CIARA DAHM PORTFOLIO
Ciara Dahm 5103 26th Ave SE Lacey, WA 98503 phone | 360-485-8629 email | ciaradahm@gmail.com
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FOUNDATION
A Marriage of Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire
Ceremony Program
Location Canada Island, a part of Riverfront Park in Spokane, Washington. The island lies between two sections of Spokane Falls.
Problem Pavement Alterations
Designed for the 1974 World’s Fair, Canada Island has since fallen into disuse. Plantings have become overgrown and are difficult to maintain. As part of the redesign for the park, the city hopes an outdoor wedding venue will bring in additional revenue as well as beautify the park.
Solution Planting Zones
Planting regions are designated based on desired functionality and physical characteristics of the site. Planting palettes are inspired by the four classical elements (earth, water, wind and fire) and work to emphasize region characteristics and guide the experience through the site.
EARTH Deep Greens Rolling Hills Mounding Dark Browns Low Growing Rock Garden
WIND Flat Plains Tall Grasses Calming Pale Greens Soft Lawns Slender Leaves
WATER White Flowers Blue-Greens Flowing Weeping Forms Blue Flowers Rushing
FIRE Passion Deep Reds Flaming Forms Seasonal Color Bright Yellows Swirling
INCLUSION
Invited in with Sculpture
Inspiration
Location Headquarters for the Community Action Center (CAC), a group that provides
and
manages low income housing in Pullman, WA. Layout
Problem The existing building sits at the top of a steep hill, accessed by a long, barren driveway. The site is run-down and under utilized. The CAC desires more excitement and color to liven up the trek to the top.
Application
Solution Inspired by the growth pattern of vines, this design uses swirling forms that traverse the site, drawing visitors in. Swirls of brightly colored foliage weave into sweeping metal arches across roadways and sidewalks.
Treeground (top)
Sun Fence (bottom)
This playground is built with reclaimed metal, wood, and living
Metal fence constructed by a local artist from reclaimed
plants. Custom components include vine shaped monkey bars, log
metal. Dyed acrylic pieces creates colored shadows
balance beams, and a living tunnel, all connected by a wood stepping path.
that travel across the playground throughout the day.
SECLUSION Privacy Outdoors
Existing Conditions View From Sidewalk
Location Low-income, in
multi-unit
downtown
serving
residents
housing
Pullman, 65
and
WA over.
Problem Patio Border
Nestled into a steep hill, the site is highly visible
to
passersby.
Balconies
are
especially visible from the rising sidewalk to the north. In addition, residents lack either the desire or ability to
Entry Garden
tend
the
surrounding
landscape.
Solution Using a combination of hardy and native plantings, rooms are created to provide a sense of seclusion and mystery. A succession of rooms is revealed as the site is traversed, ranging from the public to the personal scale.
Existing Facade
Entry Room The facade facing the parking lot is turned into
a
giant
sculpture.
An
expansive
trellis system creates a green wall from which is
giant
metal
backdropped
by
letters a
emerge. This
colorful
mural.
Existing Backyard
Forest Rooms Existing junipers are cleared out, allowing for a series of decks and stairs to climb the hillside. Tall shrubs ensure privacy for both the decks and residents living on the east side of the building.
UNIFICATION
A Community Brought Together
Existing Conditions Neighborhood Driveway
Location Neighborhood of duplexes in downtown Pullman, Washington, serving families.
Problem Drainage Issues
The large lawn areas and existing shrubs are difficult to maintain in summer, leading to an unkempt appearance. Poor drainage leads to water collection on site from the field to the west. It is unclear how much space is available for the residents to garden.
Front Yards
Solution Layers of perennials, hedges, flowering trees, and shade trees replace the lawns, unifying the neighborhood and reducing runoff. Gardens are located at each front door for residents to use in addition to the community garden at the south end.
ABSTRACTION Modeling the Senses
BALANCE
TOUCH
SMELL
Assignment Illustrate how you experience 5 of the 7 senses (sight, sound, taste,
touch,
smell,
balance,
proprioception). Combine aspects of the 5 drawings into a single, collaged image. Using the collage as a plan, extrude surfaces up and down to create a 3 dimensional topography
SIGHT
SOUND
with
structures.
FINAL COLLAGE