RK

portfolio. noun

contents

a collection of selected projects by reni koycheva - 01 -

p. 2-9 / RE-IMAGINING E-87

- 02 -

p. 10-14

/ BLACK SEA ENCOUNTERS - 03 -

p. 15-16

/ 66 BARING ST - 04 -

p. 17-19

/ EYES TO THE CITY - 05 p. 20 / BONUS!

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- O1 RE-IMAGINING E-87 Academic Work / Feb 2021 LOCATION E-87 Road, Burgas, Bulgaria TYPE Public realm / Temporality / Collaborative urbanism / Cities for people BRIEF The design objective is to investigate and propose a strategy for the E-87 Road as a whole and design a series of temporary interventions. The public realm in contemporary cities needs to be re-purposed to prioritize the relationship between people and everyday life rather than being primarily to accommodate the movement of cars.

PROJECT SUMMARY The project aims to re-imagine a main road in the city of Burgas and re-connect the divided areas alongside by reconsidering the urban traffic and the human scale. The three interventions - a Floating Walkway, a Lake-Sea Sidewalk and accessing a Birdwatching centre, respond to the environmental emergency which we are facing nowadays by making sites within nature enjoyable, accessible and safe for people. This aims to focus on improving people’s well-being in the midst of a pandemic and raises important questions on protecting nature.

TUTORS: Riccardo Marini, Loris Rossi

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“Designing a dream city is easy; rebuilding a living one takes imagination.” - Jane Jacobs

A Master plan showing the three temporary interventions in the city of Burgas. They allow people to reconnect with and observe nature in a safe and inclusive environment. Work was produced with Google Earth and Photoshop.

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INTERVENTION 01 - What is the quality of the area that people use for fishing or walking?

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The Floating Walkway - a collage response to site 1 (Intervention 1) The collage was produced with site photography & Photoshop and was inspired by the art installation of Christo & Jean-Claude.

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A quick sketch of the initial idea for Intervention 1

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An isometric drawing exploring the build-up of the floatin walkway device

INTERVENTION 03 - Is the city area accessible for non car-users?

Site visit from a citizen point of view During this site visit I wanted to explore how citizens can access the Nature Conservation centre by using public transport.

So after taking the bus which stops 500m away from the centre, I found out many other challenges for getting to the site. In fact, it was life threatening and almost impossible. Here are my observations:

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Getting out of the bus, just to realise that it is impossible to cross the road to the other side where the Birdwatching centre is located. (non-humane)

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After waiting patiently for 10 minutes to cross, there was unfortunate evidence of the dangers that this road brings. (time-demanding, highly dangerous, non-inclusive)

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A lane that is supposed to be used from both people and cyclists. (dangerous, non-inclusive)

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Moreover, there are falling rocks and no protection from them! (dangerous, non-inclusive)

According to the ‘Average walking speed by age’ information, it is impossible for humans and non-humans to cross such road where cars move with a speed of over 90km/h. Thus, the point of the third intervention is to provide a safer journey and bring the attention to the many challenges that non-drivers face on daily basis.

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1

Creating the Floating Walkway

2

Re-establishing the Lake-Sea Sidewalk

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Accessing the Birdwatching Centre Initial elevations of the three temporary interventions in use

Hand-drawn plan of the city at 1:1000

*Intervention 3 transforms an existing walkway under the bridge, however, what I would do differently is to try and establish an easier way for people to cross the road itself by transfomring the traffic lanes.

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SKETCHBOOK PAGES

The shown pages are design journal extracts which explore the research and design process from projects 01 and 02.

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- O2 BLACK SEA ENCOUNTERS Academic Work / May 2021 LOCATION Nature Conservation Centre Poda, Burgas, Bulgaria https://goo.gl/maps/bwK82pTUsEpGpsGJ8 TYPE Public / Educational / Recreational / Urban realm A visitor centre with observatory tower and exhibiton spaces BRIEF The principal design objective is to investigate and propose architecture that activates and sustains a state of change for a time frame of 50+ years.

PROJECT SUMMARY Located in the heart of Burgas city’s Wetlands area, the project involves a Visitor Centre building with Exhibition spaces, an Observation tower and an indoor Cafeteria.

It invites people to reconnect with nature by being submerged in its beauty while acknowledging the dangers that it faces. The building serves as a transition point between the main road E-87 and the existing Birdwatching centre, allowing passengers to take a slower approach to the city and observe the patterns of nature. The time spent there aims to improve their well-being and strengthen their connection and understanding of other species. The construction suggests a lifelong building cycle with materials whose sustainability lies in their durability and up-cycling capabilities.

TUTORS: Riccardo Marini, Loris Rossi

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“No one will protect what they don’t care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced” - Sir David Attenborough

An axonometric view of the main architectural structure - a Visitor centre building connecting the city to the existing Birdwatching centre. The building also serves as an observation experience of the surroundings and includes a gallery and a cafeteria.

Work produced with S-ketchUp, Lumion & Photoshop

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The Water Exploration Room

The building within the landscape where the salt waters from the Black Sea meet with the sweet waters from Mandra dam.

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1:20 Section drawing through the Water exploration room using hand-drawing and Photoshop.

An explorative study of the structural strategy and material selection.

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A rendered view of the entrance to the visitor centre and the existing main road. Work produced with Lumion and SketchUp

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- O3 66 BARING ST Academic Work / June 2020 LOCATION 66 Baring St, Manchester, United Kingdom https://goo.gl/maps/JNua37WcdveGwXie9 TYPE Private, Residential, Offices, Landscape BRIEF Design housing suitable for both living and working on a given site - 66 Baring St, Mayfield.

PROJECT SUMMARY 66 Baring St is a place which has undergone significant changes throughout its history - from serving as public Victorian Baths in the 1850s to agencies in the 1950s and a public parking for the last few years. The central location within the heart of the city of Manchester and its connection to River Medlock provides a great opportunity for citizens to have their homes and offices within a walking distance to some of the main services and facilities within a city.

The project provides a proposal to build homes and offices for sustainability experts .with a minimum of 8 units and pays particular attention to considerations of climate change, typology, sustainability, materials, orientation, history, demographics.

TUTORS: Neil Allan, Richard Dargavel

“Will working from home be the norm again?”

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Exploring natural light. privacy and orientation which led to pursuing a Passivhaus standard units

Interior development of the work and living unit plans

West and south elevation of the house unit on a 1:50 scale

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A section drawing through on of the house units showing the materials and structure of the house

- O4 EYES TO THE CITY Academic Work / Jan 2020 LOCATION Mayfield, Manchester, United Kingdom https://goo.gl/maps/tsGvARQyXVKvLn8KA TYPE Bridge, Public building, Re-establishment, Re-connection BRIEF Mayfield has been Manchester’s blind-spot for years, but it has entered into a state of change. The project aims to create architecture for Mayfield that offers eyes and ears to the city of Manchester by designing a building that challenges the ‘blind spot’ that Mayfield has become.

PROJECT SUMMARY The proposal for the project involves the concept of ‘Old&New’ and the idea of ‘Rebirth’. By investigating a historic analysis of the site, the project resolves into a bridge which serves not only as a connecting point between an old and a contemporary train stations but is also an experience itself including a gallery with a cafe, places for rest and a small auditorium.

TUTORS: Dragana Opacic Wilkinson, Ashley Hunt

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Site model created with the help of laser-cutter. The model explores the existing site, its context and the possible locations of the architectural intervention

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This section drawing shows the construction of the bridge structure on a scale 1:20

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- O5 -

Photography

A Gate to the Unknown

Midsummer Night

Paper Towns

Lockdown View

A London Postcard

Birds

In my free time, I enjoy exploring places, taking photographs and allowing my creativity to unfold.

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