4 x 4 by iolivares_05

ismael olivares

A great building must begin with the unmeasurable, must go through measurable means when it is being designed and in the end must be unmeasurable. Louis Kahn

4’ 4’

4x4

paisano garden corridor austin boutique hotel

29 49

top of the hill national high school of art science and entrepreneurship for girls resume

4x4

re-FORM

: re-invention through typological dissections

Essay addmitted into ARCC 2017 architecture of complexity design, systems, society and environment June 14-17, 2017

Architecture as a Contradiction

in program and spatial opportunities to

“We cannot create new form where there is

causes as defined by LEED but also against

no new content” – Alvar Aalto (i)

Contradiction is deeply woven

within the tapestry of architectural

pedagogy and practice. Modernists created “new forms” and yet used classical ideas and proportion systems to organize their

buildings, such as Mies van der Rohe’s use of the Golden Ratio (ii). Postmodernist,

Michael Graves argued that historical forms could be design more welcoming spaces

and yet his building in Portland has been criticized for being uncomfortable and unwelcoming

ever-changing human needs (v). The current

linear system begins at a regional scale and magnifies down to the detail level leading to buildings that are often inefficient and

lacking in a level of comprehensiveness that would create adaptable solutions. A more dynamic method is needed that

incorporates the needs of different scales of spaces.

Architectural Taxonomy / Typological Dissections

. Theoretical foundations of

(iii)

practice and pedagogy are open to

interpretation and in constant opposition to one another.

As standard building-components

have made architecture more affordable, traditional craftsmanship and local

industries have been diminished if not eliminated. This change requires new

specialists to ensure quality, performance, and aesthetics meet contemporary

standards. In Vitruvius’ Ten Books on Architecture, a building must maintain

firmness and stability to ensure longevity

and healthy well-built spaces for its users

. Buildings are encouraged to be flexible

(iv)

promote resiliency not only against natural

This paper posits that a system of

architectural taxonomy through spatial

dissection can be used to create a more

robust understanding for a design prompt

before any schematic design that extends

beyond context and into the inner workings

of a building. In doing so, the linearity of the

design process is broken as all scales of a project are taken in consideration at each step of the way to promote modularity,

accessibility, and flexibility.

Architecture can be described and

studied in much the same way as the field of biology with its classification of

organisms through taxonomy allowing for a

careful record of historical, contextual, and sociological factors that influence the

evolutionary traits of the different organisms. In doing so scientists of various fields can

specialize and focus on specific organisms and groups while understanding their

relationship to the overall animal kingdom. This system is regulated and officiated by the Integrated Taxonomic Information

System by Domain / Kingdom / Phylum /

Class / Order / Family / Genus / Species. Although no official governing body

has created a database to encompass the broad notion of architectural taxonomy, it

might be stratified in this manner, Region / City / Community / Typology / Program /

(Fig 1) architectural dissection of a boutique hotel

about individual scales of architectural

influenced spaces. Regionalists have used

Component / Detail / Material. Discourses taxonomy are at the forefront of theory and

practice and there are opportunities to create relationships between them. XL / L / M:

The larger scales of the

architectural Taxonomy (Region / City /

Community / Typology) are often the most

discussed scales in architecture. Legally,

codes and zoning laws have defined how

and where building types are built based on historical precedent and socioeconomic influences. In theoretical circles, the

influence of the region and the context have

materiality, craft, and form to relate

buildings to nature, culture, and community and Peter Eisenman’s “artificial

explorations” explored regional and cultural connections through abstract diagramming .

(vi)

Small and its importance:

In contrast, the smaller scales

(Component / Detail / Material) are often

addressed only for construction purposes;

while, in pedagogic circles they are studied in the context of a void. Extracted out of a

building, different components of buildings

such as chairs, windows, and doors, are related to the human scale and how we

pieces of the biological anatomies, not only

in isolation, but as they relate to the whole is

interact with them. Charles and Rae Eames

key to the effectiveness of a medical

how furniture could facilitate and comfort

creating new tissues with stem cell

of Ten by the Eames explored the

imperative that architects understand the

were careful in their investigations to see

people’s everyday proceedings (vii). Powers

procedure from fixing a broken bone to

technology. In much the same way, it is

relationship between scales of elements

breakdown of spaces and programs, how

of space and down to the subatomic level;

integrated contextually.

from the human scale out to the expanses however, this video does not leave an

understanding on how this affects different

they work internally, and how they are

A dissection starts with an

spatial programs outside of that of a picnic

investigation that unveils information on the

Fundamentals at the 2014 Venice Biennale

The architectural equivalent would be the

in the park (viii). Rem Koolhaas’

explored the “elemental” components of

buildings through history and geography (ix).

time and place in which the specimen lived. contextual research that usually precedes a project. Biologists study the specimen by

In their isolation, architects often neglect

system, observing their relationships to

and/or systems (power, plumbing, etc.)

design process this would be the

construction that may affect a project’s

where spaces are defined and categorized

spatial (clearances, accessibility, etc.) requirements that lead to issues in

design intent, feasibility, legality, and/or

cost.

The process of dissection in biology

can be applied to the field of architecture to

help weave together the varying scales of

research before the design process begins.

The importance of dissection in the medical field is a paramount piece of the

educational journey of a future professional. The value in getting to know the individual

each other before separating them. In the

programmatic development of a project

as per the requirements of a design prompt.

Finally, biologists would break down

biological systems into individual organs to

study their properties and functions as they relate to the system and the overall life of

the organism. Architecturally this would be

a study and record of the components and subcomponents that are conducive to the overall success of a space.

4 x 4 / Modularity / Accessibility / Scale / Flexibility 4 x 4 is a dissection process that

focuses the Program / Component / Detail

scales in architectural taxonomy. It places

programmatic components within a 4’

module to create a kit-of-parts that can then

be arranged into spaces or used as a spatial frame of reference between

components and spaces. In pursuance of this goal the system is defined by four

different traits: modularity, scale, accessibility, and flexibility.

Modularity is by no means a novel

idea or process. The most recognized example in nature is the hexagonal

structure of beehives usually associated

with the term modular. In architecture, a

grid usually goes hand in hand with the idea of modularity. Frank Lloyd Wright’s “organic architecture” operated on a 3 ft. x 3 ft. grid

to create a fluid system that could be

applied to all the elements of a house while making it easy to manufacture each

orthogonal element (x). Unfortunately, many

of these modular forms are based on a 6 ft. module that relate to the height of an ideal

man. Even Frank Lloyd Wright was known to design to that module because it made

spaces comfortable for him even though he

was only 5 ft. tall (xi). Le Corbusier’s modular

man provided a similar system that was

then paired off with the golden ratio, but

once again it was an aesthetic decision as he based it off a 6 ft. module because “in

English Detective Novels, the good-looking

men, such as the policemen, are always six feet tall” (xii).

Thomas Lomee, an industrial

designer, used a 4 cm. module in his approach to finding a “common

denominator” derived through measurement and a study of existing elements stating that “if they exist, they make sense: they are used by a lot of people so they work.

Second because then it’s easier to build on what already exists” (xiii). In much the same way 4 x 4 was derived from a standard measurement that is prevalent in

accessibility standards as set by the

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

(ADA) (xiv). By using 48 in. (the minimum

width that is required for accessible

walkways that turn or need to allow for 90

degree turns) this system aims at creating a basic understanding of requirements that

accommodate for spaces that can be used by all (xv). As a system of measurement, it

must provide opportunities for subdivisions that ease the transition from Program to Material in the overall architectural

taxonomy. The 48 in. / 4 ft. module also

allows for subdivisions by halving the size of

rearrange or repurpose spaces as is

subdivisions allowing for integration of other

more efficient or convenient to combine and

the module into 2 ft.,1 ft., and 6 in. primary requirements found in ADA standards

(xvi)

Secondary subdivisions related to the

imperial system (3 in, 1in, Â˝ in., etc.) are used to relate to the scale of detail work. With an understanding that there are all

kinds of existing anomalies and systems out

there at varying scales, 4 x 4 aims at being

a system of measurement and reference

rather than a formula for design. The need for customization is expressed by Alvar

Aaltoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous quote stating that his module of design was the millimeter (xvii). 4 x 4 provides a methodology for spatial

understanding and necessities that is

related to accessibility but are not to strict

guidelines that must be followed. In doing

needed. Along the same lines it may be

transform the base components that are

available into new special components that not only address the specific needs of a challenge at hand but may lead to new

discoveries and uses in the future. The Sou Fujimoto designed Final Wooden House in

Kumamoto, Japan and House NA in Tokyo, Japan are spaces that serve as examples as to how a modular method can lead to

creative reinventions and combinations of

spaces within modular limitations (xviii). Here even floor slabs and walls take on new

functions as part of the furnishings of the

space (xix). These are traits that run deep in Japanese architecture as is seen in the

House of Sugimoto in Kyoto where spaces

so components such as toilets, which are

were always fluid as movable partitions

manufacturers, can be incorporated.

accommodate for different occasions and

irregular and often pre-defined by

The final trait addressed is

flexibility. As buildings age and

contemporary needs and requirements

change, spaces must be able to adapt to new scenarios that sometimes require

mobility and flexibility. As these pieces are contained in 4 x 4 modules it becomes

could be moved or put away to

users (xx). In the most extreme example of flexibility, Yona Friedman provides an interesting system that allows for

architecture to be in a constant state of flux always adapting and changing within an infrastructural framework (xxi). Within this

framework spaces could be created and

destroyed as is necessary without the need

easier to consider more lightweight

for formal architects and planners (xxii). In

foldable tables to address the need to

overall urban context provides that system

components such as stackable chairs and

many ways, the idea of plots within the

at the larger scales without deregulating the building industry and the 4 x 4 system

provides tools for similar freedom within the

confines of the site.

compositions of 4 ft. cubes and their

relationship to humans. A 4-ft. cube can

enclose a child or an adult sitting on the

floor. Two vertically aligned 4-ft. cubes allow

for an adult to stand up and when the same cubes are aligned horizontally the same

adult may lie down. Consequently, an 8-ft. x 8-ft. space is suited for private and/or

intimate spaces that can enclose a small group of people and/or some pieces of

furniture. A 12 ft. x 12 ft. space or more are

less intimate spaces and are better suited

for public functions. Additionally, the paths

of travel of humans can be 4 ft. wide to

comfortably accommodate people with disabilities. Finally, there must be an

understanding that people come in all

shapes and sizes and designs should try

and provide opportunities for adjustments to be made by users for safer and more pleasant use.

From top to bottom: (Fig 2) House NA in Tokyo Japan by Sou Fujimoto Architects (Fig 3) Villa Spatiale by Yona Friedman

Proportion / Scale The success of 4 x 4 is dependent

on being proportionally related to the

humans. The base diagrams of the system serve as a spatial reference for different

Constructability / Materiality / Furnishings After the typological requirements

for a design prompt are worked out each program must be dissected into its

constituents. Each component then shows

its volumetric, accessibility, and any

building system requirements. For example,

a hotel room for one person could be broken down as follows:

•

Hotel Room (TYPOLOGY) •

•

plumbing

Administrative Area (PROGRAM) •

•

Check Out Counter

Bath Tub optional (COMPONENT) 4 ft. x 8 ft. x 8 ft.

(COMPONENT) varies

•

Room (PROGRAM) •

•

4 ft. (Fig. 4) Requires accessible

•

Living Area optional (PROGRAM) •

and approach

•

Toilet (COMPONENT) 4 ft. x 4 ft.

•

Requires 5 ft. radius and

•

approach

• •

8 ft.

•

centerline to each side Requires connections to

•

28” tall

•

Shower (COMPONENT) 4 ft. x 4 ft. x 8 ft.

•

Requires 4 ft. walkway and approach

Counter (COMPONENT) varies Counter height must be

Kitchenette (COMPONENT) varies

plumbing

•

Requires 4 ft. walkway and approach

clearance from

•

Sofa (COMPONENT) varies •

Requires 4 ft. walkway

and approach and 18 in

•

Requires 4 ft. walkway and approach

Sink (COMPONENT) 4 ft. x 4 ft. x •

Chair (COMPONENT) 4 ft. x 4 ft. x 8 ft.

Requires connections to plumbing

•

Requires connections to electricity and Ethernet

4 ft. walkway and

•

Requires 4 ft. walkway and approach

x 8 ft.

•

Desk (COMPONENT) 4 ft. x 4 ft. x 8 ft.

Bathroom (PROGRAM) •

Requires connections to plumbing

side with 4 ft. walkway

•

Requires 4 ft. walkway and approach

Bed (COMPONENT) 4 ft. x 8 ft. x •

Requires connections to

• •

Requires plumbing and

GYM optional (PROGRAM) •

Equipment (COMPONENT) varies

Requires 4’ walkway and approach

The components that were then

identified can now be used as a kit-of-parts

to quantify the furnishings and spaces

needed. Even if the size, scope, or cost of

the project varies the pieces can be added,

Testing When designing a space a 4-ft. grid

removed, modified, and/or combined to

is not necessary to effectively use the 4 x 4

final red-lines are carried out in a design

else. In the following projects, it is used as a

and can be accounted for. The materiality of

interchangeability of the kit-of-parts through

parts. Gypsum board, corrugated metal,

specific reinterpretation of each component.

rammed earth are examples of construction

for climactic, social, and economic factors

standards in the construction industry in

produce three unique variants that were

and time estimates may be supervised

requirements.

better suit the design prompt at hand. As firm the requirements are already listed out

system as it is a measurement tool above all rigid framework to express and explore the

a project may also be added to this kit-of-

the overall composition and/or project

and formwork for both concrete walls and

In these applications 4 x 4 had to account

methods that are available or already

that would influence the base kit-of-parts to

variant 4 ft. increments. In doing so cost

better suited to their distinct site specific

throughout the design process.

The Garden of Knowledge â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Paisano Garden Corridor Project description:

Texas Tech University College of

Architecture at El Paso formed a

partnership with the City of El Paso to be able to conduct a study of the possible

development of four city-owned properties

in downtown El Paso along Paisano Street,

111 Anthony Street (Site A), 325 S Santa Fe

Street (Site B.1), 200 S Santa Fe Street (Site (Fig 4) typological dissection of a bed for a boutique hotel

B.2), and 222 S Campbell Street (Site C).

The challenge for the semester was the restitching of the urban fabric along Paisano Street which has long been a barrier not

only physically but socioeconomically. For

Application:

be a beacon within the urban landscape

reimagines the bookstore as a space for

each site to be an effective catalyst it must attracting users into underutilized areas.

Gardens serve as beacons in an

urban landscape which is mostly geometric in form. As such a chain of gardens

connecting the three sites would help to

The Garden of Knowledge

people instead of books by eliminating

traditional, space consuming stacks. Books

are stored under a plaza that mechanically

stores and retrieves books that a client can access through a mechanized system or

guide the energy of the city along Paisano

employee assistance. Space is then free to

manner. Finally, a geometric piece sitting

that may serve as display or vending

St. and its arterial corridors in a cohesive

within the garden at each site would act as

a beacon within the garden microcosm. Site

be inhabited by clients or by modular kiosks stations for product/theme specific

exhibitions run by “book sommeliers” or

C was then explored and developed in

vendors. The plaza was formed by

that blurred the boundaries between private

site that was turned 45° to guide people to

detail by creating a Garden of Knowledge and public areas using a 24-hour

bookstore, eateries and a plaza that would adapt to different uses.

inscribing a square within the bounds of the the adjacent gardens in the corridor. The resultant 112 ft. x 112 ft. plaza was then

subdivided using a 4-foot grid that resulted in modifiable “blocks” that could be

adjusted into variant configurations that

allowed for different plaza programs and

events. The 4-ft. grid was used as it could

account for 4-ft. walkways that would allow for accessible paths between each

modifiable block. This grid was then

extended into the rest of the site providing a framework and an overall proportion system for all the components and systems in the project. The kiosks were enclosed by a

system of adjustable and movable walls that (Fig 5) operable plaza blocks + variant plaza configurations

could accommodate to different

requirements while allowing for accessible entrances and components.

Austin Boutique Hotel

form is then manipulated to co-exist with existing natural elements and adapt to

human interactions. The building acts as a transition from the urban (Red River St.) to

the natural (Waller Creek) through a series

of open and interconnected public spaces on the ground plane. The building then

transitions from public and unmovable to private and adaptable spaces through materiality and porosity in the vertical direction.

Application:

Hotels are driven by cost and

spatial efficiency. The contradiction of a boutique hotel is that it must be both

repetitive for economic and branding (Fig 6) the kit-of-parts for a hotel room + a floor plan of the hotel that shows its adaptation to unique conditions

experiences and opportunities for different

users. To create a hotel that balances these opposing needs a study was conducted

Project description:

The Austin Boutique Hotel sits at the

into what components were essential in

corner of Red River and 8 St. The hotel

hotel rooms. The 4 x 4 system was used to

process of an initial urban form extracted

make-up a hotel room to be able to create a

developed as the organizational system for

spaces and needs without being restricted

encompassed the entire site which is a

were then combined and modified into

dimensions and bound vertically by a 6-

could then be manipulated by guests to

location within the capital view corridor. This

needs. Having done so the shape of the

purposes and yet it must provide unique

takes its shape through a transformative

understand the basic components that

from the 320 ft. x 320 ft. city grid that was

kit-of-parts that can be applied in different

the city at its inception. The initial form

to a single combination. These components

quarter of a city block with 80 ft. x 80 ft.

multi-purpose elements and partitions that

story zoning restriction set due to its

create configurations that best suit their

building could then be left free of

programmatic restrictions and allow for

spaces to be generated by site specific forces.

With the final form the kit-of-parts

could be applied and adapted to the unique conditions that were created. The first floors

were all public and as such could be more static and permanent in nature as the

quality of the experience is based on the

interaction of people with each other and

not necessarily the comfort of the individual. This also allows for more porous spaces

that can invite passersby to take part in the

communitarian events of the public spaces.

The site is a hill in rural Kenya that

was inherited by Professor Murimi and

holds a spiritual significance to her. The top of the hill is covered with tall grasses and trees. In the steep sides of the hill to the west, north and east, the trees become

denser forming a forest. The basis of this

studio is to design a high school for girls.

The school strives to be at the forefront of

education for young women in Kenya and

will need a campus that embodies the same spirit of the forward yet sensible

philosophies of the school. The school as a village will incorporate strategies of

community cooperation, self-sustaining

As one travels up the hotel the requirements

systems, and hierarchy to produce a

intimate and as such more dependent on

landscape and a safe learning environment

of the spaces of the hotel become more

personal needs. Here the spaces use

dynamic systems such as operable window shades and louvers to regulate their

campus that is integrated into the

for the girls. By identifying the crucial

components of the typologies of the local schools, a kit-of parts can be developed

privacy, and a component that combines

that will be familiar to the girls as a learning

their experience in their room as needed.

construction methods, and allow for the

storage, a bed, and a desk to customize

environment, provide economical

school to grow as it gains funding and

Top of the Hill National High School of Art, Science, and Entrepreneurship for Girls

support. Historically societies around the

Project description:

crucial elements that help to orient, direct,

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It takes a village to raise a childâ&#x20AC;? -

African proverb

world have been organized and planned around a main public space, such as

plazas or main streets. These spaces are and provide hierarchy to different urban

components. By breaking up the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

form and functions into smaller masses,

they can be arranged around a main public space.

Conclusion Architecture will always reside in

contradiction as it is equally subjective and

The school as a village, growing as a community.

objective. To create a balance in the

discourse of architecture there needs to be a foundation of spatial understanding that

lies in real values and substantive research. Architects are freed to focus on qualitative

performance of their designs by quantifying

the subcomponents of architecture using an architectural taxonomy to create a map of

(Fig 7) water collection systems, solar energy harvesting, passive heating systems, + urban farming in a classroom building

different components and variants to better understand and reinvent the spaces that are needed in contemporary design.

Application:

The rural context of the project

meant that resources and methods of

construction were to be conservatively

factored into the overall design. As such the 4 x 4 kit of parts provides a system that quantifies the materials and labor of

construction of the campus as well as the utilities that are needed and/or being

harvested using water collection systems

and photovoltaics. It also provided a system that could reflect the modern spirit of education that requires spaces and

components that are either versatile and/or

portable.

Robert Venturi writes â&#x20AC;&#x153;An

architecture of complexity and contradiction has a special obligation towards the whole: its truth must be in its totality or in its

implications of totality (xxiii). It must embody

the difficult unity of inclusion rather than the easy unity of exclusionâ&#x20AC;?. An architecture focused on inclusiveness is one that

understands not only what it must be but also how its constituent parts work and

interact. As architecture becomes more

self-aware it will imbue a deeper connection

to its community.

Endnotes Aalto, Alvar, and Göran Schildt. Alvar Aalto in his own words. New York: Rizzoli, 1998. Pg. 62

ii Elam, Kimberly. Behance. n.p., n.d. https://www.behance.net/gallery/12471003/Mies-vander-Rohes-Farnsworth-House.

“Preserve or Demolish: A Guide to Contested Architecture,” Architizer, January 15, 2014, accessed December 27, 2017, http://architizer.com/blog/preserving-contestedarchitecture/.

iii

Meltzer, Burkhard, and Tido Oppeln. Rethinking the Modular : Adaptable Systems in Architecture and Design. New York: Thames & Hudson Ltd, 2016. Pgs. 32-43 xiii

“2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design,” May 2017, accessed January 3, 2017, https://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/20 10ADAstandards.htm.

xiv

Ibid.

xvi

Ibid.

Vitruvius, et al. Vitruvius : Ten Books On Architecture. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1999.

xvii

“Resiliency | U.S. Green Building Council,” U.S. Green Building Council, 2016, accessed January 3, 2017, http://www.usgbc.org/advocacy/priorities/resiliency.

xviii

Eisenman, Peter, Bédard, and Alan Balfour. Cities of Artificial Excavation : the Work of Peter Eisenman, 1978-1988. Montréal New York: Canadian Centre for Architecture Rizzoli International, 1994. vi

Madman Films, Eames: The Architect & the Painter, August 13, 2013, https://youtu.be/txJXhW737to.

vii

Eames Office, “Powers of Ten™ (1977),” YouTube, August 26, 2010, posted December 27, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fKBhvDjuy0.

viii

Koolhaas, Rem. Fundamentals : 14th international architecture exhibition. Venice, Italy: Marsilio, 2014. Pgs. 187-312

Curtis, William J. Modern Architecture Since 1900. London: Phaidon, 1996. Pgs. 120-121

Ibid.

Smith, Korydon H. Introducing Architectural Theory : Debating a Discipline. New York: Routledge, 2012. Pg. 221

xii

Aalto, Alvar, and Göran Schildt. Alvar Aalto in his own words. New York: Rizzoli, 1998. Pg 202 Pollock, Naomi R., and Sōsuke Fujimoto. Sou Fujimoto. London: Phaidon Press, 2016. Pgs. 54-59, 76-81.

(Fig. 2) http://www.archdaily.com/230533/house-na-sou-fujimotoarchitects xix

Ibid.

ACB, “The House of Sugimoto,” YouTube, February 12, 2016, posted December 10, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxF1g05cCUE&t= 112s.

Orazi, Manuel, Nader Seraj, and Yona Friedman. Yona Friedman : the dilution of architecture. Zurich Lausanne: Park Books Archizoom, 2015. Pgs. 43-153

xxi

(Fig. 3) http://images.adsttc.com/media/images/56a8/a505/e58e/cee7/e100/0034 /newsletter/IMG_1052.jpg?1453892860 xxii

Ibid.

xxiii Venturi, Robert. Complexity and Contradiction in Architecture. New York Boston: Museum of Modern Art Distributed by New York Graphic Society, 2011. Pg. 16

*All other images by author

4x4

kit-of-parts

private standing sitting personal conversations

4’ 4’

familiar walking sleeping informal conversations

public physical activities gatherings

8’

4’

8’

8’ 16

12’-0” open and provides ample room for structure + systems 10’-0” comfortable for all heights and provides minimal clearances for structure + systems to allow for an 8’ ceiling above finished floor 8’-0” minimum height that is comfortable to most heights and allows for some natural light 6’-0”

basic living amenities + materiality

A twin bed and a bunk bed fit in the 4’ x 8’ module. Sizes bigger than this must use the 8’ x 8’ module.

A toilet, sink, and a shower use a 4’ x 4’ module but the shower requires an extra 4’x 4’ module for circulation or an open shower configuration. A tub may also fit in a 4’ x 8’ module but as they are less sanitary and wasteful they are not part of the system. 18

typical gyp stud construction

corrugated steel

concrete

Most materials are already available in standard sizes that are divisible by 4â&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Formwork is usually done in increments of 4â&#x20AC;&#x2122; as well. This is useful when estimating costs, labor, and time before and during the construction process. Quality control is also easier as the contractors are not having to rely on often difficult or conflicting dimensions.

rammed earth 19

application

Paisano Garden of Knowledge

The rental bike station + bench is a 6’ x 4’ unit that allows for both bikes and at least 4 people to use the same mass. Double functionality make bike rental stations easier to quantify from a budgetary standpoint.

easy-assemble shading canopy + storage compartment table + glass viewport into book distribution system bench + kiosk shelving

flat

picnic

The plaza is split up into 8’ x 8’ units that are separated by a 4’ circulation grid. Designated units would be able to transform into the configurations above to be able to accommodate for different programmatic possibilities. 20

retail

stage

flat plaza variant

end stage variant (all 4 corners possible)

center stage variant

ceremonial variant

market variant (default configuration)

application

Paisano Garden of Knowledge

The movable partition system at the Paisano Garden of Knowledge is aimed at providing a flexible system that can adapt to many different programs and combinations. The two axons show how a 32â&#x20AC;&#x2122; x 32â&#x20AC;&#x2122; space can change depending on furniture layouts. The wall system is mounted on a rail system that allows for the walls to slide into place and have panels that are interchangeable and operable to allow for unique compositions and variable levels of openness.

grass planting soil drain pan insulation concrete structure

green roof detail

rail system

wall section retail kiosk detail

application

Austin Boutique Hotel

bed configuration

desk configuration

The base room is a simple space that is divided by a partition that is composed of a bed, a desk, + storage. The door opens up towards the living area while the partition screens the bathroom on the other half of the room. 24

storage configuration

This study used the different components of the kit of parts and adapted to different hypothetical situations. 25

application

Top of the Hill National High School of Art, Science, and Entrepreneurship For Girls The size and the uncertainty of the program for this project was at times overbearing. The 4 x 4 system helped to create smaller more manageable pieces that could be better understood or quantified when funding and infrastructural calculations would come into play. It also revolved around elements that could be movable or adaptable to better suit the needs of the ever changing education system. The classrooms and more importantly the laboratories serve as the archetype of these ideas. The base unit here is the desk in itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s various forms. Two standard lecture desks and/or a laboratory/ drawing/administrative desk fit within a 4â&#x20AC;&#x2122; x 4â&#x20AC;&#x2122; module. The idea here is to have simple yet stackable or fold-able elements that could be stored or moved as is needed. Laboratories are designed to be flexible for multiple uses through the use of a large open floor plan and interchangeable envelope options. The top variation uses corrugated steel inserts to create a dark room that can be used for events such as photography while the bottom uses translucent corrugated plastic that can be used for botany classes or other light intensive courses. Other panel options include wood and insulated panels.

translucent corrugated plastic paneling

corrugated metal paneling

Physical model showing different uses of corrugated steel and corrugated translucent plastic panels in different configurations. Below is an interior view showing a casual layout of standard laboratory desks.

Paisano Garden Corridor

Paisano Garden of Knowledge ARCH5501 comprehensive studio Prof. Daniela Quesada

Texas Tech University College of Architecture at El Paso formed a partnership with the City of El Paso to be able to conduct a study of the possible development of four city owned properties in downtown El Paso along Paisano St., 111 Anthony Street (Site A), 325 S Santa Fe St (Site B.1), 200 S Santa Fe St. (Site B.2), and 222 S Campbell Street (Site C). The challenge for the semester was the restitching of the urban fabric along Paisano Street which has long been a barrier not only physically but socioeconomically. In order for each site to be an effective catalyst it must be a beacon within the urban landscape. Gardens serve as beacons in an urban landscape which is mostly geometric in form. As such a chain of gardens connecting the three sites would help to guide the energy of the city along Paisano St. and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arterial corridors in a cohesive manner. Finally a geometric piece sitting within the garden at each site would act as a beacon within the garden microcosm. Site C was then explored and developed in detail by creating a Garden of Knowledge that blurred the boundaries between private and public areas through the use of a 24-hour bookstore, eateries and a plaza that would adapt to different uses.

existing conditions + proposed urban strategy

AIN ST

S VR

SAN

NIO ST

ANTO

ST NCE

ORE

ELL MPB S CA

NSAS

S KA

OA ST

S OCH

AVE.

A ST

EGON

S OR ST

SO ST

EL PA

N ANTO S ST

1ST AV

1ST

A ST

UAHU

NGO

DURA

LEON

A FE SANT

STRE

ST CHIH

AND

VERL

B.1

S MES

NIO

ANTO

ONY

ANTH

SAN

W OV

S FL

C ND ST

ERLA

B.2

MEXICO

site

entertainment/performance

residential

Site A impact zone

restaurant/bar

parking

Site B impact zone

government

hotel

Site C impact zone

public amenities

religion

commercial/retail

education

existing green spaces

future green spaces

C A

B.2

B.1

MEXICO

sites

existing buildings

proposed garden

Site A impact zone

existing green areas

views between gardens

Sites B/C impact zone

future green areas

bike rental terminal

Site D impact zone

proposed mixed use

bus terminal

overall concept + site development

Gardens are beacons in an urban landscape.

Geometric forms are beacons in the garden microcosm.

Union Depot

Site A

Site B

Site C

Second Baptist Church

All three sites were developed using a single methodology. Gardens act as beacons in the overall urban context which is geometric and within these garden microcosms a geometric mass is inserted that will become a secondary beacon. Site C is unique in that it was the one site that would not have acted as a beacon with a mass sitting in the garden. Instead it was a voided form to juxtapose among the tall skyscrapers that surround it that was defined by elevating the ground plane to create a roof garden that would help define a new urban plaza. Additionally each of the three sites react programmatically to the needs of their distinct surroundings. Site A was the Garden of Entertainment a garden that contained pockets of public spaces and food. Site B was the Garden of the Arts and Retail providing spaces that would help to populate downtown with new inhabitants. Site C was the Garden of Knowledge tying together the schools and libraries south of Paisano and the civic buildings to the north.

Site A

PAISANO ST

collector pockets underground parking bicycle rental terminal car gallery

Site B

open plaza underground parking bicycle rental terminal El Paso gift shop luxury shops and eateries public art gallery luxury apartments

NO S

A PAIS

Site C

bookstore cafe bus shelter open plaza bike rental terminal restaurant retail kiosks

NO ST

PAISA

site C massing diagram

EXPOSED

open plaza is uprotected from the elements

SHELTER

the plaza through a raised mass to protect from cold winter winds

CALIBRATE

COOL

by readjusting the mass to protect from uncomfortable spring winds

the plaza by remaining open to cool summer winds

programming

The Garden of Knowledge is envisioned as a 24 hour bookstore that is run by machines. With the book stored below the plaza and delivered to the buyer through a series of belts and elevators, the building is free to address and accommodate the people that come to buy the books. Smaller galleries made out of movable partitions that can be re-sized and readjusted for different needs provide spaces for temporary spaces for new products or exhibits and the residual space is free to allow people to linger and relax. Two eateries at either side of the plaza provide options to the visitors. The one on the west at the galleries is a vertical restaurant that transports food and beer vertically from a kitchen and a microbrewery in the basement level transported to the customers on elevator systems similar to those that deliver the books. On the East there is a high scale restaurant overlooking the plaza from the second floor that caters to more conservative or formal clientelle. The plaza itself became a dynamic element on itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own as it provided windows that would overlook the stacks of books and the machines that allowed for the bookstore to operate. In addition to this the plaza had movable components that would become benches, tables, retail kiosks, and stage areas as depending on how they were raised from their flat positions. This would allow for different events and uses to occupy the plaza.

rooftop garden that rises out of the ground extending the public space

bookstore galleries + tapas/microbrewery (blue) high end restaurant + rental bike terminal (red)

plaza that tops the bookshelves and the mechanisms that bring them to the bookstore

floor plans

site plan

level 3

level 2

ground level

basement plan + book distribution system

basement level

order through salesperson

pick up book at dispense towers

order through mobile device

BOOK TITLE AUTHOR

$$$

book retrieval paths

book redirection system

PRESS HERE TO PURCHASE NOW

order through interactive glass facade

book retrieval arm

elevations + sections

southwest elevation

southeast elevation

northeast elevation

longitudinal section

west interior elevation

east interior elevation

northwest elevation

transverse section

physical model + digital renderings

As the bookstore became more and more open and free the building lost bits of itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s facade to the erosion of pedestrian flow. The pixelated facade features large and cragged pieces at the top but as the facade gets closer to the pedestrian it gets smoother and more transparent. This imitates the way that water carves away at a cliff.

Austin Boutique Hotel

Austin Boutique Hotel ARCH5501 comprehensive studio Prof Peter Raab

The Austin Boutique Hotel is an urban form extracted from the city grid that is manipulated to coexist with nature and adapt to human interactions. The building acts as a transition from the urban (Red River St.) to the natural (Waller Creek) through a series of open and interconnected public spaces on the ground plane. The building then transitions from public and unmovable to private and adaptable spaces through the use of materiality and porosity in the vertical direction. The Austin Boutique Hotel allows for a unique experience with integrated and dynamic interactions between people and the city of Austin.

study models

After dissecting the boutique hotel room typology, study models were used to analyze differnt ways in which the building could engage Waller Creek. Model a explored the use of an elevated mass that inhabits the spatial limits of the site as per zoning laws with a void in the Waller Creek facing portion of the site to create a platform that engages and celebrates its connection to nature. Model b investigates an elevated mass that instead tapers down as it meets the ground to allow for nature to coexist with the hotel. Model c used an elevated mass and a tapered form but with the use of a central courtyard. Model d opens up the courtyard from model c and opens it up towards the creek creating a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Uâ&#x20AC;? shaped form that opens up the building to more natural light Model e disposed of the courtyard and began to dissolve from both the Waller Creek facade and the street-adjacent facade to engage nature and people. * Models b to e use materiality to represent the following programmatic functions wood - hotel massing white poster board - public areas wire - circulation a

concept diagram Waller Creek

URBAN FORM

LIFT

DISSOLVE

following the orthagonal organizationof the city of Austin from 1887

for pedestrian circulation from the street to the creek and back

to allow existing vegetation to coexist

CUT

sound spheres from the surrounding music venues

LOWER

ENGAGE

the loose pieces to create new public places

Waller Creek by creating a public space that celebrates the creek

programming + code analysis

private - solid - sanctuary People manipulate their environments in private spaces to suit their own needs and comforts. Kimber Modern Austin, Texas Burton Baldridge Architects

1104 E. 6th St. Austin, Texas

public - transparent - community Spaces guide peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s actions and activities in public spaces.

bar (3136 sqft) occupancy type A-2 assembly load factor 15 occupant load 209 WC (male) 1 WC (female) 2 lavatories 1 hotel business center gym

occupancy type load factor occupant load WC (male) WC (female) lavatories

bar restaurant utilities circulation

ground level

occupancy type load factor occupant load WC (male) WC (female) lavatories

restaurant (2432 sqft) A-2 assembly 15 162 1 1 1 kitchen (1024 sqft) A-2 assembly 200 6 1 1 1

hotel (6237 sqft) occupancy type R-1 residential load factor 200 occupant load 31 WC 31 lavatories 31 gym (316 sqft) occupancy type A-2 assembly load factor 50 occupant load 6 WC (male) 1 WC (female) 1 lavatories 1 business center (425 sqft)

occupancy type load factor occupant load WC (male) WC (female) lavatories

717 Red River central business district 1:8 FAR type 2B construction 14082 sqft 452 occupants wic - 44 hotel - 31 male - 6 urinals - 1 female - 5

A-2 assembly 100 4 1 1 1

bar (512 sqft) occupancy type A-2 assembly load factor 15 occupant load 34 WC (male) 1 WC (female) 1 lavatories 1

roof + floor plans 1/12

1/12

roof plan

dn.

elev. elev.

dn.

level 6

dn.

elev. elev.

dn.

level 5

dn.

elev. elev.

dn.

level 3

floor plans

meditation meditation space space

total totalbody body machine machine

dn.

gym gym

business center center elev. elev. dn.

level 3

elev. elev.

bar

dn.

elev. elev.

dn.

1/12

level 2

E 8th Street

restaurant

T. O. SLAB

dn.

elev.

fridge.

Red River Street

kitchen front desk

T. O. SLAB

T. O. SLAB - 6’ - 0”

dn.

dn. T. O. SLAB

dn.

T. O. SLAB - 3’ - 0”

dn. elec. transform.

WALLER CREEK - 24’ - 0”

dn.

stage T. O. SLAB - 12’ - 0”

dn.

dn. T. O. SLAB - 9’ - 0”

elev. dn.

trash

coffee bar

recycle

ground level

elev.

mechanical equipment

elev.

dn.

WALLER CREEK - 24’ - 0”

basement level

elevations + sections parapet level 72’ - 0”

B C

F G H

L M

9 10 11 12 13

level 6 60’ - 0” level 5 48’ - 0” level 4 36’ - 0” level 3 24’ - 0” level 2 12’ - 0” ground level 0’ - 0”

northeast elevation parapet level 72’ - 0”

level 6 60’ - 0” level 5 48’ - 0” level 4 36’ - 0” level 3 24’ - 0” level 2 12’ - 0” ground level 0’ - 0”

creek level -24’ - 0”

southwest elevation A parapet level 72’ - 0” level 6 60’ - 0” level 5 48’ - 0” level 4 36’ - 0” level 3 24’ - 0” level 2 12’ - 0” ground level 0’ - 0” basement level -16’ - 0” creek level -24’ - 0”

transverse section

parapet level 72’ - 0”

H G

F E

D C

level 6 60’ - 0” level 5 48’ - 0” level 4 36’ - 0” level 3 24’ - 0” level 2 12’ - 0” ground level 0’ - 0”

creek level -24’ - 0”

northeast elevation elevation

13 12 11 10

parapet level 72’ - 0”

level 6 60’ - 0” level 5 48’ - 0” level 4 36’ - 0” level 3 24’ - 0” level 2 12’ - 0”

ground level 0’ - 0”

creek level -24’ - 0”

northwest elevation elevation

parapet level 72’ - 0” level 6 60’ - 0” level 5 48’ - 0” level 4 36’ - 0” level 3 24’ - 0” level 2 12’ - 0” ground level 0’ - 0” basement level -16’ - 0” creek level -24’ - 0”

longitudinal section

materiality + axon

Materiality is fairly limited to concrete, wood and glass to be able to adhere to the Austin pattern of limited materials arranged and rearranged in layers. Concrete is versatile and clean and is the primary material. A smooth form of board formed concrete is used to be ble to provide texture and a level of craftsmanship that is seen in Austinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s buildings. Concrete is also readily available well within a 500â&#x20AC;&#x2122; radius. Wood acts as an accent to be able to provide a warmth and comfort for the visitor. It represents the human component of the building. Any aspect of the private spaces that areconcerned with the personalization to the userâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needs is made of wood as are the public ammenities meant to accomodate for human experiences. Kebonied wood uses a treatment that includes alcohol, pressure, and heat to be able to harden pine and other hardwoods allowing for the use of more sustainable wood options. Glass is used to create permeability in the public spaces and as a gateway between the rooms and the City of Austin. Metal + Porcelain are used in utilitarian components such as the sinks and toilets and to help ease transitions between the wood and the concrete.

Example of materiality and layering in Austin Texas

Example of board formed concrete contrasted by wood. Pio Pio Restaurant New York, New York Sebastian Marsical Studio

bed configuration

desk configuration

storage configuration el

et lev

parap

smooth board-formed concrete

roller shades

kebonied pine

brushed aluminum/steel

leve

operable wooden louvers operable window

leve

operable window with black out shades

operable wooden louvers privacy and solar shading l4

fixed wooden louvers

leve

open to experience Austin l3

leve

closed for pricvacy + rest

wall axon

wooden louvers closed v open

transition + circulation

Main entrances Hotel San Jose Austin, Texas Lake/Flato Architects

Spaces in Austin tend follow similar progressions between public and pivate spaces using a semipublic courtyard providese a space of transition and relief between both.

Lobby space and main axis from the street to the creek.

Courtyard Entrance Sequence Haywood Hotel Austin, Texas KRDB

The hotel uses the stairs as a vertical courtyard that is open to the views of the city while protecting the guests from the elements. The floors with the rooms would require a key card to be able to access them but the stairs would be open to the public. The guardrail also provides a visual stimuli as it conveys the verticality of the space and it is a point of intereest for someone looking at it from the outside as people will appear and disappear as they travel up the stairs.

structure

tree force diagram

structure column force diagram

extruded lighting concrete waffle grid

hotel force diagram

concrete column

connection detail

pavilion structure

glass roof structure

waffle slab

hotel structure

waffle slabs

vertical structure and foundation

bar structure

bar waffle slab

vertical structure

systems + emergency egress + physical model

circulation condenser BC connector register main supply/return zone a zone b zone c

ground level

HVAC plumbing fixture clean supply greywater blackwater

clean water from city

greywater for irrigation greywater cisterns and filters

plumbing

blackwater sewage

emergency egress

solar study - morning

solar study - midday

solar study - afternoon

Top of the Hill National High School of Art, Science, and Entrepreneurship For Girls

Top of the Hill National High School of Art, Science, and Entrepreneurship For Girls ARCH5502 topical studio Prof. Urs Peter Flueckiger

It takes a village to raise a child. - African proverb The site is a hill in rural Kenya that was inherited by Professor Murimi and holds a spiritual significance to her. The top of the hill is covered with tall grasses and trees. In the steep sides of the hill to the west, north and east, the trees become denser forming a forest. The basis of this studio is to design a high school for girls. The school strives to be at the forefront of education for young women in Kenya and will need a campus that embodies the same spirit of the forward yet sensible philosophies of the school. The school as a village will incorporate strategies of community cooperation, self-sustaining systems, and hierarchy to produce a campus that is integrated into the landscape and a safe learning environment for the girls. By studying and breaking down the crucial components of the typologies of the local schools, a KIT OF PARTS can be developed that will not alienate the girls to a completely new learning environment, provide economical construction methods, and allow for the school to grow as it gains funding and support. Historically societies around the world have been organized and planned around a main public space, such as plazas or main streets. These spaces are crucial elements that help to orient, direct, and provide hierarchy to different urban components. By breaking up the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s form and functions into smaller masses, they can be arranged around a main public space. The school as a village, growing as a community. 76

concept diagram

TRADITIONAL

one all encompassing mass with a field for sports

MONASTERY

one large mass completing the fieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enclosure with a field in the center

CAMPUS

campus of large masses recreational field on the edge

VILLAGE

masses blend into nature to enclose a public plaza

with

context

equator

Africa 80

Kenya

site location 81

site plan

chapel

(3)

(3) (2) faculty housing

(2) faculty housing

(1) guest housing

The school is organized around a 4’ x 4‘ grid that starts at Prof. Murimi’s spiritual spot and is pivoted 60˚ from vertical to maximize the area that sits within the forest. (1) Chapel (2) Prof. Murimi’s House (3) Student Housing (4) Flexible Laboratories (5) Classrooms 82

(6) Cafeteria/Kitchen (7) Faculty Housing (8) Administrative Complex (9) Reception Checkpoint (10) Visitor Housing

administrative complex

The lion and its cubs is used as a concept for the administrative complex. The lionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mane represented by the auditorium/conference room is the image of the lion. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s open and transparent nature is reflective of how a school should operate. The library forms the body of the lion and the body of knowledge that guides the school. Last but not least the administrative offices are as cubs to the lion and must uphold the responsible image of the school and help to carry on the body of knowledge that has been passed on to them from previous generations. Words that promote success and a sense of moral responsibility would be displayed around the complex so as to remind the staff and the students to uphold positive life choices for themselves and those around them.

The administrative complex combines the auditorium and the conference hall so as to create a space that is not limited to specific functions. Additionally it opens up to allow for large events to accommodate more people. exterior perspective beauty

honesty leadership

e th d to fiel en er op cc so

auditorium + conference center inte breakin

grity

g barr

cour a

grea tn

unities

vis

ito

gth

iers

opport

stren

ess

library 85

chapel

inner sanctum

seating

The chapel sits in a natural slope and as such only small stools will be provided to form an outdoor congregation space while the inner sanctum is a translucent pavilion that is meant to dissolve into nature. The plan is circular to demark Prof. Murimiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s religious experience with a reverse dome that directs people to the center. The Old Hellerup High School courtyard designed by the architecture firm BIG serves as a precedent study. The courtyard uses a man made hill and simple seating to create a space of assembly and casual gatherings. The seating surrounding the inner sanctum would use the natural slope of the site to create a similar atmosphere for formal and informal events

Old Hellerup High School

student housing Student housing is envisioned as a cluster of 6 smaller units that are blanketed by a translucent canopy. In doing so the students would feel safe to retreat to their private spaces or mingle with their fellow classmates in the garden pockets in-between the units. The units were derived from existing housing system but translated to a village ideology that allows for a separation between private and public functions while still being a cost effective solution.

floor plan

water closets

showers

birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye view

conceptual sketches

interior view

garden corridor

transverse section 89

classrooms + laboratories Classrooms are large open areas with light and movable furniture that can be stored in closets between classrooms.

floor plan

transverse section

Classroom corridor protected by hydroponic garden screen + solar panel porch.

The long rammed earth walls would use small openings to frame the natural landscape outside at eye level for the students. 91

sustainability H2O

to we r

t to

sto

re d

wa te r

r te wa

p he

cistern and purifier

Each building collects and purifies rainwater on site then sends the water to a water tower for storage for later use. 2,574,375.55 gallons of water harvesting per year with current layout. At 650 inhabitants that means that each person would receive around 11 gallons of water per day 2x the 3rd world average. 92

Solar energy is used to generate electricity using solar panels mounted on the roofs and solar panels used as shading devices. 10% solar panel roof energy production = 374,882,812 kWh with the current layout.

gy ner

al e

rm the

geo

Solar energy is used to heat the buildings through the use of windows and skylights. The rammed earth walls and the concrete floors would store heat and release it during cooler hours. This system would also be aided by a geothermal heating; which, uses heat generated from the earth.

Each building has a component of urban farming. These components use rainwater and a hydroponic system. In doing so the buildings create shading and vitality for the students while aiding any other farming areas that are dispersed throughout the school.

research

A book that contains research about Kenya and schools is available in the top link on the next page and a video about a 16” x 32” x 20” rammed earth wall sample that was built is accessible through the bottom link on the next page.

https://issuu.com/iolivares_05/docs/research_-_top_of_the_hill

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tva8vOA_rgE

Ismael Olivares

1.915.244.9815 | iolivares_05@yahoo.com

Portfolio Website

http://ismaelolivares.wix.com/i-olivares-arch

software

Revit 2009 - 2015 AutoCAD 2011 - 2015 Rhino 4 ,5, and Mac Vray for Rhino 4 and 5 Adobe Photoshop/Illustrator/InDesign CS5, CS6, and CC

education

Texas Tech College of Architecture Class of 2017 - Master of Architecture, M.Arch Texas Tech College of Architecture at El Paso Class of 2015 - Bachelor of Science Architecture El Paso Community College Class of 2013 - Associate of Science Architecture EPISD Career & Technology - Architectural Drafting Program 2009-2011

honors

El Paso Builder’s Association 1st Place Scholarship (hs) El Paso Community College Dean’s List (fr/so) Texas Tech University Dean’s List (jr) TTU Proven Achiever’s Scholarship (jr/sr) Edmond and Helen Anderson Scholarship (jr/sr) Robert L. Coombs Bequest/Robert Leon Coombs Scholarship (jr/sr)

clubs

El Paso Community College Architecture Society general member (fr) secretary (so) PHI THETA KAPPA general member (so) AIAS secretary of liasons (jr) general member (sr) TAU SIGMA DELTA general member (sr)

volunteer work EPCC Rain Water Collection System 115 hours (so) Lydia Patterson Institute Design Charrette (jr) GRO El Paso 2014 20 hours (jr)

work TTU College of Architecture Feb. 08, 2016 to March 08, 2016 .... Graduate Assistant for Main Gallery NAAB Exhibition

internships

Alvidrez Architecture Inc. Aug. 2014 to July 2015 Dewberry June 2016 to Present

2016