Planning//Research//Architecture by Maha Aslam

maha aslam

planning//research//architecture

table of content 01. 1317 Bedford Ave. development proposal 02. BQX Study research & pamphlet design 03. Overcrowding in Schools in Sunset Park research & gazette design 04. Nigraan-e-Lahore urban think tank 05. Architecture work theme park design, interior design etc

01. 1317 bedford ave. site context & proposal

The irregularly shaped Site (Lot 5/17,366.1 SF as per survey) is located at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Atlantic Avenue. Currently, there are two buildings on the site: a multi-story building housing the Seventh Day Adventist Church and an adjoining 5 story row house which appears to be part of the uniform row house frontage along Bedford Avenue The redevelopment of the Site (Lot 5) was analyzed as a stand-alone development site (Schemes S2A, S2B) and as a merged development site (Scheme S3b: As seen in the graphic) which includes some of the unused development rights from St. Bartholomew’s Church (Lot 16).

3D Views massing proposal

View of Proposed from Atlantic Ave. looking West

View of Zoning Envelope from Atlantic Ave. looking West

For this project I performed the floor area calculations and created the 2D & 3D drawings of the proposal. I also did a site analysis so the clients understood the context of the site followed by a visual analysis of the zoning envelope and the proposed development. The irregularly shaped Site (Lot 5/17,366.1 SF as per survey) is located at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Atlantic Avenue. Currently, there are two buildings on the

02. study of the BQX. a streetcar named desire

The Brooklyn-Queens Waterfront is home to some of the last working industrial waterfronts in New York City. The histories of the different neighborhoods that line the waterfront are rich and varied, all involving the hard work of immigrants and communities of color. One development that started gaining steam in 2017 was the Brooklyn-Queens Connector (BQX), a privately funded and publicized development to be constructed from Sunset Park to Astoria. This kind of development will be detrimental to the working and middle class living close to the proposed line. I examined the impact of this project on the neighborhoods along the proposed route as part of a group project, and we presented our findings in an informational brochure.Our work was widely appreciated by the community groups working in the area, who also invited us to speak to the residents with other organizations such as Uprose. Our findings were also used in a documentary produced by Hunter College gradute students to raise awareness about the project’s impact.

Project Overview. transit oriented development

Our research focused primarily on the projected development along the route and the gentrification it may cause. The Tax Increment Financing Model was highlighted in the design to provide clarity on the financial mechanism of the project. I designed the project overview page and the increment financing model section for this brochure. I kept the graphics simple and tried to add visual elements to make it easier for the residents to understand the complicated concepts.

03. Overcrowding in Schools. project overview

The Sunset Park Gazette is a collaborative research and design project between graduate students at the MS Design and Urban Ecologies program at Parsons School of Design and community organizations in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The focus is on issues of overcrowded schools in the neighborhood. We took a broad research approach to identify other connections, histories, and storylines through primary and secondary research, participatory mapping, and an arts intervention with Dutch artist, Jeanne van Heeswijk called a public faculty. The second component of the gazette is a series of design proposals to support existing activism around the issue.

livelihood of sunset park. phase one of project

In the research phase of the project, my group was focused on investigating the livelihoods of the residents of Sunset Park. We composed our research findings in a two-page spread, highlighting the significant shifts in the job market since the 1920s. Our work gave key insights into the trends in the shifting workforce and its impact on the demographics and housing situation of the neighborhood.

1920’S

1920’S1940’S

1940’S 1960’S

1960’S

1980’S 1980’S 2000’S 2000’S 2010’S 2010’S

GOWANUS HIGHWAY WWII MANUFACTURCARRETERA GOWANUS FABRICACIÓN II GUERRA 高速公路 GOWANUS MUNDIAL 第二次世界大戰製造 POPULATION COMPOSITION COMPOSICIÓN DE LA POBLACIÓN 人口組成 ASIAN ASIÁTICO 亞洲 HISPANIC HISPANO 墨西哥 WHITE BLANCO 白色

MANUFACTURING FABRICACIÓN 製造業

MANUFACTURING GROWTH IN THE INDUSTRY CLOSING OF MAJOR MANUFACTURING MANUFACTURING GROWTH IN THE INDUSTRY CLOSING OF MAJOR MANUFACTURING MANUFACTURING FABRICACIÓN FABRICACIÓN CRECIMIENTO EN LA INDUSTRIA CIERRE DEL MAYOR FABRICANTE CRECIMIENTO EN LA INDUSTRIA CIERRE DEL MAYOR FABRICANTE FABRICACIÓN 行業發展製造業製造業行業發展製造業關閉主要製造業關閉主要製造業

GROWTH IN THE INDUSTRY GROWTH IN THECRECIMIENTO INDUSTRY EN LA INDUSTRIA CRECIMIENTO EN LA INDUSTRIA 行業發展行業發展

GARMENT INDUSTRY GROWTH IN THE INDUSTRY DECLINE IN THE INDUSTRY FROM LABOUR INTENSIVE TO CAPITAL PRODUCTION INTENSIVE GARMENT INDUSTRY GARMENT INDUSTRY GROWTH IN THE INDUSTRY IN THE INDUSTRY CONFECCIÓN CRECIMIENTO ENDECLINE LA INDUSTRIA DECLINE EN LA INDUSTRIA FROM LABOUR INTENSIVE TO CAPITAL INTENSIVE GARMENT INDUSTRY CONFECCIÓN DE LA MANO DE OBRAPRODUCTION INTENSIVA A LA PRODUCCIÓN DE CAPITAL CONFECCIÓN CRECIMIENTO EN LA INDUSTRIA行業發展 DECLINE EN LA INDUSTRIA 行業衰落服裝工業 DE LA MANO DE OBRA INTENSIVA A從勞動密集型到資本生產密集型 LA PRODUCCIÓN DE CAPITAL CONFECCIÓN 服裝工業行業發展行業衰落服裝工業從勞動密集型到資本生產密集型服裝工業

SHIPPING INDUSTRY CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY FOOD INDUSTRY GROWTH IN THE INDUSTRY FOOD INDUSTRY TRANSPORTECONSTRUCTION MARÍTIMO SHIPPING INDUSTRY CONSTRUCCION INDUSTRIA DE ALIMENTOSFOOD INDUSTRY INDUSTRIA DE ALIMENTOS INDUSTRY FOOD INDUSTRY GROWTH IN THECRECIMIENTO INDUSTRY EN LA INDUSTRIA 航運業 CONSTRUCCION TRANSPORTE MARÍTIMO INDUSTRIA DE ALIMENTOS 食品工業建造業行業發展 CRECIMIENTO EN LA INDUSTRIA INDUSTRIA DE ALIMENTOS 食品工業航運業食品工業建造業行業發展食品工業

MIGRATION TO SUNSET PARK DEPARTURE OF ETHNIC WHITES MIGRACIÓN SUNSET PARK LA SALIDA DE LOS MIGRATION TO SUNSET PARK EN DEPARTURE OF ETHNIC WHITES 移植SUNSET PARK MIGRACIÓN EN SUNSET PARK LA SALIDA DE LOSBLANCOS ÉTNICOS BLANCOS ÉTNICOS 種族白人的離開移植SUNSET PARK 種族白人的離開 SERVICES INDUSTRY GROWTH IN THE INDUSTRY SERVICIO INDUSTRIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY GROWTH IN THECRECIMIENTO INDUSTRY EN LA INDUSTRIA 行業發展 CRECIMIENTO EN LA INDUSTRIA 服務業 SERVICIO INDUSTRIAL 行業發展服務業

GOWANUS HIGHWAY WWII MANUFACTURCARRETERA GOWANUS FABRICACIÓN II GUERRA GOWANUS HIGHWAY WWII MANUFACTUR高速公路 GOWANUS CARRETERA GOWANUS FABRICACIÓN II GUERRA MUNDIAL 第二次世界大戰製造高速公路 GOWANUS MUNDIAL 第二次世界大戰製造 POPULATION COMPOSITION COMPOSICIÓN DE LA POBLACIÓN POPULATION COMPOSITION 人口組成 COMPOSICIÓN DE LA POBLACIÓN 人口組成 ASIAN ASIÁTICO 亞洲 HISPANIC HISPANO 墨西哥 ASIAN ASIÁTICO 亞洲 WHITE BLANCO 白色 HISPANIC HISPANO 墨西哥 WHITE BLANCO 白色BLACK NEGRO 黑色 OTHER OTRO 其他 BLACK NEGRO 黑色 OTHER OTRO 其他

CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY CONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCCION CHINESE GOVERNMENT INDUSTRY LIFTS BAN ON 建造業 CONSTRUCCION EMIGRATION, USA PASSES IMMIGRATION BILL CHINESE GOVERNMENT LIFTS BAN ON 建造業 CHINA LEVANTA LA PROHIBICIÓN SOBRE LA EMIGRATION, USA PASSES IMMIGRATION BILL DE AMÉRICA PASA EMIGRACIÓN, ESTADOS UNIDOS CHINA LEVANTA LA PROHIBICIÓN SOBRE LA 1990 LEY DE INMIGRACIÓN EMIGRACIÓN, ESTADOS UNIDOS DE AMÉRICA PASA 中國政府提議美國通過移民法案 1990 LEY DE INMIGRACIÓN

中國政府提議美國通過移民法案

FINANCE & REAL ESTATE FINANZAS Y SEGUROS FINANCE & REAL ESTATE 金融和保險 FINANZAS Y SEGUROS 金融和保險

BLACK NEGRO 黑色 OTHER OTRO 其他

waterfront of sunset park. & other research aspects

We also looked at the changing waterfront of the neighborhood as a part of our investigation into the livelihoods of the residents. The opening of Industry City and the increased investement on the waterfront created alot of questions about the future of jobs and development in the neighborhood. JAMESTOWN PROPERTIES ACQUIRES 49.9 % OF INDUSTRY CITY ADQUIERE PROPIEDADES JAMESTOWN 49,9% DE LA INDUSTRIA DE LA CIUDAD 詹姆斯敦物業收購了工業城市的49.9%

造

製

RENT SPECULATION ALQUILO ESPECULACIÓN 租賃操作和投資

濱

A ST

海

N LÍ

IÓ

PROMISING 20,000 NEW JOBS AND MAXIMUM LOCAL MOBILIZATION PROMETEDORES 20.000 NUEVOS PUESTOS DE TRA- BAJO Y LA MOVI- LIZACIÓN

B FA

INDUSTRY CITY + INNOVATION LAB

承諾2萬個新工作機會

C FA

和最大的本地機動

PROTOTYPING NEW WATERFRONT INDUSTRY PROTOTIPO NUEVAS INDUSTRIAS FRENTE AL MAR 新型水產業 The Innovation Lab is an important step to creating a future for Sunset Park that is rooted in our truecharacter of collaboration and shared goals,” Council Member Carlos Menchaca, District 38

AT W

AV E 8T

AV E

INFLOW OF LABOUR ACROSS STATES CONNECTING QUEENS ALL THE WAY TO JERSEY LA AFLUENCIA DE MANO DE OBRA A TRAVÉS DE ESTADOS QUE CONECTAN A LAS REINAS HASTA EL JERSEY 勞動力流入國家連接皇后一直到球衣

THE LOCAL ECONOMY FROM 5TH AND 8TH AVE LA ECONOMÍA LOCAL DE LA AV 5 Y EL 8 當地經濟從第5和第8 AVE Businesses are clustered in groups of small shops and vendors, most notably along 5th Ave. and 8th Ave. Business Improvement Districts (BID), in combination with the financial support of banks and property investors, have made possible vibrant commercial corridors that support local immigrant populations. Las empresas se agrupan en grupos de pequeñas tiendas y vendedores, sobre todo a lo largo de la Avenida 5 y 8th Ave. Distritos de Mejoramiento Comercial, en combinación con el apoyo financiero de los bancos y los inversores de propiedad, han hecho posibles corredores comerciales vibrantes que soportan las poblaciones locales de inmigrantes. 企業聚集在小商店和供應商的群體，最顯著的是第五大道。和8th Ave. 商業改善區與銀行和房地產投資者的財政支持相結合，創造了支持當地移民人口的可能充滿活力的商業走廊。

El Laboratorio de Innovación es un paso importante para crear un futuro para Sunset Park que esté arraigado en nuestro verdadero carácter de colaboración y objetivos compartidos “, agregó.-Miembro del Consejo Carlos Menchaca, Distrito 38 創新實驗室是創建日落公園未來的重要一步，它源於我們真正的協作和共同目標，理事會成員Carlos Menchaca，38區。

strategies for mitigation & other research aspects

The design strategy that I worked on with my peers was creating Castle; A non-profit community center and off-site art classroom in an abandoned police station and heritage site that is located at the heart of the neighborhood.

nigraan-e-lahore urban think tank

Nigraan-e-Lahore is a group of citizens initiating discussion on the city’s current issues through a process of collective thinking and the expression of aspirations about Lahore from a spectrum of realities that experience Lahore daily. This process is seen as a step towards invoking a sense of ownership in the shaping of our city. I am one of the founding members of this collective. Since its inception in 2015 we’ve conducted participatory researches about urban issues enveloping Lahore, have ignited discussions on the ‘right to the city’, and have advocated a sustainable approach to resolving issues of urban development. We have had two successful exhibitions in collaboration with different schools and community members and, our network is growing with time as people become aware of the rights to the city. Currently, I assist them with research projects remotely.

nigraan-e-lahore urban think tank

Inspired by Candy Chang’s ‘Before I Die..’ series, we have used a mobile blackboard to understand the aspiration of the resident of Lahore from their city. This board was taken to public exhibitions and the writings were documented r. We have transcribed some of this data and posted it on our Facebook page as a way of creating awareness. We have also incorporated the use of maps and other interactive installations to get people to voice their opinion on city matters. Essays written by visually impaired students about their experience of the city. These letters were translated and were displayed for people to read.

People at the exhibition went through the essays written by primary school kids about their experience of the city.

nigraan-e-lahore

where them buffaloes at?- community mapping

As a part of our research about River Ravi Waterfront development, I created a website which enabled community mapping of buffalo herding along the river bank. The independant project was an attempt to show the existence of a non-human stakeholder that was not considered in the development plans for the water front development.

Theme Park Design karachi-Pakistan

At Isbah Hassan and Associates, I worked as an architect on a theme park project for Bahria Town, Karachi. I designed a section of the park, produced the master planning for it, designed the street furniture of the zone, the main street of the park, and worked on the finishes of the overall construction. The client was interested in creating the first state-of-the-art theme park in Pakistan.

My design process included developing an understanding of the geography of the site and the placement of the various rides in the zone. while designing I took inspiration from local elements in our architecture to make the theme relatable, while also keeping the fantasy element alive. This project is still under construction and will be hopefully completed by end of the year 2022.

Interior Design

So Kamal Boutique,Lahore-Pakistan

Working as an architect at Isbah Hassan & Associates, I got the opportunity to design the interiors for a popular fashion boutique , ‘So Kamal’. My design process consisted of understanding the layout of the space and the required footage for the displays etc. As a solution to the limited floor space, I introduced A new set of ceiling suspended display racks. The golden aluminium bars were added at strategic points to create perforated divisions in the two storey boutique. The counters and display tables were designed to liberate the space from architectural linearity by adding free-flowing designs.

Interior Design

So Kamal Boutique,Lahore-Pakistan