Meghan Putnam

Design Portfolio

The city of Chicago provides a unique

backdrop to the Museum of Contempo-

rary Photography, providing it with a mul-

titude of design opportunities and con-

straints. The museums adjacency to Grant Park and Michigan

Avenue address present the opportunity for the building to be-

come an architectural landmark for the city. Although building in

such a dynamic environment has its advantages, it also provides

a number of obstacles. With a relatively small building footprint,

the design needed to maximize the sites limited space and also

interact with its surroundings while addressing the unique needs

of a photography museum, such as, avoidance of direct uv rays.

The first step in the strategy became a simple extrusion of the

footprint to maximize space. Next, the buildings circulation was

[carved out] as a way to [break the box] and provide an op-

portunity for the public to observe how those within the building

move throughout the space.

Mo

CP

Park

sid

e V

illag

e E

lem

en

tary

Level 1

Level 2

Le

l Level

Park

sid

e V

illag

e E

lem

en

tary

Parkside Village Elementary is located in

downtown San Diego. The design focuses

on creating a healthy and stimulating envi-

ronment for the buildings users. The shape

and orientation of the building is designed

to maximize natural light and harness

the steady breeze that blows in from the

ocean. The classrooms are arranged ac-

cording to grade level giving space between

the upper and lower grades with the play-

ground area in the center giving teachers

an unobstructed view of the students play-

ing, providing a safe learning environment

for all.

Info

rmati

on

Mem

bra

ne

A cell membrane protects the interior of a cell from the

outside environment. Cell membranes are selectively perm

e-

able to ions and organic molecules. The "skin" or library

membrane acts in the same way. Through a series of per-

forations and voids, the building design allows for circula-

tion, light, book storage, and outdoor space. This design

seeks to address the needs of the modern public library.

Through the integration of an interactive art center the li-

brary once again becomes a gathering place for the com-

munity and a place to share experiences and ideas.

Calla

Ch

rist

ian

The Calla Lily is a traditional sym

bol of pu-

rity due to its smooth curves and stark white

color. The Calla Christian Church mimics

both the organic shapes and sense of

purity. The program for this

project called for a worship

space, reception area,

classrooms, and

administrative space.

ional

urves

Chu

and

this l s

hu s

sysym

bmbolol of pupu--

s anand ststarark white e e

hurch h mi

mimi

mi

mi

micscscs

sensnse e ofofof

s s

Located in a rural community in mid-Missouri, the

concept for this project was [knowledge]. An arm

illary

sphere, a traditional sym

bol of knowledge, became the

form

al source of inspiration for the structure. The de-

sign incorporates many windows in a cylindrical

composition as a reminder to

learn from the world around us.

Bo

on

e C

ou

nty

Li

bra

ry

Level 1

Level 2

No

rth

Vill

ag

e L

oft

sNVL was an adaptive reuse project located in downtown Columbia Mis-

souri. The goal was to convert this historic warehouse into artists lofts,

retail space, restaurant, spa, and gym

, while maintaining as much of the

historic facade as possible. The solution I proposed

was to add a modern metal awning to modern-

ize the building without competing with the exist-

ing structure. This project was largely an exercise

in space planning with historic preservation, building

codes, natural lighting, and plumbing considerations

all taken into account.

arm

lock

rotating arm

s

twist lock

dome

removable

saltwater pan

potable water

receptacle

spout

Through a series of design modifications, this design addresses

some of the shortcomings of products that are currently on the

market.

Na seeks to provide simple and aesthetically pleasing solutions to the issue of po-

table water. Simple considerations such as ease of use and multi-functionality were at

the driving forces of the design.

Without water, life would

not exist. It is a prereq-

uisite for all human and

economic development.

Yet today, nearly one bil-

lion people lack access to

potable water. more than

twice that many, 2.5 billion

people, do not have access

to plumbing.

prototype:

solution:

neutralizing aqua

Na's focus is on

improving the health

and lives of it's users.

That's why it is made

of lightweight BPA free

plastic to eliminate the

risk of leeching harm

-ful chemicals into the

water. Also, the use of

enamel over steel plate

for the saltwater pan

ensures rapid heating

and safe dringing wa-

ter all for a reason-

able price.

This system was designed to have three posi-

tions. the standing position separates the system

from the ground removing possible bug and dirt

contaminates.

The second available position is the unlocked posi-

tion. By simply rotating the arm

s towards the front

spout, the system is unlocked. Then, a twist of the

dome releases the top and it may be removed by

lifting and pulling it through the back. this al-

lows access to the saltwater plate for cleaning. The

hemisphere shape of the system maximizes the

surface area of the saltwater pan and attracts more

sunlight through the plastic dome

The lock feature prevents the possibility of con-

tamination through an airtight seal that is immove-

able by the wind or small animals. This position

also allows the user to use the top handle to eas-

ily carry the system from place to place. Also, the

system is available with a shower-head attachment.

By depressing the spout, the shower-head fills with

water and regulates the flow of the water to elimi-

nate waste.

sta

ndin

g

unlocked

locked

Centripetal movement describes the way by which bodies are drawn or impelled to follow

a curved path with the orgin always a point on a central axis. In nature, the helix best

describes this complex geometrical form

. Borromini's stair in Palazzo Barberini is an ex-

ample of how the basic helix can be manipulated to form

new geometries. Borromini

stretched the helix into an oval rather than the traditional circle. In this form

study, the

helix is manipulated in many ways such as the exterior points moving closer and fur-

ther from the orgin point to form

an undulating geometry. The central axis may also be

reinterpreted by rotating the direction. Rather than its traditional vertical configuration, it

may be tilted on its side to form

yet another unique geometry. By following a few sim-

ple rules, the possibilities for creating new geometries from the helix are nearly endless.

Cen

trip

eta

l M

ove

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t