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l Fall 2005 - Spring 2007
Axonometric Veiw and Sections
Not to scale
Sara Berg

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 Index

Introduction Statement

Enclosing Structure One

Modular Site Furniture Two

A Volume of Jointed Tails Three

Four

Rolling Cubes Five

Transformation of Foam Sections Six

Topographical Stories Seven

Eight

Rem Koolhaas Façade Project Nine

Entry and Façade Design Ten

Compact House Eleven

Twelve

Lateral Structure Thirteen

The Pod Fourteen

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Contact Information Fifteen
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Introduction
Architecture Professional Practices, Spring 2007
Alfred State College
Critic: William Dean

Design Statement
The essence of identities transform through many vast points and eras, creating new and exciting changes. The
identity of Architecture is a continuing changing and developing field. It is a field that combines form and function to
create spaces for use. The field of architecture has developed in such a way to not only be oriented to ornate beauty,
but it also creates developing concepts to generate new exciting forms.
The first day I walked into Architecture school I was told to forget everything I had been taught about
architecture. From the design courses I have taken, I have learned that Architecture is a development of concepts.
These concepts are constantly being redefined and reworked. These concepts are developed into designs. Through
each step of design development, it is important to carry through concepts while still editing the concept. It is also
important not to forget where, why and how the ideas have formed. Even after a design has turned into a “finished”
design it is important to have had the concepts carry through. When the concepts carry through then someone can
point back to any piece or part of your work and ask where this came from and you will be able to explain how the
design aspect came about. Perhaps you will even be able to go back and add further editing of your work at a later
point. This understanding of conceptual design has become very influential with the projects I have created. I develop
and study concepts as much as possible to allow for these concepts to create a spaces, keeping in mind the
importance of form and function.

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 Enclosing Structure
Technics, Fall 2005
Pratt Institute
Critic: Che-Wei Wang

Project Description
Analysis of enclosing structures by creating a moving modular
shape that can be connected to another of the same without
the use of adhesives. Structure must support itself.

Single Modular Closed

Project Solution
The last structure was created after many iterations of smaller
study models were created. The signaler modular came from an
origami method to create a duck’s beak out of paper. The folding
method was modified to allow for the structure to be assembled
together to be part of the larger system. The modular was flexible
and able to be bent, in the same way if in a group or by itself.
The assembled project was folded over to create an interesting
enclosed space.

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Final Model
Single Modular Opened
 Modular Site Furniture
Architectural Problems, Spring 2007
Alfred State College
Critic: Rex Simpson

Project Description
Design a kit of parts which can be used as part of a whole that
can be assembled into site furniture with simple connections.
Explore how the site furniture can be changed, repeated, and
be placed in different arrangements using the least amount of
elements.

Final Model

Study Model

Project Solution
A grid projected into the third dimension was created; using
tension members the flexibility of the grid became sturdy. The grid
was changed into a triangular modular system that could be
attached by a joint that was designed to be flexible. The modular
was set up in a way to be flexible and dependent on tension used.
The structure was also designed to continue indefinably if
necessary. The scale of the structure could be changed to sit
under or to sit on as a seat.

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Assembly and Axonometric Drawing

Perspective Renderings
 A Volume of Jointed Tails
Design Studio I, Fall 2005
Project Description
A map of moves of a chess game is recorded with a graphic
Pratt Institute language of your own creation. A word joint is to be created
Critic: Chi-Fan Wong next with the inclusion of a noun and a verb. The word joint with
the graphic language of the chess game is developed into a
wood joint. The planes of the chess game are then rotated into
three dimensions. The word joint develops into a larger
description; a new wood joint is created from the chess moves
using a new wood phrase, creating a Volume of Jointed Tails

Dense Conforming- Wood Joint

Internal Reduction- Wood Joint

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Deep Closing- Wood Joint

Chess Game Mapping

 Chess Game 3-D Mapping
Piece of Final Model
Piece of Final Model
Densely Conformed Deep Internal Closed Reduction- Final Wood Joint
Piece of Final Model
Final Model Assembled
For the Word Joint: Densely conformed deep internal closed reduction
- I showed density with a layering, the layering effect on the
side also shows reduction
- Reduction of mass always happens with in the joint
The piece that goes in at an angle reduces at the
point when it intersects inside
Project Solution
I studied a chess game played by Rafael Vaganian and Aivars
Gipslis. I illustrated the movements of two opposing pawns,
rooks, and bishops, with a graphic language. I used the graphic
language to demonstrate the a playing piece’s starting position,
time passing, the directions the piece moved, the places where
the piece moved, the places where the piece landed and the
places where a take over had occurred and other significant
moves which happened in the game. The maps of the moves
were then layered to connect the opposing pieces. The word
joints of Internal Reduction, Deep Closing, and Dense f
Conforming were used to describe the joints created by the o
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game. These phrases created the movement of the wood joints. r
When all the mapped moves were placed together, the word
phrase became larger and redefined to Densely Conformed
Deep Internal Closed Reduction. The last joint became the
inclusion of all the joints.
 Rolling Cubes
Media and Communications I, Fall 2005
Pratt Institute
Critic: Jason Anderson

Project Description
Cubes with a corner cut off are rolled onto a 24”x24” area, the
cubes are then moved to the center of the area to be
condensed into a 6”x6” area. The movement of the cubes are
recorded using drawing techniques. The cubes in the 6”x6”
area are drawn to scale, in elevations, sections, axonometric
views, for the final drawing a shadow study is created.

Axonometric Shadow Study

Primary Cube
Project Solution
One cube was marked as the primary cube this cube was noted
with a darker line weight than the other cubes. As time passes in
the drawings the line weight gets darker noting which cube was
moved first, the path of movement is noted with light
construction lines. A notation of lines facing the direction the
elevation and section drawings were used in notating which
section/ elevation view came from. Later in the semester the
section view was changed, this change let the section appear
directly from the section line in the cube to form an array shape.
Lastly a shadow drawing was created to study the movement of
shadow, and the way shadows fall onto other objects. Axonometric of One Cube Section Array

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Plam Elevations Sections

 Transformation of Foam Sections
Media and Communications II, Spring 2006
Pratt Institute
Critic: Byron Russel

Project Description
A piece of packaging foam was cut in half. Plan and elevation
views were drawn in AutoCAD. The packaging foam was cut
into multi-sections; these sections were then drawn. A concept,
which could change the sections, was then added. This
concept would change the sections by stretching the sections
out at points. The stretched out sections are then placed into
Packaging Foam an axonometric shape in Adobe Illustrator, a skin is then added
to this form. The form is then sectioned, and elevations/plans,
of the form are made using the tools in Illustrator. For the final
Ballet Concept Drawing Stretched Foam Sections on Points The “Skin” Added
layout of the project, each step of the drawing must be
connected to each other.

Combined Final Drawing

Plans, Elevations and Sections of Packaging Foam

Project Solution
To develop a concept I used a video of a ballet dancer doing a
plié (bending of the knees) combination. I drew the dancer’s
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moves at intervals of 3 seconds, cross-hair points were then i
placed on the drawings on joints that the ballet dancer moved. x

The sections from the foam were then stretched through a series
of the ballet dancer’s moves. From there the process of building
the form and then drawing the form in other views was continued.
The final drawing was done in a way that actually allowed
drawings to overlap each other which creates an interesting
overall view of the project. Oblique Drawing Section Sections
 Topographical Stories
Design Studio II, Spring 2006
Pratt Institute
Critic: Adam Dayem

Project Description
Geological processes are studied the function of their
movement is recorded with drawings. Word phases are used
to defined the geological processes, connection nodes are
made to describe these processes. The connection nodes are
further studied to create a landscape, a north direction is then
decided on the landscape, a shadow study is created from
this information. A program is added to the landscape, the
landscape is changed to allow for simple programic functions.
Weathering

Downfall, sloping,
smooth, cracking,
slow change,
disintegration,
breakdown,
crumbling,
dissolution,
terminating,
downward,
lessening,
reduction,
outward, external.

Resistance- Connection Node

Movement,
Faulting

pressure,
tension,
compression,
sliding,
quick,
descending,
uplifting,
elevating,
moving, Landscape Model
effecting

Internal Interface- Connection Node

Sedimentation

Succession,
series,
sequence,
s rotation,
e building up,
v dense,
e conforming
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Rotation- Connection Node

Landscape Shadow Study
 Project Solution
The geological processes chosen were Weathering (defined by
Resistance), faulting (defined by Internal Interface), and
sedimentation (defined by rotation). These phrases had their
definitions redefined through out the process of the project. The
final model created places for sleeping, reading, group areas,
hygiene zones, and paths for circulation. These areas were
defined from most private to least private, the shape of the
ending spaces were created from enclosure, the shadow study
and from the defining words.

Internal Interface
Sleeping

Reading

Sitting

Internal Interface Internal Interface

Sleeping
Sleeping
Sitting

Reading
Reading

Internal Interface
Sitting

Restriction
Private Passage

Rotation
Hygine

Restriction
Private Passage

Restriction
Private Passage

Internal Interface

Internal Interface
Internal Interface
Group Area

Group Passage

Rotation
Group Area
Rotation
Group Area

Restriction
Engagement

Internal Interface

Programic Model-Plan, Section and Elevation

Programic Model

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Group, Social, and Hygiene Area Group and Social Area Reading and Circulation Area
Programic Model
 Rem Koolhaas Façade Project
Architectural Design Methods, Fall 2006
Alfred State College
Critic: Terry Palmiter

Project Description
A façade of a building was created in the style of Architect
Rem Koolhaas’s project. The model of the building should be
designed in a way to wear the model on a person’s head.

Final Model

Shape of Floors

Project Solution
By studying Rem Koolhaas’s architecture, I noticed that he used
the process of superimposing and skinning to create many of his
projects. I created a shape that would allow a head to be fit in
the center for the scaled model. I superimposed the shape on top
of the shape before by rotating the shape and moving it slightly
off center. The model then had a skin of a window grid system
added to connect the shapes which are defined as stories.

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Rendering

Shape of Floors
 Entry and Façade Design
Architectural Problems, Spring 2007
Alfred State College
Critic: Rex Simpson

Project Description
Create a façade of an office building. The concepts used are to
create an office building, by exploring the use of different
materials, historical systems of portion and scale, and to keep
in mind transition from outside to inside.

Concept Sketches

Elevation, Floor Plans, and Sections t

Project Solution e
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Concepts of rotation and stepping were developed through the
sketching process. These two ideas were combined together to
create a building that starts stepping out from a corner center
point of the building from there, sections of the building continue
to step in. Translucent panels are used in the building to continue
the design of stepping. The main building material to be used is
Rendering concrete to add the feeling of strength to the building.
 Compact House
Architectural Design Methods, Fall 2006
Alfred State College
Critic: Terry Palmiter

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1763.4
1768.5 PROPOSED SITE PLAN: Concept:
Sketch Model-with rearrangeable spaces SCALE: 1/64”=1’0”
SARA BERG Path through house travels from public areas to

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The house is placed near back corner of property private areas. As the ares become more private

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on higher elevation of slope, due to a decrease in wind amount, the level of the floor becomes higher.
views from higher elevation are easier to see from all sides of house,
it is away from the road so sound from the road will not bother
the occupant.

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The orientation of rooms in house (along with being based from private
to public), are placed so that sun light will enter the rooms at times in LEAST PUBLIC
0 the day when they are to be in use.

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Project Description
ING

SCALE: 1/8”=1’-0”
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MOST PUBLIC
SARA BERG

Through this section it can be seen how the house elevates with the PATIO

slope of the land, at 2’ intervals.

A small 1,000 square foot residential house is designed, to fit
to a landscape, according to a program provided by another FLOOR PLAN
SCALE 1/4”=1’-0”
SARA BERG

student. The house should be designed in such a way to

provide a solution for each of the program spaces or objects Site Plan with SIte Section Floor Plan
specified.

SOUTHWEST ELEVATION SOUTHEAST ELEVATION

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NORTHEAST ELEVATION NORTHWEST ELEVATION

ELEVATIONS
SCALE 3/16”=1’-0”
SARA BERG

Elevations
 Interiorior Perspective View
Exterior Perspective View

Project Solution
The site the project was located on was on a mid-sloped hill.
After the site was analyzed the placement of the building was
decided on to be in a spot with the least amount of wind and
sound, that would also have a nice view to look towards. The
building was designed to step up from most public area to most
private area.

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Axonometric Veiw and Sections
Not to scale
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Site Contour Model

Axonometric Veiw and Sections Array
 Lateral Structure
Technics, Fall 2005
Pratt Institute
Critic: Che-Wei Wang

Project Description
Create a 3’ lateral structure out of 1/8” basswood (wood can
not be laminated together) that, while spanning can support one
brick (not to support more than one brick also), and will not
break under the pressure of one brick.

Structure Study Sketches

Structure Study Model

Project Solution
Through use of many study models through out the semester, I
t found that a truss system worked very well for a form of structure.
h Once this was found to make the model more interesting I
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r crossed the two sides of the bridge in a “X” shape, extra supports
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e were added to support this crossing since this caused the
e structure to be less strong in the middle. Once a tension analyses
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was done on the bridge, the tension members were taken away
and a string was added in their place, the compression members Final Model
were left. The bridge was successful in holding one brick, and
could not hold more than one as called for in with the assignment.
 The Pod
Architectural Design Methods, Fall 2006
Alfred State College
Critic: Terry Palmiter

Project Description
A pod is a transportation unit that can be driven with controls,
or when on a highway will be controlled by a computer and will
not need to be manually controlled until the occupants have
arrived near their destination. Due to this a person, or many
people. will spend many hours in this pod. A space that would
be comfortable for long trips involving sitting and complemented
by various activities that conformed to the space was designed
by studying anthropometrics involved with sitting.

Final Model

Top View
Front View

Isometric View

Project Solution The Use of Track

The pod I designed is designed for a large group of people. The

pod has manual operating devices on either side (making
backing out of a place no longer necessary). A specialized floor
system allows chairs to move along a track, people can be social
with each other or private by moving their chairs. The chairs were
designed to let a person sit in multiple positions to allow a person Section- Shows Storage Under Floor

to sit or lay down (to sleep) in comfort. The Use of Track

Chaning Postition of Table

The Use of Track

THe Use of Storage Under Floor

Changing Position of Handle Bar
Changing Position of Chair

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Windows Change into Veiwing Screens
The Use of Track

Door Slides Open and Close

Ramp Unfolds from Under Floor

Final Board
 Contact Infomation

My Contact Information

Sara Berg
90 Main Street
PO Box 764
Candor, NY 13743
1-607-743-0814
sberg@alfredstate.edu

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