Black portfolio 2016

FROM THE HEART AND WORK OF SARAH E. BLACK WITH EVERYTHING COMPLETELY EXPOSED

0 1 2 3 4 5

a little bit about me and a sense of who I am as a person and future architect

project involving community engagement in Detroit

selection of projects that I completed at my first architectural internship

projects involving the design of schools or other university functions

designs from the summer while abroad in Italy

artistic expressions and explorations

0.0 Sarah Ellizabeth Black

About Me a small piece of me to you

More than ambitious, I am running towards my dreams despite all obstacles. When I think of my interests, I first understand my responsibility to impact people in a positive way, and architecture does this whether we designers thoughtfully plan it that way or not.

Every design has an impact on its environment and its people, and these two things are at the core of my morale when designing. I have come a long way from where I started in the design world, and I will not deny that I still have a lot more room to learn and grow. The hunger that I have to learn I know will take me to where I want to go.

I also recognize that every person we encounter has insights that allow for us to grow as people and designers with their new perspectives and deeper understandings.

I value these new perspectives so that I continually learn what I haven’t already experienced. This then leads me to my main focuses in architecture and I can admit immediately that money is not my motivation. My motivation comes from my desire to conserve

environments, impacting communities, and leaving people with a life that is more manageable and more beautiful than it was before. I take on many roles and titles. I am a woman, a feminist, an activist, a humanist, environmentalist, entrepreneur, designer, artist, poet, and a believer in contributing to the planet that life has gifted me. I look to work as an investment. The work I do becomes precious to me and my time. I want to put the hours and commitment it takes to make a business function in the best manner. I am what you see. There are no poker-faces or hidden fees.

I understand that I dream big, and fight impossible odds, but better to have the underdog that continues to put up a fight than the undefeated who will take a higher pay as soon as it is offered. I will be the hardest working employee anyone has ever seen, and people will notice. I am undeniably the one and only

1

This chapter includes developing designs in an area of Detroit called the W.A.S. Community. This studio was taught through real projects being implemented by the in-house architecture firm at the University of Detroit Mercy, the Detroit Collaborative Design Center. Two of the employees at the DCDC were my professors for a semester including Ceara O’Leary and Charles Cross. The first, a woman known for her work as a Rose Fellow with a background in architecture, and the ladder from New York City with a background in Landscape architecture. This studio project was probably one of my favorite projects, though all of my projects have parts that continue to interest me, this project had innovative design involving repurposed architecture and helping communities develop as well. Public Interest Design is what I wish to most pursue in a career, and I think this project as well as others that the DCDC implements are a part of the line of work that I wish to accomplish in my lifetime career as an architectural employee.

Community

1.1 Detroit, MI

1.1

Landscape Design solutions for abandoned lots to achieve civic engagement and the promotion of culture

1.2

Urban Planning other potential design concepts that can be used to enhance the community

1.3

Repurpose Project using an existing structure in the W.A.S. Detroit community to provide the needs of the community

What was called the ‘landscape folly’ was a design challenge that many of us students had not yet considered. Thinking about interventions in a community that weren’t the traditional sense of our then current understanding of architecture was an interesting experience. Looking at the issue of abandoned lots, and lack of access to fresh foods as well as unity within the neighborhood led me to celebrate the porch of the abandoned houses as a stage for cultural performances, but would also act as a trellis for vegetables and fruits in the warmer months. Seating was also designed that would protect vegetables from pests.

1.2 Detroit, MI

1.1

Landscape Design solutions for abandoned lots to acheive civic engagement and the promotion of culture

1.2

Urban Planning other potential design concepts that can be used to enhance the community

1.3

Repurpose Project using an existing structure in the W.A.S. Detroit community to provide the needs of the community

Proposed renewable energy houses and bike paths Gardens to fill empty lots, and solar panel street lights to be installed Potential learning houses for after school activities and gardening training. Scented garden also proposed

1.3 Detroit, MI

1.1

Landscape Design solutions for abandoned lots to acheive civic engagement and the promotion of culture

1.2

Urban Planning other potential design concepts that can be used to enhance the community

1.3

Repurpose Project using an existing structure in the W.A.S. Detroit community to provide the needs of the community

Repurposed building with mixed-use programming.

1.3 Detroit, MI

Repurpose Project using an existing structure in the W.A.S. Detroit community to provide the needs of the community

The market was designed to come out onto the side street on the weekends and perhaps even spill into the church’s lot across the street. Swivel glass walls on the east side make the transition from inside to outside possible. The stage also features a garage door that allows for the smell of the food cooking and the music to spread into the surrounding neighborhoods, advertising itself. Something that I learned from this project is the lack of security as a design problem that needed to be tackled in the project.

2

Studio Detroit

Working in my first architectural firm was a great experience. I had the opportunity to many other varieties of projects than what I have shown in this chapter. The projects I have included in this book are those I was given the responsibility.

I was involved in the formation of the construction documents, 3-d modeling in revit and sketchup, as-builts, and dealing with building a material library. This range of involvement gave me good variety of experience. I had the opportunity to go to Studio Detroit’s presentation involving a request for proposal, meet with contractors, and stay at work late to meet deadlines. Having the co-owners of Studio Detroit as my mentors, they really gave me the hands-on experience that many other firms and experiences do not typically give their interns. I loved working for them, and I want future places that I work for to care as much about the people that work for them as the work that the company puts out into the world.

This experience taught me a lot, but there’s always room to grow.

2.1 Studio Detroit

2.1

Repurpose Project Historic King Solomon Baptist Church modeled in Revit and rendered in Podium

2.2

House Addition a porch addition that includes a mud room, large deck extension, and living and dining

2.3

House Remodel making an open floor plan layout connecting the kitchen with other areas of the house

This project was entirely completed by me. First built in Revit, I then got my first experience in Sketch-up in order to render different views. The pictures to the right and above are of the model in Revit. To the left and in following pages are renderings done in Sketchup with Podium. This abandoned historic church in the city of Detroit at one time hosted people as widely known as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Many people including activist Rev. Williams are looking to repurpose this historic site to breathe life again.

2.1 Studio Detroit

Repurpose Project Historic King Solomon Baptist Church modeled in Revit and rendered in Podium

Reverend William was hoping to get program in this building such as lofts, gym, health, childcare, restaurants, fresh markets, and even a cigar bar. He wanted needs to be fulfilled to the area, but also bring people from Wayne State University into the neighborhood. Looking for the opportunity for medical offices could also help Henry Ford Hospital with its much needed expansion.

2.2 Studio Detroit

2.1

Repurpose Project Historic King Solomon Baptist Church modeled in Revit and rendered in Podium

2.2

House Addition a porch addition that includes a mud room, large deck extension, and living and dining

2.3

House Remodel making an open floor plan layout connecting the kitchen with other areas of the house

This porch addition was my very first project at Studio Detroit, and was built for a contractor that the studio works with often on the car dealerships they are assigned. I got many technical skills during this time, and learned the importance of how to key note, but also how to make construction documents look clean and legible.

2.3 Studio Detroit

DEN

LIVING ROOM

EXISTING

2.1

Repurpose Project Historic King Solomon Baptist Church modeled in Revit and rendered in Podium

2.3

House Addition a porch addition that includes a mud room, large deck extension, and living and dining

MORGAN RESIDENCE

House Remodel 5712 TALL OAKS BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI making an open floor plan layout connecting the kitchen with other areas of the house

12'-0"x14'-9"

MUD ROOM EXISTING

U/C REF.

DN

EXISTING

ENTRY

6'-0"x14'-2"

KITCHEN

18'-5"x10'-3" D/W

N

EXISTING

PANTRY

BATHROOM

30" HIGH DESK

REF./FRZ.

PROPOSED FIRST FLOOR PLAN - SCHEME 1 SCALE: 3/16"=1'-0"

GARAGE

DN

PANTRY

BEDROOM

2.2

DINING ROOM

15'-2"x22'-4"

EXISTING

DRAWERS BELOW

The redesigning of the inside of this Bloomfield home was my first as-built, and I was responsible for many deadlines for the schematic design in the process. The head architect of this project, Kevin Crosby, and I went through several iterations of the open floor plan that the client wanted.

The rendering below is the final design that we ended up with, and though it was not as open as it could have been, I think it was the best possible scenario for the requirements that our client had listed for us.

3

Education

Education is a broad term to cover in this chapter. Inside of this is a collection of a school, student housing, and an honors house at the University of Detroit Mercy. All of these projects were right in my backyard at the University of Detroit Mercy. These projects were potential programs developers were contemplating. I think I have grown to really like projects that have to deal with education. I think that has a lot to do with my desire to rethink what education should really look like. I would say that education is the most important thing for our future generations. For me as a designer and contributor to how the interface with students and teachers will be engaged is an entirely large responsibility that I hope to gain more footing in my future career. Being capable to design schools on a global scale would a huge desire of mine. Education and the design of its container can always be rethought and I think these were interesting exercises to undergo while I learn what educational architecture entails.

3.1 Detroit, MI University District

3.1

Livernois City Arts group project working on an art school for the community that would act as a stimulus to move artists into the city to teach, work, and live in Detroit

3.2

Student Housing using modular design with net zero energy consumption as the key goal to this project, it is set for graduate students from the university

3.3

Honors House modeling of Honors House at University of Detroit Mercy done in 3-d Autocad

The Livernois City Arts project was a group project that ended up being very successful. The people in my group allowed me to grow and learn new design skills. We challenged each other to think beyond of our comfort zone. This art school provides housing for the art professors as well as rooms for different art forms to take place.

There is also space for a library and art store. Three buildings were designed. The building shown is what I worked most exclusively with.

3.2 Detroit, MI University District

3.1

Livernois City Arts group project working on an art school for the community that would act as a stimulus to move artists into the city to teach, work, and live in Detroit

3.2

Student Housing using modular design with net zero energy consumption as the key goal to this project, it is set for graduate students from the university

3.3

Honors House modeling of Honors House at University of Detroit Mercy done in 3-d Autocad

3.2 Detroit, MI University District

Tpo Roofing 8” of Rigid Board Insulation Metal Decking 10” of Insulation 5/8” of Plywood

Corrugated Metal

Student Housing using modular design with net zero energy consumption as the key goal to this project, it is set for graduate students from the university

5/8” of Drywall Air Barrier

Vapor Barrier

Concrete on slab

Two challenges needed to be met during this design process. This student housing would be modular units as well as net zero energy. This studio focused on the details on how things would be put together in reality. Getting to know how electrical systems need to be designed within a building as well as the hvac and plumbing.

Beyond the typical everyday guts of architecture a deeper understanding of the limitations of modular design and what it takes for a building to be net zero was also very informative. I am looking forward to taking this information and refining it with time.

3.2 Detroit, MI University District

Student Housing using modular design with net zero energy consumption as the key goal to this project, it is set for graduate students from the university

wall detail

connections

3.3 Detroit, MI University District

3.1

Livernois City Arts group project working on an art school for the community that would act as a stimulus to move artists into the city to teach, work, and live in Detroit

3.2

Student Housing using modular design with net zero energy consumption as the key goal to this project, it is set for graduate students from the university

3.3

Honors House modeling of Honors House at University of Detroit Mercy done in 3-d Autocad

4

During my study abroad in Italy, I had the pleasure of working with a variety of cultures and students on different projects. During this semester abroad I met people from the University of Pisa in both majors of Architecture and the History of Art. Since I had won the scholarship to extend my trip abroad, I was able to participate in a workshop that was curated by James Timberlake. I was also able to work with people from Poland, and the University of Illinois in the architecture program.

When working with these projects I gained personal relationships with professors, architects, and locals in Italy, from Poland, and people I had met from the United States as well. Getting to know these people has vastly impacted the way I see everything around me.

I even picked up Italian rather quickly, and plan on learning other languages as a way to help me help others around the world. I hope to be able to use my design skills to solve problems in different cultures and travel at some point. I also admire different perspectives.

Study Abroad

4.1 Volterra, Italy

4.1

Farm to Table mixed-use project that includes restaurant, cafe, fresh market, and apartments

4.2

Future City led by James Timberlake a group project was given to each group to design architecture that would promote local food, energy, and water with concerns for refugees

4.3

Fonti Pavilion transformable pavilion that creates an entrance into the city of Volterra

4.4

Volterra Research studies of the history of the city

4.1 Volterra, Italy

Farm to Table mixed-use project that includes restaurant, cafe, fresh market, and apartments

This project occurred on the piazza of XX di Settembre in Volterra, Italy.

Tuscany, well known for its beautiful views, was the source of inspiration for this project. Bringing food from the farms in the near-distance, I thought to also bring the beauty of the rolling hills to this architecture as well. The food to table idea is wonderful and really pushed the way I wanted to approach this design. Also being able to see the�view� from different vantage points was important.

4.1

Roof Circulation

undulates like the hills in Tuscany’s landscape, and creates a better vantage point to take a look at Tuscany

Volterra, Italy

Farm to Table mixed-use project that includes restaurant, cafe, fresh market, and apartments

Cafe and Restaurant the cafe is at piazza level, but the restaurant portion is sunken and once you reach the balcony, you can wrap around to reach the bathrooms

Public Steps

this staircase is access to a public viewpoint other than the roof, one that is lower, and it also serves as a walk-through of the architecture as if it were an aquarium

Gardening

the passage leads to a private garden managed by the restaurant and besides the garden there is also a little garden shed, used for mostly storage

4.2 Volterra, Italy

4.1

Farm to Table mixed-use project that includes restaurant, cafe, fresh market, and apartments

4.2

Future City led by James Timberlake a group project was given to each group to design architecture that would promote local food, energy, and water with concerns for refugees

4.3

Fonti Pavilion transformable pavilion that creates an entrance into the city of Volterra

4.4

Volterra Research studies of the history of the city

This group project was a challenging one. My idea to the right that consisted of moving parts that could expand to shelter more refugees was not widely accepted. There was one thing we all agreed upon, and that was connecting the city to the views of nature in the distance.

4.2 Volterra, Italy

Nature

We wish to connect the beauty of nature to the functionality of the city.

Future City led by James Timberlake a group project was given to each group to design architecture that would promote local food, energy, and water with concerns for refugees Civilization

4.3 Volterra, Italy

4.1

Farm to Table mixed-use project that includes restaurant, cafe, fresh market, and apartments

4.2

Future City led by James Timberlake a group project was given to each group to design architecture that would promote local food, energy, and water with concerns for refugees

4.3

Fonti Pavilion transformable pavilion that creates an entrance into the city of Volterra

4.4

Volterra Research studies of the history of the city

Upon my arrival in Volterra, Italy, my studio had its first design challenge. This effort was to create an entrance into the city from two different fountains on the city’s edge. This project takes place at Fonti di Docciola. I was inspired by the function of the drying of clothes outside of the urban house windows, and decided to create a moving fabric structure that would create a space in the fountain area.

Outside the walls are a structure with the same fabric extended, but not movable in the same way. This functions as the proper bus stop for the school buses that come in the afternoon. Another important focus of this project was bringing landscape in the form of local flowers to this area would bring seasonal colors. I focused the colors to be pink, orange, and blue. These colors come from my experience in a local laundromat. These experiences in the city helped trigger my decisions in this process of creating this pavilion feature.

4.3 Volterra, Italy

Fonti Pavilion transformable pavilion that creates an entrance into the city of Volterra

There are three positions that the fabric can be in.

There is open fabric, that would shade the entire fonti area, half open, and closed or folded fabric. These are counter-balanced from a weight with light within the glass structure.

4.4 Volterra, Italy

4.1

Farm to Table mixed-use project that includes restaurant, cafe, fresh market, and apartments

4.2

Future City led by James Timberlake a group project was given to each group to design architecture that would promote local food, energy, and water with concerns for refugees

4.3

Fonti Pavilion transformable pavilion that creates an entrance into the city of Volterra

4.4

Volterra Research studies of the history of the city

This palace is present only by const ruction. This is house for the noble families of Volterra. Full of money gnats fill the lungs where the street but without company. Here, once connected to the public. The roof that still stands today is people that peer through the windo shelter to the questionable ws. Often passing these walls I notice that its suface facade is curious eyes looking to see the not engaged for the public. I see life that only exists outside its walls. The families that once filled There is no longer the family lineag the palaces have since faded away. e that once was here. Layers of g history thicken these walls.

Lookin ot so n is it back that far away gs in these th d. the te is d had ex show an arches hes are tc pa e th Blocks . The revealed ain cool m walls re round Redesign g but the ot. nd is h surrou igh are Noble h es Peeking out the window.

Stori atUpper Class th ces Looking at new life. The the spa adow old man waits inside his make sh Palace ll undiscovered Space. and sti Historical e ar e ther ities Rich possibil for the s Elaborate coolnes to pass Family beyond just Heritage the shadow

built

of This.Patched

up

closed private home

Luxurious expensive evolution Construct Barred Window security excessive space

Well Empty house

Visitors Picture Windows

wealth Inherited

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a large imposing building (as a museum or a place of residence) especially in Italy. n impressive public building or private residence; palace. Edificio di grandi dimensioni e di pregio architettonico, riservato un tempo a famiglie nobiliari e principesche. congiura di p., organizzata da personaggi appartenenti alla corte o ad essa molto vicini. Costruzione di grandi dimensioni destinata a vari usi pubblici.

1. Entrance is commercial. I question my entrance. I see birds.

2. Walking through lower arches then open to the sky. Birds watch me look up through the space, and birds fly above and around 3. The surrounding areas have lost the sound of cars. I hear dishes clanging and tv shows blaring 4. The road curves and there is no point of entry for cars anymore.

Though the space is smaller, the air feels more open.

5. Everything opens up and there are paths before me. Docciola and other pedestrian paths for residential areas.

5

Art has always been an important part of my life, and it has taught me a lot about myself and my desire to try new things. Art comes in many forms and mediums, and I want to try them all. While I haven’t tried everything at this point, there is always room for more experience. I learn from the art that I do, and it allows for me to grow. Art is in all things, not just in this chapter. I see architecture as an art as well, but in a formal manner. These pieces do not have a human function other than my own relaxation and form of sifting through my ideas and emotions.

Something I would love to do one day would be to create installations. While I see art as a beautiful thing, I also think that it can become functional as well and improve the livelihoods of all of us. We can live in a more creative and beautiful world. The things we interact with everyday should also be designed as though they are functional art. In my mind, I really just want to be a female ‘Di Vinci.’ I want to do everything and discover ideas for myself and hope others appreciate it.

Art

5.1 Experimentation

5.1

Photography photographs I have taken of Terรงeira without any Photoshop

5.2

Lyric Analysis photoshopped images that are digging into the poetry of a song from Mineral

5.3

Computer Rendering different programs are being used to create atmosphere for practice

5.4

Eidetic Images a creating tool that illustrates the way a designer can start to see new things

5.5

Art a way to express myself

5.2 Experimentation

5.1

Photography photographs I have taken of Terรงeira without any Photoshop

5.2

Lyric Analysis photoshopped images that are digging into the poetry of a song from Mineral

5.3

Computer Rendering different programs are being used to create atmosphere for practice

5.4

Eidetic Images a creating tool that illustrates the way a designer can start to see new things

5.5

Art a way to express myself

5.3 Experimentation

5.1

Photography photographs I have taken of Terรงeira without any Photoshop

5.2

Lyric Analysis photoshopped images that are digging into the poetry of a song from Mineral

5.3

Computer Rendering different programs are being used to create atmosphere for practice

5.4

Eidetic Images a creating tool that illustrates the way a designer can start to see new things

5.5

Art a way to express myself

5.4 Experimentation

5.1

Photography photographs I have taken of Terรงeira without any Photoshop

5.2

Lyric Analysis photoshopped images that are digging into the poetry of a song from Mineral

5.3

Computer Rendering different programs are being used to create atmosphere for practice

5.4

Eidetic Images a creating tool that illustrates the way a designer can start to see new things

5.5

Art a way to express myself

5.4 Experimentation

Eidetic Images a creating tool that illustrates the way a designer can start to see new things

5.4 Experimentation

Eidetic Images a creating tool that illustrates the way a designer can start to see new things

5.5 Experimentation

5.1

Photography photographs I have taken of Terรงeira without any Photoshop

5.2

Lyric Analysis photoshopped images that are digging into the poetry of a song from Mineral

5.3

Computer Rendering different programs are being used to create atmosphere for practice

5.4

Eidetic Images a creating tool that illustrates the way a designer can start to see new things

5.5

Art Pieces a way to express myself

1

2

1. paint on plywood 2. pencil on paper 3. pencil on paper

3

5.5

1

Experimentation

1. colored pencil on museum board 2. colored pencil on museum board 3. colored pencil on textured paper

Art Pieces a way to express myself

Hand drawn using Photoshop

2

3

5.5

1

Experimentation

2

Art Pieces a way to express myself

3

4

1. ink on museum board 2. ink on paper 3. ink on paper 4. pencil on paper 5. ink on museum board 6. pencil on paper

5

6

5.5

1

2

Experimentation

Art Pieces a way to express myself

1. charcoal on paper 2. colored pencil on museum board

5.5 Experimentation

Art Pieces a way to express myself

Alabaster sculpture of a bird in palm of a hand with the help of artisan Velio

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