Process Work
This page gives process work from a select few projects.
Knoxville, TN // 2023
Henson Valley was designed with the history and possibility of the site mind, taking into equal consideration what previously existed and what could exist without demolishing the buildings.
Initial research before picking sites on campus started on Cumberland Avenue, known as “the Strip”, and investigating the current housing situation there. The Strip is a popular area for upperclassman students to live as it is within walking distance to campus, has many restaurants and many apartment buildings. Next, research into the housing situation on the University campus began. An inventory of all the different dorm types and counts across campus as well as there location was created.
Once sites were picked across the studio (6 groups, 6 sites) the Henson Valley team began with their initial research into what currently existed on the site. The buildings were modeled according to information received in floor plans in comparison with images we gathered.
The group then began deciding on potential programs and features we wanted to highlight and have within the project. Our key objective was preserving existing connections and creating new connections, along with attracting people to the site.
Knoxville, TN // 2022
Pryor Brown Towers began from initial studies into pre-fabrication, modular design and 3D printed kid of parts. The modular design studies was conducted by observing, modeling and deconstructing “House on Sunset Ridge” by Resolution: 4 Architecture. Next, a kit of parts was modeled piece-by-piece in Rhino6 and 3D printed to be able to physically assembled the parts.
Pryor Brown Towers began with investigation into abandoned or under-used sites across Knoxville, TN. The site within downtown on Gay St where the Historical Pryor Brown Garage is located was chosen. Environmental analysis was conducted using a grasshopper script to understand the wind, radiation and water conditions on the site.
From the start, a high-rise building was chosen as a general form. In Rhino, multiple different forms were experimented with before deciding on the final form. Once the form was chosen, program was played with and the building form was brought into Revit for further modeling.
Knoxville, TN // 2022
Initial studies and observations were conducted driving along US-11 from Zoo Knoxville out to Turkey Creek in Knoxville, TN. Crime rates in different areas along the road, car traffic, pedestrian traffic, number of crosswalks and stop lights, and grocery stores were recorded along the route.
Once a site was picked near this US-11 driving route, the history of the site and neighborhood was conducted. The history of the site research started with the start of urban renewal beginning in 1959. Before 1959, the site was filled with neighborhoods and local businesses. Now, the site is rather empty, hosting multiple parking garages, an abandoned hotel and the Knoxville auditorium and colliseum.
The local area around the site was observed and studied to find the issues and missing pieces that the community needed. Residential housing prices in the area are high, there are little grocery stores and overall lots of unused space that could be provide useful accommodations to the community. From this , a design agenda was developed based around the community needs and potential program to solve the current issues of the area.
The form of the building was constructed based off a series of sketches and mapping exercises. First, observation into the existing buildings was taken. The parking garages on the site would remain, however, the Knoxville civic center and police station would be torn down and re-imagined. The layers of the site were formed from a density sketch aligning with the history of the density within the site over time. A 3x4 grid on the highest level co-existing with the pre-urban renewal
density, the next level excludes the middle two pieces resembling the density that existed during urban renewal, and the bottom melds the below squares together resembling today’s density. The pathways were created using a historical map of where previous roadways existed on the site before urban renewal. From all these layers, the form was made.
New York City, NY // 2021
Hotel Louis was derived from studies into pre-fabrication and different storage methods. The storage methods was focused down to storage of alcohol and cigars. These two characteristics would become the main focus and attractor of the lobby of the hotel.
The name of the hotel was derived from a previous restaurant named Tavern Louis
New York City, NY // 2021
The louis suite was designed with different levels of socialization, experience, transparency and features in mind. Early studies were made looking at the levels key characteristics revolving around concept that the suite was to have. The highest characteristics would be experience, modernization and socialization. Within the suite there is a variety of different levels in transparency between inside and outside as well as within different spaces of the suite that allow for different socialization levels while also keeping privacy in necessary areas. Within the suite are many different modern and surprise features to allow the space to be adaptable based on its guest.