AMANDA NIELSEN
namanda@vt.edu 512-638-7385 195 Spencer Street Brooklyn, NY 11205
OBJECTIVE
I am in search of a position in which I can contribute to the development of your firm’s individual design projects as well as your overall influence on the evolving field of architecture. I wish to advance my design skills and continue my architectural education through the invaluable experience that could only be achieved at an office of your caliber.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Architecture
ARCHITECTURE EXPERIENCES
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State College, Blacksburg, VA Graduation: Spring 2015 GPA: 3.68
Independent Architectural Thesis
Fall 2014 -Spring 2015 TOPIC: Perception of spatial boundaries is informed through shared dense spatial connections, experienced through interactions between light and materials, ordered through the progression of spatial tempo, and evolved through the scaled transitions of distinct spaces.
Presented my thesis findings on numerous occasions and throughout the stages of development to various faculty members and was asked to lecture to multiple undergraduate design studios on both the underlying theory and the construction of my work. Taught lecture sessions to first and second year studios on introductory design software programs, construction and assembly of rockite models and the development of hand-drafted drawings.
FutureHaus Research Project Fall 2014
Built detailed Revit model for the automated construction of the complex SIPS panels that control and house the functional components (kitchen, bedroom, electronics, etc.) within the entire apartment. Created Revit model with experiential qualities to enable a visual walk-through of the proposed apartment.
European Travel Program Fall 2013
Experienced projects from a wide spectrum of time periods, cultures, and physical programs to further develop spatial understandings through which to later draw upon. Analyzed the physical and spatial components of a staircase through a regiment of documentation and the culminating paper exploring the anatomy of the staircase in the Philological Library in Berlin. Countries Visited: Denmark, Germany, Austria, France, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain & Italy
Jeff Watson Homes Summer 2013
Adjusted red lines and dimensioned components in full AutoCAD drawing sets. Constructed drawing sets: slab plan, multiple elevations and roof plan from floor plan of a detached garage project.
University of Texas Summer Academy Summer 2010
DESIGN SKILLS
Computer Skills: Proficient in AutoCAD Drafting, Revit-BIM Software, Rhino, Adobe Products (InDesgin, Photoshop, Illustrator) Microsoft Office Products Hand Design Skills: Experienced sketching, modeling, diagramming, hand-drafting, and watercolor. Experience with LaserCam, Wood & Metal Shops and Ceramic Studio.
OTHER LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES
Alpha Phi Omega: National Service Fraternity Fall 2011- Spring 2015
Baptist Collegiate Ministries: Outreach Leader Spring 2012
HONORS AND AWARDS
Pella Prize for Excellence in Architecture - Honorable Mentions Spring 2015
Top 14 Finalist for the Pella Prize Award recognizing excellence in design for undergraduate thesis work
Dean’s List
Fall 2010- Spring 2015
REFERENCES
Paola Zellner-Bassett Thesis Year Advisor pazb@vt.edu
Jim Bassett
Faculty Advisor & Third Year Studio jbsstt@vt.edu
EXTERNAL LINKS
issuu.com/nielsen.amanda
Complete Portfolio, Thesis Documentation Books and Work Samples
PERCEIVING SPATIAL ASCENSION THE THESIS EXPLORES THE FUNDAMENTAL ARCHITECTURAL COMPONENTS THAT GENERATE AND INFORM THE INDIVIDUAL'S SPATIAL EXPERIENCE.
Perception of spatial boundaries is informed through the shared impact of : the density and depth of spatial connections, the experiences that result from interactions between light and materials, the ordered spatial tempo achieved through the architectural progression, and the evolution of scale and enclosure that transition distinct spaces. Exploration into ascension initially centered on the physical movement between defined planes, but evolved into understanding an experiential movement through the simultaneous layering of extended spatial inhabitations.
how can be
spatial ascension experienced
without a physical movement ?
AMANDA NIELSEN namanda@vt.edu
LIGHT EMBODYING TIME THE CONSTRUCTION OBSERVATION DECK HIGHLIGHTS THE PHYSICAL EVOLUTION BUILDING THROUGH THE TRANSFORMING AND THE PERCEPTION OF TIME.
how does perception of manifest time through and
shifting
progression Light is physically experienced through its interaction with material surfaces. Time can only be perceived through the manifested light’s progression across the architectural form. The interaction of light with the architecture generates an ephemeral material through which the individual can observe the temporal conditions of the current spatial experience. In order to physically perceive the experience of time, moments of architectural pause enable the spatial dwelling to expand beyond physically occupied limitations to include the transitioning definition of space created by shifting light.
spatial experiences of light ?
OF THE LIGHT
AMANDA NIELSEN namanda@vt.edu
EXPERIENCING LAYERED SPACE THE EXTERIOR COURTYARD AND INTERIOR STAIRCASE OVERLAY EXPERIENCES THROUGH THE CONICAL APERTURE TO FORM VARYING MEASUREMENTS OF TIME AND MOVEMENT,
An expanded understanding of inhabited space creates a distinction between physically occupied space and perceptually experienced extended space. This expansion of space enables the individual to exist in one realm of space while experientially dwelling in another space. The individual’s interaction with perceived limitless spatial boundaries truncates the influence of the physically inhabited space and heightens the awareness of the extended experience.
how far can extend beyond
experienced space
physically occupied space ?
AMANDA NIELSEN namanda@vt.edu
DEPTH OF EXPERIENCE THE PERCEIVED DEPTH OF SPATIAL EXPERIENCE IS EXTENDED THROUGH BOTH THE IMPLICATION OF CONNECTED SPACE AND THE VISUAL INHABITATION OF FUTURE SPACE.
Fluid space is informed through visual connections that span each level of enclosure, blurring the perception of defined spatial boundaries. Removal of rigid limits of space expands these established connections and influences the creation of dynamic interconnected spaces. Interaction among individual spaces composes a single continuous existence in which the scale of each spatial distinction is amplified by its shared connections. This symbiotic relationship binds defined spaces together to form one cohesive understanding of unified space
how can and dense architectural inhabited interactions spatial depths challenge the perception of defined space ?
AMANDA NIELSEN namanda@vt.edu
DWELLING IN FUTURE SPACE THE VISUAL CONTINUITY OF THE CENTRAL GLASS CIRCULATION CORE IS FURTHER ENHANCED BY THE PHYSICAL PERMEABILITY THAT ARISES FROM THE SHIFTING POSITIONS OF THE STAIRCASES.
Visual connections established between spaces create an opportunity to experientially inhabit beyond the physically occupied space. By visually experiencing future occupied spaces, the individual will first generate an impression and then a later recognition, as he physically engages with the new space. These linked spaces will maintain some degree of shared inhabitation as long as a visual connection spans them. The individual continues to question his experience of the perceived future space from his initial glimpse until the eventual arrival of that future space.
what
architectural conditions
allow for dwelling in
extended spaces?
are there limits ?
AMANDA NIELSEN namanda@vt.edu
MATERIALITY OF A SURFACE THE DIFFERENT SURFACE CONDITIONS OF THE BRICK WALL GENERATES DIFFERENT EXPERIENTIAL QUALITIES FOR THE ENCLOSED SPACES, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE VARIED DEGREE OF PRIVACY.
Brick is a modular unit and therefore wants to be placed in a modular system. This placement allows for the consistent stacking structure of brick construction to be applied to a perforated brick facade structure. Bands of light and dark are created by the transition from tight spacing to the minimal amount of overlap. The perforated screen is in direct contrast to the solid brick facade of the ends of the building. This juxtaposition illustrates the extremes that the material brick can exhibit. The bands of light and dark contrast the light and heavy aspects of brick, a characteristic common in the surrounding buildings.
how can the materi a l i t y of brick inform
the
perception
of an architectural mass ?
AMANDA NIELSEN namanda@vt.edu
CIRCULATION GUIDING EXPERIENCE DOCUMENTED STAIRCASES TO DEVELOP A UNIVERSAL CRITERIA THAT ENABLES THE ANALYSIS OF A STAIR'S METHOD OF EXTENDING SPATIAL INHABITATION BETWEEN FLOOR PLANES.
how does
extended dwelling
in future space
produce a
physical movement ? The desire to dwell within future spatial progressions reaffirms the dominant horizontal connections and engages the individual to physically occupy future space, which has only been momentarily experienced. With the staircase, the individual experiences an additional vertical expansion that heightens the spatial connection and generates a gravitational pull. The composition of elements overlay to extend inhabitation and to amplify perceived spatial tempo until physical movement is finally manifested.
AMANDA NIELSEN namanda@vt.edu
FORM ENHANCING MOVEMENT THE RESIDENTIAL HOUSE FOCUSES ON THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE THROUGH SHIFTING FLOOR PLANES AND DEGREES OF NATURALLY LIT SPACES.
how does
composition of elements enable
p e r c e ive d coexistence
of space and form ?
Architectural form, constructed as an organizational composition of offset panels, removes defined spatial boundaries and allows space and form to coexist as one fluid understanding. The built form defines movement within spatial boundaries as well as establishes a hierarchy of individual spaces within the architecture. Form and space retain balanced roles in the development of an experience and the transition of continuous spatial understanding.
AMANDA NIELSEN namanda@vt.edu
AMANDA NIELSEN namanda@vt.edu
AUTOCAD & TECHNICAL DRAFTING EXPERIENCE
SUMMER INTERNSHIP: Jeff Watson Homes Summer 2013
The summer internship allowed me to develop real experience within an architectural firm and further explore drawing styles that I learned at school. The residential homes that the firm predominantly worked on, created the perfect settings to learn the fundamentals of adjusting red lines and dimensioning components within a complete set of drawings. This office experience enabled me to measure and construct a complete drawing set for a detached garage project.
AMANDA NIELSEN namanda@vt.edu
HOW DOES THE PHYSICAL DESIGN OF A STAIRCASE CONTRIBUTE TO THE EXPERIENCE OF ITS SURROUNDING SPACE?
WHAT EXPERIENTIAL QUALITIES GENERATE THE UPLIFTING ASCENSION
WHAT PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCES CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEFINITION OF SPACE?
WHAT ARCHITECTURAL CONDITIONS INFLUENCE THE INDIVIDUAL’S PERCEPTION OF SPATIAL BOUNDARIES?
HOW CAN FUNDAMENTAL ARCHITECTURE CONCEPTS BE MANIPULATED TO LAYER AN EXPERIENCED INHABITATION?
E VO LU T I O N OF AN
ARCHITECTURAL THESIS The initial question strived to inform the constructed experience of a single architectural instance, effectively serving as an analytical case study for the design of a staircase. As this thesis study progressed, the focus of the exploration evolved from one which simply answered the posed question, to one which continually layered gained information with newly posed questions in order to fully evaluate the connections between the physical architecture and the experienced space. Within this iterative investigation, the final question came full-circle back to the first question as they both searched to understand how physical changes to the architecture can correspond to an individual’s spatial experience. Each architectural experience was interpreted through the manipulation of three core constructs: the individual, the architecture, and the space. In order to investigate these established experiences, each construct was systematically removed to better understand the relationships and dominant influences that that construct contributed to the overall experience. The experience is dependent upon the convergence of these three constructs, but exploration of the central three questions held the human experience passive in order to heighten the attributes of the remaining two. The exploration of the third question further neutralized the construct of the dominance of the physical architecture and focused solely on the ephemeral conditioning of the defined space. With these gained insights, the constructs are reintroduced, allowing the architect, to build on the foundation of this initial exploration and to fine-tune their influence on the experiential outcome. While the base exploration remained constant, the final question folds in the influences of each earlier question to create a duality of ‘ generalized focus ’ with regard to each set of architectural principles considered. The individual instance of the staircase has been reduced to these fundamental principles, allowing their application to inform the construction of design along multiple scales. It is these evolving scales of physical conditions that has expanded the spectrum of this exploration, and yet as a result has better informed the generalized definition of the architectural experience. The knowledge gained through the manipulation of these basic principles, heightened the command afforded the architecture to elicit the individual’s experience of their distinct inhabitation of connected space. This expanded experiential state enables the layering of both the physical inhabitations and the perceived extensions to define the overall spatial experience.
AMANDA NIELSEN namanda@vt.edu
REVIT & RENDERING EXPERIENCE
FutureHaus Research Project Fall 2014
Developed detailed models through both Rhino and Revit software to create functional drawings to automate the construction of the project’s future SIPS Panels.
Development with Rhino & Revit
Applied Revit-BIM Course Spring 2014
A semester combining introduction and application of Revit principles to the concurrent studio course. The parallel directive enabled the development of ideas to exist within the realm of Revitbased understandings while also challenging the software’s limits through design innovation.
Basic Rendering with Revit
Culminating Thesis Proposal Fall 2014 - Spring 2015
The final stages of the development culminate in a series of analytical renderings that capture ethereal experiences within each space. Layered application of context through light, material, and people to the underlying Revit model enhance the understanding of a space’s ability to interact with the surrounding spatial boundaries.
Post-Editing with Photoshop