Landscape architecture portfolio - Kristina Kurasa

KRISTINA KURASA LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE STUDENT PORTFOLIO 2022

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CONTENT

RESIDENTIAL AREA IN JELGAVA AND CITY PARK .........................................................................................................6

DEVELOPMENT OF BALDONE WATER BODIES AND SHORES ....................................................................................10

LANDSCAPE DESIGN OF LIGATNE REHABILITATION CENTER ...................................................................................12

SKETCHES.......................................................................................................................................................................18

PERSONAL PROJECTS ................. .................................................................................................................................22

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ABOUT ME

I am in the first year of my master’s in landscape architecture at the Latvian University of Life Sciences. I was always interested in changing the world around me to create green, visually pleasing, and practical things. I think landscape architecture is a great sphere to fulfill my ambitions. I have already got some experience in creating and developing projects at my university and had an internship in the Latvian landscape architecture office. I have practiced working with programs that can be useful in the development process like Autocad, Sketchup, Photoshop, and InDesign. I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge and experience and expressing my interest in learning and sharing different approaches.

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CURRICULUM VITAE +37128219555

EDUCATION 2005 - 2017 2018 - 2022

2022 -

LANGUAGES

Secondary education Riga Classical gymnasium Bachelors degree in Landscape architecture and planning Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies Unfinished masters degree in Landscape architecture and planning

EMPLOYMENT 06.2021 - 02.2022

09.2021 02.2022 - 06.2022

04.2022 - 05.2022

Russian Latvian English

Native B2 B2

COMPUTER SKILLS Internship in landscape architecture office SIA ALPS

ADDITIONAL EXPIRIENCE 02.2020 - 06.2020

kristina.kurash@gmail.com

Erasmus exchange studies Hungary Szent István university Seminars and project Latvian schools of architecture workshop Erasmus exchange studies Estonia The Estonian University of Life Sciences Erasmus seminars and project Wave project Tartu

Autocad Sketchup Lumion Photoshop Indesign Office

HOBBIES Cycling Skating Travel Drawing

Hiking Cooking Photography Digital design

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RESIDENTIAL AREA IN JELGAVA AND CITY PARK The territory of the given project is in the center of Jelgava at Liela Street - Pastas Street - Uzvaras Street. The total area is about 5.8 ha. It includes a residential courtyard, Duke Jacob’s Square, the frontage of the House of Culture, and the roads that connect it.

Most of the area belongs to the municipality and the residential area is partly owned by natural persons and partly is in mixed ownership. The infrastructure is developed in the given area and there are several shops, restaurants, public buildings, etc. 5-15 minutes away are important cultural and historical objects, such as Duke Jacob’s Square, Jelgava Culture House, and Saint Trinity Church Tower.

The nearest school is 250 meters away.

On Liela street and Cakste Boulevard is a new bicycle path, parking lots, and a bus stop. In the residential buildings, the first floor is used for small shops and businesses such as restaurants, Liela street has new paving (mainly from cobblestone and asphalt) and street furniture has been renovated and replaced.

However, the residential area and Duke Jacob’s Square have degraded pavement and lack proper street furniture.

Today residential courtyard is used as a transit area to get from the city center to nearby schools, shops, and parks. This area lacks space for daily recreation and socialization.

The project area is green with many valuable old trees in the park. However, the trees and buildings in the yard create great shading on public areas and houses.

FIRST SKETCHES/ PROPOSAL

The main inspiration for this project is the river, its plasticity and meandering, as well as nature, which is often lacking in cities. The goal of the project is to develop the existing infrastructure of the city center, improve the residential courtyard, and develop a connection in the blue-green infrastructure.

The residential area is planned to be fenced to create part of the partially public space for residents. On the west of the residential area is a multi-story car park with a green roof. The roof can serve as a recreational space, which can be used for an open-air cinema in summer. Some temporary parking spaces are available at the entrance of the courtyard.

This project offers a new courtyard design with natural elements such as stone and meadows that increase plant diversity. The area will have a children’s playground with green hills, tennis tables, picnic tables, and several benches all over the area.

Duke Jacob’s Square will connect to the park and pathway infrastructure in the city. In the center of the park is planned to make a large square that serves several functions. The park is proposed to introduce more greenery with a large variety of plants, as well as to create public spaces where you can stop, relax, and socialize.

Krisjana Barona Street will be transformed into a pedestrian street, where a canal will be created next to the location of the historic canal. It is also proposed to create 2 new pedestrian and bicycle paths that will connect the parks with the river Driksa and create a common blue-green system in the center of Jelgava.

FIRST SKETCHES/ PROPOSAL

NEW URBAN SQUARE USER SCENARIOS 1.Market day, festivals

2. Everyday life

3. Public meeting

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NEW URBAN SQUARE USER SCENARIOS

FINAL MASTER PLAN 1.Multi-storey car park 2.Crosswalk 3.Pedestrian street 4.Temporary parking 5.Waste containers 6.Playground 7.Lawn with geonets 8.Table tennis 9.Frontage of Culture house 10.Central square with the fountain 11. Area with picnic tables 12.Public toilet 13. Cafe terrace

Bike route

Pedesrtian routes Entrances

Car routes Public transport routes Parking Bus stops

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Water elements

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Trees

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Grass Grass with geonets Flower beds h 0.7-1.2 m Flower beds h 0.2-0.7 m

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SECTION OF THE CORTYARD

Bench with a shelter

Playground

Stepping stones

Large existing tree

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PROJECT MODEL

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Cortyard

Central square wi

ith the foundation

Whole project area

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DEVELOPMENT OF BALDONE WATER BODIES AND SHORES

1. Information stands with QR codes 2. Metal deck with raised edges (10-15 cm) 3. Red wooden tables 4. Accessible to everyone 5. Metal seats by the existing tree 6. Existing natural vegetation

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The aim of the project was to design a program for the development of a small city in Latvia - Baldone. Several objects were proposed for new recreational areas, that will serve as places for socialization and relaxation. The design was based on the characteristic of water bodies and their everyday function.

The range of colors in the design of the project is inspired by the coat of arms of Baldone.

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Alluvial meadows.Visualization

1. Information stands with QR codes 2. Metal deck with raised edges (10-15 cm) 3. Red wooden tables 4. Accessible for everyone 5. Metal seats by the existing tree 6. Existing natural vegetation

Coat of arms of Baldone

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The first design object is a metal deck with seating areas. The deck is made of metal mesh, which is durable against flood and has low maintenance. Holes in the deck would provide natural light for the plants and it minimizes anthropogenic load.

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Alluvial meadows.Visualization

Drawing of the information stand

At the end of the deck are seating places and wooden tables. Tables can be removed during flood season. There are two metal information stands for educational purposes. All designed elements are painted red to accentuate the meadows in the urban city.

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Drawing of the metal deck, top view

Drawing of the table

The second object proposal is a modern recreational area with a variety of seating, that can be located on the high, dry banks of the river in the center of Baldone. The seats are designed to give a variety of seating positions.

Citizens can spend some time alone during lunch break or have a meeting with friends in the evening. Red serves as an accent, which helps the shores of the water to be more expressive and indicates their importance in the urban landscape.

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1. Seats wiеифслекурth back rest 2. Place for small gatherings 3. Seats close to the river

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Drawing of the seating places

New seating area in the center of Baldone. Visualization

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New recreation and walking area by the pond and the pristine shore. The main goal is to create access to water and invite residents for pleasant walks. The designed wooden terrace is a good way to reduce the anthropogenic load on the soil, to allow easy walking closer to the water on steep shores.

1. Metal poles - accents 2. Stone wall - sustainability, natural material 3. Wooden deck with metal edge (10 - 15 cm) 4. Stairs - access to water 5. Seating - differnet leghts benches

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Deck by the pond. Visualization

A stone wall has been designed along the wooden terrace, where it is proposed to install red wood seats of various lengths. At the entrances to the terrace, there are planned dynamic red metal poles, which are partly hidden in the plants.

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Drawing of the table

1. Metal poles - accents 2. Stone wall - sustainability, natural material 3. Wooden deck with metal edge (10 - 15 cm) 4. Stairs - access to water 5. Seating - differnet leghts benches

Entrance of the deck. Visualization

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LANDSCAPE DESIGN OF LIGATNE REHABILITATION CENTER The project aims to develop a multifunctional landscape design for the Ligatne rehabilitation center territory using healing landscape planning tendencies. The project consists of the analysis and description of Latvian rehabilitation center tendencies, services, and landscape. The plan was based on the research, that has a description of Ligatnes rehabilitation advantages and disadvantages in a context with the current situation of Latvian rehabilitation centers.

An evaluation was made of the area using healing landscape planning tendencies and principles. Analysis of old maps was made and compared to the current situation. The area was built in the 1980s as USSR’s secret military base and now serves as a recreational area for locals, rehabilitation patients, and tourists. Ligatne Rehabilitation Center has valuable natural landscapes with access to the old pine forest and the banks of the river Gauja.

entrance to the bunker Bunker area

Linear cover pattern

7 concrete stairs

Forest trails

Wooden pergola

Volleyball court

Table wtih shelter

Unused pond

Metal fence Artificial pond

Seating areas with benches

Helicopter landing pad Bus stop Additional parking

Bunker entrance

Parking for 20 cars

Bunker area Oxbow Helicopter landing pad Analysis of the USSR map, year 1973

Analysis of orthophoto, year 2020

EVALUATION OF HEALING PROPERTIES 1 - not implemented, 2 - partially implemented, 3 - implemented

A scale of 1 - 3 was used to evaluate the healing properties and values of Līigatne Rehabilitation Center. The rating is divided into five major categories, each with four characteristics. An average rating has been calculated for each category. The evaluation of properties is subjective, according to the author’s personal opinion and explanations.

The highest average rating has the category “Interaction with nature, use of biophilia”. The area has a natural and scenic nature that is easily accessible to visitors and patients. Forest, varying elevations, distance from cities - are great values, which are desirable to use and develop in the future. The lowest rating has the category “Socialization”. There is a need in creating spaces for casual conversations and communication in the area, using plants and a variety of outdoor furniture. Mobile seats are an easy and inexpensive solution to overcome this disadvantage. The other categories have been partially implemented.

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Category

Average rating

Sense of control

1.8

Interaction with nature, use of biophilia

2.3

Socialization

1.5

Time alone, privacy

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Motivation to exercise and opportunity to be physically active

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ЬФЬФMASTERPLAN SKETCH

The concept of the territory of Līgatne Rehabilitation Center is divided into three large zones with different planning styles, functions and priorities for use.

It is a: 1. Therapeutic garden: a room for healing, passive recreation with a variety of places to relax, is friendly to seniors. A detailed design has been developed for this area;

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2. Public park - an area for daily active and passive recreation with walking trails and open spaces; 4.

3. Forest - a natural, scenic space with thematic trails, recreation areas, and picnic tables on the banks of the Gauja.

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1. Entrance 2. Therapeutic gardens 3. Parking 4. Playground 5. Public park 6. Outdoor gym 7. Forest trails 8. Picnic areas

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ЫУSECTION SKETCH

Trees with bushes that

Gardens

Entrance with pergolas

Walking trails

Public park

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MASTER PLAN OF THERAPEUTIC GARDENS

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1. Frontage 2. Entrance 3. Main pathways 4. Cafeteria with wooden terrace 5. Stairs with ramps 6. Therapeutic garden for physical rehabilitation 7. Seating areas

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8. Theraputic garden for emotional rehabilitation 9. Staff area 10. Playground 11. Parking 12. Disabled parking 13. Roundabout 14. Bus stop

SECTION

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Bus stop

Therapeutic garden

Main pathway Bike shelter and entrance

Walking path

Path in the public park

The design concept is inspired by a simple shape – a circle and its philosophy. A circle is a common cult symbol, that means unity, infinity, the universe, life cycle, and integrity. Latvian pagan symbol of the sun has a circle or flower shape with rays from the center. This symbol also represents the annual cycle of the sun. The new design will serve the local citizens, rehabilitation center patients, and tourists who want to spend time in nature far from the bustle of the city.

Therapeutic garden for emotional rehabilitation with perennial raised beds, seating area under the pergola. The garden serves as a place to distress, socialize or spend time alone while enjoying nature around.

The principles of universal design were used in the project. The main goal was to create a space that is accessible to all age groups, people with special needs or temporary health problems. Three major pathways lead to the round frontage with the sun symbol. They simplify navigation in the area and lead to the main entrance of the rehabilitation center.

Therapeutic garden for physical rehabilitation. It contains of elements that help to regain mobility. There are several games and interactive elements that can be used independently or under the supervision of a specialist.

Staff area. There is a designed area for employees under a large oak tree. Employees can use it during breaks, relax from hard work or hold informal meetings

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VISUALIZATIONS

Outdoor gym in the public park

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Playground in thera

apeutic garden area

Cafeteria with wooden terrace

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SKETCHING

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PERSONAL PROJECTS. DIGITAL ART

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PERSONAL PROJECTS. LOGO DESIGN

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PERSONAL PROJECTS. PHOTOGRAPHY AND PHOTO EDITING

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PROJECTS FROM 2019-2022

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