Howell Mountain is a distinct and unique location in the heart of Napa Valley California. The 45 acres site rests on the mountain’s south west... Show moreHowell Mountain is a distinct and unique location in the heart of Napa Valley California. The 45 acres site rests on the mountain’s south west slopes and is planted with high quality grapes used in the production of red wine. When the fog rolls off the ocean and into the Napa Valley, the weather on Howell Mountain is generally sunny and cool. The appellation owes its distinctive climate to the fact that it is positioned high above the valley floor. The program includes both the wine production facilities and the hospitality facilities for visitors. The driving concept of the project is to merge those two, often opposing, programmatic elements. From west to east, the site has a 43% grade change. By designing a gravity flow winery, this facility can take advantage of that significant slope. Show less
The project will seek to create an environment for that fosters living, community, and learning for graduate students at Illinois Institute of... Show moreThe project will seek to create an environment for that fosters living, community, and learning for graduate students at Illinois Institute of Technology. Show less
Transforming abandoned grain elevators while redefining the normal Casino typology. Understanding the capabilities of abandoned grain... Show moreTransforming abandoned grain elevators while redefining the normal Casino typology. Understanding the capabilities of abandoned grain elevators and how they can be reused to create a successful design. Sponsorship: Felsen, Martin Show less
MONUMENTAL ADAPTATION: REIMAGINING THE OLD CHICAGO POST OFFICE Built in 1932, the Old Chicago Main Post Office was the largest post office in... Show moreMONUMENTAL ADAPTATION: REIMAGINING THE OLD CHICAGO POST OFFICE Built in 1932, the Old Chicago Main Post Office was the largest post office in the world at three million square feet. It was designed to accommodate the extension of Congress Parkway and in 1953 the Eisenhower Expressway cut a void through the center of the building. Finally the Post Office was vacated in 1997 and remains unused to this day. This project proposes the adaptation of the Post Office into a hybrid fieldhouse that contains public recreation and retail space. This proposal keeps the Post Office public, utilizing income generated through retail to maintain the building for Chicagoans. Recreation program is inserted into voids carved out of the original building. Retail occupies the peripheral space, surrounding the voids. Show less
In China, too much population causes early retire age, one child policy, extremely high housing pressure, too little land for open space,... Show moreIn China, too much population causes early retire age, one child policy, extremely high housing pressure, too little land for open space, little or no public facilities. Also, it causes the lost of many long tradition. The losing of multi- generational living is just one of them. This project is a humanistic response to the social problems. Sponsorship: Denison, Dirk Show less
City is made up of diversity and density. Diverse factors make activities and different relationships in a city. These are very sensitive to... Show moreCity is made up of diversity and density. Diverse factors make activities and different relationships in a city. These are very sensitive to other factors’ changes. Their various responses make city dynamic and finally characterize the face of a city or a town. Buildings are one of dynamic factors in a city. The building facade which determines building’s identity marks the transition between outside and inside. The facade has a strong relationship between building programs and urban activities. Their looks make a huge effect on urban environment. But buildings’ configuration is fixed once design choices are made. Buildings are conceived as a rigid objects and inflexible, unresponsive, and unsustainable. Considering that buildings are the largest contributor to the city environment, building should be responsive to changes and facade performance should be more active to building programs. Adaptive building facade will be the means that can address these challenges. Show less
The center is a celebration of Chicago's unique seasonal opportunities and will encourage the inherent entertainment nature provides. This is... Show moreThe center is a celebration of Chicago's unique seasonal opportunities and will encourage the inherent entertainment nature provides. This is a structurally determinate project. Show less
This project is a focus on spatial flexibility. The idea is to generate housing components that focuses on flexibility in order to create... Show moreThis project is a focus on spatial flexibility. The idea is to generate housing components that focuses on flexibility in order to create space that is defined by the user. Show less
By refashioning the design and programmatic use of an offshore oil rig into a luxury hotel for ecotourists, a new age of responsible travel... Show moreBy refashioning the design and programmatic use of an offshore oil rig into a luxury hotel for ecotourists, a new age of responsible travel may emerge. By twisting the symbol of oil dependency into an ecologically preserved, environmentally accountable and revenue-producing prototype, the ideals of reuse, energy and environment can be viewed through a new lens. This design creates interesting and innovative living spaces and environments aided by sustainable integrations to create a “living machine” that establishes connections between all building systems as well as inhabitant inputs and outputs resulting in an energy independent habitat. Show less
This project was a look at redeveloping Main Street in Buffalo,New York to become a new Collegiate Strip for College students. The detailed... Show moreThis project was a look at redeveloping Main Street in Buffalo,New York to become a new Collegiate Strip for College students. The detailed site located at the intersection of Jewett Avenue and Main Street provided a new 'Arts Node' where students could live, perform, and practice their given talents. This site also provided a connection to the existing Tri-Main Center which allows public display space for artistic individuals. An infrastructural addition over the existing railway system provided additional outdoor space labeled a 'social alley' that connected Main Street and Jewett Avenue and provided more creative space between the Tri-Main Center and the new Arts Node. Show less
The main purpose of the Tribal Cultural Center is to offer a platform for the local public, tribal country’s key leaders to communicate with... Show moreThe main purpose of the Tribal Cultural Center is to offer a platform for the local public, tribal country’s key leaders to communicate with the goal of promoting peace and prosperity to the region. This project will help these leaders create the moments of understanding for the future of generations to come (Power of democracy). It will also help to educate and train the young tribesmen so they can contribute their knowledge to their local tribes. Architecturally, site planning, landscape design and using the traditional local materials with modern construction techniques were explored. Show less
PHOTONASTIC is a concept addressing the invention, design, production and potential implementation of a building integrated system. The system... Show morePHOTONASTIC is a concept addressing the invention, design, production and potential implementation of a building integrated system. The system attempts to address the relationship between energy conservation and architectural facade innovation. The skin affects both the appearance and performance in such a way that these features promote new design concepts and stimulate technical developments for the architecture of the future. Show less
Producing and designing a prototype hybrid use development strategy for a neighboring pair of preexisting historical building in Chicago’s... Show moreProducing and designing a prototype hybrid use development strategy for a neighboring pair of preexisting historical building in Chicago’s North side community of Lakeview. Show less
This project is a contemporary revisit of the ideas behind Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian houses. The building consists of three separate... Show moreThis project is a contemporary revisit of the ideas behind Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian houses. The building consists of three separate dwelling units on the same lot, a variation from the typical Chicago three-flat in that, rather than the three units being stacked one on top of the other, they are ordered linearly one after the other. The primary advantage of this arrangement is that each unit is allowed access to the ground floor, and to one of the three designated courtyard areas. Show less
This project is a focus on spatial flexibility. The idea is to generate housing components that focuses on flexibility in order to create... Show moreThis project is a focus on spatial flexibility. The idea is to generate housing components that focuses on flexibility in order to create space that is defined by the user. Show less
reexamination of centralized supportive housing in an urban context emphasizing the supportive characteristics of a productive green space.... Show morereexamination of centralized supportive housing in an urban context emphasizing the supportive characteristics of a productive green space. Other supportive elements at grade include culinary training, mixed use units, and transportation center. Show less