Nicholas Ziolkowski

HOUSING + OPPORTUNITIES FOR MIGRANT WORKERS OF THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA NICHOLAS ZIOLKOWSKI DREXEL ARCHITECTURE SENIOR PROJECT 2020 / 2021

PROJECT SITE

PHILADELPHIA, PA

EXISTING SITE 1% ANNUAL CHANCE 0.2% ANNUAL CHANCE

BALTIMORE, MD

WASHINGTON, D.C.

MARYLAND-VIRGINIA STATE LINE CHINCOTEAGUE, VA

RICHMOND, VA

ONANCOCK, VA

BAY BRIDGE/TUNNEL

PROJECT LOCATION: ONANCOCK, VA The project is located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, in a town called Onancock. The specific site is located near the Onancock Creek and the main road in town.

EXISTING SITE PLAN The site, as it stands, features an old high school that now functions as a community arts center.

There are two dilapidated accessory structures that are re-purposed in this project.

The existing buildings sit on a hill that protects from potential flooding. It also allows for lovely views of the surrounding creek.

PROJECT PROGRAM

01: View West of Community Center entrance 02: View North East of field and accessory structures

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03: View South of the rear of the community center 04: View East of community center from the surrounding Onancock Creek

50’

250’ 100’

500’

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My goal was to design for a program that is atypical for the site and town it would exist in.

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The program was considered with migrant workers in mind. The main focus of the project is the migrant community’s housing. There is a 20 unit residence building located south of the community center

The rest of the program includes a communal hall for the migrant community and the locals.

It also includes a dining canteen, classrooms, offices, gardens, and a new soccer field

SITE VISIT

When I visited Onancock in September 2020, I interviewed locals. I asked them about my proposal for moving a group of migrant workers into their town. Here are some of their thoughts: “I like to think we are a welcoming community. I would love to embrace everyone.”

“It’s no sweat off my back.

I don’t care if they live here.

But the town won’t accept that.”

“Sure! Why not? Everyone gets along here. I would welcome them.”

“Oh, I thought this was a real project. I was gonna get my shovel and get to digging!”

The images above are from different migrant housing locations. I was only there for a weekend but it was eye-opening to see first hand the housing that is currently provided.

At the height of the season, there are up to 2,200 migrant workers on the Shore. Some locations host up to 500 individuals at once.

These are the “bare minimums” that are allowed currently. Cinderblock walls, asphalt floors, unconditioned spaces. Humans never deserve to be treated like this.

CASE STUDIES

01: Marika Alderton House

by Glenn Murcutt in Northern Territory, Australia 02: Guest House by AATA Arquitectos in Central Chile

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03: Shelter for the Homeless by RKW Architektur+ in Essen, Germany 04: Tourists Hotel by multiple architects in North Adams, MA

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These projects had the most impact on my design decisions throughout the year. Dozens of other buildings were appreciated and studied to different extents.

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I studied Marika Alderton to gather information about passive site and architectural strategies.

The guest house was useful for understanding the construction I was interested in for the residence.

The shelter allowed me to better understand how much space to allow for one dwelling unit without being wasteful. Finally, the Tourists Hotel was helpful in understanding a connection from front porch to courtyard garden.

PROCESS SKETCHES

DESIGN REVIEW

1 CLASSROOM 2 PUBLIC ENTRY 3 COUNSELOR + SUPERVISOR OFFICES 4 DINING HALL 5 KITCHEN 6 LONG-TERM DWELLING

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DESIGN REVIEW

TECHNICAL REVIEW

ROOF + MONITORS + SOLARPANELS

INTERIOR FINISH 2X6 WOOD STUDS 2 LAYERS FIRE RESISTANT SHEATHING + WEATHER BARRIER 2X6 WOOD STUDS + SHELVES

WOOD TRUSSES

STRAW BALES CORRUGATED POLYCARB PANELS

PRE-FAB STRAW BALE WALLS

CLT FLOORS + UNIT LAYOUT

CONCRETE UTILITY ROOMS

WOOD COLUMN + BEAM LAYOUT

TECHNICAL REVIEW

ROOF + MONITORS

HEAVY TIMBER COLUMNS

HEAVY TIMBER FRAMING + STEEL TRUSS RODS INTERIOR FINISH

BATT INSULATION EXTERIOR SHEATHING + WEATHER BARRIER NAILING STRIPS WOOD PANELS WINDOW SYSTEMS

2x6 WOOD STUD WALLS WITH INSULATION KITCHEN + BATHROOMS + MECHANICAL SPACE ABOVE

FINAL REVIEW - SITE AXON

FINAL REVIEW - GROUND FLOOR PLAN B

01 - PUBLIC ENTRANCE + RESOURCE OFFICES

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02 - MAIN HALL 03 - KITCHEN 08

04 - CANTEEN 05 - CLASSROOMS 06 - RESIDENCES

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D 02

07 - PRIVATE ENTRY 08 - PUBLIC GARDEN 09 - PRIVATE GARDENS

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10 - SOCCER FIELD 03

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A

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B

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C

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FINAL REVIEW - EAST/WEST SECTION ‘A’

FINAL REVIEW - NORTH/SOUTH SECTION ‘C’

STACK EFFECT VENTILATION RAIN COLLECTED TO RAIN GARDENS

SOLAR PANELS FOR HOT WATER

OVERHANG FOR HEAT CONTROL CROSS WINDS THROUGH WINDOWS SUMMER WIND MECHANICAL DUCT + PIPE SPACE

EXTERIOR ROLLER SHADES

SUMMER WIND

PORCH VIGNETTE

FIELD VIGNETTE

COURTYARD VIGNETTE

REFLECTIONS

My personal goal for this year was to have a project that I am proud of. Although it is far from perfect and still deserves more work, I am proud of this work.

Overall, much of the discussion surrounding this proposal over the year was about mitigating the migrant community and the existing locals.

I understood the challeneges and attemped to create spaces and landscapes that would encourage positive interactions between those groups of people.

I would have preferred that more time was spent discussing the spaces and architecture.

That being said, the conversations that were held this year during critiques were some of the most captivating ones I have had throughout my time in the program.

One of my biggest wishes, if I could do it over again, would be to spend more time communicating with the migrant community.

It was difficult to spend time and learn about them and I would have liked for their voices to be heard much better in a project like this.

I thoroughly enjoyed the past year and I am happy to have end my time in the program with that sentiment.

Acknowledgements John and Carol Anne Ziolkowski - For your unwavering love and support.

Paul Ziolkowski - For your friendship and understanding.

Scotty and Irene Hurst - For your joyful conversations and profound love.

Drew and Molly Mihocko - For always being a home base.

And all of my friends who supported me over the course of my college experience.

Sincerely, thank you.