Alyssa Danielewicz Portfolio
Addition to Nelson Bayardo’s Municipal Columbarium in Montevideo, Uruguay Third Year Advanced Design Studio “For this studio, we will explore Gottfried Semper’s two central elements to the making and definition of architectural space: the mound and the fabric. The first, in landscape, will become the ungrounding of the earth and its becoming or emerging into (an)other. The second is of defining space and its effects through carpets or materially rich planimetric forms reminiscent of fabrics. These will all find expression in the architecture + site, their materiality, and their spatial development. The aim of the studio is to explore and to give form and architectural intentions to these (of ungrounding, of the void, of enclosure, etc.) through representational and discursive strategies (textual, graphic, three-dimensional, composite, etc.). As a point of departure we will utilize representation to alter and modify our perceptions and understandings of the world to centralize the void and enclose through textiles. Programmatically, the studio will articulate these through a proposed addition + expansion to Nelson Bayardo’s 1962 Municipal Columbarium in Montevideo, Uruguay.”
Process: Book Carving Third Year Advanced Design Studio This project began with carving a randomly assigned book to help get an understanding for carving into a site. The book: Mellon’s Millions, a biography about Andrew Mellon. Mellon was the owner of multiple successful companies as well as a significant art donor. I carved Mellon’s silhouette into the cover of the book, as well as a silhouette of his brain into the pages. I printed gears on a blank page of the book and pasted them into the brain area to represent his thoughts and ideas. I then searched throughout the book to find the words to make up the following quote by Gandhi. “A man is but a product of his thoughts. What he thinks he becomes.” This quote was revealed through carving; it can be read when looking directly at the front of the book.
Process: Ungrounding Third Year Advanced Design Studio The first exploration of an addition to the columbarium was through carving. This scheme is meant to feel heavy on the site. The form seen in the top right is based off of a part of the book I had carved. I used this shape to form voids in a solid cube, identical to the building already on the site. The voids were carved out of the cube, creating spaces for people to reflect upon their loved ones, whose bones would be stored along the interior walls of the building. I created “drawdels� (part drawing part model) to present my scheme. The drawdel to the right represents plans and sections through my building. The top row consists of plans of each floor, the second row displays sections of the voids, and the third row portrays sections of the remaining floor plates created by the voids. The drawdel above that represents the voids, with sketches drawn on top of select voids.
Process: Fabrication Third Year Advanced Design Studio This second exploration is a complete opposite of the ungrounding; this scheme is meant to feel as light as possible. I chose to distribute multiple spaces throughout the site for the addition. The six additions are exposed in the site; the walls for bone storage are approachable from any direction. Each of these spaces are slightly covered by crystal-like structures. The structures jump up off the ground and cover each space in a unique way; two of them actually enter the existing building by climbing above and underneath it. These structures are bare to emphasize their lightness. The image below is of a wire drawing of a basic site plan. The drawing to the right is a perspective that is half drawn, half sewn.
Visual Arts Center Third Year Design Studio This new Visual Arts Center will replace the existing facility on the Roger Williams University Campus. The building focuses on a passage through it that allows for community participation. The passage enables people to gradually pass through the site and appreciate the art program while doing so. It physically separates the studios from the public spaces while also connecting them visually. The passage creates a place for people meet and engage in art simultaneously.
The program is divided by the passage. The south wing contains a gallery open to the public, while the north wing contains six studios with adjacent faculty offices. The first floor plan is shown on the right and the second is nearly identical to it. The building is positioned particularly in the site to allow students to easily pass through it on their way to and from class. This building provides a much more convenient route through the site than the existing building does. The open studios encourage collaboration and interaction between students. The studios visually connect through double height spaces as well as a consistent passage that separates the studios from the faculty offices.
Tennis Centre Third Year Design Studio The Roger Williams University Tennis Center serves as a new athletics facility and a more convenient public passageway from the NCRH dormitory to the parking garage. The passageway is inspired by the campus landscape; in particular, trees. Its glass enclosure allows for views of all twelve tennis courts, as well as the Mount Hope Bay. It serves as an exciting way to travel across a part of campus that is currently dreaded by most students. The building works to integrate the six existing outdoor tennis courts with six new indoor courts. The natural form of the passage separates the indoor and outdoor courts physically while also connecting them visually. The solid form of the courts’ enclosure reflects this idea, by contrasting the light and airy form of the passage and anchoring the building to the site.
existing courts new courts
courts passage
Bus Shelter Third Year Design Studio The new Roger Williams University Bus shelters will replace the existing generic ones around the campus. The new shelters will provide students with ample seating and coverage, while also serving as a comfortable environment. The skin of the shelter consists of steel panels, which hide a steel frame within. The angular steel form contrasts the natural forms of vines growing on the perpendicular glass facades, which in turn connect to RWU’S surrounding landscape. The angled roof allows for drainage to one end and creates a dynamic feel from underneath.
Campus Dorm Second Year Design Studio The proposed campus dorm at the Roger Williams University Campus is a condensed “L-shape” building. The shape and small footprint allow for the dorm to be multiplied within the site, solving the school’s issue with not having enough dorm rooms for the amount of students that attend. The shape of the building along with the angled glazing elements within the dorm rooms allows each room to have a view of the Mount Hope Bay. The organization of suites within the dorm creates a dynamic façade through the alternating pattern of solid paneling and glazing.
Concept Circulation Program Facade Design/View
3rd Flr Circulation
Typ. RoomTypical TypicalRA RA Suite Typical4Four-Person Suite Suite Person Suite Typ. RA Room
TypicalTypical 6 Person Six-PersonSuite Suite
Site Circulation
Typical 4 Person Suite Typ. RA Room
Vie
Campu
First Floor Plan 1/16”=1’0”
The northwest wing of the building is strictly residential. There are six-person, four-person and single suites that are organized in an alternating fashion on each floor. The suites are organized so that the kitchens and bathrooms anchor the entries down to the hallways. This allows for the bedroom and living spaces to gain the most amount of light by being placed on the outer edge of the building. The southwest wing has some residential suites, but is mostly made up of public spaces such as lounges, study spaces, outdoor balconies, and a classroom. These spaces are denoted by rectangular spaces that either pop out of or are recessed in the façade. The public walkways in this wing are shaded by a louver system. These differing facades help distinguish the building’s program.
Section A 1/8”=1’0” Section B 1/8”=1’0”
Typical 6 Person Suite
Typical 4 Person Suite
Typ. RA Room
Faรงade Second Year Design Studio Architecture is about provoking certain feelings from those who inhabit the space. In this faรงade design for a marketplace, I created a space where people would feel intrigued and tempted to interact. The skin that envelops the entire second floor of the marketplace brings a sense of dimension by contrasting the rigid, linear elements behind with the natural, curved forms on the skin.
Stuck at Prom Spring 2011 I entered this nationwide scholarship competition in my senior year of high school; I was required to create two prom outfits out of duck brand duct tape. I had never worked with duct tape before nor constructed an outfit, let alone two. I was selected as a top ten contestant by a panel of judges and went on to win second place through public vote. The intensive hours of work (165) and dedication really prepared me for what to expect in my upcoming years of architecture school.
Franklin Park Zoo Summer 2012 I had the opportunity to design and paint zoo animals on new playground equipment that was installed at the Franklin Park Zoo in Boston. I painted six total pieces of playground equipment. This was a very rewarding experience for me; I was able to work with a team of designers as well as have my artwork showcased daily to hundreds of people.