Justyna Zalewski
selected work
Undergraduate Work
Furniture Design
16-17
Viking Mill
18 Villas del Caribe
This group project aims to serve the Sharswood community in Philadelphia by repurposing existing buildings to create a vertically integrated retail farming hub. The design addresses the community’s lack of access to fresh produce, a result of being in a food desert, by providing an open-air market, retail spaces, gardens, greenhouses, a kitchen, and educational areas. The integrated supply-chain model will allow residents to participate in all stages of food production—from seed planting to selling and consumption—with educational support throughout. The project also includes spaces for community events, helping to stimulate local economic growth and foster a stronger sense of community.
To minimize costs and environmental impact, all existing buildings on-site will be repurposed, incorporating local materials and murals from the Philadelphia Mural Arts program. The design emphasizes the core values of ethical housing, urban permaculture, and community-based design. Buildings on the site will serve various functions, including retail kiosks, a community kitchen, educational spaces, and multipurpose areas for small business startups. By transforming the site, the project will provide essential resources for the local community, strengthen connections to the natural environment, and offer residents a sustainable space for growth and engagement.
For this group project, we redesigned a building in Boston, Massachusetts, focusing on the Harvard Art Lab. Located near the Business School, the 9,000-square-foot facility supports artistic production and research and plays a key role in Harvard’s innovation ecosystem. Central to the design is the ‘hub,’ which serves as both the primary circulation point and the unifying element, fostering collaboration among students.
We also redesigned the Harvard Center for Design, a 12,000-square-foot facility with a similar program. In addition to incorporating elements from the Art Lab, we added a cafe, gallery spaces, a lecture hall, offices, more restrooms, and green spaces for student engagement. I created diagrams to clearlt express the project intent, illustrating key design elements and how they foster a cohesive environment for students.
For this project, students were tasked with designing a stress alleviation lab on a site in Philadelphia, PA.
My design concept draws inspiration from OMA’s Netherlands Embassy, with a focus on dynamic circulation. The building’s circulation is strategically organized to emphasize key elements of the surrounding site, creating a seamless connection between the interior and exterior to enhance the lab’s purpose of stress relief.
The stress alleviation lab is designed to enhance the visitors’ relationship with the surrounding built environment while inside the building. The concept is inspired by the fragmented and often unnoticed adaptation of Philadelphia’s urban fabric. It offers users an opportunity to experience the city in an unconventional, experimental way.
The form of the building is based on experiential nodes, defined by key moments of fragmented interactions. These nodes were extracted into a three-dimensional grid, layered and interconnected, resulting in two distinct circulation types: public and private.
By offering a shift from the daily experience of Philadelphia, the building aims to alleviate stress triggers. The focus on immersive experience and these dynamic nodes helps visitors break free from their preconceived notions of the city, allowing them to redefine their perception and, in turn, reduce stress.
The concept for my side table draws inspiration from sculptural form and the natural aesthetics championed by Alvar Aalto. The table is crafted using carefully sanded red oak balusters, chosen for their rich texture and warmth, which evoke a sense of organic, natural form. These balusters are meticulously shaped and arranged to create a fluid, sculptural silhouette.
The structure is anchored with an aluminum plate, adding a modern, industrial contrast to the wood while providing stability and strength. This combination of materials emphasizes the balance between organic elegance and functional design, resulting in a piece that is both visually striking and practical.
I served as the project manager for a 25,000 square foot church fit-out project within a historic industrial factory built in 1923.
- Oversaw all phases of the project, including schematic design, design development, and construction managment, ensuring timely and budgetconscious execution.
- Managed the permitting process, handled construction administration, and coordinated closely with the client, contractors, and engineers to address project needs and ensure smooth progress.
-Led and mentored junior staff, delegated tasks effectively and providing guidance to ensure project milestones were met.
professional work • metro church
professional work • bvspca
2023-2024
A proposed renovation and new construction addition project of an existing animal shelter.
- Responsible for creating detailed 3D models in SketchUp, including both the renovation and new construction components.
- Produced high-quality renderings to visually communicate design concepts to stakeholders.
- Developed and presented a comprehensive zoning board presentation, ensuring compliance with local regulations and addressing key project aspects.
professional
An adaptive reuse project originally a textile mill, later converted into artist studios, and is now being transformed intp a mixed-use residential development.
- Led the creation of diagrams to clearly communicate the project’s design intent for the Civic Design Review.
-Collaborated with the project team to develop schematic design, design development, and construction documentation, ensuring alignment with the vision and regulatory requirements.
The renovation and overhaul of Villas del Caribe, maintaining 81 units of affordable housing under the PHFA Program in Philadelphia.
- Conducted surveys and documented damage requiring repair.
- Documented all phases of work, from schematic design through to construction documentation.
- Collaborated with enginers to develop solutions for extensive damage.
- Provided detailed documentation of solutions, including comprehensive sections and details.
- Managed the permitting and submittal process for required approvals.
(p) 732 618 5060
(e) justyna319@gmail.com
(l) Philadelphia, PA
Justyna Zalewski