MJB Spring 2024 Portfolio

portfolio

About

My name is Matthew Behler, I am a student at Thomas Jefferson University enrolled in the 5 year Bachelor of Architecture Program. I am currently a 2nd Year student and the following projects are from my first 3 semesters at this university. Architecture, for me, is a story. The development of ideas, the themes it can present, the personalization that the built environment can produce is all so facinating to me. This is one of the reasons I fell in love with this field; the depth. Developing projects past the idea of making a building has led me to places I never thought this major would. I love the process and enjoy discussing the product.

570-780-7103

mattbehler22@gmail.com

www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-behler

COMPILING RESEARCH | SOCIETY HILL

DESIGN 3 CRITIQUE | THOMAS JEFFERSON UNIVERSITY

Design 3

FALL 2023 | PROFESSOR IVANO D’ANGELLA

01 - C OMMUNITY A MPLIFICATION

02 - R O w HOME R EDU x

Visualization

FALL 2023 | PROFESSOR MICHAEL PENZEL

03 - 2023 C ABIN C OMPETITION

04 - K ANBAR C AMPUS C ENTER S ECTION

Design 2

SPRING 2023 | PROFESSOR CAROL HERMANN

05 - S TRUCTURE + S ITE

06 - T ECTONIC M AQUTTE

07 - H ADA w AY H OUSE

External Projects

FALL 2021 | JOHN FARRIS

08 - M ISSION S TYLE C OFFEE T ABLE

Table of Contents

Community Amplification

PROJECT 4, SEMESTER 3

PHILADELPHIA

SHARSWOOD

ATHLETIC SQUARE PARK

This project was an exploration of community and designed for a demographic. The demographic I was tasked with understanding, researching, and designing for are the senior citizens of Sharswood.

Sharswood is a neighborhood in Northwest Philadelphia that has a very rich history detailing back to the early 1800s. This community is constantly changing and is a prime example of human connection. The site for this project is one of many nodes in the neighborhood; Sharswood’s athletic square park and recreation center.

ATHLETIC RECREATION CENTER | REAR VIEW

MAIN

EVENT SPACE

RIGHT SIDE FLOOR PLANS

ART STUDIO & BALCONY

LIBRARY

The Athletic Square in Sharswood is one of the few nodes of communication in the neighborhood. Providing a space for the seniors of this area is important not only for their health and well-being, but also for inter-generative connection. These two spaces allow for connection between the seniors and the community around them, and also facilities to enrich themselves both mentally and physically. The circulation between the two wings also allow for an effortless flow from the south entrance of the park to the north entrance.

GREEN BRICK

RED BRICK

SOLAR PANELS

Rowhome Redux

PROJECT 3, SEMESTER 3

Situated Parallel to Sharswoods Athletic Square, this project seeks to create livable space based on an individual and their interests. Influenced by the lifestyle of an Urban Gardner, this space seeks to grow out of its containment, similar to that of a plant. The client, Sudha, enjoys outdoor spaces, growing & experimenting with agriculture, and plenty of light. This design takes influence from those aspects, and provides spaces for each to exist.

ATHLETIC SQUARE

NORTH 27TH STREET

1444 N. 27TH ST, PHILADELPHIA, PA

ROOFTOP TERRACE

LIGHT MONITOR

SUNROOM

Interior spaces are dictated by curvilinear shapes as the circulation is that of a plant and is allowed to grow and expand, even expanding out of the facade at points. Through use of sun-rooms, balconies, rooftop terraces, etc. this space is a way of bleeding the exterior of the space into the interior, creating a direct relationship between the two.

ROOFTOP

SECOND LEVEL

Cabin Competition

PROJECT 3, SEMESTER 3

The final project of Visualization 3, this competition required research into an existing cabin, a site in Pennsylvania, and to make a rendered Rhino model of both the cabin and the site. The rest of the second year students and I were tasked with creating competition boards that showed our cabin, the site, and other important aspects through a series of diagrams, renders, drawings, site maps, etc.

Kanbar Campus Center

Through the use of an existing building, this project served as an introduction to Rhino. We were to take a section of the Kanbar Campus Center, located on Thomas Jefferson University’s East Falls campus, and model it with the best of detail in both exterior elements and in interior wall elements.

After drafting the section on AutoCAD, I was to take it to Rhino and develop a 3D model of the section. I added materiality, both in shape and color, and adding finishing touches such as scale figures and vegetation.

Structure + Site

PROJECT 3, SEMESTER 2

Structure + Site was the result of a semester long exploration of existing houses, site relationship, and user circulation. This house is inspired by Patkau Architects’ Hadaway House, located in Whistler Canada. Although it may not share the unique shape of the Hadaway House, it does draw similarities in circulation and broad design choices.

The public area of this cabin is primarily dictated by the large window towards the west side of the house. Once one enters the cabin, they are drawn to the large facade of glass and naturally gravitate towards the living room. Entering into the kitchen allows for a half private half public space to be shared between the owner and the guests.

The private are of this cabin is mostly pushed to the rear, allowing a clear, but hidden, separation of space. The bathroom, which is connected to both the kitchen and bedroom, allowing for entrance from both the public and private spaces. There exists a private view in the bedroom, different from that of the main view in the living room.

Tectonic Maquette

PROJECT 2, SEMESTER 2

This project served as my introduction to built architecture outside of conceptual thinking. This was a small side project, that developed over a series of weeks that found me adding something to the structure per week. I was tasked with creating walls, stairs, entrances on the top and bottom, a site, vegetation, etc; and having a reason behind each design choice.

Hadaway House

PROJECT 1, SEMESTER 2

The first project of this semester was a case study of an existing house which, in my case, was the Hadaway House by Patkau Architects. Located in Whistler, Canada, this home takes its unique shape based on the landscape, the views, and the naturalistic aspects of Whistler. This house served as an inspiration to the final project of this semester, and has had major influence on my understanding of site + structure relationship.

Mission Style Coffee Table

With the help of my teacher John Farris, I designed and built a mission style coffee table. This was the main project of my Cadd 2 class in 2021, as I wanted to challenge myself with a project that would go together well and look beautiful. This design has no screws, as all pieces fit together and are held together by wood glue. I really am proud of this project, as it served as an introduction into the world of furniture building, which is something I would like to pursue further in my future.