Sophia Fields
PORTFOLIO / ARCH 208
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Riverside Learning Link
Project 2
Native Nature Center
Project 3
Redefining Access
Project
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Riverside Learning Link
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Project 2
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The Gelwa Hailsa
The Gelwa Hailsa is a dugout canoe use by the first Boat Perspective
nationspeople of the Northwest Coast for hunting, fishing,
Water’s Edge Perspective
trade, transportation, and war. Made from the gigantic Red Cedar that grows on Haida Gwaii,the canoes incoorprate the nation’s cultural craft and a distinctive style into necessity for daily life
Length: 545cm Width; 95cm Height; 82cm
Boat Storage
This boat storage unit lies on 4 points
along the edge of the Kansas River, beginning right off the parking lot that distinguishes the beginning of the walking/ bike path. The storage units are strategically placed at points of easy entry along the path, their angles distringuished by the optimal views from the perspective sitting on the bench.
The design draws from the “Y” shape
observed at the prow of the Gelwa Haila. Two Y-shaped beams positioned parallel to one another are utilized to hold the shape of an average canoe, with a two person swing hanging below, facing the water.
Site Plan with Riverside Learning Link
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Plan
Structural Concept
The river link structure creates an outdoor classroom experience where class-
es may utilize the projecting views of the river to the East, a sound barrier wall to the north, and facades to the south of a pyramid shaped learning stair that fits up to 32 people comfortably. The materials aim to merge with the environment as it is site directly off the second bend on the sidewalk path through the park, with exposed wood utilized for the exterior wall forms, and concrete rectangular columns that form to the overlying triangular shape. The wooden floor boards shape to a di-
Southeast Site Section
rect path towards the dock that is strategically placed at an extruded point along the river side to create the most easily accesible ramp path following the water’s flow.
Southeast Elevation
Northeast Elevation
Southeast Longitudinal Elevation
Northheast Longitudinal Site Section
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Northeast Longitudinal Elevation
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Bird’s Eye Perspective
Classroom Perspective
Boat Perspective
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Native Nature Center
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Project 3
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Site
Located at the first bend along the Burcham
Park walking trail, this Eastern Cottonwood will thrive in ideal conditions for growth and spread possibilities.
The Friends of the Kaw
The Native Nature Center was designed with
the purpose of creating a beneficial space to serve The Friends of the Kaw.
This group of Law-
rence Locals has set forth the following mission
The site around the tree was cho-
sen for the Native Nature Center to create a learning space; offering an ideal opportunity for the Friends of Kaw to teach about the observation, appreciation, and growth techniques which can be used to rehabilitate Burcham Park’s native plant’s population.
statement: “We seek to: advocate the rehabilitation of the Kaw’s environs, including water quality and wildlife habitat; to promote compatible public recreational uses of the Kaw: and to encourage the development of adequate public access.” When conceptualizing the concept to design a space around this mission, the focus was placed upon the rehabilitation of the Kansas Rivers Environment.
The Eastern Cottonwood
Through site and native plant populus research
about the Kansas River, the Eastern Cottonwood was identified as the tree which not only encompasses the highest percentage of native tree life, but also yields the best growth possiilities about the climate of Burcham Park.
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Site Plan with Riverside Learning Link (Water Connection)
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Structural Concept
Each step of the design process was guided by the goal of creating a structure that
would have minimal negative impact on the surrounding environment. The overall form is slender and holds the majority of its mass right off the path behind the tree. servation decks lying at the front and back faces.
It features tensile ob-
Supporting these decks are beam which orig-
inate at the front mass and projecting upward at an angle.
Beams are also used parallel to the
mass to create a deck at 35’ above ground. The rear deck is enclosed by the canopy of surrounding trees, while the front deck projects forward with views upward towards to Eastern Cottonwood. Skylight windows in the entry and classroom spaces also offer a similar experience within the structure itself.
Upper Observation Deck Perspective
Classroom Perspective
North Elevation
South Elevation
Behind Tree Perspective
South Site Section
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Entry Perspective
Lower Observation Deck
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HANDICAP PATH PRIMARY PATH
Plan
Circulation Diagram
Second Floor Plan
Upon entry to the structure, there is a hallway that guides
visitors directly to the central straircase that lies on the West end of the structure, connecting all the way to the third floor. To it’s left, there is the elevator to accomodate to those unable to ascend via the stair case. The first and second observation deck is only accesible to the fully capable, as it is tensile. However, the elevator leads to the third floor where handidcap visitors may experience a similar experience on a wooden floor, that ends just past the beginning of the tree line.
First Floor Plan
OBSERVATION DECK
CLASSROOM
East Elevation
West Elevation ENTRY KITCHENETTE OFFICE BATHROOM MECHANICAL
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Massing Diagram
STORAGE
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Redefining Access
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Project 4
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Structural Concept This project sited on the outer edge of Burcham Park at the corner of West 3rd and In-
diana St is a multi purpose
education center that aims to blur the lines between the resi-
dential and industrial spaces it lies between. The structure is strategically placed in the inner- most corner of the triangular site bordered by a road to the west and train the east, where the main structural element is the flipped pyramid shape. This project is form focused incoorporating function through circuation, where the large windows in the wide protuding wall facing the approaching road serves to intrigue the residential citizens and invite them into the beautiful, natural park that is hidden behind the industrial, unwelcoming environment it is currently surrounded by. Furthermore, as we may see in the massing diagram, each aspect of the instructed program was layed out to serve a direct circulation, with
slanted roof ele-
ments that lead each visitor to an identical classroom, serving the purpose of overhead views to the park that were not offered previously. Lastly, natural materials and an indoor/ outdoor design strategy were highly focused on to blend into the space and merge with the public and private atmospheres that largely dominate the surrounding site.
East Elevation
Second Floor Plan
Site Plan Key
Industrial Buildings
Residential Buildings Primary Pedestrian Path Train Track Bike Path
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West Elevation First Floor Plan
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Light Studies
Summer Sun
CLASSROOMS
Winter Sun
UPPER COMMON SPACE
COURTYARD/RAIN GARDEN
Overhang Diagram 3- ft long overhangs, protuding at the exact angle the slanted roof were utlized, where they would not take away from the lighting affects I was trying to create within
ROBOTICS MEDIA SPACE STORE STORAGE/ MECHANICAL
the major spaces, but benefit my learning atmosphere and blocking the rays at which the south facing windows face with the sun’s position in the sky causing the least glare and shading elements that benefit the placement of desks.
BATHROOMS
ENTRY/ LOWER COMMON SPACE Massing Diagram
MM M ID S U
ER
Louver Diagram South- facing louvers were incoorporated on the class-
room and upper common space windows only towards the south and not to the east because the east faces lie parallell to the forset of
2 3/4”
Burcham Park, where topography allows adequate shading techniques of their own. The louvers were calculateed by first measuring the noon mid winter to mid summer angle, yielding and angle of 75 degrees between the outer face of the facade to to edge of the win75 ° WINT
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dow frame, then. spaced each louver 2 3/4” apart from eachother to
MID
created the best temperature managing factors in the summer, yet still let adequate light in through the winter seen in the diagram to the right, utilizing the fixed overhead.
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Sun Diagram
NOON MID WINTER- SUMMER ANGLE SP ACING (S)
2” WIDTH (W)
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Rainwater Collection
Rain Garden- Courtyard Perspective
Birds- Eye Precipitation Perspective
A rain garden percieved through a garden wall is utlizied on the North-facing courtyard wall. With the structure being
guided by the entry begining as a semi- indoor space, with indoor advance space on the right wing, and the courtyard merging at the end of the space, I knew this element would create much needed potential for my project when reviewing the concepts learned in this course. The exterior walls of the courtyard were previously two 1 fot thick walls following the path of the train and merging with the second floor
walls acting as sound barriers, to imporove upon this and create the garden, I widened the exterior angles of the
walls, split each into 1 1 foot thicnk brick exterior and another 1 foot thick interior wood panelled wall, cut the farthest most wall to follow the angle of the alligning roof, and begun to study rain water collection to yield the best possible results. I began with studying the annual precipitation of the climate region, then rendering to real life weather effects, testing different roof materials, gutter positions, and placement o the water collection tank. I finalized of the design shown to my right where gutters were only placed where most necessary, resulting in the least amount of effect on my overall modernist structural design, and utilizing the upmost opportunities my style of slanted roofs could offer. Lastly, I adjusted window placement where needed (where skylight wouldnt yield optimal growth opportunities in conflicting seasons), and created an outdoor lounge experience were one may exit through to Burcham itslef, further supporting my theme in design.
Water Collection Diagram
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South-facing Classroom Perspective
Entry Perspective
Upper Common Space Perspective- Eating Area
Courtyard Perspective
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Upper Common Space Bird’s Eye- Interactive Lounge Area
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