PORTFOLIO Lydia Rosenthal 2023
OPEN ARMS LIBRARY Winter / Spring 2022 Prof. Stacey White Collaborative work with Katherine Neuner San Diego, California, USA Located in the underserved Logan Heights neighborhood of San Diego, Open Arms Library exploits the intersections of environmental and social sustainability to create a lasting, welcoming addition to the community. As part of a new law school campus, we had to be particularly aware of the area’s tense history with institutional impositions. To create a welcoming yet private environment, interactions between users are encouraged on the ground floor and in outdoor space, but controlled through separate circulation and curated views on the upper floors.
Studio Prize Winner
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Daycare Library Law clinics
The Open Arms Library is part of the broader California Western School of Law relocation within San Diego. The school has a particularly emphasis on providing legal services to underserved and migrant populations. As the new neighborhood Barrio Logan contains a significant migrant population, this new location was seen as an opportunity for improved outreach. The Library, sitting at the border with the neighborhood, was an ideal candidate to house community programming, including pro-bono law clinics and a community daycare. The daycare and law clinics not only improve “town-gown” relationships, but may contribute to student success. According to data from
the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, only 33% of single parents graduate within 6 years, but access to reliable child care improves graduation rates three times over. It was important that the building massing reflect our social goals. Assigning each program to a distinct volume maintained privacy and security, and allowed the building to be clearly legible from the street. It also facilitated the scale transition from the low-lying residential areas to the denser campus block. The L-shaped form also engaged the street more directly while creating sheltered green space for the campus community.
Law Library Stair
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The expansion of public transport into the campus area better connects the divided area
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Bicycles Increased and convenient bike parking reduces carbon emissions and caters to students
Pedestrians
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Public functions and a porous ground floor encourage flexible circulation for all pedestrians
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Children’s Library
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Our site mediates the residential and university boundary. In an effort to increase transparency and access, the ground floor is porous and intentionally non-hierarchical, inviting all users in with public programming, such as a cafe and children’s library.
Entrance + Cafe
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Plantings on site are native to the area. and engaging to the senses, increasing occupant health by engaging biophilia
Wooly Blue Curls
Western Redbud
Sky Lupine
Pride of Madeira
Blue Fescue
California Milkweed
Yarrow
Lavender
Cape Weed
Cleveland Sage
California Mock Orange
Lamb’s Ear
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butterfly gardens
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view to San Diego Public Library
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DAYCARE A. cafeteria B. classroom C. play room D. storage E. active play F. children’s library G. roof playground H. theater LIBRARY I. group study J. conference pods K. breezeway L. reading room
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RAINWATER CAPTURE A. roof membrane B. downspout filter C. cistern D. filters E. uv light disinfection F. carbon filter G. potable water tank I. water heater J. chlorine tank K. drinking fountains, sinks L. greywater
GLULAM
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Engineered beams and columns are renewable, recyclable, and carbonsequestering.
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Floors and stairs are carbonsequestering and resistent in fire and seismic events.
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PHENOLIC PANELS
Achieved EUI
Cladding material uses FSC certified wood, with a lifespan 3x longer than alternatives.
GEOLAM LOUVERS Wood-plastic composite louver shading system. 100% recyclable, composed of 70-80% recycled materials.
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MATERIALITY
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DESIGN FOR DECONSTRUCTION
PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS
Choosing wood as our primary material helped achieve our environmental sustainability goals through its carbon sequestration properties. Wood is also often perceived as a warm, “friendly” material. We hoped that this would humanize the massing of our building, and allow the community to feel ownership over it.
San Diego is a warm and warming environment. Extensive sun control strategies were necessary for user comfort and EUI reduction. We developed a strategy of screens and apertures, allowed for playful “peekaboo” moments as well as a more consistent light wash through the screens.
One central advantage of our material choice and structural system is the ability to completely deconstruct the vast majority of the building, should conditions change in the future. This also allows for prefabrication and more efficient onsite construction.
Full building performance analysis in CoveTool allowed us to fine tune our decision making to surpass our goals for EUI reduction. Iterative modelling allowed for calibration of decisions like aperture placement,
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CONSTRUCTION A: Geolam Wood Louvers B: Parklex Naturclad W Phenolic Panels C: Glass Curtain Wall D: 5-ply CLT Floor Plate E: Raised Access Flooring with Displacement Ventilation F: Raised Flooring Terminal G: Gypcrete Topping H: Girt Cladding Attachment I: Gypsum Board J: Cold Form Framing K: Batt Insulation L: Fiberglass-faced Gypsum Panels Sheathing M: Rigid Insulation N: WRB O: Duralight Plastics 10mm Thermoclear Polycarbonate Panel P: Roof Drain Q: Return Duct R: Peerless Lighting LED S: Sprinkler Head T: 1’ Glulam Column U: 3.5’ Concrete Pedestal
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3° RING
Winter 2022 Prof. Nanni Grau Berlin, Germany What will life look like, three degrees warmer? This project focused on a renovation of an existing apartment complex at Mehringplatz, Berlin, imagining how architecture and urban form can be adapted to not only survive, but thrive on a warming planet. The project covers strategies at the urban and architectural scale, and aimed to improve the passive thermal and ventilation performance. Throughout, a focus on adaptability, light-weight intervention, and connection to outdoor space was of particular import.
To limit non-resident traffic and protect the privacy of the community, commuter bicycle and car paths will be rerouted outside of the interior ring.
Yellow indicates partial demolition of existing structure to allow for the prevailing winds to pass through the urban complex. This cooling effect will be vital as Berlin warms. In these areas, elevated community gardens and shared spaces will be introduced to unite complex together. The red areas indicate places where open space in the ground floor will be filled with new programs. In these areas, additional floors will also be added to densify the complex further.
URBAN STRATEGY Developed in collaboration with Franka Marxer and Ramona Friedrichs. The Mehringplatz residential complex was designed by renowned German architect Werner Düttmannin the 1960s. Although quite radical for its time, the design has proved less successful in recent times. Its repetitive structure is characterized by covered throughways which are underutilized and unwelcoming. The central grassy area is similarly little-used, and primary pedestrian traffic consists of commuters walking through the complex to reach a subway station. The ring orientation means that many apartments have poor orientation, and are either too hot or too cold throughout the year.
The rewilding of the local park and nearby river will protect from the heat and provide a barrier against more frequent flooding events.
To protect the southern exposure in a warming climate, a system of balconies and arcades will extend the living space and provide adequate shade. These may also begin to affect building circulation.
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REMODEL TYPOLOGY A 2 Bed, 1 Bath
REMODEL TYPOLOGY B 1 Bed, 1 Bath + Studio
REMODEL TYPOLOGY C 3 Bed, 1 Bath
REMODEL TYPOLOGY D 6 Bed, 2 Bath
Minimal intervention in the existing floorplan improves ventilation and offers increased flexibility in the living spaces. Opening the staircases to the outdoors and connecting them to the shared arcade provides easy access to communal gardens, and increases southern sun shading and protection in rising temperatures.
The introduction of one bedroom apartments into the complex enables a greater diversity of lifestyles and inhabitants. These two apartments work together to create small yet efficient living spaces with unique qualities. Both receive southern and northern exposure, as well as the ability for cross ventilation.
Densification of the existing apartments can also be achieved through an additional bedroom abutting the balconies. Care has been taken to ensure that the reduced size of the living space has not detracted from their pleasant quality.
This typology explores the more dramatic interventions possible, wherein two apartments may be combined for communal living styles. While this may sacrifice direct staircase access to the arcade, there is still a strong connection between the arcade and private living space.
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FACADE SYSTEM Flexibility and user control were central to the facade system, which consists of adjustable, translucent textile shades. These provide the first barrier of temperature control, that can be further personalized within the individual apartments. As shades are adjusted throughout the day and the seasons, the whole facade’s appearance is constantly changing and variegated.
FLOODLIGHT INTERVENTION Summer 2023 Prof. Valentin Van der Beek Collaborative work with Tori McLaughlin and Dana Koutny Munich, Germany Outside of Munich’s Alte Pinakothek art museum, a number of floodlights are arrayed, which illuminate the building by night. During the day, passerbys occasionally rest on the concrete blocks. This project aimed to provide a more formal, yet still inviting and playful seating options for these users. The wooden structure is specifically calibrated to fit onto this floodlight, hugging the form to play with material contrast. By night, a simple and elegant colored screen provokes curiousity and paints the facade of the museum behind it. Below: CNC Milling Flatlay
WIND’S EYE Fall 2023 Prof. Dale Clifford Collaborative work with Xander Bergey, Eloise Hides, and Morgan Miller Surrending control to nature allow us to understand our world in novel ways. “Wind’s Eye” aims to create a viewing portal controlled by the wind itself. The bent-wood “weather vane” takes its form from airfoils, and spins freely about the tripod. Users are invited to take a look in the direction of the wind, and follow the instrument as it rotates. Even the slightest shifts in wind direction force a change in perspective. Wind is typically a power that we harness for our own goals and desires. The chance to submit to its whims for a change subverts expectations in a fun way.
Platz 89
Summer 2023 Prof. Thomas Neumann Munich, Germany Platz 89 serves the needs of many disparate groups – including seniors, young families, and students. Sited on a prominent corner in a quiet neighborhood, the project offers intimate, appropriately scaled building volumes housing meeting and living spaces. Beyond these safe and solid anchor points, the space in between is full of airy spaces for spontaneous use or friendly conversation. Platz 89 aims to invite users into an exploratory and open mindset.
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VEHICLE Preservation of existing park, invitation at corner
Division of community vs. residential, street orientation
Appropriately scaled volumes, “village” organization Commercial District
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GROUND FLOOR A. foyer B. wardrobe C. auditorium D. backstage E. kitchen F. cafeteria G. bike storage H. student apartment
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Structural system consists of a combination of self-supporting CLT walls, and mass timber frame systems. Mass timber was chosen for its carbon sequestration abilities, as well as its friendly impression in this neighborhood. Two CLT volumes are elevated, necessitating a hybrid system. Circulation spaces exist between or outside the volumes, giving them an airy quality, with abundant glazing. Privacy was a concern for student apartments - there, the circulation corridor is pulled out from the volumes, with individual “entranceways” leading to each apartment.
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A. group room B. workshop C. gymnastic room D. music room E. lounge F. gardens G. terrace H. student apartment
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North Elevation: Student Residences
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ROOF Waterproof Bitumen Membrane Mineral Wool Insulation max 200 mm + 250mm Moisture Barrier (PE Film) 175 mm Cross Laminated Timber
WALL 36 mm Cement Fiber Eternit Wave Panels or: 19mm Larch Siding 2 x 30/60 mm Steel Batten Weather Resistent Barrier 20 mm Fiberboard 150 mm Wood Fiber Insulation 125 mm Cross Laminated Timber
FLOOR 20 mm Wooden Floorboards 20 mm Fiberboard (for sound insulation) Installation Level / Wood Framing 95/45 mm 175 mm Cross Laminated Timber
CONSTRUCTION NORTH FACADE: RESIDENTIAL