olivia kastor selected works
01
2
02
03
a path of
apartment complex
house and private
knowledge
Draper and Jackson St
library for a writer
pgs. 4-5
pgs. 6-11
pgs. 12-25
04
05
06 summer
europe travel
bike hub
pg. 27
internship work
study abroad program
pgs. 28-33
pgs. 34-39
virginia tech
pg. 26
glimpses
07
contents 3
A PATH OF KNOWLEDGE 2024 AIA Virginia prize challenge / Weekend design charette A series of walls leads the user through thoughtful indoor and outdoor spaces tailored to the evolving needs of the digital world in an architecture that pays homage to the traditional brick library in the town of Hampton, Virginia.
ry st.
n mallo
e co unty
second floor plan
st. path of outdoor nooks
first floor plan 0
7.5
15
30
60’
longitudinal section 0
4
8
4 | spring 2024
16
32’
A L S I TENN
community and library space
outdoor meeting room
5 | spring 2024
APARTMENT COMPLEX AT INTERSECTION OF DRAPER / JACKSON ST Blacksburg, VA / Mixed use housing and restaurant space To improve the aesthetic of the existing Benny’s Pizza restaurant and provide additional housing, this project blends public and private space by designing twenty-four apartment units as well as a new Benny’s Pizza that push toward a public street on a site previously occupied by Tech Motel and the original Benny’s. The project employs the use of smooth, reinforced concrete and Western Red Cedar wooden slats that reflect more private spaces of the project while emphasizing the building’s height.
upper floor plans
6 | fall 2022
transverse section of apartment building one 0
0
15
30
6
12
1/4” section model of floor and wall assembly
1/4” facade model
24 FT
60 FT
longitudinal section of apartment building one
7 | fall 2022
APARTMENT COMPLEX AT INTERSECTION OF DRAPER / JACKSON ST Mapping of the site / An entertainment district filled with local eateries, shops, and retail spaces The site is located on the corner of Draper Road and Jackson Street, an intersection located just one block behind Main Street. The Farmer’s Market Pavilion is southeast of the site and a public parking lot occupies the space to the northwest. As one progresses down Draper, many small businesses are encountered, including John’s Cameras and Records, Bollo’s Cafe, and Gillie’s, a local vegetarian bistro. The proposed project will adopt a modern facade that rises above the traditional Blacksburg skyline.
8 | fall 2022
N
0
30
60
120 FT
a series of exterior and interior perspectives 9 | fall 2022
APARTMENT COMPLEX AT INTERSECTION OF DRAPER / JACKSON ST Delineating space / Testing layouts to reach desired forms Working concurrently between the overall program and the apartment unit, a primarily rectangular form with the main entrance facade protruding outward toward the Farmer’s Market developed. The form’s regularity relates to the program of a typical apartment building that presents uniformity in the units while the slanted facade aims to illuminate the project onto a public street.
upper floor plans
N
10 | fall 2022
0
15
30
60 FT
first floor plan
APARTMENT COMPLEX AT INTERSECTION OF DRAPER / JACKSON ST Assembly details / Specifying material, structural, and spatial conditions Strengthening the connection between the apartments and Benny’s Pizza, the restaurant adopts a similar slanted facade to attract visitors in Blacksburg. The project offers outdoor picnic table seating in the channel between apartments and features a sliding glass walk-up counter. Mimicking the complex, the facade incorporates wooden slats but also uses stone cladding to pay tribute to the traditional wood-fired, masonry pizza oven.
framing plan and exterior wall detail
0 15 30 60 FT
N
0
5
10
0
2
4
8 FT
fire stair plan and section details
20 FT
11 | fall 2022
HOUSE AND PRIVATE LIBRARY FOR A WRITER An array of spaces and purposeful views / Productivity - Solitude - Hospitality Nestled within a dense urban fabric in downtown Wilmington, the project provides a home for Alberto Manguel, a distinguished Argentine-Canadian writer. Upon entry from the street, one experiences an inviting outdoor space characterized by a wooden post and beam structure that interacts with natural light to create striking shadows. Moving along the central concrete paver path, aluminum storefront glazing on the library facade allows for views to the outdoors, while maintaining a level of desired privacy depending on size and arrangement. The home features a terraced entrance of solid, concrete steps to elevate its presence and allow for views of the city. If desired, a more private entry can be achieved through the service alley from which the owner can enjoy a walk through a peaceful backyard, preserving a core idea of the traditional home.
12 | spring 2023
13 | spring 2023
HOUSE AND PRIVATE LIBRARY FOR A WRITER The urban footprint / Siting within a tight z-shaped plot of land Located just two blocks east of the Cape Fear River, 2nd Street boasts abundant retail shops, bistros, and cafes for passersby to enjoy on a beautiful day in downtown Wilmington. Positioned within the larger overall grid of the city, the site offers close proximity to each of these buildings. Adjacent public parking to the west provides an opportunity for visitors and the generous vegetation surrounding the site not only enhances the feeling of a home, but also provides shade from the hot, summer sun. The considerable height of neighboring buildings makes solar geometry and building form design decisions of utmost importance to maintain adequate natural lighting.
0
9
18
36 FT
14 | spring 2023
a series of elevations revealing three distinct buildings, materially and architecturally 15 | spring 2023
HOUSE AND PRIVATE LIBRARY FOR A WRITER Floor plans
0 5 10 20 FT
programming plan
16 | spring 2023
HOUSE AND PRIVATE LIBRARY FOR A WRITER Floor plans
0 5 10 20 FT
material and interiors plan
17 | spring 2023
HOUSE AND PRIVATE LIBRARY FOR A WRITER House building assembly studies / Roof / Enlarged view of entry A series of sections and detail drawings studying key elements of the project to understand building construction.
0
6
12
24 FT
enlarged plan of main entry 0
18 | spring 2023
3
6 FT
enlarged section / solid concrete steps / concrete slab / wooden 0
9”
18”
3 FT
floor joists
section A
perspective sketch / recessed entrance and outward protruding seating
19 | spring 2023
HOUSE AND PRIVATE LIBRARY FOR A WRITER House and library building assembly studies / Structure / Floor / Wall sections A series of sections and detail drawings studying key elements of the project to understand building construction.
0
0
20 | spring 2023
6
12
9
24 FT
18
section B
36 FT
library wall section / 2x4 studs / phenolic cladding system / 0
6”
1
2 FT
slab on grade / standing seam metal roof
house wall section / 2x6 studs / stucco exterior finish / wooden floor joists / 0
9”
18”
3 FT
suspended ceiling / terracotta roof tiles
section C 21 | spring 2023
HOUSE AND PRIVATE LIBRARY FOR A WRITER Library building assembly studies / Exploded axonometric of library corner condition A series of sections and detail drawings studying key elements of the project to understand building construction.
22 | spring 2023
23 | spring 2023
HOUSE AND PRIVATE LIBRARY FOR A WRITER Library and conference/seminar building assembly studies / Structure / Foundation A series of sections and detail drawings studying key elements of the project to understand building construction.
0
0
6
6
24 | spring 2023
12
12
24 FT
24 FT
section D
section E 25 | spring 2023
VIRGINIA TECH BIKE HUB A place to drop one’s bike and enjoy a coffee at the Warm-Up Café The third year competition is a week-long design charette at Virginia Tech and the program requests a bike hub in the academic region of the campus with bicycle parking for 1200 bikes, along with a bike repair shop, a Warm-Up Café, twenty-one bathroom stalls, and 200 lockers for bike users.
a gradual ascent as one drops off their bike and helmet upon arrival and then proceeds to the café for a coffee before heading to class / using the topography to create a series of experiences N
26 | fall 2022
0
15
30
60 FT
GLIMPSES 2023 AIA Virginia prize challenge / Weekend design charette A workshop-house for multiple artists in a narrow, urban site on the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville, featuring large roof monitors and a white, reflective surface that allows for soft, diffused light coupled with a colorful, metal panel facade that evokes a sense of the creativity that users can enjoy.
a series of spaces along an L-shaped path / exploring solutions to bring in light in an otherwise tight site N
0
15
30
60 FT
27 | spring 2023
MUSE WINSTON SALEM A series of graphics and renderings produced during my summer internship Walter Robbs, a Michael Graves Company Located on South Liberty Street in the heart of downtown Winston-Salem lies a building that currently houses MUSE, a museum dedicated to telling stories of the history of the city through a mix of temporary and permanent exhibitions. However, the organization of spaces lacks an architectural logic or central idea. This project proposes a reorganization of one of the main, temporary exhibit spaces to establish a more intuitive path for visitors through a series of installations that are highly flexible to fit the needs of all historic materials. An addition features an eye-catching, perforated metal screen that, when illuminated at night, floods the building and adjacent plaza with a bright, orange hue, inspired by the primary color of the museum. Two identical steel towers rise to the sky and, through their positioning, align in shadows at noon to pay tribute to the fusion of Winston and Salem.
28 | summer 2023
*My role in this project consisted of modeling elements in Revit as directed by the project architect and producing a series of renderings to showcase design intent and assist the client in visualizing ideas. 29 | summer 2023
MUSE WINSTON SALEM A series of graphics and renderings produced during my summer internship Walter Robbs, a Michael Graves Company An interior rendering of the temporary gallery space showing potential solutions to develop a path through objects on display.
bubble map of interior exhibit floor plan
30 | summer 2023
*My role in this project consisted of modeling elements in Revit as directed by the project architect and producing a series of renderings to showcase design intent and assist the client in visualizing ideas. 31 | summer 2023
MICHAEL GRAVES INTERN CHARETTE In collaboration with interns from Princeton and Hackensack business units Walter Robbs, a Michael Graves Company In response to a pressing issue addressed in the 2023 U.S. Surgeon General’s Report, ‘Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,’ these conceptual diagrams propose solutions for how the built community can promote and enhance social connection during a time in which it is needed more than ever, post-pandemic. Diagrams one and two adopt a townhome approach that pairs a young family with a senior citizen and diagram three adopts an intergenerational living approach with overall complexes offering units to people of all ages.
*Cover page of intern presentation produced by colleagues at Michael Graves *My role in this project consisted of meeting with a team of student interns from various Michael Graves offices to explore design solutions through the process of diagramming. Diagrams 1-3 produced by myself. 32 | summer 2023
1. a model for intergenerational living with central communal spaces
INTERGENERATIONAL LIVING WITH CENTRAL COMMUNAL SPACES
INTERGENERATIONAL LIVING W COMMUNAL SPACES AND CENTRA
YOUNG FAMILY SENIOR SHARED SPACE
STREET CORNER
ERGENERATIONAL LIVING WITH ENTRAL COMMUNAL SPACES
2. intergenerational living with bounding communal
INTERGENERATIONAL LIVING WITH BOUNDING COMMUNAL SPACES AND spaces CENTRAL OUTDOOR and a centralPATH path
YOUNG FAMILY
ENT.
SENIOR SHARED SPACE
UNIT
UNIT
CHILD CARE UNIT
SENIOR CTR. UNIT
3. intergenerational living with scattered communal
INTERGENERATIONAL LIVING WITH SCATTERED COMMUNAL SPACES AND CENTRAL COURTYARD
spaces and a central courtyard
INTERGENERATIONAL UNITS SECONDARY COMMUNAL SPACE CENTRAL COURTYARD PRIMARY COMMUNAL SPACE
33 | summer 2023
EUROPE TRAVEL STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM A series of sketches from my journey through thirteen countries Countries visited: Finland, Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, France, Switzerland, The Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal
34 | fall 2023
35 | fall 2023
EUROPE TRAVEL STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM A series of sketches from my journey through thirteen countries Countries visited: Finland, Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, France, Switzerland, The Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal
36 | fall 2023
37 | fall 2023
EUROPE TRAVEL STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM A series of sketches from my journey through thirteen countries Countries visited: Finland, Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, France, Switzerland, The Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Greece, Spain, and Portugal
38 | fall 2023
39 | fall 2023
704.929.1051 oliviak@vt.edu