My path into architecture has been anything but straightforward, shaped by environmental advocacy, a fierce drive to be a role model for my younger sister, and the pandemic’s stark reminder of how the spaces around us profoundly impact our lives. From an early interest in protecting the environment, I became aware that the built environment not only reflects our values, but can also inspire us to live more sustainably and compassionately. Wanting to translate that awareness into real-world solutions, I began experimenting with programs like AutoCAD in high school; my first step in discovering how digital tools could bring ideas to life.
As I pursued my associate degree at Collin County Community College, I broadened my understanding of spatial relationships, learning that a successful design requires listening to both the site and the larger world it inhabits. This perspective guided me to the University of Virginia, where my commitment to designing for both nature and for people took root. Through my studies in architecture here, I’ve pushed myself to craft spaces that foster connection between individuals, communities, and the natural environment
Looking back, I see how these experiences form a continuous thread, each phase reinforcing my belief that thoughtful design can transform daily life. I hope you’ll notice this evolution across the projects in this portfolio, from my early high school work to my latest endeavors at UVA Ultimately, my design philosophy remains anchored in the principles that sparked my initial curiosity: respect for the environment, sensitivity to human needs, and a commitment to creating places of genuine connection and reflection.
Philippe Hempel
people’s park and our pavilion p.08
renders, landscape architecture, model fabrication, community engagement, drawings narrative storytelling
2025 aia virginia prize entry p.16
competition, 37 hours, axon, architectural drawings render, historical and community research narrative storytelling
casa malaparte reimagined p.22
historical and film research renovation, digital fabrication, architectural drawings, narrative storytelling
forager’s hike pavilion p.30
site analysis, architectural drawings, model fabrication, collage render, narrative storytelling
panama airport concept texas shippingcontainer house p.42 p.46
model making, digital fabrication, research renders, digital fabrication, interior design, sun-study
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password: “peoplepark24”
01 people’s park and our pavilion
downtown charlottesville, VA
keywords renders, landscape architecture, model fabrication, community engagement, drawings, narrative storytelling software used rhino enscape procreate adobe illustrator
when fall 2024
curriculum
Foundation Studio II: Responsive Space
professor / mentor
Elgin Cleckley
For nearly a century, the site has mirrored Charlottesville's evolving history and the influence of individuals. In 1928, residential houses transformed into a park dedicated to commemorating Robert E. Lee, with every tree and pathway pointing to a singular statue at its center. Following the 2017 Unite the Right Rally and the statue's removal, the site became a blank slate a visual void longing to be brought back to life
The reimagined People's Park is a bold design made up of a series of interconnected spaces and pavilion flowing naturally with the newly sculpted landscape. The layout fosters unity and dissolves hierarchies. It’s the interconnectedness that allows people to become both participants and observers and for the park to act as a backdrop for us to come together, reconnect, learn from one another, and, even if just for a moment, live like children again.
People’s Park honors our complex past but looks forward with hope and unity, and I truly believe the park can once again become the vibrant heart of Charlottesville a public space that this time unites us all.
project context
The site is situated just north of the Downtown Mall, surrounded by civic buildings including the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, Historical Society, the Haven, the Garage, Churches, and a residential area
project development
Near the site is the historic Jefferson School Constructed in 1926, it served as the first school for black children in Charlotteville and sat in the heart of Vinegar Hills In 2013, it underwent significant renovations revitalizing both its indoor and outdoor spaces, and setting a precedent for significant change of public spaces in the community
site plan
Beside the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library, this space serves as a moment of pause before entering the park
A series of intimate spaces separated by trees and elevated above active areas, ideal for small groups to participate in contained activities with solid shelves, benches, and concrete floor fit for chalk
At the heart of the park is an expansive lawn, recessed into the topography creating a flat soft surface that is ideal for recreational sports or simply relaxing 4
Beside former statue’s location, offset to say that it isn’t the central point, and cladded with a variety of reflective tiles in which everyone can see themselves as one part of the park’s ongoing narrative. Its form resembling growth and inspired by the nearby mountains features a juxtaposed inviting and open hybrid outdoor space, complimented by kitchen and bathroom facilities 5
Facing “The Garage,” a local performance hot-spot, steps provide seating.
Recessed inside the bowl’s infill, and strategically oriented away from the apartments, this space is perfect for gatherings, holiday event’s, or reflecting over the park
inside the pavilion
girl in wheelchair prepares breakfast during early morning
small gatherings take place around the mini amphitheater
our Pavilion as a lantern for families on Halloween.
philippe hempel
Grounding Mindful Gardens The Bowl Our Pavilion Garage Stairs Mini-Amphitheater
philippe hempel
2025 aia virginia prize entry
old-town alexandria, VA
keywords competition, 37 hours, drawings, research, context, community, public restrooms, public park, narrative software used rhino twinmotion adobe illustrator when spring 2025
Each year, students across Virginia’s public architecture programs compete in a prestigious weekend design contest. The brief is released at 5:00 PM on Friday night and projects are due by 9:00 AM Monday morning.
In 2025, the brief called for a design intervention at the King Street-Old Town Station in Old-Town Alexandria The station and adjacent bus hub had recently undergone renovations but lacked public restrooms, and students were asked to design restroom additions with varying criteria in mind.
Visit https://www.aiava.org/prize/ for more information and to access the 2025 and previous design briefs as well
research
King-Street Old Town Station is a vital entry point into Old Town Alexandria Its mix of concrete surfaces lined with trees, the gap between the rail station and bus hub, and notably underutilized bike racks all signal opportunities for an improved narrative and functionality Additionally, the site’s centrality between hotels, stores, and restaurants to the East and a residential neighborhood to the West means it plays a dual role in serving both visitors and locals alike.
Old Town Alexandria’s history dates back to the mid 1700s, when it emerged along the Potomac River as a hub of trade and industry. Its grid and row-house architecture embody a narrative of commerce, community, and connectivity The overarching design goal formed to provide a public restroom that both meets a crucial need but also reflects Alexandria’s long standing hospitality and fluid connection to the river
intervention
highlighting surrounding building sizes indicating residential and commercial zones implying duality of site and importance for locals
The form of the proposed restroom mirrors the Potomac’s flow and draws on Alexandria’s row-house grid. The design features a duet of stalls and a duet of ADA-accessible restrooms, all open-air above for natural ventilation and security. A central stone-basin sink pays homage to river stones and encourages communal engagement.
Adjacent to the restroom is a seating area covered by a metal-framed frosted-glass roof that diffuses harsh sunlight, offers privacy, and nods to the crossing of rail and bus lines
Continuing is a simple wall and sparse trees that form a blank canvas for local art, extending a symbolic welcome to visitors Across the path is a small play area, safely enclosed behind a low wall, with a wooden boat recalling Alexandria’s trade past and inspiring imaginative play.
Diagram
Noted bike-rack utilization during virtual site visit
Since the proposed restrooms wll take up what formery was space for bike racks thesewillberelocatedunderthe railstationandinshelter
1 custodial service room
2 two exterior stalls
3 two ADA-accessible bathrooms
4 central stone-basin sink
The bank wall beside the restrooms and behind the sparse trees can be decorated by local artists anddiscoveredbylocalsandtouristsalike
view full board password: “malaparte25”
casa malaparte reimagined
island of capri, italy
keywords historical and film research, renovation, digital fabrication, architectural drawings, narrative storytelling software used rhino adobe illustrator
This project involved researching a house featured in a movie and drawing connections to make meaningful changes to its narrative. when spring 2025
curriculum
Foundation Studio III: Housing Matters
professor / mentor Stacy Scott
historical context of the house
Casa Malaparte, conceived in 1937 by the Italian writer Curzio Malaparte on the island of Capri, quickly became an icon of modern Italian architecture. Malaparte dismissed architect Adalberto Libera and built the house with local bricklayers, ensuring every detail reflected his isolationist lifestyle and obsession with work Completed in 1943 during World War II, the home’s minimal amenities reinforced its role as a solitary workspace rather than a warm dwelling or backdrop of “life”
symbolism in le mépris
Jean-Luc Godard’s film Le Mépris features Casa Malaparte as the final site of a crumbling marriage. Like Malaparte, the character Paul prioritizes his professional ambitions over personal connections, and the house’s stark, work-focused layout underscores the distance growing between him and Camille. Casa Malaparte thus becomes both a metaphorical and literal stage for their inevitable separation
the intervention
Restructured Balance: Important domestic spaces such as the kitchen and dining area have been moved to the top floor, reversing the original hierarchy that placed work above everyday life A dedicated studio near the entrance now keeps professional activities contained at the threshold, promoting a more balanced relationship between work and home
Human Scale: A once-vast, 1,326-square-foot networking-focused living room has been subdivided into progressively smaller social areas. Each space encourages closer interaction by offering a more intimate setting, thus countering the original sense of vastness and isolation.
Curated Views: The emphasis on views has been refined to prioritize quality The most iconic picture-window from Le Mépris remains but is now situated more intimate room, while other spaces employ variably scaled windows to p overload and embody true significance to each framed scene Additionally, a space further draws nature inside, strengthening the house’s connection to surroundings
Kitchen: The house now features a tradition-inspired Italian kitchen that merg with the dining area, establishing a warm, communal heart of the home.
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password: “foragerhike24”
forager’s hike pavilion
riverview park charlottesville, VA
keywords site analysis, architectural drawings, model fabrication, collage render, narrative storytelling software used rhino adobe illustrator
curriculum
The Forager’s Hike is an architectural intervention on a slim site along the Rivanna River, located near Riverview park in Charlottesville, Virginia. The purpose of the intervention, informed by the Black Morel mushroom, was to provide an experience for active foragers and passerbys alike, where individuals or groups can go on a short journey of discovery to an overlook pavilion all the while learning about the site’s preconditions, history, and reflecting upon nature
The result of careful design considerations is not merely a structure to seek shelter in, but rather an experience that builds upon the site’s contexts, the ideas of foraging and discovery, the Black Morel mushroom, and unites one with nature providing new perspectives to the site and surrounding area when fall 2024
Foundation Studio II: Responsive Space
professor / mentor
Elgin Cleckley
project location
One of the most fun features of the site was the presence of a particularly large boulder formation
site analysis
In addition to the site’s steep slope, there were many trees and dense vegetation. In the design process, I explored wheelchair accessibility and emphasized preserving the existing trees to maintain the soil stability provided by their roots
The architecture accomplishes the project’s goals through a variety of thoroughly developed and particular uses of space, material, color, use of light, and structure. As you climb the steps up the steep hill, the weaving path mirroring the natural contours of a Black Morel Mushroom’s cap narrows to a single orange wooden tower made of the wood of local trees its color an ode to the Black Morel's ripeness. Passing under the tower, your view is framed to a tree that sits on the hill, emphasizing the duality of what was and what has become, and the forest preconditions of the site and mushroom’s need for wood. The facade of the pavilion features kiln-burnt glazed tiles made from locally sourced clay, the same kind used to construct the nearby Woolen Mills Wooden slats beside the entrance lead the viewer's eyes down the hill to reflect on the journey up and prepare for the continued journey within the pavilion Entering the pavilion, you begin in a cave-like and dense space that gradually opens up to a panoramic view Along this journey of discovery where lightness means enlightenment, you find a space to store items, identify with the Black Morel Mushroom, and prepare food or a snack In the center is enclosed a single rock and a tree, once again the preconditions, but also an aggregate of nature and an emphasis of the persistence of life At the end of the journey is a wooden bench to sit, eat, and reflect one more time Additionally, the roof is designed to provide shade in the hotter evenings, enhance the audibility of rain, and when it rains, flood the courtyard as a symbolic gesture to the river’s floodplains, also visible from the pavilion
To start the project off, I selected the Black Morel mushroom a native forgeable edible in Virginia. The goal was to produce a collage that tells the narrative of the mushroom, and to then use this narrative to inform a container that can be used by foragers when gathering the mushroom. I emphasized the timeline of the mushroom, it’s social significance being a coveted delicacy that marks the beginning of spring, and its beautiful colors where as it ripens, it goes through orange hues before settling in a charred appearance.
The container reflects what I learned about the mushroom and is a multi-use product that aids in the identification process (the black morel is hollow and the container has a rod that differentiates it from it’s poisonous and solid counterpart), acts as a means of building community (multiple of the containers, each being quite small, can be distributed to a larger group and reconnected by strings once gathering completes), and highlights the mushroom’s vibrancy (the rod acts also as a light that shines through the semi-translucent fungus and transforms the container into a lantern).
06
panama airport concept
panama city, panama
keywords model making, digital fabrication, research software used autocad
when spring 2022
curriculum AP Studio 3D Art
This 1:7000 scale concept for an international airport in Panama showcases my commitment to both precise digital modeling and hands-on craftsmanship. I began researching prominent global airports and local plant life native to the region and mentally visualized the structure in three dimensions, taking into consideration required airport infrastructure and efficiency objectives.
From there, I translated these mental sketches into detailed 2D AutoCAD parts and exported the files as linework for laser cutting, ultimately fabricating and assembling more than 400 individual components by hand. This rigorous process underscored the importance of both meticulous planning and practical skill, culminating in a model that embodies a dynamic fusion of digital innovation and physical craft.
07
texas shippingcontainer house
mckinney, TX keywords renders, digital fabrication, interior design, sun-study software used sketchup enscape
when spring 2024
curriculum independent project
The design journey began with simulated “client” consultations inspired by the real needs of my professor. She had two sons, recent graduates working trade jobs with different schedules, who live with her, and also runs a tutoring business that requires a multi-use library space. The site was an undeveloped plot in McKinney, Texas, strategically chosen for its ideal commute.
To align with budget considerations and the openness of the site, I developed a balanced and efficient floor plan using standard shipping container dimensions. Purposeful elements like skylights placed to capture the shifting natural light and large overhangs providing essential shade were carefully integrated to enhance comfort and reduce energy demands
Crucial to the design was maximizing the home’s adaptability, and through thoughtful considerations and a combination of tailored features and material choices, the project demonstrates how architecture can flexibly cater to real-world needs while honoring the distinctive character of its site.
One of the first considerations taken was the sun-path of the site. Bedrooms were placed strategically to align with the schedules and needs of the three inhabitants of the space. The house was also conceptually divided into 3 indoor and 2 outdoor zones. Towards the front of the house are the main public spaces that open out to the courtyard and garden. On the left side are multi-use living and work spaces. On the right of the house are all the bedrooms. In the center is a courtyard and out back is an expansive yard and pool.
Entry foyer.
Master bedroom
Left of entry, multi-use living room and guest room.
Attached to living room, multi-use library, workspace, tutoring classroom, coffee bar, and living space extension
