Portfolio by Rachel Williams

RACHEL WILLIAMS PORTFOLIO

00. TABLE OF CONTENTS Rachel Williams, M.Arch Candidate Sustainability Certificate University of Michigan, Taubman College May 2020

01. PATH: SCALES OF SOCIAL INTERACTION

02. SYMBIOTIC LANDSCAPE

03. PASSIVE HOUSE

04. DELAMINATION HOUSE

05. THE PEEL

06. CULTIVATING CITY HALL

07. BUILDING TRANSLATIONS

Systems Studio, Fall 2019

Propositions Studio, Spring 2019

High Performance Design, Spring 2019

FORM Studio, Fall 2017

Situations Studio, Spring 2018

Institutions Studio, Fall 2018

Fabrication, Spring 2019

01. PATH: SCALES OF SOCIAL INTERACTION University of Michigan, Taubman College Systems Studio, Fall 2019 Instructors: Craig Borum & Claudia Wigger Team_mates: Austen Gillen-Keeney & Mackenzie Bruce Location: Osaka, Japan Program: Multi-family Residential

The project stems from the need for a central spine that runs through the site, connecting it to the surrounding amenities. This initial path allows for a procession through the site, and a common place for residents of all of Kita Senri to convene together, rest and enjoy the landscape. As the path breaks off, one finds a neighborhood setting with moments of relief and a layering of views and privacy, residents finding themselves on a path of repose that rambles between and through the residences. Residents are not only connected to the outside, with a path snaking through buildings and landscape alike, but they are connected to one long this tertiary path. Common destinations for differing household types incites interactions between residents through communal gardens and shared public spaces, giving life to this social landscape. The path functions and grows through these moments between residents, with charachteristics remeniscent of the roji streets of Japan. Within the unit, residents remain connected to one another with flexible living spaces that provide areas of solitude and open collectively. Shared living spaces give opportunity for shared resources and an open communal living style. Family units provide a connection to one another through the openness of the unit. Single units share entry with those around them, providing a network of interaction in combination with solitary living. Given open space, one can fill in the gaps with life and foster it as it grows over time.

MODEL : MUSEUM BOARD, WOOD, PULP BOARD, SCALE 1” - 20’=0”

Just as a tree grows steady over time, sinking its roots into the ground before surfacing into the light, sprouting more leaves as it grows taller and strengthening over time, [our project] begins with a path that grows life from its roots. The adaptable spaces allow for variability as the neighborhood flourishes and the demands of the residents change.

AOYAMADAI JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

SUITA CITY AOYAMADAI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

This initial path allows for a procession through the site, providing access to surrounding public amenities. As the path breaks off, one finds destinations of retail, parks and moments of relief from the busy procession to stroll through the neighborhood. One can find themselves on a path of repose that rambles between and through the residences. Residents are not only connected to the outside, with a path snaking through buildings and landscape alike, but they are connected to one another with this path. Common destinations for differing household types incites interactions between residents, giving life to this social landscape. The path functions and grows through these moments between residents.

KITA SENRI STATION

KASHINOKI PARK

SHOP SHARED UNIT 3BR UNIT ACCESSIBLE 2BR UNIT COMMUNITY SPACE

The individual units are interlocking L-blocks, forming a 3-floor module. This module differs based on program and unit type break-down, creating a variety of combinations including full and half width units. Accessible units break the rule, allowing for new community spaces to scatter through the neighborhood. The modules are then arranged following existing pathways in the site around a courtyard with interstitial spaces between each building. They stack into low-rise, mid-rise and tower formations, allowing flexibility and establishing identity. The interstitial spaces between buildings serve as passageways into and out of the courtyard, verticle circulation and horizontal circulation between buildings. Each middle floor of the 3-floor module has a corridor which connects all buildings together through these interstitial spaces. These spaces are enclosed with semi--transparent atriums, providng shading and framing views.

The central courtyard provides a semi-private landscape for residents away from the busy main pathway and commercial spine. The courtyard has a hierarchy of landscaping, with open grassy zones as well as private garden spaces for each building. Accessible pathways traverse through the site to deal with steep topography.

The spaces between each building create opportunities for interaction between residents. These spaces are enclosed with atriums which provide shade but also frame layered views into and out of the courtyard. These spaces also have a rode in vertical circulation and connections between buildings.

10 UP

Within the unit, residents remain connected to one another with flexible living spaces that provide areas of solitude and open collectively. Shared living spaces give opportunity for shared resources and an open living style. Family units provide a connection to one another through the openness of the unit. Single units share entry with those around them, providing a network of interaction in combination with solitary living. Given open space, one can fill in the gaps with life and foster it as it grows over time. This flexibility is possible through movable sliding wall panels which can be closed to separate spaces or open to combine spaces or create air flow. One of the four unit types in the overall residential complex is a shared unit which houses 6 people. This unit type is increasingly popular in Japan, providing spaces for students, couples and other young people to live together. The university nearby provides many potential residents in the area who would want to experience this kind of living. While compact, it provides has bedroom spaces while providing flexible kitchen, dining, bathroom and living spaces which are shared. The textures on the interior are light and in natural tones, designed after the colors of traditional Japanese design. Movable wall panels are a combination of wood and semitranslucent paper. The walls and beams are covered with gypsum board which contrasts with the natural wood color of an exposed CLT ceiling.

The faรงade is solid-wall construction with corrugated aluminum framing with a curtain wall and balconies on the front faรงade which faces the path. The details of the faรงade design are driven by a secondary steel tube structure which is arranged according to the same grid system that defines the interiors of the buildings. This structure extends beyond the footprint of the building on opposite sides, defining front and back from the sides. The front framing created a balcony space for each unit while the back framing creates space for an enlarged planter bed at window level. The main horizontal datum lines occur at floor levels, but a secondary datum above this creates the railings for balconies as well as the support for the planter beds. Triple-sliding shades are attached to the balcony framing, allowing shading and privacy in front of the all-glass curtain wall. The materiality of the faรงade reinforces the lightness of the interior design by having differences in texture and depth only. Its white oversized corrugated siding mimics the aesthetic of fabric curtains, the secondary faรงade steel tube framing is painted white, and the aluminum punched window frames are minimal. Sliding shades on the front facades are a modern take on traditional Japanese screens, using thin, finely perforated metal and minimal frames. All railing and guard rails are comprised of thin members and glass to further reinforce this theme of lightness.

ALKING SURFACE AND SUPPORTS

ATED ALUMINUM SIDING

ACE

GID FOAM INSULATION

R WRAP

WOOD

WOOL INSULATION

UM FLASHING

LOORING WOOD FURRING

D FLOORING PANEL FLOOR SPANNING

GLE FOR LIGHT GAGE STEEL G EXTERIOR WALL CONNECTION

GE STEEL AND CONNECTION NEL

STEEL BEAM

BEAM ENCASEMENT

F INSULATION

UM FLASHING

NEL GUARD RAIL

UM ENCASEMENT AND R

CONSTRUCTION, LIGHT GAGE CHANNEL

R WRAP

UM FLASHING

D FOAM ROOF INSULATION

BE FRAMING

ATED ALUMINUM SIDING

NNECTION TO PLYWOOD

R WRAP SPANNING

GLE AND LIGHT GAGE FRAMING TION

AM-CLT CONNECTION

D PANEL FLOORING

PANE 1/4” CURTAIN WALL AND SLIDING GLASS DOOR

UM MULLION

D STRUCTURAL PANEL WITH TOR TIES TO STEEL ANGLE

GLE SUPPORT

TED ALUMINUM PLATE

UARD RAIL AND ALUMINUM NT

UMINUM SLIDING SHADE

BE BALCONY FRAMING AND CONNECTION TO STEEL NEL SUPPORT

HADE TRACK

MODEL : MUSEUM BOARD, BASSWOOD, ALUMINUM, PULP BOARD, CORROGATED PAPER, ACRYCLIC, TRACE PAPER, BIRCH PLYWOOD, SCALE 1/2” - 1’=0”

02. SYMBIOTIC LANDSCAPE University of Michigan, Taubman College Propositions Studio, Spring 2019 Instructor: Christina Hansen Team_mate: Amelia Linde Location: Detroit, MI Program: Stormwater Collection

This project aims to restore the natural watershed flow in the City of Detroit. The earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s watersheds exist at many scales, ranging from regional to local. Watersheds are natural pathways along which water flows, keeping water clean and returning it to a larger body of water. The Lake Erie watershed spans multiple states including Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. It is comprised of smaller, local watersheds which control water at a more immediate scale. Wetlands hold a large responsibility within watersheds. Their purpose is to filter water before it enters the ground or a body of water.

A SYMBIOTIC LANDSCAPE: W Detroit has a serious problem with untreated waste water outfall into the neighboring rivers which is toxic to the local ecosystems and contaminates drinking water. This project not only curbs this issue, but also creates synergies between community building, energy production and ecorestoration.

WATERSHED + COMMUNITY

Detroitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stormwater used to flow over the landscape and into its dozen creeks which feed into the Detroit and Rouge Rivers. But Detroitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s long history of industrialization and modernization has damaged this natural flow of water. The city was founded, and ribbon farms took the place of natural wetlands along both rivers. As the city grew and economically flourished, much land was paved, and the creeks covered to make way for a sewer system. At this point, the watershed was stunted, causing a stormwater burden on the system, a problem the city continues to deal with. According to the Great Lakes Water Authorityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s outfall event records, there were more than 1,500 million gallons of untreated wastewater dumped into local rivers in 2018. Like a watershed, the design is scalar, focusing not only on the big picture - to stop wastewater outfall and create community space by restoring the natural watershed throughout Detroit but also on what this big picture means within a walkable neighborhood scale. Layers of landscape elements such as water retention ponds and wetlands restore the flow and filtration of water, underground rivers and creeks are daylighted to capture and transport the water to the Detroit and Rouge Rivers. Zooming in to Poletown and Eastern Market, the hydrology works in this way, but the pathways, pillars and neighborhood programming also come to life. With a deliberate pathway which leads from the former GM plant, past Eastern Market to connect with the Dequindre Cut, the accessibility of the area is dramatically improved. Looking closer, there are points of interest, or pillars, which are spaced at a walking distance from one another, emphasizing accessibility and usability. Secondary pathways tie from East to West, allowing thru traffic and interaction with the landscape.

KING RAIL

NORTHERN LONG-EARED BAT

KARNER BLUE BUTTERFLY

MITCHELL SATYR

Untreated outfall causes major ecological disasters. Lakes surrounding Detroit get logged with high levels of phosphorous which cause algae blooms. These blooms are toxic and damage ecosystems in and around bodies of water. They also prevent swimming and other water recreation. The restoration of the natural wetland as part of the watershed will help prevent these blooms and simultaneously provide restored habitat for many endangered species. The Detroit area is home to thousands of species, especially birds, that will benefit. These are examples of specific animal and plant species that will flourish along the new wetland network.

UPLAND

WET MEDOW

SPOTTED TURTLE

MAPLE

SEDGE

EASTERN FOX SNAKE

ASH

CATTAIL

EASTERN BOX TURTLE

CRAB APPLE

RUSH

MARSH

CONSTRUCTED WETLAND

SEDGE

WILLOW

GREEN FROG

SHORT-EARED OWL

RUFA RED KNOT

CANVASBACK WATERFOWL

SPOTTED SANDPIPER

CATTAIL

REED

KING RAIL

RUSH

IRIS

Zoomed in, the East and West edges are clearly defined. On the Western side there is a strip of industry and large amounts of impervious surface. This edge is met with bioswales to capture stormwater, extensions which draw water from the industrial zone, and a thick barrier of trees which helps with pollution, sight and sound. The water flows from West to East, flowing into retention ponds, over different wetland types and finally into the daylighted Bloody Run Creek, a historic creek which had been buried. This land is flexible, integrating existing infrastructure while also providing land for stormwater management and community program. To the East of the creek, an urban edge appears. Adjacent to Kettering, a neighborhood designated by the City as an area of investment, the wetlands on this side of the river are constructed, allowing for more rigidity along the waterfront. The creek is open to the adjacent neighborhood of investment to encourage regrowth and densification.

This project also aims to strengthen neighborhood activity, accessibility and economic growth. Detroit is one of several shrinking industrial cities in the United States. Detroitâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population has decreased dramatically since the 1950â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s due to white flight and industrial exit. Many residential areas are nearly vacant whereas others remain dense. Despite the situation, neighborhoods in Detroit remain close-knit and deeply important to residents. This poses a great opportunity to utilize vacant land for stormwater capture while designating much of it for community use. These lands can be used for gathering or farming, or simply getting out into nature for education or relaxation. The pillars focus on education, energy production, environment, and community. They could represent an existing church, educational pavilion, water tower, lookout point, solar field, or energy-generating water wheel. They are meant to strengthen surrounding neighborhoods by providing space to gather and learn. The winding pathway takes on many forms through its flexible architecture, allowing for a variety of interactions with people. This path can be a place of gathering, sitting, learning and playing, as well as structural bridging and retention.

03. PASSIVE HOUSE University of Michigan, Taubman College High Performance Design, Spring 2019 Instructor: Lars Jungans Team_mate: Austen Gillen-Keeney Location: Stowe, VT Program: Single family home

This passive house was designed as part of a high performance building course. Through passive design and schematic design of active systems, we were able to reduce the energy consumption of the single family home and achieve netpositive energy. In order to maximize solar heat gain during the winter, we chose to orient the house to the south with a large glass facade. This works in tandem with three internal heat massesthe fireplace, second floor, and first floor. Additionally, we designed our house to feature a large overhang which blocks the majority of the direct sunlight reaching the interior of the house in the summer. 28

The building massing and active systems were tested with energy modeling in order to quantify its energy performance throughout the design process. With a heat pump with heat recovery and photovoltaic panels, the house produces energy yearly as well as consumes energy.

Energy Used 4,148 kWh/year

Solar warm water panels Thin ﬁlm photovoltaic panels Energy converter

Energy Produced 5,623 kWh/year

40oF

Ground air channel Exhaust air Prehea�ng coil Heat recovery system Compact Heat Pump Warm water heater Warm water tank Solar warm water hea�ng coil Grid electricity source

50oF

70oF

40oF

60oF

95oF

04. DELAMINATION HOUSE University of Michigan, Taubman College FORM, Fall 2017 Instructor: Erik Herrnann Program: Student dorm

Graduate Student Housing project for six inhabitants. Combination of public and private spaces. Continuation of formal massing and image studies. Discovery of how image and form can influence each other, and how image can emphasize or create a misreading of the formal transformation.

MODEL : PRINTED BRISTOL BOARD, PRINTED WOOD, SCALE: 1/2” = 1’-0” 33

Rectangular prisms are sheared and sliced, then combined additively with perpendicularly projected cylinders. Image is applied elevationally, emphasizing shear, highlighting circular versus rectangular shape, and completing the cylinder face. Surfaces delaminate from each other and share common vertices. In the section, the delamination of the second floor creates a positive shape on the interior. In the plan, one can see that the drum has sheared to create the second floor. The Interior organization is a further delamination from the exterior. The second floor inside the large cylinder peels back from the exterior wall, creating double-height space and separating shared and private space.

MODEL : PRINTED BRISTOL BOARD, SCALE: 1/4” = 1’-0”

The interior image mapping follows a similar strategy as that of the exterior. Large gestural shapes are printed in the interior, tying space together and creating directional pulls. Image interacts with openings and connects spaces. Interior floor levels and image mapping mimic those of the exterior, blurring the line between interior and exterior space in the public zone. This is meant to encourage use of outdoor landscape. 35

05. THE PEEL University of Michigan, Taubman College Sustainable Architecture, Spring 2018 Instructor: Laida Aguirre Location: Columbus, IN Program: Hotel & Restaurant

Hotel design accommodating 12-24 guest rooms, a restaurant and an additional â&#x20AC;&#x153;activeâ&#x20AC;? program. Design process involves a formal operation, but focuses more on sensibility and activity: Colors, materials and textures drive the sensibility of the design, activating its representation.

Physical models of various spaces throughout the hotel engage material, texture and color, creating a certain atmosphere. Photos featuring the wood, concrete and red accents together with the formal operation create a sense of identity to the building from interior to exterior spaces. Curvilinear shapes collide with rectilinear ones, and surfaces peel away from each other to create instances of shape and surface.

MODEL : PRINTED BRISTOL BOARD, WOOD, ACRYLIC, SCALE 1/16” - 1’=0”

Internally and externally, surfaces begin to disassociate from each other, reinforced by material changes. Exterior openings respond to the function of the corresponding interior spaces: public spaces have large banding curtain walls, and private spaces have punched openings. Wood and concrete as materials extend to the exterior, emphasizing the peel of the facade and the colliding of curvilinear and rectilinear form. The main circulation extrusion anchors the intersecting forms and serves as a way finding point from the exterior.

06. CULTIVATING CITY HALL University of Michigan, Taubman College Sustainable Architecture, Fall 2018 Instructor: Tszyan Ng Location: Dearborn, MI Program: City Hall

This new city hall in Dearborn, MI is designed to bring access to food, work and education through community gardening and hydroponic farming. By bringing ecology into the system, uses and views of the building, the future city hall provides this kind of opportunity. The council chamber cantilevers over the collection pool, emphasizing the importance of civic engagement as well as ecological processes. The greenhouse is ever-present at the entrance to the city hall, incorporating farming not only into the operation of the building but also it’s key views.

MODEL : 21 X 30, MUSEUM BOARD, MDF, SCALE: 1/16” - 1’-0”

Main OďŹ&#x192;ce Building

Greenhouse

Council Chamber

Site Shaping

The form is has many things in mind: program, sunlight, water capture and civic presence. Three major zones divide the city hall into three major geometries. The largest houses the city hall functions, education center and gathering spaces. The center form is the hydroponic greenhouse, and the third cantilevering form houses the council chamber - the most civilly-active room in the building. The three forms are oriented south with sloping roofs which are calibrated to the directions and angle of the sun. These slopes together with the sloping of the site direct rain water into the pool beneath the council chamber, creating a practical, productive and important moment which emphasizes ecology and public engagement.

The section diagram demonstrates the ecological systems that the city hall actively participates in. Rain collection and reuse for the hydroponic planing system is a central theme to this project. Here one can also see the direct views from greenhouse to council chamber and from council chamber to greenhouse, reinforcing the merging of civic engagement and farming.

The city hall, in its orientation and form, brings in the most sunlight possible to promote the growth of plants and passively heat the building. Angled louvers fan the length of the largest volume on either side, puncturing the heavy concrete exterior with the lightness of linear openings. The first floor plan shows the proximity of hydroponic farming, education center and main gathering spaces. A towns person entering the city hall would be confronted by ecology on the interior and exterior, as the main axis of circulation is directly adjacent to the greenhouse and the landscape continues onto the roofscapes of the building. The interior views show the strong connection between the council chambers and the greenhouse, as well as the feathering of the vertical louvers.

07. BUILDING TRANSLATIONS University of Michigan, Taubman College Fabrication, Fall 2018 Instructor: Laida Aguierre Team_mate: Austen Gillen-Keeney

This project brings together base, structure and panel into a wall system through digital fabrication. A designed pattern was used throughout the designs of each of these pieces, while creating dynamic systems of interlocking and joinery. This project was in collaboration with a partner.

The exploded azon explains the converging of base, structure and panel through interlocking. Each of the peices was digitally fabricated using a CNC mill and waterjet. Dowels are used as locking devices to secure panels to structural members. Structural members are designed to interlock with the base.Each joint detail was designed carefully with machine tolerances in mind.

PANEL PANEL CONNECTION DETAIL PANEL CONNECTION DETAIL

CONNECTION DETAIL

STRUCTURE AND BASE INTERACTION DETAIL

MODEL : 30 X 16, 16-GAGE STEEL METAL PANEL, 3/4” BIRCH PLYWOOD, 1/4” BASSWOOD DOWELS

The steel sheet metal panels are perforated with an overlay of a pattern, emphasizing the thickening and thinning of lines. Connection details and structural members are visible through the panels, which curve around the corner condition of the wall system.

The steel sheet metal panels are perforated with an overlay of a pattern, emphasizing the thickening and thinning of sheet metal panels lines. Connection detailsThe andsteel structural members are are visible perforated with an overlay of a through the panels, which curve around the corner pattern, emphasizing the condition thickening and thinning of lines. Connection of the wall system.

details and structural members are visible through the panels, which curve around the corner condition of the wall system.

6” ROCKWOOL INSULATION ALUMINUM FLASHING 3/4” GWB UNDER-FLOORING WOOD FURRING STRIPS TEXTURED FLOORING PANEL 5-PLY CLT FLOOR SPANNING STEEL ANGLE FOR LIGHT GAGE STEEL FRAMING EXTERIOR WALL CONNECTION LIGHT GAGE STEEL AND CONNECTION U-CHANNEL W10X19 STEEL BEAM 1” GWB BEAM ENCASEMENT EPS ROOF INSULATION

ALUMINUM FLASHING GLASS PANEL GUARD RAIL

ALUMINUM ENCASEMENT AND FASTENER PARAPET CONSTRUCTION, LIGHT GAGE STEEL C-CHANNEL WEATHER WRAP ALUMINUM FLASHING EPS RIGID FOAM ROOF INSULATION

STEEL TUBE FRAMING CORRUGATED ALUMINUM SIDING NAIL CONNECTION TO PLYWOOD WEATHER WRAP 5-PLY CLT SPANNING STEEL ANGLE AND LIGHT GAGE FRAMING CONNECTION STEEL BEAM-CLT CONNECTION

TEXTURED PANEL FLOORING DOUBLE PANE 1/4” CURTAIN WALL GLAZING AND SLIDING GLASS DOOR ALUMINUM MULLION INSULATED STRUCTURAL PANEL WITH CONNECTOR TIES TO STEEL ANGLE STEEL ANGLE SUPPORT PERFORATED ALUMINUM PLATE GLASS GUARD RAIL AND ALUMINUM CASEMENT TRIPLE ALUMINUM SLIDING SHADE TRACK STEEL TUBE BALCONY FRAMING AND WELDED CONNECTION TO STEEL U-CHANNEL SUPPORT UPPER SHADE TRACK