O R T F O L I O
815-540-9556
Inari368@gmail.com
www.linkedin.com/in/nakaya-davis
O R T F O L I O
815-540-9556
Inari368@gmail.com
www.linkedin.com/in/nakaya-davis
YEAR: SPRING 2021
LOCATION: Rockford, IL, USA
The south west side of Rockford, Illinois has been neglected over the years due to political, economical and racial issues. This left this once rich and bustling area with little resources, and a poorly designed built environment.
After developing a master plan to revitalize this area my classmates and I began to develop individual projects.
I chose an urban farm because I believe it will greatly serve the community by inspiring and educating the people of the neighborhood, provide jobs, offer inexpensive healthy food options, and create an economically sustainable systems, This project will lead to a better physical health. Studies show that a better physical health will also lead to a better mental health because the brain in receiving better nutrition. Furthermore, the opportunity to connect with neighbors and make friends leads to better emotional health as well.
3RD
CROPS LABS GROWING SPACES
2ND
CROPS
CROPS
1ST
OFFICES
WORK SHOPS/ CLASSROOMS LABS GROWING SPACES
LOGISTICS EXHIBIT
PROCESSING AUDITORIUM
GROWING SPACE ANIMAL FARMING MARKET
BEE KEEPING
COURSE: Arc651
ADVISOR: D. Hussey
YEAR: Fall 2020
The Bronzeville neighborhood in Chicago Illinois is an another example of what a history of neglect can have on a neighborhood. Visiting this area I noticed that resources were scarce. My studio proposed to redevelop the Bronzeville area in order to create a sustainable, pedestrian friendly corridor.
My site is located along 35th Street, an empty lot across from IIT. I developed Eco Towers, a high-density mixed-use development. Designed for the future. This design seeks to create a vibrant and permeable urban center.
Eco tower strives for inclusion, diversity and a healthier life for people and for the planet. I focused on exploring a living building and how it could increase the biodiversity in the area while also making the people who would occupy it healthier.
Main Focus
Creating one building that separates the public and the private area, while having some shared spaces
A strong focus was placed on designing plaza space to invite people to interact with the each other and the design.
Green Roof
Green Walls
Sky Lobby
Residents Convenience Store
Raised Plaza
Retail & Restaurants
Entertainment Plaza
Green roof, staggered terraces with plans and ivy vines on the louvers and low maintenance plants. The building increases biodiversity. It also aims to help the environment by observing CO2, releasing oxygen, protecting against noise pollution, and filtering out dust.
LOCATION: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Developers seek to add to the quickly developing Phoenix area by creating a new 148 unit, affordable apartment complex along the canal.
They also wish to encourage the city to develop the canal front which in-turn will bring more people and activity to the area. As well as beauty and safety.
This project was a group effort. I was mainly responsibly for designing the units to fit within the already designed building. I also assisted with the majority of construction documents; including code plans and parking calculation. This is still and on going project and is estimated to be completed 2023/2024.
Project consists of 148 units. 46 Studios, 63 1 bedrooms, 35 2 bedroom and 4 live/ work.
Project’s location is along N .Central Ave and the water canal. N. Central Ave also contains the lightrail, a main form of Phoenix’s urban transportation.
W Coolidge st
Floor Plans
YEAR: 2019
LOCATION: Mooseheart, IL, USA
Mooseheart, located in Kane County, Illinois, is an unincorporated community and a home for children administered by the Loyal Order of Moose. Our firm designed an activity center that included a gym, open gaming area, multipurpose rooms, small theater, and children’s play area.
All activities surround the open gaming, lounge, and snack area. The raised roof above the main corridor allows for more natural light within the central area. Offices are located to have control over and eyes on all areas within the facility.
COURSE: Arc351
ADVISOR: S. Burtelson
YEAR: Spring 2016
At the end of 2016 the number of forcibly displaced people worldwide reached over 65,600,000. In order to alleviate the refugee crisis John Brown University held a shelter building competition, in hopes to provide victims with temporary relief homes.
The parameters of the project brought on many challenges to my team of five others and I, whom were building a structure to human scale for the first time. The stipulations were that the shelter had to house 4 or more persons, not to exceed a 16’x20’ footprint, have a 2 meter height clearance, cost less than 1,500 USD, last a year or more, and be easily transported and erected. On site tests included earthquake stability, heat retention, overnight habitability, and wind resistance.
Against 9 other teams we placed 5th and won Best Report and Presentation. I myself wrote the report and prepared the presentation slide and speeches.
Door Design
We divide our floor plan into three sections, separated by panels and a magnetic fabric to cover the openings. This allows for privacy and for the shelter to divided up how the family sees fit, rather by sexes (as seen in many middle eastern homes) or by age.
The center of the shelter is were the two front doors are located, the idea gives a sense of a court yard when both doors are open, which resembles an element of traditional middle eastern homes.
Window Design
COURSE: Arc252
ADVISOR: J. Lindsey & S. Burtelson
YEAR: Spring 2015
Creating a stable & holistic environment for orphans. This village of homes seeks to provide a design solution for Touched by Love International Ministries. Each home houses up to six children and a parent. The interior design allows for the front room to be used in multiply ways, with a built in ‘L’ shaped table along the shared living room wall, children can eat, study, get together or do arts and crafts together.
The homes are placed around the perimeter of the property and surround the playing field, water well and garden. Keeping sustainability, cost and convenience in mind each house is constructed from locally sourced materials, have a simple modular form and is designed to collect any rainwater to be used for gray water.
COURSE: Arc251
ADVISOR: J. Lindsey & S. Burtelson
YEAR: Fall 2014
This project sought to teach us the basics in communication and architectonics. Before we could start designing buildings we first had to understand the relationship between solid and void and how together they shape the spaces we exist in.
For this project we merged two cubes into one while still defining were both cubes begin and end, creating another cube where the two meet.
We had to keep in mind organization, regular repetition and alignment as I chose to focus on interconnection, dialog and interaction.
Always asking ourselves “Did we accurately define space? Articulate concept? Think of scale in relation to humans?
815-540-9556
Inari368@gmail.com