Most masterplans focus on the tourist; important views are given to the automobile on the roadways, and buildings are treated as sculptural objects in a landscape. This masterplan is focused on the residents, and changes with the seasons. Trees and other landscape features cut off views from the individual houses. During the colder months, when the trees shed their leaves, residents will have direct views to their neighbors. It is then that they will be able to draw conclusions as to the connections between their houses. This avoids the common problem of “getting it” immediately. The residents may not realize it for years; it will take time to notice commonalities.

The houses were arranged on two grids, one for duplexes & one for triplexes, according to pseudo-formal relationships. These grids were then compressed and expanded into fans. To further complicate things, these two grids were slammed into each other, creating further relationships between buildings. At points where the grid lines intersected, a landscape feature was added.

Inked by hand on drafting vellum.

(G3 Year)

Created as part of a larger group of masterplanned duplexes and triplexes. While the other houses took the approach of sculptural-object-in-the-landscape, I opted instead for a house which was more introverted. The Mullet Haus turns its back to the street, offering up only a walled-off court to passerby. From the street level, you can catch glimpses of three gabled roofs, looking very conventional. Once you enter the courtyard however, you realize that what you thought were three traditional houses are in fact a connected, elevated complex. Passing through the house to the rear leads you to a pedestrian street and park. It is here that the house shows it’s true nature. From this vantage point, the three child’s drawings of a house (pentagram) have transformed, giving each occupant a unique identity. Each apartment gets its own roof terrace and back porch with steps leading to the pedestrian path.

All drawings were inked by hand, and the model was made without machine-aided assistance such as laser cutters. A stop motion animation was created for the presentation.

(G3 Year)

We don’t always like our neighbors. This can make interactions with them uncomfortable, and awkward at best. This duplex expresses this feeling in form. The two houses are in opposition, they repel each other like two same magnets, but are tied together by the walkway. This duplex was part of a larger group of duplexes and triplexes that were incorporated into a grouped masterplan.

All drawings were inked by hand, and the models were made without machine-aided assistance such as laser cutters. A stop-motion animation was created for the presentation.

(G3 Year)

Axon

Plans

Hejduk House front elevations

Hejduk House side elevations

Tipsy House front elevations

Tipsy House side elevations

Section 1

Section 2

What was once a living, though polluted river, has been channelized and allowed to decline. Situated near MASS MoCA, this habitat would act as an attraction to show the efforts of the river rehab. The main purpose is to attract crayfish back to the area and encourage a healthy ecosystem to grow. The installation also works as a bridge, stitching together both sides of the riverfront. Human interaction is allowed to raise awareness of the environmental issues present.

Crayfish are naturally attracted to the calcite minerals in marble. Using locally available marble from a quarry nearby, crayfish habitats will be constructed along the channel. These habitats would act as “stepping stones”, enticing the cray fish to move further inward toward the main installation. Protrusions of marble seem to grow out of the channel itself, as well as up and over into the public spaces. Depending on need, these become planters, viewing platforms, steps, or crayfish habitats.

(G2 Year)

View toward MASS MoCA

Looking across from the viewing platform

Stepping into the habitat

Plan

Interior elevations

Section

Section

Section

Site

Site diagrams

The role of artists and avant-garde designers as urban pioneers is well documented, and Franklinton is fertile ground for the urban warehouse as a development model, carving out the original block for communal spaces to exhibit and congregate. Thus, a variety of studio lofts gives way to galleries flanking a sculpture garden and a multi-purpose parking court, which are connected with an alley.

Studio lofts are airy twenty-foot tall spaces with living areas split between a mezzanine and a first-floor workspace. North-facing clerestories provide ample indirect daylighting. As part of the scheme’s attention to sustainability, the clerestories are backed with photovoltaics and open onto an expansive green roof that insulates the building and collects rainwater. The roof’s network of terraces also provides private and communal amenities for a thriving artistic community.

With Alexandra Ruiz and Matthew Marano. (G2 Year)

Outdoor sculpture gallery

Studio loft interior

Street view toward downtown

Galleries with skylights

Communal roof gardens

Multi-use parking court with gantry for transporting materials

Interior alley

(G2 Year)

With Samuel Ludwig, Dan Leone, and Jake Johnson. (G2 Year)

Algae can be grown almost anywhere, and algae farms are indefinitely scalable based on the nearby resources. Using algae for biofuel is a closed carbon system. The process will not create any new carbons, and the algae will sequester any carbon dioxide produced from burning the fuel.

Growing algae requires very little maintenance, but the turnover rate is fairly quick, so extraction and processing happens on a regular basis.

This plan proposes algae “trees” which will provide shade to cars parked beneath. The algae is grown in small reusable pods, which are harvested much like fruit. After the algae is extracted, the pods are replenished and hung to grow more algae. This system is an extension of the “Paper Parking” project, and works symbiotically with it. The algae production takes advantage of areas where parking is heavy and switchgrass can’t be grown. During the fall and winter, when switchgrass is dormant, algae can be farmed as long as the temperature remains above freezing.

Each algae “fruit” pod holds 1 quart of liquid. This equates to roughly 1 pint of biofuel after processing. Each “tree” holds 255 “fruits”, or the production equivalent of 32 gallons of biofuel per week. One tree could power a 2010 Hummer for 512 miles, or a 2010 Prius for 1632 miles-that’s enough to drive from Columbus to Washington DC and back, twice!

(G1 year)

Office parks tend to have a large percentage of their land dedicated to parking, most of which goes unused as people tend to park as close as possible to their building, or a building changes occupancy. What if this space could be productive?

“Paper Parking” proposes a system of permeable-paved parking lots planted with switchgrass. Switchgrass is a hardy, warm-season plant which is native to the United States. It is perennial and self-planting, requires little to no maintenance, and can be harvested twice per year. The switchgrass can be used to create paper products for the surrounding office buildings.

Switchgrass has, pound for pound, a higher fibrous content than wood. By cultivating switchgrass on vacant parking lots, office parks could offset their use of tree-sourced paper products; saving millions of trees and dollars each year. The grass wouldn’t grow in frequently used parking spaces closest to the building. If more people begin to cycle to work, or the office building becomes vacant, the switchgrass can expand its coverage. The area could easily be converted to a full parking lot for conventions by harvesting the switchgrass.

Paper Parking has benefits beyond paper production. The permeable paving helps to deal with storm runoff, meaning less area needs to be devoted to runoff ponds. Switchgrass growth would provide game cover and encourage wildlife to live in the area. As awareness of paper use rises, and the use of paper products declines in favor of digital means, the switchgrass can be used to produce bio-degradable plastics or biofuel.

A formerly unproductive area becomes overtaken by a productive landscape according to human interaction.

(G1 year)