CONTENtsFURNITURE

SCULPTURE

SKETCHES

PHOTOS

RESEARCH

01 - 04

05 - 08

09 - 10

11 - 14

15 - 18

19 - 22

23 - 27

MODULAR NIGHTSTAND

DRESSER

MODERN STILL LIFE

BRANCHES, VIETNAMESE GIRL,

SALK Institute

LADWP, GRUNION RUN, TWISTED METAL,

JELLYFISH

GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS of buildings

CABRILLO PROMENADE community

MoDULAR NIGHTSTAND

In need of storage space and a bedside table to set my everyday necessities on, I designed a simple and modern nightstand. The open modules give the nightstand a light and open appearance, providing ample room for my reading materials and putting them on display rather than hiding them from view. The overall configuration of the nightstand was inspired by haphazardly piled boxes, with the top module hanging over the edge and a bottom module leaning towards it side to give a false notion of instability; a welcomed contrast to the otherwise straight edge and ordered modules.

01

Clockwise from top left:

A. Initial sketches for determining optimal configuration

B. Calculations for angles and wood lengths

C. SketchUp CAD model from front right

D. SketchUp CAD model from front

E. SketchUp CAD model from back left

02

Counter-clockwise from top:

A. Modules can be disconnected and used as individual storage units

B. Pegs in the top module connect to the bottom modules to form the nightstand

C. Corresponding peg holes in the bottom two modules

03

Solid pine, square modules measure 11.5”x11.5”x11.5,”parallelogram module measures 11.5”x 11.5”x11.67”

04

DRESSERI created a dresser that would neatly store and organize large amounts of my folded clothing. I gave the dresser an open face rather than covering up the cubbies to remove the weight and heaviness associated with conventional dressers. The open face also allows for easier access to my clothes since the dresser is stored within a closet whose doors would be an obstruction to cubby drawers. In designing the dresser, I removed the sides of two of the cubbies to further emphasize the openness of the dresser and give an asymmetrical and deconstructed appearance.

05

Clockwise from top left:

A. Initial design sketches

B. Diagram of thecomponents

C. SketchUp CAD model from front right

D. SketchUp CAD model from front

E. SketchUp CAD model from front left

06

Half-lap joints were utilized to create a flush intersection between the vertical and horizontal wood components and reduced the use of nails.

07

Birch plywood, 27”x60”x15 7/8”

08

MODERNSTILL LIFE

For the final assignment in my “Sculpture: Making the Object” course, we were asked to reinterpret the still life for the 21st century. To me, still lifes bring to mind carefully arranged vases and platters of food which reflect the life style and culture of the time period. In Modern Still Life, instead of depicting a typical setting of food, such as a bowl of fruit, I created a bowl of bottles overflowing with pills. It is a reflection on society’s dependence on pills and how people are becoming more reliant on supplements and medications to maintain their standard of living. From supplements that boast of weight loss to medications made to cure every ailment imaginable, modern society has developed an addiction to the convenience and quick fixes found in pills.

09

The bowl of the sculpture consists of a foam core and white pill bottles collected over a period of two weeks. The stream of pills consists of a foam core covered in clay with various supplements and over-the-counter medications glued on. The sculpture is ~10”x15”x8”

10

sketchesThe following are excerpts from my sketchbook. They are a combination of assignments from my college drawing classes and sketches completed during leisure time, both from real life and from photographs. I use sketching to document images that capture my attention, test my abilities to perceive and reimagine my surroundings, and explore new ideas in shape, space, and lighting.

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BRANCHES

The sketch highlights the long vacillating lines and sinuous shapes created by the overlapping branches.

12

VIETNAMESE GIRL

The sketch is a quick study of my young cousin from Vietnam (from a photo). I wanted to capture her innocence and shy disposition.

13

SALK INSTITUTE

What attracted me most to the space was the interplay between the vertical and horizontal architectural elements. From the supporting walls and stairs to the railings and distant door in the background, the lines create depth and drama to an otherwise minimalist hallway.

14

PhotosI use photography as a medium for documentation and artistic expression. The following collection of photos serves both purposes and was taken during a span of two years. From the macro to the micro scale, I most enjoy capturing images that take ordinary objects and common scenes and transform them into pictures that highlight their most provocative and alluring qualities through the use of light, speed, color, and composition.

15

LADWPLos Angeles, CA

16

GRUNION RUNLa Jolla, CA

17

Right:

JELLYFISHChicago, IL

Left:

TWISTED METALMelrose, CA

18

GEOSPATIAL EVALUATIONOF BUILDINGS

Current research suggests that natural ventilation retrofits in commercial buildings can significantly reduce energy consumption resulting from the heating and cooling of buildings. By reducing a building’s reliance on climate control systems, the total environmental impact of the building can be curbed. The aim of my senior project was to conduct the initial research to evaluate the potential for natural ventilation retrofits in the commercial buildings of Southern California. The effectiveness and precision of using Google Earth, a geospatial program, as an assessment tool was measured based on its ability to retrieve data on a building’s physical characteristics. A study was conducted with comparisons between data retrieved from GoogleEarth and actual building measurements which suggest that geospatial program evaluations are useful for primary assessments of building heights, footprints, and proximity to other buildings, but currently not useful for determining percentage of glazing.

Paul Linden was the research mentor

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SITE CONTEXT

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING BUILDING

In order to assess the accuracy of Google Earth in its evaluations, a site was selected to compare Google Earth measurements with field verified measurements. The Computer Science & Engineering Building (CSE) located in Warren College of the University of California, San Diego was chosen as an ideal and convenient site. The building is of moderate size, is classified as a commercial non-domestic building, and was readily accessible.

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FINDINGS 1: FOOTPRINT AND HEIGHT OF CSE BUILDINGThe building’s footprint and height were estimated by analyzing the SketchUp model (figures below) embedded within Google Earth. Comparisons were then made using floor plans and elevations obtained from the university’s campus planning department. Results suggest that using the CAD model for footprint and height estimates are reliable.

FINDINGS 2: PERCENT GLAZING OF CSE BUILDINGThe percentage of glazing was calculated for each of the building’s six designated sides (shown in the figure below) based on facades of the model derived from Google Earth. They were compared to results from elevation drawings and field measurements and indicated that Google Earth was inaccurate in determining glazing percentages.

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FINDINGS 4: HEIGHT OF SURROUNDING BUILDINGS

FINDINGS 3: DISTANCE TO NEARBY BUILDINGSDistances to surrounding buildings were calculated using Google Earth’s aerial photography and measuring tool and a computer protractor. As shown in the figure below, four measurements representing the shortest distances between the CSE building and its surrounding buildings were taken. Comparisons to field measurements suggest Google Earth’s measurements are relatively accurate, although elements such as overhanging roofs may cause errors.

Heights of nearby buildings were determined by analyzing models in Google Earth. Of the surrounding three buildings, only Engineering Building II (top figure) and Bioengineering (bottom figure), had available models. Calit 2 did not have an available model and could not be assessed. Comparisons to elevations suggest that Google Earth is relatively accurate in predicting heights of surrounding buildings.

22

CABRILLOPromenadeCOMMUNITY

During my Urban Design Practicum course, I worked on a project to research and devise a mixed-use redevelopment plan for a selected plot of land in San Diego. The first half of the quarter focused on becoming acquainted with the site through field visits and research, analyzing aspects such as the site’s proximity to roads and buildings, demographics, resources, and topography. The second half introduced us to urban development theories and required us to apply our earlier research to the new concepts in order to synthesize a redevelopment plan of our own. The resulting project is divided on the following pages into three main topics of the redevelopment plan, showing how elements of my research resulted in planning decisions.

Team members included: Jasmin Ayres, Chad Diep, James Y. Grosvenor, Joey Lezama, Mona Logan, and James Uvally

23

SITE CONTEXT

The site is located in the Kearney Mesa community of San Diego next to an intersection between the heavily trafficked I-805 and CA-63 and within close proximity to the I-15 and CA-52. The site is bound to the south by Cabrillo Heights Community Park, to the east by industrial buildings, to the north by an office building and National University, and to the west by Kearney Villa Road.

Basemaps taken from Google. Overlays are original work.

24

BUILT ENVIRONMENT

Clockwise from top left:

A. Figure-ground map showing the size and spread of the built environment for design considerations.

B. A noise level map helped determine the use of buildings depending on their exposure to noise. The retail and commercial dominant use buildings have more exposure while the residential building has less.

C. Topographic map indicating the northwest corner as the highest point on the site. The tallest building was placed there to capitalize on views.

D. Proposed buildings (clockwise from top): four story residential building, two story market, single story eateries, three story multi-use building with office and retail space and studio apartments.

All basemaps are courtesy of Latitude 33. All overlays are original work.

25

CIRCULATION

Clockwise from top left:

A. Heavily trafficked Kearney Villa Road bordering the site to the west.

B. A map of street patterns helped determine circulation paths within the site to connect the community to roadways and sidewalks.

C. Traffic map indicating heavy usage on the roads west of the site and the need to accommodate this in circulation designs.

D. Proposed circulation plan: Various entrance points along western, southern, and eastern edges allow for easy access to streets, sidewalk, and public transportation. The south face is also open to increase flow from the bordering park.

All basemaps are courtesy of Latitude 33. All overlays are original work.

26

OPEN SPACE

Clockwise from top left:

A. Cabrillo Heights Park to the south of the site

B. Crime rates in site’s location (courtesy of SANDAG). Since crime rates are fairly low, the open space was designed to be inviting and easy to access for the community

C. Vegetation and greenery map highlighting the neighboring park and the canyons to the south.

D. The open space plan includes a network of heavily vegetated plots which imitate the fingering canyons of the surrounding area’s landscape. The network is dispersed among less vegetated open space which is used for recreation, leisure, and social interaction.

All basemaps are courtesy of Latitude 33. All overlays are original work.

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