CORE

Nathan Mickelson2014-2015

X, Y (Z)................................................

TOWER OF LIGHT...............................

THE “LIGHT” HOUSE..........................

THE WAR MEMORIAL........................

THE INSTITUTE OF BIOMECHANICAL MULTIMEDIA........

EXTENSION OF THE FORT................

ON THE LINE......................................

Contents

Nathan Mickelson13434 Village Circle Apt. 234Tampa, FL, 33617nathanmickelson@gmail.com(352) 242-7042

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X,Y (Z)Tectonics on all axes

X, Y (Z)” is a project that was focused on restarting my understanding of

space and reaction. The project was initiated by a series of diagrammatic

collages that used images from a spatially captivating film to create depth

in a two-dimensional format. From this two-dimensional scheme arose rigid

collages that were used to create the corner condition, the break from X and Y to Z. By exploring tectonic and spatial interactions

in the third-dimension, I began to understand the basics of architecture

and experience.

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Architecture is the skillful, accurate and magnificent play of volumes seen in light le corbusier

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Tower of LightA Study of Intimate, Spatial Experience

The Tower of Light began by using studies of light’s interactions with three different spaces: The Promenade, an ascending compressive element that allows fixed light moments to create dynamic light and spatial tension; The Gathering Space; and The Intimate Space.

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The project was designed to connect with the base only at the linear elements, which allowed this model to become a early exploration of skin and structure interaction.

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The “Light” HouseA Beacon on the Bluff

The “Light House” is a Cultural Center and public bath in the town of Riddleton, Florida. The center, which is on the bluff next to Lake Blanchard, is called the “Light House” because it beckons the flaneur, the idler, with its dazzling displays of light and its massive claim of the bluff; the name is also a play on its role to help ward off night time boaters.

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The Private Courtyard uses the bluff as a natural wall to create a hallow space. it is in here that the annual “thousands riddles competition” is held.

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The War MemorialA memorial to the battle of El Alamein

The War Memorial is a constructed field that uses inspiration from the battle of El Alamein to inform the placement of nodes and the movement through a sloping matrix of built and untouched ground (the veil).

This project primarily focused on Scale ( at what point does a “tall” structure become a tower? At what point is the tower out of scale? How tall is a wall? How tall

is a ceiling?) and how to operate within relative scales (based on the heights and lengths of the individual pieces) to create cohesive density and phenomenology in order to maximize use on the site.

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The Institute of Biomechanical MultimediaAn College for Scientific and Artistic Collaboration

The Institute of Biomechanical multimedia is a project in South Beach, Miami that seeks to address a vertical condition within a limited context: an alleyway near the beach. The aim of the project was to have hanging “lanterns” change the tunnel into a diverse spatial construct and allow for unique interaction between artists, scientists, and the Miami passerby in a small area.

These first projects are studying placement of the “lanterns” and figuring out movement , scale, and the difficult lighting situation.

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As the model took--- on a more organic canopy, the project responds to the program by becoming an experiment within itself: the two arms, the Artistic Exploration Studio and the Engineering Studio (upper left of elevation), reach out towards the beach, but both connect back at the core, the Collaborative Gallery Space (middle of elevation).

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Ground Floor

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Level 2Collaborative Gallery Connection to Engineering Studio

Level 3Collaborative Gallery Connection to Artistic Exploration Studio

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Extension of the FortAn International Cultural Experience

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Extension of the fort is a project in st. Augustine, Florida that is situated on the surrounding site of Fort Matanzas. The program called for a construction of the surrounding topography and a visitor center that would be an extension of Fort Matanzas. Historically, the fort was barely used and fell into ruin for much of its life until so recently, so a theme of the project became a preservation of ruin rather than an interaction with a relic.

Within that theme arose a new reality about how the fort interacts with its topography. In this new reality, the earth has become pierced by massive walls that march off into the distance (much like Mies Van der Rohe’s walls).

These walls are all the same size, but their relative size to people is judged by how far one side is pushed into the earth.

These walls, made of coquina (the same building material as the fort), stretch across the globe in remote locations to create a signficant scale change and a direct line back to fort matanzas. In this way, the path of the fort affects the world.

The walls closest to the Fort, which are short enough to construct on, become building materials for the Extension of the Fort.

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These diagrams all address possible wall placements and interactions with the fort. The larger diagram, which pierces the fort’s front, became the significant basis for the final model.

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Level 1

Level 2

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On the LineUnderstanding Vertical Space and Urbanity

On the line is a project in Chelsea, Manhattan that is an extension of the morgan library along Highline Park. The project initiated with sketched sectional studies that addressed the potential for structure, floor diversity, and Highline interaction. Because the highline is a huge advantage for the project’s views, the design began with an angled front, which faces towards the park, and a cantilevered midsection to maximize view ability.

As an extension of a library, the project needed to have light control to preserve the books that were housed within. The ribbed, gill-like design was created to frame views along the south side and allow diffuse light penetration while also restricting light access to the books. Light is further dampened by the concrete mass in the upper north end of the model.

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This project called for reevaluation of my material palette. I began to think about steel, iron, and concrete and how they would divide my project into systems: the Mass (concrete, dark chipboard), the structure (iron, grey linear elements) and the Skin (steel, aluminum plates and colored linear elements; lightweight concrete, light chipboard).

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One of the problems that arose during the design process was how to create a path that transitions from space to space without resorting to a single, winding staircase. To resolve this, the stairs and ramps are situated near structure , and at primary movement areas, to give diverse spatial experiences and views while also separating public zones from private zones.

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