UCL Master of Architecture Application Portfolio

GHAZAL ELMIZADEH .........................................................................

UCL Application Portfolio Application number: 22133103

Table of Content

01 House Of Doors (An experimental house for a Scientist suffering from cleithrophobia)

02 Communal Threshold 03 Observational Deck

(King and dufferin Community Centre)

04 Micro Living-Working Space 05 Portals of Hope (To reconnect with the playground)

06 Internship 07 Break station

O1

House of Doors: Living Beyond Cleithrophobia

Individual Academic Project Ocad University Fall 2019

This project envisions a house as a testing device for a biologist dealing with cleithrophobia. She is eager to overcome her fear and feel comfortable occupying trapped-like spaces. Cleithrophobia is a fear of being trapped or locked in space. Facing and dealing with this phobia and inhabiting the house with time passing and becoming unresponsive to it was the key objective of this experimental house. The design process started by asking a question about how architectural elements such as windows, doors, openings, topography, façade, which all play a crucial role in how one interacts and responds to cleithrophobia, be manipulated to make this person spend time staying in spaces that might trigger her phobia without being overwhelmed. As a result, these elements are defined to allow the person to have a desirable yet experimental experience while knowing that she is the subject of an experiment. The house is divided into multiple interlocked living, working spaces that are spread vertically to offer various spaces that are either compressed or decompressed and connected with openings that allow her to be challenged at one point and not so at another. These interlocked spaces create a variety of living and working spaces that can each trigger a different level of exposure to her phobia based on the degree of closure, openness, and her relationship to the ground plane. Therefore, this condition permits her to be exposed to her fears slowly and control which spaces she wants to occupy. The act of closing or opening a door or a window is the only element that decides whether she decides to face her fear or continue the way that she lived before. Therefore, by replacing all the windows with a door that can be opened or closed, no matter how small or large, she can practice the act of closing ad opening a door or a window while she is circulating throughout the house. And by placing some windows along with the tightest spaces, such as a hallway, she will have no choice but to close them first not to be trapped in that space.

Practicing and getting used to especially closing a door by her hands is a simple act, yet it should be done repetitively to overcome this phobia and shut most doors by the end of this experiment.

Fifth level: It comprises a single safe space to sleep in, which has access to a balcony.

Fourth level: It is composed of spaces that might trigger her phobias more, such as a bathroom, shower, and closet, where often has to be kept closed.

Third level: It is composed of a bedroom,kitchen and a cozy study area

Secound level: It is composed of labs and study areas.

The ground level: The ground is raised, and a living room is placed within it. The living room has two entrances. A pathway leads to the entrance within a semi-private interior yard, and another entrance can be accessed from the front lawn, allowing her to choose her entry and escape the house when overwhelmed. Four brick walls create a semi-open private yard to pause before entering the house.

Basement: Elements under the ground are a pool, bathroom, a steam sauna, a hot jacuzzi, and a library. Entering these spaces will allow her to fully face her phobia.

Exploded axonometric

1:20 models made out of paper, clay, and cardboard, showing different configurations of the windows. Depending on the configuration, the inhabitant must bend, sit down or even get on a chair to open or close a window. At times the widows might get in the way of daily activities, so they must be kept closed. Each door can be placed within the wall, allowing the placement to symbolize progress when the windows are closed.

Assembly Diagram

Wall Detail 1:10

1: 50 model of the house made out of clay, cardboard and paper

O2 Communal Threshold Individual Academic Project Ocad University Fall 2019 The purpose of this project was to create a simple timber structure for the given site being the Queens Park. The pavilion responds to the lack of communication and interaction in-between people crossing the park. Due to the location of the park being close to the University Of Toronto, many types of people such as students, dog walkers and etc. use the park to rest, read or simply create shortcuts to reach the street on either end of the park. The threshold creates an experiential path where walkers who choose to walk under this roof are given the opportunity to share the space with one another, especially during the rainy times of the year. The width of the path gets smaller as they head to the north side of the park. The main pavilion is composed of both enclosed and open sitting areas which are each facing a different side of the park.

Structural diagram of tmber

O3

Observational Deck

Individual Academic Project Ocad University Winter 2019

The objective of this project was to design a community center that consists of a library, cafe, an amphitheater, and a park on King and Dufferin located in Toronto. The process started by thinking about the whole site as a single public park. The design proposal is a continuous pathway that takes passersby to different places, depending on where the path takes them. The building acts as an observational deck connecting people from one side to the other. The park's surface is designed to create various zones to gather and observe the surrounding before getting into the building. The park is accessible from every side of the site to suggest free exploration of the site. A red gravel pathway push and pulls away from the visitors from the two hidden entrances at the center of the building.

The red pathway draws attention to the building, inviting visitors to the parkette.

Sectional Perspective A

Sectional Perspective B

1:200

1:100

First Floor Plan 1:200

Secound Floor Plan

1:200

Third Floor Plan

1:200

Exploded Axonometric Diagram

1:100 model made out of cardboard, clay, and recycled paper showing the interior wooden shelves constructed on top of the brick wall

1:25 detail model made out of cardboard, clay and recycled paper

O4

Micro living and Working Space

Individual Academic Project Ocad University Fall 2019 The Micro personal space is designed to be a temporary living and working space. It is placed right next to the cherry beach in Toronto. From one side, the house is facing the clear and focused view of the water, while from the other side, it is facing the busy life that meanders through the chaotic trees and bushes. The objective was to design a compact living and working space that responds to my needs as a person who seeks both privacy and interaction with the outside at the same time. The house’s layout separates the working and sleeping zone from each other, allowing me to turn away from one function and concentrate on the other. A small gathering space is created under the house by placing four wooden seats apart, each facing different parts of the landscape. The public space elevates the private one-two meters off the ground, letting me escape from the environment and transition to my intimate area. A wooden staircase, compressed by two screening walls, divides the surrounding into equal parts, allowing one to interact with bits and pieces of the landscape while moving from one step to another. The use of cedar shingle for the facade attempts to camouflage the house within the landscape.

Exterior view of the cabin

Interior views of the cabin

Axonometric view of the cabin

Cross Section

Exploded axonometric view

South East Elevation

View of stairs going up to the cabin

O5

Portals of Hope

Individual academic project Ocad University Fall 2020-Winter 2021 The playgrounds are known as spaces that resemble the notion of hope, exploration, and self-discovery. This thesis arose from the idea that as bodies grow up, they lose their sense of play, exploration, curiosity. They become more and more fearful of the unknown, unexpected, hidden, change, getting lost, and of 'pause.' The bodies become more and more afraid to lose their sense of control. Therefore, life for mature bodies living in the city is stripped from play and ambiguity, and the playtime is lost in-between the day-to-day rush. A series of questions began to form this thesis. How can mature bodies who live in a chaotic city reconnect with their memories and action of childhood once again in a playground where they form an intense connection with their childhood? Is it possible to transform this human condition by constructing a new and unknown playground? Is it possible to create a place where the notion of aimlessness takes place and allows for new discoveries? Is it possible to draw new narratives and possibilities of the playground? The visitors must know that this is the time to turn away from the city and focus inward towards the most inner part. This playground is designed to bring them to a state of pause where bodies can no longer rush. This is the journey of self-reflection, which begins by choosing to enter the portal. The design attempts to disorient the human condition where bodies become explorers and wanderers instead of passive passers. The design is an extension of the playground of our childhood memories, trying to heighten moments and possibilities which allow recalling those moments. The design process started by thinking about the relationship between the ground and the body. Therefore, the playground is created by just the act of pulling, pushing, and carving the ground to create a kind of fertile ground for exploration. The aim is to fight against the redundancy and the known; therefore, the sudden changes in the landscape attempt to manipulate the body's regular course of action and movement. The ground is in a contact state of flux so is the body.A series of choreographed conditions form it to reach a sense of ambiguity and develop a continued field of possibilities and unknown situations.

Persepctive section of a simple Labyrinth leading to nothing. One will move aimlessly in and out of the spiral.

Perspective section of another spiral Labyrinth which leads to a small hide-out. The more the explorer goes in, the less visible they become.

Sectional perspective of the double staricase going to no where. Its goal is to drag explorers down to the darkness only to allow them to look up and see the light.

View of another mirror field located next to the swing fling. The field follows a sunken pattern allowing the explorers to hide, sit and relax.

View of the mirror field. A series of mirrors are situated in the landscape, taking the form of the landscape, therefore exposing a distorted reflection of the surrounding and the explorer, allowing them to see a new and distorted version of themselves.

View of the entrance to the restless field.

View of another restless field. The cracks on the ground are much more than the other field meaning that the explorer has to be even more cautious than before.

Sectional perspective of the pathways to the emptiness. Providing a place to ignore other elements of the playground. A contained space to highten the experience of emptiness.

Sectional persepctive of the pathways to the emptiness. Providing a place to ignore other elements of the playground. A contained space to highten the expeince of emptiness.

Perspective section of the reflective water feild . The feild is divided in to small pathches of earth and the space in between them is filled with water. One has to cross by taking each step carfully in order to reach the central resting space.

Perspective section of the reflective water field. The field is divided into small patches of earth and the space in between them is filled with water. One has to cross by taking each step carefully to reach the central resting space.

Sectional Perspective of the swing fling. A place to swing together collectively. The circular structure allows everyone to observe one another while swinging.

Sectional perspective view of the pathways to the ground.

Sectional perspective of the pathway to the sky.

View of the lonely swing. A single long swing is placed at the center of a spiral Labyrinth.

View of the orthogenal feild.The field forms partial grids proposing a sudden rigid moment. One’s course of movement changes drastically by stepping in the orthogonal field.

Arial views of the playground

O6 Internship At Sheeep Individually illustrated Summer 2020 In the summer of 2020, I chose an optional internship course which let me be part of Sheeep architectural studio based in Toronto. During my time there I was responsible for illustrating and creating diagrams for existing projects. The firm is known for its series of Mobilizers which attempt to create mobile platforms for various activities. I was responsible to create a short animated picture that show the audience how different elements can be moved or removed for different functions.

O7 Break Station Individual academic project Ocad University Fall 2017 The objective of this project was to create an open space pavilion that consist of various types of sitting areas, a collective gathering space at the center and open exhibition spaces which temporarily house singular pieces of sculptural works during various events. The pavilion is to be placed right in front of the Munk School of Global Affairs which allows students to enter from any side and meander through the pavilion while trying to take a moment to break free from their academic setting. The design process started by creating a maze using wooden screen walls, this invites users to circulate and find a place in the pavilion that best suits their behavior. A singular continuous water path follows the maze created earlier to act as an element traveling along with the users. The goal was to use the water path as a way to create a sense of awareness that pulls the users back into their present time and allows them to spend more time in their desired place. The break station attempts to create a space where one gets to take a break from the outside world and stop the constant desire to work and move too quickly.

1:100 Model of the Pavilian, made out of balsa wood, foam board and mill board

Interior view of the central seating space, hand drawn pencil on vellum

longitudinal sections 1:100 , hand drawn pencil on vellum

View of the pathways, hand drawn pencil on vellum

Thank you for your time!

Ghazal Elmizadeh ghazal.elmizade@gmail.com +1(647)887-9800