Lysiane Kouakou | Portfolio 2023 | University of Waterloo

LYS IANE

ABOUT ME:

I’m passionate about design and creation in all aspects; whether it be architecture, industrial design, or even writing!

Over the past few years, I have accumulated many collaborative and technical design skills through my experiences as a member of project teams, clubs, and my most recent experience as an architectural assistant. I’m a multi-faceted designer looking to contribute my skills to a team that values

Contact: (403)483-2368

lysiane.kouakou.lk@gmail.com

Hello! My name is Lysiane Kouakou. I’m a second-year architecture student at the University of Waterloo.

I. Curriculum

Education

Candidate for Bachelor of Architectural Studies

(Honours, Co-op)

University of Waterloo | 2026

Skills

• Revit

• AutoCAD

• Rhino 3D

• MS Office

Rendering:

• Enscape

• Twinmotion

Adobe Suite:

• Photoshop

• Illustrator

• InDesign

Languages:

• French

• English

Certifications

LEAD Youth Leadership Program

City of Calgary | 2016

LYSIANE KOUAKOU

Experience

Architectural Assistant | Walterfedy (Toronto, Canada)

January - April 2023

• Detailed and set up Revit models for projects in schematic and detail design phases

• Produced architectural drawings, diagrams, 3D models and renders using programs including Adobe Suite, Enscape and Rhino 3D for presentation at client review meetings

• Researched and compiled reports concerning facility assessments of existing buildings and the process of site plan approval

• Participated in meetings with clients, engineers, interns, technicians, designers and architects discussing the status, issues, and successes of ongoing projects

Architectural Intern | Projetudes (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire)

July - August 2022

• Created architectural drawings using AutoCAD and Revit

• Contributed to discussions involving professional architects, architectural designers and interns alike, gaining experience in architectural project development

• Visited an active construction site with experienced architects, technicians and construction workers

Distinctions

Excellent Academic Standing

University of Waterloo | September 2021 - May 2023

Ivy and Len Freeston Award

Education Matters | August 2021

President’s Scholarship

University of Waterloo | May 2021

School of Architecture Award for Black and Indigenous Students

University of Waterloo| May 2021

“Today, I absorb what I am gifted as life unravels.

I accept that we can only breathe in what we are given, So I sit on the earth’s lap with my begging hands and feel a sharp coolness take hold of my body – yes – my own body.”

Excerpt from “On the Earth’s Lap”

Original Poem by Lysiane Kouakou

Date: April 21st, 2023

To Whom it may concern,

I am pleased to submit this letter of recommendation for Lysiane Kouakou, as part of your review and consideration of her application for a position within your firm.

This past term I had the pleasure of working directly with Lysiane during her winter/spring co- op placement as an Architectural Assistant at WalterFedy, in our Toronto office. Throughout the term Lysiane was assigned many tasks including set up and detailing of Revit models for projects in schematic and detail design phases, as well as site plan approval research and rendering visualizations for presentation at client review meetings.

Lysiane’s key strengths include communication, initiative, and organization. While she bring s industry specific knowledge in applicable software, I was very impressed by her ability to engage during team meetings, ask effective questions to gain clarity on the task at hand, and communicate effectively with the team in a friendly and professional manner. Lysiane is proactive and seeks out new tasks and opportunities to learn new skills where she can Her technical skills were quickly evident through her ability to meet quick turn around deadlines in an efficient and effective manner. The resultant products (be that digital model, summary reports, or visualizations) were always clear, neat and thorough, meeting or exceeding our expectations

Lysiane was someone I felt I could rely on and trust to aid on a wide range of projects Her communication style, experience and adaptability make her an excellent candidate for the creative and technical day to day tasks required in the industry. I have no doubt t hat you will be pleased with Lysiane and recommend that you hire her for the position.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at the information noted below.

Sincerely, WALTERFEDY

Kirby Tobin OAA, RAIC, Architect, WalterFedy

ktobin@walterfedy.com

289 799- 3547 x 432

RECLAIM

Dec 2022

Reclaim is a proposal for a residence designed for low-income single mothers and homeless youth. Although these demographics are different, they both share the experience of the fragmentation of the family. Single mothers have been separated from their co-parents, and homeless youth have been separated from their guardians. The residence offers space for people to find strong relationships outside of the traditional nuclear family, and redefine what ‘family’ means to them.

Rhino 3D Enscape

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

The building is located on Galt’s busy Main St, where it invites the public into its first 2 floors. The first floor contains a food bank, a dining hall for those with food insecurity, and retail space. The second floor’s main feature is its daycare - mostly targeted at the residents, yet still publicly accessible.

Academic Project

Individual Project

Studio Led by:

Adrian Blackwell

RECLAIM 01.

The residences span from floors 3 to 8. The South-facing courtyard provides each unit with access to ample sunlight and opportunity for social interaction.

Each private unit is equipped with a wide glass entrance facing either the courtyard (left of detail section) or the social corridors surrounding it (right of detail section). This glass entrance is one out of 3 glass doors forming the ambiguous social spaces present in the unit plans. Residents are encouraged to explore their creativity as they rearrange these doors to redefine inside and outside spaces in their homes. Reclaim is designed to create and invite human connection, within a safe environment. From its rejection of studio apartments to its vulnerable unit entrances, Reclaim brings people together in support of the found family

Unit 1:

Residents: Mother and children

The first and third doors are open. A mother cooks peacefully as her children play in the ambiguous space.

Unit 2:

Residents: Youth

The first two doors are closed creating a private space for a youth and their social worker to have a conversation.

Unit 3:

Residents: Mother and children

All 3 doors are open. Two mothers organize a joint children’s birthday party

Floor Plan: Level 3

Floor Plan: Level 2

Floor Plan: Levels 4-8

Exploded Axonometric

(Top) View from Corridor (Bottom) View from Ambiguous Space

BACKBONE

April 2022

Backbone is a proposal for a steel bridge in Mississauga, Ontario. It aims to replace the current Pine Cliff bridge .

Backbone is not solely designed to be a means to an end; the bridge creates an experience. Its form represents fluidity and movement in a static object. As people cross the bridge, they experience the wavelike illusion that the repeated curved steel bars create.

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

The bridge also encourages moments of pause with a wooden seat and a break in its steel shell at the structure’s middle.

Academic Project In Collaboration with: Aatiqah Sarfraz

Studio Led by: Terri Boake

Rhino 3D Enscape

Backbone

BACKBONE 02.

Approaching View

Backbone Bridge

Backbone

Exploded Axonometric

Backbone

WOVEN

April 2022

Woven is a proposal for a steel bridge located in Hamilton, Ontario. It is meant to replace the current bridge in Sherman Falls.

Woven frames the waterfall it sits across from. The bridge’s shape encourages people to pause midway through crossing to appreciate the view.

Rhino 3D

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

The structure’s woven railings are inspired by African braided hairstyles, like box braids and cornrows. The patterns of these hairstyles were studied in the early planning stages of the project, to be replicated for the bridge.

Academic Project Individual Project

Studio Led by: Isabel Ochoa

Woven

WOVEN

03.

Approaching View

View through Bridge

Exploded Axonometric

ANCHOR

April 2022

Anchor is a proposal for a library and painting studio located in Toronto, at the intersection of Danforth and Broadview Ave.

The building is nestled in a busy hub of activity. It sits within a near distance of schools, an art store, a community center, a retirement home, among many others. Anchor was designed to complement this environment by providing a space for all ages to enjoy a relaxing activity.

The building’s two most prominent features are its curvy form and metal fin cladding.

Rhino 3D Enscape

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Anchor is covered in dozens of rectangular aluminum fins serving aesthetic and practical purposes. The fins allow the building to stand out as a landmark among its neighbours, and provide shade for pedestrians.

Academic Project Individual Project

Studio Led by: Isabel Ochoa

Anchor

ANCHOR

04.

Approaching View

Floor Plan: Level 2

Floor Plan: Level 3

Anchor

Massing Diagram

View of Painting Studio

Wall Section

BRAID-AID

May 2023

Braid-Aid is a chair to ease the experience of getting box braids - for clients and stylists alike.

Although the end product is beautiful, the process of getting box braids is often a tiring one, involving the client sitting in the same uncomfortable chair for hours at a time, whilst holding hair extensions for their stylist.

Personal Project Individual Project

The Braid-Aid aims to change this narrative by providing a hook rack for hanging hair extensions, and an optimized seat.

Rhino 3D Enscape

Braid-aid

BRAID-AID 05.

Styling Chair

The Braid-Aid has a curved ‘board’ with a set of 9 rows of stainless steel hooks attached to its backrest. The hooks allow the stylist to rest partitions of hair extensions in a convenient location as they braid.

The board is attached to a curved steel bar that runs through the chair’s back. This allows the hooks to orbit around the client - per the stylist’s need.

Box braids can take 5+ hours to complete, depending on the desired style. The ergonomic design of the BraidAid allows for maximum comfort for long durations of time - unlike the average salon chair.

The seat is made of memory foam, the arms and headrest are PU leather, and the metal shell is stainless steel .

Styling Chair

PROFESSIONAL WORK

BRAMPTON CIVIC CANCER

April 2023

As part of my co-op term at Walterfedy, I was given the opportunity to design 2 options for a feature staircase in the Brampton Civic Cancer Centre. I also designed and rendered 3 other spaces within the centre: an office space, a waiting room, and the staff lounge.

These spaces aim to emit a cozy atmosphere throughout the centre. They also each makes unique uses of light:

the staircases are adorned with light from the double height curtain wall, the waiting room benefits from its glazed enclosure, the office area is lit with light scoops, and the staff lounge is blessed with south-facing clerestory windows.

Brampton Civic

Firm: Walterfedy

Revit Enscape

Adobe Photoshop

CANCER CENTER

View of Stair 2

Brampton Civic 45.

View from Stair 1

View of Stair 1

View of Stair 2

View from Stair 2