Clayton Champion Portfolio 2024

PORTFOLIO

Inclusive Neutrality Urban Design Studio

This project in Nairobi, Kenya focuses on incremental improvements to enhance living conditions and foster community empowerment, transforming perceptions of safety and security within the slum

Morphosis

Third Year Design Studio

First Place Project Project Exhibited 18 32

The Echo Integrative Design Studio

Third Place Project

A dynamic research hub at Kennesaw State University's, facilitating STEM collaboration Its radial design maximizes natural elements, transforming the campus entrance and fostering vibrant community interaction

The Sweetwater Butterfly Encounter harmonizes with nature, featuring a central exhibit, educational labs, and a green roof with hiking paths, fostering meaningful engagement with the environment

Micro/Macro

Focus Studio

Exhibited at 2023 Atlanta Design Festival

In 'Micro/Macro,' we explore mycelium's architectural potential, crafting everyday items sustainably. Using agricultural waste, mycelium forms tables, vases, and columns, pioneering eco-friendly design

Inclusive Neutrality 01.

Partner: Angie Son

Urban Design Lab

Nairobi, Kenya

First Place Project

Informed by comprehensive research and analysis, we recognize the power of small steps and interventions in addressing the complex challenges faced by Kibera's residents. By implementing incremental improvements, we can enhance living conditions, foster connections to the rest of the city, and create employment opportunities.

Our approach is guided by the belief that even small changes can have a significant impact on the daily lives of Kibera's residents, providing a sense of progress and hope for a better future. By focusing on context-sensitive and innovative solutions, we can help transform the perception of safety and security within the slum, ultimately empowering the community to take ownership of their environment and work together towards further improvements.

_IN.02 Public Space Studies

_IN.01 Bird's-Eye Render

_IN.00 Walk-Through Video

_Inclusive Neutrality

For the first assignment of the studio we were tasked to create a title and poster to represent our approach. "Inclusive Neutrality" conveys a design ethos that promotes accessibility and equity for all. It aims to create welcoming spaces that accommodate diverse needs and perspectives within the community.

Urban Design Lab

Inclusive Neutrality

12 sq ft building footprint per household

KIBERA PAYS 5x MORE per litre

_IN.03 Concept Poster

_IN.04 Research Infographcs

_Design for the vulnerable.

In the third phase, the project emphasizes the needs of the most vulnerable members of the community, including women, children, and individuals with disabilities. This stage is dedicated to designing and implementing facilities that will respond to the unique needs of these groups, ensuring their perspectives are considered in Kibera's ongoing development.

_IN.08

PLAY!

Introducing our vertical gym, a transformative addition to Kibera's urban fabric designed to address the scarcity of space while fostering community engagement and well-being. Stacked vertically to maximize efficiency, this innovative recreational space offers multiple courts and versatile areas for play, exercise, and social interaction

By providing a public venue for physical activity and leisure, our vertical gym not only promotes healthy lifestyles but also serves as a catalyst for social cohesion. Recognizing the importance of meaningful social connections, especially for Kibera's youth, our design encourages positive interactions and opportunities for personal growth. Through this holistic approach to urban intervention, we aim to create a safe and inclusive environment

_IN.14 Indoor Soccer Court Render

_IN.15 Rooftop Basketball Court Render

_IN.10 Mobile Market Drawings

RITUAL!

Standing as a symbol of unity, the Umoja Community Center is constructed from locally-sourced, sustainable materials, echoing Kibera's architectural heritage. Within its walls, vibrant murals painted by local residents adorn the highway, transforming it into a canvas of community expression and pride. Serving as a sanctuary for communal gatherings and essential services, the center fosters social cohesion and a sense of belonging among Kibera's residents.

_IN.16 Ceramics Market

_IN.17 Highway Murals

_IN.18 Umoja Community Center

REST!

In Kibera's informal settlements, 'Empower Shack Housing' offers secure, dignified living. Built with wood framing and corrugated metal, these two-storey homes are flexible and self-sustainable, with potential for expansion. Empowering residents to build and shape their futures, we provide pride and ownership. With individual water and sanitation facilities, this initiative is more than shelter, it's a pathway out of poverty

_IN.21 Empower Shack Render

_IN.19 Modular Housing Diagram

_IN.20 Floor Plan Option

02.

the echo

Integrative Design Studio

Marietta, GA

Third Place Project

The Echo is a collaborative research center at Kennesaw State University. This innovative building's radial structure maximizes sun, wind, views, and context, creating a unique gathering space for STEM majors to collaborate and engage with the campus community. The building's interior provides formal research and collaboration space, while the courtyard fosters informal knowledge sharing. The Echo's emphasis on collaboration and community engagement makes it a standout on campus.

Integrative Design Studio

_TE.01 Bird's-Eye Render

Integrative Design Studio

_TE.04

Integrative Design Studio

Echo

_TE.06 South Elevation

_TE.06 West Elevation

Integrative Design Studio

Echo

_TE.07 Exploded Axon

_TE.10 Main Level Atrium Render

_TE.09 Collaboration Hallway Render

_TE.08 Lab Hallway Render

Integrative Design Studio

Echo

_TE.11 Detail Section Drawing

Structure + Systems Diagrams

PLUMBING

03. morphosis

Third Year Studio

Marietta, GA

Third Place Project

The Sweetwater Butterfly Encounter blends seamlessly into its natural surroundings, with a site chosen to match the pre-existing boulders for an unobtrusive design. The central butterfly exhibit is the heart of the building, spanning both interior levels and offering access from the roof. The second level houses labs and classes for butterfly metamorphosis education, while a green roof with ground-level access provides a hiking path. Natural stone materials throughout the building further integrate it into the site, creating a harmonious relationship with the environment. The Sweetwater Butterfly Encounter encourages visitors to appreciate and engage with nature in a meaningful way.

Third Year Studio

The distortion of the volume to achieve desired degree of enclosure and connect the courtyard to the building

The volumes are multiplied to reduce southern glare, while maximizing square footage and grounding the building to the site

Green space is designed in the courtyard to provide a better performance of natural ventilation to the buiding.

Sweetwater Butterfly Encounter

In addition to its seamless integration with the natural landscape, Morphosis offers a comprehensive understanding of its surroundings. Facing the river, the building capitalizes on panoramic views and proximity to nature, enhancing the visitor experience. Detailed depictions reveal sustainable design practices and emphasize the building's harmony with the environment. Together, these elements underscore Morphosis' commitment to both functionality and environmental stewardship, inviting visitors to engage with nature in a transformative way.

_M.03 Site Analysis

_M.04 South Elevation

_M.05 West Elevation

_M.06 Site Section

_M.07 Detail Section

_M.08 Model Pictures

_M.09 North Elevation

Third Year Studio

_M.10 Bird's-Eye Render

_M.11 Butterfly Encounter Render

_M.12 Rooftop Garden Render

_M.13 Rooftop Render

04.

Partner: Angie Son

Focus Research Studio 2023 MA! Design Exhibition

micro/macro

In the 'Micro/Macro' research studio, students explored the architectural potential of mycelium, a natural polymer derived from mushrooms. My project focuses on utilizing mycelium to craft everyday household items such as tables, vases, and columns. By consolidating agricultural waste, mycelium serves as a sustainable biomaterial, offering versatility and eco-friendliness in architectural applications. This ongoing research project pioneers new frontiers in sustainable design, harnessing the power of biomaterials to create functional and environmentally friendly products.

We created a voronoi model out of clay material. The model was placed inside a bag of substrate and was innoculated with King Oyster Mushroom. This experiment was to study how mycelium might grow through a scaffold.

Make a mold.

A silicone mold was created by pouring silicon over a 3D-printed model of column.

Fill the mold.

The mold was filled with agricultural waste such as corn husks, cotton, etc. which the mycelium will consume.

All objects were then injected with the mycelium strain and stored inside of a shipping container optimized for growth.

_MM.03 Voronoi Scaffold

_MM.01 Mycelium Column

_MM.02 Experiment Process

Portfolio

MA! Design Exhibition

The exhibition highlighted student experiments with mycelium for architectural applications, connecting the MAT_Lab and the BioInnovation Lab. With support from Dean Hazem Rashed-Ali and Chair Craig Anz, it showcased mycelium's potential in sustainable design, including acoustic panels and biomaterials. The exhibit garnered acclaim at the Atlanta Design Festival, drawing industry leaders from around the globe. It will be remounted at the MAT_Lab Gallery in November 2023, showcasing ongoing mycelium experimentation and design innovations

_architectural extrapolations

Exploring mycelium's architectural potential, our project introduces a mycelium colonnade, showcasing its adaptability and structural capabilities. Transitioning from individual columns to a collective structure, it evokes unity with nature and ancient architectural traditions. Additionally, a myco-inspired pattern skillfully applied to flat surfaces creates visually captivating tiles that reconstruct undulating patterns. Mounted on foamcore to simulate a building facade, these tiles contribute to the MYCO_LAB exhibition, highlighting the sustainable potential of biomaterials in contemporary architecture, blurring the line between built and natural environments.

_MM.04 Mycelium Colonnade Render

_MM.05 Mycelium Facade Model

_MM.06 MA! Exhibition

_MM.07 Made Objects

THANK YOU!