nupur agrawal
Reconceiving Libraries As A Place Of Refuge Against the Elements
Ottawa, ON, Canada
The library typology has significantly transformed over the past half century, introducing makerspaces, multimedia hubs, and amenities well beyond repositories for printed resources. Amidst the housing and climate crisis, libraries have also become important spaces of temporary refuge for those experiencing homelessness or extreme weather events. Exploring these intricacies in Ottawa—a city with a staggering 20%
annual population growth in need of new civic amenities— this thesis proposes a new library typology for a Lowertown infill site— one better serving the needs of our entire community. The work provides an analysis of various innovative programming to benefit future libraries. The result is a novel paradigm for public libraries as more inclusive and climate conscious places of learning, gathering, and refuge in Ontario.
Fig.01 Site model:Lowertown, Ottawa. Aerial view of the proposed building and surrounding context
Carnige Library
1900 - 2050+ 1900 2030+
Library Typology of the Future
Fig.02 Evolution of Canadian Public Libraries
Fig. 03 Temporary disaster relief shelter / rotating bookshelf wall
Fig.04 Configuration of rotating bookshelf walls as a temporary disaster relief shelter in emergency scenario
Fig.05 Prototype for multifunctional community hut Configuration 01 a food pantry open to the public
Fig.06 Multi-functional community hut configurations
Fig.07 Ground floor transformation during a 5-7 day smoke emergency
Fig. 08 Axonometric of the ground floor transformed during a 60-plus days housing/ homelessness crisis.
Fig. 09 GIS analysis of the Ottawa area overlaying surface tempeartures on a hot day in order to create a urban heat island map indexing resident vulnerabilities. Data compiled from the City of Ottawa using satellite imagery captured in July, 2019 and manually-tracked shelter locations.
Fig. 10 Wood and hemp construction/ harvesting cycle
Fig. 11 Experiments with hempcrete as a material showing great promise for library design due to its sustainable and healthy environmental properties
Urban Cooling Facade
Buenos Aires, Argentina
A multi-functional facade structure featuring colorful quilts and fabrics to empower communities living in self-built settlements in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fig.12 Exterior rendering of urban cooling facade intervention that will empower residents to prepare for extreme heat in 2050
Fig.13 Urban plan of self-built settlement, Rodrigo Bueno in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Diagram shows the original conditions, buildings proposed to be demolished by the city, and the proposed architectural intervention
Fig. 14 Prototype for the facade panel with operable fabric that can be clipped on to the assembly.
Fig. 15 Instruction manual to construct an urban cooling facade for self-built settlements in Buenos Aries, Argentina.
Didalic Reflection
Experimental Farm, Ottawa, ON
An urban forestry center designed using mass timber to educate visitors on the impacts of climate change. To address water conservation the butterfly roof design redirects rainwater into retention ponds during severe storms.
woodworking workshop (a) vertical greenhouse
woodworking workshop (b)
16 Sectional perspective of Urban Forestry Center showing key programmatic spaces related to urban reforestation: vertical garden, woodworking, children’s educational area, and outdoor retention ponds.
trombe wall
Fig.
Fig. 17 Axonometric of Rainwater Acoustic Testing Device. 1:20 scale model of roof to retention pond detail, testing acoustics through rain chains.
18 Bright interior rendering of the auditorium space used to educate visitors on the impacts of climate change with views of the landscape. On the right is the vertical garden as managed forestry in urban contexts offer a viable strategy for low-carbon building.
Fig.
Sheltering Arms
Ottawa, Canada
This homeless shelter aims to tackle the homelessness crisis in Ottawa by providing a supporting stepping-stone into appropriate long-term housing solutions using a compassionate approach to design
Sheltering Arms Homeless Shelter
Support networks, Appropriate facilities (Nutrition, Clothing, Sanitations, Education, Healthcare, Social Facilities, Harm Reduction) Safe Spaces, Self-Sufficent Programming etc.
Short-Term Intake Unit
(1 night - 2 weeks)
Affordable
Housing Complex
19 Parti diagram short-term unit diagrams
Fig.
Mid-Term Unit (3-weeks - 4 months)
Long-Term
Unit (4 Months - 1 year)
Fig. 20 Parti diagram mid-term unit diagrams
Fig. 21 Parti diagram long-term unit diagrams
Ganga River
Varanasi, India
Located in Varanasi, India this project aims to celebrate infrastructure and create critical conversations on clean safe drinking water. The three project sites, Marnikarnia Ghat, Machodari Park, and Zindagi Park alongside the Ganges River represent the cycle of life and death.
and systems required to acquire clean water.
Fig. 25 At Marnikarnia Ghat, the proposal explores the environmental impact of the hindu rituals of death and cremation
Fig. 26 The second site celebrates the process of cleaning waste water by providing space for visitors to gain an understanding of the processes
Fig. 27 By site three, the treated water is then returned into the Ganges river and distributed to surrounding communities in need. At this last stage in the cycle, life is celebrated through the abundance of clean water, food, and greenery.
DE WATERWEG
Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Amsterdam leisure center on the edge of Java Island will create a significant new public space for locals and tourists. The project features a large recreational pool, outdoor pool, thermal bath, sauna, and a fitness centre. The experience of water and steam are integral to the building’s design strategy.
thermal bath
axonometric
Fig. 24 Exterior night view of canoe launch pavilion
Fig. 22 Steam arising from the thermal bath to the steam room, then out of the building
Fig. 23 Exploded
of canoe launch pavilion on the canal
Building 22 Edition 24
Ottawa, Ontario
Head editor and designer of Building 22 Architecture Magazine, an editorial textbook of architectural design.
Fig. 28 Front cover of Edition 24. Embossed text, diecut rectangle revealing glimpse of Carleton University’s Architecture Building
Fig. 29 Back cover of Edition 24 revealing a shadow comprised of numerous squares creating a 2, representative of the magazine, building 22.
Edition 24 Launch Party
Fig. 31 Stills from edition 24 Launch Party in the pit
Fig. 30 Fabric installation designed and implemented using low-tech materials (rope, binder clips, and fabric)
Building 22 Edition 23
Ottawa, Ontario
an editorial textbook of architectural design
Fig. 32 Transparency cover / poster wrapped around edition 23 magazine
Fig. 33 Designed 5.5”x8.5” Trace+ Sketchbook with 30 pages of premium vellum and 70 pages of 100lb pure white paper.
Designed for creatives; tear out the vellum and place on top the custom dot grid cover. Draw in axonometric, isometric, and to scale or simply iterate on top of your in-book drawings!
