PORTFOLIO John [AG] Speed 2009 - 2011
THESIS
RAM
BH_TO
PS_TO
ART
Hong Kong: Kai Tak Re-Shaped
Royal Alberta Museum
Boutique Hotel
Play Space
Artwork
3 - 16
17 - 30
31 - 42
43- 48
49- 50
THESIS Hong Kong_Kai Tak Re-Shaped MArch IV 2010
Thesis Statement Kai Tak
Lying at the tip of the South China Sea, Hong Kong`s harbour serves as a key shipping port of goods into the mainland. This has resulted in a hard industrial edge with few open public spaces to offer the inhabitants of this increasingly dense and vertical city. With its iconic skyline and potential to relieve congestion, the harbour needs to be reclaimed and restored for public use. Kai Tak, the site of the former international airport, is one of the last remaining parcels of undeveloped land on the Kowloon side. Surrounded by a mixture of new and old areas, on the upper side, and the harbour, on the lower side, the site has the potential to mediate between land and water and redefine the water`s edge. The opportunity to create a successful proposal rests on the ability to balance the various infrastructure and logistic elements of town planing with nature. The site will be remodeled and remolded to allow new opportunities to emerge and offer a counterpoint to the existing vertical density. Parametric modeling techniques will be investigated and applied in a rigorous manner in order to create a more fluid and responsive urban environment
THESIS/4
1998 Kai Tak Site and Urban Context
Future Kai Tak Site
Industrial Buildings
Soccer Stadium
Water Treatment Area
View Corridors
Mixed Industrial | Residential
Office Buildings
Water Channel
Mongkok Market
High-rise Residential
High-rise Residential
Chinese Pagoda
Ferry Station
Historic District
Mid-rise Residential
Fish Market
Main Highway
Mid-rise Residential
High-rise Residential
Sport Fields
Main Site Access
Village Housing
Ferry Docking Platform
Agricultural Fields
Ferry Routes
Transportation Hub
Semi-Covered Green Space
Mountain Peaks
Proposed Subway Line to MKM THESIS/5
Infrastructure Connections
Green Space Connections
Future Planning
A new highway system running through the site will connect the new areas with the old ones and eliminate the need to travel around the site in order to get from one end to the other. One of the key intersections will occur on the runway islands which have been reshaped to create a terraced residential neighbourhood. Connecting the islands to each other and the city will allow access to the new area. Significant portions of the highway will be hidden from view under the topographic mounds of the islands creating a park like setting for the inhabitants and visitors
Polluted water retention ponds, on the upper and lower portions of the site, create interstitial urban pockets or wetland park systems that treat the polluted water and allow unimpeded access to the site from the surrounding areas
A mixed use community is planned in the upper portion of the site relieving the remaining areas of dense planning. The existing airport infill will be dredged out to create a canal system to increase the flow of fresh water into the site and flush out old water. The newly developed areas will offer a mixture of office, mid-rise and cultural buildings planned around a canal-like waterway system
THESIS/6
Water Treatment and Sports Kai Tak
THESIS/8
Development sketches reveal the spiraling form of the main cultural area. Driven by the desire to retain and treat polluted water entering the site from the city, the landscape moves in a counterclockwise manner in order to draw the polluted water inwards and prevent it from contaminating the harbour. A soccer stadium is the main attraction and is connected to the surrounding areas through an open park setting
Parametric Modeling Techniques
Taper, Twist and Subdivide Modifiers
Boolean, FFD 4x4x4 Modifiers
Edit Poly, Topology Tool Porosity Setting
Urban Connections
New Green Areas
Stadium Site
By creating an open park setting infused with cultural programs, the stadium arm unifies the various parks and green spaces surrounding the site. Remote and difficult to access, these parks were once cut off from the rest of the city but are now linked together through the creation of a larger park
The water treatment areas reconnect the various neighbourhoods surrounding Kai Tak by tying them to the site. The creation of new green areas activates edge the edge condition and opens it up to the city and the harbour
Polluted water is retained and treated before entering the harbour and fresh water is able to move in and out of the site preventing it from stilting. The canal network is extended though the upper portion of the site creating a network of porous water treatment areas that are integrated into the landscape through the creation of a wetland ecosystem
THESIS/9
Inspiration for Water Treatment and Market Islands
Marina Life: Aberdeen Marina, Hong Kong
Remediation Efforts: Cheonggye Stream, Downtown Seoul
Water Based Program: Jumbo Floating Restaurant in Aberdeen, Hong Kong
New Transportation Links
Open Market and Urban Connections
New Green Area Connections
New ferry routes are linked to old ones reviving a dying mode of transportation that has a long and proud history in Hong Kong. By opening up the runway arm, new access routes are created connecting different parts of the site. At the centre of the proposal is a multi-story transportation hub that follows the contour of the canal. Mong Kok market, a popular attraction, is connected to the site via a new subway route cutting down on motor vehicle dependency and creating a physical connection between an existing market and the potential to create a new one
Remote fishing markets and villages are given reintegrated by allowing vendors to set up their businesses in a newly created open concept building at the centre of the market islands. The porosity of the water treatment areas creates a series of islands that allow both large and small ships to dock alongside them and further activate those areas
The surrounding urban context is linked though the water treatment areas, open market and stadium to encourage a flow of movement around and on the site
THESIS/12
Existing city water canal remediation area
THESIS/13
View taken from Hong Kong Island looking at the residential islands
Typical HK Tower
Courtyard Towers Kai Tak
Densely packed and vertically stacked apartment towers are unpacked and restacked using parametric software to introduce nature into the dense living units. Views, daylight and natural ventilation inform the reconfiguration of the pixilated towers to create vertical courtyard spaces that open up to views of the harbour and surrounding hillside
Grasshopper definition controlling the scale and density of the towers THESIS/15
LION ROCK
KOWLOON PEAK
MONG KOK MARKET
LEI YUE MUN
VICTORIA PEAK MOUNT PARKER QUARRY BAY PARK
Important Views
Marina and Ferry Connections
New Infrastructure Connections
Significant views of peaks and mountains are made visible from the residential arm by aligning the courtyard apartment towers to the contours of the remodeled runway arm. This increases daylight and natural ventilation through an unconventional urban planning strategy
New ferry routes allow access from different parts of the city to Kai Tak. A porous thread of marinas follows the contours of the residential islands creating a constant flow of water traffic and accessibility to and from the site
A bridging highway system connects major transit lines to Kai Tak allowing for an ease of movement between the old and new areas. These are strategic links between the city and the residential islands preventing them from being cut off from each other
THESIS/16
RAM Royal Alberta Museum DIALOG 2011
East West Section Concept Diagrams 1950 Street Grid
2011 Street Grid
2011 Street Grid
CN Rail Lines
Area of Study
Preserved Architectural Elements
Preserved Elements
Area of Study
RAM/19
North South Section
Programing
RAM/20
Lobby
Playful Forms
Children’s Gallery Royal Alberta Museum
Comprised of several layers, the Children’s Gallery abstracts the various aspects of a tree in order to weave together the rich natural history of Alberta’s landscapes. The image of a tree canopy is abstracted and laser cut into metal panels that form the first layer. A dense fritting pattern inspired by an aspen forest creates another layer. These layers allow for the playful discovery of the museum exhibits while tying the importance of the museum program to nature
N
View at night looking into the Children’s Gallery
Main Atrium Level - NTS
Children’s Gallery Diagrams
Sculptural precast panels form outer walls
Spiraling Ramp enhance experience
Tree is suspended in middle
Clerestory allow natural light to enter RAM/21
Grasshopper definition creates pixilation based on greyscale image
Closeup of Children`s Gallery showing the complexity of layers
Mullion layer RAM/22
Reference image of tree canopy
Glass fritting pattern
Perforated metal screen layer
Closeup of pixilation
N
Reference image of lightning strikes
Main Atrium Level - NTS
Energy Gallery Royal Alberta Museum
Pixilations applied to Energy Gallery screen
A laser cut metal screen wraps around the sculptural form of the energy gallery to captivate and inform visitors. The meaning of energy is captured by the raw image of a lightning strike, a common feature of Alberta’s summers. The perforations help break down the scale of the form and animate the lobby space with a dynamic display of light
RAM/23
RAM/25
Energy Gallery Royal Alberta Museum
RAM/26
The perforated surface, making up the outer layer of the energy gallery, is programmed with a sequence of LEDs to capture the intensity and experience of a lightning strike. A quick flash of light washes the metal screen with an intensity of light and provides and attraction in the atrium level
Dinosaur Footprints
Pixilated mural depicting the flow of time
Feature Gallery and Stair Royal Alberta Museum
Past and present are playfully carried across the expansive wall of the feature gallery. Alberta’s rich history is symbolized by the abstraction of dinosaur footprints, gingko leaves and cave painting handprints. The feature stair actively engages the gallery at the corner and elegantly ties the collection galleries on the second level to the main lobby Gingko Leaves
Cave Paintings
RAM/28
View looking from South East corner at the guest arrivals canopy
Group Arrivals Royal Alberta Museum
An image of melting ice is abstracted onto the sculptural surface of the guest arrivals canopy promoting awareness of our fragile ecosystem and creating a dynamic and visually stimulating play of light from inside to outside
RAM/29
Group Arrivals Royal Alberta Museum
The sculptural ceiling flows like a ribbon through the group arrivals area traveling from the main lobby and culminating in the entry canopy. The undulating surface peels off to form the backdrop of a stage, a privacy screen for the washrooms and a feature that folds up to become a canopy
N
RAM/30
Main Atrium Level - NTS
BH_TO Boutique Hotel MArch II 2009
Boutique Hotel MArch II 2009
Located at the corner of Queen street West and Fenning street, the boutique hotel creates a unique attraction suitable for its culturally rich and vibrant neighbourhood setting. Art is used to attract local talent to display their work and for the public to freely enjoy it. The hotel is generously set back from the street and separated from the entrance by a sunken green courtyard which encourages free movement throughout the site. The spacing between the hotel and gallery allows for ample daylight to reach all levels of the program while creating a peaceful retreat from the noise of the street. BH_TO/34
View looking at SW corner
North Side View of Queen Street West
View looking South from Queen Street West
View looking East from Fenning Street
Concept Diagrams
Site
New Site Boundary
Program Massing
Program Separation
Program Manipulation BH_TO/35
L5 Double Suites
Boutique Hotel Site
L 2/4 Loft Suites
L 1/3 Loft Suites
L0 Street Access
L -1 Lobby Access
L -2 Studio Suites
Suites
Meeting Rooms
Kitchen
Vertical Circulation - Stairs
Mechanical Room
Lobby
Theatre
Gallery Ramps
Vertical Circulation - Elevators
Loading Dock
Office
Restaurant
Feature Art Gallery
Automated Parking L -3 Restaurant
L -4 Theatre/ Meeting
L -5 Parking Access to Daylight BH_TO/36
Daylight Maximization
Viewing Relationship
Street Access
Entry Pavilion Boutique Hotel
Transparent and open to the public, the entry pavilion allows local artists to display their unique work on the various ramps and viewing display to the public. Art is used to create a sense of community and to promote an awareness of the arts in the city. A dramatic coloured glass entrance encourages the public to move freely onto the site. Steel Beam Steel Column Concrete Retaining Wall
Structural Fins Monolithic Coloured Glass
Glass Display Case
HSS Structural Columns Frosted Glass Railings Steel Decking
Post Tension Modular Bridge
BH_TO/37
Polycarbonate Roof Polycarbonate Structural Fin
SS (Balustrade) Bracket 3/4” Laminated Glass (UV Resistant) Maple Wood Decking SSM10 Bolt Structural Angle 8” x 4” x 1/2” Deep Decking System 4 1/2”
View from the gallery entrance looking at an art display
Level 0 Gallery Entrance 1:600 scale N 0
5
10
20
BH_TO/39
Polycarbonate Guardrails Post Tension Deck Span Cast Primo 120 Plastic Decking
Programmed LEDs illuminate the bridge at night
Bridge Boutique Hotel
The thrill and experience of moving from street level to hotel entrance is heightened by the transparency of the connecting bridge. The bridge seems to float without any supports allowing unimpeded views from different parts of the hotel. At night, embedded LEDs light up the bridge to create a unique attraction and sense of place BH_TO/40
60 mm
Front View
400 mm
880 mm
1330 mm
2225 mm
330 mm
2225 mm
Side View
Stress test indicating bridge module able to withstand sufficient load
4 x 2 1/2� HSS Support Hollow Core Concrete Expansion Joint Capillary Mat Spider Clip
Interior View of the hotel lobby overlooking the courtyard
Double Glazing Glazing Cable Truss Concrete Base
The Lobby
Cable Truss Anchor
Boutique Hotel
Horizontal Mullion Spandrel Mesh Screen
Level -1 Hotel Lobby 1:600 scale N
Detail section of lobby
0
5
10
20
Generously scaled and partly concealed from the street, the lobby creates a dramatic viewing relationship between the various elements of the project. The gallery and lobby look back at each other and allow hotel guests and the public alike to view and experience art from different perspectives
BH_TO/41
Roof Drainage System Green Roof Wood Slats Double Layer Structural Glazing Perforated Aluminum Ceiling
View from the courtyard looking at West facing green wall
Detail section of courtyard
The Courtyard Boutique Hotel
The sunken courtyard reinterprets the main social or meeting space of a hotel by moving it three levels below grade. Away from street noise and surrounded by the tranquility of vertical gardens, the courtyard creates an ideal setting. The hotel restaurant opens up to the courtyard creating an informal meeting area for private or public functions to occur BH_TO/42
Level -3 Courtyard 1:600 scale N 0
5
10
20
PS_TO Play Space db studio 2009
Play Space 2009 db studio
The project is an outdoor play space for pre-school children between the ages of three and six. The site is situated on the University of Toronto campus and is well shaded by the boughs of overhanging trees. The plan is organized to support a continuous flow of movement of tricycles, scooters and plasma cars within a very small space. Two islands of activity have been constructed leaving the perimeter of the fenced yard clear for circulation. The western island at the rear of the space is an oversized sandbox. To the east and west is a raised deck structure flanked by open frame pavilions
Plan view showing the relationship of the figure 8 loop to the raised platforms
North Elevation PY_TO/44
East Pavilion Perspective
Photographs courtesy of Tom Bessai
East Pavilion Play Space
The pavilions have been scaled and shaped to encourage free movement and play. The geometry of the wall frames produces a range of layered visual effects and patterns. Yellow tinted pyramidal roofs introduce further mannered light effects
MoirĂŠ effect produced by conflicting angles
Build up of pavilion frames
West Pavilion Perspective
West Pavilion Play Space
The project geometry was generated and refined through a combined process of digital modeling and scale mock-ups. Close attention was given to the issues of ergonomics and safety as well as to material simplicity and low cost
Play Space 2009 db studio
The pavilion frames were constructed off-site using a basic construction drawing set. Using simple means, including basic power tools and an angle saw, the frames were fitted together with accuracy and precision
PY_TO/47
Play Space 2009 db studio
Rigorous digital modeling proved to be useful because of the relative ease by which the pavilion frames fit onto site. Again, basic power tools were used on site by a 3 person team. Only minor adjustments had to be made and erecting the frames was brought on time and on budget PY_TO/48
Mutations II
Mutations III
Cities Artwork
Surrealist images depicting a techno utopia form the central focus of these works. Cities made up of machine parts create a visual narrative that is derived from cultural references. Ancient structures, musical instruments, telecommunication devices, and science fiction robots are pieced together in a seemingly unconnected manner
ART/49
Barcelona Line
Freehand Sketches Artwork
Ink and paint are used to capture the visual chaos and refined lines of cities and buildings. In the sketch of Barcelona, black paint flows from one area to the next creating a detail rich sea of buildings. In the sketch of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, the tonal quality of a felt tip pen is explored creating fines lines and texture ART/50
Bilbao Line
Thank you for viewing