Strasser Studio

2010-04-29T18:35:00.003-05:00

The seven days of no sleep before my final critique...Dunkin Doughnuts, and studio
I thought that i would share these with you guys. The top is right before my critique

last

2010-04-28T22:47:00.002-05:00

I do not have any pictures to post right now, becasue I am not at my computer. This is mearly a status update and and a reflection of my last few days. Well my critique this past monday of my design went extreemly well, in spite of the fact that I hadn't slept in my bed in over a week and a half, I didnt really shower, I worked on the weekends (saturday and sunday night) at my local server job. Honestly I really dont know how I pulled it all off. The result is that I had a smile on my face all monday. For our critique my studio decided that we were going to present in a salon style, (for thoes unfamiliar, this is where all projects are pinned up and all presenters stay by their work and critiquers walk around and hear the critiques individually.) This style really takes alot of stress of the individual who has spent the past weeks working 20+ hour days building 3d models, rendering, and photoshopping. Honeslty this might have been my most successful project in my short career. I am sad in a way, since this is my senior year, because that was my final project as an undergrad. Really the way that I will now approach design and the way that I will finish a design project will now change and this is what saddens me. The fact that I really am getting past abstract, and theory, and now have to focus time/energy on detailed sections of the HVAC layouts, and structural analysis....im tired now, i'll write later

Long time since last blog

2010-04-14T01:10:00.006-05:00

What I find so depressing is that, when at the end of the semester, I am the busiest, I find time to post. Well anyways, here I am with about two and a some left weeks of the semester, and the final pin-up is fast approaching. This is my last semester in studio as an undergrad. I am saddened that I have not fallen in love with this studio project yet. As much as I appreciate my design, I have been so stressed about fitting in everything that is required. So anyways, here is my program...

-180,000 SF to 240,000 SF total (not including circulation and mechanical)
-Transit Oriented Development (TOD)
-Retail Space
-100,000 SF office space
-60,000 SF to 85,000 SF residential apartment
-Chicago EL blue line stop
-Location
-Corner of Milwaukee Ave/California Ave
-Chicago, IL, USA
-Emphasis on Sustainability
-Detailed Plans
-Detailed Sections
-Detailed Elevation
-Detailed Curtain Wall Sections
-Detailed Core Analysis
-Detailed HVAC drawings
-Detailed generic Electrical Layout
-Detailed Bay Spacing Diagrams
-Global understanding of Site
-Parking structure (85-115 cars)

This is a comprehensive studio, so there is soooo much that we need to have, I have a lot of drawings so far, but I still have a lot left to do. So here is a brief visual summary of what I have so far, I have a bunch more, but these are the farthest developed.

This is a view from California, the EL stop is central, the office tower on the left, residential tower on the right. (image is not updated) (Click image to view larger)

View into Blue EL line stop, California and Milwaukee. (Click image to view larger)

Typical Wall Section of the Office Bar, poly-plastic corrugated transparent paneling.(Click image to view larger)

Here is a view of the context with the building central. (Click image to view larger)

Typical 2 bedroom apartment suite. (Click image to view larger)

More still to come!!!

I really dont want to design within this context

2009-11-18T02:13:00.005-06:00

Three weeks left of the semester and I still have a way to go, this past week I've been working on the interior of the chapel and the articulation of the Sanctuary space. My professor has really wanted me to explore more sustainable features within my design, engaging the use of light and sun shading devices. Honestly I feel a bit disappointed in my design. Mainly that what I am designing Isn't speaking very well to how I enjoy designing. The problem I have and also the solution of my plan has been found by understanding what I am designing for. This chapel is used for 70+ year old war veterans, and is located in rural San Antonio, the surrounding buildings are red brick and quite boring. My first instinction was to design a modern in style building, but when thinking about the context in which the building will sit, I didn't want the design to be soo offputting to the context. This relization guides me to want to design for more urban settings.

Interior Sanctuary render (Click image to enlarge)

birds view (click image to enlarge)

2009-11-09T19:44:00.004-06:00

So its nearing that time again, end of the semester crunch. My design project this semester is the Air Force Village Multi-Faith Chapel in San Antonio Texas. The criteria is 12-13 1000 square feet and a program with about 15 different rooms, one being a main sanctuary, narthex, public and private office corridors. This project has been difficult in relating the design to the general context of the site. There needs to be a physical connection to the exisiting resident tower and general enterance building. Honestly the site is quite boring and the land designated for the AFV chapel is a very odd shaped plot. My design is based on a datum or axis that acts as central cirulation. The axis moves southwest to northeast facing the lake on the site. My perspective is that one of the best features on the site is the water, so my design directly realtes the idea of water as a sustainability feature, and as a visual reminder of the use of water as a liturgical symbol. Below are some rough images of my design and an interior of the narthex from the link to the residential wing.

First Week of Senior year

2009-08-31T00:45:00.002-05:00

So its that time of year again where my life is studio...pretty much just studio. This is my last year of studio as an undergraduate in architecture. Our present studio project is to design a chapel for a retired army village in texas. What we are working on is studying precedents that utilize sustainable features. The precedent that me and my groupmate Joel are working on is the Herz Jesu Kirche Chapel in Munich. I have been working on creating Section Diagrams and a completed floor plan to present keys of sustainable design. Here are the results of my work for this weekend.

2009-04-29T04:43:00.010-05:00

2 days after my crit and i am feeling great, it all went great and I was afirmed that I was on the right track and that I have understood all that was taught to me over the past years in my studies. Cloud nine. Anyways here are some cropping of my final panel board. Enjoy!

Entry Level Plan

Premier Elevation /w funnel Diagrams

Sectional Study

Precedent Study

West Elevation

Site Plan: Chicago,IL: MLK ave. 29th Street. 30th Street

Funnel Diagrams

Day after...heres a render

2009-04-28T08:59:00.002-05:00

Here is a quick look into one of my final images. My intention is to present my final layout online in some manner or another, but at this time I am a bit busy. The image below is a night-shot of my building showing interior illumination, what is really great with my building and its context, is that looking from this perspective on the actual site it would sit on in Chicago, is that this view would look right out onto Lake Michigan, and there would not be any "background buildings". Keeping the integrity and hierarchy of this aquatics center pure.

Five days till Crit!!!

2009-04-22T01:50:00.003-05:00

Today, the addition of tier seating, structural members, and some programing.
I have a larger render with some extra elements. the tier seating was very hard to get right, and there are still some kinks in the design, but what I have works and I am fine with it. The structure relies on the weight of the roof to balance the load of the occupants. My next step in design is creating a layout for presentation and some final photoshop work to get the aesthetic that I am looking for. Tonight another long night and lots of coffee.

My latest interior rendering. (perspective taken from the middle of the tier section looking towards the diving pool)

Start of week two of all nighters!

2009-04-21T01:14:00.005-05:00

So this is the second week of all nighters, I haven't sleep a full night since Saturday night and I am still doing good, my final crit is 6 days from now and I still have a good way to go. But my building is coming together well. Here are some more renderings of my most recent work.

Interior of my Aquatic Center without stands and rooms

God's eye perspective

Elevation of my building, still needs alot of work

Exterior perspective of Aquatic Center

Design process as of 4.16.09

2009-04-17T01:26:00.005-05:00

These past few weeks and these next two weeks are going to be the most brutal that I have ever had to endure, I am leaving for Europe in two weeks, after finals. I am ecstatic when I think that I will be in Europe in two weeks, and I can hardly focus on my tasks at hand. I have as it feels load and loads of homework in all of my classes and am in need of extra time. I am averaging 3-5 hours of sleep ever other day, so literally I don't sleep any more, just power nap during the day. Anyways with the deadline of the Aquatic Center fast approaching and final exams and papers, I am so nervous. I still need to bust our a final model for this building and finalize all the plans and 3D model. Stress is high, but I'll survive. Keep my sanity and endurance in your prayers.

-Chris

Here are some updated renders of my Aquatic Center.

This is the entrance to the Chicago Aquatic center for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Day time render.

More developed massing study and facade work.

This is a walk-around of my site and gives a three dimensional perspective of my building. (take note, this is still in early stages.)

2009-03-27T23:09:00.001-05:00

Chicago Olympics 2016

2009-03-25T20:54:00.003-05:00

Here are a few pictures and renders that I either took or created that correlate to my design for the aquatic center for the Chicago Olympics in 2016.

A modulated Supertower

2009-03-25T16:08:00.000-05:00

2009-03-25T14:15:00.003-05:00

Sketchup export of early modular form.

Sketchup to Kirkythea rendering of process.

2009-03-25T01:28:00.002-05:00

Hardwiring

2009-01-13T11:53:00.003-06:00

The standard head unit of a car is connected by a vast assortment of different colored wires that all serve there own purpose, red ones with white stripes, solid black, black with a red line...etc. All these wires run from one place to another and serve a different purpose, when connected with another wire, they preform a different function. last time I wrote about this guy that was talking about designing on a grid pattern where everything was structured and I felt as though it lacked emotion, In actuality, it wasn't lacking emotion in general, the emotion was just lacking to me. Every one is wired differently, two people can be looking at the same thing and see and feel two entirely different ways. This is something that I need to start looking at, just because I don't think it is significant, it doesn't mean that they (who designed it) are doing it "wrong". One architect that I admire for doing things that do not always make visual sense, is Will Alsop who is partners with Jan Stormer. The work of Alsop and Stormer is a visual modernistic painting, it could also be considered cubist in some sort of way. What I like about there designs is that each time I look at it, I feel entirely different, the emotion that is evoked is always stunning and different from the past.

On a separate note, it is the beginning of my second semester as an architect student and I am very excited to now be a Junior and almost a senior in college. This semester is going to be very difficult for me, I am going to try to commit to be super diligent and work my butt off. It's time to be responsible, my mom would say. Lets Just hope that I can do it.

First Day of Blogging!!!

2008-12-04T03:11:00.002-06:00

So i am blogging, i never knew that i would do one of these things, i have always kept a journal of my thoughts, but i had never had people read them. They are mainly just ramblings. These ramblings are pretty much architecture related, and about theory. Today as it seems everyday i get some divine inspiration about architecture and the amazingness of it. I had a conversation with a classicist today (someone who mainly focuses on classical architecture) and we talked about the flaws in design classes today. I love thinking and reading about architecture, especially when the topic is emotion and relationships of architecture. This guy i talked to today was telling me how he likes to think about the grid of a city and plan the way buildings lie on that site. I cringed when i heard that, not that i think he is wrong, i am sure that he enjoys it, but i cant find the joy in it at all. Architecture is about emotion, about the feeling you get when you put yourself in a certain space. The colors and the smells and the reflections of the different materials around you. Enough ranting, bed time nite. -Christopher