portfolio | fall 2014rachel lefevre

portfolio | fall 2014rachel lefevre

arch 211instructor: charles brown

table of contents1- 2 | table of contents3 - 4 | formal exploration: first iteration model and drawing5 - 6 | formal exploration: second iteration model and drawing7 - 8 | formal exploration: final iteration model and drawing9 - 10 | formal exploration: final model projected shadow drawing and axonometric11 - 12 | site introduction and mapping strategy/weed density photographs13 - 14 | site plan with close-ups15 - 16 | intuitive drawing and introduction to the urban chapel17 - 18 | urban chapel: first and second iteration photographs19 - 20 | urban chapel: plan and section drawings and axonometric drawing21 - 22 | urban chapel: final model photographs 23 - 24 | urban chapel: final model photographs

formal exploration | module aggregation

aggregation | first iterationmodel: styrene

drawing: pencil on mylar

aggregation | second iterationmodel: styrene

plan and close up

aggregation | second iterationmodel: styrene

drawing: pencil on mylar. plan and section.

formal exploration | final aggregationthe final model explored the idea of creating various degrees and gradations of shadow in a balanced com-position like a mondrian painting. the model was built in section, thus, while the overall form gives a great degree of chaos from the east elevation the plan and sections are quite ordered. the model sought to exploit the modules unique abilities to compress and expand space while creating darkness toward the compressed end and lightness toward the open end. the overall ag-gregation sought to associate compression with shad-ow and openness with light, and then proceed to ac-centuate these qualities.

aggregation | final iterationdrawing: pencil on mylar. plan and five sections

aggregation | final iteration drawing: pencil on mylar. plan and five

sections with projected interior shadows

aggregation | final modeldrawing: pencil on mylar. axonometric

drawing of interior chanels filled with darkest shadow. side: interior perspectival vignettes.

site exploration | mapping a natural phenomenonthe second part of the project involved mapping a natural phenomenon somehow conceptually connected to light. the proj-ect studied the frequency of shadow on the sight through studying the microcosmic phenomenon of weed density. weed densi-ty, it was observed, directly correlates to the degree of shaded condition. conceptually, this tied back to the aggregation study, es-tablishing an association between density, compression, and shadow. the mapping de-termined the path for the site, which flowed through the densest and most shaded part of the seminary. from this point forward in the project, the path determined a means of thinking about spirituatlity in terms of pil-grimage, self-reflection, and finally collec-tive spirituality.

site plan | collecting datadrawing: pencil on mylar

photographs were taken radially from trees. densities for each

small area of the site were calcu-lated from each photograph.

site plan | mapping weed densitydrawing: pencil on mylar

1 : 16

site plan | mapping weed densitydrawing: pencil on mylar

close ups of radial mapping strategy and the siting of the building based

on pathway.

exploration | intuitive drawing drawing: pencil on mylar

this drawing sought to explore intuitions about the form emerging from a hill and integrating with the

ground. done prior to any modeling

urban chapel | spirituality through lightthe creation of the urban chapel focused on the idea of pilgrim-age. the program of the building is intended to welcome people in and then force people to move through the chapel individually through narrow halls, forcing not only pilgrimage but also self reflection. the program of the building flows into an open and highly naturally lit congregation space for collective spirituality at the end of the pilgrimage. the building, on a natural level, seeks to integrate elements of the natural environment based on how the building meets the ground. grass flows into the space, light channels bring pieces of the sky down into the section of the building as well as rain and snow. the building is bound in space by two gestural carves into the ground, tying it to the site and imposing itself upon it.

urban chapel | second iterationmodel: styrene, acrylic and bass wood

urban chapel | third iterationmodel: styrene, acrylic, wood, and imitation grassexplorations of notching, aggregation, light channeling to distinguish between interior and exterior, and scale.

urban chapel | final modeldrawing: pencil on mylar. plan, panoramic

section, section, and elevation.

urban chapel | final modeldrawing: pencil on mylar. axono-

metric drawing with hydrology lines representing ground condition. side:

interior perspective vignettes.

urban chapel | final modelmodel: styrene, acrylic, wood, imitation grassprevious page: east elevationleft: view into lobby space showing how entrance compresses and forces individual pilgrimage and self reflection.above: interior view into main chapel space and view of back of chapel including below ground bathroom space.

urban chapel | final modelleft: interior shot showing the human scaleabove: human scale in relation to main chapel spacehuman scale in relation to lobby and terrace space, light channel