Brandon Perez

Re-Framing

Cascading Cumulus

Admo Density

Ephemeral Moments

Creating an Identity Fall 2011

Work + Live for Adams MorganSpring 2014

Annex to the Building Museum Spring 2012

Revitalizing Mount Vernon Square Fall 2014

Re-Framing

Revitalizing Mount Vernon Square

Photography has a limited frame of view. It defi nes, informs, and reveals to the mind what cannot be seen at fi rst glance. Through photographing architecture, one discovers and re-members information about their experiences in the area where the photograph originated. Important details and experiences may have been missed due to being fi xed on the viewfi nder or LCD of a camera. Therefore, a second visit to the origin of the photograph leads to a diff erent experience form the fi rst.Thesis: Taking photographic methods of framing, shifting perspective, and fragmentation and using them as a working methodology will generate a unique architectural experience of visual enhancement and pause.• Creating a clear edge within the square and fragmenting it within the fabric.• Creating outdoor rooms to enhance the character and atmosphere of the square.• The experience and discoveries made in the fi rst visit will be diff erent from the second visit.

Framing:

Shifting Perspective:

Fragmentation:

Creating a literal frame with built form or planting to highlight an aspect of design.

Having the ability to change one’s perception of the space over time.

Breaking up the frame or perspective.

• Light

• Matter

• Form

• Space

Mount Vernon Square District Design Project

K STREET NW K STREET NW

K STREET NW

I STREET NW

H STREET NW

L STREET NW

THE WALTER E. WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER

MOUNT VERNON PLACE NW

NEW YORK AVEN

UE NW

NEW YORK AVEN

UE NW

MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE NW

MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE NW

7TH

STR

EET

NW

6 T

H S

TREE

T N

W

5 T

H S

TREE

T N

W

8TH

STR

EET

NW

9TH

STR

EET

NW

10 T

H S

TREE

T N

W

11 T

H S

TREE

T N

W

12 T

H S

TREE

T N

W

68

173 72

73

74

178

17769

70

175

176

71

174

• 1796 Andrew Ellicott retained this area as a rectangular open space on his plan, but removed the shading and referred uses.

• It was a through way with parcels divided up.

• In 1843, residents petitioned for permission to establish a public market, which would lead to more markets along the seventh street side.

• 1857 it was used as a polling station for city elections.

• In 1872, the market place was torn down amid great controversy.

• In 1882 the Square becomes off limits to vehicular traffi c with minor improvements to the site.

• 1899, Andrew Carnegie agreed to donate funds for a long awaited public library.

• 1903 the Library is dedicated along with minimal improvement to the site.

• 1913, the site is entirely redesigned with the plan largely in place today.

• 1936, letters are sent to the city government to request that the park be improved.

• 1970s, tech-world is built blocking the vista to the end of 8th street.

Heavy Traffi c

Medium Traffi c

Light Traffi c

View Corridors & 5 min. Walking Radius

Land Use

Traffi c

D.C. Draft Sections

Defi cienciesOpportunitiesProgrammatic Activity• Under Utilization of Space• Undefi ned Edge• Noisy Outer Path• Excess Traffi c• Dis-Repair• Inconsistent Pavement• Inadequate Lighting• Undesirable Seating

• Meditative Space • Trees Form a Sub Space• Trees Filter Outside Noise• Adequate Shade• Place of Leisure• Connection to Convention and surrounding Hotels.

• Historic Signifi cance

• Recreational Exercise• Instrumental Lessons/Perfor-mances

• Farmers Market• Place of Gathering: Festival/Assembly

• Cafe• People Watch

Program Iteration

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Concept Iterations

Form Iterations

Tectonic Iterations

9th

Stre

et N

W

7th

Stre

et N

W 8th

Stre

et N

W

New York Ave. NW

Massachusetts Ave. NW

K Street NW K Street NW

Mt Vernon Pl NW

I Street NW

H Street NW

G Street NW

Market Axon

Park Axon

Site Plan Axial Relation

2

1

3

5

4

Ground Floor

A

B

20' - 0"20' - 0"20' - 0"18' - 0"19' - 0"19' - 0"15' - 6"19' - 0"19' - 0"18' - 0"20' - 0"20' - 0"20' - 0"

31' -

0"

DC CC B AA ABA C AA

Wall Height Limit

Section B

1

2

3

4

5

Framing, Shifting Perspective, Fragmenting

Plaza & Outdoor Rooms

Structural Grid Reference

Structural Grid & Hard-scape vs. Green

1

2

3

4

5Shifting Perspective

Fragmentation

Fragmentation

Framing

Framing

Section A

Admo Density

Work + Live for Adams Morgan

Washington D.C. has a building height restriction. The objective of the project is to add density in terms of height outside of the L’enfant plan. Allowing for density to increase within the neighborhood of Adams Morgan.

The program proposed is a mix use complex that reads as two buildings part of one. With retail on the ground fl oor and second fl oor, it holds offi ce/co-op on the Southern part of the building and residential on the Northern side. Topping it off with an event/terrace space on the top with views of the Capitol to the East and the National Cathedral to the East.

Residential

Offi ce/Co-op

Event Space

Retail/Restaurant

Scheme 1 Scheme 2 Scheme 3

Unit Layout

UP

DN

DN

DN

UP

UP

UP

UP

UP

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5-8

Level 9

Ground Level

Structure

East Elevation Long SectionSection through Residential

Ephemeral MomentsTeam Project with Mariel Deppner, Kelly Corcoran, Eduardo Frontera, and Moyad K. Akbar

Annex to the Building Museum

In mixing together culture, the environment and technology, an atmospheric quality unique to the site is emerged. An importance for sense of place occurs as technological tools are used to gain acquaintance with the environment, social network and urban fabric of the site. Architects and allied will fl uctuate and change through the annex building like the kinetic colors and texture of a chameleon’s skin. Two cones unite; while the light cone allows full natural lighting, the dark cone manipulates the same natural light in designated locations. The cones are juxtaposed with the two solid bars formed the surrounding site. Through the manipulation of natural light, ephemeral moments throughout time are created within the structure.

Lab Level Main Level Temporary Gallery

Dark Cone Refl ection Gallery Rooftop Level

Canyon Seating. Lobby Installation Gallery Overlook

Inside the Dark ConeCafe View Outside

Cascading Cumulusg

Creating an Identity

The site is situated near courthouse metro station in Arlington county in the civic center of Radnor/Ft.Meyer heights. Its main road circulation comprise of Wilson blvd. going west ward and Clarendon going east ward. The site is in-between to diff erent instances in the urban fabric. To the north of the site is a historic district called colonial village. To the south is mixed use residential offi ce buildings that tower more than 60ft across the street.

A prototypical ‘branding’ approach was taken, in order to show how the various components consisting of solar ar-rays, water collection, the car wash, and the program could be combined in an idealized, generic, non-site-specifi c way. Then proceed to design a site-specifi c solution that occupies a real-life site even as it remains true to the initial generic branding intentions during the design of the pro-totype. The prototype would convey the concept and basic ideas of what the building conveys.

Site

Section A Section B

1st fl oor plan

2nd fl oor plan

Roof plan

The idea behind the cloud is that it cascades down and up. Clouds have that free motion to move about in any direction. So to imitate this falling or rising motion, the idea of a cascading or “hanging in an ornate/elaborate way with a gradual progression either down or up” is what drove this project. With the use of fi gural components, angels, and certain components of the building.

Mass diagram Fron diagram

Spacial Diagram

DN

DN

Structural diagram

Looking down the ramp Indoor walkway

Looking up the rampBeginning of the walkway

Section C

South Elevation

Entry to car wash

Inside the car washView of outside cafe

View looking from the end of the walkway