R A C H E L R G R E S H A Mselected works rgresham@vt.edu p: 540.798.4036

Poole and Poole Architecture - Graphic Work

Thesis

Design a Farmers Market - Built Structure

Design a Farmers Market - Conceptual Study

R A C H E L R G R E S H A M

Full Time Architectural InternAugust 2013 - Present

Fall 2012 - Spring 2013

Spring 2011

Fall 2010

s e l e c t e d w o r k s f o rC r a b t r e e , R o h r b a u g h a n d A s s o c i a t e s

D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 4

P O O L E & P O O L E A R C H I T E C T U R EFull Time Architectural Intern - Graphic Samples

20th and Franklin

©Poole & Poole Architecture 2014

Sketches by C. Jos Biviano

Project concept photo montage with sketch overlay. Illustrated for Zoning Submittal.

Artisan on 18th

©Poole & Poole Architecture 2014

Process and graphics developed by Rachel Gresham | Sketched elements by C. Jos Biviano

Graphic site produced for marketing brochures and as a convenient, permanent wall fixture in the leasing office.

T H E S I SAn Activated Block for Salem, VA

Thesis Statement: Downtowns and public spaces are the center of a community and their success can be measured by their ability to maintain a population. Many elements determine the ability of a space to attract inhabitants including seating, venues, retail variety, contintuity of a block, entrances, exits, shading, green space, and parking. More importantly, the arrangement of these elements creates a certain flow of foot traffic and variety of conditions open to the interpretation of the visitor. The pedestrian’s perception is dependent on the spatial flow that the elements incur and can determine a downtown’s success or doom it to under utilization.

The site is located in Salem, Virginia at the intersection of Main Street and Thompson Memorial Boulevard, an artery connection from Interstate 81 to the heart of downtown Salem. It is a main entrance to town for residents and visitors. Adjacent to the site is Longwood Park and opposite is Roanoke County Jail. One block further is historic downtown Salem. This site was chosen for its potential to knit together downtown and the public park as well as activate it as a main entrance to town. The project attempts to act as a hybrid of park and urban use.

JAIL

LONGWOODPARK

HISTORICDOWNTOWN

SITE

MAIN STREET

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OM

PS

ON

ME

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RIA

LAlthough the thesis focuses on the elements studied above, the site and location are crucial to the execution.

This thesis seeks to create an architecture with a flexibility of uses that explores the dynamics, depth and vertical dimensions of pedestrian traffic flow in relation to these spatial elements. This architecture specifically challenges the physical entrance to a town and block as well as pedestrian flow through plan and section.

Pedestrian Gathering SpacesWinter/Summer

T H E S I SResearch and Analysis

The following images are a sample of several maps used for this thesis.

Each map represents approximately .8 miles.

Charlottesville, Virginia was used as an example of a successful public downtown in order to shed light on the successes and failures of downtown Salem, Virginia. The first two maps compare the location of gathering spaces and pedestrian entrances (intentional or unintentional) in each location. The size of the square or circle reflects the magnitude of population in a relative scale. Orange represents summer and blue represents winter. The last map is used to compare the uses of habitable spaces in each area in order to better understand how the use of buildings effects pedestrian flow.

In order to draw conclusions about the successful design of public spaces, these maps must be analyzed together and in junction with other maps of public space elements.

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a

Pedestrian EntrancesWinter/Summer Restaurants/

Business/Civic Buildings

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Vir

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, Vir

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T H E S I SDesign

The resulting architecture is achieved by lifting, pushing and pulling the ground plane to reveal a single, continuous plane of inhabitable spaces that vary in size and function in order to facilitate pedestrian flow.

A

A

B

B

A-A

B-B

Level 0

Longwood Park

Main Street

Thom

pson

Mem

oria

l Bou

leva

rd

Northwest Volume

South Volume

East Volume

aa

a

T H E S I SDesign

Level -1

Northwest Volume

South Volume

East Volume

c

c

d

d

e

e

e

e

e

b

b

Indoor Multipurpose SpacesPotential Uses

a. Gathering AreasArt displays, meetings, assemblies, receptions,

workshops, cocktail parties

b. Support SpaceKitchen, private meetings, holding area

c. Parking Garage

d. Gathering AreasArt exhibitions, meetings, receptions, assemblies, workshops, cocktail parties

e. RampsImpromptu gathering spacegallery space, cocktail hour,seating,

D E S I G N A F A R M E R S M A R K E T - B u i l t S t r u c t u r eCOVINGTON, VIRGINIA design/buildLAB

CHARGE:

In three groups (ground plane, roof and occupied space), design and build a farmers market and park for the town of Covington, Virginia. Repurpose materials acquired during your deconstruction of a warehouse in Clifton Forge, Virginia. Consider environmental building systems and low maintenance materials.

RESPONSE:

The repetition of linear timber to create a unified, folded pavilion structure prefabricated in fifteen 10’x30’ modules.

Images: Jeff Goldberg

D E S I G N A F A R M E R S M A R K E T - C o n c e p t u a l S t u d yCOVINGTON, VIRGINIA

CHARGE:

Establish an architectural idea for the design of a farmers market.

RESPONSE:

A sinuous, organic space achieved through the repetition and mirroring of rectilinear modules.

NORTHWEST ELEVATION

NORTHEAST ELEVATION