Mackenzie_Mairead_McEWEN

Mairead MacKenzie Architecture & Design Portfolio

Dalhousie Bachelor of Environmental Design Studies Submission for the McEWEN School of Architecture

Table of Contents

The Designer

Lunenburg Resettlement Introduction............................................................1 Parti.......................................................................2 3D Model................................................................3 Working drawings...................................................4 House of Architecture Introduction............................................................5 Material study.........................................................6 Material study.........................................................7 Material study.........................................................8 Material study.........................................................9 Material palette.....................................................10 Concept model.....................................................11 Working drawings.................................................12 Maker’s Space Introduction..........................................................13 Design-build process...........................................14 Professional Work Introduction and overview....................................15

My name is Mairead (MAH<R>ED) MacKenzie and I am in my final year of the Bachelor of Environmental Design program, in the Faculty of Architecture and Planning, at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

I take pride in my academic pursuits and take advantage of every opportunity to learn and improve. Because of this, I have been recognized academically by Dalhousie as a Golden Key’s Society Member, a Sexton Scholar, an Academic All Canadian, and a Dean’s List Student.

I enjoy taking an experiment like approach towards my work and trying new mediums and techniques.

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Lunenburg Resettlement Project Description: This project took a deep dive into the history of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Challenged with the task of respecting the past whilst improving the town, students were asked to propose a new building in the town on their designated site ‘zoned’ to a particular theme. I was given the extension of Duke Street with the theme of the intersection of community, craft, and commerce while looking from past to future.

The themes were decided through working with our studio group to determine a common language between our individual designs. The work shown in this section is the individual and final component of the assignment.

Design Statement: I designed a heritage boat building school in honor of Lunenburg being the home of the famous Blue Nose sail boat. My initial studies focused on foot traffic. I re-imagined the grid that the town is built onto as a tartan. This is a grid without rules that is tailored to the desires of the people it represents. I imagined this space with a major and minor axis, where movement is created through emphasis and the use of the major axis of Duke Street to extend the wharfs further into the ocean. The form of the Lunenburg School of Boat Building is repetitive and creates small, medium, and large spaces for different uses. The space consists of ‘cutouts’ to bring the ocean into the space. The gabled roofs and wood facades mimic the existing styles found in Lunenburg.

As the school grows in numbers, this modular design can easily be repeated and expanded.

Concept poster

2023 Winter Term: B2 Design Tutor: Adreinne Gerrits Softwares: AutoCAD, Sketchup, Twin motion.

Mediums: Watercolour on trace.

Project Duration: 4 weeks (individual)

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Digital render of the School of Boat Building

Diagrams paired with moments in the space

Functionality of the ‘cutouts’

4 Description: For my working drawings, I wanted to try using my representation to nod to the idea of intersections between craft/past and future. I drafted the plans in Auto Cad and then printed them out. I then cut out the building from the page and layered it over an ocean texture. I created the ocean texture from splattering watercolour onto trace paper and spreading the paint with my hands. When the drawings were pinned up, I had ‘units’ of possible future additions of the school hidden beneath the trace. When viewers touched the ‘ocean’ the drawings beneath the trace that do not exist yet were revealed. I cut out the paper physically to reinforce the idea of cutting into the building to reveal the ocean.

Ground plan originally drawn at 1:200

Second floor plan originally drawn at 1:200

Long section originally drawn at 1:200

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House of Architecture Project Description: This project is situated on Pier 22 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Students were tasked with creating a House of Architecture suited for the area and Haligonians.

Design Statement: Against the Grain is a House of Architecture dedicated to innovative and sustainable architectural techniques and adaptations.

Against the Grain imitates the forms of the grain elevators surrounding the site as these forms store and move knowledge as if it is grain.

The central courtyard is a space for large build demonstrations that are visible from the street.

The two cubic forms embrace each other as a nod to the intersections within the site. The industrial meets the ocean, settled peoples meet newcomers. The site is all about movement; the shipping of good across the ocean, the trains, the elevators, and people seeking new hope.

The copper facade will change with the new discoveries and generations. The building form forces visitors to constantly move upwards through the gallery shoots/arms. The form reinforces the idea of going against the grain.

Visitors are compressed and expanded as their senses are manipulated to prepare them for the next experience. This project encapsulates the physical and philosophical context of the site to trigger a yearning for exploration, experimentation, and creativity.

Halifax grain elevator

2023 Summer Term: B3 Design Tutor: Hannah Newton Software: NA Mediums: Watercolour, copper, miscellaneous.

Project Duration: 4-6 weeks (individual)

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Material study

Description: My first exploration in this study was with flat vs textured copper. The goal of this study was to determine if I could control where the patina spreads through folds or dimples within the copper.

The results of the dimpled copper struck my attention. I decided to take a closer look at the crystal formation. This is seen on the following page.

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Dimpled copper with patina growth

Large piece of flat copper patina growth

Way finding stain

Description: From this study the crystal formation found in the dimpled patina demonstrated a growth with clear direction. This inspired me to attempt creating an image with the copper by etching into it, creating a pooling of the acid (vinegar) and by implementing strategic placement of an accelerator (salt). I was still intrigued by the dimpled copper so I decided to use the pattern as a way-finding stain on the gallery floors to guide visitors through the space. I imagined this pattern as a dark grey stain on concrete slab floors.

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Copper etching prior to oxidization

Halifax grain elevator

Minutes after oxidization

Description: In a final attempt to control the patina growth I drew a grain elevator into the copper and ‘coloured’ it using a weak acid and an accelerator where I wanted darker shading. After letting the piece sit in the sun for a week, It had an interesting but messy look. I realized that I should just let the patina respond to the environment the way it wants. I took a large sheet of copper, put it through an acid wash and left it to do as it willed. After much research I found the Sarphatistraat Offices in Amsterdam. This building consists of a perforated double facade of pre-oxidized copper. I decided to make a physical palette using this technique while adding my own take on it.

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Material palette

Description: Pulling inspiration from the Sarphatistraat Offices in Amsterdam, I created a perforated double facade with stucco. The material palette seen above was made from the piece of patina I made in a previous study. I meticulously hole punched the patina, cut it into square panels and attached it to a metal frame. Using glue and salt, I made fake stucco and bolted the frame onto the stucco, leaving about an inch of space between the ‘stucco’ and copper. I experimented with aesthetics by removing some panels, putting fresh copper behind certain areas, and including some non-perforated panels.

11 Description: As seen in the following images, my concept model was made from wood panels with a thin layer of oxidized copper. Piano wires were used to show the concept of transparent walkways. This model was built during a very hot and humid day, creating a very bright green patina compared to my palettes built in colder months.

Concept model built at 1:200

Front view of concept model

View from above of concept model

12 Description: My tutor requested all drawings be done by hand for this project. I decided to use watercolour to represent the copper facade in my elevations as I thought it was the best medium to demonstrate an authentic looking oxidization process.

Ground plan originally drawn at 1:200

Second floor plan originally drawn at 1:200

Elevation originally drawn at 1:200

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Maker’s Space Team Members: Katherine M. Theresa M. Liam C. Austin T. Austin J. David T. Katie B. Matt H. Mcghee T. Project Description: I chose the Deanery for my Free Lab to learn natural, sustainable, and off grid building strategies in the hope that I can take what I learned and apply it in the future to help marginalized and resource depleted communities improve their living conditions. I was particularly interested in using the straw bale method and the Earth Ship method as I can see this being applicable to many various climates globally. My group was tasked with designing a maker’s space. I was a part of the carpentry group that focused on building a friction fit floor to ceiling shelving unit. We harvested the trees we needed, carried them out from the woods, stripped the bark, chiseled the joints and assembled the units while having immense fun doing so. Aside from my work, I learned how to make lime washes and clay paint which was used throughout the renovated space.

Myself weaving with dried Day Lily

Free Lab Summer 2023: The Deanery Project Supervisor: Kim Thompson Location: Ship Harbour, Nova Scotia Mediums: Clay, hemp crete, hay, lime wash Project Duration: 2 weeks (group)

“Strength” test

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The final shelving unit assembled. Photo credit: Austin T.

Cutting down the wood. Photo credit: Liam C.

Carving the joints. Photo credit: Katherine M.

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Professional Work Fall 2023: B4 Work Term Architect: Amy Rancier Firm: Altered Roots Architects Inc. Location: Perth, ON Software: AutoCAD, Sketchup, Blender, Photoshop.

Portland Town Hall and Library

Project Duration: Portland 3 weeks Welland 3 weeks

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Welland Apartments Perth, ON

Description: During my work term, I worked as a draftsperson and renderer. I took the designs by the Architect Amy Rancier and built 3D models for clients. I also researched and sourced sustainable material options for the Portland Hall while choosing colours and finishes.

Mairead MacKenzie Architecture & Design Portfolio mr403490@dal.ca 613-267-0638