matthew west student portfolio

M AT T H E W W E S Tm a t t h e w w e s t @ l i v e . c o m

M A r c h 1

Selected W

orks 2

012 - 2

015

E N V I R O N M E N TA L D E S I G N P O RT F O L I O

This Project explored the idea of indexicality. it dealt with the mannerist

concept of transgressing against accepted ideals and precedents. The Bass house of

Case Study fame was developed using modulations of the diagram, and

eventually constructed as a three dimensional object.

The White Object

The Black Object

This Project dealt with the development of a new object taken from an existing piece. A garment from designers Comme Des Garconnes was taken and modeled in Maya. The object that it rendered deals with the idea of shelter and deceptive enclosure, it’s many overhangs and involutions lending it a sense of safety, while making the object much smaller than it appears

The Black and White Objects were then combined and given program, with the intent of each being a sister store of Comme Des Garconnes in Houston, Texas, at the intersection of Post Oak and Westheimer.

The Sensual & The InsensateT4T Design Research Lab With Visiting Professor Bruno Juricic

Design Team: Stephen Renard, Matt West, Hillary Hagen, David Creamer

The T4T lab is an experimental design laboratory in which current and future concepts in architecture are explored. In this case, architecture-critic Bruno Juricic led us in the creation of objects of an architectural nature but without architectural program. Essentially projects that are made with architectural means and backed with architectural theory, but have no program or function. We specifically dealt with the ideas of The Raw & The Synthetic.

The object within an object defines our project, proximity forcing two dichotomous forms to interact. This interaction illustrates a relationship between the sensual and the insen-sate, a futile relationship in which the objects will never coalesce nor achieve what they are wont to do. Our project discusses the conflicting objects and the consequences thereof, a conflict responsible for the formal relationships between the objects, as well as between the objects and the ground. The exterior is dumb to external stimuli, insensate; this object is synthetic; following no set pattern, constraint or delivery. Its form and material give a fluid appearance and only the scarring in pockets of phenomenal depth confirms its solidity. In “The Raw and The Cooked” Claude Levi Strauss writes that “We know [the] raw only because we know what [the] cooked is.” This produces the idea of the implicitly raw interior, which manifests itself as the boudoir. This object pushes hollow tendrils through the insensate exterior, hoping to be seen, but still not accessed, implying the object’s

possession of agency as well as a sensual na-ture. It is the sensual, sentient object; it pushes through and against the exterior hoping not only to be seen, but to make the exterior feel it. This strife is responsible for the hollow spillage of the boudoir to the outside, the subterranean pockets (which are the only means of access to the boudoir), and possibly the form of the exterior itself (the forms of the exterior being caused by actions of the interior would also affirm its insensateness) These two objects not only resist each other, but also resist the ground, a sentient agent, as the object hovers away from it and has no formal relationship with it, other than proximity. The ground reaches with the ramp to touch it, to view and even access the interior, it hearkens back to Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam as the sentient reaching towards and implanting sentience within the insensate. However, in contrast to Michelangelo, our project could be seen as the failure of God to implant sentience into Adam.

ReticulateProject Team: Adam Wells, Matt West, Ricardo Antonio Gonzalez,

Christian Stiles, Justin Zumel

Reticulate is a digital fabrication project that focuses on the interaction between various networks of lines distinguishing the surfaces of two fac-eted objects. These linear networks all have different objectives and once they are layered or super imposed on the object, each system informs or is informed by a separate system. These lines inevitably create a hierarchy that highlights the form of the object over everything, but still allows for the other linear organizations to fight for the attention of the viewer. This surface forces the viewer to acknowledge the individual characteristics of each network while still viewing the objects as a whole. Light and shadow also play a role, as the lightstreams through the large gashes in the object and casts shadows that begin to distort or emphasize certain lines.

The Unrealized Monument to Knowledgewith teammate Braden Scott

This Project in essence was an addition to the Ringer Library in College Station, Texas. My partner and I took inspiration from arcane symbols of knowledge and wisdom, such as the 9 pointed star of the greek muses and Plato’s cave, and built our proposal around them. The project then becomes sort of a sacred journey to knowledge, where to enter the library one must first go through walk through the cave, symbolizing the transition from ignorance to wisdom.

CONCEPTTHE UNREALIZED MONUMENT TO KNOWLEDGEDISCOURSE

“At every moment, we exist in a globally omnipresentlibrary; the Internet has simultaneously denied and become the Oracle of Antiquity.”

THALIA(comedy)

TERPSICHORE(dancing)

POLYHYMNIA(sacred poetry)

MELOPMEME(tragedy)

CALLIOPE(epic poetry)

CLIO(history)

ERATO(lyrics)

EUTERPE(music)

URANIA(astronomy)

Liberation of The PrecedentPlace >> Product

with teammate Braden Scott

The objective of this project was to revitalize a derelict textile factory in the Poble Nou neighborhood of Barcelona. Our project specifically seeks to translate the purpose of the historical manufactory with the building as it presently exists, and the uses for which we as a team have prescribed it.

Our formal moves reconcile the normative Catalan factory with its product, going from the existing brick walls into an undulating system from West to East. As an art gallery, the spaces must be interesting without detracting from any installations placed there, as well as conducive to many different uses, which local artists may require

02

04

03

02

01

program‘Liberation of the Precedent’

place product

Braden Scott // Matt West

barcelona in transformationREACTIVATING URBAN FABRIC ‘LA ESCOCESA’ - new urban dimension

BAC I Design Studio Spring 15 I Miguel Roldán, Marta Garcia-Orte

exhi

bitio

n sp

ace

mai

n en

tran

cesp

ecia

l eve

nt

spac

eco

ntin

ued

exhi

bitio

nca

fe/k

itche

nm

ain

exit

inception refinement materiality

ACTUALIZATION

LA ESCOCESA

CA L’ALIER

(fabrication)

(exhibition / sales)

T RA

NS

VE R

SE

INFLUENCE

produ

ct

p

lace

04sustainability and matter‘Liberation of the Precedent’

place product




01

context‘Liberation of the Precedent’

place product

Braden S

cott // Matt W

est

barcelona in transformation

REA

CTIV

ATIN

G U

RB

AN

FAB

RIC

‘LA ESC

OC

ESA’ - new urban dim

ension

BA

C I D

esign Studio Spring 15

I Miguel R

oldán, Marta G

arcia-Orte

03program‘Liberation of the Precedent’

place product


BAY 4

BAY 3

BAY 2

BAY 1



03program‘Liberation of the Precedent’

place product


BAY 4

BAY 3

BAY 2

BAY 1



Austin Skyrisewith teammate E.J. Melendez

This project had a relatively simple objective; take the lot at 5th and Brazos in Austin, Texas, and create a viable building there. My partner and I immediately saw an opportunity to design a building that appeals to the young startup and tech company crowd, which has exploded in Austin recently.

Our main objective was to create a building that exhibits spatial interest without sacrific-

ing utility, both in terms of tenant comfort as well as in environmental aspects.

Our lot is approximately 11,375 sq. ft. and the fl oor to area ratio is 25:1, so the total allowable design square footage is approximately 284,375. It’s orientated with the wide side facing Brazos street. It is located in iconic downtown Austin Texas, an area known for its vibrant street life and unique urban fabric as well as those other urban conditions com-mon to large cities.

The Austin Business Incubator seeks to provide space to budding start-ups, small businesses and tech com-panies in the Austin area. In the age of “The Google Offi ce”, a versatile, free plan is necessary, as well as adequate daylighting, environmental friendliness, and a formal typology that encourages creativity and keeps workplace morale high, as well gen-erates spatial interest both from ten-ants and pedestrians.

Austin SkyriseE.J. MELENDEZ & MATT WESTSITE

Our lot is approximately 11,375 sq. ft. and the fl oor to area ratio is 25:1, so the total allowable design square footage is approximately 284,375. It’s orientated with the wide side facing Brazos street. It is located in iconic downtown Austin Texas, an area known for its vibrant street life and unique urban fabric as well as those other urban conditions com-mon to large cities.

The Austin Business Incubator seeks to provide space to budding start-ups, small businesses and tech com-panies in the Austin area. In the age of “The Google Offi ce”, a versatile, free plan is necessary, as well as adequate daylighting, environmental friendliness, and a formal typology that encourages creativity and keeps workplace morale high, as well gen-erates spatial interest both from ten-ants and pedestrians.

Austin SkyriseE.J. MELENDEZ & MATT WESTSITE

Austin SkyriseE.J. MELENDEZ & MATT WESTPERSPECTIVES & SECTION

Austin SkyriseE.J. MELENDEZ & MATT WESTSECTIONS & ELEVATIONS

NORTH

EAST

SOUTH

WEST

SECTION 1

SECTION 2

Austin SkyriseE.J. MELENDEZ & MATT WESTINTERIOR RENDERS



Austin SkyriseE.J. MELENDEZ & MATT WESTPLANS

1 2

3&

4

5

6 7

8 9

Austin SkyriseE.J. MELENDEZ & MATT WESTPLANS

1 2

3&

4

5

6 7

8 9

matthew west student portfolio

Documents