SELECTED WORKS
SUSTAINABILITY IMAGINATION CARE
Three steadfast personal passions drive the design philosophy behind each of the following selected works: a commitment to sustainability, an exploration of innovative design strategies, and a dedication to creating a built environment that is welcoming and inclusive to all. These three passions act as a framework for each project, regardless of its scale or scope, because of their significant ability to positively change the world through creative design. These selected works reflect this harmonious partnership and the various shapes and forms a project can take when intertwining environmental consciousness, imaginative creativity, and human-centric design.
ROOTED IN PIAZZA DEI CIOMPI Kindergarten and Public Library, Florence, Italy p. 1-8
MIRAS COMPLEX Urban Design and Landscape Architecture, Warren, Ohio p. 9-14
THE JULIET Mixed-use with Urban Farming, Cleveland, Ohio p. 15-20
ADA MEDIA HOUSE Cultural and Performing Arts, Kent, Ohio p. 21-26
SENSORY TOWER Form Study p. 27-30
ROOTED IN PIAZZA DEI CIOMPI Date: Spring 2023 Professor: Paola Giaconia Location: Florence, Italy Size: 55,000 sqft Type: Kindergarten and Public Library Designing a contemporary building in Florence’s historic Piazza dei Ciompi explores how to seamlessly blend new and old to meet evolving local needs. The hybrid kindergarten and public library design preserves crucial public plaza space while introducing new uses for the site. Inspired by the site’s historic, yet aged pine trees, the library roots itself into the ground, maintaining public access to the plaza above, while the kindergarten grows upwards with a series of terraced green roofs as mementos of the pine needles. The design studies the complex urban fabric surrounding the historic site to harmoniously cater to the shifting needs of the local community.
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To maintain a majority of the public piazza space and provide refuge from the busy urban environment, the form delves underground. Two terraced forms grow upwards and are carved to correspond to the site’s pedestrian traffic. Sunken courtyards and skylights reintroduce green space and light to the below ground program. They also provide secondary pathways into and out of the library to connect to the activity above. Permanent seating and planters guide pedestrians through the site and engage various community uses for the public piazza. E JUN 21
DE C
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LONGITUDINAL SECTION WITH DAYLIGHT STUDIES
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EXISTING FORM DIAGRAMS
EXTRUDING
CARVING
PUNCTURING
DETAILING
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LOWER LEVEL PLAN 1. LIBRARY 2. CAFE 3. SUNKEN COURTYARD 4. OFFICE 5. CHILDREN’S LIBRARY
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GROUND LEVEL PLAN 6. LECTURE ROOM 7. CIRCULATION TO KINDERGARTEN 8. LIBRARY LOBBY 9. KINDERGARTEN CLASSROOM 10. COURTYARD
11. GALLERY 12. PLAZA & LOGGIA DEL PESCE 13. SKYLIGHTS TO LIBRARY BELOW 14. MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM 15. OFFICE 16. GREEN ROOF
The Kindergarten and Public Library programs call for a specific engagement of public versus private space. The two programs remain almost entirely physically separate, one above ground, the other below, but join at crucial intersections. Connected by a children’s library and public gallery space, the two programs compliment each other while remaining true to their own needs. To ensure safety, the students must pass through interstitial spaces before entering the public program of the library. Through these intersections of public and private, the kindergarten program artfully weaves Montessori values into its design. Students are protected within the kindergarten spatial boundaries, but still allowed individual choice of activity via flexible membranes between classrooms, group areas, outdoors play and education spaces, and the adjoining public programs of the library. To further incorporate into the historic context, the conceptual design employs repurposed materials to craft facade fenestrations and material details. Furthermore, the physical model mirrors this commitment by being constructed from recycled materials found in and around Florence.
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SECOND LEVEL PLAN
PHYSICAL MODEL WITH RECYCLED MATERIALS
PHYSICAL MODEL WITH RECYCLED MATERIALS
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PEAK HOUR
WEEKEND MARKET
Florence’s dense historic urban fabric hinders the creation green spaces, thus the new design employs green roofs, sunken courtyards, and planters as a solution. Mainly, to counterbalance the removed existing fenced garden and provide maximum greenery, the kindergarten’s sloped roofs are clad with a sedum green roof system that not only acts as stormwater management and a visual connection to nature for the overlooking apartments, but also as a learning opportunity for the students. The roof slopes towards the accessible rooftop garden to demonstrate how the system works and interest students in horticulture. TRANSVERSE SECTION
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EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
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MIRAS COMPLEX Date: Fall 2022 Professor: Bill Willoughby Collaborators: City of Warren Community Members Location: Warren, Ohio Size: 980,000 sqft Type: Urban Design and Landscape Architecture
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Entering an era of revitalization in Warren, Ohio following the Steel Industry crash of the late 1970s, the demolished St. Joseph Riverside Hospital site emerges as a key player in propelling the city forward. The Mahoning Interdisciplinary Revitalization and Sustainability (MIRAS) Complex celebrates and engages the public by integrating existing natural processes of the Mahoning River throughout the site. Informed by urban design studies, the site’s layout mirrors the meandering path of the Mahoning River, guiding occupants through sectors of ecological, social, and economic revitalization.
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KEY 2.
1. CONSTRUCTED WETLAND 2. PASSIVE PARK AND COMMUNITY GARDEN 3. RELOCATED URGENT CARE 4. NATURE CENTER 5. OBSERVATORY 6. INTERACTIVE WATER PATH 7. ARTS AND SCIENCE HUB WITH LIVING MACHINE 8. MIXED-USE 9. RAIN GARDEN 10. BIOSWALE 11. DAYLIT STREAM
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PHASE 2
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�100,000
�500,000 �700,000 +
�75,000
�300,000 �500,000
A �50,000
�200,000
�300,000
A �200,000
�100,000
B �25,000 B
�100,000
�75,000 �75,000
�50,000
�50,000
�25,000 -
�25,000 AVERAGE REAL ESTATE VALUES 1.
A. REAL ESTATE VALUES RELATIVE TO SITE
B. REAL ESTATE VALUES - EAST WARREN
Following the collapse of the Steel Industry in the 1970s, Warren, Ohio, akin to numerous other Northeastern cities, experienced a sharp decline in both population and economic prosperity. Presently, Warren is undergoing a revitalization, yet certain pockets of the city continue to struggle with growth. Nestled in West Warren, the transformation of the old hospital site stands as a potential catalyst for economic resurgence in the neighboring communities. This transformation not only imbues the site with a fresh identity of economic, social, and environmental revitalization but also promises widespread benefits for all of Warren.
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CONSTRUCTED WETLAND 866
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890
894 892
PROPOSED SIDEWALK
PROPOSED BUILDING
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
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888 890
TOPOGRAPHY AROUND
Acknowledged in three local news reports, the MIRAS Complex introduces dynamic transformations to the riverside site. A standout feature is the constructed wetland, which not only restores the floodland ecosystem but also offers an engaging educational and recreational space for visitors. The comprehensive improvement of water management across the site, achieved through the integration of wetlands, daylit streams, bioswales, rain gardens, and a living machine, ensures that visitors can actively participate in and appreciate the site’s harmonious interaction with the natural environment. “KSU Students Imagine Future”, Tribune Chronicle, Dec. 8, 2022: Interviewed and quoted in article “Kent State Students Present Plans for St. Joe’s Site in Warren”, WKBN, Dec. 7, 2022: Televised Interview and quoted in article “New Ideas from Next Generation”, The Business Journal, 2023: Interviewed and quoted in article
Educational and Interactive
Ecologically advantageous
Beneficial for human health
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888
890
878 880 882
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886
ROOF OVERHANG
PROPOSED BUILDING 880
PROPOSED BUILDING PROPOSED CONSTRUCTED WETLAND 886 888
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892
PROPOSED COVERED PARKING (WITH PHOTOVOLTAICS)
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894
NATURE CENTER
PROPOSED GRADING
890
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EXISITING GRADING 892
0
892
888 890
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50
100 ft
Molly Zwack
Kent State University College of Architecture and Environmental Design ARCH 30101: Third Year Design Studio Fall 2022
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THE JULIET Date: Spring 2021 Professor: Aaron Schordock Location: Cleveland, Ohio Size: 320,000 sqft Type: Mixed-use with Urban Farming As the impacts of climate change force a growing number of people to seek new homes, cities like Cleveland, Ohio have the potential to serve as pivotal hubs for these displaced populations as they transition into permanent housing solutions. The innovative design of the Juliet not only accommodates, but also fosters a mutually beneficial relationship between the city’s stable urban population and the flux climate refugee population. The unique terraced design integrates retail, affordable housing, and urban farming to create a self-sustaining and inclusive environment that welcomes climate refugees into the fabric of the city during their transition.
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INSPIRATION EXPERIMENT: MOUNTAINSIDE FAVELA
A digital college, blending the stacked geometries of South American favelas with a vertical mountainous landscape, serves as the creative catalyst for Juliet’s design. The intentional vertical terracing of the apartments not only minimizes the building footprint but also maximizes the availability of wooded green space within the urban setting. The strategic striations of the vertical, terraced apartment striations play a crucial role in optimizing passive daylighting, benefiting both the rooftop garden patios and the urban farming greenhouse. The private apartment terraces facing the South also have direct visual connections with the greenhouse below, thus deliberately fostering a greater sense of community among residents.
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HOUSING AND GREENHOUSE INTERIOR
NORTH AXON
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SOUTH AXON DIAGRAM
PRODUCTION
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PACKAGING AND ORGANIZATION
DELIVERY TO LOCAL BUS
SINESSES
To enclose the greenhouse and ensure an optimal, controlled environment for food production, lightweight and adaptable ETFE Foil Cushions offer an intelligent solution. The overall pillowed design, reminiscent of simplified clouds, not only adds aesthetic appeal but also channels rainwater to underground tanks, enhancing the greenhouses’ self-sustainability. To counteract overheating in the South-facing interior, the foil cushions exhibit a dynamic capability to inflate or deflate. During summer, they deflate to minimize insulation and align the printed fritting on the interior ETFE sheet to reflect more sunlight. Conversely, in winter, the foil cushions inflate to enhance insulation and deliberately misalign the fritting, maximizing sunlight exposure. This thoughtful mechanism provides an economical solution, ensuring an ideal, efficient year-round climate for sustainable food production.
PICK-UP POINT DISTRIBUTION
ENJOYMENT OF FRESH FOOD
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ADA MEDIA HOUSE Date: Fall 2021 Professor: Jennifer Rufener Location: Kent, Ohio Size: 70,000 sqft Type: Cultural and Performing Arts
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As the understanding of media evolves to encompass innovative technologies, emerging scientific disciplines, and bold artistic endeavors, the need for an interdisciplinary center becomes imperative. The ADA Media House design merges the innovative construction methodology of 3D Printing with sustainability to establish a public space dedicated to the study of art and media technologies. Employing a manipulated gyroid single surface form, the design seamlessly interconnects programs through a network of overlooks and openings, thus creating a dynamic and infinite spatial experience.
Perspec�ve
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THIRD LEVEL PLAN
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SECOND LEVEL PLAN
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By employing the single-surface 3D print infill geometry known as the gyroid, the entire structure has the potential to be inherently self-supporting, reducing the need for excessive material. The infinitely interconnected gyroid geometry not only presents a visually captivating form, but also facilitates the creation of fascinating, intertwined interior spaces. As the structural form seamlessly weaves among itself, openings and overlooks emerge, providing an innovative means to link and integrate various media-related interior programs. As the gyroid form has no inherent beginning or end, the program linkage occurs horizontally and vertically over multiple levels. To create program spaces without impeding on the geometry of the gyroid, floor plates extend from peaks and valleys, typically ending in cantilevers to avoid typical stacked floors.
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GROUND LEVEL PLAN
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1. BLACK BOX THEATER 2. RECITAL HALL 3. LECTURE ROOM 4. LOBBY 5. GIFT SHOP 6. CAFE
7. STORAGE 8. GALLERY 9. LIBRARY 10. CLASSROOM 11. OFFICE 12. DIGITAL MEDIA EDITING SUITE
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LOWER LEVEL PLAN
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METHOD: 3D Printing to achieve the gyroid geometry Example: TECLA by Mario Cucinella Architects and WASP Additive construction method via industrial 3D printing device for a prototype dwelling
Northwest Axon MATERIAL: Natural byproducts of agriculture or building excavation Organic Matter Examples for filament: Corn and Wheat starch, local soils, cork and wood fibers
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KEY:
1. BLACK BOX THEATER 2. LIBRARY 3. OFFICE 4. HALL 5. DIGITAL MEDIA EDITING SUITE 6. GALLERY 7. LOBBY 8. RECITAL HALL
SECTION
3D PRINTED MODEL
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LIBRARY UPPER LEVEL
BLACK BOX THEATER
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SENSORY TOWER Date: Fall 2021 Professor: Jennifer Rufener Drawing inspiration from the intricate folding geometry of flower petals, this biomorphic form study seeks to create an immersive environment with three distinct levels of sensory experiences. Curated architectural materials, intentional topography changes, and intricate details converge to playfully evoke coinciding sensations for the occupant, specifically engaging their sight coupled with the smell, sound, and vestibular senses. To juxtapose the organic form of the structure, functional pipework climbs up and through each level, introducing a secondary path for vertical circulation.
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AXON
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SIGHT AND VESTIBULAR ROOM
SIGHT AND SOUND ROOM
SIGHT AND SMELL ROOM
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MOLLY ZWACK mzwack@kent.edu (240)-479-8706