New York City Aquarium Competition Permafrost Research Lab Col-LAB-oration Urban Bourbon
Photography
New York City Aquarium Competition
The above rendering is a view from the first floor near the information desk. One of my ambitions for the aquarium was to create a way for there to be a small section of the aquarium that is open to the public. The waterfront park will bring locals to the area, and a small preview of the amazing spaces within the aquarium will encourage more people to continue to explore. There is access to the park, information about the current exhibits, and a location to purchase tickets. The rendering shows a glimpse of a tank above, really pushing the idea that when you walk through the doors, you are walking into a fish tank.
The New York City Aquarium and Waterfront Park competition encourages designers to present innovative ideas for an aquarium that intimately connects the building to its surrounding green space. This city lacks an aquarium that educates people on the marine life in the area. There is great need not only for an aquarium, but for beautiful park space as well. The concept for this design focuses on creating an experience that allows visitors to truly feel like they are amongst the marine life rather than simply looking at it. There is an overall container for the aquarium that protects both people and fish. This container houses the various program which is placed within the container. Water then floods the container filling every remaining inch. The fish tanks surround the program much like water surrounds the land. Visitors of the aquarium will fell as though they are with the fish.
Concept Diagrams
Container
Place Program
The “Reef”
The concept of this project really came from a desire to create a “tunnel room”. If the best part of an aquarium is the tunnel, then why not make the entire building feel like a tunnel! If you have a container, place occupiable space within the container, and fill the container with water, I believe the sensation of a “tunnel room” will occur. The formal diagram explains the process in which I used to create the “reef” of the aquarium as well as the container it goes in. The program, or “reef”, was divired from a simply rectangle, multiplied, manipulated, and adjusted. The container simply holds the reef and tank and then is protected by an enclosure. This enclosure lifts up at moments to expose the secret the lies below.
The container
Fill with Water
Enclose
Initial sketch of reef and container
The aquarium contains five large exhibits spaces, a KID ZONE, marine research, service spaces, and an integrated waterfront park that utilizes the site’s waterfront edge. The park brings water in from the East River allowing people to closely see how the water systems work. The water carves through the landscape allowing interesting variations in elevation while also maintaining appropriate water levels. The water is just as much of an educational experience as the aquarium, and the attractive peaceful elegance of the park will encourage people to approach the area even if they do not wish to visit the aquarium.
This interior rendering is taken from the Second Floor lounge area. It highlights the openness of the space that is surrounded by aquarium. This view shows how visitors will really feel like they are amongst the fish rather than simply looking at them. The lounge area is right off the main stair way and has access to the restaurant, Coral Reef Tunnel Exhibit, and Large Fish Exhibit.
Site Strategies
The Site Diagram breaks down the different components of the site and shows how the combination of the four elements come together to create a dynamic experience. The green roof helps cool the building while also acting as an outdoor lounge space. The rain collection and rain gardens help control run-off from the surrounding hard scape. The use of large planters, seat walls, and seating help retain water and keep it from flooding both the site and the building.
rain garden green roof seating rain garden retaining wall
planter
Ice Cream Shop
Exhibit: New York City Habitat
Staff Lounge
Exhibit: Shark Tank
2
Gift Shop
Storage
Restroom
Restroom
Entrance to Upper Levels
Information Desk Ticket Office
Exhibit:
2
Storage
Coat Check Research Space
Seating
Exhibit: Jelly Fish Forest
Information Desk
Lobby
1
1
Seating
Seating
First Floor Scale: 1/16” | 1’
Fourth Floor
Main Entrance
Scale: 1/16” | 1’
Food Storage
Lounge
2
Exhibit: Coral Reef Tunnel
Service Space
2 Service Space
Restaurant Large Research Tank
Research Space
Small Research Tank
Kitchen
1 Offices
1
Gallary Auditorium
Exhibit: Deep Water Fish
Aquatic Education Center
Restroom
Second Floor
Gallary
Scale: 1/16” | 1’
Restroom
Fifth Floor Scale: 1/16” | 1’
Service Space
Fish Food Storage Rain Collection
Exhibit: Shark Tank
2 Service Space
Garden
Kid Zone
Rain Collection
Exhibit: The Coral Reef
Garden
Restroom
1
Exhibit: Hands On!
Storage
Restroom
Third Floor Scale: 1/16” | 1’
Roof Plan
Scale: 1/16” | 1’
Section One Scale: 1/16” | 1’
Perhaps the most exhilarating part of the aquarium is the Shark Exhibit. These beautiful creatures of the sea attract a lot of attention, and so does this exhibit. The Rendering above shows what it feels like to be in the double height space surrounded on three sides by sharks. The seating and ramps allow multiple viewing options as well as play space for children. This exhibit transports the viewer below the sea and really makes them feel like they are with the fish.
The street view of the New York City Aquarium begins to show what it is like to come to the site and really experience aquatic life. The exposed fish tanks catches the attention of passers by, and the fish tank entrance invites visitors to begin exploring. The surrounding water front park brings a big of green to the area, but it also acts as a means to educate people that are walking by. This rendering is showing the closeness of the water, large grassy mounds, and large park near the water’s edge.
Permafrost Research Lab
The diagrams above indicate locations of permafrost, dense vegetation, population and location of boreholes in relation to the project’s site: Fairbanks, Alaska.
Due to increased ground and air temperatures permafrost, is beginning to melt. As the permafrost begins to melt, the ground becomes less stable. Anything that was built on top of permafrost now has the potential to fail structurally. Melting permafrost also releases natural gases found deep under the Earth’s surface. Once gases such as methane are released a cycle begins and more of the permafrost will melt. The melting permafrost will destroy entire communities through failing foundations and change in vegetation. Well-designed architecture has the ability to limit harmful gas emissions. The Permafrost Research Center will act as a home base in Fairbanks, Alaska. Deployable units will be stationed at this research center. The lightweight units are fully stocked with adequate supplies so pairs of scientist can leave to conduct research at any time. The energy needed to run the facility is produced on site, and the heat from the computer servers is used as a means to heat the building. The unique structural system insures that the building does not heat the ground in any way. By lifting the Permafrost Research Center above ground the building begins to appear as if it hovering above the surface, barely making contact.
This rendering shows the workspace for the scientists. The room is open, encouraging researches to come together and study the effects of melting permafrost. The lab looks over Fairbanks, Alaska.
servers bedroom living room
kitchen
work space
lab space vehicular storage
Unit Floor Plan 1.
sleeping space
2.
kitchen
3.
work space
4.
bathroom
5.
fireplace
6.
wood storage
7.
supplies storage
8.
water storage
This rendering shows the interior of the deployable units. The pod has just enough space for two researches to gather information from near by bore holes.
Detail Section 1.
window sill
2.
triple pane glass
3.
steel frame
4.
1/2” aluminium panel
5.
vapor barrier
6.
2” rigid insulation
7.
6” batt insulation
8.
interior finishing
9.
bamboo flooring
10.
sub-floor
11.
4” rigid insulation
12.
6” concrete slab
13.
corrugated metal panel
14.
steel girder
15.
I-beam steel frame
16.
gravel
17.
helical piles
The construction technique and material selection is important to this project because it has a direct effect on the subject in which it is used for. This research center is a place meant for scientist to study the effects different variables have on melting permafrost. In order to maintain cold ground conditions, both the research center and the deployable units are built on steel frames raised above the ground. These frames insure that the heat the building puts off does not heat the ground. The steel frames are anchored into the ground with helical piles. The drill holes are pumped with cool air, not to heat the ground during instillation. The buildings are also fully insulated with multiple layers. Aluminium panels with attached rigid insulation hang to a steel frame, containing batt insulation. This will keep the cool, harsh temperatures out, and the warm air in.
Water will be stored above ground in insulated pipes.
An alternative means for electricity when the sun is too low is a wind turbine located on the site.
Solar panels angled to utilize the Sun’s rays in the spring, summer, and fall will serve as electrical support.
Steel frames anchored into the ground with helical piles will support the building and the units. The frames keep the building off the ground and prevent surface heat transfer.
Col-LAB-oration
LAB
A
B
The focus for the project was to design public space that successfully meets ADA requirements. The ramp system within the lab connects the building and encourages interaction among the students and faculty as they circulate through the lab. These ramps work in a triangular path linking the studios to the exhibition space, meeting rooms, and pin-up spaces.
Formal Concept Diagram Sketch This project is a research lab for interdisciplinary fields of study on the University of Kentucky’s campus. It is a studio for students studying architecture, engineering, interior design, and landscape architecture. The LAB encourages communication between these disciplines and provides space to educate others about their work.
Urban Bourbon
distillery district visitor center hotspots
This project is a bourbon visitor center located in Lexington, Kentucky. This project was centered around the unique relationship between bourbon and Kentucky, and how the native American spirit is closely tied to the landscape, culture, and history of the region. The visitor center is located in Lexington’s distillery district. The proposed trolley stop will allow people to utilize free public transportation through Lexington and easily access the visitor center. The use of free public transportation also encourages visitors to drink responsibly and avoid getting behind the wheel after engaging in bourbon tasting. This visitor center includes a museum of the history of bourbon, education on the process in which it is made, and information on different ways bourbon is booming across the nation. There is a restaurant that has a specific menu containing food that will highlight and extract the unique flavors of bourbon and a bourbon tasting lounge with a cigar bar. There is also an event space were people can view various artworks from local artist and rent out an entire floor for occasions of all types.
Trolly Route Map current route proposed route road stops hotspots
PHOTOGRAPHY