kylieryder architectural portfolio
All photographs on title pages taken by Kylie Ryder
contents about me 1 manifesto 2
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2011 gallery 3 2012 2 animals and people 5 timber 6 guests 7 firehouse 9
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2013 city of the silent human rights museum 3 castles
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Group GSA university of wollongong
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Stauch Vorster Architects International oando wings lakowe lakes sports centre
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about me For as long as I can remember I have had a keen interest in the built environment. As trivial as it seems, I began becoming interested in architecture when I went to numerous show houses around the city. In spite of always having a passion for not only architecture but art, I sometimes found it difficult to find a point to begin and to ultimately find my identity as an architect. When I started university at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, I began to explore what I want to do and more importantly, find a way in which I could express myself and make an impact on other people. Over the last couple of years studying, I have been exposed to many different kinds of projects and been challenged to create new and innovative forms and spaces. From a simple house in Brixton, Johannesburg to a large scale hotel in the heart of the city centre, I have been given the opportunity to explore different programmes and the various ways in which one can approach projects that are set before them in the working world. We live in a very fast paced society and I believe it is important that as architects we create spaces and forms that begin to move people in new ways; spaces that slow down a moment, even to a standstill, so at that point in time, architecture creates meaning in society. I hope one day that I can gain enough experience to create buildings that are meaningful and make people stop and think and at the same time continue to learn from the world around me.
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motivation When I began studying architecture I had no idea how engrossed and passionate I would become about the field. Over the last 3 years of studying and especially this last year of practical work, I have realised more than ever that I am doing exactly what I should be doing- learning about and influencing the world around me, and ultimately becoming an architect. Many people can be an architect, but I want to be a true designer. I hope to be someone who can challenge themselves, as well as the architectural community in order to create new and innovative ideas that form a part of crucial steps towards the future. But to be everything I hope to be, I need to keep learning and growing in order to develop myself and my identity as an architect, and my postgraduate studies will offer me this opportunity.
manifesto Architecture is a form that stands strong today, but stands even stronger tomorrow.
Without light, architecture does not speak to a person. It begins to fail and dull into a fast- paced society that challenges it continually. When experiencing a space, one should feel a sense of brightness and it should exude a quality of light that makes any person feel comfortable and at home. One should feel as if the architecture creates a space in which they could spend a lot of time. It should not only be a feeling of imminent departure, but rather invite the person to feel content and relaxed.
row. It is about looking towards the future and using the context as a muse. It should not age, but rather adapt with change and continuity. It is important to look towards the future and how a building is not only sustainable, but relatable in years to follow. It should display a certain extent of consciousness for its surroundings. Not only should it be conscious of the way in which it sits upon the ground, it should also realise the greater context in which it surrounds itself.
Architecture is not necessarily about designing in a specific way, but rather about designing in a way that is suitable in context of the situation. Creating a form is about fitting it into its environment and it is very important that in creating a space, it becomes sustainable in itself. Forms should be an expression of their surroundings and should in a way, sit lightly on the ground and not compete with what lies around it.
Architecture is about looking deeper into a project. It should not only speak of a visible form, but also of all the smaller elements that connect together to form it. One should design keeping even the smallest element in mind, looking at the specifics that will ultimately make the project a unique one. It should be about the entirety of the project once each one of those elements are moulded and formed together. Alone they stand as a detail, but together they stand as architecture.
Architecture is a form that stands strong today, but stands even stronger tomor-
section a university work
2011 This year was very much about beginning my architectural journey. It was the combination of understanding the concept of space and ergonomics in design, and the most critical basics in construction.
gallery
gallery A famous artist is visiting South Africa in a few months’ time. Using the Melville Koppies as your site, design a gallery and a residence for your given artist. The aim of this project is that you design a place that the artist can visit throughout the year, and use this gallery to portray his or her work for all locals and tourists to see. In addition, you must design an intervention that can work hand in hand with the gallery which will follow. The project must specifically relate to your artist and the work he or she does, so do not design a massive complex if not necessary. Use your time wisely to create a comfortable space comprising of a workable studio space for the artist, as well as a space that visitors feel comfortable to visit. In terms of a residence, look at the artist’s needs in terms of space and design accordingly.
concept The idea is that the building is wrapped within the landscape. It begins to speak of the work of Christo as arms extend into the landscape, securing it within its environment. In a way, the building is like a shell by the sea, clinging to its surroundings, unmoved, as it is constantly changing. Th buidling takes on an organic form that corresponds to the artist’s work.
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2012 This year was about finding my own architectural style that would be a true expression of who i am. It was about making sure i was respectful to the context of the project and experimenting with my own style in design , and about the development of methods and ideas in order to create detailed sets of drawings in construction.
2 animals and people timber guests firehouse
2 animals and people Animals and people live in close proximity all across the world. This project aims for you to design a space that can provide a comfortable living space for not only two random local animals, but also for people. A coastal site in Croatia has been divided evenly between the second year class into 60 long narrow sites that will challenge you in terms of space and dealing with it appropriately. This entails you to be creative with the context of your brief and come up with an innovative story about how these animals came to be together with humans in this specific space, but also requires that you look carefully at the different climatic conditions of the site as they will differ to South Africa greatly. Two animals chosen for the project: Donkey and Shark
concept This design focuses on the concept of ribs. It begins by looking at the idea of ribs as a form of protection in the human body and the application of this concept to a building. Thus these ribs begin to form the backbone of this building, and encompass the structure by entirely enfolding around it.
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Draw and build a model of a partial section through a timber building you will design. Design the roof space to be utilized (further than ceiling void or service space) e.g. to bring in light, storage, provide additional accommodation, viewing deck, roof garden etc. This project will require you to research timber methods of construction in South Africa and come up with reasonable and appropriate solutions to the construction problems you may have. The minimum submission requirements are a 1:20 scale model made out of timber (preferably recycled or left over timber), and a fully annotated 1:20 hand drawn partial section as per the model. An axonometric drawing is welcome as the perimeter section.
guests In 2008 for the first time, more than 50% of the world’s population lived in cities. By 2011, 1 billion people lived in urban slums, a figure that is expected to be doubled by 2030. The site of this project is located in Johannesburg’s central business district. Although considered for a long time as “the most dangerous place in South Africa”, it offers a variety of types of accommodation including rental apartments of different sizes, hotel rooms and hostels which make it a unique urban fabric that is, which against all odds, is vibrant, multi cultured and exemplary in its own way. The recommended programme (according to context and municipal requirements) is accommodation facilities of at least 50- 60% (including rooms, toilets, bathrooms, shower), total circulation space of maximum 15%, communal space (reception, hall, hospitality) of 10%, service space (storage, kitchen, office, personnel) of 10 % and trading space of 10%. Possible types of accommodation that students may make use of are rooms with shared amenities, rooms with a bathroom, single, double or multiple rooms. Particular attention has to be paid to the design of the space for the collective.In addition, the volume should correspond to various parameters including the height regulation, the building lines, the neighbouring buildings (as students are to build within an existing context), national building regulations, natural light, the depth of a room, programme, circulation, feasibility, sustainability, the design concept and the urban context.
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concept The concept for this design was the chamfer. This concept deals with the idea of removing these fixed boundaries and cutting off the corner so it is as if the boundary no longer exisits. This creates a connection between the market on Kerk Street and the BRT. By extending this informal market into my site, i will be creating extra space for pedestrians.
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firehouse This project is based in Rosebank, a very different area to that of the guest project that was based in central Johannesburg. This will require students to analyse very different aspects of the site and the area in which it sits. All students are required to do a preliminary analysis of the area and develop a design proposal for the urban development of the area in terms of cycle and pedestrian routes and vegetation. Students are required to design a fire house that can not only house at least 18 fire trucks as well as a suitable fire station, but also a wide variety of other programmes including a night club, a community centre, offices, and apartments and/or a hotel. It is very important that students work within the context and design a building or building complex that can work within Rosebank. In addition, their proposed urban development must look at the existing systems and try and not only improve these, but fit within them.
concept The concept for this project is that of protection. This concept came from the idea of being semi-permeable. The development of this idea stemmed into these semi-transparent slanted walls that offer the public a sense of protection, while still offering people inside a sense of inclusion within the surrounding context.
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2013
This year was about expressing myself fully through architecture , developing my own identity, as well as understanding my place within the architectural profession. It was about fully analysing and exploring the given context and using all my architectural knowledge as an architectural student in design, and was about the understanding of the building and services that make up a building in construction. In addition, 2013 was a year that my design and contruction knowledge worked cohesively and my buildings were finally resolved in all aspects of architrecture.
city of the silent human rights musuem 3 castles
city of the silent It is estimated that in the next 50 years the city of Johannesburg will require more than 1500 hectares of burial ground, thus the city needs to start addressing the increasing demands on its cemeteries. The city has undertaken a project to create a new crematorium and cemetery as an extension of the Braamfontein Cemetery, the oldest in the Johannesburg. The following brief requires students to design a cemetery complex on a given site in Johannesburg. The complex should include the following: A public entrance and gate including space for 8 shop vendors, parking space for at least 50 vehicles and 3 bus stops along the street edge, a maintenance yard, a mortuary and a crematorium. In addition, general administration space must be provided, various commemorations spaces and reception venues and very importantly a cemetery that includes two types of urn alcoves, vertical burial chambers and both a memorial wall and garden. It is vital that students focus on three elements in addition to general layout and concept: landscaping, light and shadow and progression. The project requires the site to be considered in its totality and not only the main buildings and burial walls. Movement should be a continuous and fluidprogression, adding to the sense of celebration and commemoration. Light and shadow implies the passage of time, and students have to consider its powerful potential throughout the design.
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concept The initial idea of this project is that of proportion and geometry. I wanted to create a building that used simple form but created interesting spaces. The building is easy to move through and leads on in a specific direction due to the axes. People are drawn to different ends of the axes, which ultimately pulls them towards various areas within the complex. In a way, the main building just acts as a skin of protection for the people using the complex, but is not a closed in buidling as such. Only service spaces are enclosed in order to make all the other spaces easily accessible and easy to move through. In addition, the thickened exterior walls allow for visitors to move through them, creating niches within the space and giving people an opportunity to move along the outer edge of the axes.
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human rights museum South Africa has struggled long and hard to achieve a constitution that has embedded human rights as inalienable fundamental right to which every person is inherently entitled. Although we today conceive human rights as universal and egalitarian, the danger is that we fail to heed lessons of the past. The need for a space that exhibits and informs the public of our Human Rights has been identified. The architecture should be supportive of this and consider how it can assist in this endeavor. The Human Rights Commission of South Africa wishes to build a Human Rights Museum, Archive and Resource Centre that showcases and celebrates human rights and supports our young constitutional democracy. The Museum is seen as a highly interactive home with a variety of display spaces – permanent and temporary exhibitions, seminar and lecture venues, archives and research areas for academics and the public, a restaurant and book/museum shop. A property has been donated to the Human Rights Commission for this purpose in the Johannesburg Inner City. As the site is relatively small it would require a multi storey solution to accommodate the required brief. The accommodation schedule includes: a public entrance and forecourt, a public interface, 4600sqm of exhibition space- both permanent and temporary, administration, an archive and research center, residential accommodation, facilities management, services and parking and delivery space.
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concept The main concept behind this museum is that of a strongcore structure that grounds the building. The floor slabs begin to look as if they are floating as the openings begin to create a sense of lightness with only a few connections to this main structure. In addition to creating interesting spaces, this main structure helps one navigate their way around the exhibition spaces.
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3 castles The Three Castles Building, in the semi-industrial rather rundown east end of the city, was home to the town’s first cigarette factory. The two storey building has three turrets in an L-shape. Moon Dog Production is a new initiative and part of a bigger firm that is speading its wings within the South Africa Movie Industry. The total project includes the construction of sound studios, a public theatre, a media and cinematheque, studios for production and editing, animation and graphics, journalism and the broadcasting for a local reality television show. In addition, a link to the public park is very important. This project will focus on the issues confronting an architect when designing within the city. In addition, it challenges the students to design with this heritage buidling. It is important that students keep the three turrets of this buidling, however they can change any internal spaces as required. The final outcome of the 9 intensive weeks is an analysis and understanding of the project in terms of design, exploration and writing. The project will display the student’s understanding of architecture and demonstrate his/her ability to successfuly fulfill the requirements expected in the professional world at this exit level.
concept The intial concept of this project is that of connection, in a sense a backbone or spinal cord. I approached this project by looking at various ways in which i can begin to deal with the existing building. An important part of my project and design was to touch the building as little as possible, instead relying on these facade elements that begin to wrap over each building and connect the two. These elements wrap around the top of the existing building and travel down into the basement where they can be seen from the levels above. From there, they travel up through the ground and begin to wrap around the new building in a similar way. The idea is that these elements are light and create a subtle connection between the two different faces if the buildings. The actual building only touches the ground in two areas and the first floor is lifted high to allow for the visual connection between the three sites.
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section b practical work
Group GSA Sydney, Australlia
university of wollongong Wollongong, NSW This project presents the opportunity to design highquality student accommodation offering supportive, secure and sustainable communities, which is an integral factor in UOW’s target of being in the top 1% of Universities worldwide. UOW’s vision is to excel at providing affordable and diverse housing options. This student accommodation should offer students the opportunity to live in a community that provides them with academic support, pastrol care and a wide range of support programs. This strategy sets out to primarily house post- graduate students (including couples and families) in self- cateriing accommodation on the Northfields site, and undergraduate students in self- catered and group share accommodation as part of the Kooloobong precinct.
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For this project I formed a part of the design team of architects, urban designers, interiors and landscape architects that developed and designed this competition project scheme, from start to finish. I assisted in the individual room designs as well as design of the project on a larger scale; attending many presentations to the University and prospective clients, along with contractors and investors. Ultimately, the proposal won the competition and building will be taking place over the next few years.
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parking
communall spaces
visitors' lodge
accessible rooms
adaptable rooms
2 bed clusters
4 bed clusters
3 bed clusters
studios
renderings done by Group GSA
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Stauch Vorster Architects International Johannesburg, South Africa
oando wings Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria The Wings Towers offer one of a kind leasable office space in Victoria Island, Lagos. Both towers, which are identical make use of State- of- the- art design and energy efficiency, coupled with the most generous parking provisions in the country. The Wings Towers are situated on the Five Cowrie Creek and can be accessed by a private jetty. Visitors and tenants can take advantage of the setting by making use of the beautifully landscaped terrace which overlooks the water. Both towers which each provide 12 500m ² of office space,sit on a 700 bay podium beneath the towers. The project has be designed in order to achieve an ideal blend between security and convenience.
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My role for this project was to assist in developing certain aspects of the building in more detail, in order to get construction drawings out to site and adhere to the tight time constraints. These drawings include blockwork plans, entrance wall and gate detailing, finishes schedules and detailing of the iconic Wings Towers curtain walls.
rendering done by Stauch Vorster Architects International
stage 01
stage 02
stage 03
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lakowe lakes sports centre Lagos, Nigeria
My role for this project was to develop the initial concepts of this scheme further. I had to take the shell of the building and apply Balinese architectural principles of design, as well as being able to rationalise the materiality of these elements.
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rendering done by Stauch Vorster Architects International
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