New Orleans, Louisiana
Spring 2021, Professor Judith Kinnard + Rafael Passarelli
Building Resilience: Mass Timber + Forms of Living
PRELIMINARY STUDIES
STRUCTURAL TIMBER END-OF-LIFE
Initial research revealed that the life cycle of heavy timber is widely accepted as sustainable, however, it is important that the end-of-life phase of these structures be considered throughout the design process. If CLT buildings are designed for careful disassembly, the material can be reused + recycled for future structures, further extending its lifespan and delaying the release of carbon into the atmosphere.
These four guidelines allow for applicability of design for deconstruction to CLT. They were further researched + expanded upon within the design of the final project.
TRANSLATION EXERCISE
Double House, MVRDV
in collaboration with Johnathan Michka
MODEL FOR MODULARITY
final project - faculty + student housing at Tulane's University Square
in collaboration with Katie Schultz + Malina Pickard
This studio explored new methods and benefits of designing with heavy timber. Initial research revealed that the life cycle of heavy timber is widely accepted as sustainable, however, it is important that the end-of-life phase of these structures be considered throughout the design process as well. In order to optimize the sustainability of the timber and store the embodied carbon for as long as possible, strategies such as designing for deconstruction and modular construction were employed in the project. The site, Tulane’s University Square, became an example for future development of student and faculty housing, using three different modular building typologies. Each typology responds to the conditions of the site, and utilizes either single or double loaded corridors as circulation strategies as well as a variety of unit types. The central courtyard becomes an extension of the public realm, connecting to the surrounding context through a variety of communal spaces and pathways.
