issuu.com/jwo�

JOHN WOFFORD

+1 803.414.8168

john@johnwo�ord.net

John Wo�ord

Selected Works

///John Wofford///john@johnwofford.netissuu.net/jwoff803.414.8168

///Architecture///ACADEMIC Montgomery: Thesis 6

Rome: Religare Institute 14

Chicago: Tower 20

Venice: Night Club 26

Montgomery: Boathouse 30

Auburn: Intermodal Station 34

Vertical Landscape 38

PROFESSIONAL Meyer Davis Studio Inc 40

///Art&Photography///2D/3D INVESTIGATIONS 44 PHOTOGRAPHY Portraits 46 South Carolina Sleeps 48 Italia 50

RESUME 52

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///ARCHITECTURE///

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Thesis: Overlook TowerMontgomery, ALFall 2010 - Spring 2011Prof. Behzad Nakhjavan

Our thesis assignment was to design a project to improve the struggling downtown area of Montgomery, Alabama. The difficulty with such an open ended assignment is finding a place to start. I investigated and worked on many different ideas to fix the city, but “fixing it” was not the right approach. I needed to look deeper and again ask myself the difficult question of:

What does Montgomery really need?

After intense studies and research I decided to create a much needed pedestrian connection to the River Walk for the Neighborhood of Cottage Hill. I chose Overlook Park for my site because it’s the only area in Montgomery where you can tie together the downtown, neighborhood, and River Walk. The drastic slope of the site led to the creation of a public elevator. This evolved to become a tower, observation deck, and a monument in the landscape. It’s more than just utility- it’s an icon for Montgomery.

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Maxwell Air Force Base

Chennault Circle

St. Andrews Catholic

Rosa Parks Museum

Biscuits Stadium

I-85- Atlanta

I-65-

Birm

ingh

am

Alabama State Capitol

Riverwalk Amphitheater

Alabama River

Trainyard

Union Station

View

upon entering

The need for a pedestrian friendly neighborhood access to the riverwalk drove my final thesis decision. Montgomery’s existing access points are downtown and are built for cars. The closest access point to the neighborhood is part of a parking deck. I explored my options and decided that the unused land known as “Overlook Park” would be an ideal site for several reasons. Overlook Park’s proximity to residential areas, downtown, and the proposed river walk make it a unique spot. You cannot tie all three together anywhere else.

The city’s connections determined my site.

200 ft

Existing Connection

Cottage Hill

Overlook Park

Train Tracks

Proposed Connection

Planned River Walk

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Existing Pedestrian Route

Clay St

Herron St

Maxwell Blvd

Han

rick

St

Level 0pedestrian entry

Level 0

Level 1

Level -1

The height of the tower was a result of the steep topography along the riverfront. The level change is 140’. The tower’s observation area is just high enough to see over the houses of the cottage hill neighborhood- giving visitors unobstructed views of the city and surrounding area. The tower has 3 main levels: the entry courtyard from the park along the riverwalk, the pedestrian bridge, and the meditation space/ observation deck. The elevator stops at each level and provides ADA accessibility for the tower’s main features.

Level 0pedestrian entry

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prismacolor

Kelly Wilson Workshop

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1_Courtyard Entry2_Slanted Stairs3_Pedestrian Bridge Entry4_Cable Stairs5_Meditation Space6_Observation Space

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Religare InstituteRome, ItalySpring 2010Prof. Scott Finn

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The Religare Institute is a modern take on the Roman Baths. Situated in downtown Rome near the Coliseum- the project was sited on an existing park. Instead of taking away a beloved piece of the community, I decided to instead lift up the park and build under it. Placing the spa underground allows for noise and light regulation. It creates an intimate grotto feel and transports the guests away from hectic city life to renew themselves.

we felt concern about building on a park so...

we lifted up the lawn... and manipulated the land-scape to provide access

Via

Cla

udia

Piaz

za C

elim

onta

na

entrance elevation from Via Claudia

section from Piazza Celimontana

The spa is a process that begins at the cleansing pool. From there you can either walk or swim by the different specialized spa rooms.

The different spas drain into the long mixing pool that runs the length of the grotto. This provides a unique way of interacting

and previewing the nearby rooms.

Each spa drains into the mixing pool, providing the guest with a glimpse of what lies within. For example, upon experiencing a cold spot guests can exit the pool with nearby stairs and enter the frigidarium. Or or if the smell of eucalyptus piques the senses, spa-goers can take a relaxing stop in the aromatherapy room. Whatever their preference- they tailor their own experience at the Religare Institute. The spa terminates at the silent garden- under the ground, but open to the sky. This space holds yoga classes, spiritual guidance, and therapy.

1_lockers2_cleanse3_massage4_caldarium5_tepedarium6_frigidarium7_hydrotherapy8_salt bath9_sauna10_steam room11_aromatherapy12_silent garden

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hydrotherapy- silent garden beyondmixing pool

spa (1theater (2

amphitheater (3classrooms (4

atrium (5plaza (6

restraunt (7observation area (8

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Chicago TowerChicago, ILFall 2009Prof Tarik Örgen

The Chicago Tower was a mixed use project in downtown across from Mariano Park. The program required a theater, commercial space, parking, a sports complex with basketball and racquetball, and apartments. The building has a small footprint to create a public area as an extension of the park. The large cantilevered theater has an amphitheater underneath to encourage community events and to give people a place to gather. The public and private realms within the building are separated by a garden. The residents get to mingle in their own private garden on the roof of the gym. Their apartments are above and the semi-public facilities are below.

section A

section B

Floor 2

The second floor contains the theater entrance. The theater above relates to the public space below. The retail area on Rush St. expands to maximize window space and square footage.

Floor 1

The ground floor gives a space back to the public. The sunken area outside the restaurant entrance creates a gathering area that can be used as an amphitheater. The first floor store fronts were pushed back on the corner to keep them in line with the street edge.

Gym Floor

The gym level contains a basketball court and racquetball area. The weight room is stacked on top of the changing rooms. The racquetball courts have glass sides and are next to expansive windows giving them an open air feel.

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Typical Housing Floor

1 bedroom/2-3 if stacked

1 bedroom:dual level

studio

studio

The Skin

The skin protects the building, offers privacy, frames views, and controls light. It is constructed of polished steel box bands that react to the need of the building by twisting and bending. With residential units, strips of the skin rotate to block residents from looking onto their neighbor’s porch, but allow them to look outward towards the city.

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winter

The slope of the theater seating is slanted to align with the winter sun angles in Chicago. On cold days, the sun penetrates as far possible into the site. During the summer days it shades people gathered in the amphitheater.

section B

theater

gym

restaurant

sum

mer

gym level facade yoga room

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section A

livin

g

com

mer

cial

gym

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Night ClubVenice, ItalySpring 2009Prof. Paul Zorr

ZEITGEIST: “Spirit of the Times” The digital revolution has given us a new world of opportunities for design, music, and experiences. The orthogonal nature of the building is a nod to the pixel- the building block of digital imaging. The building’s form is pixelated- an abstract reference to the digital world that surrounds us. The canal facing facade is reminiscent of waves in the water or the sound waves in the club. The pixelated undulation morphs into a cornice like piece that runs along the side of the structure. It references classical Venetian style and expands the floor area of the balcony. The courtyard and the first floor are an open layout which allows people to move freely through a crowded area. The space can be opened to the outdoors when the weather permits. This saves on cooling costs and gives the club an open air feel. The roof of the glass enclosure retracts and doors slide open to aid in cross ventilation.

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INVESTIGATIONS

The project had an open ended program. I began by studying the influence of digital technology on architecture. The program progressed when I discovered the recently unveiled piezoelectric dance floor.

I wanted to explore a piece of technology and how people interface with it.

This launched my investigation into sustainable entertainment and clubbing. The building utilizes passive cooling and other low impact technologies. There are ways to reuse water and cut down on waste in a bar- a place that is largely about consuming.

Boat House & River WalkMontgomery, ALSpring 2008Prof Justin Miller

The program required a boathouse for rowing sculls along the Montgomery River Walk development. The project also needed to work in the future expansion of pedestrian walkway. I decided to bring the river walk through the building and allow the public to view the boats and activities going on inside. The wooden wall blocks harsh direct southern light and shades the building in a constantly changing array of shadows. As the visitors’ journey continues towards the river the wall grows and begins to disintegrate. This allows more light through and increases the view, pulling people forward. The wall controls views from the grassy River Walk. It vignettes the rowing sculls on the Alabama River, the River Walk, and the amphitheater. The boathouse uses the center point of the curve from the existing amphitheater to shape the building. This keeps it in context and allows for a greater area for the boats to maneuver.

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boat storage and dock

changing rooms and riverwalk

entry and parking

The wooden skin of the building was designed by hand, but in order to achieve openings in their precise location I constructed a 3D model. I carefully arranged each board to hide the structure behind it and obfuscate the window frames. I wanted openings such as doors and windows to appear as a moment of disintegration rather than a plane with clean edges. After creating a 3D model with all the correct openings I digitally unrolled the surface and laser cut it to cut opening exactly. Once I curved and bent it into shape it fit perfectly in with the rest of the physical model. The skin achieves a more uniform appearance as a single composition.

The model splits along one of the radii to form two section models.

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Intermodal StationAuburn, ALSpring 2008Prof. Justin Miller

The Auburn Intermodal Station was a project that explored the idea of bringing a light rail from Atlanta to Auburn. It would rejuvenate the railways and provide travelers with a bus stop to get to their local destination. The program included a train platform and a waiting area for the bus riders. The form of the building was inspired by the streamlined train engines of the 1930s - 1950s.

process through study models

entrance

train platform

entrances

single tile

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Vertical LandscapeSummer 2007

For this challenge we were to make a landscape from a tile. I reiterated the tile 9 times- each time with an increasing element of chaos. For my second landscape I decided that the two half panels should work together. By combining them it give the impression that the landscape is lifting up and flying away.

For my internship with Meyer Davis Studio I helped construct a digital model for the Oscar de la Renta store in Dubai. I rendered the scenes using materials from the actual store.

The entrance rendering was selected for inclusion in the September 2009 issue of Time Design and Style.

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Professional WorkNew York City, NYSummer 2009Meyer Davis Studio Inc.

Dubai Mall

///Art&Photography///

laser cut cardboard mold

End Tablepolished concretefall 2009

Hand Drawinggraphite2007, 2008

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Montgomery Façadeprismacolorfall 2010

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Portraits1_silver gelatin print, 20102_polaroid, 20113_negative scan, 20114_digital, 20105_digital, 2010

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South Carolina Sleepsdigital

Italiafigure/ground study120 film

+1 803.414.8168issuu.com/jwo�johnwo�ord.net

Education

Auburn University - Auburn, ALCollege of Architecture Design and Construction Bachelor of Architecture Degree

International Study - Rome, Italy

Hammond School - Columbia, SC Diploma Earned

Experience

Activities & Honors

Invited to exhibit thesis at “The Future is Now” and City Development Department - Montgomery, ALASAP Architecture Camp Counselor - Auburn, ALALAGASCO Design Competition, Top 10 AIAS Member, 5th Year Representative, Beaux Arts ChairSocial Fraternity: Pi Kappa Alpha, Upsilon Chapter Web Chair: redesigned website to finish capital campaignClemson Architecture Camp

Skills

AutoCAD, Revit, Rhinoceros 3D, Grasshopper, Digital Project, Sketchup, Photoshop, Lightroom, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Flash, Office, Laser Cutter, Model Making, Final Cut Pro, Ableton Live

Summer 2009

2006 - 2011

2006

2007 - 20112006 - 2008

Summer 2005

Spring 2010

Interests

digital & large format photography, cinematography, radio & event DJcreated custom portfolio site: johnwofford.net from the ground up

Fall 2009Summer 2011

Summer 2011

JOHN WOFFORD3411 Heatherwood RoadColumbia, SC 29205 USA

Meyer Davis Studio Inc. - New York City, NY Architectural Intern Experience with: upscale interior architecture, materials, furniture, designers, manufacturers, AutoCAD, site visits, and organization Pre-College Work Experience - Columbia, SC numerous part time summer jobs including Rosen Appraisal (organization, office assistance, photo documenting projects)

“Forgotten Paul Rudolph”negative scan, 2011

issuu.com/jwo�

JOHN WOFFORD

+1 803.414.8168

john@johnwo�ord.net

John Wo�ord

Selected Works