FALL 2013 • PATH 3

CHRISTOPHER YOUNG

UNIVERSITY of VIRGINIAMASTER of ARCHITECTURE APPLICATION

TABLE of CONTENTS

DRAWINGS

STATEMENT OF INTENT

RESUME

PAINTINGS

PROJECTS

PHOTOGRAPHY

Travel sketches Measured drawingsGeneral

Carr’s Hill Downtown Revitalization

PORTFOLIO 2

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This compilation of work shares some of my recent travels and projects which have broadened my creative mind and contributed to my skills as a historic preservationist.

I am eternally curious about the people and landscapes around me and several of my pieces hint at this characteristic. However, with little formal training in the creative arts, this portfolio marks one of my first artistic publications- an exciting experience which has enhanced my desire to pursue architecture and explore design.

Also, some of the projects underscore my evolving interest in sustainability and the active role I hope to play in environmental preservation.

This past year and a half I observed, studied and learned about my environment. Now, I hope to learn how to shape and enhance it as an architecture student at UVa.

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STATEMENT of INTENT

As a historic preservationist, people hate when I announce that I consider Dulles International Airport one of my favorite structures. To many, I should presumably favor colonial or early American buildings. Granted, I do appreciate, study and preserve historic structures, however, my interests do not remain solely in the past.

My goal as an architect is to use my education in historic preservation and architecture to generate new designs for existing structures. I favor adaptive reuse projects in urban environments, which promote downtown revitalization. With many cities still under capacity, I prefer redeveloping these abandoned areas rather than developing open land. Living several years in a downtown environment helped me appreciate the potential social, economic, and ecological benefits of downtown life. Also, witnessing the destructive effects of rampant growth in my suburban hometown motivates me to find ways to utilize existing structures in cities to help discourage the proliferation of sprawl.

In an effort to enhance my understanding of downtown development, I tailored my class schedule my last two years in college to include historic preservation classes about urban planning and political science classes on metropolitan problems. In addition to my education, my familiarity and attraction to industrial, international and historic designs will compliment my goals as an architect and help generate unique and dynamic projects.

I recently heard that most future building projects will involve existing structures. If so, as someone who has worked with many historic buildings, my experiences will help influence adaptive projects and ensure appropriate redesign. Inappropriate rehabilitations and renovations can destroy a building just like a bulldozer. As an undergraduate student, I saw several of my school’s beautiful, historic structures undergo unsympathetic renovations that sterilized the aesthetics of their interiors. At a conference last spring, I spoke about the detrimental effects of this type of architecture and the need for renovation projects, which update buildings while enhancing their dynamism and relevance. In the future, I hope my portfolio showcases buildings which harmonize both new and old architecture.

Although I have visited several other architecture schools, UVa is my top choice. Charlottesville and UVa embrace tradition and history while also celebrating new design- a characteristic I find attractive. I believe that the school, professors and curriculum will help lay the foundations for my goals as an architect and provide me with an enriching environment while in graduate school.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Rome, ItalyAugust 2012

DRAWINGS • Travel

This past summer I was fortunate to receive a grant to study classical architecture from an anonymous cabinet member from the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. The stipulations of my grant were simple: draw! So, in August I traveled to Italy and Malta for two weeks and roamed several cities drawing the simple and the grandeur. Unlike a vacation, my eye was constantly working and scrutinizing my environment. I found clarity through drawing.

Time: 5 hours collectively

St. Peter’s Basilica Graphite 4”x7” St Peter’s Square Graphite, Colored Pencil

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DRAWINGS • Travel

Valetta, Malta August, 2012

The buildings of Malta date to the time of the First Crusades. Castles and fortresses dot the small island, and at noon everyday, a canon still fires across the bay.

I could see a conversation between the buildings which hinted at their multicultural past: Spanish, English, Italian, Austrailian and Arabic. The meshing of architectural styles was a dynamic blend of culture and design. I see great value and importance in this characteristic.

Time: 2 hours

Crusaders Palace Graphite, Pen 10”x8”

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A trip led me to the rainforests of Panama for several weeks. On a hike with a friend I noticed a vibrant red “berry.” Pulling back the red outer layer, I discovered the berry was actually a coffee bean.

It was fascinating and elucidating to have a tactile experience with the ingredient in the drink I have every morning. Similarly, I want to learn what lies beneath the skin of buildings and understand the inner components. From the scale of a bean to a building, I am always intrigued.

Time: 30 minutes

La Pedregosa, Panama December 2010

Coffee Bean Graphite, Colored Pencil 3” x 3”

DRAWINGS • Travel

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Located in my family’s hometown, Warkworth Castle exists on a plane both geographically and temporally detached from its surroundings. It is my English Acropolis.

As a kid, I saw it as a playground. As an adult, I see it anew. Despite the scars of canon fire and natural decay, the castle remains a severe and imposing structure. It commands authority over the surrounding landscape and overwhelms the nearby seaside cottages. Like many of the previous assailants, I appreciated the castle from outside the walls.

Time: 2 days

Warkworth Castle, England January 2011

The Keep (Above) Gate and Drawbridge (Below) Graphite 11.5” x 8”

DRAWINGS • Travel

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On a trip to the Finger Lakes, I drew one of the more dramatic afternoon sunsets of the weekend. The contrast of the pitch-black tree trunks against the near-white grass, created a dynamic setting. However, my interest focuses on the shadows where the form of the trees and ground skew and stretch into new figures. Time: 4 hours

Canandaigua Lake, New York October 2011

Canandaigua Lake Graphite, Charcoal 14” x 12”

DRAWINGS • Travel

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This past summer I attended UVa’s Architectural Field School in Jamaica, taught by Louis Nelson. Having recently attained my degree in historic preservation, I chose to enroll in the five week course to hone my skills as a preservationist and learn more about the architecture of the Caribbean. In particular, I was curious to learn how the region adapted their structures to handle the volatile weather of the tropics.

Time: 5 weeks

Falmouth, Jamaica June, July 2011

Tharp House Pen on Mylar 24” x 18”

I also partook in John Quale’s ecoREMOD class, and I was involved with the redesign of a vernacular building in Falmouth. The design process involved balancing the practical needs of the inhabitants with the aesthetics and culture of the town. This project aligned with my future goals as an architect and was an invaluable lesson about the challenges and benefits associated with adaptive reuse projects.

On-site documentation of the area’s historic resources provided an intimate understanding about Falmouth’s buildings and culture. One of my projects involved documenting the front facade of one of the city’s preeminent buildings, the Tharp House, circa 1790s. At the time, the house was undergoing renovations and all the framing members were exposed. This provided me with a unique opportunity to understand its construction elements and original architectural parti. The building served as a teaching tool, showcasing historic building practices and intricate construction principles.

The original in this digital image is housed in: Special Collections University of Virginia LibraryCharlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110No further copies can be made.

DRAWINGS • Measured Drawings

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Tired Graphite 5” x 6.5”

DRAWINGS

PVCC Art 121 December 2011

For my first portrait drawing, I chose myself, out of curiosity, not vanity.I chose a stoic expression to study my features in their “true” form. However, I drew it late at night and my underlying fatique seems to surface slightly.

Time: 6 hours

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Watch Colored Pencil 7” x 7”

DRAWINGS

For this project I used everyday objects and searched for new ways to view and interpret them.

Using the negative space, I drew my own watch from various angles to capture odd shapes. I wanted to obfuscate its form and suggest something new.

Streets, a reinterpretation of Jasper John’s number paintings, chaotically blends the ingredients seen during a typical drive: numbers, graffiti, stickers and signs.

Time: 2 weeks

PVCC Art 121December 2011

Streets Colored Pencil 18” x 24”

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For this reproduction project, I was instructed to use two colors. I chose red and yellow to create a warm contrast to the original. Consequently the project helped develop my understanding of tone, value, and craft.

Over half a century after Sheeler’s painting, this reinterpretation speculates about the changing dynamics of America’s industry.

Time: 2 weeks

Sunset Industry Acrylic 18”x 24”

PVCC Art 241November 2011

Stacks in Celebration Charles Sheeler, 1954

PAINTINGS

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PAINTINGS

Interested in screen printing, I chose to mimic this type of graphic production with acrylic paints. I wanted to replicate the aesthetics and subject matter of the art form; screen printing often features strange bedfellows within a simplified composition.

The rifle-toting, beer-drinking bear exists in my imagination but playfully comments on America’s gun culture.

Time: 2 weeks

Right to Bear Arms Acrylic 18”x 21”

PVCC Art 241November 2011

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Rome, Italy August 2012

During my trip to Rome, I took a moment to visit some of the animals in the local zoo and study them with pencil and camera.

Animals are often the source of architectural expression; Frank Gehry abstracted the form of a whale to generate the design of one of his museums.

One of the more captivating inhabitants of the zoo was the tiger- a creature seen all over Rome in stone.

Solemn Power Print 5” x 7”

PHOTOGRAPHY

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Rome, Italy August 2012

Last spring, I took Sanda Iliescu’s class, Lessons in the Making. One of the projects we worked on involved a light chamber. We designed a box with different apertures and textures to explore ways to generatesomething dynamic and beautiful. While in Rome, I stood inside the largest light box: St. Peter’s Basilica. The shape of the interior and its strategically placed apertures allowed light to transform the space. I saw the Lessons anew from inside St. Peters and observed the different ways this Renaissance building created such inspiring beauty.

Time: 4 hours

PHOTOGRAPHY

Mother to Father Print 8” x 10” Chosen Print 8” x 10”

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Falmouth, Jamaica June 2011

Playful or serious? When I snapped this photo, the boy was pretending to shoot a cruise ship docked at the new wharf.

While attending the UVa architecture field school, I lived in Falmouth and observed a city at the crossroads. This 18th century town was recently chosen as one of the new destination spots for the two largest cruise ships in the world.

It is uncertain whether this new development promises progress or peril for the town. However, I am attracted to this scene which appears to take a stance, “Warning, enemy ship.”

Time: 5 weeks

Warning, Enemy Ship Print 8.5” x 10”

PHOTOGRAPHY

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Remnants of Industry Print 10” x 7”

When I toured the St. Francis School, as part of my internship for Partners for Place, I saw an array of damage and decay. The situation is lamentable but in some instances, the effects of weathering created beautiful changes. The oxidation of the dark metal produced vibrant greens and reds and the flow of water down the walls created an enigmatic element like vines. Here I saw the presence of man, nature and time.

Time: 2 weeks

St. Francis School, Virginia December 2011

School Parlor Print 5” x 7”

PHOTOGRAPHY

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UVA Arch 5500 Summer Seminar July, August 2011

As a proponent of sustainable design, the summer seminar on Carr’s Hill provided with me a unique opportunity to investigate the different ways to reduce the environmental impact of buildings. The five-week project evaluated the property’s water, waste and energy; the final report proposed ways to reduce consumption and increase efficiency.

The class worked with an interdisciplinary group of UVa faculty and generated multiple ways to reduce the carbon footprint of the president’s house. This prompted a diverse dialogue about sustainability which introduced me to the many different facets contributing to the “greenness” of a building.

Using my background in historic preservation I advised the group on standards of best practice and helped ensure all proposed changes respected the historic fabric of the building.

Time: 5 weeks

PROJECTS • Carr’s Hill

Tecumseh, OK Opera House

While interning for the firm, Part-ners for Place, I created renderings for publication in the the Comprehensive Plans for several towns in Oklahoma: Tecumseh, Seminole and Lindsay.

For these plans, I presented photo renderings of revitalized downtown areas and key entrance corridors. I worked with the firm’s partners to discuss the ways to im-prove the vitality of the city: adapting historic structures, increasing pedestrian and bike paths, etc. From these discussions, I create photos which communicate these goals visually.

PROJECTS • Downtown Revitalization

Downtown Revitilization Projects

Additionally, these conversations have increased my understanding of town planning and the current issues impacting small communities.

Time: 5 weeks

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October, November 2012

EDUCATION

EXPERIENCE SKILLS

University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VAB.A. Historic Preservation Major GPA 3.61

University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA Community Scholar GPA 4.00

Partnership for Leaders in Education, Darden School of Business Adminstrative Assistant Building Goodness in April, Darden School of Business House Captain and House Inspection Volunteer Building Goodness Foundation, Charlottesville, VA Volunteer Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Restoration Department InternPartners for Place, Charlottesville, VA InternNational Park Service, Historic Preservation Department Conservation AideSummer Science Institute, University of Mary Washington ResearcherBig Brother Program, Fredericksburg, VA MentorHistoric Preservation Deparmtent, University of Mary Washingotn Department Aide Fredericksburg Area Museum and Cultural Center Docent

REFERENCES

Grace Wadsworth Award in Historic Preservation, 2011 Senior excellence award presented to the student with the most professional promise in the field of historic preservation J. Binford Walford Scholarship in Architecture, 2010

HONORS

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RESUME for

CHRIS YOUNG

Included in this application

Proficient in Italian, architectural documentation and surveying, Abode Photoshop, InDesign, and Publisher.

John Quale Associate Professor of Architecture, UVa Peter Waldman William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Architecture, UVAThomas Woltz Principal, Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape ArchitectsDouglas Sanford Professor, UMW Historic Preservation Dept. Michael Spencer Associate Professor, UMW Historic Preservation Dept. LeAnn Buntrock Executive Director, Dardern/Curry PLEWilliam Robinson Deputy Director, Dardern/Curry PLE

CHRISTOPHER YOUNG

Chris.Young@Virginia.edu