portfolio | fall 2014 rachel lefevre
portfolio | fall 2014 rachel lefevre arch 211 instructor: charles brown
table of contents 1- 2 | table of contents
3 - 4 | formal exploration: first iteration model and drawing 5 - 6 | formal exploration: second iteration model and drawing 7 - 8 | formal exploration: final iteration model and drawing 9 - 10 | formal exploration: final model projected shadow drawing and axonometric 11 - 12 | site introduction and mapping strategy/weed density photographs 13 - 14 | site plan with close-ups
15 - 16 | intuitive drawing and introduction to the urban chapel 17 - 18 | urban chapel: first and second iteration photographs
19 - 20 | urban chapel: plan and section drawings and axonometric drawing 21 - 22 | urban chapel: final model photographs 23 - 24 | urban chapel: final model photographs
formal exploration | module aggregation
aggregation | first iteration model: styrene drawing: pencil on mylar
aggregation | second iteration model: styrene plan and close up
aggregation | second iteration model: styrene drawing: pencil on mylar. plan and section.
formal exploration | final aggregation the final model explored the idea of creating various degrees and gradations of shadow in a balanced composition like a mondrian painting. the model was built in section, thus, while the overall form gives a great degree of chaos from the east elevation the plan and sections are quite ordered. the model sought to exploit the modules unique abilities to compress and expand space while creating darkness toward the compressed end and lightness toward the open end. the overall aggregation sought to associate compression with shadow and openness with light, and then proceed to accentuate these qualities.
aggregation | final iteration drawing: pencil on mylar. plan and five sections
aggregation | final iteration drawing: pencil on mylar. plan and five sections with projected interior shadows
aggregation | final model drawing: pencil on mylar. axonometric drawing of interior chanels filled with darkest shadow. side: interior perspectival vignettes.
site exploration | mapping a natural phenomenon
the second part of the project involved mapping a natural phenomenon somehow conceptually connected to light. the project studied the frequency of shadow on the sight through studying the microcosmic phenomenon of weed density. weed density, it was observed, directly correlates to the degree of shaded condition. conceptually, this tied back to the aggregation study, establishing an association between density, compression, and shadow. the mapping determined the path for the site, which flowed through the densest and most shaded part of the seminary. from this point forward in the project, the path determined a means of thinking about spirituatlity in terms of pilgrimage, self-reflection, and finally collective spirituality.
site plan | collecting data drawing: pencil on mylar photographs were taken radially from trees. densities for each small area of the site were calculated from each photograph.
site plan | mapping weed density drawing: pencil on mylar 1 : 16
site plan | mapping weed density drawing: pencil on mylar close ups of radial mapping strategy and the siting of the building based on pathway.
exploration | intuitive drawing drawing: pencil on mylar this drawing sought to explore intuitions about the form emerging from a hill and integrating with the ground. done prior to any modeling
urban chapel | spirituality through light
the creation of the urban chapel focused on the idea of pilgrimage. the program of the building is intended to welcome people in and then force people to move through the chapel individually through narrow halls, forcing not only pilgrimage but also self reflection. the program of the building flows into an open and highly naturally lit congregation space for collective spirituality at the end of the pilgrimage. the building, on a natural level, seeks to integrate elements of the natural environment based on how the building meets the ground. grass flows into the space, light channels bring pieces of the sky down into the section of the building as well as rain and snow. the building is bound in space by two gestural carves into the ground, tying it to the site and imposing itself upon it.
urban chapel | second iteration model: styrene, acrylic and bass wood
urban chapel | third iteration model: styrene, acrylic, wood, and imitation grass explorations of notching, aggregation, light channeling to distinguish between interior and exterior, and scale.
urban chapel | final model drawing: pencil on mylar. plan, panoramic section, section, and elevation.
urban chapel | final model drawing: pencil on mylar. axonometric drawing with hydrology lines representing ground condition. side: interior perspective vignettes.
urban chapel | final model model: styrene, acrylic, wood, imitation grass previous page: east elevation left: view into lobby space showing how entrance compresses and forces individual pilgrimage and self reflection. above: interior view into main chapel space and view of back of chapel including below ground bathroom space.
urban chapel | final model left: interior shot showing the human scale above: human scale in relation to main chapel space human scale in relation to lobby and terrace space, light channel