Understanding Equity through the study of Architecture: 2020 CAF Prize Application

An Attempt to understand Equity through the study of Architecture

Collection of Undergraduate Works 2016-2020

Here we were tasked to propose a new transportation system in Charleston. Charleston is greatly affected by gentrification, affordable housing is constantly being torn down and rebuilt with the intent to service those who lived there before but inevitably fail. This project restructures the transportation system to allow equal opportunity for those who live outside the city an efficient way to get to and from work, home or school. The tower on the site features low priced grocery stores and supply stores for the residents of the tower and in the area. The tower also provides additional affordable housing units for those effected by the development of the area.

Site map

Elevations

Site Section Model Long

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Central Hub

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Buses

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Proposed Transportation Model

Perspective from Second Level

Equal

Transportation Hub Charleston, South Carolina

Breakaway Towers

I was challenged to build a Box with six sides with a minimum square volume of 175in2.

I started with wood in its thinnest form, paper, and folded it into an accordion like square.

The way we navigate through the design phase is approached differently when it is in your hands to make sure the end product is of the quality to which you drew it. More thought goes into every detail and are obsessed over in a way when you are crafting something for human use. You must know the details down to the exact measurement and the order in which things are assembled in order to produce the best quality product.

Box in Use Design

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Vinyl Record Holder

The Box

Embassy and Consulates strive for design excellence by keeping in mind the presence and message The United States to bringing. We attempted to unify the nations by design in a passive way to preserve the relationship between the US and Morocco. We sunk the site to allow pedestrians to see down into the compound and not be intimidated by the wall surrounding the perimeter. The facade displays a traditional Islamic pattern embedded in the precasted panels and our massing was derived from classic Moroccan Architecture. The site is accessed by the continuous pedestrian bridge.

The bridge keeps the compound safe, and provides a logical path for visitors.

Site map

Wall Section

Site Section

Design Challenges Pre-cast Concrete Constraints

Designing on Foreign Soil

Consulate Programming

NW Elevation

Street Section

SE Elevations

Site Plan

Unity

US Consulate Casablanca, Morocco

Sunken Treasure

This semester we focused on Office Building design and how we could integrate new methods of collaboration and co-working into traditional office buildings. We focused on what we wanted our building to accomplish: collaborative work spaces, elements of nature, and amenities for employees and families. Then we focused on which views from The Highline we wanted to capture and this determined the form. Integrating the building into a complex string of building found on The High line was a challenge. We blended the facade into The Highline by merging glass with concrete and created a space for people from all backgrounds and disciplines to “Hang.�

Site map Floor Plans

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Collaborate

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Co-working Office Building The Highline, New York City

The Hang

The CDCC Installation Project was designed and built by the Introduction to Craft Students at the Clemson Design Center in Charleston. The team had to build trust early on in the project in order for things to operate and be executed efficiently. Listening to each others idea, respecting the advice from our project leader and relying on our team members to achieve the end goal, a complete installation, was the main objective of this project.

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Program Display Charleston, South Carolina

CDCC Installation

We are Equity in Architecture. We are an undergraduate student organization that promotes an equitable architectural community that creates awareness and mitigates the disparities in the practice in order to maximize everyone’s potential for success.

We strive to foster an equitable community within the School of Architecture by providing additional resources to the students while fostering a professional community between all studio years and by giving back to our surrounding community.

President

Hannah Smith | Senior

Educate

Stand up

Empower

Vice President

April Simms | Senior

Stand Out

Membership Chair Kaylee Alvarez | Senior

Encourage

Stand Together

Events Chair

Seth Moore | Freshman

Youth

Architecture Club Clemson University

Equity in Architecture

“Until female traits are respected as much as male traits, we are never going to get anywhere near gender equity” -Paula Stone Williams (Trans-gender Woman) We as designers ask ourselves, who are we designing in favor of? Who is gaining the most from our designs? It is beneficial to know the target demographic the design attempts to enhance but we need to start looking the other way; who is being inhibited by our design? Thinking about some of my projects in school, I have realized that taking into consideration the entire community has not always been the focus of the design. We are given a large budget, if any budget at all, assigned a site in an already wealthy city and given pure creative freedom when it comes to design. This is what school is about.

Allowing students to get any and all designs out, no matter how outrageous, is effective when getting students to understand their own personal style. Unfortunately, after college we are faced with budget restraints, structural restrains, policy and codes, the list goes on and on.

Overall, if Social Equity wants to be achieved we need to start designing environment that promote just that. Erin Sharp Newton, the Lead designer at NK Architects, conducted a case study in Morristown, New Jersey and concluded six elements that must be incorporated to warrant a Healthy City. In order to be consider a city “healthy”, it must be safe, sustaining, and allow equal opportunities for all citizens. The first element is incorporating Green and Active Spaces. Allowing a park to become the center of the city promotes active life styles and encourages people get out doors. Second, Transportation and mobility. Easy access to public transportation, walk-ability and connections to larger transportations systems makes cities easy to navigate and helps cut down on pollution.

Third, Health care access. Promoting wellness and providing health resources and education for citizens can keep the city healthy and safe. Fourth and Fifth, Food Resources and Urban Farms and infrastructure and support. No city can sustain with out the help of infrastructure. Infrastructure that promotes healthy life styles and encourages art and learning can only be beneficial to the city especially when it can be freely accesses by all citizens. Lastly, Restaurants and Social Vibrancy. Similar to infrastructure, no city is complete unless people are encouraged to socialize. This can only be accomplished by providing a safe, welcoming environment for everyone. Green space and easy-to-use public transportation are simple design elements that encourage people to get out doors. When they took a survey in Vienna concerning street safety, over 50% of women responded that they felt safer when there were more people on the streets and felt more comfortable taking public transportation. When people are watching, crime is less likely to occur. For example, in the book, Happy City, Charles Montgomery discusses Enrique Penalosa’s attempt and success in creating a safer city in Bogotá, Colombia. By banning the use of personal vehicles for one week a year, citizens were forced to use public transportation. This made them realize the simplicity of using public transportation and changed the way people got around. In result, the streets became safer, less drug related crime was reported and less rape and murder was committed simply because there were more eyes on the street.

If awarded the CAF Prize, I would like to travel to cities where designing for equity has been a part of the conversation for years and learn how it is planned to be or how it is being, implemented. These cities include: Detroit, Michigan; Toronto, Canada; London, England; Vienna, Austria; and Casablanca, Morocco. I am interested in being part of a conversation with city planners and architects to learn more about How to Design for Equity.

I would like to begin by going to Detroit, Michigan (I know, far right?). I think if I am going to understand the complete picture of how Equitable design is being attempted and what has been proven successful, Detroit would be the best place to start. In 2010 Detroit’s Future City Plan proposed 26 interactive tactics to engage a diverse range of participants.

Two for example include resizing city-service systems for a smaller population and using landscape as the catalyst for economic, social and environmental transformations. Katy Trudeau is the Deputy Directory of Planning for Detroit, her divisions mission is to create a “healthy and beautiful Detroit, built of inclusionary growth, economic opportunity and an atmosphere of trust.” Speaking with her and understanding her planning efforts is where I would like to begin my world discussion of How to Design for Equity.

CAF Prize Award

What and Where?

Itinterary: August 3:

Fly From Atlanta to Detroit Michigan (4 day/3night stay $350 | Flight $90) Points of Interest: -Department of Planning -The Greater Downtown -Fisher Building August 6th

Fly from Detroit to Toronto, Canada (4 day/3night stay $350 | Flight $200) Points of Interest: -The Keesmaat Group -All 7 Design Districts -Planning and Development Office -Niagara Falls August 9th

Fly from Toronto to London, England (4 day/3night stay $350 | Flight $400) Points of Interest: -The Architecture Foundation -Central Saint Martins -Planning and Development Office August 12th Fly from London to Vienna, Austria (4 day/3night stay $350 | Flight $100) Points of Interest: -Boutiguehotel Stadthalle -The Belvedere Palace -Naschmarkt (Places design by women, for women) August 15th

Fly from Vienna to Casablanca, Morocco (4 day stay/3 night $350 | Flight $160) Points of Interest: -US Consulate -Department of Urban Planning -Hassan II Mosque August 18th

Fly from Casablanca to Atlanta (Flight $800) Estimated Total: $3,500 (dates and rate may change depending on COVID19)

Toronto, Canada has always been a precedent for well-planned cities. According to Charles Montgomery, in the 1970’s, during urban sprawl, Toronto, along with Portland and Vancouver, was one of few cities that used government funding to create inherently safe cities instead of developing highway systems that encourage sprawl. Safety has been a core value of Toronto’s city planning efforts and they have consistently reported low crime rates. Chief City Planner from 2012-2017, Jennifer Keesmaat, now CEO of The Keesmaat Group, works with corporate and political leaders to advance changes in cities around the world. Observing what her and her team do and learning abour how they accomplished their goals would allow insite on how to go about implementing designs to promote Equity.

Every time I type Gender-Sensitive Design or Designing for Equity into my search bar, Vienna, Austria appears. In 1990, planners in Vienna conducted a survey that was able to assess how different genders use public transportation. They found that men typically take public transportation to and from work; a travel pattern that planners assumed was consistent for most citizens. They, however, discovered that women’s travel patterns are rather complex and vary from day to day. They are going to work, then the store, then to drop children off at school, then to their relatives house and back to school and finally back home. Planners realized that infrastructure too has a gendered aspect. As a result of these findings, Vienna adapted transportation projects to fit the needs of women as well.

They added more street lighting, wider sidewalks and more public transportation stops.

These same Ideas are being implemented in London, England. Petra Marko discusses the book “How to Design a Fair Shared City” in her talk with The Architecture Foundation.

This book depicts eight heroes who represent a wider population: a girl, a woman, a parent with a stroller, an elderly person, a group of kids, an elderly woman, a father, and someone who is working or visiting the city. One story questions why there are less young girls in public parks and how design can change that. She encourages London to be specific and recognize the differences between these eight types of people to create equal access for everyday use. Innovative planning strategies are being used to change the design of both London and Vienna and seeing how this is changing everyday is something I would like to study.

Last semester I did a project based in Casablanca, Morocco. We learned about how to design on foreign soil, especially how to design without offending the culture you are interrupting. Of course we had to learn this because we were designing a US Consulate.

Throughout this project we learned about the role Morocco has played in Developing the Muslim World. Countries like Iran, Pakistan and Saudia Arabia have not served as ideal examples for planning and have not considered Gender-Specific design to be a part of their planning efforts. Casablanca, however, is a model for an alternative urban development and aims to balance economic performance, social equity and the preservation of natural resources. In 2010, The Grand Casablanca Master Plan was approved. It aims to integrate green components as a structural basis of urban development. While Casablanca is on the right track, Urban Development in the Muslim World, a book by Hooshang Amirahmadi, points out that this is only the beginning, this is a step in the right direction for the future planning of the city. Much more can be study and implemented to make the city equitable. I would like to end the trip in Casablanca so I can bring an educated and well-observed study of the idea of Gender-Sensitive design with me and open a discussion with the city planners in Casablanca about Designing for Equity.

I plan to attend graduate school to study Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, my hope is work for a Firm that upholds Gender-Sensitive design and makes it a goal to take responsibility for their design actions. Reflecting on design decisions and realizing how a design can shape the way people learn, interact, travel, etc. is important and is discussed in Victor Papanek’s book “Design for the Real world.” Papanek places architects planners from the 1970’s in the hot seat and shows through history how some designs are inefficient and should be changed. I hope to work along side people who put themselves in that same seat and consider if what they are designing is truly Equitable.

CAF Prize Award

What and Where?

I have a The boring part: Address

Personal Information

School | 410 Berkeley Place Circle Clemson, SC 29632 Home | 2624 Benz Place Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 Phone

904-557-5210

Goal and this is just a step in the right direction

I am a forth year architecture Student at Clemson University. My Goal is to broaden my understanding of the world we live in by observing human interactions, learning about equity and inclusivity and work in future development and city planning. I am constantly looking for ways to learn more about what I don’t know regarding disadvantages people face and reflect on the things I do and how all these things can influence everyday design. I hope to purse a career in Architectural planning. I see the study of architecture as having endless potential to change the way others interact and thrive in the world and I am eager to gain insight on these possibilities through the study of design.

Email

Education

Hcs2@clemson.edu

I have an

Issuu Page / Portfolio

Clemson University | August 2016-May 2020 (sad to go) College of Architecture, Art and Humanities Major | Architecture Minor | Travel and Tourism

https://issuu.com/hannahcarolinesmith I have

Skills and Hobbies

Adobe Products

Photoshop Illustrator Acrobat InDesign

Clemson Design Center Charleston (CDCC) | January 2019-May 2019 Fluid Campus | Junior | Studio X (Landscape Architecture Studio) I have

3D Modeling

Experience

Pirate Island Properties | May 2017-Still work for PIP from Time to time Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034 Design Consultant

Rhinoceros Auto CAD Revit Lumion Sketchup

Rawls Architecture, LLC | May 2018-August 2018 Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034 Architecture Intern

Physical Representation

Model Making Drafting Laser Cutting 3D Printing Sketching

Alliance Consulting Engineers | May 2019-August 2019 Charleston, South Carolina 29492 Engineer Intern I am

Hobbies

Hiking with people I can keep up with Skiing, especially in Park City Avid TedTalk Viewer Planning Trips I’ll never take Trying New Recipes Random Art Projects Always down for coffee Traveling with my sister Attempting to play the Ukulele & Piano Singing in the shower and car Self Taught Graphic Designer

This is a picture of me on Easter. I wish I always looked this put together but thats rare.

Involved

Delta Phi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta | August 2016-Alumni Clemson University PanHellenic Greek Life Standards Committee Member, New Member committee Chair Holder Equity in Architecture (EQiA) | September 2016-now running the show Clemson University School of Architecture Madam President American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) | August 2017-Current Clemson University School of Architecture Madam Vice President

This is a picture of me after I impulsively cut 8” of my hair off. My grandma was shocked

This is a picture of me in Arizona visiting my friend Lauren. I am also holding a lizard.

CAF Prize Award

Why Me?

Work Cited: Amirahmadi, Hooshang. Urban Development in the Muslim World. Routledge, 2017.

“Creating Healthy Cities for All: Designing for Equity and Resilience: Erin Sharp Newton.” Archinect, archinect.com/Sharp-Newton/project/creating-healthy-cities-for-all-designing-for-equity-and-resi lience.

“Detroit Future City, 2010–13.” Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, collection.cooperhewitt.org/objects/420777913/.

Montgomery, Charles. Happy City: Transforming Our Lives through Urban Design. Anchor Canada, 2014.

Papanek, Victor. Design for the Real World. Thames & Hudson, 2019.

“Planning and Development Department.” City of Detroit, detroitmi.gov/departments/planning-and-development-department.

Sidorová, Milota, et al. How to Design a Fair Shared City?: 8 Short Stories Based on Equitable Urban Planning in Everyday Life. Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung E.V. in Cooperation with WPS Prague, 2016.“The Keesmaat Group.”

“The Architecture Foundation: Ideas for London's Public Space Charter.” The Architecture Foundation: Ideas for London's Public Space Charter | Marko & Placemakers, markoandplacemakers.com/news/the-architecture-foundation-ideas-for-london-s-public-spacecharter.

The Keesmaat Group., www.thekeesmaatgroup.com/.

Tranovich, Andrew Fleming and Anja. “Why Aren't We Designing Cities That Work for Women, Not Just Men?” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 13 Oct. 2016, www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/oct/13/why-arent-we-d esigning-cities-that-work-for-women-not-just-men?CMP=share_btn_tw.

Williams, Paula Stone. “I've Lived as a Man and a Woman. Here's What I Learned: Paula Stone Williams: TEDxMileHigh.” TED, www.ted.com/talks/paula_stone_williams_i_ve_lived_as_a_man_a_woman_here_s_what_i_learned.