Rachel Searle Portfolio

As a graduate architecture student at the University of Washington, I am passionate about creating beautiful and sustainable spaces that prioritize community needs. Through my studies, I have developed a design approach that is socially and environmentally responsive, aiming to enhance an occupant’s experience of a space.

CONNECTED FOOD BANK

Professor Myer Harrell, AIA, LEED AP BD+C Graduate Year 1 2023 | Seattle, WA

The Rainier Beach Food Hub seeks to be a neighborhood hub, a place for connection, socialization, education, resilience, and sustenance. Through intentional use of materiality and spatial adjacencies, the food bank is meant to promote an inviting, yet safe, environment for its users. A substantial portion of the building’s footprint is dedicated to hydroponic growing space which provides fresh produce for the community. The central goal of this project is to encourage community connectedness: to food, people, place, nature, water, and resources.

Footprint response to program requirements

MASSING SEQUENCE

CONCEPT SKETCHES

Roof slopes for water collection

Greenhouse extends up over parking lot

Setbacks and canopy create prominent entry

PROCESS MODEL

FINAL MODEL

SOUTHWEST VIEW

Massing splits into two single bars

MASSING SEQUENCE

Setbacks created along streetfront

Double-loaded corridor extruded South facade engages corner

Throughways connect to alley

SOUTHWEST VIEW

VIEW FROM BRIDGES

THRESHOLD

ANNEX TO THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Professor Brian J. Donnelly, AIA, LEED AP

Partner: Richard Warren

Senior Spring 2022 | Washington D.C.

Honorable Mention: James Binkley Design Competition

Located adjacent to Washington D.C.’s Judiciary Square, this annex to the Library of Congress facilitates a physical transition from a highly dense urban area to the more open green space surrounding Judiciary Square. The building’s program bridges the traditional library with the innovative, and incorporates a large open atrium and auditorium, fostering community interaction and opportunities to engage in meaningful dialogue. (Work shown is all original unless noted).

Initial form

Atrium divides public & private program

Atrium lifted to create hierarchy & let in light

proposal

EXPERIENTIAL WALL SECTION

NORTHEAST APPROACH

VIEW FROM BRIDGE

ROOTED

URBAN FARM AND MARKET

Professor Robin Puttock, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP

Partners: Aleksandra Lajeunesse and Julia Schlottman

Senior Fall 2021|Washington D.C.

Honorable Mention: Cardinal O’Boyle Design Competition

SITE MAP

The Rooted Food and Market is an adaptive reuse urban farm and market that utilizes aquaponic and hydroponic growing systems to combat D.C.’s increasing food apartheid and prevent the existing community from being displaced. Emulating the functionality of tree roots, this building provides nourishment, harnesses energy, absorbs nutrients, manages stormwater, stores carbon, and supports the local community. (Work shown is all original unless noted).

FOOD PRODUCTION

FOOD PREPARATION

FOOD CONSUMPTION

FOOD WASTE MANAGEMENT

AQUAPONICS SYSTEM

N

PROPOSED GROUND LEVEL PLAN (Aleksandra Lajeunesse)

PROPOSED SOUTH ELEVATION

NORTH APPROACH

SOUTHEAST BIRD’S EYE VIEW

ADDITIONAL WORKS

SKETCHBOOK ENTRIES

Professor Francis D.K. Ching

Graduate Year 2 Fall 2023 | Rome, Italy