2019 BLA Portfolio by Kate Jo Bulin

Kate Jo Bulin Undergradute Portfolio December 2019 BLA

Kate Jo Bulin

University of Illinois Urbana - Champaign katejobulin@gmail.com 1 630 427 7329 http://www.linkedin.com/katie-bulin-294794129/ The following pages encompass projects done over my past three years in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaignâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Undergradute Landscape Architecture program, a summer internship, and a summer study abroad. Starting my college career as a civil engineering major, I found my perfect fit for design and structure in the Landscape Architecture program, with a concentration in horticulture, to express both my passion towards native plants and the geometric form. The projects designed address the way that people use the site while thinking of how the site will evolve over time. From creating implicit movement to spaces for continuous use, the following works are for those (humans and wildlife) who will use the sites most.

CONTENTS 3-4 | The Garrison Residence (2018)

Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors, Wheaton, IL.

5-6 | The Pollard Residence (2018)

Hursthouse Landscape architects and Contractors, Naperville, IL.

7-8 | The Richards Residence (2018)

Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors, Glen Ellyn, IL.

9-12 | Urbana Boneyard Creek (2017)

Downtown Northwest Urbana, IL. Creek Garden

13-16 | Mary Bartelme Park Intervention (2018) West Loop, Chicago, IL. Tree Intervention

17-22 | Flock. (2018)

Pocket Park and Path System, Urbana, IL.

23-30 | Spread Park (2018)

Chicago CTA Green Roof Park, Pilsen, Chicago, IL.

31-40 | Organic Elements (2019)

Urban Microenvironments, Nicosia, Cyprus

41-42 | Early Projects (2017) Colored pencil drafting

43-44 | Drafting and Sketching (2016-2018) Pen and markers

45-46 | Photography (2016-2019) National and International

The Garrison Residence Under direction from my supervisor at Hursthouse, I completed an initial detailed site measure to begin designing. The garrison family in Naperville, IL. wanted to connect their first-floor kitchen back door to their basement back door which both exit to the back of the house. They also desired a side yard feature which was designed as a fire pit space for entertaining. The exterior deck was tiered and kept open concept with the only hand railings being on the east and west sides of the top deck. The silver maple which was on site was in decline, so with help from an arborist we decided to remove the existing tree and replace it with a new marmo maple tree for the southern exposure on the decks. The family repainted the exterior of the house to an olive-green siding with black trim and window frames which guided the material palette.

Existing Site 3

Preliminary Sketch

Final Design The family favored a prairie style plant system. On the south side yard, we designed a sweeping meadow mix of different ground covers that as a guest walks to the back yard, they are immersed in a different kind of meadow the entire time. Due to being in the historic district of downtown Naperville, the family opted for antique street pavers

for the path systems to the front of the house and to the garage. We also extended their front door landing which connects to a screen porch. Extensive perennial beds keep the back garden colorful against the new olive-green home exterior.

Preliminary Sketch to Final 4

The Pollard Residence The Pollard residence was both a grading challenge and a property boundary issue. The family wanted to create a new layout for their driveway which currently is only 8 feet wide between the two houses. They also expressed how they use their driveway as a patio space and only drive down to the garage in winter, so material and pattern choice was crucial such as a herring bone pattern of pavers for the turn. With direction from my supervisor and from the sales meeting at Hursthouse, I began with initial sketches on possible front entry patios and a wider walkway to accommodate the narrow drive and the steep 5 foot grade change to the street from the front door. I also sketched ideas for a patio space differentiated by clay pavers within the asphalt drive for the family to use summer, spring and fall.

Preliminary Sketches

Existing Site 5

Final Design Due to the constraint of the driveway, we proposed tapering the driveway to the garage to allow for easier turning without needing a curve to also extent the lawn space. All new planting was proposed for both foundation planting and a shade tree to shade the expanded patio space. Retaining

walls were added to the front of the house to level a patio space while adding foundation planting to the front of the patio to screen from the street. Overall, the property expanded lawn space while creating the outdoor living spaces that the family could use year round.

The Richards Residence The Richards family in Wheaton, IL. came to Hursthouse Landscape Architects and Contractors for a new front connection to the main street for guests and an auxiliary connection to the driveway. The family expressed interest in a front patio or axial area as well as a possible fruit tree orchard on the east side of the house where there is an existing berm creating about 4 feet of grade change from the foundation of the house. With direction from my supervisor at Hursthouse, I created sketches of a rectilinear concept and a curvilinear concept. a plant palette was created including hardscape materials. To compliment the stucco home, blue stone was chosen as the pathway material with a paver band on the primary path. All viewpoints are framed with specimen trees or shrubs for a full walking experience from both the primary and auxiliary connections and for the views within the home from the kitchen or dining room.

Existing Site 7

Preliminary Sketch

Concept A to Final Design

Concept B to Final Design

A curvilinear walkway to the main road as well as a connection to the driveway. Minimal foundation planting and simple orchard.Front walk way leads to a small gathering area with seating for guests or waiting.

A rectilinear walkway to the main road and driveway. Front patio with a central planter, extensive foundation planting and a playful orchard path.

Urbana Boneyard Creek In need of a space to connect the local neighborhood to the downtown and a renovation to boneyard creek for flooding, this project enhances the downtown living while extending the needs of the residents. The community garden already in place is expanded with an added garden shed, and paths run through the entire site to continue the over 22-mile path system within Urbana. This design, influenced by interviews with locals, helps to bring the westward neighborhood closer to downtown without making their homes public through the use of a tucked away path and bridge over the creek.

BIKE PATH SYSTEM

NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS

HOP ROWS

LIGHTING BENCH PROMENADE CONNECTION BRIDGE BONEYARD CREEK

TERRACE WITH GRASS AND STONES SCORED CONCRETE WITH BROOM FINISH DAYLILY SCULPTURES

COMMUNITY GARDEN AND POTTING SHED

OUTDOOR EATING

Analysis Montages and physical modeling depicted what could be added to the site and how. Models help to analysis how to the site interacts with the outside neighborhoods. Montages emphasis the influences for the final design

Summer Living People of all ages will enjoy the new garden via the extensive paths for walking, biking or running. The community garden is rented, but open for curiosity and play. For shade in the summer, visitors can sit under the native shade trees planted throughout the garden along with perennials that will bloom colors for the eyesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; enjoyment. Outdoor seating was added for the local cafe, and an extended promenade for outdoor festivals and events.

Curiousity Continues

Locally Influenced

Open to the public, the garden shed has open windows for learning and watching. Visitors can also marvel at the daylily sculptures inspired by the Ghetty Garden as these stay colorful for most of the year.

Hops will grow alongside the creekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge for local breweries. They will also detract playing in the creek but keep an open eyesight from one end of the garden to another.

Mary Bartelme Park Intervention Mary Bartelme Park is a well-known city block park in the West Loop of Chicago designed by site design group in 2010. The original design was complete with a simple native plant system, many programs and opportunities such as a playground and dog park, along with views of the city and permeable paving for sanitation. The gateway fountain is a staple to social media, and the park is continuously helping the West Loop to build a positive reputation. The intervention, however, was to plant trees that will implicitly direct visitors throughout the park. Neighbors from the apartments surrounding the park often walk from one end of the site to the other for groceries and gyms, and they will use the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s paths to get to these places

West Loop Presence The existing park is famous for its gateway fountain along with its many programs defined by the design of the park, by the chicago park district, and by the users themselves.

Legend

Legend Pre-Defined Programming

Pre-Defined Programming

User-Defined Programming

No Programming

Year-Round Determined Programming

Pedestrian Movement Outside Park

Pedestrian Movement Inside Park

Summer Analysis Pre-Intervention

Summer Analysis Post-Intervention

In the summertime, the park is used to its fullest potential with round the clock play; neighbors playing sports on the open field, dog owners playing in the fenced in dog park, families climbing on the playground. The park also acts as a thoroughfare between different areas of the west loop such as connecting apartments to grocery stores. Therefore, the paths of the park become main directions to-and-fro.

By adding 20 paperbark maple trees from the northwest corner to the southeast corner, this path is enhanced and will implicitly direct pedestrians where to walk. The bark stands out completely while also continuing to shade the dog park and sidewalk in the summer. In adding 27 serviceberry trees, the southwest to northeast path is enhanced with purple, blue and white colors throughout the year. The short height remains consistent with the hill of the open lawn that is used for viewing the city and movie nights.

Legend

Pre-Defined Programming

User-Defined Programming

No Programming

Year-Round Determined Programming

Pedestrian Movement Outside Park

Pedestrian Movement Inside Park

Winter Analysis Pre-Intervention

Winter Analysis Post-Intervention

In the wintertime, however, the park simply works as a thoroughfare for the neighborhood. As the weather gets colder, less pedestrians want to walk around and enjoy the park, but they will take the shortest path from place to place if they do walk. The park connects several apartment buildings to grocery stores, indoor gyms, and convenient stores, but is less used for its programming.

The design also enhances the wintertime. The paperbark maples hold onto the snow uniquely and the color of the bark stays year-round, continuing to provide the directional service and ornamental value. The serviceberries will be short enough to still notice even in the wintertime when tall skinny trees are often lost in the cityscape of downtown Chicago. This design will overall increase pedestrian usage year-round by implicitly directing users where and how to walk while providing new and fun trees to gaze at.

Flock.

Carle Employee FCU Magic Needle (Historic Johnson Oil Refinery)

Broadway Food Mart Leale Park

Darts

Crystal Lake Park

Main Carle Campus

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Flock. aims to combine the pride that Urbana, IL. takes in its eclectic art and extensive path system with the increase in orchard oriole habitat both on site and throughout the surrounding neighborhood and university. By adding jobs to the local community, increasing the property values of nearby homes, and increasing student enrollment and tourism, Flock. is a home for the orchard oriole and a public oasis to urbana just north of the downtown. Flock. turns the former CSX rail line into a biking and walking trail with added vegetation and more permeable surfaces for drainage. History is kept with re-purposed rail crossing lights, the original rail line, and the johnson oil refinery as the new cafe and rail road themed lab escape. Changes in topography keep the visitor engaged while indirectly moving them in the pattern of a bird’s flight. With colorful vegetation and extensive programming, Flock. is key to the “217”.

Residential District

Historic District

Conceptual Urban Space in Downtown Urbana The former rail line created a distinct linear alley through urbana. the concept creates movement based from bird flight patterns like spirals and straightaways.

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Orchard Oriole Behavior Orchard orioles enjoy groves of trees over heavy clusters to nest away from traffic and forage away from nests

Partial Sun /Shade Mesic / Moist Mesic Soil Provides Nesting, Insects, Fruit and Nuts Partial Sun Mesic / Moist Mesic Soil Provides Nesting, Insects, Fruit and Nuts Partial Sun / Shade Mesic / Moist Mesic Soil Provides Nesting, Insects, Fruit and Nuts

Seasonal changes paint the “bird’s eye view” and create directionality yearround. 21 different plants are used throughout the site to enhance the seasonal quality. groves of trees help make orchard orioles feel at home. Changes in topography keep the visitors engaged while experiencing the flight patterns of a bird first hand.

Full / Partial Sun Mesic / Moist Mesic Soil Provides Nesting, Insects, Fruit and Nuts

Plant Palette

Seasonal Diversity in Programming 21

Seasonal Diversity in Section 22

Spread Park

Main Site: Pilsen Neighborhood

Flooding of the river will fluctuate depending on season, weather, or time of day.

Moving Water Across the Site

Conceptuals and Diagrams

Allowing the River to Flood

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June July August September

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Preliminary Analysis and Modeling

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Public access can also be subjective by access of the planted terraces, becoming more difficult progressing to the river front with wetland terraces

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Accessing the Site

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Turning Coal Pollution to Pollen Power

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Sycamore

Light-Weight Seeding

Platanus Occiden talis

Evening Primrose

Lacebark Pine

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Pollinating

Pinus Bungeana

Oenothera Fruticosa

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giving the appearance of floating if not flooded. They are similarly planted with pollinating grasses and flowers which can survive above and below water. In total, this design is influenced and influences Chicago from the city’s most famous features to the overall planted environment in which it encompasses.

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Pedestrian access is suggested via paved terraces, sloped and flat, for programming and recreational use

Flooding of the river will fluctuate depending on season, weather, or time of day.

Scaling Down the Chicago Grid System

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The buses can drive within the terraces on a sub-terrain road system with areas for parking, leading to the renovated maintenance facility. Access is available from Cermak Rd. and Throop St. to both the parking and maintenance facility

The sun will heat the upper side of the canopy, drawing pollen upwards into the canopy to then be swept into the stack by wind

Main Site: Pilsen Neighborhood

Allowing the River to Flood

Turning Coa

Capping Noise with Sub-Terrace Bus Access

The pollen and seeds will be released from the canopy and spread throughout Chicago by wind power in the direction of wind for any given day

Moving Water Across the Site

Scaling Down the Chicago Grid System

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River can flood terraces or reveal those that were previously flooded

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Enclosed terraces return water to ground level soil

The pollen and seeds canopy and spread wind power in the d given day

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Access to the site from Cermak Rd. will always be available as the water will not reach

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The diverse Pilsen neighborhood is also home to the now closed Fisk Generating Station a coal power plant that served Chicago since the early 1900’s. Residents desire a space to experience the river, as well as connecting a new park space to other local spaces. This new area is also a great location for revenue opportunities to take shape, as well as a CTA bus maintenance and storage facility. Spread Park aims to combine the city’s plans with the community’s desire. While keeping the smoke stack and the original Fisk building, the design envisions expansion for flooding, naturalizing the water’s edge, and keeping the tradition of Chicago’s prominent grid structure close in mind. Spread Park includes a grid of 30’ x 30’ terraces of pavement accessible to all with larger spaces for playing fields, open air markets, event spaces, and more. The project will also develop a series of microclimates of Chicago. These individual microclimates, planted with wind-pollinated and light-weight seed producing trees, shrubs, grasses, and perennials, with the help of a large glass canopy, will transform the smoke stack from a pollution source to a pollen-spreading apparatus. Conceptuals and Diagrams Sending pollen and seeds via wind and heat throughout Chicago adding to the landscape of more than just Fisk, Spread Park increases biodiversity, just as the coal was spread across Chicago originally causing health problems. The included plants are selected from a Chicago Park District approved list. When the pollen and seeds are spread from the smokestack, they travel to different parks in Chicago to the plants that they match. Finally, as the terraces get closer to the river, they dissolve out to allow for the ability to flood. The terraces are inspired by the Chicago Riverwalk Riverfront Room. They can be flooded while

Pollinating and Light-Weight Seeding Plants

Design Plan and Plant Palette 24

Full Section Spread Park was initially designed in full section to understand the design of the under-terrace bus movement, the wetland terraces, the inner workings of the pollen and seed spreading smoke stack, the shape of the canopy, and the bridges. Facing East, Spread Park is dense in plant life and programmable opportunities both above and below the terraces.

Stack Section The detail section shows a closer view of the smoke stack and under-terrace bus system. With a renovated smoke stack, visitors are welcome to enter the stack from terrace level to view the pollen and seeds as they collect and move up to the top. Buses move safely underneath the terraces with minimum heights of 14â&#x20AC;&#x2122; clearance. Both paved and planted terraces are welcome to visitors.

River Section

The riverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edge is softened with wetland terraces that can be flooded. By planting an ecosystem that can survive both above and below water levels such as with river birches, the terraces can survive any time of year. The new wetlands help to clean the river allowing for fish and other wildlife to feel more at home. The glass bridges extended from the green roof offer birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye views of the wetlands and views of the neighborhood.

Neighboorhood Life From the north end of the park, visitors are welcome to explore the open spaces between the terraces. Buses can safely exit and enter the under-terrace street to available parking or the maintenance facility. The main walk-ways are also fully ramped allowing for full ADA accessibility. Materials of light concrete and stone pavers keep the park bright and airy. The canopy can be seen from almost every angle of the park, but the best views are from the green roof above the

bus maintenance facility. The green roof is designed with a free-formed path for running, walking, or other leisure activities. The seeds and pollen are easily viewed from this height as they enter the modified and renovated stack. Views of the Chicago Skyline are dramatic behind the dense planting.

A New Adventure Views of the sunrise across the Chicago Skyline are emphasized from the glass bridges, while access to the terraces allow for adventurers to get up close to the ecosystems that thrive in and along the Chicago River. Keeping the original faรงade of the Fisk building offers a contrast to the light grey concrete and glass materials keeping the history of the industrial corridor.

Organic Elements The project, Organic Elements, capitalizes on all that Nicosia already has to offer. The city is filled with missed opportunities that could be leveraged to improve the city as whole. Specifically, the seemingly dense existing city is actually composed with 83% open space. This means 83% of the city is negotiable territory. Nicosia itself is the key precedent for Organic Elements. While visiting the city, wanderers are introduced to cacti the size of trees growing out of cracks in the sidewalk, or they might turn a corner to find a potted plant situated under a drain pipe serving as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;front lawnâ&#x20AC;? for a house. Microenvironments permeate Nicosiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fabric, and yet they are rarely noticed. The average visitor would never think anything differently of the potted plant or the moss covered wall. The people-packed avenues of the city, both inside and outside the Venetian Walls, represent well maintained and ordered exteriors, store fronts with signage, cafes with seating, patterned pavement, etc. This proposal asserts that transforming smaller spaces are the best method for making the city more livable. Organic Elements aims to showcase the hidden ecology of Nicosia by bringing it to the forefront in both the New and Old City in the small doses that it already exists in. An alley lined with plants and trees that have not seen the sun for hours on end; a sidewalk with bumps and bruises from years of wear and tear; a courtyard with water stains due to a lack of drainage (or too much drainage).

83% Open Space in Nicosia

P OT T E RY

COLLEGE E L E M E N TA RY S C H O O L

B U S I N E S S B O U N D A RY

CAFE

GARDEN CENTER

WA S T E M A N A G E M E N T G OV E R N M E N T

Finding Possibilities

Strategy

By correlating the locations of various businesses, including government administrations, schools, garden centers, and pottery shops, the project boundary chosen fits within a boundary away from many of these ventures.

Main streets affected lead to secondary roads then to arterial avenues. The design was then examined for spaces that were open enough to invite in microenvironments.

Finding Possibilities Blending into the exisiting fabric of Nicosia, Organic Elements emphasizes on the greenery already present to the city. Adding more greenery and permeable pavement lifts this project above the existing framework showing an increase in

biodiversity across the development.

POSSIBLE COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL D E V E LO P M E N T

U N O C C U P I E D L A R G E R S PA C E

PHASE 1 - ALLEYS - GRANTS P H A S E O N E D E V E LO P M E N T

P R O J E CT B O U N D A RY

P H A S E 2 - S T R E E T S - M U N I C I PA L I T Y

P H A S E 3 - L A R G E LOT S RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERICIAL PA RT N E R S H I P S

Future Initiatives

Phases and Mechanisms

The project is shaped by a boundary created through analysis of the exisiting city. The specific sites within the boundary were chosen via alleys, streets, and unoccupied land. Further development can be drawn from unoccupied larger spaces, such as parking lots, for new commercial or residential properties.

The primary phase is the redevelopment of small unoccupied land funded by local grants with the benefit of lower taxes for small business owners who participate. The second phase is the increase in street trees by the Nicosian public municipality. The final phase is redevelopment of large unoccupied land for residences or shops.

C AT E G O RY 1 - A L L E Y S A N D S M A L L O P E N S PA C E S

C AT E G O RY 2 - S T R E E T S

C AT E G O RY 3 - L A R G E O P E N S PA C E S

T R E E S: MORUS ALBA PRUNUS DULCIS

T R E E S: A C A C I A D E A L B ATA PRUNUS ARMENIACA

T R E E S: ARBUTUS UNEDO E U C A LY P T U S A G G R EG ATA FICUS CARICA QUERCUS ILEX

P OT S: ACANTHUS MOLLIS

AEONIUM ARBOREUM GERANIUM MADERENSE S A LV I A O F F I C I N A L I S HEDYCHIUM COCCINEUM ‘TA R A’ SEMPERVIVUM CACEREUM

S TO R M’ A G AV E A M E R I C A N A C I S T U S X C O R B A R I E NSIS L I B E RT I A F O R M O S A NOLINA NELSONII S T I PA G I G A N T E A

G R O U N D: A G A PA N T H U S ‘S N O W

Planting The first category is alley/small land development including plants which survive in low light, shallow soil, and pots. The second category is street: trees that can survive shallow soil with sun exposure. The final category is open space, such as the moat, for plants that need deeper soil and more space.

Coffee Within the Walls Organic Elements emphasizes on the potted plants and small areas of greenery existing in alleys, and transforms them to sustain microenvironmental ecosystems. The redevelopment invites shops and restaurants to be outdoor year round. Shop owners are also involved in the watering. When shops upkeep their exterior landscaping, more customers and visitors are inclined to stay.

Education in the Moat The moat provides a large opportunity to showcase biodiversity. By adding an education center for young students through adults, Nicosia will become a hub for increased biodiversity education. The moat allows for an abundance of space for ecosystems to flourish as well as allowing students to get up close to the plants of study. Water spouts bring water from pipes to water during the dry season.

Indirect Advertisement Small tree lined spaces invite pedestrians to lounge or advertise for themselves. Local stores will use these spaces for advertising their merchandise or showcasing the opportunities of their businesses, such as music schools, where students and owners can show off their brand indirectly while being near their business. This influences visitors to see where the experience actually lies.

Small Business Ventures By using indirect movement cues, with trees and potted plants, visitors and locals move throughout the redevelopment while being invited to new experiences. The redevelopment of alleys allows for shop owners to have outdoor sales where costumers are invited to shop without having to go inside, and they are directed towards the shops with the greenery surrounding them.

Tree - Lined Environment The government and business sector of Nicosia is a hub for fast paced work. Adding trees, new lighting, and potted plants creates an increased, biodiverse, ecosystem to the business sector. Relaxation in the form of gazing at plants is key to a non-stop lifestyle. Any bit of natural exposure is proven to relieve mental fatigue, an important aspect to those working everyday of the week.

Early Projects

Ordered Disorder Part of the Chaumont-sur-Loire Garden festival, this project was my first BLA design. I focused on geometric form meeting abstract form. I have highlighted my model made at 1/8th scale, as well as technical drawings.

UIUC Courtyard The courtyard between the Architecture Building and David Kinley Hall highlights the beginning of my understanding of design analysis and problem solving for a specific site with very strict parameters.

Hand Drafting and Sketching

Beck Residence Draft and Render 43

Sharp Residence Draft and Render

Wible Residence 44

Photography Memphis - 2017 New York City - 2018 Cyprus - 2019 And Counting...

Thank you katejobulin@gmail.com 1 630 427 7329

Kate Jo Bulin