Process Book D4 Spring 2023 - Emily Stanker

design 4 process book

Emily Stanker

B.Arch Thomas Jefferson University

Spring 2023

The Design 4 course of Spring of 2023 at Thomas Jefferson University was largely centered around the idea of quick decision making during the design process. A total of four five-week projects were completed to train students to trust their instincts with quick deadlines. Similar to the real world and in architectural practices, students had to think quick on what the best design choices were for the task at hand. Soon after that, it was time to graphically represent and present the project to a panel of guest critiquers. The project with the most significance of the semester — and only 6 week project — was the house of peace. It was carried over to the final project which was only two weeks long. After each presentation, various lessons were learned on graphics, presentation skills, and decision making that had to be quickly applied to the next two week project directly afterwards.

The four seasons of the year are constantly in battle or gradually working with one another. As the frigid, unwelcoming winter takes over, the variety and vibrancy of nature fades away. Humans and animals have always prepared for winter and looked beyond it ems156

Schuylkill River

Laurel Hill Cemetery

Kelly Drive

scale: 1”=50’

slow down & enjoy the moment

Project 2 Juxtaposition & Ascension

Professor Bracy

Emily Stanker

1 stretch typical stairs

2 cut curved stairs

3 insert into slope

Stairs move one from point A to B and typically have that as their sole purpose. Stairs can be so much more than that, though. The ascension from bottom to top can be experiential when a stairs’ design has an intention behind it that is beyond functionality.

These stairs are designed to of course get one from Kelly Drive to the Historic Strawberry Mansion, but are also designed to slow one down. All too often people are in a rush to get to where they are heading and neglect to stop and enjoy the moment. These stairs have 5 and 10 foot wide steps or layers to sit on and seating alcoves to convince people to take a moment to relax. One can come here to take some time for themselves or simply sit down for a break from their daily walk. No matter what the case may be, there are three special moments created along the path to enjoy.

The top of the path is Historic Strawberry Mansion for an iconic Philadelphia landmark to be easily accessed from below. An existing path in the backyard is utilized.

4 insert circular seating alcoves

corten steel retaining walls cumeru wood seating

slow down & enjoy the moment

curved seating alcoves

grass layers / steps

ROOF PLAN

Green Roof

a sustainable way of mitagting the harsh impacts heat has on a building while helping to collect rainwater. The roof and greenhouse hold vegetation and shrubery that Philadelphia uses for stormwater management.

Power Corps Philadelphia trains career and technical skills in careers of the environmental field. This program helps those coming out of prison to turn their lives around through service and find employment. This tower in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood focuses on green infrastructure training and teaching the various methods of stormwater management. Here, students will learn hands on about green water systems and the skills required for performing installation, inspection, and maintenance. The site intervention is quite literally a stormwater management method — a large swale — where the outdoor training takes place.

THIRD FLOOR PLAN

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

PLAN

Emily Stanker Design 4 Project 3 Structural Sustenance Spring 2023

path of peaceful practices

Circumambulation is practiced in various religions. This is where one circles ritualistically around a sacred object or idol. This is the concept behind the path of peaceful practices as visitors from differing religions walk around the unifying peace table. As one walks along the organic and meditative path, they can participate in one of the peaceful practices relating to the eight stages of mindfulness. On the other hand, one can simply walk through the experiential path or relax in the central green space.

Emily Stanker Design 4 House of Peace Spring 2023

the 8 stages of mindfulness incorporated into a path

art studio orientation

sanctuary space perspective entrance path iteration

privacy and isolation with little light for focus

underground meditation rooms ramp from behind the sanctuary leads downward

buildings along the grounded path are lowered to be with the elevation of the path

simple warm wood enclosed path creates a focused mindset for visitors as they enter

walking through the peaceful path

meditation rooms underground with small holes in ground for small amount of light to enter

after leaving the area for therapy one enters the reflection path with water feature

large skylight in sanctuary for plenty of light to shine onto peace table in center

grounded path section

yoga studio wall, roof, & foundation detail

scale: 1”=1’

based on the previous house of peace project

GRATITUDE RAFTERS EXTEND TO ABOVE ENTRY OF YOGA STUDIO

GRATITUDE

GROUNDED PATH

CORTEN STEEL RETAINING WALL

GRAVEL

GALVALUME STEEL ROOF

PURLINS

WATER VAPOR BARRIER

5/8” PLYWOOD SHEATHING

5” PHENOLIC SPRAY FOAM

2x8 RAFTERS

5/8” PLYWOOD SHEATHING

AIRTIGHT MEMBRANE

1/2” GYPSUM BOARD

DOUBLE TOP PLATE

1/2” GYPSUM BOARD

AIRTIGHT MEMBRANE

5 1/2” HIGH DENSITY CELLULOSE

5/8” PLYWOOD SHEATHING

DOUBLE TOP PLATE

5/8” EXTERIOR GYPSUM

TYVEK

3/4” VERTICAL RAINSCREEN BATTENS

3/4” VERTICAL CEDAR SIDING

DOUBLE BOTTOM PLATE

ARCHOR BOLT

3/4” HARDWOOD FLOORING

4” CONCRETE SLAB

WATERPROOF MEMBRANE

2” POLYURETHANE RIGID PANEL

4” GRAVEL DRAINAGE LAYER

YOGA STUDIO

experiential & detail model of buildings around grounded path

A common theme throughout the semester in design 4 was the use of diagrams. Diagrams are extremely useful when developing the ideas behind your thought process and telling the story of the design when it comes to presentation time. It serves as a source of documentation from beginning to end when it comes to various elements of design. I never realized how much value diagrams held until this semester. Every design choice made must have a valid reasoning behind it, and diagrams help with explaining ideas visually sometimes without words.

Each project taught me the difficult lesson of decision making and taking risks. I was challenged to think outside of the box when it came to the two-week deadlines. That was tough at times, but the constant iterations while being challenged was worth it in the end. It built my confidence in my project, in myself, and in my abilities.