Sarah Edwards
A collection of works from 2021-2023
Table of Contents
Journey to Machu Picchu
The Round About
Walt Disney Archive
Journey to Machu Picchu
Master’s Thesis 2023 • Revit • Rhino • Enscape • Grasshopper
Themed Entertainment Design • Orlando, Florida
This thesis began as an exploration to create an immersive design through an immersive design experience, the project for which was the design of a themed entertainment space-- a new countryPeru- for the World Showcase in Walt Disney’s Epcot.
Over the course of this project I developed a new design process that weaves together the study of artifacts with traditional architectural methods, and the integration of new design technologies in order to gather the essence of Peruvian culture and Machu Picchu to create a meaningful place.
My strategy to accomplish this was to weave together three stories that would ultimately capture the essence of Peru. Guests are welcomed into the Plaza de Armas de Cusco, the design of which aligns with the exisitng countries in the world showcase. The Emperor’s New Groove district just beyond transports guests into the animated world of the movie. At the back of the site, the Machu Picchu district demonstrates a new way to interpret and reflect the essence of a place. This design aims to capture the intangible qualities that make up an experience at the actual mountain itself and relay those to an audience in a meaningful way.
SITE
SITE ANALYSIS
WORLD SHOWCASE
PERMEABILITY
NO PERMEABILITY
DIRECTIONALITY / AXIS
COMMON PATH OF TRAVEL/ SITE ACCESS POINT FOR GUESTS
FUTURE WORLD
MAINTENANCE ROADS/ SITE ACCESS FOR OPERATIONS
Approach to Journey to Machu Picchu
Circulation through Cavern Display Space
Exit from Journey to Machu Picchu
Ascending Path to Lower Pavilion
Ascending Path to Upper Pavilion
Descending Path
Curved bamboo rods make up the woven superstructure. Each rod is connected to the next with a simple lap joint, reinforced with a flush peg.
Rebar clips wrap around vertical members of the weave to secure the superstructure to the stone arches.
The vertical (warp) bamboo rods sit within a reveal joint, mirroring the condition of the stone arches, while the horizontal (weft) rods are elevated above the ground plane.
The horizontal (weft) bamboo rods are joined to the vertical (warp) rods with concealed pegs at the point of overlap.
The woven superstructure pulls away from the stone arches at the point where they would intersect. 3.
The stone arches “grow” out of a reveal. Below this, internal steel cables are anchored into concrete footings.
The Round About
Spring 2022 • Revit • Rhino • Enscape • Grasshopper
Mixed Use Development • Blacksburg, Virginia
At The Round About, guests are transported into a secluded paradise while remaining within walking distance of the bustling downtown and Virginia Tech’s campus. This luxury apartment complex is perched above two stories of high end commercial space surrounding a central courtyard that offers opportunities to spend quality time outdoors during all four seasons. The unique architecture creates curious and engaging atmospheres for visitors, where they can find themselves between, above, or below the building depending on the where they enter the site. The roof top features a variety of amenities and functions with both indoor and outdoor offerings.
Inspired by hiking trails in the Jefferson National Forest, this design focused on access to natural light and an abundance of green space. A circulation ramp circumvents the building, providing exercise opportunities for users and stunning views. The walkable roof, with its lush vegetation, mimics the ridge line of the mountains in Blacksburg’s skyline. Even the curvilinear structure of the building itself is reminiscent of winding forest paths.
PROJECT SITE IDENTIFIED IN DOWNTOWN BLACKSBURG STRATEGIC PLAN AS “DOWNTOWN NORTHWEST” AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT
HIGH PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC
MEDIUM PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC
LOW PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC
COMMERICAL RESIDENTIAL EDUCATIONAL
THIS GRASSHOPPER GENERATIVE CODE WAS USED TO CREATE 6561 OPTIONS FOR THE BUILDING DESIGN. THE FORM OF THE BUILDING WAS CREATED THROUGH A PARAMETRIC CODE, EXPLAINED IN THE DIAGRAMS ON THE OPPOSITE PAGE. THE RESULTS OF THE GENERATIVE CODE CREATED VARYING NUMBERS OF STORIES FOR EACH SEGMENT OF THE BUILDING. THROUGH A USER INTERFACE, I NARROWED DOWN THE OPTIONS BASED ON WHICH CAST A MINIMUM SHADOW WITHIN THE COURTYARD WHILE MEETING THE PROJECT’S MINIMUM SQUARE FOOTAGE. NINE POSSIBILITIES WITH UP TO 20,000 SQUARE FEET IN DIFFERENCE WERE ANALYZED FURTHER TO ULTIMATELY GENERATE THE BUILDING’S MASSING.
TARGET DEVELOPMENT AREA
ROUND ABOUT AND SITE CURVE AS ANCHOR POINTS FOR THE FORM OF THE BUILDING
PARAMETRIC CODING ENABLED EXPLORATION OF INFINITE FOOTPRINT SHAPES USING POINT ON CURVE ALONG THE STREET AS WELL AS 6 POINTS WITHIN THE SITE THAT FORMED A NURBS CURVE
AFTER THE SHAPE WAS DETERMINED, THE CURVE WAS OFFSET BY 70 FEET TO ALLOW FOR A CENTRAL COURTYARD SPACE
THE DONUT SHAPE WAS SEGMENTED INTO 14 WEDGES AND TWO WERE DETERMINED AS ENTRY POINTS
SUN STUDY DETERMINED RED (2 STORIES TALLER) AND WHITE DESIGNATIONS. GREY WEDGES ARE PREDETERMINED HEIGHTS
INITIAL MASS MODEL
TO BREAK UP THE FACADE, EACH SEGMENT WAS PUSHED IN ALTERNATING DIRECTIONS
THE PUBLIC. THE “TREE HOUSES” THAT PEPPER THE GREEN ROOF OFFER THESE AMENITIES AS WELL, SO RESIDENTS MAY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM DURING ADVERSE WEATHER. THE DESIGN OF THESE STRUCTURES WAS INSPIRED BY MODERN VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE.
2. THE CIRCULATION RAMP PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE PLAYGROUND AS WELL AS DIFFERENT SUN ROOM AREAS WITH PICTURESQUE VIEWS. THE RAMP IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO DO CARDIO WORKOUTS.
3. THE FIRST TWO LEVELS OF THE BUILDING CONSIST OF HIGH END RETAILERS AND RESTAURANTS. THE BACKSIDE OF THE BUILDING HAS TWO LEVELS OF PARKING THAT FIT UNDERGROUND DUE TO THE EXISTING SLOPE OF THE SITE.
4. THE CENTRAL COURTYARD IS A VITAL SOCIAL SPACE THAT ANCHORS THE COMMERCIAL PART OF PROJECT TO THE CONTEXT OF THIS SITE. THE THREE ENTRY POINTS ALLOW FOR PEDESTRIAN ACCESS FROM THE DOWNTOWN, VIRGINIA TECH’S CAMPUS, AND NEARBY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
Walt Disney Archive
Fall 2021 • Revit • Rhino • Enscape • 8 weeks
Virginia Tech A + D Archive • Blacksburg, Virginia
This design reflects the imagination and innovation of Walt Disney himself. The layout borrows from Disney’s hub-and-spoke ordering system that underlies the designs of his parks.
At the center hub is the heart of the building’s circulation. The feature spiral staircase mimics a paint brush swatch across a page. Diffused panels with internal LED lighting line this staircase and change colors to indicate special events. At night, gold flecks dance across the panels rising into the sky, as if tinkerbell had just flown by.
Just beyond this dynamic entry is the reading room. Here, readers can derive inspiration from the ambiguously fantastical atmosphere. The wooden features and curved arches ground the space in reality, yet their scale and intricacies make the room feel as if touched by magic.
The interior of the building is characterized by natural elements remniscent of a childhood fantasy. The fantastical and lively interior is spotlighted by the contrast of the fortified and unadorned exterior. This calls attention to the difference between the strictness of education and the free willingness of the imagination.
DERRINGHALL
SITE
JOHNSTON STUDENTCENTER
PAMPLINHALL
VIRGINA TECH EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS
DERRINGHALL
PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION
JOHNSTON STUDENTCENTER
PAMPLINHALL
DERRINGHALL
JOHNSTON STUDENTCENTER
PAMPLINHALL
MASS MODEL
SUN PATH
DOUBLE ENVELOPE GLASS ATRIUM
OPERABLE WINDOWS AT THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF THE DOUBLE LAYER GLASS ATRIUM, WHEN OPENED, CREATE SPACE TO INDUCE THE VENTURI EFFECT. THIS, AS WELL AS THERMAL BOUYANCY WITHIN THE PANES, DRIVES NATURAL VENTILATION THROUGH THE CURTAIN WALLS. DURING THE WINTER, THE WINDOWS STAY CLOSED AND THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT PROVIDES HEAT TO THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDING.
ROOF LEVEL
ATRIUM SCULPTURE GARDEN
GROUND LEVEL
SITE ENTRY
HIGH TOP WORKSPACE
WEATHER VESTIBULE
RESTROOMS
CURATOR’S OFFICE
LIBRARY AND READING ROOM
LOWER LEVEL
ARTIFACT DISPLAY
MODEL DISPLAY
PAINTING DISPLAY
STORAGE, DISPLAY, AND DISCUSSION AREA
STORAGE
MECHANICAL CLOSET
ELECTRICAL CLOSET
EXTERIOR BUILDING SKIN
THE SKIN OF THE BUILDING IS POURED IN PLACE CONCRETE. ITS MONOLITHIC PRESENCE AND MECHANICAL FORMS CONTRAST THE INTERIOR DESIGN OF THE ARCHIVE. THE FORTIFIED, BRUTAL STYLE SEAMLESSLY BLENDS INTO THE FABRIC OF THE EXISTING VIRGINIA TECH CAMPUS. THIS CASTLE-LIKE STYLE IS FITTING FOR THE DESIGN OF THIS BUILDING AS WELL, SINCE IT HOUSES WALT DISNEY ARTIFACTS.
JOHNSTON
