2. Table of Contents
Year/Topic Page
Introductory Statement ii
Second Semester Freshman
Maison de Weekend 1
Genoa: A Study of Space 4
The Coffee Shop 8
First Semester Sophomore
Pause 10
Itenerary 11
Threshold/Surface 12
Door-Window-Stair 13
Portfolio Case 19
Second Semester Sophomore
Intervention 21
Greenspine 24
First Semester Junior
Analog Interpretation 26
Clemson UBI and Bike Share 27
Haiti All-Girls School 32
Trailgating: Studio South 35
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3. Introductory Statement
This portfolio is a compilation of architectural work by Luke Mor-
ris throughout his undergraduate work at Clemson University
from 2010 through the summer of 2012. Each project presented
was a major assignment given, and was included in this exten-
sive portfolio of work to give the reader an overview, and hope-
fully some insight, into the architectural style, and strengths of
Luke Morris in the architectural field.
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4. Maison De Weekend
This project was an excercise in Photoshop and Auto-
CAD. Le Corbusier’s building plan “Maison De Weekend”
(1923) was represented as a floor plan, section veiw, and
building in context with shadows.
Front View
1
7. Genoa:
A Study of Space
This project–titled “The City in Progression: Ge-
noa, Italy–explored the use of space along a
pathway in the Italian city. Points of interest
such as nodes and pathways were marked. Ba-
sically a series of “snapshots”, this project cap-
tured the veiws seen by the common passerby.
4
9. Snapshots
through
Sketches
These sketches were
drawn by hand and paint-
ed in Photoshop in order
to show specific veiws of
the use of space along the
path. Showing the statue
as the focal point, certain
veiws–such as the second
from the top–show that
the surrounding architec-
ture frames the statue.
6
10. Sections
These sections reveal
a new layer of informa-
tion for the project such
as how space is actu-
ally opened up. While
the drawn and colored
“snapshots” revealed spe-
cific veiws, these sections
show the entire veiw in
order to show how space
is revealed along the path-
way.
7
11. The Coffee Shop
This project took a vacant lot on the pathway shown in the previous
project in Genoa and involved designing the façade in context, but
with a contemporary design. The first two floors–covered by win-
dows extending both floors–is the actual coffee shop and eating/
lounging area. The next three floors is an actual residential living
space.
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12. 3D Model
In order to keep the cubic form throughout the building, but add
dimension, rooms were extruded at different lengths. These extru-
sions not only serve to add a visual appeal and space to the resi-
dencies, but also provides shade for pedestrians on the street as
well as cover from possible rain.
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13. Pause
The main focus of this project that I wanted to convey
was not just the traditional sense of what is there, but
what kind of space is made by what is there. I wanted
to focus of what the space would feel like to a person
inside of it and what they would feel inside of it or
seem to be compelled to look at or go to within the
structure. In order to do this, I first constructed three
simple study models (seen to the right) in order to be
able to physically understand the space. I then made
multiple models in SketchUp that were more complex.
I focused on where the inhabitant’s eyes would go and
why. I used the use of planes (both transparent and
solid) in order to direct the view towards the intersec-
tion of the lines in the middle; forming a main focus to
the structure.
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14. Itenerary
“Weapon of Choice” by Fatboy Slim
Spike Jonze
I designed the model to show the progression
of events throughout the actual music video.
The driving concept is that of a formal begin-
ning which then goes to a broken path and a
break in traditional rules of construction signi-
fied by Christopher Walken flying at the end.
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15. Threshold/Surface
The three word-actions for my foils were Twist, Ball, and
Scrunch. The word-action depicted below is Ball. For this foil I
basically “balled” the foil square up with the top surface on the
outside. This created random folds, crevices, and canyons in the
surface, making a completely random greyscale heightfield.
Twist and Ball
left image is one of your foils
middle image is photoshop manipulation
right image is displaced (smoove tool) of that
word-action
The far left image is that of the foil “Ball”. The
middle image is a Photoshop rendition of the
scanned “Ball” foil. The far right image is the
displaced SketchUp rendering of the Photo-
shop rendition using the smoove tool in order
to create a terrain.
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16. Door-Window-Stair
The driving concept for this project was to create space with the use of curved beams that individ-
ually would not show any space at all. The incorporation of the landform was also very important
in the design of this overall structure. The shadows formed by the tentacle-like beams was also
considered. The movement of the sun throughout the day would ensure that the pattern cast on
the main support beams in the middle and the ground below would always be different.
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19. Process started with a look into how a beam,
and more importantly a curving beam, could in-
fluence a person’s interest and movement within
a space. The top model shows a beam framing
a window, emphasizing where a person would
be drawm to look. The middle study model had
curving beams framing a pathway, influencing
movement. The final model (bottom) incorpo-
rates both principles at a larger scale.
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22. Portfolio Case
The driving concept of the design of this box was to mirror the concepts of design used in the projects
done earlier and throughout this semester. This case was design to be a culmination of all of these
concepts, in a sense connecting them all not only within itself but through itself. Driving concepts include
the thought that all parts have a purpose, the use of curves in conjuntion with straight beams, and the
thought that all of these functions create a form.
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23. Following from top to bottom, you are able to see the
process by which the box is opened. With the curved
beams at the top against the spine, the operator is
unable to open the box. Once they are pulled out at
the sides, the top of the spine is then able to be folded
down. At this point, the operator is able to open the
box, which will stay propped up. In this open posi-
tion, the portfolio is now accessible and the presenta-
tion display is now visable.
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27. Greenspine
For this project, our studio was asked by the city of Columbia, SC to design a section of
the city between Arsenal Hill and The Vista along an old railway path. The path contained
an old railroad cut-through (which is no longer used). The purpose of the project was to
make a bike and pedestrian pathway--formally known as the Rails-to-Trails Initiative. My
group of three--myself included--was responsible for the tunnel. We had a sustainable ap-
proach to the project which shows through the entire concept.
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28. Following a sustainable approach, we used water to regulate temperature inside of the
tunnel, as well as light. By running the water along the top of the tunnel and allowing it to
run into an oculus in the rough middle of the tunner through scuppers, the temperature
within the tunnel is regulated (water heated in the winter by the sun). During the summer,
the Venturi effect is utilized to push air through the tunnel. The plexiglass allows light in,
as well as adding an interesting light effect by the rippling water. A catwalk is also utilized
within the tunnel. This seperates the pedestrians from the bikers, since both would be
using the path. Nothing in the tunnel is meant for the user to stop due to fire hazards, but
rather gives the commuter a reason to enjoy the journey.
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29. Analog Interpretation
This is an artistic/architectural interpretation of “My Favorite Things” by John Coltrane.
The physical pieces are meant to capture the feelings as portrayed through the music.
Emotions are conveyed through color, as well as interpretive shapes. The model (top) is a
rough 3D representation of the painting (bottom).
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30. Clemson UBI and Bike Share
This project was an investigative analysis of a possible bike share/UBI building which
would also serve as a hostel for the students of the UBI. This project served the purpose
of not only an investigation into the building, but the idea of a campus/city-wide bike share
program, which would use this location in downtown Clemson as the central hub to the
system.
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35. Haiti All-Girls School
This project was focussed on a lot in Port au Prince, Haiti--effected by the earthquake in
2010. This project was done in groups of two. On the lot, an all-girls school (for 300 girls)
was to be designed. A gym, administration building, academic building, auditorium, and
on-site housing for students and employees was to be set on the site. The back half of the
site was not to be touched. My partner and myself focussed on designing to the site. We
also looked into solving problems that Haiti has environmentally. Things like rapid defor-
estation and a poor electrical grid were brought to consideration. We looked to implement
native plants--maximizing green space--as well as buildings which used building tech-
niques to minimize energy consumption (such as high ceilings).
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36. Site
The pink is the site (the top half being the only part that can be developed. The yellow is
residential and the brown is commercial. The green are existing trees and the blue is the
water run-off (as interpreted by the topographical lines included).
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37. Final Site Plan
The overall idea for the site intervention was to allow the buildings to come second to the site. The
locating of natural water run-off allowed for a naturally forming reflection pond, which also served as
a resevoir for grey water. The reflection pond serves as a focal point, drawing attention to the audito-
rium (middle building) as a main gather point for the children.
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38. Trailgating: Studio South
trailgat i ng
sustaining
the
experience
This project was funded by the Clemson University Student Council. We carried the proj-
ect out in a group of five as a design-build studio. The concept was to design a unit that
can be towed by a bike and contains all the essentials for the typical college gameday
tailgate experience. The project has been researched for over a year prior to my group,
and will continue in creative inquiries. The future goals of the University are to reach two
main functions: sustainable as well as marketable.
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39. Previous Prototype
Working off of a previous models, my group
quickly worked to identify the weaknesses
of the previous model. Weaknesses in-
cluded being too heavy, too tall, not enough
table space, and not being flexible to the
user.
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40. Site and Marketing
As a group we delegated tasks. I took over marketing and most of the fabrication. Below are site maps. The top map shows dona-
tion levels (lower amounts needed to acquire a tailgating spot as you radiate away from the stadium), and the bottom map shows
prospective tailgating spots, accesible only to those with a Trailgater. Using the bubble diagram I was able to come up with pricing for
prospective sites, and through simple geometry, I was able to estimate the number of Trailgating spaces proposed. This gave me how
much the school could receive per year for these new spots. I also wrote up multiple business plans for the school as to how to market
the Trailgater unit. In the end, due to Clemson’s practice of giving spots through donation level, instead selling them in the traditional
sense, generation of revenue could only be relied upon through increased ticket sales (current practice requiring spot owners to pur-
chase atleast two season tickets at minimum $350 each), unit sales, school recognition, and patent protection.
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41. Concepts
My original ideas showed a self-con-
tained unit which would “unfold” in some
manner. I was also interested in alterna-
tive energy. I was most fascinated by the
Dyson air fan concept which I explored
in sketches (upper left). Using the same
idea as an airplane wing to create lift, this
form creates increased air flow. My hope
was that (while the operator was towing
the unit behind the bike) small wind tur-
bines would pick up the wind and collect
energy on the way to the tailgating spot.
Energy collected would be increased by
wind speed, which I would hope to in-
crease through placing the low pressure
air accelerator in front of the fan. Due to
time and fabrication constraints, we were
not able to implicate this idea. We also
opted for a unit that was more of a table
which contained seperate units (like tents
and chairs) instead of the fold out method
in order for the unit to be less complicat-
ed, and to help with the flexibility of the
user for the unit.
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