Lauren ConnellCarnegie Mellon University, B.Arch

Note: All architectural projects are academic and individual unless otherwise noted. All drawings and representations presented are self-produced or collaborative when working with a partner.

Contents

Venice Residence

Everyville

34 Boulevard of the Allies

Frick Park Spa

Bloomfield Library

Prada Store / Soup Kitchen

Remaking Hazelwood

Bench for Two

Museum of Steel

Mobile Library

Freehand Sketches

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Venice Residence

What if the private courtyard of the traditional Venetian palazzo could become a main public space encouraging interaction between local Venetians and visiting students? Based on the manipula-tion and rotation of the classic palazzo, the form of the residence hall is conceived of by turning the traditionally most private outdoor space horizontally and celebrating it as an open center for interaction.

The façade is comprised mainly of two distinct parts – the interior which is primarily translucent and the exterior which is comprised of a concrete skin. Along the water the façade is organized in a grid with dimensions set at 80 cm. The variations in the elevation are then implemented based on built in furniture located along the exte-rior walls providing transparency when the activity requires light and opaque fill where the function is more private.

Deconstructing the Palazzo

1 Summer ‘08

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3 Summer ‘08

With bedroom dimensions of four meters by four meters by four meters high, the room becomes a space that is dealt with utilizing all three dimen-sions. Beds, drawers, shelves, closets and ladders are all built within the walls to utilize the height of the space in addition to the typical floor space. Looking more closely at the typical unit the relationship between the exterior and interior becomes a point of focus and creates a strong integration of interior and exterior. With three beds, a full size closet, and large desk space each apartment al-lows enough room to house sixteen students.

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5 Summer ‘08

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Everyville

How do we define identity in terms of the modern day city? Cur-rently the trend seems to be defin-ing place through iconographic architectural form. In creating an image for Everyville, how-ever, identity is created through anonymity as an experiment in community interaction. Rather than looking at architecture as a formal study of space, architecture is defined by a series of rules and guidelines that allow for commu-nity response and growth.

The pristine white box, the most basic form, is used as a response to the overt formalism that typically used when attempting to create identity. By implementing utopian ideals of equal space allocation for all residents and giving the form identity through undefined character, the individual buildings begin to represent a monument of, by and for the people. As the necessities of the community evolve and spaces begin to multi-ply the idea of monument begins to disintegrate ultimately result-ing in the “anti-monument.” The paradox created by the implemen-tation of rules to a functionless space allows the building to grow as a form of structured chaos.

Identity Through Anonymity

Each Everyville resident will be al-lotted space of 16 sq m regardless of age, economic or social status.

In determining the distribution of space, each citizen will be entered in a lottery to determine location.

Every 5 years, each resident will receive an additional 8 sq m of space, the location of which will again be selected through lottery.

Development outside of the build-ing envelope is permitted and even encouraged.

Expansion of space must result from bartering and/or purchase from fellow residents, the munici-pality can and will not sell spaces under any circumstances.

Integration of multiple spaces must maintain at least one path to any adjacent spaces not under contraction of expanding party.

Space is not intended for resi-dential use; however, if occupants choose this route, they must be accommodating in fulfilling the steps associated with the needs of residential occupancy.

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7 Summer ‘08

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Sectional Perspective Year 10

9 Summer ‘08

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34 Boulevard of the Allies

How can the desolate, under used Pittsburgh Riverfront be re-linked to the downtown community? By creating a series of connections under the highway to the water, up to the adjacent courtyard, and mitigating the transition from the open parkscape of Point State Park to that of dense urban fabric of the city the site at the culmination of the Fort Pitt tunnel is a nexus for connections. The program of a mixed use skyscraper with ground floor retail, therefore must serve to bridge the gap between public urban space and private interior space. Based on the low popula-tion of residential and retail in the area the program must establish its own critical mass through a series of connections to these site assets. Retail lines two ramps forming connections to the park and waterfront. Pedestrian traffic is draw in from the street and guided through the ground floor allowing public access to these once inaccessible destinations and allowing the building to become a catalyst for further downtown growth.

Synergistic Landscape

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5. Building as Daylight: Opti-mize living conditions with southern facing balconies in residential and office settings to take advantage of exterior space and light while shading from harsh overheating.

4. Building as Ventilation: Optimize naturally ventilation through atrium space by ori-enting major openings to the south-west to take advantage of summer wind conditions

3. Building as Catchment: Take Advantage of rainwater catchment by collecting in below grade cistern while al-lowing for natural daylight to enter parking structure

2. Building as Entry: establish parking within building at the exterior portions of the site reversing the dynamic between pedestrian and vehicular traffic – first impres-sion of building

1. Building as Circulation: estab-lish connections to existing site features including Point State Park, Westinghouse Courtyard, Riverfront

The typical pedestrian and vehicular traffic path is reversed in the logi-cal sense. The pedestrian path leads downward toward the riverfront while the parking ramps helically upward. By reversing this dynamic the parking is allowed to be naturally daylight and gives a visitor arriv-ing in Pittsburgh for the first time a unique first impression of the building and panoramic view of the city. A rainwater collection glass funnel pulls additional light into the interior garage space as well as collects rainwater to be reused in the building. The interior of the park-ing ramp, lined with acoustic glass and becomes a five story lobby and seating area at the first floor retail level providing natural daylight that is pulled down through the struc-ture while creating an interesting relationship between inhabitants and the vehicular traffic entering and exiting the building.

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The main office floors are split in two by a large central atrium with a contoured grid-like structure that wraps the interior of the space. The 12-storey atrium is formally ad-dressed as a cut into the topographic floor plates revealing the stratifica-tion of the interior layers. Rotating around the atrium at a variety of floors the latice-like structure flat-tens out to provide bleacher seating and connecting a series of floors. The main office lobby beginning at the elevators is then located underneath this structure creating a multi-storey space with interesting patterns of shadow and light. The south-west orientation of the space is angled to catch wind during the summer months allowing the space to be cross-ventilated and make use of the stack effect. In the winter the space is heated with radiant floors and throughout the lattice-like concrete structure.

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PROGRAM ANALYSIS

PROPOSED BUILDING EXISTING CONDITIONS

Office Space

Atrium SpaceAmbient & Task LightingMixed Mode VentilationWeekdays 9-5

700,000 sq ftResidential

Shared public spaceAmbient & Task LightingMixed Mode Ventilation

100,000 sq ft - 40 CondosGreenspace

Programatic IntegrationNatural DaylightNatural Ventilation

Retail / Hospitality

Public SpaceNatural & AccentMixed Mode VentilationWeekdays, Weekends

50,000 sq ftVistor Center

Public SpaceNatural & AmbientMixed Mode VentilationWeekdays, Weekends

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Office Space

Residential

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Retail/Hospitality

Visitor Center

PROGRAM ANALYSIS

PROPOSED BUILDING EXISTING CONDITIONS

Office Space

Atrium SpaceAmbient & Task LightingMixed Mode VentilationWeekdays 9-5

700,000 sq ftResidential

Shared public spaceAmbient & Task LightingMixed Mode Ventilation

100,000 sq ft - 40 CondosGreenspace

Programatic IntegrationNatural DaylightNatural Ventilation

Retail / Hospitality

Public SpaceNatural & AccentMixed Mode VentilationWeekdays, Weekends

50,000 sq ftVistor Center

Public SpaceNatural & AmbientMixed Mode VentilationWeekdays, Weekends

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Frick Park Spa

What if a spa and recreation center was able to integrate the dynamic aspects of a workout into every facets of its building? Through a series of ramps connecting differ-ent programmatic elements and a play between the public-private nature of space, the Frick Park Spa is based conceptually and physically on a series of dynamic relationships.Reflecting specifically on these relationships and the concentra-tion of human occupancy are the spa’s pools. As the aquatic center increases in use and the water level in the main pool rises, the water is allowed to flow over the edge --creating a wall of water along the ramp to the leisure pool below. This creates a dialogue between the three pools, each flowing into the next terminating with the children’s pool at the low-est elevation.

Note: Project with Partner, all pictured drawings collaborative or self-produced.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Bloomfield Library

What if a public library in a dense, congested area could have the qualities of a tree? With a small ground floor footprint, the Bloomfield neighborhood library touches the ground as lightly as possible and helps to create public open space in the dense commer-cial district of the city.

Growing from movement patterns across the site, the library provides an exterior courtyard with a cafe, shaded patio area and second floor reading area. The ground floor with patio and small research area responds to the long cher-ished virtue of reading under the shade of a tree. Similar in nature to the effort and reward of climb-ing its branches, the ground floor of the building is met with a ramp that winds along the periphery engaging its visitors in a journey to the main floor reading space above.

The main floor of the space is clad with step-like folds in the ground plane that provide seating as well as shelves to house books. This more dynamic space gives the visitor a place to read in solitude. Another ramp continues upward to the green roof where, much like the top of a tree, the visitor can enjoy the view of downtown Bloomfield as well as an area to relax and read.

The Urban Tree

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CafeResearch Room

27 Spring ‘06

Rest Rooms

Mechanical Room

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Prada Store / Soup KitchenCraig Street, Pittsburgh, PA

What happens when two seemingly incongruent programmatic typologies collide? The apparent architectural disparity arising from the combina-tion of a Prada store and soup kitchen predominately arises when looking at the quality and atmosphere of the each space. The Prada store, tradition-ally cold and materialistic stands in stark contrast to the warmth—both conceptually and literally—of a soup kitchen. Instead of masking this differ-ence, however, one space is allowed to diffuse into the other at the threshold. The soup kitchen is therefore placed below allowing the warmth to diffuse into the Prada store. Through warm colored lights and steam within the walls, the warmth of the soup kitchen is diffused into the typically cold Prada store. From the soup kitchen one can-not look up and see the prada store, not because the idea of riches and prosperity is unattainable, but simply unimportant. The focus is placed on the warmth from the volunteers, the food and hope for a better future.

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Remaking HazelwoodCraig Street, Pittsburgh, PA

How can a Brownfield reclamation site along Pittsburgh’s riverfront be utilized to accommodate the struggling local community as well as support profit-making infrastruc-ture? The Remaking Hazelwood urban plan utilizes a balanced infusion of green space, commercial infrastructure, housing, industry and attraction. Through integration with the existing neighborhood and flooding the area with much needed capital, community, local jobs, and housing growth can all be supported.

The technological economies of Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center provide the initial capital and population for development. Using the site for much needed expansion of research facilities supported by the existing LTV steel building, the Hazelwood site is reinvented as a mixed use destination containing a hotel, live/work housing, conference/meeting facilities, fitness and leisure space, and light retail/commercial infrastructure. The existing round-house, once used for storage of lo-comotives, is re-adapted as a public exhibition and display of Carnegie Mellon’s robotics technology. The open nature of the existing archi-tecture creates a dialogue with the LTV building and forms an interstitial space used for public demonstra-tions and robotics testing.

Note: Project with Partner, all pictured drawings collaborative or self-produced.

35 Fall ‘07

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LTL Steel Building

37 Fall ‘07

With more technological and government entities moving in to support CMU and UPMC, housing for students, research-ers, and professors will migrate farther southward on the site. As these populations reach critical mass, they will begin to support re-growth and expansion of the Second Avenue central business district. The original north-south corridor will be supported by nodes of east-west growth, linking Second Avenue to the newly cre-ated parks and boardwalks at the edge of the river.

Roundhouse

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Overlooking the river’s edge, a complex of mixed-income hous-ing units serves as a terminus to the newly developed nodes of east-west growth. Continuing this concept of growth, the apartment units are designed as an open sys-tem of nodes with combinations of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units repeated in plan and section. As population increases over time, these nodes can be repeated infi-nitely down the shoreline.

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Bench for TwoWhite Oak

How can the static form of a bench respond to the dynamic interaction between two people? Tension is created when two things come very close to touch-ing, but never actually touch. When two strangers sit together on a bench that same tension is created. They sit next to each other somewhat unwillingly and the tight space forces them to be close without actually touching. This tension created between two people is reflected through a series of rectilinear planes that come close to touching, but never actually touch.

45 Spring ‘05

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47 Spring ‘05

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Freehand SketchesCarnegie Mellon University

A series of blind contour drawings, black and white pencil sketches exploring highlight and shadow, and constructed perspectives from models and around the Carnegie Mellon Campus.

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