Kayla
Ruzicka Selected Works
Table of Contents 01
Model Making
02
Residential Design
03
Remine the Future
04
Oakridge Neighborhood
05
Bench Construction
06
Sculptural Interpretation
07
Kirkbride Elementar y
08
Redefining Prison Environments
01
Model Making
Building a 1/16 scale version of the Fort Worth Water Gardens by Philip Johnson helped me understand the incredible amount of detail and complexity in this design. The document on the right is one of the original construction documents from the city of Fort Worth. Calling the city led to learning about the history and maintenance of the Water Gardens.
The youngest victim of the Boston Marathon bombings, Martin, was eight-years-old when he was killed on April 15, 2013. This playground is being designed adjacent to the Children’s Wharf in Boston as a symbol of peace and in remembrance of Martin. I made this model specifically to study scale and decide on appropriate plants for the space.
M i c h a e l Va n Va l k e n b u r g h A s s o c i a t e s Concept Model of Boston Children’s Museum Playground
M i c h a e l Va n Va l k e n b u r g h A s s o c i a t e s University of Toronto
Concept Model
T h i s m ode l i s lo o k in g a t th e sca l e , m at e r ia ls , a n d rel a t i o n sh i ps in t h e de s ig n fo r th e woo dl a n d g a rde n a t t h e B r oo k lyn B ot a n ic Ga rde n in N ew Yo r k C i t y.
M i c h a e l Va n Va l k e n b u r g h A s s o c i a t e s Brooklyn Botanic Gardens
Full Scale Mock-up
After decidi ng on the patter n of the pathw ays, we l aid out the pathw ays at ful l scale on the si te to see i f the desi gn was feasibl e .
Material Study
I c re ate d a m ode l t o t e s t a r a m m e d ea r t h m a te r ia l fo r the 1 4 ’ w a l l . T h i s m o c k -u p gave us i n for m a t i o n a bo u t the s ty l e o f w i n d ows t h e wa ll co ul d su p po r t , t h e mo o d o f the te x t u r e , a n d r e la t io n s h ip be twe e n t h e w a l l a n d pe o ple .
02 Lorna’s Landscape This project was one of my first in the landscape architecture program. This residential plan was inspired by the family’s young daughter who has a vibrant imagination. The plan contains a butterfly garden, curving pathways, and a pond for play and adventure within the safety of their backyard.
03 Remine the Future A quarry in Colfax, Iowa is being converted into a public park. I designed a small portion of the park for a scenic fishing area and nature center. The five-foot depth is much safer for children to swim, fish, and play in contrast to the quarry, which is up to sixty feet deep.. The use of native vegetation on this site will provide habitat for an abundance of wildlife, help absorb excess water from flooding, and reduce erosion along the bank of the quarry. There are shelters surrounding the pond to provide places for picnicking, fishing, and relaxing. The larger shelter space can be used to store maintenance supplies and equipment to turn the pond into an ice skating rink in the winter. This site provides activities for all seasons and a safe place for all ages to enjoy.
04 Oakridge Neighborhood
3
22 3
Smokey Row
$
$
1
Kum’n’Go
1
Cafe Di Scala
1
$$ Gateway Market
$$
A-Dong
$
1
3 1
$$$
Oakridge is the most culturally diverse neighborhood in Des Moines, IA. It’s campus contains 339 housing units for over 1,000 residents. The downfall of this neighborhood is its isolation from amenities and the rest of the community. Oakridge is isolated because it is surrounded by the interstate, a hospital, and a school. I studied the local crime rates, amenities, traffic patterns, and pedestrian access to create a design to reconnect their neighborhood to the rest of downtown Des Moines. Buzzard Billy’s
$$
1 1
3
$$$
Centro
Crimes in the Burger last 6 months King
Amenities
$ 5000+ Cars Roads with
Bike Trail
Complete Streets | Bike Lanes, Crosswal
What would Make Oakridge an Even Better Place to Live?
Crossing Signage
-”Secruity. Look over kids and new people who are living here.” -”Safety again came up as a concern. While a few were very general, simply stating “safe,” “security,” or “every unit has a safe place to live,” others had suggestions for specific policies that might address the problem.” -Oakridge Study July 2015
Key Issues: Amenities
Complete Streets | Crosswalk
Bike Trail
Goals: To create streets
supportive to pedestrian and cyclists for easy and safe access to amenities
Precedents:
Crosswalk Art
Phasing Plan for Oakridge consists of three parts to give the neighborhood greater access to the Des Moines area and decrease the crime rate.
Bike Lane Planter
Expanding Oakridge | Live/Work Housing
swalks, and Lighting Turning Diagram
What would Make Oakridge an Even Better Place to Live? -”Good neighbors who always respect the law.”
Pedestrian Median
-Oakridge Study July 2015
Key Issues: Crimes in the Neighborhood
Short Grasses
swalk Perspective
Amenities
1”=20’ 0
Planters
Pedestrian Median
20
40
Signage
80
1”=100’
Goals: The neighborhood
next to Oakridge is where a majority of the local crime happens. Oakridge has the ability to expand to this neighborhood and turn the units into live/work housing to provide the amenities it needs and lower crime rates
0
Precedents:
100
200
400
05 Bench Design & Construction
This bench was my first construction project. My partner and I designed the bench to the give the option of a social or independent atmosphere by turning the middle section. The challenge of this project was to make it out of recycled materials. This installation was made of 100% recycled plywood. Planview 6”=1’
0
2
4
Kayla Volkmer and Natalie Jensen
8
Section
12
6”=1’
0
2
4
Kayla Volkmer and Natalie Jensen
8
12
Back Support 2x4x20
Back Support 2x4x20 !"#$%&'$()*(+,(+%-#$'./('$%&+-0#,+1(!"#$%&-
!"#$%&'$()*(+,(+%-#$'./('$%&+-0#,+1(!"#$%&-
Pallet Wood 1/2x3x20
!"#$%&'$()*(+,(+%-#$'./('$%&+-0#,+1(!"#$%&-
Seat Frame 2x4x30
Pallet Wood 1/2x3x20 Seat Frame 2x4x30
!"#$%&'$()*(+,(+%-#$'./('$%&+-0#,+1(!"#$%&-
Section 1
Leg 2x4x40
Section 2 Seat Frame 2x4x30
Seat Frame Seat Support 2x4x30 2x4x30
Pallet boards are attached to the frame with 1/2” dry wall screws. The 2x4s are connected with 3” decking screws. The sections are not attached to one antoher.
Seat Frame 2x4x30
Pallet Wood 1/2x3x20
Back Brace 2x4x30
Pallet Wood 1/2x3x20 Section 1
Section 3
Pallet boards are attached to the frame with 1/2” dry wall screws. The 2x4s are connected with 3” decking screws. The sections are not attached to one antoher.
Section 2
Leg 2x4x40
Leg 2x4x18
Section 3
Leg Support Leg 2x4x18 2x4x40
06 Sculptural Interpretation The purpose of this project was to gain an understanding of the use of materiality and sustainability in my study on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This site is LEED certified because its design is used to reduce energy and water use. After studying the underground water system of this site, I conducted a survey on water usage in our studio and turned these results into a sculpture in my college. Four colors of blue string are continuously hooked onto push pins and wrapped around a spigot to show how our individual water consumption contributes to a greater impact on the environment.
07 Kirkbride Elementary
Kirkbride Elementary is a K-8 School in South Philadelphia. The children of Kirkbride elementary were given recess for the first time in many years because teacher’s decided to give up their parking spots so the children would have a place to play. The school invited Iowa State to design their first playground. My team of six was inspired by the diversity in the neighborhood that was created from by the waves of immigration throughout Philadelphia’s history. Our concept for the playground was driven by the waves of immigration and how they rooted throughout the city to make Philadelphia the culturally rich and vibrant place we see today.
Italians-1880s Irish-1841
Vietnamese - 1975
Polish-1890s Mexican-1996 Lebanese-1887
Cambodians-1980 Swedes-1642
PHILADELPHIA IMMIGRATION TIMELINE Key: Number of Years in
Polish immigrants settle between Front and 2nd and Catharine Street.
Philadelphia
20 years 1996 1980 36 years 1975 41 years 1890s 126 years 120 years 1887 136 years 1880s 175 years 1841 1642 374years
Lebanese immigrants began settling around 10th and Ellsworth St. Mass immigration of Southern Italian est. neighborhood called Bella Vista
Vietnamese immigrants and est. businesses along Washington Ave. and 8th Southeast Asian immigrants, including Cambodians, est. homes around 7th and Wolf Street Mexican businesses flourish along Washington Ave, 8th Street, and in the 9th Street Market
First Irish Church established at 2nd and Queens Street The Swedes est. New Sweden in South Philadelphia at Weccacoe
1642
1841
1880s 1887
1890s 1975
1980
1996
http://www.philaplace.org/resources/South%20Philadelphia%20Timeline.pdf
Gateway
Half Basketball Court Turf Gathering Space Outdoor Classroom Shaded Seating
5-12 Play Equipment
2-5 Play Equipment Landform Play
Education Station
An area for small groups and community
Rooftop Classroom Covered area for outdoor classes
Rooftop Playground View of the Philadelphia Skyline
Kirkbride Elementary Ground level playground
08 Redefining Prison Environments
Photos by Julie Stevens
Plot Dimensions
Row and Path Specifications
Produce Amounts
Winter 20
1
Su m m er
o
rie s
Our observations about staff needs turn into research and action
m Su m
2n Ju
Un
il d D e si g n B u
d
nt A e m R re p i n v o l v e li e ED me t a
io n
t Bar b & A my
It’s working!
Ga
6
ga
en
Sp
ec
i
al
en
rd
ep
g 201 Sprin
De
For the last three years I have worked with the women of the Iowa Correctional Institute for Women in designing production gardens and a special needs garden. These gardens give the women ownership of their environment, create a therapeutic space to generate healing, and provide them with fresh produce. This production garden is unique in its restrictions to ensure the safety of the women and maintain visibility to the staff. The women are included in the design strategy, build, and maintenance so they will be able to continue this garden in upcoming years without assistance. Our hope is to provide the women with life skills and a restorative environment.
m
o n du c
n actio into n build n o i g t s i des tion erva Obs ch. 2nd observa r f a o e res aff b/c t for s
47
eo
Ch
th
m
Our process comes together because of community engagement and design thinking
d e sign think ing
n
Summe r 2012
ts
d
01 5
2
er 20 14
rP
en
an
la
udi
201
Sp rin g2
ign Build Des 3rd
ste
ed
St
Fal l
Su
terns ed In Hir
O M.
on p ti 1 st O
Ma
c Study pre
Decide to continue project
8C la s s, added IS P ge
Spring 2012
ne
ge
me
ed
cu
We start living up to our promises and deliver on our big
an
Ju lie
Firs t
20 13
2
nd
tion Studio Op
F
201 3
Build M ign .O es D
ng
Fo
Study IRB or Classroom do ut O
Sp ri
anks to Lynn Pa xso h th c i R n ups o r G et m cus
01 4
Initial Contract Signing
Launched project with innocent intentions
all 2
010
.C
Fall 2
roved app IRB t LA 478 Class s Fir IW Tranistio n IC
ting ee M
1 20
d te
10
g rin Sp
com
nt sta
m itt e
e&
r t s w o r kin s plo t stu d y
g
Su
m
2 er m
5 01
. plot study c O.C o nd M. u
u
7 201 Fall
We fine tune our design process and begin to give offenders more responsibilities
cu
rri c
ulum, P rod
ct
p arden rogram g n io
e&
m Su
er m
16 20
ng
Photos by Julie Stevens
Thank you kvolkmer@iastate.edu