kelsey stewart
He turns not back who is bound to a star -Leonardo Da Vinci
k e l s e y alexandra
stewart
905.329.6537 kelseyalexandrastewart@gmail.com 2059 Houck Cres Fort Erie, ON. K1S 5M8
Education Work Experience
Skills
2010- 2014
August 2014- Ongoing Intern Christopher Simmonds Architect, Ottawa, ON Diverse responsibilities includ drafting, 3D modelling using various programs, graphic design, firm and client advertising, city applications, and other architectural related duties
Revit
September 2011- January 2013 Technician Loan Pool, Carleton University, Ottawa ON An audio and visual rental equipment facility located in the Azreli School of Architecture
Illustrator
Bachelor of Architectural Studies Carleton University, Ottawa ON Design with distinction Azrieli School of Architecture with Study Term Abroad Universidad Europe de Madrid
Awards Deans List 2010-2014
Published in Building 22 in 2014, project “Terra Talus” Published in Building 22 in 2014, project “Koheler House” Nominated for Stantec Architecture Award, project “Terra Talus” Nominated for Terron Scholarship, project “Terra Talus”
June 2012- September 2012 Estimator and Hvac Design Tim-ber Mart, Fort Erie ON Produced lumber estimations based on architectural drawings and designed basic HVAC plans. May 2011- August 2011 Job Shadowing Jason Pizzicarola Design, Fort Erie ON Experienced day to day activities of head architect, projects underway and meetings with clients. 2009- 2013 General Employee Rick Stewart Construction Ltd., Fort Erie ON On site construction experience working various jobs.
AutoCad Rhino Photoshop Indesign Premier Pro SketchUp
Travel Canada . United States . Mexico . Bahamas . Jamaica . Dominica . Panama . Spain . Italy . France . Germany . Czech Republic . Portugal
hand drawings
terra Located within Old Ottawa East, the six acre lot of Oblates consists of large green spaces with views facing the river and the canal a short distance away. Bordering the site is the Deschatelets Building, which has been given heritage status alongside the celebrated walkway of Oblates Ave. The zoning of the site will support a traditional commercial main street the length of the public edge, a humbled residential development of three stories down the private edge, and mixed use at its center. Although the foliage is lush, and the existing space is mostly green, the topography is relatively flat. Proposed for this area is a development consisting of: condominiums, back-to-back townhouses, commercial street fronts, and ample public spaces. The project involved working with a partner whose responsibility was to complete the townhouses and mine the condominiums.
talus
P R O C E S S A look through the numerous small sketches brings the bigger picture to life, where some ideas are relevant and others rejected.
EXCAVATION AND REUSE OF GROUND SOIL
MASSING ADHERING TO THE ZONING REQUIREMENTS
A fascinating landscape is generated by the excavation of land to create an opportunity for a subterranean element and the reuse of excavated land allows for a new landform.
With respect to zoning, massing blocks have been created in desired locations according to maximum height allowance.
Strong sight lines have been determined forming connections throughout the site. These views establish the building forms and create a circulation unique to the Oblates site and its qualities.
FRAMING OF PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SPACE
PATHWAYS CONNECT SITE DESTINATIONS
PROPOSED URBAN STRATEGY
The circulation, paired with the determined building forms, becomes a frame for the public spaces found within the urban plan. A commercial court, green gardens and parks, and a public plaza develop into the defining programs of these spaces.
Pathways are formed to fit the circulation and public spaces on the site. These consist of the upper street from main to river, the converging of original oblates with new pedestrian oblate, and the residential trails.
The initial concept to the urban site was to optimize the building space without condensing vertically and to restore as much of the eliminated public green space as possible. Strategies include: terracing buildings, back-toback townhouses, creation of pedestrian streets, underground parking with unit access acting as the upper street structure and community plazas and courtyards.
VIEWS ESTABLISH FORMS AND SITE CIRCULATION
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site plan
Upper Street
Public Plaza
Commercial Court
The upper street becomes an integral part of the site’s structure as it provides access straight through to the river from Main Street. This becomes a lively space due to the interaction from the townhouses and the condominiums backing onto the pathway where gardens and front lawns are utilized by grade access Units. Cross-streets create a new layer of movement as people move deeper into the site from Springhurst Avenue.
The plaza becomes a destination point for travelers to the site as well as a proposed restoration of the Heritage Building by use of sub terrain as a new façade and entrance. It becomes a community driven space allowing for activities to transpire and for people to congregate.
A commercial street front along Main St. has the ability to bring vitality to the immediate edge of this site. An approach was made to bring additional life into the site by creating an entrance along the storefront building opening up to a commercial court with its edges defined by the buildings. The pathway leading from the court and further into the site is directed at the Deschatelets Building and overtakes buildings and park spaces eventually terminating at the historical frontispiece.
site section
The designed topography created a unique situation for the design on the Condominium Units as they reflect the landscape where the building is now situated. A stacked approach has been made allowing for a majority of the units to have private grade access to individual maisonettes. Cross ventilation is also a product of the design allowing every unit to have beautiful views of the river and a fresh sustainable way to ventilate. Ground access units maintain their own private yards as the others have balconies and everyone enjoys access to underground parking via the main lobby.
west elevation
east elevation
The primary cladding materials used to create the modern appearance of the condominiums are large floor to ceiling glass windows and metal panels with wood used periodically to warm up the facade. While some of the building details are typical, others are more uncommon resulting predominantly from the exterior corridors. This creates a warm over cold situation which has been detailed in order to allow for minimal heat to escape. In addition, a unique barrier system has been developed for these spaces, with glass panels slightly protruded and overlapped as to allow for proper ventilation to take place as well as protect the exterior corridors from the elements.
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madrid + In February of 2013, Las Vegas Sands Corp., announced the site for their multibillion dollar mega complex of resorts and casinos to be Alcorcรณn, a town in the outskirts of the Spanish capital, Madrid. It would occupy approximately 7.5 sq.kms. and would include skyscraper hotels, numerous casinos and other amenities such as commercial areas and restaurants. The disconnect from downtown Madrid to the town of Alcorcรณn however was apparent, and in order to benefit tourism in Madrid the gap needed to be filled. The proposal attempts the connection of downtown Madrid to the plot of Eurovegas by using renowned areas within the city and a new urban plan. The idea is to encourage people to travel between the two destinations without the need of a vehicle as the intention would be to experience the surrounding environment.
eurovegas
conceptual eurovegas saffron fields
The knowledge gleaned from Las Vegas, the entertainment capital of the world, became a focal point of inspiration. Indeed, beyond the facade of lights, a set of rules can be produced regarding the innermost workings of a “play” city where the flow of tourism is essential for success. Madrid’s tourism however has its geographical limits and the proposed Eurovegas site falls short of this boundary.
Upon analysis of the succession of spaces from the airport to the downtown core to the parks and urban tourist destinations, an area has been identified as a weak link in bridging the gap to Eurovegas, and a proposed urban plan has become the focus of this project. Downtown Madrid is a dense urban fabric; therefore, interventions both natural and activity based have been made to expand the limits of the city. The nearest is Madrid Rio, where the Manzanares River has been revitalized and leads into the next major public space, Casa de Campo, Madrid’s largest urban park. The assessment of Madrid Rio assisted in developing the new proposed urban plan as it successfully introduced natural yet cultivated land into the urban fabric, as well as provided many paths and activities to entertain both locals and tourists alike. Casa de Campo is incredibly naturalistic and sprawling in its great expanse, and provides a viable means by which to use its existing infrastructure of pathways to filter people from the city towards Eurovegas. The experiences gained from visiting, analyzing and appreciating these sites have lead to a set of urban rules created to guide the new urban plan as an extension of the city. It becomes a bridge for people to use between the city and the casinos while providing a scenic, entertaining route as a destination point in and of itself.
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1. Airport 2. Downtown Madrid 3. Casa de Campo 4. Undeveloped Space 5. Eurovegas
BUILDINGS: Existing residential areas border the designed plot with new commercial buildings incorporated within the landscape, that is, restaurant, market, etc.
WATER: A natural river way runs through Casa de Campo to the Eurovegas plot. Used as an attraction, it is centralized and revitalized. TOPOGRAPHY/ VEGITATION: The project will revitalize the forgotten land using green lawns, trees and brush as well as crops which are native to Madrid. The types of plants have been chosen for low maintenance, seasonal harvest, and application in commercial and public interventions. ROUTES: Routes are designed to work for both a fast and slow paced movement. One route is designed for a leisurely pace through vegetation and restaurant sections whereas the other is designed to accommodate golf carts creating a faster connection and supported by the local golf course. ACTIVITIES: Activities already found in this area consist of sports parks and a golf course. Newly proposed activities involve vegetation as well as commercial aspects, such as, the picking, harvesting, and use of the crops maintained.
site plan
Main attractions for tourists visiting Madrid are warm weather and delicious food; therefore, the proposed plan encourages visitors of Eurovegas to walk through and spend time outdoors appreciating the crops native to Madrid. In correspondence to these crops are the restaurants and bars that cultivate and use them to create the dishes they inspire. Saffron, for example, is used in paella, a famous dish in Spain, and grapes are used in the production of their world celebrated wines. Used as a focal point, these activities revolve around the waterways and motivate others to follow in similar undertakings. It also encourages people staying in Eurovegas to venture into the city and people from the city to make the trip to Eurovegas, thus benefiting both parties.
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Orchards
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Olive Fields
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Outdoor Patio
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Underground Market Existing Football Feild Ampitheater Seating Gardening Plots
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Winery
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Urban Fountain
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Vinyard
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Saffron Fields
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Winebar
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Golf Cart Rentals
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Paella Restaurant
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Existing Golf Course
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vineyard
green roof
winery
pedestrian bridge
patio
revitalized river
saffron fields
projected dock
orchards
community gardening plots
almonte Almonte, is a peaceful, naturally beautiful town with Canada’s Mississippi River running through the center and dropping dramatically in a series of waterfalls and rapids. The town, in close proximity to Ottawa, is mostly a commuter town for those working in the city; therefore, a learning institute affiliated with Carleton University was proposed. The site was the land surrounding the historic Old Town Hall with the possibility of reclaiming the interior of the hall. The land is the most impressive feature of the site as it borders the river precisely near the onset of the rapids. It appealed for a building which not only showcased the town hall but also drew attention to the surrounding environmental context. Research on the area and its geography gave case to a geological institute as the program for the bedrock which Almonte sits on, and which proves significant in the geological makeup of the Canadian landscape. Research has been and is continuously being done on this specific earth makeup therefore enabling students to learn from their physical surroundings. The building itself was influenced by the rock formations, slabs of irregular rock layered onto one another, and maintains a low profile on the site in order to respect the beauty of its historic counterpart.
intitute
Long low slabs are created for the basic floor configuration; the slabs take the shape of the river bank, leaving room for public space between the existing and the new as well as room in front for the river walk to be maintained. Connecting spaces vertically is achieved through openings that create double height spaces within the floor plan. This will enable visitors to feel as if they were between layers of rock. Roof slabs consist of geometrical shapes which cover the area needed and use the negative space to let in natural sunlight through skylights.
The roof becomes the final floor as it is accessible from the outside or through the elevator within the building. With a green roof and many places to sit, the roof slabs are connected with wheelchair accessible walkways to create a viewing space for both the historic building of the Old Town Hall and the natural beauty of the Mississippi River.
conceptual sketches
Situated on the perimeter of the site, the plan wraps around the historic town hall and keeps to a respectably low height, as to set the stage for the historic building as well as the waterfront. With the cladding generally made up of large angular glazing, either view can be seen from almost anywhere within the building. The central double height circulation space becomes a focal point within the building. As the building is sitting directly on bedrock, the ground floor would expose and cover a piece of the rock, reflecting the opening above, so students would have a chance to see firsthand what they are studying. These double height spaces found within the plan also provide interesting views of the roof slabs hanging above. To look up and see the sky mixed with hard structure in unusual shapes would give any individual the feeling of residing within the rocks themselves. level 1
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roof
section: north to south
section: east to west
CU The Carleton Art Gallery is located on campus and has depreciated due to its lack of space and visibility to the University community. In taking advantage of a large empty plot adjacent to the existing gallery, the space available for exhibitions and circulation space has the opportunity to multiply allowing for larger quantities as well as larger scale artworks to be on display. Therefore, an addition is proposed that opens up the space making the gallery more visible and inviting to the community as well as providing a black box, white box, and raw installation space.
AG
conceptual render and sketch hybrid
PROCESS This sketchbook uses each step in the design process in attempts to evoke the feeling as if you were finding your way through the art gallery itself. Maze-like in properties, the journey takes you through the outer gallery void and into the inner sanctum of the volume using two separate yet intertwined books.
Extrude volume
Duplicate volume for seperate function
Challenge the grid
Use of subterrain to accentuate original grid
In a series of deliberated steps the building becomes a form, thereby creating all the spaces required for a proper art gallery. The grid of the existing building becomes a focus as new additions contradict as well as accentuate these axis lines. The main feature then becomes this contradiction in order and although it is linear in shape it calls attention to itself by its offsetting nature. The front plaza, created by surrounding amphitheater type seating, reaffirms the grid and as well creates an area for students to relax and see into the large glass covered space, hence, interested intently at what is taking place within. It creates the grand entranceway every gallery needs and the attention Carleton University Gallery has been yearning.
Enclose the volume within the void
Carleton University Campus CUAG
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physical model : circulation space
What once was the pristine display space will now be gutted and transformed into an interaction space where modern installations can take place. They will be given creative reign in how they wish to use the space as its bare walls and floors provide the artist with a “blank canvas�. This space is to be walked through to reach other galleries therefore visitors may choose to become involved in the art or watch from the balcony above.
body The Grey Nuns Motherhouse located in downtown Montreal was acquired by Concordia University with the hopes of integrating the large site and building into the existing campus. The larger plan proposed an adaptive reuse of the existing building with an addition reminiscent of the original plans for the historic site never adequately finished. The program would be the Arts Faculty, with the focus being the digital arts within the new addition.
void
PROCESS Digital arts is composed of a vast array of mediums, shapes, sizes and displays. The research of some and the attempt at others provided an understanding of the life force this building would possess. The capacity to draw on concepts while perceiving the aesthetics of such things as glitch art, coding, 3d printing, binary, prosthetics, bone growth, and more became the backbone of this project.
Extrude addition as prosthetic leg of Motherhouse
Floor plates become bridge between programmed spaces of the voids.
Divide mass up through most traveled routes and important destinations on site.
Spaces are enclosed within glass structurally self-sufficient through vertical tension wire trusses
The absense of the body emerges through voids created.
Large forms become main structure and interesting detail
Large structures are manipulated by circulation patterns.
Main structure for curves; steel framework with exterior shell of panelled steel.
basement
level 2
The project commences with an understanding of digital art and its process. Digital art has created a world lacking a bodily form as it is derived by means of various sequences patterns and manipulation of information. This bodiless art however goes on to generate performances and interactions which create life, movement, structure, and a body to call its own. In the scheme of the motherhouse the addition takes on the form of the Holy Spirit, a figure in religious beliefs that is always present but never present tangibly. Therefore, I have given life to the absent body within the structure. The voided spaces become recognizable through the large curves which are reminiscent of a body and sculpted by the pure information of the circulation needed in the program. Within these voids we understand the spaces in relationship to our own body. The digital information which is created and displayed within these voids gives a new layer of information to these spaces. The main organizational considerations of the floor plans come from the comparison of the program spaces versus the circulation. The creation spaces, that is. studios and performance spaces, become areas within the voids whereas the circulation spaces move around them.
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roof
site section
west elevation
physical model
north elevation
design Throughout my undergrad, proficiency in the wood shop area yielded many “hands on� projects ranging from small scale models to full scale mock-ups. It has always been a source of intense pride to witness the fruition of these scale models from the creation of the idea to the manifestation of the product down to the smallest of details. Indeed, the shaping of spaces in real life proves to be extremely rewarding. At the other end of the spectrum, I have also manually designed and crafted full scale furniture pieces. As a group member I created a new communal studio table currently used as a favourite with students, and individually I designed a unique chair involving intricate joints and curved surfaces.
build
A simple sleek design was the goal of this chair that all but disappears in profile and balances precariously on the edges of its curves. With the fluidity of a signature, the curves are one in the same and the finger joints fit snugly together like the clasping of hands. The beauty of the tall back is emphasized by the extremely long finger joints that smoothly transition into the solid curve. No easy feat, these joints make the chair a unique design and allow for the back to splay dramatically for the triangular seat to perch making one question where the balance of the chair truly lies.
A simple sleek design was the goal of this chair that all but disappears in profile and balances precariously on the edges of its curves. With the fluidity of a signature, the curves are one in the same and the finger joints fit snugly together like the clasping of hands. The beauty of the tall back is emphasized by the extremely long finger joints that smoothly transition into the solid curve. No easy feat, these joints make the chair a unique design and allow for the back to splay dramatically for the triangular seat to perch making one question where the balance of the chair truly lies.
fin.