LYDIA ROBERTS | 2025
ACADEMIC
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS
On-Grid Living
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT U-C
Harvesting Education
Layers of Transparency
Treetop Tranquility
PROFESSIONAL
ANDREW FELL ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN
Frasca Residence
Slough Residence
4507 Crossgate
1009 Stoughton
510 E White
STUDIO BRIEF | HOUSING | LA BARCELONETA, SPAIN
Washington University in St. Louis - Fall 2024
Selected for inclusion in the WashU Approach book
“On-Grid Living” consists of two buildings linked by a shared courtyard and a network of walkways. The design emphasizes abundant natural light, cross ventilation, and flexible space. Organized on a uniform grid system, the floor plan creates a sequence of versatile rooms. Each unit is centered around an outdoor space that can be fully opened to merge with adjacent rooms.
7 SQUARE 6 SQUARE
9 SQUARE 12 SQUARE
Units are designed on a 12’ x 12’ grid, creating a series of equal sized flexible rooms. Each unit is centered around an outdoor room with folding doors that can merge it with any adjacent space. These equal sized rooms allow maximum flexibility for the occupants, with the only defined spaces being those that require plumbing.
The grid system allows almost infinite possibilities for aggregation. The units are aggregated into two buildings with a shared courtyard between. This courtyard, paired with the central outdoor rooms encourages interaction between occupants. In order to maintain privacy, no outdoor room lines up directly with an outdoor room across the courtyard.
The building uses a CLT structural system, with a thermal mass brick as the outermost wall. A 6’ deep galleria wraps the entire building, proud of this thermal mass wall. On the outer face of the galleria is a layered system of openings that allow the occupant full control of their interation with the environment. These layers consist of a shading system, a railing, and glass panels. With no air conditioning, it is necessary that the building itself respond to changing summer and winter conditions.
La Barceloneta experiences hot summers. To combat this, the building has moveable perforated shades that allow for ventilation, while protecting the interior from direct sunlight. The occupant can open the glass panels to prevent a build up of heat, while leaving the shades closed to protect from the harsh sun.
In winter, the occupant can trap heat by closing glass panels and opening the shades. This allows for the sun to warm the thermal mass brick wall and disperse heat throughout the day.
½ ” = 1’-0” scale models were used in design development and to represent the final project. These models focus on the thresholds between indoor/outdoor and public/private.
Physically modeling the spaces contributed to understanding lighting, materiality and scale. By focusing on a singlular moment within the building, I was able to design more thoughtfully for the occupant experience.
KIARA LOORO COMPETITION | PRIMARY SCHOOL | SENEGAL, AFRICA
University of Illinois - Spring 2023
Collaborators: Michael Lee
Awards: Earl Prize 2nd Place | ACSA Student Showcase Nomination
“Harvesting Education” is a sustainable and cultural architecture design for a primary school in rural Senegal, Africa. The main features of the design consist of individual garden spaces for each classroom and an expansive courtyard that doubles as a presentation and performance space. The design was created using locally and easily sourced materials, and with construction techniques that the community can readily perform.
Each classroom has several fabric shading devices connecting to the roof structure. These pieces of fabric provide a location for cultural expression and for artwork from the children to be displayed.
For this project, I was responsible for design development and drawing production. All included drawings were produced by me.
1. Local bamboo fence
2. Earth bricks, spaced for ventilation
3. Red earth bricks
4. Concrete flooring
5. Rosewood beam
6. Rosewood beam truss
7. Metal profile & rosewood shelves
8. Raised cement slab
9. Rosewood beam
10. Rosewood shutters
11. Rosewood frame & bamboo screen
12. Rosewood screen
13. Corrugated sheet
14. Fabric shading
“Layers of Transparency” is a food bank located in historic South Central Los Angeles. The primary feature is a shading device wrapping both the North-East and South-West portions of the facade, which aims to control the amount of direct sunlight entering the building. The shading device creates a covered courtyard for the front entrance while maintaining the urban edge along West Washington Boulevard.
This building design is organized like a traditional grocery store and cafe to allow food bank users to destigmatize, normalize and enhance enjoyment of the shopping experience. At a large scale, the warehouse can organize deliveries. On a small scale, the front entrance serves families and individuals, providing them with a space where they can receive groceries and warm meals in the kitchen.
University of Illinois - Spring 2023
Located in a heavily forested Latvian bog, “Treetop Tranquility” serves to bring its users closer to nature as they practice yoga. The yoga house consists of 3 floors, each serving a different function for the tenants. As users move about their daily activities, they move up through the structure–starting in the living quarters, moving up into the kitchen, and finally arriving at the top-floor yoga studio. Here, the design allows users to feel as though they are nestled within the tree tops as they perform their practice.
FIRST FLOOR PLAN
SECOND FLOOR PLAN
ANDREW FELL ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN
Andrew Fell Architecture and Design is a small firm based in Champaign, Illinois. The firm is involved in residential, commercial, and industrial projects of varying sizes, and serves as the primary designer of apartments in the Champaign, Urbana, and Campustown areas.
I worked at Andrew Fell Architecture from April of 2021 to September 2024, before returning to school to pursue my Master of Architecture at WashU. I began as an intern and then a full-time designer. Throughout my time at the firm, I contributed to a large variety of projects, including new construction, build-outs, residential and commercial remodels/renovations, and additions. While my involvement in each project varies, I have had the chance to serve as a project lead, head drafter, and designer.
Project Years: 2021-2024
Role: Drafting, Modeling, Rendering, Designing, Site Documentation, Project Management, Client Relations Time: 3,000+ AXP Hours Reported
Type: Remodel, Residential
Work completed: Preliminary design work, design documentation, construction drawings, 3-D modeling and rendering.
Frasca Residence is a single family home in Champaign, Illinois. The remodel was primarily located in the kitchen. The clients gave the firm creative freedom and I proposed a set of custom angled cabinets. I produced the details necessary for the cabinet company to construct them and collaborated with the clients to select finishes.
In addition to the new cabinets, we propsed a curved, waterfall edge island, built-in refrigerator and a coffee nook.
CABINET KEY PLAN
ELEVATION
Type: New construction, Residential
Work completed: Preliminary design work, design documentation, client communication and scheduling. construction set drawings, 3-D modeling and rendering.
Slough residence is a new construction single family home designed for a site in Champaign, Illinois. The home is a single story and prioritizes accessibility and aging-in-place features. The design was produced by working extensively with the Slough family to bring their vision to life.
For this home, I was the primary designer, tasked with client communication as well as the production of permit drawings. These drawings were ready for permit in summer of 2024.
Type: Addition, Residential
Work completed: Preliminary design work, design documentation, construction set drawings, 3-D modeling and rendering.
4507 Crossgate Dr is small scale addition to an existing residence in Champaign, Illinois. The addition was fully constructed and completed in November of 2023.
RENDERING CONSTRUCTED
Type: New Construction, Apartment Complex
Work completed: Design documentation, exterior design, 3-D modeling and rendering.
1009 Stoughton is a three-story apartment complex located on the University of Illinois campus. I was involved in the design of the exterior, where I selected finishes and rendered images to share with the client. Additionally, I produced marketing renders of the interior for leasing purposes.
RENDERING CONSTRUCTED
Type: New Construction, Apartment Complex
Work completed: Design documentation, 3-D modeling and rendering.
503 Stoughton is a three-story apartment complex located on the University of Illinois campus. I was involved in the design of the exterior, where I selected finishes and rendered images to share with the client. Additionally, I produced marketing renders of the interior for leasing purposes.
I have enjoyed creating art since I was very young. Throughout my life, I have explored several mediums including painting, stitching, pen and ink, and mixed media. Through experimentation, I have found my medium of choice to be a combination of pen and either paint or colored pencils.
I have been able to share my art with others through commissions. These commissions include tattoo designs, pet portraits, and logos among other designs.
