BOKLCB

OKLC

BRUNO J. BLOCK W O O D B U R Y U N I V E R S I T Y I N T E R I O R A R C H I T E C T U R E P O R T F O L I O

BOKLCB

OKLC

art studio and temporary dwelling

art studio and living space

foodforthemind culinary arts library

akand studio

sculpture garden and studioI N T E R A C T I O N

LIVING SKIN

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3

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sculpture garden and studioI N T E R A C T I O NInteraction can occur in several forms. It can be used to describe a conversation between two individuals or the relation-ship between two physical spaces or places.

The historic Angelino Heights sector of Echo Park has gone through a rapid trans-formation in the decade. The neighbor-hood’s victorian homes, which until a few years ago housed a mainly working class Hispanic population, now house young architects and artists who are constantly moving to this part of town, lured by the low rent and the neighborhood’s potential. This process of gentrification is rapidly changing the face and demographics of this once seedy district of Los Angeles.

However, despite great community efforts for integration between all members of the neighborhood, a disconnect between old residents and the newer residents persists. Public events, such as flee markets and festivals have attempted to merge these two groups, but there is still a long way to go in regards to fully integrating the neighborhood.

Interaction is a proposed art gallery and sculpture garden for a sculptor living in an adjacent 1920’s duplex. This project seeks to bring the two communities closer together in a new public space where activities aimed at integrating the two communities can potentially take place, and where interaction can occur in three different forms: visual interaction between the site and the rest of the community, social interaction between the residents of Angelino Heights, and architectural interaction between the existing space and the new program.

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EAST EDGEW

ARE RD.

EAST KENSINGTO

N RD.

BELLEVUE AVE.

preschool

victorian neighborhood

apartments

apartments

apartments

plazafire station

neighbors

neighbors

neighborsman repairing car

woman walking dog

neighbors

neighborsneighbors

neighbors

neighbors

interaction

residential area

commercial area

LOT 6 - site

ANGELINO HEIGHTS

The Angelino Heights neighborhood has gone through a process of gentrifica-tion throughout the past decade. Artists, architects, and writers have moved in and now share the neighborhood with old-time neighbors of mainly Hispanic background. The result of this demographic mix has been very positive, as it has enriched the neighborhood’s cultural diversity. The sense of community existing within the chosen site, Lot 6, a parcel of land comprised of three private properties between Edgeware and Kensington avenues, housing three apartment buildings, was made evident during a visit to the site. Several levels of interaction where documented on the site map on the right.

Interaction between neighbors, such as neighbors conversing outside their homes, were represented as white dots. Interaction between the residential area of the neighbor-hood and the commercial area along Bellvue Avenue, where a grocery store, community garden, church, and an old fire station, now a community center, are found, is also exten-sive as the larger arrows illustrate.

Lot 6 and surrounding properties

LOT 6

A design strategy was adopted in order to develop the physical design of the sculpture garden, taking the idea of interactioninto account. A panoramic photomontage was created of the entire site, aimed at represent-ing the interaction between the site and the surrounding neighborhood.This collage was inspired by the work of Spanish artist and photographer Dionisio González, and his collages of Brazilian favelas. The collage consists of sections of buildings and elements found within the surrounding site being placed on top of the site. Finally, the collage was abstracted, creating a series of overlapping entities that enclosed each foreign element on the collage, as well as existing elements on the site.

A system was adopted based on this abstract collage. Several interlocking boxes represent the idea of interaction. Each entity represents one element, and the area where these enti-ties overlap represents the interaction taking place. The direction each entities point at is controlled by the view each entity frames.

A series of terraces formed by hollow metal corten entities and connected by a series of metal ramps are placed within the site, be-tween the alley and the sculptor’s apartment and studio.The entities interlock one another,creating a pathway that connects the studio to the alley. The direction each entity faces is determined by the view it holds. Some entities face the Downtown Los Angeles skyline, others face the alley, and others face the surrounding neighborhood. The purpose of each entity is to create several spaces within spaces, to frame each sculpture, and to frame views.The concept of interaction is represented in three different levels. Visual interaction is represented with the views created with each space. Community interac-tion is representedwith what occurs within each space formed by each entity. Finally, interaction between the existing and the new is found within the existing structure found at the site, now turned into an exhitbit space, where the metal corten entities carve through the existing structure.5

visual interactionarchitectural interaction

neighborhood interaction collage

neighborhood interaction diagram

fire station

downtown skyscraper

victo

rian

neig

hbor

hood

preschoolecho park grass

alley

grocery store

belle

vue

plaz

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area

of i

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actio

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view

3 dimensional interpretation of collage

view

The new sculpture garden consists of exhibition spaces and open areas where the sculptor can perform his work and where visitors can engage in this activity.

corten steel

hardwood corten steel box detail

exhibit space

outdoor working area

outdoor gallery terrace waterfall

plan view (NTS)AL

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exist

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CORTEN STEELLocation: Structural boxes

MATERIAL PALETTE

CONCRETELocation: All floors

CEDAR STRIPSLocation: All built-in seating

visual interaction (above) community interaction (below)interaction between existing and new (above)

akand (hindi): calm, balanced

Bipolar Disorder is a mental disorder that triggers a number of symptoms that can disrupt everyday life. Some of these symptoms include dramatic mood swings, changes in behavior, severe depression, and physical violence. An individual suffering from Bipolar Disorder may find it diffcult to lead a normal life and maintain stable relationships with other individuals.

There is no cure for Bipolar Disorder. Medications are imperative to treating this illness. However, lifestyle changes are also an important part of learning to live with this disorder.

In order to alleviate some of the symp-toms of Bipolar Disorder, it is imperative to lead a busy, yet tranquil lifestyle, as doing so helps reduce stress that can trigger a bipolar flare-up. Fostering creativity and allowing the individual to release their problems through artistic expression can also help improve an individual’s self-esteem, further reducing levels of stress.

Akhand is an art studio, gallery, and temporary living space designed for young painters with bipolar disorder. This art studio and gallery caters to the needs of these individuals, seeking to alleviate their symptoms by means of art therapy and eastern methods of relax-ation, such as yoga and meditation.

akand studio

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Akand has been designed to cater to the special needs of young painters suffering from Bipolar Disorder. Private painting studios have been designed keeping the needs of these painters in mind. Versatile studios with sliding doors allow painters to control their levels of privacy according to their needs. A painter can choose to enclose himself or herself off and work in a concealed environment, or to allow others to view his or her work.

Gardens infused into the main structure increase natural light within the gallery, and, at the same time, allow the dwellers of the space to enjoy the tranquility of nature. The reflection room, located at the center of the program, is designed for the need of the dweller to be alone in a safe, concealed environment. Natural light within the space can be manipulated with rotating overhangs that can completely cut natural light when shut.

The site is the existing MorYork Gallery in High-land Park, Los Angeles. This once seedy area has seen an extensive revitalization process take place in the past few years. Several show-rooms and art galleries have openened along York Boulevard, the neighborhood’s main drag, where the MorYork Gallery is located. It makes perfect sense to open up an art studiio in this neighborhood. The existing structure is a 1920’s brick and mortar commercial structure that once housed a supermarket.

CONFUSING

BIPOLAR DISORDER

SHOCKING

PAINFUL

INTRIGUING

SENSITIVE

DISTURBING UNCON

TROLLED

UNSAFE

EMOTIONAL

The organization of the floor plan derives from a series of diagonal vectors taken from a mapping diagram, documenting a personal experi-ence. Each step taking during this outing was diagramed, and then placed over the existing structure’s plan view for form generation.

The location of the stairs corresponds to the location of the gray circle representing hierarchy in the mapping diagram.

The three-dimensional forms found within the program, such as the ceiling overhangs were derived from the four sequential diagram models that were also derived from the mapping diagram.

A Outing diagramB Views recorded during outingC Vectors derived from views

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Second Level NTS

LEGENDReception

Painting Studios

Outdoor Courtyard

Event Space

Reflection Room

Gallery

Kitchen

Storage

Meeting Rooms

Yoga/Excercise Room

Gathering Area

Kitchenette

Dwelling Unit

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Main Level NTS

Dwelling Unit

Dwelling UnitNTS

Dwelling Unit SectionNTS

GALLERY (ABOVE AND BELOW)

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materials and finishes lighting

TREE BARK

WHITE WALLS

BIRCH WOOD

STONE VENEER

FROSTED GLASS

POLISHED CONCRETE

Location: Reflection Room interior walls

Location: All built-in furniture and overhangs

Location: All new walls and ceilings

Location: Reflection room exterior walls

Location: All dwelling unit windows

Location: All dwelling unit windows

MATERIAL PALETTE

Sectional Lighting DIagram

Second Level Lighting

Main Level Lighting

Libraries in recent years, have seized to be private reading and study spaces to become large community gathering points where numerous activities take place, some not tied to reading. Food for the Mind is a proposed library designed for in-dividuals that share a passion for food and all related to the topic, including culture, water, agriculture, and social sciences.

The library, located in the Westside Pavilion Shopping Center in West Los Angeles, is practically surrounded by cultural diversity, making it an ideal site for the library, as it facilitates the exchange of information related to food and culture.

The library holds a space designed to hold gastronomic events, such as food festi-vals, luncheons and lectures, as well as a kitchen that can hold cooking sessions.

Food for the Mind has been designed considering not only the needs of gourmets and foodies. Curious visitors have also been considered in the design process. The overall design invites visitors to experience the preparation and in-depth study of food and its origin.

foodforthemindC U L I N A R Y A R T S L I B R A R Y

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The proposed library is located on the site of a former Barnes & Noble book-store at the Westside Pavillion in West Los Angeles. The site analysis on the right documents the types of activities that take place within the borders of the proposed site, as well as the surround-ing neighborhoods, such as Westwood, Century City, Sawtelle, Cheviot Hills, Palms, and Santa Monica. Based on the activities taking place on the neighbor-hood as well as the characteristics of the adjacent communities, the site was proven ideal for a culinary arts library, as it is a melting pot of races and ethnici-ties that have the potential to influence culinary studies and the preparation of food within the library.

The site is over 20,000 SF and housed a large bookstore. 75% of this space has been designated for main function use, considering the spaces a traditional library requires: bookstacks, reading rooms, librar-ian offices, etc. 25% of the space within the library has been allocated for the program’s anomaly, in this case, the cooking areas and all spaces where food is prepared. The space has been divided into two types of progammatic space: main function and support. Main function spaces includes all spaces that a visitor first experiences at Food for the Mind, such as reading rooms, bookstacks, the cooking demonstration showrooms, counters, etc. Support spaces include storage rooms, restrooms, librarian offices, kitchen, etc.

COOKING HERB GARDEN LECTURES CULTURE EXCHANGE MEDIA EATING COMMUNITY SOCIALIZING READING INGREDIENTS SOCIAL STUDIES HEALTH CHECKOUT CULTURE WATER ECONOMY AGRICULTURE ECOLOGY LEARNING NUTRITION COOKING HERB GARDEN LECTURES MEDIA CULTURE EXCHANGE COMMUNITY SOCIALIZING READING INGREDIENTS SOCIAL STUDIES HEALTH WATER ECONOMY AGRICULTURE SELF CHECKOUT ECOLOGY LEARNING NUTRITION COOKING HERB GARDEN LECTURES MEDIA CULTURE EXCHANGE COMMUNITY SOCIALIZING READING INGREDIENTS SOCIAL STUDIES HEALTH WATER ECONOMY

RESTROOMS

HELP

HELP

HELP

REFERENCES

ADMINISTRATION

INTERNET

INTERNET

INTERNET

INTERNET

INTERNET

INTERNET

INTERNET

INTERNET

REFERENCES

REFERENCES

REFERENCES

MAIN FUNCTION

SUPPORT

PR

OG

RA

M

ACTIVITIES KITCHEN4,000 sf 1,000 sf

BOOKS

25%

TOTAL: 20,000 SF

7,000 sf SUPPORT1,000 sf

FOYER500 sf

READING2,000 sf

75%

ADMIN500 sf

500

NONPRINT

SOCIAL2,000 sf

MAIN PROGRAM

ANOMALY

HERBGARDEN1,000 sf

COOKING HERB GARDEN LECTURES CULTURE EXCHANGE MEDIA EATING COMMUNITY SOCIALIZING READING INGREDIENTS SOCIAL STUDIES HEALTH CHECKOUT CULTURE WATER ECONOMY AGRICULTURE ECOLOGY LEARNING NUTRITION COOKING HERB GARDEN LECTURES MEDIA CULTURE EXCHANGE COMMUNITY SOCIALIZING READING INGREDIENTS SOCIAL STUDIES HEALTH WATER ECONOMY AGRICULTURE SELF CHECKOUT ECOLOGY LEARNING NUTRITION COOKING HERB GARDEN LECTURES MEDIA CULTURE EXCHANGE COMMUNITY SOCIALIZING READING INGREDIENTS SOCIAL STUDIES HEALTH WATER ECONOMY

RESTROOMS

HELP

HELP

HELP

REFERENCES

ADMINISTRATION

INTERNET

INTERNET

INTERNET

INTERNET

INTERNET

INTERNET

INTERNET

INTERNET

REFERENCES

REFERENCES

REFERENCES

MAIN FUNCTION

SUPPORT

PR

OG

RA

M

ACTIVITIES KITCHEN4,000 sf 1,000 sf

BOOKS

25%

TOTAL: 20,000 SF

7,000 sf SUPPORT1,000 sf

FOYER500 sf

READING2,000 sf

75%

ADMIN500 sf

500

NONPRINT

SOCIAL2,000 sf

MAIN PROGRAM

ANOMALY

HERBGARDEN1,000 sf

westwoodcentury city

cheviot hills

sawtelle

palms

santa monica

walking

walking

walking

walking

shopping

talking

talking

talking

cell phone

cell phone

cell phone

cell phone

cell phone

movies

eating

internet

eating

eating

eating

eating

games

internet

eating

eating

eating

networking

networking

cuddling

eating

sleeping

sleeping

walking

walking

walking

walking

walking

sleeping

sleeping

shopping

walking walking

walkingwalking

walking

walking

walking

walking

walking

walking

walking

walking

walking

walking

walking

walking

walking

walking

walking

walking

walking

walking

walking

walking

sleeping

PROGRAM

SITE ANALYSIS

The design intent derives from the idea of crops and water. Crops need water to grow and water flows in several speeds and directions. The main function of the library becomes the crops. The main circulation within the program becomes the water. The water directs circulation and feeds the main function of the space, allowing the crops, in this case, the main function of the space, to grow. LOWER LEVEL SCALE: NTS

GROUND LEVEL SCALE: NTS

LONGITUDINAL SECTION

kitchen/ cooking area

foyerreception desk/ info

service area

bookstacksoffices

reading

PROGRAMMATIC DIAGRAM

CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAM

service area

bookstacks conference

reading

reading

service area

conference/ offices

KitchenCooking demonstration showroomFoyerService deskSitting/reading areas BookstacksAdministrationComputer areaConference roomStorage

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HERB PLANTERS Ties into the concept of water and crops. Herbs grown will be used in cooking-related events in the library.

rain

crop irrigation

crops

crops

crops

crops

crops

crops

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GROUND LEVEL SCALE: NTS SECOND LEVEL SCALE: NTS THIRD LEVEL SCALE: NTS

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LONGITUDINAL SECTION TRANSVERSE SECTION

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BOOKCASE DETAIL Three stories high, grows from the ground up.

LIVING WALL Covers elevator outer wall, becomes a focal point within the space, visually connecting all floors together.

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RECEPTION AREA (ABOVE) COOKING SHOWROOM (BELOW)

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CHECK-OUT DESK (ABOVE) BOOKSTACKS (BELOW)

MATERIAL PALETTE

WALLS: White paint over plaster.

ALL WINDOWS AND BANISTERS - glass with aluminum railings / casing.

ALL BOOKCASES, TABLES, AND COUNTERS: Oak wood, polished finish

COUNTERTOPS: White thasos marble

FLOORS: Synthetic fiber carpeting, light gray, light blue, green.

The material palette used in this project reflects the concept of ecology. The color palette derives from the idea of water and crops. Oak is used to emphasize the maturity of a plant with time, as well as its solidity, which can also be compared to knowledge.

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Fluorescent lamps make up 80% of the library’s ambient and task lighting. This lighting system aims at providing adequate lighting for reading and studying. These lamps are found within rectangular recessed light fixtures. LED light bulbs are used as the secondary lighting system in the library, providing ambient, task, as well as accent lighting throught the structure. These bulbs are found inside round recessed light fixtures, wall-mounted reflectors, and floor light fixtures.

LED warm lightbulbs on wall reflectors on ramp.

Cool fluorescent lamps on the kitchen and lower level restroom.

Warm fluorescent lamps over first level bookstacks.

LED warm lightbulbs within large round recessed light fixtures over check out desk and reading areas.

Cool fluorescent lamps over conference room.

LED warm lightbulbs on reception wall reflectors.

Cool fluorescent lamps over third level book-stacks.

LED warm lightbulbs over third level reading areas.

Cool fluorescent lamps on first level service ar-eas, such as restrooms and storage areas.

Warm LED lightbulbs on smaller round recessed light fixtures over reading areas.

Warm fluorescent lamps on second level bookstacks. Warm LED lightbulbs within large round recessed light fixtures over double-story read-ing area.

Cool fluorescent lamps on third level service ar-eas, including restrooms and storage.

Warm LED lightbulbs within large round recessed light fixtures over reading areas.

LIGHTING

Living Skin is the study of the technical and phenomenological characteristics of structural skin and the ways that the treat-ment of the skin can improve the quality of space within a structure. The phenomeno-logical and technical aspects of skin were used to transform an existing fire station in the heart of Los Feliz, California, into an art studio, gallery, and living space for four artists of four different disciplines: a print maker, a ceramist, a painter, and a photographer.

The permeable qualities of skin were adopted in a phenomenological and technical approach. Human skin is selec-tively permeable. It allows some positive elements into the body, but protects it from some potentially harmful elements. In the same manner, skin fluctuates responding to pressure and heals and regenerates with time. Hence, the skin of the structure would have to respond, in a similar manner, to elements, such as natural light, whilst protecting and concealing the existing structure, and fluctuating in order to allow for more space when required.

The program consists of an art gallery, four individual studios, common areas, such as a gathering room and a kitchen, as well as four private living units that consist of a large room and a private bath-room. Each studio was designed based on the needs of each artist. The outer skin of the structure acts as a filter, allowing natural light at certain areas and determin-ing the direction of this light, and shielding areas that require little sunlight.

LIVING SKIN

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The site is located in Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California, Hillhurst and Clayton Avenues, is a fire station in use. Los Feliz is a very diverse neighborhood that has seen a growth in its artistic popula-tion in the past decade. A series of site analysis were created to further explore the relationship between the site and the future project.

The two-story structure consists of a large garage area that is also used as a gather-ing space, a large storage, a waterhose storage, offices and restrooms on the first level, and living and sleeping quarters on the second level.

In a physical context, skin has different characteristics. It acts as a barrier, as well as a filter, it fluctuates with pressure. The shell of the structure becomes a solid type of skin, an anchor that will allow other layers of skin to grow from it.

The interior walls of the structure become a secondary layer of skin that grows directly from the solid layer of skin, though differentiates itselfs from it and becomes its own entity. The main purpose of this skin is to physically create new program-matic spaces inside the shell of the structure. The outermost layer of skin acts as a filter, controlling the amount of natural light and fresh air in the space, concealing certain parts of the space and opening other parts of the space depending on the programmatic needs of each space.

The three types of skin were treated totaking many aspects into consideration, such as the amount of natural light each corner of the structure has, based on the structure’s orientation, air circulation, and sunlight.

HIL

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CLAYTON AVENUE

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(TOP) south facade at Clayton Avenue (LEFT): front facade at Hillhurst Avenue

NORTH

SOUTH

11 AM

6:00 PM

SKIN TYPES WITHIN THE PROGRAM

solid skinanchor,existing skin

outermost layerprotects and filters

secondary layerdefines interior program

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3

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OUTERMOST LAYER DETAILS

POLYCARBONATE SHEET

STEEL Y- BRACKET

TRANSLUCENT COVER

SKIN CONNECTION DETAILS

EXTERIOR SKIN ANGLE CONNECTIONS

STEEL BRACKET

CONCRETE WALL

POLYCARBONATE SHEET

EXTERIOR SKIN CONNECTION TO EXISTING WALL

STEEL BRACKET

CONCRETE WALL

POLYCARBONATE SHEET

EXTERIOR SKIN CONNECTION

concrete wall

polycarbonate sheet

steel bracket

POLYCARBONATE SHEET

STEEL Y- BRACKET

TRANSLUCENT COVER

SKIN CONNECTION DETAILS

EXTERIOR SKIN ANGLE CONNECTIONS

STEEL BRACKET

CONCRETE WALL

POLYCARBONATE SHEET

EXTERIOR SKIN CONNECTION TO EXISTING WALL

STEEL BRACKET

CONCRETE WALL

POLYCARBONATE SHEET

EXTERIOR SKIN CONNECTION

concrete wall

steel bracket

polycarbonate sheet

SECOND LEVEL FLOOR PLANFIRST LEVEL FLOOR PLAN

POLYCARBONATE SHEET

STEEL Y- BRACKET

TRANSLUCENT COVER

SKIN CONNECTION DETAILS

EXTERIOR SKIN ANGLE CONNECTIONS

STEEL BRACKET

CONCRETE WALL

POLYCARBONATE SHEET

EXTERIOR SKIN CONNECTION TO EXISTING WALL

STEEL BRACKET

CONCRETE WALL

POLYCARBONATE SHEET

EXTERIOR SKIN CONNECTION

translucent cover

polycarbonate sheet

steel Y bracket

LEGENDart gallery ceramist studioprintmaker studiopainter studiosocial areakitchen photographer studiodwelling unitlounge exterior terrace

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CERAMIST STUDIO (ABOVE) PAINTER STUDIO (BELOW)

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CERAMIST STUDIO

PAINTER STUDIO

PRINTMAKER STUDIO

PHOTOGRAPHER STUDIO

The selected mate-rial palette attempts to create a neutral atmosphere within the art gallery, studios, and living spaces. The whites, grays, and blacks found within the structure act as frames and canvases to the art work cre-ated in and outside the studios. The absence of bright colors is intended, as it allows the paintings and sculptures exhibited in the space to become protagonists within the space.

Countertops: Polished Caesarstone White

Built-ins: Black Polished Wood Veneer

MATERIAL PALETTE

Floors: Polished concrete

Existing rough concrete

PRINTMAKER STUDIO (ABOVE) PHOTOGRAPHER STUDIO (BELOW)

White plaster

Gray Polycarbonate sheets

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LIGHTING

The nature of the program requires special attention to natural, as well as artificial light-ing. The printmaker and painterstudios require indirect task lighting in order to avoid glare while working. The skin system allows natural diffused north light into these two spaces Artificial lighting in these spaces consist of cool task lights.

The ceramist studio requires the same light solutions, though not as rigorous as the first two studios. On the other hand, the photographer requires very little natural light. The ceramiststudio consists of warm and cool task lights depending on the situation