christian snowden_graduate architecture portfolio

CHRISTIAN MICHAEL SNOWDEN

"You cannot simply put something new into a place. You have to absorb

what you see around you, what exists on the land, and then use that

knowledge along with contemporary thinking to interpret what you see."

Tadao Ando

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R E S I D E N C E S A N D R E TA I L AT 6 0 2 W E S TAUSTIN, TX

S AVA N N A H T R A I N T E R M I N A LSAVANNAH, GA

I N S T I T U T E F O R A L L S E A S O N SBOULDER, CO

M A I N S T R E E T S TAT I O NRICHMOND, VA

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M A U S O L E U MMODEL

R E S I D E N C E S A N D R E TA I L AT 6 0 2 W E S T

AUSTIN, TX

Austin, the capital of Texas, is a

culturally vibrant and liberal urban

center. City leaders established

the goal of having 25,000 people

living in the downtown area by 2015,

and have offered incentives for

residential buildings. Thus, there has

been an increase in construction of

contemporary mixed use buildings.

The current building trend in Austin

is consistent in style and materiality.

The project scope was to design a

residential building with retail space

occupying the first level. The site which

is located on the corner of 6th Street

and West Avenue is bound by shoal

creek on the west side. During the

concept stage I began to experiment

with particular building modules.

After understanding the way in which

these building modules interact and

fit together I built a model that began

to shift and pull individual planes on

multiple levels. The next step was to

add vertical planes to divide the shifting

planes into the units. I then established

a sense of the material palate most

used on similarly sized residential

and commercial buildings. There

were three main concerns during this

part of the process: privacy between

units, shading and natural ventilation.

CONCEPT MODEL

SITE PICTURES

SITE PLAN

1. Retail / Restuarant

2. Main Entry Lobby

3. Egress

4. Bridge to Businesses

5. Elevator

6. On-Street Parking

7. Entrance to Parking Garage

8. Pool

9. Shoal Creek

WEST AvENUE

SECOND FLOOR PLAN (TYPICAL)

PERSPECTIvE FROM ThE 6Th STREET BRIDGE

1 BEDROOM

1 BATh

BALCONY

870 SF

2 BEDROOM

2 BATh

2 BALCONYS

1400 SF

2 BEDROOM + STUDY

2 BATh

BALCONY

1610 SF

3 BEDROOM

2 BATh

2 BALCONYS

1680 SF

3D SECTION ShOWING TYPICAL FLOOR PLANS + PARKING GARAGE

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The envelope defines the shape and projection of the building. The skin went through a

number of variations, all of which incorporated Corten steel (pre-rusted). The vertical planes

helped with privacy but originally had too much mass to allow a breeze to penetrate. The

second envelope concept (pictured above) incorporated two layers that pushed and pulled

to create an interesting design.

The third envelope concept combined both of the previous concepts. This concept

incorporates a Corten mesh that occupies the voids left by the pushing and pulling of the

solid Corten steel panels. The result allows for shading, natural ventilation and privacy

between units.

EAST ELEvATION (ALONG WEST AvE)SOUTh ELEvATION (ALONG 6Th STREET)

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CORNER OF 6Th AND WEST AvE

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S AVA N N A H T R A I N T E R M I N A L

SAVANNAH, GA

The Savannah Train Terminal would

once again establish a central

transportation hub in the city’s historic

district. The terminal is situated on

Trustees Garden in the eastern side

of Savannah’s historic district. The

new train terminal design utilizes a

traffic pattern similar to an airport.

Coming down Bay Street heading east,

visitors and travelers would take the

ramp that begins to circle around the

terminal. Multiple drop- off points are

covered by the extension of the flowing

and expansive roof. After dropping

off travelers, vehicles may continue

to either the underground parking

garage or towards East Broad Street.

The western side of the site has been

re-developed as an area similar to

City Market (a thriving restaurant, art

gallery and bar location on the west

side of town).

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Trustees Garden originally was 10 acres of

agricultural gardens designed by the original

trustees of the Savannah settlement one month

after arriving. The cotton plant and peach tree

both trace their origins to this exact location.

The original Train Station in Savannah

was located on what is now Martin Luther

King Boulevard. It was demolished to make

the entrance of Interstate 16. The current

Amtrak station is located off Louisville Road

in a primarily industrial/warehouse area.

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BAY STREETE

PRESIDENTS STREET

SITE PLAN

URBAN FABRIC OF AREA

MAIN CONCOURSE LEvELUPPER LEvEL

MAIN TERMINAL

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MAIN APPROACh

DROP OFF AREA

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3D SECTION

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TRANSvERSE SECTION

EAST ELEvATION

The structure of the terminal consists of large spanning steel

members that rely on compression to successfully support the

massive roof. The two butterfly supports that connect to each

steel member allow for expansion and movement.

EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC ShOWING STRUCTURE AND ROOF

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I N S T I T U T E F O R A L L S E A S O N S

BOULDER, CO

The Institute for All Seasons will allow

scholars, artists, scientist and others

from around the world to come together

in pursuing the next evolutionary (or

revolutionary) step in civilization. The

site is located on the edge of Boulder,

Colorado, tucked into the foothills and

in close proximity to the downtown

and able to draw from the resources

of a major university. Weekly events

will be taking place in the assembly

hall, classrooms and outdoor spaces

for visiting and local patrons that the

scholars can gain inspiration from. The

intention for this facility is contemplative

but not monastic as there should be a

continuous flow of energy and ideas

throughout the programmed spaces.

The Institute for All Seasons facility

will be a place of immersion for the

visiting experts. They will live, eat and

work on site for an intensive period

(3 -12 months). Their work will be both

individual and collaborative, sharing

intermittently with the community.

Spatially, the idea of separation and

connection with the scholars and the

rest of the facility is not meant to be

discrete, but rather to overlap, connect

and be interdependent. The research

center also acknowledges the need

to work both individually and, at

times collaboratively.

SITE PLAN

DIAGRAMS

1. Entry Lobby

2. Cafe

3. Assembly hall

4. Egress

5. Secondary Entrance (BELOW)

6. Classrooms

7. Reception hall (BELOW)

8. Reception Garden

9. Scholar’s Center

10. Scholar’s Garden

11. Dining hall

12. Kitchen Prep. Area

13. Restrooms

14. Gym

15. housing

16. Shared Meditation Gardens

17. Parking

1. Electrical/Storage

2. Offices

3. Assembly hall

4. Egress

5. Roof Patio

6. 3 Story Atrium

7. Roof veranda

8. Green Roof

9. Scholar’s Center

Conference Room

10. housing

11. Shared Meditation Gardens

LEvEL 2ENTRY LEvEL

EXTERIOR PERSPECTIvE ALONG 4Th STREET

SECOND FLOOR CORRIDORS + GREEN ROOF TERRACE

MAIN ENTRY LOBBY

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1/2" = 1'-0"1 Section 9

SECTION ShOWING STRUCTURESChOLAR’S CENTER

3D SECTION ShOWING STRUCTURE

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M A I N S T R E E T S TAT I O N

RICHMOND, VA

This thesis hopes to create an iconic

high-speed rail station that is not only

functional as a departure point but IS the

new entrance to the City of Richmond.

Also, the building and landscape are

designed to fill the physical and social

void by reclaiming the harsh asphalt

landscapes to alternatively create a

vibrant focal point of social gathering

where four thriving urban districts meet.

Located in Shockoe Bottom, the

Station is a focal point between the

downtown financial district, Churchill,

the Tobacco Warehouse district and

the James River/Canal walk. The site

is bound by Interstate 95 to the West,

Broad Street to the North, Main Street

to the South and 17th Street to the east.

Currently, this area is a ‘dead’ zone

that does not receive much attention

from the surrounding residents,

business professionals or tourists.

The intent of the building’s design is

to adaptively reuse and revitalize the

existing train shed and head house

of Richmond’s Main Street Station

originally built in 1901. Not only will the

shed retain its original function but will

gain an important cultural and mixed

use function similar to New York City’s

Grand Central Terminal and Union

Station in Washington, D.C. The 123-

by-517 foot train shed on the north

side of the station is also historically

designated, and was one of the last

gable-roofed train sheds ever built,

as architects finally went to arched

balloon sheds when the structures

needed to be longer.

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EXISTING SITE WIThIN CONTEXT OF RIChMOND EXISTING SITE PERIMETER

MAIN STREET

BROAD STREET

E. FRANKLIN STREET

E. GRACE STREET

LUMPKINS JAIL

HISTORICAL SITE

>> SITE PLAN Original Head House Existing Train Shed New Landscaping to Promote Gathering OfficeTower Proposed Slavery Museum (Seaboard Building) Lumpkins Slave Jail Historical Site Existing Farmers Market New Road to Intersect with 15th Street Bridge to New Streetcar Stop New Streetcar Stop

0’ 50’ 150’ 300’SITE PLAN1910 2012

THE PROBLEM

In the late 1950s, Interstate 95 was thrust through

Shockoe Bottom, effectively dividing the area from

the rest of downtown. Not only was the urban fabric

disrupted, but Main Street Station’s iconic head

house was encroached upon by I-95’s massive

steel and concrete structure by only a couple of feet.

Currently, the noise created by Interstate 95

(along the west side of the site) essentially

destroys any possibility of outdoor gathering and limits

the potential development possibilities of the site.

MAIN STREET

BROAD STREET

THE SOLUTION

The solution is to reroute Interstate 95 underground

(begining a mile North of the site and South across

the James River) to allow for a new iconic train

station in downtown Richmond. The new train station

will act as an urban sculpture that successfully

promotes social and cultural gathering in addition

to the use of America’s high-speed rail system. The

phases are to occur between 2012-2030.

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0’ 60’ 120’ 0’ 60’ 120’FIRST FLOOR PLAN SECOND FLOOR PLAN

<< 1ST FLOOR PLAN Entry Point / Lobby Original Head House Retail / Restuarants Central Atrium Space Tower Lobby Restrooms Egress Support Spaces Proposed Slavery Museum Lumpkins Jail Historical Site

>> 2ND FLOOR PLAN Original Head House Retail / Restuarants Passenger Waiting Area Information Desk Platforms Bridge to Streetcar Stop Egress Restrooms Tower Lobby Support Spaces Electrical / Heating and Cooling

BIRDSEYE vIEW

PERSPECTIvE FROM ThE CORNER OF 15Th AND MAIN STREETS

vIEW ALONG 17Th STREET LOOKING SOUTh TOWARDS MAIN STREET

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ENTRY ALONG 17Th STREET

EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC

vIEW ALONG 17Th STREET LOOKING NORTh TOWARDS TOWER

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3D SECTION

ENTRY LOBBY FROM MAIN STREET

SECOND FLOOR PASSENGER WAITING AREA TRAIN PLATFORMS TUNNEL ALONG EAST SIDE OF SITE UNDER OFFICE TOWER

MAIN ATRIUM SPACE ShOWING INTEGRATION OF RETAIL WITh ThE EXISTING TRAIN ShED

SECOND FLOOR PASSENGER WALKWAY

SECOND FLOOR PASSENGER WAITING AREA + CIRCULATION

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M A U S O L E U M

ise is

.”T.

The design process began with a basic

kit of parts personally arranged on an

8” x 8” grid. The placement of the kit

of parts considered lines of sight as

well as geometry. Once completed,

the grid was multiplied by eight and

a linear footprint for the model was

chosen. A plan-to-section relationship

was established and a strict figure-

ground design was implemented. The

structure of the model is extremely

feasible and a curtain wall of horizontal

wood strips provides the skin for the

model. The design of the base directly

coincides with the geometry of the

model. A ground level pool of water

conveys a transparent calm. The final

entry is subtle in its quiet projection.

As one comes closer, the floating

stairs appear. This is a different design

vocabulary that furthers the yearning to

experience the interior of the structure.

The floating stairs signify a transition

from earth-bound experience to a

place of mystery, representing a higher

state of being. The open rhythm of

the structure allows light to direct this

experience of transcendence.

ise is

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The reflecting pool directly below the main tower is

stepped on two sides to allow for a cleansing process. The

other two sides of the reflecting pool are steep to reaffirm

that there is only one direction to cleanse the soul.

The first attempt of the base was deemed to bulky. The

ramp disallowed the seperation between the structure and

the lower portion of the base.

The final base design utilizes the geometry established

on trace, pictured on the next page. The stairs are set into

the base and the Mausoleum is raised above to clearly

show the seperation between the two.

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EDGE DETAILENTRY

DETAIL OF LOUvERED SKIN

WORMSEYE PERSPECTIvE

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Beyond this skin contains the mausoleum space. The

wood louvers allow a specific ethereal light into the space

transforming the space into a peaceful resting place.

PERSPECTIvE OF MODEL

ENTIRE MODEL

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