ELISE AHN landscape architecture portfolio
MY VOYAGE TO DISCOVERING LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”
Marcel Proust_
Before I discovered Landscape Architecutre, I have been always interested in nature and animals around me since a child. I wanted to become a vet and started college as a biology major. Despite my passion to study in an area that can better the community, however, I still felt something was lacking in the path I was about to take; as I was waking up a puppy who just had a surgery at an animal clinic I was volunteering at, I realized that creativity was the big missing part. Remembering that I used to love reimagining spaces around me and drawing what I imagined on paper as a child, I went for architecture. But even after I switched my major to architecture, I could not stop searching for a career that requires both love for nature and creativity. Through multiple personality/aptitude tests, some career path courses, and lots of prayers, I finally learned about landscape architecture. s
Now close to graduate, I am certain that studying landscape architecture was one of the best decisions I made in my life. For the past four years, my love for landscape architecture has grown as my skills and understanding of it advanced. Landscape architecture is truly unique in a way that it extends to and unifies a variety of issues and study areas, such as the ecosystem restoration, technology, aesthetics, social issues, environmental problems, and education. Creating spaces that could enliven and beautify people’s lives in a less intrusive yet much more compelling way is what I imagine myself doing in the years to come. My voyage to landscape architecture has not always been tranquil. But I know it will continue to be a fulfilling one with more adventures and discoveries.
CONTENTS project 1_TWO WORLDS project 2_BLUE YONDER project 3_IN/EX-HALE project 4_CSLB JAPANESE GARDEN project 5_CASA YONDE COMMUNITY GARDEN project 5_HAND GRAPHICS project 5_RESUME
TWO WORLDS Project Location: Liberty Island, New York Landscape Architect: Elise Ahn Architects: Nathan Spencer, Brinda Subramanya Year Designed: December 2016
The idea that freedom is followed by its opposite side is displayed throughout the whole island. As soon as visitor steps out of the boat, their experience of being in between the two opposites begins. A large water feature to the right restricts visitors to travel only in certain pathways; a series of open lawns on the left, on the other hand, give people more freedom to travel however they choose to. Placed in between two opposite “worlds”, visitors observe the contrast clearly, as they walk the raised pathway to the Statue of Liberty. To the right, the space is shaded, hidden and concave. Adding a sense of rules and order, the regularly -placed rectilinear concrete slabs function as planters, light feature and seating for people to enjoy the terraced forest that change its color seasonally with diverse flowering/ deciduous trees. The lowest point is where the water from shallow water features are collected into a pool, which adds an extra layer of exclusion from the world through the splashing and gushing sound of water. Here, visitors can see the more-iconic side of the Lady Liberty, with the statue’s foundation edges exposed and emphasized against the flat landscape. Now the other side of the island is where the protruding foundation edges of the statue is softly merged into the gently sloped landscape. This open space with only few trees and hardscapes are where visitors can have a full view of the city of Manhattan. As the sloped landscape reaches the end of the island, it meets with water, allowing people to enjoy the water and the spectacular view of the city more closely. The rectilinear elements that used to stay in a grid formation now freely spills out onto the landscape, rotated in various angles. Here in Liberty Island, two opposing worlds exist side by side,emphasizing each other.
STEP SEATING TO WATER As the sloped landscape reaches the end of the island, it meets with water, allowing people to enjoy the water and the spectacular view of the city more closely.
DESIGN PROCESS Freedom has two sides. This idea of duality is expressed by putting two opposites next to each other. In the postcard series, the two aspects of freedom—right and responsibility —is depicted through the analogy of growing a tree. In the photography, the other twofoldness of freedom —sunlight and shadow— is expressed. In the model, the concept of duality of freedom and liberty is expressed through the interplay of concave and convexed forms of the mouse upper and lower body. Two contrasting elements coexist within same given space, accentuating each other’s existence.
OBJECT RE-CONTEXTUA
DIAG
POSTCARD SERIES
ABOVE
In this postcard series, the way to liberty and freedom is depicted through the analogy of growing a tree. Thinking that the United States history reflects well the different phases to freedom, critical events in history are used to be compared with the growth cycle of a tree: sowing, pruning and bearing fruit.
BELOW
The backside of the Statue of Liberty, at a moment of light/shadow coexistence (from left to right) Sowing, pruning and bearing fruit concept
ALIZED
GRAM NTS
OBJECT MODEL Wherever one places him/herself in the space, he/she would feel both the sense of freedom and sense of restriction. When standing on the concaved part, the person would feel freedom because of the openness, yet would have the restricted view point; when standing under the convexed form, he/she would feel a sense of freedom due to the color of the structure and freer access and viewpoints, yet would feel oppressed because of the low ceiling. BUTTONS
TOP BODY
WHEEL WIRE
CIRCUIT BOARD
LOWER BODY
OBJECT COMPONENTS DIAGRAM NTS
SITE PLAN
1 9
2
4 5 3
8
10
7 20
6 18 19
11
17 16
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
FERRY DOCK ENTRANCE TO LANDSCAPE TWO WORLDS MUSEUM SLOPED SEATING AREA TREE SPILLAGE WATER SPILLAGE RAMP TO STATUE TREE CORRIDOR / GATHERING SPACE PERFORMANCE AREA SEATING STEPS TO WATER / OUTDOOR CAFE SLOPED LAWN TERRACE / LANDING TO THE STATUE AMPHITHEATER-LIKE SEATING TO STATUE NEW ENTRANCE TO THE INSIDE OF STATUE SERIES OF DESCENDING TERRACES SHALLOW STREAM STEPPING SLABS COLLECTION POOL FOREST PLAZA AMPHITHEATER
14
12
15
13
FIELD FOREST
EMBRACE
RESPECT
CONCEPT STRATEGIES
CIRCULATION CIRCULATION
VIEWS VIEWS
N 0
50
100
150
My responsibility was to design the overall landscape of the island, including the entrance and outdoor area of the building. Here in Liberty Island, two opposing worlds exist side by side, emphasizing each other. As soon as visitor steps out of the boat, their experience of being in between the two opposites begins through natural elements such as water vs. open landscape, rigid vs. irregular format of walkways, and elevation changes. The idea thatfreedom is followed by its opposite side is displayed throughout the whole island.
DESIGN STRATEGIES pull/press
A
spill/collect
yield/control SLOPED EVERGREEN HILL This side of the island is where the protruding foundation edges of the statue is softly merged into the gently sloped landscape. This open space with only few evegreen trees and hardscapes are where visitors can have a full view of the city of Manhattan.
reveal/hide
ABOVE (Forest Plaza) Visitors can see the more-iconic side of the Lady Liberty
A
BOTTOM LEFT (Entrance Area) A large water feature to the right restricts visitors to travel only in certain pathways; a series of open lawns on the left, on the other hand, give people more freedom to travel however they choose to. BOTTOM RIGHT (Spillage) The rectilinear elements that used to stay in a grid formation freely spills out onto the landscape, rotated in various angles, while the casual placement of trees changes to formal formation.
DISCOVERED SEASONALITY Plant palettes from six floristic kingdoms bloom at different times throughout the year, contrasting to the evergreen sloped lawn.
Neotropical Antarctic Australian South Africa Boreal Paleotropical
SECTION AA SCALE: 1�=100’
BLUE YONDER STEPS AS TERRACES FOR WATER CONVEYANCE AND PROGRAM FOR SOCIAL/ECOLOGICAL OPPORTUNITY
Project Location : West Long Beach, CA Team : Elise Ahn, Amanda Flores, Iliana Valenzuela Year Designed : March 2017
Long Beach Waterfront holds significance for the region’s economy and culture. As the second largest city in LA County, Long Beach Port, together with the adjacent Port of LA, is a major gateway for United State-Asia trade, generating about $100 billion in trade and more than 316,000 jobs. This valuable site, however, is exposed to 6’ sea level rise alone by the end of the century. When adding other water-related events such as floods, tsunami and high tides, more water level fluctuations are expected to threathen the city.
SALTWATER TOLERANT VEGETATION
HARDSCAPE / SOFTSCAPE CHANNEL HYBRID
FLOOD-TOLERANT VEGETATION
OBJECTIVES
+ Deflect pollutants from the port/ industrial area and the freeway
+ Accommodate for the rising water
+ + +
levels from sea level rise and stormwater flood events using various strategies Restore some of the native wetland habitats that once proliferated the city Incorporate habitat and plantings that correspond well with the native avian ecologies Ameliorate the fragmentation of the city by connecting the city hydraulically and ecologically
FLOATS DURING A FLOOD
FLOATABLE BUILDING
RESPONDING TO DIFFERENT WATER LEVELS
MULTI-PURPOSE LEVEE LEFT The typologies can be applied in different areas, including residential, industrial and by the LA River
TIERED CITY
PROTECTION THROUGH TERRACES
DISPERSION OF CANALS FOR CONTROLLING VOLUME OF WATER
LOS ANGELES RIVER
CANAL BUFFERS
Mitigation strategies such as multi-purpose levees and terraces actively obstruct incoming ocean water from entering residential areas, while incorporating commercial and public development behind the structures. Right by the LA River, strategies that diverse and reroute river water are applied to prevent inundation and encourage public engagement to the valuable water structure. These spaces provide an opportunity for diverting, filtering and reducing the speed of water. This will provide habitats for species, thus increasing the ecological value of these interstitial spaces. Even when inundated during flood seasons, the redesigned green zones are well sustained through the salt and water-tolerant vegetation on site. These adaptations poise the site for ecological/social interactions that increase the quality of life for the people and local ecology that would benefit from these interventions, and enliven this community as a whole.
Credit to Amanda Flores for Channel Hybrid typology and Iliana Valenzuela for Canal Buffers typology.
SITE ANALYSIS
bike routes
91
71
0
91
71
0
10 3 10 3
40
47 71
5
0
40
5
commercial use
60
60
40
5
5
5
22
transportation circulation
residencial use
public spaces LEFT COLUMN AND RIGH BOTTOM (from top left to bottom) The maps show the extent of the 10’ sea level rise on the commercial, residential, industrial and public uses.
industrial use
TOP TWO ON THE RIGHT COLUMN (from top to bottom) The maps show the impact of 10’ sea level rise on freeways, public transit and bike routes.
SITE SELECTION 6051 45.5%
population age dependency (%) under 18; over 65
939 19.2% 20 0%
2560 50.4% 4708 28.3% 1012 10.4%
2938 16%
5681 31.9% 6299 33.1%
6995 18.3%
4399 17.5% 3995 13.9%
4047 22.2%
6798
8129 33%
WEST LONG BEACH APPROX. 215 ACRES ADJACENCY TO LA RIVER, 710, AND PCH
SITE
5414 17.2% 5547 19.1%
1126 56.1%
3435 36.7%
1286 37.3% Total Population of Long Beach: 462, 257 Population Impacted: aprox. 92,400 Nearly 20% of population will be impacted by 10’ Sea Level Rise
3423 41.4%
3253 21.7%
1362 32.2%
2 MI.
0 below poverty level
1510 25% 719 76.6%
1002 39% 11 1019 55% 21.7% 663 22% 341 11.6% 123 12.2%
income below $12,060 / individual
2606 45.9%
1686 26.8%
505 11.5% 218 5.6%
100 YR. FLOOD
1207 17.3%
116 2.9%
469 7.3%
541 10% 189 2.3%
172 5.3%
443 8% 86 6.7%
252 7.4%
HIGH WAVE
29 2.5%
2100
93 2.7% 23 1.7%
Our team’s focus in this project is the west side of Long Beach, where low-income residences are densely populated right by the industrial zone. This site is one of the areas that are highly impacted by the sea level rise and other water-related catastrophes. We see this challenge as an opportunity to make the site more adaptable to such dangers and to enliven it to an area with multiple open spaces for the public.
N
LEFT The data reveals the percentage of population that will be impacted due to the sea level rise and their vulnerability due to age and poverty level. RIGHT TOP Key map of the chosen site RIGHT BOTTOM The map reveals different areas that will be inundated when 6’ sea level rise, extreme high wave event, and 100 year flood occur.
Credit to Amanda Flores for the key map.
STRATEGIC INTERVENTIONS STEPS AS TERRACES FOR WATER CONVEYANCE AND PROGRAM FOR SOCIAL/ECOLOGICAL OPPORTUNITY CASUAL PATHS LEAD TO MORE NATURAL SOCIAL/ECOLOGICAL INTERACTION
GRADUAL TERRACING
SALTWATER TOLERANT VEGETATION
PEDESTRIAN PATH
SALTWATER TOLERANT VEGETATION
HARDSCAPE / SOFTSCAPE CHANNEL HYBRID
HARDSCAPE/SOFTSCAPE CHANNEL HYBRID
STORMWATER PLANTER BENEFITS: Connects Long Beach hydraulically using stormwater planter connections to capture/ convey freshwater. Potential use with current catch basins and along with gravity mains.
FF
RU
FR
OM
RE ST
ET
CO
NO
RU
OVERALL GOAL: Ameliorate saltwater inundation from sea level rise.
BRACKISH TERRACED WATER RETENTION:
NO
FF
FR F
OM
ST
ET
NV
CO
ED EY
NV
EY
LE D IN WAR TO
ED
WAR TO
TS
D CU
RB
CU
TS
WAR TO
D CE
NTR
AL
RE
TE
ION NT
AR
SOFTSCAPE
SALTWATER TOLERANT VEGETATION
SALTWATER TOLERANT VEGETATION
ECOLOGICAL BREAKWATER TERRACES
BRACKISH TERRACED WATER RETENTION:
ECOLOGICAL BREAKWATER TERRACES
SOFTSCAPE
BRACKISH TERRACED WATER RETENTION:
HARDSCAPE / SOFTSCAPE HYBRID
EA
RE
CENTRAL RETENTION AREA (IF SPACE PERMITS) BENEFITS: Provides additional area for stormwater capture, especially during flood events. Enhances experience from the car.
STREET STORMWATER CONVEYANCE
STREETWAY INTERFACE BENEFITS: Brings people closer to the water conveyance process through the city. Cools down the temperature of the sidewalk area and enhances the pedestrian experience.
FLOATING BUILDING
MULTI - PURPOSE LEVEE
TIERED CITY
RECONFIGURING RIVER’S EDGE
DIVERSION OF WATER TO SUBVEGETATED ZONES
DISPERSION CANAL BUFFERS
RESPONDING TO RISING WATER LEVELS
REROUTING WATER: BIOSWALE // FILTRATION
FUNCTIONAL RIVER EMBANKMENT
PROTECTION WITH TERRACING
LEGEND OPEN SPACE LOT RESIDENTIAL INDUSTRIAL (STREET EDGE) INDUSTRIAL INTERSTITIAL FREEWAY LA RIVER ADJACENCY
6’ 5’
6’ 6’
4’
ABOVE Typologies that can be applied to various zones of the neighborhood BELOW Schematic master plan with 6’ sea level
6’ 5’ 5’
4’
5’
5’
BRACKISH TERRACED WATER RETENTION:
HARDSCAPE/SOFTSCAPE HYBRID
HARDSCAPE / SOFTSCAPE CHANNEL HYBRID
ABOVE
The hardscape/softscape channel hybrid strategy is applied on the residential areas that are expected to be inundated by 2100. Because it is channelized, the residential area is no longer under water. In case of extreme flood events and high tides, the water will naturally flow into the channel, hiding and revealing different aspects of the design.
FLOATING BUILDING
RESPONDING TO RISING WATER LEVELS
With the lower water level rise, only the channel is occupied by water, providing public open space right nearby houses. The neighborhood is still equipped for extreme floods with floatable residences. With different water levels and events, the residents are able to observe and learn how the rising sea level impact the environment and their everyday lives.
Credit to Amanda Flores and Iliana Valenzuela for the schematic master plan and some typologies.
IN/EX-HALE Project Location: Santa Monica, CA Team: Elise Ahn, Fernanda Suarez, Iliana Valenzuela Year Designed: March 2016
After being entertained by lively music, rides, and variety of snacks from food vendors, you walk toward the end of the pier to be closer to the ocean. Passing through the merry crowd, you encounter an infrastructure gracefully undulating in front of you. Rising and falling gently, multiple elastic semi-transparent coverings constantly react to the movement of the tidal waves. It seems as if they are inhaling and exhaling. They seem to be breathing. Intrigued by its form and wondering what’s causing the coverings to move, you find a pathway that leads to the infrastructure and proceed. You continue on the wavy platform, where the warm sun rays envelop your body, the salty breeze gently touches your cheeks, and the splashing waves whisper into your ears. As you head toward the largest membrane of the infrastructure, you see an array of poles attached to the layer that mimics the never-tiring waves. Taking a closer look at the system that causes the movement, you see that the poles are attached to the massive energy-generating wave attenuators, leisurely floating on the ocean’s skin. The ocean has never stopped working. Similar to the human respiratory system, the ocean has been filtering out contaminants, dutifully providing resources, leisure,and inspiration. With graceful ups and downs of In/Ex-hale behind you, you realize that the ocean is breathing and alive, just like humans, and therefore should be respected and cherished.
ENTRANCE PERFORMANCE OPEN AQUARIUM
TDAL POWER WAVE LIMIT
WAVE ATTENUATORS
HABITAT
4.51 m 4.06 m 3.78 m 2.08 m
credit to Iliana Valenzuela for the rendering (above)
Hydraulic Ram Joints
to Genera
r
Motor
ight
PELAMIS WAVE ENERGY ATTENUATORS As the attenuator moves up and down with the waves, hydraulic rams drive an electrical generator
sunl
Motion sensored LED Light poles
lec iref
ant
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atin
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sp tran
rate
ubst
rode lecte layertsrode r e t o en v c spar acti ele lect ing tran uv/nirnsparent/nir reafr) coat tra uv ctive( e refl anti
ts aren
CLEAR PV PANELS
Power Cable
PROGRAM DIAGRAM
Stainless ste
PERFORATED CANOPY “Lungs” MATERIAL: ELASTIC SPACER FABRIC
MAIN PLATFORM “Bronchioles” MATERIAL:REDWOOD
HABITAT PLATFORM MATERIAL: CONCRETE
Clear solar PV panel
PELAMIS ATTENUATORS “Diaphragm” MATERIAL: CARBON STEEL
FOUNDATION “ Ribcage” MATERIAL: CONCRETE
eel
Scale: 1cm=5m
Filtrate Inlet
outlet
Repeat Capture
TSS (Taiyo See-through Solar) is a high performance glass which can generate infinite and clean electric power through photovoltaics. Power generation ranges between 46 to 57 W/m2.
Inflow
SEABIN WATER FILTRATION
Spacer fabric Carbon fiber
Carbon fiber rings
ABOVE A diagram of the canopy structure. RIGHT In/Ex-Hale fully activated with visitors
Credit to Iliana Valenzuela and Fernanda Suarez for attenuators diagrams (top left) and the seabin filtration diagram (top right)
CSLB JAPANESE GARDEN
PROGRAM DIAGRAM two -story roof
green wall
solar panels
conference / lecture room accessible roof garden stairs elevator
storage offices / reception area
restrooms
exhibition hall primary entrance
multi-function room
outer gate interactive courtyard
view deck zen garden
secondary access
roji / purity stream tea house
historic gallery
kitchenette amphitheater / showcase area
Project Location : Earl Burns Miller Japanese Garden on Cal State Long Beach campus, in Long Beach, CA. Team : Elise Ahn, Julia Baek, Hazel Casquino, Ted Pan Year Designed: December 2015
In this project, our team proposed solutions for the problems that the existing Japanese Garden was facing—unusual location of Zen Garden without proper shade and insufficient space for numerous events held at the garden. Rotating the present zen garden and making the Education Hall a
two-story building will allow visitors to enjoy and learn the culture from outside the U.S. in a greater extent. The project also increases educational aspects by providing sufficient spaces for educational and cultural programs that the garden is offering year round. The educational hall has a
multi-function room on each floor. Here this space is generally open to all visitors to view the Zen garden and the pond from the inside through the glass doors and walls, but also can be used as lecture room. The hall also is usually used as corridor, but it provides sufficient space for temporary exhibitions as well.
Transition Concepts
to Event Pavillion
gate
Multi-function Room
Restrm 1
accomodates upto 15; 30 with all glass doors open
View Deck
view to Zen Garden
Restrm 2
'Caperci Dwarf'
view to Pond sliding glass doors
6’ plaster wall
Materials entrances glass wall
2’ high deck 1’ high deck
view to Pond
y
ar
im
Pr
peek wall
hardwood flooring
Walnut
stairs
Zen Garden
back door
Brazilian Cherry Ipe Japanese Maple
'Dissectum Atropurpureum'
to roji
& y ar s nd ce co an se ntr e
'Coonara Pygmy'
Acer palmatums
Plant Materials
Growing Conditions : Part shade and moist, well-drained soil Size : 6-8’ tall ; +8’ wide
Sliding glass doors and folding classroom walls
CSLB ZEN GARDEN The renewed zen garden, with 6 feet walls around it to better fulfill its purpose of drawing the viewer into a state of contemplation. Whereas the Zen garden right now might not be the best place to sit down and contemplate because it is exposed to the sun with very minimal shade, the renewed zen garden provides an overhead canopy where people can sit down and contemplate as much as they desire.
SCALE: 1/8”=1’-0”
ABOVE The renovated zen garden details BELOW A view of the comtemplation area from the inside of the Education Hall
SOCIAL PRACTICE INTERNSHIP
/ CASA YONDE COMMUNITY GARDEN
TOP LEFT Taking a survey during a Korean KIWA member meeting BOTTOM LEFT Final survey result for KIWA members and tenants LEFT RIGHT Tenants presenting their design ideas during the design workshop
Social Practice Internship Project Location : Korea Town, Los Angeles, CA Team : Elise Ahn, Julia Baek Project Completed Date: September 2016
During the summer of 2016 we had the wonderful chance to work with the members of KIWA, Koreatown Immigrants Workers Alliance. First established in 1992, KIWA was formed by the push of racism, poverty, and inequality. Even today, the community -based, non-profit organization
exists to assist and address worker exploitation primarily amongst Koreans and Latinos. The location of our site was at the new KIWA headquarters situated below a 52-unit affordable housing which was one of KIWA’s first development project, called Casa Yonde. The focus of our project was to make the rear end of the
building more inviting. It remained vacant and unutilized almost throughout the whole day, due to the lack of awareness of the space. The first step was to research the type of programs suitable for a small and narrow space, such as cafĂŠ, edible garden, gathering space, sitting area, etc. With these options,
COMMUNITY GARDEN
Casa Yonde
CASA YONDE EDIBLE GARDEN DESIGN PROPOSAL
VERTICAL GARDEN 2X2’ PLANTER
low impact portable rearrangeable 1-1/2’ high planter
1’ high planter
existing plants
vertical wall (plastic bottle)
Design by Elise Ahn & Julia Baek
several surveys were done with KIWA members, including the KIWA staff. The chosen idea was the edible garden, and as a result, our team set up a workshop open to all members and tenants. On the day of the Design Workshop, the participants came up with their own edible garden designs.
ABOVE Design proposal for the community garden BOTTOM RIGHT Design Workshop poster
After days of planning and construction, a final construction workshop was set and ready to go. Members, staffs, and tenants came to volunteer. A majority of the participants were females, and they were excited to help construct and paint planters and vertical gardens. After all the hard work and sweat, we learned, struggled, and bonded stronger. On our final day, participants—including children—installed the soil and plants, completing the project. Our team’s hope is that the community garden project will encourage members and tenants to interact with each other and catalyze self-organization of future community activities such as cooking class and other planting activities.
TOP LEFT KIWA members and tenants on Planting Day BOTTOM LEFT Participants having fun constructing planters RIGHT Final look of Casa Yonde Community Garden, with a series of vertical gardens and planters with edible plants
HAND GRAPHICS
ABOVE
Two-Point Perspective Rendering a garden with a pool (color pencils & markers) BELOW
Countryside in Korea (marker and pen)
ABOVE
Isometric Hand Drawing (pen) BELOW
One-Point Perspective Rendering a garden with a pool (color pencils & markers)
thank you