Emma Stewart Work Samples

WORK SAMPLES

EMMA METZGER STEWART

2023 BA-ARH-D

EMMA METZGER STEWART

2019 to 2023

ACADEMY OF ART UNIVERSITY

Tools Designer

ESTEWART2423@GMAIL.COM

510-384-9974

Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (BA-ARH-D)

2022 SWISS INSTITUTE FOR DISRUPTIVE INNOVATION

Space Architecture Certificate

2021 to 2024 anticipated

THE NEW CENTRE FOR RESEARCH & PRACTICE

Master of Critical Thinking Candidate, Post-Planetary Universal Design

Gradute Level Certificate

2D Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, AutoCAD

3D Blender, REVIT, Rhino, SketchUp

Texturing

Substance Painter, Substance Designer

Rendering Twinmotion, Unreal Engine, Lumion

3D Printing Creality Suite, Ultimaker Cura

Languages

HTML, Blueprints, C++ (learning), Italian (learning)

Misc.

Adobe Audition, Marmoset Toolbag

PROJECTS

Multi-Family Housing Complex Design / Build

1911 Telegraph, Oakland

An ever-changing arrangement of sunshades forms a vibrant tapestry, showcasing the individuality and collective spirit of the community.

Community Park

Mission Neighborhood, San Francisco

A dynamic and inviting park that enhances community engagement, provides recreational opportunities, and acts as a welcoming gathering place for residents of all ages and backgrounds.

State Park Offices & Visitor Center

Angel Island, San Francisco Bay

With a profound respect for Angel Island’s history as an immigration station and military outpost, the visitor center’s architecture serves as a vessel for storytelling.

Community Garden, University of San Francisco

In collaboration with Adjunct Professor Novella Carpenter, we carefully considered the practical needs of the community garden’s many users in order to improve their garden classroom.

Multi-Family Housing Complex Proposal

Instruction Paul Adamson

Course Studio 450

Responsible for Models, Renders, Design & Process

Research Content & Process

Description

By embracing the city’s essence and engaging with its locals, the architectural vision seeks to celebrate Oakland’s rich history, promote inclusivity, and inspire the next generation of storytellers starting out in this extraordinary city.

Questions

1. How to showcase the individuality and collective spirit of the community?

2. How to tool AI for kit-of-parts ideations and iterations?

Methodology

1. A comprehensive data gathering process, such as historical documents, cultural artifacts, scientific data, or user preferences;

2. Experimental and iterative prototyping, using new tools, including testing and analysis at each step;

3. Patterns, relationships, and insights may emerge, guiding our decision-making and contributing to a holistic understanding of the subject matter.

Project Highlights

Drawing inspiration from Oakland’s vibrant culture and artistic spirit, the fabric sunshades act as dynamic elements that brighten the building’s exterior. The choice of colors, patterns, and textures evokes a sense of joy, vitality, and diversity.

By infusing color, playfulness, and a sense of welcome, the fabric sunshades are the interface between the occupants and the city.

Each apartment user is empowered with the ability to control their own climate by adjusting the sunshades screening their unit. This customizable feature not only promotes energy effciency by allowing users to manage solar gain and natural ventilation, it also is a living catalog of each occupant’s level of engagement with the nieghborhood as it is on direct display as the building’s skin.

Typical Unit

Walk-Ups

In parallel to explorations of vibrant fabric materials, the expressive qualities of reactive lighting was sought out. Fabrics offered a tactile dimension to the design, instilling warmth, and softness.

By employing advanced lighting controls, I sought to tailor the atmosphere according to the time of day or specific events. Daylight mimicking, moonlight sequences, and even interactive lighting installations that respond to users’ movements became exciting possibilities for drawing users in as well as being a vehicle for engagement with one another.

In the pursuit of pushing boundaries of design, we embraced modern tools to augment our creative process. Visual AI models emerged as powerful catalysts of innovation, opening new horizons for form exploration and contextual integration.

By employing AI-generated visualizations, we harnessed the ability to swiftly visualize various design options, freeing up valuable time to explore alternative solutions. These models enabled us to envision the interplay of light and shadow on the building’s façade.

Recognizing that every idea holds the potential for refinement and transformation, the process of experimentation and feedback was continuous. Every design elementfrom the building’s façade to the interior layouts - underwent multiple iterations, embracing the essence of adaptability and evolution.

AI_1_B

AI_1_D

AI_1_A

AI_1_C

Sharing the block with our site is Memorial Park, a testament to the memories of the past and the legacies of those who have walked its paths. The design pays homage to these memories by unchanging what exists already.

Carefully curated architectural interventions and thoughtful landscaping complement the park’s original features, such as carrying the lines from the existing paving through every public space in the new build. Enhancing its functionality without overpowering its charm and meaning was as important as amplifying the site’s allure while accentuating the elements that make it special.

EXISTING,

Each architectural detail reflects the cultural tapestry of Oakland, capturing its energy, resilience, and sense of place.

With floor to ceiling glazing and balconies that open towards one another, the spaces surrounding the writer’s desk encourage collaboration, dialogue, and creativity, fostering a vibrant atmosphere where local writers, artists, and residents can come together to exchange ideas and celebrate shared narratives.

Sense of Daylighting

Balcony Glazing

Community Park

Instruction Eva Chiu, Ricardo Solar Lezama

Course Studio 410

Responsible for Models, Renders, Design & Process

Research Content & Process

Description

This project aims to create a dynamic and inviting park that enhances community engagement, provides recreational opportunities, and acts as a welcoming gathering place for residents of all ages and backgrounds.

Questions

1. How to analyze principles of fabric behavior into architectural language?

2. How to make algorthithmic tools useful and necessary?

Methodology

1. Create a systematic collection and classification of crochet stitches, for the purpose of abstraction and rule-setting;

2. Experimental and iterative prototyping, including testing and analysis of various knots, how they are affected by speed, material and stiffness.

Project Highlights

Crocheting relies on the connections between individual stitches to create a larger fabric structure. Paths, walkways, and gathering spaces can mimic the interconnected nature of crocheted pa!erns, facilitating movement and encouraging social interaction. This interconnectedness can extend beyond the physical realm, fostering a sense of community and collaboration.

By drawing inspiration from the art of crocheting specifically, the design can integrate the principles of fabric behavior, connectivity, and the interplay between elements.

The fencing incorporates intentional gaps, strategically positioned to offer glimpses into the park’s vibrant activities, drawing passersby and igniting curiosity.

Within the process of planning night lighting solutions, the approach to ensure the park’s fencing is equal part beneficial and focal, is to light its borders. This creates an inviting ambiance and provides the opportunity to draw passersby into the heart of vibrant activities within the park, day or night.

To transform the essence of fabric into architectural language, a process of abstraction and rule-setting was necesssary.

This involved exploring the interplay between light and shadow, mimicking the play of light passing through crocheted patterns. The reference boards helped me visualize how light could filter through architectural elements, be played with, how they may cast captivating patterns and creating an ambiance that responded to the changing daylight conditions.

Soccer Shared Across Ages

Parents Standing in Shade

Walking Conversation

Reflections

Bicycle Speed

Skateboarders

Sunbathers

The Western Addition Community Park and Library are designed to seamlessly coexist, creating a cohesive and integrated space.

EXISTING, WESTERN ADDITION

COVERED PLAY + MIXED SEATING

State Park Offices & Visitor Center

Instruction Leh Tang

Course Studio 350

Responsible for Models, Renders, Design & Process

Research Content & Process

Description

Multiple levels, interconnected walkways, and strategically positioned observation areas provide diverse vantage points, inviting visitors to engage with the landscape and embrace the island’s serene beauty.

Questions

1. How to honor the island’s living history?

2. How can the building be made from on-island objects and resources?

3. How to connect visitors with the island’s biodiversity, while creating opportunities for education and awareness about the importance of preserving and protecting native species?

Methodology

1. Create a systematic collection and classification of native and non-native species for the purpose of traqcking the current state of the park and its visitors;

2. Utilizing these tracked sounds, create an experimental soundscape. Furnished upon request.

Project Highlights

The design takes into account the fluctuating water levels, ensuring a seamless integration of the building and its surroundings. Elevated walkways, viewing platforms, and strategically placed windows allow visitors to witness never-static tides, forging a connection with the island’s natural rhythms.

To better understand the island’s Fauna and Flora, I collected user-reported sightings across multiple Citizen Science platforms.

This understanding of their distribution, migration patterns, and habitat preferences served as a foundation for designing an architectural response that respects and celebrates the island’s natural environment.

This citizen science initiative allowed the gathering of valuable data on the presence and behavior of various invasive and native animal and plant species, highlighting their interactions with the landscape and their habitats within the island’s ecosystem.

By analyzing these findings, the goal was to integrate architectural elements that connect visitors with the island’s vibrant biodiversity and foster a deeper appreciation for its ecological significance.

INTENTIONALLY ILLEGIBLE, THE POINT ISN’T WHICH SPECIES, RATHER: WHERE

This understanding of their distribution, migration patterns, and habitat preferences served as a foundation for designing an architectural response that respects and celebrates the island’s natural environment.

This citizen science initiative allowed the gathering of valuable data on the presence and behavior of various invasive and native animal and plant species, highlighting their interactions with the landscape and their habitats within the island’s ecosystem.

Through data analysis on user-reported animal sightings and occupancy patterns, visualizations of these abstract graphs on the reference boards, sought connections between data points and architectural elements. The graphs informed the spatial organization, material choices, and overall composition of the design. The reference boards captured the translation process, showcasing how the data-driven insights were transformed into tangible architectural concepts.

PROXIMITIES & ADJACENCIES DIRECTLY DEVELOP FOUR-BAR SCHEME

TRANSLATION TO FOOTAGE REQUIREMENTS

TRANSLATION TO VOLUMES

Angel Island’s unique location, influenced by tidal patterns, presented an opportunity to harmonize with nature.

By paying homage to its heritage, embracing its scenic landscapes, and providing a transformative experience for visitors, the visitor center becomes a testament to the enduring legacy of Angel Island and its significant as a place of inspiration, education and reflection. Weighed the inter-connectedness of building shape, climate, occupant comfort, thermal envelope, conditioning and lighting systems, acoustics, and building energy consumption to form the best possible design.

In harmony with the island’s ecological ethos, the visitor center embraces sustainable design principles.

The design incorporates historical references, materials, and motifs that pay tribute to the island’s past. Immersive exhibits, interactive displays, and curated artifacts create an engaging environment where visitors can learn about the island’s cultural significance and the experiences of those who once walked its shores.

Energy-e!cient systems, use of local and renewable materials, and passive design strategies minimize the ecological footprint while ensuring visitor comfort. The building’s orientation maximizes natural light and ventilation, reducing reliance on artificial lighting and mechanical systems. Rainwater harvesting and responsible water management further demonstrate the commitment to environmental stewardship.

DESIGN / BUILD

Location University San Francisco Community Garden

Client Novella Carpenter, University San Francisco

Responsible for Design & Construction

Research Content & Process

Description

Removed and replaced existing concrete tables. Crafted custom tables onsite. Installed plumbing and on demand water heater for outdoor sink.

Questions

1. What are all of the necessities and plumbing requirements for exterior on demand water heaters?

2. How can the design incorporate as many found objects and materials as possible?

3. How to accomplish as efficiently as possible?

Methodology

1. Systematic deconstruction of existing concrete tables;

2. Cataloging of available objects and resources;

3. Considering site and time restraints, execute design and construciton within all deadlines.

Project Highlights

This design / build carefully considered the practical needs of the community garden’s many users. In close collaboration with the client, Adjunct Professor Novella Carpenter, we developed the tables to be active hubs for interactive workshops, as classrooms, storytelling sessions and functional surfaces.

Approached the project with a keen eye on budget management, ensuring every resource was utilized judiciously. Salvaging wood from the old tables not only reduced costs but also contributed to the garden’s sustainable ethos.

Simple, large tables served as versatile platforms for outdoor classrooms and as places for gathering. Regular feedback from the client shaped the final design, ensuring the design met the expectations and needs of the community.

This project was successfully delivered on schedule.

PROJECTS

Multi-Family Housing Complex

1911 Telegraph, Oakland

The ever-changing arrangement of sunshades forms a vibrant tapestry, showcasing the individuality and collective spirit of the community.

Mission Neighborhood, San Francisco

This project aims to create a dynamic and inviting park that enhances community engagement, provides recreational opportunities, and acts as a welcoming gathering place for residents of all ages and backgrounds.

Angel Island, San Francisco Bay

With a profound respect for Angel Island’s history as an immigration station and military outpost, the visitor center’s architecture serves as a vessel for storytelling.

Community Park State Park Offices & Visitor Center Design / Build

Community Garden, University of San Francisco

In collaboration with Adjunct Professor Novella Carpenter, we carefully considered the practical needs of the community garden’s many users in order to improve their garden classroom.

FABRIC EXPLORATIONS _1A; FROM THE UNINCLUDED CHAPTER, “WHAT VISUAL AI THOUGHT OF MY STUDIO PROJECTS”, FURNISHED UPON REQUEST.