Blake Minster Selected Works

Selected Works

Blake William Minster

2015-2018

Contents “Architecture is involved with the world, but at the same time it has a certain autonomy. This autonomy cannot be explained in terms of traditional logic because the most interesting parts of the work are non-verbal. They operate within the terms of the work, like any art.�

-Thom Mayne

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09

THRICE

Harbin, Heilongjiang China Fall 2017

THE GEODE

Civic Center, Magliano in Toscana, Italia Spring 2017

THE ZEPPELIN MARKET & MOORING APARTMENTS Lock 3, Akron OH Fall 2017

CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER University Circle, Cleveland OH Fall 2016

HYPERACTIVE RECREATIONAL CENTER Tremont, Cleveland OH Spring 2016

MIXED MEDIA HOUSE Tremont, Cleveland OH Spring 2016

APARTMENT COMPLEX Playhouse square, Cleveland OH Fall 2016

ADDITIONAL WORKS Travel Sketches Spring 2017

PHOTOGRAPHY Thematic Photography Spring 2017

01

THRICE Harbin, Heilongjiang China Design Competition

Concept 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.

1. Organization Layout

2. Rope Anchor Points

5. Drape Pre-Cut Fabric 6. Begin Layering Ice Over Over The Form Fabric Shell

Plan

Section 1

3. Attach Ropes to Tension 4. Erect Cloumns and Ring Mounted on Column Add Tension to Ropes

7. Remove Columns from the Fabric Shell

Section 2

8. Illuminate

Fabric Shell With Cellulose Layer

Construction

Interior Detail

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 formwork 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 formwork. Cellulose which is a mixture composed of fibrous paper and water, was sprayed over-top of the fabric shell.

Formwork

Design Team

Draping Fabric

Design Team: Dean Mark Mistur, Professor Rui Liu, Max Hentosh, Qian Kang, Yang Lei, Lu Liu, Keely Mager, Blake Minster, Michael Roe, Alex Sanchez, Brandon Sanchez, Aaron Schordock, Yi Yang, Ruihang Zhu

02

THE GEODE Civic Center, Magliano in Toscana, Italia

3rd Year Design Studio II Professors Enzo Fontana & Alberto Francini

Concept Magliano in Toscana, has a deep historical typology of a fortified city.

The wall developed a typology where the historical city is only viewable from inside the city walls. This consequently develops a synonymous relationship to a Agate Geode. Where the stones appear to be normal from the exterior, until cut to reveal the beauty of the interior. The southern side of the historic wall has become desolate and is in decay while the morthern side has been maintained quite well.

Level 3

The Civic center was designed with the intentions of recreating the effect of an Agate Geode. The program mass of the Civic center represents a Geode. The location of the old wall boundary and the street urban edge, become the cutting planes for the geode revealing the interior. The street facade reflects the neighboring buildings to contextualize with the historic city. The cutting plane of the old fortification wall reflects the beauty of the natural landscape of Magliano.

Level 2

Lower Level 1 Ground Plan

Geode

Cutting Planes

Roof Contextualization

Access Tower

Interior Library Perspective

1:20 Scale Model

Street Perspective

03

THE ZEPPELIN MARKET & MOORING APARTMENTS Lock 3, Akron Ohio 4th Year Design Studio I Professor Jack Hawk

Concept Lock 3 is a park located in the central part of Akron. To allow the park to become more vibrant and attract pedestrians, a gateway is necessary. The proposal is to develop a passageway in which utilizes a topographical change to engage pedestrians with the built environment.

The program responds to the needs of the city. Akron is in a current state of despair, and to help counter this, programmatic elements that fill the gaps in the city. A multifaceted Cultural Public Market that features an open floor plan with small venders, and restaurants that explores a variety of cultural cuisines. A mixed use retail center sits adjacent to the Cultural Public Market, developing a void where a vertical piazza is formulated by terracing on a large transitional stairway. A mid-rise tower sits atop of the mixed retail center, and hosts offices and mixed market rate housing units.

Formally the Mid-rise tower resembles a Mooring Mast, while the Cultural Public Market takes form of a Zeppelin.

Formally this reflects on Akron’s deep history of innovation, with the Goodyear blimp being an icon of Akron.

Axonometric Assembly

Proposed Sites

Vertical Piazza

Program Mass

Form

Market Hall Interior Perspective

Passageway Perspective

1/16” = 1’-0” Scale Model

Section Perspective

04

CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER University Circle, Cleveland Ohio 3rd Year Design Studio I Professor Kathryn Strand

PROGRAMATIC REQUIREMENTS

OLL

LOBBY KITCHEN CONFERENCE ROOM

OFFICES

CLASSROOMS STUDIO

COMMUNITY SPACE

MOTOR ROOM

FACULTY LOUNGE

LAUNDRY ROOM

NURSES OFFICE

LAB COMMUNITY SPACE CLAS FACULTY LOUNGE STUDIO S ROOMS LAUNDRY ROOM NURSES OFFICE KITCHEN

LEARNING CONFERENCE ROOM OFFICES

CLAS MOTOR OUTDOOR S ROOMS

Concept The Child Development Center, is structured upon the educational philosophy of Reggio Emillia. The belief of Reggio Emillia is to allow children to guide themselves in their own learning, by the experiences they encounter. The proposed Child Development Center, engages the students with structural elements that weave the programs together vertically. This generates an experiential learning for the students. The students entail the ability to move freely throughout the structures, allowing for endless variations of observations, hypotheses, and exploration. This is accomplished while establishing a close notion to the importance of nature. The building form maximizes green space, for the outdoor learning lab, on site by incorporating terracing, and an exterior ramp.

Section A

Section B

ROOM

Outdoor Learning Lab Perspective

Ground Plan

Form

Level 2

Bracing Structure

Level 3

Planar Structure

Level 4

Bracing Structure & Planar Structure

05

HYPERACTIVE RECREATIONAL CENTER Tremont, Cleveland Ohio 2nd Year Design Studio II Professor Gregory Stroh

3/32” = 1’-0” Scale Model

Concept The intent of the proposed Recreational/ Cultural Center is to generate a hyper-active atmosphere that both engages and embraces the social environment of Tremont. This is accomplished by allowing the entire site available for community use 24/7. A gallery, that will display local artists' work, is dispersed throughout the entry leading to an exterior sculpture garden. A continuous ramp, adjacent to the street, engages the community with its water courts dispersed interest pedestrians to investigate the building.

To exemplify the intention of hyper-activity, the building itself becomes active. The immensely cantilevered fitness zone operates similarly to swing bridge. It will be able to ocelate 90 degrees and retain the ability to slide laterally. Considering all the hyper-activity, the users of the facility will need to relax. Hyperbolic oxygen chambers have been appropriated to counter-act the hyperactivity. The Cultural lounge is the core of the facility, embracing the social environment of Tremont. The Cultural lounge will become the geological, and theoretical center for the Annual Tremont, Art Walk.

Interior Perspecive

Level 2 Plan

Transverse Section

Program Mass

Light Defractors

Ground Plan

Section B

Hyperactivity

User Paths

Section c

06

MIXED MEDIA HOUSE Playhouse Square, Cleveland Ohio 2nd Year Design Studio II Professor Gregory Stroh

3/32” = 1’-0” Scale Model

Concept The main focus of this design is to allow collaboration amongst the different disciplines. This is accomplished by revealing program sectionally. The black box theater is strategically places on Euclid Avenue as a continuation of The Playhouse Square District. Archiving is a primary aspect of the building's daily operations. To glorify the massive amounts of archiving, server walls become exposed architectural elements. This gives the users a sense of the massive amounts of research being done at the facility. The program extrudes from the facade to exemplify to the street. The exterior skin becomes dense at the street to block sound and seclude the interior form the hectic traffic, Then becomes transparent along the Cleveland State Campus developing a fluid typology.

North Elevation

Transverse Section

Axonometric Assembly

Below Level 1

Longitudinal Section

Ground Plan

2nd Level

3rd Level

07

APARTMENT COMPLEX Downtown Kent, Kent Ohio 2nd Year Design Studio I Professor Claire Bank

3/32” = 1’-0” Scale Model

Concept The driving idea behind this housing complex is to maximize ground space for public use. This is accomplished by lifting the apartments off the ground plane and structuring them with massive columns. Developing a plaza, that encourages social engagement amongst the occupants and visitors of Kent. The massive columns form an abstracted perspective of a forest. with a distorition of scale..

The form of the complex is formulated from a modular unit. Allowing the units to be shifted and interlaced to form terracing for maximized green space. The complex features a roof garden that offers the residents a place of tranquility and serenity, overlooking the Cuyahoga River. The plaza features a restaurant the utilizes the roof garden for its food.

Level 2

Transverse Section Ground Plan

Longitudinal Section

08

ADDITIONAL WORKS Travel Sketches Spring 2017

Chiesa dell� Autostrada

Piazza Santa Croce

La Murate Complex

Piazza Della Signoria

Piazzale Michaelangelo

Biblioteca delle Oblate

Giardino Bardini

Museo Nazionale del Bargello

Basilica di San Marco

09

PHOTOGRAPHY Thematic Photography Firenze, Italia Spring 2017

Concept Lungarno is defined as the “road or embankment along the Arno River� and Oltrarno refers to the quarter of Florence south of the Arno river containing part of the historic city center. The complexities of the surrounding architecture in the Oltrarno gets lost in the allure of the river itself, and it is only when viewed closer that the details, textures, and layers of time that make up the landscape are noticed. Amongst all of these elements, beyond the traditional boundaries, edges can be found which are unique to the area, with components that contrast and create a frame of view to other pieces of this area, and in some cases, its past life.

The photos show these prominent edges of the Oltrarno, all of which create a complete image to the eye at first glance. However, when noticed, look out of place and visually contrast the whole landscape. Each new person that added to the area’s historic buildings used their own interpretation to manipulate the landscape, and each new natural growth along the river paved its way over the existing space.

The entirety of the place is filled with textural rhythms that overlap and create the distinct layers found along the Arno in this area. By capturing the details that go unnoticed in this section of Florence, its story is told.