[shadow-cities]

Just wanted to share my 2 month trek thru India in a little 3 minute video! India is an absolutely incredible country… A bit chaotic at times - but the people, sights and culture more than make up for it! Special thanks to AIA Colorado and the Fuller Travelling Scholarship for allowing me to go on the journey and conduct my research… Expect “Lessons From the Shadows - India’s Shadow Cities” to be completed in the next few weeks!

[mikesudolsky]

CALDERA [24 HR COMPETITION] LOCATION: The Moon, Colorado USA YEAR: Summer 2015

Constantly evolving, Caldera is a hotel and agricultural research facility that will host the adventurous pioneer and the space age jetsetter. The surface of the moon is a treacherous place - brutal temperature swings, a complete lack of oxygen, corrosive radiation and micrometeorites that limits the exposure of most materials. For these reasons, Caldera takes advantage of existing lava tubes below the moons surface.

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UNBUILT PROJECT YEAR: Fall 2014

This confidential project is the "centerpiece" building within a triad of Italian inspired buildings. Using bold geometries and natural elements, we worked with the client to fulfill their desire to create a statement office building.A stone facade wrapping three sides of the building (top, side and botttom) creates a strong design language that elegantly balances a feeling of strength and lightness, as the plaza facing side of the facade opens inot ta light filled curtain wall, providing floor-to-ceiling glass for office environments; a sought after workplace experience for both its daylighting potentials as well as its ability to provide building occupants with a visual connuction to the outdoors.

[mikesudolsky]

WORK IN THE CITY [STILLS] LOCATION: Denver, Colorado USA YEAR: Spring 2014

In 2030, where will we find rest?

Denver is growing. And with, the city's population and obesity rate. Work is available wherever a wifi zone or wireless signal exists. Denver's airport by 2030 will become a major international hub. As a result, Denver's highly touted live/work balance may become extinct, leaving us to ask the question: In 2030, where will we rest?

In the only spaces left...

This project suggests hacking three discarded spaces: The Billboard, The Newspaper Stand and the Alley.

The Newspaper Stand can become a VR booth, where one might escape to paradise over lunch. 

The Billboard can become a contemplation studio. A pit stop, a place to retreat on your way to or from work. 

Video Available - www.mikesudolsky.com/work

[mikesudolsky]

PGD INC [THE TRAILER]

ADVISOR: Karen Lange LOCATION: Spring Street, Los Angeles YEAR: Spring 2013

PGD Incorporated. An architectural video game for the undergraduate thesis by Mike Sudolsky. 

More info available at mikesudolsky.com/pgdinc

[mikesudolsky]

PGD INC [THE STILLS]

ADVISOR: Karen Lange LOCATION: Spring Street, Los Angeles YEAR: Fall 2012 - Spring 2013

Humanity is bored. We now desire (and seemingly demand) excessive stimulation in our already over-saturated lives. This, in turn, has created two of you. We now have you, in the material sense, but also your virtual self. Your virtual self is one of random data. It is the collection of information every time you shop and enter a discount number, it's your Facebook avatar, it's every Google search you've ever done, it's basically anything you've ever published digitally. It's you, unfiltered - and it's vastly more interesting.

My thesis project stems from this embrace of the virtual self, and has resulted in two pieces. The first is a data derived dwelling, believing our online identities can be utilized to create more satisfying real world interactions. The second is a satirical piece, giving those totally immersed in the virtual with the ability to stay there.

PGD is an acronym for Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis. It's the screening and implantation of genetic traits prior to embryonic fertilization. Realizing the profitability in this new science, PGD Inc has commissioned the construction of two structures. The first is the formation of their neonatal plant - divided into six zones of secrecy. The second is the creation of a network living dwelling - from which DNA can covertly be extracted every time residents access their pods.

Architectural production and visualization of this project was divided into two phases. The first was the construction of a physical working model from found objects like car parts and pharmaceutical drug dispensers. The second phase then took the spaces from this model and transposed them into an architectural video game for real time visualization.

Thesis Book http://issuu.com/mike.sudolsky/docs/pgdinc

Video available www.mikesudolsky.com/pgdvideo

Game Download [PC] click here

[mikesudolsky]

PGD INC [THE PROCESS]

ADVISOR: Karen Lange LOCATION: Spring Street, Los Angeles YEAR: Fall 2012 - Winter 2013

Architectural forms for all of the spaces in PGD Incorporated stemmed from abandoned artifacts. The gestural model for PGD Inc, was made from the scraps of a studio-mates site model. Then, BEN ( my Benign Engine for Noticing) was created. A working model, BEN was produced from a multitude of reclaimed objects including: abandoned pharmaceutical drug dispensers,  refrigerator coils, printers, Scantron machines, a muffler, and a car radiator.

[mikesudolsky]

GRAFFITI HOUSE

ADVISOR: Courtney D. Coyne Jensen LOCATION: Copenhagen, Denmark YEAR: Fall 2011

The Graffiti House is an architectural mediator. Its site is directly between two conflicting ideological groups. To the southwest reside the bohemians of Free Town Christiania, and their total embrace for means of self-expression.  To the north live the yuppies of Holmen, and the high profile lives they lead. Utilizing time, the site becomes a place for both groups to interact.

The House’s monolithic concrete backbone is intended to become a canvas for expression. During the winter months, the site is akin to an urban gallery, showcasing the work of the community. The dwelling is a seasonal piece, plugging in only during the warmth of the summer months. In this way, individuals can turn their summer home into a rotating work of art. The Graffiti House unites Christiania and Holmen by embracing their differences and celebrating the beauty of contrast.

[mikesudolsky]

FLUX

ADVISOR: Kelly Nelson LOCATION: Copenhagen, Denmark YEAR: Spring 2012

Settled along Stroget (Copenhagen's longest pedestrian shopping street), Flux explores design dimensions utilizing a building that fluctuates with time. The “living structure” adjusts and adapts to contemporary society, just as fashion displays sold within it.

Drawing inspiration from  the thoughts of Archigram, the majority of Flux is designed to be interchangeable. Made entirely from a kit of parts, the facade system, floors, and circulation is designed to be completely adjustable enabling functionality that satisfies any user need from within.

Each floor is assembled from three structural pieces: the horizontal secondary structure, suspension rods, and 1 sq. meter perforated plates.  The perforated  plates are to be used two fold.  Their first function is to rest on the secondary structure and be pieced together to create floors. They can also, however, be connected to the suspension rods and create hanging circulation paths.

The facade is on a 2 sq. meter grid, with each capable of being updated due to its facilitation of plug in connections to pre designed systems. In the configuration shown here scaffolding is attached. With this scaffolding, owners are capable of using perforated screens for sun shading during the summer months and remove them in the winter.   

Inside Flux, high end products are to hang like art pieces – with the ability to be viewed at all angles. The systems have the ability to work with each piece in almost any collection: fashion, automobiles, furniture. Flux is capable of operating with the demands of  time.

[mikesudolsky]

ZIP [An Installation by Studio 400]

ADVISOR Karen Lange LOCATION: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA YEAR: Winter 2013

As a member of Studio 400, we collaborated to create an installation to showcase our thesis research – a book show. This year, two hundred and fifty thousand zip ties gave birth to ZIP. It is designed as a haptic reading room, in which my studio mates and I exposed nineteen thesis books. ZIP marks our studio’s transition from research to design.

Video Credit: Jack Hotho

[mikesudolsky]

ACTION REACTION ADVISOR: Margarita Yin LOCATION: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA YEAR: Spring 2011

Action Reaction stems from  my realization that the virtues of architecture might be used to interest students at Cal Poly in Mustang Athletics. Cal Poly has a very prestigious athletic program, yet due to a lack of visibility student involvement at games is limited.  Action Reaction addresses this.

Action Reaction intends to be become a through-way, focused at drawing students to walk through it as they enter and leave campus. While walking through the corridor, lights celebrate Cal Poly's Hall of Fame, and windows to practice rooms provide glimpses into the lives of athletes. Each “spine” of the building represents an athletic club on campus, symbolically appearing as a series of Torii gates for the athletes. On game days the building’s media facade will advertise game times and actually broadcast the events to campus. By becoming a major through-way Mott Gym can act and result in a positive reaction for Cal Poly Athletics.

[mikesudolsky]

PICO ADVISOR: Greg Wynn LOCATION: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA YEAR: Spring 2009

Pico is the nickname for a nightstand I designed to accompany low-lying IKEA beds, and accommodates articles for night time reading, and a hole for storing slippers or other foot ware. This project was built with the power tools available to Cal Poly's architecture students in the College of Architecture and Environmental Design Woodshop.

Pico is available in Pine and Walnut.

[mikesudolsky]

REDHILL Internship: Gensler Location: Tustin, California Year: Summer 2012

The Redhill competition was completed at the request of a client to propose ways to update the facade of a dated commercial building.  For this project I worked under two lead designers to address possible solutions.

Located in Tustin, California, the adjacent area has very bland architectural developments. As a result, our move was bold, realizing that future occupants may desire occupying someplace “different”. We worked with vocabulary picked up from the busyness of the adjacent thoroughfare. We also decided to distinguish the building’s entrance by creating a faux two story lobby. In our proposal we also suggested updating the landscape with desert plants.

[mikesudolsky]

EXPERIMENT - AVERSION THERAPY

ADVISOR: Karen Lange LOCATION: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA YEAR: Fall 2012

My piece for Cal Poly's yearly furniture competition, known as Vellum, is Aversion Therapy. Consisting of two pieces, it is a critique of societies love for elements of  over-saturation.

Scientifically, aversion therapy is the thought that you can cure a patient of some behavior by simultaneously exposing them to stimulus and discomfort. The chair is a reclaimed oil barrel, designed for you to use while engaging with the mask.

The mask is meant as a tool for you to augment your reality. Using Arduino technology, the mask is capable of processing images from a camera and transposing them onto your right eye. Then, out of the mask's mouth falls a Wii Nuncuck controller. With this you control a crosshair on the screen. When "shooting" the Nunchuck, the area around the cross hair becomes saturated with white pixels. You're capable of making digital graffiti, erasing and obscuring the world around you.

When used excessively, you will run out of charge. At this point, I inject the discomfort into Aversion Therapy. For ten seconds error messages flood the screen. As this 1/5” screen is your only way to see the world around you, these error messages oversaturate your vision to a point of blindness. At this point, you are experiencing aversion therapy.

[mikesudolsky]

VELLUM FURNITURE COMPETITION

Advisor: Karen Lange LOCATION: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA YEAR: Fall 2012

For Cal Poly's yearly furniture competition I decided to take an old oil barrel and re purpose it as an industrial chair.  This oil barrel and it's sunset colors was cut put together at the Cal Poly Metal Woodshop.  The negative of the cut was used as a footrest.

[mikesudolsky]

EXPERIMENT - IDENTITY [Virtual Presence] There are already two of you. There is you in the material sense but now, because of technology, we have the illusion that is our virtual self. Your virtual self is one of random data. It's the collection of information every time we shop and enter phone numbers to collect a discount. It's the collection of every tweet, photo, Google search and preference. It's you, unfiltered and vastly more interesting. I made two attempts to portray our virtual presence. The first is a computer program that shows your digital ghost - your tracks. Using a webcam, the program stores your movement across the screen. As you move, it faintly shows its knowledge of the old virtual you. The second attempt is one I nicknamed 'Exodus 400: The Soul Tracker'. Again using a webcam, it tracks your movement. Yet this time, it knows who you are. 'Exodus 400: The Soul Tracker' is my desire to show the power of your virtual identity. Utilizing facial recognition, the installation is able to identify any user that walks in its line of vision. Then, storing your face and starting a data set, the program is able to create another virtual you. This data set now knows how long you've been in its vision, and how many times you've gone and come back.

Very soon, our virtual identities are going to make an appearance in our material world. Architecturally, we can learn and work with your aesthetic preferences, your repulsions and your desires. With your virtual identity, buildings will soon have the ability to totally understand their occupants. They will know you - exposed.