Danielle Rothman's second year architecture portfolio explores concepts through drawing, digital tools, fabrication, and biomimicry. It includes sections on exploration of the human body through measurement drawings, layering details in drawings and laser cuts, moving from 2D drawings to 3D models, and taking inspiration from the Venus flytrap to design an adaptive rainshade structure.

1. Danielle Rothman
.................................................................................................................................................
University of Pennsylvania ‘13
Second Year Architecture Portfolio
Drothman@sas.upenn.edu

2. 1 [EXPLORATION]
Utilizing various drawing media
pg 1 - Body Measure - Images & Computer sequence
pg 2 - Body Measure - Hand drawing overlay
pg 3 - Layering - Technical line drawing
pg 4 - Layering - Bas Relief with laser template
pg 5 - Layering - Projection through space - Photographs
pg 6 - Layering - Projection through space - Line drawing
pg 7 - Scripting
pg 8 - Scripting
2 [FABRICATION]
Moving from 2-D to 3-D
pg 9 - Poplar Recut - Orthographic
pg 10 - Poplar Recut - 3-D fabricated model
pg 11 - Panel Project - Orthographic & Sketch-up model
pg 12 - Panel Project - Rendering & Fabricated 3-D model
3 [BIOMIMICRY]
Taking inspiration from nature
pg 13 - Biomimicry - From biolology to analog
pg 14 - Biomimicry - 3-D analog
pg 15 - Biomimicry - Paper prototype open & Orthographic Sequence
pg 16 - Biomimicry - Paper prototype closed
pg 17 - Biomimicry - Urban Intervention - Orthographic
pg 18 - Biomimicry - Urban Intervention - Orthographic study & Rendering
pg 19 - Biomimicry - Urban Intervention - Rendered sun studies
pg 20 - Biomimicry - Urban Intervention - Site plan & Photomontage
pg 21 - Biomimicry - Urban Intervention - Fabricated 3-D model
pg 22 - Biomimicry - Urban Intervention - Fabricated 3-D model

3. 1 [EXPLORATION]
Utilizing various drawing media
pg 1 - Body Measure - Images & Computer sequence
pg 2 - Body Measure - Hand drawing overlay
pg 3 - Layering - Technical line drawing
pg 4 - Layering - Bas Relief with laser template
pg 5 - Layering - Projection through space - Photographs
pg 6 - Layering - Projection through space - Line drawing
pg 7 - Scripting
pg 8 - Scripting

4. Body Measure 2
Exploring the way the body moves
...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
With hand drafting tools, I got my first introduction
to the close relationship of the human body and ar-
chitecture. Using photography, a compass, triangles,
and more, I carefully measured my own hands. In
studying this behind-the-back yoga posture, I found
the importance of accuracy in proportion along with
the importance of line weights.

5. Layering 4
From one level of detail to the next
...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Working from a foundation in hand drawing, I moved on to an explora-
tion with the tools of Photoshop, Illustrator, and the laser cutter. While
exploring these new computer-driven tools, I studied the different layers
of detail of a physical interior space.
First shooting images in The University of Pennsylvania’s Fisher Fine Arts
Library by Frank Furness, I zoomed into different levels of detail, not only
with my camera lens, but also in Illustrator by overlaying the top view
below the front view, as seen in the figures to the left. Then, on the next
spread, using line weight and fill, I was able to highlight various areas of
significance.
In the bas relief to the right, each level of detail is physically separated.

6. 6
...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Zoomed in: Medium zoom: Zoomed out:
Moving through space in Finding similar geom- Placing emphasis on all
a spiral motion etries in the foreground curvalinear forms
and background

7. Scripting 8
A workshop in manipulating given codes
...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Dim turns: turns = 11
Helix
Dim turns: turns = 9
Weave
Dim turns: turns = 10
Dim turns: turns = 11
Dim turns: turns = 9
Dim turns: turns = 8
Dim turns: turns = 12 Dim turns: turns = 12
Dim turns: turns = 8
t = (-1)^i Dim turns: turns = 7
t = (-3)'^i s = (-6)'^j
Dim turns: turns = 13
u = (-5) s = (-3)'^j
u = (-5) v = (5)^l u = (-1)^k
Weave 02 v = (5) v = (-6)'^l
Weave 01
Weave 00
t = (-1)^i Dim turns: turns = 7
t = (-3)'^i s = (-6)'^j
Dim turns: turns = 13 Dim turns: turns = 6
t = (2)^i Dim turns: turns = 14
u = (-5) s = (-3)'^j s = (-6)'^j
u = (-5) v = (5)^l u = (-1)^k u = (2)^k
v = (-6)'^l
Weave 02 v = (5) v = (-6)'^l
Weave 01
Weave 00 Dim turns: turns = 15
Dim turns: turns = 5
Dim turns: turns = 6
‘Weave 02
t = (2)^i Dim turns: turns = 14 Dim turns: turns = 16 Dim turns: turns = 4
Sub DrawSurface()
s = (-6)'^j
m=25
n=25 u = (2)^k
Dim weave v = (-6)'^l
ReDim arrVertices(m,n)

8. 2 [FABRICATION]
Moving from 2-D to 3-D
pg 9 - Poplar Recut - Orthographic
pg 10 - Poplar Recut - 3-D fabricated model
pg 11 - Panel Project - Orthographic & Sketch-up model
pg 12 - Panel Project - Rendering & Fabricated 3-D model

9. Poplar Recut 10
Finding the limits of a material
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In moving from 2D to 3D, I
gained understanding of the
limits of a given material.
Cut from a 10x1x24” piece of
poplar, I tested the curving
abilities of the thinnest pos-
sible wood strips.

10. Panel Project 12
A moveable divider between loungers
...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Each of the four wooden
rectangle panels slide
independently to create
various levels of privacy
between two loungers
or sun bathers. For to-
tal privacy and total sun
blockage, the ribbons
can all line up, as shown
in the Sketch-up model
to the left.
The ribbons of material
placed across the mid-
dle of each panel had to
stretch enough to allow
for different angles, but
could not be so stretchy
that they pulled the
posts together. The
stable double base was
also created to main-
tain the integrity of the
structure.

11. 3 [BIOMIMICRY]
Taking inspiration from nature
pg 13 - Biomimicry - From biolology to analog
pg 14 - Biomimicry - 3-D analog
pg 15 - Biomimicry - Paper prototype open & Orthographic Sequence
pg 16 - Biomimicry - Paper prototype closed
pg 17 - Biomimicry - Urban Intervention - Orthographic
pg 18 - Biomimicry - Urban Intervention - Orthographic study & Rendering
pg 19 - Biomimicry - Urban Intervention - Rendered sun studies
pg 20 - Biomimicry - Urban Intervention - Site plan & Photomontage
pg 21 - Biomimicry - Urban Intervention - Fabricated 3-D model
pg 22 - Biomimicry - Urban Intervention - Fabricated 3-D model

12. Biomimicry 14
From the Venus flytrap to a weight-controlled rainshade
...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
As Darwin described it, the Ve-
nus flytap is “one of the most
wonderful [plants] in the world.”
The leaves start in an open con-
vex position, giving its prey a
large surface area to crawl on.
Upon activation, the two leaves
snap shut and change concavity,
first leaving room for tiny ener-
gy-inefficient prey to crawl out,
then slowly closing in to crush
and digest nutrient-rich prey.
Mimicing the concavity change,
I abstracted this movement, cre-
ating the analog drawings to the
left.

13. 16
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To the left is a paper-prototype
mimicing the open convex position
of the Venus flytrap. One strip of
mylar is woven through the inside
lips of the model and another is
woven through the outside edges.
Both come down through the bot-
tom. When the outer strips are
pulled, the prototype opens up.
When the inner strips are pulled,
this tension causes the trap to
snap shut.

14. 18
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Driven by the fundamental concepts of the Venus flytrap, this rainshade chang-
es concavity, when triggered by the weight of rain, and promotes plant growth
in dim-lit environments.
As the well on the top fills with rain water, the weight causes the structure to
curl down and cover the alleyway, forming a rainshade for pedestrians to walk
under and stay dry.
When the well is full, water flows down the backside of the shade, watering the
plants, but still keeping the pedestrians dry.

15. 20
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The planter is an integral factor in Getting sunlight to a planter in a city alleyway
the design of this shade. As the well placed behind an alumimum shade is not a sim-
fills, the front side of the shade gets ple task. Like the Venus flytrap imbibes nutri-
heavier. At the same time, the runoff ents from flies in its dim-lit environment, the
water flows into the planter, creating plants thrive in this alleyway because the shade
a strong anchor and counterbalance. perforations follow the angles of the sun (as il-
lustrated above).

16. 22
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The last step in this Biomimicry proj-
ect was to create a physical model
of our design. I fabricated this front
portion out of an aluminum sheet
and hand-drilled the perforations.
Tested with a counterweight in the
planter, the model worked perfectly
to create a rainshade as I dripped
water into the well.
Like the fly triggers the snap of the
Venus flytrap, the weight of the wa-
ter triggers the movement of this
rainshade.