Mikah Cassidy Creative Portfolio
Photography
Mixed Media
Oasis
RetroFutureFit
RetroFutureFit is a senior living center with a focus in promoting independence and encouraging activity for the elderly population of Bata Town, East Tilbury while fostering community and connection between the residents and the youth population of the area to create beneficial relationships for both parties. These goals are reached by creating a “third place” that is inviting and entertaining to all age groups where both demographics can engage in activities and socialize. A collection of spaces are interconnected within the facility and open to the public to visit as desired to create a truly inclusive and age-friendly environment. The height of the British Bata influence in the area was during the 1960’s, a time period which the area demonstrates sentiment for through their heritage conservation efforts. The redesigned Stanford House is inspired by this local pride and creates an environment that is unlike the care homes we see today. It is empathetic and inviting to both residents and visitors and leans into the idea of “retrofuturism” by representing ideas of nostalgia for the elderly residents of Bata Town while simultaneously moving towards the future.
Apartment Interior: The interior apartments are designed with the idea of egocentric perception for “spacial cognition” which is the way a person with dementia perceives the space around them, compared to the allocentric perception that people without dementia experience. This idea inspired the development of the apartments to create a space that all residents can feel safe and comfortable in, no matter their condition.
The rectangular shape of the current Stanford House was used to assist in setting constrictions for the development of the retrofitted volumes’ floor plans. The columns are set in an approximately 6 meter grid and the measurement of the cantilevers do not extend past 12 meters from the edge of the Stanford House. These limitations helped set a rule set and narrow the countless possibilities of arrangements in the volumes while additionally supporting continuity in the overall geometries of the new building into the irregularly shaped volumes being inserted.
Elevation
Section
Mikah Cassidy
The variety of spaces continue to the interior of the building, integrated amongst the residential flats. The connectedness of the activities encourage residents to participate and creates a space for connection as external guests visit the spaces as well. There is still a separation of privacy for residents in their individual living spaces with the option to limit or increase additional interactions by the internal kitchen window.
Community House: At the center of the town is the Community House, with increased greenery and soft landscaping, outdoor seating and social areas, and integrated transport links
Espresso Bar: The espresso bar is back in use to serve refreshments and beverages, providing an additional social space for casual meetings and more.
Bata Factory: Increased greenery, direct transport connections, and an on-site coffee bar have been added to the factory campus to contribute better working conditions.
Housing: The neighborhood homes are fitted with integrated home climate systems to maintain a comfortable living environment
The initial stages of RetroFutureFit began with a redesign of Bata Town, East Tilbury using the principles outlined in a heritage report and inspiration from “Closer Than We Think!” a Sunday comic in the Chicago Tribune-New York News Syndicate released from 1958 to 1962, featuring eccentric and whimsical visions of the future, crafted by creator Arthur Radebaugh. The site has a clear sense of pride for its heritage, leading an investigation into retro visions of the future to maintain this character while allowing it to develop. The end product of this stage was a sci-fi esque technology of a home climate control system that could be retrofitted over an existing property.
Winter Solstice
Summer Solstice Spring/ Autumn Equinox
Skylight
Roof
Oasis
Oasis is a Latin American cultural community center. Located in the middle of a loud, metropolitan area, it brings comfort and familiarity to the community. The name itself, Oasis, is a cognate, metaphorically bridging the gap between the two cultures. Drawing inspiration from the Escuela Pias in Madrid, Spain and it’s parasitic refurbishment, Oasis is a building that sits tucked away from the busy Walworth Road and Elephant & Castle junction while still in central proximity to the community. The project is comprised of six areas to provide a space full of qualities and explore media that make up the Latin American culture through literature, music, games, art, dance, and film.
The space is decorated with tropical plants that, while not necessarily native to Central or South America, are ones that are commonly found to contribute to the overall aesthetic and environment of the spaces. The structure of the building is designed simply in form to allow the naturally beautiful qualities of the tropical foliage the spotlight
Media Room: The room contains various forms of media such as art, books, magazines, and movies to encourage exposure to Latin American culture. In the back is the dance studio for lessons and rehearsals.
Greenhouse Lounge: The lounge serves as a greenhouse for the tropical plants and a casual hangout spot visitors. The garden contains plants native to or reminiscent of Latin America.
Café: The upper most level of the community center contains a snack and drinks bar with casual seating for dining or socialization.
Final Model: Interior Mikah Cassidy
Deptford Workshop
The Deptford Workshop houses a children’s woodworking summer camp program. The workshop is located on the lower level and a reception/break room is located on the upper level. The workshop contains built in shelving units for storage and displays, a large central work table, three individual desks for independent working, and an industrial sink. A large pegboard spans the wall to hang tools within the children’s reach. The upper level contains two bathrooms, a kitchenette, seating, and a balcony.
Ground
Mikah Cassidy
Elevation
A-A
Exhibition Stand: Sections
Section
Section B-B
Stage Sets
Concept set sketches for mystery-drama stage play Strings Unravelling produced by Fabricate Entertainment. Played at the Union Theatre in Southwark, August 2024.
Forest Clearing
Forest
Psychic’s Room
Living Room
Lewis’ Bedroom
Ava’s Bedroom
Frozen: (from left to right) Oaken’s Trading Post, Palace Gates, and Elsa’s Bedroom
Mary Poppins: The Nursery (top), The Rooftop (middle), Kites for the “Let’s Go Fly a Kite” number (bottom).
The Secret Garden: Mary’s Bedroom (top) and Archibald’s Study (bottom)
The Secret Garden
Mary Poppins
Frozen
Mixed Media
Acrylic on Canvas
Dry-Point Etching Print Color Pencil Collage
Ballpoint Pen
Graphite Pencil
Charcoal
Color Film (Ilford Sprite 35-II 35mm) Photography
DSLR (Nikon D500)
B&W Film (Canon AE-1 35mm)