portfolio

Architecture/DesignPortfolio

Daniel Berger

Graduate Thesis2nd Year Grad. Arch Studio

A new era of urban revitalization has recently occurred in several major US cities, many of which must deal with outdated or dilapidated urban housing choices in inner city neighborhoods. Many of these broken neighbor-hoods require new housing alternatives. The proposition of this thesis is how can urban architecture alter the eco-nomic viability of a neighborhood. How can new housing typologies help to rehabilitate a blighted neighborhood? What social and neighborhood problems can architecture actually address? These questions seek to address the problems that encompass Over-the-Rhine.

The proposal of this thesis in Over-the-Rhine is to provide new urban design, architectural, and courtyard interven-tions into the existing fabric of the community. The proj-ect is located on West Liberty Street, between Race Street and Elm Street.

Multiple Infill Level 1 Single Infill Level 1

Retail

Endcap Level 1

Endcap Levels 2-4 Mulitple Infill Levels 2-4 Single Infill Levels 2-3

Circulation

Residential Use

Service

Apartment

Graduate Thesis2nd Year Grad. Arch Studio

Integration Studio2nd Year Grad. Arch Studio


The objective of this studio was to integrate typical architectural design with mechanical systems, structural systems, in order to provide a comprehensive design that encompasses all aspects of a building. The intent was to design an exhibition and educa-tion museum based on the process of making. Carpentry and glass working were the primary processes that I focused on in my design.

Housing Block design was the primary concern in this project. A block measuring 240 feet by 150 feet, situated on the eastern side of Nashville was proposed as a mixed use, 6 story build-ing. The first two floors were retail/office space,, with the re-maining four floors programmed as residential. Movable floor to ceiling louverd screens allow for varying amounts of privacy for the residents.

East Nashville Apts.1st Year Grad. Arch Studio

East Nashville Apts.1st Year Grad. Arch Studio

A four story mixed use set of 5 buildings was proposed in the heart of downtown Knoxville. The design includes 1st floor re-tail and residential flats and lofts on floors 2 through 4. 10 foot wide pedestrian passageways penetrate the block, and create a small courtyard in the center. Each building has 10 foot exte-rior corridors that are set back from the 3rd floor and 4th floor, creating exterior balconies that face the courtyard in the center of the block.

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701 Gay Street, Knoxville1st Year Grad. Arch Studio

Level 1

Level 2

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Level 4

701 Gay Street, Knoxville1st Year Grad. Arch Studio

Nigeria Housing Studio4th Year Arch. Studio

The Nigeria Housing studio was a 2 person project, in which my partner and I explored how to create dense residential housing, while simultaneously allowing more free-dom for each housing block. Each block is separated into 2 units, which share a court-yard. All units raised above the ground, for flood protection, as well as wall systems that allow for maximum ventalation.

*Project by Daniel Berger and Daniel Snider


Site Perspective from Alley


Above is the elevation of a typical housing block. Families have the option to include a parking spot if they own a vehicle, or if not, they can use that space as an extra room. To the right is a section cut through one of the residences. The height of the buildings is lowered in the middle to allow for more ventilation through the courtyards.

SEC Studio4th Year Arch. Studio

Structures, Environment, and Construction Studio required a design for a new Health and Wellness Center at Cranbrook University. A series of precedent studies were made that concentrated on various scales: Site, Volume, and Detail. Schematic design then started with the site models, proceded with volume models. Some models expressed smaller de-tails of the building, while others were aimed at spacial placement. The model on the lower right is a smaller study of what the overall for of the building was to look like.

Site

Volume

Detail

SEC Studio4th Year Arch. Studio

The final sectional model included an exterior circulation path cut through the building, a work-out or medatation room, as well as private and public baths on the lower level.

The incorporation of stormwater and wastewater management in the site is a vital tool in decreasing the new facility’s economic footprint. Excess rain runs off from the parking lots and green roofs, and drains into the bioswale, which runs almost the entire length of the site. A large greenhouse on the site holds the new living machine, which cleanses and recycles the wastewater from the surrounding buildings. The purified wastewater is then brought back to the buildings to be used again, as well as for irrigation purposes.

Stormwater/Wastewater Management

Existing Topography

Proposed Topography

Sustainability Studio

3rd Year Arch. Studio

The end of my 3rd year at Cincinnati was an Ar-chitecture Studio on Sustainability. We designed a new US Green Building Council Regional Headquarters in an area of Cincinnati, adjacent to the Mill Creek, which is now used for flood control and stormwater management through the use of floodgates. The objective of the studio was to enhance 3 exsiting buildings on the site by connecting/renovating them. LEED certifica-tion was also required in the renovation of these buildings and the renewal of the site.

Existing Topography

Proposed Topography

Sustainability Studio3rd Year Arch. Studio

Sustainability Studio

3rd Year Arch. Studio


My study abroad quarter was in Copenhagen, Denmark. We studied scandinavian architecture, and our studio projects were to both design for a recreational space in the city (right), and make a scale model of a prominent scandinavian building (below). Both projects were done using models, as well as some plans and sections of the designs.

Copenhagan DIS Studio3rd Year Arch. Studio

Childress & Cunningham Architecture Work

At Childress & Cunningham, an architecture firm in Cincinnati, I worked in 2 different environments. Part of the week I would draw up floor plans, el-evations, and sections for houses that needed addi-tions, and the other part of the week I would spend working at various different construction sites that Childress & Cunningham were working on.

Wilson AssociatesInterior Design Work

My work at Wilson Associates, in Dallas Texas was mostly focused on hospitality design, con-centrating on resorts, hotels and casinos. The above elevation is a three meal restaurant for Ritz Rose Island in the Bahamas. The drawing to the right is the club lounge furniture plan, also for Ritz Rose Island.

The above elevations are series of VIP hotel elevations for the Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas. To the left is a furniture plan for the Lodge at Rancho Mirage, in Palm Springs, California.

Wilson AssociatesInterior Design Work

Dishwasher Deconstruction Project1st Year Architecture Studio

Architectural

Drafting

One of my first projects as an architecture

student was a group drafting assignment, in which

we hand drafted each part of a dishwasher.

One of my first projects as a freshman architecture student was a group drafting assignment, in which we disassembled a dishwasher, catagorized each set of parts, and hand drafted each individual part of the dishwasher. I was primarily responsible for drawing the two silverware racks. As one of my first drafting exercises, these drawings were very instrumental to me in learning drafting skills.

PhotographyMy interest in photography stems primarily from my design work and hand drawing that I have done throughout my undergraduate program. My en-thusiasm for taking photos is more specifically focused on details, textures, and shadows.

Photography

portfolio

Documents

knoxville1st year grad

arch studiolevel

new urban design

arch studioeast nashville

arch studiothe objective

new housing alternatives

new housing typologies

comprehensive design