Media
In a past life, I studied architecture and urban design at the University of Washington in Seattle. Some of these projects were part of that graduate program, while others were pursued on the side. Some have been built, and others were theoretical from start to finish. This is simply a sampling of works from various studios and contexts during that period (with the exception of these first few pencil, charcoal and pen drawings done as an undergraduate in philosophy at Carleton College).
Natural Systems Swimming Pool [Winter 2005]: This public pool project was designed for one of the many parks found throughout Seattle. Its primary goal was to engage with surrounding environments, from the level of individual swimmer experiences to larger sustainable scales. The proposal involved passive heating, cooling and ventilation systems as well as other green building strategies.
Sustainable Urban Art High School [Spring 2006]: Sited in the center of downtown Seattle, this project engaged both the external urban environment and internal creative spaces. A layered approach combined with a living wall established a transitional bridge for students as they moved up into the building and away from the surrounding city, only to encounter it again along the edges of each studio space. (Click to Enlarge)
Solid Wood Mahogany Desk [Summer 2006]: Crafted from a single raw piece of ribboned Honduras Mahogany, as much time was spent calculating the best way to divide the precious wood as was put into the cutting and construction of the final furniture piece. The resulting desk deals with solid-wood issues such as seasonal expansion and contraction, combining modern style and traditional construction techniques.
Temple of Light Memorial [Fall 2006]: A memorial to victims of a tragic shooting that took place in Seattle, this temple posed a unique set of difficulties at all stages of its design. First, it was ultimately a community project – the solution was less about designer ambition or personal opinion than factoring in the needs of the bereaved. Second, the structure was seven sided (with one side for each victim) – this asymmetry made the creation of plans, sections and the final object more difficult but ultimately essential to its success. After being displayed at Seattle Center, the piece was moved to the Black Rock Desert and burned at an annual arts festival which a number of the deceased had visited annually. (Click to Enlarge)
Centerpark – A Redesign for Seattle Center [Fall 2006]: Part architecture, part urban design, and entirely forward-thinking, this redesign for the puzzling space left over from Seattle’s long-past World’s Fair re-envisioned a space that could re-center the city. The solution combined literal layers of park, transportation and civic interaction space in order to give new meaning to an area too long left to evolve without singular purpose or meaning. (Click to Enlarge)
I still surprise myself whenever I do look back at any of this – not in the egotistical way, it just seems like I worked on these things decades ago, not years. The further I get away from it, however, the more I realize how much value I got from these design-related experiences – from visual communication skills and researching/writing practice to an ongoing love of hard work and sense of joy with each finished project. Anyway, it seemed about time I put a few up online – albeit somewhere a bit off of my usual beaten path.