process BRANDON BIEDERMAN
processBRANDON BIEDERMAN
5 . 06 . 0
a carpet tablecarpet, steel, glass
freelance artworkchalk, graphite, ink
materials[exploration]
physical media[exploration]
1 . 0 2 . 0 3 . 0 4 . 0
design process center for creative leadershipchicago, illinois
milwaukee river clubmilwaukee, wisconsin
a centre for negombonegombo, sri lanka
T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
social[exploration]
cultural[exploration]
environment[exploration]
1 . 0
I D E N T I F Y P R O B L E M S
A N A L Y Z E
P R O G R A M
C O N C E P T U A L I Z E
R E S O L V E
B U I L D / E X E C U T E
P O S T E V A L U A T I O N
E X P E R I E N T I A LE V A L U A T I O N
E V A L U A T E
PROCESS: Design has always intrigued me. Its role in society is invaluable. Design
is not successful simply because of the way it looks; it is much more. Good design
identifies a problem and solves it. It has an aesthetic appeal that transcends time and
fully satisfies its clients. Practicing good design is far from easy: it takes creativity,
determination, and an incredible skill set.
When going about any given task, a process is undertaken to accomplish that goal.
Process is what gets us from point A to point B. In design, I have found that the same
rules apply. A process is needed to arrive from the problem to the solution.
Having an understanding of my design process has fostered my ability to derive
propitious solutions to identified problems. The diagram depicts the intrinsically
circular nature of my design process. Because of the inherent subjectivity of design,
continuous peer and self evaluation is essential to ascertain proper solutions to the
problem. My understanding of this process is my greatest tool.
Design Process
2 . 0 C e n t e r F o r C r e a t i v e L e a d e r s h i p Chic ago, i l l ino is
Long identified as one of the most prestigious institutions to teach and mentor, the
Center for Creative Leadership has in the past been physically located in idyllic setting
throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. This program, with goals of connecting
brilliant architecture based on social research, challenges the question: can the spiritual,
inspired attitudes of the participants be satisfied within an urban setting?
Through the exploration of applying social research to design, this project aims to provide an
environment that fuels learning and collaboration within the top three floors of the Inland
Steel Building. Programmatically the campus is separated into two zones, the learning lab
and the wellness area; the threshold between these two areas is a bamboo planting to
provide a mental passage between the two zones.
2 .1Center For Creative Leadership Chicago, Illinois
“Consumers are seeing a connection between maintaining their health and
caring for the many aspects of their wellness, which include not just
physical well-being,but emotional, spiritual, financial, environmental,
and occupational well-being.”
~ ARUP: Drivers of Change
“Unintended meetings are as frequent as intended meetings, yet on a per
meeting basis they take only one-third as much time to accomplish” (becker).
Increased proximity leads to higher levels of collaboration. Based on analysis of circulation
patterns, intersecting nodes are implemented to encourage unintentional meetings.
Inland Steel Building
Blue line subway
The elevated Loop
Red line subway
I N T E R N O D A L
Level 17 Level 18 Level 19
2 . 2
With the dinning area traditionally being used only an hour out of the day, adapting
the space to other uses became an important aspect. With simple changes in
furniture layout, the space becomes functional throughout the day. Enabling these
changes increases the overall value of the space.
Center For Creative Leadership Chicago, Illinois
F L E X I B I L I T Y
2 . 3Center For Creative Leadership Chicago, Illinois
“We found that ‘talking with a small group of students in a coffee shop’ ..scored as
high or higher then ‘examinations’ and ‘laboratory study.’ ..the informal activities..
contribute as much to the growth of students, as the more formal educational
activities” (Schrage).
3 . 0 M i L w a U k e e r i v e r C L U b Mi lwauke e , w is c ons in
Located along the Milwaukee River, the goal of this project is to provide an amenity
and boat storage for the local rowing club, while still retaining the agrestic simplicity
currently found along the river. Adjacent to the site, a current footbridge will provide
access to the Milwaukee River Club from both shorelines.
By impregnating the building into the river bank, its presence is light and retains
the serene environment of the site. It also gives back the public space taken by the
footprint, by enabling the entire roof to be accessible. Materials, as well as the arched
form, were selected to mimic the methodology found throughout the Milwaukee Park
System. Through the implementation of these strategies, the Milwaukee River Club
retains the tranquil environment while providing services to members of the River
Club, as well as the public.
3 .1Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee River Club
The site is located in Ceaser
Park along the Milwaukee River,
north of downtown. The park
is predominantly on a hillside
which slopes towards the river.
A pedestrian bridge transfers the
biking and hiking trail across the
river. Although located in a dense
urban area, there is a sense of
seclusion.
To k
eep
in c
onte
xt w
ith t
he g
reat
er M
ilwau
kee
Par
k S
yste
m, b
arre
l vau
lts w
ere
used
to
com
plim
ent
the
man
y st
one
brid
ges
foun
d up
and
dow
n th
e M
ilwau
kee
Riv
er.
In a
dditi
on, t
his
serv
ed a
n in
here
nt f
unct
ion
by d
ivid
ing
the
boat
sto
rage
into
mul
tiple
spa
ces
for
secu
rity.
High priority was placed on creating a minimal footprint, providing additional community
amenities, and taking advantage of the secluded nature of the site. An emphasis is the
visual impact of each destination which contributes to the serene nature of the park.
FROM ACROSS THE RIVER, ONE VIEWS THE MILWAUKEE RIVER
CLUB. FOLLOWING THE PATHWAY, ONE IS IMMERSED IN THE PARK
EXPERIENCE BEFORE ARRIVING AT THE BOATHOUSE DESTINATION.
3 . 2
W E S T P R O C E S S I O N
Milwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee River Club
4 . 0 a C e n t r e F o r n e g o M b o ne gomb o, sr i L ank a
Good urban spaces are important to the livability of a city, but are often inadequate
in developing countries. Some common urban issues in developing countries include
concerns of legibility, accessibility, structural order, and lack of public realm. Divisions
between commercial, industrial and residential are sometimes indistinguishable.
Infrastructures lack a common vocabulary. Pedestrians and vehicles are obligated
to share the same space. Public parks are virtually nonexistent. Markets are over-
crowded and difficult to navigate.
Negombo, a city on the western coast of Sri Lanka, suffers from similar problems,
and therefore, is an exemplar to investigate solutions for such urban situations.
Through a conceptual master plan of the main downtown commercial area of
Negombo, this project explores culturally sensitive design methods to enhance the
usability of chaotic urban spaces. Based on a design of a new multi-use building
containing an open public space, a textile market, and condominiums, this project
argues that, while some of these urban issues may be cultural constructions and
thus important to cultural identity, some sense of order should be and can be
nevertheless introduced to make the urban space more livable.
4 .1Negombo, Sri LankaA Centre For Negombo
Exploring culture-sensitive design methods, this project brings in a sense of order,
functionality, and livability to an otherwise chaotic, yet culturally-constructed
urban space. Creating a magnet at the heart of the town, this proposed multi-use
building contains a textile market, otffice spaces, high-end condominiums, and a
public plaza.
4 . 2Negombo, Sri LankaA Centre For Negombo
“a successful strategy is to place the strong, large markets at the back
and the smaller stores in the front. that way the large stalls draw people
through the small stalls” (dewar).
“Unbroken selling runs must be long enough to facilitate comparative
buying and to generate a strong sense of vibrance and activity but short
enough to avoid ‘dead spots’” (dewar).
4 . 3Negombo, Sri LankaA Centre For Negombo
5 . 0 a C a r p e t t a b L e C ar p e t , s te e l , g las s
Composed of recollected carpet samples, scrap steel angles, and a piece of glass cut from a large broken pane, this table
celebrates the elegance that can be found in the reuse of materials otherwise destined to the waste stream.
Each carpet sample was cut into six equal strips, which were then drilled and bored onto three threaded steel rods that run the
entire length of the table. Steel plates at each end provide rigidity to allow the carpet pieces to be compressed via steel bolts.
Set into a frame welded from steel angles, this coffee table boasts both strength and refinement.
5 .1Carpet, Steel, GlassA Carpet Table
6 . 0 F r e e L a n C e a r t w o r k Cha lk , graphi te , ink
Being interested in the creation of art since my youth, I was fortunate enough to be
placed under the guidance of a private art instructor. Here I furthered my drawing
techniques and learned both acrylic and oil painting. As I continued through school,
my electives were constantly filled with art and architecture classes.
Through experimentation, I have gained agility at using most mediums, predominately
ink, graphite, chalks and charcoals, and oil paint.
The image to the left is a master study of Rembrandt’s Beggars at the Door, which
per the instructors request, was to capture the mood present in the original. Below
are three men in Florence, Italy that I sketched while sitting at a cafe.
6 .1Chalk, Graphite, InkFreelance Artwork
Brandon Biederman + Angie
Biederman (top)
Brandon Biederman + Renee
Biederman (bottom)
Derived from a common art
therapy technique, these
chalk drawings represent
the fluid flow of the candid
unconsciousness. Each
created with a different one
of my sisters, the difference
in mood created by their
presence is manifest in the
layers of expression and
subject matter.
B I B L I O G R A P H Y
Becker, Franklin. Offices At Work. San Fransisco: Jossey-Bass, 2004. 20-21.
Dewar, David, and Vanessa Watson. Urban Markets: Developing Informal Retailing.
London: Routledge, 1990.
Englich and Remmers. Edition Wilkhahn: Interior and Specifiers Handbook for
Communication Areas. 4th ed. Wilkhahn, 1997.
Hodges, Richard. Primitive and Peasant Markets. New York: Basil Blackwell, 1988.
Schrage, Michael. “I’ll Have the Pasta Primavera with a Side of Strategy.” Fortune 8
Jan. 2001. Vol. 143 Issue 1, p194-194
processBRANDON BIEDERMAN