wk 1
Will Kern
50 N Clarkson St Denver, CO 80218 P/812.453.5412 wjkern003@gmail.com
2 WK
“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” –Chinese Proverb
wk 3
Youbang Designer Campus Vo Trong Nghia Architects // Hanoi, Vietnam The Youbang Designer campus is the collective effort of a community of designers and educators alike, allowing for China’s rapid new growth to have a healthy output. The campus itself will address many cultural issues arising in China from rising housing costs to its environmenal peril. The concept is centered around a large gallery and cultural exhibition building surrounded by structures designed by 7 hand picked, internationally recognized architecture firms. The design cooperative will unite designs from all across the world spanning many different cultures. Participating designers include Sou Fujimoto, Neri&Hu, Iroje, EMBT, Daniel Libeskind AZPML, and Vo Trong Nghia.
BUILDING PROJECT LOCATIONS VTN BUILDING LOCATION
Courtesy VTN Architects 4 WK
Nature on Display The design concept began stemming from our philosophy of uniting the users with nature. We were tasked with creating studio and exhibition space for students. We began by focusing on how to put the focus of the design on nature itself.
Enticing Curiosity Due to the challenging shape and location of the site, we began working on how to create inticing elements to draw in the users with frames, materiality, and spaces to harbor creativity.
wk 5
Design development
1
Concept Development By blending elements of the natural world with that of our built environment, a meandering hill-side studio space was conceived, relieving the space of the hard edges of a defined structure.
Working Concepts Unused Models
Fig. 1.
6 WK
Fig. 2.
2
Hillside Facade To create an open airy space while maintaining a controlled indoor environment, a “floating� slab roof is added over the terraced studio space.
3
To maximize the usage of space, the floating slab roof is extended out into the entrance, creating a shaded outdoor plaza. The angle of the slabs block the view in and out, allowing for both internal privacy and external interest.
Fig. 3.
wk 7
working Models
a
8 WK
b
Concept A
Concept B
A
wk 9
FORT COLLINS RIVER DISTRICT Development Proposal // Senior Capstone
The River District of Fort Collins sits directly adjacent to some of the most iconic parts of town including the Old Town District and the Poudre River Corridor. Its history as an industrial sector of town has not faded and although rapid development is occuring in the city, the identity of the River District and its industrial history must be preserved. Facing mixed use communities inwards towards a central pedestrian alley way will not only create safer tranportation, but will also provide a sense of community and place. Channeling a stormwater collection system through the pedestrian avenue will recreate the raceway citizens of Fort Collins used long ago to power their mills in this area of town. Collected stormwater runoff will filtrate through gravel and light vegetation until it reaches the newly designed Poudre River District Community Park where it will be funneled through large furrows of land covered in vegetation. The furrows will pay homage to the agricultural history of both the area and the entire city. Extending the Poudre River Corridor outwards towards the city will create opportunities for bolstering the local ecology, creating green ways, and strengthening local pride in Fort Collins.
4 WK
LINCOLN AVE
wk 5
DOWNTOWN DISTRICT / SITE AREA
MULBERRY ST RIVERSIDE
HORSETOOTH RESERVOIR
I-25 COLLEGE AVE
FORT COLLINS
OLDTOWN
RIVERSIDE MULBERRY ST 6 WK
TO I-25
Lee Martinez Park
Gustav Swanson Natural Area
Old Fort Collins Heritage Park
Site Area
Udall Natural Area
Local Proximities
Analysis began to determine adjacencies to natural, residential, and commerical real-estates. Approximate walking distance radius’ were established from the site showing the immediate direct contact the site has with its users.
Single Family Dwellings
Medium/High Desnsity Mixed Use Housing
Site Area
Medium/Low Density Housing
New Belgium Brewery
Odell Brewery
Downtown District
Site Area
5 Min. Walking Radius
wk 7
When analysis of the area was conducted, it was found that the site has strong pre-existing infastructure with several prominant landmarks surrounding the site. With the cultural and economic center of Old Town Fort Collins directly south of the site, the goal became to stich in the fabric of the new space seamlessly while maintaining a unique character. Bus Routes Bike Paths Railroad
Bus Routes
Nearby Landmarks
Opportunities presented themselves to connect dead end roads, address parking in an effective way, and redirect stormwater drainage to build a stronger, more effective design. Site Area Railroad
8 WK
Bike Pathways
Nodes and Points of Opportunity
Site Boundary Lots in Site Lots in Old Town Street Parking
Parking Dilemma
When compared to Old Town, there is much less space devoted to parking in the River District. Parking was counted and studied to make more efficient use of space.
Site Boundary Potential Infill Sites
Infill Opportunities
Effective design can repurpose unused space and eliminate parking issues.
wk 9
MASTER PLAN Development and proposal
Creating Form
Upon studying major points of entry and overlaying circulation pathways, an image of what the space would look like began to form.
10 WK
Designating Purpose
industry commercial
Future development will follow commercial growth along the center, with residential opportunities stemming outward. Street and alleyway parking save space and allow for more inward facing community zones.
Infill Useage
residential historic
LINCOLN AVE
Interior Plaza Space
Linden St. Economic Corridor
FORT COLLINS RIVER DISTRICT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT MASTER PLAN
New Ped. Connection
wk 11
12 WK
MASTER PLAN
wk 13
Stormwater Management The lay of the land places the river district within a floodplain. Historically, the river was channeled through the site to power mills and create energy. Creating a similar channel through the newly designed pedestrian avenue can not only revive the local history of the site, but will create a landscape feature that redirects stormwater to the Poudre River, filtering runoff as it goes.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT COLLECTION CHANNEL AND BIOSWALE FILTRATION all stormwater drains into poudre after filtering through system
VE
channel collects stormwater from all surrounding blocks
NA COL
LIN Runoff Redirection
Replicating an old waterway that was channeled from the nearby Poudre River, stormwater can be channeled down the pedestrian avenue and filtered through gravel and light vegetation before it ultimately reaches the Poudre River.
14 WK
Waterway
Stormwater runnoff can create an effective landscape element.
Waterway Cross-section
Illustration showing the underground stormwater collection channel flowing along underneath the pedestrian walkway.
Stormwater Runoff
wk 15
16 WK
wk 17
0’
20’
40’
80’
Jefferson St.
18 WK
160’
320’
Railroad
Pedestrian Zone
Willow St.
North - South Elevation
Riverside Park
Poudre River
wk 19
Riverside Community Park Stormwater will drain throughout the proposed site and and through the riverfront park. Three swells of land will act as bioswales, filtering the water one last time before it enters the Poudre. Clearing the park of the naturalized overgrown river front will re-open the river front to the people, allowing their thriving downtown to reach the water. Reestablishing a connection to the river will also connect the downtown to the network of bike paths and jogging trails throughout the city.
Poudre River District Community Park North-East Facing Elevation Scale: 1/32” = 1’ - 0” 0’ 5’ 10’
20’
40’
Overlook Apartments 20 WK
80’
Furrowed Filtration Swales
Raised Boardwalks
Sloping Lawn
Linden St. wk 21
22 WK
wk 23
Behavioral Science Building Green Roof Landscape Irrigation / CSU Design and Program
Colorado State University holds itself as one of the leading universities for research and development. Implementation of green wall and green roof technology in the front range and western regions is still improving every year but prove difficult to maintain. Installing a green roof on the outdoor patio of the Behavioral Science Building poses great opportunity to study green roof technologies and maintanence methods. The green roof proposal demonstrates both internsive and extensive systems depending on plant material, soil depth, and irrigation requirements. The design focuses on relieving students and users from the harsh full sun rooftop environment by providing multple options for shady respite. The planting scheme displays different zones of color in order to show the full range of species and textures that can potentially grow on a roof top garden.
24 WK
Behavioral Science Building Green Roof
Growing Medium
Will Kern
Filter Fabric Drainage Element Moisture Retention Mat Root Barrier Insulation Waterproofing Membrane Roof slab
Shaded Northern Lounge
Green Roof Cross Section
Sedum Centerpiece
4-6”
1-3’
Elevation B
Amur Maple Permeable Pavers
Extensive
Intensive
Yellow Planting Bed Red Planting Bed
Second Canopy Structure
Elevation A
Elevation A White Planting Bed
Purple Planting Bed Southern Viewshed
Elevation B 0
2’ 1’
8’
16’
4’
wk 25
City of Fort Collins Green Wall Competition Landscape Irrigation / CSU Design and Program
The City of Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority held a competition for a local green wall design to boost the cultural identity of the city as being a green, environmentally conscious community. My green wall design uses the Flexipanel system by Sempergreen. The design displays a scene iconic to all that live in Colorado. Simple with bold shapes and definitive lines, a mix of sedums and low growing Thyme will portray a mountain scene with an agricultural field fading away towards the horizon. The tight growing ground-covers will deter fringed edges, allowing for a more definitive image to be maintained. Different variations provide choices for the ideal aesthetic. Planting Material
underlying wall (concrete)
Sempergreen Flexipanel
plant material foamglas ready block glued
EDFM Foil
EDPM foil Foamglas (insulation)
sempergreen flexipanel
Stainless Steel M8
foamglas fixing
sempergreen aluminum gutter
Variation A
pvc drain 40mm
Cross-Section
Cross-Section
Flexipanel System
Flexipanel System on Foamglas Blocks
Gutter/ Drainage System Scale - 1:2
Scale - 1:2 0’
2’
4’
0’
8’
2’
4’
8’
Planting Material
sempergreen edge profile
Sempergreen Flexipanel
staind pipe 20mm EDFM Foil
plant material
Variation B
foamglas ready block (glued)
Stainless Steel M8
EDPM foil 18mm Plywood
sempergreen flexipanel
Cross-Section
Flexipanel System Irrigation Pipe Placement Scale - 1:2 0’
Variation C
Variation D
Variation E
Variation F
2’
0’
4’
2’
8’
Educating the Public
Being one of the first green wall systems in the area, the chance for educating the public presents itself. Designing to include vegetables, herbs, informational plaques and an exposed structural skeleton, the public can become well informed on the benefits of green wall systems.
4’
8’
GREEN WALL
Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’
Sedum reflexum ‘Blue Spruce’
Sedum acre
Thymus elfin
Latin Name
Common Name
Size
Sun/Water
Sedum Acre
Sedum Acre
3”x10”
Full/Low
Sedum reflexus ‘ Blue Spruce’
Blue Spruce Sedum
5”x12”
Full/Low
Sedum rupestre ‘Angelina’
Angelina Sedum
5”x18”
Full/Low
Thymus praecox ‘Elfin’
Elfin Creeping Thyme
4”x8”
Full/Low
wk 27
Paddler’s pub outdoor music venue Blueprint Earth Collevtive / Fort Collins, CO
Context
Paddler’s Pub is a whitewater rafting guide service located in Fort Collins Colorado. The company guides hundreds of people every year down the Poudre River ultimately leading them back to the base establishment. It has become popular to grab refreshments and some lunch at the end of a hard day of rafting, made complete with a makeshift music stage.
28 WK
The project’s purpose is to deliver to the public an upgraded experience by expanding the existing venue to fit up to 1200 users. A new stage will be built at the base of a sloping, terraced venue space, culminating to an outdoor bar and brand new restuarant.
wk 29
Fire & Water
The new venue took shape inspired by the name of the new establishment, “Fire and Water.” Two staggered terraced seating arms in the shape of flames and water reach around a standing floor space. Each terrace is partitioned off in such a way as to allow groups to rent out specified areas for an event.
Playground Volleyball restaurant Bike Parking The Eddy Stage 15’ Sound retention Berm
30 WK
The Eddy
The design takes into consideration not only various types of events, but different kinds of people and how they use event spaces . The “Eddy� is a submerged spiral imitating a river eddy where smaller, private events, safety talks, or mingling can take place.
wk 31
32 WK
wk 33
Tainan Library Design Competition Vo Trong Nghia Architects
Context and Design
The Tainan Library Design Competition was held to showcase a new public library in a newly developing district of Tainan. A merger of Tainan county and Tainan City stressed the limitations of the existing library due to the increase in demand. The new library must successfully serve the public, while establishing itself as a cultural icon in a new area. Covering over 33,000 sq. ft. of floor space and holding over 600,000 books and magazines, the new library will serve as a gathering spot for young and old My part in the process was strictly rendering and model building. Design was minimal and for design purposes, primarily architectural.
34 WK
Rooftop Garden
A 5th and 6th story rooftop garden will nestle itself within the V-shaped volumes, allowing for plenty of twists and turns, exploration, or people watching opportunites.
wk 35
36 WK
wk 37
Berkana Rehabilitation Center Berthoud, Colorado // Form and Expression Design Concept Located in Berthoud, Colorado, Berkana is a hospital patients visit in order to be healed through physical and occupational therapies. The site consists of a large rooftop healing garden and an interior courtyard. My design inspiration came from the ability of a strand of DNA to copy itself, making itself new again. I adopted the form of the helix and the infinity for my closed loop path systems, allowing patients to continuously move through the site.
38 WK
wk 39
concept development Creating a continuous circulation loop
Modeled after a DNA strand, creating an effective circulation loop was crucial in the design of a rehabilitative garden. Leaving few dead ends and opening up opportunity for exploration and wandering gives patients undergoing occupational therapy a chance to stretch their legs or, stroll with family members.
40 WK
Creating Continuity To add visual interest along the closed loop path, decorative posts of undulating lengths will guide the user along.
wk 41
Master plan / rooftop
42 WK
The rooftop garden was designed to provide a place of respite for patients undergoing rigorous rehabilitation regimens. It also provides a space for families to gather and visit their loved ones as they heal. Incorporating patient gardening space allows the patients to tend to something other than their own health. The rooftop garden, whether communal or private, will provide a sancuary for patients and staff alike.
wk 43
Master plan / courtyard The interior courtyard was programmed to be a comfortable space soley for occupational and physical therapy. Patients learning to walk can travel the closed loop paths, or strengthen their indurance on a wheelchair using the ramps. Steps of varying risers lead up to a central padded floor that provides comfortable space to begin therapy by stretching. A Birch tree, the symbol of Berkana, is the focal point of the raised center platform.
Ramps of Varying Grade
Physical Therapy Practive Steps
LOWER COURTYARD / 0’
44 WK
4’
8’
16’
Physical Therapy Mat
South Facing 32’
LOWER COURTYARD 0’
5’
10’
15’
N
20’
North Entrance Wheelchair Ramps Stairs of Varying Riser Height Mossy Vegetation Decorative Undulating Posts
Central Water Birch Physical Therapy Mat Benches Eastern Redbud Hostas/Shade Loving Perennials Wheelchair Ramp South Entrance
wk 45
FCAA Archery Range Field Studies
The FCAA Archery Range is located off of Interstate 25 in Fort Collins, CO. Existing conditions mainly consist of naturalized growth with makeshift targets and delapidated archery ranges. I began the design by exploring different landforms to represent the rugged terrain of Colorado. I separated the programming by two major forms of archery: Field Archery and Competition Archery. Ample open space with measured ranges is provided for competition archery with shade structures for onlookers. Those of whom wish to practice field archery have densely wooded pine ranges, uphill, downhill, and tree stand ranges as well. For those just visiting, there are birdwatching sheds and river walks.
wk 47
Master plan
Wild Shooting
Hills immitate shooting targets under different elevations.
Pine Forest
Simulates shooting in a timbered forest of pines.
Target Practive
Where official target archery is practiced, providing shade structures for on lookers.
Concept Development
Development of the drumlin shaped landscape.
48 WK
utility buildings
visitor center
bird watching shed scenic island
pine forest
field targets canopy structures
competition targets tree stands bird watching shed canopy structures
wk 49
Morgan Library Courtyard Construction Documentation and Design
Design and Program
The Morgan Library at CSU was constructed in the 80’s and was recently newly rennovated. It’s courtyard, being of a dated look, remains very unused and in disrepair. The courtyard rennovation project was to demonstrate construction detailing skills while providing a new design to rejuvenate the life of the site.
50 WK
wk 51
52 WK
wk 53
Lyric Cinema Bike in Outdoor Cinema
Program and Context
The Lyric Cinema is a long standing icon with the Fort Collin community in Downtown Fort Collins, Colorado. It’s known for its highly quirky, mural ridden interior akin to a cozy living room style theater rooms. The new Lyric will be an entirely new structure in the up and coming North part of town, expanded from two to five theaters and a bike in outdoor venu out back.
Design
Maintaining the quirky characteristics of the original venu was vital in the design process. Expanding upon every opportunity to create an “Alice in Wonderland” meets “Dr. Suess” environment was something the client insisted upon. The result is a trip down the rabbit hole, complete with pumpkin viewing lodges, second story patio seating, and a spiral bike in grassy knoll to view the films.
wk 55
56 WK
wk 57
Section A
Horsetooth Reservoir Omnibus / Imporoving a City Icon Horsetooth Reservoir is a major icon for locals of Fort Collins. Thousands of people visit here every year to behold its sights, go fishing, or swim. The site is located at an opportune location to view the famous Horsetooth Rock, another symbol of the city. Currently the reservoir lacks a central built environment for visitors to gather, and thus is void of providing an identity for itself. Without deterring natural growth and aesthetics, the design serves to amplify existing attractions by providing a new central destination zone for visitors. Open pavillions give space for field trips or those stopping to snap a photo. Sculpture gardens give the space an identity through art. Manufactured rock climbing walls deter climbers to chalk up protected routes. A large dock draws in fisherman and those wishing to relax on holidays. Section B
58 WK
overlooks to horsetooth rock fish hook dock shrubland and prairies
beach
horsetooth reservoir
central pavillion sculpture garden
restrooms
parking pavillion picnic space bouldering field
south entrance
N wk 59
personal artwork Drawing has always been a persistent hobby of mine since I can remember being able to hold a pencil. Here are a few relevent pieces of artwork I’ve done recently.
Idaho Springs, CO
Wyoming University
60 WK
Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs
wk 61
62 WK
wk 63