University of Toronto 2020
alejandra cortez paz
P O R T F O L I O
Contents
1
Connect
04 - 11
2
Juice Bar
12 - 21
3
Public Space
22 - 33
4
Mobile Activator
34 - 37
5
Urban Forest
38 - 51
Connect Small Green Space, Cambridge, MA USA Instructor: Joan Chen 2019
Collage of Section at Encounter Scale
During the analysis phase of this project, I was very interested in studying how Cambridge meets the waterfront and the kind public spaces that exist as a result. Since the 1920s Memorial Drive, a long parkway that runs along the perimeter of the Charles River, has acted like a barrier disrupting the connection from urban fabric to river. Many of the spaces wedged between the road and river have become parks and green areas.
Alejandra Cortez Paz
My intervention site is found in one of these green spaces by the southeast corner of the intersection between Boston University Bridge and Memorial Drive, at the point of intersection of Memorial Drive, a bike path, a train track, and the Charles River. I was drawn to this triangular space, also known as Goose Park, not only because of how it meets the river with its sloping terrain, but also because of the conditions it creates as one of the few habitats for the geese and ducks that swim on the river. In my intervention I considered how I could design to address the current human use of the site without disrupting bird habitat. The aim of my project is to rethink this neglected area as a landscape that can integrate systems of circulation infrastructure and bird habitat. The strategy is to touch the earth lightly.
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Connect
Although there is a fence and boulders on the corner entrance to this park restricting access, people continue to trespass and dangerously walk on the train tracks either to find a more direct access route to Boston’s waterfront or simply to experience the character of this environment as graffitied train tracks and the home of many birds.
Alejandra Cortez Paz
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Connect
My intervention is an elevated walkway that opens in two directions from the corner for pedestrian use and meets the ground at strategic points. I also proposed widening the narrow sidewalk to allow movement by Memorial Drive at different speeds.
Alejandra Cortez Paz
As a result, the path will enhance the circulation and accessibility as well as create an experiential sloping path through the trees.
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Connect
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Alejandra Cortez Paz
The structure follows the delicate aim of this project, imitating trees in the design of the columns that hold it up.
Juice Bar Princes Avenue, Liverpool, UK Instructor: Sandy Britton, James Crawford, Tony Lees, Howard Miller 2017
Photo Collage of Princes Avenue through Time
Studying the city of Liverpool in terms of liveability, my focus for an intervention went from health and food, to community, to juice making. Before arriving at a site, I first marked out a route that began on the outskirts of the city at Liverpool South Parkway railway station and ended in the city centre. This route passed through very important parts of the city, including large parks (Sefton Park and Princes Park) and major food hubs. By mapping the food hubs and what they offer and researching the health of the city, I identified Princes Avenue and Princes Park as an ideal area of study for an intervention that I later concluded would be a juice bar.
Alejandra Cortez Paz
First there was the unfortunate fact that the chosen area of study on Princes Avenue had high levels of obesity among children in addition to high mortality rates and high deprivation rates. For such an elegant Victorian boulevard that has so much to offer with numerous places of worship on one side and a beautiful park on the other, the lack of health incentives and overall pedestrian experience was not doing it justice. There are little to no people making use of the area, there is bad lighting so it gets really dark at night, there are barely any seating spaces, there are no water fountains or public toilets in the area, and the
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boulevard’s embankment is very inaccessible. However there is a desire to be able to run in the middle of the embankment into the park as I’ve seen a few runners in the area do so, and the desire to connect with nature as I’ve seen some parents with children and dog walkers going into the park. I did not see any cyclists on the avenue but that can be attributed to safety concerns of cycling on a street that favours cars.
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Juice Bar
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Juice Bar
In a desire to promote community and nutrition as well as improve circulation, I thought of a community Juice Bar. This intervention would exist at the entrance of Prince Park, and it would act as a place to gather, a source of nutritious foods (organic vegan foods such as juices, smoothies, and fruit bowls), and an improvement to the community. Neighbours would be employed to work here, and some of the profit would go to invest in the area. Additionally, food would be grown locally on the proposed embankment on Princes Avenue which would eliminate the roundabout and become an extension of the park for pedestrians to safely access from the park. The new embankment would come with more trees, replacing and introducing more outdoor furniture (benches, lamps), the restoration of existing artwork, allotment spaces to grow the fruits and vegetables for the juice bar, and a lane for bicycles.
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The plan of the Juice Bar, the commercial point to store, produce, and sell organic vegan foods, would be centered around the kitchen which is a freestanding and in the middle. One side is where produce is stored, and the other is where meals are prepared and sold.
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Juice Bar
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Alejandra Cortez Paz
Plant and cultivate in community garderns (i.e. Allotments on Princes Avenue)
Collect fruits and vegetables
Bring into the Juice Bar at the Entrance of the Park
Cold press produce into juice
Sell the juice and placing a percentage of sales to community initiatives
Process of Juice-making: from Allotment to Juice Bar
Enjoy a healthier, stronger neighbourhoods
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Juice Bar
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Public Space Downtown Toronto, Canada Instructor: Victor Perez-Amado 2019
Three Neighbourhoods in Downtown Toronto
The city of Toronto is home to a variety of neighbourhoods. In this analysis I look at the downtown area of Toronto that includes the Financial District, City Hall and Eaton Centre, and Cabbagetown South. This portion of the city is defined by the zoning of their different neighbourhoods and building use. The taller buildings (and the more density of people), the more demand for public transportation systems. Therefore it is not surprising that major transportation arterials are found in the highly visited commercial and financial district.
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My analysis focuses on open space in Toronto’s downtown core. I selected six major public spaces (highlighted in green) and study them, taking into consideration the different neighbourhoods in which they are found in. My interest in comparing and understanding these parks and squares/plazas comes from my observation that many open spaces in Toronto are underperforming and my knowledge of the importance of open spaces to te health of people (and cities at large).
Public Space in Toronto
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Public Space in Toronto
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Public Space in Toronto
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I consider questions such as: What happens most of the year? Where are people spending time? What features of an open space attract people?
Public Space in Toronto
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Public Space in Toronto
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I analyze the features found on each open space, and make observations about where people are spending time. Considering William Whyte’s notes about public space, I found that seating, a good connection to the street, and a network of paths are important elements to design spaces that attract people on a daily basis. Additionally people attract more people, so if there are conditions to spend time at public spaces, the people using the space will attract others to spend time here, too.
Mobile Activator Parkdale, Toronto, Canada Instructor: Reza Nik Group Members: Aizah Bakhtiyar, Eunice Cheung, Felipe Coral, Dennis Fichman, Yau Hui, Karen Gebara, Jane Guberman, Mehreen Khan, Sam Shahsavani, Bhavika Sharma, Sibora Sokolaj, Zainab Wakil
2019
Mobile Activador Photographs of Sides
Toronto’s Parkdale, with its unique community participation, is a very active neighbourhood in wrestling with forms of gentrification. In order to continue fostering community engagement, the Parkdale Neighbourhood Land Trust (PNLT) hosts events and information sessions. They have an initiative called ‘the free school’ that they use to teach residents about important issues. However, concerned about residents (especially those in South Parkdale) unable to meet in their office location, PNLT needed a way to mobilize information outside to make events available to everyone. This project was a collaborative effort in the design and construction process. Thirteen students (Aizah Bakhtiyar, Eunice Cheung, Felipe Coral, Dennis Fichman, Yau Hui, Karen Gebara, Jane Guberman, Mehreen Khan, Sam Shahsavani, Bhavika Sharma, Sibora Sokolaj, Zainab Wakil) and I worked alongside Professor Reza Nik for a period of two weeks to design and build this project. Weighing the functions, objectives, and constraints for this project we successfully produced a mobilizer that is economical, light, multiductional, and mobile.
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Mobile Activator
In response to PNLT’s desires, Mobile Activator is a structure on wheels that can be carried around and opened up in a variety of ways to create small outdoor classes, workshops, and more. Inside it are fold-able benches that can be set up in different configurations around the panels depending on the desired use. The four sides of the superfurniture open up as four panels, each one unique with different functions.
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Urban Forest Kensington Gardens, London, UK Instructor: Behnaz Assadi 2018
Photomontage: 18th Century View Towads the Palace
Kensington Gardens is located in the wealthy neighborhood of Westminster in London (England) one of the leading cities in the world. With so much history on its site, it is not surprising that this Royal Park has changed a lot since its conception in 1728. The 17th century was a time of reformation in England. There was a significant rise in population growth as people moved into the city. The upper middle class became wealthier and more important. By the 18th century, the British monarchy shared power with a strong oligarchy. With the new political ideal of “liberty,� picturesque landscapes developed as a site for leisure and not productive activities. It is in this time period that Kensington Gardens is separated from Hyde Park and designed by Charles Bridgeman. The focus of this new public space was Kensington Palace and the Round Pond.
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Urban Forest
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Urban Forest
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Urban Forest
In order to bring life and character to a large green space that cannot compete in popularity and openness with Hyde Park, it’s other half, this project looks to creating a unique public space in densely planted urban forest. This space would be a wide boulevard where all the visitors can engage in various activities: walking, sitting, relaxing, etc. There would be seating, water fountains, and a bridge that connects the two sides of the park separated by the Serpentine Lake.
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Urban Forest
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Urban Forest
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Urban Forest
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Thank you