Trinity Village Student Residence
Aterro do Flamengo: A Mangrove Forest
2023 p 20-30
Village for Additional p 4-8
Suburban Treehouse
2024 p 9-19
2022 p 31-33
Arcus Commons
2021 p 34-38
The Garden Tower
2022 p 39-41
Sketches of Athens: Types of Abandonment
2023 p 42-43
This project proposes to expand the student residence capacity of Trinity College at the University of Toronto with an occupancy of 350 students. A case study of the Cohen Quad in Oxford inspired the design, aiming to also convey the classical forms of the preexisting architectural context in a contemporary way. The project features an indoor atrium that also acts as a winter garden, echoing the courtyard of Trinity College. While the entrance of the building is shaded from the upper structure, entering the atrium bathes the user in light and open space.
The project also incorporates elements of modularity in its student units, which are staggered on each floor. This creates an illusion of movement within the building as a viewer walks past, while also angling the units to sunlight throughout the day. It thus creates a building that exudes motion and life to its inhabitants.
The site is located along Devonshire Place behind Trinity college, with Varsity Pavilion to its south and the scenic Philosopher’s Walk to its east. The residence features multiple entrances from Philosopher’s Walk and from the street side, with a cafeteria in the left wing of the building that is accessible to all students. This allows for the convenience of students visiting from the stadium and the path to have access to this space. A Village in Context
CONTEXT PLAN
SCALE: 1 : 1000
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
SCALE 1: 200
SECTION - WEST
SCALE 1 : 200
SECTION PERSPECTIVE - SOUTH
SCALE 1 : 200
Each student unit on the right and left side of the building, which are then staggered on the floor plan, contains two individual rooms and one shared bathroom. The student units on the north part of the building which face the Varsity stadium are individual units with a personal bathroom. Each floor also features a study and eating area and a private bookable room for events. Finally, the roof contains vegetation for its winter garden that hosts grass a variety of trees.
Following the theme of generosity, this thesis project aimed to a design a new type of park infrastructure as a ‘third space’ for early adolescents in suburban cities. Akin to a treehouse and adaptable to many sites in Naperville, Illinois, this infrastructure will be built in suburban parks that are walkable within the neighborhood.
Generous design is connective, physically and psychologically, and uses communal spaces to encourage interaction, collaboration, and a shared sense of identity that ultimately strengthen the social fabric of a community.
To accompany this project, this animation was developed to illustrate these themes of community and connection:
https://youtu.be/JzS5o8Ihfos
Tweens in the Suburbs
Like many suburban cities, the neighborhoods of Naperville, Illinois are hyper-reliant on cars, limiting walkability in spread-out single-family neighborhoods. Those most affected are early adolescents who seek independence during this critical time of their social development but are too young to drive. Thus, creating a space that reminisces the whimsy and secrecy of a childhood treehouse offers a flexible hangout space catered only to this demographic.
Naperville has an extensive park system, with many neighborhoods having “pocket parks” embedded in green spaces behind suburban homes and only accessible by walking on the paths behind these homes. On the left are three of these pocket parks that were primarily focused on for the treehouse design in this project.
CHILDREN PLAYING WITHIN THE TREEHOUSE
HEATHERSTONE PARK ISOMETRIC
The treehouse is positioned between existing trees, allowing their branches into the space, acting as a barrier and creating a sense of secrecy. The structure layout varies from park to park, offering different experiences of connection between different treehouse hubs.
SAWMILL PARK TREEHOUSE LEVEL 1 PLAN
SCALE 1 : 50
OLD SAWMILL PARK TREEHOUSE LEVEL 2 PLAN
SCALE 1 : 50
The treehouse aimed to have several areas of activity, with the ground floor having hardscapes for activities like rollerskating, while the spaces above have hidden platforms and a central hub. The project encourages climbing and creative mobility with its grid-like structure, which was later explored in the project because of its flexibility as a form to create complex spaces and ladder-like surfaces. The simplicity of these spaces also give it adaptability for the user to continually come back and give the space a life of its own. Thus, this structure evolves in meaning through its users and becomes a place that fosters memories and connectivity.
This projected originated with a case study of Burle Marx’s modern landscape design of the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro. Within this study it was discovered that there has been a continuous lack of upkeep of the natural environment and landscape in the surrounding area of the Guanabara Bay.
The bay is a host to a multitude of biological concerns, such as pollution, flooding and soil erosion. This project proposes to foster a mangrove forest along the shorelines to provide a natural remedial wall to combat these environmental concerns.
The current rate of increased sea level due to climate change projects that the shoreline of MoMA in Rio could be in danger of submersion as early as 2070. With the prevalence of storms, floods, sewage run offs, and trash and chemical leakage, this environment would become unsalvageable. The floods would bring all these deadly toxins in the polluted bay and from the atmosphere into the already eroded soil, destroying the flora in this area.
27°C
Observed Average Annual Mean-Temperature of Brazil 1901 - 2021 26°C 25°C
The effects of climate change are also seen in the rising mean temperatures and projected to continue this trend.
Mangroves trees, however, could provide a natural remedial solution to these issues. They are natural storm buffers against hurricanes and flooding, and absorb carbon into its roots as “blue carbon” underwater. Its roots also protrude above the ground to access oxygen and acts as a snorkel. These complex root systems act as a habitat for many aquatic wildlife and promote mudflats that are important habitats to other types of fish and crustaceans.
These are the current location of mangrove forests of Brazil as tracked by satellite imagery. The majority of these are on government protected land, yet these forests are still decreasing in size, reducing natural habitats for flora and wildlife.
Brazil has been experiencing catastrophic levels of rainfall due to climate change, leading to landslides and widespread floods. Low-income housing are most effected. This also influences rising sea levels, which would further devastate coastal cities.
Pollutants from industrial and sewage run off have decreased natural habitats of ecosystems. Humans are also effected from the worsened water quality, as the pollution has increased bacteria and infectious diseases in the water supply.
Mangrove trees could act as a remedial wall against these pollutants and naturally filter sea water between its roots.
Mangrove Forests Intervention along the Aterro do Flamengo
In order to prevent further damage of the ecosystem, this project proposes to plant mangrove trees along the entire shoreline of the Aterro do Flamengo to foster a mangrove forest. This forest will act as a natural, permeable remediate wall that combats the rising sea levels and naturally cleaning the bay.
The design will also take dredged dirt from a dredging project in the Port of Rio Grande with upwards of 2.8 cubic meters of material that would otherwise be discarded on the mainland, and use it to create a shallower shoreline and mudflats for the proposed mangrove forest of the Aterro do Flamengo.
~ 1 month
PHASES OF SOIL TRANSFER
MANGROVE FOREST
INTERVENTIONPLAN
Aterro do Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro
SCALE 1 : 5000
MANGROVE FOREST
INTERVENTIONFOCUSED PLAN
The Museum of Modern Art, Rio de Janeiro
SCALE 1 : 200
The forest is projected to take about 10 years for the trees to fully take hold on the dirt and flourish as an ecosystem. The current commercial ports would be removed and instead have a dock running along the shoreline for walking and sitting areas as a natural park. This will allow for controlled public access to the forest and provide education and awareness of the current environmental issues.
PLANTING SCHEME
REMOVED INFRASTRUCTURE
PROPOSED BOARDWALK
BIRD FLIGHT PATTERN
MANGROVE FOREST INTERVENTION - PLAN A
The Museum of Modern Art, Rio de Janeiro
SCALE 1 :200
MANGROVE FOREST INTERVENTION - PLAN B
The Museum of Modern Art, Rio de Janeiro
SCALE 1 :200
As seen in these sections, the planting of mangrove forests will revitalize the habitats of the shoreline providing homes for a variety of fish, turtles and crustaceans between its roots as well as promote vegetation of seaweed and other underwater fauna in this shallow water regions. Birds such as Great White Herons and Wood Storks would also utilize the mudflats as resting areas during migration.
For human activity, the forest will also provide waterways for canoing and other water activities. These activities will allow more interaction and interest in the environment to be maintained in the future, while offering still a limited human interference.
While this project is not a permanent solution, these natural interventions will slow down negative effects the bay is currently experiencing and provide time for further solutions to arise and protect the future of the Guanabara Bay.
COLLAGE VISUALIZATION - MANGROVE FOREST INTERVENTION
SITE CONTEXT
BAYVIEW AVE & STEELES AVE ENorth York, Ontario
ORIGINAL SITE
MAXOME AVE & LLOYDMINSTER CRESCENTISOMETRIC North York, Ontario
This project focused on implementing Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs)in neighborhood plots located around Steeles Avenue and Bayview Avenue. The project focused on the neighborhood streets of Caswell Dr, Lloydminster Cres and Maxome Ave, which features a park while also lacking sidewalks.
Rectangle Plot
L-Shaped Single Level
The rectangle plots allow for completely uniform plots and housing to be built alongside one another.
Corner Plot
Single Story
The corner plot is most suited for horizontal-facing housing in a plot that is more shallow in depth, with a side yard.
Irregular Rectangle Plots
Split Level
Similar to the rectangular plots, but the shape is altered to fit the road curvature, creating unique plot shapes.
Fan-Shaped Plot
Multi-Level Housing
The wider fan-shaped plots allow for newer and larger homes to be built on these properties.
BEFORE ADU INTERVENTION
Rectangle Plot
L-Shaped Single Level
Story
Level
Housing
AFTER ADU INTERVENTION
SITE AFTER ADUS + PATHS
MAXOME AVE & LLOYDMINSTER
CRESCENTISOMETRIC
North York, Ontario
PERSPECTIVESA WALK THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD
By inserting additional pathways between these housing plots to access these ADUs, it offers more pedestrian access to a neighborhood that currently lacks sidewalks. Additionally, it provides easier access to parks and unlocks the ability of this neighborhood and its ADUs to act more as a village.
Inspired by the many Neo-Gothic buildings on the University of Toronto St. George campus, this student study building uses arches as a motif to create unique spaces for an assortment of studying purposes.
The site is located besides the Goldring Centre along Devonshire Pl and provides areas for both quiet studying and group work. Driven by the concept “reveal and conceal”, the building is divided into two sections. One half is enclosed - “concealed” - with interior arches dividing the space and providing serious study areas, while the “reveal” offers a more relaxed open-seating area that is full of light from the arched windows.
PLAN LEVEL 1
SCALE 1 : 50
PLAN LEVEL 2
SCALE 1 : 50
SECTION - NORTH SCALE 1 : 50
SECTION - WEST SCALE 1 : 50
ISOMETRIC SE
ISOMETRIC NE
The contrast between the “reveal” and “conceal” areas of the building dramatizes the transition of entering the other area of the building. As seen with the physical model, the “conceal” area’s dark and geometric architecture is then showered with light when looking into or entering the “reveal” area.
This grasshopper generated twisted tower was inspired by the open-aired facades of the Marina Towers in Chicago. The tower is designed to be a commercial and residential building and also features greenery that takes inspiration from eco-brutalism.
ITERATIONS
The tower is composed of three layers: the floor plates, the window facade, and the twist around the tower. Several variations arose from experimentation on what layers would be extruded, but the final design featured the twist protruding out in layers taking form a balcony.
BASE CYLINDER
The width and height of the base cylinder will determine the height of the tower.
SPIRAL TWIST
The cylinder is twisted, breaking up the form with an inner cylinder.
CONTOURED TWIST
The twist is contoured to form balconies that are stacked long the tower floors.
FLOOR PLATES
Floor plates are added, following the form of the inner cylinder.
INNER FACADE
The facade is composed of a geometry that is randomly extruded with windows.
FINAL TOWER
The balconies, floor plates, and faced are combined and layered within each other.
THE GARDEN TOWER IN CONTEXT
CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOWER - PHYSICAL MODEL
Each column of the facade is divided to take account of the extrusions.
Columns are folded to their extrusion and fitted together. Ten columns are combined for the full facade.
Each balcony starts with identical rectangular strips, with sides folded in.
The facades are combined together for the final structure.
The sides are folded with the middle portion curved to form the balcony, and they are combined and stacked to create the tower’s twist.
Layer by Layer
The physical model was partially laser-cut and its assembly required unraveling each layer and combining them like a puzzle.
PHYSICAL MODEL
While visiting Athens, a noticeable aspect was its abundance of abandoned buildings. Due to factors such as the economic crisis of 2008, and land laws often changing that require rough structures to be build to secure ownership, many projects end up being abandoned.
Additionally, ownership of land is not well registered in Greece, leading to complicated legal situations that prevents further use of a plot. Many find it easier to leave it untouched than go through legal hoops to renovate.
DETERIORATING DISMANTLED
Interestingly, these abandoned buildings have found unconventional uses to city dweller through the years, and these sketches are my attempt to explore and document the conditions of abandonment found in Athens.