Selected Works
MELA ILIYA Selected Works 2024
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Iliya Mela
CONTENT DIFFERENT TOGETHER Three Degrees of Life
OASIS
Rewilding Black Rock City
BECYNTH HOMES Multi- Family Housing
VAPORWAVE
Aeshetics in Real Time Rendering
STRANGE STROKES
Getting Under The Digital Hood
TOWERS
Gerative Form Finding
WORK IN PROGRESS Ungoing Projects
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WORK EXPERIENCE University of Michigan, 2023 Graduate Student Instructor- Sustainable Systems(Arch 515)
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Instruct discussion sessions in person and assess exams and assignments. Provide feedback on exams and assignments developed by the lead instructor. Offer feedback on grading rubrics and answer keys created by the lead instructor. Conduct office hours and/or problem-solving sessions. Participate in instructional team meetings alongside the lead instructor and other GSIs. Administer and manage a Canvas site for my discussion/lab/studio section.
Atelier Jean Nouvel (Paris) + Atelier BCN(Barcelona), 2022 Intern
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Aided in preparations for client presentations. Assisted with 3D visualization, modeling, prototyping, and/or component design. Contributed to the production of drawings, specifications, and tasks related to construction administration. Engaged in various stages of architectural projects, including preliminary design development, schematic design, and working drawings.
DBMX Limited, 2019-2021 Architectural Designer I
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EDUCATION
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University of Michigan, Present (Expected graduation date - 5th May 2024) Master of Architecture (MArch)
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Shanghai JT University, 2023 Master of Architectural Engineering (Research) Int’l University of Catalunya, 2022 Master of Bio-Digital Architecture University of Jos, 2018 Bachelor of Science in Architecture
SKILLS
Autodesk Revit Rhinoceros 3D Auto CAD Sketchup Adobe Illustrator Adobe Indesign Adobe Photoshop Lumion Enscape V-Ray Grasshopper Digital Fabrication ArcGIS Pro Furniture making
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Established initial design concepts and collaborated with the design team to enhance them. Generated schematic presentations and conceptual renderings for client presentations. Offered design assistance for the finalization and implementation of design concepts. Contributed to the creation of drawings from initial design through construction documents. Collaborated with project architects to ensure precise technical and contractual documentation for diverse projects. Coordinated with the project team to integrate design intent into construction documents and production. Engaged in all project stages, including conceptual design, presentations, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and production. Developed graphic presentations, 3D renderings, and construction drawings. Facilitated communication among project teams, clients, vendors, contractors, and consultants. Provided technical guidance and inventive solutions to address intricate technical and design challenges.
Mega Projects International Limited, 2018-2019 Intern
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Collaborated with consulting engineers and product vendors. Supported in the administration of construction activities. Reviewed work alongside intermediate or senior-level staff for intent, quality, and precision. Generated renderings or other graphic documents for meetings, presentations, or submittals. Engaged ins review and enhancement of office efficiency and production.
HONORS/ RECOGNITION Taubman College, 2022- 2024 NR-Kuieck Memorial Fellowship
A merit scholarship offered to students who have displayed commendable academic performance and have shown great career promise Taubman College, 2023 Fall ‘23 Student Work Spotlight
My work was selected as one of the best in the Winter 2023 studio and was pubished in college’s website Taubman College, 2023 Winter ‘23 Student Work Spotlight
My work was selected as one of the best in the Winter 2023 studio and was pubished in college’s website Gombe State, 2014-2018 Gombe State Scholar
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DIFFERENT TOGETHER Three Degrees of Living
Year: 2023 Team: Iliya M, Akash D, Michael S & Daniel B Type: Studio Role: Design and representation Different Together creates a community that is greater than the sum of its parts by capturing the essence of density of living, diversity of lifestyles, and differentiation of collective spaces. The project aims to establish a gradient upon which differences can converge to form a dynamic community of people that live disparately within existing housing typologies
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Different Together is a collective living project designed around three core ideas - density of living, diversity of lifestyles, and differentiation of collective spaces to complement the dynamic essence and spirit of Detroit’s demographic. Density, in this case, refers not to the hyper-efficient packing of people into compact boxes, but to the creation of a microcosm in which everyone can have better things by sharing. Diversity of lifestyles refers to the designing of a gradients rather than binaries between disparate demographics of people and the unit typologies they inhabit within the community. Through differentiation in the scale, program and privacy of collective spaces,
Selected Works
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Iliya Mela Block
Split
Distribute
Subtract
Double facade
Shape
Activate
Solar Power
Radiant floor heating Thermal Storage
Natural Lighting
Natural Ventilation Storm water Management
Warm water heating
Noise from the street is buffered by trees in park Surface runoff
Mechanical Ventilation
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Geothermal Heat Pump
Bioswale
Top: French drain Bottom: Water reservoir
Selected Works
View into the plaza
Public park
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Iliya Mela
Units 1
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3
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1BR CO-LIVE UNIT 394 sq. ft. per person Shared: Bathrooms, Kitchens, and Common Space Private: Bedrooms
1BR UNIT • 530 sq. ft. per person • Shared: Laundry and Common Spaces Distributed Across Building • Private: Entire Unit
8 BR CO-LIVE UNIT • 409 sq. ft. per person • Shared: Common Space, Kitchen; Laundry and Common Spaces Distributed across Building • Private: Bathrooms, Kitchenettes
3BR UNIT • 1544 sq. ft. per family • 515 sq. ft. per person • Shared: None • Private: Entire Unit, In-Unit Laundry, Private porch
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Building
Landscape
Community Park
PUBLIC 8
Plaza
Courtyard
PRIVATE
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Community centre
View across the corridor of apartments
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Iliya Mela A A
1 2 3
B
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Roof + External Wall (a) 1) Perforated Metal Screen 2) 8” Rigid Foam Insulation 3) Drainage Membrane 4) Metal Connection Plate 5) Tight Fit Bolts 6) Screws 7) 5/8” Gypsum Board 8) 3-Ply CLT (4”) 9) 2” Fiberglass Batt Insulation 10) Connection Brackets 11) Air gap 12) Stucco Finish
7 8 9 10 11 12
C
B
Floor (b)
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2
3
4
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1) 5-Ply CLT (6 - 7/8”) 2) Shear Stud 3) Concrete Slab 4) 1 - 1/2” Rigid Insulation 5) Heating Screed 6) 1 - 1/2” Concrete Finish
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C 1 2 3 4
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Balcony (c) 5 6
Overall all section Scale: 1/2” = 1’-0”
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Enlarged details Scale: 1-1/2” = 1’-0”
1) Concrete pavers 2) Impermeable membrane 3) Pre-fab concrete pabver 4) Glulam slab extension 5) Battens 6) Cement fibre soffit 7) Stainless steel gutter 8) Track for screens 9) Folding perforated metal screen
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Paper Model
Exploded Balcony Axonometric Detail Scale: N/A
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Life Safety Plan
1hr fire Seperation DEAD END CORRIDOR Maximum allowed: 50’0 Provided: 16 1hr fire Seperation
EXIT SEPERATION Required:D/3 Min= 1,125’ Provided: D= 3376’ EXIT 1hr fire seperation between unit types
MAX EXIT ACCESS TRAVEL DISTANCE: Common path of egress travel distance allowed: 75’0” Provided: 39’ EXIT ACCESS TRAVEL DISTANCE: Distance allowed:250’0” Provided: 49’ 1hr shaft
2Hr fire Seperation CORRIDOR Required: 30 min rated corridor Provided: 1hr rated corridor STAIR Occupancy load: 395 Stairway Egress Width: 44” Min. Stair width provided: 60” Min. Exit Doors: 36” Door width provided: 60” Number of Exits:3
R-2 Residential R-2 Accessory (gym, lobby, manager office, etc.) S-1 Moderate hazard storage S-2 Low hazard storage (storage , trash room, parking garage, mechanical, electrical, etc.) M mercantile (retail) A-3 Unconcentrated assembly (club room, outdoor Recreational space, etc.) 1 hour fire separation 2 hour fire separation Exit access travel distance Exit discharge # of occupants in space # of occupants merging/ total
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STAIR Occupancy load: 325 Stairway Egress Width: 44” Min. Stair width provided: 60” Min. Exit Doors: 36” Door width provided: 60” Number of Exits:3
OCCUPANCY LOADS Ground floor: Second floor: Third floor: Fourth floor: Fifth floor: Sixth floor:
395 325 150 144 64 37
STAIR Stairway Egress Width: Min. Stair width provided: Min. Exit Doors: Door width provided: Number of Exits:
44” 60” 36” 60” 3
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First Floor Plan
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Single loaded corridor Single loaded corridor 2 hour fire rated stair enclosure In-apartment staircase 2 hour fire rated stair enclosure
2 hour fire rated stair enclosure
101”
43”
122”
Vertical Egress Horizontal Egress Non Egress Stairs
Egress and Circulation
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View of interior courtyard
View of park and cafe
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Iliya Mela
Oasis Rewilding the Black Rock City Year: 2021 Team: Iliya Mela, David, Wang, Bao Type: Design Studio Role: Design and representation
Each year, the week-long “Burning man” festival held in Black Rock City attracts more than 80000 people, which brings serious waste pollution to the site. 40% of the waste is compostable, and volunteers can collect 23000 pounds of recyclable waste each year. The existing waste treatment measures are to transport the waste to a waste treatment center 200 km away for landfill treatment which is not economical and environmentally friendly. Therefore, with the help of a composting technology, the Oasis creates a closed loop system through the recycling of waste by volunteers, the recycling of waste by composting tower, the use of clinker for plant planting, the generation of economic value or withering of plants as raw materials for composting. People throw waste into the composting tower, and they will be rewarded with plant seeds and mature soil. The seeds will be planted around the composting
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Set Foundation Prefabricate the corresponding structures in the factory, construct the foundation of composting tower with steel structure on site, and reserve the splicing interface. Install the base of the top swivel.
Construction of compost part structure The main beam column structure in the composting area is installed and spliced on site, and mortise tenon connection is adopted.
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Filling skeleton construction Bamboo, wood, thatch, branches and other materials are bound into flakes to form the filling skeleton of the composting part of the wall.
Fill the wall with earth The ash, thatch and other coagulants are mixed into the soil to enhance its toughness. Using the construction template, fill the soil into the skeleton wall, reserve the holes and entrances, and finally smooth the wall.
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Build external area Timber is used to build the beam column structure and stair area of the external area to form the outer ring corridor space for waste related activities.
Set up fog net Improve the bottom steps, stairs, second floor roof and other details, and build the top fog net and water delivery system.
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1. Construction of structural framework.
2.Bind the wooden strips with ropes and fix them on the frame.
3.The formwork shall be fixed and filled with a mixture of soil and thatch, and the surface shall be trowelled manually.
Soil with straw
Oasis is the most vital area in desert. Our design aims to solve the large amount of waste, to form a desert oasis with composting tower as the core through the collection and centralized treatment of waste. The composting tower is built in the way of co-construction. Most of the components are prefabricated in the factory and transported to the site to complete the equipment. The use of local soil, ash, thatch and other materials, mortise and tenon, binding and other low-tech construction methods, as far as possible to reduce the impact on the environment.
4.Use wood board to enclose and reserve opening space
5.Smoothen the surface and remove the construction formwork
Soil with straw
Plant Growth Guidelines: We want to build composting towers to achieve a closed-loop recycling of waste. In order to ensure the success of composting, the most important thing is the proportion of composting raw materials, enough air and certain water content. The proportion of composting materials will be controlled by composting pretreatment and weighing records.A rotating device is set on the top of the composting space to mix the bottom raw materials for ventilation while interacting. The rainwater collection device at the top of the composting tower will directly supply water for the raw material, and the excess water will be used water plant.
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Applying Finish Water and moisture sealants is applied to the wooden frames and rammed earth walls to protect structural members from insect and water penetration.
Interactive recreation On the finished framework of composting tower, people are welcome to carry out secondary creation, such as binding to form a new facade, local painting creation, making waste transportation tools, etc.
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Aerial view of the facility
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Appraoch view of the facility
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An aerial view of the landscape revealing different points of intervention
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BECYNTH HOMES Multi- Family Residential Year: 2019 Type: Design Role: Design and Visualization Context: Professional Practice This project aims to address the Nigerian housing crisis in the urban city of Abuja whilst creating bits of communities that ultimatly creates a bigger community. The design tries to create a cheap, affordable housing solution that can serve as a prototype for the city’s ever increasing rate of urba migration. It creates an environment that’s appealing to a wider income
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Western View
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Sectional-Cut Across Condominium
Eastern View
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Planning and layout according to grid
Blocks along grid intersections
Circulation layout
Supporting facilities
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Bird’s eye view perspective of Becynth Homes
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Vaporwave Aesthetics in Real-time Rendering Year: 2023 Team: Iliya Mela Type: Representation Role: Design and representation
New tools and technologies continue to challenge conventions of architectural representation and design. As we have seen, renderings are often assumed to accurately depict the material reality of a proposed space or building. In real-time rendering, post-processing is limited, and therefore assets and elements must be “pre-processed.” In other words, real-time rendering requires that “post-production” is done as “pre-production.” In Project 2 students will learn to use Enscape to create interactive digital scenes that conform to their chosen aesthetic in real-time without Clustered Organization
Organisational Structure
Photogrammetry Object (Nikon Camera) Anchor Asset
Enscape Asset Enscape (Custom) Asset Object
#1 Photogrammetry Object
Cube Primitive #2
#3 Placeholder Asset
Geometric Primitive #1
Geometric Primitive #2
Rendered Top View with annotations that illustrate the composition as it relates to the organization model
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The image shows the introduction of different types of lights to set the mode of the scene. spot light to higlight the the custom asset, sphere light to the overall tone of the scene and
The image shows the altered sketchfab object illuminated by a greenish spot light. The the color of the bust was altered from white to a tint of blue.The pool was also illumated by an emmisive light which makes
I added sphere light to help set the mood for space and to subtly highlight the overall composition in the corner
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Iliya Mela
Strange Strokes Getting Under The Digital Hood Year: 2023 Team: Iliya Mela Type: Representation Role: Design and representation
New tools and technologies continue to challenge conventions of architectural representation and design. As we have seen, renderings are often assumed to accurately depict the material reality of a proposed space or building. In real-time rendering, post-processing is limited, and therefore assets and elements must be “pre-processed.” In other words, real-time rendering requires that “post-production” is done as “pre-production.” In Project 2 students will learn to use Enscape to create interactive digital scenes that conform to their chosen aesthetic in real-time without post-processing.
Rendered Top View with annotations that illustrate the composition as it relates to the organization model
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Iliya Mela
TOWERS
Generative Form Finding
Year: 2021 Team: Iliya Mela Type: Parametric Design
Different Together creates a community that is greater than the sum of its parts by capturing the essence of density of living, diversity of lifestyles, and differentiation of collective spaces. The project aims to establish a gradient upon which differences can converge to form a dynamic community of people that live disparately within existing housing typologies
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WORK IN PROGRESS
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