james williams portfolio

James Williams Pratt Institute MArch I

In this portfolio you will �nd samples of my work at Pratt Institute developed from the Fall of 2008 through the Spring of 2010.

The �rst set of images are part of my �rst semester studio work, which through a material study challenged us to design a new subway station for the Smith/9th Street F and G train station in the Gowanus area of Brooklyn. My particular material was embossed crafting paperwhich led me to weaving. I then extracted performative qualities from the weave that I located both within program and on site. Throughout the semester much emphasis was placed on material logic, program design, and site analysis. This provided a formula for design that often presented new, unseen opportunities and generated hybrid conditions.

You will then �nd three computer graphics projects, completed during my �rst semester. The �rst two projets concerned themselves withdeforming and articulating a shell, one through a straightforward construction process and another that evolved from a section. The thirdproject was a study and animation of an architectural detail. Such a project, as you will see, lent itself to artistic license.

In my second semester studio I designed a Montessori school on a site in the St. George neighborhood of Staten Island. In directconnection with Montessori theory, which promotes the use of hands in learning, and theories about embodied cognition, which stipulatethat certain types of knowledge only come through physical movements, I developed a Montessori Garden School. The building ismodular, allowing for each classroom to have a garden and also maximize exposure to sunlight.

The next project is an enevelope designed for the Maison Domino where I used a wooden slat design to create a rain screen around aglass encased concrete structure.

The playground sculptures are part of a Structures project where we interactively designed with students at Public School 50, an elementaryschool in Staten Island. Working with a group of peers and students we submitted two designs to a jury. The �rst is climbing structure thatincorporated the outline of people standing in a circle. The second is an animation of an undulating deck that spells out “PS50”.

Next you will �nd two drawing projects from a summer class at Pratt. The �rst uses a single unit that morphs to create a landscape.The second explores how line can represent movement as air passes through a cloth.

My third semester studio project was a mixed-use building with light manufacturing, commercial and residential. The building draws inspiration from the surrounding neighborhood, Williamsburgh, Brooklyn, and its thriving bike culture. A bike ramp leads up into the building connectingboth the shops that comprise the bike factory and small studio apartments for those wishing to have direct access from their apartment to thebike ramp. More traditional units are o� the ramp but connected to it by bike parking on each �oor.

You will then �nd a design for indoor and outdoor mechanical systems for a commercial space, completed as part of a semester-long groupproject.

Finally, you will �nd rednerings, plans, and elevations for a Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Facility in Las Vegas, completed as part of a semester-long group project, part of the fourth semester studio at Pratt. The studio demanded both a rigorous design intent and challenged students to create novel, hybrid spaces that would lend something new to the Las Vegas experience.

Material Aggregation: Weave

Low TensionHigh PermeabilitySpontaneous Volume

High TensionLow PermeabilityControlled Volume

Material Qualities

Problems: Solutions:

Gowanus Canal is pollutedwith sewage overflow, industrial toxins, and runoff. -------->

Green Roof with Water Filtration System.

Area is designed for car and commercial shipping, inhospitableto other forms of transportation.

Provide increased accessibility (ramps, parking) and amenities (cafe, public restroom) for pedestrians, cyclists, and recreational boaters.-------->

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Bike Parking/Ramp

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Boat Parking/Ramp

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10Café

PermeabilityTensionVolume 0

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Ticketing

PermeabilityTensionVolume

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Bathroom

PermeabilityTensionVolume

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Green Roof/Water Filtration

PermeabilityTensionVolume

Programmatic Analysis and Qualities

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Volume

Tension

Permeability

Site Analysis: Elevated Tracks

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Volume

Tension

Permeability

Site Analysis: Under-Area

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Permeability

Canal Park Parking Lot

Canal Park Parking Lot

Canal Park Parking Lot

Site Analysis: Landscape

Proposed Subway Station

Green Roof #2Cafe/Bike Parking

Green Roof #1/Boat ParkingUtilizing Existing Structure

Longitudinal Section

Transverse Section

Horizontal Section

Elevation

Longitudinal Section

Plan

Differential Surface

Articulated Shell

Animation of an Architectural Detail: Santiago Calatrava’s L’Hemisfèric, Valencia, Spain

Montessori Garden School

Montessori Garden School

Transverse Section

Longitudinal Section

1st Floor

2nd Floor

3rd Floor

Montessori Garden School

Roof

2nd Floor

1st Floor

Front Elevation

Rear Elevation

Side Elevation #1

Side Elevation #2

Maison Domino Envelope

Transverse SectionLongitudinal Section

Maison Domino Envelope

Wall Detail (1” = 1’)

Maison Domino Envelope

Playground Sculpture I

Playground Sculpture II Animation

Morphing Landscape

Air Moving Through Cloth

Bike Factory and Residences, Williamsburgh, Brooklyn

A bicycle must be leaned while cornering to prevent it from falling outward due to the generation of centrifugal force. The balance of centrifugal force due to cornering, and the bicycle’s downward force due to its weight, act through the bicycle/operator combined center of mass and must intersect a line that connects the front and rear tire contact points.

Based upon a design speed of 12mph and a desirable maximum lean angle of 15 degrees, the minimum radii of curvature for the path is 36ft.

Grades greater than 5 percent are undesirable because the ascents se some bicyclists to exceed the speeds at which they are competent or comfortable. (5-6% for up to 800 ft; 7% for up to 400ft; 8% for up to 300ft; 9% for up to 200 ft; 10% for up to 100ft; 11+% for up to 50ft;

Horizontal Alignment

Grade

Stopping Sight Distance

6mph12mph

20mph

25mph

30mph

DescendingAscending

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0 5 10 15 20Grade (%)

Stop

ping

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ht D

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nce

(ft)

Grade of 1:20 (5%)Stopping Sight Distance of 60ft

Eye Object

Stopping Sight Distance

Line of Sight

Obstruction

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θ

Radius of Curvature

Bike Ramp Design

Retail

Brewery

Welding

FrameForkRacksBaskets

Paint Shop

SprayPowdercoat

Import Components

Raw Materials (Bike)Raw Materials (Clothes)Bike ComponentsBike Accessories

Seamstress

ClothesCustom Luggage

Mechanical Shop

AssemblyWheel BuildingSuspension TuningRepairRecycling Program

Fabrication

In-House Components

Electrical

Electrical BikesRepairBattery Sales and Charging

Urban Bike Center - Creating a culture that replaces the car

Bike Factory Organization

Fabrication Shop

RetailBrewery

ImportsResidential Laundry/Storage

General Storage/Mechanical

BreweryStorage

Bike Ramp Exit

Loading Dock

Electric Bikes

Mechanical Shop

Seamstress

Courtyard

BikeParking

BikeRamp

Regular Apartments

Bike Apartments

BikeRamp

Paint Shop

BikeParking

Regular Apartments

Bike Apartments

BikeRamp

BikeParking

Regular Apartments

Bike Apartments

BikeRamp

RoofTerrace

RoofTerrace

Regular Apartments

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Bike Factory and Residences, Williamsburgh, Brooklyn

Bike Factory and Residences, Williamsburgh, Brooklyn

Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Facility, Las Vegas, Nevada

NEW

S

Cirque Du Soleil FlagshipEntertainment Center

2900 Las Vegas Blvd SLas Vegas, NV 89104

36 08’ N115 09’ W

elev. 2066 ft

A101

Scale 1/32” = 1’

N

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

REVISIONS:1.______________________2.______________________3.______________________4.______________________5.______________________6.______________________

Pratt InstituteARCH 623

CAP STUDIO

spring 2010

GREG OKSHTEYN

kristin bennettjim fenzel

james williams

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

scale: 1/32” = 1’1

Men’s Public Locker Room Women’s Public Locker Room

Proshop/Retail Proshop/Gallery

Atrium/Gallery

TicketBooth

Gallery/Retail

Night Club Kitchen

Night Club Lounge

Restaurant Kitchen

Performance Kitchen

RestaurantRestaurant

Outdoor Trapezeat -3’

Loading DockMechanical RoomOutdoor Practice SpaceOutdoorAeralPractice Space

Vertical BarEntrance Opening

+ 3’

+ 3’

+ 3’

+ 3’

+ 3’

280’

183’6”

1 2 3 4 4.9 6 7 8 8.9 9.9 11.1 11.9 13.1 13.9 15

1.9 3.1 3.9 4.1 5.9 6.1 7.1 8.1 12.1

A

B.1B

B.9 C

C.9 D

D.9 F

F.9 G

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H.9 I

J

1 A303

2A302

1A302

2A301

1A301

NEW

S

Cirque Du Soleil FlagshipEntertainment Center

2900 Las Vegas Blvd SLas Vegas, NV 89104

36 08’ N115 09’ W

elev. 2066 ft

A102

Scale 1/32” = 1’

N

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

REVISIONS:1.______________________2.______________________3.______________________4.______________________5.______________________6.______________________

Pratt InstituteARCH 623

CAP STUDIO

spring 2010

GREG OKSHTEYN

kristin bennettjim fenzel

james williams

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

scale: 1/32” = 1’1

1 2 3 4 4.8 6 7 8 8.8 9.8 11.2 11.8 13.2 13.8 15

1.8 3.2 3.8 4.2 5.8 6.2 7.2 8.2 12.2

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B.2

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D.8 F

F.8 G

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1 A303

2A302

1A302

2A301

1A301

Men’s Performer Locker Room Women’s Performer Locker Room

Retail

Outdoor Night Club

Night Club

Night Club Entrance

Restaurant Waiting Room

Restaurant

V.I.P. Lounge Entrance

Entrance Lobby

Classroom

9’

9’

9’

Viewing Ramp

280’

183’6”

Restaurant

NEW

S

Cirque Du Soleil FlagshipEntertainment Center

2900 Las Vegas Blvd SLas Vegas, NV 89104

36 08’ N115 09’ W

elev. 2066 ft

A103

Scale 1/32” = 1’

N

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

REVISIONS:1.______________________2.______________________3.______________________4.______________________5.______________________6.______________________

Pratt InstituteARCH 623

CAP STUDIO

spring 2010

GREG OKSHTEYN

kristin bennettjim fenzel

james williams

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

scale: 1/32” = 1’1

Men’s Performer Dressing Rooms Women’s Performer Dressing Rooms

Open Floor O�ces

Practice Spaceat 17’6”

Classroom

Practice Space

Restaurant

V.I.P. Lounge

Dance Floorat 17’6

Outdoor Lounge

Outdoor Lounge

Bar

Outdoor Practice Spaceat 17’6”

Outdoor Restaurant

1 2 3 4 4.7 6 7 8 8.7 9.7 11.3 11.7 13.3 13.7 15

1.7 3.3 3.7 4.3 5.7 6.3 7.3 8.3 12.3

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B.3

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B.7C

C.7D

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F.7G

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1 A303

2A302

1A302

2A301

1A301

280’

183’6”

80’

56’

47’

SECTION

scale: 1/16” = 1’0”1

NEW

S

Cirque Du Soleil FlagshipEntertainment Center

2900 Las Vegas Blvd SLas Vegas, NV 89104

36 08’ N115 09’ W

elev. 2066 ft

A302

Scale 1/16” = 1’ 0”

N

SECTIONS

REVISIONS:1.______________________2.______________________3.______________________4.______________________5.______________________6.______________________

Pratt InstituteARCH 623

CAP STUDIO

spring 2010

GREG OKSHTEYN

kristin bennettjim fenzel

james williams

SECTION

scale: 1/16” = 1’0”2

ABCDEFGHI

SECTION

scale: 1/16” = 1’0”1

NEW

S

Cirque Du Soleil FlagshipEntertainment Center

2900 Las Vegas Blvd SLas Vegas, NV 89104

36 08’ N115 09’ W

elev. 2066 ft

A303

Scale 1/16” = 1’ 0”

N

SECTIONS

REVISIONS:1.______________________2.______________________3.______________________4.______________________5.______________________6.______________________

Pratt InstituteARCH 623

CAP STUDIO

spring 2010

GREG OKSHTEYN

kristin bennettjim fenzel

james williams

A B C D E F G H I

Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Facility, Las Vegas, Nevada

Entry Exit

Restaurant Nightclub

Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Facility, Las Vegas, Nevada

Northwest View

Northeast View Site

Southwest View