rahul ghera
to unforeseen senses and emotions to the curious mind and humble soul to the air and languages we share we would cease to experience, without space
cannon design
university at buffalo
personal work
barcelona
rhode island school of design helsinki
portugal
The idea of a bathhouse in America is quite different from other countries. There is a stigma to it that shames the culture. This bathhouse proposal negates this stigma by allowing visitors to make their own experience within the building. Through the design and variety of programs, individuals have the ability to chose areas based on their own comfort levels.
sensing baths Travel Studio 2016 Portugal Proposal: Bath & Cafe Laura Briggs & Stuart Blazer
glass facade skylight screen facade
screen panel opaque panel structural wall tub room lockers sauna cafe main pool mid pool tea garden yoga room
outdoor pool family pool
exploded axonometric
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ground floor plan 1. cafe, 2. lockers, 3. sauna, 4. tub room, 5. main pool, 6. mid pool, 7. family pool, 8. tea garden, 9. yoga room, 10. outdoor pool, 11. storage
tub room
main bath
yoga room
family bath
This investigation explores the intimate metaphor between the functionality of our lungs and architectural design. The layers of our lungs make it possible for the pressures inside our body to even out with the pressure outside of our body. Similarly, can architectural design function as intentionally as the anatomy of our lungs.
observing murmurations Design Principals Studio 2015 Proposal: Observation Tower Kyna Leski
animate Through film animations the shuttle’s behavior and trajectory began to create form.
mapping the drop 160 brads map the trajectory of target points marked along the drop of the shuttle. Wire begins to animate the points, giving the shuttle drop 2D motion.
isolation Each isolation study explores the delicacy of the materiality and concept, provoking a deeper understanding of linkage and structure.
matrix The matrix guides the structural systems, while conceptually, ties to the fluid motion of our lungs, as it expands and contracts through compression and tension.
the stair The visitor is conceptually seen as air flowing through our lungs. They move inside to out, expanding in space and compressing underneath.
the tower The layers of wire are translated into surfaces. The form and tectonics of the tower mimic those of our lungs. Binary circulation areas wrap around the observation core, providing for fluid air flow.
The installation spanned thirty feet across our studio and stood ten feet high. Our group of eight and six critics were able to stand underneath during the final review. The physical studio space was used as form work to cast the beams that span across. Each beam has a wood member cast within to facilitate fastening them. We designed an aggregate mixture bringing the overall weight per beam down by 35%
concrete arch Material Studies Studio 2012 Christopher Romano Partners: Alexandra N. Coop, Matthew Dellehunt, Ryan Hughes, Edgar Martinez, Giovanni Perez & Peter Urban
awarded most structural
mixture Pouring the first mixture resulted in a total weight of 536 lbs/beam. After substituting larger aggregate with ground blue insulation foam and fiberglass, we achieved a final weight of 360 lbs/ beam.
joinery We designed a system that would be able to resist the compression of both concrete members leaning on each other by casting a plywood joint within the beam.
elevation & detail
review
Located in Allentown Buffalo, the facility augments the thriving arts community. This urban art colony includes apartments for residential fellowships of 1-3 months, together with studio spaces for both fellows and local artists. The south-facing living units, together with a rooftop bar and terrace for the artists who live and work in the building, are situated along Allen Street, while open plan flexible studio floors face the north.
the WEL Comprehensive Studio 2014 Proposal: Artist Colony Annette Lecuyer Partner: Andre Assis
finalist in senior competition
ground floor plan
artist colony
third floor plan
performative section
A triple-height entrance lobby on Allen Street leads to a ground level public cafe and a sky-lit atrium at the heart of the building, where a monumental stair leading to public galleries on the second floor also serves as an informal auditorium for performances and events. The atrium, dividing the living and studio zones, links the public spaces on the lower levels with private realm on upper floors. Open stairs crisscross the void, so that artists pass back and forth through the atrium as they move between their dwellings and workspaces.
1/4 scale model
The site cast concrete building, like a daylight factory, has a robust industrial character. Panels of stainless steel mesh veil the north and south faces of the atrium, providing artists with privacy, while allowing views into the public realm. The west atrium wall flanking the vertical circulation core is a hydroponic green wall, which helps to filter air in the building. The Main Street facade of the studio block likewise has stainless steel mesh external sun shading, while on Allen Street, the more open residential facade is defined by an exposed site cast concrete wrapper and recessed glazing.
exploded model
Inversion addresses a deep investigation within intention. Using The Barcelona Pavilion as precedent, the proposal questions the aesthetic and tectonic qualities designed by Mies. Following these established rules and creating a palimpsest proposal, inversion begins. The horizontality and mass of The Barcelona Pavilion transform to thin towering members, opening views to the city, rather than confining them within.
defying the horizontal Travel Studio 2014 Barcelona, Spain Proposal: Inversion Pavilion Dennis Maher & Nerea Feliz
collage The structure migrates from heavy horizontal stone, to a thin, framed vertical scaffolding that towers over the original pavilion. Views open up to Barcelona, rather than staying grounded and inside the pavilion.
materiality Curtains made of metal chain-link with glass crystals embedded within suspend from an extruded steel frame from the original pavilion, along with a catwalk.
travel Rather than moving horizontally, experiencing the pavilion on its plinth, the proposal takes its visitors vertically, and open to the sky. People transition from fully exposed to hidden spaces within the curtain mesh.
construction tech Core Studio 2015 Detail Axonometric Christopher Romano
assemblage Croffead House by Clark and Menefee Architects
the market Core Studio 2013 Proposal: Theatre & Market James Rayburg
deconstruct
reconstruct
topography The market and theatre layers spaces, indoor and outdoor, create new topographic levels, allowing the community to interact during any season/time of day.
studies Core Studio ‘12, ‘13, ‘14 Study Models & Drawings Greg Delaney Dennis Maher
the bundle
palimpsest bundle
wood study
paper study
cannon design Summer Intern 2015
penguin exhibit proposal
personal work
publications The writing and drawings from my trip to Portugal are currently being published in an annual book by Brown University’s Department of Portuguese and Brazilian Studies.
design build construction On site construction of a restoration for an old carriage house, under the direction of Brad Wales. The structural steel was integrated within the original wood frame construction. New exterior CMU walls were installed, along with an integrated irrigation and fence around the property.
porto, portugal Casa da Musica 01.14.16
lisbon, portugal Time Out 01.18.16
lisbon, portugal Castle Hill 01.22.16
providence, rhode island BEB 02.05.16
barcelona, spain Riera Alta 10 06.11.14
barcelona, spain Barcelona Pavilion 06.22.14
barcelona, spain Riera Alta 10 07.26.14
poissy, france Villa Savoye 08.05.14