Vertical Topology by Ross McKinnon

In mathematics, topology refers to the properties of a geometric object that are preserved under continuous deformations such as stretching, twisting, crumpling, and bending. It is sometimes called “rubber-sheet geometry” because the objects can be stretched and contracted like rubber, but cannot be broken.

Vertical Topology takes this concept of “rubber geometry”, but instead of a hypothetical geometric object being observed, it is existing physical infrastructure. The continuous deformations acting upon the infrastructure instead being social pressures and evolutions in the form of economic, cultural, and societal shifts. Vertical Topology focuses in on the resiliency of the traditional Postmodern office tower, and their capacity for sustainable growth due to the application and integration of mixed-use, flexible programming.

This rendering exhibits a STEM School retrofitted inside of an existing office tower complex, where the overlap of academia, business, and culture, provides a more sustainable and refreshing application of program within architecture.

Software used: SketchUp, Revit, Photoshop