ANDRE AJAWI DESIGN PORTFOLIO

O R T F O L I O A N D R E A J A W I

H O N E S T Y R E L I A B I L I T Y

MARIJUANA FOOD AND DRINK MUSEUM OCHORIOS | ST ANN, JAMAICA (PG:4-9)

HILL-CUTTER SMOKEYVALE | ST ANDREW, JAMAICA (PG:10-17)

MORGANS RESIDENCE ST JOHNS HEIGHTS | ST CATHERINE, JAMAICA (PG:18-23)

SCAFF’S RESIDENCE WOODSTOCK DIS | MANCHESTER, JAMAICA (PG:24-29)

VILLA TENEREFE DISCOVERY BAY |ST ANN, JAMAICA (PG:30-33)

THOMPSON’S RESIDENCE DISCOVERY BAY |ST ANN, JAMAICA (PG:34-39)

DRONE SURVEYING DISCOVERY BAY | MONTEGOBAY|ST ELIZABETH , JAMAICA (40-45) (PG:40-45)

INTERPRETIVE SCULPTING OCHO-RIOS |ST ANN, JAMAICA (PG:46-49)

FORM STUDY OCHO-RIOS |ST ANN, JAMAICA (PG:50-53)

RIVER OF TIME| POETRY | PHOTO EDITING OCHO-RIOS |ST ANN, JAMAICA (PG:54-55)

VIDEO EDITING | ARCHITECTURAL PASSION OCHO-RIOS |ST ANN, JAMAICA (PG:56-57)

MARIJUANA FOOD & DRINK MUSEUM

Caribbean School of Architecture Design Studio project

Location: Main Street Ocho Rios, St Ann, Jamaica

Year: 2021

Designed by: Andre AJAWI,

The Marijuana Food and Drink museum is a museum that introduces users to food and drink infused with marijuana. The overall concept of this museum derives from smoke and the movement of smoke. The museum has a research facility, library, gift shop and other areas that sell marijuana-based products. The building also has a lecture theatre where people can learn about the history and use of marijuana. The skin of the building is a mixture of LOW E Double Glazed curtain wall system. Jamaica’s tropical environment was a major driving factor in the design decisions made. The roof of the building encourages the use of green energy by introducing a solar farm that meets the energy needs of the building. The design makes use of passive cooling by creating a microclimate on the interior with the use of an atrium and pond. By creating a microclimate, the interior space feels zen as people move through the building. Additionally, fresh air was channelled into the building taking advantage of the proximity to the ocean.

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

COWELL’S RESIDENCE

Location: Smokey Vale, Jamaica Year: 2022

Designed by: Andre AJAWI Engineer: Ryan Johnson, Aztec Design.

HILLCUTTER is a two-bedroom, three-bathroom home that cuts into the hillside, taking advantage of the land’s natural slope. The building engages with the hillside, allowing the occupants to overlook the community football field. The design called for a home to live, work and relax. The home hosts an open-to-sky courtyard that links the workspace to the residential space while separating both areas. As a split-level structure, the basement hosts the garage, while the ground floor hosts the living and workspace. The design intent was to have a building that gives the illusion that it is floating. Key sustainable features of the building include

• a solar roof to meet the electrical needs,

• foam insulated roof to manage heat load,

• rainwater harvesting from the large roof surface area, and

• passive cooling.

All these features combine to create a modern and efficient home for the family.

MORGAN’S RESIDENCE

Location: St Johns Heights St Cathering Jamaica

Year: 2022

Designed by: Andre AJAWI, Engineer: Ryan Johnson, Aztec Design.

Morgan’s residence is a two-story, four-bedroom five bathroom home. The design of this home is centred around family. The client selected three keywords to drive the design of their home, family, nature and tropics as the theme of the design. The design is centred around an open concept high volume living room space that pulls the family together. The spaces encourage interaction with outdoor spaces visually and physically. The living room connects with the outdoor sitting and barbecue space with a sizeable bi-fold door that opens all the way to connect the two spaces. Vertically the first floor is connected to the ground floor with a high-volume space that gives a visual connection. The smi-outdoor sitting area on the first floor connects with the outdoors by using large bifolding doors, which can also fold out the way, giving the family an area to sit, talk and bond with each other. The building hosts one private balcony for the primary bedroom and one shared balcony to encourage interactions between siblings. These and other key sustainable features, such as rainwater harvesting and natural ventilation, bring this design together, making it a home the family will enjoy for years to come.

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

SCAFF’S RESIDENCE

Location:

Year: 2022

Design

Mr Scaff briefed us to design a home where he can retire and watch his grandkids play and grow as a family. The team sought to design an exciting and engaging 2850 Square feet family home. The building is divided vertically to keep the service area to the right of the ground floor while keeping the entertainment area to the left. The building host a courtyard that encourages meditation and gathering of the family. The entertainment area is a double-height space linked visually to the primary bedroom above. The living room space opens into the kitchen and dining area, encouraging interaction. This space also opens onto the wrap-around veranda, enjoying the beautiful backyard space. The building has key sustainable features such as rainwater harvesting and a solar water heater. The design encourages passive cooling by positioning the building to prevent direct sunlight from entering the building while allowing the air to pass through the building.

Woodstock District, Manchester, Jamaica

by: Andre AJAWI Engineer : Ryan Johnson of Aztec Design.

VILLA TENEREFE

Location: Discovery Bay St. Ann, Jamaica Year: 2021

Designed

The client wanted a villa design to take advantage of the breathtaking views of the Caribbean sea towards the north. Additionally, the site demanded that special attention be given to the road towards the south of the property, which generated a lot of noise. As we are in a tropical environment, direct sunlight is not encouraged, and as such, attention was given to the harsh sunlight experienced to the south of the site. Visually the client required privacy from the highways towards the south as it is heavily trafficked. With the negatives discovered towards the south, a decision was made by the design team to put all the services towards the south of the structure. To the north of the property, has multiple positive elements that the team wanted to capitalize on. These include the view, the sound of the ocean crashing against the rock, the smell of the ocean, the cool breeze sweeping across the ocean and onto the property throughout the day. The aim therefore was to have the structure be as open as possible to connect the outdoor elements with the indoor elements.

by: Andre AJAWI, Omari Wright Engineer : Ryan Johnson, Aztec Design.

THOMPSON’S RESIDENCE

Location:

Year: 2022

Architectural

Thompson’s residence is a two-story, nine-bedroom, nineand-a-half-bathroom home. The design of this home centres around introversion. The client wanted a property that entertained his family, which involved spaces internally that entertained his children. The ground floor of the building is an open-concept space that encourages living, dining and play. The living and dining spaces are open, while the kid’s playroom is a private space that allows freedom to play while offering security. The first floor hosts a home theatre, while the roof space hosts a barbeque and lounge area. The use of solar panels helps to reduce energy needs. A sun study was conducted to position the building to help reduce direct sunlight from entering the building, which should reduce the heat load of the building. All these features come together to have a beautiful home the family will enjoy for years to come.

St Johns Heights St Cathering Jamaica

designer : Andre AJAWI, AJAWI Construction, Engineer : Ryan Johnson of Aztec Design.

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

SITE INVESTIGATION & DRONE SURVEY

Location: St Thomas, Jamaica Year: 2018

Site investigation is an integral part of the design process. It is integral because many design decisions are made from existing site conditions and context. We are taught to look for sun path, wind direction, opportunities and constraints when conducting a site investigation. Architecture students are introduced to site investigations and encouraged to innovate the process. With this challenge, we can see where the introduction of drone technology opens the door to more informative site investigation. This technology enables us to take site pictures from a bird’s eye view. This technology gives well-needed information, especially when considering highrise buildings.

Scan the QR code below to see the information collected once conducting a site investigation. Additionally, the video illustrates the real-world application of the process taught during our studies as architecture students.

VIRTUAL ARY GALLERY

MOTIONS OF STILLNESS

Caribbean School of Architecture

Location: Ocho Rios, St Ann, Jamaica Year: 2021 Designed by: Andre Ajawi

Motions of stillness was an activity carried out during our study tour of Ocho Rios. The activity involved members of the fourth-year Design studio group executing a series of popular dance moves. A Gallery was designed from the interpretation of the movement. The dance chosen by our group chose ravers rock which we interpreted to relate primarily to connection. We analysed the dance to see how each dance move connected with the other and further translated this into a Virtual Art Galery. One of the constraints of the activity was to design a building without using any design software. The only software permitted was photoshop. This design was developed using model-making materials, a cannon camera and lighting. The virtual art Art Gallery is a two-story structure that carries patrons on a journey where they use VR technology to view historical art pieces

FORM / MODEL STUDY

Location: Caribbean School of Architecture Kingston, Jamaica Year: 2022

Designed by: Andre Ajawi

Form study was carried out in or Advance application of material course at the Caribbean School of Architecture. The activity involved folding papers to produce a form that should then be considered a part of a building. The generated form can be an element of the building, or it can be the building itself. In executing this project, origami was researched, which is the art of folding paper. The design decision made was to have a form that is rigid but, at the same time, organic. A further decision was to consider the form produced to be a building. With Photoshop, an air exchange analysis was sketched to show the intent to force cool air into the structure to cool the building while passively having efficient air exchange.

MOORE TOWN | MAROON SETTLEMENT

Location: Portland Jamaica

Year: 2022

Designed by: Andre J. Ajawi

To know where we are going, we must first know where we are coming from lest we lose appreciation of our progress. Appreciation for our ancestors is an anchor to the past and a teacher for the future. This composition interprets our visit to Moortown, a maroon settlement in Portland, Jamaica. The ancestors of the indigenous people of Jamaica occupy the settlement. Additionally, they include ancestors of escaped enslaved people during colonial rule in Jamaica. The settlement has key features such as Nanny Falls, a river that runs through the community, and Nanny Monument, along with fruit trees that sustain community members. The community is self-governing, and as such, it operates independently of the government of Jamaica. It consists of a community playground, school, community centre, St Paul’s church and burial ground. The community’s people are welcoming and willing to teach about the community’s rich heritage. The image is a poem composed to express our field trip. The composition was for Caribbean Architectural Theme course at the Caribbean School of Architecture. Scan the QR code to see the video composition of our visit.

AJAWI_TV | YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Location: Kingston, Jamaica

Producer & Video Editor : Andre J. Ajawi

AJAWI_TV was started during our second year of architecture school to share our experience as architecture students. The channel has transformed into a community that assists Jamaicans in doing construction while living overseas. This transition occurred when we observed the struggles of Jamaica’s Returning residents as they looked to return to Jamaica to build their dream homes and retire. There was one particular instance which was on the news. It involved returning residents losing their lives in the process of construction. Further, there are instances where the perpetrators are their own families. The turning point was when the president of the returning residents association advised Jamaican living overseas not to return to Jamaica. The aim of AJAWI_TV transformed into a resource that residents could use to get valuable information to do construction safely while living overseas.

Scan the QR code to visit our youtube channel. The video shown illustrates why we love architecture. Additionally, see also design software I am competent in using.