Chris
Pyle Portfolio


RESEARCH


FABRICATION (WIP)


I am a fourth year student at the University of Tennessee within their Bachelor of Architecture program. 

Currently, I am working as a research assistant with Professor Mark Stanley on researching speculative futures in the Oak Ridge region and am a part of Space and Building Fabrication for the College of Architecture and Design at the university.
My current interests are in urban planning and urban zoning and how to make city’s better for the future through the use of architecture. Programs that have helped me with this have been working with the Civic Design Center during my study abroad in Nashville and using various GIS software to analyze and act. Other interests include the creation of handheld fabrication models and scene building in various render software. 
# - (615) 651-1409
Email - chris.pyle74@gmail.com
Instagram - @archpyle
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Hydro Dwelling

Ritualistic Nature of Water Within Water Treatment Plant

This project explores how architecture can capture the boundless nature of water through various spatial integrations within a water treatment facility located in Knoxville, Tennessee. It also examines how gravity-based systems can be used for water treatment and renewal, drawing on exaggerated water movements and antique methods of transporting water from one place to another. 

University of Tennessee
Fifth-Year Architecture
Professor Julie Kress
Knoxville, TN 2025


Ascension Court

Integrating Various Architectural Systems into  Elevated “Starter Homes” for Knoxville Families

Elevating what can be a starter home, Ascension Court blends living, working, and outdoor space. Raised residential units wrap around a stepped courtyard that creates an open yet tranquil space. Tucked below the courtyard, a restaurant space adjoins a covered arcade made for creators and markets. Artisan residents are able to display their work in a gallery and do businessin conference spaces.

University of Tennessee
Fourth-Year Architecture
Professor James Rose
Knoxville, TN 2024


Connecting WEHO

Proposal for a Transit area in the Wedgewood-Houston area of Nasvhille, Tennessee

A new development area located in the Wedgewood Houston neighborhood of Nashville, TN. The project is in response to the proposed transit talks within the larger Nashville design community and working with the feasability of light rail and BRT systems in differing neighborhoods around downtown. This area will function as a central hub, facilitating seamless transit connections from local neighborhood routes to broader regional networks.

Civic Design Center
Fourth-Year Architecture
Professor Will Rosenthaul, Clay Adkisson
Nashville, TN 2024

Urban Mapping

Charting and Analyzing the Gulch area in Nashville to Map Various Phenomena and Experiences

The Gulch is a high-end neighborhood located in Nashville, Tennessee, between the city's Music Row District and downtown. This area boasts some of the city's most highly-trafficked and construction-ridden spots, with constant daily noise and movement. These maps follow the process of combining ArcGIS datasets with personal field visits to generate questions from the data, which are then answered within the maps. The various maps below see analysis over the property timeline of the wider Gulch area as well as the possible impact of noise and foot traffic that the bustling neighborhood hears constantly.

Civic Design Center
Fourth-Year Architecture
Professor Will Rosenthaul, Clay Adkisson
Nashville, TN 2024


Tomorrow’s Tribes

Exploring Subculture of Long-Distance Trucking in a Post-Autonomous World

This project explores the subculture of Long-Distance Trucking through kitbashing and world-building around the idea of post-autonomous trucking and mental health. 3.5 million semi-truck drivers are in the U.S., each delivering products to every facet of our daily lives. However, these truckers stay on the road for very long hours and in cramped cabs, which leads to deteriorating mental health. Initial research found issues with the mental health of the trucker and the legends of the road that can be attributed to a deteriorating mentality, especially after COVID-19. The animation and process below emphasize the extremes of post-autonomous trucking and how the world would react to such products being transported.

University of Tennessee
Third-Year Architecture
Professor James Roha
Knoxville, TN 2024


Pandemonious Pundits

Interacting With the Rage Pundits of the Street

After producing an extensive research document on North Broadway in Knoxville and the concept of a 'rage pundit'—an expert who uses anger, discourse, influence, and chaos to divide audiences for revenue—production began on creating a site for such a streetscape. The structure below is meticulously organized into three distinct programs and soundscapes: newsrooms, media areas, and the Geese Overstimulation Room. Architecturally, the design emphasizes spatial interaction, with each area fostering unique auditory experiences. The soundscapes include the intense loudness of the G.O.R., the controlled interior acoustics of the news areas, and the serene tranquility of the Nest area on the western side of the structure. The interplay of these elements creates a dynamic, multifaceted environment​​​​​​​ .

University of TennesseeW
Third-Year Architecture
Professor Mark Stanley
Knoxville, TN 2023


Landscape Taxidermy

Creating Aqauculture in Cades Cove Valley

This project envisions stitching and restructuring the Great Smoky Mountains in response to shifting ecosystems and the interaction of human and water pathways along the Cades Cove River System. By redefining the valley’s landscape, the design establishes distinct zones and a cyclical aquaculture system that supports a self-sustaining ecosystem centered on water and the sustenance it provides.

University of Tennessee
Second-Year Architecture
Professor Julie Kress
Knoxville, TN 2023


ATAM: Drone Garden

Drone Delivery Garden Located in the Old City Region of Knoxville, Tennessee

Drone delivery has become an ever-growing industry today, with most operations being seen in cities and colleges worldwide. The University of Tennessee has such a delivery system, with around fifty or so Starship robots taking to the streets and walkways to deliver food to needy college students and professors. My research here focused on defining and cultivating ideas for a new area for this technology within the Old City region of Knoxville and beyond, as this industry is solely located on the campus of UTK and could become an even more significant, healthier operation for the city at large. 

University of Tennessee
Second-Year Architecture
Professor Jennifer Ackerman
Knoxville, TN 2022


Goshiki Punnets

Using Punnet Squares to Develop Abstract Masses

Punnet squares are predictions with the genetic genomes of most organisms that can predict what one animal or plant will contain/look like at birth. Within this fascination lies the possibility of creating new, flowing structures based on the Koi fish, as seen below. Using V-ray and Grasshopper, these Koi are from a different world, which sees changes and different punnet combinations of four distinct attributes: Glitchy, Dimpled, Furry, and Glowing.

University of Tennessee
Second-Year Architecture
Professor Mark Stanley
Chicago, Illinois 2022


Embodying Perspectives

Crafting Abstracted Looks into the Chicago Street

This project examined the orientation of larger-scale drawings within Chicago Street at N State, transitioning from a zoomed satellite view to embody a person's perspective at ground level. The subsequent images delve into the trajectory of the elevated train-car system known as the "L," which traverses much of Chicago and is situated near various health pharmacies and clinics. This analysis aimed to understand the proximity of urban planning elements and their impact on accessibility. By capturing the spatial relationship between the "L" and surrounding healthcare facilities, the study provides insights into how transportation infrastructure intersects with public health services, highlighting the significance of integrated urban design in enhancing community accessibility and connectivity.

University of Tennessee
Second-Year Architecture
Professor Mark Stanley
Chicago, Illinois 2022