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PORT FOLIO

2021 - 2024 selected works

MELANIE GUYER

[ Program ] University of Oregon M.Arch I

[ Email ] melanie.r.guyer@gmail.com

[ LinkedIn ] mguyer

Biography

[ School ] Univ. of Oregon [ Degree ] M.Arch I

I am an architecture student in the final year of my Master’s degree, specializing in Interior Architecture. I first became interested in architecture during my time as a stay-at-home parent after searching for a fulfilling, productive creative outlet in which to invest my time. I found in architecture the ideal balance of function and form.

I have designed and rebuilt each of our four houses over the past eight years, gradually increasing my confidence and construction skillset. I enjoy the intellectual and physical challenges of

learning building techniques, the feeling of self-sufficiency, financial payoff, and the benefits of spending time in a decluttered, functional, and beautiful space.

I am particularly interested in sustainable biophilic design, maximizing natural materials, forms, and color palettes to promote physical, emotional, and intellectual well-being.

This portfolio showcases design projects of different scales, programs, and materials over the last four years.

[ ADAptive ] BDC

[ Site ] Eugene, OR

[ Term ] Fall 2024

[ Professor ] Kyuho Ahn

[ Collaborators* ]

Lydia Black

Giovanni Fazzare

Tyler Baltierra

*All drawings and copy shown are solely my own

The Baker Downtown Center is a university building in the heart of downtown Eugene, Oregon. Currently the home to a thriving Osher Continuing and Professional Education program, the building was expanded to include a newly expanded Disability Studies major for the university.

The focus of this adaptive reuse project is to create an accessible learning environment for diverse user groups by designing spaces that support community connection, access to resources, and opportunities to thrive.

Both departments require large classrooms, departmental offices, and informal lounge spaces for students and staff alike. The client also requested community outreach programs, such as a library, auditorium, and cafe.

Design decisions at each step were considered through the eyes of users with mobility, vision, and hearing impairments as well as those who are neurodivergent or have trauma.

This studio was heavily focused on research and programming.

PROGRAMMATIC GOALS

The site and existing building presented significant challenges to the program’s success, such as multiple level changes, uncontrolled access points, limited access to daylight, and maze-like circulation.

The following three issues were of primary concern throughout the initial redesign process.

Lack of personal connection

Safety + Wayfinding Building Performance + Daylighting

University of Oregon

City Hall

Hult Center

Eugene Public Library

Whole Foods LILA

Eugene Station

Shedd Institute

[ 9:00 am ] Diffuse daylighting throughout

[ 12:00 pm ] Optimal conditions for PV array

[ 3:00 pm ] Excessive solar gain on west facade

HIGH PERFORMANCE ENCLOSURE

The sun studies above show sun intensity without the use of shading devices, both opportunities and challenges. The existing enclosure has been upgraded to include a brick veneer rainscreen with exterior insulation behind, infilled spray insulation within the existing CMU walls, strategic glazing for solar gain control, and a wooden shading screen along the length of the west facade.

[ Floor Plan ] Ground

[ Elevation ] North

Elevation ] South

[ Floor Plan ] Second

INCLUSIVE DESIGN

Reflects community art

The BDC’s design intent is to support differentiated and dynamic experiences of space that provide community connection, access to resources, and opportunities for growth. FF&E adheres to principles of trauma-informed design and maximizes accessibility for those of all abilities. The adaptive approach aims to achieve equitable outcomes by promoting feelings of

Technology Provides

INCLUSIVE = Materials were selected the design process red list chemicals, ethically-sourced recyclable at end-of-life.

It’s not inclusive sustainable.

Vernacular Ties

Assistive

Visual Guides

strong wayfinding cues

Adaptive + Accessible spaces

Prioritizes spatial flexibility, safety , and mobility concerns

= SUSTAINABLE

selected throughout process that were free of chemicals, made of natural, ethically-sourced resources, and end-of-life. if it’s not

The ideas of choice and security involve creating environments that promote peer-to-peer support and opportunities for individuals to feel empowered, connected, and confident in their decisions.

Acoustic Treatments

Maximizes aural comfort and ability

is a key principle of trauma-informed design and overall health and well-being. The sun-soaked central atrium includes a slat trellis with living systems incorporated and lush green planters on the ground floor.

Biophilia

Earth Lofts

[ Site ] New York City, NY

[ Term ] Spring 2024

[ Professor ] Howard Davis

Earth Lofts is a mixed-use artist’s residency building in New York City’s East Village that emphasizes collaboration and community engagement through a unique educational partnership with the nearby “M364 Earth School”.

The second floor serves as a dynamic collaboration space where children from the Earth School can interact with resident artists, fostering crossdisciplinary learning experiences. The inhabitable roof houses a greenhouse area for students and residents to garden and harvest.

The building features a series of interconnected double-height studio spaces arranged in an upwards diagonal pattern, connected by interior stairs and curtain walls that encourage artistic exchange and visibility.

By integrating sustainability education and artistic collaboration, Studio 52 creates a vibrant and enriching environment that knits resident artists into the surrounding community in an impactful way.

[ Diagram ] Parti

[ Diagram ] Privacy Gradient

[ Diagram ] Program [ Diagram ] Indoor/Outdoor [ Diagram ] Daylighting

FLOOR 4

1/16” = 1’-0”

FLOOR 3 1/16” = 1’-0”

1/16” = 1’-0”

FLOOR 2

1/16” = 1’-0”

FLOOR 2 1/16” = 1’-0”

[ Floor plan ] Second [ Floor plan ] Third

[ Section ] Longitudinal

[ Interior ] Shared studio space

[ Interior ] Studio apartment

Beak House

[ Site ] Dallas, TX

[ Term ] Winter 2024

[ Professor ] Mary Polites

Beak House is an exploration of discrete block construction using wood-based 3D printing technology. The global housing crisis forces us to rethink dwelling size, materiality, and fabrication techniques. This suburban site has a du/ac of 20, increasing density and providing much-needed units in a rapid timeframe using discrete additive construction.

I created over 50 foam block iterations of module shapes, each of which needed to aggregate in all directions and turn corners at roof, wall, and foundation edges.

Modular blocks are 3D printed off-site from a recycled sawdust and resin composite. Three block variations account for apertures, built-in shelving, and plumbing components.

Two micro housing units fit on the small site, creating a private backyard and central landscaped walkway. The space between the two units is lined with built-in trellis structures for native climbing plants to utilize. Surrounding trees enhance the private nature of the space and allow for much-needed shade in hot summer months.

MODULE ASSEMBLY

The beak can be combined into a set of four by mirroring each block; this creates a tapered rhomboid. This can can be assembled into a set of three through rotation, forming a hexagon.

This hexagon forms the base unit for the wall structure, aggregating into larger rows and columns. Individual beak blocks are used to infill voids which appear at edges and corners.

Aggregation assembly

Programmatic Coding

Module Fabrication

Integrated living systems

Rear courtyard

Street view

Construction process

+ Wall + Foundation Detail

SAWDUST-BASED EXTRUSION BEAD; 2” DIAMETER

3D PRINTING INFILL; TRIANGULAR FORM

POST-TENSIONED STEEL BOLT; 1” DIAMETER; ROOF TO WALL

ROCKWOOL INSULATION; BLOWN LOOSE; R-50

CONNECTION SLOT; RIGID INSULATION GLUED

WINDOW FRAME; INSET INTO SLOT; COMPOSITE

WINDOW; DOUBLE-PANED GLASS; GAS-FILLED

WINDOW OPENING BLOCKING; DOUGLAS FIR 2X6

EXTERIOR TRELLIS BLOCK FOR NATIVE PLANT GROWTH

POST-TENSIONED BOLT; THREADED TO TOP OF BLOCK

BASE PLATE; POWDER-COATED STEEL; BLACK

CONCRETE SLAB WITH THICK EDGE; 20% BIO CHAR

VAPOR BARRIER PROTECTING SLAB; 12 MIL THICK

ALUMINUM INSULATION COVER; BLACK POWDER COAT

INSULATION FOR SLAB; RIGID POLYSTYRENE; 4” THICK

GRAVEL FOR DRAINAGE WITH EMBEDDED DRAINAGE PIPE

DRAINAGE MAT AND SOIL BELOW

Roof

3D Printed Model

The NAE

[ Site ] Portland, OR

[ Term ] Fall 2023

[ Professor ] Stephen Duff

The NAE, or Portland Athenaeum, sits at the end of the iconic North Park Blocks, aiming to increase community engagement, dialogue, and well-being through architecture. The “NAE” is built to inspire a new generation of Portland architects to push the boundaries of sustainable design.

The building boasts a central atrium space spanning all five stories with a large open stair. Three main spaces flank the atrium on each side with service zones connected in between. The first floor houses a large public

auditorium, a streetside cafe, and public outreach services. The floors continue to increase in privacy, with the second floor library and gallery, third floor hearing rooms, and upper floor offices and event spaces.

A terra cotta rainscreen provides protection for exterior insulation and blends seamlessly with the historic terra cotta buildings of Portland’s Old Town. Large vertical fins give a nod to the columns of classic civic architecture while maintaining an approachable, contemporary feel.

[ Concept ] Sketch models

[ Section ] Transverse

[ Elevation ] East + South

KAWNEER 1600 CURTAIN WALL SYSTEM

MULLION FIN CAP; BLACK ALUMINUM

RECESSED CAVITY MESH

BACK DAM; BLACK ALUMINUM

BACK DAM; BLACK ALUMINUM MULLION FIN CAP; BLACK ALUMINUM

CONTINUOUS SEALANT BEAD AT WRB

BLOCKING AS NEEDED

TOPCLIPTOPCLIP

7-PLY CLT FLOOR WITH 3" CONCRETE

7-PLY CLT FLOOR WITH 3" CONCRETE TOPPERTOPPER

SHILDON TERRA COTTA ALPHATON M2; 6" H

PANEL CLIP; ALUMINUM; SPRING LOADED

CONTINUOUS VERTICAL CLIP RAIL; ALUMINUM

CONTINUOUS SEALANT BEAD

TOP DEFLECTION TRACK FOR STUDS

CONTINUOUS MINERAL WOOL BOARD; EXTERIOR GRADE; 3"; R-12

WATER/AIR CONTROL LAYER; LIQUID APPLIED

EXTERIOR GWB SHEATHING; 5/8"

FIBERGLASS BATT INSULATION; 5 1/2"; R-21

METAL STUD WALL; 2X6

FIBERGLASS BATT INSULATION; 5 1/2"; R-21

METAL STUD WALL; 2X6

INTERIOR VAPOR BARRIER; 6MIL

INTERIOR GWB; 5/8"; ACRYLIC PAINT FINISH

GREEN Z GIRT; FIBERGLASS; 3"

[ Detail ] Window Sill + Wall

WINDOW SILL DETAIL

1 WINDOW SILL DETAIL

3" = 1'-0"

[ Concept ] 1/16” Physical Model

[ Hand Render ] Baker Downtown Center Redesign

Interiors

[ Site ] Eugene, OR

[ Years ] 2023 - 2024

[ Role ] Design-builder

The following pages show a sample of interior design-build projects from my residence in Eugene, Oregon. The house was built in 1970 and features low-slung rooflines, looped circulation, and a linear series of connected public spaces.

I use reclaimed materials in my designs to lower construction costs and reduce landfill waste. Non-toxic or minimal finishes are used to improve indoor air quality and built-ins are used whenever possible to maximize function and efficiency.

I appreciate the tactile, sensory experience of carpentry and the functionality of builtin furniture, especially as compared to the ephemeral products flooding contemporary furniture markets today.

I designed and performed all construction work myself for each of the projects shown. This includes but is not limited to carpentry and custom cabinet construction, flooring installation, electrical wiring and luminaire installation, and plumbing such as water line relocation.

[ Photo ] Kitchen, built

KITCHEN REDESIGN

This 1970 kitchen was reconfigured to allow for a better workflow and greater storage capacity. The peninsula was removed along with its floating overhead cabinets. The base cabinets were rotated and used as the new island.

When possible, all existing cabinets were reused (and painted sage green). I then custom built the large natural wood cabinets on both ends.

[ Diagram ] Existing conditions

[ Photo ] Sink wall; east

[ Diagram ] New layout

[ Photo ] Playroom shelving and window nook

[ Diagram ] Exploded components

[ Diagram ] Elevation

PLAYROOM NOOK

The playroom nook consists of two painted, upcycled bookshelves flanking a nook built from birch plywood offcuts sourced from a local mill.

Directional ceiling lights line the front of the shelving while integrated shelf lighting surrounds the protruding wooden bench.

Wall-hung shoe storage Melanie

Cabinet side with drawer open

SHOE CABINET

The wall-mounted shoe cabinet lives on a narrow stretch of wall directly behind the front door, using otherwise wasted vertical space.

Two easily accessible hinged drawers provide a solution to house five small children’s many, many shoes.

Hand Media

[ Years ] 2019 - 2024

The following section showcases explorations of light and architecture through various media, including watercolor, acrylic, oil pastels, pen, and graphite.

I produced Help during the pandemic as an outlet for the despair, isolation, and anxiety I was experiencing. As a stay-athome parent to a newborn and four other children under the age of 6, I felt trapped without the possibility of school, socialization, or group activities outside the home. This drawing expresses the chaos I felt inside my home

while from the outside everything appeared to fit neatly in its mold.

Weathered and Firm Foundation are two pieces in a series of watercolor studies created in Watkinsville, GA, a small rural town east of Atlanta. Watkinsville has a rich historic preservation program with many buildings dating back to the 19th century.

Greece is a study of color theory and composition based on a town similar to the one in which my grandfather lived before emigrating to the United States.