Within the city there are many locations that provide ample oppurtuities for exploration. Whether they are lines, surfaces, or buildings each one has a story to tell. Both simple and complex a design can be derived to interpret it and create a unique experience for the viewer.
The Blue Wall, 2011: Inspired by the thousands of signs lining the Wisconsin State Capitol Building during the Union Protests, I needed to interpret what I saw. Winding through the hallways I kept having one thought, which is that without these people and their support of an effective government we wouldn't have such a beautiful building.
Bollard Lighthouse at Wharf Milwaukee, 2009: Lighthouses serve as signals to boats of a path to their destination, the safety of the next harbor. The Bollard Lighthouse at Wharf Milwaukee provides a similar function by drawing viewers rather then boats to the second bollard on the concrete wharf that extends out from Michigan Street and juts into Lake Michigan. Unlike traditional lighthouses this one relies on its distinct shape, bright vibrant colors, and contrasting values as a means of signaling viewers. From this viewpoint, three other lighthouses are visible including two that signal the openings in the breakwater and a third at the mouth of the Milwaukee River.
Milwaukee Pocket Park System: Parks That Fit Into Your Pocket, 2009: All parks have one thing in common; they designate a location as having special significance whether it is historical, recreational, or economic in nature. A park's size can vary dramatically from a nature park the size of a country to one that can fit into your pocket. The Milwaukee Pocket Park System tries to reduce them done to their basic elements in order to be easily created and moved to where they are needed. Each pocket park is 16 sq inches and explores a specific overlooked part of the city.
215 N Broadway Plaza, 2009: Reclaiming the space between buildings of Milwaukee's Third Ward one brick sized plaza at a time. Between 213 and 217, the 215 N Broadway Plaza tries to make use of space that does not exist.
Back of Official Marker Facade, 2009: Disused and unappreciated spaces are prevalent throughout urban areas including the trendy Third Ward of Milwaukee. One of these is the south facing back of a Wisconsin Historic Marker. Unlike the front, the back is devoid of any intended design with the unintentional pattern of tree branches being its only saving grace. Back of Official Marker Facade attempts to address this issue by utilizing the blank surface as the foundation for new construction.
Chateau Facade Drawer, 2008: Architecture is aften cited as the inspiration for the design of a piece of furniture. A furniture's design is also often used to inspire architectural responses. The design of the Chateau Facade Drawer tries to look at it from both angles. The distinctive shape of the legs are reminiscent of the turrets of French palaces, which provided the basis for the design of the drawer facade.
Milwaukee Art Museum Manhole Gallery, 2008: The Milwaukee Lakefront and the city as a whole is defined by the architectural acrobatics of the Santiago Calatrava designed addition to the Milwaukee Art Museum. The building responds to this setting by facing Lake Michigan to the east and being connected to Wisconsin Ave and Downtown Milwaukee to the west via a pedestrian bridge. However the building fails to recognize the many smaller elements that surround its site. One of these is a manhole cover located to the south of the addition. The Milwaukee Art Museum Manhole Gallery tries to remedy this by connecting it to the south facade of the Calatrava addition while at the same time showcasing the qualities of the manhole itself.
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