portfolio

1 FOLDED PLATE

2 ECO - RESORT

3 ARCHITECTURAL TILES

4 COMMUNITY CENTER AND POOL

5 SENDAI MEDIATHEQUE REPARAMETERIZATION

Nicholas Welch ConnellUSC Barch 2012

Email : [email protected] : 425 - 269 - 6974

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Folded Plate | exPloring Parametrics, tiling, and Form making in the context oF Vertical FarmingUsc arch 2011

FOLDED PLATE Is a dual core vertical farm placed on 4th and hill st, also known as angels hill, in downtown Los Angeles. The project was conceptualized as a series of per-formative layers which work synergistically to create an efficient vertical farm. The core of each tower is filled with vertical circulation connected to tight rings of horizontal circulation. The next layer is comprised of an interweaving, parametrically driven, structural diagrid. The thin dense structural piping allows light to filter into the interior evenly without inhibition from other bulkier structural elements. The third layer is a two part modular panelized field.

The panels are separated into those which receive sunlight the majority of the year, and those which most often receive only diffuse light. The shape and orientation of the building in combination with the bi-layer system creates a predictable growing environment. Ultimately this allows easier growing and testing within the facilities. The final layer contains a series of motorized reflective fins which help to regulate temperature by either reflecting diffuse light into the building or by closing up to provide shade. At night the fins may move independently to provide a beautiful and unique choreographed spectacle within downtown Los Angeles.

ENTRANCE AT NIGHT

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Folded Plate | exPloring Parametrics, tiling, and Form making in the context oF Vertical FarmingUsc arch 2011 3

Forms generated Using rhino & grasshoPPer nick connell

Computers, and more specifically parametrics, are enabling architects to achieve a formal complexity which was nearly impossible in the past. With the heightened accessibility and increasing pedestrian use of parametrics, the as-sociation between complexity and large famous firms will become a thing of the past.



Fish run:Lined with organic, nontoxic materials that protects the fish from harmful bacteria. Typically tanks contain approximately one fish per gallon and can easily hold over 25,000 fish at any given time. A fish will complete its cycle from rearing to harvest in only nine months. Often there are a number of tanks which the fish move through as they age allowing for cyclical harvest-ing.

Water is pumped to a drip system which evenly distributes the nutrient filled water into the growing medium (often gravel). The bacteria in the plants breaks down the impurities leaving nitrogen, an essentail nutrient for most plants. Plants such as watercress are often planted as a small portion of the crop strategically to filter and prime the water for the rest of the harvestable crop.

Growth Beds:Each growing bed is angled slightly so the water flows away from the drip system and into the next growth panel. Regulators between panels monitor and control the flow of water which passes from one side of the building to the other, mimicking the natural slope of the site.

x2300

Hydroponic Grow Pannel Pairs

Return Line:Clean, aerated water flows from the grow beds back into the fish run refreshing and oxygenating the water.

Chemical Balance:Fish are fed food and produce Ammonia rich waste. Too much waste is toxic for the fish, but they can withstand high levels of Nitrates. The bacteria, which cultures in the grow beds as well as the fish tank, breaks down this Ammonia into Nitrites and then Nitrates. Plants take in the converted Mitrates as nutrients. The nutrients act as a fertilizer to the plants.

Bio Filter:Traps solids from the water and uses micro organisms to help preprocess the fish waste and uneaten food before passing it to the plant beds.

Cone Soil Seperator

Swirl Filter

Swirl Filter + Additive Tank

Desgassing Tank

Bio Filter




x2300





Cone Soil Seperator

Swirl Filter


Desgassing Tank

Bio Filter





x2300





Cone Soil Seperator

Swirl Filter


Desgassing Tank

Bio Filter




x2300





Cone Soil Seperator

Swirl Filter


Desgassing Tank

Bio Filter

CLOSED SYSTEM AQUAPONICS

COURTYARD INTERIOR

5TH FLOOR LOBBY




SITE



STRUCTURE

COMMERCIAL VS LAB USE

PROGRAM

CIRCULATION

REFLECTIVEFINS

View driving down Hill St. at Night


To show the expansive yet dense nature of the interior atrium an anaglyphic processes was used for the renderings

CLASSROOM

CLASSROOM

LAB

PLAN CUT // 4TH FLOOR_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Folded Plate | exPloring Parametrics, tiling, and Form making in the context oF Vertical FarmingUsc arch 2011 11


[The Garden]

Malaysian Community Center

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________eco - resort | exPloring cUltUrally sensitiVe design, eco toUrism, & non-VisUal architectUral exPeriences Usc arch 2011

Malaysian Community Center


nick connell

concePtUal section:showing the relation oF sPace to lake kenyir in terengganU, malaysia

13

aFter liVing in malaysia and exPloring the coUntry For oVer two months i can honestly say that malaysia is a Fascinating coUntry with a diVerse and rich history. this backgroUnd has generated what one coUld only describe as UniqUe cUltUre. Until only relatiVely recently malay-sia was Part oF the long line oF british colonial occUPa-tions in soUth east asia. UPon becoming an indePendent coUnty, the PeoPle haVe strUggled to deFine themselVes both as an international economic Force and as a UniFied cUltUre. oUr Project was to design a commUnity center and eco-toUrist resort For the malaysian goVernment that reFlected the diVersity oF cUltUre, as well as ben-eFited the local commUnity.

when malaysia gained indePendence in 1957 the qUes-tion oF which ethnic backgroUnd woUld rUle became a concern. since mUch oF the coUntry was essentially segregated dUring british rUle; the malaysians, chinese, and indian/other neVer adoPted the Familiar american melting Pot theory. as a resUlt there are seParate edUcational systems, liVing districts, banks, religioUs institUtions, langUages, and Food.

aFter researching the asPects oF local Farming, Food, and medicinal belieFs in the region oF terengganU i decided to incorPorate the soUth east asian cUltUre oF sPices into my design. eastern sPices as a concePt em-body more than jUst their simPle Use in Food. they haVe become a way to identiFy and celebrate UniqUe cUltUres all throUghoUt asia, since each cUltUre has their own UniqUe Practices regarding medicinal sPices, cooking, and giFt giVing.

local craFts

malaysian rainForest are home to many natUral Forms oF medicine

the area oF terengganU is able to sUPPort a Variety oF troPical FrUit

A Brief Background:

Food is a central activity of mankind and one of the single most significant trademarks of a culture.

- Mark Kurlansky

in a traditional hoUse a Person enters throUgh a central coVered sPace known as the selang into the central actiVity room known as the rUmah ibU. in many traditional homes this room is Partitioned oFF at night to allow For PriVacy dUring sleeP. the hoUsing in this Project reFlects both tyPologies acknowledging the aPPeal oF the chalet to the Foreign toUr-ist, while also ProViding a series oF small rooms seParated by screens similar to jaPanese shoji screens.

one oF the Prescribed Programs For the Project was hoUsing For both day triPPers and For Foreign traVelers. Unlike many oF the other resorts in the area which hoUse all oF their gUest in chalets, there was care to stUdy traditional malay hoUsing when designing the resort.

a larger Family may rent more sPace in a screened system

Program was diVided into FoUr categories:transPortation, PUblic hoUsing. market, & PriVate hoUsing (From right to leFt)



nick connell 15

concern For the local PeoPle known by some as the orang asli was one oF the toP Priorities in choosing to inclUde sPices.

ProPosal:interactiVe sPice garden with lab and PUblic market

long term goals:- beneFit the locals by incorPorating local craFt- ProVide meaningFUl work For the commUnity, as well as edUcating the Farmers throUgh the lab research- edUcate Visitors and locals aboUt soil, air, and water cleanliness throUgh sUstainable and eco-Friendly Farming Practices

- ProVide job oPPortUnities that generate direct income For the locals- PreserVation oF biodiVersity and the oPPortUnity to stUdy local Flora/FaUna- cUltUral exPosUre to Foreign traVelers- Utilize the disPlay and PUblic sPace

when Presenting to the malaysian goVernment it was imPortant to also sell the recreational asPect oF the Project. this rendering and diagram attemPt to bridge the gaP between a Potentially edUcational and cUltUral destination, and an exciting and relaxing Vacation.



nick connell 17

It is about celebrating the culture of food, of sharing the extraordinary knowledge, developed over millennia, of the traditions involved with quality food production, of the sheer joy and pleasure of consuming food together. Especially within the context of family life, this

has to be one of the highest forms of cultural activity.

- Prince Charles

Inspiration for much of the patterning in the garden and on the facade was inspired by artist such as Paul Klee.His understanding of texture and color became an inspiration to design a painting or fabric with spices

in which the buildings could then exist.



nick connell 19

l-shaPed Unit allows For natUral Ventilation and Personal gardens For each Unit. asPects oF sight, smell, and eVen toUch are UniqUe to each chalet since they are

sUrroUnded by the Varying Pattern oF the sPice garden.

RATTANrattan weaVing is a large Part oF the cUltUre in terengganU. aFter exPeriencing the intense rainFall malaysia FreqUently exPeriences, it became a Priority to ProVide not only coVered walkways, bUt also lateral Protection. additionally the skin ProVides solar Protection while maintaining a leVel oF Porosity For natUral Ventilation to occUr. the skin was organized into two Panel sizes which woUld both be simPle and inexPensiVe to rePlace in the FUtUre. the Panels can be ProPPed oPen to allow greater natUral Ventilation throUgh the sPace.


RATTAN_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________eco - resort | exPloring cUltUrally sensitiVe design, eco toUrism, & non-VisUal architectUral exPeriences Usc arch 2011

nick connell 21

diFFerent Facade PermUtations

the main entrance to the resort Uses traditional stilt Piling constrUction to eleVate the rattan wraPPed accommodations aboVe. this giVes the gUest a sense oF comPression on entering the lobby. the combination oF the low ceiling and the well deFined retaining wall Frames the gUests View oF the lake kenyir.

entrance View

interior oF greenhoUse sPace



nick connell 23

TO

UR

SM

E C O

[DANZER]

TheoreticalArchitecture

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________architectUral tiles | exPloring abstract exPeriential design, natUral Formal systems, & mathematical generation Usc arch 2011


Forms generated Using rhino, digital Project, & aUtocad nick connell 25

[Danzer] explores the role of replicability and structure in architectural form through explorations in materials, pro-grammatic variation, and unique site manipulation. Studies included the aid of both biological and mathematical pat-terning systems. The abstract final structure derives from a three piece danzer tiling method constructed out of steel and ETFE for performance. Drawing inspiration from multiple structural systems such as naturally occurring biological systems, car crash frames, and mobile architecture precedents, [Danzer] expresses multiple layers of frames working together to form a large network.

Voronoi

Voronoi Interior Spaces

Bubble Structure

Aperiodic Tiling

First Attempt at a Parametrically Driven, Extruded, 3D

Model Derived from Danzer Tiles


Manufactured Foam Nano

Steel Foam

Manufactured Foam Micro

Bio Tissue Foam


Steel Foam


Bio Tissue Foam


Steel Foam


Bio Tissue Foam


Steel Foam


Bio Tissue Foam


Steel Foam


Bio Tissue Foam


Steel Foam


Bio Tissue Foam



Numerous studies were done of the structure in both artificial and biological foam. Foam as a structure implies form and space which work together synergistically to form a greater network. When replicated foam structures have no implied be-ginning or end. This property of replicability as well as efficiency became the driving ideas behind this formal and experiential

exploration.

Diagrams exaggerate space / form relationships: Steel Foam, Synthetic Foam, & Bio-Foam/Tissue

Aperiodic tiling also known as Danzer tiling was chosen for the primary formal system. The final tile setcomposed of 3 unique tiles was designed and replicated in a controlled pattern, rather than the seemingly random or complex logic found in naturally occurring precedents.

DC

B

A

EF

Cable SupportETFESteel Frame w/ Support PipingPolymer Mould FrameProtective CoverFiber Reinforced Frame

ABCDEF

Frame Assembly System

A

B

C

D

E


DC

B

A

EF

Cable SupportETFESteel Frame w/ Support PipingPolymer Mould FrameProtective CoverFiber Reinforced Frame

ABCDEF

Frame Assembly System

A

B

C

D

E



It is insufficient for architecture today to directly implement an existing building typology; it instead requires

architects to carefully examine the whole area with new interventions and programmatic typologies.

-Zaha Hadid

Tile Transportation

Unit In Motion

Tiled Landscape

For Units to replicate they must be transportable with a method of addition and in certain cases subtraction.


Unit In Motion



Entrance \ ParkingSocial EatingWatching GrowSleepingReading Working Storage Meditate/ Relax

South-East Elevation

West Elevation

Entrance \ ParkingSocial EatingWatching GrowSleepingReading Working Storage Meditate/ Relax

South-East Elevation

West Elevation

. These diagrams attempt to explore the theoretical use of the three dimensional danzer system by generating a tiled landscape that the individual tiles could be rolled over and onto the form. The different programs act as clustersof individual pods which house their ownunique pieces of program, which whencombine all interact with each othergiven the danzer tile configuration. Thiscreates the opportunity for multipleinteractions between separate pieces ofprogram. Since the tiles are on a dynamicframing system, the relationship betweeneach other and the undulating landscapecan change when needed, forcing the tilesto shift. Despite the dense interactionbetween the pods, privacy is maintainedthrough varying degrees of opacity betweendifferent panels in addition to leveland height changes . The green podscollect energy in addition to recycling rainwater for hydroponic growth, lifting thegreen landscape up into the structure.

Possible Program


growth



hydroPonicPart of the exploration for this project was the different potential programs that one of these tiles could contain. Hy-

droponic systems and the necessary surfaces for growth drove the development of the smallest tile in the danzer set. Hydro- ponics offer a number of benefits to urban farming including a reduction in weight due to the lack of soil, lower water and nutrient costs due to recycling, more accurate control over the nutrients introduced into the water system, no pollution introduced into the environment due to a cyclical and controlled system, and engineered planting contain-

ers allow for cleaning to prevent disease.

THE DIVE

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________commUnity center and PoolUsc arch 2011

THE DIVE


nick connell 35

PROGRAM:

The goal of this project was to design a community center for Boyle Heights in Los Angeles. The new center needed to both be professional while at the same time approachable and functional

to the average person in the community.After researching the average income and the local amenities, the hybrid program of a pool

was added to the generic office and multipurpose room program found in most community centers. Water therefore became a driving factor in the way the building was organized, and the

way specific experiences were designed.

View of the Central Hallway: Edges of the walkway above are tapered to frame the sky, in essence creating a Turrell effect emphasizing the long reflection pool

Trombe Wall

Concept Rendering of a Water Garden


1/4 Section

1/8 Section

1/8 Section

1/8 Elevation

B

A

C1/4 Section

1/8 Section

1/8 Section

1/8 Elevation

B

A

C

Concept Rendering of a Water Garden


nick connell 37

1/4 Section

1/8 Section

1/8 Section

1/8 Elevation

B

A

C1/4 Section

1/8 Section

1/8 Section

1/8 Elevation

B

A

C

Section Through Pool Walkway

Section Through Trombe Wall Human Scale

Elevation of Trombe WallCustom Angled Polygal System



nick connell 39

Pool

Central Courtyard

A Re-Parametrerization of the Project:

Sendai Mediatheque_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Parametric design | reconcePtUalizing Formal systems. PolyValency, & PercePtion oF designUsc arch 2011

Architecture has to follow the diversity of society, and has to reflect that a simple square or cube cant contain that

diversity

-Toyo Ito

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Parametric design | reconcePtUalizing Formal systems. PolyValency, & PercePtion oF designUsc arch 2011

images insPired by toyo itos sendai mediatheqUe nick connell 41

Ito believes that architecture has become encumbered with irrelevant symbolism. He seeks to erase conventional

meaning from his works through minimalist tactics and the straightforward use of easily available industrial materials.

He has developed an aesthetic of lightweight, permeable membranes which he believes is most suited to an increas-

ingly mobile and informal urban lifestyle.

What is the firms basic philosophy?

Unit

The unit in this exploration was instantiated as a paneling system over a parametric version of Itos Diagrid columns. The panels are driven by both the inputs they receive from the varying columns, and from a separate Excel sheet.


What is the firms basic philosophy?



Ito is more concerned with the potential of common construction materials and methods of using them to achieve complicated forms to reflect his view on society. Although much of the structure is already optimized through the shifting of open-ings in the floor plates and the specific relations of the existing cores, parametric variation could allow for a much more complex and controlled formal experience

potentially enhancing the initial design concepts.

Could parametrics play a role in the future discourse of Itos firm?

Some of the firms work could very easily be parameterized to increase the efficiency and complexity of their work. For this project specifically they reduce their restrictions by using structural steel tubing which is

relatively easy to cut on site and is widely available reducing their concern for accuracy in the manufacturing process. It wasnt until work with ARUP and partners that Ito began to implement obvious parameterization

into his project out of necessity.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________Parametric design | reconcePtUalizing Formal systems. PolyValency, & PercePtion oF designUsc arch 2011

__________________________________________________________________________________________________Parametric design | reconcePtUalizing Formal systems. PolyValency, & PercePtion oF designUsc arch 2011


-Toyo Ito -Toyo Ito

ITERATIVE: Formally Variational:

For the most part the program is inherently extremely flexible allowing the columns to expand, contract, or snake based on the support functions included inside of them.

Theoretically the columns could increase in size and be placed in any random configuration inside the build-ing, however to reduce the floor plates the columns follow a loose grid.

Now 21st century is more of a condition where living and working, playing and working, they are all intermingled. You play while you work. You do your living while you work. So, in this sort of confused condition of contemporary city life, I feel like I want to bring that into my architecture.




OPTIMIZATION:

Rather than researching and developing a stronger material Toyo Ito chose to explore the formal potentials of the Diagrid. Unlike later precedents

such as the Prada building which pushes the Diagrid to the skin as a structural exoskeleton, SM supports itself with reticular Diagrid tubular columns. These columns house many of the build-

ings services such as stairs, elevators, mechanical equipment, and light shafts.

A Parametr ic T i l ing System: DesignExp lorat ion and Design Constra ints


in Progress...

portfolio

Documents

vertical circulation

efficient vertical farm

dual core vertical farm

pedestrian use of parametrics

final layer

diffuse light

downtown los angeles

bilayer system