Miks Berzins | Architectural Portfolio 2017

MIKS BERZINS ARCHITECTURAL PORTFOLIO A selection of my work from the past years including #urban planning #architectural design #inrerior design #graphic design #architectural visualization #lighting design #architectural competitions organized neatly

2017

Hello!

My name is

MIKS BERZINS

Welcome to my portfolio.

miks_berzins@hotmail.com miksberzins.com behance.net/miksberzins

01 mount oulu

(Oulu, Finland) urban planning | Year 2015

02 avotu street proposal (Riga, Latvia) Street reorganization | Year 2014

03 pumptrack

(Daugavpils, Latvia) Bike park | Year 2015

04 path of endaveor (Riga, Latvia) Pavilion | Year 2015

05 museum arnhem

(Arnhem, Netherlands) Museum extension | Year 2016

06 litre

(Riga, Latvia) Single family home | Year 2013

07 tornkalns area (Riga, Latvia) urban planning | Year 2014

08 tensegrety design

(Pedvale, Latvia) Free-standing sculpture design | Year 2012

09 freddie mercury

(Oulu, Finland) Marketplace plaza/hotel | Year 2015

GSEducationalVersion

top view | street perspective

01 mount oulu

(Oulu, Finland) urban planning | Year 2015

Taking a look at the necesities of Oulu one can find that the city has already what it needs, there is only the question of what it wants - Oulu wants to be noticed, a landmark as such, also making life more fulfilled with various possibilities for cultural and recreational activities. Mt. Oulu is a step towards is a step towards a vision of bringing more life to varios regions of Oulu by livening the Tuira area introducing Mt. Oulu - enhancing the exsisting terrain and pine groove by creating an elevated structure surrounding the core of the area as well as connecting the key points in another level in a way keeping the grounds in order implementing various activities among the route such as climbing walls, a treetop park etc. The elevated way introduces a new perspective - suddenly theetops become reachable and a possibility to view any happenings around the area from a different point of Ń‘view also providing a great view over Oulu from the highes point.

01

Granularity map

General plan

Activities

The offered sport activities have been chosen to enhance the variety and increase the interest for the area introducing a treetop park taking full advantage of the existing pine groove adding yet another perspetive to the area. New sport instalations include various height climbing walls wich work well in combination with Mt. Oulu‘s elevated path. Among the whole area one can find various sport related instalations such as slides or open air gym constructions wich lead to an improved children‘s playground, a bowl type concrete skatepark merging into a grill area between various streetball and street hockey courts.

Area scheme

Road scheme

Section A-A

South elevation

02

03

street perspective | south enterance

street perspective

Construction

As an adition to culture life, the existing buildings in the core are to be transformed into a canvas for cultural activities, transformig the existing kindergarden building into a culture centre with an open air stage facing the other buildings wich are to be transformed into cafes with summer terraces, sport equipment centres for the newly newly found sport activities and indoor exhibition space working together with the outdoor instalations around the peremiter of the area complimentiong and Transforming the previously quiet core to a cosy and alive area for happenings and well being.

Ground floor plan | Core

Ground floor plan | Core

Section street sport

04

Pedestrian street vision

02 avotu street proposal (Riga, Latvia) Street reorganization | Year 2014

Development proposal for a inportant and unique street in Riga. With it being unique as a diagonal across the city grid makes this street quite important in the overall traffic and pedestrian flow. The street connects the city centre with its outter regions via public transport going both dirrections and car traffic only one dirrection creating a small chaos in combination with pedestrian and cyclist flow. 1030m total lengh.

This proposal introduces reorganisation from the ground up. Transforming it to a one way street completely and even pedestrian only in some parts. This is achieved by reorganising Public transport and traffic flow, reorganised crossings and much wider sidewalks with room for a bike lane and greenery in combination with additional parking spaces.

Situation analysis | Public transport

05

Situation analysis | facing problems

Situation analysis | Intensity

Solution | Left turn

Situation analysis | Street width

Solution | Public transport redirection

Solution | Crossing reorganisation

06

Street perspective

Sections | Before/after

By transforming the street to one way only it was possible to substantially increase the size of the sidewalks making way for pedestrian and cyclist flow with potential to increase. The area closest to the city centre has been transformed to a pedestrian only shopping cafe area this way creating a point of attraction improving Riga

07

Pedestrian street proposal

Crossing proposal

08

03 path of endeavor (Riga, Latvia) Pavillion | Year 2015

Baltic way – a human chain flowing through Baltic countries in endeavour to regain their freedom. A phenomenon that showed that these three small countries, overlooking their differences, can make an intercultural bond for a common cause – to overcome the consequences of the World War II and to terminate the control of totalitarian regime. Baltic way is a historical symbol that lives in the memories of people and continuously raises the importance of solidarity, the value of freedom of speech and the non-violent resistance.

5.000

3.000

0.000

Flow and dirrection study

09

-0.300

NW Elevation

1.

CAFE VISITOR AREA 37.8m² 2. SOUVENIR AND CAFE SALES 13.1m² 3.

TOILET 3.6m² 4.

EXPOSITION AREA 80.8m² 5.

OUTDOOR TERRACE 62.2m²

Z

N

Vilnius

CAFE VISITOR AREA 37.8m² SOUVENIR AND CAFE SALES 13.1m² TOILET 3.6m² EXPOSITION AREA 80.8m² OUTDOOR TERRACE 62.2m²

S

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Ukmwrge

Riga

Panevezys

Pasvalys

Bauska

Ainazi

Parnu

Tallin

Visual impression marking 25 years since the baltic way

5.000

3.000

0.000

Ground floor | Section

-0.300

10

3D Impression of main pumptrack

04 pumptrack

(Daugavpils, Latvia) Bike park | Year 2015 | Built 2016 Multiple 3ds models, shape studies and visuals done in collaboration with Velosolutions Baltics for a public area developement competition in Daugavpils, Latvia. leading to some visualizations for a public space proposal offering a skatepark and two pumptracks of varying difficulty: medium and kids level, among with a surrounding park. Building process finished midsummer 2016

11

3D Impression concrete skatepark

Building process drone shot

Shape study main pumptrack | Kids pumptrack impression | Skill park impression

Beginner level pumptrack building process

12

Ground floor

05 Museum extension - arnhem (Arnhem, Netherlands) Competition 1st place | Year 2016

The Museum Arnhem extension tender took place in spring 2016. I had the opportunity to be part of the tender team while doing an internship at Benthem Crouwel Architects. Carried out multiple design options, from wich derrived the winnig design and the building process is set to beging in the near future.

The design features a clear new volume along with a reorganisation of the functions of the existing building. In contradiction to the given refference design - wich was set to be located 100% underground, we propose a new smartly designed “stroke� volume in the place of an existing extension building done in the late 1950s which was scheluded to be taken down in the near future.

Placing the new volume in its location meant to improove accesability, improve visibilitiy of the museum making it visible from the city as well as introducing new views over it (creating a landmark), placing the volume in said location also allows preservation of the existing trees in the courtyard.

Existing situation | New volume reorganisation

13

Early phase conceptual visualisation

Existing situation | New volume reorganisation

14

Function division | Above ground placement advantages

Early phase conceptual visualisation

Early phase conceptual visualisation

15

Approach points

Route through Museum

Visual connection with the surrounding nature

16

Front perspective

06 litre

(Riga, Latvia) Single family home | Year 2013

9,100

9,100

7,700

7,700

6,000

6,000 5,700

5,550

3,100

,750

3,000

3,200

2,200

2,200

1,800

,000

+-0,000 2

3

4

5

6 1’

2’

9,100

9,100

6,000

6,000

5,600

5,700

3,000

1,700 -0,300

+-0,000

+-0,000

-0,300

3’

Elevations

4’

4’

3’

2’

1’

6

5

4

3

2

1

Single family house located in the beautiful pine forest not far from the lake in the outskirts of Riga. The said family consists of five people supporting an active lifestyle. The houses volume is divided in two main parts wich then are divided further. The building streches across the plot introducing some privacy to the inner courtyard from the front yard.

Zoning of the house is done with the way of the sun and the northen climate in mind as well as the natural path. With the kitchen facing the access road, the master’s block and terraces facing SW. The two blocks help with zoning the house by deviding area in wich one would invite guests away from private areas wih are located on the top level

17

Situation plan | 3D impression

-0,300

Roof detail

Floor plans

9,100

9,100 7,650

6,000

9,100 8,900

8,650

6,000

6,000 5,700 5,500

3,200

3,100

2,200

2,500

5,700 3,200 2,200 1,700

-0,000

+-0,000

0,340

+-0,000

-0,300

-0,300

-0,300

Sustainability is strongly considered in the technical section of the house. Using natural materials - pine wood construction sauits the pine forest in wich the house is located. With a dark wood plank facade finish in combination with a classic titanium roof material.

Using only eco heat insolation with an extra layer on the north facing wall.

Elevations I

H

G

F

Physical model | 3D impressions

A’

B’

C’

D’

E’

18

07 tornkalns area (Riga, Latvia) urban planning | Year 2014

Tornkalns is a well known area in Riga with a rich historical value and great potental for growth because of it’s suprisingly yet undeveloped zones making it the perfect practice for urban planning. The given area mostly demands living area with all of its necessary functions, basically creating a city in a city featuring: parks, public buildings, pedestrian and cyclist paths, playgrounds, sport and leisure activities.

19

08 tensegrety design

(Pedvale, Latvia) Free standing sculpture design | Year 2012

Tensegrety design practice work for architectural composition, as a scale model for an outdoor instalation in a nature park, three offered layout solutions using two principles and material combinations

20

Perspective | Pedestrian path

08 freddie mercury

(Oulu, Finland) Marketplace plaza/hotel | Year 2015

With a need to increase the funcionality of the area making it more active and open for happenigs during the colder season it makes one think about the necesities. What better way to liven up a sleeping town than to invite a rockstar, a gem of its own, playing the game of contrast, enhancing the existing by being the opposite and vice versa. There is no need for competition in seperate fields, in this way it is possible to play a symphony together with the exsisting surroundings due to this lack of rivalry. Each volume has its own appeal and this helps to look and operate as one, drawing in more people together, creating multiple spaces of interest for different people in one place.

REINFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTIONS

COMBINED WOOD AND REINFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTIONS

WOOD LONG SPAN CONSTRUCTIONS

STRUCTURAL STIFFENING SYSTEM WITH GLASS INFIL COPPER SHADING SYSTEM

21

Plans | 1-5 Floor

Perspective | South

As one, if not the most important pieces of land in the city of Oulu, there lies a great opportunity to improve this place of gathering and connecting. The area is very close to the hearts of the local citisens as well as one of the local tourist attractions with the historic market hall and the surrounding buildings that bring a certain feeling of something precious and cozy to mind. The area surrounding the plot also serves not only as a venue for numerous events and happenings, but also has a busy and constant flow of people, wether on foot or by bike,winter or summer, visiting or on their common route.

The volume consists mainly of an ofset modular system making the many angles in the shape logical and easy to understand also dividing the structure into clear lines underlining the exsisting routes and natural flow

+18,000

+18,000 +17,000 +14,500

+8,000

+8,000

+5,000

+4,300 +2,000

+1,100 +0,000 -

NE facade

+0,000 -

SE facade +18,000

+18,000 +17,000

+15,000

+12,000

+11,500 +9,100 +7,500

+9,400 +8,000

+6,400 +4,500

+5,800 +4,500

+4,000 -0,500

+0,000 -

+0,000 -

+0,000 -

+0,000 -

-5,500

Section 1

Section 2

Marketplace plaza

22

STAIRCASES ELEVATORS

STIFFENING SYSTEM

STRONG WINDOW FRAMES WORKING AS A STIFFENING SYSTEM

STIFFENING SYSTEM

TENSIONED TRUSSES IN A X CONFIGURATION WORKING AS A STIFFENING SYSTEM

STIFFENING SYSTEM

TENSIONED TRUSSES IN A X CONFIGURATION INSIDE THE CENSTRUCTION AND BETWEEN LONGER SPANS WORKING AS A STIFFENING SYSTEM

STIFFENING SYSTEM

COLUMNS AND BEAMS THAT CARRY HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL LOAD

WOOD GLUED WOOD STRENGTHENING BEAMS h400 w 200 PATTERN h300 w100 TENSIONED TRUSSES

800 400

1600

400

Isometric construction scheme

STEEL BEAM ENDING REINROCEMENT

STEEL BEAM ENDING JOINT TENSIONED TRUSSES IN X CONFIGURATION CONNECT THE STRUCTURES DIAGONALLY

Long span structure detail

'Market Place Hotel' which consists of 125 hotel rooms, restaurant, bar, pool, winter market and retail space, has been designed with the hotel rooms arranged in one block positioned above the kitchen and cafe areas, next to the rwinter market, shop and office area block leaving the pool, sauna and technical areas to the basement. The hotel block of the project is based on reinforced concrete beams and slabs in a regular grid with some exceptions (larger overhang in one area 3m) The grid allows for one of the longer walls in each hotel room to be load bearing. The slab height is 35cm however for each story there are 60cm reserved for the floor pie therfore it can be additionally reinforced where necessary. The structure is braced using tensioned trusses in an X configuration in multiple areas, as well as the Staircasees and elevators add stifness to the structure

Lighting and shelve detail

23

Lighting section

Perspective | Shop interior

A very important feature in the public area is the open planing. No one is left out, there is a cetain inviting feeling of wholeness involving anyone in the surroundings.

Freddie Mercury has nothing to hide. the winter plaza can be viewed from any angle - a top view from the offices, conference rooms and even some hotel rooms, and there are views across from all directions

Freddie Mercury is emphasises on comunication and bringing people together also in a passive way creating sitting an chilling areas along the peremiter, the NW fasade of the cafe and bar area can be opened creating a summer terrace. Also worth mentioning is MANUAL - the integrated skatepark including ledges all around the building and a submerged line among the old market hall revealing the historic brickwork and creating yet another gathering area

The feeling is always created by the people, the happenings, atmosphere is something hard to define and visualize, however the variety of spaces in one open space gives lots of space for atmosphere, with different cieling heights and area dimensions, exposed wood construction all around, bright colors and on and on. The use of materials is limited to copper, glass, wood, concrete with matt white or black walls displaying some wall art in certain areas, keeping it simple creating a good blank canvas for well being.

Poster layout

The most interesting structural element of the whole building would be the way that the winter market area is held up using glued wood constructions reinforced with steel elements and truss stiffening systems working together with the window construction wich also works as an additional stiffening system.

These modular elements add a certain asthetic to the market area adding yet another purpose.

24

15 architectural drawings Freehand Arch sketches and drawings 25

Miks Berzins miks_berzins@hotmail.com miksberzins.com behance.net/miksberzins

26