Catherine M. M. Zanardi Design Portfolio 2017
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proposal aims to re-introduce industry within the masterplan of a new development, supported by recent studies in the benefits and advancements of manufactuing and factories in urban locations. offering a dense urban mix of program and multiple means of production, this hybrid building contains retail, housing, and three manufacturing facilities.
INDUSTRIAL SYMBIOSIS november - december 2017 hazelwood, pittsburgh, pa instructor, daniel colvard worked in collaboration with sally sohn and jakob uhlenhopp
this site’s past success and culture is historically linked to industrial production. reflecting pittsburgh’s tech and art scenes, as well as hazelwood’s needs, a made-to-order additive manufacuring company, shared crafts-based manufacturing shops, and a community workshop and training center will live together within the project.
a hybrid manufacturing faciltiy, with phsyical and financial support of retail and housing, would provide learning, network opportunites, entrepreneurship, a range of jobs, diverse manufacturing, and shared resources to the region. site visits, research, and professional consultations led to the design of the production spaces and internal configuration.
this building fosters the symbiotic relationship of the programs through an entangled choreography between the shared, semi-shared, and exclusive elements of each. the main face along the retail corridor is activated by a variety of users and activity. the facilities’ circulation and shared amenities are pushed toward this face.
the main plinth of the building is wrapped in a unifying mesh that also provides privacy and shade. the internal organization promotes interaction and shared resources while maintaining independency for the three facilities. the design of the vertical factory’s structural skin, deep trusses, and two side service cores allow for open floors, ample daylighting, and stability for vibration-sensitive machines.
ROBOTIC TIMBER FABRICATION january - april 2016 instructor, joshua bard worked in collaboration with josh kim, carter nelson, and cĂŠsar neri
project fabricated a full-scale model prototype of a larger designed truss system intended for a spanned roof support. the course merged traditional wood steam bending techniques and construction with emerging robotically-assisted fabrication technologies as an ecological solution to contemporary architectural production.
techniques: wood steam bending wood working in shop ABB industrial robotic arm RAPID programming RobotStudio simulation Rhino modeling Grasshopper scripiting materials per module: 18 white oak pieces and 78 screws, washers, and hex nuts
project achieved: internal stability design flexibility modular changes assembly ease
design balanced steam bending strategies, computational strategies, structural strategies, and fabrication strategies
SITE ANALYSIS january 2017 schenley park, pittsburgh, pa instructor, joshua bard worked in collaboration with josh kim and trent wimbiscus
beginning with examination from the larger pittsburgh context and zooming inward to the project site, the work looks at the current pool locations and operations, surrounding neighborhood populations and connections, schenley’s current map and amenities, specific site infrastructure, drainage, and topography, wind and solar studies, and approach photos.
project uses the ideas of Grossform to intensity identity of the Bishopsgate Goodsyard and its neighboring context within London. with a fantastical idea of arches multiplied across the site, the proposal would become a celebration of the spatial and experiential qualities of the arch, unifying the diverse program and the character of the site.
BISHOPSGATE GOODSYARD VISION november - december 2015 bgy, london, england instructor, jonathan kline worked in collaboration with cĂŠsar neri
the most notable and beautiful mark history has left on the BGY is the expansive, brick Victorian vaults lined across the site. the project multiplies these arches across and upwards to serve all site-wide functions, therefore unified as a mega-building to stitch together what was left behind and give coherence to the site’s intended use and spirit in the city.
by studying the distinct qualities of the formal family of arches, different program was defined by the nature within the known varieties. the logic of the kit-of-parts allows for both volumetric transformations and further detailing at their own scales to avoids ambiguity and creates openness and interchangeability within the site.
the public space framework begins with the ground level, where the existing structure is repurposed for public life and amenities. rising up, a park to unifiy the activities of the ground realm is created across the plinth of historic arches. the BGY, which exists at the convergence of several distinct neighborhoods, becomes a connecting path and a destination.
overall massing is created between the site’s constraints and opportunities as well as program requirements. the form, sized for a double loaded cooridor, maximizes solar access, navigates within limited foundable land on the site, and gives organization necessary for the kit-of-parts mentality. the form, mostly comprised of housing and ammenity, resolves itself into an office tower at its end.
CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL january - april 2016 friendship, pittsburgh, pa instructor, stefani danes
the program of the middle school uses a centrally-based split parti to organize regularized work zones and open format learning spaces. the central zone becomes a learning space itself - acting as a plaza to stitch together the school’s differing behaviors. it strengthens the relationships within each grade and visual and acoustic connections to the other grades.
the exterior is made of a singular wrapping of red brick, to site peacefully within the context as well as create a feeling of privacy and safety within an urban zone. Daylight highlights program wihtin by cutting large, yet specific, cuts into the heavy facade. the classrooms and offices are stacked to recieve northern light and partake in the urban coridor.
a large cut into the buidling’s massing softens the entry sequence, connects to the neighboring park, and alludes to the split within the program. the project specifically investigated structural systems, wall detailing, HVAC routes, lighting control, solar shading, economic balance, and building code within the parameters of a a strict program.
EPIC METALS CAMERA OBSCURA ÂŽ
3 days, march 2016 friendship, pittsburgh, pa instructor, steve lee
worked in collaboration with meghan chin
project to design a camera obscura installation within an urban park to provide learning opportunity for the students in the adjacent school and reinvitalize the space for the larger community. inspired by the mystical qualities of the camera obscura, the installation is a pavilion evoking a light and ephemeral atmosphere within the park.
the pavilion roof is constructed of perforated metal decking, which hugs around the trees and accepts overhead light. Its mirrored underbelly and camera obscura pods reflect colors and movement within the space. benches surrounding the pods can transform the pavilion into either a classroom setting or a place of relaxation within the park.
in the smaller enclosure, the students are introduced to the basics of the camera obscura by using the identifiable view of the school and park trees. the larger pod transitions the lesson to the creative potential of applied optics. the students can engage with three experimental types of optical modifications to the camera obscura.
project to create a housing solution in an industrial neighborhood using architecture to hybridize human experience and ecology. buildings in the project represent a tool which can be specified to enhance form, placement, and operation of the element for better response to flow of energy and information.
ECO: HOUSING october - december 2015 strip district, pittsburgh, pa instructors, christina ciardullo and eddy man kim worked in collaboration with cĂŠsar neri
circulation aims to extend the main circulation of the neighborhood toward the site by creating a market to recieve and redistribute pedestrian flow. the paths then extend toward a single destination, allowing visitors to wander through a collaged experience of diverse landscapes and the buidlings’ atrium lobby spaces.
adaptable atrium space implemented to the standard apartment introduces strategic element with possibility to respond to virtually any site condition. atrium’s geometry can bend to diffuse light through the space. units are regularized in contrast to articulate as a separate system. each unit enages through the slits of the atrium’s shell design.
central void hosts eco-machine functions. tunnels reaching out of the shell naturally ventilate. living machine cycle is implemented as a means to process water and reinforce building as a closed system. tubes of the atrium’s shell travel water down to living machine tanks - the last being an exposed wetland to beautify the atrium space.
project designed to awaken the arts in a redeveloping area. glass envelope allows events to be open to the public’s eye. central cylindrical extrusion holds the building’s theater and gallery. whether traveling through or passing by the outside, any viewer is constantly circircumnavigating the building’s heart.
CINEMATEK ARTS CENTER april 2015 east liberty, pittsburgh, pa instructor, mick mcnutt
the restaurant opens to the main street. the bar lounge sits above on the first floorplate.
poured concrete forms the base and rises to form the central cylinder and back service extrusion.
the office perches as the top floorplate, acting as a nest where managers can oversee the building.
the cylinder disappears into a grated metal layer which connects the i-beam and truss system to support the concrete roof.
the back, solid block functions as the service area. the center opens up for the plant-laden stairs to climb up the light-filled atrium.
three floating floorplates sit on similar systems. steel t-bars hold an envelope of glass panels.
the gallery intertwines the role of viewer and viewed. selected visions created by the nature of the tunneled walls and the punched out windows challenge what is looked at and how.
the media space is comprised of two appraoches to flexibile space. first is a room for stationry art but unordered seating. second is the floor’s unique shape opening to options of arrangement.
the curved affect provides an interesting slate for art, whether seen as a new frame for hung art or opportunity to play with the illusions of the gallery design.
this second floor also allows entrance to the cinema, whose curved walls hug toward the stage and seating design accomodates for natural human breadth.
project is a hostel and bath house set in the mountains aside a trail for travelers.
SACO LAKE BATH HOUSE february 2015 white mountain forest, nh instructor, mick mcnutt
design explores scattering the heirachy of the classic bath types to allow the user to further investigate and discover the qualities of the water with their senses. hostel explores a continuation of this figure ground to create a gradient of building to nature.
the close quarters of the enclosed bath lead to two stark experiences: bathing in tranquil solitude or bathing in curious proximity.
a path between the pods suggests the users gently down and across the landscape, but they are invited to explore in any order.
a shell of concrete masonry units creates a breathable barrier. thin concrete walls are added in instances of privacy and protection.
the construction and design of the bath pods attempts to rectify the ethos of building in a naturally wooded area. the plan works around the natural slope and vegetation to avoid unnecessary conflict or uproot.
site-cast concrete poured into the terrain form the base and basins.
URBAN AGRICULTURE LEARNING CENTER november 2014 larimer, pittsburgh, pa instructor, art lubetz
larimer is a community which has suffered from the effects of population decrease, vacant housing, and neglect. project argues that an urban agriculture center should be a place devoted to nature in the midst of a redeveloping cityscape. the space will serve as a safe and open green relief for the public.
program is mitigated by the artifical landscape of the site through interwoven paths of circulation. a central, below ground path leads to market, greenhouse, and oureach spaces, which benefit from the thermal efficiency of the surrounding earth.
sunken program gives precedence to the garden that stretches over the plot, resulting in a surface that is 80% garden. mass coverage along with reduced building shadow maximizes growth of sun-seeking plants.
a build landscape overlaps this space, crossing at key moments to define spaces above and below.
roof of the building constructs the base for the fabricated landscape, alluding to shared experience.
HOOP HOUSE october 2014 larimer, pittsburgh, pa instructor, art lubetz worked in collaboration with marina mcinstosh, lester martinez, anthony orosz, francis yang
designed to protect community garden plot. with priority to community’s goals and requests. project achieved: flexible accessibility complete plot coverage temperature control aerodynamacy material economy assembly ease
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materials: steel conduit, greenhouse plastic, industrial thread, carriage bolts, hex nuts, grommets techniques: conduit form bending heat former hyperbolic forming industrial sewing wood working site construction
cost per square foot of plant coverage: about $1 conservation: 12 square-feet of garden space for every 2 pieces of 10 foot conduit modular design: suitable for large-scale implementation
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drawings consist of conte crayon in varying pigment on newsprint.
ANATOMY AND ORGANIC FORM september - december 2015 instructor, doug cooper
studies on organic form began with capturing the shapes of dinosaur bones. this progressed to human skeleton formation, detail, and connection. addition of muscles overlayed onto bone studies reinforced body shape and movement during in-class figure drawings.
catherine m. m. zanardi czanardi@andrew.cmu.edu catherinezanardi.com 908.448.6212