MICHELLE CULABA
SELECED WORKS 2012-2016
CONTENTS Council Crest Pavilion
01
Dancer’s Studio
03
Gameboard
05
Fused Glass Light
07
Red Dress
09
Jellyfish Sculpture
11
Pittsburgh Parks
13
Personal Sketches & Artwork
15
COUNCIL CREST PAVILION PORTLAND, OREGON
Portland State University Design Studio 1 Summer 2015
Horizon Council Crest park sits on top of the tallest hill in Portland, overlooking rivers, city skyline, bridges and mountains. The horizon up there is broad and layered. Despite the park’s geographic appeal, it lacks facilities and therefore receives little use. The goal in this project was to create a pavilion that would take advantage of the layered and varying views in different directions, while acting as an extension of the horizon that is present throughout the park. The pavilion does not have a strong orientation one way, so as to encourage attention to the background views to the north and south and the foreground views to the east. Undesirable views of a massive cell tower to the west are hidden by the pavilion. Passage A non-functioning water tower present on the site is deconstructed and turned into a sculptural divider lining the pathway up through the park to the pavilion. The ribboning steel divider is intended to mimic the Willamette river which flows through Portland and can be seen prominently from the park. The steel divider originates within a reflecting pool inside the center of the pavilion then flows down through the park, acting as a physical artifact of the views in the far distance and bringing awareness to one’s passage through the park.
SITE: COUNCIL CREST PARK SE PORTLAND, OR
VIEWS
RIVER
HORIZON
DANCER’S STUDIO PORTLAND, OREGON
PRIVATE SPACE
PUBLIC SPACE PUBLIC/PRIVATE SPACE
Portland State University Design Studio 1 Fall 2015 Connection The task of this project was to design a dance studio in a transitioning neighborhood in inner SE Portland. This historic neighborhood has been dominated by industrial uses for the past several decades, but recently has started transitioning into a hub for young, emerging artisans and artists as well as a dining and nightlife destination. In constrast to the typical institutional nature of major dance studios, this design builds on the existing neighborhood culture by focusing on openness and connection to the street, thereby encouraging connection to the community. The east facade of the building is made up of rotating glass panel doors, giving the option of completely opening the space up to the street to encourage interest and engagement. Practice areas are placed along the street and the performance area is inside a restaurant in the building, blending the performance with the dining and nightlife experience the neighborhood is known for.
PITTSBURGH PARKS: ANALYSIS & PLANNING Professional Project City of Pittsburgh Planning Parks and Open Space 2012 In 2012 the City of Pittsburgh was developing a new comprehensive citywide plan, including a significant focus on the use and management of parks and open spaces within the city. As park of the team researching and developing proposals for the comprehensive plan, I studied the distribution and access of parks within the city, looking for gaps in the park system and opportunities to spread equitable access. Although Pittsburgh had plenty of park land in the city, for example in 2012 ranking 3rd in the country for park acreage per capita, the distribution and quality of parks was not always equitable. Equal park access was a priority not only for the health benefits of parks, but also benefits such as the “green premium,” or increase in property values and other monetary advantages for homes in close proximity to high quality regional and community parks.
Through my research I identified the highest need area to be a part of the city commonly known as the “Hill District.” This area is made up of four neighborhoods, all of which are on average high-density and low-income. Some investment and restructring of the park system could greatly improve park equity for the Hill District. Fortunately, Pittsburgh has a unique opportunity in its park system to utilize some of the many vacant and distressed propeties under city domain which are currently burdening certain neighborhoods.
PARKS & WALKSHED DISTRIBUTION
City map with park types and walksheds
Studies show people are willing to walk 1/4-1/2 mile to reach a neighborhood park. They will travel farther for a community or regional park.
NEIGHBORHOODS: Crawford-Roberts Middle Hill Upper Hill Terrace Village
PARK LAND PER CAPITA AVERAGE
PITTSBURGH
8.1
10.2
According to the Trust for Public Land, out of the top 100 populated cities, Pittsburgh is 3rd in park acreage per capita (10.1 acres/1k residents) amongst cities of similar density (intermediate-high density)
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME Pittsburgh
$49,809
Crawford-Roberts
$16,276
Middle Hill
$25,025
Upper Hill
$34,880
Terrace Village
$11,884
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES: A NEED FOR EQUITABLE ACCESS Pittsburgh contains approx. 30,000 vacant lots, many of which belong to the City. There is an opportunity to develop pocket parks or small neighborhood parks in the gap area.
EXPAND SITES Potential for high quality neighborhood parks on the perimeter of gap area to be expanded into community or regional parks.
PARTNERSHIP A more aordable option may involve partnering with community groups, schools or local businesses to develop semi-public park areas.
VACANT LOTS Pittsburgh contains approx. 30,000 vacant lots, many of which belong to the City. There is an opportunity to develop pocket parks or small neighborhood parks in the gap area.
ALTERNATIVE SITES Develop parks in alternative sites such as rights-of-way, using similar programs such as the Plaza Program in New York as a model.
GAMEBOARD Personal Project, 2012
Originating with interest in a design that is compact and dynamic, this game board is two-sided: checker board on one side, tic tac toe on the other, with a compartment in the middle holding game peices for both. The compartment in the middle is accessed by sliding o the tic tac toe board. While building the gameboard, I was interested in the potential of the material’s tactile quality becoming part of the game playing experience for these two hands-on board games. This project was a woodworking excercise in careful craftsmanship and detail.
FUSED GLASS LIGHT Personal Project, 2014
Fused glass is a great way to explore layering and positive and negative space. Through the layering and fusing of individual elements, you can create these new objects with depth and complexity, while the spaces void of material contribute equally to the character of the peice. This particular peice was made for a light ďŹ xture, so it was also an experiment in translucence and the ways in which light could interact with the materials.
RED DRESS
Personal Project, 2013
I have always thought there is no more authentic form of self expression that the clothes and adornments we wear on our bodies. While making this dress I was inspired by the air of melancholy surrounding winters in the PaciďŹ c Northwest. The vivid red of the dress takes on a new intesity in such raw conditions.
JELLYFISH SCULPTURE Personal Project, 2015
Constructed of reused pin-making backs, the jellyďŹ sh sculpture is intended to be fun and playful, while celebrating the mechanical nature of its constructed elements. Treating each pin as an individual structural unit, I experimented with dierent structural patterns and found the sturdiest to be a triangle.
PERSONAL DRAWINGS & ARTWORK
Explorations of ideas and places, 2013-present