Undergraduate Architecture Portfolio

ALEXGILLIG-VASSALLE

2012 / 2016

university of cincinnatibachelors of science in architecture

I dont build in order to have clients. I have clients in order to build. -Ayn Rand, The Fountainhead

CENTER FOR BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH

MIXED USE / MULTI - UNIT APARTMENT

A PLACE FOR MAKING

CLIENT ROW HOUSE

CENTER FOR BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH

SUMMIT DEVELOPMENT HOTEL

LINE, PLANE, & VOLUME

PERSONAL WORKS

RESUME

SITE ANALYSIS AND TECTONIC INTERPRETATION

MELDING NEW AND CURRENT / CLIENT PROPOSAL

EXPLORING SPACIAL RELATIONS

CREATIVE INFLUENCES

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30 - 33

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studio work

cooperative work

studio work

original works

MIXED USE / MULTI - UNIT APARTMENT

A PLACE FOR MAKING

SITE AND CLIENT

SITE AND CLIENT

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4 - 9

studio work

studio work

NATIONAL INTERSTATE CORPORATE OFFICEADDING VALUE WITH A MODERN UPDATE

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cooperative work

CLIENT ROW HOUSE SITE AND CLIENT ANALYSIS

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studio work

originally known as cumminsville, the neighborhood of northside is the home to this residential project. demographics of the area show a racially, ethnically, and economically diverse population; however, in recent years there has been a surge of young professionals known to be hip. the retail side of the neighborhood presents many small boutique, coffee, tattoo, and restaraunt options catering to this new

demographic.

a place for making was the prompt for this project. creating a centralized space in the home to fit any type of creating, whether it be music, woodworking, sculptures or paintings, was integral in the challenge. a main type of making would be chosen at the end. an occulus was also required in the making space. a successful project would push the boundaries of the town to draw in creative types, yet respect the equity of

neighbors.

r e v i t / p h o t o s h o p / p h y s i c a l m o d e l s

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a place for makingl a n g l a n d s t , / n o r t h s i d e , o h/ project analysis /

north section perspective

ALEX GILLIG-VASSALLE / 2016 5

the site was divided into a grid in order to place the making space in the center; this way it is an integral part of the circulation of the house. other program is then wrapped around this center.

while the traditional occulus is located above the making space, an inherent move to pierce through the houses center, by use of connecting apertures, can also be considered an occulus.

as the anchor of the house, the making space sits slightly lower than the rest of the first floor.

keeping the house open to making while establishing a sense of public versus private space was done by incorporating sliding doors and through the use of different stains for the concrete floors.

the master bed and bath as well as the kitchen are also located on towards the east side of the first floor.

the front of the house faces the west and consequentially over heats the entertainment and exhibit space in the summer. over hanging structural beams provide some shading while the roof garden above aims to soak up heat.

first floor

1650 sf

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1140 sf

second floor


east elevation

west elevation east section

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structurally, the core of the house is framed by steel columns and beams extending to the roof and out to the cast in place concrete load bearing walls. the core is also comprised of concrete walls not only to support the double hieght space and occulus, but also

to make it feel like the anchor of the home.

the exterior utilizes glaznig to turn corners and allow light to better penetrate the interior. this glazing is wrapped by horizontal members in order to create a visual barrier between the outside and inside. a sense of privacy is then established in an otherwise

popluated area.

north section

north elevation

south elevation


at otr the connect

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r e v i t / r h i n o / p h o t o s h o p


believed to be the largest intact, historic district in the united states, over the rhine (otr) has gone through many periods of change. this multi unit / mixed use project aims to celebrate otrs rich history in architecture, music, culture, and arts through site driven analysis. architecturally, the building must resound with its environment, yet be able to stand alone as a unifying element. specifically, the connect at otr provides affordable housing for local students, families, travelers, and visitors as well as a link to nearby events, entertainment, and necessities. it allows easy access to transportation for the nearby university and downtown cincinnati via the metro, public bus, and newly renovated street car.

the aim of the mixed use / multi unit project was to create an integrated space into the vigorusly redeveloped community of over the rhine with the hopes that more development will spread throught the rest of the area. housing is aimed at middle income tenants and a strong focus on contextual site forces.

criteria for the building includes : 20 housing units common recreational spaces parking for residents limited but relevant retail space practical outdoor space integrating public and private remote storage


mixed use - multi unit1903 v i n e s t r e e t / c i n c i n n at i , o h / project analysis /

pedestrian foot paths

bus / street car stops

vegetation

vine st. / mcmicken st.rhinegeist brewery

findlay market

step one / record

step two / analyze

step three / interpret

contextual site forces

the site is located between vine and mcmicken st. in the area known as over the rhine. both streets lead to uptown and downtown and thus are essential means of transportation. however, the many bus stops surround the site making public transit accessible. recently, plans for a street car have been put into effect, of which two stops will be in walking distance of the planned building. two main destinations are also nearby, rhinegheist brewery and findlay market. both are popular with young professionals as well as locals and serve as selling points for the area.

while considering the form of the building, many of the contextual site forces stood out as important factors to incorporate. from this diagram it is apparent that a the site needs to be connected to both streets in order for public access to transportation and destinations. common foot paths to nearby points of interest begin to speak to form.

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programming form

parking / ground floor retail space residential units - second floor

residential units - second floor residential units - second floor residential units - second floor

residential gathering

residential gathering residential gathering residential gathering

verticle circulation

verticle circulation verticle circulation verticle circulation

horizontal circulation


vine str

eet

vine str

eet

mcmicken street

parking

parking spaces : 26mcmicken access

second floor

1 bedroom : 2 units - 940 sf2 bedroom : 2 units - 1260 sf3 bedroom : 1 unit - 1730 sfrecreation room : 1375 sf

lobby : 2057 sfcafe / event hub :1055 sfbike kitchen : 1000 sflocal artist gallery: 830 sf

ground floor

west section 1/16 = 1-0

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third floor

1 bedroom : 2 units - 940 sf2 bedroom : 2 units - 1260 sf3 bedroom : 1 unit - 1730 sfrecreation room : 1375 sf

fourth floor

1 bedroom : 2 units - 940 sf2 bedroom : 2 units - 1260 sf3 bedroom : 1 unit - 1730 sflounge / outdoor patio : 850 sf

fifth floor

2 bedroom : 2 units - 1260 sf3 bedroom : 2 units - 1730 sfoutdoor garden : 800 sf

north section 1/16 = 1-0


vine elevation 1/16 = 1-0

precast concrete

metal panels

rhinegiest brewery

african cedar

findlay market

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combining elements from the two nearby attractions into the building helps create a link to the otr

community. it celebrates otrs rich culture and unifies the building to the site by providing familiar materials into new

spaces.

mcmicken elevation 1/16 = 1-0

african cedar vegetation

parks


r e v i t / p h o t o s h o p


east section

a row house can be considered as any number of houses joined by common side walls, traditionally longer than wide. finding a solution to a specific client as well as site incorporation were the focus of this project. lindford detweiler and karin berquist, founders of the otr (over the rhine) band, are the clients for this project. requirements from the client include: recording studio / entertainment space / personal reconnecting space / and 2 guestrooms. the site was located on riverside drive in convington, ky, and is facing the ohio river and cincinnati skyline. the surrounding residential neighborhood consists of other row houses, colonial homes, a small park, and walking paths along the river. a bridge divides the residential side of convington from its business district.

a cascading theme wraps the shape the overall ground work for the house. accentuating the slope of the topography makes the house feel like it naturally leads to the views of the city and river, a main strength of the site. wood decks and outdoor terraces help wrap the home and provide guidance to main entries. from the bottom, spatial program moves from public to more private towards the top.

front / north elevation back / south elevation

north section south section

letting natural light in was a challenge as the row house shares one side with adjoining row houses, while the other has only a few feet from the next house. off-setting each floor as well as opening up double and triple height spaces near common and circulation areas allows natural light to illuminate main spaces as well as lighten the feel of the house.


client row house233 r i v e r s i d e d r / c o v i n g t o n , k y / project analysis /

the basement floor consists mainly of the couples studio space. the studio is divided into a control room, recording room, storage, supply and mechanical room. outside and open to the stairway is a bar for relaxation after recording sessions.

basement

ground floor

second floor

third floor

the ground floor consists of living / entertainment arears, kitchen and dining, and a small collaboration room for the couple. separate from the house are a guest house and garage. a small green space is used to open up the site.

the third floor is strictly for the couple. the master bed as well as a private patio is secluded from the rest of the house. spaces for reconnecting are important for the couples marriage and privacy for those spaces is essential.

the second floor consists of another guestroom, trophy hall for the couples accomplishments, patio, laundry and mechanical room. part of the second floor is open to below to allow light in from south glazing.

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site analysis was important to gain knowledge of views, traffic patterns, surrounding factors, drainage, sunlight, privacy and safety. public traffic patterns show streets that are most used as well as possible places for garage and parking. most residence have parking on the back of their houses, leaving the front open to views. keeping the front open to the skyline and the river enhances the value of the home and living spaces. placing front and rear entrances allow private

and off street access.

giving the couple a sense of seclusion while mainting the feel of a row house was accomplished by pulling out the party walls of the house and creating a buffer between the party wall. this buffer wraps the house and continues on the other floors. separating the detached guest house is a small wooden deck that connects the other row houses, creating a sense of unity between

neighbors.

traffic circulation

covington, ky


1. exhibition lobby / primary & secondary instructional2. primary & secondary research / directors office3. primary research observatory4. secondary research observatory5. residential housing6. public gathering7. retreat housing 8. public - residential parking

- manicured grass

conceived as the nations first urban reforestation project, mt airy park serves as organic getaway from local city life. developing synergy between structure and the forest in order to promote biophany and biodiversity was the aim of this project. tectonic exploration was the initial charge that shaped structure, while site diagramming and environmental conditions refined the shape of the building. 12500 sf / program requirement that consists of administration, residential, instructional, and service.

initial entrance to the space raises a sense of curiosity as the center bends and dips in rhythm to the natural topography of the site. visitors are pulled onto main paths leading to critical program, but secondary destinations linger on the periphery, begging the rest of the site to be explored. moving throughout the site develops an intimate / important relationship between resident / visitor & nature. i consider this to be a crucial aspect of successful forestry research.

r h i n o / c a d / p h o t o s h o p

- semi manicured meadow

- berm

- hardscape

- paths

- wooden bridge

- added trees- current trees* white line indicates current tree line8 w e e k d e v e lo p m e n t

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center for biodiversity& forestry research

l a n g l a n d s t , / n o r t h s i d e , o h/ site analysis /

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ALEX GILLIG-VASSALLE / 2016

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instructional center / second floor

research center / ground floor

auditorium / primary instructional

secondary instructional

primary research

exhibition / gathering

paths through the site as well as the central outdoor gathering space make the research center feel like an open campus. the main center focuses on an exhibition hall for current research, auditorium space for lectures both public and private, and primary research space. second floor balconies, while granting access to views, also act as clerestories for natural light to penetrate the building. the spine making up the roofs of the buildings also permits light through glazing along the ridges.

the research center focus on, primary research. it also has secondary room for lectures and teaching classes as well as office spaces.

both buildings face towards the center of the site, again making the center feel like a campus surrounded by nature. the off campus programs include living quarters for permanent residence, view stations for research, and retreat housing for classes and faculty.

the topography of the site is fairly flat with narrow valleys surrounding it on all sides. these valleys help with drainage as well as permit longer views into the forest from the main campus.

instructional center / ground floor

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the form work for the building was derived from the umbrella column shell tectonic. the base unit usually consists of four adjoining surfaces derived from a central column. these surfaces direct primary horizontal bending moments to the

vertical faces of the column. the advantage comes from repeating and combining the base unit, creating bays of space.

from here the tectonic was massaged into a different form, while still keeping its original function. this process was accomplished through rhino modeling. the shape was then milled into a 40lb piece of foam for further study of tectonic

interpretation.

before a final form was picked, the models were taken to rhino once again; however, this time focusing on arraying the moduals taken from the individual formworks. multiply, fold, and twisting the moduals attempted to keep the inherent

tectonic shape while breathing new life into it.

section plan axonometric

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a final molded shape, that still resembled the original tectonic, was then chosen to be 3d printed. points where the model touches the ground act as columns while the broad cupped top flairs out like the umbrella shell. the ridges and spine-like underbelly of the model went on to

shape the form of center of biodiversity.


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r e v i t / p h o t o s h o p

2 w e e k d e v e lo p m e n t option 1 / view 1

national interstate insurance is a leading specialty property and casualty insurance holding company that offers various products and services to its customers. at kaczmar, we were tasked with proposing a renovation for their central hallway which leads to various conference spaces located in their corporate headquarters. leading to this hallway is an elevator lobby. the lobby is lined with faux wood and black sweeps. initial iterations attempted to

incorporate these elements.

streamlining the overall floor plan of the hall was the first objective. pulling, pushing, shortening and lengthening the walls and furdowns helped create a rhythm down hall. the design iterations focused on three variables, the piers along the wall, the type of light associated with each pier, and the carpet runing the length of the hall. out of the many proposals, national interstate chose option 1, shown above, which consists of color accented piers, linear set-in lights, and main carpet with accent carpet along

the piers and fur-downs.

option 2 / view 1

option 2 / view 2

this option focuses on incorporating wood into all three variables. the piers become wooden strips. behind them lie line lights which accentuate the wood members.

above is a flowing way finding wooden curve. in layed are typical can lights. below, wood flooring replaces accent carpet in regular intervals down the hall.

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national interstatecorporate office

richfield, oh/ adding value /

option 1 / view 2 option 1 / view 3

option 4 / view 1

option 4 / view 2

this option pull the piers away from the walls, allowing room for the lights to lay inside them, washing the walls in light.

light is more diffused along the walls, floors, and ceilings while keeping the modern feel.

option 3 / view 1

option 3/ view 2

this option focuses on clean modern look of white. piers become connected to the wall and full length linear lights provide more illumination.

the rhythmic piers, lights and carpet standout as a simple and clean design throughout the hall.


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s k e t c h u p / p h o t o s h o p


located on the intersection of carnegie ave and stokes road in cleveland, oh is the site of the new home suites two hotel. task was to erect a massing and site model from previously drawn floor plan. our side task was to blend this new hotel into the growing architectural and

social culture of the area.

many well-known buildings and institutions surround the site, such as: the cleveland school of architecture and design, case western reserve university, and ambler park.


national interstatec a r n e g i e av e . c l e v e l a n d , o h / project analysis /


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making the hotel accessible from the street and sidewalks helps integrate the building into its surrounding. an outdoors communal space was designed to ease the transition from public walking area to private residence. this space begins to add context to the site, making it more than a hotel, but a welcoming area that can be used by all. it provides seating for bus stops, green space to alleviate the harsh urban landscape, and night light for walkers and joggers.


w o o d / p l a s t e r


project description: design a wooden armature to hold/display our 6x 6x 6 plaster cube models.

introducing functionality to design was the initial challenge facing in the construction of my armature. following the linear and orthogonal elements of the plaster cube, the armature becomes an extension of the cube. while making the piece unique, the ability to break down the armature into separate components creates an interactive element, transcending a once static and inanimate object into a personal experience for the viewer.

the form of the white plaster cube was derived from the voids of the balance block (shown in the following project). construction of the cube started with shaping the form out of foam and wood and then inserting the form into

a 6 cube. the cube was then filled with plaster and left to harden.

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line, plane, and volumes t u d i o/ exploring space /

project description : create a 12 x 12 x 12 cube that balances on 1 point.

through the exploration of line, plane and volume, the balance block was created from pine. it is confined to a 12 cube and balance on a single point of contact with a surface. various combination blocks were made to experiment with the line, plane, and cube relationship. from there, certain aspects of each were combined to create solids and voids in the balance block.

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m i n d / h a n d s

24 y e a r d e v e lo p m e n t

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personal workse v e r y w h e r e/ creativity /

exploring art as well as other interests outside of class has broadened my creative horizon, adding ideas and inspiring in everything that i do. i believe that playing outside of work can have a profound

influence on how you think and create.

dedication to excellence is something that i take seriously. i represent my work and my work represents

me.

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m i n d / h a n d s

24 y e a r d e v e lo p m e n t

personal workse v e r y w h e r e/ creativity /

p i n e w o o d / p o ly u r e t h a n e f i n i s h

c o f f e e ta b l e

pine coffee table

the inspiration for this project was derived from the need of a table to put my things on. repurposed wood was taken from my freshman year group project.

step 1 / cutting the long pieces of pine to three feet in lengths.step 2 / made biscuit cuts between wood members & connected members with wood glue and biscuits.step 3 / legs were laminated and cut at an angle for effectstep 4 / legs and top were sanded and coated with polyurethanestep 5 / horizontal bracing was cut and applied with the finishstep 6 / members were assembled with screws and glue

tool used / miter saw, band saw, biscuit cutter, circular hand saw, table saw, screw driver, clamps.

i chose to use the dark piece of pine as an accent piece as well as the knots in the wood for a unique texture. the polyurethane finish provides protection for the wood and provides a glossy sheen. hindsight revealed that joints could have been stronger as well as placement of screws. my table has survived for 3 years and tested up to 180 lbs of weight. overall, i was very happy with how it turned out. i still use the table today.


about me :My goal is to continually expand my design skills and knowledge in Architecture and Design at a professional level. Belief in dedication, hard work, and eargerness to learn, make me a valuable asset on any team. Quality work as well as innovative

design are found in all that I do.

contact :

email

[email protected]

(513)-384-7624portfolio

http://issuu.com/alexgilligvassalleaddress

2332 flora cincinnati, oh 45219

bs architecture & bba marketing

alex gillig-vassalle

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education

University of Cincinnati College of DAAP and College of Business

Bachelor of Science in Architecture G.P.A. 3.36Bachelor of Business AdministrationG.P.A. 3.50St. Ignatius High School Cleveland, OH, Class of 2009

experienceVocon May 2015 - Aug 2015Digital Modeling and Rendering for clientsAttended site visits and contractor meetingsWorked on mixed use and corporate building projectsAssisted in floor plan layouts and client presentationsLearned about and drew building details for multiple systems

Kaczmar Aug 2014 - Dec 2014Digital modeling for client proposalsWorked extensively in Revit / CAD / SketchUpAttended site visits consisting of measuring and analysisAttended contractor meetings Reviewed and updated redline floor plans

Corgan Jan 2014 - April 2014Digital Modeling and RenderingCreated facade elevations that were presented to clientsParticipated meetings with engineers, clients, and contractorsWorked heavily in Revit and PhotoshopCompleted redlines for new and remodled MOBs Developed effective communication skills for process efficiencyAttended firm-based lectures and received AIA credit

skills

activities

hobbies

RevitRhinoceros

AutoCADSketchUp

Adobe SuiteMicrosoft Office

SketchingModel Making

DraftingWood Working

MillingVacuum Forming

LBC (Living Building Challenge) Certified 2016Recipient of Deans List 2010-2016 University of CincinnatiExternal President of B.A.N.G. 2012L.E.A.P. [Leaders for Environmental Awarenss and Protection] 2011Founder of Drawing Club in High SchoolParticipated in two mission trips to West Virginia

Sketching, digital desiging, working out, playing basketball, wood working, reading, and playing guitar, and trying new food!

CommunicationCollaboration

FrenchWillingnessAdaptability

Critical Thinking

...................................................................sophomore

.........................................................................junior

.............................................................................senior


Undergraduate Architecture Portfolio

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