Archinect - Boston Architectural College (Thomas)

Robotic Arm Fabrication

2010-12-16T23:17:35-05:00

Our intention for the coffee table is to successful replicate a module, based on Evan Douglis's Displaycase Membrane. We were looking at how a hot wire could excavate foam without milling. We didn't want a long insubstantial mass, so we looked at how we could provide variety to the table top. This is that exploration. Moving forward, I think we could move from a radial hot wire - to a linear hot wire cutter that can take a profile and stretch it out.

The idea of this hot wire cutter is to have the ability to reach behind the material to create super amorphic shapes. Unlike a router attachment that can only affect the surface, and has a difficult time reaching behind material. The advantage of a kinetic hot wire, is that you can expand and contract the wire, which will change the overall shape of the hotwire. The rigidity of a flat wire allows the contraction of the shape to return to its initial destination.

Life Center in Needham, MA

2010-12-16T23:06:48-05:00

The Life Center in Needham, MA seeks to create a more vibrant downtown - shopping, eating, art, and theatre. The site is situated on what is now Greene’s Field Park. This park has defined the boundary of the Urban and Suburban since its inception by the Greene’s’ in 1989. The Greene’s’ set this green space aside for the pleasure of the community. The Life Center seeks to enhance this idea of giving back to the community, while reinvigorating the urban fabric and sustaining green open spaces for the community.

Through my site analysis I looked at parking, commuter rail, public transit, and other means of circulation. I took the ratio of facility size to usage, and derived a simulation that would flow toward the site avoiding the current buildings. This simulation showed a hierarchy of site entry that I would use to orient the building, and to massage the buildings form to accommodate its surroundings.

The South portion of the site was to extend the urban street wall, and open its...

Life Center Diagrams & Massing

2010-11-03T11:15:51-04:00

Life Center in Needham, MA

2010-10-21T14:39:06-04:00

The site is situated on what is now Greene's Field Park. The town has been in debate the past twenty years on whether or not to fund a senior center in Needham, MA. What has made the debate even worse is the site selected. The park selected would eliminate the current open space, and allocate that to the senior center. Our task is to mediate both parties. To provide open space for play, and to provide enclosed space for seniors and the community. The site sits on the edge of what one might think of as a downtown, shopping and a town hall. Adjacent to the East side of the site is the beginning of a residential neighborhood. The north edge of the site is where the current senior center is; all 1,500 sq. ft. of it. The differentiation between a life center and a senior center is the involvement of different age groups. The hope is to facilitate interaction between children and elderly to share knowledge and stories. I am using program and form to facilitate these interactions, creati...

Chinatown Urban Cultural Center :: Boston, MA

2010-09-17T16:26:17-04:00

Site plan and Concept

The site is situated adjacent to two historical districts - Chinatown and the Leather District. The asian people utilize the public fountain just north of the site, by putting their feet into the the faux stream filled black river stones. The leather district still has light poles that are wooden. The form is still used today, these poles often go unnoticed, until one begins to investigate the materiality of its form.

There are two adjacent built forms - the Ginza Restaurant (japanese food cooked by chinese people) and a vent stack which I am assuming is for the interstate below the site. Surface street just to the east of the site is a busy intersection one way road. I am trying to build a street wall that will define the road and terminate the greenway park. The usage of the park just west of the vent stack and adjacent to the site is often filled with children and adults playing chinese chess. I want to preserve and expand upon the usage of the site. Provi...

BCN Sustainable Transport Center

2010-05-23T16:02:35-04:00

Architecture is a reflection of culture, and sustainable architecture is a reflection of a sustainable culture. From the beginning our team has discussed the importance of aiming to achieve not only and sustainable transportation center within a unique city but to create a unique urban experience within an urban setting. Inclusion is our approach to sustainability. We sought to bring together members of the city around a sustainable hub, were they can experience the future potential of the electric plug-in city-cars and interact within spaces adjacent to a headquarter for research in green technologies.

Barcelona is a 24 hour city, and within it we wanted to create a beacon, that shines light on the possibilities of tomorrow. It will be a haven for everyone living in Barcelona, not to mention sustainable drivers, officers-workers and researchers. We provide for the neighborhood an elevated public park with a cafe. People here can enjoy what the public spaces has to offer as well as...

Studio B-1 Boat House Project

2010-05-23T15:53:37-04:00

This boat house is for the primary use of the public. It should not stand as a monument to boat storage, but to accommodate those who watch the boats in action. I am trying to create the maximum seating and viewing areas of the water, while tucking the boat storage away. The experience of the site should not be impeded upon by storage of these boats, but to provide the maximum amount of green space to the people.

Interior Perspective of Boat House

Diagrams - Form Finding

Angle defined by slope of Storrow drive exit
The bridge that connects the Back Bay grid to the Esplanade must have a maximum slope of 6%. This informed the angle of the bridge in order to clear the Storrow drive off-ramp

Finding the bridge edge condition
In order to find the edge condition of the bridge - Continually halving the grid between each new node until a connection is made between the Esplanade and the Back Bay

Cone of Vision Diagram
A 60 degree cone of vision from the Halfway point of a single block fr...

UCF Athletic Complex

2010-05-23T11:00:33-04:00

While walking down east plaza drive toward victory lane I noticed that it becomes difficult to recognize a clear path to the entry of the Baseball stadium. I could see clearly that the stadium sat behind this structure, but the direction was unclear as to turn left or right.

In plan view it is quite easy to see that the entry is on the left, but my intent for this design was to strengthen the procession to the entry of the Baseball stadium. There was an intent to create a material style for the entire Athletic complex that could be recognized and understood as an Athletic facility.

Often I find it hard to justify the investment into athletic facilities, while the same investment is not put into the scholarly facilities. I often think of it only affecting the players involved -- how the percentage of individuals involved in the program will not be accepted into the professional field, where the investment will be paid off. A recently published book The Rise of Stadiums in the Mode...

Montclair University Sicily

2010-04-22T15:59:17-04:00

Architect: Christopher Janning

Villa Mairea Analysis

2010-03-28T16:05:13-04:00

MOHO Modular Miami

2010-02-02T15:56:49-05:00

AIAS / Modular Building Institute: Miami Beach Hotel

Team Members

Thomas M. Boessel
Nway Oo
Robert R. Ortiz
Mikkel D. Strømstad

Faculty Sponsors

Gabriel Bergeron
Eric Nelson

Moho is a new concept in the long-standing tradition of world-class Miami hotel design. Its dynamic form expresses the grand sense of luxury and theatricality that popularized Miami hotels in a kit-of-parts assembly that efficiently responds to contextual, programmatic and environmental variables. In this way, the ability to adapt and respond—to cater to each guest—is articulated as its primary function.

The hotel floats eighty rooms made of one hundred eighty re-purposed shipping containers above a plinth of stepped landscape and public function areas. The rooms are arranged in two bars backing onto an open atrium. The front, urban bar develops a strong relationship with its Collins Avenue neighbors and frames Western views to Biscayne Bay and downtown. Unique features of the facility including elegant re...

Sketch Problem 1

2009-02-15T15:53:20-05:00

My first sketch problem (charrette) at the BAC. I will be adding more pictures of my model in the next day or so. I have to finish up some more work before I have the time to get them prepped. Here is what I have done thus far.

Studio Cube

2009-02-10T16:24:05-05:00

I was asked to design a cube with 3 sets of "devices" and as an added requirement all edges had to meet properly.

Studio Model (Dream House)

2009-01-30T16:11:18-05:00

Random Drawings

2008-12-15T16:29:10-05:00