The above quotation is in reference to Mary McCarthy (1912-1989), writer, essayist, and critic. It is an embodiment of the impact of violence on individuals and even a community. This is especially true in the case of domestic violence as a stigma in society involving acts of control and power. As a result, everyone involved suffers, especially vulnerable women and children, due to the lack of resources in the construction of affordable housing and support.
This proposal aims to create an alternative-housing complex in an urban area. It will address these issues by bringing the survivors closer to social support and give them access to more opportunities in the city. This thesis project will focus on designing alternative housing to help women and children recovering from domestic violence.
The Scholes Hotel; also known as The Ocean House Hotel was located at the southeast corner of the junction of Roncesvalles Avenue, King Street West, Queen Street West, and overlooked the Queensway. In 1882, Thomas E. Scholes bought the triangular lot at Queen and Roncesvalles and announced his plan to erect a “first class summer hotel” in the spot. The Park Hotel officially opened in December 1884 and was popular enough to encourage Scholes to build an additional fifty rooms in 1885.
The Copula was removed between 1955 and 1959 in order to make way for a much larger Billboard on the roof. In 1989 the property and the building was recognized by the municipal government as a heritage site and is currently protected under the Ontario Heritage Act. However, once a focal point of the striving Parkdale community, it has now become a structure diminished by oversized billboards leaving a mishmash of residential and retail indistinguishable spaces.
As of 2015, 21% of the residents residing in Parkdale are single-parents. The additional units of transitional housing for women and children is ideal because they will have access to many government services offered within the community for those in need. Programs offered in Parkdale for women and children includes: Parkdale Community Centre, Sistering (drop-in center for women only) and Costi which is an employment counseling center.
The Daily Bread Food Bank, free computer programs offered at Parkdale public Library, Health/Medical Services at Parkdale Community Health Centre. Also legal asistance from Parkdale Community Legal Services and parent and child programs such as the Creating Together Parent-Child Drop-In and many more. These are all free and accessible by walking or public transportation is available from the proposed site.
Esteem needs need to “know”
Public Kitchen
Open Concept Kitchen
Outdoor Garden
Dining /Kitchen
Green House
Spirit Mind Body
Publice Cafe 1st & 2nd Floor
Beauty Salon
Classroom/Library
Conference Room
Commual Dining
Security
Lobby
Waiting Room
Clinic
Outreach
Excerise & Yogo Studio
Childcare
Bedrooms
Laundry
The concept is based on Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs which is a motivational theory in psychology comprising a five tier model of human needs. Human needs as described by Maslow are physiological, safety, belongingness and love, self-esteem, self-actualization and self-transcendence. The concept in combination with the Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs will help guide the programing and layout of the new urban housing development.
The restoration of the existing Sunnyside building will be programmed to be used by public and private occupancy. The new contemporary addition on the south side of the building will become a place for rehabilitation and education for occupants who will eventually transition back into society.
LOBBY Interior
The existing 37 Bulwer house seems like an old man in need of a new suit. The big tree in front of the façade provides shade that hides the house from the modern structures surrounding the site. Similar to the swanky new condominiums down the street with the CN tower in the background. Even the red brick exterior cladding seems outdated and weary. The street feels shady with graffiti lined fences and restaurants that use the road for garbage pickup. Across from 37 Bulwer, a very tall fence protects a neighbouring school building and its’ playground. During recess, it looks and feels very melancholy with the kids caged in the schoolyard. The new redesigns of 37 Bulwer will be the ultimate bachelors pad. The redesigns of this house will possibly bring about change and inspiration to the neighborhood again.
A very formal and modern approach will be used to update this structure giving it a more tailored aesthetic.
The Concept: This design will be similar to a business suit, the building will have a formal feeling on the outside. It will incorporate the tailored aesthetic by using different material layers together with modern sensibility in mind. The sun is also significant in the redesign process. The site entrance is north facing; therefore, the roof will be reconstructed to let natural sunlight into the core of the house from the southside. This will create a great environment for the tailor to work and live.
2nd Floor
1st Floor
Basement Roof
Exterior Door Detail
Glulam Beam Connection Glulam Connection
This project was intended to redesign the Sharp Centre for Design on the 5th floor of OCADU main campus at 100 MaCaul St. in Toronto, Ontario. The entrance of the spaces will be more inclusive to everyone; However, Specific design concerns such as accessibility, privacy and security for the faculty will be taken into consideration. Artist Paul Gauguin’s Post-Impressionist paint palette is used as inspiration to create a space that is intended to feel light, bright and airy. A space where faculty, students and visitors experience OCADU as a place of creativity, vibrancy and vitality.
OCADU is the University of imagination; it is constantly expanding and contributes significantly to the fields of art and design on a local, global and cultural scale by producing great artists and designers.
Perimeter lighting
The project was tasked with the process of using lighting techniques for a small retail space. The main lighting techniques are Ambient Lighting, Perimeter lighting and Accent/Display lighting. The ambient lighting is the overall lighting of the space. In this case, recessed down lighting works great for the general areas such as the main aisle. It also sets the overall sultry mood of the store. Next, grazing technique is used for perimeter lighting to highlight the architectural elements such as textured walls and displays. This will help to draw customers from the main aisle into merchandising space.
Finally, the Accent/Display lighting is used to emphasize the shape, texture, finish, and colour of merchandise relative to the surroundings. This technique is used to attract customers to focal areas such as display mannequins, the checkout area and the window display from the sidewalk. The overall image of the boutique is achieved by combining these different lighting techniques in the layout and placement of the luminaries in the space.
Habitat is a temporary single occupant dwelling. It is a research space used during the summer months to provide shelter for the occupant while they study local plants and animal species and the rich diversity of habitats and ecosystems of Don River Valley Park. The site is located under the Prince Edward Viaduct for convenience and accessible to emergency services. The Prince Edward Viaduct also known as the Bloor Viaduct is a beautiful truss arch bridge that
connects the east of Toronto to the heart of the City on the west. It is where thousands of commuters travelling westbound by train get their first glimpse of the city everyday. The concept is based on using local scrap metal from old trains to create a temporary structure. The interior of the structure is a prefabricated metal frame, while the exterior is made out of recycled metal from old rail-cars.
The project takes into consideration the traditional Vitruvius’s concept of Commodity, Firmness, and Delight, as instructed Professor by Stuart Reid.
The Jewel Hotel and Condo is a multi-story luxury real estate proposal along Toronto’s Queens Quay overlooking the waterfront. The pure scale of the project was to demonstrate that a group of designers can work together studying different scenarios for the use of spaces in a 20 story urban building complex. In this case using a standardized 9m x 9m column grid above ground. The task was to design spaces such as a retail aquatic centre, a hotel with 100 units, a condo with 50 units, parking for 160 cars and the landscape covering at least 50% of the footprint. The height of the floor is being assumed at 5m for the first floor, 4m for the second floor and 3.5m for all other floors. This includes an allowance of 1m for structure, plumbing,
electricity, venting, fire and soundproofing. Some major amenities for the hotel and condo include a lap and loungepool, along with a fitness center. Green building strategies such as a large light intake on the south façade and in floor water heating and green roof deck were taken into consideration. Accessibility is easily addressed by designing a barrier free access to all spaces. By working to together, the group designed a great complex that accommodated all the requirements while still keeping the design fun and interesting.
The lobbies rendering brings together Vitruvius’ three conceptual elements beautifully: Firmness, Commodity and Delight. Firmness is reinforced by the structural stability in every column and floor slab that keeps the building standing. Commodity plays with the spatial accommodation where the spaces flow into each other seamlessly. In this care,
the entrance leads into the lobby that overlooks the beautiful courtyard where the concierge is located. Delight is the attractive appearance of the different elements of light from artificial to natural lighting that opens up the space in the daytime and creates a more intimate and elegant setting in the nighttime.
The Client of this project requested a 7ft addition at the rear of the house along with a new wooden deck. as well as a skylight, new windows and bi-folding sliding glass doors to the entrance of the new deck. All of the work is done in compliance with the guidelines of the Ontario Building Code.
The floor plan, elevations, sectional and detail drawings are layouts in a set of working drawings for the building contractor to complete this project.
Imagine (Inspired by John Lennon)
Oil on Canvas
W 16” x H 20”
Green Tea
Clay Sculpture
Pamela Anderson
Bryan Adams Photography
Pencil on Paper
W 14” x H 18”
Paper Stool
Corrugated Cardboard
W 18” x H 20”
Folding Lamp
Wood and Japanese Paper
W 7” x H 16”
Letter Opener
Whittle Wood
H 14”
Adrian No.86 Canon REBEL ESO T3i
Meena No.91 Canon REBEL ESO T3i
Water Boy Canon REBEL ESO T3i
l’Unifolié Canon REBEL ESO T3i
Gary’s career goal is to become an Architect. Having a passion for art and design is his way of making a contribution to society. He is mostly interested in residential architectural design because it creates a more personal dialogue between the designer and client. The one on one relationship structure provides intimate and immediate feedback of how architecture can make a difference in the lives of others. Gary is intrigue by many forms of art; however, his passion lies in Architecture because it is the most accessible of all art forms. His future intentions within the field of Environmental Design is to design Architecture that enhances the human experience within its’ context. For example, He likes to
design spaces that create meaningful relationships between the occupant, the natural environment, and existing local conditions.
Architectural progression chart:
Gary has created a career map and timeline to document the process of becoming an Architect in Canada, more specifically, in Ontario. From his years of studying architectural design, he understands that it is not only a career, it is a lifestyle.
