Architecture Portfolio by Rita Kim

Portfolio

The essence of the architectural vision for the Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa camping concept called the Cliffside Lodge is to redefine the traditional nature experience by harmonizing luxury with outdoor exploration. The design is supported on a central truss cantilever that extends into nature, serving as a main building with series of sleeping pods that are cantilevered from the side of the mountain. The concept of portal-edging is integrated into the form and function of the sleeping pods. Each sleeping pod is strategically placed at varying elevations which allows the users to wake up to a canvas of ocean and the city skyline. The design ensures to provide both a private sanctuary and a vantage point to blur the boundaries between the built environment and the natural landscape. The elevation of the pods also serves to minimize the environmental footprint and preserve the flora and fauna below.

Program used: Rhino, Twinmotion, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, Procreate

Table Top Mountain

Cape Town, South Africa

The architectural vision introduces an innovative camping concept, inviting visitors to embrace nature’s beauty from a new angle. Anchored by a cantilever building, the design creates a harmonious union of form and function. Sleeping pods, positioned at different elevations, emphasizes panoramic views of the ocean and city below which allows the users to appreciate the beauty of the landscape while nestled comfortably above the ground. This concept redefines the nature experience, harmonizing the exhilaration of outdoor exploration with luxury of elevated accommodation.

Site Trails to Top

Cape Town

Cable Car Path

Perforated Metal Panels

Second Skin Structure connection point to secondary structure system.

Second Skin Structure

Intersection detail of the primary truss system.

Connection point of the W18x65 beams of the secondary structure system.

As the supporting system to the primary structure, the W36x330 and W14x68 beams are connected to a pin point. The steel structure is anchored to a concrete footing foundation to which is connected to steel poles used as ground anchors into the cliff.

Intersection point of horizontal and lateral truss system connecting two W36x330 beams of the primary structure system.

Connection point of three W18x65 beams of the secondary structure system.

Pin point connection of the secondary structure system. There are four pin connections anchored into the concrete footing foundation in order to stabilize the building on the side of the mountain.

Pin point connection of the secondary structure system for the individual sleeping pods. There are four pin connections anchored into the concrete footing foundation for each of the nine sleeping pods, on the side of the mountain.

Due to it’s durability and lightweight design, the open web steel joists are supported by the secondary structure.

Multi Dimensional Garden

Smallpox Hospital, Roosevelt Island, NY

The proposal is to transform the historic Smallpox Hospital on Roosevelt Island, NY, into an English-style multi-seasonal inter arboretum. This vision aims to reinvent the ruins, blending history with horticulture to create a public oasis that offers year-round beauty and tranquility. The design focuses on a dimensional approach to gardening, which incorporates both vertical and horizontal elements, creating a spatially lush environment that maximizes the use of available space. The complexity of plant species selected will ensure that the arboretum remains vibrant and engaging throughout the year.

Program used: Adobe Photoshop, Revit, Procreate

Trees:

Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum)

Dogwood (Cornus spp.)

Crabapple (Malus spp.)

Serviceberry

Shrubs and Vines:

Boxwood (Buxus spp.)

Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.)

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis spp.)

Viburnum (Viburnum spp.)

Rhododendron (Rhododendron spp.)

Virginia

Flowers: Peony (Paeonia spp.)

Astilbe (Astible spp.)

Hellebore (Hellebours spp.)

Sedum (Sedum spp.)

Coneflower (Echinacea spp.)

Bushes:

Lilac (Syringa spp.)

Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)

Rose (Rosa spp.)

Spiraea (Spiraea spp.)

Forsythia (Forsythnia spp.)

Modular Trellis Panel System:

Used to train vines to grow vertically. The wire mesh framework that proved support and guidance for the plants as they climb.

As the seasons change, the arboretum's seasonal plantings will offer visitors a constantly evolving visual experience, highlighting distinct natural features in every season. In spring, blossoming flowers, especially the delicate cherry blossoms, will bring vibrant colors and fragrant blooms to the landscape, marking the arrival of new life. As summer unfolds, the lush green foliage of various plants will create a refreshing, shaded environment, immersing visitors in dense canopies and verdant textures. Autumn will transform the scene into a tapestry of colors, with leaves turning shades of yellow, orange, and red. Virginia creepers, in particular, will turn a striking red, draping the ruin walls in bold hues and giving the structure a vivid, lively appearance. In winter, as the Virginia creepers shed their leaves, only the bare vines remain, revealing the "skeleton" of the ruin. This exposure highlights the architecture itself as the focal point, allowing visitors to appreciate the structure's intricate details that are typically hidden by greenery.

Throughout the year, the seasonal interest extends beyond color and bloom, with subtle textures and changes in plant life telling the story of each season. For example, the river birch trees display a unique seasonal transformation in their bark. In warm months, the bark begins to shed in thin, curling layers, creating a peeling texture that adds depth and visual intrigue. When colder weather sets in, the bark settles and becomes a protective layer against the chill.

This continual transformation of colors, textures, and structures offers visitors an immersive experience, inviting them to witness the dynamic beauty of nature and architecture harmonizing throughout the seasons.

River Birch (Betula spp.)

(Amelanchier spp.)

Cherry Blossom (Prunus serrulata)

Weeping Willow (Salix babylonica)

Creeper (Parthenosiccus quinquefolia)

The proposal is a tool library that focuses on fitness and music to promote the overall health and well-being of the Albany Park community. The purpose of this proposal to design a tool library on an empty lot that is located next to the Kimball CTA Brown line station in Chicago, IL. CTA is the main source of transportation and is used by adults and students. The Kimball Hubs is a place for them to focus on relieving stress and self growth before or after a long busy day. The building is split into sections, gym on the first floor and music studios on the second floor. The outdoor space is opened to the community and often host neighborhood music shows. Throughout the building, there are skylights that shine natural light into different parts of the building, to improve mental health, and individual hubs act as it’s own private space/function.

Program used: AutoCAD, Rhino, Procreate, Adobe Illustrator

3311 W Lawrence Ave, Chicago, IL 60625