Christopher Taurasi 2012-2015 Design Portfolio

CHRISTOPHER TAURASI 2012-2015 DESIGN PORTFOLIO

christopher.taurasi@gmail.com www.taurasic.com 617.710.5123

1 2345 Artek-Vitra Center

Pages 2-9

Embassy for Digital Asylum 10-17

M2X3 18-23

Variable Environments 24-29

Performative Skin 30-33

6 7 8 9 10 Surface to Sukkah

In the Fold

Surface One Chair

34-37

38-39

40-41

Meteorological Infrastructures 42-51

The Blurred Figure 52-61

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Artek-Vitra Center

In reaction to the complication of systemic design processes used in previous projects, the goal here was to simplify — paint with a large brush & let the complexities develop with the project. Preliminary site analysis presented the need for diagonal access across the site & a preservation of open space in the existing square. Pairing these needs with a demanding program & height limitations forced part of the building to expand out in a dramatic cantilever.

The spatial qualities here were best suited for the Artek furniture showroom.

The rest of the building is a play of light & views. Skylights penetrating the ground plane allow diffused light to bounce off angled walls into the subterranean library / archives.

Light & views also transverse programmatic separations creating a more active & dynamic spatial experience.

Course: Arch. Design IV Instructors: Philip Tidwell Matti Rautiola Kimmo Friman Pentti Kareoja Link: www.taurasic.com/#/artek-vitra-center/

Painting with a Large Brush

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Site / Ground Floor Plan

Second Floor Plan

Third Floor Plan

Fifth Floor Plan

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Work in Progress:

Embassy for Digital Asylum

At the onset of this project I was interested in exploring a projective typology which may emerge as a byproduct of a post-globalized post-digitized world. I assumed that this would lead to the design of a hyper-digital building where seemingly everything was a touchscreen. However, as research developed I began to see how, in the future, disconnectivity may be a desirable asset.

The Embassy for Digital Asylum explores the aesthetics of ‘blockage’—how one may disconnect from site, context and the broader world. The program is a hybridization of an embassy and a monastery supporting casual daytrippers, digital detoxers and highly secured whistleblowers.

Course: Design Thinking / Degree Project Instructor: Ersela Kripa / Kathryn Dean Link: www.taurasic.com/#/embassy-fordigital-asylum/

11 Section Along Promenade

Site Edges and Borders

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Exploded Axon Diagram

Site Plan

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Schematic Plan 1A

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Schematic Plan 1B

Schematic Plan 2A

Schematic Plan 5A

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Urban Timber Exhibition Photos

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M2X3

‘M2X3’ is derived from the Roman numeral marriage marks scribed in corresponding pieces of lumber centuries ago during traditional New England timber-frame assembly. MMXXX (2030) is the year the world’s population will shift to majority urban dwellers.

Recognizing New England’s traditional woodbuilding vernacular while exploring the potential of contemporary engineered lumber, M2X3 has crafted a new tectonic system for application in urban midrise construction.

After being selected as competition finalists, bending tests were conducted to determine timber’s ability to achieve complex curvature in varying board widths. While the initial proposal called for a bent LVL system, testing led to a hybridized LVL & Glulam assembly which better utilizes the inherent properties of the material & manufacturing processes.

Collaborators: Jeffrey Lee & Lexi White Competition: Urban Timber from Seed to City Fabricators: Unalam Mentor: Alan Organschi Photographs: Jeffrey Lee Link: www.taurasic.com/#/m2x3/

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Initial Competition Proposal

Exploded Assembly 20

Material Bending Tests

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4 3/8"

3 5/16"

1 1/2" 0 3/4"

PLAN

3

SCALE: 3" = 1'-0" 0 5/16"

0 5/16"

1 507

4 L 4 R

CONNECTIONS TO ARMS

RE 5 1/4"

SIDE ELEVATION

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3 1/2"

SCALE: 3" = 1'-0" 0 7/8"

7/8"Ø SYP PLUG, ALIGN GRAIN TYP.

0 7/8"

7/8"Ø SYP PLUG, ALIGN GRAIN TYP.

1 506 0 5/16"

0 7/8"

0 7/8"

DA 5"

4 1/8"

4 11/16"

4 11/16"

4 1/8"

TI

5"

0 5/16"

SC 0 7/8"

0 7/8"

DR 5" 4 9/16"

0 3/4"

4 7/8"

0 3/4"

1

SCALE: 3" = 1'-0"

4 9/16"

5 1/4"

FRONT ELEVATION

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5"

4 7/8"

SIDE ELEVATION

2

SCALE: 3" = 1'-0"

Excerpt from Fabrication Drawing Set

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Variable Environments

Variable Environments was an investigation into building system integration, thermal enclosure & analytical software. The design consisted mainly of a prototypical faรงade system for a generic box building located in Helsinki Finland. The team identified performative goals that were then parametrically modeled. The manipulation of the faรงade systems & the integration of analysis software provided feedback which was used to tune the faรงade system.

Considering the climate & available daylight in the region, the team set out to design a dual facade structure with an operable shading system capable of blocking out harsher western solar rays while allowing in the maximum amount of sun & thermal heat during the cold winter months. The System incorporates a thermal cavity which captures

solar heat activating a precast concrete panel & the floor slabs. Users have individual control over the environment via operable exterior windows & dampers in the precast panels.

Collaborators: Jeffrey Lee & Jonathan Bryer Course: Environmental Systems Instructor: Chandler Ahrens Link: www.taurasic.com/#/variableenvironments/

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Generic Facade

Proposed System Open

Closed

Illuminance

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Radiance

6” REINFORCED CONC. SLAB ABOVE 2” SPRINKLER BRANCH SUPPLY & DROPPED HEAD 6” SPRINKLER MAIN IN HALLWAY 24” X 24” RECESSED DIFFUSE LIGHTING WITH REFLECTORS STEEL REINFORCING & TBAR SUPPORT SYSTEM EMBED 2” MIN. IN CONC. CEILING PLENUM AIR RETURN PAINTED DROPPED CEILING 3/4” GYPSUM W/ 2 5/8” STUDS 4\ O.C. INTERIOR ALUM. WINDOW & DOOR SYSTEM TO MATCH EXT. WINDOWS

PERFORATED ALUM. SHADING LOUVERS PAINTED ALUM. TUBING (SHADING SUPPORT) ALUMINUM WINDOW MULLION SYSTEM 1” LOW-E COATED GLAZING

HORIZONTAL ALUM. WINDOW MULLIONS CONT. REINFORCED PRECAST CONC. THERMAL CAVITY 24” x 48” REMOVABLE FLOOR PANELS 12” BISON RAISED FLOOR SUPPORT SYSTEM HEATING DIFFUSER HEATING COIL FAN COIL UNIT ELEC. & TEL. DATA CONDUIT IN FLOOR PLENUM 6” REINFORCED CONC. SLAB

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Plug-in Panels

Light Gauge Steel Frame

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Housing & Mixed Use Units

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Performative Skin: Surface-based Sustainability

In current architectural practice, the building envelope is a reactive construction. That is, the envelope responds to existing environmental conditions & separates them from the desired interior conditions. Performative Skin questions whether a buildings envelope can be a proactive system able to separate interior from exterior, but also capable of benefiting the overall building performance & incorporate self-sufficient systems of energy production.

The tectonic nature of the performative skin assemblage is a lightweight steel structure integrated with 100 housing units & other mixed use program. At times the skin merges with the standard building envelope to form a double layer faรงade. Elsewhere alternative enclosure systems are plugged into the frame based on solar or wind orientation or other programmatic drivers. These systems include

Edges & Borders

solar & wind energy production, shading or screening mechanisms, thermally active masses, ventilation & evaporative cooling, food production, phytoremediation, water catchment, etc. In doing so, categorical divisions between faรงade, wall, floor & roof are blurred.

Course: Arch. Design III Instructor: Pablo Moyano Fernรกndez

Surrounding Green Space

Site Topography

Link: www.taurasic.com/#/performative-skin/

Views

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Unit Configuration Plan 32

Skin Study Model

Unit & Ramp Study Model

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Surface to Sukkah

Strip of Earth

Inspired by organic materials’ inherent relation to the earth’s surface, Surface to Sukkah, sought to emulate the growth & transience of natural materials, parallel to the weeklong Sukkot festival. This concept is accomplished in two ways - formally & materially.

Formally, Surface to Sukkah began as a strip of earth. To create enclosure which adhered to the religious, structural & site requirements, the surface heaved & folded. In the process, walls a roof, & seating areas were established with varying levels of visual perforation.

The choice of sheathing material was poetic, wood framing was enveloped with a layer of semi-porous burlap, partially coated with sprayed-on terracotta*, dried by the sun.

The terracotta erroded over time & through climatic cycles eventually returning to the soil.

In this way, the sukkah grows from the ground

surface & returns until the next year.

Heave & Fold

Collaborators: Jeffrey Lee & Lexi White Competition: Sukkah City STL * This is a process we developed & to our knowledge a first for this materials application Link: www.taurasic.com/#/surface-to-sukkah/ Enclosure

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Terracotta Erosion Sequence

Typical Wood Joint

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Porous Burlap Skin

Spray-on Terracotta

Terracotta Erosion After One Day of Rain

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In the Fold

Architecture & fashion rely on the performative (theatrical & functional) nature of material assemblages. In the Fold explores the performance of complex surfaces at the scale of the human body. Through the production of generative diagrams assessing connection, arrayment, lofted form & repetitive geometries a system was devised which rigorously adheres Collaborators: Chun Liu to the complexities of human figure & motion.

Course: Performance Enhancing Instructors: Chandler Ahrens & Robin Material explorations paired with digital VerHage-Abrams fabrication techniques further refined the Photographs: Jeffrey Lee surface geometries. The final design is a Editing: Christopher Taurasi paneled system able to flex with the body’s motion.

Link: www.taurasic.com/#/in-the-fold/

Figure & Motion

Points Move Along Trajectories

Deriving Curves from Point Trajectories

Developing Surface, Applying Module & Prototyping

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BY CHRISTOPHER TAURASI

41.6

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Material constraints guided the form of the Surface One Chair. Limited to 100mm x 52mm sheets of birch veneer the challenge was set -- how can a chair be formed from these single surfaces? Through lamination, heat & vacuum pressure the veneer was bent to the tightest possible radii. A series of cuts produce the backrest & revealed the legs. Steel was used minimally for reinforcement & to increase the seating height.

FRONT ELEVATION

PLAN

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2째

4째

40.7

Surface One Chair

42.6 42.7 cm

65.4

23.8

47.0 40.7

SIDE ELEVATION Course: Furniture Design in Finland Instructors: Julie Tolvanen & Matti Kankkunen Link: www.taurasic.com/#/surface-one-chair/

FABRICATION PROCESS

EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC 41

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Meteorological Infrastructures

The Meteorological Infrastructure project imagines the repurposing of existing oil pipelines and the introduction of new pipelines and atmospheric watering stations as a new water infrastructure to combat desertification and aid in human migratory flows. Migrants currently use pipelines as a navigational tool, knowing that they lead north and to major urban areas. Furthermore, their constructed easements and private properties mean it is less likely to run into Border Patrol Agents.

However, this channeling does lead to target areas which can be monitored in a similar fashion to how border patrol currently monitor the major roads in the area. Through dispersing the pipeline into a network with nodes placed 3-12 miles apart, migrants will always be within a days walk to a water source.

Course: Arch Design VI Instructors: Stephen Meuller Link: www.taurasic.com/#/meteorologicalinfrastructures/

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Mapping Border & Airspace Relations

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Arizona / Sonoma Regional Mapping

Migrant Flows & Dispersed Water Station Nodes

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Typology of Airspace & Scenario Planning Models 46

Meteorological & Desertification Mapping

Aerial Water Harvesting Node

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Water Station Axon

Elevation

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Upper Level Plan

Lower Level Plan

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THE BLURRED FIGURE

This project utilizes the devices of visual depth and complex organization to examine an alternative form of cohesion missed by modernists and formalists alike. Here, alternative cohesion is accomplished through the use of a rigorously layered system of grids to establish a typical repeating floor plate.

The system is then ‘glitched’ to create new forms of visual and spatial configurations based on vastness and highly focused views. In doing so the project proposes a new monumentality based on aggregation – whereby, an icon becomes a blurred figure.

This outcome is only achievable through the loosening of systemic norms.

Course: Arch Design V Instructor: David Ruy Link: www.taurasic.com/#/theblurredfigure/

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Typical Floor

Shear Floor

Horizontal Unit Plan

Split Floor

Shift Floor

Horizontal Unit Mezzanine Plan 57

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View Under Double Layered Landscape

View from Interior of Housing Unit Through Void

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View from Interior of Housing Unit Across Void

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THANK YOU!

christopher.taurasi@gmail.com www.taurasic.com 617.710.5123