Architecture Portfolio / Spencer Smolen 24'

PORTFOLIO Spencer Smolen

B. Arch

2024

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

CONTENTS

Slant House Pg. 01

Environmental School Pg. 15

Edge On Bay Pg. 27

Ridgeview RTBS Pg. 37

01 02 03 04

SLANT HOUSE

01

SLANT HOUSE Milwaukee, WI 2023 // Housing For All Studio Contributers // Arlin Bonfiglio

Slant House is a response to the nation’s shortage of affordable housing and more specifically the greater Milwaukee metropolitan region. Where building prices are steep; this design aims to maximize every single square foot. Reducing the footprint to less than 1000 square feet allows this house to maximize the user experience and create generational wealth.

Designed for multigenerational families on a site in the eclectic Riverwest neighborhood of Milwaukee this project revitalizes the vernacular “Polish Flat” By navigating a sloping site and capitalizing on a larger lot this design is capable of providing two units in one cohesive whole.

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Spencer Smolen // Selected Works

01 // Slant House

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Riverwest Neighborhood

Site Milwaukee River

Neighborhood: Riverwest Zoning Type: Residential Area: 0.12 Acres

120’

914 E Garfield Ave.

Site Plan 45’

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Spencer Smolen // Selected Works

Lower Floor Plan

Main Floor Plan

01 // Slant House

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Navigating the surrounding residential context is one element the form achieves.

Featuring a dynamic roof silhouette that transitions from a shed roof at the south elevation to a gable roof at the north elevation. It is thought that the dynamic form is an act of duality. To blend in within the larger residential fabric but to also stand out among its neighbors.

South Elevation

North Elevation

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Spencer Smolen // Selected Works

Longsection 01 // Slant House

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Spencer Smolen // Selected Works

Built-In Interior

The Slant House addresses affordability for multigenerational families by implementing the traditional vernacular method of building improvement called the “Polish Flat”. This modern version consists of raising the house on a concrete foundation to allow for an additional living unit below the main living quarters. Above accommodates a small family and below a studio-style grandparent’s suite or rentable space for passive income.

01 // Slant House

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Kitchen

Reading Nook

Interior spaces include built-in furnishings throughout, exposed rafters, warm-toned wood surfaces, and ample natural lighting in every room.

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Spencer Smolen // Selected Works

Rear Entry 01 // Slant House

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Form Development

Site Relationship Model

Final Model

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Spencer Smolen // Selected Works

Section Model 01 // Slant House

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ENVIRONMENTAL SCHOOL

02

ENVIRONMENTAL SCHOOL Milwaukee, WI 2023 // Architecture Design Studio II Contributers // Atanas Iankov

Riverwest Environmental School is a modern way to view education. It reimagines a place for learning, not only for traditional students but also for members of the community. A place for the district to take part in the process of learning, establish new connections, and reconnect with nature.

The proposed scheme for Riverwest Environmental aims to modify a traditional academic model into one that does not exclude the community and its environment. Therefore, it questions the relationship between structured academia and ones’ individual academic experience.

Traditional education and systems tend to be rigid, and structured as exemplified in the superstructure that stretches across the school, yet the users’ individual experiences morph within these rigid rules and elements, represented by program space that progress and transcends through them.

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Spencer Smolen // Selected Works

02 // Environmental School

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Spencer Smolen // Selected Works

Strategically the three “bars” of program were arranged such to allocate light and views. Each is working with the topography to establish dynamic circulation across the site.

These programmed bars stacked upon each other represented the students way of thinking. While the addition of a gridded superstructure above represented academia and it’s rigid rules.

Super Structure

Gridded Infil

Programmed Bars

Opposite Above: Site Plan Right: Exploded Axon 02 // Environmental School

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The organization of K-2 classrooms capitalized on the ample natural light flooding in from the south while also giving students easy access to the playground outside. Semi conditioned space created by the super structure strategically encapsulated main entrances to create a thresholdfrom outdoors to indoors.

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Spencer Smolen // Selected Works

1st Grade Classroom

02 // Environmental School

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Top: Rooftop Garden Above: Gymnasium Right: Lowest Bar Section

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Spencer Smolen // Selected Works

02 // Environmental School

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A 1/4” = 1’-0” scale section model was created halfway along the project’s timeline. Although it may not reflect the final design perfectly, it was used as a tool to inform design decisions. One such decision was to change the facade cladding strategy.

The new facade strategy implemented vertical timber slats at varying spacing to curate views rather than using mullion spacing as shown in the section model iteration.

Section Model

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Section Model

Spencer Smolen // Selected Works

Final Model

02 // Environmental School

26

EDGE ON BAY

03

EDGE ON BAY Milwaukee, WI 2022 // Architecture Design Studio I

Edge on Bay is a mixed-use apartment complex located in the trending Bayview neighborhood of Milwaukee that is designed to conjoin private and public realms into one cohesive whole. Strategically, the angular form of the building directs the public right into the heart of the building. Where an expansive enclosed public marketplace on the ground floor blends the public realm and the adjacent private sector with courtyards, mezzanines, and skylights. Promoting a richer interaction between private, semi-public, and public realms.

The primary structure of the building is cross-laminated timber which takes careful consideration of its surrounding context and impact on the environment.

It utilizes the plinth and pavilion-esque form to draw a less impeding presence to pedestrians and establish a void imposed through one edge to allow for views to the surrounding riverfront. The facade strategy also draws inspiration from the surrounding context of rusting steel bridges and weathered brick industrial warehouses to create a facade that stands out yet reflects the site’s rich industrial history.

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Spencer Smolen // Selected Works

03 // Edge on Bay

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Car Wash

Shops

Riverway + Marina Pedestrian Walkway

Car Route

Bicycle Shop

Gas Station

Site Activity Analysis

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Spencer Smolen // Selected Works

BUILDING FOOTPRINT

STACK FLOORS

CONDENSE

CUT AWAY FOR SUNLIGHT

3X

CONDENSE

TRIM FOR VIEWS

CUT AWAY FOR SUNLIGHT

NOTCH FOR VIEWS

TRIM FOR VIEWS

HOLLOW SPACE FOR PUBLIC

HOLLOW SPACE FOR PUBLIC

Site Plan 03 // Edge on Bay

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Studio Unit

1 BD Unit

Floor 02 Plan

2 BD Unit

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Spencer Smolen // Selected Works

Top: East Elevation Bottom: Longsection 03 // Edge on Bay

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Perforated Copper Panels

CLT Wall + Roof

Glue Laminated Post + Beams

CMU Shear Wall Cores

Concrete Foundation

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Spencer Smolen // Selected Works

Structure Diagram

Strategically, the exterior facade assembly reflects the composition of program space on the interior. Skirting around the first floor like a collar the brick rainscreen facade identifies the public space of the building. A private residential program on the 2nd floor and above is identified in the facade strategy by a ribbon of striated, perforated oxidized copper panels. These panels are enacted not only for privacy and sun shading but also to add depth to the skin of the building.

Tectonic Section & Elevation

03 // Edge on Bay

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RIDGEVIEW RTBS

04

RIDGEVIEW RTBS Saguaro National Park 2023 // Housing For All Studio Contributers // Arlin Bonfiglio

Ridgeview RBTS is a contemporary model of bus transit stations. Located in Saguaro National Park, AZ at the Ridgeview Trailhead. This station serves as a transportation node for tourists and hikers alike to easily access the natural scenery of the national park.

Considering the site is within a national park, conservation of the site is paramount. Responding to the site’s fragility, this bus station carefully considers its attachment to the earth below and the sky above. Expressed by the thin planar canopy of corten steel that appears to cradle and frame the sky upon two concrete columns like the surrounding mountain peaks.

The bus station canopy also serves as a rainwater collection device to conserve the scarce rainwater that falls in the environment for the arid landscape vegitation.

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Spencer Smolen // Selected Works

04 // Ridgeview RTBS

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A thin wood-planking deck spans below the canopy with board-formed concrete walls and benches that meander lengthwise. A metal railing, which is inset into the concrete wall, backs the platform. The concrete wall is used not only as a structural component, but it is also used to organize the circulation of the platform.

Solid and void relationships are explored within the massing of the deck. Where columns are seated to the earth, a planter replaces wood.

Site Plan

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Spencer Smolen // Selected Works

Top: Plan Below: Long Section 04 // Ridgeview RTBS

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Spencer Smolen // Selected Works

Top: Rain Collection Diagram Bottom: Short Section

Utility of the form was also considered. The corten steel canopy above is two troughs, meeting at a midpoint much like a mountain peak that divides rainwater and disperses the collected water along the face of the columns.

The signage on the face of the columns is created by the offset of these metal panels that seem to be folded from the roof in a continuous panel.

04 // Ridgeview RTBS

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Final Model

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Spencer Smolen // Selected Works

Column Detail

Inset Railing Detail

Canopy to Base Relationship 04 // Ridgeview RTBS

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2024