AAD_SU21_081

Mark Melita Kantai

Columbia University, GSAPP 2021

V.01 2021

Table of Content 01. Fall Semester 2020 Mabel Wilson | Protocals of Care: Bodies of Assemblies

P3.

02. Spring Semester Justin G Moore | Erasure, Place Making, Mark Making

P11.

03. Summer Semester David E Moon | Speculative City

P23.

04. Bonus Techniques of Iltrareal | Spring 2021

P32.

Summer Workshop | Summer 2021

2021

Healing Spaces Protocols of Care: Bodies of Assemblies Fall 2020

The project is titled healing spaces as a provocation on how Architecture can contribute positively to the well being of a person and also as a form of repair for the damage that has been already caused using the lens of care. Care as described by Krasny in the book Architecture and urbanism “care can be viewed as an activity that includes everything we do to maintain, continue and repair our world so that we can live as well as possible.“This is particularly important for East Village, since it is a neighbourhood that is and has been experiencing change .

The project is a proposal in capturing change and still holding on to the history and nostalgia of the neighbourhood. Using St Mark’s Church as an example of the development of East Village. The neighbourhood has gone through gentrification over the years which has resulted to positive attributes such as green technology and environmentally friendly materials.

However it has also led to social problems such homelessness due to increased housing rents, loss of some arts such as beat poets and barricaded murals, replacement of legendary spaces and potentially placing other sites such as gardens at risk of redevelopment. It is from this angle that my proposal seeks to provide care of the displaced persons, the dying arts and preservation of the gardens. The protocols of care are further reinforced from an interview conducted

by Photographer James Maher in 2012 of over 200 residents on East Village with the majority showing concerns of the dying arts and potential risk of the gardens within the area due to gentrification. I looked at the each protocols i.e. homelessness, Arts and plants individually to understand their disposition in space and how they form, relate or don’t relate with each other. In particular I looked at homelessness as the primary protocol of care because of its ever present need not only in the neighbourhood but also in the country. And also how the pandemic has also increased the number homeless people due to loss of jobs, no income and overcrowding in shelters making it hard for social distancing. The neighbourhood in itself has new encampments along the 2nd avenue, and in particular in between 7th and 8th street that were formed during the cover-19 period. I analysed the spatial relationship of the bodies over time to understand their temporal nature, I looked at the concerns presented by the residents and the needs of the homeless of the homeless people such as shelter, food, healthcare etc. I also looked at the encampment typologies to understand the needs of a homeless shelter and spatial programs that can be implemented.

In her lecture at GSAPP on housing as a verb, Rosanne Haggerty commented that ‘homelessness is to big of a category…what can we do to solve homelessness.’ From this analysis and from the needs presented by the individuals along 2nd avenue I intend to create a space for mental health care as it rose as the primary concern of the people, and as part of a global framework or system of solving homelessness. In determining the programs for the protocols I identified the spaces that were most important such as therapy spaces, gathering spaces, relaxation spaces among others and developed rules and procedures for their displacement. This also facilitated how the spaces could interrelate by having the gardens as primary focal orienting protocol.

How can the space be used over time?

Natural Lighting

Privacy Gradient

Perforations

Perforations

Ventilation

Form

Function

Plants

Arts

Performance Arts

The Square represents the pure and rational.

Modular space that easily holds the primary function and can easily be assembled or disassembled.

Integration of nature into design. Scientific studies show nature can improve mood.

Soft-color artwork which has proven to positively impact patient behavior and mental health.

Social activism, integration with the exterior spaces for some performances.

How can the space be used over time?

Natural Lighting

Ventilation Ventilation Ventilation

Courtyard

In developing the form the integral questioned how a healing space looks like.

I settled on the cube because of its pure and stable ability to serve the primary functions of the spaces of care for the human bodies and its mobility since the overall aim is to replicate it around the city, country or globe, how can it be a temporary structure?Following the rules and procedures identified I am proposing an Integrated module with plants due to their tested abilities to increase the wellbeing of individuals. Light and natural ventilationIntegration of the soothing arts to improve the well being of individuals and their potentiality to be used on the exterior facades for identity and display of the culture of the neighbourhood.

And lastly, privacy integration through change in levels since there are two distinct bodies on the site that both require care attention and possibly separation.

Structure

Configurations

Materials

Mobility Transformation Adjustments Temporarily

Open layout for perfomance Headroom Courtyards

Weather Seasons Privacy Gradient Security

Conceptualization

Introduction 4

How do the protocols deploy on the sited space?

A. Preparation

D. Formation

B. Distribution

E. Movement

C. Convergence

F. Convergence

+ + ++ + + ++

Meditation Plan 01.

Gardening & Performance

Combined

02.

03.

Notational Study

5

Model Study

3

St Mark’s Church

1 1. Private Spaces 2. Public Spaces 3. Semi-public Spaces 2

Site Analysis

6

Proposed Site Plan

Sectional Elevation of Private Area

Part Plan

7

Private Spaces

Sectional Elevation of Semi-public Area

Part Plan

8

Semi-Public Area

Sectional Elevation of Semi-public Area

Part Plan

9

Public Area

Taita Apalis Erasure, Place Making, Mark Making Spring 2021 10

Erasure: Addressing erasure from a biodiversity stand point, biodiversity is fundamental for the human and non-human wellbeing.

It offers multiple opportunities for development and improving livelihoods and it is the basis for essential environmental services upon which life on earth depends on. For instance birds are indicators of the health of our environment by alerting us when ecosystems are out of balance.

Mission: Designing a bird sanctuary for the “Taita Apalis” with a community space to create avenues of conservation and restoration of the endangered species through community participation and empowerment with the aim of achieving environmental sustainability in Taita Taveta.

As noted by Bird Life International Organization, biodiversity is fundamental to human well being for it offers multiple opportunities for development and improving livelihoods for instance birds are indicators of the health of our environment alerting us when our ecosystems are out of balance, support and regulate ecosystem services such as pollination among others.

The Taita Apalis also known as Apalis Fuscigularis by its scientific name is a bird that exists only in the Taita Hills, Kenya and has been marked as a critically endangered species due to its rapid decline over the past few years. From 2001 to 2017 it was recorded to have significantly dropped from about 1200 species to 300 species and unfortunately continues to decline. It has been identified by Bird Life Kenya Organization and the Kenya Forest Services that among the major reasons for its decline is disturbances from human activities. As noted that the bird only exists in Taita Hills, the lowland area of the region experiences a hot and dry climate and as a result of the climate, increase in population and pursuit for suitable land for farming and irrigation, human migration has been towards the hills. This has also greatly affected the Taita Hills forested areas with about 98% of the original forest being destroyed.

Vision: To design a community based bird sanctuary with the aim of conserving and restoring the Taita Apalis in Taita Taveta County.

The genesis of this research was on the primary question of mitigation and adaptation processes that can be used to combat the erasure of this species, however upon further research and discussions with local practitioners actively spearheading restoration and conservation efforts within the area, it was discovered that the most integral part of the biodiversity is the forest for its ecological and cultural importance to the local community more so than the birds. This distinction is rather critical as described by Paul Gacheru from Bird Life Kenya, for a complete successful restoration and conservation process of the species, it is important to create awareness of the birds with the forests since the forest is of symbolic, identity and ecological importance to the local community attracting community participation and empowerment.

It is in this consideration that the project takes into account three points of views as mitigation and conservation processes between the birds, the forests and the humans and non humans.

Location

11 11

Taita Hills

Case Studies: Successful Cases

Northen Bald Ibis

Rarotanga Monarch

Marquesan Imperial Pigeon

Seychelles Magpie Robin

Recommendations.

1. Investing in conservation.

2. Integrating biodiversity into decision making.

3. Understanding how people depend on biodiversity.

4. Empowering people for positive change.

5. Sustaining birds in the wider landscape and beyond national boundaries.

Primary Question: What are some of the mitigation and adaptation measures that can be implemented to reduce or combat the erasure of the endangered species?

Objectives: 1. Document successful and unsuccessful case studies of restoration of endangered species.

2. Promote local community participation, education and awareness.

3. Promote appropriate mitigation and adaptation measures.

4. Develop principles and guidelines for the design of a vocational center within a conservation site.

Importance of Biodiversity:

1.Biodiversity is fundamental to human wellbeing: it offers multiple opportunities for development and improving livelihoods.

2. Birds act as indicators of the health of our environment, alerting us when ecosystems are out of balance.

3. Birds are important to humans. They provide many supporting and regulating ecosystem services through their roles as predators, pollinators, scavengers, seed dispersers, seed predators, and ecosystem engineers.

Decline: 1. Human Activities.

2. Reforestation & Deforestation.

3. Climate Change 4. Habitat Disturbance and Destruction.

5. Forest loss.

4. Some sites are particularly important for birds and other wildlife. Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) are internationally recognized sites important for the conservation of birds.

12 12

The Taita

The Taita Hills The Taita Hills are approximately 20x20km in size rising to more than 2300m a.s.l from the surrounding plains at 900m a.s.l. The hills were originally covered with trees but has now the canopy cover has now been reduced to the highest and steepest peaks at about 400-600ha subdivided into 12 fragments, within a range in size of 1-220ha. Taita Hills has lost about 98% of its natural forest to settlements and to date only small remnants of forests remains which are heavily fragmented.

Ngangao Forest

Msidunyi Forest

Vuria Forest

13

Site Analysis

Ngangao Forest

Ngangao Forest is a successful example of the restoration of natural habitat from exotic plants to indigenous plants. One year and a half after the removal of the exotic trees, a dense cover of indigenous vegetation has (re)established itself into the gaps, and both Taita apalis and Taita thrush have been observed in the restoration area.

Taita Apalis numbers in 2010

Ngangao Forest has a successful sub-population of the Taita Apalis due to its lower altitudes.

Fliers distributed to the community in 2015.

Ngangao Forest | Forest Cover

14

Site Analysis

Vuria & Msidunyi Forest Vuria and Msidunyi forests are the prime habitats for the Taita Apalis and are facing increasing threat due to the high levels of human disturbances. Increase in population density has created the need for higher altitude lands due to demand in farmland. The forests also face increasing threat since they are not gazetted as forest reserves despite being strongholds of the

Msidunyi Forest

Narrow white lines = 100 m interval contours; the thick green line marks the indigenous forest patch. Red dots show the observations of Taita Apalis.

Yellow dots show the grid of pre-set sample points, spaced at 100 m intervals, where standardised counts and habitat estimates were recorded.

Vuria Forest

Study by https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Luca_Borghesio

15

Site Analysis

Site

Vuria Forest

2030

Site Analysis 16 16

2050

Architectural Character 01.

02.

01.

Form Module | Roof Garden

02.

Conceptualization 17

03.

03.

A

A

Masterplan1:200 18

1 2 3 7

4

8

10 8

9

5 6

Key

Siteplan 1:200 19

1. Access 2. Administration 3. Meeting Rooms 4. Workshops 5. Workshops 6. Storage & WC’s 7. Amphitheatre 8. Farming Land 9. Butterfly Farming 10. Grazing Land

Community Center

Farming Zone

Butterfly Farming

Section A-A 1:200 20

Grazing Land

Birds View

Human’s View

Project Visuals 21

Cow View

Alternative View

Alternative View

22

Bridges not Walls Speculative City Summer 2021 23

The project’s primary focus is remediation of flushing creek as well as food distribution in the area with secondary and tertiary spaces such as recreation, education and research among others as both complementary spaces to the system as well as to the community. Based on our studio’s theme on crisis in the city as well as envisioning a future for New York our initial approach was a global and historical analysis individually of crisis around the world and narrowed into two i.e. Food Arch and Gentrification. Both aspects inspired from our site visit to Queens Museum as well as the prevalent challenges in the neighbourhood. I looked at gentrification of Ny to understand its historical analysis, land use patterns, as well as upcoming developments to understand the greater picture while my colleague looked into our project site in Queens and its surroundings.

In terms of development patterns, as of 1916 when the first land zone plan for NYC was developed, the majority of the buildings could rise without a setback for two and a half times the width of the streets with notable examples such as Empire state building and Chryslter building. After the 1916 landuse plan we see different plans being incorporated as society changes i.e 1961, 1992, 2013 and 2019. Shown are also some of the toxic sites within the neighbourhoods and their pollution data over the recent years. From this analysis it is possible to see that the code adapts, shifts and evolves over time. Hence we anticipate there will be a continued adaptation and shift to reunite living and working areas among others.

My colleague’s research is about the outcomes of gentrification in Queens.

From site visit and analysis there are three sites along the flushing creek which have noteworthy conditions as well as plans for redevelopment.

- MTA transit, willets point and waterfront. i) MTA transit is fairly abandoned for lack of a better word since it is the existing parking bay for the 7line .

2.) Willets Points is an industrial area within Corona for automobile repairs and is home to an illegal community of immigrants facing high demands for gentrification.

3) And lastly Flushing creek, which is an important sewage discharge river that leads to excessive garbage which pollutes the environment, for instance the water is a prohibited zone by Ny health department for human engagement because of the existing hazardous and toxic chemicals.

Plans for redevelopment of willets point have already been given a green light despite the high levels of opposition.

This left us to question, what is the most urgent need of the site? as well as what kind of space does the community prefer? Each of the three sites as well as an additional fourth and potential fifth gave us interesting approaches towards environmental sustainability as well as social cohesion. For the MTA transit we felt the need to extend the park to MTA transit but still maintain the existing train system and allow for different functions such as use of renewable energy among others. Willets points for instance; to counter gentrification as well as meet the community needs we were proposing for an extension of the existing fabric to the upper levels and potentially connecting it to different moments of flushing corona park or Mets stadium.

And lastly, we felt that the most urgent need for the site was remediation of the creek due to the unwatched pollution by the existing industries. And also the lack of pedestrian connection between corona and flushing as well as to the creek. thus we conceptualized a device for remediation of the water as well as a system for human connecton and expansion into various spaces.

24

Site Analysis | New York

Flushing Corona Park

Site Analysis | Site | Queens

MTA Transit Conceptualization | Collage 25

Willets Point

Northern Boulevard Road | Queens

01.

02.

Conceptualization 26

03.

04.

05.

06..

07.

08.

09.

Conceptualization 27

28

Sectional Elevation

Affordable Housing

Farming and Distribution

Scheme Design 29

Public Space

Layout Diagram

Scheme Design 30

01.

02.

Study Model 31

03.

Bonus

“UltraFocus Cabin” Techniques of the Ultrareal Spring 2021 32

Preliminary Assignment 33

This winter cabin is a collaborative effort between Ian Callender and myself for Spring class in Techniques of the Ultrareal. As we began the class we both wanted to explore lighting, materials and texturing hence we conceptualized a modern winter cabin up in the mountains. To achieve our goal and vision we split the work amongst ourselves. With prior rendering experience with Vray for Sketchup and classes from LearnVray by Ciro Sannino I modeled the built environment, textured decks of the cabin, scattered the trees and plants in the scene, and edited the final images rendered using different render elements, while my colleague created the toposurface of the site using displacement maps combined with LIDAR maps, textured the cabin, and added the environment fog. The attached images above were among our final shots, I rendered the top image while my colleague rendered the bottom right interior shot while the bottom right was a collaborative effort between the two of us.

34

01.

02.

Sketches of Modern Cabin 35

03.

01.

Lighting and Composition Settings 36

02.

Lighting and Composition Settings 37

03.

Lighting and Composition Settings 38

01.

Material Palette 39

01.

02.

Material and Composition Settings 40

03.

01.

02.

Camera and composition settings 41

03.

01.

03.

02.

Final Test Renders 42

Final Image 01.

43

Final Image 02.

44

Final Image 03.

45

Final Image 04.

46

Post Covid New York City Summer Workshop | Victor Body Lawson Summer 2021 47

Research Question With a year of protests against racial injustice, police brutality, and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on human health and the economy, New York City is witnessing a decline that is generating concern about whether it will recover. The City weathered downturns from the 1950s to the 1980s, when the population dropped as a result of white flight and ill-conceived urban-renewal projects. But COVID-19 in New York, the city with the deadliest outbreak has heightened the fear of density and led many city dwellers to work remotely while posing questions - once unthinkable: do we need cities, do we need New York City?

Now that the horizon of vaccines appears to be on the verge of bringing an end to social distancing restrictions, will the City come back to normal? Will this be an opportunity to rethink urban architecture and streetscapes for more pedestrian use? Will swaths of empty office buildings be repurposed as residential buildings? Will climate change and the reduction of long commutes lead to Anne Hildalgo’s “15-minute city” where all people can access daily needs within a short walk or bike ride? Will new and renovated affordable housing become socially equitable to ensure that all types of people are able to live and work there with access to broadband internet, fresh food, public health, and economic growth?

Will public spaces become smart and flexible to accommodate all of the City’s needs?

Methodology Our methodology included lectures and discussions with NYC officials along with community and business leaders. Contacts included the New York Economic Development Corporation, New York City Planning Commission, New York City Housing Preservation and Development, and Multifamily Affordable Housing Developers.

Students conducted interviews with civic leaders and visited new affordable multifamily development projects focused on equity, environmental justice, and sustainability.

Output and findings The two-week workshop focused on interpretive comparative and quantitative collaged images that narrate New York City’s approach to environmental equity and post-COVID response urban living solutions. The collages were printed as provocative posters.

48

Collage

01.

02.

03.

Sketches 49

END

50