Samu Shrestha - 2023 Undergraduate Design Portfolio

SAMU SHRESTHA //

undergraduate design portfolio selected works 2021-22

HELLO!

NAME samu shrestha

AGE 19 years old

ORIGIN kathmandu, np

STUDIES b.arch + comp.sci.

SITE https://samu.wtf/

contents.

B.C.A. p.1 p.9 p.17 p.25

3)

1.

(Studio

2. “SHELTER” (Studio 1)

3. Basalt River Park (Summer Workshop)

4. Personal Works (Photography, Design, Art)

samu shrestha 1

B.C.A.

BESSEMER CENTER OF THE ARTS. BESSEMER, CO

Project: Community Arts Center

Tools: Rhino, Grasshopper, VRay, Illustrator, Photoshop

Studio: Studio III (University of Colorado, Denver - FA 2022)

Professor: Brian Dale (Sort Studio)

Project Size: 2,000 SF

selected works. 2

samu shrestha 3 GEOPHYSICAL // AN UNFORGIVING LANDSCAPE The Arkansas river has historically been the lifeblood of Pueblo with the river providing fresh drinking water, recreation, agricultural irrigation, and industrial applications. But as mother nature giveth, she also taketh, and in early June of 1921 the Arkansas river flooded the streets of Pueblo in what would be known as one of Colorado’s most deadliest natural disasters. The recovery of the area is home to a story of redemption, however, as the city has developed the area into a riverwalk home to live entertainment, food, and activities. HUMAN // FIGHT FOR FAITH AND LIBERTY As a company town, Pueblo’s population was largely at the mercy of a singular corporate monopoly. When the mill was good, all was good. Yet due to a tense history of employer relations, continuous strikes led to a nationwide shortage of American-made steel and a suspension of mining operations, resulting in an outright economic depression. This impact still stands today with Pueblo being named one of Colorado’s poorest cities with 1 in 4 of its residents falling below the poverty line and home values a fifth of the state average. BIOLOGICAL THE EFFECTS The Minnequa Hospital was to an increase in illnesses At the height of its operation, 75 new cases daily. More term exposure to lead to performed by the Journal that 1 in 3 homes exceeded in topsoil. Lead exposure and developmental delays N geophysical // Arkansas River + Tributaries (1975-Present) 2500’ 1250’ 625’0’ N human // Homes Sold/Listed at CO Avg. + ($400k+, 2021-22) 2500’ 1250’ 625’0’ N biological // Mill Slag Pile + A ected Area Under Study by U.S. EPA 2500’ 1250’ 625’0’ ~ 540 Acres ~ 13,000 Homes 1.PROGRAM BLOCKS 2. ANGLED SOLAR ROOF 3. HOLLOW INTERIOR v.3.0 // Responding to the Environment v.1.0 // Borrowed Railroad Language (Track Inspired Facades + Arches)

PROGRAMMATIC RESPONSE

My initial prorposal was focused around solving the programmatic need for a mixed-use gathering, gallery, performance, and production space. My concept for the BCA achieved this demand through the use of an open-space courtyard whose enclosing walls consist of a series of adaptable panels and entrances that allow for the flexible arrangement of public and private space.

selected works.

1. Contemporary Volume Faces the Historic Linear gallery space rises to meet the cross-street view. 2. Entrance Along Major Intersection Maximize foot tra c from bordering streets. 3. Auxiliary Threshold Guide pedestrian tra c and winds from the east. 4. Permeable Courtyard Manage public vs. private use via series of gates. 5. Underground Studio Greater control over light, temperature, and humidity for print. SAMU SHRESTHA // program inﬂuences.

NARRATIVE DRIVEN FORM

The B.C.A. takes the shape of a winged

samu shrestha

selected works. 6

exploration of tensile roof section model

THE POWER OF PARAMETRIC

Leveraging the use of parametric design principles were key to the effective iteration and eventual fabrication of the “feathered” roof. Leveraging tween-based graphing and projection mappings, quickly manipulating the overall form in the digital environment then translating that design to our physical reality became a relatively simple process.

samu shrestha 7

final “feathered” roof concept

selected works. 8

CO

“SHELTER” FROM THE INORGANIC. DENVER,

Project: Pavillion

Tools: Rhino, Analog Sketching / Modeling, Woodworking

Studio: Studio I (University of Colorado, Denver - FA 2021)

Professor: Kim Cinco

Project Size: 200 SF

samu shrestha 9

selected works. 10

FOUR WALLS AND A ROOF //

My entire project was predicated by a desire to shatter traditional architectural conventions. For many, our perception of a “shelter” is confined to a very simple notion: four walls and a roof.

Rather than focusing on space as something needing to be contained, this shelter focuses on leveraging voids as an energy requiring direction.

The structure prioritizes the power in nothingness and utilzes emptiness and fluidity to organize and direct space. This focus produces a form which invokes a natural sense of curiosity as an expanse is created for natural elements such as light to render their own unique patterns and shapes.

samu shrestha 11

selected works.

samu shrestha 13

selected works. 14

Perspective (EAST) "FLOOR-POINT" Perspective

PAPER-FOLDING INFLUENCE //

During my iterative design process and exploration of organic forms much of my initial thinking was influenced by paper-folding arrangements. Examining the contrast in soft and hard surfaces formed by creases of paper are what lead to my final decision to emulate a folding extension of the landscape.

samu shrestha 15

SKILLS USED:

DIGITAL //

- Rhino

- Illustrator

ANALOG //

- Woodworking

- Hand-drawn Renders

- Rapid Prototyping

selected works. 16

samu shrestha 17

BANDSHELL

BASALT RIVER PARK BASALT, CO

Project: Park Plan + Pavillion

Tools: Analog Sketching + Model Making

Studio: Graduate Workshop (CU Denver - SU 2022)

Professors:

Harry Teague (HTA)

Gage Reese (CCY)

Scott Lindenau (Studio B)

Project Size: 2,000 SF

selected works. 18

observational sketches. detailing certain scenes around the site made it apparent early on how much of an influence the river itself had on the orientation and structure of the community.

samu shrestha 19

selected works. 20 mews alley entry plaza (geologic strata) low water-use misting feature w/ basaltic sculptures berm slide sod berm existing cottonwood stepped lawn seating (historic railroad track) river landing RFTA bus stop/shelter park restrooms tree bosque w/ moveable seating hay bale play (agriculture past & present) specimen tree play area great lawn (3) picnic area, shade structure, & boat tie off existing sand beach enhancements existing boardwalk slackline/hammock area willow forts e d d y o u t p a t h water-wise garden existing wetlands preserved stepped boulder seating restaurant pedestrian alley Gallery Building Water’s Edge Residences Two Rivers Road Rocky Mountain Institute Park Place Residences MidlandAvenue Park Place Residences Old Pond Park Lyon’s Park RoaringForkRiver future community use building N 20’0’40’ 100’

FORM-FINDING //

paper folding as a pragmatic + symbolic driver

samu shrestha 21

“mountains” + “valleys”

/\ - mountain folds \/ - valley folds

first iteration

basalt mountain aspen valley

form inspiration form application

first iteration.

proof of concept showcasing the viability of using harsh folded planes as a juxtaposition to the soft topography of the site and how this creates both an expressive and pragmatic response to the design objective.

functionality.

the use of hard plane geometry serves a practical acoustic purpose by eliminating echoes off parallel surfaces and in turn enhancing claritty.

selected works. 22

more than a bandshell // the final iteration looks to expand beyond the scope of the original bandshell RFP in order to create a space that can be adaptable in use and habitable throughout all seasons

intentional folds // the folds themselves evolved to either direct both circulation and gazes towards specific site views paper weightlessness // the concept of paperfolding took one step further into the realm of materiality: the thin weightlessness of paper was applied to the concept of a floating stage and boardwalk river interaction // adding a level of interaction with the river allowed for a degree of parkscape to bleed into the structure which further cements the pavillion’s relation to the site