Blake Minster Selected Works 2019

PORTFOLIO BLAKE WILLIAM MINSTER M.ARCH II SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE

PORTFOLIO BLAKE WILLIAM MINSTER M.ARCH II SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

GRADUATE SELECTED WORKS 2GAX DS-1201 DS-1200 AS-3302 AS-3200

FORMS OF KNOWLEDGE........................................................................

URBAN IDIOSYNCRASY............................................................................

MODULAR DESIGN.....................................................................................

MATERIALS & TECTONICS.....................................................................

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UNDERGRADUATE SELECTED WORKS USB CHARGING HUB.................................................................................

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THRICE...............................................................................................................

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CENTER FOR ARTS AND INNOVATION...........................................

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FORMS OF KNOWLEDGE Collaboration: Kumaran Parthiban Tutor: Elena Manferdini The Mission for this library is to be a bank of knowledge, it will be a part of a larger network of similar libraries engaging in the exchange of information from all around the world. The library acts as a physical extension to the internet and the social media platforms, where people come to get a higher experience towards gaining knowledge through interaction with mixed media and collaborative learning with other people across the world. Just like the internet the network grows more intelligent with massive amounts of patrons using it. The network also balances itself by offering connections and intel wherever needed.

Learning is the most effective when the process is custom crafted for each individual’s understanding, the stronger the idea is the more effectively it is gained and retain by our brains, in other words it’s about providing lasting memories. To create an impactful memory the library has an Immersion space where patrons can learn through sensorial experiences. These environments are created through visual, auditory, olfactory and tactile simulators. Synergy space is used for connecting with people and resources from other parts of the world, giving opportunities towards collaborative learning initiatives and research from different parts of the world in real time. The Exploration Room helps visitors explore various topics of interests by engaging with interactive mixed media interfaces. Apart from the libraries own collection of information which are stored through digital archiving. The library will offer facilities to protect personal digital data over longer terms.

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2GBX

FORMS OF KNOWLEDGE

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The library is a bank of knowledge where it acts as a catalyst for the spread of ideas and cultivation of new knowledge. Transparency has been addressed as a visual expression to convey the production of knowledge.

Areas of translucency is designed for more social engagement activity while opacity develops a more intimate setting. Opacity is used in instances of larger programmatic instances while translucency is used to express the less formal interior. Refractions are used as a collage of knowledge, not a representation of what’s inside but an articulation of known universe. Refractions are augmented on the exterior surface as a projection of knowledge on to the city, reflecting the idea of a globalized culture. The materiality has been broken into three aesthetics, a large scale marble texture, a striped pattern, and areas of translucency. The Marble texture is utilized to reflect the idea of the cultivation of knowledge over the history of humanity as marble takes millions of years to form from the Earth. Stripes offer a delineage from the overall translucent form, denoting a collision of formal moves. The building form emphasizes the public amphitheater through its oculus directing towards the space. The oculus features a interactive LCD display that can be use through augmented reality.

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2GBX

FORMS OF KNOWLEDGE

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2GBX

The Interior has been formulated with volumes that develop an inter connectivity within the project. The volumes provide division of programmatic elements.

FORMS OF KNOWLEDGE

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URBAN IDIOSYNCRASIES Collaboration: Deepak Agrawal Critic: Marclyn Gow Urban Idiosyncrasies explores the notion of Architecture as a collection of objects. The objective was to develop an architecture which utilizes collection and curation as the ineluctable facet of design. Architectural elements have been extracted from the Bonaventure Hotel, in Downtown Los Angeles. The objects are de-familiarized when removed from its context, which invokes an inquisitiveness in the users. Objects have been articulated in a scrupulous manner, crafting a form which has a unique interiority. Programmatically the form hosts a flower shop, which acts as a continuation of the flower district.

The design is now on the corner of 5th and Spring Street.

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2GAX

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The elements of the Bonaventure Hotel that have been extracted, range from a variance of different scales and uses. Two exterior staircases, and an interior spiral staircase have been extracted as very recognizable architectural elements. The iconic interior atrium balcony possesses a familiarization of the Bonaventure hotel.

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2GAX

URBAN IDIOSYNCRASIES

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The flower shop sits in a corner condition of the urban fabric. The shop posses a fluidity of space, which invites users to engage with the architecture. Thresholds developed by the scanned objects, give a unique and discrete experince.

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2GAX

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2GAX

URBAN IDIOSYNCRASIES

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MODULAR DESIGN Tutor: Greg Otto Modularity can be produces in a much faster fashion that cutom fabrication. The project is a train station that utilizes a module that would spped up constuction process and lower the cost of the project. The design utilizes a square steel frame that sits on a column that splays outwards towards the top. The columns are inspired from trees and their natural structural capabilities. The splaying columns allow for minimal ground occupancy while still stabilizing and supporting the system. The glass modular roof spans over the train tracks allowing light below to the boarding areas. Louvers are implemented above the columns module to provide shading for the passengers. The modular is layered for ease of fabrication and assembly.

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2GAX

MODULAR DESIGN

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The Design is composed of three major modules that formulate a complete roofscape to shelter passengers of the trains.

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2GAX

POLYCARBONATE ROOF PANEL

MODULAR SPANNING ROOF

MODULE FRAME

SHADING LOUVRES

BRANCHED MODULAR COLUMN

MODULAR DESIGN

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2GAX

THE AUGMENTED OBJECT

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MATERIALS & TECTONICS Collaboration: Ozan Cicek, Sixtina Maculan, Saleh Jamsheer Critic: Maxi Spina, Randy Jefferson The Dalian International Conference center now features aluminum panels with a rigid, angular, and daunting aesthetic. Our transformation premise alters the aesthetic to a fluid, inflated membrane. The Building has been designed and constructed with an absurd amount of metal. The structure is comprised of w-section box trusses with concrete floor slabs. The skin of the building is supported by the primary steel structure that utilizes a three-meter-thick braced column framing.

The intentions of our transformation are to lighten the overall structure of the skin of the faรงade, while reducing the weight of the material used to enclose the building. The implementation of ETFE (Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) pillows allow for various benefits to the building performance. ETFE is a fluorine-based plastic which possesses high corrosive resistance and strength of a large variance of temperatures. The cushions allow the flexibility to contain several different gasses to improve environmental performance of the skin. ETFE allows for longer spans of materials versus the aluminum panels.

The longer spans allow for larger surface divisions which uses less structure, limiting the amount of steel required. Another benefit from the utilization of ETFE is that it is translucent or transparent which allows for illumination of the interior, minimizing the amount of energy required for lighting during the daytime. The cushions absorb the radiation from the sun, lowering the amount of solar heat gain. ETFE also possesses a high level of elasticity, which is ideal for temperature change, which help with expansion and contraction of the material making the movement from temperature less strenuous on the joinery. Maintenance of ETFE is fairly easy as rain simply washes away all debris present on the surface. The longevity of ETFE is roughly 25 years because of its great durability from UV rays, weather, environmental conditions.

The new fluid form adapts to the characteristics of the ETFE leading to more divisions from the larger span enhancing the exemplification of the penalization.

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2GAX

MATERIALS & TECTONICS

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EXISTING

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2GBX

MATERIALS & TECTONICS

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EXISTING

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2GBX

MATERIALS & TECTONICS

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TRANSFORMATION

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2GBX

MATERIALS & TECTONICS

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USB CHARGING HUB Collaboration: Alex Sanchez, Keely Mager, Brandon Sanchez Tutor: Gregory Stroh Location: Kent State University My individual participation in this project, involved design and fabrication of the canopy structure and table. This involved a process of kerf cutting to allow planks of wood to bend to the desired shape. On site installation was accomplished by the University Architect’s office.

The project was funded by the University Architect’s office. The program brief was to design a new piece for social gathering. Ultimately programatically the function is a picnic table. Our team wanted to incorporate some level of emerging technologies. The Design incorporates a photo-voltaic panel that provides enough energy to power USB charging apparatuses. In today’s modern society we are connected to our electronic devices, thus providing a great implementation of a charging station on campus.

The design aimed to develop a dynamic roof structure that alters its perception based on an individual’s angle relative to the structure. We wanted to minimize the structure needed to support the canopy. Ultimately we decided to go with three columns to add a more open plan. The columns frame the table, two concrete seats as well as the wooden bench.

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Polycarbonate Roof Modules

Photovoltaic Panel Canopy Frame

Steel Columns

Battery USB Charging Ports

Concrete Seats

USB CHARGING HUB

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Experimentation in bending wood, lead to execution of kerf cuts into the boards. This allowed the board to have the capability of some malleability.

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Lamination of three white oak boards, bonded by epoxy resin, requires a high level of crafting to achieve a perfectly flat and seamless connection.

USB CHARGING HUB

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The canopy was precisely structured to possess two cantilevers on either side of the columns. The structure allows for placement of the infill grid, which diffuses the sunlight.

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The pavilion provides adequate seating for students to gather for social interactions. The canopy provides shading along with hosting a photovoltaic panel.

USB CHARGING HUB

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THR-ICE Tutors: Mark Mistur, Rui Liu Location: Harbin, Heilongjiang China Collaboration: Max Hentosh, Qian Kang, Yang Lei, Lu Liu, Keely Mager, Michael Roe, Alex Sanchez, Brandon Sanchez, Aaron Schordock, Yi Yang, Ruihang Zhu Thrice explores the intersection of three cones generated from a classic structural component, the column. Three temporary columns are tied to the ground by ropes forming the intersecting geometries. The resulting fabric faced tensile form is only temporary however. Once coated in ice it converts to series of three intersecting fabric shells that act in compression. Once the form gains rigidity, the columns will be removed leaving intersecting cone shaped towers. Rope formed oculi ( in tension in the construction phase) permit the easy removal of the columns and allow natural daylight to penetrate deep into the spaces and create remarkable reflective moments. Each asymmetrical cone employs a tension ring at the top and bottom that flip into compression when the columns and interior ropes ( where the cones intersect) are removed. Through the process of boolean subtraction ( using virtual cones intersecting the original), two entryways that naturally transfer load to the ground in a catenary shape, are intrinsic to the geometry and structural integrity of the final pavilion. Our goal was to develop a form of intersection and experience while providing the passerby a sense of curiosity and playfulness to investigate the inner workings of our ice spires.

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THR-ICE

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The design competition was hosted by Structural-ICE in collaboration with Harbin Institute of Technology. Out of total of 17 international submissions, 6 were selected to be constructed.

Thrice was one of the 6 selected submissions. The teams were each allotted 8 days for construction. Thrice’s construction process was comprised of an intricate plan of intersection points which became anchor points for the temporary rope form-work.

For anchoring the rope form-work, loops were frozen between ice blocks and the pavement. This allowed for a bowline knot to formulate a loop which could be tightened to the desired tension.

Columns were then erected into small ice block foundations. The columns were temporarily supported by guy wires, until all of the rope form-work were in tension. The fabric shell, which the design team per-fabricated in Kent, Ohio before the construction was attached to the rope tension ring and then draped on-top of the rope form-work. Cellulose which is a mixture composed of fibrous paper and water, was sprayed over-top of the fabric shell.

THR-ICE

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CENTER FOR ARTS & INNOVATION Collaboration: Ryan Snyder Tutor: Scott Lukens Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania The city of Pittsburgh is forged by its three rivers, The Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio. This forms a unique condition for Pittsburgh naturally that divides the city into multiple districts and neighborhoods. Over the past 20 years the city has attempted to form a stronger connection between these districts, with projects including PNC Park, Heinz Field, and the Strip District Revitalization. However, the problem remains in Pittsburgh, due to the long walking distance between each region of the city. Citizens of Pittsburgh are forced to drive rather than walk, causing an immense amount of traffic, and carbon emissions. This proposal in the Cultural Arts Districts offers a solution to this problem by including an Uber Ride Sharing Autonomous Transportation Center. This will greater connect the districts of Pittsburgh while cutting down on carbon emissions and traffic from the estimated 854,000 commuters in the city. Included in this proposal are offices for Google, who would provide networking for Uber with Google Maps. Also incorporated into the design are Netflix Theaters that provide entertainment for those waiting for rides, or during rides.

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PITTSBURGH CENTER FOR ARTS & INNOVATION

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The project was designed by generating three separate forms that create one holistic form to represent the three major companies under one building. The forms develop an urbanism within the site. The footprint is porous allowing users to walk through the building. The site is located in the cultural arts district but designed under the River Parc Plan. The plan implements a promenade cutting through the middle of the proposed residential area. The form of the project takes advantage of the pedestrian activity on the promenade by drawing pedestrians off the walkway into the site constraints. The ground floor feature a volumetric atrium that provides a great level of visual connection.

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0 Fire Command Center

Gift Shop

Lobby

Ride Sharing Pick-up/Drop-off

Waterfall Screen Mail Room

Jan. Uber Autonomous Innovation Exhibit

Dining

Food Prep/Storage

Elec.

Uber Waiting Area

Help Desk

Event Storage

Continuation of Promenade

2 Hour Fire-Rated Drop Partition

Andy Warhol Exhibit Entrance

Elec.

Dining Jan.

Data Closet

Kitchen

Storage Food Storage

+3 Contemporary Art Exhibition Contemporary Video Exhibition

Projection on Facade Data Closet Primary Netflix Theater

Jan. Jan. Elec.

Ticket Desk

Contemporary Art Exhibition Elec.

Concession Data Closet

Open Netflix Theater

PITTSBURGH CENTER FOR ARTS & INNOVATION

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PORTFOLIO

BLAKE WILLIAM MINSTER M.ARCH II SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTURE

Los Angeles, California, USA (1)585-905-5651 bminster333@gmail.com 53