Joe Palazzolo Architecture Portfolio

Joe Palazzolo architecture portfolio

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CONTENTS Graduate Work Hotel on Main Street Summer 2023 - 10 weeks

Virginia Tech Tennis Pavilion Spring 2023 - 16 weeks

Workshop-House for Two Artists Spring 2023 - 2 days

Gallery for Ansel Adams Fall 2022 - 8 weeks

Emergency Response Shelter Fall 2022 - 8 weeks

NRV Passenger Rail Station Spring 2022 - 8 weeks

Other Work Competitions Photography Select blog posts

National Museum of African American History and Culture - Washington D.C.

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BLACKSBURG BOUTIQUE HOTEL Summer 2023 - 10 weeks

The room as the heart of the hotel, designed to infuse it with abundant natural light and a marriage of natural and man-made materials. This harmonious fusion is aimed at creating a haven for repose, relaxation, and enjoyment – a sanctuary from the day’s exploration in Blacksburg and its surrounding area.

The ground floor extends the essence of main street into the hotel’s interior and exterior space, effectively weaving into the tapestry of downtown. This transformation imbues the area with a natural, urban oasis, bringing a touch of serenity to the landscape of a vibrant city center.

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Hotel’s Ethos

a.

The hotel’s design is centered around seamlessly integrating public and private spaces, creating a harmonious blend that enhances the surrounding downtown. The ground floor is thoughtfully designed as an extension of the main street, ensuring a lively atmosphere. To draw in passerby’s, the cafe and its accompanying outdoor terrace are positioned at the front.

a

The entryway, slightly set back from the street, compliments the aesthetics of the neighboring shops and restaurants, preserving the appealing street scape. Moving towards the rear of the hotel, close to the check-in desk, there’s a small; bar area. While still accessible to the public, there is an added layer of privacy that ensures a comfortable environment for both hotel guests and visitors.

Between the hotel and the adjacent Wells Fargo building, the space has been reclaimed by nature, creating an urban oasis. This natural oasis injects vibrant energy into the downtown area, enriching the overall ambiance of the surroundings.

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metal coping flashing Fibre C concrete cladding wood frame

pool catch pool reinforced concrete blue ceramic tiles protection board waterproof liner

base flashing reinforced concrete slab

exterior wood cladding metal support interior wood cladding Fibre C concrete cladding reinforced concrete reinforced concrete slab water drainage profile thermal pad

PVC raised floor pedestal flooring - exterior

wood profile aerated concrete flooring - interior thermal insulation suspended ceiling

Individual Room The room was the basis for the project and the room is what leaves a lasting impression for visitors. Much like the exterior of the hotel, a fusion of man-made and natural materials aim to create an aesthetically pleasing harmonious blend.

To enhance the room’s allure, a thoughtfully curated art piece is added behind the bed’s headboard. This artistic touch resonates throughout the space and is reflected in the charming color choice of tiles in the bathroom. Each room has a different artwork. As visitors step inside, they are enveloped in an inviting ambiance, on that effortlessly bridges the gap between a place of visitation and a comforting sense of home. An elegantly elevated experience, making the guests feel as though they have entered a space that embodies the essence of beauty.

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8” CMU unit air gap rebar perimeter insulation exterior cladding interior cladding

sill flashing sill sealer protective covering

elevation with full wall detail

geo-fabric wrap 3/4” stone surround drainage pipe concrete footing

interior cladding concrete foundation bond break concrete slab

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b.

c.

Lobby

Staircase

The primary entrance and lobby are strategically positioned adjacent to the parking lot and opposite to the main street-facing side. This layout effectively designates a private enclave tailored exclusively for hotel guests.

The staircase connects the hotel’s various floors, serving as the primary vertical circulation element. The staircase gracefully blends form and function, offering both a practical circulation for guests and visitors, while making a bold architectural statement. Whether concealed or displayed, the staircase will become an integral part of the hotel’s unique character.

A cozy waiting area is designated for guests to await check in or leisurely plan their daily activities. Direct access to the staircase allows guests to circumvent the bustling main street, providing a seamless route to their respective floors. Of course there are also two elevators located toward the front, should they wish to use them.

Similarly, the bar area is thoughtfully secluded from main street, introducing a layer of seclusion and privacy for both guests and visitors. The use of an almost black color scheme, complemented by lighter wood tones and brass fixtures, imparts an air of refined relaxation to the space, creating an ambiance that is both sophisticated and relaxing.

handrail sketches

b c 10

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rooftop

fourth floor

south oriented rooms

water collection system

green spaces

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angled 21 degrees to face south reception of natural light, reduces need for artificial lighting passive solar heating lower energy costs

captures and harvests rain water water conservation reduces water demand and increases self-sufficiency

• • • •

third floor

mitigate urban heath island effect provide shade and evapotranspiration increase local biodiversity increase opportunities for social interactions improve mental health

second floor

ground floor

north section east section

north section 12

room angle sketch diagrams 20 feet

east section 13

Virginia Tech Tennis Pavilion Spring 2023 - 16 weeks

The new tennis pavilion aims to create a place of reverence for the spectators and players. A “temple” to tennis. An inspiring place to be within, bathed in the soft light of the sun. Letting the light in, and keeping the sun out was the primary influence of the design. The exterior shade screen intercepts the harsh rays of the sunlight, while the glass curtain wall and tree canopy acts as secondary and tertiary defenders. The sawtooth roof invites light in and the suspended glass ceiling system diffuses it. The monumental entrance and large staircase down to the courts and locker rooms aims to give dignity back to the players, while the full extent of the pavilion reveals itself.

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finger trap

stretched

finger trap bridge

The finger trap bridge acts as a detour to the huckleberry trail and penetrates the tennis pavilion allowing pedestrians access to the interior without having to go inside. It gives the viewer a unique vantage point to watch or observe the matches providing a different experience compared to those within.

Tennis pavilion Huckleberry trail New Huckleberry trail extension 16

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a) finger trap bridge creates a unique accessible moment and vantage point, bringing the exterior into the interior b) accessible stadium seating exists on the circumference of the pavilion allowing viewing access to all six tennis courts c) lowered tennis courts provides more vertical space for playing tennis and makes for a better viewing experience

d) north-facing sawtooth windows distributes the light evenly while protecting against direct sun

d.

e) opaque ceiling membrane allows light to enter and keeps direct sun out

e. f.

a. b. c.

g.

f) interior trees acts an additional shading device and creates an indoor garden space g) exterior sun screen allows light to enter and keeps direct sun out

east - west section

north - south section

50 feet

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1:64 scale architectural model 112cm x 33cm 3D printed exterior shading screen 3D printed bridge laser cut 14 ply chipboard hand cut 2.25mm basswood sheets

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WORKSHOP-HOUSE FOR TWO ARTISTS 2023 AIA Virginia Weekend Competition - 3rd Place Virginia Tech

The urban tree-house is a collection of hanging and grounded public and private spaces that shift between interior and exterior. The street level circulation through the spaces is an extension of the main street mall that simultaneously acts as a sculpture garden and outdoor gallery for the artists to showcase their work. There is an indoor public exhibition and educational flex space that can be used for workshops and lectures. On either side of the alley, there is a storefront and gallery space for the artists to exhibit and sell their work.

The uniqueness of the space invites pedestrians in to explore. The second floor is private spaces dedicated to a communal kitchen, two studios and an outdoor terrace. A connection to the ground floor storefront exists if the artists want to invite the public up.

The third floor is the most private and consists of two individual living spaces. As a whole, it is a unique set of communitydriven spaces aimed at inspiring those who inhabit and visit it.

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diagrams

bird’s eye view

circulation space

living spaces: bedrooms and shared kitchen

studio space

20 feet

sec

educational space and two store fronts/galleries

tion

cut

ground floor public space

perspective section

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GALLERY FOR ANSEL ADAMS Fall 2022 - 8 weeks

This gallery for Ansel Adams is aware of its surrounding nature and is in constant conversation with it. It aims to take advantage of light and shadow in the same way that it is reflected in his work. Unique viewing moments created by the interplay between these two, is the basis for the gallery.

Located between a stepped landscape of two ponds, the gallery mimics this elevation change in its three levels of gallery space. The lower gallery is connected to the water, the middle to the earth, and the upper to the sky. It is a space to observe his photography, and also a space to observe nature.

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two wall constructs heavy wall - concrete

light wall - channel glass

Precast composite insulated sandwich concrete panels make up the heavy wall. Its expressiveness, fluidity, and dynamism make it the perfect contrast to the channel glass as well as providing high thermal performance.

Channel glass will provide a paper lantern-like effect.

During the day, it’ll let light in, while at night, it will create the effect of a floating structure hovering over the water.

Component

Component

Thickenss (inch) R-Value / Inch

Inside air film Concrete slab Rigid Polyiso Insulation Concrete slab Outside air film

4 4 4 -

Total

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Total Wall U-Value Conductive Heat Flow Q = U*A*TD Q = .027*100*50

0.68 0.96 7.00 0.96 0.17

Total R-Value

Thickenss (inch)

R-Value / Inch

Total R-Value

0.68 1.00 10.3 1.00 0.17

0.68 0.25 41.2 0.25 0.17

0.68 3.84 28 3.84 0.17

Inside air film Channel Glass pane Aerogel Channel Glass pane Outside air film

0.25 4 0.25 -

36.53

Total

4.5

0.027

Total Wall U-Value

135 Btus

Conductive Heat Flow Q = U*A*TD Q = .023*100*50

42.55

0.024

115 Btus

t

n

io ct

cu

se

40 feet

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c. a.

b.

section cut

c. b. a.

perspective section 32

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EMERGENCY RESPONSE SHELTER Fall 2022 - 8 weeks

The Appalachia region of Kentucky and Virginia has experienced devastating flooding and will continue to as a direct result of mining operations in the region. Flooding has a tremendous impact in the areas, devastating communities, forcing migration, dislocation and loss of economic means. For many families, it leaves them homeless, and their house a waterlogged ruin.

FEMA trailers have been used in the past as a form of intermediate temporary housing. However, they are not meant for long term living. This project aims to create a modular, pre-configured SIP panel shelter that would act as an upgrade to the FEMA trailer, in both materiality and spatial arrangement. It will be able to function off the with the idea that multiple could be connected, increasing the number of rooms and square footage. It becomes a permanent home to live in, rather than a temporary shelter.

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SIP Panel Construction studio shelter variation

SIP to SIP connection

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2 3

1. SIP panel 2. Wood surface spline 3. Exterior sealant 4. Sealant 5. Electrical chases 6. Expanding foam sealant

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4 5

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Panel construction 1. Top plate 2. SIP wall panel 3. Header panel 4. Header jam 5. Jack stud 6. King stud 7. SIP panel insulation 8. Side palte 9. Bottom plate 10. SIP floor panel

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1

Corner connection

2 3 4

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1. SIP screw 2. Continuous sealant 3. Exterior sealant 4. SIP panel 5. Interior pine panels

Full module (doors & windows)

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12 feet

26 feet

Wall detail

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four shelter variations

variation 1 - 2BR 1BTH

variation 2 - 2BR 1.5BTH

variation 3 - 2BR 1.5BTH

variation 4 - 1BR 1BTH

section cut

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NRV PASSENGER RAIL STATION Spring 2022 - 8 weeks

This project is a proposal for a passenger rail station in Christiansburg, Virginia. It will serve as a multi-model transit hub for the New River Valley with direct vehicular, foot and bicycle traffic from the famous Huckleberry Trail. Adjacent to the site, opposite the railway is Christiansburg newly opened Huckleberry Park. A key design feature is to connect the trail and the park via the train station. This is accomplished through an underground tunnel and by bringing bus and car parking below ground to create a continuous expanse of park and trail to the train station.

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e.

a. front facade

d. interior - waiting room

lower level floor plan

c. b. rear roof garden

d.

a. e. lower level entrance

b. first floor plan

c. interior - cafe

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OTHER WORK 2018-2023

A collection of work outside of studio consisting of: four competitions, photography and a selection of blog posts.

The competitions were done as a design charette for my thesis in the fall. The photos are from when I lived in D.C., Spain and S.Korea, and a recent trip to Greece. The blog posts are examples from some of my most recent posts.

National Museum of American Indian Washington D.C.

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four competitions THE LAST NUCLEAR BOMB MEMORIAL Fall 2023 - 1 week

The competition advocates for a ban on nuclear weapons, tasking participates with created a memorial on a decommissioned nuclear weapon testing site.

The site I chose for my memorial is Arizona. The memorial aims to immerse visitors in the powerful and devastating impact of a nuclear bomb. The width of the memorial corresponds to the blast radius and its height mirrors the detonating height in the atmosphere. Red clay rammed earth pillars rise from the ground, juxtaposing the human-made bomb. As one walks toward the center, visitors feel the blast effects on the pillars until reaching a central wasteland, conveying the gravity of nuclear devastation.

100 feet

CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE MEMORIAL Fall 2023 - 1 week

In February of 2011, the destruction of Christchurch occurred due to a series of earthquakes on a previously unknown tectonic fault. The result was 80% destruction of the city and 185 fatalities.

The site for the memorial is located on the Avon River, a park/green space between Montreal Street bridge in the west and the bridge of Remembrance in the east. The memorial, symbolically and physically unites the two sides of the river and the city. A pedestrian path, adorned with 185 unique columns representing the 185 people who died, exist within and around the path. At night, these columns emit light, symbolizing the lost lives. The design not only pays tributes to the victims, but also creates a connected space for reflection.

50 feet

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four competitions NOTRE DAME SPIRE REBUILDING Fall 2023 - 1 week

In April of 2019 a fire tore through the wooden attic of Notre Dame. The wooden timbers known as “the forest” was beyond saving and the spire eventually collapsed. In the immediate aftermath, France’s President Emmanuel Macron launched an international architectural competition to redesign the spire My proposal for the spire is to inverse what existed. Instead of trying to recreate what already existed, create something new reminisce of what was. An inverted stained-glass spire that exists in the space of the previous, but instead of reaching up to the heavens, it brings the heavens into the church, culminating into a cross at the pulpit. The interior of the cathedral would be bathed in a kaleidoscope of colors.

50 feet

SAN LORENZO NUOVO LAKE CHAPEL REUSE Fall 2023 - 1 week

The competition calls for the reuse of a small octagonal church on the shores of the lake of Bolsena. The chapel sits along an ancient pilgrimage route. The goal is to transform the ruin into a pilgrim’s accommodation and cultural event center.

My proposal for the Chapel suggests minimal interventions. The goal is to preserve the chapel’s ruinous state, while transforming it in to an observation post. A wooden octagonal roof and multilevel walkways, respect the original structure, creating an immersive experience. Pilgrims can appreciate the chapel from new vantage points, fostering a deeper connection with the surroundings.

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Monastery - Meteora, Greece Canon Rebel T3i - 50mm 52

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Suncheon Gardens - Suncheon, South Korea Canon Rebel T3i - 50mm 54

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Las Setas - Seville, Spain Canon Rebel T3i - 50mm 56

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D.C. Metro - Washington D.C, USA Iphone 12 58

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A Decade of Blogging: Reflecting on the Journey

An Exploration in Rebuilding: The Destruction of 3 Cubes October 16, 2023

November 9, 2023 I wrote my first blog post just before I left to take a course for my TEFL (teach English as a foreign language) certificate in Costa Rica. To quote my past self, “I am not sure what may or could happen.” Little did I know that I’d still be writing today, or where I am in my life now, just a semester and a half away from obtaining a Master’s degree in architecture. The journey that I’ve embarked on since those early days has been nothing short of amazing, spanning 6.5 years of teaching English in Spain and South Korea after a year in Costa Rica, and taking me to places I’d never dreamed of visiting, allowing me to witness remarkable places and meet some incredible people.

I started this blog with a desire to keep my friends and family informed on the events in my life abroad. In the winter of 2013, I studied abroad for six weeks in Argentina and one of the professors had us create a blog and write a series of posts.

Without that class requirement, I might never have thought to start one. Unfortunately, I have no idea what happened to those posts. They must have disappeared into the digital universe; I haven’t come across them since.

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At the beginning of the semester, I focused on collaging destroyed buildings, classifying them into four categories: war-induced, demolition, natural forces and long-term weathering. Inspired

by Liliane Wong’s “The Mathematics of Reuse” from her book Adaptive Reuse, I looked into the three approaches to modifying buildings: addition, subtraction, and summation. addition: includes single elements, either vertically or horizontally that extend the spatial dimensions of their hosts. They are distinct volumes that expand the confines of the old. subtraction: includes the removal of a part of the structure. It can be deliberate or intentional. summation: includes the addition of a series of related elements that are not discrete volumes – stairs, walkways, ramps, etc., but added together form a unified intervention.

Architecture, War and Memory: The Indispensable Connection

I recently stumbled upon a thought-provoking blog post that resonated with my own reflections and inspired me to write a similar piece. The blog was written by Lebbeus Woods and it is titled, “War and Architecture.”

Memory is defined as, “the ability to acquire, process, store and retain information.” It is indispensable for learning, adaptation and survival.

It is also what ties us to our senses of place, our cultures and where we come from. The term Genius loci, “the spirit of the place” was used by the Romans and the geographically/architectural concept of a “sense of place” both refer to the experiential and expressive aspects through which we perceive and interact with different locations.

Architecture itself significantly contributes to the creation of a sense of place. As Hannah Arendt argue, “the reality and reliability of the human world rests primarily on the fact that we are surrounded by things more permanent that the activity by which they were produced.” The destruction of one’s environment, therefore, can lead to the loss of one’s collective memory and consequently have a disorienting effect on one’s life and connection to place.

Who is Lebbeus Woods?

Lebbeus Woods was an American architect, “known for his fantastical drawings, imagined deconstructed buildings, and dystopian landscapes that relate as closely to science fiction as to architecture. ” He co-founded the Research Institute for Experimental Architecture, which focused on finding architectural answers to contemporary world problems. He also has a series of drawings and writings devoted to war and architecture, which also is the focal point of his book bearing the same title. This exploration was ignited by the bombing of Sarajevo in 1992.

Woods outlined two principles that emerged from his research into post-WW2 reconstruction.

Making Something

The first principle: Restore what has been lost to pre-war condition.

The idea is to erase the effects of war and return to a form of “normalcy.” To imagine the city, not as a place ravaged by war, but rather as what once was. We can see this in cities such as Warsaw (although technically it wasn’t restored as it was, but a reimagined version of the city based on paintings done by Bellotto), Bruges, and Dresden.

The concept was suggested to me by my thesis chair. He felt that I needed to shift from research and reading to making. He suggested that I make three cubes and destroy them, so I did that. That goal was to make three similar cubes, destroy them and rebuild them using a different approach for

The second principle: Demolish the Damaged and destroyed buildings and build something entirely new. According to Lebbeus, the new could either be radically different from its predecessor, or an updated version of the pre-war norm...

Over the following two weeks, I sketched examples of reuse projects that focused on the addition of something new to something old. To emphasize the contrast between the old and the new, I used black with a sketch-like quality for the old and red straight, clean lines for the new.

August 23, 2023

Throughout history, the destruction of architecture has accompanied the triumph of one civilization over another, or resulted from deliberate attacks on buildings and cities. These attacks have symbolic power in their own right, which is why strikes against them have been favored by terrorists when there is no direct military gain. The impact of September 11th stands as a personal testament for me. The twin towers not only symbolized New York City, but also represented the economic prowess of the United States. Their collapse had an immediate and profound effect on both the American and global psyche. Similar attacks on places of collective importance have occurred worldwide.

“The belief that the destruction of the physical fabric - as distinct from human lives - has the capacity to demoralize is immensely strong.”

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www.journeymanjoe.com

Looking back on old posts is nostalgic. I chronicled every experience. I was eager to share my journey with my family. I distinctly remember my sister teasing me for detailing the step-by-step process of catching a bus in Costa Rica, including wait times. I’m hesitant to dig up that particular post because of how poor my writing was. I’d like to think I’ve evolved into a significantly better writer since then. In the past, I never quite grasped the importance of proofreading, thinking it was only relevant for school papers. I have long ago learned the value in proofreading and the aid of third-party grammar checkers.

However, even with these tools, the occasional spelling or grammar error

This exploration marked a departure from my research-oriented work. It started on September 18th and revolved around the concept of altering something that was destroyed.

Architectural Insights: Exploring Lebbeus Woods’ Principles of Post-War Reconstruction September 9, 2023

www.journeymanjoe.com

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