STUDENT WORK — Rensselaer SOA

Research

Networks and flow, and how they are affected by human intervention. Physical experiments of how designed mesh can capture flow of sediments depending on rate and additives.

Site Research

The drowned ecosystem of Lake Powell. Once a beautiful twisting waterway along the Colorado River, the site is now a stagnant pool of murky water behind Glen Canyon Dam, where a mass of essential, nutrient filled sediments collect in the river bed.

Proposal

By decommissioning the Dam, creating public spaces, and the utilizing an existing untapped resource - river sediment; an infrastructure can be created. Designed meshes will capture the new flow of river sediment creating ephemeral internal pockets of life in the drained canyon. Recreational programming can now correlate to the restoration of both a desert river system as well as the surrounding community.

STUDIO: DESIGN DEVELOPMENT - LIGHT AS A GUIDE

SITE: A new terminal for Airbaltic at Riga International Airport in Riga, Latvia.

2011

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Research

Parametric reticulation of a building facade as it interacts with environmental conditions.

Proposal

A two wing terminal with an undulating roof made of a series of interlocking panels, which rotate depending on the condition of the sun lighting patterns, and have light guiding bases used for way finding inside the terminal. Tree columns stretch down across the space creating a forest like atmosphere; these structural elements blend with exterior birch tress plantings which radiate out from the airport and eventually blend with the surrounding forest and landscape.

STUDIO: THIRD YEAR VERTICAL STUDIO - TURNING WATER INTO WINE

SITE: Community oriented housing in South Troy, along the Hudson River.

2011

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Research

Biological symbiotic pairings; such as lichen, and how these systems use one another for a greater outcome. A symbiotic building relationship: on site gray water treatment in the form of pipes that create a trellis system, which works as the growing medium for a small winery.

Proposal

The economic growth of the surrounding area, and entrepreneurship opportunities for the residents in the business of wine making create a co-op community. The trellis systems acts as both a growing medium for the grape vines, as well as a water flow system for the on site water treatment. The small pod - like structures replicate across the site, organized by the trellis grid, to create pockets of privacy, areas for liquid storage, and larger gathering areas.