade overlooking the landscape. The tower is the final destination of the memorial where one can reflect upon the journey taken through each intervention and the remnants of the war.
[71]
The tower takes you through a vertical sequence of spaces with layers of transparent and opaque envelope framing moments of the landscape and the circulation. The circulation weaves in and out of open and elcosed space and the center of each floor remains transparent allowing you to see those walking on the promenade beneath.
[73]
[75]
Miami Relief Center Core II - Project 2 Professor Trace Gainey - GA Mira Tabbalat Covid-19 has struck the world and south beach Miami has become a hot spot for the spread of the disease. The South Beach relief center provides on site testing and vaccination for beach goers and lab space for the technicians while also enhancing the street’s edge through the covered open public space it creates beneath it. The facade of the building was designed to create a shadow garden within but there was a misunderstanding of the direction of the sun so it just looks fancy. Does anyone even read these?
[77]
Site Analysis Opposite the Essex House on the corner of 10th and Collins street the Relief center sits within the parking lot of the Edwards apartments. The proposed design extends the street’s edge into the parking lot creating open public space beneath it and its northen facade reflects the curve of the Essex Hosue.
[79]
Process Wireframe and parti models were made to start diagramming space with skin studies and model development done digitally. Right: Drafts of each node Left: Finalized drawing
[81]
Final model street view [83]
Sections . The wing on the northen side of the site invites the public in from the extended street edge into the lobby where you can get tested. The vertical wing to the south is for the sick who need to be treated and has lab space for the lab technicians. Right: N/S Cross Section Left: E/W Long Section
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N
Floorplans
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N
2
Floorplans
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Above: Western and Northern facing facades Right: Flipped interior perspective of entrance
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Above: Interior Perspectives of Southern Wing
Left: Flipped perspective of view looking back
at entrance from rooftop
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Perspective Section
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N
E
Elevations Above: Western elevation looking East Left: North, East, and South elevations S
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D
Skin and structure
C
Wireframe and elevator
B
Glass Atrium and tower core
A
Envelope, Floors, and Circulation
Exploded Axonometric
Elevations
[99]
CORE III
Rodenkirchen City Hall Core III - Project 1 Professor Michael Halfants - Professor Olaf Drehsen The Rodenkirchen City Hall houses office space for the parliament while also providing service to the public with the concept of governmental transparency influencing its design. The central atriums connect each floor with each other providing large open space illuminated by natural light from above. Extension to the previous retail stores work together with the restaurant on the ground floor to activate the urban space and strengthen the connection to the public park which is overlooked by the assembly hall.
[103]
Shoutout google earth
Site Analysis (Post-Lockdown)
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Final Model
[107]
Process A 1/30’= 1� scale site model was made with a parti model representing the city hall to start defining the passages and plazas around the building with floorplans with collaged spaces being made to articulate the circulation. An 1/8th scale physical model was then made to show the atriums and points of circulation within the building.
[109]
Long Section The ground floor provides the public access to the citizen center and restaurant during open hours while also acting as a grand passage to the community park. The main atrium within the concrete walls is the center of circulation between each floor allowing for increased interaction and transparency within. The restaurant and seperated retail stores on the northern side of the city hall work together to activate the urban passage on the way to the park with parking made underground to hide vehicular traffic.
[111]
Citizen Center, Restaurant, Mezzanine [Level 1 + 2] The sidewalk of the main street extends into the new bus stop and the Western plaza of the city hall. As you enter the main lobby the concrete walls seperate the main circulation from the restaurant and citizen center past their hours of operation. The cafe is located beneath the mezzanine which overlooks the restaurant and cafe.
RETAIL
RESTAURANT
CAFE
LOBBY
Up
CITIZEN CENTER
N
Up
Scale: 1/32' = 1"
LEVEL 1
[113]
AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STU
Social and elderly welfare department [Level 3] The third floor has private office space located on the southern wing with public space and circulation located within the concrete walls overlooking the entrance lobby and a large private meeting space overlooking the park.
Up
N
Up
Dn
Scale: 1/32' = 1"
LEVEL 2
[115]
DESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK
District Representation [Level 4] Meeting spaces and offices for the district’s parties are connected by a lobby to the assembly hall overlooking the entire park..
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUD
Up
N
Y AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Up
Dn
Scale: 1/32' = 1"
LEVEL 3
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Youth Welfare department [Level 5] Youth welfare deparments 1 and 2 require large amounts of office space with social areas located at the corners and near central points of circulation. The offices on the Southern wing have a view looking East to the Rhine and are connected by a central atrium.
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDE
Up
N
Y AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Up
Dn
Scale: 1/32' = 1"
LEVEL 4
[119]
District alien department [Level 6] The top floor of the city hall overlooks the assembley hall and provides access to the rooftop terrace from the waiting room with a view of the Rodenkirchen Bridge.
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDEN
Dn
N
BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Dn
Scale: 1/32' = 1"
LEVEL 5
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Birdseye View
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W
Axonometrics
N
E
s
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Community Park The city hall rests inbetween a high traffic main street and a residential neighbourhood. Paths connect the main and side streets through plazas around the building to a central park before you proceed to the beach.
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LEVEL 3 CAFE TERRACE
CAFE
KITCHEN
Up
Up
LOBBY
Up
Dia Art Museum Core III - Project 2 Professor Michael Halfants - Professor Olaf Drehsen The DIA art museum aims to enable artistic projects whose nature or scale would be difficult to showcase through traditional methods. The art on display engages the public at street level and connects it to the highline during the hours of operation. The glass building expresses the program within on its facade and provides elevated views of the highline, the Hudson, and the city. Offices for each curator are located near their exhibited pieces connecting Dia to the public with the history of Chelsea and the mission of the Dia art foundation.
[129]
Site Analysis and Selected Artwork The highline sits 26ft above street level and weaves inbetween the elevated urban fabric of the historic chelsea. The site sits beside the highline inbetween neighboring buildings to the south and west connecting to W 25th Street. Louise Bourgeois, Donald Judd, Harmony Hammond, and Richard Serra’s pieces were selected to be permanently featured in exhibits tailored to each of their needs.
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Process A 1/30’ = 1� site model was made with massing models. Draft floorplans and sections were then drawn with the program of the museum in mind showing how the ground floor connects to the highline.
[133]
Final Draft
Scale: 3/32’ = 1”
To the left: Highline and street view perspectives , axos, and birdseye view of site with intervention.
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Final Model
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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK ST
Section
The glass exterior receded behind the edges of each floorplate are held up by central massy cores. The circulation acts as a promenade taking you up through the connected exhibition spaces with the program within being expressed by the edges of each floorplate on the building’s exterior. Louise Bourgeois’ spider can be seen from the lobby’s atrium standing on the glass floor of the final exhibit 160’ above street level.
D
Louise Bourgeois
C
Harmony Hammond
B
Richard Serra
A
Donald Judd
174’
LONG SECTION N
[139]
Floorplans Retail at street level brings in the public and showcases art for sale with the library and bookstore on the mezzanine above connecting you to the highline cafe which is open during the museum’s hours of operation. The first 3 floors act as a public connection of the street to the highline with mechanical and archive space underground.
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
ARCHIVES
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
BASEMENT
LEVEL 1
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
RETAIL
Up
CLOSET
CONTROL ROOM
HEATING AND ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY
STAFF ROOM
Up
Dn
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Up
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
N
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
LIBRARY
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
LEVEL 2
LEVEL 3 CAFE TERRACE
CAFE
KITCHEN
LIB. OFFICE
Up
Up
Up
BOOKSTORE
LOBBY
Up
Up
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
[141]
Floorplans After purchasing a ticket from lobby reception the circulation takes you up and around Donald Judd’s art piece in the main atrium to the assembly hall overlooking the street and highline. The biggest exhibit above the assembly hall is reserved for Richard Serra and his piece breaks up the large space with the floor above looking down into it.
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
LEVEL 5 LECTURE HALL
Dn
COAT ROOM
Up
Up
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Up
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
CONFERENCE ROOM Up
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
LEVEL 4
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
N
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
GALLERY 1
Up
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
LEVEL 6
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
LEVEL 7 GALLERY 1
Up
OFFICE
TERRACE
Up
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Up
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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Floorplans Harmony Hammond’s art piece is all about the space inbetween her painting and sculpture. The delicacy of her sculpture lead to the exhibit being away from the main circulation to create a reflective environment.
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
GALLERY 2
OFFICE
LEVEL 9 PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
LEVEL 8
AV ROOM
Up
Up
Up
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Up
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
N PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
SKYROOM
LEVEL 11
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
LEVEL 10
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Up
Up
OFFICES
Up
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Up
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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Louise Bourgeois exhibit [Level 12] The final floor of the museum sits 160 ft above street level clearing it above all other surrounding buildings giving the exhibit an uninterupted view of the empire state building for Louise to use to her advantage.
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
LEVEL 12
Dn
Dn
N
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