Keagan Meyer Architecture Portfolio2022
“Buildings are not simply expressive sculptures; they make visible our personal and our collective aspirations as a society. Great architecture can give us hope. Great architecture can heal.”
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– Michael Murphy
In 2019 I returned to UCT and completed my Honours studies . therafter finishing my Masters degree between 2020 and 2021. The projects which follow show my abilities as a designer and critical thinker in the realm of architecture and the built environment, my ability to solve problems spatially, as well as my skill in representing and expressing my ideas in a creative and definitive manner. So I hope you do enjoy perusing my work.
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TheINTROfollowing works are a curated collection of my projects in architectural studies ranging from my first to Masters years of study. The specific projects chosen were those which I felt showcased my best work in each year they were done. My journey in the realm of architecture thus far, beginning with my undergraduate studies at UCT, has been the most interesting, enjoyable and rewarding educational experience of my life. While at times creating the most stressful moments of my life, I would not have traded it for anything and my decision to pursue studies and a career in this field continues to be one of the best choices I have ever made.
HonoursCONTENTSCuriculumVitaeMastersThesisHonoursSoloprojectSim-officeprojectThirdyearFinalproject24223042
After 3 grueling years of studies in the undergraduate program I finally graduated in the year 2017, a few months later than planned due to the ongoing protests at the time and search for eqaulity and opportunity by students all over the country. While being one of the most important movements in recent years in our country, these protests also affected the operation of the university system as a whole and as such I was stuck without an internship job for the year of 2017. After finally finding employment as an intern in January of 2018, I was able to experience the practical application of the knowledge gained during my studies, as well as greatly expanding that knowledge with realworld experience. Working in that year had allowed me to get some understanding of what is expected and required of a professional architect in today’s world as well as affording me the opportunity to be involved in the process of design and construction in ways that academic studies never could.
ThesisMaster’s Cancer Support centre at Red Cross Childrens’s Hospital 2020/2021 4
Sanctauries of Healing : Towards an architecture of wellbeing and care 5
Sanctauries of Healing
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“The innate connection between man and nature”, which explains the postive effect nature has on our wellbeing.
current problemunpleasant, clinical hospital design, stemming from an conceptionoutdated of medical spaces Hopeful futuremedical spaces which careenvironmentscreateofandhealingthroughtheunderstandingofsalutogenesis
My thesis research beganwith the subject of “Salutogenesis” - a medical term which explains are path for medical care based on the idea of creating a lifestyle and environment which promotes good health and disease prevention.
Khoo tEck Puat Hospital Butaro District Hospital
The combination and intersection of these concepts is where my dissertation inquiry found its roots - the improvement of healing spaces as environments of care The environmental ideas of biophilia examined in combination with the conception of the programmatic nature and function of a Maggie centre Maggie centres Devised by Maggie Jencks, are cancer support centres, meant to be spaces of hope, dealing in the treatment of cancer patients in areas of health other than their physical medical treatment.
Alvaar Aalto tuberculosis sanatorium uses sun as healing method Various Maggie centre facilities.
Towards an architecture of wellbeing and care Design of a cancer care facility at the Red Cross Children’s War Memorial hospital in Rondebosch, Cape Town. The hospital signifies a major healthcare capmus in the city with ties to many non-profit organisations in SA, which work to aid in the recovery and care of patients (children) being treated here and their parents. This thesis project seeks to create a space which further facilitates such care, by making use of empty land on the hospital campus, in order to develop a new space of wellbeing and care in the form of a cancer support centre, which works in tandem with the oncolgy unit of the hospital.
Biophilia
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Analysis of hospital building heights
View of hospital site with significant buildings and project site highlighted Map of site constraintsopportunitiesand
This is the site of Red Cross children’s hospital, where the project takes place, on an empty plot of grass on the corner of the site.
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Analysis of Rondebosch area surrounding site of project 8
Collage exploring conceptual imagining of the programme for the building, looking at the juxtaposition of textures, aesthetics, ergonomics and programmatic functions.
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structuralcreateedfeaturebecomesfromcirculationprocessionalrouteentrance,whichamainofthespace,by‘tree-like’members
Collage exploring conceptual imagining of the programme for the building, looking at the juxtaposition of textures, aesthetics, ergonomics and programmatic functions. Conceptual sketch of a
Concept development As a centre for cancer care and recovery which goes beyond physical medical treatment, creating an environment rich in salutogenic design principles, that incorporates nature as a means of aiding in recovery, many ideas related to salutogene sis and healing environments were explored for this thesis.
Collage usingcirculationfunctionsseperationconceptualexploringofalonganature-centredspace,greenspacesasameansoforderingspace.
concept sketches related to form and procession within the building, considering spaces of gathering and seperation One of the inspirationsinitialwasthe idea of a “Maggie centre” looking at incorporating nature inside of a building for salutogenic design.
Analysis of potential placement on site and significant views/ connections to hospital and surroundings
First Iteration of West elevation sketch design on site sketch cross section of different roof heights based on contextual clues idea for site massing based on contextual influences idea for site massing based on climatic influences
Initial Sketch design ideas for siting and spatial arrangement
relationshpsprogrammaticInitialandlayoutbasedondesiredconnectionsofdifferentspaces
Site plan showing sun movement, prevailing winds and major circualation routes adjacent to site
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First Iteration of plan sketch design on site
Programmatic, spatial arrangement and Design progression centrestructureofmassing/3DofdesignsketchideasdesignplansketchofiterationThirdSketch 3D programmebufferscreatedevelopedAsgardenthedesignfurtherthegoalwastomoregreenthroughoutthebuilding,whileseperatingthemore,tocreatefurtherprivacyandgreenspacesinareaswhichrequiredit.relationshipprogrammaticDevelopedlayout second iteration of sketch plan design Sketch elevations and section 11
Final Ground floor plan 12
Final First floor plan 13
Public areas of building Private areas of building Semi-private areas of building Green spaces/ planted courtyards Public areas on first floor - work space/ loungeDiagrammaticarea Ground floor plan showing different areas of building Diagrammatic Ground floor showing green spaces within building Diagrammatic Ground floor showing first floor public area Site plan 14
Public areas of building : - Waiting room - -kitchenlibrary - Workspace/lounge areafloor)(first - major circulation space to each area of building Externally exposed minor circulation walkways with flat green roofs, surrounding green courtyards, which cover circulation routes for private and semi-private areas of Privatebuildingareasof building : - Staff room - Ablutions - private counselling rooms Semi-private areas of building : - Multipurpose room - aromatherapy room - music therapy room - art therapy room 3D view from NW direction 3D view from NE direction 15
East Elevation West Elevation16
North Elevation South Elevation17
Longitudinal section 18
View from SE entrance to site 19
View from mani entrance foyer towards waiting area
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View from kitchen towards outdoor central courtyard/green space
View from mani entrance foyer towards waiting area
View inside music therapy room
Central green courtyard which connects to exterior green spaceSemi-private area external circulation + courtyard Private area external circulation + courtyard private step-out green spaces for therapy rooms in semi-private area of building (art, music and aromatherapy)21
Honours solo Project Temporary event infrastructure at UCT upper campus (1st 2019semester) 22
This image was a conceptual idea as to the potential for the changing of monotonous space for more positive ideas of the space.
Temporary performance space
My idea began with exploring the potential for temporary event space to facilitate an expansion of an annual event at the school of architecture, called “vertical studio”, which allows work between different years of architecture students. Trying to include more departments of the university for this event was the goal of the project, through a linking of the backside of the buildings. This would create a new point of interest on campus and create more buildings.peopleinteractiondialogue/betweeninthese
My chosen area of study was at UCT upper campus, making use of the link beetween the centlivres building, beattie FullerbuildingACbuilding,Jordanandthehallgardenoppositethem.
Images showcasing the unused space on the back side of these univerdsity buildings
The brief for this project was to create some sort of temporary infrastructure for a space of event or performance at a site of our choice. Initially I explored the idea of creating a more positive experience of the buildings we study in, shying away from the stress and work related feelings we experience now.
Images showcasing conceptual sketches and models exploring ideas for the infrastructure and events to take place adjacent to these builidngs.
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Shown here is a conceptual sketch explo ration of interventionpotentialsiteson campus, how they connect into and through existing build ings and possible points of interest for imagined event.
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The idea for this project was to address several issues surrounding student views of certain spaces on campus, as being related to stress and anxiety. Through the imagining of a special event occurring on campus, which centres around the design of infrastructure which could facilitate such activities.
Building on the idea of “vertical studio” - an event which occurs annually within the architecture school at UCT, where students across different years band together to create special projects to be exhibited and experienced by all at the end of the event, this conceptual work seeks to expand upon that idea into a “diagnol studio”, which also connects to buildings beyond the architecture studios in the centlivres building, creating a greater event inclusive of more spaces on campus.
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Final site plan showing full intervention and event spaces and final section through cinema space intervention showing occupation and useage. 27
This is a bigger scale view of the cinema space within the intervention plan, showing possible useage and population of the space during an event.
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These drawings show the technical details and conception of the temporary structure’s assembly and making, illustrating how it could be created from simple timber pieces by students in the workshop.
Honours simoffice project Community Day Centre in Vredenberg (2nd semester) 2019 30
The brief for this project was that of a CDC for Vredenberg, a town on the west coast of the Western Cape. The clinic is part of a plan for urban development by the Western Cape Government for the area.
The images shown here depict the plans for urban growth and how this CDC fits into the greater scheme.
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Vredenberg Community Day Clinic
Proposed urban design plan by Urbanconcepts existing urban context
Proposed urban design plan by Urbanconcepts
Proposed urban design plan by Urbanconcepts Clinic Site plan
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Proposed urban design plan by Urbanconcepts for Vredenberg new civic area in images on the left - with clinic site highlighted in pink.
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Ground floor plan public area of clinic - Entry to clinic at lowest point of the building + slope Initial point of meeting patients - showing waiting area + admin, pharmacy and other more immediate treatment spaces. 34
Top floor plan looking down to all privacylevels of treatment areas increase as levels go up, with private treatment areas for families and individuals beyond major courtyard space seper ating public and private parts of clinic. Top floor of public space above ground floor plan with fur ther public treatment rooms. 35
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Third year final project Mixed use building in Woodstock 2016 42
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The goal was the creation of a mixed-use building with a bookstore on the ground floor + basement (gold bands) and several levels of apartments above (blue bands) 46
2nd Floor plan 3rd Floor plan Ground Floor plan 1st Floor plan 47
NW Axonometric view 48
NorthernsectionElevation
Western Elevation Cross
Longitudinal section 49
FIN. Thank you for your consideration