Alana Moon Architecture Portfolio

Portfolio Alana Moon 2022-2023

TABLE OF -

Residential Project 1: Graduate Housing

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Project 2: Twin Housing

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Assembly Project 3: Pavilion

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Project 4: Library

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GRADUATE-

In addressing the proposal to design graduate student housing for Northeastern University students, the typologies of the surrounding residents should be fundamental. Each year, surrounding neighborhoods like Fenway, Roxbury, and Back Bay welcome many temporary residents made up of college students that continually seep into the large area around Huntington Avenue. As most of the potential tenants are of a younger demographic, designing for a typical college student lifestyle is crucial.

This project does not aim to force communal engagement or to alter the meaning of “home;” rather, it acknowledges the need for privacy and separation through specific unit design, while creating opportunities for interactions at the tenant’s discretion. Following this principle, the aggregation of buildings and units strive to create open shared spaces that support communication and, in some cases, merely suggest program.

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S I T E

42.341915

-71.089418

N

Between Hemenway and Saint Stephen Streets, Jarvis Street is proposed as a one-way street with areas designed to allow for college pick-ups and drop-offs, as well as emergency vehicles and services. Jarvis Street divides the site into the north site, with two rotating building types, and the south site, with three building types with rotated modules.

Heme

Boston, MA Northeastern University

nway

St

C O N T E X T

Jarvis St.

S St

t

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t S n

.

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P L A N S

The aggregation invites residents to enter more privately by rerouting them away from the main street and creating smaller, directionally clear footpaths.

G R O U N D F L O O R

The ground floor utilizes ramps and a proper radius for turning a wheelchair which allow for easier navigation of interior vertical divisions, thereby making units on this floor ADA-accessible.

T H I R D F L O O R

N

5

10 15 20

S E C O N D F L O O R

F O U R T H F L O O R

The third-floor residents use the fourth-floor living areas. Most of the area on the fourth- floor units focuses on providing extra bedrooms and bathrooms.

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Wall Type A

1

2 Overhang + Frame Window

M A T E R I A L I T Y

3

4 Wall Type B

White Textured Stucco

vis Jar

St.

Dark Brushed Steel

Terrazzo Alana Moon | Wonwoo Park | Arch 2140 | Assignment 5 | 4/6

S E C T I O N

N O R T H F A C A D E Alana Moon | Wonwoo Park | Arch 2140 | Facade Draft | 4/3

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C I R C U L A T I O N

S I N G L E

Fourth Floor

B U I L D I N G

Third Floor

Second Floor

Ground Floor

Unit Type A B C E

Cores Private outdoor spaces Halls

Most Private

Most Public

S I N G L E

Bathroom

Office

U N I T

Storage

All units contain a central core that directs the surrounding circulation. The cores reach from the ground floor to the top floor and house the majority of pipes from services involving water, bathrooms, and kitchens, as well as bulky appliances and high-straining electrical areas. The lack of walls in the main living areas also mean the core is structurally essential for supporting the load. Bedrooms are intended to be private and remain at the ends of the circulation path and are separate from shared amenities like storage or workspaces. The fourth floor allows for additional vertical separation, and the lack of walls, achievable through to the core, allows additional natural light to reach areas traditionally left dark in favor of ambient lighting areas like bedrooms.

Kitchen

TWIN-

While doubling a unit, expanding single-family plots still needs to be divergent from traditional American neighborhoods, specifically suburban ones. Even when they do exist, they are often looked down upon for their redundant modularity- deemed disruptive by negatively affecting neighborhood aesthetics, and appearing stiff and unresponsive to the geography.

The building mimics the landscape by sliding and floating down the site, and eases movement between open living spaces with more gradual steps. Taking care of two separate residences means considering entryways, shared walls, common spaces, and lines of sight. The gap between the buildings respects the privacy many residents in shared living conditions desire thus decreasing sound disruptions and opportunities for windows to look straight into each other. Each building contains modules related to different programmatic cores and remain on different floors.

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S I T E C O N T E X T

Imaginary Neighborhood N Situated at the end of an imaginary neighborhood, the plot of land only shares one side of the plot with the neighboring project. Shared edges allow students to enjoy common spaces like driveways and gardens. The site slopes upward from the sidewalk to its northwest corner. The two buildings occupying the site aim to flow down the hill rather than significantly dig into the hill.

P L A N

Changes in the number of stairs in specific places allow the buildings to respond to the site. The uppermost and lowermost spaces utilize gradients between public and private.

A

B

Each core has a different shape and program, and their importance has spatial ramifications on surrounding walls as they push the building's envelope.

N

S E W C I D T T H I (A) O N S

5

10

15

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B A

5

10

15

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L E N G T H (B)

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M O D E L P H O T O S

A X O N O M E T R I C

C O R E U S E S

C I R C L E

On one axis, the core continues the visual disruption from the living room to the bedroom, and on the other, it creates a marked eating area. It offers light from the skylight and the curved wall that responds to the circular extrusion. The height differences of the platforms allow for both traditional seating and floor seating around a single dining table.

S Q U A R E

T R I A N G L E

The inside of the core acts as storage. Spatially, it separates the workspace from the bedroom and funnels residents in and out of the bedroom. The bathroom remains in the core, but more importantly, within the two buildings.

The bathroom remains in the core, but more importantly, within the two buildings. The aggregation of the longest side of the core creates the shared entrance and courtyard.

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Boston's Chinatown is an iconic city area full of residents, visitors, and businesses. Like many other areas of Boston, Chinatown is in need of improvements like free rest spaces, shaded areas, and public bathrooms. Sitting at the edge of Chinatown right next to the entrance gates, programmatic inspiration came easy. Open spaces such as congregations of small game tables are heavily used, however, extended sidewalks with plastic seating in the road were built with the best intention, but rarely used. Over the years, due to external pressure gentrification, Chinatown saw an increasing divide between residential and commercial areas.

P A V I L I O N

This project aims to serve residents and surrounding neighborhoods, allowing them to regain space in an ever-developing city.

The area’s Asian roots inspired the pavilion’s wood joinery and framing, while the introduction of materials like concrete is reminiscent of Chinese architects' drive to create a modern style that remains authentic.

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P L A N

The main storage area is below ground, under the large seating stairs.

Boston, MA Chinatown 42.350770

-71.059853

N 5

S E C T I O N S

10

15

20

The furniture also fits on the higher platforms, allowing the programs on the southeast side to change with the community's needs. Multiple accordion doors can close off different paths if further separation is necessary.

M O D E L P H O T O S

P R O G R A M S

E N C L O S E D

Sitting back off the road and away from the more programmed areas of the pavilion, the large staircase provides multiple levels and ways to sit if visitors prefer a more private place to relax.

With Boston's general lack of public bathrooms, the pavilion hosts a gender-neutral bathroom to provide service to anyone who needs relief or access to clean water.

The main gathering area has multiple tables and chairs, allowing visitors to engage in a plethora of activities or just sit down and rest. Bordering the commercial area of Chinatown, there are many restaurants, although none with outdoor dining areas. The pavilion will provide residents a safe place to eat and the ability to use tables to play cards and board games.

O P E N

The elevated platform can function as a stage for performances, classes, or community exercise like tai chi.

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Building off the pavilion project, constructing a public library in Chinatown asks architects, "What can and should public spaces provide?" Libraries have moved past being static places to house books and moved into a role centered around serving their communities. Conversations with librarians and library goers reveal that libraries connect people to information and each other for both pleasure and business. They both archive the past and exhibit the future. Even with technological development and innovation, thoughtful planning and a well-supported staff allow libraries to keep their doors open, welcome people of all backgrounds, and secure their footing in neighborhoods for years to come.

L I B R A R Y

This project is one attempt to synthesize the needs of residents and workers in a fun and helpful manner. The "C" shaped circulation quickly directs people into their desired collections, and the building offers access to a wide range of media, from books to digital collections. Dispersed throughout the floors, the many corners of the library host different programs, including reading areas, study spaces, meeting rooms, offices, a classroom, and a cafe.

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S I T E C O N T E X T

Boston, MA Chinatown 42.349870

-71.060890

Private buildings squeeze and loom over the site in an already dense city area. The institutional buildings eat into space previously belonging to residential and public spaces.

This proposal utilizes most of the site to remain light and visible within the neighborhood. While dense in plan, the ground floor with a large covered outdoor area remains open, and the facade appears as framing reminiscent of gates and greenway a couple of streets over.

P L A N S

G R O U N D

B A S E M E N T

F L O O R

N

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S E C O N D F L O O R

F O U R T H

T H I R D F L O O R

50

75

100

T H I R D F L O O R

R O O F

F L O O R

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S E C T I O N

A X O N O M E T R I C

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M O D E L P H O T O S

I N T E R I O R S

C I R R C U L A T I O N

As users explore, they remain oriented through the central circulation of stairs and elevators spanning all five floors. It creates a repeating spiral pattern where the programs spin off and send people onto diverging circulation paths.

R E A D I N G & C O L L E C T I O N S

Accompanied by reading areas, collections co-exist with stationary activities. They offer multiple seating arrangements depending on the work visitors aim to complete, party size, and the time they intend to occupy the space.

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