Architectural Portfolio
Julia Schmidt
Table of Contents
The Public Interior
The Harvest House
Pueblo’s Third Place
Studio 910
Studio 910
Generosity
Generosity is a concept that is missing from our society. We are not generous to our environment, to each other, or to ourselves. Studio 910 provides a space for the creation of community and aids in the evolution of people. The adaptive reuse project of the University building in Denver’s central business district would revive the dead nature of the area. Studio 910 is a space for people to evolve their passions in whatever they desire, exploring their creativity and creating a community. The project would not only use the structure’s bones, saving material waste, but also give
back to the environment. Denver suffers from an Urban Heat Island effect; in the summer of 2023, Denverites experienced temperatures 9 degrees hotter than surrounding areas. Using vernacular inspired strategies, the project creates a passive heating and cooling system that reduces the heat island effect. The project proves that generosity can change a city for the better.
Taking inspiration from Middle Eastern wind towers, this heating and cooling system is a net positive. The focal point of the system is a large wind tower, siphoning prevalent winds into the building and drawing them into a large reservoir. The reservoir hydrates and either heats or cools the air, which then rises throughout the building. The hollow undulating ceiling cavities use gravity to draw cool air down and hot air up. It is then cycled back through the system or released back into the city. The system is designed to be more efficient when cooling is needed, allowing the building to release an abundance of cool air into the city,reducing the Urban Heat Island effect.
Physcal model of Studio 910, Completed through Studio collaboration.
Many Americans are victims of poor work-life balance, a problem that architecture canrarely solve. Providing a well-designed space for people to explore life outside of work can act as a momentary reprieve from the problem. Studio 910 explores any passion one could have: culinary, wood/metal work, the finer arts, gardening, technology, and relaxation. The space is open-ended, where people can learn from each other in the pursuit of bettering themselves. Hanging storage units utilize large vertical spaces; occupants can call down whatever materials are needed and send them back up when floor space is needed. The storage units can be used to isolate and facilitate gathering. Collaboration is intrinsic to the design, created to mimic the community of an architecture or arts studio. Adapt
The
Public Interior Studio 5
Physcal model of The Public Interior market, Completed in Collaboration with a parnter.
A furnature based storage system to hold the studios work on the Chinatown project, Completed through Studio collaboration.
Denver’s Chinatown
The history of Denver’s Chinatown was vertually erased from the history of the city. After years of harrassment, riots, and laws outlawing Chinese immigration the once booming Chinatown dwindled down to nothing. The goal of this collective project was to revitalize Denver’s Chinatown, centering around the former Hop Alley. This new cultural hub featured restaurants, residences, a health center, a museum, market and community gathering space. This portion of the project focuses on the market and community gathering space.
The System
The modular system was designed to be simple to deploy for the average person. The system uses a dove tail faceting system borrowed from Chinese joinery and made from nominal lumber. The system allows people to be creative or follow the manual, giving people the choice to control their environment. Anyone could rent the materials and any tools needed for construction. All the furniture created could be could be disassembled when needed, making the market and community space an ever-evolving space. The system was designed so the community can create a space by the community and for the community. This simple system takes note of the ingenious spirit of Denver’s Chinatown, using basic materials to create a vibrant space.
Implementation
The furniture system can be plugged into virtually any situation. In this project’s case, it is implemented into a market and community space. The system can create large scaffolding like structures to make walls and roof structures to provide shade and protection to the vendors. The system is well suited for indoor and outdoor use. The woodshop is imbedded into the marketplace, providing a space for the entirety of the Chinatown to create. The furniture system can create stages, seating spaces, greenhouses, and more. All of this is implemented into the marketplace, providing a space for people to gather and support each other.
The Public Interior throughout the seasons.
The Harvest House
Education
The Harvest House stands as an example of sustainability and ingenuity. The structure is comprised of reused steel from surrounding industrial sites. The furniture was created by the Eco fabricators and left for the future residents. The food and water waste are used by GMO scientists for composting and watering. All waste created by the residents is then recycled, creating a complete life cycle
The Residents
The residents are the core of this project, the eco fabricator and the GMO scientist. The ecofabricator, a person who uses what is perceived as trash, to create art. The GMO scientists, an agricultural scientist who manipulates the genome structure of plants to create more efficient crops. Both residents chan ge our perception on two of the most important factors of humanity, food and waste. The resident’s project is design to hold five of each profession, live and workspaces. The project is along Cherry Creek in the RiNo district of Denver. The Harvest house is intended to be a becon of sustainability and collaboration, with the residents acting as teachers and role models for the community.
Efficiency
Efficiency is at the core of sustainability. A building whos residents preach a sustainable lifestyle must do the same. The building uses passive systems for heating and cooling and a gray water system. Using double-painted glazed windows, the building can reduce the amount of heat radiation. The central courtyard has rotating windows that create a breeze for the hot summer months. The building uses the sun to the resident’s advantage, situating the greenhouse on the northeast corner of the structure to protect it from harsh afternoon sun. The makerspace is on the west side of the building taking advantage of the evening sun and the breeze from the creek. The structure is the embodiment of the residents’ goals; efficient, transparent, and educational
Pueblo’s
Community
The Third-Place community center is in Pueblo Co. The site is directly across the street from the Bessemer steel mill, a site which obscene amounts of pollution and exploitation took place. The area is void of a space where people can gather with no cost attached. The community center contains a park, cafe, venue, and creator space. The topography is built up to represent the rolling hills of eastern Colorado and to act as a public park. The cafe, venue, and makerspace are underground with large skylights, embracing the history of mining in the area. Each program is connected by a tunnel system to further immerse the inhabitants in the feeling of being under the earth. A large ‘umbrella’ is placed over the site, making the park accessible and enjoyable year-round. The umbrella draws people into the area to explore the community center. The Third Place Community center is the living room of the community, a place to gather and participate. The space is a tribute to the town of pueblo, honoring the past, present, and creating the future of the community.
The production center focuses on literary and paper craft, providing a free space for creatives. This portion of the center has a separate entrance to avoid crowds in the venue hall. The space has collaboration in mind, with a large central workstations, and a few smaller meeting rooms.
The vegetation on the umbrella’s exterior is native to Colorado long grasses and wild garlic. Their long roots maintain the artificially dramatic topography from the wind and rain. The landscape on the interior of the umbrella is traditional grasses, to be more comfortable to the occupants.
As much of the habitable structure is underground, lighting is essential. Large skylights protrude from the landscape to bring in the l argest amounts of light possible. To avoid abundant amounts of artificial light, the umbrella is transparent to let in light.
About Me
I moved to Colorado from Washington state in 2021 to attend the University of Colorado Denver. Through the course of my undergrad, I’ve discovered my passion of public community based design and landscape design. I will be graduating in the spring of 2024 with a degree in architectural studies and a minor in landscape architecture. On a more personal level, I love to travel, which is how I initially discovered my love for architecture. I also enjoy cooking, painting, and exploring the outdoors.