Urban Design & Architecture Portfolio

portfolio architecture & urban design

olga kotta

CONTENTS

academic projects Master’s Thesis | In the research for openness | KTH, Stockholm, SE Design Studio | Expose the Culture | KTH, Stockholm, SE Di ploma Thesis | Karabournaki Coastline | AUTH,Thessaloniki,GR

professional projects Linck. Connecting Nature and People | Jvantspijker, Rotterdam,NL Ivoordreef,Utrecht | Jvantspijker, Rotterdam,NL

maps & collages analysis and strategy diagrams masterplan and mental maps concept collages

portrait of Stureplan

in the research for openness; the Stureplan case Urdan design thesis project. A narrative of openness in a symbolic square of scandinavian lifestyle and design. What if public space takes over?

Stockholm,Sweden

an

introduction

re-imagining Stureplan Square • Urban Design Project • KTH Royal Institute of Technology • Supervision: Francesca Savio & Patrick Verhoeven • January 2019-May 2019

public space taking over

private space taking over

This thesis project investigates the theories of the open city, as examined by Richard Sennett, in order to explore the image of Stureplan square in Stockholm,Sweden.

What kind of image would Stureplan have,if Stockholm was an open city?

And on the other way round, what kind of narrative for Stureplan square can enhance and reinforce Stockholm’s openness?

The project experiments with the open and closed systems, with territorrialities of Stockholm and groups of citizens in the city frame. By proposing a new program for the sur-

rounding built environment and also a new design proposal for the public space, Stureplan’s image turns into a public arena where different territories of Stockholm can find a place to be exposed.

In the experimentation of breaking the edges of public and private, this thesis proposal explores new forms of housing, shopping and trading, working and transporting.

There is also a look at the image of the public library, the cultural hubs and community centers.

the

core

square

theories

the open system Richard Sennett “What results when places become dense and diverse, as in packed streets or squares, their functions both public and private; out of such conditions comes the unexpected encounter,the chance of discovery,the innovation.”

what stureplan represents • -symbol of scandinavian architecture and society • elit society • -foreground for political-economical networks • -egalitarianism • -wealthness

program • • • •

-nig htbars -restaurants -shopping mall -hig h fashion stores

On Stureplan’s Atmosphere The square works on day-to-day basis; more speculative events may take place, but not regularly. Consequently, social life there is able to reproduce itself. This brings a certain atmosphere to the square. This atmosphere depends on HOW the square is being used and BY WHOM?

the users.

The composition of the passers-by depends upon both A| the location of the square in the city B| the destination points facing the square

Impacting Stureplan’s Atmosphere. how-to?

Now, the square may be changed, if not from within, from the socio-spatial context. If the properties facing the square house have a certain mix of uses,changes in their composition are expected to change the users passing by the square, impacting on its atmosphere.

Some procide a list of functions or uses that spaces should allow, ranging from democratic activity to passice recreation (Marcuse,2005) Universally inclusive and encourage interaction among diverse set of users (Kohn, 2004; Nemeth and Schmift, 2007; Young,2000).

Variety,flexibility,permeability,authenticity (Ellin,2006) Variety of unplanned, unmediated, improvised uses (Franck and Stevens, 2006)

research

What

question

is the socio-spatial image of

Stureplan

in the frame of

the open city�concept?

What

kind of narratives can describe an open-and thus incom-

plete design proposal for an open’Stureplan?

program

strategies

PROGRAMMATIC STRATEGY

CLUSTERS OF USES AND USERS

SOCIAL INTERACTION GENERATORS

design

strategies Stureplan consists of economic and social networks. Those networks are interconnected throug h physical space as well as throug h e-platforms.

CURRENT DESIGN ELEMENTS Currently, Stureplan area is consisted of the square, the transport cross, and Sturegallerian. All these elements are robust and shape a strong identity.

How can a scenario of openness interplay with the design and the identity of the square?

DESIGN CONCEPT OPEN STUREPLAN The open scenario of this project breaks the well defined edge around Sturegallerian and brings public elements inside the gallerian. The importance of the public square is now extended and depicted also in the center of the shopping mall.

masterplan

|stureplan

The square penetrates the shopping mall and becomes the core of the new sturegallerian. The most open and public element of design; the square dominates the historic gallerian building in an attempt to open it up in a literal and metaphorical sense.

open-end

program

proposal

penetrating

a

shopping

mall

elements of the program that is found inside the building are now exposed in the public space. An interchange of public and private fragments takes place and the square is the foreground of these interactive and disordered conditions.

arts

and

media The arts and media center in a semi-private and semi-public space that functions as the cultural heart of stureplan. culture and art groups can find their place here in the multilevel building once used as hotel.

shopping

in

the

windows

“mall”

PUBLIC-PRIVATE WHERE AT?

street by the school

expose the culture places and traces of culture in public space

Urban planning and design proposal for the city of Sodertalje in Sweden. The projects deals with migration flows, integration and community development throug h an interactive design loop that runs around the city center.

Sodertalje,Sweden

an

introduction A community development experiment

KTH Royal Institute of Technology Supervisors: Alexis Pontvik,Ania Zdunek,Daniel Kock,Sepideh Karami March-May 2018

The city of Sodertalje,is 30 km southwest of Stockholm,with 84.000 inhabitants, 40% of which have a non-swedish background. The issue of social segregation and exclusion has been prioritized for a long time here. This projects explores how public space and programmatic choices in the city can boost social segragation and turn certain social groups invisible. In Sodertalje, there is a storng culture activity related to the ethnic traditions of the multicultural population living there. This storng element is hidden behind the walls, inside the houses or the community centers located far away from the public eye. Therefore,this projects targets at “exposing the culture”,or in other words exposing the multi ple identities of Sodertalje’s community and then using this “exposure” as an urban tool for a lively,integrating and welcoming city.

existing social clusters

design

concept

the

loop

Throug h the loop illustrated below,the existing culture clusters and social hubs will be boosted and promoted. Small intervations in public space will give space for community development and itneraction. cultural identities will come into surface and become the tool towards integration and community development.

research by design urbanism and cultural

stimulation

Research question How can cultural activities interplay with the uban common space of Sodertalje in favor of integration, community development and social interaction?

Research aim Designing -or redesigning- a public space in a way that reinforces community identity, promotes cultural activities and creates possibilities of social interactions.

Reinforcing existing activities and cultural identities.

Creating inviting public spaces that illustrate Sodertalje’s social identity.

Design tool: the loop from intention to an actual plan 1| connecting culture spots 2| spread culture-activity from private to public space 3| deconstruct the non-p hysical barrier A loop that connects places,suggests functions and activities.

THE LOOP IS: flexible,transformable,distinct,inviting

intervention area

the common place; Karabournaki waterfront

Design proposal for one of the most iconic coastline parts of Thessaloniki, Greece. Public library and waterfront masterplan for Karabournaki area as part of the public dialogue over the future of Thessaloniki’s waterfront.

Thessaloniki,Greece

the common place; Karabournaki waterfront

Urban Renewal Strategy for Karabournaki waterfront

-Thessaloniki,Greece -Aristotle University of Thessaloniki -Supervisors: Alkmini Paka -Collaboration: Victoria Petropoulou February-July 2017 This project examines the urban renewal of Karabournaki coasline, the only remaining ‘untouched’ part of Thessaloniki’s waterfront. Public discussions regarding the future of this place have trigger conflicts between different stakeholders. We decided to took part in this urban conflict by publishing our thesis proposal in Thessaloniki’s media and press and by taking clearly the side of “the rig ht to the city”.

This area can give space to public,political and social initiatives. It can also be an open invitation to free interpretations and unstructured activities. As a pick to the openness and the public character of this space, we propose a public library which can become a landmark for the city and enhance the public and open character of the waterfront by always providing an open, inviting, free and welcoming space for the citizens of Thessaloniki.

program

public why?

strategy

lbrary.

A public library is considered here as the KEY towards enhancing the open character of the city. It can work both as a landmark and cluster of social interactions at local and non-local level.

masterplan

karabournaki

waterfront

“The only remaining fragment of the old Thessaloniki coastline�

the

library

floorplan

ventilation

and

sun

protection

facade

systems

the

library

library

program

view

from

arts

and

the

media

water

main

collection

facade

THE WAVE The volumetric distribution as well as the orientation of the library create a welcoming gesture from the city towards the water. The open plynth,the transparent facade and the urban equi pment shape together an organic opening.

THE OPENINGS The alocation of the openings on the facade material offers a surprise element to the user and they adapt everytime according to the use of space.

elevation

linck; connecting nature and the people Housing tower in the Hague, Netherands.Competition win of Jvantspijker and partners in 2018-2019.

The program involves apartments and an active plynth with various activities. Green development and energy efficiency is the main focus of this proposal.

The Hague,NL

linck; connecting nature and the people jvantspijker and partners

Binckhorst,The Hague,The Netherlands program | 8.200 m2 housing + 1.800 m2 leisure / business program design team | Jaakko van ‘t Spijker, Markus Freigang, Jesse Wijnen,Dimitrios Andrinopoulos,Federica Giannone

contribution&partici pation • 3d modeling of the 4 apartments typologies proposed for Linck • Sections and elevations drawings • Rendering PSD postproduction • Diagrams & schemes for the housing typologies

• axonometric drawings for all 4 housing typologies -3d modeling -collage making -fine tuning

apartment

type

4 |

skyloft

SKY LOFT One out of the four housing typologies that can be found in linck building. The skyloft is a two level family apartment. With the axonometric drawing here we try to communicate the material selection and the spatial qualities of the apartment.

section

|

the

atrium

concept strategy

Ivoordreef, Utrecht

Sustainable urban development of housing block in Ivoordreef, Utrecht. The project targets at the creation of a warm and welcoming neig hborhood with special focus and social cohesion and social security.

Ivoodreef, Utrecht Strategy,masterplan,public space design and facade typologies

jvantspijker and partners

January-February 2020 Design Team: Jaakko van ‘t Spijker, Barend Mense, Madeleine Mans, Olga Kotta ,Osman Ural

Vision for Ivoordreed

contribution&partici pation

“The healthy city” 1960 vision: lig ht, air,space

• • • • •

2020 vision: health,security,intimity within collective

strategy and concept development concept schemes and diagrams public space design 3d modeling PSD collages

from

public

to

private

public space program

The whole concept of this neig hborhood is the reinforcement of a gradual transition from public to private space. The design of the yards, the square and the court will enhance social cohesion within the community.

masterplan

entrance

to

|ivoordreef

the

neighborhood

public

&

space

housing

typologies

towards

edges

street

the

of

in

square

the

the

block

block

J V S T

TU DELFT

KTH

A U T H

a collection of maps, collages, drawings This section includes a series of products that have been developed throug hout my academic studies as well as during my work period at Jvantspijker and partners.

project

for

AUTH, 2017

arts

and

media

Gufunes, Reykjavik Maps designed for competition phase B of project Gufunes,Reykjavik in Iceland. project by jvantspijker and partners

strategies

concept

development

Flendborgarhofn Collage made for urban design project in Flendborgarhofn,Iceland.

project by jvantspijker and partners

Vogabyggรฐ Collage produced for a housing project in Iceland,Reykjavik.

project by jvantspijker and partners

Parkhaven Collages produced for Parkhaven project in Rotterdam,NL.

project by jvantspijker and partners

The landscape of sharing Urban design studio at TU Delft. Project on the sustainable development of Tanthof neig hborhood in Delft.

program

scheme

Samskip Sundabrout Maps designed for the Samski p project in Iceland,Reykjavik in the frame of analyzing Shell company’s plots in a city level.

the

image

of

project by jvantspijker and partners

reykjavik

green

land

zones

uses

The construction of walls Urban Planning studio at TU Delft. Atlas for Hilversum,NL.

portrait

of

hiilversum.

normative

scenario

EKP, Den Bosch competition entry Axonometric views, produced in collaboration with felixx landscape architects and planners

zoom

in

a

project by jvantspijker and partners

zoom

in

b