WO R K W I T H SERIOUS P L AY
J O H N KO H L M L A P O R T FO L I O 2018-2021 | CU DENVER
C ON T EN T S 1
THE PEEL Re-imagining the Auraria Higher Education Campus beyond the urban context.
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THE SEAM AT THE PLATTE RIVER A renewed look at the city’s relationship with the Platte River.
3 CURRENT PARK Bringing together AHEC, Downtown Denver, and the Arts to create a park for the present & future.
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GRAMPSAS PARK Redevelopment of community spaces with food production and engaged programming.
DIDIER DESIGNS Assorted renderings from an internship with Colorado design firm Didier Designs.
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DESIGN & ILLUSTRATION While not necessarily Landscape focused, they are all part of my skills
“You can’t be a serious innovator unless and until you are ready, willing, and able to seriously play. ‘Serious Play’ is not an oxymoron; it is the essence of innovation.” – M . S C HR AGE Through my own path, education and career, I have witnessed and now firmly believe in the way art and culture breathe life into places. They bring back that sense of joy and encourage play with your environment and with one another. Professionally, my goal is to capture that same energy and instill it in the places I design and the communities I design for. This isn’t done solely in site design or materiality. I think elements of outreach,
story-telling, and civic involvement are just as important. I want to do a bit of each. Enclosed are spaces that I have created, or helped create, that seek to foster public engagement and delineate spaces for play, creativity, and connection. –J. Kohl
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T HE P EEL This project re-imagined the Auraria shared campus to better meet it’s goal of a 24 hour campus in an urban context. Beyond the normal parameters, my team was composed of two architects and two landscape architects. We were able to strike a true balance between the built and natural worlds.
DESIGN WITH COLLABORATION FROM KEITH HUFF, KEVIN DOODY, AND GAELEN MEANS
SOME NUMBERS:
0% 6
POPULATION PRESSURE ANALYSIS
LOSS IN GREEN SPACE
NEW RETAIL SPACE OPPORTUNITIES
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NEW OUTDOOR STUDY AND RECREATION SPACES
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ENTIRELY INTEGRATED STORMWATER SYSTEM FROM ANALYSIS...
TO CONCEPT
Initially visualized as stretches on the urban fabric, our analysis measured and represented population fluctuation in the surrounding context. We aimed to better understand social flows through the site over a single day or year to help identify areas of potential.
THINKING BY DRAWING
GOALS ACTIVATION of the 24 hour campus INTEGRATION of the built and natural NATURAL SYSTEMS Improved storm-water drainage and canopy cover on site BRAGGING RIGHTS Unique, memorable, and inspiring design to attract students, visitors, and faculty
FUN FEATURE The silva-cell permeable paving system allows for the entirety of the path around the peel to function as improved storm-water infrastructure leading to a re-designed infiltration area designed to handle 100 year floods.
CONCEPT COLLAGE
SECTION
INFILTRATION POND
OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE AREA FOR EXISTING BREWERY
PEEL CUT-THROUGH AMPHITHEATER SEATING
ABOVE RETAIL DECKS
SILVA-CELL PATH
SECTION (LEFT) 200’
100’ 50’ 0’
TO WATCH A VIDEO PRESENTATION INCLUDING ANIMATED DIAGRAMMING, PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE: COLORGROUNDS.COM
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T HE SE AM AT T HE P L AT T E R I V ER This project took the redevelopment of Elitches currently in the early stages of planning and proposed a different design solution for the river interface within the site and its context. The focus was how people percieve the river and what could offer if it was respected and recognized.
SOME NUMBERS:
6x 4
SITE INVENTORY ANALYSIS
NATURALIZED FLOOD PLAIN
NEW PUBLIC GATHERING SPACES
3 2
SEASONAL WALKING PATHS
NEW TRAIL CONNECTIONS FROM PARTI...
GOALS TO CONCEPT
RENATURALIZATION of the river and its floodplain GREATER ACCESSIBILITY to pedestrians (existing and anticipated) REVERSE HARDSCAPE ENCROACHMENT from new development INCREASED PUBLIC AWARENESS opportunities for the platte, cherry creek, and the flood plain itself
THINKING BY DRAWING
FUN FEATURE The site features trickle channels linked to drainage inlets in the new hardscape created by the proposed development. These will help mitigate the increased stormwater flow as well as create natural water features for the site.
LOW FLOW
HIGH FLOW
MODELED AREA
FLOOD OVERLOOK TRICKLE CHANNEL OUTLETS
LITTLE RAVEN ST. MULTI-MODAL PATH
PROJECT AREA
MODELLED AREA
RIVER AMPHITHEATERS
RENATURALIZED FLOOD PLAIN SEASONAL TRAIL
200’
100’ 50’ 0’
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CUR R EN T PAR K : P U T T IN G D ENV ER ON T HE M AP With an approach focused around the pillars of movement, culture, and ecology our team sought to place Denver on par with cities such as NYC or Chicago. Our concept of temporality and systems-based thinking helped set us apart.
DESIGN WITH COLLABORATION FROM TORY HANCOCK & KAREN SCHULTZ
INITIAL SURVEY & ANALYSIS EXISTING CONDITIONS
70db NOISE OF SPEER BLVD.
61%
OF DENVER RESIDENTS POLLED WOULD RATHER UTILIZE TRANSIT
3-7°
WARMER ON EXPOSED SURFACES
30%
BELOW AVERAGE IN BASKETBALL COURTS
4%
CANOPY IN DENVER (3% ON SITE)
64%
OF SITE IS IMPERVIOUS SURFACES - PARKING
FUN FEATURE
7 ACTIVE PARTNERS THE AURARIA HIGHER EDUCATION CAMPUS
THE DOWNTOWN DENVER PARTNERSHIP THE CITY OF DENVER DENVER PARKS & REC DENVER CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
ECOSYSTEM
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART RIVER NORTH ARTS DISTRICT
GOALS MOVEMENT: Assert new transportation strategies along Speer and Cherry Creek, including dedicated bus lanes and seasonally dynamic creek crossings. ECOSYSTEM: Restore relationship between public and Cherry Creek by revegetating and naturalizing East side, highlighting ecosystem services, and increasing water quality and wildlife habitat.
MOVEMENT
CULTURE
CULTURE: Create a network of arts based experiences that connects an extended downtown cultural corridor.
COMPILED
In line with my own personal goals, I took a more focused interest in the cultural aspects of the site. This includes the concept for a dynamically deployed and programmed system of public art, the repurposing of existing public art (as shown on the following page) and the development of historical homages on site that can create a stronger sense of public pride and engagement (as below).
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
+1.7 +15 +6 40%
MILES OF CIRCULATION
TRANSIT CONNECTIONS
ENHANCED RECREATION AREAS
REDUCATION OF IMPERVIOUS SURFACES
140%
INCREASE OF EXISTING VEGETATION
210% +2
OF EXISTING CANOPY
ADDITIONAL CULTURAL MONUMENTS & PERFORMANCE SPACES EACH
+11
PUBLIC ART NODES
MONUMENT @ BELL PLAZA
BUS PAVILION + TRANSIT CENTER
BRIDGE OVERLOOK WITH UV FILTRATION
UNDERCURRENTS CAFE
ALLUVIAL ISLANDS
WAYFINDING GATEWAYS
EXPANSION @ BLUE BEAR FARM
MONUMENT @ AURARIA NEIGHBORHOOD
BOULDERING + BASKETBALL
CREEKFRONT STAGE + SEATING TERRACES
AMPHITHEATER @ THE DANCERS
CREEKFRONT TERRACE GARDENS
DESIGNATED TRANSIT LANE
TERRACES @ CU RESIDENCE HALL
HABITAT + REC MOUNDS
COMBINED BIKE + PED TRAVEL
SOME INITIAL SKETCHES OF THE 400 FT. BRDIGE FORM THAT MADE IT TO THE FINAL
USING SKETCH UP TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE SEATING AND CUSTOM LIGHT FORMS USED
NEW SCULPTURE PARK WITH SUMMER FESTIVALS...
...AND WINTER MARKETS
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GR AMP S A S PAR K : EDUCAT ION , P L AY, & ADV EN T UR E The site forms the common ground of more than half a dozen interested parties with programming opportunities abounding. Prompted by the City of Golden, my group decided to tackle the intersection with play and learning in mind.
DESIGN WITH COLLABORATION FROM HEATHER HILSON & ALENA GAGNON
SOME NUMBERS:
1.25 7 3 7
ACRES OF PRODUCTIVE SPACE
PLAY POCKETS
CLASSROOM SPACES
CONNECTED PARTIES
COLOR KEY
FROM PROGRAMMING & FORM ITERATIONS...
...TO THREE CONCEPTS
GOALS UNIFY: Synthesize disparate goals, narrartives, and programming elements into one cohesive site. EDUCATE: Provide ample space for urban agriculture and public interface space to see the value of local food systems. PLAY: Design an array of play spaces that range from the most adventurous of little ones to those with sensory needs.
FINAL CONCEPT & SUPPORTING DIAGRAMS
COMPASS MONTESORRI
GOLDEN HIGH COUNTRY ARCHERS
COORS BREWERY
TONY GRAMPSAS PARK
GOLDEN WATER TREATMENT
DOG PARK
PROJECT SITE
NEW TERRAIN BREWERY
MAINTENANCE & PRODUCTION STATION PRODUCTION AREAS
ORCHARD LEVEL TREE HOUSE
PUBLIC MARKET AREA PLAY ZONE EDUCATION SPACES PLAY POCKETS SENSORY TRAIL
FUN FEATURE
200’
100’
50’
0’
Site selection was prompted by the City of Golden itself, wanting to find creative uses for odd or eccentric tracts of land. The area is a veritable middle section of a very intricate Venn diagram.
MAINTENANCE ZONES
CIRCULATION HIERARCHY
PERMACULTURE SWALE
NEW CONCESSIONS + BREWERY EXTENSION ADVENTURE ZONE FEATURING A ZIPLINE EDIBLE TRAIL
PUBLIC PLAZA
THE ‘PRAIRE SCHOONER’ PLAY PIECE
PLAY AREA SCHEMATIC RENDER
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DIDIER D E SIGNS From January 2019 through the summer, I was fortunate enough to intern with Didier Designs, focusing primarily on Rendering current and past work for use in marketing materials and press releases. Some of my renderings were even featured on Pennsylvania State University’s alumni mailer!
SKILL FOCUSES Completion of the renderings required working from CAD, SketchUp, Illustrator, and then Photoshop. I also pride myself on my organization and layer structuring.
FROM SKETCH UP BASE TO FULLY DIGITALLY PAINTED, BIRDS’ EYE VIEW RENDER
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ALL T H AT AND T HE K I T C HEN SINK Before working on my Masters, I was a lead designer at a well respected design studio in Denver named MATTER. This work shows some of the projects completed in that time featuring styles and clients that I greatly enjoyed working with. Illustration is my favorite tool by a mile.
LEFT 2017 COLFAX MARATHON COLLABORATIVE MURAL DONE FOR CLIF OPPOSITE AMERICANS FOR THE ARTS 2018 NATIONAL CONFERENCE POSTERS ONE CLUB | COLORADO 2018 ILLUSTRATION AWARD WINNER BELOW ART DIRECTORS CLUB OF DENVER | ARTBUS POSTER ILLUSTRATION & ASSETS
OPPOSITE PAGE: TOP LEFT JELLY CAFE KIDS MENU MID LEFT DENVER BISCUIT CO STANLEY LOCATION FRONT WINDOWS BOTTOM LEFT TORPEDO COFFEE SIGNAGE AND IDENTITY TOP RIGHT GLACIER ICE CREAM MURALS AND COLLATERAL MID RIGHT EAT DENVER 2017 CONFERENCE POSTER ILLUSTRATION BOTTOM RIGHT STEM CIDERS PACKAGING & MARKETING SHOWN HERE SERIES OF POSTERS FOR REDLAND ENGINEERING SHOWCASING PAST PROJECT SPACES (2 OF 8)
BRAND & IDENTITY DESIGNS EACH BRAND REPRESENTS AN ACTUAL BUSINESS THAT IS ACTIVE IN DENVER, COLORADO, OR EVEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY. MANY OF THESE WERE COMPLETED WHILE I WORKED AT MATTER DESIGN, BUT OTHERS WERE FREELANCE AND COMPLETED WITH MY OWN DIRECTION.