Portfolio IT

PORTFOLI O ISABELLE THOMPSON A selection of my work from Victoria University of Wellington School of Architecture.

2013 - 2015

ISABELLE THOMPSON Christchurch, New Zealand

SKILLS

EDUCATION

Revit Adobe Photoshop Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign SketchUp ArchiCad Rhino 3DS Max Physical Modelling

2013 Victoria Excellence Scholarship

REFERENCES E - isabellethompson1@gmail.com P - 0277179139

Guy Marriage Senior Lecturer, VUW School of Architecture guy.marriage@vuw.ac.nz Wayne Brewster Design Lead, Network Delivery Alliance wayne.brewster@nda.net.nz

2013 - 2015 Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Victoria University of Wellington

CONTENTS

1. Crematorium 2. New Zealand School of Music 3. Elemental 4. Earthquake Museum 5. Notebook

RITUAL & GEOMETRY How does architecture partake in the ritual of dying, grieving & healing?

This project asked for an individual response to such a question, resulting in the design of my urban crematorium. I personally view life (& death) as a continuous cycle, composed of three stages relatable to humans of any & all religious & non-religious beliefs: life ~ death ~ after-death.

These stages correlate to the specified rituals at the most basic level. The design of the crematorium reflects each stage - a ceremonial space to celebrate life (life/death), a room housing the crematory (death/grieving), & an outdoor space for reflection (after-death/healing). Central Park in Wellington was chosen as the location for the crematorium,

as it is an urban location but it feels removed from the city at the same time. The serenity of the landscape encourages immersion in nature. The location informed the materiality of the building as I aimed to cause minimal visual disruption & for it to mould into its surroundings. Overall, the idea of the three spaces relating to the three stages & rituals & the continuous, cyclic nature of these was reflected in the use of the shifting triangles throughout the building. The sense of movement created reinforces that death is not an endpoint, but a stop along the way of the cycle of life.

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Floor plan & elevation development, final plan & on site Crematorium

North

East

Final section & elevations, crematorium model 1:50 Crematorium

Site model 1:100 Crematorium

NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL OF MUSIC One purpose-designed facility to accommodate the entire School of Music Currently, the New Zealand School of Music in Wellington is spread over two sites; Massey & Victoria Universities. This project asked for a single site solution on the corner of Ghuznee & Leeds Streets, right in the heart of the city. The program required a great diversity of spaces in terms of their sizes, relationships to other spaces as well as their technical requirements, from bathrooms & single offices to a 600 seat auditorium. The main structure was to use structural steel &/or timber only. My design was focused around the largest auditorium, which was to be the core & heart of the complex. A grand & formal space, it contrasted with the rest of the school

by being fully enclosed & constructed of timber. The smaller performance space was a green, outdoor space, framed with steel trusses & cross tension bracing. It opened directly onto the streets to encourage the many passers-by to stop & witness (& even participate in) the goings-on at any point in time. This area had a more informal feel that inspired impromptu performances & gatherings. The teaching rooms within the school had a similar atmosphere about them as their internal walls were removable, while small ‘stages’ dotted circulation routes again encouraging impromptu performance.

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Auditorium Academic Public Library

Auditorium support

Underground 10m

Roof

Cross-braced tension-only frames

Steel void trusses & timber auditorium trusses

Steel gravity only columns

Floors

TREET LEEDS S

Circulation, walls, furnishings

Exploded axonometric New Zealand School of Music

Informal teaching & performance spaces, the library, the outdoor performance space New Zealand School of Music

Ghuznee Street perspective New Zealand School of Music

ELEMENTAL An investigation of elemental sensation Spaces that individually channel the essence of earth, water, fire & air. My personal interpretation of each of these elements was developed through sketches & physical modelling. The end result comprises the four elemental spaces all accessed separately & externally, so that one may refresh their senses to ready themselves for the next experience.

The respective rooms essentially represented my first reaction to & thoughts of each of the words/phrases cellar: dim & underground, bathing space: undressing ritual & submersion, hearth:flickering source of heat, & open to sky: great vertical space, representative or literal.

CELLAR

BATHING SPACE

HEARTH

OPEN TO SKY

Light filters down around columns to reflect off pools at column base

Light screen placement so bath is dimly lit, contrasting ceiling & bath floor angles emphasise depth & submersion

Floor to ceiling screens, glass shapes to deflect light

‘Starry’ interior surroundings day & night

CELLAR

BATHING SPACE

HEARTH

OPEN TO SKY

Conceptual individual & developed compositional models Elemental

Light influencing elemental experiences

AIR

EARTH

WATER

FIRE

Final models & composition Elemental

EARTHQUAKE MUSEUM Exhibition areas, a memorial to the victims & spaces for educational purpose A complex on Wellington’s waterfront housing a permanent exhibition about earthquakes in New Zealand, a memorial to the victims & an education space to promote preparedness for major disasters. Concrete was to be the main structural system & main formal language. Vectors of movement & vectors of pause across the current site informed the massing for the future project. Abrupt shifts, representing sudden changes in

movement much like an earthquake, were executed through the use of light fins & dramatic changes in height and width of buildings. A narrow stream of water connected the separate buildings on the site, creating a journey for visitors passing through to follow. The stream pooled at the memorial space, a calming, green area overlooking the harbour - an ideal spot for reflection.

UP

UP

N

MEMORIAL/REFLECTION AREA

OUTDOOR EXHIBITION

EXHIBITION SPACE

CLASSROOM KITCHEN RESTAURANT/ FUNCTION SPACE

RESTAURANT MEMORIAL WALKWAY LECTURE THEATRE

DN

UP

OFFICES

DN

UP

SHOP

UP

ENTRY HALL

UP

N Site plan 0

20m

0

10m

0

10m

A

B

Section A

UP

UP

Section B

0

10m

Final floor plans & sections Earthquake Museum

Interior & exterior renders throughout the complex Earthquake Museum

Looking SW at museum complex Earthquake Museum

NOTEBOOK

NOTEBOOK