GALEN KRAGAS
OTHER WORKS
2023 - 2024
DESIGN MEDIUMS
HAND DRAWING, PARAMETRIC DESIGN , AND AI
Exploring different mediums is an important part of my design process. I use it to build a better understand of something, generate a new idea, or to reduce inefficiencies in my design workflow. The drawing above and below are hand drawn using pencil. The drawing on
the left was sketched in pencil, inked in pen and imported into Photoshop for coloring. The following spread includes parametric and AI design work. On the left I used grasshopper to multiply and manipulate four polygons. On the right I used stable diffusion, fooocus , and comfy UI. to generate a city.
VICTORIA PARK
Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, University of Houston
Fall 2023
UNCONDITIONED GAPS
Galen Kragas
WHO FEELS HEAT THE MOST?
URBAN CHALLENGES
MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES MUST ENDURE HIGHER TEMPERATURES
Arizona, United States
Maricopa County
HEAT VULNERABILITY INDEX
Heat vulnerability index (HVI) was allocated by each city of Phoenix Census Tract. It was calculated by combining data from Landsat temperature sensing imagery, air conditioning prevalence, vegetation density, and several social factors like poverty level and minority population percent.
City of Phoenix
The Poverty above 40%, the average Source:
Data Source: Arizona State University “Social and Heat Vulnerability Indices in Phoenix, Arizona” , Wright, Watkins, et al
SOUTH MOUNTAIN CENSUS TRACT THIS HEAT THIS IS
The HVI for South Mountain The City of Phoenix making has a poverty rate over 40% demographically 80% Hispanic.
Poverty level is just 40%, this is double average in Phoenix
The Demographical makeup is over 80% Hispanic. There is a strong correlation between increased levels of heat and marginalized communities.
The total vegetation coverage is sparse. The census tract is situated between industry and commercial strips.
and is
HEAT SEASON (2023), THERE HAVE BEEN A TOTAL OF 579 CONFIRMED HEAT-ASSOCIATED DEATHS. IS A 50% INCREASE OVER LAST YEARS 323 DEATHS
“In south Phoenix, it can get up to 13 degrees hotter than the surrounding areas due to decades of underinvestment and a lack of shade cover, green spaces like parks and cooling infrastructure like public pools or splash pads.”
Megan Taros, Arizona Republic
Data Source: NOAA / NWS Phoenix, AZ
Maricopa County Department of Public Health
HOW TO THRIVE IN THE DESERT
GILA RIVER
AGUA FRIA RIVER
SALT RIVER
WATER SYSTEMS
PHOENIXMOUNTAINS
CREEKS, RIVERS, AND NATURAL SWALES
The Salt River and the Aqua river are the major natural of water in Phoenix, Arizona. growth trees will be located natural sources of water. However, when rail does falls in the Sonora Desert it can cause flash flooding. addition to heat, this is another weather event that can cause struction in Phoenix.
PRESENT DAY PHOENIX CANAL SYSTEM HOHOKAM IRRIGATION SYSTEM
SOUTHMOUNTAINS
AND
Aqua Frio sources Arizona. Large located by these However, Sonora flooding. In another cause de-
HOHOKAM IRRIGATION SYSTEM (1150-1450 AD)
“Globally, Hohokam communities are renowned for engineering, constructing, and managing hundreds of kilometers of canals along principal rivers in the Sonoran Desert that collectively represent some of the most colossal preindustrial irrigation networks the world over.”
Source: Dale Frost, “Explaining Variability in Prehistoric Water Control Features”
CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT (336 MILES LONG)
HOHOKAM IRRIGATION SYSTEM
PHOENIX CANAL SYSTEM (1883)
The Hohokam set the groundwork for the Phoenix canal system. As the population of Phoenix grew so did the need for water. After cycles of droughts and floods water management was deemed necessary. This included protection from rain and snow melt, as well as retaining the rain for later.
Source: SRP, “A history of Canals in Arizona”
MONSOONS
CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT (1993)
The Central Arizona Project (CAP) is a 336 mile diversion canal that diverts water from the Colorado River into central and southern Arizona. The Canal is necessary to sustain the population growth seen in the Phoenix Area.
Source: CAP
SUMMER HUMID MONSOONS
In the summer the hot desert air rises drawing in cooler and more humid breezes from the South. This includes moisture from the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Typically this accounts for 40-50% of all rain in Central Arizona. However, this is being reduced due to climate change.
WINTER DRY MONSOONS
In the winter the cool desert air rushes to the west, bringing dry and dusty air to the Phoenix region. Sometimes there can be rain brought along with these storms.
Source: Hayleigh Evans, AZ Central
COMMUNITY LANDSCAPE
South Mountain Phoenix Census Tract 1154
URBAN MOBILITY
Bus Lines border the neighborhoods, however the major city blocks are large. The distance between major north south streets is over 0.5 mi.
The Phoenix Light Rail will extend from downtown into the South Mountain Region in 2024.
How can we protect pedestrians who are traveling internally to a major street block?
0.5 mi MINOR STREETSCAPE
LIMITED SHADE SMALL SIDEWALK
COMMUNITY ACTIVITY
There are three churches and one mosque in close proximity to the residential neighborhood. None of these were listed under Phoenixʼs 2023 cooling or respite stations.
Cesar Chavez Community School (Pre K - 8th)
Overall the community has a strong foundation of religious community, however seems to be lacking in libraries and public parks
MAJOR STREETSCAPE
“IF A GOVERNMENT BUILDING DIDN’T ACCESS, OR ACTIVITIES OF ANY KIND, PEOPLE TO IMAGINE SPENDING HOURS LESS OF HOW EXCRUCIATINGLY HOT - JAKE BITTLE, GRIST
DIDN’T HAVE FOOD, OR INTERNET KIND, IT WAS HARD FOR MANY HOURS THERE AT A TIME, REGARDIT GOT OUTSIDE.”
STREETSCAPE
WALKING ALLEYWAY
SHADE
UNCONDITIONED PROGRAM
The three divisions of and conditioned program. around active construction prove peoples job prospects tions in the toolkit can individually throughout
There are many vacant up to over 80 acres. space that is unoccupied tioned occupies land reduce the UHI effect. is located along major
of the toolkit are streetscape, unconditioned program, program. The scales range from temporary infrastructure construction to a Computer Literacy Center that can help improspects while keeping them cool. The intervention opcan be grouped together on one larger site, or placed throughout the neighborhood.
vacant lots in the area ranging from less than an acre acres. Additionally, there is existing commercial unoccupied that could be utilized. The uncondiland internal to the major block aiming to effect. While the conditioned program major streets.
PROPOSED INTERVENTION
MASTER PLAN
South Mountain Phoenix Census Tract 1154
URBAN MOBILITY
They alleyways are 16ʼ wide and have more shading than the neighborhood streets. It also creates separation between pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
Activity could turn an unwanted space into a cooler place for urban mobility and community activities.
0.5 mi
COMMUNITY ACTIVITY
The 5th Iglesia Apostolica De La Fe En Cristo Jesus is located at 3612 S Central Ave. They currently have an unoccupied building, that could be used as a cooling center and a library. Additional expansions could be made to include a computer and language center, as well as a community garden and market
Active bus stops are located at areas where alleyways intersect bus routes. They create a place of mobility and community
THE ALLEYWAY
ADAPTIVE REUSE OF A THIRD SPACE TO CREATE A MICRO CLIMATE WITH A COOLING CANAL
The Arizona Native Foothill Palo Verde Tree served as inspiration for the design of the alleyway shading structures.
The Bioswales on either side of the shading structure capture rain water, creating a cooling micro climate. This retains the alleyways rainwater.
A Blue Light Box is located at each shading structure in case of emergency in the alleyways.
The pedestrian friendly scale of the alleyway combined entation offers more shading opportunities than the
The shading structure provides mid day summer protection the winter it allows light in under its canopy.
The alleyway walls provide significant shading for the commute. Trees canopy studies show that trees are more back yards. This creates additional shading along the
Variable surface and air temperature in the alleyway creates air movement
Emergency and Utility vehicles are able to access the alleyway. Sharing the road with the bicycle path and walking trail.
combined with the East West orithe wide neighborhood streets.
protection from the sun, while in
the morning and afternoon more common in peoples the alleyways.
PHASE 1 - TESTING THE ALLEYWAY ECOSYSTEM
PHASE 2 - CONNECTING THE NEIGHBORHOOD
PHASE 3 - EXPANDING ACROSS THE CITY
There are 867 miles of alleyway throughout the entire city
22% of Phoenix households have alleyways
ACTIVE BUS STOP
MAKING BUS STOPS A DESTINATION AND GATHERING PLACE FOR THE COMMUNITY
Northern overhang provides shading to seating and gathering areas near the playground.
The roof provides both protection from the sun and captures the energy of the sun with PV panels
The accessible PV panels create a space to educate the community about renewable forms of energy.
Rain is captured and drains into desert garden and bioswales
Open Corridor captures Summer Prevailing winds
Subterranean
Southern overhang prevents direct solar heat gain during the hottest months
PHASE 2 - CONNECTION TO ALLEYWAY AND GARDEN
PHASE 1 - PLAYGROUND AND BUS STOP
PHASE 3 - OUTDOOR THEATER / EMERGENCY SHELTER
GOING GREEN AT HOPE FARMS
Professor: Patrick Peters Project: Compost Bathroom
Hope Farms is located in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Houston and is part of the nonprofit organization Recipe For Success.
The farm aims to reconnect children to food sources to combat childhood obesity and other life threatening chronic diseases. We had the opportu -
nity to design a compost bathroom for the farm, substantially reducing their carbon footprint. My personal responsibilities on the project included design the profile of the roof, the foundation and floor framing plan, and creating construction documents for these items.
Going Green at Hope Farms | 1st Year Masters | Spring 2022
Site Survey: Jan. 2022
Opened: July 2023
Green at Hope Farms | 1st Year Masters | Spring 2022
Initial Design Drawings
