Karen Ajala MArch Portfolio

CONTENT

1. THE HEART

2. EDEN

3. A GIFT

4. POROUS CITY GRADUATE PROJECTS

5. DAVIS BLOCK

6. TRICO TOWER

7. REVOLVING TOWER

8. RESIDENTIAL

9. SKILLS/ COMPETENCE

THE HEART

Claes oldenburg & coosje van bruggen are pop art artist. They look at the architecture and political environment before designing, they further define everyday objects that fit or go against that environment. Their design is site conscious and user friendly they design with the unity of opposites and converge their two different dynamics as individuals. Following the artist design approach, I Returned to study the site and users of the site. The original indigenous people named Long Island; Sewanhacky, Wamponomon and Paumanake. The first two signify an island, a place of shells because of the abundance of the quahog or hard clam. This was the shell used to make the first money by settlers. I made use of this significant yet obvious object to remind/ revive the heart of the community.

CONCEPT

AXONOMETRY

ARTIST ENTRY

PUBLIC ENTRY

FIRST FLOOR GROUND FLOOR BASEMENT

LIVING ROOM

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

EDEN

The Eden, a place of paradise and abundance. A place filled with nature, joy and laughter. This project aims at fostering interaction and engagment between the residents and the community at large. The project houses an extensive greenhouse component that serves as the heart between the active 17th street and the private residential. The green house component to help restore the health of the city, biophilia and interactions amongst residence. A common ground for nature, art and social lovers. It consist of a restaurant, retail spaces and exhibition.

TYPICAL FLOOR PLAN

A GIFT TO THE CITY

MUSUEM OF CLEAN ENERGY

This project will stand as a visible signal, warning, reminder and guide of the current environmental challenges we are facing and how everyone in the community has a role to play. With our site analysis and research about Calgary and Alberta, we saw the role of Alberta as the energy capital. Alberta has historically been the capital of energy production for Canada because of its abundant oil sands and coal. This has led to Alberta having the most polluted energy grid out of all Canadian provinces. This led to our project’s intent, the Museum of Renewable Energy.

The exhibits in the museum are based on different forms of energy, creating an experience for the user from the dull and dark space for coal and natural gas exhibits to a naturally lit space for renewable energy exhibits.

The building design is based on the concept of a landscape, the walls of which sculpt the building form and guides the movement of the user through the museum exhibition to create an experience. An experience with the elements of energy, experience with wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal energy. The load-bearing rammed earth walls, which create the form of the building, are guided by the wind movement on the site. The park features some explorations of active energy strategies like the incorporation of smart solar capture flowers, rainwater collectors, and windmills.

AXONOMETRIC

CROSS SECTION

POROUS CITY

In collaboration with the Center for Civilization and Canadian Urban Institute, we researched and designed a proposal for the revitalization of downtown Moncton. Our urban plan aims to combat the identified issues surrounding mobility, the environment, the large number of parking lots, culture and recreation, and the economy. Our approach was to change some roads to be predominantly pedestrian and cycling, while others remained auto-centric. For green spaces and tree coverage, we converted some parking lots utilizing the 3:30:300 rule – any residence should be able to see three decent-sized trees from their home, there should be a target of 30% tree coverage, and it should be no more than a 300m walk to any green space. We also increased the amount of cultural and recreation centers so that each small neighborhood has access to at least one and increase economic growth. Our biggest intervention is revitalizing the waterfront. We created a boardwalk over the wetlands, linking to the park, which conserves the environment, but also teaches visitors about conservation, preservation of habitats, and the biodiversity in their own backyards. We identified 4 underutilized office buildings in the downtown area that have the potential to be converted into residential housing. 3 are located near major amenities on the main street and the other is near st George Street. Therefore, all four buildings have the benefit of being in the developed downtown core.

PARKING

URBAN PLAN

MODEL

In the making of this model, my partner and I decided to make it data centric and interactive. We made use of 780 test tubes where each of the test tubes represents that part of the urban area filled with the ratio of water, parks/green spaces, built land, and parking areas it contained. That way it becomes a tool to guide decision makers to know what areas are lacking and can be improved on. To acheive the colors and prevent the liquid from spilling, we made use of glycerine which thickens when cool.

PRIVATE FLOOR

PRIVATE FLOOR

WORK EXPERIENCE

REVOLVING TOWER

RESIDENTIAL

DAVIS BLOCK TRICO TOWER

DAVIS BLOCK

Company; S2 Architecture, Calgary.

About; Located on 20th Avenue SW, this multifamily residential complex comprises a seven-story building offering a variety of one and two-bedroom units. Enhancing resident experience, the property boasts amenities situated on the top floor, complemented by two levels of below-grade parking facilities.

Role; Rezoning with AHJs, Highest & best use study, Modelling, Rendering, Unit plans, Shadow study, DP package.

Softwares Used;

TRICO TOWER

Company; S2 Architecture, Calgary.

About; The 27-story tower along 4th Avenue complemented by a intricately programmed podium level. The intricacies of the ground floor podium housed commercial retail units, including a restaurant, daycare, residential lobby, and backof-house facilities. Level 2 seamlessly incorporated above-grade parking, supplementing the two levels of basement parking provided. Moving upward, levels 3 and 4 were dedicated to the design of affordable housing, with a thoughtfully curated rooftop amenity space featuring a lounge and fitness room.

Role; Highest & best use study, Modelling, Unit plans, Shadow study, Facade study, Daycare plans and DP package.

Softwares Used;

RESIDENTIAL 44 FLOORS

HOTEL 11 FLOORS

LEGEND OF FLOOR

PODIUM

REVOLVING TOWER

Company; Edge Architects Dubai

About; 60 floor residential tower with some commercial on the podium level. Client wanted a tower that rotates on it’s axis and so each couple of floor plates rotates a certian degree over the span of an hour.

Role; Modelling, axonometric & section.

Softwares Used

RESIDENTIAL BLOCK

Company; Edge Architects Dubai

About; Confidential

Role; Visualization & section.

Softwares Used;

LONGITUDINAL SECTION

CROSS SECTION

OTHERS

SKILLS/ COMPETENCE

Data driven computational analysis on the environmental effect on Moncton to generate a pavilion for the city’s downtown park and public realm. A way to create awarness on the city’s water problems including; excess sedimentation, blue green algae sprout and looking at possible solutions. Developed with grasshopper.

COMPUTATIONAL

& ROBOTIC FABRICATION

BIOMIMICRY

Dynamic simulations are increasingly being applied in robotic control applications as they have the potential to create a 1:1 relationship between the physical system and the simulation. The work developed custom Grasshopper code that utilizes the Kangaroo physics engine to actively visualize possible forms of a tensile surface.

VISUALIZATION

Developed the location, mood texture and finishes. Software used; photoshop

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