Dominique DeGracia | Undergraduate Portfolio

DeGracia

2020

Dominique

portfolio

contact domdegra@gmail.com issuu.com/domdegra 661.313.7455

academic goals Develop design solutions that foster resilience and address social and environmental issues.

Explore and analyze the adaptation of wildlife in urban environments.

Research the impacts of colonialism and its lasting effects on indigenous lands.

Learn by doing and teaching.

|i|

01 - 12

| “flowing”

13 - 16

| locally grown

17 - 20

| inspiration point

21 - 24

| sempervivum

25 - 34

| selected works

| ii |

“f lowing ” S an t a C l a r i ta | Sa nta Cl a ra R ive r S en io r Ca p s t o n e | 2019 Flowing proposes a series of design interventions that reinvent the idea and flow of the Santa Clara River. Interventions that allow visitors to utilize the space in any condition, rain or shine.

With three different, carefully selected river-side sites, “flowing” looks at the river and its connections, or lack thereof, to the city of Santa Clarita. It addresses these issues, that can be found in the existing city trails, as well as the minimal amount of knowledge and attention the Santa Clara River receives.

Flowing creates connections and programs in areas that are in need of them.

Looking at existing educaitonal, residential, and commercial areas, “flowing” introduces site-specific connections and programs to activate connection between user and landscape.

rio vista elementary school

discovery park

canyon center shopping plaza

|3|

Rio Vista has what its name implies, a river view.

This elementary school sits alongside the river but has no access or connection to it. It is fenced off, and has a concrete buffer, protecting the school in the event of a flood. The river is used by a variety of animals as a wildlife corridor, and wile there is a mountain view, the existing path is inaccessible to the public.

Discovery Park has little to discover. The eastern portion of the Santa Clara River Trail ends with an often underutilized park. Although it is right along the Santa Clara River, there is not an accessible view of it. This blank canvas in the middle of this residential area could be used for the local community members to discover Santa Clarita by extending the trail to connect back to the western portion of the trail.

Canyon Center is the largest shopping center on the eastern side of Santa Clarita. The shopping center is divided by Soledad Canyon Road and is a trail head for the Santa Clara River Trail and the Commuter Trail. This river-side trail is underutilized and has the potential for programing and extensions.

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camp plenty rd

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section 2

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scale 1” = 1000’

|4|

proposed design interventions

rio vista elementary school

transitions for students to observe transitioning areas of their surrounding landscape |5|

observations for students to watch and experience the native flora and fauna

discovery park

discovering water passersby will experience the flowing of the river during rainy season

discovering gold allows community members to learn about native plants and geology

discovering slopes tribute to first settlers, the tataviam tribe; meaning people of the slopes

canyon center trail

filtration protrusions will collect debris during floods, showing affects of pollution

extensions provides a more social experience for visitors in this commercial area |6|

rio vista learning lab

education on the native flora and fauna

trail

golden valley mountains

|7|

connection to the western side of the city

santa clara river | flood zone | corridor

santa clara river works as a wild life corridor for endangered animals coming from the angeles national forest

ringtail cat

ca condor

ca red-legged frog

trail

flood buffer

uc d e santa clara river

ationa

l

extension over river

observation areas connection for school to river rio vista elementary school

rio vista learning lab

concrete buffer

rio vista elementary school

|8|

discovery park

highlighting the history and importance of the native flora

trail

santa clara river | flood zone

spanish settlers came to santa clarita because of the once wild, but small, river. |9|

extension of trail comes out and above the river

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flood buffe

trail

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idential parking

area for slopes/play open lawn trail extensions

santa clara river geology/flora learning

discovery park

tataviam play structure

inspired by the homes of tataviam native americans, meaning people of the slopes

trail

discovery park

historical | native planting

the first noted discovery of gold found in oak understory by francisco lopez | 10 |

canyon center trail

underpass becomes usable space

external pattern

underutilized parking becomes multi-functional space

section detail

trail

santa clara river | flood zone | debris collection

portions of the new river trail will have protruding filtration devices. design based on sediment patterns left behind after a flood. | 11 |

trail

com multi-functional event space

mercia

l

existing parking

trail extensions

santa clara river

canyon center trail

concrete buffer

trail

multi-functional space

under-utilized parking turns into open space that can be used for events. ex: farmer’s market

canyon center shopping plaza

| 12 |

l ocally

g row n

Po r t o l a , Sa n F ra ncisco | U nive rsity Mound N at u ra l E nv i ro nm e nts Focus Studio | 2017 University Mound is a small, fenced off area in Portola, San Francisco. It is known to locals as the Rose Factory, as this spot was once a thriving rose nursery. Now abandoned by the family who once owned it, passers by often admire and think of what once was, and what could be.

It is an area with potential to create a space for the community to be proud of, and has potential for positive environmental impacts on the watershed it sits upon.

University Mound. A place for the visitors and residents of Portola to enjoy.

With revived nurseries, community gardens and opportunities for local vendors to take part, the concept of having things locally grown comes to life. The local watershed is utilized for collection throughout the site; with detention ponds addressing flooding.

University Mound will thrive again.

buffer

| 15 |

terraced steps

ped.

bike path

water collection

retail area

detention ponds

greenhouses

community gardens

terraced steps

| 16 |

i n s pi rati on

po i n t

S an t a M o n i ca , Ca l if ornia | Pa l isa de s Park C o n s t r u c t i o n I mpl e m e nta tion Focus S t udio | 2017 Inspiration Point: a designated lookout spot at the end of Palisades Park in Santa Monica, California. It looks out onto the Santa Monica Pier and beach; making it a great location for tourists and locals to enjoy these iconic views.

With a thriving area like this, this spot should be inspiring. The selection of this location was determined based on its lack of traffic and the desire of locals to revitalize the area.

With a design studio focused mostly on construction documents, this project illustrates the details of what this destination could become.

schematic plan

planting plan

| 19 |

grading plan

detail drawings

| 20 |

s emp er vivum S an L u i s O bi s p o | E l Chorro, A I DS M emorial D es i g n F u n d a me nta l s Studio | 2016 The AIDS Memorial, in El Chorro Regional Park, consists of a small trail with stones engraved with the names of people who have passed in the community due to the disease.

Sempervivum, meaning “always living,” was inspired by an existing concrete sculpture in the memorial that includes three engraved flowers. The original piece was requested by the families of those memorialized; to them this symbolizes growth and life that always lives.

Sempervivum is a respectful and personal space for the families and visitors impacted by this disease.

| 23 |

With personalized sculptures that commemorate those that have passed, Sempervivum remembers and celebrates their lives in a respectful and creative way.

Bright colors are shown throughout to celebrate the lives of those who are gone, while memories of them remain and are not forgotten. | 24 |

s elected

wo rks

B r igh tV i ew D e sign G roup | De sign I nt erns hip | 2017 D i ar i o I ta l i a n o | Ca stigl ion Fiore ntino, It aly | 2017 M edi a E x p l o ra t ion | 2018 - 2019 S u s t a i n a bi l i ty Initia tive | Sa n Luis Obispo, CA | 2019 D es i g n G u i d a n ce | Ca l Pol y, Sa n Luis Obispo | 2018 - 2019

brightview design group | internship Summer of 2017 was spent working on a large variety of projects in Southern California. I worked with two different teams that each had different specialties, so I was able to have a wellrounded experience at BrightView.

The first team I worked with focused on housing development.

I helped with conceptual design phases for a project for KB Homes. I also assisted their planting design specialist on a large housing community project, Skyline in Santa Clarita.

drawing for potential OCGP Dog Park

The next team I worked with focused on parks and large scale design. I helped with drawings and details for a golf course. I also assisted with the design for a dog park and the conceptual phases for a portion of the Orange County Great Park. | 27 |

drawing for maximum golf cart parking

KB Homes - model home iterations | 28 |

diario

italiano

Sketches, a stone carving, and watercolors of moments in rural Italy during my studies and travels around the beautiful country.

| 29 |

media exploration left: Adobe Illustrator drawing of my dog, Odie below: Conceptual photoshop renders.

| 30 |

sustainability initiatives Zero Waste Kit Designed for a sustainable principles class, the intent of the project was to promote sustainable ideas and practices into our local community. My idea was to create a zero waste kit that could be personalized and very inexpensive. My group presented our ideas to a panel of stakeholders to potentially get this kit in the hands of Cal Poly students.

We proposed to sell a jar with a 3D printed utensil, reusable straw, and a “how to” guide for making the following items: - reusable and packable tote - reusable produce bag - reusable napkins

| 31 |

| 32 |

design guidance Environmental Design 123 | 2018 - 2019 As an instructional student assistant I lead the activity section for an Introduction to Environmental Design class. The following projects are some of the activities I instructed my students in. left: Derive. Mental map.

by Emma Smolik below: Camera obscura. Students experienced an obscura and designed their own.

by Julieta Moreno These activities had students making observations and connections with their surroundings.

| 33 |

above: Camera obscura activity.

Students during activity section, typically done outdoors, around our campus. below: Analysis. by Bailey Meyer Students observe from a different perspective, that of a user. Taking elements from their environment to aid them in their analysis

| 34 |

thank you. domdegra@gmail.com | issuu.com/domdegra | 661.313.7455