michael cutulle_

2

Michael P CutulleMaster of Architecture, University of Houston 2012Bachelor of Science in Architecture, University of Maryland 2008

A word that conveys more than thought, “idea” reflects the ef-fort and outcome that stem from that initial spark. These examples are more than just projects, but studies in which a unique conceptual perspective transforms into valuable contributions to architecture.

3

House of 2025Fall 2010

4 Studio - UH

Transcendent JunctureSpring 2011

8 Studio - UH

Aero EmissarySpring 2011

12 Studio - UH

Desert SeedsFall 2011

16 Studio - UH

Geo-CognitionJanuary 2012

22 Installation - Toronto IDF

Abu Dhabi Marina2008-2009 [10 months]

24 Work - HOK

Dissolving the Border July 2011

28 Study Abroad - AA

Minimal LandscapeApril 2009

42 Personal Project

Digital Plasticity ctober 2011

32 Research - UH

Sinuous Module October 2007

Sectioned Upcycling Spring 2012

40

36

Art Studio - UM

Seminar - UH

4

In an effort to re-engage the dead-outside-business-hours charac-ter of Houston’s downtown business district, the concept of the house of 2025 focuses on combining the idea of working at home, and reus-ing the increasingly empty office spaces, to create communities in the sky. These communities have individual units containing the bare essen-tials of living, while the floor plan is utilized as a shared living room, pro-moting social interaction. Living downtown, and promoting activity will both reanimate the tallest part of the city as well as impact sprawl by advertising growth from within as opposed to either growth up or out.

House of 2025

6

Modified Shell

Magnified Section Concept Diagrams

Modified Glazing Modified Shell New Glazing New Residential

7

Sample Floorplan A

1.

1.

1.

1.

1.

1.

1.

1.

1.

1.

1.

1.

1.1.

1.

1.

1.

1.1. 1.

1. 1.

1.

1.

1.1.

1.

1.1.

1.

1.

1.

1. 1.

1.

1.

1.

1.

1.

1.1.4.

4.

4.

4.4.

4. 4.

4.

4.

4.

4.4.

3.

2.

2.

2.

2.2.

2.

2.

2.5.

5.

5.

5.

5.

5.5.

Sample Floorplan B

1. Residence2. Shared Common Area3. Shared Kitchen4. Outdoor Green Space5. Core

8

A constant flow of video clips, sound bites and images defines this era of rapid information-sharing. Such bombardment offers little time for individu-als to develop context and a deeper understanding of their place in the world. To help build such time into the frenzied pace of modern life, this build-ing fuses a train station with a religious space. Combining a transit center defined by motion with a space designed for contemplation encourages people to slow down and explore their thoughts, even if for a few precious minutes between trains. This program fusion may even offer the possibility of exposure to a new celebration they have had little experience with before.

Transcendant Juncture

10

welcome ctr restaurant cafe/bookstore officesworshipobserve

pray

tr ain sta tiondro

p o

ff

parkingpark/plaza

Above: ground floor planBelow: Programmatic Section

11

Clockwise from top left: roofscape of train station looking east; section thru worship space; building section looking east; north building elevation

12

In dealing with a small two gate airport in a university, mountain town, this building acts as an ambassa-dor, simultaneously welcoming those arriving, fromthe air through the airport, as well as those departing thetown beginning from the trip via the road. The landscapedpark surrounding the building acts dually as public outdoorspace and welcome/farewell beacon for those in the actof traveling through the airport from/to other destinations.

Aero Emissary

14

Above: Baggage ClaimRight: Floor planBelow: Section looking east

15

Clockwise from top: building and land-scape; site plan showing extending park hills; at terminal from cafe

16

Desert SeedsThis project views the desert as an undeveloped resource of space, and proposes a self-sustaining community that regenerates the health of the soil for self-sustaining growth of crops and community. Replenish-ing the land requires plants that will inject nutrients back into the earth, creating fertile soil for crop growth. New technology mimicking the Na-mibia Desert Beetle allows us to augment water collection by harvesting the moisture in the air brought to us by the wind. Mixing this with prop-er water collection in the desert, along with a closed system of waste management, will feed the soil replenishing plants, and human needs.

18

N

NN

N

N

legumes grow in tough soil. provide food in the desert

legumes increase soil health after a few cycles

technology mimics nature; at-tracts air moisture to surface

Exterior

A b o v e Ground

B e l o w Ground

Interior

desert beetle uses skin to collect air moisture.

Solar energy harvesting

Catchments gather water run-off

Legume Agriculture cycle improves soil health

‘sail’ in the desert, aug-ments water supply

Goals & Research:

Replenish Soil Health:

Maximize Moisture Collection:

Design Strategies:

Live/work Spaces

Moisture Collection

Storage Reservoir below

19

Typical Module Organization1. structural wind screen2. moisture collecting surface (piped into wall/mechanism below)3. reservoir (below circulation corridor)4. solar energy gathering roof5. rain/runoff collection & filtering

1.2.

3.

4.

5.

Above: Functioning building unit sectionBelow: Building Section

20 Main Entry PortalCirculation CorridorSecondary Entry/Exit Points

Building Circulation

Private

Public

Public vs. Private Realm

Above: Main exhibition spaceBelow, left to right: floor plan, diagrams, model studies.

21

Above: Looking downhill at buildingsBelow: Site Plan

Below: Structural Screen Studies

22

Geo-CognitionA two-week design and fabrication project, “Geo-Cognition” was an installation for the Come Up to my Room event at the 2012 To-ronto International Design Exhibition. Exploring the concepts of pro-jected geometry through the utilization of four different city skylines, these pieces were created using construction site recycled insulation. This material was then CNC milled based on the digitally designed geometry. What results is a curvilinear object that flowing around the room. This was a collaboration lead by Professor Wendy W Fok.

24

From HOKAt HOK architects, I worked on a team designing a marina de-velopment along the waterfront of Abu Dhabi. The project in-cluded a hotel, luxury apartments, extended stay suites, two office buildings, and retail. My personal involvement was to coordinate the structure and the design of the building, and to develop the round-the-clock parking along with other aspects of development.In addition to the Marina, I assisted the construction administration process on the Washington National’s Baseball stadium, a design build project.

26

Above: Sections thru hotel structure; struc-ture details.Right: Basement and upper floor structural organization drawings

27

Joining the architectural team with 9 months to go until open-ing day of baseball season, I learned (and had too) quickly the Construction Administration process of the Architect. The largest Design-Build project at the time, the stadium was completed in a little less than two years, and achieved a LEED-Siver rating.

(All images are personal photos taken near the end of construction)

Washington Nationals’ Baseball StadiumJuly 2007 - April 2008

28

Dissolving the BorderAt the Architectural Association Visiting School - Buenos Aires, working in teams during a 2 week charrette period, we explored parametric design + theory through investigations of the Buenos Aires waterfront & port: Puerto Madero. Quickly learning the basics in parametrics, we formed teams of 3 to come up with urban design strategies resulting in a pavilion. Our pro-posal focused on creating a stronger pedestrian connection between the existing city grid, and the water’s edge. The strategy offers a hierarchy of functions in the same architectural language of a morphing linear form.

30

Above: Aerial showing bridge pavilionsBelow: Sections thru various pavilion func-tions showing the systems versatility.

Bus Shelter Raised walkway over preserve Two-level pavilion Bridge pavilion

31

Clockwise from top: laser cur model images; urban plan diagram; iterative parametric ordering process

32

Digital PlasticityOftentimes, just starting the process of making provokes and inspires the mind to think conceptually, and in new ways. Research the capabilities of manipulating plastic combining analog and digital fabrication meth-ods lead to new understandings of the material. The CNC router left a residual texture on the vacuum forming mold, in addition to creating the accurate geometry. Casting a block of acrylic resin then carving away with the digitally controlled router reveals new luminous qualities of the material while crafting the intricate piece with pin-point accuracy.

34

35

Opposite Page: fabrication process photos in small images, final vacuum formed polyethylene prototype in larger two images.

Clockwise from top right: digital model computer-aided machine path creation, cast acrylic block, CNC machining process, final prototype test 1, prototype test 2.

Above: final prototype, milled acrylic resin.

36

Sectioned UpcyclingUsing cheap, off-the-shelf materials, this series of seating prototypes ex-hibits the success of the ‘sectioning’ method of fabrication. Digitally designing the prototypes allowed us to quickly fabricate models (ei-ther laser cutting or CNC milling). Materials used are the same that are used in construction, and this shows the potential for site-recycled materials to have an alternative life, rather than simply to the landfill.

38

1/2” polyethylene pipe insulation

Cushioning Options:

Section Structure:

1/4” foam seal insulation (alternate)

Newspaper Mache; reinforced

Prototype Conclusions/Recommendations:

Above: Prototype assembly diagramBelow: Making process (left to right: early canvas experiment, mdf frame construc-tion, 1/2 scale newspaper mache molds.

39

Above: Prototype w/ alternate cushioningBelow: Various prototype investigations during the process

40

Sinuous ModuleThe goal of this exercise was not only to use the properties of sheet steel to create a dynamic sculpture, but to take an industry standard sheet and utilize its entirety. These goals were realized by creating a single, repeated cutout shape from the sheet, then bending the steel piece, and bending each subsequent piece in the length just a little more. The result is a simple process that produced a dynamic, sinuous ob-ject of similar pieces connected with simple spot welds at their corners.

42

Minimal LandscapeAfter a traveling excursion to the United Kingdom I was inspired by the agrarian structures in the rolling hills of the country. To capture the re-lationship between the buildings to the landscape, I decided to liter-ally highlight the building and path in a single color shape, with every-thing else blacked out. This three part series captures the approach of the building in the landscape (grey), the arrival (red) and just hav-ing passed and turning around to see where they have been (blue). The method was simple spray paint on a wooden, pine plank of wood.