Architecture Portfolio 2023

2019-2023

Maddie Clay

2019-2023

Maddie Clay

CONTENTS

Butterfly House

Designing an apartment for Gregor from Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis.

Studio VII | 2022 | Residential

Wellness Club

A wellness club designed in Kyoto, Japan.

Studio VIII | 2023 | Commercial

Creating Community

An adaptive reuse project located in LaGrange, GA.

Studio IV| 2021 | Commercial

BUTTERFLY HOUSE

Project Type

Residential Year

2022 | 5th year studio

“Butterfly House” is a conceptual project inspired by Franz Kafka’s Metamorphosis. In this novel, the protagonist, Gregor, turns into a bug overnight. Throughout the story, Gregor details his disatisfaction with his living environment. The human environment doesn’t suit his needs anymore.

In my thesis studio, we were given creative liberty to decide Gregor’s fate. In my world, Gregor escapes his toxic environment and moves to this apartment, where he transitions between bug and man on a 24-hour cycle. Here he is able to explore both sides of himself freely

With aspects such as free-flowing walls and a kitchen with a living wall, this apartment creates a space where a human and bug could live happily.

BUTTERFLY HOUSE

The design process began with a 36’x20’x20’ box. The goal was to create a space that would allow Gregor to thrive no matter what form he took. The next step was to analyze Gregor as a character. Before turning into a butterfly, Gregor was a family man. He took great pride in providing for his parents and little sister. After his transition, however, his family turned against him. His parents found him repulsive and his sister – though she tried to care for him– eventually rejected him. Gregor’s family locked him away in a filthy room that restricted his new movements as a bug – he struggled to crawl on the orthogonal walls, furniture consistently obstructed his path, and his one connection to the outdoors was through a tiny window. These were the main issues I decided to tackle in my design.

The core of the design is the curved walls. Utilizing two main shapes (shown in Diagram 1), I was able to create curved surfaces where Gregor could crawl and sit as he pleased. These walls were then used to create the shape of the windows (Diagram 2) and the stairs (Diagram 3). The curved walls – while physically suitable for Gregor – also represent Gregor’s transition. While he struggled to accept himself in his original home, this space allows Gregor to freely explore a new side of himself. The walls flow into one another, representing Gregor’s ability to flow from one form to another.

Wall Shapes

Diagram 1: Butterfly Wall Shapes

Diagram 2: Window Pattern Diagram 3: Stair Shape

Physical Model: Front Section

Floor Plan Key:

1. Living room

2. Kitchen

3. Bathroom

4. Bedroom

5. Offi ce

6. Butterfly space

Maddie Clay

Ground Floor Plan Scale: 1/4”=1’

Second Floor Plan Scale: 1/4”=1’

In my world, Gregor turns from man to butterfly on a 24-hour cycle, therefore, I wanted this space to be suitable for both forms. The bottom floor features most of the human spaces – a kitchen, living room, bedroom, stairs, and a few orthogonal walls. The kitchen also has a living wall that grows plants that butterflies enjoy. The second-floor features most of the curved walls and butterfly spaces. It also has an office where Gregor can work.

The second floor also has a large double-height space. This design decision is in direct contrast to the dark, enclosed room that Gregor previously lived in. The double-height space creates an openness that allows him to prosper as a butterfly. It creates enough room for him to fly around and allows the light from the large windows to pour over the entire space.

The window mullions are designed to follow the same language as the walls. They are bent in order to avoid too much orthogonality and each window flows into one another. The overall effect is meant to be reminiscent of butterfly wings without being too on the nose.

Second Floor Plan

Scale: 1/4”=1’

Maddie Clay

Upstairs Perspective

WELLNESS CENTER

Project Type

Commercial Year

2023 | 5th year studio

For my 5th year thesis project, I studied the mental health crisis that is occurring worldwide. Mental ailments have become a common experience and are most often treated with medication. While medication can have many benefits, it is not effective enough as the sole remedy.

In response, I designed a wellness center. It is a space where people can explore mindfulness techniques that can aid them in their healing journey. These treatments such as massage, yoga, and meditation have all been proven to relieve depression and anxiety.

The design also integrates architecture that creates a calming atmosphere. The main design elements are a connection to the outdoors, access to privacy, and utilizing natural materials.

WELLNESS CENTER SITE ANALYSIS

Pontocho is a well-known area in Kyoto, Japan. It is an intimate alleyway that is lined with countless restaurants and bars. A prominent feature of the site is that it sits right next to the Kamo River. With a long wide path running along it, this area offers a peaceful reprieve from the liveliness of the alleyway. During the summer, the buildings lining the Kamo River will build terraces out to the water. Combined, Pontocho and the Kamo River host a lively entertainment scene.

The site of the wellness center is located at Pontocho Park (as seen in the City Plan and Site Plan.) This site has two sides to it – originally, the side of the site sitting closer to the river was a park. The side that sits across the alleyway was bike parking. Though this is a lively area, there are many benefits to the addition of a wellness center. One is that the center will offer people a chance to escape the busyness of the area. Though fun, the Pontocho alleyway can be a stressful place. Offering a spa will help alleviate some of the area’s negative aspects. Another is that the site has a strong connection to the outdoors. Originally featuring a park that sits on the Kamo River, this site has the making to greatly benefit people who struggle with mental illness. A strong connection to the outdoors can minimize feelings of anxiety and depression, therefore, is an integral design element of this wellness center.

13 | Maddie Clay

ORGANIZATION

The wellness center’s program is split up into three main floors. The ground floor and third-floor feature most of the public and outdoor spaces. The second floor is the spa, where the building becomes internally focused.

The main program on the first floor is the lobby, locker rooms, central outdoor space, yoga rooms, and park. The central outdoor space was a driving aspect of this design since its conception. As stated before, Pontocho is a busy area. To offer visitors a private connection to the outdoors, a courtyard was placed at the center of the design with the circulation and remaining program organized around it. Soon, this central courtyard expanded to take up the majority of the first floor. The courtyard has a steady incline until it reaches the alleyway. There, people can look out onto the park and Kamo River. The ramps and stairways are situated so it created a winding pathway through the courtyard. This is so people have to “meander” through it, creating a meditative process.

The courtyard reaches across the alleyway to the new park. There, planters and trees are organized in the same meandering fashion. People must continue the meditative process to reach the Kamo River. There they can use the stairs or the ramp to get to the pre-existing pathway.

The yoga rooms are implemented to create and promote mindfulness techniques. Yoga is extremely beneficial to the body and treating mental illness. During a yoga session, the body releases endorphins which relieve pain and create a general sense of well-being within the brain. Yoga also utilizes a mindfulness technique – breathing – which can help calm the mind. The yoga rooms also have curtain walls so that the connection to the outdoors is maintained during class.

The second and most private floor houses the spa. As visitors arrive, they are presented with the spa lobby and lounge. Here, they can wait for their appointment or enjoy a beverage. Next, they are taken into either the women’s or the men’s locker room where they change into robes, shower, or utilize the vanity area. The locker rooms are meant to be a luxurious experience where people can get into a Zen headspace. They transition from being focused on their external world to their internal world. The spa offers singles or couples massages as well as sauna rooms. These treatments benefit both the mind and the body. They help release any trauma that the body is holding on to while calming the mind.

The only windows on this floor are in the lobby. This is so people can enjoy natural lighting as they wait, but as they enter the spa procession, they are removed from the external world. The lighting within the spa is dim and adds to the ambience.

Ground Floor Plan

Scale: 1/94”=1’

KEY:

1. Front Entry

2. Service Entry

3. Lobby

4. Stoage

5. Locker Rooms

6. Central Outdoor Space

7. Yoga Rooms

8. Park

9. Follies

10. Connection to Kamo River

KEY: 12 13

Spa Lobby and Lounge 14 14

Lightwell 15 15 15 16

Event Space 16 16 15 17 17

Rooms

Single Massage Rooms

Maddie Clay

6. Central Outdoor Space

Section

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14. Spa Locker Room Vanity

7. Yoga Room

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8. Park

CREATING COMMUNITY

Project Type

Commercial Year 2021 | 3rd year studio

“Creating Community” is an adaptive reuse project. Located in LaGrange, GA, the site was previously home to a beloved convenience store called “Doc Spier’s.” Eventually, Doc Spier’s closed and the existing building became a rundown shell. The goal of this project was to use the pre-existing building and create a community center for the surrounding community.

The community is already very close-knit. According to residents, the people who live near to the site place importance on being neighborly. They will often sit on neighbors’ porches and check in on each other. With this in mind, the design of the community center emphasizes the togetherness of the neighborhood.

CREATING COMMUNITY

SITE ANALYSIS

Located in a residential area, the layout of the site is meant to connect the surrounding streets. By creating this connection, residents are encouraged to utilize this space to connect with their community. Whether they are headed to the coffee shop, the garden, or simply passing through, this space is theirs to enjoy with the neighborhood.

The main path is located near the southern side of the site. This path wanders through several of the businesses located within the center. By creating a meandering path, the goal was to get visitors to slow down and enjoy their time within the space. This also creates little corners where seating and tables can be placed so people can occupy them.

Maddie Clay

ORGANIZATION

When organizing the community center’s program, the history of the site and the connection to its surroundings were prioritized. The shell of Doc Spier’s original building was still standing on this site, so it is used to house the coffee shop and outdoor area. This is so visitors can be reminded of the once-beloved store and reconnect to their home’s history as they visit the community center.

Another goal of this building is to feel incredibly open, therefore, rotating doors were implemented in any interior space. This is so these interior spaces can always keep them open and allow consistent access to the outdoors. This is also to ensure the community center has an open plan. It is important that this space can host whatever event the community might need. These doors make it so the walls can “disappear” and create one fluid space.

The program of the community center is a coffee shop, patio, playground, office or retail spaces, an outdoor gathering area, an indoor gathering area, back patio, community garden spaces, and a rooftop garden and seating area. The community center is meant to offer enough businesses to bring people in, but offer enough open space to provide an opportunity for the community to add to it or host events.

KEY:

1. Coffee shop

2. Patio

3. Playground

4-10. Office or retail spaces

11-12. Bathrooms

13. Outdoor gathering area

14. Indoor gathering area

15. Kitchen

16. Back patio

17-23. Community garden spaces

24. Rooftop garden and gathering area

Ground Floor Plan

Scale: 1/16”=1’

Second Floor Plan

Scale: 1/16”=1’

Maddie Clay

Section Perspective Coffee Shop + Rooftop

Section 01

Scale: 1/8”=1’

Section 02

Scale: 1/8”=1’

Maddie Clay

East Elevation

West Elevation

RESUME

Education

Auburn University Aug 2019-May 2023

College of Architecture, Design, and Construction

Bachelor of Architecture

Cumulative GPA: 3.32

Honors

DEAN’s List Spring 2020

Activities

Auburn Abroad

Spring 2023

Auburn 5th Year Thesis Studio, Japan

• Visited Tokyo & Kyoto, Japan

• Thesis research and documentation

• Examine and experience Japan’s culture and architecture

Sorority

Auburn Delta Zeta

2019-2021

• Participate in events run by Delta Zeta

• Recruit incoming freshman into the sorority

Work Experience

Design Intern

Meyer Davis

2022

• Worked with designers to complete projects

• Ordered and organized samples

• Created presentation boards using InDesign

Skills Team

Communication, presentations, leadership, planning, organization, problem solving, client communication, spatial organization

Digital

Microsoft Office Suite, AutoCAD, Adobe Suite, Rhino 3D, Revit, Enscape Analog

Drafting, model building, charcoal & graphite illustration

Colophon

Typeface Designer

Artifakt Element

Erik Spiekermann & Ralph du Carrois

Year Created

2021