URB-AVIAN
ARCHITECTURE
SUMMER 2023 | HILLIER COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN | NJIT
Erin Pellegrino, RA, NCARB, MBA
Ruperto Arvelo, AIA, NCARB, LEED A
BACKGROUND
Throughout this course, we will examine the relationship between birds and their habitat, and how urbanization impacts their ability to survive in the city. We will investigate different bird species that are commonly found in Newark, their unique characteristics and behaviors, and their specific needs for survival. Using this knowledge, we will then design architectural responses that prioritize the needs of birds, such as creating safe nesting places, providing food and water sources, and incorporating features that support their natural behaviors. By the end of this course, you will have a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between birds and urban environments, and how architecture can play a crucial role in supporting the survival and flourishing of avian species in the city.
In this course we’ll work to develop a place for the urban birds of Newark; a structure that can support, shelter, and feed our feathery neighbords. This will be something that is easily produced from biocompatible materials and then we’ll consider this structure both relative to its potential as a structure for birds, and at other scales.
We’ll ask - What would it be like to inhabit the structures we’ve made as a 4” tall bird? as a 4” tall human being?
SCHEDULE
Day 1: MONDAY
***PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE BEFORE THE START OF CLASS*** The Birds of Rutgers Newark(<- Clickable Link)
--- MORNING ---
Introductions of the class, syllabus, schedule, discussion of the project. Pick your bird! Handout of Materials
Drawing Exercise: Architectural Observation - Sketching, Scale and Architectural Drawing Introduction to Tools and architectural observation
Look at Plan/Section/Elevation
Draw our Peppers 1:1
--- LUNCH (12:00-1:00) ---
--- AFTERNOON ---
(1:15-2:15) Meet in the Library
(2:15-3:00) Research your bird!
(3pm-5pm) Lecture with Claus Holzapfel
Walk Around Campus
HOMEWORK: Draw your bird!
Suggested Reading:
Things to Draw (<- Clickable Link)
Day 2: TUESDAY
--- MORNING ---
***PLEASE WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES, AND WEATHER-APPROPRIATE CLOTHING*** Field Trip - Newark - Sketching and Photography
--- LUNCH in Newark at THE YARD (12:30-1:30) ---
--- AFTERNOON ---
Mini Talk - What is a Site? What is a Concept? What is our Context for Designing? (2:30-3pm) Bird/Verb/Site
(3-4:30pm) Site Selection
Concept and Development - Model Making
HOMEWORK: Watch the Following Videos
Rhino for Architecture Introduction & Basics (<- Clickable Link)
RHINO TUTORIAL: All-in-One Guide for Beginners and Architecture Students (<- Clickable Link)
Day 3: WEDNESDAY
--- MORNING ---
Split into Two Groups
Group 1
(9-10:30am) Introduction of Rhino + 3D Modeling - ***In Computer Lab RM 236 C+D*** (10:30-12:00) Continued Model Development - Draw your model in perspective
Group 2
(9-10:30am) Continued Model Development - Draw your model in perspective
(10:30-12:00) Introduction of Rhino + 3D Modeling - ***In Computer Lab RM 236 C+D***
--- LUNCH (1:00-2:00) ---
--- AFTERNOON ---
WORKING SESSION FOR THE AFTERNOON
Finish 3D Models: Physical/Digital
HOMEWORK: Continue to work on designs
Day 4: THURSDAY
--- MORNING ---
Architectural Presentation | Tutorials: Lasercutting, Photography, Photoshop, Layout/Presentation. Creation of Drawings for Presentation Boards | Lasercutting, Fabrication, and Assembly
--- LUNCH (12:30-1:30) ---
--- AFTERNOON ---
PDFs to Print by 3pm
HOMEWORK: Finalize Model and Presentation Board
1:1 Physical Model
No Larger than a 12in x 12in x 12in Cubic Volume
Can be Handmade, 3D Printed, Lasercut, or a combination of these modalities.
Collaged Presentation Board (18x24):
-Plan (1/4” = 1’ or 1/2” = 1’ To Be Determined with your TA’s)
-Section (1/4” = 1’ or 1/2” = 1’ To Be Determined with your TA’s)
-Perspective (Collage, Hand Drawn, or 3D)
Day 5: FRIDAY
10am - Group Presentations and Reception
CLIENT
Nearly every architectural project has a client.
The client for this one isn’t as communicative as most, but science tells us their needs and preferences.
PROGRAM
Ability to perch, rest, and feed our urban neighbors in a safe, efficient and sustainable way.
SCALE
The size of things, often relative to user.
The tool architects use to represent very large spaces on relatively small pieces of paper, or in model form.
DELIVERABLES:
Physical Model
No Larger than a 12in x 12in x 12in Cubic Volume
Collaged Presentation Board (18x24):
-Plan (1/4” = 1’ or 1/2” = 1’ To Be Determined with your TA’s) -Section (1/4” = 1’ or 1/2” = 1’ To Be Determined with your TA’s) -Perspective (Collage, Hand Drawn, or 3D)
FACULTY BIOS
ERIN
PELLEGRINO, RA, NCARB, MBA
Erin is a strategist, designer and registered architect with a decade of experience in the fields of design, business development and creative consulting.
She currently works as the founder and principal of Matter, a design firm that solves problems that span from brand and digital experiences to the built environment. She is also the co-founder of Out of Architecture, a career consulting firm that helps designers explore non-traditional methods of practice.
She has worked extensively in the venture and start-up space in the Northeast, with early stage companies as well as vc funds on design, visual and narrative strategy and brand development. Her practice, Matter, has completed award-winning work in architecture, product and brand design and has been recognized globally for their work.
Erin has taught widely in architecture and design fields at universities including Harvard, Cornell, Parsons, The City University of New York and the New Jersey Institute of Technology. She holds a M.Arch II from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, a Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University and her MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology.
RUPERTO
ARVELO, AIA, NCARB, LEED A
Ruperto Arvelo, principal and founder of ARVELO architecture & interior design, located in the Flatiron district, has over 35 years of experience in different types of projects both nationally and internationally. He has worked in several architecture firms in New York, New Jersey and Puerto
Rico during his professional development as an architect and interior designer. For many of those years, he worked as a designer and project manager at the New York Gensler Office. The exposure of working in all these firms gave him experience in residential, corporate and commercial projects of all scales, including ground up and adaptive reuse interior and exterior renovation projects.
Registered as an architect in New York, Florida and Puerto Rico, he is a successful architect who can wear different hats and bring everyone together to successfully complete projects. He has taught at various leading design colleges and universities: Syracuse University, Parsons in New York City and NJIT and Berkeley College in New Jersey.
He has Bachelors degree from University of Puerto Rico and a Masters degree in architecture from Syracuse University.
In his free time he enjoys traveling, the arts and being outdoors. He travels frequently to Puerto Rico where he has a second home.