Architecture portfolio bachelor

_ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO Bachelor 2020-2023

_Adant Valérie

valerieadant@gmail.com

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AGVAKTUK - Kill a whale

BA3

A Circus inside the

BA2

city

A House for 4 people The Schoffeniels House - an analysis A Pavilion for Flagey Stonehenge - an analysis A Party in the forest Genius Loci

BA1

_AGVAKTUK - Kill a whale Through a speculative stance taking the form of a narrative composed of six chapters, the project offers an interpretation of the territory of Kivalina, a barrier island located in Northwest Alaska, and its role in the construction of the cultural identity of the Inupiat people.

The narrative is based on sources that relate to real or probable events, allowing the project to create ambiguity between fiction and reality.

The Inupiat are an indigenous people originating from northwest Alaska, who sustain themselves through hunting, fishing, and gathering. Inupiaq culture is traditionally defined by numerous rituals, beliefs, particularly surrounding whales, as well as a particularly respectful approach towards animals and the surrounding territory.

In 1905, the Nelson Act was passed by the U.S. Congress to exert control over indigenous populations. This law mandated the schooling of every child according to the American educational system, thereby leading to the sedentarization of the population around schools. Kivalina, once a hunting camp used by the Inupiat during the whale hunting season, then became their permanent place of residence. This sedentarization brought about a first major cultural transformation for this people.

Today, Kivalina houses a hybrid culture between their traditions and Western culture, representing a balance where a new Inupiaq identity has taken root. However, this is endangered by the fragility of the territory impacted by climate change.

In the narrative, the fragile balance established in Kivalina is threatened by the arrival of a devastating storm. This natural disaster highlights the different actors present in the territory and opens the way to potential future cultural changes. _In collaboration with Amance Bintein and Pauline Sylvestre

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_A Circus school inside the

city

The project, located between Gare du Midi and the former Wiels breweries, occupies a narrow triangular plot bordered on one side by a railway embankment and on the other Avenue Van Volxem. It houses a circus academy aiming to integrate itself within the city. Two circulation paths were created along the facades: one at street level for pedestrian interaction on the Van Volxem side and another,an elevated path at offering a view of the trains passing by.

The horizontality of the plan is divided by vertical concrete walls presenting various openings allowing communication between the fragments. Divided into two entities connected by a roof and footbridge, the project dedicates one part to the circus and another elevated part to the neighborhood. To try and engage local residents, public spaces within the plot include amenities like vegetable gardens, a circus-themed playground, and a shared community space.

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_A House for 4 people Nestled within Santa Monica, California, amid a suburban landscape, this project sets out to redefine the conventional American dwelling. Inspired by the nearby warehouses, the house adopts a steel frame with a polycarbonate skin, which can either reveal or conceal its insides depending on the interplay of light. With the exception of a modest front lawn, all elements reside within this frame.

Internally, the house is compartmentalized into distinct boxes, each serving specific functions such as the kitchen. The interstitial spaces between these boxes holds a fluidity characterized by organic curves, discreetly the flow of circulation.

Diffrent areas are demarcated by varying floor surfaces, transforming the garden into a room of its own.

Furthermore, the house employs a multi-level living concept to infuse dynamism into its layout. This design approach explores diverse relationships with the ground and roof. The sum of those concepts allow the residents to explore a plethora of living options.

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_The Schoffeniels House - an analysis This exercise involved analyzing the house of a renowned architect and delving into their creation by recreating the house plans.

The Schoffeniels house, located in Herve’s countryside and conceptualized by architect Charles Vandenhove, served as the subject of this study. The house is positioned on a square grid, with three of the four corners featuring open patios. This grid not only informs the architectural framework but also dictates the strategic placement of furniture within the interior partitions.

_A Pavilion for Flagey This exercise is based off the analysis of the Schoffeniels house, employing the concept of a square grid as a foundational element. The compact pavilion envision to disrupt the square grid by incorporating several sizable openings. The primary challenge consisted of creating intimate spaces allowing four individuals to relax. Situated on a disused road adjacent to the Flagey ponds, the pavilion faced the obstacle of nearby traffic, necessitating a strategy for seclusion. Thus, the pavilion opted to shield itself from the surroundings by employing polycarbonate walls.

The pavilion is subdivided into four distinct sections: first, the entrance, characterized by an asphalt ground; followed by a level containing a corridor culminating in a bench for shoe removal; above that, a small room with a table for four, offering a view of the ponds; and finally, at the center of the square in its most intimate space, a tranquil reading room with tatami flooring. The pavilion adheres to a Japanese principle that distinguishes flooring based on its proximity to the exterior of the house.

To accentuate this differentiation, one ascends a level—signifying two or three steps—when transitioning between spaces.

_Stonehenge - an analysis Stonehenge, one of mankind’s most memorable architecture, is steeped in mythology and mysticism. Once the product of the arduous labor of an ancient civilization, the stones sometimes appear as though they emerged organically from the earth. Frozen in time, the site evokes the imaginative spirit of curious visitors.

The exercise involved not only analyzing the architecture of Stonehenge but also delving into its history and narrative. This served as an initial foray into the discipline of architecture, enabling students to explore various production methods such as models, drawings, and writing.

_In collaboration with Milica Tamamovic And Lucas Boute

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_A Party in the forest

Near the entrance of the «Forêt de Soignes» lies the «Vallon du Vuylbeek,» a site teeming with biodiversity and characterized by a significant presence of water. The project aims to acknowledge and celebrate this unique ecosystem and to lessen its impact on the environment. Therefore, we opted for scaffoldings that minimize anchors in the soil, allowing visitors to navigate the area via wooden platforms.

As visitors stroll through the Vallon du Vuylbeek, they encounter a bridge extending toward them, almost beckoning them to cross. Intrigued, one curious visitor decides to traverse it. Along the way, a gentle curtain draped over the scaffolding structure whispers a welcoming message. Upon entering, after a few steps, he finds himself at a crossroads and opts to turn right. Further along, he stumbles upon what appears to be the heart of the structure, its most precious feature enveloped in a protective layer of fabric.

Suddenly, the visitor hears commotion and ventures forth to discover an unexpected spectacle: a theater coming to life before his very eyes. An actor emerges from behind, sprinting onto the stage as the audience erupts in cheers and joyous screams. Impressed by the performance yet seeking tranquility, the visitor ascends a flight of stairs to reach the stands. _In collaboration with Milica Tamamovic

Leaving the stands, they descend another set of stairs, leading them outside the protective enclosure. They savor a moment of proximity to the ground, taking in the view of the surrounding swamp.

Eventually, they decide to continue their journey, reentering the structure to find their final destination: a small stage, distinct from the grand theater they experienced earlier. Here, they relish the notion of having their own moment on stage before bidding farewell.

As he makes his way back, the curtain waves him a fond goodbye, closing behind him as he departs.

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_Genius Loci

For this exercise, we were tasked with identifying a site imbued with a «genius loci.» I selected a secluded area within the «Bois de la Cambre,» nestled deep within the trees where constructions with wood branches often emerged, thanks to the intimacy afforded by the canopy and foliage. The concept was to craft a space within these woods that offered seclusion for the senses and amplified the beauty of the forest.

The pavilion comprises of a thick exterior circular wall, split in four points to allow passage for only one individual at a time due to its narrowness. Upon entering, the visitors finds themselves in a corridor shrouded in darkness, with above them a concrete roof, molded into the earth, mirroring the canopy above. As their eyes slowly adjust to the dim light, they begin to explore this immersive space akin to a nutural cave.

Guided by faint rays of light, the visitors venture deeper into the center of the circle, where they encounter an alcove dedicated solely to them. Here, a vision of an untouched forest unfolds before their eyes, enveloping them in its tranquility and serenity.

p. 3 : map of the territory of the inupiat population. p.5 : [up] a typical inupian kitchen, [down left] an inupian living room, [down right]a recreation of a us army map made by Pauline Sylvestre. p.6 : [right] an interpretation of the school plan of K-Hill made

by Amance Bintein -north facing left-, [right] cave and exterior of the inupian homes. p.7-8 : [up] Ground floor plan -north facing up right-, [down, left to right] section BB’, AA’, DD’, CC’, FF’, EE’. p.9 : [left] interior persective of the kitchen, [right, up from down] section AA’, BB’, CC’, DD’.

p.13 : pictures of the model. p.14 : [up,left] site plan -north facing up- , [up, right] picture of the scale model, [down] plan and elevation made by Milica Tamamovic. p.15-16 : [left] site plan north facing left- , [up, left] perspective of the inside layer, [middle] three pictures of the model, [right, up] elevation of the east facade, [down, right] section AA’ facing west. p.17-18 : [left] two picture of the scale model and a picture of the site model, [middle] transect of the site, [right] Ground floor plan - north facing left-.

p.10 : [up] Ground floor plan, [down, left] site plan -north facing up-, [down, right] exterior perspective. p.11-12 : [left, up] Ground floor plan, [right] site plan -north facing up-, [down] section AA’.

Valérie Adant valerieandant@gmail.com Architecture Faculty of La Cambre-Horta