gina falba architecture portfolio

Gina FalbaArchitecture Portfolio

The Problem of the House FLEX-HouseThis studio was a collaboration with architecture student Lorena Akin and engineering students Nidhi Chaklasia and Paul Drumheller. Our concept was the FLEX-House: Community Oriented Urban Living. We designed a 2,000 sq.ft. home with 1,000 sq.ft. of flex space on the ground floor that could be used for commercial or rental income. Neighborhood developments included a large community garden and a playground area. A large porch and finished rooftop patio provide exterior spaces that make up for the smaller plot of land. We hoped to encourage people to move to urban areas and take advantage of all that downtown living has to offer.

30%Narrow footprint

Flex space + 2,200 ft2 home

Adding private shaded exterior spaces+ south facing terraces

Volume shifting + Material overlap

Windows for views and even daylight

Large live-work4,756 sq. ft. lot

Community gardens37,630 sq. ft.

Live-live3,553 sq. ft.

Live-work3,193 sq. ft.

Live-live2,829 sq. ft.

Live-Work3,553 sq. ft.

First level: FLEX SpaceInterior Area: 1,103 sq.ft.

Second level: LivingInterior Area: 1,045 sq.ft.Exterior Area: 213 sq.ft.

Third level: SleepInterior Area: 1,156 sq.ft.

Roof TerraceInterior Area: 238 sq.ft.Exterior Area: 1,198 sq.ft.

Roof PlanBifacial Solar Array Area: 490 sq.ft.

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1. Terrace / Entrance2. Living room3. Kitchen4. Dinning5. Office / Reading Room6. Powder room7. Storage/ Laundry room8. Pantry / Storage

1. Master Bedroom2. Bedroom A3. Bedroom B4. Master Bathroom5. Bathroom6. Storage7. TV Room8. Master Walk-in closet

1. Terrace with bar and seating area2. Planting area (herb garden)3. Balcony overlooking garden






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WATERRain water collection from roof & parking is stored in an underground cistern located

underneath the driveway for irrigation purposes.VE

GETATIONBioswales infront of the property would filter water from contaminants

Herb roof garden would decrease the solar heat gain in the roof by acting as insulation.Driveway paved with permeable paving.Increase vegetation through bioswales, yard and community gardens reduce heat island effect within developmentSO

LAR

450 sq. ft. of bifacial solar panelsSolar orientation: South and north facing windows, south facing porch. EN

ERGY

Shared geothermal wells provide for 4 dwellings

WATERRain water collection from roof & parking is stored in an underground cistern located




LAR


ERGY

Shared geothermal wells provide for 4 dwellingsW

ATERRain water collection from roof & parking is stored in an underground cistern located




LAR


ERGY

Shared geothermal wells provide for 4 dwellings

Wellness Center Form StudioThe goal of this studio was to design a wellness center in downtown Raleigh. The exact program was designed by each student. I chose to focus on Balance: Mind | Body | Spirit, using several modeling techniques as well as mapping exercises and diagrams to arrive at the final design. Several steel and glass buildings were combined to create a wellness campus that would be a benefit to the community.

hypnosis art therapy rest &relaxation

acupuncture

acupuncture

massage

massage

courtyard

lockerssitting areawmsitting arealockerstoilet toilets

reception

pools

meditation

cafe

sleep

Museum of the City Site StudioThe first semester studio at NC State was a project that focused heavily on site analysis, in this case Washington DC and how it has changed over time. Working with a classmate, Phil Smith, we started with both 2D and 3D analytical diagrams as part of the study, followed by the final project which was a Museum of the City, located along the canal. The museum had a series of very specific program requirements:

2 Volumes 1 cubic and 1 rectilinear 4 Wall types Wall of the City, Wall of Books, Wall of Structure, & Wall of Light

Prototype SeminarIn this seminar I researched the Universal Joint designed by Konrad Wachsmann. After determining how to recreate the joint itself, I did a series of studies to figure out how to construct a building panel system that would consist of interior and exterior finishes with layers of structure and insulation between. The final product uses acrylic as a connection system which allows light to penetrate and places emphasis on the joints. The prototype was built to 1:4 scale each panel is 1 x 2.

Deck Project Guilford, CTDuring the summer of 2005, I designed and built a deck for a residential property along with my colleague, Nick Brunetti. The project taught me a great deal about the real world challenges of the design/build process. From pouring the concrete piles to constructing the steel cable railing, we experienced the entire process of building. It was very satisfying to start with a vision and to see the end result emerge.

Professional WorkAfter graduating from RISD, I worked for 2 years at Small Kane Architects in Raleigh, NC. My previous work as a graphic designer helped me get the job as I had no prior experience in an architecture firm. Initially I worked in the interiors department, but the principals quickly learned that my interior architecture degree made me better suited to work with the architecture interns. I currently have approximately 2500 IDP hours and hope to begin taking the ARE exams soon. The following is a sampling of the construction drawings I worked on as well as other roles I had on each project.

NC State Veterinary School SmallKane ArchitectsThis was the first project I worked on at SmallKane. I started with construction drawings of column details (it seemed like each one was unique), worked on the door and finish schedules, as well as coordinating signage. I also attended meetings with the architect and the client for signage approval and decisions regarding the large medical equipment that was needed.

Junior League of Raleigh SmallKane ArchitectsThis project was a renovation of an existing building designed by George Matsumoto for IBM. My responsibilities included field measurements, entering the original hand drawings into CAD, detail drawings, and I attended meetings with the architect and the structural engineer regarding the entry portal shown below. I also did the majority of the drawings for the entry portal.

Original drawing by George Matsumoto

Campbell University School of Law SmallKane ArchitectsThis project was a fast-track renovation of an existing building where design and construction were overlapping. In this project I detailed the new glass entrance, tile and carpet patterns in the common areas, set heights for the hanging lights, prepared the FFE binder, laid out furniture in the offices, and calculated dimensions for a new fire stair. [Images shown are in place of drawings.]

Fine ArtI like to include a page of some of my artwork as it plays a large part in representing who I am as a designer. I have experimented with a variety of media, and when Im not in school I often take classes at community colleges to learn new skills. I did a lot of bronze and metalwork as an undergrad, as well as conceptual work using wax. I have taken courses such as photography, glass-blowing, stained glass, and Renaissance painting techniques. I find that these courses keep me inspired and have a great impact on my architectural design.

Gina Falba919.448.5888 [email protected]

gina falba architecture portfolio

Documents

exterior area

livinginterior area

sleepinterior area

playground area

flex spaceinterior area

roof terraceinterior

planting area herb garden3

gardenfirst level