Architectural Portfolio 2021-Elene Solomnishvili

Architecture Portfolio

Elene Solomnishvili

ORDER OF CONTENTS

SANCTUM DE FORTE

LEARNING IN OPEN-AIR SCHOOL WORMHOLE

NATURE BEYOND THE WINDOWS MYCELIUM

FLOATING AGORA

The Floating Agora composes a poetic space consisting of ramps that allow the community to connect and multifunction on different levels. The ramps explore the aspect of lucidity and unity. This ‘Community Center’ invites multicultural ethnic groups that introduce new cultures and traditions to the community.

The project envisions to generate a harmonious scene that encourages local artists as well as other community collectives to produce work in the space dedicated to them. Agora supports non-profit organizations financially, as well as educationally. This is the place for users who have a common interest in various art classes, galleries, markets, or want to enjoy the evening on the green roof surrounded by flora and calming water.

The Floating Agora invites people who are interested in making decorative and fine arts. The place supports local artists in producing their work and later on selling them in the underground market. The project introduces various cultures through transparency, and how through different levels and openness people unite and create a community.

The program’s ideology is transparency. Each ramp corresponds to the direction of the street grid around the existing building, creating five main linear axes. The building is ‘the performance of the arts’. It consists of the market on the ground floor, which extends to the cellar floor with gallery spaces and stores for artists. Classes, studios, and workspaces are divided throughout the following three levels. The roof is transformed into a green roof that creates a serene atmosphere surrounded by vegetation. The pool of water in the middle of the roof shines down to an atrium for more transparency and calmness.

ROOF STRUCTURE

GREEN ROOF

FOURTH FLOOR

THIRD FLOOR

SECOND FLOOR

GROUND FLOOR

FOURTH FLOOR

CELLAR FLOOR

GALLERY ENTRANCE

ANDES OASIS

Institutional Observatory

Second Place Winner - Advanced Studios

San Juan Region, Argentina

The idea for this project consists of composing a poetic observatory with few interventions in the landscape while still allowing a visitor to enjoy the vastness the site has to offer. The site is located twenty minutes from Barreal in the San Juan region, Argentina, and it is known for Astrotourism and the rich geology.

The Incan culture became the central symbolism of the project. The building consists of the courtyard, a single entrance, the inward sloping of the walls, and the trapezoidal layout. Incan architects used the trapezoid shape as a stable system in seismic regions. The landscape seems to embrace the building all around. The courtyard is of crucial importance because it becomes the central node of interaction between the program and the observation corridors. Each corridor explores one of the following topics – geology in the underworld, framed view of the Andes in the world, and constellations and daylight shadows in heaven.

The building offers different types of observation methods that connect to the courtyard. The water used in the courtyard becomes an oasis for the area. Unlike traditional oasis, the water features above ground level on the “roof.” It is seen from underneath the courtyard creating a calming environment but also giving a reason to explore the next level.

After exploring the corridors, visitors can enter the ramp and explore the beautiful 360-degree view from the pool above while walking on water. The water is used to highlight the landscape through the reflection of vastness and openness.

NORTHERN SUNLIGHT

ZONDA WINDS

SOUTHERN CRUX

SECTION THROUGH HEAVEN

SECTION THROUGH WORLD

SECTION THROUGH UNDERWORLD

RAINWATER TANK DIAGRAM

SANCTUM DE FORTE

Partner: Elena Kavtaradze Temple, Contemplation

Vila do Bispo, Portugal

The idea for Sanctum de Forte consists of composing a poetic and spiritual space involving ‘senses’ with few interventions in the landscape while still allowing a visitor to appreciate the history, environment, and vastness the site offers. The Fort was built in 1640-1668 on top of the cliff bordering a beautiful view of Figueira Beach.

The temple consists of the rotunda, a single entrance, existing ruins, and paths to multiple ‘senses’. For defense reasons Portuguese people often built elevated terrains surrounded by round-shaped rings of stone walls. The project is located underground for stability where the landscape embraces the building thoroughly.

Overground addition was to re-create the ruin gaps with night lighting facing the starry sky without interrupting the existing structure to experience the atmosphere of the past — unification. As of, the water and the natural light used in the project become the main aspects highlighting specific ‘senses’ within each space.

The main entrance is between two existing ruins that lead to a stepped corridor with a stream of water along the wall, as well as the skylight showing the landscape’s geology. Both, the sound of water and the vision of light lead to the main space, the rotunda.

The rotunda uses water that becomes the first oasis for the area, accompanied by the smell of steam surrounded by underground walls. The last path is completely isolated from the rest of the temple for tranquil meditation by the grand view of the ocean — the second oasis.

After exploring the space, visitors can access the stairs that lead to the center of vastness with beautiful views surrounded.

A - Entrance

B - Rotunda

C - Path to Ocean

PATH TO ROTUNDA

LEARNING IN OPEN-AIR SCHOOL

Institutional - Elementary School

Brownsville, NY

Imagining and recording pigeons flying between two buildings creates a frame to focus on nature; it creates its environment. Pigeons flying back and forth create intersections, vertices that can be controlled but should not be to develop wilderness untouched by humans.

Open-Air Schools were purpose-built educational institutions for children that were designed to prevent and combat the widespread rise of tuberculosis that occurred in the period leading up to the Second World War. Fresh air, proper ventilation, and exposure to the outside contribute to improved health.

The school consists of two triangular shapes, one intersecting the other, allowing the students to look over, and form strong and secure communication from one structure to another. The school has an underground space that follows the footprint of the triangles. The underground serves as a more private space than the actual school above it; it is more closed and preserved.

Each ramp has a platform right under, attached by trusses making the structure stable. These platforms create enclosed spaces for students to study and have classes protected from the rain.

Since the concept is to study outside, classes would be helpful right on the ramps, platforms, or underground. Each surface would have radiant heating through solar panels to keep students warm. Ramps include storage seating for blankets in case it gets cold.

SECTION - STUDYING NOOKS

WORMHOLE

Community, Exhibition - Park

Ad Hoc Cooperative

Partner: Manel Paret & Ash Singh

During the BLM protest, many storefronts, museums, and buildings have used plywood in hopes of protecting their facades and spaces inside.

WormHole occupies one of the paths of Central Park where plywood is sourced from Manhattan. Wormhole serves as an interactive and engaging procession in which users will be immersed with local rich art and serene walkthrough in the middle of Central Park.

The name Wormhole has literal and metaphorical meanings. The ribbed shape of the structure is translated from an ‘earthworm’ with its curves and ribbed arches. At the same time, ‘Wormhole’ is defined as a hypothetical connection between widely separated regions of spacetime. The project is a metaphorical play on this meaning as users are transported to a different continuum within Central Park.

Throughout the day, visitors experience different natural lighting, where they can sit on wooden benches surrounded by various plants that bring life - “Central Park Aura” inside the wooden structure. The aim of the project is to create an atmosphere where one feels protected by the ribs, meanwhile, feeling the wind, nature, and tranquil sounds of central park.

Many buildings were covered with plywood boards, and many owners have no future uses for re-using them. Therefore, the goal of the project was to transform boards of plywood into a three-dimensional space where people can gather and enjoy their time.

Central Park, Entrance from Columbus Circle

Boston, Massachusetts

Surrounded by many beautiful buildings, Boston Public library, specifically The Bates Hall, overlooks a beautiful view of Trinity Church and Copley Park on the Eastside, as well as its courtyard on the West. The position of the library is critical to analyze to understand how natural light works inside. The primary goal of the project is to connect inside and outside worlds; to draw a path from inside spaces to outside — to nature and light.

The first step was to create a mezzanine around the Bates hall, extending outside the lobby, entering the courtyard. The materiality of the mezzanine is chosen carefully, in order not to block the light for the visitors on the lower level. Therefore, the balcony is a metal platform within vault lights so that the natural light can enter through. The glass rail also allows the sunlight to enter the lower levels.

1. The idea is to enter the mezzanine from both ends of the reading room through spiral stairs and be able to look from the windows and observe nature.

2. The end of the mezzanine enters the place full of harmony through natural light and tranquility.

The main reading room has the same but blind windows on the Westside. The windows on the West were turned into seating areas and the East into niches, allowing individuals to have tranquility and look over nature.

SPRING | FALL

ELEVATION - WEST TO SOUTH

ELEVATION - WEST TO NORTH

MYCELIUM - ACOUSITC PANELS

bioMATTERS LLC.

Partners: Belma Fishta, Sanatiago Neville, Ngawang Tenzin

The idea for this research project is to provide solutions for sound-sensitive environments by using biomaterials. The research consisted of finding a form as well as the right consistency to make acoustic tiles that reduce echo and resonance and are biodegradable.

The project includes parametric design testing, CNC milling as well as growing these tiles through mycelium while testing different substrates such as coffee grounds hemp, etc. The process of producing one tile takes over five days.

The project consists of finding a solution to a repetitive pattern that can be seamless and has the right thickness to reduce sound and has a pleasant appearance to cover walls.

ACOUSTIC

ACOUSTIC PANEL - PROTOTYPE B

PANEL - PROTOTYPE A

ACOUSTIC PANEL - PROTOTYPE C

ACOUSTIC PANEL - PROTOTYPE D

MYCELIUM PANEL

1/8” BOLTS THROUGH FRAME

1/4” THICK FRAME

1/4” BOLTS THROUGH WALL

WOODEN HANGERS

MUSEUM OF SUSTAINABILITY

Partners: Karyna Yanovska, Alejandra Zapata New York, NY

The project aims to create an entrance facade and stairs to give people an opportunity to experience different perspectives and emotions. It is a device that requires thorough consideration of ascending in suspended space with two tall walls on sides. The facade and stairs function to maintain the harmony of connection in between, so that it would work as a whole.

The two-story triangular stair leads to an experience of various perspectives from different points. The first floor’s triangle is much smaller than the second one to create a cohesive environment. When one visitor stands on the stairs of the first floor, they can easily interact with others on the second-floor stair, as well as observe the circulation of people’s movement.

The stair treads are recycled plywood. The “floating” stairs are held by two inches round copper rods from the ceiling to the floor. The rods equally provide the sustainability and support of the stairs and the railing. The rods are distanced from each other by four inches and are accented by birchwood handrails for the safety and comfort of the visitors.

The floor uses geothermal energy. It is painted black, covered by four inches of water, allowing the heat to radiate more effectively. Furthermore, the lights suspended from the ceiling between the rods contribute to the reflection of the overall structure, creating the illusion of infinity. Another element was to invent a triangular skylight shining directly onto the stairs and the water.

The steel wire cables are added vertically to the facade to hold up the horizontal recycled plywood louvers. The louvers are different triangular forms for controlling the wind affecting the facade.

Exhibition - Museum

STRUCTURAL STAIR DIAGRAM

STAIR DETAIL A

STAIR DETAIL B

2”x8” STAINLESS STEEL DOUBLE

GEOTHERMAL DIAGRAM

THICK TECYCLED PLYWOOD THREAD

2” HANDRAIL CONNECTION TO ABLE. STAINLESS STEEL.

1/2” STAINLESS STEEL CABLES

2”x8” STAINLESS STEEL DOUBLE STRINGER

L-SHAPE CONNECTIONS. WELDED 1” METAL CONNECTOR TO STRINGER 1

THICK TECYCLED PLYWOOD THREAD HEX ANCHOR GRIP FOR 1/2” STEEL WIRE CABLE

LOW EMISSIVE GLASS SPACER STEEL SUPPORT ALUMINUM MULLEON DRYING AGENT AIR SPACE

HEX ARCHOR GRIP FOR 1/2” STEEL WIRE 1” RECYCLED PLYWOOD LOUVERS

6’-6”

10’-0”

6’-6”

FLOOR PLAN