PORTFOLIO OF WORKS Masters of Architecture Taylor Korslin
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CITY IN THE PARK
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WILD STYLE
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THE COLLECTIVE CORRIDOR
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CASTLE INCUBATOR
DETROIT HOUSING STUDIO Comprehensive Systems F. 2018
A HIP HOP MUSEUM Undergraduate Capstone F. 2015
FUTURE CAMPUS Urban Design Studio S. 2018
DISRUPTING THE ENTREPRENURIAL INCUBATOR Graduate Thesis S. 2019
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CITY IN THE PARK
DETROIT HOUSING STUDIO
Prof. Christina Hansen and Lars Graebner Comprehensive Systems Studio | Fall 2018 This studio was conducted as a group with Roujia Bai, Zhiyi Li, and Kayser Kwali. The project was selected First Place for the Taubman College Alumni Counsel Award and the Detroit Design 139 Exhibit. The Gold Coast site is located approximately three miles east of Downtown Detroit across from Belle Isle. The site is ripe for development with the historic Whittier Hotel flanked by two city parks along the Detroit River. This design proposes a series of housing towers that span up and over two existing brownbrick buildings to gesture toward Owen park. The development aims to density the existing site to create a “City in the Park”. To strengthen the difference between park and “city” the proposal includes a plaza in between buildings that extends out toward the River. The plaza allows residents, and the public, access to a daycare, pool, restaurant, cafe, and gym while providing car parking below. The City in the Park is a development of contrast; between city and park, and tower and bar buildings. It aims to project new energy from within the old to enliven the Gold Coast once again.
Park in a City
City in a Park
Sun Study for Plaza Comfort
Views Study for Massing
The scheme is designed to include two existing brown-brick buildings that sit adjacent to Owen Park. A series of towers would are added, that span up and over the existing buildings to gesture towards the park while providing excellent views and ample sunlight to the ground level.
A plaza between the buildings is designed in hardscape to create a distinction between the density of development and the parks on each side. The plaza takes advantage of the grade change to include parking below, with minimal excavation. It allows the public to enter at grade from Jefferson Avenue and continue above grade becoming a boardwalk overlooking the Detroit River.
The plaza and buildings are designed in concert to provide an intriguing procession for both the residents and public alike. The building footprints protrude into the plaza to form a series of smaller spaces, while the plaza pathways bend around the buildings to give a loose structure to the experience. There are a number of openings in the plaza that allow sunlight to the lowest level of the car park which features a bioswale with PaperBirch trees elevating to the plaza level. These trees act as a kind of obelisk that signifies the center of activity in the plaza.
Plaza
USING THE LINEAR SPACE ALONG THE SITE TO SOLVE
AND ADD A TOP SURFACE TO at CONNECT NORTH AND Create Surface Grade SOUTH, EAST AND WEST.
USING THE LINEAR SPACE ALONG THE SITE TO SOLVE PARKING NEED.
FOLLOW THE TOPOGRAPHY TO MINIMIZE EXCAVATION AND ADD A TOP SURFACE TO CONNECT NORTH AND SOUTH, EAST AND WEST.
PARKING NEED.Plaza Space Define
FOLLOW THE TOPOGRAPHY TO MINIMIZE EXCAVATION
OPEN THE TOP SURFACE.
EXTEND TO THE WATER FRONT AND PEDESTRIANS
BLUR THE BOUNDARY OF UPPER AND LOWER LEVELS Connect Between Levels
EXTEND TO THE WATER FRONT AND PEDESTRIANS
OPEN THE TOP SURFACE. BLUR THE BOUNDARY OF UPPER AND LOWER LEVELS
Extend to Context
Massing
EXTRACT MASSING FROM CONTEXT BUILDINGS. ARRANGE THEM ALONG THE EXISTING AXIS
NEW BUILDING GO UP AND OVER, THE EXISTING ONES. ANCHOR ON THE WHITTIER SIDE AND GESTURING TOWARD THE PARK
CREATE DYNAMIC SKYLINE, ICONIC ON TWO ENDS, AND MORE INTIMATE IN THE MIDDLE.
ORIENT AND ROTATE, OPTIMIZE THE SUNLIGHT AND VIEW
EXTRACT MASSING FROM CONTEXT BUILDINGS. ARRANGE THEM ALONG THE EXISTING AXIS
NEW BUILDING GO UP AND OVER, THE EXISTING ONES. ANCHOR ON THE WHITTIER SIDE AND GESTURING TOWARD THE PARK
CREATE DYNAMIC SKYLINE, ICONIC ON TWO ENDS, AND MORE INTIMATE IN THE MIDDLE.
ORIENT AND ROTATE, OPTIMIZE THE SUNLIGHT AND VIEW
Mirror Existing Density
Span Over Existing
Develop Dynamic Skyline
Position for Optimal Views and Sunlight
Lower Level Car Park
Upper Level Car Park
Flexible Units Levels 6-20
Amenities/ Roof Deck Level 5
Loft Units Levels 1-4
Mechanical/ Storage Basement
Flexible Unit
FLEXABLE UNIT
Kitchen & 1-4 Bedroom/Baths (UPPER FLOORS) Kitchen/Living Bedroom/bath Unit Partition Wall
FLEXABLE UNIT
(UPPER FLOORS)
Kitchen/Living Bedroom/bath Unit Partition Wall
LOFT UNIT
(LOWER FLOORS) Kitchen/Living Bedroom/bath
LOFT UNIT
(LOWER FLOORS) Kitchen/Living Bedroom/bath
Between the four towers are 270 flexible units designed with a kitchen entry and the possibility of one to four bedrooms due to the open corridor around at the exterior of the floor which would utilize partitions to define the end of units. This way a neighbor has the opportunity to exchange up to two bedrooms with either side neighbor.
Roof Deck
View from Whittier Hotel
Southwest Elevacon Southwest Elevacon Scale 1/16”=1’-0” Scale 1/16”=1’-0”
Seccon 3-3 Scale 1/16”=1’-0” Seccon 3-3 Scale 1/16”=1’-0”
WILD STYLE
A HIP HOP MUSEUM Professor Chris Cornelius Undergraduate Capstone
Hip Hop culture was first introduced to mass audiences with the film “Wild Style” in 1983. The culture assembled around Hip Hop music, graffiti art, and break dancing; all originating in New York at the time. Today it is regarded as a truly American-born art form. SNAFU (Situation Normal All Fucked Up) is an architectural drawing meant to synthesize the subjective qualities of a culture (3 layers of mylar 24” x 36”). This collage advances earlier analysis of music and dance combined with the study of graffiti art. It generated a language of shapes anticipating the creation of forms for the museum.
Professor Chris Cornelius
Undergraduate Capstone Studio c. 2015
Hip Hop Museum
Analysis & Form
Analysis of the Hip Hop culture was integral in how form was derived. Above is one of my first drawings interpreting both the relationships of artists and subjective qualities of the song “That’s the Joint” by The Funky Four Plus One, 1980.
Following analytical drawing, I used found components to construct models. These models spatially represent specific observations of poetic elements in the music. Below are plans and sections of each model. These constructed the basis for furthering the graphic language. “That’s The Joint” The Funky Four Plus One, 1980. A. Focuses on the way in which the five mic controllers (MC’s) diverge and join together in an oscillating sequence allowing for individuality within the group.
C
B
B. Spatially represents the five musical components of the song and how they work amongst one another.
A
C. Represents the song as a sequence, rapidly building up the euphoria and eventually fading out. It depicts each MC breaking off for their turn then joining back with the group. “The Roof is on Fire” Rock Master Scott & The Dynamic Three, 1984. D. Depicts the MC’s and DJ’s relationship and each’s unique diction.
B
E. Focuses on the DJ’s records and scratching sequence in his solo. F. Displays the MC’s transparency, as the song is about the DJ’s skills of mixing records. The chronology of the wires shows when the MC or DJ is most apparent in the song.
Hip Hop Museum
C
F
A
D
F
E
D
A
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E
Composite drawings are produced by superimposing the plans and sections of found-object models, and drawing out elements evocative of the Hip Hop culture (above left). Then, shapes from the composite drawings are lofted together, in rhino software, to compose multiple forms. The forms were combined and subtracted from one another to compose a 12� x 12� relief model (above).
Top Right is the final museum form under the Brooklyn Bridge. Its shape is derived from earlier studies above. The form studies were generated Using the shape language within the SNAFU. They were assembled using some of the poetic techniques of Hip Hop artists, such as mixing and sampling. The shapes to the right are extracted from graffiti art then interpolated between one another to derive a shape lexicon.
Hip Hop Museum
Hip Hop Museum
THE COLLABORATIVE CORRIDOR
A VISION FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN'S N
TAYLOR KORSLIN FUTURE CAMPUS STUDIO, SPRING 2018 PROFESSORS LAURA-ANNE WONG & ANDREW MODDRELL University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
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NORTH CAMPUS
2018 Future Campus Studio 63
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN NORTH
CENTRAL CAMPUS
UNIVERSITY OWNED LAND University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
STUDY AREA CAMPUS
2018 Future Campus Studio 64
OPPORTUNITIES DISCIPLINES WELL SUITED FOR COLLABORATION OVERLAPPING USE OF LATEST TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIPS EAGER TO ENGAGE WITH CAMPUS EXCELLENT LANDSCAPE AMENITIES ABILITY TO RETHINK MOBILITY PATTERNS
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
2018 Future Campus Studio 65
DISCIPLINES WELL SUITED FOR COLLABORATION ARCHITECTURE ART & DESIGN & URBAN PLANNING
INFORMATION
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
ENGINEERING
MUSIC THEATRE & DANCE
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ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING
ART & DESIGN ENGINEERING INFORMATION MUSIC, THEATRE, & DANCE STUDY AREA 1000FT
2018 Future Campus Studio 66
OVERLAPPING USE OF LATEST TECHNOLOGY
THESE TECHNOLOGIES AND COLLABORATION SPACES ARE OFTEN TUCKED AWAY FROM SIGHT
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
PIERPONT COMMONS
DUDERSTADT LIBRARY
COLLABORATIVE /SOCIAL SPACES BUS STOP WALKING ROUTES BY DISCIPLINE 2018 Future Campus Studio 67
THERE ARE EXCELLENT LANDSCAPE AMENITIES BUT THEY PRESENTLY SEPERATE THE CAMPUS
UNDERUSED GREEN SPACE
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
2018 Future Campus Studio 69
ABLITY TO RETHINK MOBILITY TRENDS
PREVIOUS PLANNING WAS CONSIDERED FROM A CAR-CENTRIC PERSPECTIVE
MORE SPACE IS DEDICATED TO PARKING (13%) THAN BUILDING FOOTPRINTS (10%)
OVER 70% OF CARS ARRIVE ON NORTH CAMPUS CARRYING ONE PASSENGER
PARKING STRUCTURES BEING CONSIDERED WOULD INDUCE THE DEMAND FOR DRIVING
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
NORTH CAMPUS
AMTRAK
BUS TRANIST HUB
BUS TRANIST HUB
CENTRAL CAMPUS
SURFACE PARKING STUDY AREA 1000FT
2018 Future Campus Studio 70
MICHIGAN HAS A LEG SOCIETAL INFRAS
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
GACY OF INITIATING STRUCURE SHIFTS
2018 Future Campus Studio 71
MAIN STREET
Before cars, a town or city's main street was the social, economic, and civic hub of a community. Located in the center of a town or city it served and was serviced by the surrounding community. Typically located near ports or railways, the city grew from this economic core. It was a crucial part of defining the city and usually had a variety of uses in a diverse but cohesive arrangement of buildings.
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
MAIN STREET ANN ARBOR , 1916
2018 Future Campus Studio 72
SUBURBANIZATION - FORD
Henry Ford experimented with the moving assembly line for the production of automobiles in the early 1900's. He reconsidered the automobile from the ground up as a new mode of transit seperate from the horse and carriage. It was first met with great scepticism, but eventually proliforated the United States. Ford and General Motors made large productions in Detroit, Michigan based on the assembly line and working wages so that the middle class person could afford their product. The convenience of automotive mobility, emerging middle class, and the G.I. Bill of 1944 produced a circumstance for the proliferation of suburban living. And the Federal Highway Act of 1956, served to exacerbate urban sprawl.
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
DEARBORN MICHIGAN SUBURB, 1919
2018 Future Campus Studio 73
SHOPPING CENTER - TAUBMAN
Suburbanization made lucrative the facilitation of car-centric consumerism. Alfred Taubman, the son of immigrants, who briefly studied Architecture at The University of Michigan. is credited with weaving the indoor shopping mall into American Culture. In the 1950's he developed his first malls in Flint and Ann Arbor. He decided to push the stores to the back of the lot and position parking in front, seen as a radical idea at the time, this is now standard for "big box" stores. The mall, as a private consumer-centered, typology is typically inward facing, with double-loaded corridors. It typically has at least two stories with small chain-stores lining large hallways that converge at central courts. These halls are usually anchored by "big-box" stores. From this typology we understand the importance of anchors, supportive facilities, and interconnectedness between levels.
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
WOODFIELD MALL, CHICAGO BUILT IN 1971
2018 Future Campus Studio 74
SHARED AUTONO If the American Automobile produced the circumstances for suburbanization and the shopping center, what might a shared autonomous-mobility network enable? With a shared network of vehilces continuously moving, roadways will be much more efficent. The need for parking may become obsolite, as cars will continuously move delivering people and goods to their destinations. We might not only be able to reconsider space dedicated to parking, but also space dedicated to driving. The autonomous vehicle network may actually become more efficient if we reverse induced demand by allocating roadways to other uses. In so doing, we would build more walkable destinations which wouold require less dependance on vehicle transport all together. The impacts of this combined effect could be great. If more people lived within walking distance of their day-to-day needs, the nessecity to own a car would be minnimal. The environmental impact could be significant. Not to mention the quality of these communities would be greatly improved by designing them for people, while reducing noise and air polution.
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
OMOUS MOBILITY
? MCITY AUTONOMOUS BUS
2018 Future Campus Studio 76
WHAT COULD A NEW TYPE OF STREETSCAPE MEAN FOR MICHIGAN'S NORTH CAMPUS?
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
NORTH CAMPUS ACADEMIC CORE
2018 Future Campus Studio 80
CURRENTLY, COLLECTIVE SPACE ONLY SERVES HALF OF CAMPUS
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
2018 Future Campus Studio 81
POSITION LIBRARY IN CENTER BY ADDING COLLECIVE SPACE
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
2018 Future Campus Studio 82
CREATE SPINE TO INCLUDE ALL DISCIPLINES
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
2018 Future Campus Studio 83
ANTICIPATE FUTURE GROWTH
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
2018 Future Campus Studio 84
IDENTIFY MAJOR ROUTES BETWEEN DISCIPLINES
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
2018 Future Campus Studio 85
ENCOURAGE CASUAL ENCOUNTERS ALONG CORRIDOR
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
2018 Future Campus Studio 86
DELIVER PEOPLE TO COLLABORATIVE CORRIDOR
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
2018 Future Campus Studio 87
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
A BOULEVAR
RD FOR CARS
2018 Future Campus Studio 88
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
A DESTINATIO
ON FOR PEOPLE
2018 Future Campus Studio 89
PLAZAS WITH INTERDISCIPLINARY INTERESTS
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7 KEY: 1. DUDERSTADT LIBRARY ENTRANCE 2. MAIN PLAZA 3. EXHIBITION PLAZA 4. GROCERY & MARKET PLAZA 5. CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP PLAZA 6. INNOVATION DISTRICT PLAZA 7. FUTURE GROWTH/INNOVATION DISTRICT of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning 8.University AUTONOMOUS BUS TRANSIT STATION
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THE COLLABORATIVE CORRIDOR: The aerial rendering depicts the new collective space of North Campus. It shows the potential for a pedestrian mall along Bonisteel Road that extends south to Fuller Street in anticipation of a future Innovation District. The corridor would include a one-way autonomous bus route for direct access to its many amenities. This proposal is intended to complete the academic core of North Campus and activate its identity as a social hub for collaboration among the disciplines. University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
2018 Future Campus Studio 92
FUTURE CAMPUS DESIGNS ON EXHIBIT: The work from the Future Campus Design Studio is being exhibited at The University of Michigan in the Duderstadt Library throughout the summer. It is part of an effort initiated by Architecture Dean Jonathan Massey in conjunction with the other North Campus Deans to promote a broad discussion about the possibilities for the future of Michigan's North Campus. University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
THE COLLABORATIVE CORRIDOR MODEL
2018 Future Campus Studio 93
CASTLE INCUBATOR
Disrupting the Entrepreneurial Incubator Advisor John McMorrough Graduate Thesis
The entrepreneurial incubator is a place for developing businesses from ideation to implementation and holds unique significance in shaping today’s world. This thesis aimed to develop a typology for the entrepreneurial incubator which lacks distinction as a type in the world today. To develop the typology, I looked to castles because they provide a distinct organizational structure for combining varying programmatic functions. Using the primitive forms of spaces that entrepreneurs typically work (i.e. the home, executive office, tradeshow etc.), I combined them using the organizational logics learned from the castle typology. The resulting agglomeration was then altered using the modes of disruption learned from software, mis-registrations, and glitches. The form of the incubator holds a latent residue of glitchiness in the combination of familiar spaces. In this way the disruptive modes learned from Silicon Valley’s software influence the spaces that entrepreneurs themselves work.
Advisor John McMorrough PhD.
Graduate Thesis 2019
Silicon Valley
A Culture of Disruption Known as the high-tech hub of the world, Silicon Valley fosters a unique dynamic between start-ups looking to disrupt outdated sectors and mega-corporations who structure the way we interact, live, and work through their products. These companies have grown from homes and garages, with rapid adoption of their hardwares, softwares, and algorithms to become the Apples and Googles of the world, making Silicon Valley the third largest GDP of all cities in the world.
Not only is disruption celebrated as a business mentality in the Silicon Valley culture, but this disruptive mentality is latently passed on to the users of their products. The hardwares, softwares, and algorithms they disperse hold embedded biases, glitches, and mis-registrations in them which users quickly learn to adapt from as they navigate the Silicon Valley created world.
PRESCRIBE
Hewlett Packard Garage “Birthplace of Silicon Valley�
Apple Park designed by Foster Partners
Castle Thesis
DISRUPT
Sa
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Fr an
cis co (
30
m
ile
San Francisco Bay
s)
HP Garage
Stanford U.
SITE
NASA
Microsoft HP
Tesla Apple 5
m
ile s
San
Jos
e (1
4m
CalTrain
Research
iles
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The Lens of Software
Glitches, Mis-registrations, and Biases
Interpolation between views produces mis-registration
Castle Thesis
Softwares first created in the name of disrupting incumbent businesses have become prescriptive of our everyday lives. (Think Google Maps replacing printed navigation.) Yet these softwares hold idiosyncrasies in the form of glitches, misregistrations, and biases that might give insight into the culture of disruption, and about new ways to disrupt.
In another instance, images of the Facebook headquarters under construction are texture mapped onto a photogrametry generated 3D form (above). Since the building is in its framing stage, the photogrametry generating algorithm must interpret a form which makes a completely new ghostlike form of the parameters captured by camera.
Google Maps stitches together millions of images to make a sinuous online existence of our world. Yet, as one navigates the software they notice latent glitches inherent in the online cartography. For example navigation between streetview and aerial view produces an interpolation of two images at once (left).
Research
Emerging Technologies Artificial Intelligence and Architecture
Artificial Intelligence (AI), or machine learning, is being applied to many industries and has its own potentials and consequences not yet explicit. In its early stages artists such as Refik Anadol are experimenting with its complexities. He uses a form of AI software called Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN) in which the system “learns� by separation into two tasks with opposed aims. One side generates images from the catalog of inputs while the other estimates the probablity that an image was created by the software as opposed to a base image.
In the simple exercise (right) Anadol inputs images of Frank Gehry Buildings into the software and it interpolates between them meshing them between one another. The output has specific traits inherent to the computational process of meshing between imagery. For example the smoothing over between forms and a kind of kaleidoscopic switch between one form and another. The AI produces new images (of form) from a series of inputs. Following this progression, Artificial Intelligence could ostensibly produce an output of 3D forms given a series of inputs and an order of operations.
Inputs to Generative Adversarial Networks (GAN AI)
Castle Thesis
Snapshots from GAN AI (Rafik Anadol)
Research
Prescriptive Software The Architecture of Architectural Software Companies
A significant influence on the build environment is the architecture of architecture software companies. Their buildings shape the way their programmers think about the tools they design. In turn, their programs hold implicit default settings that become prescriptive of the way we work and think.
Autodesk Headquarters | San Rafael, CA.
Autodesk Headquarters Building
Robert McNeel & Associates | Seattle, WA.
Robert McNeel & Associates
Castle Thesis
Revit User Interface
Rhinoceros User Interface
Research
Incubator Logic
Two Models: Advisor and Collective A relatively new concept, born parallel to computers and the Internet; business incubators only became common starting in the 1980’s. In general, entrepreneurial incubators fund and accelerate earlystage startup companies. Today there are an estimated 7,000 incubators worldwide including 1,400 in North America (International Business Innovation Association). To look at the entrepreneurial incubator as an institution in society today, we find two basic approaches; the advisor (seed-accelerator) model and collective (startup-studio) model.
The Collective model is embodied by Playground Global. It aligns companies with similar focus in one facility and provides resources, equipment, and support staff. Playground Global hosts 31 companies in the sectors of AI/Machine Learning, Next Gen Computing, Robotics, Mobile, Consumer, and Life Sciences. The facility is open office with maker spaces and prototyping labs. There are 44 support staff including advisors, engineers, data specialists, finance managers, marketing, and venture specialists. Each company pays monthly rent/fees and Playground Global invests in many of them for equity stake. The companies tend to stay at the facility longer, typically for years, and cross pollination of ideas is integral to this incubator format.
PLAYGROUND GLOBAL 82,000 sq.ft. Facility
Castle Thesis
PLAYGROUND GLOBAL (COLLECTIVE MODEL)
The preeminent example of the advisor model is Y-Combinator. Started in Boston, Massachusetts in 2005, and transitioning to Silicon Valley in 2009 the incubator has supported over 2000 companies including AirBnB, Dropbox, Reddit, Doordash, and Twitch. Y-Combinator hosts two batches of around 40 early-stage startups per year. Each company that is accepted receives a small investment in exchange for an equity stake in their company. The companies then spend three months working with advisors during “office hours” to develop and accelerate their products and business model. At the fruition of three months Y-Combinator hosts “Demo-Day” where each company pitches their business to press and investors. Y-Combinator’s goal for each company is to be in better shape after three months, no matter what stage of the startup comes in; with a better product, more users, and more options for raising money.
Y-COMBINATOR 9,000 sq.ft. Facility
Y-COMBINATOR “DEMO-DAY” 450 INVITED INVESTORS WATCH PITCHES
Research
Incubator Program Spacial Definitions
STARTUPS STARTUP SUITES (20-40) Each startup holds a dedicated workspace that consists of desk space for 2-20 people, meeting tables, drawing boards, and build space. MEETING ROOMS (5) Primarily used for “office hours” with advisors. Also used for interviews with prospective startups / Advising staff also hosts “office hours” here with alumni start ups in continuing to mentor them. (think-tank setting).
Castle Thesis
SUPPORT
COLLECTIVE
ADVISOR STAFF OFFICES (5)
EVENT AUDITORIUM (250-500 people)
A full-time advisor staff meets with current and alumni startups, interview prospective startups and research latest opportunities.
Large and flexible auditorium hall for “demo-day” pitching, large meetings, conferences, speaker and social events.
SECRETARY OFFICE A secretary staff manages schedules of advisors, and books events, speakers, and investor meetings. SUPPORT STAFF OFFICES A full-time staff assists startups with prototyping, marketing, new technologies exploration, engineering, design, ethics, venture capital, and finance management ADVANCED PROTOTYPING LAB
RECEPTION Welcome area with front desk and space for social reception at events such as “demo-day” and conferences. RESOURCE LIBRARY Collection of latest resources in business models, funding techniques, technology, marketing, and presentation. KITCHEN / DINNING
Technologies lab for prototyping robotics, hardware, machining, and 3D printing.
A large kitchen and informal dinning where all-startup meetings take place over dinner with guest speaker at least once a week / social area of the center.
IN-RESIDENCE RESEARCH LAB
CAFE
Independent research fellows research areas in behavioral sciences, technology, data analytics, business ethics, and marketing. Often work with and study the startups, speak at conferences, and publish articles.
Ground Floor Cafe open to the public
Research
Entrepreneurial Space Profile of Silicon Valley
Analyzing the HBO series Silicon Valley provided a mediated look into the spaces that entrepreneurs use. The satirical comedy aired from 2014 to 2019 with six seasons. The show follows a group of entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley Tech startup throughout the process of creating a company. The producers had previously worked in Silicon Valley Startups, and hosted CEO’s and employees in writing rooms to provide accurate accounts of the process and culture of an entrepreneur’s journey in Silicon Valley.
Castle Thesis
Research
Lexicon of Spaces Silicon Valley Primitives
Corporate Headquarters
Castle Thesis
House
Executive Office
Convention
Trade Show
Office Suite
Office Building
Research
Castle Logic
Informing a Typology As the topic of our directed thesis; the study of castles provided a typological foundation of contemporary architecture that is simultaneously real and fantastic. The castle, as a typology, lends itself to the organizing the entrepreneurial incubator due to the similarities in containing different programmatic functions. Castles have, and continue to play an extraordinary role in society; first as highly programmatic structures designed in advantageous ways to protect from invaders and manifest power, and later as sites of imagination as an attraction for the masses.
Through analysis of castle complexes I noticed a particular quality of having two compositional readings simultaneously; of both distinguishable parts and the complex being a singular whole. Likewise, the organization of spaces around a Bailey (courtyard) with varying programs fitting together by the apparatus of a curtain wall system organizes the parti.
Bran Castle; Brasov, Romania
Multiple Readings of part / whole relationship
Castle Thesis
BLURRED READING BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL PARTS AND SINGULAR WHOLE
COMPLEXITY OF SPACES ORGANIZED AROUND COURTYARD
Process
Authorship
Sculpting Form with ZBrush A particular authorship of sculpting figural spaces from prescribed typologies is seen in the early work of Frank Gehry. Linked to the era of abstraction following post-modernism, and with the advent of computational software, his eye-to-hand craft is composed of a human sense and artful manipulation of form. To imbue the form with glitches I used the painterly software ZBrush. ZBrush is a 3D polygon modeling software originally used by animators to organically model characters. The user sculpts from platonic forms with a series of brushes. In my manipulation of the incubator form (right), I sought to disrupt areas of significance namely entries, the courtyard, and vertical transition between levels. In this way a eye-to-pad or eye-to-mouse authorship of sculpting is mediated through the tools of the software.
Castle Thesis
ZBrush glitching of form
Process
Process
From Primitives to Incubator Initial Figure Placement
Adjustments for Site
Trades Reduce to
Tradeshow
Conference Hall
Office Buildout
Office Building
Conference Hall Align to Drive
Office
House/Garage Executive Suite
Glitching Form
Adjustments for Use
show o one bay
Office Building House/Garage Stacked
Combine Assembly spaces into one
Courtyard
Variance of Incubator spaces
e Buildout
Executive Suite
Blur Between Forms
Castle Thesis
Project
Castle Thesis
Lidar Streetview
Glitched form emphasizes entry
Project
Convention Room View Space for Demo Days and conferences Castle Thesis
Project
Ground Floor Plan
Conference Room, Startup Suites, and Advisor Offices Castle Thesis
Project
Second and Third Stories
Startup Suites, Research, Prototyping and Cafe
Castle Thesis
Section Perspective
Overlapping primitive forms are organized around a courtyard
Castle Thesis
Project
Streetview Castle Thesis
The Incubator typology is made evident by blurring of the part to whole readings and the glitching of forms
Project
Castle Thesis
Project