Architecture and Urban Design Portfolio 2024

ARCHITECTURE & U R B A N DESIGN

PORT FOLIO GABRIELLE SANTOS SOARES

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AI-CHIPELAGO: EQUITABLE POLYCENTRIC URBAN NETWORKS

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EMULSIFYING THE EDGE: URBAN VITALITY

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URBAN SCAR: ARCHITECTURE AS A CONNECTING ELEMENT

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FEEDING NEW YORK

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NYIT URBAN DESIGN STUDIO 3

NYIT URBAN DESIGN STUDIO 1

FINAL UNDERGRAD THESIS

TALLINN ARCHITECTURE BIENNALE

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AI-CHIPELAGO: EQUITABLE POLYCENTRIC URBAN NETWORKS NYIT URBAN DESIGN STUDIO 3

Year: 2022 Location: East Lantau Metropolis - Hong Kong, China Role: Individual Softwares: ArcGIS/Map, AutoCAD, Rhino, Grasshopper, Enscape, Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign, Midjourney, Ostagram, RunwayML. Instructor: Tom Verebes 4

The East Lantau Metropolis (ELM) is a possibility for the future and owes the vision to be designed to cultivate an equitable and balanced living lifestyle through the provision of sizeable land for public and private housing, and economic uses, offering a smart density. It is a new global cluster of polycentric islands within a city, being the largest land reclamation project ever. Strategically located to be the third CBD of Hong Kong, ELM is an artificial Island that is part of the “2030 HK development strategy”. The Island is as well comprised of mixed-used buildings, institutions, technology, and research facilities that will provide an estimated 200,000 new jobs with a capacity of accommodating a population of 400-700,000 in 10km2.

Residents will seek to live in a compact and walkable metropolis with a variety of amenities and waterfront access. Offering multiple modes of public transportation that will connect the Island to Hong Kong, Hong Kong Island, and Lantau Island, and railways would be considered the backbone transportation mode to internally connect the major components of the ELM, forming a new strategic railway corridor.

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HONG KONG

HONG KONG

}

}

GRASSHOPPER

AL-ARAFA

OSTAGRAM/RUNWALML

GRANULARITY/TYPOLOGY

NANTOU

MIDJOURNEY

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}

}

GRASSHOPPER

}

REARRANGED

MIDJOURNEY + OSTAGRAM

}

OSTAGRAM/RUNWALML

black and white grid urban plan with nodes circular green spaces

GRASSHOPPER

SHAPE

NETWORK/BLOCKS

black and white city grid plan designed by Jan Gehl

SHAPE + BLOCKS SHAPE + BUILDING FOOTPRINT

Computational Design has been considered to give utopian results, with the goal of converting artificial intelligence to reality and designing a city where the residents are the focus. The process started with a research exercise about Urban Informality in a global context, studying mainly two cities (Nantou Urban Village – Shenzhen, China, and Al-Arafa – Cairo, Egypt) and focusing on the informal urban patterns in different scales of investigation, getting sources about the structure of the ancient, impoverished, and historically established city.

Thus, the goal is to take these cities’ informality and density and organize it into a more structured and systematic shape, later to be applied to the island. The database is then implemented to computational design (Ostagram, Runwayml, Photoshop) where it is combined and merged with other existing and non-existing cities (based on Midjourney prompts), resulting in new shapes and patterns. This operation is finalized in Rhino/Grasshopper and brought to reality, forming the shape, network and building footprint/granularity of the new Island.

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CONTEXT MAP

REGIONAL MASTERPLAN

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302,593.240 m² | 0.302 km² 840 BUILDINGS 0

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PUBLIC + WORKING OPEN SPACES HOUSING POLYCENTRIC

531,467.735 m² | 0.531 km² 1506 BUILDINGS 904 PRIVATE | 602 PUBLIC 590,519.706 RESIDENTS 0

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CONNECTION

Residents will seek to live in a compact and walkable metropolis with a variety of amenities and waterfront access. Offering multiple modes of public transportation that will connect the Island to Hong Kong, Hong Kong Island, and Lantau Island, and railways would be considered the backbone transportation mode to internally connect the major components of the ELM, forming a new strategic railway corridor.

32,615.398 m² | 0.040 km² 96 BUILDINGS

1,798,448.390 m² | 1.798 km² 70 BLOCKS 0

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38,332.283 m² | 0.040 km² 79 BUILDINGS

The Island attempts to have a polycentric/ multi-nodal organization, decentralizing the city and offering a pattern for smart density.

Several key nodes can coexist and propose something slightly different to urban residents, while also functioning as a self-contained “city within a city.”

The provision of sizeable land for public (60%) and private (40%) housing will cultivate an equitable and balanced living. Both buildings are coexisting in the same block, being interconnected through indoor/outdoor public connections, acting in two different ways: bridges and podiums.

GOVERNMENT, INSTITUTIONAL, COMMUNITY

31,307.713 m² | 0.030 km² 81 BLOCKS 0

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164,656.22 m² | 0.165 km²

1,619,364.20 m² | 1.620 km²

3,198.68 m² (parks) | 1,619,364.20 m² (protection) 1,622,562.88 m² | 1.622 km² 0

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/GUIDELINES/ PROJECT SCALES: MACRO

_Polycentric city: the future of sustainable urban growth. _Decentralize the city and offer a pattern for smart density, taking an undulating form with waves of density rising. _New transport network and supporting infrastructure. _Enhance the connectivity between the traditional CBD and Lantau. _Improve overall connectivity with Hong Kong and the rest of the world. _Blue-Green Infrastructure: the green channels and retention lakes to be provided for drainage/flood protection purposes would also provide outlets for public enjoyment.

MESO _Plan new employment nodes and bring jobs closer to home. _Enhance Hong Kong liveability in a compact high density setting. _Walkable and Car-Free Communities: cycle tracks, boardwalks and pedestrian trails will be provided in a comprehensive network for promoting cycling and walking. _Create a development capacity to enable a decent level of living and wide housing choices.

MICRO _Enhance the easy reach of people to job opportunities and community and leisure facilities. _Promote a healthier lifestyle in a low-carbon environment. _Provide better and more open spaces and community facilities. _Create more opportunities for larger homes.

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ISLAND MASTERPLAN

BEACH

BEACH

10MIN RATIO

MONORAIL MONORAIL

10MIN RATIO WATERFRONT ACCESS

EAST LANTAU PORT (NORTH) 10MIN RATIO

BEACH + GREEN AREA BUFFER (ISLAND PROTECTION)

MANGROVE PARK FOREST PROTECTION PENG CHAU SIU KAU YI CHAU STATE PARK

WATERFRONT ACCESS

KAU YI CHAU

BEACH + GREEN AREA BUFFER (ISLAND PROTECTION)

10MIN RATIO

MANGROVE PARK FOREST PROTECTION

MONORAIL BEACH

BEACH + GREEN AREA BUFFER (ISLAND PROTECTION)

10MIN RATIO EAST LANTAU PORT (SOUTH)

SUNSHINE ISLAND HEI LING CHAU MANGROVE PARK FOREST PROTECTION

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PODIUM MONORAIL ABOVE GROUND RAIL CONNECTION +12.00

BRIDGES VERTICAL CONNECTIONS (COMMERCIAL)

PODIUM + BRIDGES

BRIDGES BUILDINGS CONNECTION +12.00/+60.00

PODIUM

PODIUM INSIDE/OUTSIDE CONNECTION +6.40

BRIDGES

STREET PEDESTRIAN/ELECTRIC CARS OUTSIDE CONNECTION 0.00

PODIUM + BRIDGES

SUBWAY UNDERGROUND RAIL CONNECTION -12.00

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EMULSIFYING THE EDGE: URBAN VITALITY NYIT URBAN DESIGN STUDIO 01

Year: 2021 Location: Newtown Creek, New York City Role: Team Work (Gabrielle and Rasika D). Contribution: design strategies and ideas, exploded axonometric maps, 3D design, renders, masterplan, sections, post-production.

Softwares: ArcGIS/Map, Sketchup, Enscape, Illustrator, Photoshop.

Instructor: Marcella Del Signore 16

The project area consists of four distinct neighborhood pockets: Greenpoint, Hunter’s Point, East Williamsburg, Maspeth surrounding Newtown Creek. While the residential fabric of the three neighborhoods differs, they are all constrained by a lack of connectivity to the waterfront. The industrial zone adjacent to the creek serves as a barrier between the public and water edge. Various infrastructural, topographical, and hydrological factors impact one’s capability to easily access the creek, whether divided by transit infrastructure or restricted by accessibility.

The resilient connector increases waterfront accessibility and adaptability while keeping the industrial aspect of the area alive.

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CREEK DEPTH MAP WITH ACCESS POINTS 24 FT

VISUAL ACCESS TO THE CREEK ACCESS TO THE CREEK

4 FT

FLOOD MAP 2100

INDUSTRIAL LAND USE PATTERN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS

GREEN SPACES

PUBLIC SPACES

OPEN/ UNIDENTIFIED SPACES

OPEN-USE INDUSTRIES/ RECYCLING PLANT

OIL INDUSTIRES

PARKING SPACES

INDUSTRIAL AREA

FIGURE GROUND MAP WITH HIGHLIGHTED PUBLIC SPACES

SYNTHESIS OF THE RESEARCH

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MOUTH OF THE CREEK

MILE TWO

MASPETH CREEK

STRATEGIES: - redevelop and add to the existing green spaces; - redesign the existing connection between the boroughs (access to the creek from bridge); - maintain the freight traffic; - estabilish linear connection between the neighborhoods along the creek;

STRATEGIES: - design green pockets; - create access to the creek; - naturalize the water edge; - maintain the freight traffic; - estabilish linear connection between the neighborhoods along the creek;

STRATEGIES: - design green pockets; - engage water activities; - restabilish the relationship between the public and the creek; - naturalize the water edge; - maintain the freight traffic; - estabilish linear connection between the neighborhoods along the creek;

CREEK DEPTH MAP WITH ACCESS POINTS 24 FT

4 FT

ACCESS TO THE CREEK

INDUSTRIAL LAND USE PATTERN COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS

GREEN SPACES

PUBLIC SPACES

POTENTIAL AREAS TO DESIGN

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VISION PLAN 2050: Newtown Creek is a world-class destination that delights the senses, honors the region’s history, and uses advance sustainable technologies to remediate the creek. It is a place filled in character and activities that connects people to the city and its waterfront. It nurtures existing industrial, commercial, innovative organizations and is a place for all.

waterfront

technology

MASTERPLAN:

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network

ecology

INTERVENTION: WHY? _to control flood conditions _to reduce the number of the bulkheads along the edge _to eradicate the pollution _to break the stagnation at the ends of the creek _to provide a platform for the locals

SECOND URBAN FABRIC: WHY? _to increase the green spaces in the surrounding _to provide public space without relocating existing industrial fabric _to upscale the lifestyle _to improve public amenities

NETWORK: WHY? _to attract people towards the creek _to improve the pedestrian network _to add access from current dead ends along the creek _to lead people towards creek from existing bridges _to connect adjacent parks _to restrict the freight traffic so the public can utilize the creek

EXISTING CONDITIONS: _lack of access of any form to the creek for common public _deteriorating ecosystem because of high-level pollution _stagnation of the creek at ends leading to algo bloom _complete industrial fabric wrapping the water edge _CSO adding to the pollution _no growth in the immediate area (industrial) to the creek (stagnant in time) 21

network of urban fabric

connecting boroughs

flexible flood barrier

(AREA 1)

retrofitting existing industries

public activities

(AREA 2) 22

wetlands to mitigate flood

The primary goal is to investigate the stream and its surroundings in order to identify urban concerns, their causes, and their consequences. The second phase of the project aims to develop the region and provide a viable solution to the problems that the community and creek are facing.

WHY? Due to industrialization and pollution, the waterfront has become inaccessible to the general people.

Flooding will become a greater worry in the future if natural permeability is not preserved.

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NEW URBAN FABRIC

GREEN OPEN SPACE/PARK

CREEK

450FT

NEW URBAN FABRIC

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GREEN OPEN SPACE/PARK

ISLAND 465FT

WETLAND

CREE

195FT

480FT

FLOOD PROTECTIO

CREEK

440FT

12FT (2100) 10FT 8FT

EK

WETLAND

T

175FT

ON PROJECT

ISLAND

GREEN OPEN SPACE/PARK

NEW URBAN FABRIC

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URBAN SCAR: ARCHITECTURE AS A CONNECTING ELEMENT FINAL UNDERGRAD THESIS

Year: 2020 Location: Jundiai, Sao Paulo - Brazil Role: Individual Softwares: AutoCAD, Sketchup, V-ray, Photoshop, Indesign.

Instructor: Lucas Fehr 28

READ COMPLETE VERSION (BOOK):

The work presents the railway as an urban scar, social barrier and fragmentation of the territory. It also deals with the relevance of public space and its appropriation in residual areas, reestablishing a new urban design. The project’s proposal is to requalify the residual areas of Jundiaí’s railway border through a linear park, creating a large central green axis in the city and good public spaces. The intervention also includes new transpositions that will exercise the function of “sewing the urban scar” and connecting the two sides of the railroad, prioritizing the pedestrian and talking to the city.

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brazil

state of sao paulo

jundiaí

city of sao paulo

site

/GUIDELINES/ PROJECT SCALES: MACRO _design a green axis as a linear park; _renew infrastructure and collective mobility; _re-approximate people and urban rivers;

MESO _connect the park to the botanical garden; _increase the flow of people and encourage the use of public space; _stimulate densification: balance between housing x employment;

MICRO _new lot installments; _provoke walkability; _establish connections that connect the two sides of the railroad/river, reducing distances and connecting spaces; _deploy new equipment along the park;

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MASTERPLAN: REQUALIFICATION It was proposed a central green axis as a linear park that connects the two ends, from the Botanical Garden to the flooded park (drainage area), with new public spaces and equipment. New bus lanes and the PDP (Plano Diretor Participativo de Jundiaí - Participative Master Plan of Jundiaí) bike lanes were implemented. Since the area is inserted in the Urban Development Routes Zone, it is necessary to densify it by ways of new parcels of land near the CPTM station, assigning a balance between housing, employment and new equipment (buildings with mixed uses).

MASTERPLAN: CONNECTION It is notable the insufficiency of aerial and level transpositions in the railway and in the Jundiaí River. In this context, an intervention project was added to the park to establish urban connections for pedestrians. Bridges were designed on the ground level - to cross the river - and large architectural transpositions to connect the two sides of the railroad, sewing the large scar. The connections created start, in great majority, from existing paths. Bridges in ground levels are accommodated every 0.3 miles and large transpositions every 9,3 miles. As elements of the new urban context, the new architectural transpositions are public and cultural equipments, thus promoting a relationship of contemplation and permanence in the vicinity of the railroad and the river, also including cultural and social functions.

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SCHOOL OF ARTS + LIBRARY: From the masterplan of intervention of urban connections, which establishes that they are public equipment, it was chosen to develop one of the transpositions as School of Arts + Library, exercising the cultural and social function.

The volumetric shape started from the main reason: to cross the railroad and grant two connector buildings. The importance of inserting the transposition into the urban context led to the concern to create a continuous flow, allowing the pedestrian to break the railroad barrier in a physical and psychological way. Thus, the building is born from a ramp, allowing the continuation of the park’s path through it. Following the same reasoning, a study was made for the facade, designed with the transparency of the glass to integrate the visual fluidity. There is a fold in the building’s ramps, where there are two possibilities to cross the railroad: inside, through the walkway; outside, through the path of the park on the roof. To promote a contemplation and permanence relationship, green areas were designed on the roof, to give the feeling of the continuation and incorporation of the park.

ground floor SCHOOL OF ARTS auditorium cafeteria patio exhibitions workshops

LIBRARY book collection children’s area study area read area administration

mezzanine SCHOOL OF ARTS support stores administration workshops dance rooms cafeteria

bridge MALL kiosks cafeteria restaurants 32

LIBRARY book collection research area study area read area

(1) cross the railway

(2) two connector buildings

(3) flattening of the ends to allow the continuation of the park’s path

(4) volumetric’s plasticity

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SECTION A-A’ 0

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SECTION B-B’ 0

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SECTION C-C’ 0

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SECTION D-D’ 0

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SECTION E-E’ 0

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RAILING H=120CM

VEGETATION SAND; GEOTEXTILE BLANK, ANTIROOT AND WATERPROOFING ALVEOLAR SLAB RUFO

COATED PILLAR FACADE GLASS 6MM

detail 1

detail 2 COATED PILLAR

ALVEOLAR SLAB METALLIC FIXER BRISE FLEXIBLE CONDUCTOR METALLIC BRISE

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detail 3 FACADE GLASS 6MM AMOUNT VIERENDEEL TRUSS RAISED FLOOR

INFERIOR BANZO AS TRUSS RAISED FLOOR SUPPORT

ALVEOLAR SLAB

BRIDGES’ PILLAR

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FEEDING NEW YORK: A production-consumption prototype for Midtown Manhattan TALLINN ARCHITECTURE BIENNALE: The Future Food deal Exhibition

Year: 2022 Exhibition’s Location: Tallinn, Estonia Project’s Location: New York City Role: Team Work (Gabrielle S., Akshit K., Hitakshi A., Rasika D.) Contribution: food production/ consumption research, 3D prototype, post-production.

Softwares: Rhino, Illustrator, Indesign.

Instructors: Marcella Del Signore and Tom Verebes 40

As part of a study of the food needed to feed all of the population of New York City, this research project questions the great distance at which the city’s food is produced. In turn, design speculations are offered for what it will take to replace food produced in traditional farms located globally, across the US, and in New York State, with food production on a vast industrial scale located within a dense urban territory in New York City.

This speculative large-scale urban prototype is focused on forecasting yields of food produced, via managing the metrics of the transition of food production to vertical hydroponic farming, thereby reducing the amount of energy and water needed to produce the equivalent quantity of food, by harvesting solar energy with facades of photovoltaic panels, and water collection systems. Demonstrating the beneficial ecological impact of the automation of local food production, this proposition argues for the principle of Farm to Fork at the scale of an urban field of Manhattan blocks. Local restaurants, markets, and deli takeouts are proposed to be linked to food produced and distributed locally from within this densified prototype for large-scale urban farming in New York City.

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GABRIELLE SANTOS SOARES ARCHITECTURE AND URBAN DESIGN PORTFOLIO gsoares.ar@gmail.com | gabs-soares@hotmail.com Resume | LinkedIn