christine bagdigian selected works undergraduate portfolio

Christine BagdigianUndergraduate Portfolio

Selected Works

Table of Contents

Lions Park Fitness Trail _ 5

Library Renovation _ 31

Conference and Office Center

Renovation _ 39

Lake Residence _ 45

Artwork _ 51

Lions Park Fitness Trail _ Rural Studio ThesisGreensboro, Al

Anna Powers, John McDaniel, Kyle Johnson, Christine Bagdigian


The seventh phase of Lions Park, Greensboro’s 40 acre recreational park, was facilitated by a grant given from the Alabama Department of Public Health to install a series of outdoor fitness equipment. Typically when this equipment is installed in parks, it is put on a concrete slab baking in the sun with nothing of interest to look at. The team challenged this concept and created the Lions Park fitness trail. Situated the under the existing tree canopy, the red machines act as sculptures in the rolling landscape and are oriented towards pastoral views. The machines sit atop their own porous metal grate platforms and are connected by a gray flagstone trail. Because the machines are located under the tree canopy, a light touch to the ground helps ensures the trees’ survival.

original park park today


lions park _ a 40 acre recreational park located in Greensboro, Alabama. Constructed through a

series of phases, the park includes baseball fields, basketball courts, skate park, playground,

rodeo arena, boy scout hut, and a one mile walking trail.


process drawings _ conversation drawings mapping out the three trails.


defining the project _ the project began with the assignment of “finishing” the park. Through masterplanning and schematic design the scope was narrowed

down to three trails with three distinct ways of accessing the landscape; a nature trail through undiscovered areas, a fitness trail for individual exercise,

and mile markers to enhance the existing walking trail. The fitness trail is the first phase to be implemented in the park.

nature trail mile markers on existing walking trail

fitness trail Lions Park Fitness Trail _ 9

the site _ located south of the pee-wee football field the site offers existing shade, views to the

pastoral landscape, and is close in proximity to the existing walking trail.


muscles used

pull up bar push up bars parallel bars


the machines _ a collection of seven pieces were chosen that all rely on one’s own body weight to operate.

The machines offer a full body workout with a range of difficulties

to accomadate all users.

airwalker leg press rowing chest press



addressing the site _ the landscape of the site offers several opportunities for the placement of the equipment. A natural swale running parallel to the site creates space over which the machines appear to float. An alley in the trees creates a linear “room” for the equipment to occupy. From the walking trail vantage point, the machines are aligned within this virtual room.


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fitness trail _ the machines sit on metal grate platforms that are connected by a flagstone path.

The path follows the rolling terrain while meandering along the edge of the forest .

the platform _ the equipment sit on 2 1/2” metal grate platforms that cantilever over the

swale. The grating provides a porus surface for water and sunlight to penetrate. The dark color

of the grate enables it to blend into the environment, thus allowing the red

machine to remain the focus.


support structure _ Because of the desire to touch the ground lightly, the structure is as minimal as possible. Constructed from 2” metal tube, the triangular support touches the ground in a single point. The back is supported by four angles welded to the grate and a submerged beam. The minimalistic structure disappears into the background, allowing the red machine to remain the focus.


pathway _ to allow for accessibility of the equipment, a stone path meanders through the site and connects each platform in a “stone river”. The hand chiesled stone is as minimal as possible to keep the focus on the red machines. While only ever being one stone wide, the pathway increases and decreases its width as it comes to meet each platform.


Lions Park Fitness Trail _23

the endpoint _ a collection of stationary bars creates a termination for the fitness trail. Thought of as a furniture project, the bars are placed in the landscape to respond to each other as well as their surroundings. Two grate benches weave the bars together while also providing additional difficulty levels for each exercise. Additionally, the stone pathway turns into a stone surface to allow for freedom of movement throughout the entire space.



machine placements _ each machine is placed in the landscape to either frame views

or heighten the theatrics of the exercise.

construction _ the choice to place the equipment under the tree canopy means the machines and their support structures need to touch the ground as minimally as possible to help save the tree roots. The appearance of the grate support touching the ground in a single point helps emphasize the delicacy of this landscape.

1 1/2” steel tube

2 1/2” steel grating

1/2” steel plate

1” steel spacer

2’ / 4’ concrete piers


site work _ the team is responsible for the entire construction and assembly process.

This includes all pre-installation site work, drilling piers, mixing and pouring

concrete, stone chiseling and laying, and welding the support structures.


Library Renovation _ Interior Architecture ThesisMontgomery, Al


existing proposedThis project is a renovation of an existing library in central Montgomery. The design’s main objectives are to provide a sense of connectivity and ownership for the community whileaccommodating a variety of spaces that address the various needs and comfort levels of patrons. To accomplish this, the facades are punctured and opened to the landscape with blurred edges between the interior and exterior. Three distinct reading areas are created that are each buffered by bookcases and connected to the landscape. The idea of ownership is explored through the notion of the craftsman and the impact of hand crafted objects on civic pride. A series of ceramic tiles were developed as a physical material that not only aid in bridging the boundary between interior and exterior, but provide a sense of pride for the community through the effort and beauty of hand craft.


reaching into the landscape _ the interior of the building is divided into three main reading zones. The zones are buffered by bookcases to the interior and reach out to exterior elements in the landscape. Ceramic tiles are used to transition from interior to exterior.


trees _ the Honey Locust is used on the western lawn in a row closet to the building to

shade the facade’s expansive glass. The Japanese Cherry Blossom is used further from the building

to provide a touch of color under the canopy of the Honey Locust. This adds depth to the

percieved view of the landscape.

Geotz SofaTulip ChairJapanese Cherry BlossomHoney Locust avico lamp


ceramic tiles _ to further investigate the ceramic tiles proposed for the building, a collection of full scale tiles were made. The interchangeable designs allow the installer to customize the layout and add a personal touch, emphasizing the hand of the craftsman.

Conference and Office Center Renovation _ 4th YearPrinter’s Row, Chicago, Il

Conference and Office Center Renovation _ 39

This project is a renovation of an existing building into a combined office and conference center. Having both programs in a single building presents the opportunity for overlapping programtic spaces and flexible floor plans. The main design intent is to create an environment that facilitates encounters among people that would not be possible in a typical office building. This is executed by locating both conference and office space on most floors and creating a common gathering space around the open central staircase.


open views across length of building

service bar

central gathering space


open floor plan _ to allow for both office and conference programs on the top three floors, the floor plan is kept simple and flexible. This allows a variety of users to occupy the space

in a way that best fits their needs.

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floors 5-7


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section _ the open staircase is the spine of the building in section. Creating a monumental staircase

that encourages travel and open views between floors promotes occupant interaction. The program calls for a 50 person auditorium which the staircase

passes by with crafted views inward.

Lake Residence _ 2nd YearLake Martin, Al

Lake Residence _ 45

Located on a steeply sloped waterfront site, the design of the residence began as an exploration of form. A tilted box was manipulated by pulling the sides apart and turning the corners upwards. The long reaching leg pointing towards the water is an extension of the side wall and meets the ground at a single point. The boundary between wall and ceiling is blurred as a single surface acts as both boundaries. The space created on the interior is a response to this form. The main living area is located on the upper floor while the sleeping quarters are below. The staircase is given special attention with its own vestibule and view to the water.

Lake Residence _ 46

facades and sections _ the southern and western facades and sections show the house’s dynamic movement. The negative space formed by the two boxes pulling apart create the large expanses of glass facing the lake to the south.

Lake Residence _ 47

2nd floor _ public living space 1st floor _ private bedrooms

Lake Residence _ 48

section model _ materiality with focus on the staircase vestible is explored in model form. The exterior is folded sheet metal while the interior planes that create both wall and ceiling take on a smooth boundless finish.

Lake Residence _ 49

Artwork _ 51

The artwork shown displays a variety of medium, scales, and varying degrees of abstractness. Inspiration ranges from rural Alabama, to scenes from a semester abroad in Istanbul, Turkey, to the landscape of Switzerland. The watercolors start first as pencil drawings that numerous layers of watercolor are then added to. The paintings of Switzerland begin as photographs printed on watercolor paper that are painted over with acrylic and watercolor.

Artwork _ Fall 2010 - Present

Artwork _ 52

Folsom Mule Barn, Greensboro _ watercolor

Artwork _ 53

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul _ watercolor Maiden’s Tower, Istanbul _ watercolor watercolor

Artwork _ 54

acrylic on plywood

Artwork _ 55

Switzerland _ acrylic and watercolor

Switzerland _ acrylic and watercolor

christine bagdigian selected works undergraduate portfolio

Documents

recreational park

phase of lions park

skate park

mile walking trail

gray flagstone trail

nature trail mile markers

walking trail vantage

red machines