The following work represents a transformative shift in the understanding and design methodology of architecture. It challenges the notion of scales, focusing on the building scale and urban scale, while considering the human scale. The design process for each of the selected works are enhanced through the use of photography, models, and drawing. These mediums, photography, drawing, and model making, help further develop the concept of the designs. The projects aim to serve a greater purpose by creating spaces that improve the lives of occupants. Through my work, I aim to design the built environment in ways that will benefit society and enhance the lives of those utilizing the design.
THE FRAME
PROFESSOR | Marcel Erminy IN COLLABORATION WITH | Kayla Sidik
This building is a recreation center located on the RELLIS campus in Bryan, TX. This project will be entered into a competition for Metal Building Manufacturers of America (MBMA). The building utilizes pre-engineered metal building frames to develop the framework of the project. Colors were used to define the scales such as: yellow, which indicates the large scale items defined as the site, the red indicating medium scale defining the building scale, and blue representing the human scale, or people and details. The recreation center has an emphasis on recreation, sports, and community.
TOOLS USED |Illustrator, Rhino, Revit, Enscape, Photoshop, Lightroom, Mirrorless Camera
Site Axon
Model Photos
Model Photo
What is Sports? Research Drawing
Drawing of clients core values in relation to sports and recreation. Research Drawing
Comments from current occupants at the RELLIS campus Research Drawing Recreation is...
Section Through Courts and Rock Climbing Tower
Recreation Section and Stitched Floor
MBMA Frames and Column Grid
Tower Wall Section and Elevation
MUSEO SULL’ ARNO
PROFESSOR | Andrea Volpe IN COLLABORATION WITH | Peyton Hall
The Museo Sull’Arno is located along the Arno River in Florence, Italy. The pavilion encompasses notable elements and considers the rich history of Florence within a building scale. The design was driven by elements that can be seen near the site, such as the houses around Ponte Vecchio that overhang the Arno River. Contextual elements such as series and strong datums that can be found along the river were also incorporated into the Pavillion. The final element incorporated into the pavilion design was the regularity of forms from the street view and irregularity from the back. This building is an homage to the architectural interventions of the surrounding context.
CONTRIBUTIONS | Research, Design, Photography, Sections, Elevations, Balcony Vignette TOOLS USED |Photoshop, Illustrator, Rhino, Revit, Lightroom, Enscape, Mirrorless camera
Perspective View of Pavillion from Arno River Exploded Axon
Photograph of a series along the Arno River Photograph of houses that overhang the Arno River near Ponte Vecchio and color palette diagram
exterior Perspective view on balcony
North Elevation with Plan
INTEGRATION OF TIMBER STRATEGIES
PROFESSOR | James Michael Tate IN COLLABORATION WITH | Kendall Royer
An exploration of two timber systems, light frame timber and mass timber were used to create the framework of the dwelling. The hut was generated from the letters T and K which were transformed and manipulated to make the form. The materiality of the two timber systems was integrated to create the structure. This hut depicts the collaboration of two different timber systems interacting with one another at a building scale. The hut maintains a part to whole relationship by treating the members of timber pieces as parts that create the form of the whole.
CONTRIBUTIONS | Design, Photography, Modeling
TOOLS USED | Rhino, 3D Printing, CNC machine, laser cutter, Photoshop, Lightroom, DSLR camera
McCRAY
Model photo
“Dollhouse” Model Photo
Web Joists
Model Photo
“Dollhouse” Model Photo Model Exhibited at Texas State Capitol [Photo by Lenoid Furnmansky]
CIRCLE OF COMMUNITY
PROFESSOR | Tyrene Calvesbert
IN COLLABORATION WITH | Addison Henson, Ashley Lehman, Kendall Royer
“Circle of Community” was started by collecting the wants and needs stated by members of the Jefferson, TX community. It was noted that there was an apparent opportunity to improve existing public open spaces, in the form of parks, which previously had primarily passive elements. The site targeted for this project was the Marion County community center which is disconnected from the historic and downtown districts of Jefferson. The project concurrently operated on two distinct scales. The first was the urban scale, where the aspiration was to weave a network of connective elements. The second was the community center scale. At the site of the community center, new elements were introduced to reactivate the community. Utilizing the scales, the existing Marion County community center would be altered to better fit the community’s needs. Elements like a garden, food trucks, classroom, sunken pit, gallery, rental area for sports equipment, and a dog park would help bring the community together.
TOOLS USED |Illustrator, Rhino, Photoshop, Lightroom, DSLR Camera, Laser Cutter, 3D Printer
Connector Concept Diagram
Walking Radius of the Existing Parks in Jefferson
Comments From the People of Jefferson Found in the “Public and Stakeholder Engagement Summary”
Kit of Parts Assemblage of Programmatic Elements and Opportunities
Urban Connector Interactions at Existing Areas to Reactivate and Better Connect the Community
Community Center Exploded Axon
Outdoor Vignette Greenhouse Vignette
Mounds Section Community Kitchen Section
Vignette of Plaza Space by Community Center
Vignette of Community Center Kitchen
Classroom Section
Wall Section
Model Photo Top View
Model Photo
THE RIVERWALK
PROFESSOR |Alejandro Borges INDIVIDUAL PROJECT
This project aims to design an urban setting on the RiverWalk in San Antonio, Texas that prioritizes pedestrian access and provides visitors with the opportunity to explore a diverse range of buildings, including a skyscraper, small building, and large building. The design of the large building was derived using principles of design, including rhythm, hierarchy, and carving from poché, to achieve a cohesive and visually compelling design that seamlessly integrated with the surrounding environment
Exterior Perspective Looking at Large Building
Model Photo of Urban Setting
Model Photo of Large Building
Exterior Perspective in Urban Setting
Urban
THE VAULT
PROFESSOR |Benjamin Ennemoser IN COLLABORATION WITH | Kendall Royer
The methodology of creating “The Vault” was started by evaluating the persistencies found through precedent studies of Toyo Ito and Borromini. The use of columns as a datum, surfaces as walls and floors, and a one square grid are elements inspired by Toyo Ito that make up the form of “The Vault.” The use of cupulas, poché, columns, and baroque elements are elements inspired by Borromini that can be found in the form. The massing of “The Vault” is created using generative adversarial network (GAN) pieces through the use of artificial intelligence. Painterly elements were extracted from the outputs of the GAN and manipulated with baroque profiles. Addition and subtraction were used to incorporate the GAN pieces and cupulas. Each piece created was unique, but they were all created using the same techniques. Then the pieces were assembled together to create a tower formation. The assembly used pieces that were stacked, rotated, and scaled around datums.
TOOLS USED | Keyshot, Rhino, Grasshopper, Illustrator, Photoshop, Lightroom, Houdini, 3D Printing, DSLR Camera
Render Detail
Church of San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane Borromini Precedent Photo
Chunk Model
Elevation Render
Axon Render
SURFACE TO POCHE
PROFESSOR |Benjamin Ennemoser IN COLLABORATION WITH | Kendall Royer
This was a hybrid project highlighting the differences of surface to poché. Through the analysis of Toyo Ito’s surface project and Borromini’s use of poché and cupulas, this project was created. The project uses Toyo Ito lofts as datums and Boromini’s cupulas at multiple scales. The project was digitally fabricated through the creation of a Grasshopper script. The ability to program the Grasshopper script gives endless possibilities of the persistencies noted in both of the precedents.
TOOLS USED | Rhino, Grasshopper, Illustrator, Photoshop, Lightroom, 3D Printing, DSLR Camera
Toyo Ito Machine Model Photo
Ito X Borromini Machine Drawings
Ito X Borromini Machine Model Photo
COLLISIONS
PROFESSOR |Davi
Xavier
INDIVIDUAL PROJECT
This project was developed using the method of collisions to define the notion of abstraction, composition, and space. Photographs of abstract architectural features were layered to create the composition. The composition was further developed using a figure to ground relationship which investigated the notion of transparency and hierarchy. The two-dimensional composition was then manipulated to create a three-dimensional composition.
Model Photo of Three-Dimensional Composition
Model Photo of Three-Dimensional Composition
Abstract Detail of Building in Boston
Abstract Detail in Marble House, Rhode Island
Abstract Detail in ICA Boston
Collisions Drawing
PHOTOGRAPHY
INDIVIDUAL PROJECT
Photography serves as a tool that helps me understand design, composition, and proportions, ultimately enriching my understanding of architecture. When I photograph a space or object, my goal is to capture both a moment and the feeling of the space. Through my travels, I have had the opportunity to photograph diverse urban settings, buildings, and people. Photography has allowed me to create a digital library, which contains many architectural precedents that I use to aid my studies.
POST Houston - OMA
Budapest, Hungary
Verona, Italy
MAXXI Museum - Zaha Hadid
Piazza San Marco Venice, Italy
St. Peters Basilica
DRAWING IS THINKING
PROFESSOR | Regan Wheat INDIVIDUAL PROJECT
The use of drawing as a tool of design plays a crucial role in my understanding of the world. Through drawing, I am able to analyze and translate my thoughts into visual form. The work presented here incorporates both traditional materials, such as ink, graphite, and water-soluble pencils, as well as non-traditional materials like sticks, rocks, plastic bags, and leaves. Regardless of the materials, drawing serves as a tool for analyzing compositions, proportions, scales, and lighting. The work shown depicts my learning and understanding of architecture and the surrounding environment. These drawings symbolize the transformative shift in thinking achieved through the exploration of drawing
Material- Stick, Leaf, Rock, Plastic Bag, and Ink, Location- Florence
Material- Ink, Location- Site of Museo Sull’ Arno, Florence
Material- Graphite Pencil, Location, Santa Croce
INTERDISCIPLINARY PAVILLION
Harold L. Adams Interdisciplinary Charette IN COLLABORATION WITH | Claire Grace FranklinUrban Planning, Erica Mueller- Visualization The purpose of this project is to create a multifunctional space that connects the School of Architecture and School of Performance, Visualization, and Arts. The space will represent Harold L. Adam’s vision of interdisciplinary collaboration. The structure will take reference from the diverse surrounding buildings: the Langford Architecture building, the Eller Oceanography and Meteorology building, the Jack K. Williams Administration building, and the Liberal Arts and Humanities building. A primary goal is to preserve the quad and the public greenspace for all students. The project will have multi-use areas that allow for educational endeavors, such as small class discussions, guest speakers, studying and relaxation. A central learning stair with a sunken pit and an open concept building will be placed near the Liberal Arts and Humanities building to connect with an existing outdoor public space. This project aims to ensure safety and accessibility by including an ADA approved ramp to access upper floors
and handrails. Introducing local, and non-invasive plants will provide natural shade cover and barriers for people to sit under and around. The vegetation will also allow for less erosion as well as better water retention.
TOOLS USED |Keyshot, Rhino, Photoshop, Lightroom, DSLR Camera
Render with Site Context
Sketch by Erica Mueller
AXIOM
Texas A&M AIAS Student Publication IN COLLABORATION WITH | Jayne Goodman (Editor in Chief 2023), Andrea Hinojosa (Editor in Chief 2023), Aiden Shertzer, Junseok Lee, Kam Thrasher, Peyton Hall, Shayne Simmons, Devi Sathappun, Margie Cha, Ava Carlson, Allie Smith, Daniel Velasquez, Megan Palmer, Phoebe Han, Texas A&M AIAS Marketing team
Axiom is the student publication committee of AIAS at Texas A&M. Axiom is dedicated to fostering meaningful discourse in architectural education by curating and showcasing exceptional student work. For Axiom 2024, we aim to include work from students that explores the theme of Moments— considering lessons learned, milestones achieved, identities formed, perspectives shifted, and significant discoveries made through their architectural journey. As the Editor in Chief I am responsible for motivating and organizing my team, making final design decisions, and creating the theme of the publication.
CONTRIBUTIONS | Axiom 2024 Editor in Chief, Axiom 2023 Editor
TOOLS USED | InDesign, Instagram, Illustrator, Photoshop
“The Vault” in “Flux,” Axiom 2022 [Photograph by Junseok Lee]
Resolution, Axiom 2023 [Photograph by Junseok Lee]
CAMP ARCH
PROFESSOR | Weiling He IN COLLABORATION WITH |Camp ARCH students and staff
Camp ARCH is a one-week architecture camp dedicated to educating high school students aspiring to study architecture fundamental design principles. Students are immersed into the world of architecture. Students were challenged to create a three-dimensional form from a set of two-dimensional modules. Students then photographed their model and used the method of photogrammetry to create an object for Rhino. Students then manipulated the surface through methods of addition, subtraction, push, and pull to emphasize solid, void, implied spaces, and defined spaces. Students then utilized an artificial intelligence program, Veras, to render and further understand their form on numerous different scales. As a counselor my role was to mentor and educate the students, introduce design principles and tools, like Rhino 3D and Photoshop, to create architecture.
TOOLS USED | Rhino, Reality Capture, Veras, Photoshop
