Undergraduate Architect Portfolio

kadeem thomas UNDERGRADUATE ARCHITECT PORTFOLIO

//CONTENTS

about

selected works academic cmca mmoj gnla

professional rbl-tu casa tortuga

miscellaneous projects: visualisations + built

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04 10 16 24 30 36

//ABOUT

hello, My name is Kadeem Thomas and I am a highly creative and multifaceted designer with experience in multimedia, print and other design mediums from Trinidad and Tobago. I joined the Caribbean architectural firm ACLA architecture in 2018 as an undergraduate architect after obtaining my Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies with Upper Second Class Honours from the Caribbean School of Architecture at the University of Technology, Jamaica.

I am also a collaborator for the digital publication Designer Island, which is curated by a team of Caribbean creatives to promote contemporary, creativity and culture in the Caribbean.

01

ACADEMIC

Caribbean School of Architecture

2015 - 2017

CMCA

exterior view: willem leestraat street elevation

04

third year studio - semester II - 2015

low traffic moderate traffic high traffic parking

CMCA // CURAÇAO MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART “art + architecture” Willemstad is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a Dutch colonial trading settlement. Due to the interchange of cultures, it shares a common cultural history with other counterpart cities in the Caribbean region. The city’s architecture is a blend of Dutch and Spanish colonial styles producing a wide range of historic buildings in and around Willemstad, thus resulting in the capital being designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

commercial / civic government medical residential / mixed use institutional

context map: vehicular circulation

The Curaçao Museum of Contemporary Art is a civic intervention in the Pietermaai District, a core region in the historic area of Willemstad. The proposal is a response to the absence of a central cultural hub in the city that recognises and promotes local visual artists and their work. Through research and analysis of the urban evolution, character and density of the context, it was observed to be a significant missing element that could assist in transforming the city’s image and allowing more dynamic engagement for locals and tourists within the city.

circulation parking

Museums and galleries exist to conserve the best works of the past and present.

We have found pleasures and gained insights from the works of the past and have a moral responsibility to ensure that the same is possible in the future.

The concept was to create spaces that epitomized “co-existence”. This was achieved by creating subtle relationships and connections with the galleries, the commercial areas and residential zones by allowing the circulation to be seamless and interconnected throughout the building. However, certain boundaries still needed to be preserved and maintained to allow the various zones to operate effectively as private and public realms when necessary.

The overall surface area is approximately 950 m2 which houses the Contemporary Art Gallery. A direct relationship to an open-to-sky space and the Gallery allowed air to circulate passively through the building. This was strategically oriented and placed within the layout to enhance the overall harmonious experience for the user. Other key strategically designed spaces in the layout of the museum are the sculpture corridor which acts as a secondary entrance and/or exit to the public square which is also adjoined by the museum bar which functions beyond the Gallery hours to facilitate more night life entertainment, which the city lacked.

context map: typologies

context map: pedestrian circulation

landmarks nodes

context map: landmarks + nodes 15 – The Pair Plaza Hotel 16 – Town Hall 17 – Temple Emanu-El [Prosecutor’s Office] 18 - Cinelandia 19 – Wilhelmina Park 20 – The Old Dutch Steam Boat Company Ltd.

21 – Governor’s Palace 22 – Penha Building 23 – Synagogue Mikveh Israel-Emanuel 24 – Old Merchant Houses 25 – Jewish Museum 26 – Centrale Market

27 – Old Market Building 28 – Awa Di Jobe Statue 34 – Biblioteca Nacional 35 – Pietermaai Cathedral H - Breedstraat J – Waaigatplein

K – Wilhelmina Park L – Ginger Restaurant

lit sp

ss ce c a

rm fo

WIL LEM LEE STR AAT

PIET ERM AAI WEG

context plan: master plan

TH EAT ERS TRA AT

WIL LEM LEE STR AAT

section a: entrance + gallery

section b: admin + artist’s studios

interior view: lobby + reception

interior view: sculputure corridor

m ra g o pr

entry (main + secondary) vertical circulation admin/multipurpose areas artist’s studios gallery

VAN SPE YKS TRA AT

WIL LEM LEE STR AAT adm in

adm in

cura tor

kitch ene tte foye r

rec ept ion

rece iv regis ing + tratio n libra ry +

lob by +

deli very bay

janit or

coff ee s hop

WIL LEM LEE STR AAT

mus eu + lo m bar ung e

sculp ture corr idor

clas sroo m

lear ning cen ter

pub lic s qua re

ground floor: cmca

interior view: entry foyer

interior view: entry foyer

open to below

artist studio

artist studio

artist studio

open to below

gallery

multi-purpose room

first floor: cmca interior view: gallery

artist studio

artist studio

artist studio

artist roof terrace

second floor: cmca interior view: museum bar + lounge

exterior view: public square

MMOJ

exterior view: mmoj

10

fourth year studio - semester I - 2016

MMOJ // THE MUSIC MUSEUM OF JAMAICA “the kingston gateway” Ideally located along the Kingston Harbour and at the entrance to the City of Kingston, The Music Museum of Jamaica celebrates Kingston’s status as The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s Creative City in Music, designated in 2015. The Music Museum of Jamaica is envisioned as a Gateway to Kingston as well as a vessel of one of the seventh natural harbours in the world.

Music has an indelible trace in human speech, mannerisms, language, the creative arts and the physical environment. Music is temporal and signifies the past, present and future by embodying the experiences of people.

The vibrancy of music in the evolution of Jamaican identity and culture is immeasurable. It is envisioned that The Music Museum of Jamaica will celebrate the poetry, power and unifying force Jamaican music has on its people, the region and the world. The exhibitions would provide interactive opportunities for visitors to embrace the story of Jamaican music with all their senses via artefacts, memorabilia and participation.

context map : downtown kingston 4 - proposed site for music museum

My concept for the museum’s design was to incorporate the sentiments of connection that music embodies. Like music, architecture is able to evoke emotions and convey messages that stimulates your essence and perception.

As such it was essential to create spaces that were able to be shared in correlation with each other but still allow for a diverse experience. Each space, however intriguing, is still able to allow one to feel centrally integrated within the space through the use of connectivity; the bringing together of people in special zones, promoting social interaction and also allowing the occupants to synergize with the surroundings.

The program entails four (4) galleries (permanent, temporary, external and a space for miscellaneous exhibitions). There’s also an auditorium for live performances and an external performance area, an musical archive and conservation facility and a cultural hub with varying spaces to foster and develop music and local entertainment which also needed to function separately from the museum hours. All to be situated on a site with a total surface area of approximately 2512 m2.

site plan: site studies + development

site plan: master plan

ground floor: mmoj

entry museum archive auditorium cultural hub services

massing

first floor: mmoj

zoning

north elevation: mmoj

east elevation: mmoj

second floor: mmoj

exterior view: courtyard

exterior view: courtyard + outdoor performance area

sustainable features

section a: auditorium + gallaries

green wall section b: galleries + promenade

courtyard effect & daylighting

section c: auditorium

stack ventilation

exterior view: park + communal area

exterior view: promenade + cultural hub

GNLA

exterior view: mmoj

16

fourth year studio - semester II - 2017

GNLA // GRENADA NATIONAL LIBRARY & ARCHIVES “city on a hill” The site is located along the Carenage, which is a predominately commercial strip in St. George’s where there’s numerous local restaurants among other commercial estblishments. The sites frontage offers uninterrupted views of the harbour and the possibility to develop open, communal spaces for visitors and locals to utilise. There is moderate pedestrian traffic typically around the site being on a main road – Wharf Road, which runs along the coast of one of the largest, active nodes in the town - the Carenage. Wharf Road subsequently acts as the portal between the Carenage and the town’s commercial district.

georgian vernacular neo-classical neo-gothic victorian

mixed modern/contemporary bungalow military

The development of libraries in the city’s urban realm is significant, due to the boundless impacts these structures can introduce. Some of which are communal development, economic growth and educational development. It’s a space that is typically open for all to partake and become enthralled with.

Its cultural significance is vibrant as it promotes creativity and a collaborative environment that fosters literacy skillsets and provides numerous resources to support and administer learning and teachings.

In the design of this library it was necessary to create spaces that are both diverse and versatile to accommodate the various users that would be utilizing this facility. The friendly nature of the town - St. George’s, also influenced the design tremendously, and as such the building was designed to promote the communal relationship which the town naturally exudes. This was achieved by creating special zones for gathering and developing various multi-functional spaces within the building that would ultimately be used to give back to the community.

context map: architectural typologies | st. george’s

The program can be categorised into three main zones - the Library, Archives and Cultural Centre, with special indoor/outdoor reading spaces to maximise on the abundance of passive design opportunities available. The site’s total surface area is approximately 1040 m2 , the lots along the Carenage are typically narrow and has height restrictions. There is also a prominent georgian architectural typology that is necessary to be observed in the design of buildings along the Carenage.

context map: land use

commercial residential mixed use religious civic/government

industrial insitutional abandoned/unoccupied parking

context map: land use vs. topography

parti diagrams: site

exterior view: courtyard + cafe

context plan: master plan

section a: context

schematic: option A

schematic: option B

exterior view: indoor / outdoor reading areas

ground floor: gnla

south elevation: wharf road

section b: entry + admin

summer solstice

equinox

first floor: gnla

interior view: lobby + reception

second floor: gnla

west elevation: gnla

exterior view: auditorium entry

winter solstice

sustainable features

daylighting

courtyard effect

cross ventilation

green wall interior view: reading + study area

PROFESSIONAL

ACLA architecture

2018 - 2021

RBL-TU

second floor: customer waiting area

24

ACLA architecture - 2018

RBL-TU // REPUBLIC BANK - TUNAPUNA

ground floor visualisation: media wall + customer waiting

Media Wall Surface

COMMERCIAL BANK INTERIORS

Laminate: NEVAMAR HIGH GLOSS FINISH Precision White S7036T

The fit-out for the Republic Bank Tunapuna branch applies contemporary interior design principles to meet the client’s brand image. The palette incorporates subtle playfulness into the corporate identity of the bank. With little access to views and daylighting at our disposal due the existing building’s design, it was important to utilise finishes that were reminiscent of the outdoors and open planning to allow external views where possible.

Accent Colour

The program is focused on two of the five storey structure. The basement and first floor were utilised mainly for parking while the ground floor is utilised as the main banking hall with staff/ admin parking. The second floor consists of sales and administration and the third floor was not in the design scope.

The total building area is approximately 1200 m2 and is located at the hub of Tunapuna’s commerce and activity centre in Trinidad.

Sherwin Williams

Forsythia SW 6907 Furniture, Backsplash, etc

The execution of this project was comprised of a small team within the firm - senior architect, architectural designer and interior designer which was overseen by the lead architect/ director. My role as the architectural designer included producing final design + construction drawings in correlation with the senior architect utilising BIM software, while liaising with the lead architect. I also assisted in the selection of interior finishes, lighting + furniture with the interior designer.

floor finishes selection

Floor Tile: ITALGRANITI Metaline 800mm x 800mm Zinc Banking Hall, etc

Milliken Carpet Tile Planks LIVE CIRCUIT: Current 250mm x 1000mm CUR183-153 Proton Teller Line, etc

Milliken Carpet Tile Planks LIVE CIRCUIT: Current 250mm x 1000mm CUR183-153 Proton w/ Electro Special Areas: High Circulation

finishes selection

Accent Colour Sherwin Williams

Steely Gray SW 7664 Furniture, Accent Walls, etc

CSR - Wall

CASA NUEVA

The Wallpaper Company Contract Vol. 2: 17056

General Walls

Sherwin Williams

Ice Cube SW 6252

Teller Line - Desk Surface Solid Surface: AVONITE

Ice White F1-8064

ground floor visualisation: teller counters + waiting area

second floor: floor + finishes selection second floor visualisation: customer waiting area + admin

Milliken Carpet Tile Planks LIVE CIRCUIT: Current 250mm x 1000mm CUR183-153 Proton w/ Electro Special Areas: High Circulation

Milliken Carpet Tile Planks LIVE CIRCUIT: Current 250mm x 1000mm CUR183-153 Proton Teller Line, etc

Milliken LVT Abstract - Sensations 18” x 36” SST250 - 5 Calm Corridor second floor visualisation: customer waiting area

Milliken LVT Metro Park: Pike 7” x 48”

Antler PKK 124-208 Lunchroom

Accent Colour

Sherwin Williams Forsythia SW 6907 Furniture, Backsplash, etc

Accent Colour

Sherwin Williams Steely Gray SW 7664 Furniture, Accent Walls, etc

Accent Colour RBL Blue Furniture, etc

Polyflor

Cool Blende 8636 305mm x 305mm Vaults, ATM rooms

second floor visualisation: staff lunchroom

conference

teller line

csr

waiting area

atm lobby

waiting area

banking hall csr

teller line

admin

services

admin

admin

services

services

services

parking

services

services

rendered ground floor: rbl-tu

rendered second floor: rbl-tu

services

lunch area

services

ground floor: banking hall/ csr counters

second floor: customer waiting area

second floor: customer waiting area

second floor: staff lunch room

CASA

TORTUGA

exterior facade: casa tortuga

30

ACLA architecture - 2020

CASA TORTUGA SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE This 5400 SF contemporary single-family residence is positioned on a gently sloping site to take advantage of the western views of the coast + valley.

The design plays with a refined contrast of natural materials— hardwood and stone, juxtaposed against strong geometric forms. The solids and voids were balanced to provide ample privacy while strategically framing the view to the west with expansive but shaded glass sliding doors. An additional requirement was the need for possible cross-ventilation and a double height volume to dramatise the strong connection between the indoor and outdoor living spaces which allowed for effortless entertaining.

The design phase of this project was executed by a small team within the firm - architectural designer, architectural technician which was overseen by the lead architect/ director. My role as the architectural designer included producing the brief + concept for the design, the schematic design presentation and final design drawings while liaising with the lead architect for feedback and supervision. The approval drawings were completed using BIM software in correlation with the architectural technician.

programmatic strategies diagrams

open | enclosure

schematic model: casa tortuga - west elevation study

private | semi-private

schematic model: casa tortuga - sectional study

site plan: casa tortuga

pool pavilion

pool

deck

bbq pavilion

pool shower

proposed house

pool deck

outdoor p.r.

bar + lounge

roof plan

carport entry

pump rm.

gym shower

entry

pool plan

balcony balcony

verandah guest bedroom

dining

bedroom 2 w.i.c.

kitchen

guest bath

living p.r.

laundry

master bath

master bedroom

entry courtyard

bath bridge

sitting rm. family rm.

stair

bedroom 1

bath study

carport

ground floor plan

void over living

wine st.

bedroom 3

first floor plan

balcony

eastern facade: casa tortuga

entry: interior perspective

pool deck + pavilion: exterior perspective

kitchen: interior perspective

western facade: exterior perspective

interiors: ruby residences grenada - 2021

visualisations

private residence: the annex project - 2021

built

thank you.

UNDERGRADUATE ARCHITECT PORTFOLIO