Audible Landscapes

[Data Visualization]

The selected dataset for Audible Landscapes is a collection of audio recordings from Pittsburgh, PA and Pownal, VT. Each recording is approximately a minute long. The urban Pittsburgh recordings were taken from a sidewalk along Fifth Avenue, and the rural Pownal recordings were documented from the back porch of a secluded residence. The audio files were collected at three times throughout the day, early morning, midday, and late evening, to later be inspected to note comparisons and differences.

How can sound be visualized and used to identify a certain place? Our goal for this exploration is to study information that is not generally seen, through a visible lens. From the beginning, we knew that city and rural noises would be very different, but wanted to push their comparison further. Capturing these audio recordings at different times throughout the day allows us to examine certain patterns that may be occurring all day long, or characterize an area, such as the steep spikes in Pittsburgh’s documentation, or the short hills in the Vermont recording. (Project Collaborator: Hannah Haytko-DeSalvo, CMU B.Arch 2024)

Ocular Blind

[Actuations]

Ocular Blind is a kinetic module responsive to human movement in its proximity. The circular unit is aggregated throughout a space to create a dynamic environment of shifting sight lines. The initial concept for the project was derived from window blinds, a device that blocks sight and alters the lighting conditions of a space. The module works in a similar fashion, blocking lines of vision when the circle is complete. An opening in the center of the unit provides framed views down the extent of the space. When one approaches the module, the pleated structure compresses, closing through rotation to encourage view and movement through the new space in the absence of material.

To develop the circular module, linear accordion pleats are created as a base unit. Compressing one edge of the pleat yields a fan-like geometry, which can be combined with other radial pleats to create a full circle. The cutout in the center of the module is not just for visual purposes. It serves a functional role in allowing the pleated units to rotate a full 360 degrees. (Project Collaborator: August Fox, CMU B.A. 2023)

Stacks Pavilion

[Representation]

The chosen site for the pavilion is near the Homestead Stacks, what remains of the 45-inch Mill of Pittsburgh, PA. The mill was built during World War II to prepare steel for rolling by shaping the material into slabs. These venting stacks remain as a reminder of Pittsburgh’s industrial past, even as we move into the technological future. The pavilion, designed to celebrate the post-industrial legacy of the city, incorporates steel-like structural elements as its primary shaping member. The form of the structure has a more modern inclination toward organic, flowing geometries.

The structure’s shape was generated through the intersections of parabolic curves bridging the gap between angled but regular geometric shapes. The creates a dynamic form that encourages exploration and creativity. The shaded elements are created as ruled surfaces between the parabolic curves and provide a more comfortable area for relaxation. Because of these properties of structure, the pavilion is proposed to hold several roles: a structure for play, a shelter, and a reminder of Pittsburgh history. (Project Collaborator: Brenna Robinson, CMU B.Arch 2024)

Axial Step

[Procedures]

Based on the split and translate vocabulary of the Newburg Shape Grammar, the project Axial Step seeks to create intriguing surface conditions through multiplicity of splitting and translation through stepping. Rather than a single cut splitting the base geometry, two cuts are made along differing axes. The resulting geometries are translated in a stepped condition, creating varying levels of surface. Once stepped, the geometry is sliced twice along two axes for a total of four cuts. Translation through stepping is again utilized across any axes to creating varying surface levels in the final composition. (Project Collaborator: Robert Yang, CMU B.Arch 2024)