GSAPP Portfolio 2016

The cover of this book is a simple optical illusion, appearing to be

either the outside corner of a cube or the inside of a room, depending on

the way the viewer sees it. The reality, however, is that it is simulataneously both and neither. It is merely a two-

dimensional image. I chose this image not simply as a small trick but rather as a metaphor for how I think

architecture should be pursued. Rather than simply approach an architectural problem with the

solution that comes naturally to the designer, look for other equally-valid solutions or take a step back and re-

frame the problem entirely.

Mathew DolanColumbia UniversityM.Arch Portfolio

Salubrious TactilityNYC Public RestroomCore Studio 1, Fall 2013

Desiging a New York City public restroom allows for the opportunity to

address the apparent heightened germophobia in society by

presenting the user with a choice: utilize the typical, overly sterile

restroom employing touchless sensors as much as possible or take the risk of engaging a much more stimulating restroom that results in exposure to

increased germs and subsequently a fortifi ed immune system.

Satirical sequence of using a hypothetical bathroom utilizing sensors to remove as much contact with surfaces as possible.

The sequence of using a hypothetical bathroom without sensors to maximize the tactility and bacteria exposure in

order to strengthen the immune system

Automatic Door

Opener

Hanging Beads

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3.

3.

4. 5.Automatic

Lighting System

Touchable Wall

Automatic Stall Door Opener

Bubble Wrap

Deodorizer

Automatic Toilet Seat

Heater

Automatic Toilet Seat Wrapper and

Automatic Flush

3. 4. 5. 6.

3.

4.

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5.

5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

10.

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6.

7. 8. 9. 10.

Piano Sink

Soap Bag

Automatic Toilet Paper Dispenser

GrassHand Dryer

Automatic Soap

Dispenser

Automatic Sink

Automatic Paper Towel

Dispenser

Automatic Deodorizer

Typical Bathroom:Utilizing sensors to minimize as much contact with shared surfaces as possible.

Enhanced Tactility Bathroom:Attempts to encourage as much contact as possible through stimulating tactile surfaces.

Enhanced Tactility Features

Curved Stall DoorEncourages touch beyond that

required for operation

ToiletRequires touch for operation

Baby Changing TableMorphs from the curvature of the walls

sparking curiosity and subsequent touching to explore the construction.

Doubly Curved WallsMore gratifying to the touch than typical planar surfaces of similar

material

Soap WallAn entire wall consisting of liquid soap in plastic encourages touching as well

as requiring it for soap dispensal.W

Bubble Wrap DeodorizerPatches of scent-filled bubble wrap

reward users with gratification through touch, smell and sound.

Touch Operated SinkTypical of the majority of sinks, requries

touch to operate.

Touch Operated DryerRequires touch to dry hands.

Users have the option of a typical sensor bathroom to eliminate

contact with germs. However, the seemingly harmless encounters in

daily life such as holding or shaking hands, kissing, high fiving, playing

with animals such as dogs and handling money are all times when

bacteria and germs are exchanged.

Less Bacteria

More Bacteria

1.

2. 3.

4.

5.

1. Two Way MirrorBisects the restroom letting in light while literally and metaphorically causing the

user to evaluate themselves before making a choice between the sides.

4. Bubble Wrap DeodorizerColonizing the vacant spaces left by the

soap moving around the hooded openings

5. Exterior BenchUtilizes the lines from the Eames Lounge

Chair, considered one of the most comfortable chairs in the world.

2. Liquid Soap WallSeemingly flowing down the walls creating

a stimulating tactile experience.

3. Hooded OpeningsSimultaneously allowing light in, adding

dynamism to soap wall and creating vacancies for bubble wrap deodorizing.

Research indicates that a lack of exposure to antigens results in weakened immune systems and higher cases of

allergies and asthma within children.

The plan for designing a bank was to have it let the community

decide what it wanted to invest in, simultaneously growing local businesses, educating the

community, and bringing in customers for itself.

Synergistic Capitalism Local Investment Forum Bank Core Studio 2, Spring 2014

Site Plan

Fulton St.

Dekalb Ave.

Flatb

ush Ave.

Bond

St.

BankThe bank benefi ts by bringing in members of the

community who are potential customers

Local BusinessesThe local businesses and entrepeneurs benefi t by being invested in, getting

incubator space or possibly being overheard by a current tenant and forming a collaboration. Teaching classes to the community also increases exposure and

increases the likelihood of success after the incubator space is left.

Community MembersThe Community benefi ts by being presented with local investment opportunities

allowing them to choose what types of businesses to foster. the chosen businesses then teach free classes back to the community

Businesses Present Ideas to Community

Bank as Bank

Business Incubator Spaces

Businesses Overhearing Ideas

Teaching Classes to Community

Community Consults with Bank

Bank Bringing People In

X-Ray of Building Program

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9.

9.10.

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2. 2. 2.2.

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Ground Floor Plan1. Vault2. Safety Deposit Viewing3. Secondary Vault4. Teller Windows5. ATMs6. Check Writing Desk7. Welcome Desk

2nd Floor Plan8. Community Auditorium9. Consultation Rooms10. Bathrooms11.Projection Booth

12.

12.

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3rd Floor Plan12. Consultation Rooms

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14.

14.

4th Floor Plan13. Business Incubator Space14. Seminar Classrooms

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15.

5th Floor Plan15. Business Incubator Space

16.

6th Floor Plan16. Cafe Space

Section Juxtaposed with Brooklyn Dime Savings Bank

In Collaboration with David Kagawa

Ouroboros: or An Architecture of Flexible Beings repels the notion

of fl exible architecture and embraces the users as fl exible

beings who can move between different living situations as their needs change throughout their

lives.

OuroborosNew York City Public Housing Core Studio 3, Fall 2014

We looked at the site through the lens of what the day in the life of someone living there would be. The area of the South Bronx where our site is located is a program desert making walking to daily needs difficult. An alternative is to use the local subway stop as a means to outsource program

from the bronx.

OPTION1: CONTINUOUSThe continuous option of experiencing the site is walking or biking to all of your daily needs,

somewhat limiting options of various needs

OPTION 2: DISCONTINUOUSThe discontinuous option of experiencing the siite is utilizing the local subway as a means of

outsourcing program out of the bronx but sacrifices the continuity of experiencing the city above ground on foot or by bike.

Once the typical units were designed they started to be placed on an underlying grid so that at least one point within their walls met an intersection on the grid

around which they were then allowed to rotate freely.

Unit Placement Logic: Structuring Variety

The units were arranged so that they increased in density as they move up the building while also more rigidly adhering to the orthogonal direction of the grid.

Level 1: +0’

Ground Level: -18’ 7”

Level 3: +69’ 7”

Level 3/4: +100’ 7”

Level 7: +140’ 7”

Bronx Site Elevation

East Perspective Section

South Section Perpesctive

The project is designed to allow many variaitons of living situations, it’s

up to the occupant to fi nd their

place within it by switching locations

and buying or selling units as their

family grows or shrinks. The result is an architecture that is not fl exible

but allows the occupants to be

fl exible throughout their lives.

South Entrance Atrium

Ground/Park Level

Unrolled Spiral Section:

1st/2nd Floors

3rd/4th Floors

Kitchen

6th Floor

Cluster Living Room

7th Floor

The city of Hoboken, being a former island, is under constant threat with topography and rain conspiring to make it an island again. This project attempts to

address Hoboken, and other sites that must pump out stormwater, by cleaning the water through

phytoremediation.

Nature as InfrastructureModular Phytoremediation

WetlandsAdvanced Studio 4, Spring 2015

Wetland Module Specifications

Optimizing Structure in Water

Initial Geometry

Flattens to respect views from residential buildings to NYC

+ 78’ + 71.5’ + 63’ + 50.5’ + 33.5’+ 10.5’

High point located above cistern

Water Flow

Construction Process

+ 10.5’

BulrushScirpus lacustris

USDA Hardiness Zone:5-11

0 - 31.5” root depth36” - 120” in height

CattailTypha latifolia

USDA Hardiness Zone:3-11

0 - 11.8” root depth48” - 72” in height

SunflowerHelianthus Annuus

USDA Hardiness Zone:6-9

48” - 118” root depth6’ - 8’ in height

SorghamSorghum bicolor

USDA Hardiness Zone:7-10

48” - 118” root depth11.5’ - 16’ in height

White CloverTrifolium repens

USDA Hardiness Zone:4-8

0 - 8” root depth2” - 8” in height

Yellow Sweet CloverMelilotus officinalis

USDA Hardiness Zone:4-10

0 - 38” root depth12” - 48” in height

Sago PondweedPotamogeton pectinatus

USDA Hardiness Zone:6-10

0 - 5” root depth18” deep water

White WaterlillyNymphea alba

USDA Hardiness Zone:4-10

6” - 29” root depth18” deep water

Eastern CottonwoodPopulus deltoides

USDA Hardiness Zone:3-9

100” - 196” root depth60’ - 98’ in height

Black WIllowSalix Negra

USDA Hardiness Zone:4-8

24” - 36” root depth30’ - 90’ in height

Phytoremediation Section

Site Plan Showing Cistern and Location of Pump Room/ Kayak Boat House

Weehawken Cove

Site Plan Showing Structure and Paths

The creation of modules allows for flexibility in design that simultaneously creates the wetlands that the North Huidson Sewer Authority wants, while maintaining and

enhancing Weehawken Cove as a destination for kayakers and pedestrians.

Site Plan Showing Module Layout Based on Plant Species

In designing a performance space calibrated for a circus, the goal became to use the multiple

focal points within a circus to create a new type of space that encourages movement between

simultaneous performances while blurring the boundaries

between performance spaces, circulation, concourse

and back of house spaces.

Symbiosis CircusDynamic Performance SpaceAdvanced Studio 5, Fall 2015

In Collaboration with Guangbin Zhen

Performer/Audience Activity Level

The circus is a form of entertainment that has active performers and an active audience that cheers, claps, laughs, and gasps in awe. In contrast, an orchestral concert has relatively subdued performers and audience and is a noteworthy example of the typical performer/audience relationship. It is the

active nature of the circus audience that inspired our performance space.

Circus vs. Concert Hall

Open Space

Multiple Focal Points

Active Performers

Acoustically-Calibrated Space

Single Focal Point

Stationary Performers

Ubiquitous Seating

Our concept for this new performance space was to combine the multiple focal points inherent within the circus and combine them with terraced seating that allows for performances on multiple levels

simultaneously, which creates desire within the audience to become active in pursuing views of different performances and experiences.

Terraced Seating

Ground Level Plan

11th

Ave

.

Little W 12th St.

Gansevoort St.

The Whitney Museum of American Art

1.1.

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Ground Level Plan

1. Entrance

2. Ticket/Information Counter

3. Circus Exhibit

4. Circulation Cores

5. Center Ring Hydraulic Lift

6. Back of House Space

7. Back of House Storage

8. Truck/Equipment Entrance

0 10 30 100 FT

GROUND LEVEL PLAN

Ground Level Render

0 10 30 100 FT

GROUND LEVEL PLAN

Ground Level Plan

Performance Level Plan

11th

Ave

.

Little W 12th St.

Gansevoort St.

The Whitney Museum of American Art

Performance Level Features

Circulation Between RingsADA Ramps to the concourse beneath

adjacent rings and stairs leading up to adjacent rings allows for ease of movement between performances

Elevator/High Wire SupportAllows for easy access to the highest rings and utilizes the vertical nature of an elevator shaft as support for aerial

acts

Aisle Amongst SeatsFacilitates movement from the seating

to allow for the audience to easily pursue a performance that may catch

their eye in a different area

Wide Rows/Seat CushionsWide Rows allow for easy circulation from the seats. Using seat cushions

instead of typical chairs with backrests promotes audience movement.

Concourse Render

Roof Plan

11th

Ave

.

Little W 12th St.

Gansevoort St.

The Whitney Museum of American Art

Performer/Audience Interraction Axon

Performance Level Features

Center Ring Hydraulic LiftPerformers can enter the center ring at

the ground level from back of house spaces. The entire ring can then rise to

the performance level.

Concourse PerformancesThe audience encounters casual

performances in the concourse as performers wait for their turn in a ring.

Active AudienceThe audience moves between different

concourse and performance areas exploring different acts, creating a

limitless number of experiences.

Cyclical PerformancesPerformers utilize various circulation cores to access the concourse and

performance rings then return to back of house via a different route.

Collapsed Architecture

Audience Experience

Performer Experience

Performance Timeline

The audience is allowed to enter or leave at any point within the 3 hour performance window. Performers move

from back of house spaces through public concourse and circulation spaces to get to the performance ring to perform before returning to the back of house spaces on a cycle. The audience chooses their own experience by moving through different spaces and coming across different performances.

Section

Performance Level Render

Exterior Render

Mathew Dolanmathew.dolan@columbia.edu