NICHOLAS MAZEN PORTFOLIO
Veterans Center
Academic | Chris Livingston
Studio | Kopychyntsi, UA | Healing Facility
Spring | 2024
The rural western Ukrainian farmtown, Kopychyntsi, has become a place of refuge for both veterans and internally displaced people alike. As war rages with no end in sight, and the slow urbanization from the city center lingers, this veterans center acts as an anchor for local and outside veterans faced with trauma.
Based on data from the town’s social media and case studies, an index of healing spaces, geared towards veterans trauma healing were implemented on the site. Each experience delicately balances the fine line of privacy and open line-of-sight wayfinding to create the least taxing spaces for occupants.
The programmed spaces tap into exisiting Kopychintsi community activities to help faciliate patients back to a state of familiar saftey; thus efficiently reintegrating occupants back to their respective communities. The index sits on a spectrum of public to private programs to help reduce stigma of veterans’ mental health while providing safe spaces for veteran privacy during their stages of healing.
The project site is bookended by a serene trail that encompases the river and the expanding public influence of the city center
The two forces nudge the building’s mass in opposite directions, creating void spaces in the site for private engagement with the river and public engagement with the city center
The shift in the building’s mass effectively exposes the interior spaces to daylight and protects the building from excessive wind chill
Short section through gallery, outdoor seating, and MEP basement
Long section through varying roof conditions
Short section through therapy courtyard, reading loft, and bioswale
Wall section, elevation, plan of sawtooth roof with aircraft door
Wall section, elevation, plan of monitor roof in gallery space
UFAD system diagram with passive heating and cooling strategies
02
Adapt and Grow
Summer | 2023
Awarded Finalist Placement
Located in Adamawa, northern Nigeria, this project responds to the need for affordable, sustainable, and expandable housing for the rising population of people domestically displaced from violence. The core housing module promotes a communal atmosphere while providing for the cultural needs of diverse family models. The design of the core housing module responds to these parameters by utilizing an implied grid ordering system that defines a gradient of sociability. This provides families with adaptable spaces that connect with their surrounding communities. The core module is opened at the center to support family gatherings and foster a robust urban fabric.
Expansion of modules consists of extending the sandcrete block foundation followed by the erection of the additional corrugated galvanized iron roof panels along the central axis of the implied grid. Additionally, CMU walls are free to be placed in relation to the grid in order to create new rooms or half walls for defining social spaces. The outskirts below the roof canopy remain unbuilt for occupants to make “saddlebag” additions as needed. These “saddlebag” additions can be spaces for various purposes, such as: planter boxes, cooking areas, and livestock pens. Although the grid extends beyond what is built, its implied nature balances occupant freedom and suggested addition structure to expand upon.
Young Architects Competition | Nigeria | Housing
Project Team | Nicholas Mazen + Daniel Bassolino
Initial concept by Daniel Bassolino and Nicholas Mazen Final design by Nicholas Mazen
Entry rendering facing north by Nicholas Mazen
Plot aggregations axonametric by Daniel Bassolino
Core family housing unit floor plan by Daniel Bassolino
Concept diagram by Daniel Bassolino and Nicholas Mazen
Order Open Gather Shelter Cool
Passive cooling diagram with rammed earth solar chimneys by Daniel Bassolino and Nicholas Mazen
Large Family Module
CGI Roof
Timber roof structure
Vertical timber members
Mosquito net
CMU module walls
Wood openings Metal posts
Sandcrete filling foundation
Rammed earth solar chimney
Core Family Module
Small Family Module
Public space gradient between housing units by Nicholas Mazen
03
Graduate Housing
Academic | Laura Salazar + Pablo Sequero
Studio | Bozeman, MT | Housing
ARCH 356 | Spring | 2023
What do we share? This project addresses the current housing crisis by blurring the lines between the private and shared spaces in a graduate housing complex for Montana State University in Bozeman. The building tackles this topic through the utilization of sliding doors, semi-social corridors, and social buffer zones. The porosity of the building interconnects the room modules to the existing site experience of the industrial and arts communities. Additionally, these openings orient occupants to views and visual connections to the inner courtyard and surrounding Bridger Mountains.
The room modules include the semi-social corridor with a curtain that defines the private and shared space. The room is book-ended with sliding doors that open up to a variety of shared spaces, such as a laundry gathering space or a hibachi-style dining area. A green space divides the bedroom from the bathroom and allows for semi-transparency throughout the complex.
The courtyard links circulation from the open corners and disperses them through dilating walkways to gathering spaces, which will stimulate socialization. Along with this, the courtyard features a hot tub and fire pit for greater activation during the cold winter months. The stairs and sun balcony connect to upper-level social spaces which invites social interaction.
Inner courtyard with collective gathering space
Ground floor plan with open entry corners and social buffer zones
Individual room module plan and section
Nexum
Academic | Mike Everts
Studio | Chicago, IL | Urban Mixed-use
ARCH 355 | Fall | 2022
This project aims to adequately respond to the social and physical dichotomy between the Woodlawn neighborhood and the University of Chicago by bridging the separation of space and program in a mixed-use building. By integrating a space at the edge of a socially barricaded environment, circulation is overlapped within the structure, encouraging occupants to cross paths and make visual connections. This concept is driven by two case studies, which looked at the social and productivity increases with additional circulation. While the project does not aim to solve the social dichotomy entirely, the increase in social activity has the potential to strengthen connections in a neighborhood where such connections are compromised.
The program is curated for those under distressing or overwhelming pressures of life. This space hosts a counseling practice, cafe, public seating, and fluid cubicles for non-profit businesses. The programs in this space are meant to equally serve both the Woodlawn neighborhood and the University of Chicago. The cafe space is accessible to the public on the first floor and is designed to offer a neutral space for the community. The counseling office aims to provide mental health aid to both Woodlawn and university residents.
View from Woodlawn Park into Nexum’s park bridge and collision zone
The site is challenged by an expanding westward development from the University of Chicago, along with established segregation from Washington Park. These forces work together to further gentrify this Woodlawn corner. Along the southwest corner of Washington Park, there is a heavy flow of traffic along Martin Luther King Jr. Street and 60th. The bridging to the park encourages an increase in foot traffic, and creates a welcoming environment for both the Woodlawn neighborhood and the University of Chicago.
The concept revolves around transit and crossconnections for people of different purposes and programs. The separation of the building’s halves and interconnected ramp system encourage occupants to cross between the building to visually intercept other occupants with the potential to make connections. By crossing paths, occupants from different programs can create impromptu gathering spaces, encouraging a moment of conversation.
Perspective section demonstrating collision zone and viewing platforms
Interior rendering of the collision zone’s ramp system
Tea House
Academic | Jack Smith
Studio | Rat Lake, MT | Tea House
ARCH 253 | Fall | 2019
The Japanese tea house explorations intend to break down the design process by providing a strict set of rules rooted in traditional Japanese architecture. Through a detailed study of timber connections and spatial proportions, a small elevated teahouse was constructed in order to study these traditions as a small introductory project. The following semester-length project expanded on these studies and rules, as well as explored the modern version of a Japanese teahouse. The final project included a series of cells that revolved around rest and transformation.
Modern tea house model on Rat Lake’s north side including roof plan, floor plan, and elevations
Top image: North face of the modern tea house with transition corridor Bottom images: Highlighting the traditional tea house roof structure and minimal footprint
MSU Spiritual Center
Building Constructions II | Eduardo Teran
Studio | Bozeman, MT | Religious Space
ARCH 340 | Spring | 2023
Project Team | Nicholas Mazen + Daniel Bassolino
The Building Constructions II course tasked teams of two to interpret past students’ initial designs, resolve design issues, and flesh out the projects’ design through construction documentation. The original design rebuilt the Danforth Chapel on the MSU campus which had previously burned down. The remaining wall was vital to include throughout any design changes to maintain the vision and intent of the spiritual space. A second floor was added to host additional mechanical rooms and office spaces with an occupiable green roof. The design changes were researched and detailed in the subsequent construction document drawings.
Initial design by Cameron Sherrodd | Final design and construction documentation by Daniel Bassolino and Nicholas Mazen
Exploded axonometric foundation to green roof detail by Nicholas Mazen
Ghosted mechanical diagram by Nicholas Mazen and Dainel Bassolino
Semester Internship
Internship | Medici Architects
Professional | Bellevue, WA
June - December | 2023
As an intern at Medici Architects, I gained experience in construction documentation, design development, marketing, and client relations. Notable projects that exhibited these experiences include: drafting a construction document set for a cottage in Kirkland, WA, presenting interior design options for a bathroom remodel in Medina, WA, and researching preapproved DADU projects for the city of Kirkland, WA. On behalf of the firm, I met with city officials to discuss the requirements for these projects to help the firm begin their involvement in this highdensity housing solution. These DADU projects help the office diversify their clientele base and fast-track the project permitting phase for their clients. Additional experiences I gained from this internship include: preparing design options, recording minutes at client meetings, and regularly attending site visits.
Rendering sketch sample for client presentation by Nicholas Mazen
North Elevation. Design by Medici Architects, CD drafting by Nicholas Mazen
First floor plan. Design by Medici Architects, CD drafting by Nicholas Mazen
Nicholas Mazen Bachelors of Arts in Environmental Design Montana State University