Sou fujimoto Architects internship

In the fall of 2011 I had the opportunity to intern with Sou

Fujimoto in Tokyo, Japan. I was part of a variety of teams in the
office which allowed me to work on a diverse range of projects
including competition submissions, commissions, and exhibition
installations.
On November 12, 2011 Sou Fujimoto won the Taiwan Tower
competition. As one of six members of the Photoshop Image
production team I was responsible for creating images which
expressed the importance of the connection between this
monumental project for Taiwan and their citizens. My duties
were similar for the winning Beton Hala Waterfront competition
submission though my workload was more demanding as I split
the work with one lead designer.
Our office was invited to take part in the Architectural Environments 3 5 1-2 Beton Hala Waterfront Competition
1
of Tomorrow exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art of 6
9 3-4 Taiwan Tower Competition
Tokyo. I was part of team of four which studied, built and installed 2
4 7
a 1:5 model of House NA. 8 5-9 1:5 House NA Model
Synthesis This project was done in
conjunction with the Union
Theatre to add greater depth to
the detail elements of the building.
One element from each scale of
theatre was taken: performance,
audience, and performer. These
three elements were then
abstracted through a double
helix process generating hybrid
forms. Through this process the 1 Volumetric Site Plan
essence of the elements were 2 Extruded Circulation Path
1 2 3 4
distilled which gave rise to the 3 Abstract Corner Detail
entry concept. 4 Combined Elements
entry: union theatre
This entry was developed for the Union
Theatre through a disciplined process
of abstraction that involved alternating
between model and sketch that was
photo documented at 15-minute intervals.
Through reflection and observation of the
relationship between the initial corner detail 1 Corner Detail Sketch
2
sketch and the final concept model I have 4
2 Entry Concept Model Top
1
gained a greater appreciation for the clarity 3 Entry Concept Model Approach
3
that a strong design concept produces. 4 Entry Facade Interface
union theatre: Permeability

This design intention strives for

an understanding between the
connective elements of an urban
community in Halifax, Nova Scotia
and its local theatre culture. The
conceptual framework of permeability
was applied in order to rediscover the
relationship between the audience
and the performance. The theatre’s
porous facade strives to promote a
connection within the community by
acting as an interactive membrane,
softening the distinction of interior
and exterior. Light, views, and sound
are exchanged throughout the day
creating an inviting interior transitional
space between the street and the 1 Concept Model
centralized blackbox performance 1 2 3 2 Perspective
area. 3 Facade Study
design/build: NEWFOUNDLAND
Under the direction of ERA Architects, my team
members and I collaborated closely with the town of
Burlington to realize a two-week design/build course
on a prominent public site, designing and constructing
a community gathering place at the water’s edge.
The main focus of the installation was to emphasize
and embrace the unique waterfront topography,
and nestle the intervention sensitively into the site.
The intervention was also designed to lead up and
attach to a planned wooden boardwalk over-top of
the existing rocky breakwater to be built by the town 1 Table Detail
council in the fall of 2011. The experience led me to 1
see that cultural research, community involvement, 2 2 Seaside Gathering Deck
and design flexibility are all imperative parts of design. 3
3 Modular Seating
Gradient architecture

This concept is an exploration into

the notion of built environments
that possess differential qualities
based on characteristics of
gradual changes of magnitude
rather than a juxtaposition of
elements.
Studies into the expression of
gradients can provide insight into
ephemeral architectural qualities.
Dynamics within the relationships
of these qualities are influenced
not only by the entities involved
but also by temporal and
spatial aspects. It is possible
to have unrepeatable physical
realizations that are specific to a
particular moment in time.
The ambition to pursue this
architectural framework is
rooted in the sentiment to
provide occupants with distinct
experiences specific to the
moment in time in which they
take place.