Victoria Bell Portfolio

7/28/2019 Victoria Bell Portfolio

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por t fo l io + works


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Fall 2011Critic: Elena Perez

mars: an architecture of terraformation

kinetiCity

Mars inhabitation? An archi-

tecture informed by studies

and observations of an im-

age of the martian surface.

Project development driven

by site context.

How can a terrain be altered

to endure the brunt of recur-

rent cascading collisions

while maintaining safe,

inhabitable spaces?

Structural forms manifested

themselves in a series of

investigative hand drawings

produced from a set of over-

laying techniques. A map of

localized densities conveys

differentiation and correla-

tion to ranges in severities

of impact.

Physical modeling allowed

for further articulation of the

evolution of this proposed

architecture for mars.

left: aerial image of siteright [top + bottom]: digital copies of original hand


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Fall 2011Critic: Elena Perez

mars: an architecture of terraformation

kinetiCity

Protective rods scattered

around the surface, aggre-

gate at varying densities

to shelter their respective

structures. The field of rods

is triggered by hits from

massive galactic debris.

Energy from these soaring

objects is transmitted into

the rods, travelling through

the exoskeleton of each

suspended form.

Remaining energy is redis-

tributed through a network

connecting all of the rods,

making up the raised, artifi-

cial landscape. This energy

contributes to the flexibility

and elasticity of each form

allowing them to withstand

constant lunging forces of

impact.

left: Field/Enery flow diagram

top right: sectionbottom right: plan


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Spring 2012Critic: Anthony Titus

Inspired by Felix Guattari's "The Three Ecologies"

insinuating connectivity

Given the premise of Felix Guattari's three ecologies [the environmental, mental and social] while studying the

interlocking and sliding mechanisms inherent to japanese joinery, a proposal for hybrid systems of joints devel-

oped. These connections and parts expand into a form with a localized logic that reveals itself on a much larger

scale - first in proposed designs for structural members (in this case, the column). The column components were

formed from the characteristics of the hybrid joints, made to emphasize the relationship between solid and void.

The hybrid joint incorporates both the diagonal and orthogonal relationships established in the early studies.

top: hand drawing, ink on mylarright: study models [Japanese joints]


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Spring 2012Critic: Anthony Titus

Inspired by Felix Guattari's "The Three Ecologies"

insinuating connectivity

The logic of the joint within

the structural member(s)

were incorporated into

a pavilion design, which

among a community of

surrounding pavilions [peer

projects] sought to unify the

RPI campus and downtown

Troy.

The pavilion space is uni-

fied by the three combined

structures. The common

path following through and

around the seemingly au-

tonomous pieces becomes

one continuous passage-

way defined by the struc-

tural elements and partially

enclosed by a group of

webbed planes.

The insinuation of space

and the directionality of the

pieces coordinate with the

geomoetry of the ground

and the surrounding envi-

ronment as a guide to the

inhabitants. The unification

of the spaces promotes

social interaction within the

entire community.

top left: front view [digital drawing]

top right: top view [digital drawing]bottom: side view [digital drawing]


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Fall 2012Critic: Gustavo Crembil

An extension to an exist-

ing building - the MiSci

Museum in Schenectady,

New York. Beginning with

studies of the camera ob-

scura, camera boxes were

designed to hone in on

aspects of light behavior.

Capturing the bending

moments and diffractive

behavior of light by creat-

ing physical, interruptive

moments within and a part

of the camera obscura

allowed for a common ele-

ment to be reflected in the

design for the new mu-

seum - one that featured

rotation and filtering of

light through the space via

the "interstices".

Simultaneous studies of

tessellation geometry influ-

enced the development of

generative diagrams. The

form twists, distorts and

grows as it interacts with

the site and the existing

building.

extension/renovation proposal

MiSci Museum

top left: tessellation + field + light studies diagram hybrid

bottom left: field + shadow diagramright: light study images


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Fall 2012Critic: Gustavo Crembil

extension/renovation proposal

MiSci Museum

PROGRAM:

MAINVESTIBULE

EXHIBITIONSPACE

CAFE(upper level and groundoor)

PLANETARIUM(upper level)

OUTDOOR SPACE

EDUCATION(bottom level)

TECHNICAL/STORAGE(top level)

I I ELL

FE GU E I L

. .

top left: plan [classroom level]

top right: study render section of tessellation interiorbottom: proposed program diagram


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Spring 2013Critic: Andrew Saunders

Tietgen Dormitory -Lundgaard & Tranberg ArkitekterCopenhagen, Denmark

Case Study:

Lundgaard and Tranberg,

a leading architecture firm

based in Denmark, designed

the Tietgen Dormitory in 2006

for students at the University

of Copenhagen. The main in-

spiration for the project [which

has a circular form with a cen-

tral courtyard] was the desire

to simultaneously satisfy the

needs of the individual and

the overall community.

The circular form of the build-

ing is a reaction to the orthog-

onal planning of the surround-

ing neighborhood. The circle

emphasizes the importance of

equality through prioritizing a

main public, communal space

for gathering.

The public and private program is divided into two rings - the outer ring contains the private program and

the inner ring the public program. The interior courtyard is overlooked by housing groups with overhang-

ing, cantilevered common spaces. Porosity and transparency are major considerations in the evaluation

of the design; evidenced by the variations in the depths of the cantilevers and the circulation of people,

air, space and light inside, outside and through the building.

N

PLAN - GROUND LEVEL 1/32" = 1'-0" PLAN - LEVEL 04 1/32" = 1'-0"

LONGITUDINAL SECTION 1/24 " = 1"-0'

COURTYARD


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Campus Housing -Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteCollaboration with Angela Zhang

porous landscape

The design proposal for campus housing at

RPI was influenced by studies of precedent

housing projects and research pertaining to

many aspects of college life. The main goal

was to activate and enliven the public spaces

for social interaction and networking while

maintaining adequate, quiet spaces for private

rooms and contemplation.

With a steep, sloped site adjacent to EMPAC,

the proposed design situated at the corner of

the campus operates as an urban device, as it

establishes a relationship between the build-

ing and the landscape, furthermore, grafting

the student residents into campus activity and

the town of Troy.

The proposed form and scheme (which in-

corporates the typical bar housing type on

the ends of the weaving network of bridging

public spaces) becomes an extension of the

campus landscape. Infuenced by prior case

studies, transparency and porosity* become

evident in our proposal as the more private,

normative ends break into the public path-

ways. Similar to the application of the cantile-

ver system of the Tietgen Dormitory's court-

yard typology, the bridging system works to

fight homogeneity, breaking down the mass-

ing in ways that activate a diverse range of

interior and exterior spaces, preventing them

from slipping into predictability.

Cluster (100m*40m)

Cluster(100m*40m)

Gymnasium(28m*15m)

Pool(25m*21m)

Dining Hall(25m*25m)

PublicRestrooms(2*5m*4m)

Lobby(20m*15m)

CommercialSpaces(5*5m*5m)

Cluster(100m*40m)

PublicLiving Room(10m*4.5m)

PublicLiving Room(10m*4.5m)

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Architecture Engineering Arts Management Biology

One HourClass

Two Hours Class

Three Hours Class

FourHours Class

*similar themes extrapolated from Sejima's design of the KitagataApartments in Gifuthis page: spatial organization diagram

next page: model images


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porous landscapeCampus Housing -Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteCollaboration with Angela Zhang

t i - 1 / 1 1

Section E-E 1/16=1

D

C

B

A

D

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B

A

t i - 1 / 1 1

right: plans

top left: sectionsbottom left: facade system diagram/drawings


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Spring 2012Writing

to "Parametric Order, A 21st Century Architectural Order"A lecture given by Patrik Schumacher

RESPONSE

Architect Patrik Schumacher presented his ideas about the ways he thinks contemporary architecture and design should be approached in a lec-

ture titled "Parametric Order, A 21st century architectural order." His lecture seemed to criticize current approaches to architecture that emulate

or conform to approaches of the past. Instead, Schumacher made the proposition of parametricism as a new avant-garde style that welcomes

experimentation and offers an array of possibilities (intellectually and logically, as well as physically). Patrik goes on to outline the structure

of this new architectural order, which requires an "innovative ordering and framing of communicative interaction," with the following diagram:

Basically this diagram seems to summarize Schumacher's idea that architecture's societal function is to innovatively order and frame communi -

cative interaction. My interpretation of Patrik's outline of architectural order involves the suggestion that there should be some kind of dialogue

between the building/form/space and whomever or whatever is experiencing it. This can be indicated through the organization and articulation.

The phenomenology and semiology are the means of this articulation.

Then Schumacher presented what he believes to be the three functions of architectural systems: navigation, orientation and immersion. In

relation to this, he discussed the axiom that states that "the fundamental, minimal unit of architectural significance is the TERRITORY." This

territory also acts as an architectural sign - it invites you into communication. This territory could also be the area where something takes place

whether it is an activity, event, social interaction, etc. It calls for acceptanc e or rejection. Again, this offers the idea that architecture should

evoke a response from those or that which is immersed in it.

One specific example of this was the proposal for a design of a university campus that featured ribbing and a multitude of layers. This generated

a repertoire of shell forms in which the layering incorporated meaning. They were able to produce this layered meaning as a result of occupation

simulation (a semiotic system).

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AddendumPrior Work

art[works]

1 Self Portrait

2 Leaves pressed under foil. Paint on foil.3 Watercolor + Ink.

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3 4

Documents

Victoria Bell Portfolio