KEVIN JO Bachelor of Landscape Architecture Selected Works 2020
PROLOGUE
One of the greatest aspects of design, especially in landscape architecture, is the concept of identity that highlights the past and invites for future development. Every little town and bustling mega-city is not without years and years of history that makes them unique in their own way. This contrast is what drives culture-filled communities to thrive amongst themselves and at the same time, explore curiosity in other cultures. The responsibility falls on designers to immerse themselves into the site and tell the stories as a secondary source, similar to the roles of archaeologists and scholars. This is no easy task; designers are faced with potential political, social, and economical topics to incorporate into a design restricted by modern day laws and public support. But similar to artists, designers vary in methodologies and process of their work, which only adds to the exciting, arbitrary nature of expression in architectural form.
CONTENTS
01. VOICES UNHEARD 02. THE TRAVERSE 03. PROFESSIONAL WORK 04. DUPLEX PLANTING VIGNETTE 05. THE PERFECT PAIR 06. POLLINATOR OCCUPANCY EVALUATION 07. PERSONAL PROJECTS
WAYS TO GET YOUR VOICE HEARD | Concept Only 1
Send photos and videos to our email voicesunheard@lariots.com
2
Use #voicesunheard on social media platforms
3
Post your stories on our public website voicesunheardlariots.com
A
01.
VOICES UNHEARD Capstone Senior Showcase: 2020 Vision Exhibition Date: March 13, 2020 Exhibition Location: San Luis Obispo, California Project Location: Los Angeles, California Instructor: César Torres-Bustamente
The 1992 Los Angeles riots were many things - violent, influential, and even inevitable some may say. But as people have slowly learned over the years, the riots were never fully understood to begin with. The blame can certainly be attributed to one player such as the media or the police, and ultimately, it affected people not only in Los Angeles but cities throughout the nation. The riots were much more than what was seen on the TV screen - the beatings, fires, and the lot. They exposed how the media and news could edit the facts to push agendas that align with their political or social views. In addition, the residents of Los Angeles and the rest of the country unknowingly bought into the system and exacerbated the issue. Voices Unheard is a memorial garden that remembers all people involved and their stories. With a contemporary touch, each element in the garden serves a specific purpose for users to learn, create, share, and reflect. The garden rests in a perpetual cycle of light and darkness, which changes depending on the program as well as the four seasons. The users find “truths”, or untold stories, located in the darkest place in the garden, symbolizing the need to attentively seek what is real.
MAPPING THE EVENTS N
W 1 mi
Koreatown
E
S
(5ft Contours)
92’ LOS ANGELES RIOTS TIMELINE
1991
1992
03.03.91
03.21.91
Beating of Rodney King.
Four officers involved in beating plead not guilty.
04.29.92
04.30.92
Jurors acquit the officers of almost all charges. Some south LA residents react in anger, burning and looting stores.
Mayor Tom Brad citywide curfew. National Guard i deployed.
is officially
Affected Buildings
Koreatown Site
Affected Korean-run Businesses
2 mi
dley declares a
REMNANTS OF THE PAST
The riots dramatically affected the state of infrastructure like the city had never seen before. The buildings and more specifically, Korean-run businesses stretched throughout South Central Los Angeles, including Koreatown. The memorial garden challenges the need for more of the same type of buildings seen on every street. Additionally, it provides an open space while making a statement.
1993
05.01.92
05.02.92
Koreatown storeowners arm themselves with firearms to protect themselves against looters. King makes an emotional plea for peace on national TV.
An estimated 30,000 people march for racial healing in Koreatown.
04.17.93
Two of the LAPD officers involved in the beating receive guilty verdicts for violating King’s civil rights.
MEMORIAL GARDEN ISOMETRIC
MASTERPLAN
LEGEND 1 Tribute 2 Timeline 3 Wall of Stories 4 Walk of Peace
WEST 8TH STREET
5 Parking 6 Exhibition 7 Ramp seating 8 Amphitheater
8%
D
4%
2
1
8
3
SOUTH KENMORE AVENUE
7
A 16%
6
4
9%
C
5
60°
5 12.75’
REFRACTION OF THE TRUTH
2
1 Existing
Refraction
Roughly 40% of the existing land is a vacant lot with room for improvement especially in open space, cleanliness, and public interest.
Similar to the way light rays change direction passing from one medium to another, some “truths” of the riots were reinterpreted by the media to fit their agenda.
B
3
4
SOUTH CATALINA STREET
Submersion
Immersion
Lowering the surface below ground level allows for carving of spaces and walls that contribute to program-making.
The implementation of hardscape materials give the garden’s users places to sit, walk, and reflect. The layout offers multiple ways to experience the garden depending on the route taken.
CIRCULATION SCHEMES
Leisure
Remembrance
Occasion
Voyage
Breather
Participation
JOURNEY FROM LIGHT TO DARK
TIMELINE
TRIBUTE
Memorial Entry
Tribute / Timeline
Wall of Stories
LIGHT METER
Tribute / Timeline
Exhibition
WALL OF STORIES
Memorial Entry
Memorial Entry
LIGHT METER
AMPHITHEATER
EXHIBITION
LIGHT METER
LIGHT METER
Amphitheater
Exhibition / Ramp Sea
ating
SCALE 1/16”=1’-0” Parking
SCALE 1/16”=1’-0” Parking
Olea europaea
Prunus serrulata
Populus balsamifera
Stipa tenuissima
Achillea millefolium
Lavandula angustifolia ‘munstead’
Rosmarinus officinalis
Gaura lindheimeri ‘Siskiyou Pink’
Pennisetum setaceum ‘Rubrum’
Concrete
Wood
Concrete
Gravel
Cast Iron
Concrete
Wood
Patinated Bronze
Wood
SCALE 1/16”=1’-0” Parking
Once the user enters the garden from either entrance, they immediately find themselves in a passage of light and darkness. The lightness or darkness of an area is solely dependent on the amount of natural light it receives; therefore, an exposed ground would be the lightest and a heavily shaded place would be the darkest. While all five programs play a part in the overall sense, the users are encouraged to take a leap of faith and venture into the darkest (or the most uncomfortable) place, where they can find truths in the form of unfiltered personal stories.
NORTHEAST ENTRY
B
RIOTS ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION
C
NORTHWEST ENTRY
D
“Where are the police? Where are the police?” Chang Lee whispered as he nervously but securely held onto a rifle from the rooftop perch of his store. There were many just like him - Korean immigrant, store owner, and sadly, an invisible figure to the Los Angeles Police Department. As the looting and burning of stores heavily affected many Korean-run businesses, the owners and employees were left to fend off looters and defend themselves, earning themselves the nickname “Rooftop Koreans”. The lack of police backup was just a part of a bigger social issue at hand. KoreanAmericans during the riots found themselves associated with the term “model minority”, which was pushed by the mainstream media to pit other minority groups such as African-Americans, Latino-Americans, and KoreanAmericans against each other. During the riots, the walls of the stores symbolized division and misunderstanding amongst minority groups. The memorial garden reinterprets and uses walls to create spaces for users to come together, share personal experiences, and understand each others’ views.
is no longer about Rodney King. “ This This is about the system against us, the minorities. - Koreatown resident
”
Midtown
UNITING the Housing Divide CONNECTING Cultural Character LINKING Multi-Modal Transportation SPANNING Holistic Resiliency
Wynwood Norte
Goals lead to concept
Wynwood
Edgewater
02.
THE TRA ERSE Competition: 2020 ULI Hines Student Competition Dates: January 13-26, 2020 Project Location: Miami, Florida Design Team Members: Group Work with Ayla-Louis Mateo, Eileen Skeen Real Estate Team Members: Saba Asghary, William Kwon Instructors: John Day, Amir Hossein Hajrasouliha
The Traverse creates an interconnected and harmonious cultural space that encourages visitors, residents, and commuters to engage with each other joyously, which is our main concept - Bridge Miami Communities. To accomplish this, we incorporated a bridge above the station, connected by circular pedestrian-oriented pathways and frontage activities to give each visitor a singular experience. The emphasized circular form of the project evokes a sense of unity to these different communities; no matter where one originates from, The Traverse is the center of activity and welcomes all. This project is a true mixed-use development, offering spaces for the surrounding communities as well as artists, entrepreneurs, and tech enthusiasts to showcase their creativity and energize Miami. The bridge, pedestrian streets, and courtyards offer avenues of enterprise. The vibrant demographics of the surrounding communities create a full cultural and social event calendar, from Good Friday to New Year’s. This tapestry of Hispanic, African American, and Caucasian ancestry is not unique to Miami, but the unity of these cultures through development has yet to be explored until this proposal. This and all other community level aspects connect the cultural character to the overall matrix of the area.
THE FOUR NEIGHBORHOODS Midtown Wynwood Norte
PARCELS MAP
0.5 Mi
0.25 Mi
29th Street 2nd Avenue
Miami Avenue
Wynwood Walls
26th Street
Edgewater Miami Beach
Wynwood
Downtown Miami
Proposed Acquisition
Current
NEIGHBORHOODS DEMOGRAPHICS Edgewater
Wynwood
10%
Midtown 4%
19%
28% 59%
Hispanic
23%
12%
66%
White
69%
African-American
The site is located five miles north of Downtown Miami and is devoid of typical amenities and destinations. The selected development site is highlighted by a rail right of way, dividing the land into different neighborhoods physically and culturally. Environmental resiliency is a crucial tenant of design due to the fact that the site is in risk of harsh flooding.
POTENTIAL FLOOD RISK
6 ft under sea level
8 ft under sea level
10 ft under sea level
THE TRAVERSE | Connecting Adjacent Neighborhoods A
MIAMI CIRCLE CHILDREN’S COURTYARD | Encouraging Community Development B
MASTERPLAN
11
10
1
9
8
7
B
2
3
A
4
6
5
0
30
60
120 ft
LEGEND 1 Food Truck Courtyard 2 Miami Circle Children’s Courtyard 3 Biscayne Lawn Courtyard 4 Wynwood Parking Garage 5 Community Garden Boxes 6 Julia Tuttle Center 7 Drop O Area 8 Connection Bridges 9 The Traverse 10 Paseos 11 Little San Juan Center 12 Tequestra Hotel and Parking Garage 13 Green Roof 14 Magic City Open Plaza 15 Solar Panels 7
12
14 15
13
Extending from the central hub and station are curved paseos lined with retail, extended public activity space, and added bike pathways to link alternative forms of transportation within the area. Frontages extend to the neighborhoods beyond, to encourage people experience the neighborhood as their home. The project encourages non-motorized and single-use occupancy vehicles, existing transit options, and all-inclusive streets; it is also about enjoying the surroundings and engaging everyone by linking multi-modal transportation.
ADDING TO THE CULTURAL MIX User Experience
“
A Week in Events
I like to enjoy movies in the plaza with my fellow neighbors in the complex.
M
”
“
I take Brightline to work and ride the bus to social events at night.
“
I like to enjoy local, ethnic cuisines and partake in salsa nights at the courtyard.
“
We love playing at the playground after school and then getting smoothies after.
“
Sometimes I attend community meetings in parks that discuss emergency readiness.
T
W
T
Artist Alley Courtyard Movies
”
Local Food Ven
”
Latin Night
”
Morning Bounce Houses
Wine Night Kids Luncheon Non-Profit Organization Events
”
Hotel Convention
SITE PROGRAMS Open Space and Water Collection
Building Use
Circu
Residential Hotel Gathering Space
Parking
Green Space
Retail
THE TRAVERSE SECTION
Residential & Retail Residential
Retail
Courtyard
Drop Off Area
Train Station & The Traverse
CONSTRUCTION DEVELOPMENT
Th
F
Sa
Su
PHASE ONE
ndors & Food Trucks Concerts at the Plaza Art After Dark Salsa Dance Night
Office Retail Hotel Parking
110,975 sf 100,725 sf 159,300 sf 135,405 sf
13 units 57 units 249 units 384 spaces
Office Retail Hotel Parking MR-R Afford-R
142,736 sf 61,305 sf 250,730 sf 68,558 sf 450,130 sf 144,754 sf
16 units 35 units 391 units 228 spaces 319 units 137 units
5k Run
PHASE TWO Seasonal Holiday Events / Parades Small Business Saturday
ulation Routes
Bus
PHASE THREE
Bike Pedestrian Train Car
Retail 71,611 sf MR-R 192,265 sf MR-S 241,784 sf
41 units 136 units 137 units
Hotel Residential
TOTAL
2,130,277 sf
1,530 units 544 parking spaces
Courtyard
Office Retail Hotel Parking MR-R MR-S Afford-R
253,711 sf 233,641 sf 410,029 sf 203,963 sf 642,395 sf 241,784 sf 144,754 sf
29 units 132 units 640 units 544 spaces 455 units 137 units 137 units
MUNICIPAL UTILITIES DISTRICT (MUD) 23
1 Massey Administration
2 Andover Farms
3 Cambridge Falls
4 Teal Run Estate
5 Teal Run Recreational Center
6 Teal Run North
03.
PROFESSIONAL WORK
Role: Landscape Architect Intern Firm: LJA Engineering, Inc. Dates: June 2019 - August 2019
Series of repeated forms, plants, and amenities give neighborhoods a sense of continuity. And at the same time, the design team gradually formulate a certain style of landscape design that is easily recognizable and unique. During the internship, I created initial renders of open spaces and parks including proposed elements for an existing neighborhood.
Beacon Hill Entry Sign Option
HUNTINGTON SECTION 3 During my internship, I worked on the entire construction set but mainly focused on the hardscape and landscape sheets. Curvilinear sidewalks and scattered planting beds provide a sense of motion and interest in this residential neighborhood. The landscape plans were done using Land F/X on AutoCAD.
04.
DUPLEX PLANTING VIGNETTE Focus Studio: Advanced Planting Design Project Location: San Luis Obispo, California Instructor: Kevin Grochau
Say the duplex could feature three different planting palettes depending on its orientation to the sun - how can they all compliment the house well and meet the sun/soil requirements? On faces with more functional elements, such as windows and doors, plants that grew to a certain height were necessary to cut maintenance costs for my landlord. In other cases, containers were placed to vary the height of plants in order to create heirarchy in such tight landscape spaces.
NORTH FACING
FJ
EAST FACING
AN
H
LM
SS
CJ
( FULL SHADE ) ABBR. AN FJ H LM SS
VC
( PART SUN/SHADE )
BOTANICAL NAME Athryium niponicum ‘Pictum’ Fatsia japonica Heuchera ‘Red Lightning’ Lamium maculatum ‘Orchid Frost’ Solenostemon scutellarioides
SIZE 1G 5G 1G 6” 1G
COMMON NAME Japanese painted fern Paperplant Alum Root Dead Nettle Coleus
QTY 3 5 2 11 3
ABBR. AD CJ LN SN VC
BOTANICAL NAME Asparagus densiflorus ‘Myers’ Camellia japonica ‘Kramer’s Supreme’ Lysimachia nummularia Strelitzia nicolai Viola cornuta
BLOOM PERIOD Sp
Sp
Su
Su
F
F
W
W
AN
FJ
H
LM
SS
AD
CJ
LN
WEST FACING
SN
AD
LN
ET
A
P
LE
BT
( FULL SUN ) SIZE 1G 15 G 1G 5G 6”
COMMON NAME Foxtail Fern Kramer’s Supreme Camellia Creeping Jenny Giant Bird of Paradise Horned Violet
N
QTY 4 1 1 1 12
ABBR. A BT ET LE P
BOTANICAL NAME Agave ‘Blue Flame’ Berberis thunbergii ‘Orange Rocket’ Euphorbia tirucalli ‘Sticks on Fire’ Lobelia erinus Phormium ‘Rainbow Maiden’
SIZE 1G 5G 5G 6” 1G
COMMON NAME ‘Blue Flame’ Agave Japanese Barberry Red Pencil Tree Lobelia New Zealand Flax
Sp Su F W
SN
VC
A
BT
ET
LE
P
QTY 3 2 2 5 2
05.
THE PERFECT PAIR Competition: Vellum/CAED Furniture Design Exhibition Exhibition Dates: November 1-2, 2019 Exhibition Location: San Luis Obispo, California Materials: Birch Wood, Concrete, Metal Stakes Team Member: Sasha Shebalin
It all started with a pair of design students, a pair of concrete slabs, and a pair of wooden pieces. The concept of duality, or a “perfect pair�, was put on display from the initial idea-gathering stages to the final exhibition. A single slab of concrete or a piece of wood cannot perform the task of two. Only when one joins the other can they stand and support each other. The table is made without the use of adhesives, allowing it to be taken apart and put together for ease of transport.
BEFORE | Anthropocentric Planting Scheme
AFTER | Enriching Species Habitation
06.
POLLINATOR OCCUPANCY EVALUATION: Methods for Ecological Design Research Role: Data Visualization Assistant Dates: September 2019 - February 2020 Location: Alameda, California Team Member: Jeremy Dvorak Instructor: Ellen Burke
With previously collected data regarding pollinator visitations to a designed urban landscape, our team composed original renders and diagrams for publication in the Journal of Landscape Architecture. The research focused on how pollinators react and enrich the landscape based on the layout and choice of plants. In conclusion, there wasn’t strong enough evidence to make a recommendation for planting design on the analysis; instead, the analysis led to recommendations about how to better design studies like this. Having access to baseline information and documenting a control site are examples of practices that our team found important to the study and encourage for further research.
Bologna, Emilia-Romagna
Mont
Moab, Utah
terosso al Mare, Liguria
07.
PERSONAL PROJECTS Pen: Staedtler Pigment Liners Wash: Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor
Art Instagram: @wonbiniedraws
A special thanks to: my family, friends, instructors, and team members who supported me throughout the making of this portfolio.