A Portfolio of Seven Projects

BEN FRUEHLING

1.World Tour Hometown Project designed and prepared while in transit between 27 countries.

2.Portland Courthouse Developed for a school competition, building type and site chosen for Kalwal Design competition. Award: Cripe Award of Excellence

3.Montessori Acadamy made for Giest Montessori Acadamy in Giest, Indiana while preparing a book of design patterns for charter schools.

4.Ball State Multicultural Center new multicultural center and entrance to Ball State

University’s Campus. Award: Gresham Smith Honor Award

5.St. Anne’s Catholic Parish New church designed while working with Entheos Architects.

Each building in this portfolio shows that the design is a product of the environment, its client and the needs of the space, and not a design based on architectural trends. It is my belief that a perfect building already exists in each space and it is the role of the architect to analyze and understand the needs of the client, culture and environment so that the form of the building can be revealed and experienced. Each project displayed was designed in different circumstances, for different people, but always made deeply in discussion with collaborators about both the program and the role of the architect to reinforce the values of the client.

I have used each project to engage myself in new experiences and ways of thinking. I used different rendering and development tools for each project, and used different design methods to respond to my understanding of the project type. I understand design software and skills the same way I understand different languages: all have advantages and drawbacks within their vocabularies and are conveyed more or less easily to different clients. By studying these communication languages I have the ability to carry a conversation in any of them, and can quickly understand which tongue will create the best communication for each client. This portfolio should convey my communication skills, as well as my design intentions.

Intent of portfolio

4.Concrete Designs for Extremely Dynamic Building Facades.

5. Architectural Process

Created the process of Design from concept to production using scalable frameworks.

Influence: While traveling I experienced major works of architecture, and a deeper understanding of the cultures that created them. This experience has allowed me to quickly evaluate what makes great design and what does not. It has removed the fog of awe that clouded my vision regarding

This

bu

ildin

g c

on

nec

ts c

ities

Egypt

Angkor Wat

Masterplan with Balance

Creating a hill

Hanging Temple

Description;

Program:

My Role:

World Tour Project: A symbiotic nieghborhood plan

Program: Facility that encourages increased urban density in Lafayette, IN (a city with sinking housing values) and provides housing to students attending Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN (a city that has lost much of its character through sprawling developments.)Description: West Lafayette and Lafayette grew together, but have an adversarial relationship because of tax organization. The goal of this project was to propose a building that could provide a new method

This

bu

ildin

g c

on

nec

ts p

eop

le

Five Courtyards

Louvre - Nike

Chinese Scholar

San Gimignano

World Tour Project: A symbiotic nieghborhood plan

of collaboration and create increased quality of life in both cities by meeting shared needs.

Role: I designed and produced this project while traveling through several citys and sites famous for applied design principles on a 97 day travel program within Ball State’s College of Architecture and Planning. The purpose of this program was to understand what roles an architect can play in making places that inspire citizens and

Environment defined by This

bu

ildin

g c

on

nec

ts t

ime.

Features create designation

World Tour Project: A symbiotic nieghborhood plan

Program: This courthouse was designed to have two courtrooms, public meeting space, as well as offices for judges,

Description: In an attempt to recreate the courthouse as a public space in modern culture, retail space was created on half of the first floor, and the clerks office is on the first floor with a separate entrance. Two circulation routes were designed so that visitors could participate in public meetings without feeling unwelcome or violated by modern security procedures. A 24 hour public restroom was also included in the design to tell the underlying message of all courthouses: ‘this building is in service to all citizens.’

We used context orginization to drive program organization: the courthouse he

Purple-Private Red-Secure Yellow-Public

This

bu

ildin

g b

reat

hes

.

Description;

Program:

My Role:

Description: In an attempt to recreate the courthouse as a public space in modern culture, retail space was created on half of the first floor, and the clerks office is on the first floor with a separate entrance. Two circulation routes were designed so that visitors could participate in public meetings without feeling unwelcome or violated by modern security procedures. A 24 hour public restroom was also included in the design to tell the underlying message of all courthouses: ‘this building is

Public Restroom & Clerks Office

Volumes seperate for air movement

This

bu

ildin

g m

akes

fres

h a

ir.

in service to all citizens.’

Role: I produced this project in collaboration with a partner. We worked together on all aspects of the design and visualizations. The most unique aspect is the vertical greenhouse, which allows the building to join with the nearby shelter. This greenhouse serves to clean all of the air in the courthouse and creates a wall of green in the second floor public plaza

Portland Courthouse: The public good is public again

This

bu

ildin

g fi

lters

lig

ht.

Portland Courthouse: The public good is public again

Role: I designed this project while receiving direction from teachers at the Geist Montessori Academy in Geist, Indiana. The program focuses on respect to personal space, as well as communal participation. To respond to this, I created an elevation change so that High school students to the south would ‘own’ their space, but they would be eyelevel to younger students.

Program: The Montessori school provides an education based on individual student growth and focuses on the relationship between teacher and student.

Description: Since students spend each day in a single room, hallways are less critical to HVAC efficiency. Classrooms are aligned on axis and receive daylight from both the north and south facades. Each grade level shares common play space that becomes part of a school courtyard. Several materials are suggested to encourage interaction between student and space.

Make the outdoors part of the classroom

Entrance defines ownershipThis

bu

ildin

g p

lays

.

Sized to Users

Private and public and equal

Community creates view

The Montesori Academy: Learn by Doing.

Program: A Center for students that “encourages interaction”. Space for activities in a commons, Small Theater, Dining Hall, Commons space, and Administration offices.

Description: This project design was made to encourage students that might only participate in a single activity the opportunity to see, enjoy and engage in the other groups at the facility. The program spaces are separated, but the connections are highlighted and are made to encourage the casual diner to start a conversation, watch a show, then relax in the shade with a new book.

Space for interaction

Theater below, Commons Above, Forum Beyond

Unique paths create chance for user interaction

Role: I worked on this project with a partner. The Library was placed to frame the entrance to Ball State’s campus, and serves as an icon of

This

bu

ildin

g e

mb

race

s.

Plan layed out to tempt use by un-initiated

Students with different interests cross paths

Ball State University Multicultural Center: New experiences enrich life.

Building engages student body with cafe, library, and bus shelter to the

Transparency encourages interaction; discussion

This

bu

ildin

g t

ells

sto

ries

.

Courtyard creates protected environment

See, stay, watch the jungle book!

Ball State University Multicultural Center: New experiences enrich life.

Program: Church Design that enjoys the benefits of responding to both contemporary and traditional designs and religious values.

Description: The site available for this facility required a unique floor plan to accommodate the required seating. Several design options were generated for creating a ceiling and roof design that reinforced both the communal nature of the plan as well as creating a sense of focus at the altar.

Role: I worked on this Project as an intern at Entheos Architects. On this project I generated roof designs in mass and was able to evolve a final solution through reviews with the Project Manager and Firm Partner. I was also responsible for creating presentation drawings during the Schematic Design Phase.

This

bu

ildin

g c

ente

rs.

“Ben was very involved in the development of the design and presentation graphics for St. Anne. Ben Fruehling worked with me to develop multiple massing options for the project. The options and design concepts were critiqued, refined, and presented before the Church Building Committee. Ben and I met with with the structural engineer to discuss how the various options would be executed structurally. This was beneficial for Ben to learn the structural complexities of each option. Ben developed interior and exterior views for the Committee and Parish presentations so that the final Schematic Design could be clearly understood.” Toby J. Winiger, AIA Architect / Project Manager

St. Anne Catholic Church: embrace the community

This

form

to

uch

es.

Program:Concrete is an ancient building product that is becoming easier to pour, and the admixtures are carrying stronger loads. How can concrete be used in new ways?

Description: I Looked at Concrete molds and deployment methods. Tilt up and cast concrete panels serve our most profane spaces: My goal is to design a system where these simple systems can make sacred space.

I Used Custom tooling scripts to cut the molds with a CNC mill. The texture on each of the panels is the exact path the mill took through the formwork. This reduces the cost of the mill time, and exposes the texture and history of the process, rather than hiding it.

Concrete Design and Interaction

{

This

Fir

m p

erso

nal

izes

.

Final Creative Project: Design an Architectural Firm

Description: Architects design buildings; Architects have a process for colaboration that lets them make things. How Can I recreate this process to make something new?

With My Partner, Salil Nair, and I began by Looking at the scale of the Architecture business. After we clarified our Vision, We began setting up our Organization, Designing our process, contacting key consultants, and began to invite clients to design with us.

Make life Personal Des

ignimbue

Scal

e //

Lev

el o

f Com

plex

ity//

Di�

culty

of a

chie

ving

an

accu

rate

read

//

Level

How does the idea respond to demands made at all scales?

Knowledge of how to Design Property Rights: Tech Valuation

Contracting Technology

Scienti�c and Technical Knowledge

GlobePolitical platforms; global memes - Environmental Issues, Social Issues

Mechanisms to create & enforce Contracts:Systems of adjudication and Dispute Resolution

Accounting and Payment Systems based on money. Practices that standardize

the exchange of contractual claims

Firms that Design and Supply Monetary and other Contractual claims

Marketplaces for Goods and Services;Practices standardize exchange of Goods,

Services, and Employment.

Firms that Design and SupplyGoods and Services

Tasks

Design Paramaters (Modularity)

Molecules, spactial forms, Programs,words, Colors

Adapted from “Design Rules” Baldwin. p94.

Contract

Contract

Contract

Contract

Contract

Contract

Task

Design

Artifact

Governments

Capital Markets

Financial Institutions

Goods and Labor Markets

Organizations

Design Process

Designs

Artifacts

Elements Structure Scale

Valu

e Cr

eatio

n

Imbue: Architectural Design Process

Imbue Quatro By Imbue Design aspects by Megan Mcnames.

This

form

to

uch

es.

Program: Architecture is about design, but getting things built is about the Communication process. The art in communicating architectural ideas is as much fun for me as the designs themselves.

Description: I examined the classical techniques of commuication and the modern tools of fabrication, and found that I could make something better by combining them.

If an inkpen as a communication tool can become an extension of myself, can a CNC mill, or laptop do the same?

Mt. Britton Tower Ink On WaterColor Paper

Puerto Rican Gecko Ink & Watercolor On WaterColor Paper

Egyptian pyramid

3d printer designed by reprap community, 3d model Designed by Eric Jensen. 3d Printer built, maintained and operated by Me.

Connection & Communication

Design, or expression of creativity, is so personal and so powerful because it is a unique window into the brain of another individual. As humans who experience a shared reality, we can find inherent links to civilization through the works of others, as though we ourselves had experienced them. A creative design must find its reality without compromising existence to any embarrassment or worry, as this feeds the destructive force of the human mind upon creativity. Creating buildings is a microcosm of how I experience my own world, and these places become miniature sanctuaries for my mind. Places where I believe others will find shelter and peace, with all the stressors of the

Ben Fruehling