Simplicity

Portfolio

Greg Dahlke LSU School Of Architecture Arch 2002 - Architecture Design IV 14 May 2012

Architecture Philosophy

The process of learning about architecture is similar to how a space is designed. Just like a space, learning architecture is a process that starts of with an idea and flourishes into knowledge. Right now I still only have ideas about the subject. The ideas I have absorbed in the last two years are from teachers, students, and buildings. Each has taught the idea that architecture is more about process then final product. As I go through the process, I incorporate everything Ive learned about space, light, circulation, etc. and consider how the space helps shape unique experiences, relationships, and memories. Architecture cannot solve the worlds problems, but it can be a tool to better off people, families, and communities now and in the future. I incorporate this into all my designs.

Contents

1 2 3 4

Inhabit

Fall Studio 2001 Instructor: Marsha Cudderback

Formal Writing Assignment

Spring Studio 2002 Instructor: Kristen Kelsh

5 6 7 8

Curtain Wall House

Fall Techniques 2003 Instructor: Kristen Kelsh

Red Hill Preschool

Spring Studio 2002 Instructor: Kristen Kelsh

Writers Retreat

Fall Studio 2001 Instructor: Marsha Cudderback

TBD

Emerging Ecologies

Spring Studio 2002 Instructor: Kristen Kelsh

TBD

Inhabit

Fall Studio 2001 Instructor: Marsha Cudderback

The goal of this project is to design a performance and exhibit space for youth that promotes growth, empowerment, and constructive social change. The target participants are youth, ages 13-25, and the target audience is all ages. Through informal performance, impromptu collaboration, directed conversations, and personal reflection, engaged participants will heighten their presence in the collective voice of community and seek to effect positive change. The masks goal is to inform those about the problems with obesity. Obesity causes lots of internal problems in the body, especially the heart. The abnormal heartbeat of a obese man was the inspiration for the space. Each student was asked to build a mask, two watercolor sketches, a 1/4 watercolor section. and plans, along with a 1/4 model made of form core and chipboard.

Process Model

Sketches

Mask

Final Model

Final Model

2
Exterior View

Curtain Wall House

Concept

Fall Techniques 2003 Instructor: Kristen Kelsh

In 1995, Shigera Ban was asked to combine the traditional culture of a Japanese architecture in a contemporary suburban neighborhood. He took the modern idea of a curtain wall and the traditional Japanese wooden doors and constructed a stylish house. The curtain is an architectural element associated with traditional Japanese design elements such as shoji screens and fusuma, the doors common in traditional Japanese houses. He placed the site on an constricted intersection in Itabashi-ku, Tokyo, which consists of an elegantly spare two-floor block of open living spaces sandwiched between a large, overhanging triangular roof and deck that extend almost to the curb line.
Ground Floor

Architect

Shigura Ban was born in Tokyo, Japan in 1957. He is most famous for using recyclable materials and created house and furniture out of them. He is not interested in using the newest material, but using any material to express his concepts in the best way possible. He considers himself a Paper Architect.

First Floor

Render

Exterior View Second Floor

Interior View

Exterior View

Materials: Steel frame, Shoji screens, and Clothes

Writers Retreat

Fall Studio 2001 Instructor: Marsha Cudderback

The design challenge for Project 3 is to design a writerss retreat to be used by a writer for one year. Along with the programmatic requirements one must incorporate a design solution that uses: light, form, and view. The views of Walden pond and Emersons Cliff are the two main views, while minimizing the views of the railroad. After reading a few chapter of Thoreaus Walden, I stated to receive inspiration for my design. Thoreau lived in the woods with only the essentials, without a need for distractions. The design is based off that idea of simplicity. The form is made up of simple shapes, but every piece comes together to form an essential space. The final requirements include: a 6x17 portrait, 3 modelgrams, 1/8 final model and site plan, and 11x17 presentation board.

Ground Floor

Modelgrams

Second Floor

Elevation

Final Model

Portrait

Site Section

Emerging Ecologies

Spring Studio 2002 Instructor: Kristen Kelsh

3.
Garage Condition

The first project of the spring semester was influenced by Phanat Xanamanes home town Lanexang Village in Broussard, Louisiana. Each had to choose between three housing situations: carport, trailer, or garage and redesign them to incorporate the towns culture, environment, and social spaces. I choose to redesign the garage condition. In the garage condition, I added a semi-private, semi-public, technology, and storage space for the Laos residents of the site. These spaces would help connect the people in the community through dinners or parties. Everyone had to have two 11x17 presentation boards and 1/8 scale models.

1. Technology 2. Semi Public 3. Semi Private 4. Storage 5.Bathroom

150 Ft2 1200Ft2 600 Ft2 50Ft2 100Ft2

5.

4.

1.

Trailer Condition

2.

Site Plan 1/16=1

Carport Condition Final Model

Day Render

Night Render

Lanexang Village

Formal Writing Assignment

Spring Studio 2002 Instructor: Kristen Kelsh

We were asked to choose between The Kimbell, Wyly Theatre, The Modern, or The Winspear and write two separate pieces on one. The first is a book review and the second is a poetic narrative. We also had too use five words related to architecture terminology and include them in both assignment. Writing Assignment 1 (1000 words) I choose to write about The Kimbell Art Museum. The five words I used were texture, form, light, space, and connection. Writing Assignment 2 (no word count) The poetic narrative had to include a razo prose introducing the composition and vida a brief prose biography of writer.

Razo and Vida

Poetic Narrative

The Kimbell Art Museum

Page 3 of Writing Assignment

Red Hill Preschool

Spring Studio 2002 Instructor: Kristen Kelsh

The third and final project for this semester is the design of a small preschool for an informal settlement community located on the Cape Peninsula in the Republic of South Africa. Each project should have a focus on the use of passive systems: ventilation, composting toilets, solar panels, and rainwater collection. With my design I choose to focus on the idea of the informal settlement. Buildings in a informal settlement should not be grounded in any way, so I created the illusion that the building was floating. Seen in the two models to the right, the preschool appears to be floating above the site. The final requirements includes: 3 1/4 section models, 20x30 presentation board, and design booklet.
Section Models

Site Plan

Floor Plan

Evocative

Red Hill Preschool

Growth
In the last two years, I have gone from thinking architecture is just designing cool buildings, too designing spaces that can change a person, family, or communities way of life. Every skill I started with two years ago has gotten better. My work improves everyday. Instead of just going to class and hoping my skills will increase, I have tried to take the initiative by watching lynda videos, going to craft workshops, and graphic design lectures. I am looking forward to the future either it be in Architecture or something in the same field, so I can grow as a person and a student.

Bibliography
Page 5 Thread: CURTAIN WALL HOUSE. 3DAllusions. Web. 13 May 2012. <http://www.3dallusions.com/forums/architecturarenderings-architectural-visualization-showcase/2350-curtain-wall-house.html>. Back to Walden. : Chapter 1, Part 3 . Web. 13 May 2012. <http://www.backtowalden.com/2010/07/three-tools-youll-need/> Image by Jamie Joyner Page 6 K.Muncie. Kimbell Art Museum. Flickr. Yahoo!, 21 Sept. 2008. Web. 13 May 2012. <http://www.flickr.com/photos/26846159%4 0N02/2876756365/> For News Media. Bruins in South Africa Blog / UCLA Newsroom. Web. 13 May 2012. <http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/southafrica-blog.aspx>..