Farah E. | Design Portfolio

TIME LINE

KING HIGH LINE

High-rise condominium new-build | TACT Design | 1100 King St. West, Toronto, ON

Located at 1100 King Street West, King High Line is a mixed use development in the burgeoning Liberty Village neighborhood. It integrates 506 residential units, encompassing retail and shared workspace in one development. The continuous design element at the elevators acts as a force, pulling people inward and toward the reception desk. Wood provides warmth against contrasting modern materials, highlighting the reception, mail room and lounge areas.

residential lobby view (looking south)

residential lobby view (looking south)

FARAH ELSADEK | KING HIGH LINE

lobby cove lighting detail

lobby finishes board

amenity and corridors finishes board

amenity and corridors finishes board

reception area plan

lobby (looking west) mail room

The wood panel feature wall has 3 depths (numbered 1-3), and 4 varying widths (labelled A-D). Despite appearing randomized, the panels follow a ‘1-2-3-2-1’ pattern. Each panel is cleated onto a metal stud wall, for structural support. A closet for the reception area is integrated into the panelling. LED fixtures light the edges of the panels, highlighting the play in depths.

wood feature wall: section details

wood feature wall: plan details

LAKE ST. PETER RESIDENCE

Custom Residence | TACT Design | Lake St. Peter, ON

The Lake St. Peter Residence is designed as a four-season cottage connected to an existing log cabin built by its owners. The Scandinavian- inspired design contrasts the traditional charm of the existing cabin. Simple proportions were used to create a modern form. Large windows maximize views to the lake and surrounding landscape.

interior view (facing east) section (facing east)

CENTRAL MEMORIAL PARK ANALYSIS

University of Calgary | PLAN626: Urban Design Theory, Professor Beverly Sandalak | Calgary, AB

Central Memorial Park is more than a beautifully designed landmark, it has formed a social, cultural, educational and memorial centre for Calgarians. An urban analysis was conducted, and visually presented through a set of diagrams.

WHAT IS NOT WORKING WELL

01- Lack of protective edges within park. Too much open space and not enough form

02- Feeling small, lack of human-scale

03- “See and be seen”

04- Lack of retail/ mixed use

05- Safety concerns

06- High-maintenance design (lawn, watering & pruning of plants and vegetation)

07- Exotic vegetation seems out of place

Known as Calgary’s retail and entertainment hub, 17th Avenue serves as a vibrant street for the downtown community. At the heart of 17th Avenue is Tomkins Park, which invites a mix of pedestrian activity, ultimately enhancing the experience and sense of place along the street. The spatial definition of the street, and relationship to human-scale is explored through this diagramming exercise.

The buildings and streets around Tompkins Park, and the park itself, are well-lit, creating a safe and inviting atmosphere after dark.

While a concentration of big-box retail stores near Tomkins Park entice high retail activity, the limited entrances into these large-scale developments can also stifle permeability along the street.

detail drawings (section, plan and elevations)

DIAGRAM: VEHICULAR VS. PEDESTRIAN FLOW

DIAGRAM: STREET LIGHTING

diagram: vehicular vs. pedestrian flow diagram: street lighting

DIAGRAM: BUILDING SIZE VS. LOT SIZE Park opens up the street to pedestrians, allowing ample sunlight to the streetscape. Many entrances can be noted on this stretch of inviting greater retail activity and heavy foot traffic.

Amid the Covid-19 Pandemic, areas of heavy foot traffic can be suggested by laneway reclamation along the street. Tomkins Park effectively acts as a refuge from traffic

Amid the Covid-19 Pandemic, areas of heavy foot traffic can be suggested by laneway reclamation along the street. Tomkins Park effectively acts as a refuge from traffic congestion along 17th Ave.

The buildings and streets around Tompkins Park, and the park itself, are well-lit, creating a safe and inviting atmosphere after dark.

The buildings and streets around Tomkins Park, and the park itself, are well-lit, creating a safe and inviting atmosphere after dark.

EAST VILLAGE PLAZA

University of Calgary | PLAN600: Site Planning Studio, Professor Tawab Hlimi | Calgary, AB

Surrounded by new residential mixed-use buildings, the East Village Plaza is designed as a public space which connects to the Riverwalk. An art gallery lays at the centre of this plaza, hidden from plain sight by the strategic placement of elm trees. The pavement pattern is designed to lead pedestrians through the main pathways, revealing the intimate subspace in front of the gallery.

SECTION ELEVATION (1:20 SCALE)

SECTION ELEVATION (1:10 SCALE)

SECTION ELEVATION (1:10 SCALE)

GRADIENT GARDEN

University of Calgary | PLAN606: Site Planning Studio, Professor Tawab Hlimi | Calgary, AB

Located on McHugh Bluff, the Gradient Garden creates opportunities to reflect on our role in the environment by framing juxtaposing elements of architecture and the restored landscape.

A height and density gradient of plants strategically hide the garden from the main street, creating an element of reveal. The planting scheme also serves to create greater habitat opportunities for native birds and pollinators.

DESIGN SITE DIAGRAMS (GEOMETRIC SYSTEM) DESIGN SITE DIAGRAMS (BUILDING PLACEMENT) planting density geometric system building placement

PHYSICAL MODEL | (SW VIEW)

BOWRIVERREFUGE

University of Calgary | LAND604: Landscape Architecture Studio, Professor Tawab Hlimi | Calgary, AB

Dominated by the extensive network of transportation systems, this section along the Bow River Pathway has been physically fragmented over time, pushing the pedestrian realm to a small sliver along the riverfront. The intimidating presence and close proximity to high-speed traffic, as shown in section A, altered the character of the site to match the function and quality of a thoroughfare.

HISTORICAL EVOLUTION: TRANSPORTATION + DISCONNECT

A-East End (10th St)

B-West End (14th St)

SITE ANALYSIS: HIGHWAY CHARACTER

18 FARAH ELSADEK | BOW RIVER REFUGE

Moments of pause are designed along the riverfront, utilizing fragments of green space as opportunities to reclaim the public realm, relating either to the natural or urban zones, with the 11th street connection acting as a transition between the two.

FORMALIZING THE EXISTING ACCESS TO THE RIVER

Lake Newell is an irrigation earthen dam, serving about 75,000 acres of rural properties downstream. Before 1914, Lake Newell was known as “Crooked Lake”- a natural water body, a fraction of its size today.

Based on the average lifespan of earthen dams, we can expect that Lake Newell will reach the end of its life by 2064.

This project envisions a restoration of the Lake by drawing down 20% of its current volume, and allocating zones for restoration and recreation.

Drain water to original volume of Crooked Lake

The draw down reveals islands underneath creating an interesting terrain for wildlife and people. Kinbrook Park becomes a place to educate the public on the restoration efforts taking place. A bike and pedestrian path connects Newell Resort to Kinbrook Park, and down to the hiking trails.

East Branch Canal Inlet Newell Resort

Kinbrook P.Park

l ll River

s Legend

Kinbrook P.Park

s C

23 FARAH ELSADEK | CROOKED LAKE 2.0

Drain water to necessary volume

Section

Water Recreation

Trail Views

In the final draw down, more islands are revealed, creating opportunities for intimate moments with marsh areas- one of which is a stilt pathway, connecting from Kinbrook Park to an island across.

Planting native riparian and grassland species throughout is critical to restore this Lake to its native

Lake Rushes + SedgesTufted Hairgrass Junegrass Cattail

SnowberryQuaking Aspen Silverberry Rough Fescue

Low Prairie Low Prairie MarshMarsh

Upland

Cattail, Rushes + Sedges Cattail, Rushes + Sedges Dogwood Willows

Open Water

MarshMarsh Open Water Marsh Open Water Wet Mesic Prairie

Waterweed Pondweed Coontail

Pathway

SSTSIKÓMM PARK

University of Calgary | Senior Landscape Architecture Studio, Professor Mary-Ellen Tyler and Jennifer Koppe | Calgary, AB

CENTRE ST.

NOSE CREEK PATHWAY

LEGEND LAND BRIDGE BERMS HEALING GARDEN WETLANDS STAGE + AMPHITHEATER SEATING CIRCLES COMMUNITY HUB (FOOD STORAGE/ KITCHEN, MAKER SPACE) GREENHOUSE SMALL OUTDOOR FLEXIBLE SPACE MEDIUM FLEXIBLE OPEN SPACE BBQ PITS TEACHING CIRCLE WETLAND DAYCARE SENIORS LIVING NATURAL PLAYGROUND GARDEN PLOTS REFLECTING POOL/ WINTER SKATING TRAIL MULTI-GENERATIONAL HOUSING (1, 2, AND 3 BED) TOWN HOMES (2 BED) PARKING FARMER’S MARKET RETAIL AND RESTAURANTS FLEXIBLE FESTIVAL SPACE SEATING AREAS ARTWORK FIRE PITS TREE PLANTING PLANTING BEDS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 FARAH ELSADEK | SSTSIKÓMM VALLEY PARK

The west end healing garden welcomes people into the park, featuring indigenous and native wetland and medicinal plants. A wooden pavillion surrounds the wetland, its geometry inspired by eagle feathers. Small and large gatherings are accomodated here with seating circles, firepits, stage and ampitheatre seating.

An indigenous art trail leads people down the valley pathway, connecting families to cultural and natural amenities which integrate indigenous ways of living and learning, featuring an outdoor classroom, play areas, and gathering spaces for food markets and retail.

daycare teaching circle

garden plots + reflecting pool or skate trail with storytelling totems

food hub with indigenous retail opportunities and food markets

teaching circle + children ’ s wetland

community hub

FLOCK TOGETHER

Flock Together is a group place-making project held at Harmony Park focusing on Calgary’s Plus15 network. Paper cranes and lanterns were used to celebrate the identity of Calgary’s China Town, highlighting the potential for embedding cultural identity within the Plus15 network, particularly at Plus15 park entrances.

A large-scale paper crane was used to draw and engage people from the street and Plus15 level into the park space. One wing focused on existing amenities to explore within a five-minute walk, inviting participants to add nearby cultural hot-spots to create a community asset map. The second wing invited the public to sketch their ideas for improvement network-wide. Interactive elements included an origami station for folding paper cranes and games using origami maps. All surveys, interactive online map and promotional material can be accessed through the QR code below.

University of Calgary | Urban Design Studio, Professors Fabian Neuhaus, Sven Kohlschmidt, Hal Eagletail | Calgary, AB