PORTFOLIO
RAEGAN ALBRIGHT SPENCER
_
RAEGAN ALBRIGHT SPENCER
_ 8110 PIERPOINT DRIVE HARRISON TENNESSEE 37341 T: 256 468 7769 ITSAHARDRAIN.COM RAEALBRGHT@GMAIL.COM
MADAGASCAR’S POPULATION IS
TWENTY-ONE MILLION
970, CURRENTLY
ARE ORPHANS
Nearly 45% of the population is younger than 15 years old. Meaning 10% of all Malagasy children are orphans. The population growth rate of 3% is relatively high, and continuing to add to this demographic. 80% of the population is rural and relies on agriculture for its livelihood. By most standards it is a very impoverished country. Source: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and US Census Bureau, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Database, 2003.
At almost 5% of the entire population, this demographic is a glaring concern for Madagascar. The country itself is the fourth largest island in the world, located in the Indian Ocean and across from continental Africa along the Mozambique Channel. The total land area is 581,540 square kilometers, slightly less than double the size of Arizona. Currently there are several distressing statistics:
,000 nearly half of the school age children are not enrolled in schools; __ illiteracy affects more than half of the population (of which 56.5% of women) with a higher among the young; __ nearly one third of the Malagasy population’s life expectancy is below age 40; __ more than three quarters of the Malagasy people have no access to drinking water; __
RAEGAN ALBRIGHT SPENCER
1 Site before construction
CENTRE D’ACCUEIL ET DE TRANSIT DES JUMEAUX ABANDONNES _
2 Rendered Perspective looking towards the library nook.
JULY 2012 MAY 2013
2013
Mananjary is a small village located off the Southeastern coast of Madagascar. The population is only several thousand inhabitants, made up primarily of the Antambahoaka tribe. This small village, like many throughout the country,
is deeply rooted in their oral traditions. Yet, there is one center trying to make a difference for those considered fady. Centre D’accueil Et De Transit Des Jumeaux Abandonnes (CATJA) is home to eighty-six orphans, but these
are not just orphans, they are kambana, the Malagasy word for twins. In the local area twins are considered taboo and are often abandoned by their families. CATJA is a privately funded non-profit orphanage that was
founded in 1987 by Mdme Julie Rasoarinanana and her late husband as a haven for these children. Since she and her family opened their doors they have saved hundreds of twins from death.
RAEGAN ALBRIGHT SPENCER
A CONCERN FOR ARCHITECTURE _
Mananjary Madagascar Private project while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer an elevated quiet area, which can be used as a reading area, and a place of reflection and independent learning. The site strategy is another learning zone. The south terrace can serve as an outdoor classroom or as a play area, abutting the proposed agricultural field. All spaces are GOAL ONE It is our goal to engage adaptable to serve the and challenge the different learning needs students spatially while of different students. providing them with a variety of learning GOAL TWO environments. We have It is a goal of ours achieved this by creating to minimize the energy several different consumed by the classroom learning zones. The as it serves to educate most prominent space in the community about green the school building is building strategies. We classroom space. The have accomplished this windows are located such by constructing with that outside activity local materials and would not be distracting implementing passive strategies. during lessons. There is energy The most important aspect of designing and building in a developing country is to know your client. In addition to making a design appropriate for the community, the designs should be native to place - environmentally and culturally.
Locally acquired building materials include bricks made on-site, locally and sustainably harvested wood, and locally manufactured windows and sheet metal. Other building materials, such as windows, sheet metal, and hardware will be bought locally, supporting Malagasy industries. Passive energy strategies incorporated in the classroom include a passive lighting design, passive ventilation, thermal massing, proper insulation, and rain water collection. The clearstory lighting allows for maximum ambient light to enter the classroom without the harsh glare and heat caused by direct equatorial sunlight. The
windows are positioned in order to maximize natural ventilation, flushing the hot air out of the classroom with southern prevailing winds. Rain water is collected from the metal roof of the classroom and can be used to irrigate the agricultural fields as well as for use in the children’s garden. GOAL THREE Safe building practices are too often not implemented in Madagascar. Through the use of properly designed foundation and roof systems, as well as loadbearing masonry walls, we hope to illustrate proper building techniques in a building with structural integrity.
The window of the elevated reading nook is glazed with the bottom of glass bottles. The locally brewed beer brand, Three Horses Beer (THB) are being donated by the manufacture. Over 100 bottles will be needed.
1 Program Axonometric Diagram
JULY 2012 MAY 2013
The project focuses on three main goals, to create a classroom, which inspires engaged learners, which has a small carbon footprint by using local materials and passive energy strategies, and to implement and encourage safe building practices.
PROGRAMMATIC ELEMENTS: Existing site conditions. LIBRARY 56 READING NOOK 4 NURSERY CLASSROOM 56 COMMUNITY OFFICE 20 CHILDREN’S GARDEN 10 OUTDOOR LEARNING AREA 10 OUTDOOR PLAY AREA 10
M2 M2 M2 M2 M2 M2 M2
COMPUTER RENDERED PERSPECTIVE: AUTOCAD, FORMZ, SKETCHUP, + PHOTOSHOP
KAMBANA MANANJARY _
CENTRE D’ACCUEIL ET DE TRANSIT DES JUMEAUX ABANDONNES (CATJA) is home to 86 orphans from across the entire island of Madagascar. Yet, these are not just orphans, they are kambana, the Malagasy word for twins.+ In the local area twins are considered taboo and are often abandoned and left for death by their families. This center is hoping to change the local culture, while providing a second chance for these special children. +
(matching is the actual translation)
JULY 2012SEPTEMBER 2013
THE LIFE OF TWINS BORN IN MADAGASCAR... THROUGH THEIR EYES/A VISUAL COLLECTION RENDERED BY RAEGAN ALBRIGHT SPENCER
_ 2012
_ 2012
_ 2013
RAEGAN ALBRIGHT SPENCER
COOPERATING OUT OF POVERTY _
_ras
DECEMBER 2012 MAY 2013
MANANJARY, MADAGASCAR (CATJA)
INTERIOR VIEW FROM THE LIBRARY NOOK INTO THE CLASSROOM.
ALL IMAGES OF CHILDREN (KAMBANA) ARE THE ACTUAL ORPHANS OF CATJA, TAKEN DURING MULTIPLE SITE VISITS (2013).
COMPUTER RENDERED PERSPECTIVE: AUTOCAD, FORMZ, SKETCHUP, + PHOTOSHOP
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CATJA LIBRARY PROJECT PRECONSTRUCTION PHASE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS
_
JULY 2012 MAY 2013
RAEGAN ALBRIGHT SPENCER ETH MASTER’S THESIS
SYNERGIC URBANISM _
LOCATOR
SYNERGIC URBANISM +
PHASES 1+2
PHASES 3+4
SEPTEMBER 2008 SEPTEMBER 2009
COMPUTER RENDERED MODEL: AUTOCAD, FORMZ, + RHINO
JIMMA, ETHIOPIA
1 Network Scales Diagrams
RAEGAN ALBRIGHT SPENCER
COOPERATING OUT OF POVERTY _
ETH/AAU. Zurich, Switzerland + Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Master’s Thesis As economic enterprises cooperatives play a meaningful role in increasing the socio-economic conditions of their members and local communities. They represent a model of economic enterprise that places a high regard on democratic and human values along with respect for the environment. The world today faces unstable financial systems, increased insecurity of the food supply, growing inequality, rapid climate change, and increased environmental degradation. In this context, cooperatives offer a compelling model for economic enterprise. Given the situation in Ethiopia, where cash crops such as coffee, cereal, and cattle, are some of the major economic generators, new means for sustaining an increasing population should be based on the potential of indigenous agriculture. Situated in a currently undeveloped area in the northeastern region of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region (SNNP), the site for the new city is located eighteen kilometers south of Jimma. As a result of the rural context, initial development begins by organizing the agricultural production in small-scale cooperative units. The main cooperatives established in the city focus on coffee, cattle, cereal, cotton, construction, and logistics. The organizational system provides both economic and social support to the community, through which knowledge can be transmitted. The city develops in phases, aligned with the time line of agricultural production and the growth of the cooperatives. The strong topography combined with the influence of the cooperatives is reflected in the spatial characteristics of the city. If it is true that Ethiopia’s best potential resource is their people, and that cash crops such as, coffee, cotton, If it is true that potential resourcenew is their people, and that cash cropspopulation such as, coffee, cattle areEthiopia’s theEthiopia’s majorbest economic generators, means to ansuch increrasing shouldcotton, be based If itthe is true that best potential resource is their people, thatsustain cash as, coffee, cotton, should cattle are economic generators, new means toand sustain ancrops increrasing be based on thearemajor potential of indigenoius agriculture, assustain a method of connecting to allpopulation scales of trade networks. cattle theofmajor economic generators, new means to an population on the potential indigenoius agriculture, as a method of increrasing connecting to all should scalesbeofbased trade networks. on the potential of indigenoius agriculture, as a method of connecting to all scales of trade networks.
GONDER
GONDER
GONDER
SU focuses on the potential of cooperatives through the global networks of socio-economic + environmental connectivity. Studying this connectivity at global, national, and local scales, the flows of people, goods, and information across borders is revealed. Cooperatives become a driver for enhancing these networks.
2 Cooperative structure Diagrams: Coffee 3 Cattle Coop Diagram
SEPTEMBER 2008 SEPTEMBER 2009
4 Cereal Coop Diagram
Communities join to form cooperatives with a view of fulfilling their need to bring about changes in their social, economic and cultural environment. NGO
CASH CROPS COFFEE
F FARMER
TRANSPORT
AGRICULTRE
IMPLEMENTA TATI ON OF NGOs
CATTLE
DRY METHOD
CONSTRUCTION
CAT A TLE
COOPERATIVE A IMPLEMENTA TATION OF NGOs
WET METHOD W WASHING PULPING FERMENTING W WASHING
W WASHING SUN DRYING
EDUCATION A
T TANNERIES
FOOD PRODUCTS DAIRY PRODUCTION
HUSBANDRY COLLEGE TO IMPROVE REPRODUCTION QUALITY
RETURN PROFIT FOR COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
LEA ATHER GOODS
P PASTEURIZE
+
HULLING SORTNG
$
ABBAT A OIR ABBAT A OIR FOR NON DAIRY PRODUCING COWS
W WAREHOUSE
CUPPING
AUCTION
COLLABERATION A
MEAT A
P CKAGING PA
REMAINS
BIOGAS FROM CAT A TLE (METHANE) REMAINS 1 COW YIELDS 4KM OF ENERGY
TRANSPORT
TRANSPORT NETWORK BRANDED NAME FOR JIMMA
INTERNATION A SALES REGIONAL SALES
NGO
CASH CROPS CEREALS
F FARMER
DIRECT SALES
CASH CROPS
TRANSPORT NETWORK
INTERNATION A SALES REGIONAL SALES
$
PROFIT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
COOPERATIVE A
F FARMER
NGO
DIRECT SALES
COTTON
IMPLEMENTA TATI ON OF NGOs
IMPLEMENTA TATION OF NGOs
PRODUC PRODU CTION
CONSTRUCTION
TRANSPORT
RETURN PROFIT FOR COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT MILLING SORTNG
$
FLOUR
BREAD
FABRIC CEREALS
Y YARN
FISHNET
RAYON
TEXTILES
LEFT OVERS
COFFEE FILTERS
STAPLE T CROP FOR FOOD SECURITY + FODDER
FODDER STORAGE
OFF FARM F SITE LOCATION A
TESTING
AUCTION
OLLLABE ABER RATION COL
PACKAGING
P CKAGING PA
TRANSPORT
TRANSPORT NETWORK
INTERNATION A SALES REGIONAL SALES
In a country like Ethiopia, where the livelihood of the majority of the population depends on agricultural output at only subsistence levels, credit facilities are almost non-existent for ordinary people. Likewise, financial institutions,
DIRECT SALES
like saving and credit cooperatives are of paramount importance for providing facilities for extending credit to improve the mean livelihood. The major objective of organizing the cooperatives is to produce cash and sustenance crops in order
PROFIT FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
$
INTERNATION A SALES REGIONAL SALES
to support and build the community within the urban fabric. The efficient use of resources such as land, water, and energy, allow for the cooperatives to use surplus profit to benefit community spaces. Collective and
DIRECT SALES
recreational spaces are then used as key components of this strategy. Small public spaces are distributed throughout the cooperatives structure, creating humanscale spaces, rather than large and anonymous ones, in an effort to grow and support a mixity of spaces.
SEPTEMBER 2008 SEPTEMBER 2009
SITE PLAN JIMMA, ETHIOPIA
Enlarged section of plan showing new development of urban fabric based on the ideal of SU.
COOP BLOCK COOP FIELD TERRACED HIGH DENSITY HOUSING TREE NURSERY URBAN AGRICULTURE FUTURE GROWTH AREA CLINIC
GREEN CORRIDOR
SCHOOL-MEETING CENTER
ADMINISTRATION -TOWN CENTER
KEBELE-WATER CENTER
CHURCH
STADIUM (SOCIAL ANCHOR)
GREEN CORRIDOR
MARKET-RECYCLE CENTER URBAN AGRICULTURE
FUTURE ANCHORS
COMPUTER DRAFTED PLAN: MICROSTATION + ILLUSTRATOR
RESIDENTIAL INFILL FUTURE COOP AREA
2 Mercato Grid Structure 3 Infrastructure Model
SEPTEMBER 2008 SEPTEMBER 2009
4 Anchor Influences Model 5 Urban Density Model
Although there is a renewed sense of progress and growth within the middle- and upper-class communities, what is to become of those families who live in the densely populated squatter settlements in the areas slated for urban renewal? Thousands of lowerincome households are in danger of being displaced and adversely affected by this process of ‘urban development.’ The government and foreign developers are currently implementing Western techniques of design and construction in order to adapt to the ideals of a modern, developed city while striving to meet the needs caused by extreme population growth. The Western model of multi-story block condominiums—densely spaced, lacking cultural spatial organization, and devoid of the traditional communal outdoor spaces—must be restructured to address local socio-economic issues. The process of relocating people from
the city center to the periphery also affects the existing urban fabric and social networks. In the name of development, old building structures are demolished, and with them, social anchors are being destroyed. In short, the fixation on what is represented as progress is, in effect, fragmenting the city. In the meantime, volatile social issues, such as how to handle the continual rise in population and inadequate housing in Addis Ababa, are ignored. Gergi site plan. The blur strategy of mixity demonstrated in the models A-F were used as tools to define the hierarchy of social anchors and thereby influence the potential structural framework.
FRAMEWORK — The strategy of proxemic urbanism combines the previous methodologies and blurs their boundaries to use the mixity of urban fabric as a tool, illustrated by the structured framework of plots. GRID - An Efficiently organized system, flexible enough to ensure the mixity while remaining adaptable for a variety of future developments ORGANIC (CENTERS) — To inform these public spaces, the framework restructures around the social anchors to create the areas of interaction.
BLURRED — The dualfunction facilities of social infrastructure, with overlapping public and private occupations. PROGRAM — The site will promote social and landuse mixity. DENSITY — To meet the extreme need for housing, areas of the site will have a density greater than the surrounding city while allowing for areas to be adjusted to the needs of the users.
RAEGAN ALBRIGHT SPENCER
MARKET PROBE: PROXEMIC SOCIAL ANCHOR _
COMPUTER RENDERED PERSPECTIVE: RHINO + PHOTOSHOP
SEPTEMBER 2008 SEPTEMBER 2009
Rendered Perspective looking down the commercial connector.
2009 SYNERGIZE THE SPACE Achieve the flexibility of different programs and spatial qualities in order to enhance the density of activities. The cooperation created through the mix of urban elements lead to the advantage of a rich urban fabric.
Rendered view of cisterns.
INHABITATE THE BLUR Erase or redefine the physical and programmatical thresholds and boundaries through overlapping programs and built infrastructure. By blurring these spatial divisions we avoid the creation of monocultural environments and separation to achieve diversity and heterogeneity.
1 Terrain section showing intercropped plants and interconnected cisterns.
RAEGAN ALBRIGHT SPENCER
COOPERATING OUT OF POVERTY _
COWPEAS
ENSET
COFFEE TREES
FRUIT TREES
TEFF + SORGHUM
Hydraulic lift is the movement of water between soil layers contrasting in water potential through plant root systems. Deep-rooted plants in intercropping systems provide an opportunity for the associated crops to utilize water from deep in the soil layers through this movement allowing the water table to rise to met the needs of the shallow-rooted plants.
SEPTEMBER 2008 SEPTEMBER 2009
2 Seasonal calendar of community involvement
2009 AGRICULTURAL TIME LINE
In many African countries, jute, coffee, and cotton are common cash crops. In other regions, grain crops, oil-yielding crops and some vegetables predominate. Prices for major cash crops are set in commodity markets with global scope, with some local variation based on freight costs and local View towards the coffee supply and demand balance. A consequence of cooperative and terraced this is that a nation, region, or individual agriculture plots. producer relying on such crops may suffer low prices, if there is a surplus or agriculture crisis. For many farmers cooperatives offer protection from many of these common problems. By intercropping food and cash crops it is possible to utilize the soil, nutrient, and water needs of a variety of species to produce agronomic benefits. Design Strategies of deep-rooted fruit trees with shallow-rooted coffee plants, provide partial shade and hydraulic water lift, improving the crop quality. Seasonal rotations determine the programmatic productivity that initiates the cooperative members vocational shifts between construction, harvesting, and education.
View across the river towards the cereal cooperatives and future growth area.
AGRICULTURAL TIMELINE
FROM SUBSISTENCE CROPS, WHICH ARE THOSE FED TO THE PRODUCER'S OWN LIVESTOCK OR GROWN AS FOOD FOR THE PRODUCER'S FAMILY TO CASH CROPS, WHICH ARE USUALLY ONLY A SMALL PART OF A FARM'S TOTAL YIELD, -WHILE TODAY, IN NON-DEVELOPED NATIONS, CASH CROPS ARE USUALLY CROPS WHICH ATTRACT DEMAND I N MORE DEVELOPED NATIONS, AND HENCE HAVE SOME EXPORT VALUE. IN MANY TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL AREAS, JUTE, COFFEE,AND COTTON ARE COMMON CASH CROPS. IN COOLER AREAS, GRAIN CROPS, OIL-YIELDING CROPS AND SOME VEGETABLES PREDOMINATE. PRICES FOR MAJOR CASH CROPS ARE SET IN COMMODITY MARKETS WITH GLOBAL SCOPE, WITH SOME LOCAL VARIATION BASED ON FREIGHT COSTS AND LOCAL SUPPLY AND DEMAND BALANCE. A CONSEQUENCE OF THIS IS THAT A NATION, REGION, OR INDIVIDUAL PRODUCER RELYING ON SUCH A CROP MAY SUFFER LOW PRICES SHOULD A BUMPER CROP ELSEWHERE LEAD TO EXCESS SUPPLY ON THE GLOBAL MARKETS
Seasonal rotations determine the programmatic productivity that initiates the cooperative members vocational shifts between construction, harvesting, and education. The urban fabric fluctuates based on these varying effects, as seen in the structural growth patterns with each additional cooperative formed from profit surpluses.
CROPS EACH FORM SHOWS THE TYPICAL CROP ROTATION CYCLE HEIGHT SHOWS CROP YIELD
COFFEE 200
200
150
RUBIACEAE POACEAE
CEREAL
50
WHEAT
MAIZE
WHEAT
COTTON 500 MM
MALLOW
COTTON TOMATO
COTTON
RAPESEED 0
WIDTH SHOWS LONGEVITY
POTATO CEREAL
100
BRASSICACEEN
SOYB BEAN BEANS BE E NSS
RAPESEED AP PES PE ESSEE EED 550 MM
600 MM
600 MM
50
0
800 MM
1100 MM
725 MM
650 MM
600 MM
HIGH ANNUAL
1200 MM
100
RAIN MEAN ANNUAL RUBIACEAE
200
150
SOLANACENE POACEAE MALLOW
200
BRASSICACEEN 250
BELG SEASON
EDUCATION
MEHER SEASON
EDUCATION CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION EDUCATION
COOPS COFFEE
COTTON
CEREAL
CATTLE
“TRITICALE PRODUCTION IN SECURITY AND POVERTY” VON ASHENAFI GEDAMU GOBENA KASSEL UNIVERSITY PRESS
RAEGAN ALBRIGHT SPENCER
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL PRECEDENTS _
Gresham Smith + Partners. Charlotte, North Carolina Intern Architect
Professional Work: GSP Hospital, Corporate + Urban Design Sectors
1 Arcadian Residence and Resort Charlotte, North Carolina
JUNE 2007 SEPTEMBER 2008
2 Moses Cone MedCenter High Point Greensboro, North Carolina 3 Dilworth Walk Charlotte, North Carolina
4 List of all project involvement while at GS&P
2008
Mission: GS&P
Healthcare:
Transforming architecture through a spirit of exploration, collaboration and creative design. GS&P is a leading design and consulting firm with staff that specializes in serving the industry in the U.S. and abroad. Our ability to develop solutions to meet the needs of today and the demands of tomorrow is grounded in research and a solid understanding of industry issues and trends.
Mary Black Memorial Hospital The Center Spartanburg, South Carolina Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia West Florida Hospital Sweet Water Urban Development Pensacola, Florida Madison, Alabama Cookeville Regional Center Arcadian Residence + Resort Cookeville, Tennessee Charlotte, North Carolina Moses Cone Med Center Dilworth Walk Greensboro, North Carolina Charlotte, North Carolina Fort Mill Medical Center Fort Mill, South Carolina Fort Mill Hospital Fort Mill, South Carolina
Corporate + Urban Planning:
RAEGAN ALBRIGHT SPENCER
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL PRECEDENTS _
The Center: A Multi-Use Office Complex Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia PLAN
Professional Work: GSP Hospital, Corporate + Urban Design Sectors
1 Renderings showing program mixity in the inner atrium.
JUNE 2007 SEPTEMBER 2008
2 Elevation studies
2008 The atrium mixed-use building is located in Tbilisi, the city is situated in East Georgia on both banks of the Mtkvari River. The elevation of the city ranges from 380-770 meters above sea level (1246-1968 ft.) and possesses the shape of an amphitheater surrounded by mountains on three sides. In an attempt to bring the beautiful outside into the grand atrium space of the interior, the building occupies the entire perimeter of the city block. The structure of the atrium office building was designed
to maximize open floor space for the office while indicating the circulation paths that surround the atrium. A 35’x 35’ module serves as an organizing mechanism for the structure and accommodates a great deal of flexibility within the rentable floor space. The abstract shape of the building helps to capture the views along the roadside, and up and down the river.
The program includes, retail, office space, residences, restaurants, and a gallery. This vast diversity helps to bring activity inside the common atrium space.
View towards the interior of the atrium space.
RAEGAN ALBRIGHT SPENCER
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL PRECEDENTS _
AUS, Zurich + Bern, Switzerland Intern Architect/ Exhibit Designer
SWITZERLAND + ETHIOPIA +
Professional Work: AUSlArchitekt
SEPTEMBER 2008 NOVEMBER 2009
Franz Oswald-AUSlArchitekt
The NESTown (New Energy SelfSustained Town) concept was created by Prof. Em. Franz Oswald (ETH). The goals and approach of the project are to address the challenges associated with the rapid population grown of Ethiopian cities by creating a new, sustainable pilot town to accommodate around 12,000 people.
1 NESTown, Ethiopia
Amhara Model
2 NESTown, Amhara Model Ethiopia 3 AAU Exhibition Design, Ethiopia
RAEGAN ALBRIGHT SPENCER UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE MASTER’S THESIS
HAPTIC LEARNING CENTER _
LOCATOR
NASHVILLE +
SEPTEMBER 2006 MAY 2007
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE