caleb gardnerselected works

caleb gardnerbcg0005@auburn.edu

561-568-0934

20k v15: idella's house

square house

boston cardiac hospital

rome: via papalis

rome: colosseum study

office of tomorrow

rural studio revolution+

ladc bookshelf

Idella's House is a Design Build thesis project, designed and con-structed by a group of four students over the course of a year. The proj-ect is the 15th version of Auburn Rural Studio's 20K House legacy project. The initiative of the project was to design a dignified home for a Southern rural setting that was affordable on even the most mod-est budgets.

In this year of the project, four houses were built concurrently, and for the first time the houses were designed as two bedroom models. Idella's House in particular is built to be ANSI A handicap ac-cessible. It also contains a FEMA rated tornado shelter in response to the tornados that ravaged west Alabama and the surrounding re-gion in recent years.

20k v15: idella’s house

The 20K House is an ongoing research project at the Rural Studio that seeks to address the pressing need for decent and affordable housing in Hale County, Alabama. Nearly 30% of individuals in Hale County live in poverty. Due to the lack of conventional credit for people with this level of income, and insufficient knowledge about alternative sources of funding, trailers offer the only chance for home ownership. Unlike a house, which is an asset for its owner, trailers deteriorate very quickly and depreciate in value over time. The 20K House project intends to produce a model home that could be reproduced on a large scale, and thereby become a viable alternative to the trailer in this area. The project started as a challenge to build a house for $20,000, parts and labor. That figure came from the "502c Direct Loan" provided by the Rural Housing Service, and repesented a loan that even the those with the lowest incomes could receive. Since the project began in 2005, both the cost of materials and the figure for that loan have increased, but the ethic of living with dignity yet within one's means has remained a driving force for the project. Prior to this year of the project, there were 12 models of the project that had been built. In this year of the project the studio was charged with the task of concurrently adding four new models to the project's inven-tory. This was also to be the first year where true two-bedroom models were specifically addressed.

What is a 20K House?

all photos courtesy of Timothy Hursley

v1 v2 v3 v4

v5 v6 v7 v8

v9 v10 v11 v12

"Hub Team" - left to right: Samuel Maddox, Tanner Avery, Whitney Johnson, Caleb Gardner "Hub Scheme"

"Sliding Bars"

"T-Scheme"

"Inset Porch"

In this year of the project it was de-cided that four 2-bedroom houses would be built by the studio of 14 students. To begin to understand what a two bedroom 20K house might look like, the studio began an intense charette where rotating teams created seven potential plan diagrams. From there, the seven diagrams were developed for an-other month until four schemes emerged as the most viable. Once the four schemes were selected, the studio broke into teams, each of which then took ownership over one of the schemes.

2 Bedrooms, 4 Houses

pinup of the initial seven schemes

The primary purpose of the "ob-ject" is to define and organize the distinct programs of the living space through only its size and position within the larger room.

Using the object to define space makes the modestly sized plan feel larger by obscuring views of portions of rooms while maintain-ing visual cues that the space con-tinues past where you can see.

The bathroom as the object serves as a programmatic neutral zone between the bedroom space used only by the residents, and the living space used by both resi-dents and guests. Additionally the increased size of an accessible bathroom provides an opportunity to build it as a tornado shelter.

The "race track" nature of the liv-ing bar plan allows for redundant circulation, a desirable trait for a family home. Additionally this circulation minimizes the difficult "turn around" maneuvers neces-sary for a wheelchair-bound client to move about their home.

The plan for Jean Prouve's "Maison des Jours" (House for Better Days) was used as an early historical precedent for the project.

From Prouve's plan, the primary diagram of the project was established. In this diagram, the plan is divided into a night bar organized by partitions and a day bar organized around an inserted object. The "object" is thought as float-ing programmatically between the day and night bar due to its location and programmatic responsibilities.

Scale 3/16" = 1'989 sq.ft.

One of the first constraints of the section was that the house would be a slab on grade. This was due predom-inately to accessibility concerns and the construction of the tornado shelter.

Because of the square nature of the plan and lack of a "short dimension", one single gesture truss was deemed inappropriate due to both constructability and aesthetic concerns.

Ultimately a stick built solution that broke the section into three separate spans was deemed the most appro-priate as it significantly reduced the module of construc-tion. The roof plane was envisioned as a "thickened line" that would illustrate the construction of the roof while simultaneously encapsulating the porch space into the building form.

The details in the project are the product of an iterative process of hand drawing the details at full scale. This helped the team to achieve a better understanding of the na-tures of the different materials used and their relationship to one another. Through this process the details were refined to accept a large degree of building tolerance as well as minimize any owner maintenance down the road. In addition to being designed and re-fined for individual performance, the various details were looked at as a system to ensure that they remained consistent with the larger aesthetic statements of the project.

After the design phase was completed, the team met with Idella for the first time and pre-sented to her a model and drawings of what was to become her new home.

The presentation was done in tandem with the presentation of Michelle's house. The houses were presented to Idella, her daughter Deborah, and granddaugh-ters Michelle and Nicki (next year's client). left to right: Nicki, Michelle, Deborah, Idella

The site for the house was revealed to the team once design was completed and the build phase of the project was set to begin. The site is the front lot of a family plot on which another of the four houses, "Michelle's House", was also to be built. Before construction could formally begin, Idella's previous house, which had already begun to collapse in on itself, had to be torn down and disposed of. Additionally, the site had many drainage issues that had to be resolved in order for the local soil to be able to take the weight of the slab foundation.

Because the soil was so wet, 16 inches of en-gineered soil and four inches of gravel were brought in and compacted to create a steeply crowned crust for the slab to sit upon.

The soil on the site was perpetually wet enough to support a thriving crawfish population de-spite the lack of any nearby body of water.

The site is located at the north end of a T-shaped family plot. It was decided that Idella's house (1) would face north towards the street, keeping in line with what is the vernacular norm. The house is kept as far west as the road and property lines allowed in order to create a courtyard space under the nearby pecan trees to be shared with Michelle's house (2) built the same year, and Nicky's house (3) to be built the follow-ing year. Michelle's trailer (4) was also on the site, but will be removed prior to the construction of Nicki's house.

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The interior finishes aim for an aesthetic of simplicity that is both cost effective and easy to maintain. Shallow-mount LEDs are used for the overhead lighting as they last years before needing to be replaced, pro-duce little to no heat, and visually disappear when turned off. High gloss, stock cabinets are used whenever possible. The slab is sealed, etched, and painted with a dark concrete paint. This causes the floor recede visually, allows for easy cleaning, and is easily maneuverable in a wheelchair.

Half of the uneven galley kitchen is concealed by the hub and half of it slides past into the dining area. In this sense dining area is thought of as an extension of the kitchen more than as formal dining room.

In addition to a roll under sink, the kitchen also includes a roll under work space. This space is 2 inches lower than other countertops for ease of use and includes two outlets to accom-modate small appliances.

Detailed digital modeling was used during the development of the bathroom storm shelter to ensure that all of the converging building systems and code standards are in harmony with one another.

The "hub", in addition to its role in dividing spaces, also serves as both a wheelchair ac-cessible bathroom and as a tornado shelter. Both of these distinctions come with heavy code standards. The bathroom is built to HUD/FHA Specification A and ANSI type-A "accessible" standards. As a tornado shel-ter, it is also designed in accordance with FEMA and ICC-500 specifications.

The steel storm door locks away inside a chase wall until needed. A lighter pocket door serves as the primary door for daily use.

The plumbing and electrical for the bathroom run through a stud chase wall along the back-side of the bathroom.

The vanity is custom built to allow a di-rect wheelchair approach to the sink and provide additional maneuverability in the space.

Square House is an ongoing inde-pendent, post-graduate study de-signed in response to the lessons learned while working on Idella's House. The single bedroom house is designed to optimize use of build-ing materials and streamline the construction process. The product also seeks to address some of the market concerns that challenge real estate of this scale.

Square House is designed as spec-ulative home for a South Florida based non-profit to help address the housing needs of some of the clients they serve. The project is currently in viability discussions.

square house

The plan diagram began as a square in order to maximize the area of the house while mini-mizing the more costly compo-nents of the building envelope.

The overall dimensions of the footprint were constrained to accommodate a 4' x 4' con-struction module to minimize construction waste.

The plan was divided into a day space and a night space with a single partition. The night space was then recessed in response to the smaller programmatic needs of the space and to cre-ate a porch space.

The details of the plan were then finalized, adding a mini-mum of partitions to keep the modest living spaces open, and expedite construction.

Scale 3/16" = 1'524 sq.ft.

The building section is intentionally kept simple. Thirteen trusses span from the

back of the house to the front, bearing on only two points each. The trusses are all

identical with the exception of an addi-tional "kicker" support for the five trusses

that cantilever over the porch.

Stained, pressure treated 5/4" deck boards make up the stair treads and porch deck, then continue up the rain screen and porch soffit to establish a material continuity within the formal recess of the porch.

Take 2:2 BedroomsAs discussions with the client have con-tinued, the need for a two bedroom model has emerged as more pressing than the need for a one bedroom due to the real estate constraints on the properties. As a result, a new two-bedroom house has been schematically designed, borrowing largely from the diagram and research of its single-bedroom predecessor.

Like the single-bedroom model, the two-bedroom version divides the space into an open day bar and a partitioned night bar. The plan remains mostly square and again falls on a 4'x'4 grid with a 28' x 32' platform.

The new model does see some formal shifts, most notably the shift from a gable to a hip roof. Beyond only aesthetic con-cerns, this was a result of concerns over whether the cantilevered gable of the previous model was structurally viable at a larger scale. There is also evidence that hip roofs perform better than gables against hurricane force winds.

Scale 3/16" = 1'818 sq.ft.

Boston Cardiac Hospital project seeks to create a building that is symbolic of the practices of heal-ing and wellness that take place within it. The building and its sys-tems are meant as a metaphor for the human body and its systems. The building envelope specifically is viewed as a membrane and as a metabolism for the building, filter-ing the movement of people, heat, and light through the building, as well as collecting solar energy.

boston cardiac hospital

The hospital is located in Boston's North End, northeast of Boston City Hall.

The context of the building allows for unobstructed southern and western light which inform the configuration of the facade.

The ground floor features public access through a courtyard on Cross St. and through an emergency lane on Fulton.

Scale 1/32" = 1"

module 1

module 2

module 3

From the sun studies the optimum plane of solar collection

was found for each side of the building.

All collection fins are extruded through this

plane.

These coplanar fins are attached to a

primary and second-ary structure, whose

variant elevations are derived algorithmical-ly to maintain a depth of no greater than five

feet.

The Corian modules become flat with the

wall on one side each for ease of mechani-

cal connection and running of mechani-cal hardware to the

building structure.

summer solstice winter solstice

The LADC Book Display is a design build project for Auburn's Library of Architecture, Design, and Construction. The project was designed by a group of six students as part of a materials and methods seminar and later constructed by the course's TA.

ladc book display

The wall system is built from modular CNC-routed MDF panels sanded smooth and painted white. The shelves are a stained walnut, planed down to fit snuggly into the wall. The triangular pattern was selected to maximize the number of possible arrangements for the shelves.

The display serves multiple purposes ranging from ad-vertising the library's new books to displaying student projects. The modular shelving system can be rear-ranged depending on the current needs of the library. During the design process, the team met regularly with the head librarian to discuss the project and the school's desires for the space.

The recent redesign of the library largely informed the aesthetic direction of the project. The crisp, curved geom-etry of the triangular panels nod to the

new Herman Miller furniture purchased by the library.

The Via Papalis Study is a two part study into the urban palimp-sest of Rome. The first is group documentation of the layered history of a particular portion of the Roman Papal Route. The second, an individual portion, is the creation of a new piazza along the Corso Emmanuel just south of Piazza Navona. This intervention seeks to mediate pedestrian and automotive traffic while creating a new urban node to connect Piazza Navona to the north with Campo di Fiori to the south.

rome: via papalis

The Via Papalis is the historical Papal route taken by a newly elected Pope from St. Peter's Cathedral to St John the Latheran's and back again. This gesture was done by the new Popes in recognition of their duty not only as Pope but as Cardinal to the City of Rome.

For this study, the group looked at the stretch of route from Piazza di Pasquino to Largo di Torre Argentina. This included documenta-tion of the older Roman facades along Via di S. Pantaleo and the 19th century, Parisian-inspired, facades along Corso V. Emanuele II.

The piazzas along and adjacent to this stretch were also documented. a: Piazza di Pasquino, b: Piazza di San Pantaleo, c: Piazza di Santa Andrea della Valle, d: Largo di Torre Argentina, e: Piazza Navona, f: Campo de Fiori, g: Piazza Farnese, h: Piazza della Rotonda

The numerous, papal, family, and government symbols that decorated the buildings were drawn and researched as a way of under-standing the chronology of the urban building of this part of Rome.

The individual portion of the project looks specifically at Piazza di San Pantaleo and its opportunity to become the connective tissue that pulls together prominent nearby piazzas. The project also seeks to address the ambiguity between pedestrian and vehicular traffic.

To do this, the project proposes slightly modifying the shape of the pizza in order to give it a more defined organization and to open up sight lines to and from adjacent piazzas. Two cross walks at the perimeter of the piazza are also suggested for traffic calming.

The Colosseum Study is a sketching project consisting of both field and textual research into the urban fabric of Rome, with a concentration on the Colosseum. In addition to historical documen-tation, this project aims to gain a greater understanding of how his-torical information is extrapolated from ruins.

rome: colosseum study

Rural Studio Revolution is a phased project to reshape Auburn's Archi-tecture's satellite campus, Rural Stu-dio, located in Newbern, Alabama. The goal is to reshape the grounds into an agrarian campus capable of producing enough food to offset part of the dietary needs of the students and faculty. The project, started in 2010, has thus far been worked on by the third year Rural Studio stu-dents in semester long phases. The focus of this phase of the project was the construction of the foundation for the greenhouse's seed house.

Additionally, the third year curriculum also included the design and partial construction of a recycling center for the studio, and a woodshop project where a historic chair was researched and crafted.

photo courtesy of Timothy Hursley

rural studio revolution+

The Greenhouse is constructed from a combination of steel primary structure and recycled mint-oil drums. The drums were cleaned, and then filled with either gravel or a water-antifreeze mix and serve as both the walls of the building and as a thermal mass.

For this phase of the construction the group worked on the foundation work and setting the barrels for the seed house portion of the building. This consisted of digging the trenches, pouring the concrete piers, and setting the steel angles that the barrels sit on. From there, the barrels were stacked and tack-welded to form the walls. The re-maining trenches were then back-filled.

all photos courtesy of Timothy Hursley

During the last three years, the second portion of the green has been built as has the steel roof system for both portions. The dog trot connector and glazing are expect-ed to be installed in the next year.

At the end of the phase, the barrels and columns for the seed house had been erected. A temporary wood structure was also put up to stabilize the structure until the next phase of construction could start.

all photos courtesy of Timothy Hursley

The recycling center is another portion of the Rural Studio's endeavor to make itself more environmentally friendly. The project consists of two parts, an indoor station for the studio to collect recy-cling, and an out building near the wood shop for community collection. The community portion of the project has not been built, but the studio por-tion has been implemented.

The chair project is a re-search project and study in craft. For this project, Alvar Aalto's Stool 60, also known as the stacking stool, was researched, drawn, and then built in the studio's woodshop.

The Office of Tomorrow project is a typological charrette explor-ing what the workspace of the future might look like. One of the concerns it addresses is the con-tinuing shift from an industrial to innovation-driven economy where ideas are valued above only pro-duction. Other concerns are the untethering of the worker from the traditional office space and a new found importance placed on lei-sure time.

o�ce of tomorrow

2. display space

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plan

Rather than traditional isolated workspaces such as cubicles, the program consists of multiple types of shared work spaces that can be used intermittently as needed. The spaces for these programs are organized under and around an undulating sculptural canopy. The main work space underneath the canopy consists of array of desks to be used by employees across all statuses within the firm. The open plan of this space is meant to foster a culture of collabora-tion within the space.

Near the back of the large room, the canopy turns down to create seating along the main hallway of the of-fice. This provides a pinup space that functions both as a space to display work to passerbys as well as critique work within the firm.

3. private work space4. leisure space

5. conference space

The canopy turns down again near the window to create a leisure space just outside the threshold of the main work space.

At the end of the work space is an enclosed meeting space. The in-formal seating is made up of various extruded rectangles and triangles to foster a relaxed feel-ing within the space.

Just off the entrance into the primary work space is a single en-closed private work space to be used only rarely, when se-clusion is particularly necessary. Like the other spaces, this room would be avail-able to any employee who needed it.

Caleb Gardner phone: 561-568-0934 email address: bcg0005@auburn.eduLinkedIn profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/bcalebgardnerGPA: 3.55

Technical - proficient in: AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, Google Sketchup Pro, Kerkythea Renderer, Hand Drafting, Hand Rendering, Watercolor Rendering; working knowledge in: Rhino, Podium Pro

Auburn Rural Studio 20K House Project - Selected into the thesis program at Rural Studio, Auburn's design-build program, continuing Auburn's 20K House legacy as part of the RS20 project. Design Phase: Fall 2013 - Spring 2014 Build Phase: Summer 2014 - Fall 2014 post-graduation http://www.ruralstudio.org/projects/20k-v15-idellas-house Rural Studio Revolution - Worked on the continued master plan for the new agriculturally independent Rural Studio campus. Participated in a build phase of the Solar Greenhouse Project. 2011

ArkRome Center - Rome, Italy - Selected to study at the University of Arkansas's ArkRome Center in Rome, Italy. Participated in the ArtUrbain urban renewal design competition. Spring 2012

Academic Achievement National Merit Scholarship Award Winner 2009-2014 Auburn University Presidential Full Academic Scholarship. 2009-2014 William T Warren and William T Warren Jr. Endowment Scholarship Awarded for excellence in first year studio 2010

Publication Time Magazine - "The $20,000 Home" Sep 30, 2013 gd&b magazine - pending (Idella's House) Early 2015

Delta Chi Fraternity Held the leadership positions of corresponding secretary, new mem-ber educator, and philanthropy chair 2009-2013

Design - experience in working design problems from inception through implementation, both in a group and individually with an emphasis toward design development and detailing

Building - hands on experience in stick frame construction, organizing and working with subcontractors, on site design and change orders

KTA Architects - Jupiter, Florida - Worked predominantly on construction documents, renderings for clients, and design research for residential projects. Summer 2013

SKILLS

EDUCATION + WORK

HONORS + AFFILIATIONS

Auburn UniversityBachelor of Architecture - Cum Laude five year professional program 2014