S R Vardani Portfolio by S. R. Vardani

Porfolio Design Exploration and Development Suren Ruben Vardani

Woodbury University 2009 - 2014

What is Architecture? “Architecture is the manifestation of human essence of exploration and creation; downsize to create perfect atmospheres(s) for the individual and amplified to capture the human ego/inner “I” exp. (Tower of Babel)”. “Architecture is the direct manifestation of the human will power, which reads itself in an ultimate cosmic strive to tear ourselves from nature and establish an autonomous identity”.

Contents

Comprehensive Design Studio

Case Study

Design Communication I

Architectural Drawing Set

Design Communication II

Hybrid Section Construction

Professional Practice I

Case Study

Materials & Methods

Sustainable Laboratories

Systems Integration

Urban Aliasing

Concrete Competition

Extreme Measures

Comprehensive Design Studio

Convention Center

Axonometric Hybrid

Processes & Principles

80 82

The Cube Animal Movement

Comprehensive Design Studio

Convention Center

Venice Beach Boardwalk, Los Angeles, CA

Sudio Study Description: This particular comprehensive studios was focused on the use of technology in design exploration, documentation and final product presentation. Research into new technologies and their possible implementations were presented and discussed weekly. Presentations included drawings, rendering and walk through animations. Some of the software tested for representation were Autodesk Showcase, Autodesk 3Ds Max, Autodesk Revit, Cinema 4D, Lumion 3D, Twinmotion, etc.

Sketch: This sketch was drawn in the begging stages of form exploration and had significant influence through the development of the project.

Concept: First we created a volume that occupies the property and the allowable height. Using a 12x12x12 grid we sliced the building into equal cubes with 12 feet on all sides. By pushing and pulling this cubes we were able to separate spaces by their program.

Main Event Space Main Circulation Shaft Office Spaces Hotel Rooms Hotel Common Spaces Storage + Maintenance Collaboration Workspaces Restaurant

Program: Adjacent cubes on the five faรงades of the buildings were applied the same material for consistency and further depiction of program. Most of the bottom level was removed to create a public plaza. Some space was also removed vertically form inside the building to create an atrium for light and outdoor spaces.

Diagram: These diagrams were created at the concept development of the project to reflect back when in further development of the project.

Drawings: Axonometric plans and sections were derived from the Revit model to illustrate some qualities of the building that would not be visible in conventional 2D drawings. Some of detailed elevation of both exterior and interior is retained in this drawing which facilitates the comprehension of the building.

Enlarged Example of Axonometric Floor Plan

Renderings: One of the most important aspects of the given site for this project was the view. Pacific Ocean can create on of most breathtaking views at sunset. Thus to enrapture the sunset some of most important spaces are facing the ocean. The whole hotel floor was raised to upper levels so the rooms located on the sides of the building could also share this view. The restaurant and the rooftop deck have panoramic view of the ocean. The main staircase and the elevator were positioned near the boardwalk for the occupants to have close connection the public and the beach.

Comprehensive Design Studio

Extreme Measures

Mountain Desert of Pioneertown, San Bernardino County

Rimrock Ruins: A set of geometrical shapes made out of concrete that have orthogonal, but asymmetric cutouts that implement destruc-tion. The structures are scattered throughout the site situated half way in to the ground at slight angled, while cantilevering out on the other end. By implementing a set of teachings from arts and theater of Baroque period (contrast, forced perspective, staged, theatrical, mechanical, exposed mechanisms) this constructs gain an ancient aesthetics while the shapes and technology blend modernity to the spaces. This technique creates an idea of an ancient ruin that was once abandoned and recently occupied by the modern man. The mechanical and natural systems work together creating a living unit. The potential site for The Rimrock Ruins is situated on a 5 acre strip of California High Desert, 4600 feet above sea level and 200 miles from Los Angeles. The interven-tion for a 3000-5000 sf Eco-resort that includes private sleeping pavilions, Living and Dining spaces, Yoga/Re-laxation space, and a bathhouse.

Site Plan 20

Photo-Collage: Using photographs of the surrounding of the immediate sight a photo collage was generated to analyze the overall atmosphere. This became a continuous reference throughout the design process. Textures: Close-up photographs of local soil, rocks and vegetation were collected for possible implementation of their texture at material finding. The photographs were processed to analyze the quality of contrast and color of the texture. This studies also influence at form finding and some of design elements.

Solar-Thermal Tubes

Openings

Concrete

The Pipe: Is long concrete cylindrical structure 40 ft in diameter. It includes living and dining spaces, kitchen, bathrooms, bathhouse and a yoga/ recreation space on two levels. The spaces are connected through set of transparent ramps, stairs and an elevator creating transparency between the levels.

Operable Curtain

Rebar

Solar Panels

Cold Pool

Top View

First Level

Second Level

Section

Structure The structure of the construct consists of a cylindrical tube forty feet in diameter braced with floor slabs creating two levels. Building process The cylindrical shape of the construct is generated using a formwork made up of curved plywood panels, steel rebar and concrete. The traces from plywood panels and rebar anchors are exposed for aesthetic looks. A deep embedded concrete footing runs along the bottom of the structure to help support the long cantilever as well as prevent the shape from rolling.

Solar Panels A set of solar panels of the same size as the plywood used for form-work are strategically scattered on the construct on top of rectangular concrete shapes like the plywood formwork wood be peeled off of the concrete. The electricity is used to run all the mechanical part of the building as well as light the building at night. Solar-thermal system: this system is used to heat some of the floor slabs as well as gaining hot water.

Solar-Thermal System Thermal glass pipes are run through the opening above yoga space, above the operable curtains. The pipes are supported by the curtain support. Plumbing follows the cylindrical shape of the building to the mechanical space under the first level. There are three water tanks in the mechanical space.

Plumbing System Gray Water: Water collected from the sinks and showers fltered and used in restrooms. Hot Water: Water heated using solar-thermal system and stored. Cold Water: Water stored for day-to-day use. The septic tank collects black water and gradually releases it into the earth under the parking area; thus minimizing the damage to the surrounding vegetation.

Water Cooling Systemd The two pools are situated at the two ends of the construct one facing north the other south. North Pool (Cold Pool) : Is shaded by the construct which maintains a lower water temperature. Using its higher placement water runs through a set of short rivers and waterfalls into the warm pool. South Pool (Warm Pool): Is exposed to direct sunlight throughout the day creating a comfortable temperature for swimming. The cold water running through the rivers and waterfalls cools the air circulating in the cylindrical structure.

Program Details: • Some of the spaces are enclosed with glass curtain walls creating more controlled environment while steel keeping the transparency through the building․

Enclosed Dining

• The enclosed Dining, Kitchen and Recreation can be convert to open spaces with operable opening. • All enclosed spaces as well as some important open spaces are equipped with radiant heating.

Enclosed Kitchen

Bathroom

• Three individual bathrooms on each level to accommodate multiple people • The plywood panels are later used to create partition walls for bath-rooms.

Open Yoga

Mechanical

Analitifal Section Model

Open + Enclosed Recreation

Open Circualtion + Public Space

Bath-Housed

The Capsule: Is private slipping pavilion strategically scattered around the site to create privacy as well as frame views of the surrounding natural environment. It is a long concrete structure with a movable bed that creates a set of different environments through the structure (open, closed, semi-open). It also has operating curtains to cover the open areas from direct sunlight.

Form: The construct was sculpted out of a cylinder by continuously tapering the end and creating cavities in the beginning. Thus the cone like structure appears much longer due to forced perspective effect which not only enhances the experience of the space visually but also creates a division of space by their possible occupation (Recreation at the front, sleeping in the back, etc.).

Diagram: Deconstruction of the form and components of structure were composed in x-ray like images. This images illustrate different qualities of the construct (form, porosity, structure and details).

Comprehensive Design Studio

Urban Aliasing

Los Angeles Union Station, Los Angeles, CA

The genesis of this studio starts with a productive intersection between drawing and modeling, as well as abstraction and figuration, as a catalyst for the production of urban and architectural form. The studio will set up a number of conditions or objectives for what will be defined as Urban Aliasing: an approach to urban form that produces cross-relationality between objects, fabrics and artifacts. The goal of this tactic will be the exploration of an alternative urban anatomy that capitalizes on the indivisible nature of compound typologies and a palimpsest of projective systems and urban networks. These anatomical experiments will be conducted abstractedly in the studio and will be later applied to the design of the urban redevelopment adjacent to Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles. The area is LAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s transportation hub, containing three subway lines as well as Amtrak and Metrolink stations and several bus lines. And it is set to expand that role in the future with the addition of METROâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Regional Connector and California High Speed Rail. Six million square feet of new development are expected to be deployed in these 42 acres of land around Union Station, making the site one of the most important development zones in Southern California.

Urban Aliasing will adopt an alternative position for densifying Los Angeles through the examination of several lineages in recent urban thinking: from object oriented urbanism via Aldo Rossi, John Hejduk and OM Ungers; to field conditions, via Stan Allen; and collage urbanism via Colin Rowe’s Collage City. We will find alternative uses for Rowe’s vague definition of composite figures by virtue of formal and spatial devices such as the notion of the ‘artifact’, capable of bridging between object and field.

Methodology: Aliasing, a term coined from digital photography, will be defined as the distortion or â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;artifactâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that results out of the reconstruction of the object performed by sampling onto it low-definition representational strategies. In photography, when the image data is not properly processed during sampling, the reconstructed image will differ from the original one, and therefore an alias is seen. Rather than dismissing the alias for its lack of verisimilitude with the original, this studio will exploit the productive friction and generative incongruities that occur in the perpetual re-making, re-presentation of the object throughout the design process. By blurring the distinctions between architecture and urban/district design, we will position the urban alias as a composite form, therefore articulating spatial bridging devices between the scales of the object and the field. 2D drawing, by means of multiple systems of projection, architectureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quintessential transitive medium, will thus acquire in this studio a subversive role in the constant regeneration of compound urban typologies, augmenting or diminishing their intricacies, while at the same time expanding their effects onto an extended, cohesive field of controlled relationships.

After seporating two typologies from on form we generating new typologies and forms by continous manipulations to the existing. By giving this new typologies peremetric capability we can populate them into a field condition which could further be apply to an urban setting. Multiple test conducted both phisically and digitaly further informed the project. These test were later applied to the site.

Concrete Competition

Sustainable Laboratories

Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve, St. Croix US Virgin Islands

68.5

5.6

53.1 9.0

43.5 5.8 59.9

92.3

6.6

116.4

32.0

44.5

14.2

20.0

50.8

31.6 10

13.0

5.0 2.7

20 5.0 50 26.8

10.3

108.9 134.3

Site Plan

120

110 1 00

118.7

Vegitation

Bend

Twist

Elevate

Building Footprint

Join

Form Diagram: Intertwined, elongated bars that extend up from the ground to alleviate a portion of the ground floor creating a cluster of preservation of vegetation, stainability and research.

Split

Program Division

Laboratory: 15,000 sq. ft. • Wet & Dry Laboratories • Computer Lab • Classroom Space (max. 48 students) • Teaching Laboratories • Storage for scientific artifacts Administration Bldg.: 3,500 sq. ft • Offices & office support spaces Lecture/Teaching: 5,000 sq. ft • Classrooms, conference rooms • Theatre Community Outreach: 6,000 sq. ft. • Exhibits and touch tanks Collections: 2,500 sq. ft. • Collections archive/storage, object preparation Living/Housing Accommodations: 20,000 sq. ft. • Student residences (up to 48 students) • Dining Space (capacity for 60) • Staff Housing (4 residence) Boat Dock/Dive Operations: 3,000 sq. ft. • Dock & Dive operations & support spaces Maintenance Building: 5,000 sq. ft. • Other support spaces including fuel storage, loading dock, etc.

Analytical Structural Diagrams

Concrete shell provides an efficient structural exoskeleton. It acts like a sunscreen open to light, air and views. The openings on the shell modulate depending on the structural requirements, views, sun exposure and program.

Circulation was designed to house around the program with the ability to view the structural skin while walking through the facilities.

Underground Floor Plan Scale: 1/16” = 1’-0”

Ground Floor Plan Scale: 1/16” = 1’-0”

Second Floor Plan Scale: 1/16” = 1’-0”

Third Floor Plan Scale: 1/16” = 1’-0”

Renderings: These rendered images are the most prominent views of the building

Model: To achieve the fluent forms the model was 3D printed out of plastic.

Form Finding: Multiple test models were sculpted using different modeling methods to resolve issues of the physical form and its practicality.

Systems Integration

Case Study

Four different phases of faรงade enclosure and exposure to insure maximal solar, wind and privacy gain

Reinforced concrete rebar system

Sudio Study Description: The interrelationships of the properties of materials, structures, environmental systems, building envelope systems, construction technology, building cost control, and life-cycle costs as they influence design-development and decision-making are examined.

One of Studio Outcomes: Technical Documentation: Ability to make technically clear drawings, write outline specifications, and prepare models illustrating and identifying the assembly of materials, systems, and components appropriate for a building design.

Main Enterance: -Stairs Up To 2Nd Level -Stairs To 4Th Level Bedrooms The Main Living Space Seporates The Building Into Front And Back Sections

Second Level: -Looking Back At The Enterance -Stairs To 3Rd Level Bedrooms

4Th Level Balcony: -Exit From 4Th Level Bedroom -Stairs To Top Level Balcony

Crushed aggregate joint gravel material paver for runoff and eainwaater percelation.

The pool cools the air Entering the building

Reinforced concrete beems and columns

Reinforced concrete shear walls and floor slabs

Prevalent north eastern winds provide Natural ventilation for the building

Concrete acts as thermal mass

Materials & Methods

Hybrid Section Construction

For an indepth analisis of Peter Zumothors Saint benedict chappel we recreated a one to one mockup of a section of the building. The wood joinery beeing one of the key futures of the building, we decided to built a part of the construct with heavy use of different joinery. This was the connection of the roof to the wall with a panoramic window right below the roof. Saint Benedict Chapel photograph of corner detail.

PLAN

ALUMINIUM ROOFING TONGUE AND GROOVE

INSULATION TONGUE AND GROOVE

LAMINATED WOOD GLASS

HOMASOTE 3/4” PLYWOOD 1/2” PLYWOOD

WOOD SHINGLES

SECTION

WITH MATERIAL DETAIL AND DEMENTIONS

Professional Practice I

Architectural Drawing Set

1 0 -0

7500 GLENOAKS BOULEVARD BURBANK, CA 91510

10 -0

-0

3 -0 1 2

6 A-3.0

A-3.0

2 -11 1 2

4 X 12

0 -0

3 A-3.0

0 -0

2 X 12

10 -0

4 A-3.0

Written dimensions shall have precedence over scaled dimensions. The Contractor shall verify and be responsible for all dimensions and conditions on the jobsite and report any discrepancies to Architect.

-0

general scope of work and required technical performance of the building systems and do not necessarily indicate or describe all the work required for full performance and completion of the construction contract. Based on the scope of work indicated Contractor shall furnish all items required for the proper execution of the project.

--NO.

ISSUE

DATE

01 01 03

1 0 -0

PAGE TITLE:

A 1

PAGE NUMBER:

A-100

WAI 7500 GLENOAKS BOULEVARD BURBANK, CA 91510

49'-5 1/2"

15'-10"

7'-4 3/4"

8'-7 1/4"

102 A

104

4'-4"

102 A

'-10 1/4"

21'-10 3/4"

103 A 104 101 B

104 B

7 101 B

101

105

'-0"

41'-9"

2'-11 1/4"

12 A-4 0

25'-9"

10'-2 1/2"

12'-10 3/4"

21'-9"

104 A

7'-4 1/4"

17'-7 3/4"

20'-0"

4'-5"

105

4'-4"

represented hereby are and shall remain the property of the Architect, and no part thereof shall be used or reproduced for any purpose other than prepared and developed without the written consent of the Architect Written dimensions shall have precedence over scaled dimensions. The Contractor shall verify and be responsible for all dimensions and conditions on the jobsite and report any discrepancies to Architect. general scope of work and required technical performance of the building systems and do not necessarily indicate or describe all the work required for full performance and completion of the construction contract. Based on the scope of work indicated Contractor shall furnish all items required for the proper execution of the project.

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B 2'-7 1/4"

25'-0 1/2"

5'-8 1/2"

1 '-1 1/4"

ISSUE

DATE

01 01 03

A-200

WAI 7500 GLENOAKS BOULEVARD BURBANK, CA 91510

ROOF 15'-10"

er d a

Grade Level 0'-0"

4 54

er d a

14'-7 1/2"

ree

ROOF 10'-10"

ROOF 15'-10"

ROOF 10'-10"

NO.

Grade Level 0'-0"

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ISSUE

DATE

01 01 03

PAGE TITLE:

PAGE NUMBER:

-500

WAI 7500 GLENOAKS BOULEVARD BURBANK, CA 91510

ROOF 15'-10"

4 X 6 GIRDER

G 0'-0"

4 54 E.

2 X 6 SILL 2 X 10 F.J. @16" O.C. 2 X 8 SILL FOOTING

8" RETAINING WALL

ROOF 15' 10"

4" CONCRETE SLAB

2 X 6 SILL 2 X 10 F.J. @16" O.C. 2 X 8 SILL FOOTING

G 0'-0"

JOB NO NO. 01

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ISSUE

DATE

01 01 03

PAGE TITLE:

S PAGE NUMBER:

A-400

WAI 14 7500 GLENOAKS BOULEVARD BURBANK, CA 91510

4954 E. Meridian Street

Meridian House

Grade Level

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JOB NO: NO. 01

ISSUE

DATE

01 01 03

PAGE TITLE:

Se tion

PAGE NUMBER:

S-1.0

WAI

4954 E. Meridian Street

Meridian House

7500 GLENOAKS BOULEVARD BURBANK, CA 91510

JOB NO: NO. 01

Roof Detail

Foundation Detail 1

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ISSUE

DATE

01 01 03

Foundation Detail 2

PAGE TITLE:

Details PAGE NUMBER:

A-600

Scaled model of a wall section.

Design Communication II

Case Study

Circulation

North Section

Studio Study Description: This case study of Casa Ponce in Argentina was conducted to recreate a digital version of the building using 3D modeling softwear. Using floor plans, sections, and photographes a 3D model of the building was created usin Autodesk Revit Architecture. Some of the images where rendered in revit and some in Autodesk 3ds Max.

West Section

Sitework With Basement

1st Level

2nd Level

South Elevation

Plan View 75

Structure: The type of structure used is completely of reinforced concrete. Materials: The fences and decks are made of stainless steel, glass and profilit (U-GLASS). The interior finishes are of concrete and concrete revoked.

Introduction:

It is a house designed by the study of the Chilean architect Mathias Klotz for Mr. Hernán Ponce. The House leader is Ponce house in a suburb of the 40s in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. Situation: It is located on the street Pedriel 1540, in San Isidro, Buenos Aires. It has two levels desplantados on an uneven surface slope constant and abundant vegetation, located across the Rio de La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. The terrain is extremely long and narrow (16 x 120 meters), with important vegetation on its edges, a strong and outstanding views over the Rio de La Plata on one end, which gives him a look of gorge. Concept: The idea is to keep the view from free access to the river, so that the house does not become a buffer that divides the ground in front and one behind. The movement is achieved with a strong spatial continuity. Ponce home raises a number of new points of view on the Rio de La Plata in a tight spot with little solar. It also attempts to capture the house most of sunlighting possible rise in the surrounding area and the natural environment of water, sky and vegetation, could provide these elements from anywhere inside the home.

Spaces: The program is in two volumes and a floating base semienterrado. • On the main floor’ at street level but the high ground in this regard, it is located public spaces: kitchen, terrace and pool, forming a fully glazed volume that is related to the visual field in all directions. • On the upper floor’ rooms are located in a more closed than the previous one, which serves as a rooftop terrace. • ‘The base’ are the laundry, engine room, wine cellar and room service. The house is a volume game and structural, so the bar that contains massive room rests on a volume of glass, which in turn based on a fleet of rehundida edge containing services.

Design Communication I

Axonometric Hybrid

Studio Study Description: To create a composite drawing three different axonometric views of a room were combined into one more complex axonometric. Further some of the details of these axonometric were multiplied to add to the complexity. The shadow was drawn to add more depth to the drawing. On the right side to top view and two elevations are illustrated. This drawing was written with pencils of different weights on Mylar using a mayline and 45 degree triangle. Colored paper was collaged from behind the Mylar to add contrast.

Processes & Principles

The Cube

Phase 1 (Journey): I walked along San Fernando Blvd. from Verdugo St. to Burbank Town Center. Phase 2 (Analysis): Walking through some of the spaces II felt trapped, squeezed, other spaces were narrowing down of expending rapidly. These were multiple crossings which made the environment appear bigger. Phase 3 (Word Pairings): I used these feelings to come up with word parings to describe my journey. Phase 4 (Cube Creation): The cube itself is influenced by these words and my journey. The cube has inherent special qualities adapted from my journey. The connections of the cube portray as it expands and narrows down in places, while at the same time the joints crossing each other seems to be trapping and squeezing the spaces within the cube.

Suren Ruben Vardani suren.vardani@gmail.com Objective I am a design professional who combines academic background, with digital exploration and “hands-on” formal architectural methods to develop comprehensive projects. My vigorous 5 year professional degree has equipped me well in meeting extremely intense work hours weeks e.g. 80-120 hour, working in teams and at the same time having the capacity to accomplish tasks alone with minimal direction and supervision. I would like to specifically highlight my ability to easily transition in-between various modes of productions and work flows, from sketches to maquettes, from 3D modeling to 2D conventional Arch. drawings, to animations, et cetera.

Education 7500 N Glenoaks Blvd. Burbank CA Graduated May 2014

Woodbury University B. ARCH School of Architecture Technical Skills & Proficiencies • • • • • • •

Architecture, Urban Design & Photography Abstract thinker with the ability to work un der tight deadlines with minimum guidance. Project Coordination and client relations. Research and analysis skills, along with data gathering and filling. Trilingual English, Russian, Armenian. Insightful international outlook and knowledge of international cultures and traditions. Highly skilled veriety of 3d modeling, rendering & postproduction softwears listed below. • • • •

Autodesk AutoCAD Autodesk Revit Autodesk 3Ds Max Autodesk Showcase

• • • • • • •

Adobe Photoshop Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Adobe Acrobat Pro Adobe After Effects Adobe Premiere Adobe Bridge

• • • • •

Rhinoceros Grasshopper T-Splines V-Ray Flamingo nXt

• • • •

Cinema 4D Lumion Twinmotion KeyShot

• • • •

MS Word MS Excel MS PowerPoint MS Outlook

This portfolio present work from 5 years of studying Architecture at Woodbury University