GARRETT ZUBLER Drexel University, B.Arch degree, Class of 2017
Third Year of College
Fall 2013
Classes: Studio 4-1 & Materials & Structural Behavior I
This year we focused on landscaping. The initial project was a soccer field and parking lot. The goal was to learn to manipulate the landscape in order to control the flow of rain water.
The second project was to create a visitor's center for Bartram's Garden. My design was placed down by the water at the traditional entrance to the site. Visitors follow an intriguing wooden path through the woods that eventually meets up with the existing wooden path where the gardens are finally revealed.
Winter 2014
Classes: Studio 4-2 & Materials & Structural Behavior II
Our exporation of landscaping continued into the winter term. The project was to create an urban farm with a youth hostel on the site. We created a simple floor plan in the building, but the focus was to be on the slope of the site, landscaping, and programming. My goal was to create large areas devoted to farming with social areas for entertaining, dining, sports, and relaxation.
Spring 2014
Classes: Studio 4-3 & Materials & Structural Behavior III
The landscaping continued into the third term as our design shifted to a dorm on the current site of Drexel Park. My design focused on creating an enclosed grassy, play area for students. There is an open grass park that the public can access as well as an upper court with a dining terrace an volleyball courts. The dorm room design was limited to a specific size. In an attempt to create a more interesting facade, I pulled rooms in and out to provide depth.
Summer 2014
Classes: History of Philadelphia Architecture & Emerging Architectural Technology
Philadelphia Architecture: We examined the architecture in Philadelphia from the late 1600s to the present time. For my research project at the end of the term I looked at the architecture of Philadelphia baseball stadiums. I found the project to be very informative with the most interesting building being Shibe Park - a jewel box era stadium with a facade in the French Renaissance style.
Emerging Technologies: In this class we partnered and examined several aspects of a building of our choosing. I looked at the Emerson College of Los Angeles building designed by Morrphosis. We examined several aspects of the building including design, structure, facade, and mechanical systems.
