ISABEL POTWOROWSKI ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO 2012
NAME Isabel Potworowski ADDRESS 33 Lancaster cres. St.Albert, AB, Canada T8N 2N9 EMAIL isabel.potworowski@gmail.com PHONE (780) 907-5789 WEBSITE isabelpotworowski.com EMPLOYMENT 10/2011 - 07/2012 Internship at Manasc Isaac Architects summer 2009 Worked as a research assistant at the McGill Facility for Architectural Research in Media and Mediation (FARMM) In a team with graduate students, explored the relationship between digital tools and the built environment: research centered around creating Moire patterns from the interaction of the physical resolution of a CNC milled table surface and the digital resolution of a HD camera for videoconferencing. Preliminary research for the creation of the FARMM website, including user vs. member interactivity, and the design of systems for the visualization of website activity using Adobe Flash and Actionscript
summer 2008 Worked as an intern for ONPA Architects in Edmonton Research for the economic feasibility and precedents of the redevelopment of the Edmonton city centre airport. Worked in a team with other interns to complete the physical model of an elementary school.
EDUCATION 2007-2011 B.Sc. in Architecture, McGill University 03/2010 - 07/2010 Exchange semester at Politecnico di Milano SKILLS Adobe Photoshop | Adobe Illustrator | Adobe InDesign | Rhinoceros | V-Ray Autodesk 3Ds Max | AutoCAD | ArchiCAD | Google Sketchup LANGUAGES English | French | Italian | Polish AWARDS 2010 Wilfred Onions Prize for excellence in the McGill summer Sketching School Gluskin-Sheff Travel Scholarship 2009 Summer Undergraduate Research in Engineering Scholarship 2008 Favretto Scholarship in Architecture Louis Robertson Book Prize for the highest grade in architectural history 2007 Dean’s Honour List for ranking in top 10% of university 2006 Rutherford schorlarship for academic excellence EXTRA-CURRICULAR 03/2010 - 07/2010 Taught elementary English in Milan 2009-2010 Attended figure-drawing classes at Galerie Synesthesie in Montreal 2000-2009 Flute lessons once a week, grade 10 RCM level 01/2007 - 04/2007 Member of the McGill Wind Symphony 2004 - 2006 Member of the Edmonton Youth Orchestra
BETWEEN THE LINES The transportation hub of the Rosemont metro station and bus terminal in Montreal is re-configured in such a way that the metro and bus lines run parallel to each other, activating the public square between them. The design unifies purely functional spaces for transportation with the new public square, creating a seamless connection with the surrounding urban fabric.
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Transportation hub Location | Montreal Class | U3 Design Studio Term | Winter 2011 Instructor | Matthew Fisher Program |
Between the Lines
step 1:
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original site
step 2:
re-configure bus terminal
step 3:
step 4:
shift metro pavilion
lower square
CONTEXT
step 5:
connect with stair canopy
CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT
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The city of Montreal plans to develop unused industrial areas into 4-8 story residential buildings and green spaces, placing a high importance on Rosemont metro and bus station as a focal point of the community.
86% of the current site area is parking and bus circulation. A road separates it from the adjacent new library.
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The bus terminal is re-configured to run parallel to the metro line. This shift connects the site to the adjacent library, minimizes bus circulation area and provides space for the creation of a public square between the transportation lines.
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The metro pavilion is placed over the metro line to allow natural light to enter the metro platform area, and maximize the area of the public square.
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The square is lowered, conecting the metro directly with the bus terminal and integrating it with the public space.
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The metro and bus canopies are connected with seating, forming a roof over the lowered spaces. This low roof douboles as a public square and event space.
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Between the Lines
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SITE PLAN 1:1600
6623 m2 parking covered bus stop bus circulation metro access
NEW PROGRAM
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OLD PROGRAM
9873 m2 1. exterior public space 2. interior public space 3. covered bus stop 4. bus circulation 5. metro access 6. gallery 7. bookstore 8. gallery cafe 9. green space
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7 FLOOR PLAN 1:800
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Between the Lines
wood seating panels with supporting steel members
grid of extruded aluminum mullions to support upper layer of glass and steel panels
extruded aluminum frame
10mm box-section steel beams
braced system of 1500mm-deep lattice beams
10mm box-section steel beams
extruded aluminum frame
grid of extruded aluminum mullions to support lower layer of glass panels
1500mm-deep welded lattice girders spaced 12m O.C. The canopy is designed as a double-layer glass panel system with 1.5m interstitial space, minimizing cold bridging of the steel structure and thus helping to insulate the building. The glass panels are of high reflectivity, addting an additional spatial dimension to the spaces underneath.
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Between the Lines
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SOLITAIRE
The design for the NDG public library in Montreal explores architecture’s capacity to create a raw, elemental, rock-like object rising from among the surrounding buildings and standing apart from them. The building is a dominating, single angular mass with a skin of perforated weathering steel panels; it is a solitary stone in Montreal’s urban fabric.
The design for the NDG public library in Montreal explores architecture’s capacity to create a raw, elemental, rock-like object rising from among the surrounding buildings and standing apart from them. The building is a dominating, single angular mass with a skin of perforated weathering steel panels; it is a solitary stone in Montreal’s urban fabric.
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Library Location | Montreal Class | U3 Design Studio Term | Fall 2010 Instructor | Martin Bressani Program |
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Solitaire
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OFF THE WALL wonderful text abotu my wonderful project.
Duplex rowhouse Location | Montreal Class | U3 Design Studio Term | Fall 2010 Instructor | Howard Davies Program |
SECOND FLOOR 1:200
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Services and storage in the traditional Montreal rowhouse
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Arrange these services along the wall
FIRST FLOOR 1:200
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Reconfigure these services to create a working wall
GROUND FLOOR 1:200
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Extend the working wall, providing a spine along which to distribute interior volumes, creating a private courtyard
ISOMETRIC 1:200
1m
1m-DEEP SECTION 1:100
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MONTREAL WALKABOUT This model is an expression of the spatial qualities of Montreal’s streets, focusing on the contraction and dilation of visual space. It is based on the changes in the visual field when one emerges from a street lined with skyscrapers into a lively intersection: suddenly everything opens up, and one’s head turns in all directions. To map these changes, a photo was taken every 20 steps. These photos were then analyzed to find key points of interest - places that attract the eyes - usually possible paths to take, or roof terraces. Black strings were then connected through these points to physically show the changes of the visual field, with the addition of a red string to indicate the actual path taken.
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Spatial model Location | Montreal Class | Architectural Intentions Vitruvius - Renaissance Term | Fall 2010 Instructor | Alberto Perez-Gomez Program |
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RAINFIELD The desert is aridity. To sustain a rest area, a net is cast from the road to accumulate water, channeling it to culminate in a central potable water source: an oasis, a meeting place, the prerequisite for life in the desert. The rest area is located on Interstate Highway 80 between Wendover and Salt Lake City, in the Bonneville Salt Flats. The Great Basin Desert is the result of a rain shadow: its two bordering mountain ranges block the passage of precipitation, casting a `shadow`of dryness between them.
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Highway rest area Location | Interstate 80 Class | U3 Design Studio Term | Winter 2011 Instructor | Matthew Fisher Program |
4.5 cm
10.48 CM/YEAR 138m
3.2 cm 2.0 cm
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1.0 cm
95m A rainwater collection net of the required area (26 220 m2) is cast from either side of the highway rest stop. The 6m x 6m grid gives a human scale to the infinite desert.
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What size of rainwater collecting area is needed to sustain the rest stop?
+ 3 800 L/day restaurant water use
+ 2 630 L/day 60 daily showers
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5 965 L/day
32 L/day 375 daily faucet use
= 2 177 m3/year x 1/0.1048 m/year + 15% uncertainty =
26 220 m
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The grid pattern is extruded into the desert to varying depths. The resulting wave-like topography provides depressions for the accumulation of water.
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The accumulated rainwater is channeled to the centre where it is filtered. This central potable water source serves the cafeteria and baths of the rest area.
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Each water collector becomes the focal point of a small cluster of dwelling units.
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Rainfield
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The unit clusters are designed in such a way that the lower levels are oriented towards the central water collector, while the upper levels face the desert, with a retractable wood screen protecting them from sunlight and giving them privacy from the highway and other units. The units themselves, like the surrounding blocks, are constructed of rammed earth from the excavation process.
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Rainfield
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LEVEL 1: OBSERVATION DECK
GROUND LEVEL/CAFE
LEVEL -1: LOWER LEVEL PASSAGE
LEVEL -2: BATHS EARTH BRICK SCREEN WOOD COLUMNS WOOD SILL WOOD FLOOR ON 4” X 12” BEAMS RAINWATER COLLECTION
RAINWATER PURIFICATION
REINFORCED CONCRETE RETAINING WALL
SLATE PARTITION POTABLE WATER TANK
RAIN WATER TANK CARBON + UV FILTRATION
COMPOSTING TOILET REED BED FOR GREYWATER FILTRATION POLYETHYLENE CONTAINER SEPTIC TANK
REED BED FILTRATION FILTERED GREYWATER TANK
20CM PVC PIPE TO GREYWATER STORAGE SECTION BB 1:50
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BOOK CHAIR U1 Design Studio Fall 2007 Instructor | Dana Margalith Class |
Term |
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MEETING POINT The competition “Life Saving - First Step Against Disaster� organized by Architecture Workshop in Rome asked for the design of a life-saving element that can be used during a tsunami for any city that has been or will be hit by a tsunami. Meeting Point proposes a series of potable water sources that act as meeting points throughout the city. During a tsunami, these elements become illuminated pathfinders leading to safety.
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Urban element Location | Lima, Peru Program |
Independent project Submitted February 4, 2012
GLOBAL TSUNAMI STRATEGIES:
The project began with an intensive, thorough research of existing strategies that are being used internationally to mitigate the effects of tsunamis on human lives. These ‘global’ strategies were then categorized according to which phase of disaster mitigation is addressed; in broad terms: before the tsunami, during the tsunami and after the tsunami.
BEFORE
DURING
AFTER
EDUCATION
WARNING SYSTEMS
DEFENSE STRUCTURE
VERTICAL HORIZONTAL EVACUATION EVACUATION
DISTRIBUTION OF WARNING MESSAGE
EVACUATION
EMERGENCY RELIEF
HUMANITARIAN CLEANUP
PHYSICAL REPAIR
Schools
National TV/radio
Coastal dike
Artificial hill
Designated evacuation routes
Buoys register change in water pressure
Pre-determined evacuation routes
Emergency medical
Food
Debris removal
Restoration of power
Brochures
Sirens
Coastal vegetation (mangroves)
3+ story concrete building
Designated evacuation shelters - schools - universities - sports complex
Vertical evacuation (if higher ground can’t be reached)
Search + Rescue
Potable water
Water drainage
Environmental remediation
Tourist info
Regular drills
Tone alert radio
Sea wall
NATIONAL WARNING CENTRE
Free-standing platform
Medical
Building reconstruction
Funding
Repair of transportation infrastructure
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Tsunami evacuation shelters
SMS/social media LOCAL GOVERNMENT 27/7 DECISION-MAKING BODY
www. Tsunami watch website
Sensor buoys
Signage PUBLIC
MESSAGE: initial nation-wide warning: tsunami potential
PUBLIC
MESSAGE: confirmation or cancellation, guidance for tsunami reaction
PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS jails hospitals schools nursing homes shopping malls
EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS firefighters police military Red Cross
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Meeting Point
Lima is located along the Pacific coast, in full exposure of the Pacific Ring of Fire: the most actively seismic area. Central Lima is at a high altitude and is therefore not threatened by tsunamis. However, the low-lying area of Chorrillos (in the southern area of Lima) faces a severe risk of inundation, as shown in the red area on the map. The project proposes to place a series of colour-coded meeting places that would act as pathfinders. Following these signs will lead to evacuation shelters lying beyond the danger zone. The Meeting Points help to save lives during a tsunami, but also serve their context: in an area where few houses have essential services such as running water, they serve as sources of potable water, becoming central to the community.
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The prominence of the meeting points educates the public to the danger of tsunamis.
BEFORE
Regular drills ensure tsunami preparedness.
The markers help to familiarize the public with evacuation routes and locations of evacuation shelters.
Antenna to receive signals from national warning centre Sirens/loudspeakers
Designated evacuation shelters are stocked with medical and food supplies.
DURING
Each meeting point is equipped with a signal-activated siren that warns the public of the coming tsunami. The pre-determined evacuation paths will minimize confusion during evacuation.
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Solar-powered light
Locally sourced bamboo for load-bearing structure
6m
Pre-stocked evacuation shelters will ensure that evacuees’ basic needs are provided for. The meeting points’ solar-powered lights will help the search and rescue process.
AFTER
Container holding balloon that releases upon tsunami signal
Potable water source (to be refilled by city sources as needed) 3m
During infrastructure reconstruction, the meeting points will continue to provide potable water.
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LIFE DRAWING
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