2022-23 Design Portfolio

NEHA

RECLAIMED FARMLANDS STUDIO

TEAM

collaborated with Andrea De Haro and Charlotte Bascombe

COURSE arc 407

PROFESSOR

Adam Frampton

LOCATION

Dallam County, Texas

the redefined agricultural shed adapts to the different seasonal programs of farms to both maximize efficiency and preserve the environment

In a region plagued by environmental degradation caused by corporate farming, our project explores the future of sustainable agriculture. Our chosen 6 x 6 mile site juxtaposes a portion of the Rita Blanca National Grassland with a corporate feeding farm. Mediating between these two extremes, our proposal is a largescale integrated crop and livestock system (ICLS). This method manages both crop and livestock production so they support each other. Since this system has never been implemented at a large scale, the sheds also act as research facilities. The scattered agricultural sheds are designed to accommodate the seasonally changing animal grazing, crop growth, and research programs. The building includes residential spaces, research laboratories, as well as a double-height adaptable barn, which can house humans, cows, or large machinery. The insulation and ventilation systems change throughout the project depending on the occupants. This creates various thicknesses of enclosure ranging from the mesh-like screen to the thick hay insulated dormitory walls.

* 1 ICON = 15,000 TONS OF CROPS

The map on the left illustrates the massive crop outputs and infrastructures of corporate farming that have taken over the Great Plains. The aerial image shows our site in the northeast of Texas, and the dichotomy between the feeding farm and the grassland. The site section below shows how the scattered research facilities are situated along the pivot farms. The detail drawings explain how central pivot irrigation works and how the eroded soil conditions from unsustainable farming practices can be rehabilitated after ICLS farming is implemented.

Harvest Season: September - November

Planting Season: March - May

Grazing Season: December - February

Pasture Season: June - August

SPACE FOR THE DISPLACED

TEAM collaborated with Mariana Munoz

COURSE arc 307

PROFESSOR

Daekwon Park

LOCATION

Harlem, New York

a mixed-use market that programatically addresses the issues of community and economic displacement caused by gentrification in Central Harlem

This project is located along the intersection of Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard and 125th street, which was the site of many historic activism movements. The recent contentious rezoning of 125th street positioned our intervention at a crucial setting amid the current gentrification in Harlem. This redevelopment displaced over seventy local businesses and many street vendors who did not own any property. Our project aims to allow these local vendors and businesses to reclaim their place in Harlem by formalizing a market and including storefronts for small businesses to own. The massing strategy uses a large cantilever to engage the adjacent plaza, and carves a void within the building to connect the largely developed 125th street with the quieter 126th street. Our design also employs modular market carts and an operable facade to create adaptable market experiences. Additionally, the exhibition and event space on the top floor would educate the public about activism movements in Harlem. The red louvers throughout the building are a distinct graphic element and control direct light.

This first phase of research focused on the effect of gentrification and the history of activism in Harlem. The diagram on the right shows the contentious rezoning of 125th street. Many small businesses and manufacturers were replaced by large scale commercial and residential construction. The Harlem locals have pushed back against these top down planning attempts, which often end up forcing locals out of their community due to skyrocketing living costs.

The second phase examined two main streets adjacent to our site. The analysis on the left revealed an abundance of informal street vendors on MLK Blvd who could easily be pushed out for not owning any property. Diagramming the various businesses along the site showed how many local businesses along MLK Blvd have been replaced by large chain stores. Based on these analyses, formalized vendor spaces and small business storefronts were crucial to our proposal.

COVID-19 TESTING CENTER

POD MARKET

ALLEY MARKET

View showing semi-enclosed street market condition

UNNATURAL NATURE

this field station blurs the boundaries between “the wild” and the built environment through a restoration across time and space of abandoned structures

TEAM

collaborated with Zarah Durst

COURSE

arc 409

PROFESSOR Joon Ma

LOCATION

Syracuse, NY

The project challenges what is considered natural by creating spaces that reframe abandoned infrastructure as part of a reframed landscape, and allow for the introduction of symbiotic interaction between humans and the new organic conditions. The site is adjacent to an abandoned loading facility at skytop quarry on South campus. The site analysis exhibits how the ruins of weathered infrastructure have led to “new wild” conditions. This “new wild” is no longer untouched, but a result of infrastructure weathering into nature for an extended period of time. This project integrates with the non-pristine nature on the site by fostering overgrowth patterns that were already occurring. The design architecturally and programmatically curates relationships between the building and the site. The top portion of the building uses light timber framing aligned with the existing grid to allow for vertical overgrowth to continue to penetrate the building. The concrete addition to the building further explores the horizontal relationship between the ground and building that exists in the original structure.

MELA VESSELS OF EPHEMERAL ARCHITECTURE

PROJECT thesis

ADVISOR

Abingo Wu

this project explores an extreme form of ephemeral architecture and ad hoc urban design to understand how certain temporal elements could be reappropriated

In states of temporality, conventions can be challenged and reimagined. Ephemeral architecture responds to fluctuating conditions and is often built with lightweight, recycled materials that allow for reconfiguration and reinvention. Melas, which is Sanskrit for gatherings, are a lens through which ephemeral architecture can be further explored in its most idealized form. The largest Mela in the world is the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, India. It is a Hindu religious festival that takes place at various scales every year. The rapid construction and disassembly make the city surreal. For a few moments each year, this is the densest city in the world, but there are no skyscrapers or mega structures. This thesis aims to speculate on the transcendental atmosphere of the Kumbh Mela by reconfiguring materials from the event to create temporary escapes from ordinary life that exist before and after the festival. The simple assembly of the spiritual retreat could be replicated for other temporary needs. The design conceptually draws from the ephemeral megacity and physical reuses elements of the festival to demonstrate the scalability and versatility of this form of design.

SEEKING ASYLUM

an analysis of the quality of care provided by unaccompanied minor shelters in Texas

ADVISOR

Lori Brown

LOCATION

Texas, USA PUBLICATION Youth Circulations

This ongoing research aims to use code violations, shelter renovations, and policies to analyze the quality of care unaccompanied migrants receive in Texas shelters. The first phase of this project consisted of a literature review to understand the constantly changing immigration policies that affect the process of seeking asylum for migrants crossing the southern border of the United States. The increased amount of unaccompanied minor crossings has led to private nonprofit companies developing a multi-million dollar industry to provide shelter for these migrants. The state of Texas has the highest concentration of shelters, which makes it a crucial case study. Southern cities, such as Brownsville, have a significant amount of unaccompanied minor shelters owned by nonprofits such as Southwest Keys and BCFS. In addition to the urban scale investigation, I examined individual shelters. The Casa Padre shelter houses thousands of minors, and is run by Southwest Keys in a converted Walmart. The presumptive section of the shelter illustrates the requirements outlined by the Flores Agreement and Texas State Health Codes.

BROWNSVILLE, TX

PRESUMPTIVE SECTION OF CASA PADRE

OPEN STREETS

an adaptable street barrier that facilitates the pedestrianization of Avenue B

TEAM

MKCA, Loisaida Open Streets Coalition, Carolynn Karp Design, Space 4 Architecture, Meg Kalinowski, Thornton Tomasetti, WPM Engineering

ORGANIZATION

Design Advocates

LOCATION

Avenue B, New York

The Loisaida Open Streets Community Coalition aims to reclaim Avenue B as a public space for local residents free of dangerous automobile traffic. Over the summer, this organization programmed the avenue with various workout classes, workshops, and other events. However, the existing street barriers were constantly being moved out of place and were not effectively blocking traffic. The Design Advocates team came up with a three part solution to address this issue. The first element is a rubber speed cushion to create a physical and visual reminder for cars to slow down, which would not obstruct emergency vehicles. The second part is a planter barrier with an attached fiberglass rolling gate. These would be fixed on the street and the gates could be rolled out for various events. Finally, the parklets use a similar planter structure and assembly, but would be easily movable. These could provide seating for workshops and concerts or serve as waiting areas for open restaurants. The Design Advocates team presented the proposal to the Department of Transportation to be tested on three intersections along Avenue B.

SUDBURY

PROFESSIONAL

TEAM

Braden Caldwell and Andrew Matia

FIRM

Michael K Chen Architecture

LOCATION

Washington D.C.

a residential renovation which seamlessly interweaves modern elements with the character of the existing structure

This project by MKCA expands on the existing brick structure of a house in Washington D.C. The diagram and model represent the overall design strategies and materiality. The diagram emphasizes the central circulation core which connects the bottom floor with the roof terrace and skylight. The modelling technique highlights the contrast between the sharp, polished aluminum panelling and the lime washed brick. The project is currently under construction.

MASORO

a study of vernacular architecture, which consists of a comprehensive housing survey of over 200 low income, rural houses in Masoro, Rwanda

TEAM

collaborated with Julia Ocejo, Amreeta Verma, Julia Kazubowski, & Mariana Munoz

FIRM

General Architecture Collaborative

LOCATION

Masoro, Rwanda

This survey investigated and documented low income rural housing in Masoro, Rwanda. Gathering data about the houses in this sector was an unprecedented effort that required collaboration between the General Architecture Collaborative (GAC) and local enumerators. By representing the data architecturally, questions were raised about materiality, construction processes and vernacular details. We began to overlay these drawings with data about household income, education levels, and occupation. Our team collaborated to establish extensive representational guidelines, which were necessary to create a consistent set of over two hundred architectural drawings. We also consulted with locals to get a better understanding of the foreign landscape and the unique housing challenges faced in Rwanda. The main goal of this study was to profoundly understand the current condition of housing in Masoro, which would allow the GAC to identify and explore specific ways to make it more efficient and accessible.

e: 61nehat@gmail.com

t: (908) 547 - 7542

Syracuse University