PORTFOLIO NOLAN MIRANDA JANUARY 2022 BLA | 2018 - 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
01-04
THE VALLEY SEMESTER 7 | LARC 4730
05-08
STRAW BALE SLIDE SEMESTER 7 | LARC 3070
09-10
STRUCTURAL SYSTEM SEMESTER 7 | VOLUNTEERING
11-14
BAIN APARTMENT ANALYSIS SEMESTER 7 | LARC 3070
15-16
GRAND CANYON MODULE SEMESTER 7 | LARC 4730
17-22
MODERN HOUSE PLAN SEMESTER 7 | PERSONAL STUDY
23-24
ALGORITHMIC SHAPES SEMESTER 7 | PERSONAL STUDY
25-26
INDUSTRIAL BENCH SEMESTER 5 | LARC 3440
Type: Academic
Collaboration: Individual
Duration: 3 Weeks
Location: Arizona
THE VALLEY
RHINO TERRAIN MODEL | LARC 4730 SPECIAL STUDY 2021
This fourth year project explored the various terrain modelling functions in Rhino as an introduction to the software. With the final submission intended for 3D printing, the terrain and added items needed to be designed to allow for a successful print with little to no support. Vertical angles, top heavy objects and naked edges served as key considerations throughout the design process. Texture was a necessary component of the submission and therefore a brushed copper finish was added with a bronze color to further accentuate the texture.
1
The Valley: Perspective
2
8 cm
2 cm 0.52 cm
Conceptual sketches
3
AutoCad drawings
The Valley: Plan view
The Valley: Elevation
The Valley: Perspective
4
Type: Academic
Collaboration: Group
Duration: Half Semester
Location: Guelph, ON
STRAW BALE SLIDE
COMPONENT OF REDESIGN | LARC 3070 STUDIO 2021
This fourth year studio assignment got students to analyze the Guelph farmers market and develop a plan to reinvigorate this space. With the theme of “Winter Use” being given to our group, a childrens hill concept was developed by using existing snow, straw bales and the already sloped area. Due to the nature of this project, keeping a low budget was also a necessary requirement. My focus on this assignment was the hill concept, and all subsequent work produced. The design developed was heavily iterated through the use of various local and international precedents. This finalized design was ultimately reached by considering safety, assembly, strength and functionality. Rigid styrofoam panels, taken from the precedent of green roofs were used for stability, and a steel culvert was repurposed to act as a child friendly way to navigate back to the top of the hill.
5
Farmers market parking lot: Plan view
Straw hill: Perspective
6
Hand sketches
7
Straw hill Photoshop: Perspective
Straw hill: Rhino perspective Ice layer above snow Packed snow Hay bale Rigid styrafoam panel Steel culvert
Straw hill: Section 1
Straw hill: Section 2
8
Type: Academic
Collaboration: Team
Duration: 1 Semester
Location: University of Guelph
STRUCTURAL SYSTEM
MODULAR BUILD | DESIGN LAB VOLUNTEERING 2021
While volunteering under John Philips in his engineering design lab, the idea to design a modular lego-like 3D interlocking system was pitched by Christian Giroux. The concept revolved around molding modular pieces around a wired frame. Key considerations during the design process were material, size and shape of each piece, and diameter of each perforation. After many design iterations, the final triangular model was sent to be fabricated out of aluminum alloy 3003 for strength and workability. M3 button head screws, lock washers and nuts were then used over the span of 10 weeks to secure the structure. Although beginning to bend under its own weight over time, the strength of the chosen material helped the structure retain its general shape weeks after completion.
9
Long inserts allow for minor joint movement
1.4 cm
Perforations allow focused bending at one point
0.3 cm
0.13 cm 9.2 cm 10.5 cm
Slim neck allows for minor rotational bends Aluminum Alloy 3003
2.8 cm
Triangular components: Autocad iterations
Structural system build: Week 1
Structural system build: Weeks 4-7
Structural system build: Weeks 2-3
Structural system build: Weeks 8-10
10
Type: Academic
Collaboration: Group
Duration: Half Semester
Location: Toronto, ON
BAIN APARTMENT ANALYSIS ANALYSIS OF COMMUNITY DESIGN | LARC 3070 STUDIO 2021
During this fourth year studio project, our group was given the Bain Apartments in Toronto to analyze from a community standpoint. I was tasked with the sites axonometrics, elevations and plan view focussing on greenery. The site offered a very unique design as even though it wasn’t gated, various aspects such as placement of shrubbery, courtyards and location of private property scattered throughout deterred unwanted visitors. Through the use of SketchUp (Axonometrics), AutoCad (Elevations), and Photoshop (Elevations and Plan) I was able to best present our analysis with maximum visuals and minimal wording.
11
Bain apartment analysis: Plan view
12
Exposure
Access to Nature
Social Group
Safety
Change in elevation through stairs enhances privacy and creates a sense of enclosure.
Greenery and vegetation scattered throughout the courtyard offers a sense of immersion. Shared courtyard greenery promotes communal planting.
Open courtyard allows children to play freely under the watchful eye of adults in surrounding buildings.
Tree and shrubbery along with fencing around Bain Av creates a buffer between pedestrians and residents using the courtyard.
Offers vertical separation from walking paths.
Bain apartment analysis: Section view 2 Safety
Exposure
Social Groups
Parked cars visible from house due to elevated areas
Stairs and vegetation provide privacy from passing cars
Elevated porch along with stairs provide point of social interaction and can function as seating
Use of apartments and shared housing to separate public courtyards, deterring unwanted visitors
13
Elevated porch provides visual access to courtyard
Bain apartment analysis: Section view 1
Bain apartments black and white: Perspective
Bain apartments rendered: Perspective
14
Type: Academic
Collaboration: Individual
Duration: 3 Weeks
Location: Arizona
GRAND CANYON MODULE SECTION ANALYSIS | LARC 4730 SPECIAL STUDY 2021
This assignment tasked students with terrain modeling based off a real site, followed by creating 9 section slices in both the x and y directions. Following my previous contour heavy Rhino site, I chose to mimic the style by choosing the 1000x1000m area of the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Through the use of various new commands I was able to import the existing site where I began cutting the section slices. The slicing process brought awareness to the fact that hidden in the middle of this contour heavy terrain were flat points that would have otherwise gone unnoticed without this in depth visual analysis.
15
Colorado River: Rhino model, plan view, and section slices
16
Type: Personal
Collaboration: Individual
Duration: 2 Weeks
Location: Mississauga
MODERN HOUSE PLAN
EXPLORATION INTO VRAY | PERSONAL LEARNING 2021
During the summer, while looking to expand my knowledge in the design field, I chose to focus on excelling in final renders. Through inspiration of a Minecraft house I was working on I decided to design a two floor modern house. My focus during the design process was simplicity referring to precedents such as the Stahl house for materials and Coral Ridge Waterfront for composition. This resulted in a concrete house with wooden elements, large glass windows and subtle lighting. I followed by designing simple, yet functional spaces in the front and back of the house to further accentuate and compliment the house’s design. Throughout the design process I was always looking to iterate and make the overall plan better. These changes led to the addition of an in ground fire pit visible in the bottom left of the plan. Due to the nature of this project, and it primarily self led during the summer, the ideas never stopped coming, and I hope to continue to update this design the more I grow in the field.
17
Modern House: VRay birds eye view
18
Conceptual sketches
19
Original Minecraft design
Modern house black and white: Perspective
Modern house black and white: Front elevation
20
VRay render: View from backyard bar
Process Since the project was neither professional or school based, the idea did not begin its development like most others. Through Minecraft a basic house design was made, which I later turned into rough sketches. I followed up with a SketchUp model that went through many iterations until finally learning the VRay software while developing final renders for this project. Other than the greenery, furniture and vehicle, all objects on site were hand modeled to scale in SketchUp.
21
VRay render: View from poolside lounge
VRay render: View from frontyard enterance
22
Type: Personal
Collaboration: Individual
Duration: 1 Week
Location: Mississauga
ALGORITHMIC SHAPES
VORONOI CUBE + PARAMETRIC CYLINDER | PERSONAL 2021
While looking to further explore Rhino and its capabilities I was introduced to Grasshopper and its potential applications as I look to better understand parametric design. Through this curiosity I began to work through tutorials which led to the Voronoi Cube and Parametric Cylinder. Visible in the first algorithm, the cube played with the commands of populate3D and voronoi3D. Through the addition of simple sliders to manipulate the parameters along with scale, I was able to create a cube that changes composition depending on where a point is. I found the Voronoi Cube exercise to be a great intro into Grasshopper as many commands used can be easily translated to real world designs. After having understood the basics in Grasshopper, I wanted to make an object that can truly be thrown into a concept. This led me to the frame like design of the Parametric Cylinder. Through a series of commands I divided a curved line into a 3D framed cylinder. I found the use of algorithmic design much more useful here, as even slight changes in one of the many sliders would create a completely different object. Many of my favorite structures exude qualities of asymmetry, and I believe through the use of Grasshopper this can easily be achieved in most projects.
23
Voronoi cube: Perspective 1
Voronoi cube: Perspective 2
Voronoi cube: Grasshopper algorithm
Parametric cylinder: Perspective
Parametric cylinder: Grasshopper algorithm
Parametric cylinder: Birds eye view
24
Type: Academic
Collaboration: Partners
Duration: 1 Semester
Location: Guelph, ON
INDUSTRIAL BENCH
CONSTRUCTION PACKAGE | LARC 3440 CONSTRUCTION 2020
Over the span of the F20 semester, my third year construction documentation class focussed on bench design. The final deliverables included a schematic package which was to be given to the builders, along with a presentation package for investors. Along with my partner, over the semester we designed a bench around industrial materials with a skeleton-like look. The concept went through many changes in terms of form and material choice. An example of this is the truss-like leg system which was a late add to the design after watching a video on truss construction. Our previous concepts didn’t have much correlation to the industrial concept, but a Neville Truss fit the part perfectly. In this project my work revolved primarily around schematic design through AutoCad.
25
76mm (3 inch) Nail with Fastener Galvanized Rebar #3 (10mm diameter) Bench Rod Held in place with Mortar and Nail Galvanized Rebar (50mm from edge) cast through both blocks for structural stability
Industrial bench: Perspective
51mm width Teak Wood Plank adhered to 25mm width Steel Plank 6mm surface incisions to make the custom cement unit mimic 2 cinder blocks Disconnect between the the base block and top block Custom 813mm length Cement Block Galvanized Rebar at an angle of 113 degrees (Optimal seating angle) 76mm (3 inch) Screws holding Leg Bracket in cement Galvanized Steel Truss Leg System 6mm (41 inch) wide Cement Anchors Concrete Pad
Industrial bench: Section 1
76mm(3 inch) Screw with Fastener
Custom Concrete Cinder Block
Exposed Galvanized Rebar 76mm (3 inch) Nail with Fastener Galvanized Rebar #3 (10mm)
Teak-Galvanized Steel Rod Adhered via Polyurethane Wood Glue 203mm
Industrial bench: Section 2
Custom Galvanized Steel Neville Truss Leg (Black)
26
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