grace hall portfolio
DESCRIPTION
a collection of worksTRANSCRIPT
GRACE HALL a collection of work
a collection ...
0 1Alkuperää Talo ... material, tradition and the metaphysical
0 2Savusauna at Muuratsalo ... a forest language
0 3KOE Savusauna ... experimenting with tradition
0 4Topography Cube ... an exploration of density
0 5Footbridge at Fiskars ... embracing the movement of water
2 0 1 2 - 2 0 1 3
2 0 1 1
2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2
2 0 1 1
2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2
0 6Urban Landscape Observatory ... transparency and opacity
0 7Parallax Observatory ...flowoftheviewpoint
0 8Wildfire Museum ... five dimensions of experience
1 0 The Horse Rancher’s House ... anatomy of living
1 1Two Dimensional Exploration ... learning through the hand
2 0 1 2 - 2 0 1 3
2 0 1 1
2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2
2 0 1 1
2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 2
2 0 1 1
2 0 1 0
2 0 1 0
2 0 0 9
- -
0 9Fire Station in Alexandria ... void and structure
2 0 1 3
Alkuperää Talo “ material tradition and the metaphysical ”
The Alkuperää Talo, or the Origin House, is a con-struct with a mission to highlight the history and tradition of the people of Joutseno, Finland. Comprised of a program of luthier workshops, musician practice rooms and interior and exterior performance halls the AT attempts to follow the transformation of wood as a material as it passes through the processes of the creative human effort. This includes the initial forestry pursuits and up to the emotional communication through music of the ancient origin epic, the Karlevala. The AT is a physical entity dedicated to the human attempt of communication.
TheATismythesisfrommyfifthyearofundergraduatearchitecture school at Virginia Tech.
The Origin House
for the tradition and history of a people... Joutseno sits on the shores of Lake Saimaa in eastern Fin-land. Nine kilometers from the Russian boarder, Joutseno is home to one of Finland’s largest saw mills, the Honkalahti Mill owned by forestry producer Stora Enzo. The land here has been home to a method of forestry production for as long a humans have inhabited it. It is located in the Karelian forest home of the ancient Finnish origin epic the Karl-evala. The AT is the home of a luthier workshop specialized in the productionofthetraditionkanteleflatharp.ThedenseNordicwoodistransformed through craft and tradition into the “second voice” of the musician trained to preform the traditional Karlevala song. At the heart of the AT is a performance hall where the culmi-nation of the human creative effort is announced to the people in the temporal moments that are music.
The Forest... isanintegralfixtureinthelifeofthepeo-ple of Joutseno. They nurture the trees, tend to them as they grow for decades and understand that they are the resourc-es of the next generation. The people of Joutseno look at their forest in a spiritual manner, it is their livelihood, their home and the home of their ancestors gods.
The Luthier... takes the raw wood from the forest. They shape it into the traditional kantele instru-ment through craft, tradition and human ingenuity. The essence of their tools and hands is infused into the form of the wood. However the original deep connec-tion the wood retained with the forest isn’t lost but rather highlighted and given new meaning.
The Musician... is given the carefully crafted artifact (the kantele) of the Luthier. They work with the Luthier to perfect the kantele using their combined expertise in sound and pos-ture. The musician becomes connected to the kantele using its as their second voice in the recitation of the Karlevala.
The People... experiencethefinalstageofthemeta-morphosis of the wood through the tradi-tional singing of the ancient origin story the Karlevala. The “second voice” of the musician present in the form of the kan-tele instrument. The music of the kantele is an instantaneous melody layered with the tone of the craft, care and art of the Forest, the Luthier and the musician.
process as crucible ...
The process of deriving the form of the AT acted as not only a generator of physical appearance but also as a method of working through the philosophy of what the AT attempts. ThefinalenvelopeoftheATactsasfolds of nurturing, protecting the interactions within from the harsh Finnish environment, while giving homage to it. During the last ice-age Finland was covered by two kilometers of glacier. These massive forms of ice sculpted the modern landscape, creating thousand of lakes and carving smooth granite bluffs. The AT takes its form from these ancient Goliath, reaching and seeming to amble amongst the silver birch of the forest as it projects the ancient origin epic back to the people.
most recent itieration of the massing
Performance Hall
The Performance Hall envelope acts as the final threshold of meditation. Inside it holds the communicative action of music within a sterileenvironment designed for reflection.
the heart ...
At the heart of the AT is the performance hall. Inside this space the culmination of the efforts of the institution is released through the performance of the Karlevala. The form of the performance hall separates it from the totality while still maintaining its language. In this way Ihopethatitbecomesthefinalthresholdof sharpening perception. The occupant can distinguish the performance hall as its own unique volume and acknowledge its demand for a higher level of attentiveness upon entry.
Development
Savusauna at Muuratsalo “ a forest language “
The savusauna, or smoke sauna, is the oldest and most traditional Finnish sauna. Integral to the culture of Suomi the savusauna is an sensory experienceoffire,waterandheat. Thereisnochimneyandonceafirehasbeenburned in the kiaus, or oven, for 6 hours the doors and hatches are opened and the smoke can escape. Then sauna can be taken. The room and its occupants are coveredinsootandthesmelloffireclearsthenostrilsalong with the wet heat.
As a participant in the Wood Program at Aalto University for the year of 2011-2012 we were given the task by the Aalto Foundation of designing and eventually constructing a new savusauna for Alvar Aalto’s Experimental House at Muuratsalo in Jyväskylä Finland. A new sauna was as Aalto’s savusauna is overly weathered and in danger of burning. The users of our savusauna will be descendents of Aalto as well as visitors to the Experimental House.
the site... Alvar Aalto’s Experimental house at Muuratsalo
Alvar Aalto’s savusauna
the proposal...
By taking standard dimensional lumber and orienting it on the short axis with varying thicknesses and lengths we are able to recreate an abstracted distillation of the forest surround Muuratsalo. An Aalto inspired slope gives rise to the monument besides it while protecting it from winters copious snowfall. The savusauna acts as a chameleon; mimicking the motion of the forest while providing an amphitheater style seat-ing.Thusofferingamomentofreflectionupontherelationshipbetweennatureandartifice.
Alvar Aalto’s savusauna
KOE Savusauna “ experimenting with tradition ”
Honors : World Design Fair 2012 Helsinki Site of Interest Exhibition in Aalto Symposium Exhibition in Alvar Aalto’s Studio Helsinki
The KOE Savusauna was designed and constructed during the Wood Program 2012 with an international team of 18 students and two tutors under the professorship of Pekkä Heikkinen.
KOE testes the traditional ideal of the savu-sauna, pushing the borders of form and expanding upon the experience of sauna. Conceived from the formal language of the chapel KOE is a construct dedi-cated to rejuvenation.
How it’s made ...
breathing gap press release exhibition at Aalto’s Studio seat and footrest
homemade CLT, end grain and smoke pressure ...
The KOE Savusauna presented a plethora of opportunities for creative detailing. The complex form required the invention of a custom version of CLT panel with an inset structural frame and plenty of air pockets to combat rot. The terrance steps also required extra attention to assure that the end grain of the glue-lamenate had plenty of air space for moisture to escape while still retaining stability. However, most importantly the interior heat room of the savusauna was designed with a strict adherence to traditional savusauna proportions in order to facilitate proper steam distribution and to mitigate the possibility of conflagrationduringheating.
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Plywood tongue (15x15x150mm)
TOP WING-LOW WING
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Steel strap 0,5x15mm/306mm
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24
112
132°
48°
132°10
2038
23
135°
45°
45°
135°
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Plywood tongue (15x15x150mm)
TOP WING-LOW WING
66°
2038
23
48°
132°
16,8
100
16,9
38
66°
66°
Steel strap 0,5x15mm/306mm
44,8
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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRO
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BY
AN
AU
TOD
ESK
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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
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CA
TION
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24
112
132°
48°
132°10
2038
23
135°
45°
45°
135°
100
Plywood tongue (15x15x150mm)
TOP WING-LOW WING
66°
2038
23
48°
132°
16,8
100
16,9
38
66°
66°
Steel strap 0,5x15mm/306mm
44,8
2
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRO
DU
CED
BY
AN
AU
TOD
ESK
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UC
ATI
ON
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PRO
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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
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a joint from a jewelry box ...
snapping into place
one to one testing
The seam joints of the savusauna were solved through an augmenta-tionofthesplinejointcommonlyusedincraftingfinefurnitureandboxes. By creating a series of short splines and fastening the obtuse exterior angle with short metal band the side panels were joined with a ductal joint. When the entire structure is erected the system supports itself and becomes ridged. This joint required many one to one tests in the engineering workshop with the oversight of a professor of engineer-ing.
Topography Cube “ an exploration of density “
Constructed of pine and hollowed out by the ban saw the Topography Cube creates a surrealist space in its interior.
Footbridge at Fiskars “ embracing the movement of water ”
Fiskars is a small artists village just north of Hel-sinki. Known in the past as the site of the Fiskars factory that produced orange handled scissors, axes, and other steel tools, now it harbors an acclaimed wooden furniture design school. The Footbridge accommodates the needs of crossing the river with a sensitivity to the rhythm of the water and to the gentle gait of the user. The town needs a new footbridge and the Wood Program created a series of proposals for exhibition. This was a group project with three other Wood Program partici-pants.
1m 4m
Derived from the form of a traditional eel trap the Footbridge at Fiskars is a series of bent glue-lam member. The geodesic curves that comprise the form is possible with wood and has been proven to be structurally sound due to the connecting triangles that cover the system. A possible mechanism for join-ing the members together could be a sandwich bull-dog plate with a bolt system that hold the members in the ap-propriate angle. This joint was made in full scale and tested.
Plan
Elevation
Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3
construction ...
To construct the complex form of the Footbridge at Fiskars a special constructionsystemwasdevised.Fourwoodenwheelsofaspecificdiameter and spacial placement are used as the molds that the steam treated glue lam members are wrapped around. In this way we have four reference points with which we can map out the geodesic curves in a computer model as well as during actual construction.
construction ...
Cincinnati suffers from a mass exodus from the city center. It is a city where abandonment is painfully evident, where the com-parison between vacant and occupied represents an underlying economic battle.
Urban Landscape Observatory “ transparency and opacity “
Single Apartment
Family Apartment
Double Apartment
Typical Apartment Wall Section
1- Steel Moment Connection 2- Steel Shear Connection 3- Furring Strip 4- Drop Ceiling 5- Green Roof 6- Glass Insulated Unit 7- Concrete Panelling 8- Composite Floor Slab 9- W Beam 10- Erection Plate
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The Apartment Matrix hovers over the public spaces ground level of the ULO and is supported by six egress columns. These columns are illustrated in the title picture of this project. The apartments themselves are physical markers of where life and home exist in the third dimension. They appear tofloatamongvoidsofnegativespace,themselvesrepre-senting the nuclei of life still present in the scattered city.
Section through structure of a typical apartment
life in the third dimension ...
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Apartment MatrixThe Apartment Matrix is made up of three variations of apartments that are stacked and arranged around vertical movement towers. In addition to these towers tubular glass stairways can be added to increase movement volume.
Apartment Matrix
Set at the ever changing feet of the damcontrolled Fontana lake and under the shadow of the Appalachian Mountains the Parallax Observatory explores the contradicting motions of people and water. A recreation and research center the Observatory monitors water in the physical and ethereal since.
Parallax Observatory “flowoftheviewpoint“
Parallax Observatory with highlighted Parallax Axis viewpoints
Parallax Observatory with highlighted Parallax Axis viewpoints
The program of the Parralax Observatory contained a recreation center with boatdockandchangingrooms,officespaces,archives, and meeting room. By separating these programs into three different horizontal towers it is then possible to cut through them and cre-ate Parallax Axis: moments when a viewpoint is accessible from all three towers at the same instance. In this way all the programs are physically separated but are still visually connected.
This represents the view while looking down the length of the largest horizontal tower that contains the archive, media center and meeting room. Here a tangential view of the Parallax Axis is prevalent as it makes its way through the construct.
This is the view through the Parallax Axis. Here the line passes through two horizontal towers. To the occu-pant this visually connects the distinctly different programs of the two towers and creates a since of unity.
the program... movement
The teaching museum offers the experience of its subject. One learns from being placed into the situation being described. Smell, sound, touch, light and viewpoint are the paints with which the architect can paint an experience onto a landscape.
WildfireMuseum “fivedimensionsofexperience“
Watch Tower
OfficeSpace
Underground Exhibition Space
Archives
Underground Exhibition Space
TheprogramoftheWildfireMuseumcontainsa60fttall“smokespotting”tower,officespace, archive, and public exhibition space. The structure of the museum was inspired by the repetitive nature of the dense pine forest. The public exhibition space is located underground in a concrete round-log-formwork-cast room. In order to create the sensory experience of a wildfiretheformworkwasremovedbyburning.Thisleaves charcoal and stains the concrete, and in effect imprintingthesmelloffireinsidetheroom.Inthiswaythe public are reminded of the paradigm of destruction andrebirththatthewildfirerepresentstotheforest. Abovetheexhibitionspacethearchive,officespaces and tower’s repetitive stilt structure “grows” from the charred earth. ThecanvasroofoftheWildfireMuseumallowsthe molted pattern of forest light to be represented on theinteriorofthearchiveandofficespace.
organization of senses ...
Thesparkofflamelickstheskyintheformofa landmark; the Fire Station’s tower. It’s windows actasportals,throughwhichtheflameofthestationinternal incandescences shines yellow. Its tower be-haves as a beacon of its omnipresent guardianship. The Fire Station is a landmark of the com-munity. It lights the streets at night and its operable facade transforms it’s community and shopping center into an outdoor pavilion for town festivals. Its roof is a bowl that swallows the rain from theskytofillitsundergroundcisterns.Wateriskeptsafe under the Fire Station.
The Fire Station in Alexandria was a weekend project.
Fire Station in Alexandria “ void and structure ”
Form derived from a anatomical running pattern of a horse lends life to the Horse Rancher’s House. The horse’s pattern of movement informs the pattern of life inside the house.
The Horse Rancher’s House “ anatomy of living “
The Horse Rancher’s House was designed for a single horse rancherswhosefieldswerelocatedonthemountainslopedirectlyinfrontofthe site. With approximately 1,200 square feet the house maintains an economic size while offering ample space for entertaining and lounging. Set back into the hillside with the help of a fourteen foot tall retaining wall the house has a green-roof that in conjunction with the earth behind the back wall keep the house cool during the summer and warm in the winter. Large windows and glass facades allow deep daylight penetration as well as an uninterrupted view of Jefferson National Forest and the horse farms which stretch out beyond the site.
The model made for the Horse Field House was constructed in an effort to understand the structure of the construct. Built on a base of 48 inches by 24 inches in dimension the model served as an experimental platform for materiality. The structure utilizes a basic wood-framing system. The green roof section of the building is over designed containing three support systems (detail image to the right). While the exterior cladding was determined to be 2x2 white ceramic paneling. These panels would keep their white patina for an extended amount of time.
Building art is a synthesis of life in a materialized form. - Alvar Aalto
Drawing and painting aid the understanding of an object and its form. It is a meditation technique that calms the mind as well as allowing for deeper thought upon a subject.
Two Dimensional Exploration “ learning through the hand “
These pen and ink perspective sections were created in an effort to understand the reinforced poured in place concrete as a method of construction. Taken from rebar placement to form-work to glass placement toflooringinstallationtheyprocesswasdissected and re-created in two complete balanced drawings.