William Baird - Selected Works 2021-2024

Academic

Architecture

Portfolio

William Baird

selected works ‘otium’ public piazza and integration center ‘beacon boathouse’ community rowing center ‘eternal sunshine’ a space for sleeping and dreaming

‘otium’ Piazza Dei Ciompi, Florence, Italy + +

redesign a piazza in the historicy city center introduce a cultural integration center on the site

objectives + +

honor the historical and cultural context create an active and balanced civic space

learning outcomes + +

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the context is a guide for design decisions scale and light creates comfortable space

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Otium is an abstract Latin term that originates from the ancient Roman way of life where one practices self-realization activities, specifically in the countryside. Its counterpart, Negotium is practiced in the city where one conducts business and politics.

The goal of this project was to bring Otium into the Historic City to revive the site in an antiquarian way. Much like the Balance of Otium and Negotium, in this project, I aimed to create a phenomenal piazza that harmonizes leisure and business in light of contemporary times. I looked to blend Villa and Palazzo typology in my integration center to bring harmony to the entire design.

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final piazza model

final integration center model

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UP

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Modern Buildings

Historic Buildings

ground floor plan drawn at 1:500

urban elevation drawn at 1:500 8

sketch model iterations

piazza perspective

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‘beacon boathouse’ Blackstone Park, Providence, RI + +

design a boathouse center along the seekonk river implement the required program and square footage

objectives + respect the relationship between the land and the water + create a center for public terrestrial and aquatic recreation

learning outcomes + +

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design is a process that demands diligence architectural language creates cohesion

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The site, previously unused due to its steep slope, will foster a center for aquatic recreation in the greater Providence area. The program includes a clubhouse, boat storage, locker rooms, and a workout room all of which are contained in individual volumes. The intervention feels like a village where outdoor viewing platforms and walkways allow for views of the river and the surrounding area. Its defining moment is atop the tower, allowing for a panoramic view of the land and the water, bringing a unique experience to all the community.

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the water’s perspective

clubhouse entry perspective

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‘eternal sunshine’ conceptual + +

create a space for sleeping and dreaming align design with a narrative

objectives + +

write a poem to guide the design build a conceptual model

learning outcomes + +

architecture is visual poetry art and architecture blend with emotional design

overcome the climb that is daily life to reach a moment of solitude where you may rest, and you may dream. let one dream of a reality where when you wake you realize that Dreams come true.

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the final model - oculus

concept model

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William Baird

Guilford, Connecticut, USA willsbaird11@gmail.com www.linkedin.com/in/william-s-baird