Vitalie Robu
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Bachelor of Degree in Architecture College of Design 1414 6th Street SE. Apt. 203 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55414 robux003@umn.edu 612.876.6436
Contents | Design Work market lab competition redesigning the comunity (ad)dressing the body provocativ facade knot architecture case sudy precedent analysis architectural photography
market lab competition
Project Description
This is a team entry to the Paris Market Lab competition, organized by ArchMedium. Our team consisted of: Jyngyi Feng, Jonathan Jacobs, Nicholas Kramer, Vitalie Robu, and Floyd Lemon. The objective was to create a new restaurant concept in which the dining experience is augmented. Customer interaction is created within the kitchen to exist as a restaurant and cooking school in situ to develop into the best in the world for food and learning. The “Market Lab” will transform into a new experience every night so everyone could enjoy it.
Project Thesis
In the heart of the Luxemburg, the sophistication of the left bank saturates the air between the aging walls. Adjacent to the St. German market, the liberal mind of Paris embraces her Gastronomy Market Lab with full appreciation of the pioneering exploration of food. TransFoodsion caters to the ever-changing perception of gastronomy while juxtaposing traditional Parisian patterns. The interior maintains a tangible transparency from the street, and evolves along the building’s skin—light is reprocessed by colored ceramic. Indeed, it is the experience of delectable cooking.
Project Solution
The analysis of site began the process of the design. This revealed cultural aspects of the site that were highly considered during the process. The focus was to attract people via curiosity to the site so that the building is successful and functional within the program for which it is intended. Reflecting on various monumental aspects of the site, the desire was to connect the building to them by creating intentional views from balconies and openings.
Site Plan
Site Model
Interior representation
Facade detail
x-trusion
tor-sion
d-vision
x-ertion
in-tegration
re-unification
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Level 4
Offices Extensive green roof provides garden area Translucent ceramic tiles
Patio/ Exterior gathering space Salon/ Classroom
Plaza Retail/ Reception Area
redesigning the comunity
Project Description
The tornado of May 2011 caused multiple buildings enormous damage. Some were repaiable, some not. In this case, the building was completely demolished. The proposal was for population growth and community redevelopment. The five members consisted of: Olga Berkovskaya, Vitalie Robu, Lorren Mueller, Mandi Tauferner, and Matthew Thompson.
Project Solution
The focus was to reinterpret existing neighborhood features and exemplify attractive features. The long but narrow site allowed a design for two family sizes. This is to serve as a model for other tornado-stricken homes and communities. The development of ideas enabled community interaction for an integrated design process that values community.
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Level 2
(ad)dressing the body
Project Description
The purpose is to think analogously across scales, materials and contexts by examining the relationship between architecture and fashion. Select a building and make a strong analysis of the building’s envelope then design a paper jacket that will demonstrate a profound understanding of the building’s facade. The jacket must be made of paper joinery only, no glue or tape allowed.
Project Solution
By analyzing Banca Popolare de Lodi, by Piano Rossi, I discovered that the building has a multi functional facade. The structural wall serves as an envelope that functions as protection from the environment. The second wall serves as an ornamental facade. Based on the analysis, cardboard paper is used to design the jacket, since two different sections, protection and ornamentation define the structure of the cardboard. By defining a joinery type for this material, a strong jacket that could fit my body was designed.
provocativ facade
Project Description
The intention is to use wood at its limit. Pushing to the maximum capacity will create a project that represents the program to be developed by the characteristics of the wood. The focus is on ingrained material possibilities rather than the design. The material is to define the program and to construct the conceptual purpose rather than the purpose defining the limitaions.
Project Solution
The process of making this project consists of bending the wood to its extent. It was found that bending causes gradual cracks in the material. A restriction was created to the wood limit so no cracks exist. The edges of wood are shifted to the center of its bend, and an interesting form is created. The form is unique to each piece of material; it cannot be recreated.
Project Description
A continuation of a previous project, different possibilities for design is examined. Three options for its use are considered. The bent form could be part of or an entire faรงade in which larger openings are created to allow more light to enter to the building through glazing. The next approach uses a tighter pattern that does not allow ample light passing through. This maintains the affect of light and shadow. The most basic attachment is to each window and light quality will still be provoked.
Project Description
The use of this faรงade creates an amazing shadow and light condition inside the building making the space highly qualitative. Those who inhabit the space will have a great experience in the space.
knot architecture
Project Description
The knot architecture project consists of depicting a knot and conceptualizing a wireframe model to represent the knot, giving mass to the wireframe to further analyze the process of the knot, then extracting mass from a model made out cardboard to further understand the spatial quality of the knot. The idea behind this process illustrates different media for analysis, creation, and reformation of the space implied by the knot.
Project Solution
Considered an advanced knot, the monkey fist knot was scrutinized. The knot consists of three limitations to making it—each different in size and technique. This notion is introduced to the wireframe; creating three moments in the model. Implied, but indirect, volume is added to the wireframe then constructed in positive and negative forms with different media to reflect the mass occupancy of space then transformed into architectural inhabitance by the addition of human silhouettes.
Above is the monkey fist knot. Below represents the knot in its moments. The representation through sketches gives a realization of the process translated into wireframe.
Above, the chipboard model in its final form of volumetric space implied by the wireframe. To the right— void space defined by the volumetric model. Silhouettes are added to characterize the space created.
case study
Project Description
The case study is a representational analysis of The Contemporary Arts Center, by Zaha Hadid, in Cinccinnatti, Ohio. This case study is chosen since Zaha is one of my most dominant and inspiring architects through her dynamic architecture. A first in the United States, the center became popular and is of big importance to the architectural field.
Project Solution The Contemporary Arts Center functions as a model for museums worldwide due to its success. Located in an urban context, the center serves as a focal point to downtown Cincinnati. A 3D model was made then rendered to have an enhanced appreciation for the elements that make the project successful as a museum and of how people use it. Diagrams, floor plans, and sections function as representational aspects of the building quality.
Project Description
The exterior renderings of the building show the context in relation to the city. This helps to understand how the architect related different aspects of the city to the building. This is a dominant point of interest for building analyses since it teaches how site features are incorporated for building designs. The interior render corresponds to the program, and how people cultivate the space of the building. This represents diverse qualities of buildings, and tells the story of the success of each individual element of the design.
Level 2
Level 4
Project Description
Evaluation and reproduction of technical drawings for a building is an essential importance to a building’s analysis. It assists the designer to recognize the spatial quality of the buildings, the ideas behind their creation, the purpose, and the program of each space created by the architect. Level 1
precedent analysis
Project Description
A building type is chosen, Home Depot, to examine through representation. Analyzing its architectural elements, these ideas are represented through an abstract and conceptual analysis through block printing. Blocks of wood are selected and strategically trimmed so that the ink behaves a certain way.
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Project Solution
Twelve images analyzing Home Depot are represented by the block printing technique. These are labeled: 1-Line and Plane, 2-Line and Plane, 3-Light, 4-Light, 5- Organization and Ordering, 6-Layering, 7-Organization and Ordering, 8-Layering, 9-Proportion and Scale, 10-Space and Volume, 11- Space and Volume, 12-Proportion and Scale. “Good design comes from point of view. Point of view is initiated by creative analysis� (Author unknown)
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architectural photography
Project Description
A series of photographs are developed that represent the intentions of a proposed theme. Pictures are taken of different moments to strengthen the theme.
Project Theme
“The time is right to turn Nothingness into Somethingness.� If Somethingness involves evoking creativity by stimulating the sense, Nothingness is the exact opposite. It involves clearing your mind so you have room for new ideas. We live in a fast paced world that we often fail to pay attention to small details that can leave long lasting effects on us. In other words, these details can make people wonder, reflect on them from a definite but not specified or identified angle. Perhaps these details guide the reader in a certain type of thinking. Therefore these details transform into something more, something bigger and of superior purpose. Details might enclose complete story lines associated with particular designs that themselves may contain passionate moments in a seductive curve or a jagged edge.
Project Solution
The focus is to depict special moments of my own interest in a way that few have seen. Those observing the photos rethink their judgement of what is attractive, interesting, and what is worth being appreciated. Photos on this page are different from each other, but they all carry a consistent conceptual idea of the theme: The transformation of Nothingness into Somethingness.” Below is, “For an instance,” in which the photo is taken in a perspectival manner that represents the particular architectural elements of the building’s envelope.
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