House Rules

I started out as a builder when I first left high school, and went back to university at 30 to eventually become an architect.  I am educated in critical process, philosophy, and professional practice in architecture (feel free to take a look at such goodies as phenomenology), and can talk about theory, aesthetics, and business all day long.  However, I have come to believe that function, site, light, materials, and ecology are the backbone for a good design, and everything else is (pardon the pun) window dressing. In the end, I am still trying to find the balance between site and building, use and beauty, and unity and individual expression, and I am firm about the need for architects to set examples that are culturally relevant, forward thinking, moving towards zero impact and zero energy consumption, and truly expressive of the human experience.

It has taken me years to learn patience about the process, and I still fall on my face sometimes.

2013 - Story illustration - Photoshop.

2014 - Colour and design study for game project - Photoshop 

2014 - Massing study for mixed use condominium project in the Lower Mount Royal district of Calgary.  Program includes retail and restaurant at front, sub-surface parking at rear, 2 storey condominium units on lower floors and a mix of 2 and 3 storey units on upper floors.  The next step is to start to explore eccentric massing in the towers that isn't just an extrusion of the floor plates - 3D Studio Max 2014

all images in this blog are copyright vertigo studios and michael knudsen

Some Current Events in the Portfolio

I have been busy with a number of projects and haven't had time to post anything for more than a month, so I am posting some 3D renderings from a couple of current projects.

I now use a combination of drawing and 3D work to explore architecture.  Many times I use the 3D as an armature to draw over for elevation and material studies.  I don't use Sketch-up very often - I find that it has a certain interdependency with AutoCad that encourages me to draw straight lines and resolve finite dimensions long before a concept has gone through enough iterations of exploration.

One thing is clear to me.  The world of 3D has changed architecture.  From Frank Gehry to Zaha Hadid, the use of modelling tools like Rhino, 3D Studio Max, and the extensions in to BIM have changed how we design, present, build, and everything in between.  Buildings are more complex visually, and explore organic shapes more readily.  I will be posting more about this in future entries.

2014 - 3D concept model of Mexican food restaurant and bar proposal for SE Calgary.  The kitchen module at the rear of this rendering had to be oversized to accommodate both a take out counter and a tortilla production area. Because the site is surrounded by somewhat larger 3 and 4 storey buildings, the roof top is designed as a landscape with mechanical equipment carefully screened off. 3D Studio Max 2014

2014 - 3D concept model of mixed use office and retail for Calgary's East Village development.  This project is intended as a high-tech centre with business incubator space.  The client is currently negotiating density requirements to allow the development of a second office tower.  3D Studio Max 2014

all images in this blog are copyright vertigo studios and michael knudsen