JESSICA BROOKS
jebrooks.architecture@gmail.com phone: 613 406 2672 PERSONAL PROFILE I, Jessica Brooks, am a diligent and hardworking individual. My philosophy is that opportunity is not a right owed to us by any government, person or institution. By grace some are fortunate. By chance or test some are not. Anyone who understands and is willing to work towards fulfilling his or her purpose, understands opportunities must be created. With excellence and integrity as my motto, I will continue to take initiative towards enhancing my environment and fields of study.
EDUCATION 2010-2015
Undergraduate at Carleton’s Azrieli School of Architecture Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Design
2008-2009
Pre-technology Diploma at Mohawk College
2009-2013
Life Skills Coach at Hill Program’s brain injury institution My practice at this institution enabled me to construct and implement, with my team, various rehabilitation programs for highly behavioral patients who struggle to cope with the limitations of their brain injuries. This often included:
EXPERIENCE
Practical application of set goals by means of one on one interaction with clients in their group home and in the broader community. Encouraging activities and mitigating tempered behavior by creating a structure for model behavior and simplifying tasks into simple steps. Documenting progress of each client through daily reports
ART & SOCIAL ENTERPRISE Summer & Fall 2013
Event Organizer
What began as an initiative to exercise and promote a variety of skill and talent quickly grew into a collaboration between Ottawa’s amateur and professional artist, including musicians, architects and illustrators. My engagement often included: Collaborative planning of event themes, designing strategies for implementation with almost no budget, and stage design. Writing promotional, follow up and thank you letters. Allocating responsibilities and following up with participants.
DESIGN SKILLS Architectural, Urban & Landscape Design have become inseparable in my design process as I strive to create innovative architecture that improves conditions of living and create industry for communities. Graphic Design is often used in project panels, magazine design, and posters to promote various events. I have also been trained in classical oil painting at Paul Richard James’ Atelier (2012). Product Design has often required the integration of multiple software to create the desired product. I have a working knowledge of 2D and 3D printing, laser cutting and am skilled in the art of handcraft.
TECHNICAL SKILLS 2013 to date
I have been responsible for using existing data to accurately model existing buildings and their building systems using Revit Software. One example includes Carleton University’s Visualization and Simulation Lab. Other software skills include proficiency in CAD, Rhino, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, In Design, and Final Cut Pro.
RESEARCH & COMMUNICATIONS 2012 to date
Currently working on a novel which delves into the phenomena of light. It begins with the exploration of light as a medium through which paintings, landscape and buildings alike are rendered. It then begins to take form through the periscope of language. The evolution of language is explored. A connection is made to graphic, acoustic, social and political systems, illuminating the world we live in. Compiling a book of my poetic pieces called “My Rhythm is my Escapism.”
PHOTOGRAPHY & MULTIMEDIA 2010 to date
Trained in digital and manual film photography where I developed skills such as: Stage setting & lighting Color and spatial composition Developing film and enlarging on light-sensitive paper Light painting and abstraction on light-sensitive paper Digital manipulation through software such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Final Cut Pro
References available upon request
CONTENT 1
BYWARD FOR THE ARTS: GRID AND SPATIAL POTENTIAL
2
JUST ADD URBAN: READING GARDEN
3
HOUSE NEAR ADNET: PROJECT STUDY
4
BUILDING INFORMATION MODELLING
5
BRIDGING BOUNDARIES IN PODONG CHINA
6
THORNCROWN CHAPEL: ANALYSIS & RECONSTRUCTION
7
DESIGN BUILD: FRACTALS & SACRED GEOMETRY
8
EVENTS AND INSTALLATIONS
9
DRAWINGS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
Jessica Brooks Portfolio Portfolio
BYWARD FOR THE ARTS: THE GRID AND SPATIAL POTENTIAL
Comprehensive Building
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Jessica Brooks Portfolio
figure 14
Byward Art Institute is design for a site sandwiched between the Rideau Canal and the busy downtown core. Located along a green cycling path, my primary intuition is to preserve the green space by minimizing the footprint of the building. This was accomplished by bridging over the canal.The grid system allows an elegant semicircular bridge. (see fig. 14) Along the interior circumference one walks along a “Byward for the Arts.� This is a lively space in which events are often held in celebration of local art and performances. Figure 15 shows this gallery opening to the outer circumference where visitors get a view of the Parliament Hill; a backdrop to the canal. The remainder of the program on the outer circumference is divided into class room each dedicated to teaching its own art. (see fig. 16) The main lobby, offices, cafeteria (see fig. 17) and study lounges are located in the anchoring blocks that are grounded on the Ottawa side of the canal.
This project questions the notion of the grid. Conventionally the grid of the building is extruded from a ground plan or section. These vertical and horizontal gridlines essentially form a three dimensional grid. This is not too far from what I am proposing. My research focuses on a different way of forming a three dimensional grid. My approach to the three dimensional grid begins with sacred geometry. There are five important geometries that are considered platonic. Each of which has equal side and equal angles. Each is an expression of the triangle, the square and the pentagon. For the current project I have chosen to explore the grid extruded from the icosahedrons. I find it suitable because it has triangular faces, a feature which allows allow me to extrude what is essentially a truss system. This truss system allows me distribute greater loads and span greater distances than the conventional grid.
Le Corbusier previously explored this geometry, finding that if three rectangular faces were arranged perpendicular to each other at the center and if lines were to connect at each of the points, these icosahedrons would be form. This method of construction was used in the development of my project as it provided the most elegant way of creating floors and walls, and allowing for circulation.
BYWARD FOR THE ARTS: THE GRID AND SPATIAL POTENTIAL
figure 16
figure 17 figure 15
Comprehensive Building
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Jessica Brooks Portfolio
JUST ADD URBAN: READING GARDEN
Urban Design
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Jessica Brooks Portfolio
North Facade
South Facade
JUST ADD URBAN: READING GARDEN
Byward Reading Garden is designed for the site located at Sussex and York in Ottawa’s Byward Market. The objective was to identify and intervene in an urban space that does not function well. It is in an important business district that sits within the fabric of the downtown core, with no particular transition. There is also no space that accommodates for persons to engage unless entering a specific store. My strategy was to appropriate the qualities of a natural garden using
Urban Design (Rhino & Photoshop)
industrial materials. Visual emphasis was placed on quarter-circles that can be seen at the scale of the furniture and well as the arrayed canopy that mimics sunlight through foliage during the day. It comes to life as it radiates colorful lights at nighttime. The reading garden is a place of refuge for pedestrians to rest or take shelter. Texture is also taken into consideration. One walks off the hard concrete onto polysoft flooring. This is intended for the pedestrian to slow his/her pace and enjoy the environment.
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Jessica Brooks Portfolio
HOUSE NEAR ADNET: PROJECT STUDY
As one navigates through the rolling landscapes to the coordinates, 47°40’48”n/13°8’12”e, one approaches what can only be described as an island. One drives directly into the house. Like the sea, this landscape creates the atmosphere for the architecture, but its magnificence can be better appreciated from within.This building is incredibly self sufficient. The essence of the surroundings is drawn in through the glass walls that divide the two concrete monolithic slabs, the floor and ceiling.The forested backdrop has been captured and compressed into rectangular panels. These frame the walls of the storage and bathrooms. They are proportioned at a scale where they appear more as monolithic columns than small rooms. The architects Maria Flockner and Herman Scholl have played the
Analysis and Critical Thinking (hand-rendering)
role of magicians. They have set the stage for a brilliant play of architecture and its environment.Architecture performs intelligent function and in effect a whimsical experience is provided.The triple glazed exterior walls not only retain heat, but create a wistful effect as reflections are distorted. The black exterior curtains not only absorb solar heat and provide privacy, but they also create an ever changing surrounding as they are blown about in the wind. The concrete floor is heated by brine and water heating.The brine retains the heat. Hidden from view, a green roof acts as a roof membrane that shields UV radiation and significantly reduces heating cost.
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Jessica Brooks Portfolio
figure 3
Technology 111 is a course designed to challenge student’s graphic communication skills. It required rigorous research of building processes and graphic reproduction through appropriate software. Our seven person group was responsible for modeling the Brampton Soccer Center designed by MJM architects. My main contribution to this projection was the Revit modeling of the envelope. I also contributed to the overall graphic display of the project. This was achieved using Adobe Photoshop. Figure 1 and 2 show the soccer field B, and service area respectively. Figure 3 shows the integrated structural systems.
BIM: BRAMPTON SOCCER CENTER
figure 1
BIM: Revit and Photoshop
figure 2
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BRIDGING BOUNDARIES IN PUDONG CHINA
Design in urban context
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Jessica Brooks Portfolio
VIEW FROM CAFE TOWARDS LIBRARY Image shows where pedestrian bridge enters the building. Street life becomes elevated by integrating the bridge into the architecture.
LIBRARY ENTRANCE Image highlights the detail of the inner library skin. The vertical bamboo members are broken into the segments and collapse either upwards or downwards to create shade or a desk to read a book on. In evening when the library is closed and the windows are shut, the library becomes an elegant light box.
BRIDGING BOUNDARIES IN PUDONG CHINA
VIEW FROM CAFE TOWARDS COURT Image puts emphasis on the visual clarity of the building’s plans. From the cafe parents can monitor various activities. View also shows gym’s skin detail. The skin wraps around the court and is extruded at one point to accomodate for seating.
THE SOCCER PITCH Image highlights the canopy that both filters and allows natural light to penetrate the level below grade. In the evening the canopy projects a warm welcoming light to passers by.
Design in urban context
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Jessica Brooks Portfolio
BRIDGING BOUNDARIES IN PUDONG CHINA
Design in urban context
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Jessica Brooks Portfolio Pudong Bridge A response to the extremely dense population and traffic provides a refuge for pedestrians from busy roadways elevates the rich street activity to a secondary level directs pedestrian passage to areas of economic interest is an architectural element providing shade below in the day and animating the night with its lighting
MY 2014 CHINA TRIP The Great Wall Bridge as a Boundary and Connector
The Bird’s Nest Structural system has houses a variety of spaces: enclosed area for administrative functions circulation paths that are exposed to the elements open stadium shaded by fabric canopy held in place by intricate metal framing
Forbidden City Walls allow opportunity to frame creating moments of heirachy and emphasis
Traditional buildings converted into shopping district in order to preserve the architure and create industry for locals.
Forbidden City Elegant Irregation System
Zaha Hadid’s SOHO Building The building is well integrated into the landscape and uses a system of bridges to connects main areas of interest
Forbidden City Skin Filtering Light
The National Aquatics Center (The Water Cube) A complex play of material that allows for play of light Ethyl tetrofluoroethylene (ETFE) was chosen for the façade. This material weighs just 1% of glass and is a better thermal insulator. Around 20% of solar energy is trapped and used for heating. The daylight allowed into the cube saves up to 55% on the lighting energy required for the leisure pool hall.
Animating the River For the price of 80 Yuan a group can rent a boat for an hour long trip, enjoy a cup of tea and enjoy the senic gardens and mountains in the backdrop. This was one of the highlights of our trip. Animating the river also created much industry for locals
Steven Hall’s Apartment Complex The building is quite self sufficient. It contains a day care, and dinning and shopping amenities. Bridges allow renters to get from one facility to the next via a system of bridges. Renters say they love living in the building, describing it as beautiful and convenient.
Reflected Lighting Landscape here is choreographed to address the water which is a major part of Chinese lanscaping The trees, the lights and architectural elements become mirrored adding height to the overall view
BRIDGING BOUNDARIES IN PUDONG CHINA
Water is remediate by a wall filtration system (stone and different sized aggregate held together by steel mesh). Water is brought into the site allowing kayaks and small boats into the boat club and is also collected here for remediation. soccer pitch with intricate canopy Bridge becomes part of the architecture. It opens into a cafe and directs towards the shopping district and remediation park Old factory mills scheduled to be torn down are proposed to be repurposed into an art and shopping district. By bridging communities opportunity for new industry is created. residential apartment complexes
Design in urban context
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Jessica Brooks Portfolio
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THORNCROWN CHAPEL: ANALYSIS & RECONSTRUCTION
Technology 1 is a course designed to introduce technical details and the know-how to construct a building from the ground up. Our five person group was responsible for creating a 1:20 technical model of Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas by E Fay Jones. Three types of truss systems were repeated throughout the building: one in the interior and two in the facade. In order to accurately and effectively erect the model several jigs were created to cut all similar angles and Styrofoam moulds were also made to ensure uniformity of the trusses. Craftsmanship was also shown in the details from the hinges in the doors to the metal details that form diamonds at the connections in the trusses.
Craftsmanship and Teamwork
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Jessica Brooks Portfolio
figure 4
Design-build is an exercise designed to bridge the gap between conceptual ideas and practical applications. The objective was to create a dynamic display case that transforms from a cube 1m sq. (see fig. 4) and weighed no more than 25 kg. It should transform in 3 min. My four person group drew inspiration from light weight Japanese architecture and sacred geometry to create something classy and seemingly effortless. This project was anything but effortless. The translucent fabric was sewn as one unit to facilitate 9 square boxes. The boxes were then attached to the fabric by method of stitching. Our group chose to display examples of sacred geometry and constellations from where we drew inspiration. These too were stitched onto the box. Each time the box was moved into another configuration a different image was revealed. This project facilitated much exploration as different sacred geometric designs were arranged onto the box. Things that were in perfect symmetry became asymmetrical. Structures of states of matter were also changing as the box switched positions. It became clear that there were many limitations to our observations, due to the fact that we were studying drawings in two dimensions of phenomena that occur in three dimensions.
CARLETON IN A BOX: FRACTALS AND SACRED GEOMETRY
Design- Build
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Jessica Brooks Portfolio
figure 5
CARLETON IN A BOX: FRACTALS AND SACRED GEOMETRY
Craftsmanship & Teamwork
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CARLETON IN A BOX: FRACTALS AND SACRED GEOMETRY
Craftsmanship & Teamwork
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ADDITIONAL WORKS
Jessica Brooks Portfolio
“Digital Simulation Photo Booth,� was an interactive installation in collaboration with collegue Tamina Orfan. Poetic, calligraphic, photographic, and artistic pieces were collected from various artists and projected onto a custom background installation. The party guest, all invited to wear white, became pieces of the canvas as they posed against projected images.
ART & SOCIAL ENTERPRIZE
Curating, stage design & photography
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Jessica Brooks Portfolio
“Artists Connexions,� was a collaboration of local architects, illustrators, poets and musicians at student, graduate and professional level to exhibited artworks, architectural installation, as well as live performances. Our objectives are to engage and encourage amateur artists, to create a platform for networking, and to celebrate the importance of art in the community.
ART & SOCIAL ENTERPRIZE
Curating & artist collaboration
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DRAWINGS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
It was his eyes that I remember And around his eyes I built a frame And on top this frame I plastered a face And within it inhabited the memories I had of him And these memories bore a smile And this smile became home Jessica Brooks
Hand drawings & Multimedia
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Dichotomy of Love & Hate Photogram showing a poetic collage on light sensitive paper. Image shows narrative through compostion.
Labyrnth Photogram showing footprint and light study of built model. Image shows manual photography and developing skills.
Ballerina Abstract sculpture using aluminum wire and paper mache. Images shows reflective and direct lighting study.
PHOTOGRAPHY & MULTIMEDIA
Photography, lighting, devolping & enlarging
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My mother once described me as a wildflower. It was her response when I told her that I had been the least prepared beginning my undergrad. I had been competing against people who all seemed to have some foothold in the practice of the arts, a school of learning that had not been facilitated by the country in which I grew up, Georgetown, Guyana. She assured me of the difference between flowers matured in a greenhouse versus that of the wild. The latter matures slowly, fighting its way towards the light. Once matured it is immoveable and unique in character. My obligation as a designer is to assume a level of a responsibility for the environment in which I live. Art and architecture have become mediums through which I can speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, propose methods of rehabilitation for spaces, and investigate various methods of construction and design to fascilitate improvement in personal and public daily life. My love for people and the environment are the driving force behind my work. “Excellence and Integrity� is the motto that I am proud to inherit from my father.
Jessica Eliah Brooks