Karin Tan

2023

KARIN TAN

GEOFF PITTS

PORTFOLIO

AD1 ARCHDES 700

03

Adaptability (definition, possibilities, and precedents)

04

Initial Concept Designs

05

Sustainability and climate solutions (materials, systems and resources)

06

Te Aranga Māori Design Principles

07

Engineering Consultations (discussion and development)

08

Mid-semester Presentation, discussion and feedback

09

Design Development

10

User Access and Movement

11

Detailing (designing and developing pertinent details for realising the project)

12

Final Presentation, discussion and feedback

2023 PORTFOLIO

CONTENTS

ADAPTABILITY (DEFINITION, POSSIBILITIES, AND PRECEDENTS)

IMAGES TO BE UPLOADED BY STUDENT

IMAGES TO BE UPLOADED BY STUDENT

IMAGES TO BE UPLOADED BY STUDENT

Lowline (park) in New York

Naturescape (installation) in Milan by Kengo Kuma & Associates

Tsuboniwa (Japanese courtyard gardens)

The world’s first underground park that housed more than 3,000 plants. It uses solar technology to create a “remote skylight” to support the growth of plants despite being completely underground. Sunlight passes through a glass shield above a parabolic collector, and is reflected and gathered at one focal point, then directed underground. This technology transmits the necessary wavelengths of light to support photosynthesis.

An architecturally designed installation that was an interpretation of traditional Japanese Zen gardens. “The clean and pure Pietra Serena stone is used so as to recreate a topography that, as in real landscapes, moulds the shape of water, guides our walking and gives a context to the objects to better admire them,” says Kengo Kuma and Associates.

The relationship between people and nature are heightened thanks the simplicity of the landscape.

A type of small garden in Japan that is surrounded by a fence or building walls. The tsuboniwa is a recreation of idealised landscapes in the form of microcosmic gardens. People can feel joy and at peace when viewing the garden from inside the house. It is beneficial for ventilation, lighting, and creating a sense of openness because it creates porosity in buildings.

Critical Reflection

Critical Reflection

Critical Reflection

This project heavily inspired the underground garden area of my building. The lack of green spaces in Uptown made it a great opportunity for my site to house more vegetation for the community to enjoy. A lightwell alone may not provide enough sunlight for plants to grow underground so this additional solar technology could be used.

The use of curved stone to depict the topography of the land was an element that stood out to me. The fluid circulation paths formed by the topography would improve the experiential journey of people who venture into my underground area. I could experiment with smooth stone and rough stone to see which is more appropriate for my design since I will be using basalt as a material.

Since my design already has a public underground garden and a roof garden, there is an opportunity for a small private green space for residents. Each apartment’s tsuboniwa would be unique and customised depending on the residents’ taste. The small scale of the garden makes it ideal for maintenance.

PA G E 3

Adaptability is about maximising the longevity of a building by ensuring it can efficiently function despite changing conditions over time. Effective spatial planning can be used to prepare for the use of different activities if the building program changes (e.g. a bigger floor-to-ceiling height can allow greater flexibility for renovations to take place). In my design, I am interested in exploring how green spaces can play a role in the adaptability of my building. The first precedent (Lowline) offers the opportunity for plants to thrive without being outside in the sun. This opens up a lot of flexibility regarding where green spaces can be created.

INITIAL CONCEPT DESIGNS My site sits between the Maungawhau Station and public terraced green space that the tutor group designed.

This means there would be a lot of foot traffic that passes my site. The sketches I did were experimenting with the layout, function, circulation, and form of my design. The layout of the building is an important aspect beacuse it is my main method of drawing people into the building. I experimented with curved passageway layouts and alternate access routes. Finally, I decided on a layout that had a curved narrow entrance at the corner of the building to create an alluring entrance. This creates a journey of exploration and discovery for people walking past.

Since there is a lack of green spaces in Uptown, I drew some rough sketches about how nature can be incorporated in different parts of my building. The underground garden creates a tranquil atmosphere where people can rest after commuting and admire nature. The lightwell that penetrates the building is home to many climbing plants that can be admired from below.

Reflective Analysis

PA G E 4

The rough sketches were helpful with quickly establishing the main layout and atmosphere of my design.

However, some things have not been drawn to the correct scale at this stage. For example, the perspective drawings of the underground area and lightwell area are drawn to its estimated proportions. The underground perspective drawing was used to establish the approximate size relationship between the room and vegetation, but this may change when developing stair routes for accessibility later on.

SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE SOLUTIONS (MATERIALS, SYSTEMS AND RESOURCES) My design incorporates timber louvres for privacy and solar shading, ensuring that residents receive a comfortable amount of sunlight throughout the day. The tsuboniwa (Japanese courtyard garden) in each apartment maximises natural ventilation and allows people to enjoy the benefits of viewing nature up-close from their home. It is surrounded by glass sliding doors to make sure fresh air and nature is easily accessible anytime.

My site is located near Maungawhau which means the ground is rich in basalt (a volcanic rock). When the ground is quarried to create the underground space, blocks of basalt will be cut and extracted. These blocks would then be cut into panels and specific shapes to be re-used throughout the building. By re-using the materials removed from the ground, the construction process becomes more energy-efficient since the material is attained on-site. The re-used basalt is used in the exterior cladding and the cave-like walls within the underground space.

Reflective Analysis

PA G E 5

There is an opportunity to design controllable louvres to let in sunlight whenever the residents wish. This would have an impact on the exterior design of the building as it would affect its appearance when closed and opened. There could be some louvres that are static and some that are adjustable depending on their placement in the design.

TE ARANGA MĀORI DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Two main Te Aranga Māori principles influence my design: Mana Tangata and Kaitiakitanga.

Mana Tangata refers to the well-being of people and their sense of space. The design fosters community connections by creating a captivating underground park that encourages people to come together to experience tranquil scenery. The motif of verdure and the abundance of vegetation has a positive impact on people’s physical and mental well-being. Biophilic design ideas such as curved forms, flora, and natural light are utilised to enhance the well-being of the community. The roof garden regularly hosts gardening events for the local community, allowing people to feel a sense of collective belonging.

Kaitiakitanga is about respecting the natural environment and designing with sustainable ideas in mind. My design closely follows this principle by ensuring that whatever is removed from the site is used in my design. As explained earlier on Page 5 (Sustainability and Climate Solutions), the basalt removed from the ground will be re-used to build different elements of my design. This ensures that the environment’s resources are not wasted.

Reflective Analysis

PA G E 6

Other Te Aranga Māori principles could play a bigger role in my design such as Tohu (symbolic representation and visual storytelling) and Tangata Whenua (engaging with the local Māori community). These would enhance the cultural relationship and add a richer depth to my concept. I could also look into Māori mythology: for example, Papatūānuku, the mother earth figure. This could influence the storytelling aspect of my atmopshericdesign.

ENGINEERING CONSULTATIONS (DISCUSSION AND DEVELOPMENT)

After getting feedback about the structure from the engineer and tutor, several changes and additions had to be made. In order to create such a large underground space, four thick steel-reinforced concrete columns are needed to support the entire structure. These columns would have structural beams running across each other to support the weight of the building. Since the underground space should be sealed off from the natural earth surrounding the site to prevent damage and moisture, extensive thought was put into designing an ‘architectural cave.’ Basalt blocks and panels are stacked on top of each other and supported by suspending steel frames to mimic the bumps of a natural cave. The underground space that people venture into becomes a curated arrangement of natural rocks that are re-used in the same location it has been in for thousands of years.

Reflective Analysis

PA G E 7

Discussing my design with the engineer and tutor was extremely helpful in making my project more realistic since my concept was described as “sculptural” before the structural changes were made. By thinking about how specific junctions and details work, I was able to enrich my design with a layer of architectural depth. For the underground space, I had to manually arrange every single block of basalt in CAD software which allowed me to design the cave-like space entirely. Before the engineering consulation and discussions about structure, I assumed that the cave would be dug out and entirely ‘natural’ which was proven to be unrealistic.

MID-SEMESTER PRESENTATION, DISCUSSION AND FEEDBACK For mid-semester crit, I engaged with the scale of the site and transitioned my conceptual ideas into a built form. The floorplans show the allocation of spaces for each function and their proximity to each other. The lightwell is a prominent element in the building as it can be seen slicing through the section and floorplans to allow natural sunlight penetration. All the drawings express the atmosphere I wish to convey in the spaces: the intimate connection between people and nature.

Circulation routes have been considered to ensure people flow seamlessly through the spaces. There is a constant sense of dynamism because of the curvilinear forms throughout the building. The function of each level has been carefully designed to make sure the program is appropriate within the context of Uptown. Not only is the building a place that creates more green spaces, but it also allows local businesses to flourish. Cafes and restaurants would do well in attracting business from commuters.

Reflective Analysis

PA G E 8

After the mid-semester presentation, I will continue my conceptual approach as that was well received by the crits (the conceptual ideas regarding the incorporation of nature and overall atmospheric qualities). However, the ground-level cafe could do a better job of enticing people into the underground garden. As the next step, I will experiment with different layouts and spatial techniques to bring more awareness to the underground space. Some layouts on the residential floors need to be replanned to ensure privacy between neighbours. The viability of plants growing underground will also need to be developed: I will improve the lightwell design and incorporate solar technology from my precedent (Lowline park).

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT For the developed design crit, I produced a more detailed model along with evolved plans and sections. The building’s exterior and interior form is more defined compared to the mid-semester presentation. The tsuboniwa (Japanese courtyard garden) concept was refined. The underground space had also greatly evolved since then as the structural side of the design was fleshed out more. The incorporation of the solar technology used by my precedent: Lowline (park), was added to the building to support plant growth in the underground area.

Reflective Analysis

PA G E 9

My design has developed conceptually and structurally by this stage. However, further refinement is needed on the structural details (since the floor plates in the section drawing are still blocked in). The issue of safety was raised by the critics. They wondered if the underground space was safe during the day and at night since I have not thought about security yet. They also suggested making the ground floor appear more inviting since at the moment it looks dark and dangerous. I have reflected on these comments and established a 24 hour program schedule for the public areas (ground floor and underground floor). The ground floor will function as a cafe from 6am to 8pm then remain opened until 4am since people would need access through to the underground space. The underground space is open from 6am to 4pm for people to rest and enjoy the nature (supervised by a park supervisor and landscape maintenance workers will be present), then from 4pm to 4am, the underground restaurants open for dinner and late-night eats. Both the ground floor and underground floor will be closed from 4am to 6am as there are no activities happening during that time.

USER ACCESS AND MOVEMENT There are two vertical cores that run through the entire height of the building. Within these vertical cores are an elevator and fire staircase which provides an escape route for people in the building. The underground space can be accessed using the elevator for those who are unable to travel down the winding staircase. This means wheelchair users can also enjoy the underground park area too. Similarly, on the ground floor level, wheel-chair access has also been considered. Since the ground floor changes 2m in height from the south to north side of the building, there are ramps that follow the change in height, therefore allowing full access to the space. There are two large exits on the north-east and south-east, allowing easy access and exit for a large number of people.

All ramps and staircases are compliant with relevant codes and regulations.

Reflective Analysis

PA G E 10

Upon reflecting on the user access and movement of people in my building, there could be more ramps flowing through the spaces. This would create a stronger experiential journey for people walking through the ground floor.

The idea of using ramps in the underground staircase was an idea I had thought about earlier but was later discontinued since ramps require too much space to remain compliant with ramp angle regulations.

DETAILING (DESIGNING AND DEVELOPING PERTINENT DETAILS FOR REALISING THE PROJECT)

Reflective Analysis Due to the complexity of materials and spaces in my design, there were more details that I could explore. For example, the relationship between the built and unbuilt in the underground space would be interesting to hone in on using a detail drawing. The transition from the natural untouched earth to the architectural weatherproofing systems to the curated basalt block walls. That construction annotations for that transition have been outlined in my final sectional drawing, however, it would be interesting to see it enlarged as a detail drawing.

PA G E 11

The detailing in my design focuses on the relationship between basalt and the structural elements of my building.

To make the aesthetic of an architectural cave work in reality, careful consideration is required of how it is constructed. The first detail on the left-hand side shows the transition from aesthetic to function. Blocks of basalt of varying sizes are attached to the structural floors and walls of the building, expressing the importance of steel reinforcement in arranging the basalt blocks. In the second detail on the right-hand side, the relationship between structure and tsuboniwa is expressed. The functionality of having a terrace garden was addressed by seeing how it fits on the structural floor. By taking inspiration from previous architectural details of roof gardens, I have created a detail of the tsuboniwa that fits my design’s structural context.

FINAL PRESENTATION (DISCUSSION AND FEEDBACK) After many iterations and development, my final project successfully introduces more green spaces to the community of Uptown while creating an ideal place of rest for commuters. The project incorporates sustainability in its design and construction process through the reuse of basalt to construct the underground space.

Siofra is a reference to Elden Ring (a video game) where I drew inspiration from a serene underground location that appears to be a ‘second world’ underneath the original world.

The use of vegetation in the underground space of my design reflects the atmospheric qualities I was inspired by from that video game. The secluded beauty of nature is expressed on the residential floors in the form of a tsuboniwa.

This constant connection between people and nature has a positive effect on the well-being of both residents and visitors of Uptown. Together, they can become fully immersed in the captivating atmospheric qualities of Siofra.

PA G E 12

At the end of the project, I understand that the concept can be developed further with the possibility of bringing in cultural ideas from Uptown. The process of figuring out the structural details of my design alongside my tutor and engineer has been an invaluable experience in my architecture journey as a student. It has taught me how to turn my sculptural-looking ideas into more architectural concepts.

PAGE 3. ADAPTABILITY (DEFINITION, POSSIBILITIES, AND PRECEDENTS)

PAGE 11. DETAILING

Adaptability is about maximising the longevity of a building by ensuring it can efficiently function despite changing conditions over time. I have incorporated a bigger floor-to-ceiling height that can allow greater flexibility for renovations to take place should the program of the cafe or residential floors change in the future. The adaptability of green spaces has been explored through the use of solar technology that was inspired by my precedent: Lowline (park) in New York. It offers the opportunity for plants to thrive without being outside in the sun. This opens up a lot of flexibility regarding where green spaces can be created.

Detailing has been a crucial aspect of my design. The structural details of how the architectural cave-like space is formed were essential to ensuring that such a complex spatial environment is realistic. The detailing of the tsuboniwa makes sure that it is possible to build a private garden on the residential floors.

PAGE 12. FINAL PRESENTATION (DISCUSSION AND FEEDBACK) PAGE 5. SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE SOLUTIONS The sustainability of materials has been a big part of my design. The reuse of basalt that is dug out during the quarrying process of creating the underground space creates less material wastage and ensures that what is taken from the earth is subsequently used in the architecture. The tsuboniwa on the residential floors creates better natural ventilation, improving the residents’ living quality. Timber louvres have also been used with passive design strategies in mind such as solar shading.

Changes and additions have been made to the design of the building according to discussions and feedback. The programs of the spaces throughout the day have been established as a response to the safety concerns revolving around the ground floor and underground floor. The ground floor cafe space has also been adjusted to create a more welcoming environment for people passing by.

PAGE 6. TE ARANGA MĀORI DESIGN PRINCIPLES Te Aranga Maori design principles have been utilised in my design. Mana Tangata has been considered to foster community connections by creating a captivating underground park that encourages people to come together to experience tranquil scenery. Kaitiakitanga has been considered to ensure that whatever is removed from the site is used in my design which means the basalt is re-used.

PAGE 7. ENGINEERING CONSULTATIONS (DISCUSSION AND DEVELOPMENT) Engineering consultations and discussions with my tutor have been a crucial part of my design since the underground space required lots of attention to its structural planning. The detailing of basalt blocks stacked on top of each other to create a cave-like wall has been an important part of ensuring the atmospheric underground space is structurally realistic.

PAGE 10. USER ACCESS AND MOVEMENT

PA G E 13

User access and movement have been considered in my design. With two vertical cores containing elevators and fire staircases, the building is safe in the event of a fire as people can swiftly escape. The circulation of my building has been carefully considered to ensure wheel-chair access ramps are available to allow everyone to experience the captivating atmospheric qualities of my design.