emmanuelle saintĂŠ 2013 portfolio
A chair inspired by
Chair Manifesto
by Emmanuelle SaintĂŠ and Suzan Ibrahim
From baren shores we will set forth to be rocked by a sea of luminescent reflections nestled within an open shell gently cupped inside its silky, shallow recess we will reach beyond ourselves and the confines of our simple fragile bodies in search of the harmony hidden in contradiction finding in balance a strange and transient beauty
This chair, inspired by the works of the house of Alexander McQueen, was created and built by Suzan Ibrahim and myself, as part of a structural design course. The chair incorporates the natural elements that influenced much of Mcqueen’s work, as well as the play between smooth tailored lines and organic movement present in many of his designs. The idea behind it comes from that of a shell, and the chair was built by assembling forty layers of laser cut plywood, which were laminated together and sanded into a fluid, shell-like shape. The interior of the chair was then lined with golden feathers, as a nod to the element of whimsy behind the fashion designer’s creations.
I felt freed from the powers of gravity, and through memory, succeeded in recapturing the extraordinary voluptuousness that pervades high places.
- Charles Baudelaire
3B Term Project: Proteus Moves
Vol – a flight. The ash seems to fly out of the mouth of the erupting volcano. It ebbs and swirls, moving like a creature from the deep, rising, settling, and bursting through its own skin. It transforms, changes colours, presents two faces to the world like two sides of a same coin.
material exploration
The two materials intertwine, each conveying its own quality, these working together to create the whole. It is the conversation between the lightness, and upward expansion, and the angry surge from within that erupts suddenly, disturbing the outward appearance of calm. One can imagine the seething layer of dark matter waiting underneath the innocuous steam clouds, building up a pressure that eventually propels it to the surface. In the same way, the molten plastic runs through the entirety of the model, joining with, twisting through, and enveloped in, the foam, and finally, breaking through and away from it. It is about the moment of freedom that comes with letting go, and getting carried away.
Two states are used in this model to convey different qualities of light. The foam-state acts as both a filter and a surface, while the mesh-state deforms the light that enters the space, casting shadows that glide over the interior volume and changes the interior quality. Moving the light from sunrise to sunset evokes in the first part a subtle rippling effect in the light, reminiscent of the rippling out of the clouds in the video. This rippling builds as the light fills the space, and then stops, as there is a lull in the motion. Then, a sudden explosion rocks the space, and it is alive with movement again for a moment before the light of day fades slowly away.
“…little by little the heart of God’es elect is uplifted, it swells and expands, stirred by ineffable aspirations; it yields to increasing bliss, and as it comes nearer the luminous apparition, …, it sinks into ecstatic adoration as though the whole world had suddenly disappeared.” - Charles Baudelaire. Quoted in Gaston Bachelard, The Poetics of Space: The Classic Look at How We Experience Intimate Places, trans. M. Jolas, (Orion, 1976) p. 194 The aim of this project, completed in the second half of my third year, was to create a space that captured, through its atmosphere and the movement of light within it, the affect and nature of a natural phenomenon - namely, an ash cloud caused by a volcatnic eruption.
3A Term Project: Large Urban Buiilding
south elevation
extended site plan
Designed for the intersection of Spadina Ave and College Street, the purpose of this building is to act as a social condenser, and a forerunner of urban densification in this part of the city. To this aim, it incorporates a range of programs, arranged around an atrium which serves both as and entrance and a focal point for the building. It also serves as a continuation of the exterior into the building, through the incorporation of greenery and its street-like layout at ground level. ground floor plan
section through auditaurium and atrium
ENTERTAINMENT BLOCK SHOPPING AUDITORIUM ART GALLERY LIVE/WORK STUDIOS
OFFICE BLOCK RESTAURANT OFFICES ROOFTOP TERRACE INTERIOR COURTYARDS
view into main atrium
view into main atrium from fifth floor below: section through livework studio and section through office tower
building mass
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programmed interior space
interior green space
interior courtyard view
view from live-work studio hallway
Productive Landscapes
site model of proposal
existing site and boundaries
existing tree line and vegetation
extension of tree line to create loop
proposed recreational trail
site plan of revised proposal
URBAN GRID MEETS NATURAL LANDSCAPE
AND
URBAN BRIDGES OVER LANDSCAPE
LANDSCAPE BRIDGES OVER URBAN
proposed recreation trail Second year term project, based on the site surrounding the Brampton Flight Centre. The plan aims to achieve densification on the site while maintaining prime agricultural CONCEPT DIAGRAM land. Integrates a multi-use recreational trail that circulates people through the entire site along the path of an existing pattern of vegetation. A small section of the greater site was developped further, exploring the tension of an urban grid interacting with nature. The recreational trail pushes back against the urban form through “green fingers” that enter the densified area and creates moments of bridging - where the building bridges over nature and nature in its turn slips over the urban grid.
CIRCULATION AT GROUND LEVEL TRAIN ROAD PEDESTRIAN PATHS
PROGRAM RESIDENTIAL DAYCARE PUBLIC COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION
INTERIOR CIRCULATION AND OUTDOOR ACCESS
view into residential courtyard
view into residential courtyard
Cambridge Hotel Project
existing site
circulation
stone walls
ground, second and third floor plan, in ascending order
interior walkway section
The driving idea behind the design of the hotel was the establishment of linear movement through the site, directed by a massive stone wall, as well as a view onto the land scape from every room. The hotel, which is situated between two major streets in Cambridge, Ontario, acts as a link between the two, through the physical building and the landscaping. It is comprised of three different buildings: the lobby, a restaurant and bar, connnected through an interior walkway, and a spa. The spa building, as well as the lobby, located closest to the Grand River, is a calm an minimal environment, while the the restaurant, which is set in a busier area, resembles its surroundings. west elevation and cross-section
north elevation and longitudinal section
room type 1
room type 2 The rooms situated above the lobby take on its characteristics and linear plan, while the larger rooms above the restaurant are compartmentalised in nature.
Architectonic Space
Cardboard model of architectonic space completed in first year, and composed of beams and columns.
Experiental Drawing
Documentation of the threshold sequenced of a restaurant located below Prada’s flagship store. The underground location of this bar and its situation around a corner gives it an element of secrecy.
Objective Obtain a position in the field of architecture where I use and expand upon my current design skills while gaining experience. Qualifications Strong communication skills Fluent in French and English Work well individually and in a team Responsible, reliable and adaptable Enthusiastic and positive, willing to learn
Work Experience Architecture Assistant [January 2012 – August 2012] Stantec Architecture Ltd Worked intensively on large-scale retail project. Responsible for completing phasing plans for tender package, translating drawings into French for stores located in Quebec, assisting with the building permit process, and corresponding with appropriate construction associations. Facility Administrator [June 2011 – August 2011] CB Richard Ellis As part of a four person team, designed and implemented a drawing inventory management system for the Infrastructure Ontario account. Ran weekly progress meetings and presentations to upper management.
Technical Skills Adobe CS Photoshop InDesign Illustrator Premiere After Effects Microsoft Word PowerPoint Excel Outlook Architectural Software AutoCAD FormZ Sketchup Revit Education Candidate for Honours Bachelor of Architectural Studies at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture [2008 – present] Awards Art Award – St. Peter’s Catholic Secondary School 2008 Ontario Scholar 2008 Achievement Award, University of Ottawa Haitian Club, 2010
Co-op Student [August 2010 – December 2010] Government of Canada House of Commons Architecture and Program Strategic Planning Office Worked as part of the four person team to advance projects relating to the Long Term Vision and Plan for the Parliamentary Precinct. Prepared drawings and diagrams for presentations, creating slideshow presentations, attending design development meetings for various projects, and carrying out various administrative duties. Co-op Student [February 2010 – April 2010] Parkin Architects Worked in AutoCad to organize the detail library into blocks and dynamic blocks.
Emmanuelle Sainté CV
Emmanuelle J. SaintĂŠ 64 Bonspiel Rd Scarborough ON M1E 5K5 (416)938-1809 ejsainte@gmail.com