Margaret Kiladjian_Architecture Portfolio Work Samples

MARGARET KILADJIAN mkiladji@alumni.risd.edu

MARGARET [ YACOUBIAN ] KILADJIAN Rhode Island School of Design Master of Architecture '18

INFORMATION

MARGARET KILADJIAN mkiladji@alumni.risd.edu

TABLE of CONTENTS

01 BOATHOUSE • BH 02 UN-WALL THE BORDER • UB 03 ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN • ED

TOC

BOATHOUSE

MARGARET KILADJIAN mkiladji@alumni.risd.edu

BOATHOUSE

We were given a program and a site in Providence that I researched by referencing to historic maps at the Brown library archives. I analyzed the type of buildings and infrastructure that existed over approximately100 years.

These maps helped me diagram how the site was used, the function of the existing buildings, the shoreline changes, the water level and tidal range.

I created sketches, plans, sections, physical and digital models of my Vessel that connects the city to the water in the East-West direction. My main attempt was to make the least imprint on the ground and a seamless integration with the surrounding nature.

Using paper as a medium, I experimented in finding a rigid surface with a minimum required folds which then developed into a truncated cone.

The intersecting horizontal planes generated the Rowing Center’s parabolic floor plates where the ground level stores the rowing boats and the second level services as the boathouse club for viewing, exercising, meeting, etc.

Date Spring 2016 Course Type Architectural Design Studio Name A Community Rowing Center in Providence Professor Chris Bardt

BH

An initial site visit and analysis prompted me to draw two lines: One that has the most direct connection from the community/ city to the water (East/West direction) and the other that makes the circulation between the existing pedestrian paths, the rowing center and along the water shoreline (North/South direction).

Further analysis lead me to create a grid that extends over the given site using the existing prominent highway and bridge structure as my guide.

My ultimate objective was to create a space that had minimal footprint on the site, leaving most of the land as an outdoor gathering space.

Initial continuous surface studies lead me to my Vessel shape: A truncated cone that dives towards the water. Its curvature’s opening outward allows the feeling of a spacious and non-claustrophobic interior, even when crowded with rowing boats. It’s a vessel that slopes slightly towards the water. The intersection of horizontal surfaces generate parabolic interior floor grounds with the vessel side walls creating a sense of openness in a rather narrow space.

01 BH

MARGARET KILADJIAN mkiladji@alumni.risd.edu

BH 02

03 BH

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BH 04

05 BH

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BH 06

07 BH

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BH 08

09 BH

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BH 10

11 BH

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BH 12

13 BH

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BH 14

15 BH

MARGARET KILADJIAN mkiladji@alumni.risd.edu

BH 16

Un-Wall

MARGARET KILADJIAN mkiladji@alumni.risd.edu

UN-WALL THE BORDER

Connecting Monuments Through a Cultural Hub I translate the border and the space around it into a locale of escape, a space of cultural and economic exchange. To be around and near the border becomes an act of refuge; not a place of separation and division. Not where you are “fenced in or fenced out.” The historic path of Rio Bravo/Rio Grande suggests a shifting border and not a static condition. For this project, I propose a“Boulevard” of crossing and connection between historic monuments so that one observes and inhabits the border from above, in-between and below.

I aim to create a place of experience, where the land is used by everyone and anyone. It starts with the development of El-Chamizal as a suggestive “neutral zone” that would change the attitude and position of two neighboring countries over the years and expands eventually into a seamless condition.

Date Fall 2017 Course Type Advanced Studio Studio Name Un-Wall the Border Professor Hansy Better Barraza

UB

CALIFORNIA

ARIZONA

NEW MEXICO

BAJA CALIFORNIA

ED IT UN

TEXAS

ES AT ST

Monument #258

SONORA

O IC EX M

CHIHUAHUA

COAHUILA

NUEVO LEON

TAMAULIPAS

01 UB

Nodes/Checkpoints at Centuries Old Boundary Monuments Around 700 miles of 15-18 feet high, single or double walls is built along roughly the 2000 miles border between Mexico and the United States that is preventing cultural exchange, stopping the migration of animals, killing thousands of habitat, preventing animals from reaching for food and water and damaging the environment.

I propose the removal of all the existing walls and going back to history, to after 1846-1848 US-Mexico war ended, when 52 obelisks doted the horizon and were used as border markers between Tijuana, Mexico and San Diego.

Now there are 276 such monuments. I propose using these monuments as markers, as meeting/checkpoints where eventually cultural and economical exchange might happen.

UB 02

03 UB

MARGARET KILADJIAN mkiladji@alumni.risd.edu

20’

10’

1849

1851

1894

1971

2009

~100’

UB 04

05 UB

MARGARET KILADJIAN mkiladji@alumni.risd.edu

UB 06

USA USA BUFFER ZONE MEXICO

07 UB

MARGARET KILADJIAN mkiladji@alumni.risd.edu

MEXICO

UB 08

USA

PUBLIC GREEN AREAS

09 UB

MARGARET KILADJIAN mkiladji@alumni.risd.edu

ART & CULTURE MANUFACTURING & TRADE

SPORTS & RECREATION

New Passages Existing Border Nodes

MEXICO AGRICULTURE & MARKET

Existing Buildings New Playgrounds Monuments

UB 10

1827

1852

1899 Relocated River Channel Post 1968

Rio Grande1860’s

Amphitheater Rehearsal Spaces

1896

11 UB

MARGARET KILADJIAN mkiladji@alumni.risd.edu

ravo Rio B

Piazza Exhibition Spaces

Monument #1 Library

Rio G rand e

3,300’

UB 12

13 UB

MARGARET KILADJIAN mkiladji@alumni.risd.edu

UB 14

15 UB

MARGARET KILADJIAN mkiladji@alumni.risd.edu

UB 16

ENVIRO

MARGARET KILADJIAN mkiladji@alumni.risd.edu

ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN

I used the interior and exterior spaces generated by simple paper folds as a suggestive solution to cover the roof of the BEB building.

My objective is two folds: First, to create an indoor/outdoor space in the periphery of the roof line, used as a students’ lounge while taking advantage of the West and South views. Secondly, an intervention that makes BEB more sustainable and Eco-friendly by: 1. Changing the roof slope in the middle section of the fourth floor (senior thesis students’ space) and installing photo-voltaic solar cells to generate and supply solar electricity.

2. Extending the 4th floor out towards the buffer zone as a four feet covered terrace with plants that are irrigated using part of the collected rainwater. The remaining collected water to be stored in a sub-basement cistern and used inside the building.

Date Fall 2016 Course Type Environmental Design I Studio Name Eco Lab Professor Jeffrey Geisinger

ED

PROCESS Paper folding and manipulations created these geometric forms with convex and concave shapes that I used to: 1. Contain: Concave inwards to contain plants and guide the water for collection.

2. Protect: Convex outwards to create and define interior spaces that are protected from the elements.

01 ED

MARGARET KILADJIAN mkiladji@alumni.risd.edu

ED 02

03 ED

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ED 04

05 ED

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ED 06

07 ED

MARGARET KILADJIAN mkiladji@alumni.risd.edu

ED 08

MARGARET KILADJIAN mkiladji@alumni.risd.edu