graduate school application portfolio

design projects

drawings + photography

experience + writing

1300 Claire Street Opelika, AL 36801 birdgor@auburn.edu

i n t e r a c t i v e

UNDERGRADUATE PORTFOLIO Auburn UniversitySchool of Architecture

Bachelor of Interior ArchitectureBachelor of Architecture

GRADUATE APPLICATIONUniversity of Pennsylvania

School of Design

Post-Professional M. Architecture IIFall 2012

JEFFERSON ST

MADISON ST

DEXTER AVE

ALABAMA RIVER

PERR

Y ST

COMMERCE ST

GRID DIAGRAM

URBAN PLAN

EDGES = BOUNDARIES

CORNERS = SURFACES

MontgoMery live-workArchitecture Thesis2011Montgomery, Alabama

Jefferson Street Perspective, looking West

Proposed Urban PlanJefferson Street Perspective, looking West

Proposed North Elevation, along Jefferson Street

MATERIAL INVESTIGATION

FACADE RENDERING

PRECEDENTSDE YOUNG MUSEUM, HERZOG + DE MEURON BRANDHORST MUSEUM, SAUERBRUCH HUTTON

TEXTURAL QUALITY TERRACOTTA FACADE PANELS MATERIAL EFFECT INTENT

Transverse Street Section

Longitudinal Section

Street Perspective of Retail Stores

Paul rudolPh renovationInterior Architecture Thesis2011Auburn, Alabama

section perspective through dining and social spaces depicting cross ventilation and lighting strategy

Group Photo, 1975.

Fraternity, 1970.

Kappa Sigma, 1963.

an atmospheric architecture that visibly indexes the Movement of air

Tuskeegee University Chapel

Existing Basement Social SpaceExisting South Elevation

Atmospheric Plan

Existing Atmospheric Plan

Atmospheric SectionExisting Atmospheric Section

PaulRudolph,a1940Auburngraduate,designedtheKappaSigmaFraternityHousein1960.In2000,thechapterhousecaughtfireandhasbeen in disrepair since. This thesis proposal creates an architecture of atmosphere, much like what Rudolph depicted in his iconic pen and ink section perspectives. The interior atmosphere is created by the visible indexing of wind, where by elements of the interior display and heighten awareness of such movement. The thesis was reached through a process of on-site atmospheric drawings, Rudolph case studies and site visits, and full scale installations testing atmospheric conditions. Examining problematic spaces, such as the poorly ventilated, dimly lit basement, the proposal focuses on improving and con-necting the social spaces within the fraternity house. Thethesisproposesanopeningwithinthefloorplateofthemiddlefloortoprovidecrossventilationfromthefrontentrycourt,downthroughthebasement and out into the back social court. In addition to the movement of air, light is allowed to penetrate into the basement to increase the natural daylighting effect. The use of directional operable windows and moveable partitioning curtains allows the users to attenuate natural ventilation and index the moment of air, creating a heightened awareness of such.

the mock up indexes the pocket of space + matter one occupies

Howeler + Yoon Architecture, Windscreen Installation

curtain moves by the force of pressure changes caused by the opening and closing of doors

System of suspended markers that document the movement of the curtain during atmospheric changes throught the day.

This installation sought to study and index the effects of air within a space. By suspending a plastic sheet within the stair, the air circulating within the room visibly moves the sheet. We used a system of sus-pended markers to track the movement of the curtain as air lifted and displaced it. The installation brought to mind the experiential significance of moving air.

atmospheric installation

diagram of ventilation additionfloor plan sketch

site model with proposed addtion

Process work with Proposed addition

Basement Social Space Perspective Dining Space Perspective

stage

social court

social space

living space

Lower Level

kitchen porch

diningfront court social court

entry

living space

Entry Level

A

A

D

D

E

F

C

C

FBB

E

1

1

2

2

longitudinal section

Renovated Housing

ExistingDouble-HeightLiving Room

Proposed Social Space

Proposed Dining Space

Longitudinal Section

“There is delight, then, to be had in things that provide a little liveliness for us, like the splashing of a fountain or the sparkle and flutter of Japanese street decorations. Their activity helps the mind feel a bit more quick-witted in spite of the dullness of a hot, muggy day.”

Lisa Heshong, Thermal Delight in Architecture, 27.

Ventilation Analysis Daylighting Analysis

GKDMETALFABRICS

GKD-USA, Inc.825 Chesapeake DriveCambridge MD 21613www.gkdmetalfabrics.comwww.gkdmediamesh.com

T 800 453 8616T 410 221 0542F 410 221 0544sales@gkdusa.com

Salvation Army

LocationNew York, NY

ArchitectHillier Architecture

Project TypePublic Work

Omega 1510 beautifully captures light and adds an elegant backdrop to this small auditoriumdesigned for the Salvation Army. A remarkable transition.

SolutionsPartitionsSuspended

ProductsOmega 1510

AttachmentsExtended loop

pivot windows

pivot doors

Armstrong Wood Works Acoustic Planks

GKD Metal

Fabrics

Royal Mosa Tile:

Beige+Brown

awning windows

with double doors

Utilizing Computa-tional Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Analysis, dia-grams were generat-ed depicting the veloc-ity of airflow through the two spaces.

Utilizing Ecotect software, daylighting analysis informed the design of the ceiling plane in the basement to accom-modate for the prop-er foot-candle levels based on activity.

Transverse Detail Section

Pelouze ConferenCe renovationInterior Architecture Studio2011Chicago, Illinois

“A Sequence and Public Space that Engages Conference Functions with Private Offices to Promote Coalescence...” Instructed to work within a robust and rigid concrete structure, originally sized for industrial loads, I addressed the primary issues of daylighting, circulation sequence, and social connections within the existing conditions. By manipulating the floor plate to create double height spaces and cross sectional views, I socially mixed the private office with the public conference. Working through the idea that more is accomplished in the hallway outside of a meeting room than within the meeting, the circulation space of the proposal is oversized to accommodate this emphasis.

Urban Sequence Analysis: Rome

Spatial Sequence Diagram

Exploded Diagram of Intervention

existing section

day lit atrium scheme

sectional interconnected space

Existing Historic Pelouze Building

Section Perspective of Interconnected Public Space

2

View of Auditorium and Interconnected Public Space

Transverse Section through Skylit Public Space

Conference Private Office

4

4

1

2

3

View of Sky-light with adjacent office and conference rooms.

View looking down to conference room and auditorium, depicting cross sectional views

Detail of Public Coalesced Space

ChiCago Children’s hosPitalAlagasco Competition: Second Place2010Chicago, Illinois

section perspective through patient rooms and public function depicting their relationship to the “urban room” of this rich area of Chicago

This hospital proposes visual and social connections between three primary public spaces and the patient rooms. Visual connection to activity serves as psychological motivation to physical healing and connects the hospital to this ex-traordinarily rich area of Chicago. Operations at an urban scale serve to enhance the experience at the patient scale. The setback, lift, bore and dent operations enable views from the patient room down to the sky terrace and bored space, as well as down to the park and out to the city. Entering into an atrium, one realizes another world exists looking up through a four floor atrium to the sky terrace, a major public interior and exterior space. Within the patient room, the bathroom is pushed to the facade to shade the windows on the south and west, focus views from the bed, and create an intimate space for patients and visitors, where the ceiling height increases as one approaches the window. Encouraging patients to move to the facade reinforces the healing environment and creates a rich architectural experience.

urban operations

setback lift, tilt, bore dent to view of activity (city, park, public space)

“visual and social connections serve as psychological motivation to physical healing...”

View from Lakeshore Park, looking West

Photograph of Model, looking West

Entry Sky-lit Atrium, visually connected to other public space

North Elevation

Outdoor Public Space

Urban Spatial Section

Patient Room PerspectiveDetail Section Perspective

Detail Patient Floor, north facadePhoto of Model looking East

roMe historiCal and urban analysisRome Study Abroad2010Rome, Italy

Present Day Largo Argentina—the site of four Republican Era Temples, entrance to the Theatre of Pompey, the place of Julius Caesar’s assas-sination, and a Medieval block demolished by the Fascist Regime—at the heart of modern Rome.

Ancient Plan of Rome, Forma Urbis Romae, 203-211 BC

Nolli Plan of Rome, 1748

Mussollini Demolition + Reconstruction Plans,1936

Ancient Rome Reconstructed, Theatre of Pompey and the Republican Era Temples

Detail from a map of Campus Martius by Étienne Dupérac, 1574.

Primary thoroughfares through heart of Rome,2010.

Aerial View of Largo Argentina, 2010.

“Rome is our point of departure and reference; it is our symbol or, if you wish, our myth. We dream of a Roman Italy, that is wise and strong, disciplined and imperial. Much of what was the immortal spirit of Rome, resurges in Fascism: Rome is the Lictor, Roman is our organiza-tion of combat, Roman is our pride and courage.”

Mussolini, “Past and Future” speech at Birthday of Rome celebration, 1922

Fascist Interventions of Rome:

tallassee falls Mill renovation with doug baCon

Interior Architecture Studio2009Tallassee, Alabama

Existing historic machine room

Entrance into the Machine Room, exhibitng the past and future of textiles.

Existing Site along Tallapoosa River

Existing Textile Mill

Machine Room: Material Documentation

CONCRETE WALL DETAIL

PROCRESS OF WALL

MATERIAL: FABRIC FORMED CONCRETE

CASE STUDY: P_WALL (2009) at SFMOMA fabric formed plaster

rectangular plan

tapered plan

free form plan

“It is much better not to cover anything up but to show the full nature and relationship of part to part, including the

present conditions of each which is a record of how it got that way”.

Louis Kahn, in reference to the Kimbell Art Museum

CONCRETE WALL DETAIL

PROCRESS OF WALL

MATERIAL: FABRIC FORMED CONCRETE

CASE STUDY: P_WALL (2009) at SFMOMA fabric formed plaster

rectangular plan

tapered plan

free form plan

“It is much better not to cover anything up but to show the full nature and relationship of part to part, including the

present conditions of each which is a record of how it got that way”.

Louis Kahn, in reference to the Kimbell Art Museum

“It is much better not to cover anything up but to show the full nature and relationship of part to part, including the present conditions of each which is a record of how it got that way”.-Louis Kahn

1: Design a Wall/Threshold.

EXPLODED DETAIL OF FABRIC FORMED CONCRETE WALL

2: Utilize the designed wall to shape existing space in plan.

3: Material: Fabric Formed Concrete

SEQU

ENCE

AXO

N

WALLS DEFINING SMOOTH AND STRIATED SPACE AND SEQUENCE

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2

roMe drawingsStudy Abroad Program2010Rome, Italy

A Rotating PerspectiveSan Gimignano Sketch

The Birth of Rome

Ostia Antica Largo Argentina Experiential Drawing

bishoP-Parker faCade renderingArchitecture Thesis Studio2011Montgomery, Alabama

Bishop-Parker Existing Facade Bishop-Parker Proposed Facade

interior ConstruCtionsSecond Year Architecture Studio2009 shade and shadow rendering

analytique with plan and details raised perspective

material perspective

The assignment involved the design of a square rectangular space joined by a stair and the drawings include constructed perspectives.

Published PhotograPhyAU Circle2008 + 2010 Shoshone Falls, 2007. Tuscan Hilltown, 2010.

Personal PhotograPhy

hinson + dagg arChiteCtsProfessional Experience2009-2011Auburn, Alabama

house on hickory hill,

AIA Alabama 2010Merit Award

As an architectural intern, I was respon-sible for the presen-tation/competition drawings for build projects for David Hinson , FAIA and Christian Dagg, AIA.

lusche-boyer residenceAIA Montgomery 2009

Merit Award

writing saMPleHistory and Theory of Urban Form2011

Excerpt from “Political Propaganda and Social Engineering: Urban Transformations in Fascist Rome and Post-War America”

Politics is never a good topic for table discussion because it represents what we be-lieve as individuals. Each person’s beliefs are complex and personal: the root of contro-versy and passion. A politician may mask or alter his or her beliefs as a way to maximize his or her constituency support. However, political intentions and ideologies are absolutely clear when one begins to analyze the urban transformations of cities. Urban interventions in Fascist Rome and the rise of suburban sprawl in the United States were both presented as ideal visions of progress. Rome was forced into this new future by Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini, while Americas believed their future was by choice. Methods of social engineering and propaganda were used to deceive and influence citizens into believing the political agendas and decisions were right. The consequence of moving people out of the Borgo led to an automobile dependent development in Primavalle. As unfortunate Romans were forced to the fringes of the city, a similar and semi-related phenomenon was occurring in the United States that had the same consequence but by different means. Americans believe suburbanization was a choice they made, but the choice was extremely influenced by parties to gain.

According to Christopher Leinberger, the “most obvious program of the Futurama-inspired domestic policy was the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 which built the 46,837 mile system.” The construction of the Interstate System is the largest project undertaken in American history in physical size, social impact, and cost. Reasons behind such a huge project include increasing mobility for national defense, encouraging the building and con-nection of a commercial truck transportation network, creating jobs, and supporting manu-facturing, trucking, and construction companies. Unfortunately, this was based upon an unchallenged assumption of a car-based transportation system. It is believed that this was a choice that Americans made and indeed at first glance it looks that way. However, by analyzing the tactics used by parties with personal interests, Americans were manipulated into believing this future was destined. The promise of the Futurama exhibit helped launch an interlocking system of poli-cies and subsidies that unwittingly pushed aside all historical precedent in city building and produced the car-only, drivable sub-urban pattern of growth. Both in Rome and the United States ideas of progress and modernization were used to justify monolithic urban transfor-mations. The means by which suburbanism developed is a manifestation of the political and social structure of the place. Authoritarian government forced this upon its citizens, while democratic and capitalist government allowed citizens to “choose.” These suburban developments led to unintended consequences of suburbia, which often lack unique iden-tity, sense of place and culture. Suburbia promotes and forces the automobile as the only mode of transportation. Most importantly, transportation is movement, and so much of movement is about a human experience. It is unfortunate that the automobile becomes a barrier between humans and the experience of place and, for that matter, life.