architecture portfolio
Bernadette Chamberlain
343 - 262 - 0670
bchamberlain@laurentian.ca
home : 39 Longden Pl Kanata ON K2M 1V3
school : 211 - 82 Ignatius St Sudbury ON, P3C 5G3
Third year bilingual architecture student with an interest in sustainability and heritage conservation, seeking a coop placement for the summer of 2023
sauna at Bennet Lake
A forest is made up of many levels - canopy, young trees, brushes and grasses, earth, roots - all interconnected to one another. Different layers of the forest present different light and atmospheric qualities. For instance, it becomes darker as one travels through denser trees, only to emerge by lake in the light.
The journey to, through and from the sauna mimics the idea of the forest journey and its different constituents. The birch log path continues into the building, weaving the tree trunk with the ground. Rocks of the landscape also are present inside. Inside the sauna, the wood benches take the shape of the Sudbury rock. The butterfly roof simulates the different levels of light and openness of the forest in the building.
Main entrance; gathering space; section 1:50; concept model showing form and environment
From top to bottom
Passive summer section
Passive winter section
Below
Solar shading at the critical moment, in summer and in winter, drawn in Illustrator
Right
Solar shading device for south façade of the building
ecological education centre
The ‘‘NASA Nest’’ is proposal for an ecological education centre situated on the cliffs overlooking Lake Laurentian. The structure surrounds the platform of the former NASA observatory, like a bird’s nest. The created courtyard is the heart of the building and play area for children.
Many different species of birds live in the site’s different habitats - lake, rock, sand and trees - and they are invited to come interact with the building with elements such as bird houses incorporated into the exterior walls.
studio 4 winter 2022
Concept sketch. Structure surrounds NASA platform and descends into rock
Some bird nests at Lake Laurentian
Physical concept model & birds in walls
Right Vignettes (Endscape and Photoshop from Rhino model): courtyard; lobby; winter view from lake
Opposite and above Plan & sections realized in Rhino, Photoshop and Illustrator; Left Hand-drawn construction details
table construction
As a studio group, we designed and built a gardening table for the rooftop garden of the school.
The legs and crossbar are oak, the tabletop frame is cedar and the tabletop slats - which are removable - are white oak.
No fasteners, such as nails or screws were used, only carved joints, such as mortise and tenon joints, lap joints and dowel joints.
studio 3 fall 2021
Mortise & tenon joint to connect legs to tabletop frame; dowels in corners of tabletop frame; dowel through crossbar
My construction drawings of an earlier iteration. The main chan ge was the leg configuration, into a simpler x.
Clockwise from top left
bird’s nest
The project was to use materials from the forest to create a ‘bird’s nest’ of sortsonly using tension and weaving to tie everything together, without any glues or other adhesives. My nest’s main feature is the mast - it is a boat, about to sail into the unknown.
A 20 x 20 x 20 cm cardboard box was needed to contain the structure, also necessitating creative ideas to hold it together.
structures: wood fall 2021
Upon the deck a sturdy mast A flower crown circles above The woven sail is ready to cast Into the unknown
Early childhood education centre
The central kitchen with a communal fireplace is the most important part of this Early Childhood Education Centre (ECEC) - it is the heart. The three child suites are all adjacent to it, with smaller rooms such as quiet rooms over looking it. The kitchen is a place for learning for the children, as well as rest, play and gathering. The entire building, and especially the kitchen, involve variations in floor leves to make counters accessible for users of various hights. Circulation is also very important - a ramp connects all the slight changes in levels and provide a constant connection to the kitchen. Finaly, the children learn and participate in the process of their food from the garden to their plate, through the outdoor gardens and indoor greenhouse, to which the community is also invited to contribute.
studio 5 fall 2022
Opposite page, below Conceptual diagrams of floor level variation, and the kitchen as the heart of the building
Right Circulation of ramps trough the building ties the levels together and offer a continuous acces or adjency to the central kitchen
Below
Site plan showing the relation of community and school gardens to the ECEC. There is a clear path from the garden to the kitchen to the table.
SITE PLAN 1:200
MAIN FLOOR PLAN 1:100
SECOND FLOOR PLAN 1:100
Floor plans of the main level and the second level which has many opportunities that are open to the floor below.
AXONOMETRIC 1:100
SECTION 1:100
SOUTH ELEVATION 1:100
Left
The axonometry illustrates the ecology that exists between the systems that work together to create an environment of wellness and health. For instance, fresh air is introduced into the building through the ERV as well as the greenhouse. The air circulates through displacement ventilation, helped by operable windows, convection from passive heating and the geoexchange system. The window strategy also contributes to the envelope and its airtightness, along with the wall assembly and foundation strategy.
Right
The wall section illustrates the envelope strategy used to attain airtightness.
WALL SECTION 1:20
