Amy Snoekstra Personal portfolio Portafolio personal
RMIT MArch (coursework) Major research project Proyecto de investigaci贸n
Blind Creek Community Infrastructure Major Project, 2011 Supervisor: Simon Whibley My project frames a study of the Blind Creek corridor in Melbourne. Currently there is significant interest and investment into sustainable water management. This project investigates the implications of such large scale ecological issues through community based demonstration projects.
My proposal distributes facilities along this corridor, creating new relationships between the suburban fabric and the ecology of Blind Creek. Embedded in this strategy is the idea of stewardship; hosting participation in the conservation of particular parts of the creek by adjacent communities.
The blind creek is a water system which flows through the suburbs of Knox and Wantirna. It is both a naturally occurring waterway and an annex to the surrounding storm water infrastructure. I investigated a number of built and landscape conditions along the creek including landfill sites, areas of protected vegetation and wetland as well as park and recreational spaces.
The proposals form three different types of engagement with the Blind Creek Corridor; a community consultation hub, located along the levy wall of Knox Basin, a recreational pavilion located amongst a residential development, and an ecological research centre and community nursery which doubles as infrastructure for the collection and treatment of storm water.
Unearthing historical landscape ecologies -
Speculative image showing history of agriculture; Speculative image showing historical brickworks industry
Postcards from Wantirna; Garden Suburb -
“Just beyond your back fence”
“Via the new Eastlink”
“Mountain Views”
“A natural setting”
“Nature watching”
“A bush wilderness awaits”
Postcard series
Water systems- Melbourne -
Melbourne urban rivers and creeks condition
BU
RW
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HIGH STREET ROAD
BL HW
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STUD ROAD
EASTERN FREEWAY
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Mapping infrastructure networks: Knox Municipality -
Knox road infrastructure
Knox water infrastructure
3 sites of investigation -
2. Timothy Drive Reserve
3. High Street Reserve
1. Knox Basin Reserve
Existing conditions - site sections -
SCALE 1:200
1. Knox Basin - Community Consultation Space and Boardwalk
BOARDWALK SECTION
View Vi ew of of pathway path pa thwa wayy
SCALE 1:200
Pathway Path Pa thwa wayy an and d co comm community mmun unitityy sp spac spaces aces es
Boardwalk with lookout tower in background
2. Timothy Drive Reserve Blind Creek Community Hall
COMMUNITY HALL SECTION
SCALE 1:200
View of community hall
Community hall and recreational facilities
3. High Street Reserve Blind Creek Ecological Research Centre and Community Nursery
Water treatment basins and community nursery; walkway and water treatment garden
RESEARCH CENTRE SECTION
SCALE 1:200
RESEARCH CENTRE GROUND PLAN
SCALE 1:250
RESEARCH CENTRE LABS
EDUCATION CENTRE
COMMUNITY NURSERY
RESEARCH CENTRE AXONOMETRIC
SCALE 1:400
RAIN WATER RUN OFF FROM ROOF
EDUCATION CENTRE CAR PARK
STORMWATER FROM CARPARK
PLANTED DRAINAGE CHANNEL GRILLE
RESEARCH CENTRE SECTION
SCALE 1250
SAND BEDS
RESEARCH LA
VEGETATED SWALE -
ABS
OVERFLOW PIPE
CONCRETE CHANNELS
Melaleuca ericifolia
Lomandra longifolia
Goodenia ovata
Carex appressa
SLOTTED DRAINAGE PIPE
TO CREEK
View from creek side; High street approach
RMIT MArch (coursework) Design studio work Proyectos de dise単o
Prohibited Use Design studio, 2010 Tutor: Brendan Jones
Siting strategy -
Project completed as a group with students Vei Tan, Haslett Grounds & Janis Mertz. This studio investigated the issue of homelessness in urban environments. Rough sleepers and people who are chronically homeless are more likely to have mental health issues, substance abuse problems and disabilities. The evidence suggests that the longer people with mental health problems are supported by specialist homelessness services, the more likely they are to move into public, community or rental housing rather than return to rough sleeping. The key is how these services are best delivered, on the street or in an institution.
The ‘revolving door’ effect:
A crisis -led approach to services for the homeless creates the ‘revolving door effect’
Evidence shows that the longer a client is supported, the more likely they are to move into public, community or rental housing rather than return to rough sleeping
Franklin street approach-through park -Connection to Batman street
Latrobe street approach
Generating form -
Starting Point
Projected Area
Projection East
Outcoming Profile
Projection West
Aerial View -
Methods of articulation -
Defining space between the framework
Articulating the framework in response to site use
Enclosing space
Breaking the framework
Three approaches -
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Site drawing -
5
4 1
3 6
2
7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Homeless & Education Center Recreation & Public Events Amphi Theatre Playground Tennis & Netball Club Balls Club Monument
Plan + section -
Support & Resource Space 1
Computer Access & Learning Center Support & Resource Center Administrative Public Space
1
Recreation & Storage
+ 24.60
+ 20.60
+ 16.60
+ 12.60
+ 8.60
+ 4.60
0.00
Views -
Atherton Gardens Urban Proposals Design studio, 2011 Tutor: Richard Stampton The Atherton Gardens site is an ageing public housing estate in Fitzroy, Melbourne. An essential assertion of my proposal was that there must be an integration of the site with the surrounding urban landscape of Fitzroy. Addressing the four very different site boundaries, views and natures on the site informed the appropriateness of my insertions. I hoped to create continuity through visual and spacial elements.
Existing openness
Street interface
Street interface
Street interface
Existing openness
Existing ‘in between’ space
Unlike the existing buildings, the new residential buildings are positioned on the edges of the site, encouraging the kind of dynamic street life that exists elsewhere in the suburb. New commercial and community programs are located on the ground floor, street sides of the buildings. The residential levels are clad with operable timber louvers. Behind these screens the individual apartments have deep external spaces, allowing for flexible living arrangements.
Typological study -
Public building
Shop with awning
Single level terrace
Apartment with balcony
2 storey terrace
Fitzroy local typologies - building thresholds, house/ street interface
Process/design strategies -
1. Floor and framing
2. Floor and framing + steel window framing
3. Floor and framing + steel window framing + glazing
4. Floor and framing + steel window framing + glazing + operable timber louvers
Layered/ operable facade
STAGE 1
STAGE 2 + 3
Ground floor community and retail/ work spaces
Lower Level apartments and community spaces for residents
More apartments
SCALE 1:500
Site strategy sketches -
Existing
Proposed ‘backyard’ areas
Views to retain
New volumes with street level ‘interface’ programs
New volumes and proposed shared community spaces
Combined urban strategy
In- between space and community centre
Neighbour interface - between residential buildings
Street interface - transparency
Street interface
Community centre
Apartment interior
View from towards Napier street
RMIT MArch (coursework) Research studio work Proyectos de investigaci贸n
Thermomass Housing Research elective, 2009 Tutor: Martyn Hook The devastating bush fires in Victoria in early 2009 changed the way Australians think about domestic and community infrastructure. New building regulations have encouraged home owners and designers to reevaluate the materials we use to build houses in affected areas. This research studio focused on the potential of using precast insulated concrete panels for a domestic application. My design responded to the challenges posed by the new regulations through a consideration of siting, materiality, passive solar techniques and principles of prefabrication. The panels are often repeated or rotated, allowing for economy in their manufacture and transportation.
An aerial image showing a bush fire affected area Credit: The Age, 2009
MATERIALS SCHEDULE: FLOOR Hollow core slab floor F205.6 – 6 core, 205mm depth with 50mm screed ROOF Bluescope Lysaght Kliplock 700 Bluescope Lysaght Sheerline Gutter, fit grayson’s gutter guard mesh Air cell insulation to achieve R value 4.0 FIXED GLASS WINDOWS Aneeta 2 pane sashless double hung windows. Metal-clad frames. 10mm e-glass TIMBER FRAMED DOORS KDHW frame, hinged door with fixed 10mm e-glass INTERNAL CLADDING Amerind 12mm B-C face plywood FIXTURES Sanitary and bathroom fixtures all low end items avail. from Reece
Hub Air in-screed hydronic heating
Hyspan LVL roof beams 240x 45mm
Freedom Bifold flyscreen with ss mesh max. apeture 1.8mm WATER TANK 2 x5000L Nylex below ground polyethylene tanks DECKING Radial timber 19x100mm Silvertop ash decking boards. Tested to withstand exposure up to BAL-29
Presentation model
SCALE 1:50
North elevation
East elevation
South elevation
West elevation
Global Urban Measures Research tour, Vietnam, 2010 Tutor: Rosalea Monacella Settlement patterns - road/ water infrastructure Site of investigation: District 2, HCMC Ho Chi Minh City is an urban environment characterised by divergence and temporality. The system of organisation of street and water infrastructures can be read as a layered social and economic history of the city. Within this type of organisation, the water courses and streets are seen as the unifying element of community infrastructure. Recent economic growth and foreign investment has initiated volatile urban expansion and a radical shift in land use patterns. This change has allowed growth into new urban areas such as An Phu (District 2) but often compromised some of the better functioning thresholds between street and water infrastructures. District 2 acts as a microcosm of the city itself, embodying all the varied stages of growth and change and the resulting types of inhabitation.
HCMC, Vietnam showing District 2
Site no. 1 Site no. 1 Recent urban Recent urban development development
Site no. 2 Site no. 2 New Highway under New highway under construction construction
Site Site no. no. 33 Typical water Typical waterthreshold threshold inhabitation inhabitation
Scale 1 : 10 000
SCALE 1 10 000
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10 4 7 1
9 3
8 2
Site no. 3 Site no. 3
Typical water threshold Typical water threshold inhabitation inhabitation
7 1
9 3
8 2
4 10
1 5 3 7
6 10
Site no. 1 Site no. 1 Recent urbandevelopment Recent urban development
15
26
3 7
4 8
59
6 10
4 8
Site no. 2 New Highway under Site no. 2 construction New highway under construction
2 6
9 5
Mapping studies -
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Food stall activity - Ben Thanh Market, HCMC Vietnam
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Dwellings along the river are rebuilt seasonally using largely recycled materials, HCMC Vietnam
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Tourists by the WRXULVWV E\ WKH ORWXV SRQG lotus pond
Cold drinks cart FROG GULQNV FDUW
Visible/ invisible infrastructures, public park HCMC Vietnam
Stitching Form Research elective, 2010 Tutor: Leanne Zilka
1.
The Lace Pavilion establishes a synthesis of textile and architectural concepts through the theme of lace. Similar to architecture, lace is fabrication; a practice of making and unmaking, constructing and de constructing. The Lace Pavilion investigates the application of traditional lace making techniques to the field of architecture as an alternative building surface. Materials have been selected to accentuate the compositional elements of lace work. The use of thin, looping steel structural members allows for unexpected and distorted formal outcomes. 4.
3.
2.
1. 2. 3. 4.
Exploded axonometric showing pavilion structure Detail: cords tie the structural elements together Detail: pavilion base Woven material studies
Interior view
Side views
Front Elevation
Plan
Personal work Proyectos personales
Infinity Tube Public Light Sculpture, 2010 Artist: Jacob Weiss Fabrication drawings and promotional images for ‘Infinity Tube’ an artwork by Jacob Weiss commissioned for the ‘Next Wave’ art festival. Installed in a Melbourne City lane way for the duration of the festival. Excerpt from festival catalogue ‘Bright and glistening among the dirt and debris of an inner city lane way, The Infinity Tube appears like an incongruous and mystical science fiction prop. Nestled within the surrounding architecture, it is unclear whether the tube is a pathway into the building’s interior or an unknown universe. Standing upon its threshold, you can’t help wanting to step inside, and follow in the footsteps of countless fantasy and science fiction heroes who abandon their present reality for the risky business of entering another.’
Promotional render of artwork
View of artwork installed in Meyers Pl.
Drawings for council permit -
Fabrication drawings -
Installation images -
Image showing installation of artwork
Detail of artwork