Selected
Works
Kyra Ahier
Hello! I am currently in my third year of studies at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture. My interest in the geometry of spaces and their impact on people translates to a thoughtful exploration of how we can decipher, represent and shape the complexities of our environment.
3B University of Waterloo School of Architecture Cambridge ¡ Ontario kyra.ahier@gmail.com +1 (613) 869 8316 KYRA AHIER
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Contents 1 of 9
p.08 — p.09
Curriculum Vitae 2 of 9
Academic Work : p.10 — p.15
Emergetic Urbanism
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Specifically Generic
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Gridscape
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Out of the Earth
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King Street Massivehaus
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Professional Work : p.48 — p.49
HLW International
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Marchi Architectes
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HLW International
Mat Triebner HLW International 115 5th Avenue, 5Fl NY, NY 10003
Architecture Interiors Planning Consulting 115 5th Avenue 5th Floor Tel 212 353 4600 www.hlw.com
February 21 2018 To whom it may concern, Based on my experience working with Kyra Ahier between August and December of 2017 at HLW International, I would wholehearted endorse her for other positions within architecture, design, or strategy firm. After joining our strategy team in late summer last year, Kyra proved herself an indispensable asset to the group. Her strong work ethic, brilliant design and graphic skills, and innate curiosity made her right at home. Kyra’s worked on three primary tasks with us while at HLW: 1. Benchmarking projects under construction against others in the sector using revit, helping to build HLW’s database of works 2. Completing client engagements (interviews and workshops) to inform spatial programming. 3. Independently leading the development of a research report on multi-family residential trends and the demographic indices that affect these. These activities were completed with great attention to detail and efficiency. For these reasons I would strongly recommend Kyra for future intern positions.
Mat Triebner Director of Strategy Associate Principal
New York
KYRA AHIER
New Jersey
Los Angeles
London
Shanghai
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Curriculum Vitae 2 of 9
Education : 2015 — Present 2010 — 2015
University of Waterloo Candidate for Bachelor of Architectural Studies Cambridge, Ontario Lycée Claudel d’Ottawa French Baccalaureate System, Science Stream, Baccalauréat Mention Très Bien (Highest Honours), AP English Ottawa, Ontario Experience :
2018 (05—08); 2017 (01—04) 2017 (09—12)
Marchi Architectes Architectural Intern, Paris, France HLW International Intern Design Strategist, New York, USA Skills : Digital Rhinoceros 3D, AutoCad, V-ray, Grasshopper 3D, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, Revit Analog Hand-drafting (graphite, ink), Model-making Languages English (fluent), French (fluent), Spanish (basic)
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Exhibitions : 2011 — 2014 2012 — 2014 2013 2012
Shenkman Arts Centre Ottawa SAW Gallery; Ottawa School of Art fundraisers Ottawa Exposure Gallery; Chinatown Remixed Festival Ottawa Orange Gallery; Galerie d’art Eugène-Racette Ottawa Awards · Achievements :
2018 2017 2015 — 2017 2015 2014; 2012; 2011
KYRA AHIER
MasonryWorx Design Competition Second Place Award President's International Experience Award Two time Recipient, University of Waterloo Excellent Academic Standing Academic Standing above 80% University of Waterloo President’s Scholarship with Distinction Entrance average above 95% University of Waterloo Young at Art city-wide juried art competitions Judges Choice Award, SPAO Award for Photography, Honourable Mention for Photography
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Emergetic Urbanism 3 of 9
Finch Avenue W. & Weston Road Toronto · Canada
Located in Toronto’s mature suburbs, the intersection of Finch & Weston has long been isolated from the rest of the city. Lacking adequate housing, social services, or public space, it lies in the centre of Toronto’s most marginalized neighbourhoods, victim to high rates of poverty and crime. With the development of the Finch West LRT and the Bolton Commuter Rail, the neighbourhood will begin to see signficant changes in the near future. We proposed the site’s redevelopment from a position of non-isolation. From both a sociopolitical and biophysical aspect, the masterplan seeks to outline and analyze existing energy flows across the site both emergetically and exergetically and posits a new series of processes and exchanges that will re-invent Finch & Weston in a socially equitable and sustainable way. Our masterplan establishes
a rigid street grid with a defined hierarchy: Finch and Weston being the primary arterial roads, a secondary ring road that connects the four quandrants of the site, and tertiary streets that run parallel to Finch. Two antithetical bands dictate the organizational logic of the site: a recreational strip that incorporates the ravine system and park on the South-West side; and an industrial strip that builds off of the train tracks on the North-East side. These constitute a soft edge to the South and hard edge to the North and inform the program distribution throughout the site. Furthermore, the block typologies in plan evolve from a typical courtyard typology with empty space carved within the city fabric, at the centre of the site, to the association of isolated building blocks, at the extremeties of the site. This is manifested through a fragmentation of the urban fabric. Partners: Sev Romanskyy · Paul Kim · Hannah Roorda 3A Design Studio · Adrian Blackwell, John McMinn Academic Work · Winter 2018
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Plan (Existing Conditions) 12
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Plan (Proposal) KYRA AHIER
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Array Outdoor Recreational Units Tower Rehabilitation High-Rise Residential
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Podia 1 Toronto Parks, Forestry & Recreation 2 North Toronto Satellite Office Communal Roof Gardens
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Circulation, Surface Organization, Landscape Strategy 3 Finch West LRT 4 Lindy Lou Park — Toronto’s Ravine Network
Recreational Processes
N-S Site Section (Proposal) 14
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Array Railroad Infrastructure and Support Units
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Enclosures 1 Rail Yard Administrative Centre 2 Large Scale Industrial 3 Small Scale Community Workspaces
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Surface Organization 4 Freight Loading Area (Large Scale) 5 Freight Loading Area (Small Scale) 6 Freight Storage Yard 7 Truck Loading Area Circulation 8 Canadian Pacific Railway 9 Finch West LRT
Industrial Processes
E-W Site Section (Propoal) KYRA AHIER
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Specifically Generic 4 of 9
View from Intersection 16
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Finch Avenue W. & Weston Road Toronto ¡ Canada
Located at the intersection of Finch Ave. and Weston Rd., this project develops in more detail a 1Ha lot from the previous Finch and Weston masterplan . The title, "Specifically Generic", a term coined by Kiel Moe in his book "Convergence: An Architectural Agenda for Energy", reflects the aim of building sustainably (energetically, environmentally, economically, and socially) through an integrated approach to building materials, programming, typology, structure etc. In order to avoid the inevitable obsolescence of overly deterministic and constrained buildings, the design understands the apartment complex as an evolving entity and takes into account the different life cycles of the building components by identifying which systems must be "durable and fixed" versus "transient and open to change". To do so, the design embraces an architectural specificity allowing it to be generic in use and typology, increasing the building's flexibility and potential. My project therefore proposes a courtyard building with two towers piercing through the base. The structure follows a 6m x 6m structural
grid, composed of hollow core slabs, concrete cores and columns. The enclosure is seperate from the structure, and consists of non-load bearing precast concrete sandwich panels, a high performance and lowtech assembly method that limits the number of building components. The interior party walls between units can be easily reconfigured within the column grid without compromising the structural integrity of the building. The hybrid typology that mixes courtyard building and tower benefits from the shared exterior space while providing livable high density that maintains a pedestrian friendly street facade, and maximizes access to light and ventilation. The base consists of a four-storey podium concentrating services with a mix of commericial, institutional and residential programs. The finer grain of the base contrasts with the homogeneity of the Finch Ave. residential tower and the side street office tower. Thus, the specific yet generic design anticipates "next-uses" and facilitates maintenance, while proving a durable, un-complicated building capable of adapting to the residents' evolving needs and desires. 3A Design Studio ¡ Adrian Blackwell, John McMinn Academic Work ¡ Winter 2018
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ON RO AD WEST
F I N C H AV E N U E W.
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8 Typical Upper Floor
2nd Floor
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Retail Farmer's Market Bike Storage Grocer
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Recreational Centre Light Industry Coworking Spaces Health Clinic
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Elementary School Amenities Cafeteria/Event Space Loading Space
Residential Commercial/Retail Employment Public Institutional Support
Plans KYRA AHIER
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Sectional Axonometric through Residential Units 20
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Structure (slabs, columns, cores)
Enclosure (precast concrete insulated sandwich panels)
Non-load bearing ultra light density masonry wall (infill)
Fixed
Integrated radiant heating and cooling system
Ventilated hollow core slab (Forced Air System)
Raised floor for mechanical flexibility
Mutable Outer sealant on backer rod drained at vertical joints Line of sealant at panel joints Mechanical systems (telephone/data/power/ lighting) Hollow core slab Radiant ceiling panel with copper tubing Diffuser (ventilated slab with designated outdoor air system) Structural column Non-load beating precast concrete sandwich panel New concrete with white portland cement (high solar reflectance) Outer precast concrete wythe (rain control layer) Interior precast concrete wythe (air and vapor control layer) Raised Veneer Floor Rigid insulation KYRA AHIER
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Office Tower Plan
Residential Tower Plan
Section 22
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Non-load bearing precast concrete sandwich panel Outer precast concrete wythe (rain control layer) Interior precast concrete wythe (air and vapor control layer) Rigid Insulation Interior blind in fabric Operable North facing window Radiant floor with PEX tubing embedded in a topping pour Drop ceiling
Concrete Topping (60mm) Hollow core plank with dam in cores (250mm) Concrete Beam Operable North facing window Structural column Non-load bearing ultra light density brick infill wall
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Gridscape 5 of 9
Intersections 24
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Ontario Place Toronto · Canada
This project explores the development of large scale strategies of landscape, building and program for Ontario Place. Our master plan consists of three layers: the grid, the topography and the landscape, which acts as a mediator between the first two. The gridded superstructure floats above the site at a single datum, while the topography undulates, interveaving between the grid, creating situations of tension between the artificial rigid infrastructure and the landscape. The project creates an alternation between the dominance of the grid vs. the dominance of the landscape. Visitors find themselves within these situations of tension between the grid and the landscape, creating
specific spatial experiences. The undulating ground plane creates a variety of spaces associated with different landscapes that are defined and organized based on their spatial qualities. The visitor discovers each landscape through movement through the site, following a direct and unambiguous pathway on the grid or a meandering pathway on the ground plane. The grid and the landscape intersect to gently bring the visitor on or off the grid. The play between infrastructure and landscape creates new ways in which one views and interacts with the surrounding landscape, constrasting removal vs. immersion in the landscape, both possible from within and away from the infrastructural grid.
Partner: Brandon Lim 2B Design Studio · Lola Sheppard Academic Work · Spring 2017 KYRA AHIER
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1 Grid 2 Program 3 Landscape 4 Topography
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Model · 1:500 Museum Board, Coloured Cardstock, Basswood KYRA AHIER
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Grassland (Meadow) Grassland (Hill) Grassland (Shrubs) Grassland (Flooded)
Bright · Dark
Loud · Quiet
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Beach (Fine) Beach (Coarse) Rockland (Low) Rockland (High)
9 Forest (Boreal) 10 Forest (Bamboo) 11 Forest (Aspen) 12 Garden
13 Marsh 14 Asphalt 15 Exposed Water 16 Protected Water
Wild · Maintained
Protected · Exposed
Dry · Wet
Lush · Barren
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1 Amphitheatre 2 Pods 3 Beach Pavilion 4 Log Cabins
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5 Marina 6 Water Collection 7 Cinesphere 8 Geology Centre
9 Greenhouses 10 Farmer’s Market 11 Shelter/Pavilion
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Out of the Earth 6 of 9
Exterior 34
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Ontario Place Toronto ¡ Canada
This project proposes a film and photography museum specializing on the theme of landscape, providing exhibition spaces, a theatre, archives and private screening spaces. Located within the masterplanned Ontario Place site, the building appears as a solid mass emerging from the hillside, and projects out towards the water, incorporating the pre-existing infrastructual grid. The project focuses on the tension and dialogue between the constructed building and the changing topography and nature of the adjacent landscapes. The building consists of a series of cores that combine the more specific programs as well as vertical circulation, and open flexible space surrounding those cores that serves as exhibition space, public amenity space and horizontal circulation. The archives
and associated atrium constitute the central space. The archives exists as a core traversing the height of the building, and orients the visitor. The void space of the atrium serves to reveal the archives, and highlight its increasing permeability and openness, as it shifts from an enclosed and hidden archive for physical material on the first two floors, to visible but inacessible digital archive space on the third floor, to an entirely accessible digital archive space on the top floor. Furthermore, through carefully placed openings, the landscape is revealed, suddenly confronting the disoriented visitor with the landscape, and allows circulation to spill out on to the landscape. The framed views towards the exterior recreate the experience of watching a film sequence as the visitor moves through the building.
2B Design Studio ¡ Lola Sheppard Academic Work ¡ Spring 2017 KYRA AHIER
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Floor 1 Plan (+0m)
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Archives (Physical) Exhibition Space (Dark) Exhibition Space (Semi Bright) Exhibition Space (Bright) Outdoor Theatre
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Floor 2 Plan (+4.5m) 6 Private Screening Space 7 Workshop 8 Bookstore 9 Theatre
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10 Archives (Digital) 11 Archives (Accessible) 12 Outdoor Terrace 13 Restaurant 14 Kitchen
15 Loading Dock/Storage 16 Theatre 17 Control Room 18 Administration
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Exhibition Space & Outdoor Cinema
Reception/Restaurant
Section through Theatre 38
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Void/Archives
Section through Archives KYRA AHIER
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Plan with Extended Context 40
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Model · 1:200 Black Museum Board KYRA AHIER
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King Street Massivehaus 7 of 9
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227 King Street West Kitchener · Canada
Contemporary architectural practices have embraced passive design standards in order to build for a more sustainable future. However, they are misguided, informed by an unsophisticated conception of energy flow. Standardized R-values used for product specification do not account for the thermodynamic potential of simpler, massive materials. Furthermore, buildings have become less durable and reliable as foam, paper and plastic fastened to thin membranes poorly protect from the elements. Instead, our project proposes a praxis rooted in a fuller thermodynamic understanding of architecture. Since the 20th century, increasingly complicated assemblies of foam, plastic and paper have been used to achieve “energy efficiency”. This is inconsistent with contemporary thermodynamics. Instead of aiming for “net-zero” energy goals by reducing the energy present in the system, materials should be chosen in order to store a maximal amount of solar energy and dissipate it. Massive materials such as masonry have the thermodynamic capacity to store and dissipate this
* Second Place Award
energy slowly, through radiation rather than convection, maintaining constant interior temperatures. Massive materials radiate heat to warm bodies rather than convect heat to empty space, more effectively transferring the heat, and eliminating the need for large air handling systems. In addition, as a material installed by a skilled trade rather a product with instructions, masonry provides the architect with more control and higher construction quality. Architects can therefore use masonry to build higher quality, lower maintenance and more energy efficient buildings and combat the disposable nature of contemporary architectural practices. King Street Massivehaus deploys these strategies to provide a high quality mixed use building in downtown Kitchener. The building’s structure and enclosure are fully integrated and composed of massive masonry elements. The ground floor consists of commercial programming and the upper floors are residential. Courtyards pierce through the center of the mass providing fresh air and daylight to every part of the building. Partner: Mark Clubine MasonryWorx Design Competition · Spring 2018
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Wall Construction (Exterior to Interior) 1. 2. 3
Double wythe brick Autoclaved aerated lightweight structural concrete masonry Double wythe brick
Window Construction (Exterior to Interior) 1. 2. 3.
Wood frame Cut stone structural element Double glazed operable glazing
Core Construction (Exterior to Interior) 1. Single wythe brick 2. Concrete Masonry
Diurnal Cooling
Summer Storage
Diurnal Heating
Winter Dissipation
Amplitude
Energy Flux in Masonry
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Light Well
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Ground Floor Plan
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1 Lobby 2 Café 3 Office Space
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Axonometric 46
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Café
Elevation KYRA AHIER
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HLW International 8 of 9
Research Report Sample 48
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HLW International New York City ¡ USA
During my internship at the New York branch of HLW International, I had the opportunity to work on the Strategy & Discovery Team, participating in the strategic planning of the firm's projects. I gained valuable experience regarding design strategy, and exposure to the internal and external factors that influence architectural projects. I was assigned various tasks, including image making, benchmarking built projects and
proposals, and client engagements such as interviews and workshops. I was also responsible for assembling and formatting post-occupancy evaluation reports, marketing and instructional brochures. My major contribution consisted of an independently led research report that tied together the firm's residential work in Jersey City, New Jersey with multi-family residential market trends, demographics and future predictions.
Professional Work ¡ Fall 2017 KYRA AHIER
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Marchi Architectes 9 of 9
© Filippo Bolognese
Woodhouse 2.0 50
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Marchi Architectes Paris ¡ France
I had the opportunity to work at Marchi Architectes, a Paris-based firm, on two separate occasions. I worked on various projects of different scales, from residential to public buildings. My responsibilities included physical model making, 3D digital modelling (for renders and file preparation for physical models), creating perspectival images, design proposals concerning massing, spatial organization, materiality and detail, as well as orthographic drawings and layouts, and presentation material for clients. Significant projects I worked on include the Renault Symbioz
House33, a disassembling house designed to showcase Renault's Symbioz demo car, and highlight the interconnectivity of house and car, and the integration of the latter within the home, as well as a competition consisting of the renovation and extension of an existing château and winery located in the South of France. I also worked on various residential projects, as well as cultural projects such as La Poste, a renovation and extension of the old post office in Versailles, a 9000m2 project offering a performance hall, restaurants, coworking spaces and innovative activities.
Professional Work ¡ Spring 2018; Winter 2017 KYRA AHIER
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© Filippo Bolognese
La Poste, Versailles 52
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Study Model Museum Board KYRA AHIER
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© Fernando Guerra Renault Symboiz House33 54
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Exterior Collage KYRA AHIER
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kyra.ahier@gmail.com +1 (613) 869 8316