designportfolio

AriSPescovitz

tableofcontents

a r c h i t e c t u r a l d e s i g n

d i g i t a l f a b r i c a t i o n

a r t i s t i c e x p r e s s i o n

c u r r i c u l u m v i t a e

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The pleasure to be found in objects of great beauty and ornament is produced either by invention

and the working of the intellect, or by the hand of the craftsman, or it is imbued naturally in the

objects themselves. The intellect is responsible for choice, distribution, arrangement, and so on,

which give the work dignity; the hand is responsible for laying, joining, cutting, trimming, polishing,

and such like, which give the work grace; the properties derived from Nature are weight, lightness,

density, purity, durability, and the like, which brings the work admiration.

~ Leon Battista Alberti

architecturaldesign

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planesandform Professional Internship at Eisenman Architects (2009)

This project was intern led under the direct supervision of Peter Eisenman. I joined the team during the end of schematic design for the small research center and was responsible for translating the conceptual grids into a series of cut-planes. These planes were used to articulate the form of the building and the landscape surrounding it as a response to the site forces imposed by the grids. My primary responsibilities were to construct the working 3-D models in Rhino as well as build physical models and AutoCad drawings in preparation for the final set of pre-construction documents.

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cut-planes derived from grids regulating building form iterative study models

aerial of site

The internship at Richard Meier and Partners was largely an exercise in craft and precision in the art of making models. Various scales were explored and multiple projects were worked on. On the Handsmooth residence, I was involved in the construction of the final design development model as part of a team of interns. With the Kanai Resort project, I lead the model team until my internship ended. While not finishing the model itself, on this model I developed the language for depicting mangroves and was responsible for developing the final appearance.

modelbuilding Professional Internship at Richard Meier (2010)

kanai resort site model handsmooth guesthouse model

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handsmooth house final model

sitebodyhand Wellness Center Design Studio (2010)

This project was to create a wellness center on the edge of Cranbrook’s campus. Siting on such an architecturally significant location necessitated the use of similar materials and a shared tectonic language. On Cranbrook, hand-craft and careful, intricate detailing is a necessity; and through the design such details were developed in order to emphasize and beautify the construction. The design creates order and rhythm against which the three metal cylinders can contrast via the structural piers encircling the perimeter. These piers carry structural loads, organize the program, allow natural daylight into the core of the spaces, and provide a location for vertical circulation of the mechanical systems in the efforts to create a highly integrated design.

site plan

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section perspective

sauna

hot bath

mechanical

cold bath

cold bath

massing diagram

model of main pool

sitebodyhand

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detail drawings

north-south section

door design

urbanrenewal Housing Design Studio (2009)

The purpose of this project was to design an urban housing/mixed use structure in downtown Cincinnati. Teams of two were asked to address a shared site and respond to issues of community, safety, transparency, and mixed/use programming, among others. My in-dividual project sought to create an internal community inside the larger urban fabric via an internally focused structure. While views to the city are provided, the experience is directed to the light-filled core. rather then the city. The first level however, is the opposite in order to develop the larger communities of both the shared site and the city.

single tenant unit module

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final model view from north

study models of site interactions

north-south section through plaza

urbanrenewal

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process model street edgeprocess model in situ

orderandtectonics Introductory Design Studio (2008)

diagrammatic site model

This project’s goal was to develop a site model that was based on site forces, rather than a literal site model. A central theme of the project was to develop the forces on the site through the lens of Semperian tectonics, such as mass, frame, plane, and hearth. Development of the model was a collaborative effort of four individuals. The paper model was an individual development from a composite plan/section drawing of the site The central goal of this model was to begin thinking about potential building insertions into the site.

folded paper site force model

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unfolded section/plan procession

The purpose of this project was to develop a laboratory complex based on the site development previously conducted. As with the site anaylsis, the primary lens used to develop the project was through Semperian tectonic forces. I utilized the concept of mass to construct a plinth that served as a unifying element as it weaved its way through the entire site. This mass served as the primary circulation route for public visitors as well as the primary ordering system for the buildings themselves.

orderandtectonics

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model view from westfinal site model

Throughout the history of architecture, the role of the detail, the smallest unit of signification, has been linked to an understanding of the built space. In its many forms, such as painting, sculpture, furnishing, “decoration,” ornament and the joint, the detail serves to articulate and express the “unmeasurable” aspect of architecture. By creating a unity from disparate components, the detail is able to facilitate a whole that is greater then the sum of its parts. It is through this creation of a gesamtkunstwerk, where all aspects of the design actively and intentionally function towards a singular goal, that the richness of the architectural past can be re-applied to design today. It is the goal of this thesis to extrapolate the teachings of designers and theoreticians from the last century in order to develop a set of principles able to guide the design of a small urban synagogue. Through the art of ornament, this project seeks to develop a strong relationship between the construction and the construing of architecture by way of the uniquely Jewish texts, history, culture, community, and worship.

speakingthroughdetails Master of Architecture Thesis (2012)

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main sanctuary

admininstration

roof garden

classrooms

classrooms

social hall

community roomchapel

homeless shelter

librarystacks

reading room

congregational

civic

sacred secular

private

speakingthroughdetails

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sanctuary compression

canopya metall ic mesh drapes over the sanctuary space, referencing the fabric shelter of the tabernacle,

the canopy can be raised to reveal the individual balconies sequentially thereby increasing the capacity from 100 to 300 congregants

bimahthe bimah unhooks from the front and relocates to a position amongst the congregation, facing towards the ark

speakingthroughdetails

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lock

slot

hook

speakingthroughdetails

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digitalfabrication

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This project strives to create a performative shading system that responds to varying needs of insolation. The system works through a thread woven through a metal frame. As the module moves across the surface, the panel stretches in the Z-axis. This deformation causes the density of the string to lessen (as the same number of threads are now covering a larger area), thereby allowing more or less light depending on the depth of the unit. This variation in po-rosity could be the result of programmatic concerns, a desire for views in/out, or for solar optimization. This project is published in Perkins + Will Research Journal, vol 3.02 (2011).

parabolicweave Performance Design Seminar (2011)

Across the system, panels stretch in the Z-axis as the module responds to solar conditions. • Panels that are exposed to more direct sunlight are stouter allowing the threads to concentrate, more effectively diffusing solar exposure.

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kit-of-parts assembly

Founded through an exploration in the material properties of concrete, this course explored the formulations and compositions of the material and sought to develop a partition that embraced the plastic nature of the material. Layered onto this exploration of concrete as a material was a secondary investigation into the development of reusable form work. Considerations investigated were issues of draft angles, mold release, mold durability, parting lines, as well as texture and pattern.

carveandcast Concrete Seminar (2012): Group Project

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movementshift CAD/CAM Seminar: Group Project

This group project, founded in an exploration in CNC machining and Grasshopper parametrics, sought to create a complex wall panel inspired by nautical lifeforms. In particular, the form and function of sharkskin led us to examine a form that would accentuate the idea of optimized flow and smooth movement. Using the sine wave extrapolated from technology influenced by the sharkskin, we created a pane with the emphasis placed on visual fluid movement coupled with real world concerns of water movement away from the building.

shark skin

sharklet surface technology

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grasshopper definition

artisticexpression

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metalsmithingandsculpture

My passion for metal comes from the mutability of the material itself. Unlike other materials it can be etched, sanded, cut, forged, welded, cast, alloyed and patinated. Each metal (and even each alloy) behaves differently under similar conditions. This potential for new explorations in form, structure, and color form the foundation of my work.

Bloom (2011)silver, bronze, and 3D printed gypsum

A Time for Everything (2011)silver, copper, brass, and concrete

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Miriam’s Song (2011)silver, copper, and concrete

metalsmithingandsculpture

Jacob’s Ladder (2004)silver, copper, wax, and epoxy

Creation (2011)aluminum and bronze

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Balance (2007)silver and copper

Hope and Remembrance (2006)silver and copper

pareidoliadrawings

This series of drawings focuses on the concept of pareidolia, the perceptual power of the human mind to see recognizable shapes and forms in an abstract composition. This phenomenon is responsible for the “man on the moon” and the joy found in cloud watching. As one studies the drawing various figural images begin to manifest at a variety of scales.

The Joust (2011)

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pareidoliadrawings

Three Wise Men (2011)

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The Robot and the Frenchman (2011)

buildingbridges B.F.A. Thesis in Metalsmithing Thesis (2008)

This work is inspired by functional aesthetics; a focus on the func-tion of the object as a primary mover of design. For example, the cables on a suspension bridge have a crucial function in maintain-ing the bridge, while at the same time producing a graceful and pre-cise arc. The crisp edges and graceful curves contrasted with robust materials inspire my work’s visual properties. By taking visual cues from engineering and architecture while at the same time remov-ing them from the context of functional structures my work strives to revitalize the bond between engineering principles and art.

Untitled (2007)silver, concrete, and surgical suture

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buildingbridges

Masadah (2008)silver, concrete, glass, and surgical suture

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In the Beginning (2008)copper, concrete, and steel cable

In the Beginning (2008)silver, concrete, surgical suture, and 3D printed gypsum

buildingbridges

Foundations (2008)silver, concrete, and 3D printed gypsum

The Matriarchs (2008)silver, concrete, and 3D printed gypsum

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Parabolic Escalation (2008)silver, concrete, and surgical suture

curriculumvitae

Relevant Experiences and Skills Design • 2010-2011 (September–March): Internship at STUDIOS Architecture in San Francisco • Responsibilities included coordinating with the landscape consultants in the master planning phase, developing the schematic design and design development packages for various projects • 2009 (September–December): Internship at Richard Meier & Partners in New York City • Responsibilities centered around the model shop through the production of numerous final models (at a variety of scales) and explorative material studies • 2009 (April–June): Internship at Eisenman Architects in New York City • Responsibilities included building a working 3D model and developing the schematic design for an international research center in Gandia, Spain • Actively creating and exhibiting silver and rapid-prototyped hollowware objects Management • 2006-present: Co-own a small business, Games to Die For, LLC, grossing $300k annually • Responsible for establishing budgets, coordinating and solving employee related issues, and managing all financial concerns as the CFO Leadership and Communication • 2011-2012: Graduate critic for undergraduate design studio reviews • 2010: Graduate Assistant Instructor for an introductory history and theory course • 2008: Gave a presentation on rapid-prototyping techniques as they apply to art at the Indiana University IT Symposium to over 100 Indiana University administrators Production and Fabrication Skills • Software Proficiencies: AutoCad, Rhinoceros 3D, 3D Studio Max, Revit, and Adobe Creative Suites (Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator) • Fabrication Skills: TIG/MIG welding (aluminum and steel), soldering, proficient in wide variety of manual finishing techniques as well as knowledge of basic machine shop equipment • Capable of utilizing and programming CAM technologies including laser cutting, 3D printing, and CNC milling

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Educational Background Master of Architecture: University of Cincinnati (2008 - 2012) Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology: Indiana University (2003 - 2008) • Highest Distinction (4.0 GPA in major, 3.937 cumulative GPA) • Member of Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society • Honors College Certificate Bachelor of Science in Biology: Indiana University (2003 - 2008) • Highest Distinction (3.85 GPA in major, 3.937 cumulative GPA) Bachelor of Fine Arts in Metalsmithing and Jewelry Design: Indiana University (2003 - 2008) • Highest Distinction (3.995 GPA in major, 3.937 cumulative GPA)

Selected Awards and Exhibitions Work Displayed as Part of Permanent Exhibition at Glick Eye Institute (2011) • IU Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana

Finalist Niche Magazine Student Division (2009) • Niche Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Participant in “Bountiful Bowls” Art Auction (2008) • Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis, Indiana Participant in “Materials: Hard & Soft” Art Exhibition (2008) • Greater Denton Arts Council, Denton, Texas Winner of National Society of Arts and Letters Award (2006) • Waldron Arts Center, Bloomington, Indiana

Publications For a Better World 2012 (2012)

• Yearly publication showcasing poetry and drawings from Greater Cincinnati Artists

Perkins + Will Research Journal (Vol 03.02) (2011) • Project explored, through design and fabrication, an adaptive performance-based building partition Lark Books’ 500 Judaica (2010) • Nationally published book displaying unique works of Judaica • Includes three works from undergraduate thesis

contact

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Ari S. Pescovitz (317) 413-5854

ari@pesco.net

233 Hastings St. Cincinnati, OH 45219