ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO LUCAS CHRISTENSEN
1-9
17-23
10-16
24-27
Bridge System replaces floor plates
UTOPIAN RETREAT The “Utopian Retreat” is a planned multiunit housing complex that would contain both hotel style housing as well as more permanent reisdences. One of the first concepts that drove a large part of the building design was the desire to avoid a situation common to apartment style multi unit housing- the double loaded corridor. Spatially uninteresting and generally devoid of natural light, these corridors often cause a lack of social interaction among residents. To combat this idea, the floor plates were cut into, creating a system of bridges between units that causes the interior “alley” of the building to achieve a much more spatially comfortable design, while also bringing in large amounts of natural light.
1
The project is composed of two language sets, one for the lower public zone and another for the upper zones, with the residential units. The lower zone is represented as a stereotomic base of sorts, cut into with floor to ceiling windows, and constructed of wood cladding over steel beam structure, with the intent of growing ivy in order for the base to submerge in the landscape. The upper floors are then devoted to residential housing, and the language set varies accordingly. The need for multiple identical units lends itself to the cubic framing language set.
Stacked Cube and Base formal system
UTOPIAN RETREAT | SITE
The project site was located along the Buffalo Bayou, and the program challenged the project with creating a housing complex that would also be seen as a sort of “destination� along the bayou in the same way that the Dunlavy restaurant to to south is; a place that would bring in people from various parts of Houston that want to enjoy the bayou and escape from the urban chaos of their daily lives. 2
UTOPIAN RETREAT | PLANS 1 - Check in area, information kiosk 2 - Reading / Computer area 3 - Communal gathering area 4 - Seminar Rooms 5 - Theater 6 - Utopian Cafe 7 - Undecided Mechanical/ Fire Stair spaces 8 - Secretarial 9 - Manager’s Office 10 - Facility Manager’s office 11 - Financial Office 12 - Restrooms 13 - Museum of Houston 14 - Pavilion 15 - Retail 16 - Parking
16
7
13
7
7
16
14
3
6 7 9 8 2
5
12
10 11
15 7
4 1 4
3
First Floor Plan
0’
30’
90’
UTOPIAN RETREAT | PLANS PLAN | SECOND FLOOR 1/32” = 1’
PLAN | THIRD FLOOR 1/32” = 1’
PLAN | FOURTH FLOOR 1/32” = 1’ 7
7
40’
40’
40’
7
7
7
7
7
36’
40’
3
36’
40’
6 38’
7
6 38’
7
42’
42’
2 40’
2 40’
5
44’ 39’
2 40’
5
4
48’ 50’
7
39’
4
48’ 50’
4
39.5’
46’
42’
42’
MO
L RIA
ME
39’
4
48’ 50’
7
39.5’
39’ 1
39.5’
4
40’
40’
Residential Floors (2-4)
7
39.5’
39’ 1
39’ 1 4
5
44’
46’
39.5’
7
42’
44’
46’
36’
40’
6 38’
7
3
3
4
7
39.5’
40’
.
L RIA
.
DR
42’
DR
MO
ME
R.
LD
IA OR
M
ME
0’
30’
90’
UTOPIAN RETREAT | ELEVATIONS
5
UTOPIAN RETREAT | SECTIONS
6
UTOPIAN RETREAT | PERSPECTIVES
Rooftop Deck View looking towards downtown Houston
7
UTOPIAN RETREAT | PERSPECTIVES
Lower Deck view and view of guest housing units
8
UTOPIAN RETREAT | MODEL PHOTOS
Aerial View showing Memorial Dr. and neighboring buildings
9
View showing lower deck and upper roof deck
Axonometric showing components
BARTON SPRINGS POOLHOUSE The design of the poolhouse began with a strong circulational cross-axis that was informed by the entry to the pools parking lot. The entry road runs parallel to the major axis of the site, so upon entry visitors get a visual cue of how they are intended to circulate. The second axis, which meets the first at a perpendicular angle, was created to allow for a broader entry for the large parking lot, as well as to visually reinforce the lines of the below ground pool, which visitors would be able to view upon entry. The majority of the facilities are located below ground, at the same elevation as the large pool, which the architecture above ground is minimalistic and non-invasive on the natural landscape. 10
BARTON SPRINGS POOLHOUSE | SITE
The project site was a lot adjacent to the Barton Springs pool in Austin, Tx., a popular natural pool used by casual and competitive swimmers alike. The pool consists of a large section of a tributary of Lady Bird Lake. The goal of the project was to create a new poolhouse that would cohesively blend with the natural surroundings. 11
BARTON SPRINGS POOLHOUSE | PLANS
UTOPIAN RETREAT
12
First Floor Plan
0’
10’
30’
BARTON SPRINGS POOLHOUSE | PLANS
3
1
2
13
Subterranean Floor Plan
0’
10’
30’
BARTON SPRINGS POOLHOUSE | SECTIONS
14
North Section
0’
5’
15’
BARTON SPRINGS POOLHOUSE | SECTIONS
West Section
North Section 15
0’
10’
30’
0’
10’
30’
BARTON SPRINGS POOLHOUSE | MODEL PHOTOS
Aerial View
16
Perspective View
DEEP ELLUM
17
“Mass” Components
Perforated Roof
Structural Members
Secondary Members
The Deep Ellum Performance Hall brought with it several new and interesting architectural challenges. This was the first truly “urban” project the studios would tackle, nestled amidst the newly reinvigorated neighborhood of Deep Ellum, with was a nieghborhood traditionally known for jazz music and live peformance art. The project was intended to walk the delicate line between honoring the history and culture of the site while also meshing with the burgeoning new nightlife that the area is becoming known for. The theater design also brought with it a challenge in that square footage was scarce, and would need to be strategically considered. After the base programmatic elements, which formed the large “masses” of the project, were designed, the structural and envelope systems were concieved as pieces that would facilitate and emphasize many of the design principles concieved in the early phases. The steel tubing system thats wraps that perimeter frees the interior for the “floating theater” which creates a spatially interesting lobby space, while the envelopes thinner secondary members identify areas where visitors can filter through, creating a buffer zone between the public street and the public lobby zone.
DEEP ELLUM | SITE
P
Deep Ellums close proximity to downtown and its deep cultural roots make it a very pedestrian friendly zone. Its burgeoning bar scene make the public accessibility of the theater an important aspect of its design.
18
DEEP ELLUM | PLANS
Basement Floor Plan
19
First Floor Plan
0’
10’
30’
DEEP ELLUM | PLANS
Second Floor Plan
20
Third Floor Plan
0’
10’
30’
DEEP ELLUM | PLANS
Site Plan
Fourth Floor Plan
21
0’
10’
30’
50 ft.
150 ft.
250 ft.
DEEP ELLUM | SECTIONS
West Section
22
Detailed Wall Section
0’
10’
30’
ar
rB we Lo
DEEP ELLUM | MODEL PHOTOS
n to k
ee Cr
of nt e te it Ex ol S Po 23
Sectional Model
Completed Model
HANDSKETCHING SELECTED EXAMPLES
Early sketch ideation
24
Design development
HANDSKETCHING SELECTED EXAMPLES
Final aerial sketch
25
Final human perspective sketch
HANDSKETCHING SELECTED EXAMPLES
Abstract human scale sketch
26
Abstract human scale sketch
HANDSKETCHING SELECTED EXAMPLES
Concept sketching
27
Concept sketching