STATEMENT
The work that follows is a selected range of projects that I have had the fortunate opportunity to work on throughout my educational experiences at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, as well as, various municipal, landscape architecture and urban design offices across the Greater Toronto Area. The adjacent original photograph depicts a stockpile of decomissioned sewer grates along Dixie Road in Mississauga, Ontario. It suggests a common theme throughout this portfolio of work: the constant attempt to reconceptualise the way that cities engage, manage and perceive water. Each project views water as a powerful design tool with the ability to alleviate the stress placed on our aging and overloaded infrastructure networks and support rich ecologies. Thank you,
Nicholas Gosselin, 2016 MLA Candidate
TABLE OF CONTENTS i
RESUME
01
RECREATE | REMEDIATE
09
ACCUMULATED IDENTITY
15
FRAGMENTED URBANITY
21
HYDROLOGICAL BIFURCATIONS
27
THINK AROUND THE BOX
33
STACKED DECAY
37
MACRO/MICRO/MYCO
39
HIGH PARK GARDEN
41
CONFIDENTIAL MASTER PLAN
43
LOWER SHERBOURNE MASTER PLAN
INFO NICHOLAS GOSSELIN 4333 Poltava Crescent Mississauga, Ontario L4W 3B9 416.801.0489 nicholas.gosselin@ mail.utoronto.ca
EDUCATION
WORK EXPERIENCE
LEADERSHIP
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO 2013-Present
JANET ROSENBERG & STUDIO Landscape Architecture Intern 2014, 2015
TORONTO FINANCIAL DISTRICT BIA Urban Design Consultant 2013-2014
SPA Submissions ∙ Tender Packages ∙ RfP Documents ∙ Design Competitions ∙ TGS Checklists ∙ Planting Plans ∙ Cost Estimates
NORTH DESIGN OFFICE Work Study Student 2014
IBI GROUP INC. Landscape Architecture Intern 2013 Summer
LANDSCAPE DESIGNER Residential Projects Across the GTA 2014-Present
Construction Details ∙ Illustrative Plans and Sections ∙ Perspective Renderings ∙ Planting Plans ∙ Cost Estimates ∙ Design Specifications
BACHELOR OF ARTS ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES SOCIETY Vice-President 2011-2012
Master of Landscape Architecture Daniels Scholarship Recipient UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE CATALUNYA 2015 Intensive International Workshop Master in Landscape Architecture Barcelona, Spain UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO 2007-2012 Honours Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Design and Urban Studies with High Distinction GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE 2009 AutoCAD Certificate Program (2D) AWARDS _International Biennial of Landscape Architecture Traveling Scholarship _Daniels Scholar Award _Barry Lorne Ardiel Scholarship _William Rock, Jr. Memorial Scholarship _Landscape Architecture Endowment _Garden Club of Toronto Scholarship (x2) _Frederick Coates Scholarship _Regents In-Course Scholarship _Joseph MacCallum Scholarship _Isabel Bader Scholarship _Miller Group Scholarship
URBAN STRATEGIES INC. Design Intern 2012-2013 Community Master Plans & Mapping ∙ Street Sections ∙ 3D Modeling ∙ Physical Modeling CITY OF TORONTO Urban Designer 2010-2012 Streetscape Designs ∙ Illustrative Plans and Sections ∙ Construction Details ∙ Public Meetings SELECT SKILLS AutoCAD ∙ Adobe Creative Suite ∙ Rhino ∙ SketchUp ∙ ArcGIS ∙ Microsoft Office ∙ Physical Modeling ∙ Hand Drafting
ACCOMPLISHMENTS & COMPETITIONS _Student Work Published in Representing Landscapes: Digital _Exhibited in 2015 Gladstone Grow Op* _Exhibited in 2015 Jardins de Metis* *in conjunction with classmates 2014 International Biennial of Landscape Arch. _First Place 2014 Superstudio Competition _Second Place and Honorable Mention 2014 NXT City Competition _Entrant 2013 PLAYscapes International Design Comp. _Honourable Mention 2013 Junction BIA Public Realm Master Plan _Finalist 2010 Mississauga Blooms Streetscape Comp. _Second Place 2009 S-Tower Design Competition _Finalist
PHASE 01
RECREATE REMEDIATE 3444 Brock Road N, Uxbridge, ON 2015 Design Studio IV F. Byrne & J. Roche Partner: D. Roy-Caldwell
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This proposal builds upon this idea by reimagining a common gravel pit remediation typology: the golf course. Golf courses - designed to be static landscapes that rely on resource intensive practices - are often viewed as a suitable future land use for pits. However, what if a golf course was used as a tool for remediating gravel pits rather than the result? What if the standard elements of golf courses, such as fairway markers, sand bunkers, irrigation systems, and paths networks complemented the demands of gravel and sand extraction while producing a dynamic and ecologically-significant course? A course that would utilize the materials and opportunities of the site: sand extracted for fairways and greens, gravel extracted for gabion retaining walls, soil overburden for berms, water from the assessible water table for irrigation, compost (from nearby residential developments) for natural fertilizer (compost tea), and a diverse topography for a rich experience.
Phased perspective Illustrating the evolution of the gravel pit through the eyes of one user
PHASE 02
PHASE 03
PHASE 04
2
TYPICAL COURSE FEATURES
REMEDIATION TOOLKIT
Fairway Yardage Marker
Snag Yardage Marker
Fairway Yardage Marker
Sapling Yardage Marker
Protective Fence
Gabion Wall
Cart Path
Meadow
Mature Trees
Nesting Area
Swale Cart Path
Trail System
Overburden & Aggregate Stockpiles
New Fairway
3 Berm
TYPICAL COURSE FEATURES
REMEDIATION TOOLKIT
Sand Bunker
Sand Re-Use
Flood Control Swale
Paved Parking Lot
Berm
Habitat & Flood Control Swale
Permeable Parking Lot
Overburden & Aggregate Stockpiles
New Putting Green
Habitat
Meadow
Overgrown Berms
4 Irrigation
Groundwater Irrigation
Aquatic Habitat
PHASE 01
Greens & subirrigation [through capillarity]
PHASE 02
Slope stabilization with brush fascine
Phased linear plans, sections and aerial perspectives illustrating the evolution of the gravel pit while highlighting key details
5
Compost tea fertilizer
Gabion retaining wall irrigation pond edges
PHASE 03
Fairway soil composed of overburden
Surface irrigated greens
Gray Tree Frog and White-tailed Deer
Common Map and Snapping Turtle
Northern Harrier and Brown Thrasher
6
Phased physical model illustrating the topographic evolution of the site and projected vegetation locations
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ACCUMULATED IDENTITY High Park Toronto, ON Design Studio II P. North & S. Cheng 2014
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By decommissioning underutilized roads and reusing the debris as material for gabion cages, it is possible to create a park that treats storm water, creates new habitats, recycles waste and connects people to Sunnyside Beach. This low input strategy relies on accumulating the sediment from the Humber River and adjacent Watersheds, runoff from Grenadier Pond Hill and Cherry Blossoms, organic material produced from the recreational fields and sand from the littoral drift with different wall typologies to establish a new identity for the park. In addition, it reconfigures the circulation network of the park by using gabion walls to connect major social uses of the park. By excavating underneath the Queensway, Rail Corridor and Gardiner - while slightly raising Lake Shore Boulevard - it is possible to use the same design language to connect people to Sunnyside Beach.
Perspective of area where Grenadier Pond enters Lake Ontario _Published in Representing Landscapes: Digital
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TOPOGRAPHY
ORGANIC WASTE
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SOIL COMPACTION
PROGRAMMATIC
PHASE 01 | DIRECT YEARS 00-02
PHASE 02 | DEFLECT Northern Pike
Longnose Gar
YEAR 02-04
PHASE 03 | INTERCEPT Smallmouth Bullfrog Bass
Little Glassywing
YEARS 04-06
PHASE 04 | COLLECT Screetch Flying Owl Squirrel
Ovenbird
YEARS 06-08
ONWARDS Allotment Gardens
Food Trucks
YEARS 08-
01 02 03 03 04
12
SECTION THROUGH CREEK
SECTION THROUGH GRENADIER POND
SECTION THROUGH GARDINER EXPRESSWAY
13
Perspective of Cherry Blossoms and gabion walls to reduce stormwater runoff
14
FRAGMENTED URBANITY Riverdale Park Toronto, ON 2014 Design Studio II P. North & S. Cheng
Riverdale Park is situated in an area in Toronto that is characterized by fragmentation and individualism. These traits have been translated into a system composed of modules that carry out different functions to support habitat diversity, stormwater management and social integration. They also form terraces to inject program into the park’s eastern hill while take advantage of the view of the skyline. Infrastructure in the form of wet and dry swales are embraced and are fully integrated into the park’s social spaces to enhance the public’s understanding of stormwater management. These linear connections respond to the surrounding street grid and the locations the channelized Don River once penetrated the site.
15
Rendering illustrating the transition zone between the dry and wet swales during a storm event
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DRY SWALES
RIVER EDGE
SECTION THROUGH TERRACED HILL AND DVP
Section AA
Section BB OPEN SPACES SECTION THROUGH 17 5
GABION BLEACHERS
CONCLUSION OF DRY SWALE
WET SWALES
AMPHITHEATRE
PATH/SWALE INTERFACE
WETLAND
18
Millboard Laser-cut model depicting topographic and terraced interventions of Riverdale Park
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HYDROLOGICAL BIFURCATIONS Terraview Park Toronto, ON 2015 Urban Environmental Systems M. Schollen
The proposed redesign of Terraview Park relies on a treatment train approach in order to convey, pre-treat, treat and release water in to Massey Creek. Different swale typologies perform as linear treatment wetlands with weirs and sediment forebays (30-45cm deep), which work to to provide energy dissipation and additional removal of sediments, nutrients and heavy metals from the runoff. Without these forebays, there is potential for re-suspension and scour of previously settled pollutants. During the first flush of storm events, water is directed in to an offline wetpond in order to remove the first wave of pollutants from entering the creek. In addition, as a way of responding to large storm events, subsidary swales are arrayed across the site to provide additional storage that could detain water for 48 hours, as this is the amount of time required for substantial improvement in removal efficiency. Each of these swales utilize check dams and weirs to control which channels are inundated with water first based on their location, size, attenuation capabilities, and function.
21
Rendering illustrating the way the riprap swale moves through forest while restricting access to visitors to preserve understory
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23
6.00m TWO WAY ROAD
2.00m BUFFER
12.00m DRY SWALE
50.00m FLOODABLE AMPHITHEATRE/ FARMER’S MARKET
7.00m ARMOUR STONE TERRACED SEATING
CREEK
PERMEABLE PAVING
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Sandy Loam Soil 300mm deep 19mm Clear Stone 300mm deep Walkway Sub-base 150-200mm Granular 150 Perforated PVC Header Overflow Pipe Infiltration Gallery 50mm Clear Stone
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9.00m PATIO SPACE
8.00m TERRACED SEATING
1.80m INFILTRATION SWALE
10.00m FLOODABLE RUNNING TRACK
INFILTRATION GALLERY 50mm CLEAR STONE
1.80m INFILTRATION SWALE
3.00m TERRACED SEATING
15.00m SCHOOL FIELD
RAINWATER HARVESTING
26
CONFIGURAT
THINK AROUND THE BOX Mississauga 2013 Honourable Mention in PLAYscapes International Design Competition
Transformer boxes typically measure 3. 3.0 x 2.0 feet and are placed on 8 foot w strips of grass adjacent to the road. system proposed is modular and is ba on scaffolding systems and repurpo shipping pallet wood. The wood is arran in a pattern that reveals the dark gr transformer underneath it to create a beaut juxtaposition between warm wood cold metal. There are a variety of joints enable continuous transformation over ti to suit the neighourhood’s preferences. design also ensures that the hydro boxes accessible for workers by lifting up the panel. This strategy treats neighbourho as living organisms that have influxes children, adults, or seniors at various tim As a result, they function as customi neighbourhood identity markers that ref local demographics.
The suburbanization of North America has produced landscapes of monotony with streets that have no reason for people to visit, explore, or play on. A consistent feature throughout subdivision streets are hydro transformer boxes - scattered adjacent to the road on municipal property in order to lower the high voltage electricity from transmission lines to the household current. While they are often surrounded by mature trees, they are viewed as eyesores and are often vandalized. This proposal transforms the suburban by embracing Potential activitystreet nodes for Poltava Crescent banal suburban infrastructure and industrial design as integral streetscape elements and community-building nodes. It puts forth a new, modular scaffolding system that can be customized and transformed overtime according to the community’s desires - rendering Typical Street Cross Section the transformers as catalysts for improving the walkability, and consequently, livability of suburbia.
CTIVE ODE 27
ing the top surface with two extensions es a ping pong table for outdoor
LOCATIONS
Exploded axonometric, various joints, and access to transfo
Although there is a high degree of consiste specific interventions. Areas with trees that areas clear of these elements are better su typically found at the ends of streets - can
BUSINESS NODE
CREATIVE NODE
EXPLORE NODE
Residents who wish to sell home made goods - from lemonade to hockey cards - could use
Sand is a dynamic element that allows for endless creativity. The addition of elevated
The modular system enables the system transform into a variety of climbing structu
Exploded diagram illustrating the components and joints for the modular system
Due to the surplus of parking available due overtime at these nodes to provide addition
P
Diagram highlighting how suburban built form compromises street life through small and enclosed porches, raised balconies, private backyards, and large garages and driveways.
ency throughout suburban streetscapes, there are areas that are more appropriate for t are immediately in front of a house are more appropriate for passive activities, while uited for more physical activities. Furthermore, areas adjacent to backyard fences accomodate elabourate configurations.
e to large driveways, garages, and on-street parking, curb extensions could be added nal public space or bioswales for sustainable stormwater management.
1
VISIBLE+ UNOBSTRUCTED
2
VISIBLE+ OBSTRUCTED
3
INVISIBLE+ OBSTRUCTED
Typical Street Cross Section
TYPOLOGIES CULTURE NODE
MENTAL NODE
ACTIVE NODE
BUSINES NODE
Portions of streets that do not provide access to residences and are lined by backyard fences can be closed on special occasions for projecting outdoor movies in the evenings. The top of the system can be flipped 90 degrees to create a vertical surface for projections.
In order to take advantage of the mature treelined streets while provide tranquil activities for older demographics, benches could be attached to the main frame to create a table suited for competitive board games, such as chess.
Elongating the top surface with two extensions produces a ping pong table for outdoor competitions between different streets or families.
Residents who wish to s - from lemonade to hoc this table for sales. It is who live in apartment have many places for te sales.
Mental Activity Social Activity Physical Activity
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Rendering illustrating the ping pong configuration and a potential sidewalk bump-out that could occur on a suburban street
Exploded axonometric, various joints, and access to transformer
Typical Street Cross Section
E
BUSINESS NODE
CREATIVE NODE
EXPLORE NODE
urface with two extensions pong table for outdoor een different streets or
Residents who wish to sell home made goods - from lemonade to hockey cards - could use this table for sales. It is also useful for those who live in apartment buildings and do not have many places for temporary, small scale sales.
Sand is a dynamic element that allows for endless creativity. The addition of elevated sand boxes enable children to experiment with sand and create an infinite number of shapes without having to walk to the beach or a neighbourhood park.
The modular system enables the system to transform into a variety of climbing structures that move around trees to enable children to interact with their street on a whole new level while animate sterile suburban conditions.
Intended demographics for each system
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Conceptual rendering of the checkers table typology of the hydro transformer box
STACKED DECAY Siteless [Mississauga shown] 2015 Urban Issues L. Margolis S. MacIvor [evolved beyond course]
The overall intention of Stacked Decay is to showcase the habitat tendencies of the Eastern Carpenter Bee through a layered sequence of blocks and grids. This system is to be open-ended, modular, interchangable and responsive over time based on their behaviour. The blocks do not work individually, but instead, support one another for insulation, access, and sun exposure. In order to achieve this, wood was employed in a composite form that relied upon stacking, offsetting and aggregating. The wood blocks were left untreated while the grids were charred to utilize the great benefits fire has as a treatment. In addition, it was important to create a structure that did not depend on fasteners or adhesives to emphasize the modularity of the scheme.
33
Perspective illustrating the potential for the modular bee habitat to be hung from suburban noise walls to animate these spaces while draw attention to their habits
01_RECYCLE SAW DUST ‘BEE BREAD’ TO ISOLATE EACH CELL
YEAR 01
02_CLOSE PROXIMITY FOR PREFERRED HABITAT REUSE
YEAR 02
YEAR 03
03_PERMEABLE FOR BEE’S POOR AGILITY
04_GRAIN PATTERN IMPORTANCE
Favoured
05_PREFERENCE FOR UNTREATED, SOFT AND DRY WOOD
Unfavoured
Cedar
Maple
White Pine
Treated
Douglas Fir
Stained
Yellow Pine
Painted
35
MATERIAL ASSEMBLY/CONSTRUCTION Use aluminum to create a light-weight, minimal hanger module that could be customized to different thicknesses and reliefs of noise walls. This element is not destructive and can be removed without any material or structural damage
Use table saw to cut 342mm long 89mm x 89mm piece of cedar, pine, etc.
Use hammer to force boards tighly into one another without adhesive
Use table saw to create 0.5 inch lap joints in wood supports
Use blow torch to evenly char pine wood
Use table saw to cut vertical and horizontal 19 x 38mm pine members
MACRO/MICRO/ MYCO Les Jardins de MĂŠtis Grand-MĂŠtis, QC 2015 Regenerative Landscape Design P. North
Emerging from the forest floor, Macro / Micro / Myco is a folded, modular, terrain structure hosting select varieties of mushrooms. The installation explores the regenerative design capabilities of mushrooms and celebrates the role of fungi in fortifying and upholding healthy landscapes. The mycelium networks intersect and permeate one another, generating the foundation of soils worldwide. They envelop the roots of grasses, shrubs, and trees, forming an intelligent biological model of connecting organisms to one another. Fungal complexity is the common denominator of a healthy forest ecosystem. The garden offers the unique experience of traversing scales in which we appreciate the mycelial process: macro, or the vastness of the environment they inhabit and support and micro, or the wonder of these tiny organisms and the intimacy they invoke.
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Photograph of installation set in woodland with mushrooms beginning to grow. *N. Gosselin was involved in conceptual and detailed design phases.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 01_High Park Rear Garden 2015 02_Confidential Master Plan Urban Strategies 2013 03_Lower Sherbourne Public Realm Master Plan 2013
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The work that follows is a brief selection of the broad range of projects I have been fortunate enough to work on in my career. They convey some of the different computer softwares I am capable of operating, as well as, the variety of scales that I have experience with. In order to produce a sustainable and dynamic urban landscape, it is critical to be able to operate at each scale to ensure they compliment each other and contribution to the greater whole. I have explored these scales through urban design guidelines, district master plans, mid-sized park design, streetscape plans, and construction drawings.
Photographs illustrating elements of backyard garden at different times of the day during first year of growth
THANK YOU
NICHOLAS GOSSELIN 4333 Poltava Crescent Mississauga, Ontario L4W 3B9 416.801.0489 nicholas.gosselin@ mail.utoronto.ca