NATHANMERLANO PORTFOLIO LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE+DESIGN
NATHAN MERLANO
UNDERGRADUATE PORTFOLIO 2015
Landscape Architecture & Design
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ABOUT
I am a Brisbane based Landscape Architecture student currently spending my 6th semester at the Queensland University of Technology at Gardens Point. I will be Minoring in Architecture and Graphic Design, as these are two key areas of the design world that I also have a passion for. I am inspired by interactive spaces that encourage movement and can manipulate the way a place is viewed. In my work, I put special focus on sketching and modelling from concept development to the final stages of a project in order to achieve this kind of inspired design. Digital visualization is also a key tool that I use to my full extent. Constantly developing and experimenting with this type of media will always be at the forefront of my work as it so important to communicate and visualize ideas in the most understandable way possible. Within the first two years of studying Landscape Architecture, I have had my work chosen for the QUT End of Year Design Exhibition (2013, 2014) and have been awarded with the QUT Best Construction Work Across All Years (Sponsored by Vee Design). Following that, I was chosen as one of the 2nd Year Students to represent QUT Landscape Architecture at the Brisbane Powerhouse Exhibition (2015).
Nathan J. Merlano
PERSONAL
n. Nathan Joseph Merlano d. 17/11/1994 m. (+61) 0431380286 h. (07) 33762405 a. 5 Sutherland Court Mount Ommaney 4074 e. nathan.merlano@hotmail.com w. www.issuu.com/nathanmerlano/docs/portfolio
EDUCATION
QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Bachelor of Design (Honours) Majoring in Landscape Architecture Minor in Architecture Minor in Graphic Design GPA 5.46 on a 7 point scale
2013 to Present
ST JOHN’S ANGLICAN COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL Forest Lake, Brisbane Graduate (2012)
2000 to 2012
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GRANTS & AWARDS
SKILLS
Work selected for The Living Classroom Honorarium QUT Best Construction Work Across All Years QUT 2nd Year Representative for Powerhouse Exhibition Work selected for End of Year Design Exhibition
Advanced Advanced Advanced Advanced Intermediate Intermediate Basic
2015 2014 2014 2013/2014
EXPERIENCE
CONTENTS PAGE
CACTUS & HILL August 2015 Engaged in work experience over a two week period with Cactus and Hill Landscape Architects. The involvment within the company exposed me to the different stages within a landscape project. Duties for this role included the assistance in producing design documentation and developing new design layouts for company concept, developement, presentation and tender packages.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
The Living Classroom - Bingara, NSW Regenerate Studio - Brisbane Powerhouse Place Design Intervention - Goodwill Bridge
FURTHER DRAWINGS
Architectural Sketches River Sketch
2015 2014 2014
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2015 2015
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DLB500
THE LIVING CLASSROOM - BINGARA 2015
Debra Cushing, Kaan Ozgun & John Mongard
M Y A L L C R E E K MEMORIAL S C A R T R A I L
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Bingara
NSW
25.2km
There are currently four main bike trails throughout Bingara. Almost all four navigate around the direct vicinity of Bingara; only one trail extends outside of the town. Therefore there is currently no bike trail that connects and links Bingara to any of its greater surroundings. This in turn leaves an oppotunity for creation and the chance to appropriately link the Myall Creek Massacre Memorial to the township of Bingara. Bingara
Myall Creek Memorial
The simplicity of the Myall Creek Memorial was one of the key elements in which was most noticeable; the fact that such a minimalistic design was able to hold and deliver such a strong message to its viewers. This design approach allowed its user’s to connect with the site itself on a higher level and was able to course an experience and a journey onto the public in a way that wasn’t overpowering in it’s surroundings but true.
SIMPLICITY
JOURNEY
Above - Myall Creek Memorial Walk Below - Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe by Peter Eisenman
This Memorial was the base of inspiration and forced a focus on similar types of memorial design, in particular the ‘Memorial for the Murdered Jews of Europe’ designed by Peter Eisenman in Berlin. Eisenman stated early in the project that “the enormity of the crime of the Holocaust is so large that any endeavour to represent this by traditional means of memorial design, would be unavoidably insufficient”. What was taken from this memorial and Peter Eisenman’s view of his memorial was that in order for the proposed bike trail to grasp the attention of its users and ultimately be able to represent the Myall Creek Memorial, it would need to take the users on a journey or experience that better connected the two on a more meaningful level. The bike trial however would not be designed as a memorial itself, it would act as a prelude before the Myall Creek Memorial; allowing each of the two to play a separate part in commemorating those who were lost during the tragic event.
SPACIAL EXPERIENCE
EMOTIONAL & PHYSICAL CONNECTIONS
PRELUDE TO MEMORIAL
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The events of the Myall Creek Massacre were so horrific that a bike trailed designed to connect Bingara to Myall Creek Memorial would need to take its users on an experiential journey. By reinventing a moment of memory through temporary experience of the body in space, the Myall Creek Scar Trail will ultimately highlight the experiences and emotions of the indigenous victims of the massacre. The idea is to use and manipulate the landscape throughout the bike trail in order to reflect certain experiences and moods onto its users. Creating divots or scars throughout the trail will be a representation of how the European Settlers ripped through the Indigenous culture that once was and allude to the fact that these two cultures juxtapose each other.
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Official start of Bike Scar Trail at Junction RD Park. Map of Trail on information W LO IT WH board along with other Bike trails. If the Gwydir River water level is too high, you will not be able to pass over to White St. Instead continue over to the Gwydir River Bridge and turn left onto White street to continue the Trail.
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THE G LIVIN SROOM S CLA
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Brief road crossing onto right side of road due to lack of room on left. D
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Optional start at The Living Classroom. Signs and maps guide you along the way.
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Final Scar for the Trial with signage informaing users of the journey back to Bingara and a brief statement on the connection to the Myall Creek Memorial just over the ridge. ITLO
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MYALL CREEK MEMORIAL
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Road crossing to acces the site of the Memorial. UPPER WHITLOW RD
First Scar that you will pass through on the trail. Next to the designed scar will be signage informing users of the rest of the trail. Second scar placed on opposing side of the road to help way find cyclists on their ride and to inform cyclists that they will have to cross the road to continue on the Trail.
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DLB400
REGENERATE STUDIO - BRISBANE POWERHOUSE
Shannon Satherley, Paul Songhurst & Dan Young
2014
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Spatially the two areas of New Farm Park and the Performance Lawn (adjacent to the Turbine Building) can be seen as one. However the strip from the Car park to the Turbine Building segregates these two parks and results in loss of activity and function. The conceptualization was taken on board that this incision between the two landscapes was related to that of the loss of blood flow through an artery or vein due to a clot. The idea is to release the tension of the “Powerhouse blood clot� and allow blood flow back into the Performance Lawn in a way that connects the two spaces completely for all users. More veins will open up to encourage a higher percentage of user movement throughout the site and create pockets of activity and excitement that are a reflection of the Powerhouse
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Develop a well-connected pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular entrance that satisfies the needs of the Powerhouse yet offers space for other activities during different time periods.
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Improve on existing outdoor facilities, such as spaces to hold events, market stalls and outdoor theatre shows.
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Make key entrances into site a journey throughout the powerhouse and let users explore and interact, instead of using the space as a thoroughfare.
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Improve the current cyclist route as it cuts through the Boiler Room forecourt and interrupts the space.
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Address the rivers edge through activity and promote the Powerhouse and life beyond.
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The disconnection of spaces between New Farm Park and the Performance Lawn provides an opportunity to release the tension between the two and pump a smooth flow of activity the reactivates life beyond the Powerhouse. Pumping new activity throughout
Movement Before
Movement After
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DLB300
PLACE DESIGN INTERVENTION - GOODWILL BRIDGE
Debra Cushing & Dan Young
2014
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Analysis of the site proved confliction between pedestrians and cyclists; due to a dense space that forced both users to cross paths and interrupt each others route of travel. It was a whirlwind of movement that had an interruption of flow. The space encouraged an intervention that would clean up sight lines and for each user and provide and element of controlled chaos that would ultimately make this space a landmark and a reference point for its surroundings.
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The long and exaggerated bicycle ramps and the complete open space for pedestrians below will allow users of all kinds to navigate the space with ease.
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Splitting cyclists and pedestrians through the use of layered levels and paths will prevent conflict by opening up the space and providing longer decision making time for both users.
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The design will make the existing site a point of attraction and a central node for the area as it not only a connection to QUT but a connection to the rest of the CBD.
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The gorgeous fig trees and the rivers edge are what make this site so special. The design aims to highlight these elements and allow users to experience them in a way that was never possible before by creating different spaces and rooms against the canopy of the fig trees. 29
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Spatial divergence is evident in the site with pedestrians and cyclists converging on common decision points found within the chaos infused space. The network of paths leading into the site plays on the spatial form and function of a ‘whirlwind’, dragging you in to a central point; twisting, winding and pushing you out in another direction. The numerous leveled paths promote depth and speed while organizing the chaos and allowing all users to move through the space freely. The presence of a ‘whirlwind’ creates a subjective experience for each user; cyclists whip around the paths above while pedestrians find themselves in the ‘eye of the storm’ below.
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FURTHER DRAWINGS Sketched with Wacom Intuos Pro Tablet
2015
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Architectural Sketches
River Sketch
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M E R
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PORTFOLIO
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE+DESIGN nathan.merlano@hotmail.com