Alex Robertsarchitecture l design portfolio

“We see architecture as an act of profound optimism. It is what we have to give and it is what we leave behind.”

-Tod Williams, Billie Tsien Architects

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Cut/FoldFabric Pattern Intervention

Artist LivingPoet and Dancer Residence

RitualMission Hill Landscaping

CubedBoxed Formative Space

DisconnectWIT Annex Connector

PersonalAncillary Projects

Beacon Hill Youth HostelFinding Light

Boston Harbor AssociationForce

P R O J E C T S

1111010101010111CUT/FOLD - Fabric Pattern Intervention

1st Year Studio - Professor David PearsonType: ExploratoryJanuary 2013

In the first stages of our freshman year we learned how to interpret single actions and formulate systems to derive intriguing forms for architectural investigations. From there we were given fabric cutting patterns and assigned to communicate actions through those line typologies.

Initial investigations led to forms of wonder and imagination by mere instructions of: cut, fold, score, curl, and fray. Iterations of parametric architecture started to take on levels that weren't even known to exist. We were deriving shapes and patterns from a single cut, which drove to countless possibilities in the design process.

My initial concept drove from the means of finned pieces withing smaller sections of the page, connecting over a set of two major folded axes. These finned moments often became an exploration into the deliniation of both prospect and refuge spaces.

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FFOORRMMMMMMMI Free Form I A more formative space driven from the central dividing lines, created by assigning the fold directive on the major axes of the page.

I Axial Cuts I Space definition from smaller piecessectioned off from the base lines, creatingnew places and side spaces.

I Emphasized Space I Moving into architectural concepts, theproject turned into an intertwined art-form of private and public plays. Usingshadows as the driving force.

I Expressive Motion I The final iterations became a force ofdriving motion. The pattern came aliveas a new character full of life and constantmovement in all chaotic dimensions. Different from every angle.

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Artist Living - Poet and Dancer Residence

1st Year Studio - Professor David PearsonType: ExploratoryMarch 2013

Now that our minds have been introduced to the tools that are necessary to create beautiful representations of art, we turned our focus into another exploration. In the form of a more architectural direction.

After weeks of studying, surveying, and countless picture taking. We modeled and formed basic shapes that could house two separate people at the same time. We did such configuring without knowing who those people were.

Finally the initial shock was dropped on the class that these inhabitants would be a dancer that would like to be seen by all people in the area and a poet that was handicapped with a wheelchair, who preferred to not be seen.

PoetDancer

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Digital Diagramming // Model Transitioning

Our goal was to take an idea and model in phases with small transitioning ideas into a project that can be manipulated into handling the needs for both inhabi-tants.

My intervention resulted in providing both artists with ample space to create while keeping the poet from being seen. The inhabitable wall in-between the two adjacent sides allowed for multiple ways of contact without a visual feature.

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Ritual - Mission Hill Landscaping

2nd Year Studio - Professor Andrew MarcusType: InstitutionalOctober 2013

Sophomore year we dove straight into the intense and teasing world of landscape architecture. Our site: a beaten down hill between a Roxbury brewery and residential housing up the road from Wentworth campus. The goal: revamp the area into a scene of high traffic and desire. In other words, we needed to take the spot and make into a more pleasurable place to aggregate towards.

We each took a simple ritual that we performed in our daily lives and translated that into a narrative for the central focus of our landscape intervention.

Using breakfast as said ritual,the idea was focalized on a single moment in the morning bringing together a group of unorganized people and setting them off on a single desired path for the rest of their day.

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Ritualistic ConceptTaking the idea of converging paths andallowing sections of revealed pathwaysand eventually leading from dark to light

Depth of FieldUsing the given landscape we were chal-lenged to mold and shape our forms to coincide with the light patterns

Imperative DirectionThe idea of the trickling pathways downthe hill gave headway to the cross-crossturning and maze-like conditions

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Housings + ConvolutedPathways leading to mainmeeting place ending withclear egress

Full Plan + Model Iteration

Bringing life and energy through an intervention that allows the inhabitant to get metaphorically and literally lost in the site, bringing more than just one act of interaction.

Drawing an interest in the site will bring more foot traffic and avoid the negativeassociations that previously were associated with it.

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Cubed - Boxed Formative Space

2nd Year Studio - Professor Michael MacPhailType: ExploratoryJune 2013

In essence, this project we completed on the idea of the lack of knowledge. We were given a list of sized boxes and were guided in creating dynamic forms using the predetermined seven boxes. Peeling back walls and layers, and adding thicknesses and purpose we began to see the formative construction of our grand idea. Once the concepts were initially pitched, we were then pushed farther as to imagine the same idea but located in the squished and narrow spacings of Boston life.

The focus was driven from the idea of a conch shell, spiral action centered around a “watch tower”, this original state then turned into the notion of subtractive and additive space while climbing the intervention in the vertical direction.

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Form Analysis

Subtractive Identity

The spiral form did not suit well with the narrow site reflection, meaning the concept took on the subtractive formulation

Directional MovementWith new meaning, the ascension of the project took on a similar idea of movement. Rather in one direction up a path, two at once

Subdued VolumeAt the bone, the strict shaping of this project dries out the concept of a flowing motion. But the interior represents the soft circulation

Driving through iteration after iteration, we formed small movements into monumental decision making. With each new model, discoveries were made. Openings and sources for light passageways and chances for interaction within potential programmatic rooms. Negative space became a proposal for new changes and relations

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Finding Light - Beacon Hill Youth Hostel2nd Year Studio - Professor Michael MacPhailType: InstitutionalLocation: 66 Charles Street, Boston MA

After spending the majority of our semester, searching for strength in our ideas. We were brought out into the booming area of Beacon Hill, and from there our professors told us to run wild. I immediately fell in attraction with the broad range of apertures in the area. Literally thousands of sunken in doors, protruding windows, patterns of repetition, and most importantly the beauty.

With this exploration, a new language was formed directly from the site, the program, and the unspoken definition of an open-ing. I used the immense circulation and light as my modeling moments, and created a maze of turning points on the wrapping facade. Each programmatic element became itʼs own distinction.

Floor Plans & North Facade Perspective

Language DevelopmentSite

Taking information from the immensecollection of photos was a challenge,but was focused strictly on variation

Depth

Moving in closer,each individual notionbecame an exploration in itself. Howtall? How close? What era?

Framing

With the program presented the focuscame from what each element needed

The direction of light & travel moldedthe necessities of each space

Wrapping

Each face of the elevation became acritical piece of canvas where the pushand pull language took to new life. Ittouched upon the developments whilebringing more dramatics to the form

Extension

While a wrapping facade was bringing about new life, the idea that the moldneeded accent in sight. Program wasliterally forced in and out into the street helping the project see new light

West Elevation

East Elevation

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Sectional Studies

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Force - Boston Harbor Association Headquarters3nd Year Studio - Professor Meliti DikeosType: InstitutionalLocation: 16th Street, Charleston, MASeptember 2014

Our first opportunity to perform in a working timeline and also with formation of a critical site local issue, the goal of rebuild-ing the Boston Harbor Association headquarters was presented. Paramount importance was driven towards protecting the site from the currently rising tides of the ever-changing Boston Harbor. Due to difficult winters and sporadic springs/summers the tides and rising waters have pulled mass efforts into redirecting the path of the Harborwalk into a more experiential opportuni-ty.

The piece of site directed to us was a massively sized possibility for exploration. This large size drove me to make this interven-tion based on scale and experience. I derived the site from purely fantasized perceptions. The surroundings seemed to go on for miles in length and height. This extraordinary sense translated directly into abstract form and geometric beings.

Program and structure became the clay and modeled such perception into a vast reality. While the site began to take form the large scale structure of our interventions seemed to take on new life and vision.

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SITE PLANEntering road - 3

Boston Harbor - 2Physical Site - 1

Unchanged Harborwalk - 6Spaulding Rehab Center - 5

Tobin Bridge travel - 4 yg

Formative Conceptual Interpretation

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Lobby + Level 1 Level 2 Level 31 - Lobby2 - Theater3 - Library (first floor)

4 - Cafe5 - Library (second floor)6 - Four separate classrooms

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7 - Community specific spaces8 - 15 separate offices9 - Outdoor space

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Conceptual Being - the dependency on imagination drove this project from initial stages of wonderto a more future perception of reality. The idea that one can look around and discover a new sense of self, is an idea of conceptual architecture

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Final Effort (Sectional)

Mid-Design (Massing)

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Programmatic Distinctions

Office space

Library space

Demonstrationspace

Classroom space

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Disconnect - WIT Campus Connector

3nd Year Studio - Professor Marilyn MoedingerType: InstitutionalLocation: Boston, MAJanuary 2015

From freshman year we weʼre instructed to begin projects fresh and unconnected from other beings. Spring semester was the first experience becoming an additive architecture student. Our challenge was to connect the north and south wings of a current campus building, both of which house the majority of the design majors. This process allowed us to have the utmost deep connection to the project. We could mold the program to our needs and desires.

This project also included a general revamp to the entirety of the area, which housed residential areas across the street from the site. Bringing new life and generating a sense of community was key to a successful intervention. I began to compile all forms of site information and from there I gathered a list of pieces that seemed to lack a metaphorical connec-tion. I derived my concept from these various levels of disconnect, both physical and not.

The main idea came from the initial disconnect of the two spaces, and the

disconnect between single floors and majors

One bar being as the direct connection and the

other representing the lack of connection to the

original state

The separation of distinct floor spaces involved a difficult task of connect-ing all floor heights into

one flowing project

Adding program and spiraling staircase

brought forth a new type of open space allowing a connection of all elements

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Exterior Bar Section

Light WellThe light well opensand connects the entirespace and filters downeach floor with ease

Variety of HierarchyThe differentiating between separate majors forces the abrupt connections to havehigh importance for access

Geometric BasicsEssential moments in theproject are based off ofmaximized program and most direct possibilities

Structural Strategies

Sectional + HVAC Models

Steel StructureThe formative ideas aroundthis intervention drew uponthe existing conditions and idea to revamp the surroun-dings. Considering the areawas of an older aesthetic the idea was to revolutionize the system entirely. Avoid-ing the concept of a cold andbare idea the steel structureprovided support while let-ting the atrium remain in itsfullest potential

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Diagrammatic Analysis

Noise HVAC via central tree Sun & Solar Gain

Atrium - Exhibition Style

Basement/Service Level

Level 3 + 4

Level 5 + 6

Floor Plans

Concept ModelProof of concept representing the division of allspace types including their levels of noise. Eachconnect with one another via an open space thatbuffers all sound (atrium space)

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Personal - Extra Projects

Time Span: 2014-2015Type: Extracurricular

One of the best aspects of the architectural phenomenon is the crucial fact that there is no end to it. The extension of architec-ture in our lives is the greatest thing imaginable. I have been able to take the things I have learned and not only applied them in the non-architectural classes but I have also managed to develop a love for the design world in the industrial sense. I procured an internship at danger!awesome, a fabrication shop in Cambridge, and learned an incredible amount of knowledge that I have taken into my studies.

During the time at this internship, I developed a talent for taking a client project and taking it from paper to a physical item that they could fall in love with. Whether it was laser cut and put together , 3D printed, or CNC milled. No day in the shop was exactly the same and that was the best part, I could go from designing a custom sign for a company to 3D modeling pieces for a prosthetic arm.

Outside of the internship I enjoyed many personal projects from learning the vast and vibrant world of the street art phenome-non. Taking part in this world really brought a sense of enjoyment to myself in form of self-expression through color and style. Aside from that, I also took time in between semesters to take old pieces of seeming “trash” and making them into functional lamps. From spray paint cans, an old car jack, and a nearly broken glass bottle, there was no end to the possibilities.

33 34Unlimited Possibilities: Working in an abstract form for an art installation, a trophy design for our teamʼs first alumni tournament, and a lamp from a distressed spray paint can found in the architecture studios

Internship at Danger!Awesome

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CorporateWorks:Working with newand exciting compa-nies to extend theirbrands and visionswith the surroundingareas. We help with designing and bring-ing their ideas from mental to physical creations with a var--iety of materials

Variety Design:This aspect of danger!awesome brings a new level of creativity throughthe doors. Each designerhelps the client, with the specific needs helping tocreate their logos, or theperfect aesthetic for the need.

Personal Work: Over the summer danger!awesome created a new brand for themselves, which included creating a new “mascot” which I helped design, paint, and give identity to. With the new brand, came the need to have a product linethat they could mass produce. The majority of my summer included creating several products for this line

Alex Roberts

A COMPENDIUM OF WORKFROM 2012-2016

37 38aboutI was born and raised in Mansfield, Massa-chusetts. With my mind set and ambitions ready I set my sights on the city of Boston for continuted education.

I believe architecture to be a form of singular expression, in the idea that it draws focus from the artist and turns into a revelation of self-being and awareness. Architecture enhances our everyday lives, and Iʼm glad to be a part of the spectacle.

education

Bachelor of Science in Architecture - Wentworth Institute of Technology

Graduation - May 2016