Shaelyn Parker - Undergraduate Design Portfolio

PERSONAL OBJECTIVE

My interest lie in the relationship of object to context, and the ability to use architecture as a means to create purposeful individualized spaces at a range of scales. I wish to further my creative abilities and preliminary understanding of architectural practice through the use of technology and graphic representation. I desire to explore innovative design strategies and break the boundaries of traditional geometric persistencies. Ultimately I wish to obtain my architecture license, and utilize my knowledge to alter the preconceived ideas of architecture.

Shaelyn Parker

COOPERATION

Faculty: James Michael Tate

Team: Maggie Martin, Ekaansh Kalra, Jade Radford

Contributions: research, form generation, graphic representation, model photos

CONCEPT: AFFORDABLE HOUSING

In conjunction with The REACH Project, a local non-profit, the mission of the clients was to design clusters of unconventional detached housing for a community of Essential Aggies in Bryan, TX. Preservation of independent units and encouragement of community interaction was important to consider in the design. By tackling a multiplicity of scales, while maintaining use of the modular unit, the group produced an understanding of the relationship between singular buildings and the collective as a whole. This flexibility allowed for us to accommodate single family units, elderly, multi-family units etc. Through precedent and massing studies the group developed various organizational strategies that enhanced the micro-urban environment at an intimate scale.

In addition to the housing units, high impact services such as health clinics, financial literacy courses, and micro gardens were also incorporated to support the sustainable community.

Periodic discussions and meetings held throughout the design process, initiated conversations of resident needs and increased the transparency between the designer and occupant. Careful consideration went into grounding the architectural object to the placement on the site.

Pictured: Myself - Discussing the Relationship of the Modular Units

Instructor: Dr. Julie Rogers

Team: Zachary Martinez, Zechariah Simpson

Contributions: research, concept, diagrams, form generation, graphic representation

CONCEPT:

An investigative look at the town’s architecture reveals physical patterns that reflect a similar notion of cadence— adjacent buildings’ roofs stair step up and down from one another, while chimneys and telephone poles vertically punctuate their profile. It was these instances of cadence, cultural and physical, which became the driving influence behind Castiglion Fiorentino’s new Cultural Center which finds itself located directly adjacent to the Piazza Garibaldi.

A cafe, jazz bar, visitor center, exhibition space, library, and outdoor gathering space populate the site in question. Their design is derived from a series of roof line studies in the town which were then transposed onto the site, where they were used to inform the layout of building walls, grid lines, and circulation patterns. The resulting building masses both converse with and improve upon the preexisting conditions found in the adjacent piazza. This is accomplished by providing engaging outdoor space fit for occupation by market stalls, which helps to programmatically unite the two spaces. In this way, the site has a direct dialogue with the town’s cadence from which it derives its building form.

CASTIGLION FIORENTINO,

Instructor: Shawn M. Lutz

CONCEPT:

Given the Menil Campus as an urban context, the idea of this proposal is to develop an architectural autonomy that operates as both the working and living areas. Simultaneously, the design is needed to be mass produced in order to satisfy the density requirements per plot of land. By designing this specified typology, the ADU, the architect is allowing the inhabitant to become part of the community and interact with the built environment. The future of communities may be seen with increased density living and affordable housing units. This proposal demonstrates both as such, through the type of materials used and the intended layouts of the units.

Beginning with a variety of circles, the use of tangents influenced the location of the buildings’ interior and exterior walls. The incorporation of the dog-trot acted as an implied divider of workspaces and encouraged circulation through, as well as into the unit. The various sizes of punched windows were generated to align with the exterior wall paneling while simultaneously framing interior spaces. Similarly, the second level was organized around the tangents, aiding in alignment of the kitchen, living room, balcony and bedroom.

04/ RADIAL RESPONSE

Instructor: Marcel Erminy

Team: James Cordero

Contributions: research, design, form generation, structural computation, graphic representation

CONCEPT: FIRE STATION

Radial Response reinforces the idea that the Fire Station and Firefighters lie at the heart of the community and exemplify actions of safety and protection that radiate throughout the community. Taking into account the context of the area, we wanted to address the nearby educational institutions and draw connections between the resources firefighters can provide and encourage the engagement of the community in a singular building.

In addition to the Fire Station we decided that a children’s museum, as a hybrid program would provide an opportunity for the community to gather and serve the needs and educational interests with exhibits that stimulate curiosity and motivate learning.

This would also allow the Firefighters to be able to interact and engage with younger generations to instill safety protocols through training exercises and demonstrations in a safe and fun environment. We wanted to see how we could push the limits of the rigidity of the organization of the fire station while still maintaining efficient circulation and organization of spaces.

Instructor: Dr. Weiling He

CONCEPT: SPACE & COMPOSITION

The tripart semester indulged the adolescent mind into new explorations of form and reason. An invitation to experiment with abstraction of Space and Composition, the first goal is to achieve and understand compositional intentions of photography and two-dimensional graphics. Each of the photos posses one of the following: tension or movement. The overlapping of the works resulted in new ideas of space and transparency. The line drawings were then translated into the three-dimensional sheet of card-stock. The interpretation of the lines were used to make “cuts” and “folds” to develop and intention with the overall form.

The second part to the exercise was to understand volumes in space. The three-dimensional composition was solely constructed by use of solids and voids drawn from a series of grids. The “Cube” was a cultivation of an analysis of hierarchical spaces of two-dimensional iterations. It was constructed and casted with aggregate concrete.

The final phase of the exploration was a combination of the two prior to create the intersection understanding of void and space.

Instructor: Davi Xavier

CONCEPT: PRECEDENT STUDIES

A formal investigation of architectural persistencies of a given precedent allowed for a fundamental exploration of object and void. The importance of precedents is to have something to reference and act as a guide for future buildings; it allows us to have a foundation of elements that help communicate a sense of continuation throughout new pieces of work. We are then given the opportunity to transgress and form new ideas while still incorporating the basic language of architecture. This idea of transgression plays an important role in being able to relate the elements of the precedent we selected to those of past buildings.

Instructor: Davi Xavier

CONCEPT: OBJECT STUDIES

A two week, two-part exercise exploring formal operations to produce a singular abstract object through a series of boolean software tools. An investigation of spacial construct using a variety of geometries previously explored in the semester. Through the use of contouring and different hatching techniques, you are able to better understand and highlight the objects meticulous angles. Following the investigation, color was applied in part to an understanding of color theory to develop a set of drawings with a distinct and cohesive graphic representation. The color palette is inspired by a piece of artwork located in the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, Texas.

Instructor: Shawn M. Lutz

CONCEPT:

THE ROOM:

The goal of this exercise was to understand domesticity through image research, drawing and interpretation. Using images as reference to recreate in three-dimensional form allowed for consideration and attention to minor details. Taking a framed “room” from the Jones Beach Energy & Nature Center and reinterpreting it as a inhabited living room by adding domesticated objects. Articulation of the furniture and close attention about how light responds to the varying structures within the space.

THE DOMESTIC OBJECT:

The unrolled drawing is inspired by Västra Kajen project done by architects Tham & Videgård. This exercise focuses on the larger scaled concept of detail. Limited to three colors, selected from an original building image, the exploration of color theory was another factor to consider during the process. Research about the materiality and patterns used in the design of the railings was important in recreating an accurate representation of the building complex.

THE NEIGHBORHOOD:

Inspired by work from Jesús Vassallo, the reinterpretation of the affordable housing project by re-imagining the urban context around the six standing units. Inspiration was drawn from the pitched roof line. These triangular figures were used to piece together a landscaped urban space for the residents of the community. An understanding of the urban context in relation to the units.

Instructor: Shawn M. Lutz

Team: Alaina Klement, Cassandra Moseley

Contributions: individual building, form generation, site plan organization, graphic representation

CONCEPT: REPRESENTATION

An exploration of the formal-organizational logics that structure the housing design while representing individual and collected aspirations. The representational artifact was produced as a result of “kit-bashing”. The Block Parti was an exercise addressing interdependent relationships of groups and individuals while introducing a variety of scales of complexes. The proposed neighborhood provided a range of spaces promoting shared collective programs, educational resources and intimate activities. The use of circles as a grid acted as bounding boxes for activities and complexes. The investigation of color and how it relates to the objects was an informative exercise about Color theory and graphical representation on a wide scope of architectural objects.

CONCEPT: SKETCHES

My time in Italy allowed for an exploration of new mediums in a portable scale. Some of my favorite places are highlighted in the Sketches to the right. The intricacies and multitude of ancient architec tural design techniques made for a good platform to explore my abilities with a pen. As an architecture student I found it invigorating to dive deeper in the history of our world and to be able to fully embrace the Italian culture.

INFLUENCE