University of Hawaii at ManoaArchitecture Portfolio 2011 - 2014

Akira Ishikawa

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いいISHIKAWA, AKIRA

Education

McKinley High School (2007 - 2011)University of Hawaii at Manoa (2011 - present)Kyoto University (2013 - 2014)

Contact

Cell Number: 18082009247Email: akiraish@hawaii.eduLocation: Honolulu, Hawaii

Personal Development Statement

A frequently asked question in this field is “What is architecture?” A typical answer would be the profession of designing buildings. However, there are multiple definitions of architecture depending on the architects’ beliefs, such as the method of promoting sustainability. In my opinion, I believe architecture is a type of nonverbal communication through the interaction of space within a structure and/or nature. In high school, I decided to become a pharmacist. However, my parents recommended architecture to me, so I started my freshman year in university with a blank slate. From the basics of drawing to the instinct of arranging a composition, I had to practice from scratch. As the year continued, I began to realize that architects adopt their beliefs based on the environment in which they were raised. Quickly after this realization, I now understand why my parents like to take me to overseas... to expose myself to various architecture and use it as an inspiration to my own style. This portfolio portrays my adventure of how I began to appreciate architecture.

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University of Hawaii at Manoa Art Building Studies

Barcelona Pavilion Studies

Inflatable Architecture - Deliverance

Nature Intervention

Precedents’ Studies

Kyoto Shared Housing Project

Multi-Purpose Library

D’Acqua Sentiero

Rissho Theatre

Obama Presidential Center

Visiting My Homeland

University of Hawaii at ManoaArt Building StudiesProject Period: April 2012Professor: Janine Clifford

Conceptual Image of Art Building

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West Elevation

North Elevation

Site View

FREEDOMLocated in the upper campus of University of Hawaii at Manoa, this facility mainly holds classes and studios for art and sculptures. Although the form is close to rectalinear, the open platform in the center creates a sense of freedom. From the elevation views, the second floor seems to be lifting up the heavy atmosphere. The idea of freedom is an appropriate concept for this structure, for artistic ideas surface when exposed to various elements. During the research, there were some people standing on the platform ... as if eager to grasp any inspiration theyencounter.

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Other Work Samples

Barecelona Pavilion Studies

Project Period: September 2012 - October 2012Professor: Lance Walters

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Model created using Rhino 3D

RENDERING & PHOTOSHOPThe objective of this project is to practice using fundamental programs in architecture: Rhino, V-ray, and Photoshop. The textures and furnitures were chosen freely by the students. The lamp to the right has a cylindrical light source which emits soft glow through its frosted glass. This furniture has a round shape to minimize its existence and interference with horizontally expanded space.

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Inflatable ArchitectureProject Period: November 2012 Professor: Lance WaltersTeam: Sven Bradley Ramir Belmes Jacob Cantrell

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DELIVERANCEOriginated from the Ant Farm group, this project was to study the spaces created by inflatable structures. My contribution to the team was to research and be in charge of the construction process. Using aluminum foil as a medium to fuse 4 mm thick clear plastic sheeting with a clothes iron, we were able to combine multiple tetrahedronal inflatables. Our concept is to only use simple forms to create complex structure with organized chaos.

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Nature InterventionProject Period: January 2013 - March 2013Professor: Luis Longhi Kris Palagi Hongtao Zhou

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Relationship with Nature

In this project, the purpose is to appreciate the nature by observing its texture, mass, and shape. A rock was chosen for this study, since it has interesting cavings along the surface as well as a space that pierces from front to back. Assuming it’s similar to the size of an average mountain, people can look out from the holes to a vast field that extends to the horizon.

The left side of the next page is the front of the nature model. Using cardboard material, it was possible to recreate the atmosphere and scenery of what it is like to look out from the piercing hole. The right side of the next page shows the back of the model. The interesting network of cavings provides different spaces and can be thought of as series of rooms.

Improvements

Instead of having linear elements enveloping certain areas to capture space, an artificial mass of deconstructivism should have enveloped a part of the rock. Tesselation could be one of the methods to make the mass.

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Rock/Stone

River/WaterScarpa’s Apprentice Luminance/Lighting

Precendents Studies

Project Period: March 2013 - April 2013 Professor: Luis Longhi Kris Palagi Hongtao Zhou

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石川輝

Kaufmann House, Richard Neutra

Tokyo Bay Plan,Kenzo Tange

Facade Detail,Carlo Scarpa

3 FAVORITE ARCHITECTS

1. Carlo Scarpa - The Brion Cemetery is the best example of his architecture. Aside from his brilliant combination of stone, water, and light, his simple but elegant detail is also mesmerizing.

2. Kenzo Tange - The Tokyo Bay Plan is a grid-like plan which has a linear dominance. However, to balance this linearity, multiple lines branch out perpendicularly.

3. Richard Neutra - Besides his use of horizontal elements, his care to his clients’ needs was just as strong.

ACCETTAZIONE

“As I entered this remote structure near San Vito, I knew this was a perfect place to retreat. I stared at the flowing stream, reminiscing every moment we had together. The water carried my sorrows away. Climbing up to the platform I looked out to the cemetery and accepted my loss. As I was walking back down the stairs, I was facing San Vito once more... then I knew... this was a bridge between two worlds.”

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Located next to the Brion CemeterySan Vito, Italy

SITE DESCRIPTION: Located near Yasaka Street in Kyoto, this site strongly represents the traditional grid-like urban plan. It is surrounded by highly dense residencial structures with streets too narrow for cars to pass through. Famous for large elderly population, many residents would stop in the middle of the street and have a leisure conversation. In addition, there are many temples which emit old Japanese atmosphere that attracts many tourists.

Kyoto Shared Housing ProjectProject Period: October 2013 - November 2013 Professor: Mitsuo Takada

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PRIVATE

PRIVATE

PUBLICSHARED

Community 16:1Proposal: This shared housing will be particularly for foreigners who wish to start a new life in Japan. An ideal ratio of the residents would be 8 foreigners and 8 Japanese people. The purpose is for the foreigners to be accustomed to their new lifestyle, as well as sharing each other’s knowledge and culture.

Obstacle: When people from multiple countries gather at one place, there is a possibility of conflict. From the differences of cultures to historical war, there are still people who don’t accept other countries’ existence. This discrimination can lead to residents being indifferent among one another, unable to achieve the “home” feeling.

Design Solution: The keyword for this project is “choice.” In order for one to accept someone, it requires a slow process. In other words, having two or more shared houses can solve this problem. For example, if Person A dislikes Person B, then they can each live in a different building. However, the entrance of two buildings faces one another, which allows them to glance at each other. Of course, eye contacts won’t solve anything, which is why there are shared study room and an open terrace.

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Site View

Sections

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Floor Plan 1

Floor Plan 2

Multi-Purpose LibraryProject Period: December 2013 - January 2014 Professor: Waro Kishi

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Site Area: 12,000 m2

Location: Gifu, JapanDesign Competition Winner: Toyo Ito

Revit Rendering after 3 days of practice. I chose this project as an opportunity to learn how to use Revit.

Gifu Library

Nowadays, there are many library facilities with multiple functions. In this project, the client wishes to have auditorium, gallery, and a cafe in the library as well. The design should take into consideration of the enormous structure nearby as well as the landscape. The library should be of extreme convenience, hoping to achieve a total of 1 million visitors each year. We are currently in the transition of the definition of “library”. The old system of borrowing/returning physical books is now becoming a digital archive for anyone to freely access.

Design Solution:

The solution would be to consider the possible human movements occurring at each function. The gallery, cafe, and auditorium all have people wandering around which brings attention. In other words, the main library should be upstairs whereas other spaces are downstairs. For this project, the definition of library is to read a book within a quiet atmosphere. An individual’s ideal situation would be to read a book in a forest. However, reading a book outside will most likely damage it by natural elements such as rain and wind. As an alternative solution, there will be a smooth transition from the nature to the architecture itself. Although one is reading in a manmade room, he is still able to enjoy the trees outside.

Columns that adopt the form of a tree

Exhibition room of the town’s history

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Fiction books

Non-fiction books / Columns enclosing a private reading space

D’ACQUA SENTIEROProject Period: April 2014 - May 2014Professor: Kiyoshi Takeyama

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Site Area :23,000 m2

Meiji Shrine

Kyoto MunicipalZooKyoto Municipal Museum of Art

Kyoto International Exhibition Hall

Kyoto Assembly Hall

Buildings:1. Entrance/ Exit 2. Auditorium/ Library3. Seasonal Exhibition Room4. Special Exhibition Room5. Normal Exhibition Room6. Photography Room/ Delivery Zone7. Public Zone8. Inner Garden

White : StructuresBrown: Water Path

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Water Passage:

Disregarding the Kyoto Municipal Museum of Art located south of the site, this modern art museum project emphasizes on landscape. Taking into consideration of the historical Meiji Shrine, there will be some height limits to prevent obstructing tourists’ view. After investigating the site, the north-west side seems to have the largest crowd of tourists since there is a parking lot mainly for tour buses. However, what caught my attention besides the temple was the river. As anyone would question, I began to wonder where this lake comes from (Biwa Lake). The idea of following the river to its source gave me the inspiration to design a museum with water passages that allow the guests to intinctively follow it throughout the exhibition. Arrowed signs forces an individual to hurry and follow the direction, whereas a natural element of water soothes the individual and appreciate nature leisurely. Aside from the Special, Seasonal, and Normal Exhibition Rooms, there will also be an outside exhibition area. Artworks displayed in the open are required to be resistant to rain and wind damages. The access routes to the three exhibition rooms should be different since each room will require a separate admission fee.

white central pillar to distribute sunlight equally within the room

water passages go through walls to break strong definition of boundary

Floor Plan 1

South Elevation

West Elevation

Section Cut

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Panoramic View

Exit View Underground Exhibition

Rissho Theatre

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Project Period: June 2014 - July 2014Professor: Kiyoshi Takeyama

Preserving the Old and Nature

Located in the heart of Kyoto, the old Rissho elementary school is currently used as a small exhibition for historical events and artworks by individuals. The challenge for this project is to convert the school into a small theatre. The facade has a sense of Romanseque so that is ideally left untouched. During the site observation, I noticed many scenes of nature that camfoulaged in manmade: vines overlapping the walls to become a new layer, wooden slopes not built showing the grains but showing the age rings of the tree, and rivers that act as a moat.

Concept: Response to Nature

My concept is to show an appreciation of nature by applying parasitic architecture. This concrete element will as if “pour” out of the existing building and into the inner garden. Most of the rooms are left unchanged, for it can be used as a personal room for performers. The appended structure will function as a foyer that leads to the theatre which used to be a gymnasium. As for the open field adjacent to the existing building, I think it is best to leave it untouched because it will invite children to do some activities while the adults enjoy the theatre.

Study Model : The white model represents the parasitic structure. The existing buildings are made from chipboard.

Ground Floor Second Floor

Section 1

Section 2

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Cafe

Theatre Foyer

Obama Presidential CenterProject Period: September 2014 - December 2014Professor: Maria Simon

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Alternative Mapping

Egg and Sperm

Trochophore

Veliger

Pedi-Veliger

Opihis

Initiative Program: Opihi Aquaculture Center

Besides the requirement of a presidential office, library, museum, and storage, we had to propose additional program of our choice. I chose to include an aquaculture center because not many people understand the potential of this knowledge. Aquaculture is related to Obama, for it cautions people of global warming. By choosing to breed one specific specimen (opihis in this case), we are able to see the effects of acidified ocean in a smaller scale. Acidified ocean can harm especially shellfishes by weakening its defense mechanism of a shell or decreasing the speed of growth. To reduce the rate of global warming, we can collaborate in sustainable methods as well as spreading this information to other people.

Concept: Fluidity and Rigidity

Opihi shells are formed through chemical reaction. The snail itself secretes a special liquid intermittently that solidifies into the shell. During the process, the waves splash on the shell which is why its shape is coned. This combination of both fluidityand rigidity is applied to my design. Although my building has rigid floor plans, its curvilinear roofs and circulatory organization of spaces allow one to explore. The image shown above is my most inspirational shell I found during my expedition. The sea grass growing on the shell reminded me of people inhabiting a building.

West Elevation

South Elevation

East Elevation

Kaka’ako Makai

There were three sites we can choose from: University of Hawaii at Manoa, Diamond Head, or Kaka’ako Makai. I chose Kaka’ako Makai because of its extreme convenience for aquaculture using nature’s tidal waves. Also, the identity of Kaka’ako resembles the significance of opihis. Throughout the history, Kaka’ako went through many changes from taro plantations to industrial age. However, it still maintains the identity of Kaka’ako. Opihis cling onto rocks within the splash zone, and no matter how harsh the waves are, they have the strength to maintain its position.

Floor Plan 1

Floor Plan 2

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Study Model

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Rendered Image

Visiting My Homeland

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Tokyo Kyoto

Hiroshima

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Himeji Castle

Ginkakuji Temple

Itsukushima Shrine

Kiyomizu Temple

Kinkakuji Temple

いいTHANK YOU