Samira Umpierre Portfolio 2024

Barnard College, Columbia University

B.A. 2024 in Architecture

Samira Umpierre

SELECTED WORKS

PG.

PG. 17 - 23

PG. 24 - 30

PG. 49

Material tRANSECTS

FALL 2022

PG. 34 - 35

The Green Thumb FALL 2023

IRCAM’S H20 CENTER SPRING 2023

Crescendo SPRING 2023

PG. 40 - 45

the Three flutes FALL 2021

PG. 46- 48

Unveiling Brilliance SUMMER 2023

PG. 31 - 33

Metamorphosis SPRING 2022

PG. 36 - 39

Koinonia FALL 2023

4 - 16

Urban Condundrum FALL 2023

: Re-imagining Aspres through Community-Led Design

Advanced Architectural Research + Design Studio

Instructor: Karen Fairbanks

In collaboration with Max Graves, Noa Greenwell, and Danielle Eregie Fall 2023

Site: Aspres, Strovolos iii, Cyprus

Built for internal refugees with no public investment in social infrastructure, the settlement poses questions about permanence, material resilience, and the dynamics of internal movement. The aim is to provide a framework for community-driven transformation, addressing boundaries between private and public, and redefining ownership thresholds.

EXISTING site plan

Aspres, Strovolos

Proposed site plan

Three main intervention sites, in collaboration with Max.

Consisting of variable sites scattered through Aspres, the project is anchored in a “community assembly” located on the south-western edge of the neighborhood. Its programming is designed to preserve the businesses there, provide a space for the discussion of matters concerning the development and maintenance of the community, and host other civic/social events for residents.

Proposed Site Plan

Highlighted Community Center, in collaboration with Max.

Proposed Community Center Plan

Samira Umpierre

outdoor Ground level

View of intermediary space between commercial and the assemby hall.

roof plan

The rooftop accessible through outdoor stairs from the ground level or elevator, features a garden with species native to Cyprus and found commonly throughout the community.

Second floor plan

The second level of the assembly is a continuation of the library through a mezzanine study space. It also hosts the recording booths for gathering oral histories from residents and sky bridge connecting to a conference room in the southern half of the building.

ground floor plan

The north half of the building hosts the neighborhood library along with the community archive. There is currently no existing space designated to collect the histories of the refugees living in Aspres and information is primarily found through first person encounters. The south side has work spaces for neighborhood-elected spokespeople intended to organize community events.

Samira Umpierre

Neighborhood Library interior Bookshelves turn into the mezzanine balcony railings. First floor shelves accessed from both the stairs and the walkway leading to the bathroom. Auditorium style stairs inspired by the UNIC ARC Conference room.

Proposed programming

A few proposed programs are weekly outdoor markets, a neighborhood library, and a community archive housing residents’ histories.

longitudinal Section

A section through the Assembly Hall reveals an oral history archive as well as a neighborhood library, work spaces for community-elected spokespeople, meeting rooms, elevators, and rooftop gardens.

circulation loop

Our intention is to facilitate movement across all planes of the community site. The core programs of the Assembly are on the ground level for increased accessibility and elevators are in place to access upper floors.

All Outdoor circulation

Outdoor ground circulation is extended to the Assembly rooftop--accessible regardless of whether the Library is open.

Samira Umpierre

The programming of the Community Assembly explodes into a series of landscape interventions across the neighborhood to encourage community engagement. In collaboration with Max.

Satellite 2

Expanded playground, conversation pit, and urban satellite gardens. - Max

Samira Umpierre

satellite 3

Basketball courts, expanded playground, and urban satelite gardens. - Max & Noa

satellite 4

Urban garden satellites - Max & Noa

satellites 5

Traditional oven pavillion satellites - Max

Samira Umpierre

tHE GREEN THUMB: A pORTABLE COMMUNITY CENTER

Advanced Architectural Research + Design

Instructor: Karen Fairbanks

In collaboration with Noa Greenwell Fall 2023

Site: Kofinou Reception Center, Cyprus

Green Thumb aims to provide safe kitchens and trade skills development to refugees residing in Cyprus’ reception centers while awaiting their work permits, which typically spans nine months. The program focuses on sectors recognized by the Cyprus government for asylum immigration status, as well as houses an adaptable urban garden.

Map of Cyprus recention centers

Our proposed site is Kofinou but our concept can be applied in several locations. In collaboration with Noa.

possible site configurations

The portable containers can be deployed in a wide variety of site configurations. In collaboration with Noa.

Samira Umpierre

Open air classroom

Exploded Axonometric

OPEN-AIR CLASSROOM In-Use Plan

Storage Plan

Samira Umpierre

Communal kitchen

Exploded Axonometric, in collaboration with Noa.

communal Kitchen

In-Use Plan, in collaboration with Noa.

Multipurpose crates

Detail drawing of crate features, can be used as a seat or garden box.

crate-to-wall Installation

Detail of how the crates can be attached to walls or framing in both kitchen and classroom containers to serve as storage.

Not only will Green Thumb bring safe kitchens and classrooms into the ecosystem of the reception centers, but the collaborative nature of the blocks allows for infinite uses and imaginative solutions.

site In-use

Background image taken from a local newspaper article about the Kofinou Reception Center.

IRCAM’S H20 CENTER

Instructors: Thomas Demonchaux, Antoine Santiard, Marcos G. Rojo

TA: Juan Pablo Azares

Spring 2023

Columbia GSAPP Paris Studio

Site

Selected bay of Centre Pompidou facade

Interior / exterior relationship

Close proximity to child daycare and a musician’s exposition informs my programming.

Material study

IRCAM and IRCAM’s H20 Center

Exterior scaffolding study

Centre Pompidou and IRCAM’s H20 Center

Samira Umpierre

Third floor plan

Stairwell 2 brings visitors to the final level: the Adventure Playground. Inspired by playgrounds made of unconventional materials, this level uses the inherent strange materiality of the H20 Center and reconfigured walls to create an area for exploration and play.

Sec0ond floor plan

Stairwell 1 leads to a second floor complete with semi-encapsulated music practice rooms insulated by water-filled EFTE walls. It is also where museum visitor may enter through an existing glass ‘caterpillar’ hallway.

First floor plan

The first floor houses a short term stay studio equipped with a kitchenette, twin bed, storage, and a private elevator entrance from the museum. Temporary residents must lead music-related careers and in return for their free stay, they designate 3 hours daily to music coaching upstairs. Public entrance leads into an intermediary space with access to a semi-public bathroom.

Function = form

Direction of applied pressure dictates shape of building.

inspiration

The shape-shifting quality of the H20 Center and its system of running water was inspired by a beating heart.

Samira Umpierre

Running wATER sYSTEM dETAILS

An attempt at deciphering “water-balloon” slabs.

PLAN-O-METRIC TOPOGRAPHY

Flattened topogaphical drawing of the multiple layers of slabs that form the seating, stairs, and other ammenities.

Adventure playground Experiential collage of level 3

Samira Umpierre

Unveiling Brilliance

SKLARchitecture Internship Project

Supervisors: Ari Sklar, Elsa Suarez-Alfonso, Adina Kaufman Summer 2023

Overview of Gallery Artis Fine Arts Gallery in Hollywood, FL

Unveiling Brilliance is a showcasing of Architect, Oscar Sklar’s, career. A physical timeline of his works and creative insight, the idea for this exhibit came from his son and fellow architect, Ari Sklar, owner of SKLARchitecture.

I was heavily involved in the curation of this exhibit, where my duties spanned from cataloging and selecting works to the design and erection of the gallery walls/layout. All marketing flyers and invitations were designed by me.

Workplace timeline

College Portfolio on Display

1980’s Institutional Work

Samira Umpierre

Opening night held on July 29 and saw around 100 attendees. The exhibit was open through August 5.

Honoree Biography and Gallery Experiential Route. Background created using Sklar’s thesis drawings and other project outlines.

Flyer handout

Material transects

Advanced Architectural Design 1 Studio

Instructors: Karen Fairbanks, Joeb Moore, Michael Schissel

Fall 2022

In collaboration with Tina Wang

Selected sites

Map of selected sites in New York City.

Material Transects takes three core sections through Manhattan to reveal more information about these locations. By layering historical information , we are able to draw focus to the themes of curation and urban displacement , ultimately raising questions regarding ownership and proprietorship in Manhattan.

Samira Umpierre

Hands and construction equipment are used to represent the influence of the “curator” in the design of these three spaces.

Metropolitan Museum

Seneca village and the Lenape people are also represented throughout the three core sections, providing a window into the past of these spaces.

Central Park

American Museum of Natural History

Bedrock outlined with key words connecting themes in the images.

Metamorphosis

Environments & Mediations Studio

Instructor: Lindsay Harkema Spring 2022

Metamorphosis was designed to generate spatial variety, maximize green spaces , incorporate discrete garden tool storage, and invite the interaction between the exterior and interior of the garden in a fluid, & organic manner.

Samira Umpierre

EXISTING SITE PLAN & ANALYSIS

A site analysis of the Community Garden on 111th street and Amsterdam Ave. in Manhattan, New York revealed a lack of concealed storage space and the possibility to expand green areas.

PROPOSED SITE PLAN

By redesigning the perimeter around the garden to not only function as a protective barrier from New York’s heavy urban fabric, but also as seating , shade and vertical gardens , we can maximize greenscape and create a small oasis in the heart of West Harlem .

Exploded section

Metamorphosis is comprised of stacked planes changing ever so slightly with every iteration to result in a finished product that provides the illusion of shape shifting to its user’s needs.

The shape shifting planes form a number of habitable spaces:

Communal

Garden-facing seating Shade

Street-facing seating

Vertical Gardens

Semi-enclosed benches for privacy

Concealed storage space integrated into the design

PHYSICAL MODEL

Laser-cut chipboard and basswood.

Crescendo

Columbia GSAPP Paris Studio

Instructors: Thomas Demonchaux, Antoine Santiard, Marcos G. Rojo

TA: Juan Pablo Azares

Spring 2023

Tasked with repurposing Fontaine Saint-Sulpice in Paris, France, Crescendo examines sound and site activity to develop a space tailored to play with your senses.

Site Analysis

During a series of site visits similar to those conducted by Georges Perec, I observed peoples’ use of the plaza and measured the duration of their activities and sources of sound. Duration circles to be read counter-clockwise and red color highlights sources of noise.

Rue

Before Saint-Sulpice is a paved square with a few benches around the fountain.

Crescendo hopes to revive the square and turn the fountain into a point of interaction. Landscaping and new paths have been introduced based on common trajectories people take across the square.

Rue Saint-Sulpice

Rue de Vieux Colombier

Rue Bonaparte

RuePalatine

Rue Henry de Jouvenel

Place Saint-Sulpice

Rue de Mézières

Rue

Samira

Crescendo utilizes three varying wall thicknesses to insulate sound . As you ascend the fountain, noise pollution from the water fall and around the plaza are reduced to provide a space of refuge for visitors. The third level brings you to the very top of the fountain--exposing sounds of the waterfall, an unsusual perspective, and a horizon of the tallest buildings nearby.

Crescendo features a similar double-helix staircase as in Chateau Chambord--revealing nooks within the walls of the top floor and on the exterior ground floor of the 65 foot fountain. This intervention incentivizes visitors to interact with the fountain for longer periods of time.

Section 1 East-facing

Samira Umpierre

physical Model

Laser-cut butterboard and paper straws.

the three flutes

Systems & Materials Studio

Instructor: Diana Cristobal Fall 2021

The Three Flutes is the culmination of a semester-long exploration of music and architecture. It functions as a landscape aeolian harp composed of three conical structures.

THE VENTURI EFFECT

Situated behind Columbia University Saint Paul’s Chapel and north of the 20 meter-wide ‘CU Law Bridge’, the Three Flutes take advantage of strong wind patterns during New York’s winter months and the Venturi weather phenomenon to produce music.

North side

The use of Corten steel sheets for this proposal alludes to the industrial history of NYC and breaks the rigidity of the classical architecture style commonly seen on Columbia’s campus.

Amsterdam Ave

SOUTH SIDE

The structures are folded from the same surface. It uses tension and elevated topography to hold the structures and their curving shapes in place.

Physical model

Bristol paper, yarn, butterboard. Some conical structures are connected to the chapel and to each other, this helps maintain a viable relationship between the chapel and sound sculptures.

urban conundrum

Basic Drawing Studio

Professor: Naomi R. Safran-Hon Fall 2023

Inspired by Julie Mehretu, this 18 x 24 inch work aims to represent New York City’s beautiful chaos.