NICHOLAS DARIN Selected Works
Architecture ought to become a physical manifestation of local building materials, local building techniques, and the desire to enhance a place by responding to specific site and programmatic conditions.
NICHOLAS JAMES DARIN
CONTENTS ACADEMIC
01. Feasting Hall and Culinary Institute 02. Operation Norfolk 03. Smithsonian Museum of Modern Air
PERSONAL
04. Carlo Pelliccia Fellowship 05. Brunelleschi’s Dome 06. Furniture
PROFESSIONAL
07. Washington DC Home 08. The Valley at Schiphol Trade Park
Academic | Feasting Hall and Culinary Institute
ACADEMIC 01. Feasting Hall and Culinary Institute Date: Fall 2015 Professor: Peter Waldman Location: Charlottesville, VA Project Description: A feasting hall and culinary institute designed for the new Carr’s Hill Residential College at The University of Virginia. The design seeks to use the existing site conditions as the genesis for the new design proposal. Working through the parable of the Surveyor, the Lunatic, and the Nomad (Peter Waldman) the rest of the project started to unfold.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Pictured
Below:
A
site
model
overlaid on a site plan show the urban implications of this project which desired to recreate the density of Rome on the campus of the University of Virginia.
Academic | Feasting Hall and Culinary Institute
Pictured
Below:
A
geometrical
drawing investigation in section for a cylindrical steel stair tower. Pictured
Right:
A
rendering
showcasing the culinary components below and the feasting hall above.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Pictured
Below:
A
geometrical
drawing investigation in plan for a cylindrical steel stair tower.
Academic | Feasting Hall and Culinary Institute
Pictured Below:
A
plan
of
the
feasting hall adjacent to the existing Fayerweather
Hall
on
the
UVA
Campus. Pictured Bottom: A section/elevation of the feasting hall in relation to the temple front of the existing Fayerweather Hall.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Pictured Below: An interior rendering of the feasting hall after a late night dinner gathering.
Academic | Feasting Hall and Culinary Institute
Pictured Below: A geometric and constructional study of the timber frame structure of the feasting hall.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Academic | Operation Norfolk
ACADEMIC 02. Operation Norfolk Date: Spring 2016 Colleagues: Sean Sullivan, Phillip Chang Professors: M. Jull, M. Bailo, A. Yarinsky Location: Norfolk, VA Project Description: Proposal for a new Strategic Resilience Command for the Department of Defense in Norfolk, VA, home of the largest US Naval Base on the east coast. The project started with a mapping exercise which led us to understand the area as a “machine” with many inputs and outputs, of ships, trains, trucks, people, etc. After this investigation we discovered what we thought to be a “missing infrastructural piece” in this machine. This link included re-routing Interstate 64 across Willoughby Bay, which become the location for our project.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Pictured Below: A rendering of the proposed D.O.D. Headquarters from the air. The proposal includes a new link, extending interstate 64 across Willoughby Bay.
Academic | Operation Norfolk
Pictured Below: A map showcasing our understanding of Norfolk as a machine. The machine features inputs, outputs, zones and arteries which accurately describe the movement of goods, ships, trains, vehicles and people throughout the Greater Norfolk Area. The intermediate blue hatch indicates areas in danger of flooding.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Pictured Below: A rendering of the proposed D.O.D. Headquarters from the proposed Interstate 64 link across Willoughby Bay. Pictured Right: A series of diagrams showing the impact of sea level rise in 2 foot increments in the Norfolk Area. Pictured Bottom Right: A plan of the main level of the new D.O.D. Headquarters.
Academic | Operation Norfolk
Normal Water Level
+2 Feet
+4 Feet
+6 Feet
+8 Feet
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Pictured Below: A section of the proposed D.O.D. Headquarters. The proposal lifts the structure high over the water to alleviate flooding issues. The new interstate runs through the middle of the project and feeds cars, people and goods into and out of the building.
Academic | Operation Norfolk
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Pictured Below: A model showcasing the programmatic massing of the project and its relation to the new interstate The
and
the
program was
water
below.
organized
and
then allowed to drift to react to site conditions and the functional needs of the project. This ended up creating many interesting spatial moments.
Academic | Operation Norfolk
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Academic | Museum of Modern Air
ACADEMIC 03. Smithsonian Museum of Modern Air Date: Fall 2016 Professor: Shiqiao Li Location: Washington DC Project Description: The Smithsonian Museum of Modern Air contains a collection of spaces devoted to demonstrating the absurd processes which we go through to manipulate air. This project seeks to re-examine our relationship with the air around us and demonstrate, for better or worse, many of the ways in which humans manipulate air. In doing so, visitors will become more informed on how complex and detrimental some of these processes are to our environment. After leaving the museum visitors will become aware of more equitable ecological solutions in dealing with the air in our environment.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Air Conditioning Chamber
Dehumidification Chamber
Refrigeration/ Freezer Chamber
Academic | Museum of Modern Air
Humidification Chamber
Evaporative Cooling Chamber
Chamber Layout Diagram
Filtration Chamber
Natural Air Conditioning Chamber
Hypocaust Chamber
Natural Ventilation Chambers
Upper Level Floor Plan
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Pictured Below: A section showing the
different
air
manipulation
chambers and exhibits in relation to the scaffolding circulation structure. The
project
gently
engages
the
earth to allow access to some of the underground exhibits.
Academic | Museum of Modern Air
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Pictured Below: An interior rendering of the evaporative cooling chamber. This space’s purpose is to demonstrate the cooling effects moving air has on the human body. However, the intensive amounts of energy and electricity required to do this are also brought to light.
Academic | Museum of Modern Air
Pictured Below: A rendering from the
circulation
structure
looking
towards the refrigeration and freeezer chambers. The machines, typically hidden, are intentionally exposed and add to the mechanistic quality of the architecture.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Personal | Carlo Pelliccia Fellowship
PERSONAL 04. Carlo Pelliccia Fellowship Date: Summer 2016 Advisor: Peter Waldman Location: Rome, Italy Project Description: A one month drawing based fellowship in Rome, Italy. My project was titled, Experiencing the Nolli Map, A Study of Italian Life and Culture In Rome and Throughout Italy. The purpose of the study was to analyze four of Rome’s most famous public spaces and figure out what makes them so special. I executed the study via a two-fold system. I created experiential drawings to capture the life and usage of the spaces. I then drew one larger analytical sketch for each area which provides a blueprint for the activities depicted in the experiential sketches. The four public squares I studied were Campo Dei Fiori, Piazza Del Popolo, Piazza Della Rotonda and Piazza Navona.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Pictured
Below:
A
series
of
experiential sketches from Campo Dei Fiori. The sketches document how people interact with the space and demonstrate some of the ways in which the spaces are used.
Personal | Carlo Pelliccia Fellowship
Pictured
Below:
An
analytical
drawing of Campo Dei Fiori that provides a metric and a blueprint for the experiences documented in the experiential sketches.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Pictured
Below:
A
series
of
experiential sketches from Piazza Del Popolo. The sketches document how people interact with the space and demonstrate some of the ways in which the spaces are used.
Personal | Carlo Pelliccia Fellowship
Pictured
Below:
An
analytical
drawing of Piazza Del Popolo that provides a metric and a blueprint for the experiences documented in the experiential sketches.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Pictured
Below:
A
series
of
experiential sketches from Piazza Della
Rotonda.
The
sketches
document how people interact with the space and demonstrate some of the ways in which the spaces are used.
Personal | Carlo Pelliccia Fellowship
Pictured
Below:
An
analytical
drawing of Piazza Della Rotonda that provides a metric and a blueprint for the experiences documented in the experiential sketches.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Pictured
Below:
A
series
of
experiential sketches from Piazza Navona.
The
sketches
document
how people interact with the space and demonstrate some of the ways in which the spaces are used.
Personal | Carlo Pelliccia Fellowship
Pictured drawing
Below: of
Piazza
An
analytical
Navona
that
provides a metric and a blueprint for the experiences documented in the experiential sketches.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Personal | Brunelleschi’s Dome
PERSONAL 05. Brunelleschi’s Dome Date: Fall 2014 Project Description: Anyone who visits the city of Florence, Italy has seen the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, better known as the “Duomo”. Most all have been inspired by its sheer size, splendor, and beauty; not to mention the fact that it was built in Medieval Florence long before the advent of modern tools and technology. This series of drawings was an attempt to better understand how this structure was built, how the structure works, and how it is still standing today, over 600 years later. The most bizarre part, was that the man who designed and led the construction of the dome was a goldsmith.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Pictured Below: A plan drawing of Santa Maria Del Fiore. The drawing was done on 90 lb cold press paper with graphite and standard drafting equipment.
Personal | Brunelleschi’s Dome
Pictured Below: A section drawing of Santa Maria Del Fiore. The double shell of the dome can clearly be seen as well as the various fenestrations for the movement of air. The immense size of the dome in relation to the rest of the structure can be appreciated in this drawing. The drawing was done on 90 lb cold press paper with graphite and standard drafting equipment.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Personal | Brunelleschi’s Dome
Below:
A
diagrammatic
when
constructing
the
project possible.
key structural moves that made this
to the structure and are one of the
arches add significant extra strength
eight sides. Many believe the inverted
in the masonry on each of the domes
project which created inverted arches
pattern in plan when laying out the
dome. The masons used a flower
employed
one of the strategies Brunelleschi
used in the brick laying process was
The spina-pesce, or fish-bone pattern
from the immense weight of the dome.
masonry to counteract hoop stress
timber rings which were built into the
was built. There are a few stone and
at the bottom atop which all of this
and the massive eight sided base
layer, a more substantial inner shell
a thin outer shell, a ribbed skeleton
Starting from the top down there is
structural components of the dome.
drawing visually shows all of the main
dome of Santa Maria Del Fiore. This
exploded axonometric drawing of the
Pictured
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Personal | Furniture
PERSONAL 06. Furniture Date: 2013-Present Mentor: Keith Darin Location: Meriden, Connecticut Project Description: A collection of furniture pieces I have designed and crafted over the past few years. In a profession where we create instructions for others to build and craft things, I find it essential to know how to build myself. By gaining a deeper understanding of how a material works one can design with that material in much more honest and sophisticated ways.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Pictured Below:
A
bowl
carving
bench that I constructed out of scraps of slab-wood. The design features cumbersome pieces of wood and very large and solid connections to ensure that the bench would be exceptionally sturdy and not move when being used. I drilled a series of holes into which I can drop dowels to help hold my stock in place as I carve.
Personal | Furniture
Pictured Below: A series of bowls that I carved by hand using a bowl adze and some simple bowl gouges.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Pictured Below: A flat file I constructed to store large architectural drawings. The design simply contains birch plywood, threaded rods, nuts and fender washers. Pictured
Right:
A
bookcase
I
constructed out of steel, poplar, nuts, bolts and washers. The wood was stained, slightly burned to pull out the grain and then sealed.
Personal | Furniture
Pictured Below: A live edge coffee table I constructed out of a piece of maple I received from a family member.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Pictured
Below:
A
nightstand
I
constructed out of hollow steel tube, threaded rods, nuts, washers, cap nuts and rough sawn oak.
Personal | Furniture
Pictured Below: A vintage drafting table I restored to original condition. I received the table from a family friend. It was in solid structural condition however
needed
some
repairs.
I
disassembled the entire table, cleaned, repainted and refinished pieces as necessary and then re-assembled everything.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Professional | Washington DC Home
PROFESSIONAL 07. Washington DC Home Date: 2017 Architect: Robert Gurney, FAIA Location: Washington DC Project Description: A model of a home in the Washington DC area that was slated to have an addition and renovation. The model’s material palette seeks to highlight the conceptual massing of the project and further push the formal simplicity of the architecture.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Professional | The Valley at Schiphol Trade Park
PROFESSIONAL 08. The Valley at Schiphol Trade Park Date: 2016 Architect: William McDonough + Partners Client: Delta Development Group Location: Hoofddorp, Netherlands Project Description: A series of early schematic visualization studies via Lumion and Photoshop for a project in the Netherlands.
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
Professional | The Valley at Schiphol Trade Park
Nicholas Darin | Selected Works
NICHOLAS DARIN www.nicholasdarin.com