Projects
2
Golden Rivers Playground
A competition entry: imagine a client and design a house to suit their needs.
p03 - p06
3
A thesis exploring inclusive design and integrating long term care within a multi-generational context.
p07 - p16
4
Library of Things Shift
An inspiring and enduring hub for creativity, exploration and investigation.
p17 - p22
A new transit destination brings an emerging urbanism in a distinctly suburban setting
p23 - p30
playground
Playground is a thesis protesting the inadequacies of modern long-term care facilities. Aging is a major problem which affects us all, and as the population of the elderly grows larger as trends dictate, there will be a need for long term care like never before.
Long term care facilities struggle to appeal to those they are intended to serve as they are often lacking the same qualities as a typical residence would. Things like adequate sunlight and visual connection to the outdoors, community aspects which encourage socialization, and features which encourage mobility and activity, all of which help alleviate the aging process.
Playground is a design solution, A method of arranging which can be applied to various contexts while still engaging with them vibrantly. The design typology starts at the prefabricated module, the scale of a residence, and is used as a building block, stacked close together when needed and given room to allow for various programs to cohabit.
Playground is an attempt at re-imagining what society’s relationship to long term care can look like, in the heart of downtown Toronto.
The design begins at the volumetric module. It’s a standard dimension which lends itself nicely to a spacious bedroom, while allowing for adequate structural spacing for mixed use at ground level, and parking below with minimal transfers.
The module is replicated, mirrored, and spaced tightly or given room to breath. This brings variation to break up the repetition, and gives spaces for lounging spaces, staff quarters, kitchens etc spread amongst the residences.
Despite their identical construction, the rooms are brought to life and truly made into a ‘home’ by their inhabitants which decorate and rearrange the layouts to fit their needs and interests.
If a resident wants to be alone and work on art, they can close the curtain on their fron door and do so. If a resident wants to host a small gathering they cna push the bcloncy glass to the exterior wall and bring in more chairs for their friends
The planning involved many iterations to discover how structure, program, and circulation would all work in harmony. After finding an appropriate module size its grid was repeated to optimize the rest of the building layout and discovering how to achieve a light-filled environment with lots of visual connection to nature. Generous space was given to the corridor allowing it to become a public realm reminiscent of a street, filled with light and opportunities for socializing.
The modules start off neatly organized, but begin to pixelate and rearrange themselves as the building gets taller, stepping up the building more gradually and placing emphasis on the modularity
Connection to natural elements was an integral part of design from the onset. Exposure to nature has tremendous tangible benefits and should also be a design objective.
The building is oriented towards the neighbouring Corktown Common park. The landscaping of the site deliberately transitions itself into the park, encouraging residents to engage with it both physically and visually.
Library of Things
This project explores concepts of longevity, adaptability, and mixed use. A project that is lasting through its inspiring and durable form, as well as its adaptable and accomodating planning.
The Library of Things is an intensive exploration of building form, assembly, tectonics, sustainability and community.
The project began development as an exercise in drawing and modeling. Many early rip-and-tear models were created to investigate sectional relationships as a way of bringing landscape and people throughout the building.
These explorations evolved into a language of carving. And from there the chiseled block, from which pieces are carved away to reveal program.
LONGITUDINAL SECTION
shift
With the addition of a new LRT station, a node of density will soon follow with it’s acquired accessibility to the downtown. This project explores the future possibilities this entails.
This complex problem addresses the need for density, while delicately transitioning to the surrounding suburban context. SITE STREET
Of the various typologies of residential architecture on the site, the mid-rise was explored in more detail.
The building is centrally located where the LRT pedestrian bridge enters the site and is brought down to grade. For this reason, the ground floor was given priority to pedestrians and easy circulation for direct access to the LRT.
SITE SECTION PERSPECTIVE
GROUND FLOOR
TYP. PARKING
A single-loaded skip-stop plan was selected as it allows efficiency in stacking similar units, while allowing light to fill the shared corridor.
This combination of typologies also allows for cross ventilation of the the units, with access to outdoor air on both sides of the building. The courtyard design is segmented into two ‘L’ shaped plans which allows efficiency while allowing light and air to circulate the negative space.
SKIP STOP LOWER
The south-east facing facade features a secondary skin of operable curtains which can be opened to allow sun into the apartment, or closed to keep the apartment cool on hot summer days while still allowing cross-ventilation.
