2016-2018 Design Portfolio

Emily Sinclair Landscape Design S e l e c t e d Wo r k s 2 0 1 6 - 2 0 1 8

Central Park in Late Summer (Sinclair, 2016, 35mm Film)

Ta b l e o f C o n t e n t s Studio

Riverwalk Hamilton Harbour

Built

Park(ing) Day SPACELAND

Written

Landscape Architects Network

Competitions Table for 1200 More Warehosue Journal

Emergent Futures: A View from the River Site:

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Ty p e :

University Project, December - April 2016

S u p e r v i s o r : Alan Tate Brief:

South Point Douglas, the site of some of the worst flood events in Winnipeg, provides a rarity in the prairie landscape - a view of the city. Enhancing this, and emphasizing the relationship to the river will aid in reigniting a desire to once again be the ‘River City’.

Winnipeg has seen a departure from the rivers in the past few decades.

Many see them as polluted after-thoughts that the city is responsible for and no one is taking ownership. Meanwhile, as we experience increased flooding events, we further distance ourselves from the original spines of the city. We have forgotten the boons the river once brought: transportation, recreation, and ecological services.

Winnipeg features a strong urban forest along its rivers. Celebrating that feature and bringing people down to the river while still emphasizing the juxtaposition of the dense trees so near to the downtown core is key.

Providing opportunities for people to identify with the river and see it as a major characteristic of the city could lead to a stronger support in developing strategies with the preservation and celebration of the rivers edge. Bringing the public down to the river and bringing the rivers into the public eye.

1950 flood covers all of Point Douglas

Opposite: 1) View of the downtown from the riverbank (Sinclair, 2016) 2) Industrial site contributing to bank destabilization and soil contamination (Sinclair, 2016) 3) View down the river (Sinclair, 2016) Above: 1) Preliminary design concept sketch (Sinclair, 2016)

Warehouses and factory buildings are common sights in this once heavily industrialized area

Repairing the Riperian Edge North Point Douglas has a well documented history of industrial practices, this impact is seen in the contamination of the soil. From the train tracks to the historical lumber mill and the large scale soap production, the point is heavily laden with chemicals and contaminants that inhibit some development.

Many of the plants native to the River Bottom Forest ecosystem aid in rehabilitating highly contaminated areas.

Strengthening the presence of these plants along the river can help improve the quality of soil over time.

The presence of elms on the edge of the riverbank suggest that the level which contain willows and cottonwoods has eroded and dropped into the river over time

The View from the Point An elevated walkway ensures this ecosystem is as undisturbed as possible while still allowing access for recreation during times of high water.

Enhancing the views of downtown, and framing them with tall cottonwoods and fluffy willows, provides a unique vista not often found on the prairie. Re-establishing a forest along the river also benefits the neighbourhood by lessening the severity of flood events on the point, as the trees along the edge can absorb the pressure of yearly flooding and still thrive. All while providing new and exciting views of the river and downtown district of Winnipeg.

Encourage people to enjoy the forest from an elevated position to reduce compacted soil, allowing for even stronger forests along the river as the plants combat the contaminants in the soil

W i n n i p e g . W i n t e r p e g . C h i c a g o o f N o r t h . G a t e w a y t o t h e We s t .

N o m a t t e r h o w i t ’s d e s i g n a t e d , i t ’s a l m o s t n e v e r n a m e d t h e b e s t My big city dream imagines a Winnipeg full of pride One which goes beyond the “sights to see” in the tourist guide A city which is willing to pay attention and invest In building at the human scale - a point important to me - I must confess My big city dream sees an urban forest - far and wide One which allows for production and habitats and protects us from high tides And if we must think big, think of patterns on high Then let us think of rivers and the areas we usually hide T h e a l l e y s , t h e i n d u s t r y, t h e b a c k y a r d s , a n d t h e s t r e e t s All areas of infrastructure which are not always trod on by feet For a city built on rivers, it might spell our demise Because in this city the rivers are not connections - but divides What if the rivers were paths beside which we run and ride And if the weather is right - on them we might glide I think it could happen - in your lifetime or mine Winnipeg 2030 Winnipeg - by Design - Big City Dream (Sinclair, 2016)

Above: The lookoff located at the apex of the path allows for stunning views of downtown, situated from the often unrealized vantage point of the river Opposite: The raised pathway approaches the look off with a gentle slope, the walk through the trees becomes a gradual climb. The path remains elevated so to protect the delicate understory from trampling

Regional Design: A Network Approach Site:

Hamilton Waterfront, Greater Extended Golden Horseshoe, Ontario

Type:

University Project, Jan 2018 - Apr 2018

Supervisor: Brief:

Professor Alan Tate

The Hamilton Waterfront is in the process of being redeveloped to encourage higher density projects. This redevelopment has so far focused on bringing people in from other areas to enjoy the waterfront but what does this area provide to the residents?

Construction drawings over model show how the project is realized from plan to 3D. The angles of the ground plane situated to allow water to flow through the site and collect in the planters. Overflow is directed into the existing catchments for the railway.

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Collages representing the needs of the residents AND the visitors: recreation, public spaces, 24 hours/all season areas, wayfinding and access to transportation

N o r t h E n d r e s i d e n t a n d l a w y e r H e r m a n Tu r k s t r a s u m m e d u p m u c h o f t h e

“How do you get people through the North End without harming the neighbourhood?� concerns by asking:

- Hamilton Spectator (September 25 2017)

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Go Station In Hamilton’s North End, the major features are the redevelopment of the harbour front, the new Hamilton GO Train Station, and the neighbourhood in-between those two. How can one or both of these new elements become something that is giving back to the community rather than encouraging people to visit the site and then leave once their day trip is over.

Existing Conditions

Proposed Design Concept Rubber Surfaces Play areas are programming with additional opportunities for spontaneous play and chances for others to sit and observe.

Rubber, shock absorbing surface allows for all edges and walls to be included in the play areas.

Play area

Most of the greater site boundary can be reached within a 10 minute walk (commonly 800 metres) of the West Harbour Go Station. The West Harbour GO station offers opportunities in its central location and its connectedness to both Toronto and Niagara. As well though, because of the railroad tracks, traffic of all kinds is pushed through this area in order to reach the waterfront making this station the gateway into the North End and the West Harbour Redevelopment.

The West Harbour GO Station is located on the boundary of the Hamilton North End and the Hamilton Downtown. The North End neighbourhood is the major site of the new West Harbour Waterfront redevelopment scheme. As more density is introduced into the area, the West Harbour GO Station

Plaza will be a gathering site for commuters, visitors, and families alike. Utilizing the entry point of the GO Station and the bridges over the train tracks as major thresholds into the waterfront recreation area, the West Harbour GO Station Plaza provides a space which functions as a destination with play equipment, biking facilities, and opportunities for rest/ people watching. The plaza still functions as a thoroughfare with priority given to a Kiss ‘n Ride, walk and biking facilities, and transit pick up/drop off rather than the single person car model.

With the proposed facilities, the West Harbour GO Station and Plaza will act as a destination and a journey through, from, and to Hamilton.

Steps with seating for people watching

Sloped approaches to the site encourage avoiding the elevator in order to move through the site to the street, the car park, and the plaza from the station’s platform

Sight lines to the elevated play area are present throughout the site so that caregivers can allow their wards to engage in independent play while still allowing for supervision

Go Station Required maintenance of the plaza that falls under the responsibility of the city employees will include: pruning, weed control, litter and snow removal, as well as general monitoring of the condition of the plaza. The Plaza should be open 24/7 to provide access to the car park and to operate as a thoroughfare for the community as well as a potential collaborator with the nearby conference centre. In the ‘o-hours’ or, hours when transit is not running, the plaza should still maintain light levels that provide safe usability for people of all ages and abilities.

Suggestion that the area be patrolled on a regular basis by appropriate persons. Lighting embedded under the seating on the bleacher steps will provide visibility to the

surrounding area. Additional lighting is provided through the light fixtures along each major entrance and pathway into the site. Each light fixture will be on a timer and will respond to seasonal lighting conditions and requirements.

The North End/Jamesville area is the transition between Hamilton downtown and the waterfront. The West Harbour Go Station is the entrance and the transition between these areas. The West Harbour Go Station and surrounding area will act as the entrance to the waterfront district in a way that enhances the local resident’s lives while also moving people towards the waterfront.

Park(ing) Day / The Bike Park Site: Type:

The bench itself was well used by people as they stopped to chat

Winnipeg, Manitoba Juried Competition and Built Project

Drawing inspiration from the questions raised throughout a previous studio project, the Bike Park was born. The Bike Park is a demonstration on how narrow minded cities have grown accustom to viewing the solution to bike parking as they always have, when in fact many cyclists can attest that the solutions usually cannot accommodate the need.

There are many different reasons why a cyclist may want to park and lock - their bike. Long term day storage (8-10+ hours) is only one scenario, other needs include short term convenience parking, a place to lean for hands-free tasks, and make-shift seating.

Bikes could be locked behind the bench

Many colours of chalk let people write their suggestions and observations in different colours

The mandatory fencing between the road and the bike park doubles as a map which passersbys can write and draw on, providing anecdotal information on Winnipeg’s bike infrastructure as it is currently. The result was a ever changing collection of the collective memory of a sample of the downtown Winnipeg population, revealing the good, the bad, and the ugly in regards to Winnipeg’s bicycle infrastructure as seen by the people.

City Map

Bench Seating for People Without Bicycles

Movable/Placed Anywhere

Bike Parking with Seating for Cyclists at a Counter

S PA C E L A N D Site: Type: Collaboration:

Winnipeg, Manitoba Contract/Built, June 2016 Leads: Mark Bauche, Michelle Tustin Sandra Forese, Janelle Harper, Katy Lipinski, Taylor Sinclair, Jonathan Watts

Testing seating arrangements with the human body

SPACELAND was a project completed by volunteers from the University of Manitoba along with Mark Bauche of HTFC. The project, which was funded by the music label, Head in the Sand, was to provide seating and other site furniture for a one-day pop-up music festival in Downtown Winnipeg. The theme was Space Invaders, modeled after the vintage arcade game.

Testing spatial conditions at 1:16 scale with sugar cubes

Inspired by my own ragtag lunchroom dining table of boxes and milk crates, the theme immediately brought to mind the pixel-like nature of milk crates. Optimal shapes for comfortable seating and conversing were explored using milk crates borrowed from local businesses. The final project included 500 milk crates total and was remarked on as being both quirky and practical.

The modular nature of milk crates allowed furniture to be created which had multiple options, choosen by the user in the moment

Play Landscape Be_MINE Author: Editor: Publisher:

Emily Sinclair Erin Tharp Landscape Architects Network Online

Project Details: Play Landscape be-MINE, by Carve and Omgeving (design) and Krinkels (contractor) in the town of Beringen, Belgium.

Many of our society’s past practices have created scars in our landscape, such as post-industrial sites which are unusable due to contamination and dangerous conditions. Lately, these sites have become grounds for renewal; projects which revitalize and reinvent the site from a wasteland to a landmark – usually while keeping the historical context. One such site is the Play Landscape be-MINE, by Carve and Omgeving (design) and Krinkels (contractor) in the town of Beringen, Belgium.

The Play Landscape began with a competition set out

by be-MINE, a tourism and recreation organization in Beringen. The town put forth the challenge to reimagine the rubble heap (or ‘terril’) created from the waste of old mining practices and redevelop the landscape in a way which adds an element of play, while still educating visitors on the history of the site. The winning entry, chosen in 2015, was the Play Landscape be-MINE, by Carve and Omgeving with Krinkels contractors. When we explore the details of the project, we begin to see why it was deemed the most fitting, as it is pointedly making references to the previous land use and history of the town while encouraging people to scrabble and play along the way, up and down the side of the hill.

Moving Through the Play Landscape The Play Landscape has three main parts to the design, which are revealed as you move through the landscape and up the rubble hill. The first part, the Pole Forest, is created using the sturdy poles which used to hold up the maze of mining shafts. The poles are set upright into the hill, pulling the gaze upwards, towards the top of the mountain. This set up cleverly relates back to the movements up and down the mining shafts; the miners always thinking about heading up, back towards the light. In between the poles, the hammocks, nets and beams create the adventure play course.

The Prismatic play surface is next in the ascent. It is laid over the hill, prismatic-shaped play surfaces rise up and down between the pole forest. Ropes and climbing handholds dot the surface so that visitors can choose to take control of their ascent if they’d rather not take the flat pathway which runs up the hill. The challenge is heightened by the route becoming narrower at the top of the hill and more scattered at the base. Adding to the experience are several tunnels and a long slide, all geared towards challenging people – especially children – physically and mentally, as the course gets harder as they move up the hill.

As adventurers reach the top of the mountain they are rewarded with the sight of the coal square. Sixty meters up, nestled into the mountain, the square is unseen before the summit has been achieved. Its sunken nature allows a reprieve from the harsh winds present at that altitude. Other character of the sunken square is the disappearance of the surrounding landscape, creating a true oasis, more than a rest stop on the top of a mountain. The view outward is not the point of this platform; instead, the visitors are invited to browse the interpretive panels and immerse themselves in the mining history.

Recreation and Tourism Pathways from the nearby Spurs Park bring people to the base of the mountain, connecting the adventure mountain to other recreational paths in the area. As part of the masterplan for Beringen, connecting the mountain and making it accessible to skiers, wheelchairs, strollers, bikes, and other methods of mobility was extremely important. Opening the mountain to all sorts

of users allows for a greater draw from the surrounding areas and incorporates the design into the community with ease.

The history of the site is very important in this design, the timbers of the pole forest being brought right out of the shafts which produced the terril, the colours of the mountain, the pathway materials. All of these choices were made with the intent of bringing the history of the mountain to the front of the discussion. Throughout the entire mountain there are rest places combined with information panels, connecting visitors with all the past history of the site.

Old Materials, New Purpose The Play Landscape is one of many projects the town of Beringen and be-MINE plan to finish, all revolving around Beringen’s post-mining landscapes and encouraging more recreational activities while also bringing in tourism to the town. What is most admirable about their efforts to reinvigorate the town is that they are not turning their backs on the mining practices and – most importantly – the hard work of their past citizens which built the town to what it has become.

Images: Meeus, Benoit. “Play Landscape Be-MINE.” Archdaily, https://www. archdaily.com/796396/play-landscape-be-mine-carve-plus-omgeving /57edc5aee58ece3d82000044-play-landscape-be-mine-carve-plusomgeving-photo Saradzic, Beno. “Play Landscape Be-Mine 09” A as Architecture, http://aasarchitecture.com/2016/10/play-landscape-mine-carveomgeving.html/play-landscape-be-mine-by-carve-and-omgeving-09

Ta b l e f o r 1 2 0 1 / / F i r s t P l a c e W i n n e r Site: Type: Collaboration:

Winnipeg, Manitoba Competition/Built, May 2016 Joseph Pilapil

Methods of printing and distributing have become automated practices, and the hands-on approach lost to time. Most of the processes now are completed in a short amount of time, and every replication is the same, without flaws or individuality.

Our philosophy embraces the flaws, the differences in each production that makes the copies originals in their own right, the art and our love of hand-making drove us to demonstrate how quality and experience changes when you take the handson approach.

Dinner guests were invited to take pictures, letting them develop in paper pouches before clipping them to the wires above the table. The result is a documentation of the event evolving. The attendees, fascinated with the process, became willing and eager participants in the creation of the living timeline. Photos were displayed above the table after developing, which added to the anticipation. Dinner guests picked each spot for every individual Polaroid, adding another element of unpredictability. As well, some of the packs of the film turned out to be expired, creating a happy accident with a blue tint and a dialogue on the availability of film today.

Table setting with developing envelope let guests develop their photos as they ate

Poloroids clipped to the table display allowed the product to be shared with all diners

Wa r e h o u s e J o u r n a l / / F i r s t P l a c e W i n n e r Site: Type:

Winnipeg, Manitoba Competition/Design, May 2017

This collage was created in response to a call for submissions from the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Architecture Warehouse Journal Editors. The collage, which takes elements of photos from past John A Russel Building Renovation photos, comments on use of technology in modern design education.

Rollerskater in the Park (Sinclair, 2016) First Place Winner, Downtown Winnipeg Photo Competition