portfolio.pdf

Architecture Design Urban planning portfolio

[email protected]

81 Commandant Lothaire Brussels, Belgium

2014-2015

- different architecture and design projects (from concept to

- urban planning, strategies and design- diploma project

- diploma project

Hand drawings

Urban projects

Architecture projectstechnical drawings and final renders) elaborated during the academic years and in private offices

Service apartments, Fleron, Lige, Belgium

The project consists in redeveloping the site of the former police station of Fleron, which became private property : the conversion of the existing building into apart-ments (part A) as well as the construction of a new building to house the service apartments (part B).The main desire of the municipality is to design the site of the former gendarmerie as a neighborhood , which justifies the derogation particular on density. Therefore the two buildings must form a unity, an ensamble.The project i was involved in, was the new building of service apartements and the design of the exterior spaces. The concept of the building is of the boomerang.The location of the new building, has been studied in order to optimize the occupation of the land, building orientation and traffic management , taking into consider-ation the constraints to fire. It sets up in the northeast corner , and has two wings espectively parallel to 2 adjacent property lines.Taking advantage of the slope of the land , the building has an R + 3 template on its entire footprint , and a semi-underground floor under the wing along the RaVel (the pedestrian path to the nord). The concept of development of the surroundings of the site derives itself . The new assisted living building was implemented in order to comply the relief of the plot. The land was then remodeled to give it more value and create spaces highlighting the two buildings.The boomerang shape of the assisted living facility and the exist-ing building function as an envelope protecting the core of the island that becomes a space "cocoon".

Plan of the existing situationPlan of the placement in the city Fleron Plan of the proposed situation

The building will be situated to the proximity of the city center, within a radius of 300 m( 5 min by walking) we can find all the necessary urban equipements like shops, hospital, po-lice station, post office, bus station, swimming pool, sports center etc. and also, very impor-tant, a rest house with which we can interchange services.


Several services are to be provided and / or proposed to residents:- Common Waste disposal - A permanently 24h / 24h nursing service- Maintenance of common areas and outdoor facilities- Window outside and inside cleaning service - Information on recreation in the town or residence - Restaurant and self served buffet- (If desired by the resident) 3 meals a day, a full hot meal menu and served either in the polivalent area or in the apartment- (If desired by the resident) cleaning service of the apartments- (If desired by the resident) common washing machine area

There are required:- A maximum of 50 units/apartments- Presence of common areas accessible to residents- laundry room with washing machine and dryer- multipurpose room (accessible to others over 60 years)with an area of 2 square meters per unit - WC in connection with the multi-purpose room- lift accessible to PRMs- Accessibility to wheelchair users to the residence - Dwellings with a minimum area of 45 sqm, containing:- Minimum 3 rooms: living room, bedroom, bath-tub- kitchen with extractor, fridge and 2 electric cooking hobs- bathroom for PRMs- connection to cable television and telephone, intercom call- mailbox on the ground floor

The ground floor, which is also the main discharge level is setting up inthe height of the natural terrain.The main entrance of the residents and their visitors is placed at theintersection of the two wings.This level and the upper 3 floors house 50 units of 45m2 each spread on both sides of a central distribution passage. Repeatability plans on each floor will be an economy of scale.At the junction of two wings, we propose multipurpose meeting spaces, certain technical areas and additional rooms.

The multi-purpose room situated at the demi floor, situated next to the kitchen, can function as restaurant but it can also accommodate exhibi-tions, pensioners clubs, lectures, game activitities etc.

Ground floor planDemi floor plan


First floor plan

Second floor plan

Third floor plan


The concept chosen for the service residence is of a boomerang, both for its symbolic and for its shape.In contrast to the often pejorative idea we have of institutions for the el-derly, we wanted to have a dynamic image for the residents. Indeed, people of 60 years old are often still quite active. The boomerang therefore seems appropriate to us to symbolize the new pulse, the en-ergy that will be provided to occupants.The purpose of the boomerang also evokes the holiday spirit and a playful nature. In the same vein, the residence will promote meetings and activities among the residents to create connections between the residents and also with the outsiders.In addition to the guests of residents and residents of around 60 years old and over, the building could accommodate a school and different workshops for the outside public.The architectural point of view, the layout of the building already has a form creating an obtuse angle, like of the boomerang.This concept helped to animate both the interior spaces as facades starting a virtual boomerang located on each level. Therefore the concept is translated on the facade through a difference in material with respect to rest of the building. Boomerangs create warm color headbands contrasting with the rest of the building, dark in color. Headbands are largely marked on the inner facades (south) by the sun-shades. On the exterior facades (north), they are less present, integrat-ed into the faade plane.The contrast is so marked between the exterior facades forming a shell,a dark shell, and the inner facades, warm and light as a "Cocoon".Inside, it induces a variety in the corridor walls, which facilitates the lo-cating the apartments by residents, especially if they suffer from visual or cognitive impairments.The development of the surroundings was also inspired by this concepts lines, curves and dynamics.

THE BOOMERANG


A particular attention is paid to the sunshades on the south facades,older people being very sensitive to the heat.

The architecture of the two facades oriented Southeast and Southwest has been designed to incorporate fixed elements ensuring protection against the sun while keeping the outward views and input natural light.The sunshades have been sized to cover much of the harmful rays.In general, for a sunshade to be effective, it is necessary, that its length is greater than 50% of the height of the bay it protects. Headbands go out of +/- 1.2 m from the plane of thefaade.The triangulated shades also serve as vertical visor and pro-vide additional protection when the sun is too low that to be masked by the orizontal shade.These sunscreens seem adequate both in thermal and visual comfort of the residents.

A solar simulation was conducted to validate the effectiveness of these protections at different times of the year.As you can see from the sunlight patterns at right this study demon-strates that the protections put in place are efficient for different times of the day in summer months. In winter, the sun's rays penetrate the apartments, so the shades dont create problems.

THE SUNSHADES


3d images

In the age of information and globalization, we find ourselves overwhelmed by the omnipresence of the images brought to us by mass-media. Our sensory balance was upset when vision separated itself from and dominated the other senses. In a world where there is nothing behind the image and everything is transparent in an esthetical realm, the im-agistic repertoire, unconsciously, becomes the only mean of communication. The lack of vision, in the blind peoples case, compensates with the development of the other senses. The cortex that is dominated by vision is now used by hearing, touching, smelling. But this development of the senses takes time and exercise. Once they mastered their senses and at their full potential, the blind people can successfully integrate in the social and economic life. But first, they need to practice. senses and at their full potential, the blind people can successfully integrate in the social and economic life. But first, they need to practice. The center of experimenting senses is a place where both visually impaired people and the sighted ones can exercise all their senses in order to refind the sensorial balance. They experiment their senses not only through the activities held in the center( learning music, sculpting, dancing, cooking, massaging, foreign languages etc.), but also through the space itself. Visiting the center becomes a sensorial adventure. All the senses are activated only by moving inside the building.

There are some rules in designing for visually impaired people so that they have an easier visit: 1) simple volumes and no curb lines, prefered rectangularity and simplicity in design; 2) using ramps instead of stairs us much us possible;3) change of direction when changing function; 4) no multidirectionality( blind people tend to walk near a wall to find the doors).

A big part of the center is buried underground. The idea of an unseen but felt architecture is expressed through the relationship that the upper world has it with the one under it. These two spaces communicate through the skylights, through the vegetation and the volumes that take rise from the lower level. I can see what happens underground through the skylights, through the noise that rises from underground. Also the ground is a very good natural phonic isolation which protect the blind people from the urban noise. In its way, the blind person is guided by sound( by the noise of the water), by smell( the plants in the greenhouses) by In its way, the blind person is guided by sound( by the noise of the water), by smell( the plants in the greenhouses) by movement( the different slopes), the different pavement materials, the textured walls and the light( the skylights guide the walking path). The walls guide the visitor through the story it tells. The facade is made of perforated concrete which has different dimensioned perforations. These perforations are places chaotically but at the height of blind per-sons hand the perforations become a braille sentence. The words on these walls also mark the placement in the space.

Center of experimenting senses- redefining human perception(Architecture Graduation Project)

Reconfiguration of the park Fontainas, Brussels, Belgium

In the office B612 Architects, i worked on the masterplan of the park Fontainas. We were asked to propose a new landscaping design for the park, but also demolish the old building adjacent to it and built new apartment blocs (65 apartments) and a sports center. The park Fontainas is placed near the city center of Brussels, being the only park in the area.


We analysed the site and found several disfunctions that we proposed to solve throught the new designs: the blind facade of the building CGSP and the unsafe long corridor from the opposite entrance and courtyard. We decided to diminuate the effect of the blind facade by building the residential tower demanded next to it (which would also signal the entrance to the park). The old builidngs will be demolished opening the space to the park. The new flat buildingS will be punctual, permiting more green space to the residents.

THE EXISTING SITUATION- DISFUNCTIONS


THE MASTERPLAN

We analysed the current design of the park, its paths, the trees, how people use the spaces, which are the most frequented, and we used them in our proposal. The same idea of concentred design, with paths leading to the core of the park onto a meeting area for the people of the neighbourhood. The same acceses in the park were kept. The new intervention was to create more variaty in what the land is concerned: a small hill for the kids to go up and down (the sports center).

THE CONCEPT


Being the only park in the area, we wanted Fontainas to be easily accesible by the inhabitants and the visitors. We proposed the apartments blocs as points of acces to facilitate the orientation and to signal the entrances of the park.

The previous configuration of the Park permited only 8988 m2 of green spaces. After the demolish and the new proposed bulidings, the toatal area of green spaces will reach 10600 m2. Therefore the park will be 1600 m2 larger than in the past.


We made several studies in what concerns the placement of the entrance to the sports center. We decided that it should be connected in the same time to the tour, the park and the street Six Jetons.

THE SPORTS CENTER


The sports center is placed near the tour of flats, being related to the lounge area situated at the ground floor of the high building.It is placed underground, lifted 1.5m from the ground for the light to illuminate the space. The difference of the level of 1.50 m cre-ates the illusion of a small hill for the kids to enjoy going up and down and for safety reasons.

THE SPORTS CENTER

Reconfiguration of the park Fontainas, Brussels, BelgiumParticipative workshop Workshop in the park Presentation

After we conceived the project we organized a serie of work-shop and presentations for the inhabitants of the area. The goal was to present our ideas to the public, but in the same time work with it to find out what are their needs in the park, what else they would like to have in the park etc. The inhabitants gave us valuable ideas that helped us in our process to create a good environment for them.


THE MASTERPLAN

The most important activities proposed after the workshops with the inhabitants are:minifoot field, garden of vegetables, agora, Horteca terasse, spaces for children- spider net, ping-pong tables, spaces for dogs, water fountain.

LES PROGRAMMES

1. TERRAIN DE MINIFOOT2. JARDINS POTAGERS3. AGORA SPACE4. TERRASSE HORECA5. ARAIGNE6. AIRE DE JEUX POUR ENFANTS7.7. TERRAIN DE PTANQUE8. TABLES DE PING-PONG9. AIRE DE JEUX POUR ENFANTS10. ESPACE CANIN

3D VIEWS


General Urban Plan- Gura Riului, Sibiu, Romania

Arch. Ioan Marcela and me were asked by the City Hall of the region Sibiu to prepare the General Urban Plan of the Gura Riului parish. The mayor wanted to extend the village and place some of the ex-terior areas into the intravilan. and also we were asked for reconversion of some of these areas in industrial, residential or recreational zones etc. We gave them our proposal, they accepted and approved the Urban Plan.


Plan of the existing situation

We elaborated the 5 main urban plans: Plan of the frame zoning, Plan of existent situation, Plan with the new urban proposals, Plan of the sanitary equipments, Plan of the legal system.This is the second plan drawing, showing the existing situation, the villages disfunctions and its opportunities in what concerns cirlculations, the environment, the architecture and the villages patrimony, the sanitary equip-ments etc..

Plan of the urban proposals

Surprisingly, the mayor asked the expansion of the village 3 times more its original size with residential and recreational areas in the south-east and south-west and industrial areas in the north-east and north-west. The number of tourists increased in the last years and also new immigrants from other parts of Romania made residence in the village so the demand of urban space and houses was very high..


Plan of sanitary equipments

The drawing shows the existing drainage and water supply from the village and the proposed ones for the new areas.


Plan of the legal system

The last drawing plan refers to the different legal system of each plot ( public, private or private of the state) existing in the village and the proposed one for the new areas.

Bathroom designs

For my parents house i proposed the interior designs of each room. The most interesting were the bathroom exercises. I played with materials that i found on the market and tried to create clasic bath-rooms that fit well the neo-romanian style of the house.

Interior design of my parents houseLiving room

mara_01-eng1.pdfmara_02.pdf03.pdf04.pdf05.pdf06.pdf07.pdf08.pdf09.pdf10.pdf11.pdf12.pdf12.1.pdf13.pdf13.1.pdfmara_urb_botosani_2.pdfmara_urb_botosani_3.pdfmara_urb_botosani_1.pdfmara_urb_botosani_4.pdf14.pdf14.1.pdfmara_urb_2.pdf14.1313.3.pdf13.4.pdf13.5.pdf13.6.pdf13.7.pdf13.8.pdf14.8 m451.pdfd6.pdfdfaxcut.pdfM31.pdf14.85M51.pdf15.pdf15.1.pdf16.pdf17.pdf17.1.pdfmara_urb_charmille.pdfmara_urb_charmille-2.pdfmara_urb_charmille-3.pdf21mara_urb_charmille-5.pdf2318.pdf19.pdf19.1.pdf

portfolio.pdf

Documents

existing building

new assisted living

proposed situationthe

resident cleaning service

design projects

cleaning service information

police station of fleron

city fleron plan