Design Portfolio - Alexa Russell - 2021

ALEXA CARMEN RUSSELL URBAN DESIGN

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE

PHOTOGRAPHY

table of contents:

FINANCIAL GEOGRAPHIES PROJECT ABSTRACT Since the abolition of slavery in 1834, the people of Barbuda have communally owned their land in a geofinancial model referred to as social property. Today that shared community and the surrounding ecosystems are being threatened by the government’s progressive actions to strip the community of their land rights and capitalize on the widely untouched land on the island. Prime Minister Gaston Browne is seeking to allow tourism-based development and foreign investment on the island of Barbuda similar to that of the island of Antigua, where infrastructure and revenue is primarily tourism driven. The economy of Antigua and Barbuda is largely based on tourism. In 2011, tourism accounted for 75% of the total GDP which was over 5 times greater than the global average of 14%. As of 2019, that contribution has significantly dropped to 43% of the total GDP. In 2015 the nation passed Special Economic Zone regulations that paved the way for a burgeoning special economic zone on the island of Antigua to begin construction. This SEZ will serve as a financial playground for some of the world’s biggest financial competitors, further expanding the wealth gap and used as an instrument for financial extraction.

In 2017, Hurricane Irma devastated the island of Barbuda and destroyed 95% of the island’s infrastructure.

Today, the island is still in desperate need of restoration and could largely benefit from the economic alleviation tourism can provide. However, contrary to the desires of the Prime Minister, the community is resistant to this large-scale tourism model of their sister island. They want to protect their untouched ecosystems and defend their social property rights. We are proposing a master plan for the island of Barbuda that protects ecosystems and rebuilds infrastructure, while simultaneously allowing for small-scale tourism in the form of community memberrun homestays and cottages, as well as ecologically conscious excursions and activities. This community-based model will provide a necessary and sustainable increase of revenue for the island economy while maintaining its natural beauty and protecting the social property rights of the community.

MEXICO

LEGEND Major Airports Minor Airports Cruise Ship Ports All Ports 100k People Mangroves Coral Reefs Maritime Boundaries

BRUMADA

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONE In 2015, Antigua and Barbuda passed Special Economic Zone regulations and parceled out the new SEZ on the island of Antigua.

SEZs are zones that are often adopted freely by developing countries across the world with the intention of boosting economic activity. These zones, legally separated from host nations, are governed with few restrictions on infrastructure, trade, manufacturing, civil law, and international law. Such economic zones are problematic because they act to solely benefit foreign interests and act as financial parasites on host nations.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

THE BAHAMAS

44%

THE BAHAMAS

15 mi

1.5 million tourists visit The Bahamas annually. Tourism roughly equates to 44% of the total GDP (data from 2019).

CUBA TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS (UK)

MEXICO

16%

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 6.2 million tourists visit the Dominican Republic annually.

Tourism roughly equates to 16% of the total GDP (data from 2019).

10%

4%

CUBA 3.9 million tourists visit the Cuba annually. Tourism roughly equates to 10% of the total GDP (data from 2019).

PUERTO RICO

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

PUERTO RICO (USA)

3.9 million tourists visit Puerto Rico annually. Tourism roughly equates to 4% of the total GDP (data from 2019).

ANGUILLA (UK)

VIRGIN ISLANDS (UK) ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

CAYMAN ISLANDS ST. MARTIN (FR) ST. MARTIN (NL)

BELIZE

HONDURAS

VIRGIN ISLANDS (USA) 31%

JAMAICA

HAITI

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

43%

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA 1 million tourists visit Antigua & Barbuda annually. Tourism roughly equates to 43% of the total GDP (data from 2019).

ST. KITTS & NEVIS

PUERTO RICO (USA) MONTSERRAT (UK)

JAMAICA 2.4 million tourists visit Jamaica annually.

Tourism roughly equates to 31% of the total GDP (data from 2019).

GUADELOUPE (FR)

SPECIAL ARANGEMENT ZONE

DOMINICA

NICARAGUA

MARTINIQUE (FR)

VENEZUELA

ST. LUCIA

ARUBA (NL) COLOMBIA

ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES CURACAO (NL) VENEZUELA

GUATEMALA BONAIRE (NL)

GRENADA

BARBADOS

EL SALVADOR

NICARAGUA

COSTA RICA

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO PANAMA

COSTA RICA

GUYANA

PANAMA

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SOCIAL PROPERTY 61.99 mi

Social property or community lands are lands owned by, or under the customary governance of, a community regardless of national recognition. Social property is variously described across the globe (Mexico refers to ejidos, Tanzania to village islands, Ghana to customary lands, China to collectives, Cambodia to indigenous lands, Barbuda to land in common, etc.). The 61.99 square mile island of Barbuda became land owned in common after the emancipation of slavery in 1834.

Today, decedents of former slaves are fighting to preserve their social property rights and their land in common that the government is actively attempting to sell out from under them.

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EMANCIPATION

North Beach

In 1834, the slaves of Antigua and Barbuda are emancipated. The Codringtons leave once their lease is up and Barbuda reverts to the British Crown. Although, the former slaves are left alone on the island of Barbuda with no property titles or rent to be paid, therefore the land is shared in common by the people.

BILLY POINT GOAT ISLAND

COBB COVE

HOG POINT CEDAR TREE POINT

Frigate Bird Sanctuary

CODRINGTON LAGOON

TWO

Highland House (Ruin

THE COUNCIL Lighthouse Bay Resort

The Barbuda Council is established in 1976. When Barbudans want to build something, they consult with the council first. The council begins leasing land to developers, which is why there are a few beachfront hotels and resorts on the island (most are permanently closed).

Although, Barbudans never sold any land; they just rented it out to whoever they wanted.

Darby C Barbuda Research Complex Codrington Warf The Government House (Ruins) Codrington

THE CANAL

10 mi

The Martello Towe (Ruins) River Wharf Landing

THE LAND ACT The Barbuda Land Act is put in place in 2007, where it officially confirms that the land of Barbuda is owned “in common” by the people.

Beach House Hotel

Pink Sand Beach

PALMETTO POINT

K Club Ho

CHRISTOPHER CODRINGTON A sugarcane grower from Barbados sets up a plantation on the island of Antigua. In 1685 Codrington leases the island of Barbuda from the British crown; African slaves imported to inhabit the island and work on the plantations of Antigua. Barbuda is also used as a source of supplies, such as timber, fish and livestock. The town and lagoon of Barbuda are named after Codrington.

LANDMARKS & DESIGNATED LANDFORMS Landmarks, designated landforms showing locations of natural features as well as historical ruins on the island

COCO PON

PRIME MINISTER Prime Minister Gaston Alfonso Browne pushes through an amendment to the Barbuda Land Act that commodifies the value of land in Barbuda. Residents are allowed to buy their own land from the government for $1 (all resident occupied land equates to roughly 1% of the island’s land mass). The amendment opens the door for foreign investment after the devastating destrcution of Irma.

HURRICANE IRMA September 6th, 2017, Hurricane Irma leaves the island of Barbuda in ruins, with 90% of properties damaged. All 1,800 residents are evacuated to Antigua. Barbuda has slowly begun repairs to the mass destruction caused.

GLOBAL SOCIAL PROPERTY

PROTECTED LAND Island land protected by Environmental Division of Antigua and Barbuda

Goat Point Sanctuary

K-CLUB LUXURY RESORT One of Barbuda’s few resorts/hotels, the K-Club, was closed down in 2004. The vaccation spot was Princess Diana’s favorite secret paradise.

EJIDOS OF MEXICO

NEW PLANS

Lagoon Sanctuary

Robert De Niro acquries 391 acres (roughly 1% of the land mass) of the land in Barbuda with plans to build a luxury hotel industry on the island in 2015. Many residents of Barbuda have voiced disapproval of this plan.

Low Bay Sanctuary

PROTECTED OCEAN ZONES Sanctuaries protected by the Blue Halo Initiative, in collaboration with the Barbuda Council and local citizens

SOCIAL PROPERTY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA

SEASONAL FISHERY SPECIES

ENDANGERED SPECIES

Leatherback Turtle Dermochelys Coriacea

Green Turtle Caretta Caretta

Boulder Star Coral Montastraea Annularis

American Eel Anguilla Rostrata

Hawksbill Turtle Eretmochelys Imbricata

Loggerhead Turtle Caretta Caretta

Scalloped Hammerhead Shark Sphyrna Lewini

Blacked-capped Petrel Pterodroma Hasitata

Guaiac Tree Guaiacum Officinale

Krug's Sweetwood Nectandra Krugii

Parrotfish Scaridae

NATIVE SPECIES OF INTEREST

Snapper Lutjanidae

Queen Conch Caretta caretta

Grouper Epinephelinae

Spiny Lobster Palinuridae

Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata Magnificens

Red Mangrove Rhizophora Mangle

Night Blooming Cereus Cephalocereus Peruvianus

Seaside Grape Coccoloba Uvifera

P

O FOOT BAY

ns) GUN SHOP CLIFF Indian Cave

Cave

HOG CLIFF

PIGEON CLIFF

CASTLE BAY Castle Hill Bryant Cave WELCH

otel

PELICAN POINT

Castle (Ruins) Coco Point Lodge Hotel

NT

SPANISH POINT

FLOOD RESILIENT HOUSE With Homestay Units

Ervin’s Guest House

ERC Point

~ 15 FT

TYPICAL BARBUDAN HOUSE

Byron’s Café Living Faith Church

Barbuda Research Center Zabeth Handicraft Center Digicel Barbuda Telecommunications Service Provider

Lil Linc’s Supermarket

Goerge’s Pops and Tops Home goods Store

Jazz Café

Fishery Complex

Post Office

Holy Trinity School

Harry P Abraham’s Middle Eastern Food Cd’s Café

Wanda’s Food Palace The Ginnery

Highwa Conven

Christian Church

Barbuda Seventh-day Adventist Church

Timbuk One Hotel Customs & Excise Barbuda Office

Two Foot Bay Sanctuary

ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH CENTER

CODRINGTON

With Visitor Bungalows

Locations found in the only settlement on the islands of Barbuda

Palaster Sanctuary

BARBUDAN OWNED TOURISM Asha Frank, a Barbudan business owner, owns an ecological based tourism company on the island. She hosts visitors in wooden cabanas on the east side of the island and offers nature excursions that showcase the wonderous beauty of the island.

"Our visitors like to comb the beach. We have camp fires and grill nights. And a lot of the pictures on our website are of guests who catch fish, and then scale, cook and eat it on the spot." - Asha Frank

LEGEND Guest Houses Restaurants Businesses Churches Institutions

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NC-49 REDEVELOPMENT PLAN

EA

The NC-49 redevelopment plan is meant to provide guidance on the future development of the NC-49 corridor, otherwise known as University City Blvd, between Interstate 85 and Interstate 485. The plan is meant to re-imagine what the corridor may look like if an urban boulevard typology were to be applied in hopes to bring stakeholders together to further discuss NCDOTs planned superstreet implementations.

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The plan transforms NC-49 and University City into a healthy, vibrant, and interconnected community by improving existing connectivity, pedestrian and otherwise, to and around the university, preserving natural areas and open space in the midst of forging new connections, and revitalizing existing districts to better serve the region’s current and future residents.

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SI TE 5

* Completed by 2021 MUD program, site 4 designed by Alexa Russell and Jacob Lyons

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EXISTING FIGURE GROUND

PROPOSED FIGURE GROUND

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S I T E A N A LY S I S Bounded by EWT Harris Blvd. & John Kirk Rd., Site 4, which includes the main campus for University of North Carolina at Charlotte and the Town Center Plaza Shopping Mall, is the main anchor between all 5 sites. Building upon existing Lynx Light Rail Blue Line, CATS and UNCC bus routes, Toby Creek Greenway, high density tree canopy coverage, and low impervious surfaces. The existing site includes an under utilized parking lot, where the Harris Teeter grocery store is located, as well as close proximity to student housing and large university lawn spaces. The site also lacks pedestrian friendly sidewalks and paths.

The connectivity map illustrates the lynx blue line, abundance of CATS and UNCC bus routes, Toby Creek Greenway and proposed Back Creek Greenway. Although there appears to be some sidewalks, illustrated in yellow, there is a missing component of connectivity between the campus and surrounding communities One main creek, Toby Creek, runs directly through the site with Back creek not far from site with 100 year floodplains surrounding the two creeks. The elevation of this site is one of the highest points in CLT. Most of the land use that exist on the site is residential, multi-family, and institutional with retail and commercial anchors on either side of the campus.

With University City Blvd running through the site, there is limited pedestrian connectivity which would be expected in a university area. The site, in addition to the connected sites, lacks the major components of a “college town,” which UNCC strongly desires for it’s students, staff, and visitors.

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SITE 4 MASTER PLAN The key goals of the design of site four were: to design a more urban environment in order to create a “college town,” redesign the site to promote pedestrian accessibility and the increased use of bikes, reimagine an underutilized parking lot using mixed-use typologies, connect the university to the surrounding areas so students have safer and easier access, redesign the lawn space at the entrance of the university in order to promote community engagement and student activity, enhance the connections to the greenways and create additional greenspace, develop a campus extension and office HQ to further support the university, and develop more high density housing options.

UNIVERSITY C I T Y PA R K

G R A D U AT E RESEARCH CAMPUS OFFICE HQ

MIXED-USE REDEVELOPMENT

LEGEND Institutional Office Commercial Hotel Multifamily Single Family Park First Floor Retail Parking Structure

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U C B PA R K

(UNCC FRONT LAWN)

The front lawns of UNCC have been transformed into a welcoming park with a multitude of programming. The central community oriented park bridges student life with the surrounding community, furthering the goal of a college town. The proposed park includes smaller programming such as food and coffee kiosks, a children’s area adjacent to the newly built admissions center, a recreational skate park, and extended community gardens. Larger programs include lawn space for lounging, intramural sports and band practice, fronted by a large stage adjacent to the campus theater for outdoor events.

STUDENT GARDEN

FACULTY GARDEN

STUDY PAVILION GARDEN EXTENSION STAGE LAWN

FOOD KIOSKS

LAWN CHILDREN’S AREA

SKATE PARK

FOOD TRUCK PLAZA

COFFEE KIOSK

BIOSWALE BIKE BOARDWALK

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M I X E D - U S E R E TA I L C E N T E R The perspective illustrates the southern main street extension and the quality the retail plaza provides to the development. Tree lined streets, mid-rise mixed-use buildings, and a redeveloped retail plaza that is anchored by a Hotel and hotel plaza space, all contribute to the urbanization of the site and an increased sense of pedestrian comfortability. The section above illustrates the retail lawn space that can be seen from NC-49, providing a direct view to the Harris Teeter.

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UCB SECTION

BIOSWALE & RAINGARDEN

1 WATER FLOWS INTO RAIN GARDEN

4 WATER FROM CISTERN IS PUMPED FOR AGRICULTURAL USE

2 WATER IS FILTRATED IN RAIN GARDEN

20’6”

11’0”

DRIVE LANE

17’0”

BIOSWALE

19’0”

BIKE LANES

16’0”

RAIN GARDEN

23’0”

GARDEN STEPS

3 WATER IS SENT TO CISTERN

GARDEN/ CISTERN

SIDEWALK

10’0”

1 WATER FLOWS INTO BIOSWALE

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ATA N D O J U N C T I O N PROJECT OBJECTIVE Atando Junction is an underutilized industrial site, surrounded by residential areas and is three miles away from Uptown Charlotte. The objective of the project was to transform the site as a class into an area that supported surrounding communities, diversified the housing typologies, created density, and proposed a wide mix of land uses that are located within a pedestrian-oriented neighborhood, easily traversed on foot, bike or scooter.

The design of the site is based on Charlotte’s Complete Ten-Minute Communities, which was introduced in the Charlotte Future 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Using the Comprehensive Plan as a guide, our study site is divided into five place types: Parks and Preserves, Neighborhood 2, Campus, Innovation Mixed Use and a Community Activity Center.

LEGEND Single Family Townhomes Missing Middle High-density

Hotel Civic/institutional Office

* Completed by 2021 MUD program, following site designed by Alexa Russell

Restored Buildings Retail Market Arcade

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ATA N D O J U N C T I O N NEIGHBORHOOD 2 PLACE TYPE The site plan links three neighborhood 2 place type areas together with a Linear Green boulevard named Harvey Gantt Boulevard, which was inspired by Ninth Street in Charlotte’s Garden District. The first of the three areas replaces underutilized industrial buildings with 26 market rate single family homes, as well as multiple other housing types.

The new housing creates an improved transition to the adjacent single family homes in the Tryon Hills neighborhood and a successful buffer to the railroad tracks where many of the associated parking lots are located. Housing types such as fourplexes, triplexes and cottage courts, inspired by Daniel Parolek’s Missing Middle Housing, were incorporated throughout this residential area to provide affordable options.

LEGEND Single Family Townhomes Missing Middle High-density

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ATA N D O J U N C T I O N The perspective to the left illustrates the housing at the western end of Harvey Gantt Boulevard.

Homes are overlooking an open park space that creates an anchor point for community gathering, additionally the one way street creates slowed traffic. Complete sidewalks and paths encourage an active lifestyle among residents. This section depicts a 3 story walk up at the end of the boulevard and single family housing positioned around the open park.

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HUDSON VALLEY BREWERY * In collaboration with Marcus Avendano

PROJECT OBJECTIVE

To choose a beer brand to design a brewery around. The brewery was to be designed within Winston-Salem, NC in an existing building. The design needed to include: a taproom, bar, outdoor area, food truck space, and a production area.

PROJECT CONCEPT

Hudson Valley, located in New York, is an escape from the urban lifestyle. Hudson Valley Brewery, the brand, focuses on their ingredients from Hudson Valley for their sour beer. The design for Hudson Valley Brewery reflects the essence of it’s origin, Hudson Valley, NY. Inspired by it’s vast fields, mountainous landscapes, and abandoned historic structures, Hudson Valley Brewery, combines these aspects with an ethereal atmosphere, pulled from the brand’s graphics (created by Evan Cohen). Hudson Valley Brewery is intended for visitors to feel as though they have entered a secret world; much like what people feel when they visit Hudson Valley to step away from the world around them.

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HUDSON VALLEY BREWERY

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1 Stor a ge 168 SF

M a lt R o o m 90 SF

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J a nit o r ' s R o o m 126 SF

B a t hr o o m 95 SF

ELEVATOR

3 Co o le r 346 SF

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B a t hr o o m 131 SF P r o ductio n 1593 SF

B a t hr o o m 108 SF

K e g C o o le r 76 SF

SUNKEN LOUNGE

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Ta p R o o m 3454 SF

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O u t do o r Ar e a 2130 SF

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M E Z Z A N I N E C AT WA L K The catwalk is one of the three ways visitors can access the mezzanine. The catwalk also acts as a place where visitors can enjoy their drinks, alone or with others along the bar ledge.

MEZZANINE The mezzanine overlooks the main taproom , with a large community table inviting visitors to sit among each other . The mezzanine can also function as a private event space if needed.

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OUTDOOR BAR The outdoor bar counter connects to the indoor bar, the seamless flow is meant to emulate the Hudson River. Both bars rap around the keg cooler for easy access for the bartenders. Visitors sitting outside are able to view the production room and barrels through floor to ceiling windows.

O U T D O O R TA P R O O M The outdoor taproom features custom built seating situated around a row of fire pits, lined with planters and enclosed with a glass brick wall. The wall is meant to give people on the outside a slight glimpse into the brewery in order to catch their attention and draw them in. The outdoor space also features a fiber optic lit pathway which not only creates visually intriguing wayfinding, but also creates an ADA accessible space.

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PHOTOGRAPHY

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