“Architecture is about trying to make the world a little more like our dreams.� -Bjarke Ingels
I. SUBMERGE II. Metanoia III. Conform IV. Revive V. Contrast VI. Waves
B.S. Architecture- University of Minnesota Twin Cities -May 2020-
SUBMERGE
l Spring 2018 l
Site: Nicollet Island
The process of boat building and the journey of the material is something that is not appreciated or evident to the general public. This canoe crafting passage will submerge high school to college age students in the art of boat building and the elaborate journey of the material. The program term that further inspired the project was “passage”. Through the project, he defined the passage as a unique and time consuming journey, specifically the journey of the material. “The art of boat building is breathing life into an inanimate object.”
Section Perspective
Roof Plan
Floor One
Below Grade
The unique circulation of the building allows for the viewer to embark on a journey alongside the material. Whether it be entering through the tree canopy, walking through lumber storage, viewing the boat building, or seeing the first voyage. The building circulation allows the user to experience and appreciate every part of the material’s journey. The building takes inspiration from the structure of trees. Sitting high above the ground on trunk like pillars. The roof bends, rises, and falls similar to the way the tree canopy hangs over your head. In a way, the building becomes a forest of its own with the columns bridging the two groups of thick forestry on the site.
Rendered Section
Metanoia l
Fall 2019 l
Site: North Minneapolis
This schematic design proposal was based on creating a solution for assisting youth in North Minneapolis. The program designed was based around the idea of Animal Assisted Therapy, using animals to bridge the gap between patient and therapist. As the youth work side by side with the therapist to care for their animal they have the opportunity to bond with their therapist in a new way. The center sits along the river front in North Minneapolis and uses it’s unique roof shape to preserve a corridor to the park while sheltering views into the building from surrounding industrial buildings.
Exterior Perspective
Program Research and Findings
75%
75%
Youth That do Not receive Enough Mental Health Care
Patients Prescribed Medication Felt Psychological Therapies Would Be More Effective
45%
41%
Residents Under 24 Hawthorne
Residents Under 24 Folwell
50% Year
0
1
2
Robinson(1996)- Significant Decrease in Depression Rates and Overall Mental Health Issues
Patients Met Recovery Criterion After Cognitive and Interpersonal Talk Therapy (Out of 25)
82% Week 1
2
3
4
Marr(2000)- After Implementing AAT, interaction rates between psychiatric patients rose dramatically
Mims(2016)- In treatment of PTSD patients, Implementing AAT reduced symptoms by 82 percent
Purpose: To create an innovative treatment plan centered around Relief, Trust, Self Admiration, and Compassion. Based in a tranquil environment that truly allows an individual to heal and find purpose. Metanoia (n.) the journey of changing one’s mind, heart, self, or way of life.
1- Animal Housing 2- Group Training 3- Group Therapy 4- Animal Care Classroom
5
5- Aromatherapy/ Meditation Space 6- One on One therapy rooms
6
4
3
2
1
Section Render
Interior Render
Interior Render
The building is set in an environment that is meant to be peaceful and tranquil for their healing process. As you progress through the therapy opportunities you move closer to the river front and the relaxing qualities that environment brings. Metanoia creates a beautiful place and one of a kind opportunity for struggling youth. Whether it caring for the animal, petting and playing, contemplating life with your animal by your side, or sitting with the animal as you talk through your thoughts. Metanoia is a place for healing, a place for growing, and a place to change someone’s journey.
Process Model- Animal Housing
Process Model- Animal Housing
Final Massing Model
Final Massing Model
Conform l
Fall 2018 l
Site: Hennepin Bluff
The riverfront interpretive center brings the viewer through an informative journey as they make their way to the waterfront. Calling out significant aspects of the site and the rich landscape. The architecture assists in revealing the natural beauty of the site. The building leaves a small footprint, designed around trees and cliff faces to preserve the natural landscape and vegetation found there. The building removes none of the trees or cliff face on the site but rather works to preserve them. The building conforms to the site by molding to each crack and crevice as it creates a contrast between the built and natural environment.
Section Render
Floor One
Roof/Site Plan
Section Render- Small Classroom
The building houses classrooms, a cafe, an outdoor and indoor theater, and exhibition space. The cliff is used as a sorting element to place mechanical and non program specific rooms inside the cliff. While allowing the interpretative program to be on the outside of the cliff face overlooking the site. The building maintains a low profile and a flat roof to allow the building to blend into it’s landscape. The subtle moments where the building and landscape intersect is celebrated. The cliff face acts as the back wall to every room and the roof opens up to allow the trees to grow through the structure.
Left: Final Model
Revive l
Spring 2019 l
Site: Upper Harbor Terminal, Mn
The Upper Harbor Terminal is a deteriorating shipping terminal utilizing areas of the riverfront in North Minneapolis. This urban design development works to preserve wildlife corridors along the riverfront while creating a more accessible resource for the surrounding neighborhoods. The proposal includes some new additions to the site while also preserving some of the more monumental gestures of it’s history. The development breathes new life into this location and creates a thriving ecosystem and resource for all.
Section Render-Tree Canopy Pavilion
Development Site Plan
Existing Building
Existing Structure
New Development
New Development
Tree Canopy Pavilion
Ecology Research Center
Climbing Wall and Observation Tower
Animal Hospital/ Wildlife Viewing
Conservatory
Kayak Rental Bat Habitat and Education
Venue Rental/ice rink
The basic idea is to create the building blocks for the landscape and habitats along the river to heal themselves, and use the architecture as vessels for viewing that change. Creating an environment where not only humans and wild life coexist, but where they thrive.
Preserved Wildlife Corridors
Section Render-Wildlife Viewing
Healing Process
5 Year
Dense Woodlands
Creates Region of protection for raising wildlife and to create habitat zones. Thick forested area acts as a buffer zone from the highways and neighborhoods.
Preserved Movement Corridors
Allows wildlife to circulate from habitats and across the site
10 Year
15 Year
Constructed Wetland
Allows flooding along the riverfront and places for migratory birds to nest. Placement along the river allows for easy access to wildlife using the river as a corridor.
Habitat Zones
Process Sketch
Process Sketch
Process Model- Circulation
Site Massing Model
Contrast l
Fall 2018 l
Site: Hennepin Bluff
This installation is a unique display calling attention to the quality of water located on site. It was originally noted that the water is very dark brown color and polluted with various trash items, making the water unusable for swimming or other activities. The pools, that users can occupy, provide a beautiful contrast between the aqua clear pool water and the rushing brown river water. The pathway to the installation is a floating pier system made of cubes. The piers are able to float at the surface of the water and roll and sway, so you feel every wave as you walk.
Rendered Section
Process Working Render
Intervention Axon Process Work
The destination pools extend the barriers of the site and create an accessible water source. The pools inform the user of the site conditions and the state of our river fronts. The instillation allows the user to access new areas of the site while exploring the river in a new way.
Waves l
Fall 2019 l
Site: None
“Waves are inspiring not because they rise and fall, but because each time they fall...they never fail to rise again.� This sculpture was a study to understanding the wave as an architectural space. The sculpture is constructed of two parts, the waves, and they are separated to create a void. When next to each other, you can begin to understand the differences in varying parts of the wave, the rise and the fall, the compression and the release, and the understanding that no two places are the same.
declandemille@gmail.com University of Minnesota Twin Cities
Declan DeMille