Michael Frush Portfolio

+ michaelfrush selected works

architecture is a manipulation of spatial creation to evoke meaning and interaction among people and experiences. an understanding of spatial design creates experiences that make life a little less difficult for one another through craftsmanship of space. space is the canvas for design, while the well-being of people are the priority.

+ tuning music

row

+ architectural provocation

+ spatial haiku

+

+

interfaith infill

physical interventions

+

hand craftsmanship

the music row neighborhood of nashville is known for its musical identity and contribution to music city. music row is under attack politically as over-development threatens the scale and cultural identity of the neighborhood. the comprehensive urban design plan enhances public space and place making to better interact between the history of nashville and the current needs of the urban inhabitants.

the studio worked along side the nashville civic design center, metro planning department of nashville, and the public policy department of vanderbilt university. group studio collaboration with brad lee herr.

+ nashville tennessee

+ tuning music

row

+ architectural provocation

+ spatial haiku

+

+

interfaith infill

physical interventions

+

hand craftsmanship

the existing condition of the music row was analyzed as a historic neighborhood with potential urban sites that would serve as prolific programmatic interventions. the concept drives the comprehensive plan to create a holistic urban design scheme that would create a connection with downtown nashville and adjacent neighborhoods and institutions. music row serves as a strong urban neighborhood that could improve with acupuntural interventions.

+ urban analysis

+ existing context

0

200' 400'

800'

the historic analysis recognized the need to reduce demolition and over scale development upon music row. recognizing significant nodes establishes prolific site interventions.

+ urban analysis

midtown

music row

the gulch

scarritt bennett

vanderbilt

edgehill

hillsboro

belmont university left: historic neighborhood left-center: nodes + connections right: neighborhoods

acupuncture intervention promotes a comprehensive design plan that establishes urban parks and key program to music row to promote the viability of the neighborhood.

left: walkability left-center: proposed axon

+ proposed master plan

0

200' 400'

800'

6'-5"

a complete street prioritizes the pedestrian experience. protective planting and parking buffers protect bicyclists. a street diet reduces vehicular traffic.

+ street experience

10'-0"

10'-0"

8'-0" 3' 4'

8'-7"

the pedestrian experience as a priority promotes the social wellbeing of music row. the protected bike lanes allow for the streets to become occupiable.

the architecture of the cranbrook academy of art serves as a successful collaboration of buildings to serve as a unified campus design. the ordering of buildings establishes unique courtyard opportunities and allows for a connection between the disciplines of the academy and a reflection of cranbrook's pedagogical model. the design of an addition to the cranbrook art museum attempts to engage the past of eliel saarinen's design in a manner that can be defined as provocative architecture. rather than creating a strong contextual relationship with the existing architecture the design suggests an opposition to create a tension in dialogue between the existing and new.

studio collaboration on campus analysis.

+ cranbrook michigan

+ tuning music

row

+ architectural provocation

+ spatial haiku

+

+

interfaith infill

physical interventions

+

hand craftsmanship

the analysis of cranbrook campus established an understanding of how passages and courtyards are created through spatial movements. this analysis led to the formal creation of transitional space within the addition to the cranbrook academy of art library + museum. inspiration was derived from each spatial movement to establish a filtering effect that provided a transition between exterior spaces and creates an inhabitable space for social interaction.

+ campus analysis

left: cranbrook museum + library center: cranbrook boy's school right: kingswood school

left: filtering movement in addition right: spatial movement

formal regulation provides the parti that informs the movement of spatial configuration through the addition to the museum. the movement follows the analysis of the campus design while providing functional spaces for exhibition.

+ key strategies

left: regulation center: parti right: architectural moves

+ site plan

0

40'

80'

160'

320'

1.

2.

3.

4.

8.

5.

6.

7.

1. existing library 2. existing museum 3. art studios 4. bookstore + cafe addition

+ movement experience

5. permanent collections exhibit 6. temporary exhibitions 7. open-air exhibit 8. sculpture garden + courtyard 0

20'

40'

80'

160'

the experience of the museum addition establishes a transition between exterior rooms. the provocative manner of the facade creates tension with the existing campus.

the seemingly open-air facade creates a tension with the existing monolithic form of the existing museum while creating a unified experience with the existing visual line of the tree datum.

+ spatial experience

0

20'

40'

80'

160'

the spatial experience of the interior creates exhibition space to display and view art within an open floor plan and allows for the presence of natural light in gallery spaces.

the architectural haiku offers a unique interpretation of the surrounding context of the site. the haiku further relates the context into a rhythm of spatial creations to establish a spatial experience that recognizes the formal qualities of the site.

+ knoxville tennessee

+ tuning music

row

+ architectural provocation

+ spatial haiku

+

+

interfaith infill

physical interventions

+

hand craftsmanship

the architectural haiku relates to the historical context of knoxville and the origins of east tennessee at the blount mansion. a repetition is formed to create a rhythm of spatial experiences. a thoughtful approach to the removal of repetitions creates a dialogue and establishes a sense of hierarchy in the arrangement. the architectural haiku informs the parti diagram which relates to the urban and historical context.

+ haiku 7 5 7

left: architectural haiku right-center: parti diagram right: urban relationship

recognition of key site elements further informs the formal design . the recognition of spatial enclosure existing in the historic fabric of the site is used as well as the creation of a hierarchal approach. the circulation upon the site is established a spatial movement to the historic space.

+ key strategies

left: enclosure center: hierarchy right: circulation

1.

2.

4.

7.

2.

2.

5.

6.

3.

1. tavern + restaurant 2. guest house 3. garden 4. kitchen prep

+

floorplan

8.

2.

5. men's toilet room 6. women's toilet room 7. historic blount mansion 8. historic office 0

10'

20'

40'

80'

the guest house plan illustrates a formation of spatial arrangement informed by the architectural haiku. the transitional space between guesthouses provides a moment of shared experiences through a visual connection towards the historic origins of east tennessee.

+ visual experience

the visual experience of the guest houses provides an opportunity to create a connection with the historic origins of east tennessee.

the repetition created by the architectural haiku presents itself into a tectonic connection with the topography of the site.

0

5'

10'

20'

40'

the garden space is created as a visual hierarchy and gathering space to promote the sociability of the visitors and participants of the space.

the sacred realm of spatial experience is inherent in the collective unconscious understanding of the mind. bringing together multiple faiths of the world in harmony and unity relates to the collective. creating a place for people of all creeds and faiths to experience promotes the priority of people within spatial construction.

+ fairmont west virginia

+ tuning music

row

+ architectural provocation

+ spatial haiku

+

+

interfaith infill

physical interventions

+

hand craftsmanship

the parti is derived from the sacred geometry of the nautilus spiral formed by the golden rectangle. the golden rectangle is considered sacred as it portrays a proportioning system of most things found in nature. the spiral of the nautilus is used to create the essence of the journey towards the sacred center. the formation of hierarchy is achieved through the volumetric approach to the golden rectangle. the vertical form creates a contextual relationship with the adjacent religious structures.

+ sacred geometry

the sacred geometry in three dimensions supports the relationship of the surrounding urban context.

0

10'

20'

40'

80'

6.

12.

great light warms the soul. realization of the self. welcoming each faith.

5.

4.

7.

8.

2.

9.

3.

10.

1.

11.

13.

1. main sanctuary 2. gallery 3. meditation garden 4. christian worship 5. buddhism worship 6. hinduism worship

+ collective unconscious

7. islamic worship 8. judaism worship 9. toilet rooms 10. mechanical 11. sacristy/storage 12. ablution 13. baptismal font

design collaborated with construction follows the inherent tradition of the architect, the arkhitekton, or master builder. following this ideology, the transition between the architect and builder is reduced, or even eliminated, creating a holistic approach to design and construction.

+ tuning music

row

+ architectural provocation

+ spatial haiku

+

+

interfaith infill

physical interventions

+

hand craftsmanship

spatial creation can be used to promote functionality and enjoyment. a spatial intervention is used to transform a space that is poorly used to create an aesthetically pleasurble experience. a natural intervention upon an unused space promoting the function and experience of the space by using formal qualities of architecture in developing spatial movement. geometric elements promoted the physicality of the sculpture while establishing an inherent understanding of the spatial consideration.

+ geometric intervention

the understanding of material qualities is important in the creation of space with tectonic relationships. it is a necessity to understand the process of creation and the inherent qualities of materials. the material of sawn wood measuring nominally 2 inches thick by 4 inches wide by 8 feet in length has inherently limited properties due to creation and natural processes. the understanding of tectonics among elements and connections create a meaningful volumetric spatial experience. the use of tectonics creates a reflection creating a dialogue with the spaces created. the tectonics where the dialogue is establishes is not defined by the material but the inherent absence of the material, creating a moment of solid and void within the definition of space.

+ spatial definition of a 2x4

the creation of artistic work allows the development of relating creativity to spatial design. creating moments captured in time promote an understanding of the creative process while also stimulating delight and imagination.

+ tuning music

row

+ architectural provocation

+ spatial haiku

+

+

interfaith infill

physical interventions

+

hand craftsmanship

+ ceramic creation

stoneware: wheel thrown left measurements: 5"w x 5"h right measurements: 7"w x 4"h

+ site study

water color paint: notre-dame-du-haut measurements: 17"w x 14"h

+ shadow exploration

graphite on paper: fabric over chair measurements: 14"w x 17"h

+ perspective study

graphite on paper: fsu library stacks measurements: 24"w x 18"h

"i believe that the way people live can be directed a little by architecture."

-tadao ando