monte van tassel | portfolio

MONTE VAN TASSELArchitecture & Design Portfolio

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University of Oregon |School of Architecture and Allied Arts

PHONE503.991.3619

[email protected]

LINKEDINhttp://www.linkedin.com/pub/

monte-van-tassel/89/118/395

MONTE VAN TASSEL

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Architecture is more than the arrangement of spaces within a building--it is the making of places. As a designer I strive to create places that are thoughtful, beautiful, timeless, and relevant to the human experience.

There is a disconnect in American Cities between the makers of art and those who view it. Art museums hold rich collections of work from around the world, yet these collections are housed behind walls, denying people on the street any opportunity to interact with them. There is a fundamental need to connect the public to the making of art.

The project is a mixed use building incorporating a new Portland Art Museum wing, the NW Film Center, retail space, and luxury apartments. Located in Portland’s Cultural District, this project is directly north of the Portland Art Museum, along the South Park Blocks. It brings the process of art creation to the public by placing artist studios and workshops adjacent to galleries, creating visual connections within the building.

The building is conceived of as two masses joined by a seam to create a single entity. The galleries take the form of extruded boxes which project into the seam, creating a dialog with the fi lm school production spaces. An interior screen acts as a shutter which frames views from the galleries into specifi c workshops and studios, creating dynamic visual connections throughout the building. The functions of the Northwest Film Center are pulled back from the street while a mesh screen maintains a street presence consistent with surrounding buildings.

PORTLAND ART MUSEUM+ NW FILM CENTERPortland, OR : Winter-Spring 2014 : Professor Becca Cavell

Left: Parti diagramRight: Looking from art galleries toward NWFC

Approaching the museum from park blocks

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3. SCHNITZER CONCERT HALL

2. PORTLAND ART MUSEUM 1. MARK BUILDING

4. SOUTH PARK BLOCKSRight: Site mapLeft: Light fi lters down

into Museum lobby

3.

4.

1.

2.

View from gallery into park blocks canopy

REINTERPRETING TRADITIONAL GALLERY FORMS

Left: Programmatic building massing

Right: NWFC Lobby

MAKING

VIEWING

LIVING

LIVING

VIEWING(PAM)

MAKING (NWFC)

MECH/STOR

PAMLOBBY

WORKSHOP

RETAIL

RETAILRETAIL

RESTAURANT

HOUSING LOBBY

W/CW/C

PARKING BELOW

NWFCTHEATER

UP

NWFCLIBRARY

EQUIP.STORAGE

DIGITAL LAB

DIGITAL LAB

GALLERY

GALLERY

GALLERY

GALLERY GALLERY

W/CW/C

CAFE

NWFC LOBBY

OFF.

ARTSTUDIO

ARTSTUDIO

ARTSTUD.

ARTSTUD.

ARTSTUD.

ARTSTUD.

STUDYROOM

STUDYROOM

STUDYROOM STUDY

ROOM

STUDYROOM

STUDYROOM

W/C W/C

1 BED

1 BED

LOUNGE

STUDIO

2 BED

2 BED

1 BEDGALLERY

GALLERY

GALLERYGALLERY

GALLERY

FILM ARCHIVE

FILM STUDIO

RESTOR.LAB

RESTOR.LAB

LOUNGEOFF. OFF.

OFFICE

OFFICE

OFFICE

OFFICE

CONF. ROOM

CONF. ROOM

W/C W/C

SCREENINGROOM

SCREENINGROOM

SCREENINGROOM

W/C W/C

GALLERY

GALLERY

GALLERYGALLERY

GALLERY

W/C W/C

W/CW/CSTOR.

GYM

EVENT SPACE

LOUNGETHEATER

ROOF TERRACE

Left: Selected fl oor plansRight: Tectonic model exploring

fi lm school facade and circulation Ground

Level 2

Level 4

Level 5

Housing

Built of hand-poured cast concrete in 1916, the Mercer Museum houses a collection of working implements from pre-industrial America. This project imagines an addition to that museum.

Henry C. Mercer was a gentleman architect and amateur archaeologist who spent years traveling and documenting cultures throughout the world. In particular, his time spent exploring ceremonial caves in Mexico left a lasting impression on him and infl uenced the character of his museum. With this in mind the museum addition is seen as a cave which visitors move through before emerging into the atrium of the original museum.

The addition is entered via a ramp that descends into the landscape. Natural light fi lters in from above, forming a series of unique moments throughout the galleries. Richly textured walls catch the light and add spatial dynamism.

MERCER MUSEUM EXPANSIONDoylestown, PA : Winter 2012 : Professor Jim Givens

Left: Concept diagramRight: Ramp heading towards museum entry

Left: View from lobby looking toward courtyardAbove: Floor plan 22|23

Above: Section through museum and addition

Right: Looking down hall towards gallery

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Opposite: Gallery experienceTop + Bottom: By placing the addition underground, views of the original museum are preserved

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Left: Light penetrating into rotating galleryRight: Museum entry model

The beauty of well-designed furniture does not lie solely in its form but in the way its form facilitates an activity. Through the marriage of thoughtful design and careful craftsmanship, a piece of furniture becomes usable art.

This desk was designed for those who live in an urban environment where space is at a premium and portability is essential. Inspired by the simplicity of a metal folding chair, the desk provides a functional workspace which can be easily moved and stored as needed.

The desk is built of White Oak and Russian Birch plywood, but because of its hollow structure it weighs less than 10 lbs. An 18” x 40” surface makes the desk practical for daily use while an overall thickness of 6” when folded makes it easy to store almost anywhere. The cord management slot doubles as a handle when transporting and a front compartment can accommodate a 15” laptop. A 6” shelf provides storage space and structural rigidity as well as acting as a shoulder rest when the desk is being transported.

A DESK FOR SMALL SPACESEugene, OR : Winter 2013 : Professor Wonhee Arndt

COMPACT DESIGN | HIGHLIGHTING PORTABILITY

Left + Right: Construction details

The theme of the 2015 World Expo is Feeding the Planet, Energy For Life. The challenge was to design a pavilion for the United States that educated visitors on sustainability in American industry while creating a dynamic and beautiful experience.

The United States pavilion celebrates the rich history of lumber in North America. Evoking images of the log cabin of the American West, the pavilion is built entirely from responsibly sourced timber. Designed for simple setup and deconstruction, the pavilion showcases the natural beauty of wood, and reminds visitors that responsibly harvested timber is the original renewable resource.

Two main concepts drove the pavilion design. The first is the experience of walking through a forest while the second is a simple vessel which holds a secret at its center. Together these ideas form the basis of the final design.

UNITED STATES PAVILIONWORLD EXPO 2015Milan, Italy : Fall 2014 : Professor Ralf Weber

Approaching the US Pavilion

Left: Pavilion sectionRight: Moving through

the exhibition hall

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Right: Experiential sketchesLeft: Looking into the central

courtyard 40|41

Each wall panel is designed to be self-supporting. Built of stacked 6” x 6” members separated by 3” spacers, the panels bolt to one another through the structural columns. No glue is used during assembly, ensuring that every piece of wood and hardware can be reused after the EXPO ends.

Right: Model highlighting dimensional timber structureLeft: Individual Wall Panel 42|43

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Opposite: Pavilion modelTop + Bottom: Sectional model highlighting panel-to-panel connections

Terracotta Parapet SectionScale | 1-1/2” = 1’ - 0”Monte Van Tassel

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

Window Wall Roof SectionScale | 1-1/2” = 1’ - 0”Monte Van Tassel

Terracotta Window Sill SectionScale | 3” = 1’ - 0”Monte Van Tassel

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PHOTOGRAPHY: A VISUAL RECORD

THANK YOU

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