Layering Connections
K-5 Elementary School
Location: Montgomery, AL
Date: Spring 2021, fourth year
Professor: Jennifer Pindyck, studio VI
Duration: 3 months
The proposed elementary school was designed around educational philosophies that are starting to include and embrace these new technological advancements by implementing them in their curriculum. The Maker + STEAM education focuses on cultivating students in the arts and technology by using experiential learning techniques, or “making-by-doing”, in their everyday classes. This philosophy includes multiple hands-on projects, field trips, and group work in order to educate. With the rich cultural history that Montgomery, AL has, a Maker + STEAM school seemed appropriate to utilize the surrounding area as a learning tool, implementing multiple field trips and creating a deeper connection to the place.
Photo: West Montgomery by Caitlyn Biffle
Concept
The interior layout of the school was created utilizing the layering of spaces in order to accommodate and adapt various forms of learning and scales of gathering. This was achieved by alternating classrooms and larger programs, such as the library and art classrooms, and connecting the scales of program with the communicating and collaboration spaces. In order to relate back to the city of Montgomery and encourage outdoor learning, large porches were added along the exterior. Finally, the program was wrapped to create an interior courtyard that acts as a contained playground for the younger students.
Architecture 2021 10 11
one of three initial photo collages made to explore the goals of the project
01: ALTERNATE small and large program to disperse and give variety of activity
02: CONNECT program with communicating and collaborating spaces to give energy
03: ILLUMINATE the program with
Layering Connections Caitlyn Biffle
connection to the outdoors by way of physical terraces and windows
04: WRAP program to create interior courtyard for play concept diagram of layered perameters
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Layering Connections
Caitlyn Biffle
exterior rendering of dancing facade and large porches
3rd-5th grade play area
Architecture 2021 14 15 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 program main entrance administration cafeteria gym stage elevator/fire stair bathrooms storage 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 classrooms colLAB learning porch communicating ramp library music class K-2nd grade playground 3rd-5th grade playground 01 02 03 05 04 08 08
0’ 1’ 2’ 4’ 8’ Layering Connections Caitlyn Biffle 10 09 12 15 06 09 10 12 14 08 06 09 10 06 13 07 11 11 16 06 11 07 rendered first floor plan
ELECTRICAL
The proposed mechanical system for the school would be VRF Cassette Mechanical System, with units housed on the roof.
STRUCTURAL
The structure of the school would we cold steel framing system.
EGRESS
The emergency exits are located on all four sides of the school, accessible through the fire stairs.
FACADE
The facade is made-up of painted aluminum panels that dance around the school alternating colors.
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systems diagram
0’ 1’ 2’ 4’ 8’ 2ND FLOOR Layering Connections Caitlyn Biffle 02 03 04 classrooms coLAB learning porch communicating ramp bathroom library art class 01 02 03 04 01 06 05 05 07 02 03 01 02 03 04 01 program second floor plan 05 06 07 0’ 2’ 4’ 8’ 16’
Architecture 2021 18 19 interior
rendering of CoLAB and communicating ramp
Layers Usage
Classroom Layers
CoLAB Learning
Visual Connection
Embracing the STEAM+Maker philosophy in the design, the classroom is made up of four layers; the communicating ramp, the coLAB, the classroom, and the porch. The classroom spills out to the coLAB, utilizing rolling desks and clear whiteboards that allow light through the space and act as a display board.
Layering Connections Caitlyn Biffle
Architecture 2021 20 21 rendered wall section 0’ 3” 6” 1’ 2’
ROOF CONSTRUCTION
072729 water vapor barrier 334600 drain 072100 insulation 033000 concrete slab 053100 corregated steel decking 052100 steel beam and girder 074213.19 insulated painted aluminum panel recessed lighting recessed re sprinklers 102239.13 garage door
FLOOR CONSTRUCTION
096543 marmoleum ooring
033000 concrete slab 053100 corregated steel decking 052100 steel beam and girder 054000 window structural support VRF cassette 230800 fresh air supply with ducted connection 095113 drop acoustic panel ceiling
WALL CONSTRUCTION
088000 glazing 084113 aluminum framing
062023 interior wood nish 061600 plywood sheathing
054000 steel structure
074213.19 painted aluminum insulated panels 057000 ower boxes 057300 steel mech railings
FOUNDATION CONSTRUCTION
096543 marmoleum ooring
033000 cast-in-place concrete 072600 water vapor barrier 334600 drain
033000 concrete footing
A A
Layering Connections Caitlyn Biffle
Experiential Living 02
PERPETUAL ISOLATION HOME + SANCTUARY
Location: Klippan, Sweden
Date: Spring 2020, third year
Professor: Matt Hall, Aarhus Studio
Duration: 6 weeks
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, all study abroad was cut short for Auburn University, including the Aarhus Studio. As a response to the unprecedented time, the studio was tasked with designing for a state of perpetual isolation for the priest of St. Petri Church in Klippan, Sweden, designed by Sigurd Lewerentz. The proposed design considers the mundane movements of living that would be affected due to isolation and how architecture can respond to the feeling of loneliness. A routine labeled, the commute, was created for the Priest in the form of a walking path in order to create a sense of normalcy. In contrast there would also need to be variety within the Priest’s life. Windows provide various lighting experiences, while also creating views of nature that would convey the passage of time for the Priest. Connecting with family and friends would be through both physical and virtual interaction. A virtual screen would allow the priest to give sermons, while a specialized room allowed visitors to sit with the Priest in her own living room, the only separation a glass wall.
Photo: St. Petri, Klippan, Sweden by Caitlyn Biffle
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Photo: St. Petri Sanctuary by Caitlyn Biffle
Photo: St. Petri Mass Hall by Caitlyn Biffle
Photo: St. Petri by Caitlyn Biffle
St. Petri
After World War II, Europe was going through a major reconstruction of their cities due to the destruction during the war. Sigurd Lewerentz was among the top architects that designed during this time in Sweden. Built in 1966, the church is two separate buildings, made out of local Swedish brick. Brick is the narrative of St. Petri, whole bricks define the floor, ceiling, and walls of the church making it a wholistic material. Lewerentz separates the profound and sacred spaces, causing the church itself to become an island surrounded by a sea of gravel. In Sweden, the window becomes sacred cut, a necessity for light, through the precious envelope that keeps the warmth in and the cool out. In the proposed design, it was important to consider the reason for the window and why they were necessary in their exact location.
Experiential Living Caitlyn Biffle
site plan highlighting profane and sacred separation
Commute
In order to give normalcy to the priest, the built environment is designed to give a sense of commute, laying out a clear line of walking from waking up in the morning to giving a sermon in her chapel. The structure is divided into profane space and sacred space, each defined by a variety of materials and lighting. The commute consists of moving through these spaces, the bedroom, the bathroom, the kitchen, the exterior window that looks out on the road, the large wooden door that separates the two sides, and finally her own chapel.
rendered plan
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0’ 6” 1’ 2’ 4’
Experiential Living Caitlyn Biffle
bedroom bathroom kitchen exterior door sanctuary
Contrast
A variety of windows were designed specific to each room, to provide the priest her own moments of experience through sound, light, and view. Moments of light and dark conveyed a mood in each room that altered throughout the day. Sounds from the outside were available for the priest through three operable windows to connect with the outside world.
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0’ 6” 1’ 2’ 4’
transverse section of garden, illuminated hallway, and dining room
Experiential Living Caitlyn Biffle
0’ 6” 1’ 2’ 4’
transverse section of illuminated sacred hallway and sanctuary
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Experiential Living Caitlyn Biffle
Boardform Concrete
Integrated Book Shelf
Glazed White Brick
Integrated Lighting
Rain Chain
Lewerentz Chair
Wood Desk Surface
Heater at Feet Level
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Experiential Living Caitlyn Biffle rendered detail of Priest’s study 0’ 3” 6” 1’ 2’
Connect
The view to St. Petri became a moment of inspiration for the priest. Becoming a space that can be enjoyed for the majority of the working day. Her desk is a frame for the church, acting as a reminder of her congregation and the people she serves.
rendered perspective from Priest’s study
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Photo: St. Petri Exterior Window Detail by Caitlyn Biffle
Experiential Living Caitlyn Biffle
Between the Lines COFFEE HOUSE 03
Location: Weihai, China
Date: Summer 2018, first year
Professor: Matt Hall and Mary English, Summer Studio
Duration: 4 weeks
The context of the Weihai Tea House became the decisionmaking force for an accompanying coffee house. The proposed coffee house is a result of the reading of the tea house. Situated at the base of a rocky forest, the tea house is meant to blend in with its surroundings. The natural structure helps with this, made up of six large stone masses that house the bathroom and kitchen. These six masses frame very distinct views into the landscape creating the feeling of being in a cave looking out, one with nature. Since these views were distinctly created, the coffee house was nestled in the blind spot of two masses, allowing continuous views for the tea house while also creating a formal entrance to both shops.
Photo: Weihai Tea House by unknown
VIEWS
The teahouse defines specific views into the landscape, while the coffee house nestles itself in between the sight lines.
MASS
The structure of the teahouse consists of six masses, while the coffee house is made up of one functional massing wall and one that contains seating.
ROOF
The roof of the teahouse appears to be a continuous heavy thickness due to the railing needed for the observation platform above. The coffee house contrasts in its thinness.
Architecture 2018 38 39
Between the Lines Caitlyn Biffle plan A B 0’ 1’ 2’ 4’ 8’
A B Architecture 2018 40 41 0’ 1’ 2’ 4’ 8’ transverse section showing connecting patio 0’ 1’ 2’ 4’ 8’ transverse
section through entrance sequence
Between the Lines Caitlyn Biffle
Photo: Patio Relationship of Tea House and Coffee House by Matt Hall
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North Arial by Matt Hall
Between the Lines Caitlyn Biffle
Entrance Sequence by Matt Hall
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Above: Arial Photo of Relationship by Caitlyn Biffle
Right: Tea House and Coffee House Relationship to Landscape by Matt Hall
Between the Lines Caitlyn Biffle
20K Ophelia DESIGN + BUILD 04
Location: Newbern, AL
Date: Fall 2019, third year
Professor: Emily McGlohn and Chelsea Elcott, Rural Studio
Duration: one semester
Team: AC Priest, Adam Davis, Brenton Smith, Caitlyn Biffle, Davis Benfer, Emily Davis, Gemma Ramon, Hailey Osborne, Han Li, Inaki Vendrell, Laurel Holloway, Oliver Higgins, Raymond Teo
Ophelia’s home is a design+build Rural Studio client home located in west Alabama. This project was a team effort and is still ongoing construction due to delay by COVID-19. The project involved researching the context of the black belt region and learning more about our client Ms. Ophelia in order for the team to design a successful home. Ophelia’s home is based off of 20K Joanne’s Home and will help further the research of the Front Porch Initiative for aging-in-place home owners. Design and construction modifications were made in order to increase accessibility, increase usability, decrease energy-costs, and adhere to Ophelia’s living arrangement that is applicable to others.
Charette Pin-up Board by Raymond Tao
20K Reasearch
Located in Hale County, Newbern, AL, Rural Studio focuses on architectural research through the design-build process. Collectively their projects range from affordable housing to needed community spaces. The research of all 20K Homes goes towards the Front Porch Initiative. This organization is dedicated to develop well-designed, high performance, and affordable homes across the United States. 20K Ophelia’s home focused on how a one-bedroom home 20K Home can be adapted to include a quarter bedroom, fondly named the nook, for short- or long-term guests. Due to the site’s steep slope, the foundation of Ophelia’s was also used to research a new foundation type, a mechanical exhaust ventilation crawl space foundation for easy maintenance access and an enclosed foundation that will support homeowner’s insurance. Research started with the three product line homes; 20K Joanne, 20K Mac, and 20K Dave that then go through a drawing charette process to see which of the three address the design problems.
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Red Barn A L -61 A -61 A -61 Morrisette House To Greensboro
diagrams
of location of Rural Studio
20K Ophelia Caitlyn Biffle
charette drawings of 20K homes
20K Dave by Danny Wicke
20K Joanne by Danny Wicke
20K Mac by Danny Wicke
Modifications
In order to achieve the established design objectives, 24 inches of space was added to the bedroom and bathroom space, increasing the overall width from 26 feet to 28 feet This allowed for added closet space in the bedroom, an accessible exterior door swing, and an FHA bathroom. Five feet was then taken from the spacious porch, originally fifteen feet, allowing for enough room for more room for the FHA bathroom and the bedroom nook and accompanying closet.
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0’ 6” 1’ 2’ 4’
20K Joanne floor plan
01
02 03 04 05 06 bedroom back entrance nook closet space accessible bathroom shorter porch accessible ramp 01 02 03 04 05 06 20K Ophelia floor plan 0’ 6” 1’ 2’ 4’
20K Ophelia Caitlyn Biffle
MEASURE
Measure house grade by using a laser tripod.
LOCATE
Locate by placing batter boards on site and connecting with a leveled string.
MARK
Mark location with spray paint in preparation to break ground.
DIG
Dig foundation tranches.
STEP
Place wood steps to create step down for grade change in concrete pour.
LAY
Cut and lay rebar to reinforce concrete.
POUR
PLACE
FILL
Fill every other block with concrete and steel bolt to connect with wood frame studs.
Architecture 2019 52 53
Pour concrete for foundation.
Place CMU block on concrete.
20K Ophelia Caitlyn Biffle
20K Ophelia sketch perspective
Architecture 2019 54 55
0’ 3” 6” 1’ 2’
final 20K Ophelia’s Home after completion by: Timothy Hursley
20K
Ophelia Caitlyn Biffle
Moundville Pavilion DESIGN + BUILD 05
Location: Moundville, AL
Date: fall 2021 - summer 2022, fifth year
Professor: Andrew Freear and Steve Long, Rural Studio
Duration: one year
Team: Brenton Smith, Caitlyn Biffle, Collin Brown, Jackie Rosborough
As fifth-years at Rural Studio, teams of four students focus on one project to design and build. After COVID-19, the original Moundville Community Pavilion team decided to step down after construction was halted. The project was picked back up after two years of the partially-built pavilion being left to the elements. The new team was tasked with taking the original design and seeing how it could be improved and altered for the park’s needs today. This project not only was a redesign challenge, but dealt with culturally sensitive issues with the conversations between the clients, the owners of the park, and the indigenous peoples who recognize it as a heritage site. Shortly before mocking up a portion of the pavilion, it was decided that construction of the project would not be appropriate and so the project was canceled. A culmination of the work will be presented in a team book to celebrate the work and the project.
Scaffolding under partially-built pavilion by Brenton Smith
Significance of Place
In the location where Moundville exists today, a settlement once stood as the second-largest civilization north of Mexico. Estimated to have begun in the 1020s, the community of people who lived here were a Mississippian civilization, meaning they used mound-building methods of construction. The mounds were established to surround a central plaza, a place for meetings and business within the society. Though the name of the civilization that existed here is unknown, current-day Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, and Muscogee/Creek tribes all have ancestral connections to the people who once inhabited Moundville. Today, the area where the civilization once stood is the Moundville Archeological Park owned by the University of Alabama and home to 29 earthen mounds. The park operates as both an educational site and a recreational site, containing a museum and campground.
Projects 2022 58 59
above: artisit rendering of original civilization of what is now known as Moundville below: Hale and Tuscaloosa counties located on Alabama state map
Moundville Community Pavilion Caitlyn Biffle
Photo: student documenting state of custom trusses by Brenton Smith
Photo: Mound Plaza at Moundville Archealogival Park by Caitlyn Biffle
Photo: partially built pavilion located in campground by Brenton Smith
GABLE FORM
The typical gable form would protect from the debris of the surrounding trees and rainfall.
BUTTERFLY FORM
The butterfly form encourages light to enter the underside and frames views out into the landscape.
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Moundville Community Pavilion Caitlyn Biffle
final given form diagram of roof and ceiling mirrored across five trusses
Concept + Placement
The given site is located in the park campground. This was chosen because the campground is outside where the ancient palisade wall once stood and was less likely to contain artifacts. The pavilion was pushed back from the road and tucked behind a threshold of trees. The new team took inspiration from the surrounding landscape of the forest and the gradient of heavy to light to develop a concept that would help make decisions as the team pushed forward.
LIGHT HEAVY GRADIENT REFLECTION Projects 2022 62 63
concept diagram
final
plan 0’ 2’ 4’ 8’ 16’
Moundville Community Pavilion Caitlyn Biffle
pavilion
Projects 2022 64 65
exterior rendering of pavilion by: Brenton Smith
shows texture, color, blends edges so form will stand out less, requires less maintenance
REFLECTIVE METAL
Reflectivity
With the desire to not create an object within the landscape, the team decided the ceiling material should act to reflect the surrounding textures and tonal value. The team worked with metal experts at Zahner Metals to develop custom aluminum plate ceiling and roof systems. The final systems were a clip system for the ceiling and a flat-lock system for the roof.
Moundville Community Pavilion
Caitlyn Biffle
Projects 2022 66 67 structural transverse section 0’ 3” 6” 1’ 2’
aluminum flat-lock roof system axon
Moundville Community Pavilion
Caitlyn Biffle
clip aluminum ceiling system
Artifacts Quilted Design 06 Pen + Paper 07 Teague House Composition 08 textile........................................................................................70 sketches...................................................................................74 watercolor.................................................................................76 Travel Through the Lens 09 photography.............................................................................78
TEXTILE STUDY 06
Quilted Design
Medium: thrifted clothing + natural dye cotton
Date: Fall 2019, third year
Professor: Emily McGlohn and Chelsea Elcot, elective
Duration: one semester
Team: AC Priest, Adam Davis, Brenton Smith, Caitlyn Biffle, Davis Benfer, Emily Davis, Gemma Ramon, Hailey Osborne, Han Li, Inaki Vendrell, Laurel Holloway, Oliver Higgins, Raymond Teo
The craft of quilting is a long-standing tradition in the rural south, something that takes time and love to make and shows through the final product. As an ode to the Rural Studio client Ms. Ophelia, the team was tasked creating a quilt inspired by her family home in hopes that it becomes a reminder of memories. In order to do this the team went through several steps of learning how to draw what is seen and transfer this to textile. Along the way the team learned how to dye their own fabrics with local textile artist Aaron Sanders Head, use a seam ripper, use a sewing machine, hand-stitch, and all the work that goes into quilting with help from Rural Studio’s own, Melissa Denny. The final quilt is made up thirteen quilt blocks, each a unique reading of Ophelia’s home and made out of deconstructed thrifted clothing and indigo dyed cotton, created with the shibori technique.
final color rendering of Ophelia’s living room
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Above: back of final quilt created with leftover indigo dyed fabric
Right: front of final quilt consisting of 13 quilt blocks by each team member
Textile Study Caitlyn Biffle
TRAVEL SKETCHES 07
Pen + Paper
Medium: sketch book + white gel pens
Date: Fall 2022, post-grad
Duration: one month
Sketches of landscapes and architecture from a cross-country road trip from the east coast to the west coast of the United States after graduating. Places visited included Portland, OR, Santa Barbara, CA, Marfa, TX, and National Parks such as; Arches, the Grand Canyon, and Zion.
Storhamar Barn (Hamar, Norway)
Photography Caitlyn Biffle
St Mark’s Church (Stockholm, Sweden)
Photography Caitlyn Biffle
Storhamar Barn (Hamar, Sweden)
Contrast Summer Studio
Folded Summer Studio
Op Con Summer Studio
Transition Summer Studio
Between Lines Summer Studio
Church on Water Studio I
Fractured Studio I
Heavy + Light Studio I
Woven Spaces Studio II
20K Ophelia Rural Studio
Secretariat Rural Studio
Empathetic Pencil Quilt Elective
Sketching History Seminar
Chronology Caitlyn Biffle
Documenting Studio II
Winding Walls Studio II
Tables Study Summer Research
SPIL Centre Studio VI