Sowing the Seeds of an Invisible Presence
The term counter-plantation allowed for a revision of the enslaved and freed laborers who lived under the brutal regimes of enslavement and emancipation.
This unlocked possibilities of how to build a community with methods that were contradictory to the cruelty and excessive production of the plantation. Although the persons living and working on plantations were subject to strict discipline, the plantation allowed for forms of agency, no matter how minor.
The race and class inferiority of black workers within the social order of the plantation fostered the structure and growth of a system of social relations and a belief that places emphasis on unity, equality, and a positive outlook on the multiple cultural forms. Displacement of the West African slaves in the 17th century resulted in alternate notions of community, kinship and domesticity in Barbados.
The term counter-plantation allowed for a revision of the enslaved and freed laborers who lived under the brutal regimes of enslavement and emancipation.
This unlocked possibilities of how to build a community with methods that were contradictory to the cruelty and excessive production of the plantation. Although the persons living and working on plantations were subject to strict discipline, the plantation allowed for forms of agency, no matter how minor.
The race and class inferiority of black workers within the social order of the plantation fostered the structure and growth of a system of social relations and a belief that places emphasis on unity, equality, and a positive outlook on the multiple cultural forms. Displacement of the West African slaves in the 17th century resulted in alternate notions of community, kinship and domesticity in Barbados.
The Butterfly House
Tasked to design self sufficient, affordable housing for the people of Nicaragua residing in Martina Bustos, Costa Rica. This proposal aims to design a dwelling that is uncomplicated in form, easy to build, and quick to assemble while creating a livable, adaptable interior. Designing a small dwelling means that there is an increased need for efficiency. The additional opportunity for multiplicity makes the possibility of prefabrication more feasible, while influencing the quality and speed of construction.
By examining the relationship between interior and exterior, program, and environmental concerns in relation to prefabricated and easily assembled components, a minimal home with maximum function was created.
Tasked to design self sufficient, affordable housing for the people of Nicaragua residing in Martina Bustos, Costa Rica. This proposal aims to design a dwelling that is uncomplicated in form, easy to build, and quick to assemble while creating a livable, adaptable interior. Designing a small dwelling means that there is an increased need for efficiency. The additional opportunity for multiplicity makes the possibility of prefabrication more feasible, while influencing the quality and speed of construction.
By examining the relationship between interior and exterior, program, and environmental concerns in relation to prefabricated and easily assembled components, a minimal home with maximum function was created.
Joyful Program
With the completion of the Green Line Extension in Gilman Square, the neighborhood finally gained a spot on the Somerville map. Public transit creates a new demand for safe, accessible streets as well as an increased demand for nearby residential and commercial space.
One major goal of this project is to give gilman square an identity. One which values and benefits existing residents.
Gilman Square is densely populated with residential and civic development. However, even though there is a plethora of government related spaces, the area lacks community and commercial services, causing a zoning imbalance. Gilman Square residents crave a lively, exciting civic space which offers a mixture of services, employment opportunities, and cultural and transportation options.
With the completion of the Green Line Extension in Gilman Square, the neighborhood finally gained a spot on the Somerville map. Public transit creates a new demand for safe, accessible streets as well as an increased demand for nearby residential and commercial space.
One major goal of this project is to give gilman square an identity. One which values and benefits existing residents.
Gilman Square is densely populated with residential and civic development. However, even though there is a plethora of government related spaces, the area lacks community and commercial services, causing a zoning imbalance. Gilman Square residents crave a lively, exciting civic space which offers a mixture of services, employment opportunities, and cultural and transportation options.
Reassemble
Although wood is a renewable resource, deforestation is happening and this mass consumption of wood is due to development. Studying the after life scenarios of wood, it is clear that as architects we need to be more precious about our materials. What happens when something is out-dated? When something is ready to take its place? Is that existing structure demolished and are those materials taken straight to the landfill?
Designing for disassembly can be a new frontier in architecture to solve this issue and answer these questions.
This circular community intends to adopt the idea of designing for disassembly. Reusing and assembling materials so that they can be taken down and used again.
The demolition of the Apex building in Pawtucket, Rhode Island provides many materials for the projects. Metal structural members for the primary structure of the project, concrete aggregated and reused for slabs and foundations, asphalt aggregated and used for landscaping, and breeze blocks reused as paving. Additionally, all trees that are cleared on the site will be processed on site to be used in the structure.
Although wood is a renewable resource, deforestation is happening and this mass consumption of wood is due to development. Studying the after life scenarios of wood, it is clear that as architects we need to be more precious about our materials. What happens when something is out-dated? When something is ready to take its place? Is that existing structure demolished and are those materials taken straight to the landfill?
Designing for disassembly can be a new frontier in architecture to solve this issue and answer these questions.
This circular community intends to adopt the idea of designing for disassembly. Reusing and assembling materials so that they can be taken down and used again.
The demolition of the Apex building in Pawtucket, Rhode Island provides many materials for the projects. Metal structural members for the primary structure of the project, concrete aggregated and reused for slabs and foundations, asphalt aggregated and used for landscaping, and breeze blocks reused as paving. Additionally, all trees that are cleared on the site will be processed on site to be used in the structure.
Stagger
Staggering, slipping, swaying. My project is predicated around the idea of motion. Originally extracted from Gego’s drawings, the interpretation of movement through the use of lines inspired me to create a piece which embodied movement through a tectonic system employing multiple lines. This rhythmic tectonic system allows the structure to sway from side to side, permits slippage in order to create thresholds and withholds a staggering quality which allows for there to be a core geometric sequence. The structure is in motion and due to its dynamic cadence I strived to create a simplified, direct way of moving through the spaces in order to establish a balance.