Chris Aniftos 2021 Portfolio

chris aniftos

Designer and artist

Chris aniftos Designer and artist

TABLE OF CONTENTS Governor’s Island Artist’s Residence

ARCH 601

Sunset Park School (The Vortex) ARCH 602

1-6 7-16

Farragut Houses (Razzle Dazzle) ARCH 703

17-28

Hybrid Facade ARCH 611

29-36

Arbouressence Timber in the City

37-50

Movement Series Sound and Motion Project

51-60

Personal Work Miscellaneous Art and Design

61-76

East Section

Floor Plans

GOVERNOR’S ISL AND, NY 10004 1

2

ARCH 601

Axon

West Section

Site Collage My project was an exploration

It could imply movement or

of taking something like

circulation , like a bridge. IT

a graphic image, a two

could inform a landscape,

dimensional field, something

something the user could

flat and purely visual and

physically interact with and

manifesting the essence

enjoy. These idea culminate

of that image in different

to reveal that this project is a

spatial experiences. The

canvas for a piece of artwork.

exploration began with an

All the different facets are

object, something small, and

informed by and serve as a

exploring how that color can

homage to a single piece of

reveal space. It could be

work. Through time that work

something quite literal, like

can change, and thus the

a graphic spread across a

building would change with it.

Perspective

facade.

3

4

ARCH 601

Physical Model

5

6

ARCH 601

SUNSET PARK SCHOOL THE VORTEX

BROOKLYN, NY 11220 7

8

ARCH 602

Lobby Level

Classroom/Auditorium 9

Circuit Model

Roof 10

ARCH 602

Play-space Our inquiry in to the middle school program in Sunset Park is to approach the school as an “operational infrastructure for education and community service” rather than an anachronistic understanding of the middle school as an architectural representation of public institution . This emphasis on operational and organizational aspects of education allows the studio to participate fully in the need and desire for adaptable spaces an open ended systems interplay in education. The classroom is to be understood as a volumetric exploration in complex spatial and non-adjacent arrangements in time rather than plan-metric and contiguous space. A system which bases its forms of learning on discourse and debate within the school spaces. In this participatory format students are encourages to discuss and extend links or challenge their classmates and faculty on topics in schools spaces that encourage their interaction

My response to this said system was to acknowledge a “heterarchical” approach to the organization and elements of the project, specifically with regards to the site. Using the forces of the adjacent 42nd street and 4th avenue, my project engages in a “vortex” like organization vertically connecting the immediate area including a nearby school, retail across the street, residential, and historical trees along 4th avenue. That single vortex quickly turned into multiple vortices, each addressing a different “quality” pertinent to children’s education (Compliance, Vulnerability, Assertion, Deception).

My interest was not for these vortices to work in a harmonious fashion but rather the opposite, it was my wish that these vortices work together but “don’t agree”. The mixing and crashing on these forces create a gradient of space, with some spaces torquing tightly and some spaces retreating outward. It was this chaos that led to the organization of my interior 11

Section

Quality Charts 12

ARCH 602

Site Plan

Conceptual Structure

13

14

ARCH 602

15

16

ARCH 602

FARRAGUT HOUSES RAZZLE DAZZLE

BROOKLYN, NY 11201

17

18

ARCH 703

Site Collage/Plan

Elevation

East Section

Form Studies

Chunk Model

West Section

We began our initial exploration with an analysis of the neighborhoods surrounding the Farragut Houses within the context of urban density. We created an illustration of the overlapping an merging of the different “program densities” found in the surrounding area. This initial analysis informed our design narrative of public vs private and the gradient between the two, merging elements to provoke that gray area. Our intention was to break away from the categorization of public and private found in the high rise developments around the site which validate a sense of isolation between the individual and the neighbors/community surrounding them.

After some experimentation, we needed to condense the amount of shapes used and approach the form through interlocking rather than overlapping, picking a shape representative of amenity density found from the neighboring areas. The ability for the shape to interlock in itself created a plan capable of intermixing and transforming mixed use spaces when necessary 21

Using this notion of interlocking, we defined our spaces into three floor types: Lobby/Commercial, Residential/Amenity, and Residential. The interlocking reveals the gradient in a clear and overt way, inviting users to inhabit the spaces and engage with one another. Sectionally we used double heights and dynamic floor slabs as a way to represent our collage vertically. Vertical circulation through elevators to the units allow the space to break away from a typical double loaded floor plan. We used stair cases within the units themselves that lead to amenity spaces as well as fire exits on lower levels, allowing the interlocking form the remain intact. The materiality wishes to create a sort of “camouflage” through various materialities spread across the facade, using it as a signifier of where mixed use is occurring from the outside looking in. We implemented concrete and glass as representations of public and private (concrete representing private and glass representing public) with the “textile revealing itself with alternate materials 22

ARCH 703

Section Gradient

Units Amenity

Residential Lobby Commercial

Unit Types

23

24

ARCH 703

South Entry

North Entry

25

26

ARCH 703

27

28

ARCH 703

H YBRID FAC ADE

29

30

ARCH 611

This project was an

The purpose of this project

exploration of formality beside

was to learn means of

informality. The formality with

fabrication as well as modes

the uniform acrylic pieces

of representation, and how

creating an irregular grid

these different mediums can

as well as the conventional

be used in order to convey

facade placed in the medium

exactly what a given designer

relief. The informality with the

wishes to convey, however

hydro-dipped graphic spread

they see fit. Through this

across the piece as well as

project i learned how to take

the non-descript form in the

something so basic like that of

background, holding the

a common facade and turns

piece together. The exacting

those forms into something

nature of the grid forms a

new. I created a field of sorts,

stark contrast to the random

a non-descipt architectural

nature of the piece it sits

image that is informative in

upon, yet coming together to

it’s own way

create cohesion

31

32

ARCH 611

Model Views

33

34

ARCH 611

ARBOURESSENCE LONG ISL AND CIT Y, NY 11101

37

38

Timber in the City

Concept Vignettes

39

40

Timber in the City

Section

Our biggest design goal was to celebrate timer as both a structural element, and as a biophilic design strategy. Assembling a large canopy which reaches out and connects the three main building masses, creating a semi-enclosed area which serves as our transitional space between the different programmatic elements. Everyone’s childhood dream was to have their very own tree house in their backyard, and the aim was to replicate that feeling with our biophilic canopy structure, which gives the illusion of enchantment of running through a forest playing off the energetic nature and livelihood of children.

The intention was to capture the childlike exploration and adventure associated with that of a tree house. I conveyed this through the modularity of the classroom spaces as well as encouraging exploration with the circulation between the classes through the non-linear geometric walkway.

The outdoor play area continues this geometric exploration with elevated and depressed patches of land, where the children are able to climb and play with the site itself as well as connecting the play space to the adjacent Queens-bridge Park. Safety was noted with the play space, no elevated piece of land exceeds 8 feet and the gradual slope prevents and danger of falling.

41

42

Timber in the City

Structural Detail

Plans

Canopy Detail

43

44

Timber in the City

Play-space

Residential Patio

45

46

Timber in the City

Residential

Pool

47

48

Timber in the City

Entry

Gym

49

50

Timber in the City

MOVEMEN T SERIES The Movement Series is an ongoing motion and sound project by myself in collaboration with musician/producer Paul Aronson. The two installations thus far intend to convey the colors, shape, space, and motion of various ambient sound compositions. Conveying the texture and imagery of sounds themselves is the driving intention behind this series. Moving forward I wish to increase the animation quality, as well as implement programs such as Touch Designer to explore ambient compositions in a more effective, ethereal, and compelling way

51

52

Movement Series

Movement 1 Still Renders

53

54

Movement Series

Movement 2 Still Renders

55

56

Movement Series

Movement 1

57

CLICK TO WATCH

58

Movement Series

Movement 2

59

CLICK TO WATCH

60

Movement Series

PERSONAL WORK

These are a selected collection of my personal artworks and designs I’ve worked on over the years. In my free time I tend to find myself experimenting with different forms of visual expression ranging from word art to abstract architectural renderings and vignettes. Although these works were created for myself, as a form of relaxation and enjoyment, they are some of my favorites that have come out from the time I spend with myself. I love to create, and to make others experience the joy I get from expressing myself through my work.

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62

Personal Work

Hyper-Graphic Illumination

63

64

Personal Work

65

66

Personal Work

Heaven and Earth

Brooklyn

67

68

Personal Work

Bike Part Studies

69

70

Personal Work

Word Art

71

72

Personal Work

Capstone Vignettes

73

74

Personal Work

The Arc

75

76

Personal Work

chris-aniftos.squarespace.com

@ csnift