Alexandros Naylor Portfolio 2024

Alexandros Naylor

724-366-4195 alexandros.z27alex@gmail.com

Architecture is a tool for improving the lives of millions around the globe touching every person’s life, in some shape or form. Architecture should aim to conjure practical design with versatility and beauty. In the near future, he hopes to utilize his architectural knowledge to improve people’s lives through design that balances the relationship between the built environment and the human experience. When he is not busy in the studio, he enjoys cooking, traveling, and exploring other creative outlets.

Work Experience

Architecture Internship May 2022 - August 2022

Stantec, Pittsburgh, PA

Shadowed licensed Architects, Junior Architects, and Engineers. Edited various floor plan programs and assisted in 3D modeling.

Construction Internship May 2021 - August 2021

Moss Construction, Boca Raton, FL

Created and sent Submittals/RFIs to architects, engineers, and interior designers. Documented weekly team meeting mintues. Oversaw water proofers and construction workers at the job site.

Award

William Hajjar Competition - Winner

Post-Covid-19 Home Annual 3rd Year Penn State Architecture Competition (Spring 2021)

Education

The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA

Bachelor of Architecture (Spring 2023)

Minor in Architecture History (Spring 2023)

Pantheon Institute, Rome, Italy

Bachelor of Architecture Study Aboard (Spring 2022)

Skills

Software Fabrication

House of the Future

International Competition - Emirati Residence

United Arab Emirates

Team Member: Gaurav Ganguli

Summer & Fall 2023

Nestled in the heart of the UAE, this private residential home embodies privacy and family values. Merging traditional Emirati architecture with contemporary elegance, the design revives tradition. The wind tower crowns the structure, ensuring natural ventilation, while a tranquil rooftop terrace provides panoramic views. Majilis and a central courtyard encourage community, framed by arches embracing tradition. Islamic patterned screens and Arabic scriptures adorn the façade, preserving cultural heritage. In a dynamic UAE, this design pays homage to Emirati architectural legacy.

Conceptual Massing

I. Stack of equal sized volumes

II. Subtraction of volumes to create enclosures

III. Shifting the volumes to create overhangs and an intriguing 3-Dimensional depth

IV. Adjusting the dimensions of the volumes to meet program specifications

V. Install an octagonal rooftop or shading apparatus to provide indoor-outdoor shading and micro-shading for the building

VI. Reconfiguring the octagonal roof to replicate the texture of fabric, with the intent of giving it the appearance of a tent

VII. Dividing the roof into multiple sections

VIII. Minimizing the segments to streamline the roof design

Conceptual Idea

Spaces Across the Home

Kitchen

Gathering Spaces

Utilities/Flex Space

Restrooms

Bedrooms

Storage

Circulation

Mycelium Microhome

Material Study - Microhome 2021 Competition

State College, Pennsylvania

Professor: Benay Gursoy Toykoc

Team Members: Chris Castiglia & Niousha Keyvaninejad

Fall Semester 2021

16 Weeks

Tiny homes have become fashionable in recent years. These tiny homes have not only been places of shelter, but also vessels for architects to test out various theories and ideas. The following project exemplifies this by adapting Japanese woodworking with a newly developed mushroom-based material called mycelium. By combining these two very different factors we were able to create a unique and first of its kind design for a tiny home.

Mycelium Material Testing

Wood/Acrylic Pieces

Mycelium

Plastic Sheets

Top Wood/Acrylic Piece

Wood/Acrylic Pieces

This study explored the impact of various materials on custom brick molds, including plywood, acrylic, mycelium, and plastic sheets. After constructing the molds, mycelium was grounded, placed, and grown within them for a week before being baked and utilized for assembly.

Mycelium Brick Iterations

Transparent Acrylic Mold

Opaque Acrylic Mold

Dried Out Mycelium Experiment

Plywood Mold

Plywood W/ Protective Plastic Mold

Day 0-2 Day 0-2

Chidori Joinery Structure

Utility Core

Polycarbonate Panel

Chidori Joint Framing

Mycelium Panel

Chidori Joint Framing

Window Panel

Interior Wall Panel

Mycelium Panel

Window Panel

Chidori Joint Framing

Wooden Floor

Wooden Joist Structure

First Floor

The design of this tiny home begins at the foundation with a base that stacks lumber on top of each other like Jenga blocks. The entire building is covered in a Chidori joint assembled shell that uses mycelium and custom window panels. The mycelium provides insulation and texture to the facade.

Second Floor

The amenities of the home are encapsulated within a central core. This core which is a part of the structure has a bathroom, storage, kitchen, living space, office, and sleeping quarter. The roof is polycarbonate material the allows light in and provides insulation.

Microhome Models

Wall Section Model Back

Wall Section Model Front

Post-COVID 19 Home

Penn State School of Architecture William Hajjar Competition

State College, Pennsylvania

Professor: Laia Celma

Spring Semester 2021

1 Week

Competition Winner

Over the past year, the pandemic has forced us to separate ourselves from family and friends. The concept of this home gives the illusion of connection with physical separation. This is achieved by designing the home similar to the letter ''W''. The three wings of the home branch out, offer different features, and vary in height, shape, and spacial quality. This was done in order to incorporate a design that merges with nature and William Hajjars' philosophies of architecture.

Converge Sides

Create a “W” Shape

Sides Curve

Spacial Diagram

First Space

Second Space

Third Space

Sections

Nature Education Center

Arboretum at Penn State - Educational Institution

The Arboretum at Penn State, State College, Pennsylvania

Professor: Laia Celma

Spring Semester 2021

12 Weeks

The Arboretum at Penn State has recently added a new attraction to the State College community. The newly constructed Nature Education Center provides the community with a new sense of care and understanding for the university and the local ecosystem. The building focuses on the idea of creating a series of views that gives a visual and physical connection between the surrounding natural context and the university. Throughout the building these views are achieved spacially and through materiality.

East Halls

Katz Building

Green Roof

Engineered Soil

W/ Plants

Insulation Reservoir LayerDrainage Layer

Aluminum Covering

Steel Structure

Channel Glass

Concrete

Steel Structure

Retaining Wall Steel Supporting Structure

Channel Glass

Steel

Steel Supporting Structure

Glass Panels Mullion

Concrete Panels

Steel Brackets

Mullion

Glass Panels

Concrete

Entrance of Nature Education Center

Entrance of Nature Education Center

Interior View Looking Towards Penn State’s Campus

Passage Through Time

Meditation Experiece - Conceptual Competition

Vera Cruz da Figueria Fortress, Algarve, Portugal

Professor: Katsuhiko Muramoto

Fall Semester 2020

8 Weeks

Architecture is just not meant to provide shelter or protection but, to enhance one's life. This project put an emphasis on the individual's journey and experience through architecture. The intent was achieved by using a simple, yet effective series of wooden frames. These wooden frames are different in shape and angle than their counterparts. This was done in order to give the illusion of the space transforming as visitors move throughout the space.

Site Plan

Exploded Axonometric

Metal Bracing Renderings

Structural Axonometric

Detail Structural Drawing

Wooden Frame

Metal Bracing

Wooden Decking

Concrete Footer Ramp

Wooden Frame Piece

Wooden Decking

Wooden Beam

Protective Metal Plate

Concrete Footer

Aerial View of Site Temple

Entrance of Site Temple

Renderings

Second Mediation Space

First Mediation Space

Wine & Dine

Wine Rack - War Bar Project

State College, Pennsylvania

Professor: Alexandra Staub

Team Members: Gaurav Ganguli & Dara Olumide

Fall Semester 2019

6 Weeks

Every great bottle of wine needs a place to be stored. A wine rack is similar to a wine glass, it is an essential part of the wine drinking experience. The idea of drinking wine and assembling the wine rack storage components create an unique event. The rack is modular, which allows for various layouts and customization. Users are interactive with the pieces, which allowd for personal customization.

Cardboard Prototype

First Wine Rack Prototype

“Spine” Wine Rack Assembly

Final Wine Rack

Wine Rack

Transforming Lives

Residental Farm Community - Stantec Internship Competition

Raleigh, North Carolina

Team Members: Cristina Mock & Harsana Siva

Summer 2022

12 Weeks

Throughout the United States autism is a common condition among our citizens that is hardly spoken about. The following project is tailored to help establish housing for adults with autism. Through thoughtful consideration of spaces, colors, and materials, the design aims to create an environment conducive to the unique needs of individuals with autism, fostering a sense of comfort and ease in their daily lives. Each element is meticulously crafted to promote sensory engagement, functional accessibility, and emotional well-being within the community setting.

Volumes Combine

Rotate

Shaping Volumes

Rotate

Housing Geometry

Laundry Room

Caregiver Quarters

Bedrooms and Priv. Bathrooms

High-Stimulus Space/ Kitchen and Dining Room

Medium-Stimulus Space/Living

Low-Stimilus Space/Sensorial Room

Guest Room and Bathroom

MEP Rooms

Alcove Spaces

Entry-Transition Space

The housing complex is designed to meet ADA accessibility standards. Structurally, the roof features a forty-foot-span truss system that can be constructed as a single unit. These trusses distribute weight from the load-bearing walls to the ground, providing spacious interiors without interruptions.

Roof

Truss System

Alcove Space Rooms

Load Bearing Walls Housing

Alexandros Naylor

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