Rob Gairns Architecture Portfolio

Rob Gairns . BA . AT . MArch

Rob Gairns . BA . AT . MArch

Memorial to the Victims of Communism [Competition Entry _ MBAC]

Narrative: Centre for Aboriginal Culture [Comprehensive Studio _ EVDS Calgary]

Edge Condition: Dwelling [CRHBA Design Competition _ SAIT Polytechnic]

03-08

21-22

Ideas of Home: Responsive Architecture [Senior Research Studio _ EVDS Calgary]

Urban Ecologies: Food and Entertainment District [Intermediate Studio in Architecture _ EVDS Calgary]

09-12

23-24

Retrofitting Glories: Masterplan [Senior Research Studio _ EVDS Barcelona]

East Village ARP Multiuse Development [Graduation Project _ SAIT Polytechnic]

13-16

25

House for Sisters: Dwelling [Studio II _ EVDS Calgary]

Urban Ecologies: Table [Intermediate Studio in Architecture _ EVDS Calgary]

17-18

26

Hope House: Multifamily Dwelling [Studio II _ EVDS Calgary]

Hand Drawn Selections [Various]

19-20

27-28

Table of Contents

01-02

01 10

The Memorial to the Victims of Communism will be located adjacent to the National Archives of Canada and the Supreme Court of Canada in Ottawa. The empty site features a crescent shaped mound at the east side along Wellington, a significant road in the city.

02

We wanted to steer away from overly ideological or formally ‘monumental’ typologies. As such, we began to shape a ‘journey’ through the landscape that could follow a narrative that a victim of a totalitarian regime might endure; one from oppression to hope.

09

03

04

Beginning at the east corner, walls would begin to rise out of the ground to bisect the existing and enhanced mound.

The attitude the walls take is a canted, oppressive one that begins to shape a deprivation of natural light from above.

At the apex of this experience, a corner is turned and the attitude of the walls softens and adjusts to emulate release, culminating at the full dissolution of the walls into an open plaza that faces a constructed Canadian Landscape beyond.

08

05

06

07

05

The lightscape of deprivation also changes as the corner is turned; an emergent accumulation of light to the left of the path travels with you to become the tower of light standing at the edge of the open gathering plaza. The use of light as an analogy of hope builds towards the end of the journey, where one finds refuge in the Canadian Landscape.

04

06

07

Memorial to the Victims of Communism

03

[01]

02

08

01

09

10

EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS _Crescent shaped landscape forming barrier to Wellington

REFERENCE CANADIAN LANDSCAPE _Define gathering space within Canadian landscape as a place of refuge by creating enclosure to the West side.

SINGLE GESTURE THROUGH LANDSCAPE _Shaping experience as a journey from oppression to hope, ending in release/refuge

LOCATE VERTICAL ELEMENT _Vertical Monument at threshold of journey/refuge. Culmination of narrative, holding unique relationship to both passageway and gathering space.

PRESERVE CONTEXTUAL VIEWS _The National Archives to the SW and the Supreme Court/Parliament to the North. Reinforce and enhance spatial quality of landscape.

CREATE SPATIAL CONDITIONS THROUGH PASSAGE _Quality of space as it relates to the body, earth, and light changes with passage.

Modulation of enclosure/release, emergence of light.

top edge of wall wall above 1m 5m

10m

1m

5m

10m

[1:300]

82.80

B

A

70

.32

PL

74.80

Parking Sidewalk

71.00

67

.94

Parking

Sidewalk

Top concrete curb Bottom concrete curb

69

71.00

.0 0

Section C

70

.0

Built Up Berm Parking

Sidewalk

F

71

0

.0

0

71

.00

.0

0

70

70

70 .00

.63

81.80 .00 71

E

72.80

0 .0 72

70

.00

Open Area Elev: 69.80m

69.80

D1

Vertical Tower Element Above 69

.0

0

70.00

D2

Section A

D3

72

.0

0

C

C

81.80

Slope Down 1:12 Total = 1250mm

5.34

71

.00

PL

71

.00

Sidewalk Wellington Street

72.80 B

F

E

69.80

A

Section B

82.80

73.80 70.60

Section D

82.80

73.00 70.00

Section E

1m 5m

10m

Collaboration with Richard Cotter Physical Modeling/Adobe CS6/AutoCAD/SketchUp

.87

[Competition Entry _ MBAC]

69

[02]

Narrative: Centre for Aboriginal Culture

“When we lose one of our elders, we lose our books.” - Douglas Cardinal

[03]

This project began with a fascination with the ways aboriginal cultures use storytelling as an outlet for passing on knowledge and history, and with a quote from Douglas Cardinal: “When we lose one of our elders, we lose our books”. We decided to look into the ways storytelling could impact our building both formally and programmatically, and became fascinated with the way a story can become a living breathing thing. The program became a hybrid of community centre and a research/documentation centre, with an addition of an elder’s residence and studio space. We established a design statement: “The preservation and celebration of a non-material component of aboriginal cultures: storytelling. The focus of the building and site is on the transition between the unrefined and refined elements; as a story ages, it has moments of individuality, and moments of purity and alignment.” Storytelling served as a guiding design principle; we explored moments of convergence and separation in the architecture through a series of pathways, interior corridors, and curved walls that interacted with each other and the ground plane. The siting of the building, the panels around the perimeter, and the perforation strategy of the curved scrim walls allowed us to explore the notion of increasing refinement and focus as it related to the “storylines”.

The long form of the project created unique challenges and opportunities for systems integration, and ultimately led to a solution that responded to these needs with just that: integration. The wooden structure is expressed in key moments, for example along the circulation corridors, to add an additional layer of experience. The environmental systems are minimized through solar shading and siting close to the river, and are concealed within a panel system developed around the perimeter. Sustainability was thoughtfully considered throughout the process; from material choices, siting, systems selection, passive strategies, through to landscape, urban and cultural context.

[04]

Collaboration with Leslie Vikse Physical Modeling/AutoCAD/SketchUp/Adobe CS6/Grasshopper

[Comprehensive Studio _ EVDS Calgary]

C

16

[05] 15 14

B

Narrative: Centre for Aboriginal Culture

B

12

13 10

11

17 C

18

19

20

C

B

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22

C 24

25

26 27

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

reception gathering space children’s area administration cafe cafe office recycling/loading exhibition space common space studios

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

lounge space theatre elder’s room elder’s patio laundry storage residence residence residence

Collaboration with Leslie Vikse Physical Modeling/AutoCAD/SketchUp/Adobe CS6/Grasshopper

23

[Comprehensive Studio _ EVDS Calgary]

B

28

[06]

Narrative: Centre for Aboriginal Culture

[Primary Structure Build Up Diagram]

[07]

[Scrim and Sectional Diagram] Collaboration with Leslie Vikse Physical Modeling/AutoCAD/SketchUp/Adobe CS6/Grasshopper

[Comprehensive Studio _ EVDS Calgary]

[Secondary Structure Diagram] [Wall Assembly Diagram]

[08]

Notions of ambiguous boundaries, perceived boundaries, and non-normative space guided this domestic scale/programmed project.

It became important to question/exploit/alter qualities of domestic space in order to expose dependency on them, since domestic space carries expectations: ideas of ‘Home’, safety, comfort, status, ownership, and stability.

Ideas of Home: Responsive Architecture

Normative domestic space was examined and revealed to have a hard and soft quality, or a ‘necessary spatial requirement’ versus a ‘temporary spatial requirement’.

Domestic space was then re-imagined under this organization, incorporating a fluid/dynamic space in contrast to a constant space.

[09]

[Re-imagining domestic space]

OPTIONAL

[1] Yes, 2, a, all

[5] Some, 2, b, spread

[9] No, 1, b, n/a

[2] Yes, 2, a, all

[6] Some, 1, a + b, all

[10] Yes, 3, a, all

[3] Some, 3, a, all

[7] No, 2, b, pull

[11] Yes, 3, a, all

[4] No, 0, b, n/a

[8] Some, 1, b, spread

[12] Yes, 3, a, all

From there, the research journeyed through material systems exploration in an iterative model making process in search of a method to express the themes spatially. The emergence of triaxial woven geometry through this process provided a flexible, self reliant framework that through material and geometric alterations began to facilitate movement, spatial generation, and changing/impermanent boundaries.

The triaxial weaving studies reveal 12 methods of altering space [physically and perceptually]. They led to the hypothetical domestic project [on the next spread] as one of many possible outcomes through the selection of several of the studies [1, 2, 5, 10, 11].

An alternate/enhanced program could lead to the selection of another set of methods for deployment with a different, boundary challenging result.

Moving forward with domestic programming, and picking up the re-imagined hard/soft house, a system where a hard armature for movement was integrated into a continuous triaxial system was designed for further prototyping and application to a hypothetical domestic program.

Within this hypothetical prototyping, there exists an activation point where the domestic space changes from undefined singular space to a space of multiple divisions and surfaces.

An architectural exercise in non-normativity through questioning boundaries in this project provided an example of architecture that is responsive to individual and immediate conditions, rather than collected and projected.

Performance Key Surface Deformation:

Yes/No/Some

Spatial Generation:

n/a spread pull all

aa

Exterior Envelope This translucent membrane lets light in while protecting the assembly. The translucence modulates the quality of boundary through primarily visible material means. It is attached to the lettered grid members (A, B, C, etc.).

[Perspective . Light Transmittal . Reflection] Structural Triaxial Geometry Diagonal members are fastened to the interior and exterior membranes so that as members get closer together, a greater amount of movement occurs on the interior membrane. It modulates boundary through its mechanism of movement.

[Movement . Density . Spatial] Interior Envelope As the structural geometry densiďŹ es during activation, this material gathers and builds volume. It is primarily fastened to the numbered grid members. It modulates boundary by responding to the structure of movement and creating a spatial effect on the interior and altered lighting effects as a result.

[Volume . Spatial . Lighting]

Individual Project Physical Modeling/Adobe CS6/Rhinoceros 3D/Grasshopper

Structure of Movement:

1 A

[Senior Research Studio _ EVDS Calgary]

0-None 1-Slight Performance Key 2-Moderate 3-Extreme Surface Deformation: Yes/No/Some Control Mechanism: a-friction Spatial Generation: b-hard/soft 0-None 1-Slight 2-Moderate Structure of Movement: n/a spread 3-Extreme pull Control Mechanism:all a-friction b-hard/soft

[10]

DORMANT House _ Unrolled Programmed Spaces

[SCALE 1:20]

Legend underlying triaxial geometry active strand [above]

B1

A1

rigid strand [above] connection strands

A1

B1

A2

B2 B2

C1

Ceiling Plan Parallel

Diagonal X-ing

Section A

Hard Fragmented

Floor Plan

Join LINE

A1

Join LINE

Activation Point

Section C2

Nourish

Section C1

B1

Ideas of Home: Responsive Architecture

Bathe

A1

B1

A2

envelope

Section B

Soft Fragmented hard armature soft activator hard/soft above activation direction

[11]

greatest spatial change

C1

ACTIVATED House _ Unrolled Programmed Spaces

C2

[SCALE 1:20]

B2

A2

Activation Point

Rest

Rest

C2

Section B2

Nourish

Bathe

C2

C2

Section A2

C1

C2

Lounge

C2

C1

Ceiling Plan

Section A

Floor Plan

Section B

Section A1 C1

[Senior Research Studio _ EVDS Calgary]

C1

Join LINE

A2

B2

Join LINE

Section B1

Individual Project Physical Modeling/Adobe CS6/Rhinoceros 3D/Grasshopper

Lounge

Activation Point

[12]

_models [structural and gestural wireframe]

The historic Cerda Plan indicated that Glories was destined to become the new centre of the city, but it has instead become a palimpsest of infrastructure at the intersection of two urban morphologies. To the south, 22@ contains object like architecture housing technical industries, and to the north, Saint Marti holds a typical Eixample block area that breaks down as it approaches. The masterplan that would take shape in this site would necessarily become architecture as infrastructure as landscape as architecture.

Retrofitting Glories: Masterplan

While developing this masterplan, themes of intensifying density, pedestrian engagement/circulation, and celebrating infrastructure emerged. A formal gesture was established through modeling, reaching seaward from the neighborhood of Eixample blocks to the north.

We identified a weak spot in the traffic circulation that afforded us the opportunity to break the traffic circle and pinch traffic to a single intensified line along the south side of the site.

[13]

_datums of Influence

l

Diagona

an Gr

Via

Meridiana

Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes is a historically and presently significant site in Barcelona. The site encompasses the area around the crossing of three significant roads in BCN: Diagonal, Meridiana, and Gran Via, with Gran Via currently featuring an above grade viaduct over a multi-lane traffic circle. The large centre is left barren and inaccessible, and the entire site suffers to maintain any sort of contextual continuity.

Programmatically the area requested local schools, a health centre, and park space. The masterplan provides for these along with other opportunities. The existing infrastructure of the site includes a Renfe Rodalies regional train that runs underneath; the introduction of a train station at this critical location in the city will underscore its importance moving forward.

Through the establishment of a structure of development at the site in reference to the formal sweeping gesture and the other datums of influence including infrastructure, and existing urban morphologies, the site began to take shape as an intensified and celebrated version of its former self.

e nf

rm

ramp to avinguda diagonal pedestrian blvd

1

fo

t la

P

Re

Re

e nf

3

m or

f

at

Pl

2/

fe

n Re

P

rm

4

fo

t la

[Barcelona]

5

6

7

canopy above existing

s rie

ro

et

M

s

rm

tfo

a Pl

ò

Gl

Level -2 [Platform] addition of 4 renfe platforms along existing train line

1

10m

20m

Level -1 [Lowered Plaza] access from grade a

_ traffic/pedestrian circulation before

_traffic/pedestrian circulation after

stair to meridiana pedestrian blvd

1

2

3

4

2

3

4 5 6

[Senior Research Studio _ EVDS Barcelona]

1

stair to L0 plaza & avinguda diagonal pedestrian blvd

5

1_health centre lower level 2_renfe admin ofďŹ ce 3_community centre gallery 4-6_small scale commercial

6

7

ticket sale machines softscaping canopy above existing

stairs to meridiana & encants market

and to platforms | small scale commercial and retail

passageway to D-HUB

1

10m

20m

Level 0 [Site]

1

10m

20m

Collaboration with Alyssa Haas & Gabriel HernandezSolano Physical Modeling/AutoCAD/SketchUp/Adobe CS6

stair to L0 plaza/program & neighbourhood

[14]

Retrofitting Glories: Masterplan [15]

Site Section [Glòries Rodalies and Metro Lines | Lowered Plaza and Connections]

1

5m

10m

A portion of the masterplan was developed individually to a higher level of detail. Here, the community school is shown to adhere to the layers of influence we identified, including the Eixample block typology of Saint Marti, and the formal gesture our site analysis led to.

Tectonically, the school borrows grid lines from the site, making them legible and employing them in the circulation of the building.

E

b

b

D

G

F

H

I

J

D

C

A

E

F

G

H

I

J

C

B

A

B

a

a

A

a

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

a 07

11

09

section a

17

10 b

19

08

section b

19

b

14

E1

19

20

15

16

Level 0 [Community Centre and Elementaty School]

[Senior Research Studio _ EVDS Barcelona]

13

12

Level 1 [Community Centre and Elementaty School]

elementary school 07_grocery store 08_art space 09_mechanical 10_library 11_sports equip. storage 17_offices 18_teacher lounge 19_meeting room community centre 12_digital library/bookstore 13_mechanical 14_two mergable gathering spaces 15_gallery 16_cafe 19_meeting room 20_cafe/lounge

1

5m

10m

Collaboration with Alyssa Haas & Gabriel HernandezSolano Physical Modeling/AutoCAD/SketchUp/Adobe CS6

18

[16]

This house was designed for sisters Jenny and Avril; Jenny works a normative city job and enjoys birdwatching, Avril is a ‘night-owl’ concert violinist and travels for extended periods of time.

Through understanding their routines and hobbies, the program was located in such a way to isolate their individual needs and frame their views. This while maintaining common space that both would feel at home in.

The site is located west of Calgary and straddles a tree line.

Jenny’s spaces were oriented so she experiences daylight cycles in a normative way, and she was provided with a birdwatching lookout at the edge of the forest.

House for Sisters: Dwelling

Avril’s spaces were oriented so she experiences daylight cycles in an inverted way, and she was provided with a rehearsal space that is isolated and grounded.

[17]

west views and light

Upper Plan

Jenny uses views as recharge for work Avril uses views for inpiration for her work

east views and light dawn for Jenny is dusk for Avril dusk for Jenny is dawn for Avril

Main Plan

[18]

Individual Project Physical Modeling/AutoCAD/SketchUp/Adobe CS6

[Studio II _ EVDS Calgary]

The Hope House is a multifamily home located adjacent to the Tom Baker Cancer Centre, in the Calgary community of St. Andrews Heights. It is for families of patients of the centre. The programming includes a classroom for resident children in addition to ten units and shared common space.

lower level [parking] lower level [parking] The project was designed to allow the opportunity for integration of the temporary residents of the Hope House into the existing residential community. The residences were oriented along the neighborhood edge, and the classroom in a separate expressive building to be shared as a community centre for St. Andrews Heights.

The axis of orientation remains clearly towards the TBCC however, with the west facade facing into an existing tree canopy and the mountains beyond.

Hope House: Multifamily Dwelling

tom baker cancer centre

[19]

toronto cres

29th street

In addition, this studio explored the notion of normative residential construction industry methods applied to exceptional design.

main level [admin/class/common] main level [admin/class/common]

framing windows backframing sheathing siding trim Individual Project Physical Modeling/AutoCAD/SketchUp/Adobe CS6

[Studio II _ EVDS Calgary]

upper level [residences]

[20]

An entry into the 2009 Calgary Region Home Builders’ Association design competition while at SAIT Polytechnic, this project placed 3rd in Design and 2nd in Presentation.

The site was located on the northwestern limit of Calgary and was faced with the suburban context to the east and undefined rural landscape to the west.

Working with a prescribed program and area, this house was conceived of as an ‘Edge Condition’ and located on the crest of a hill on the site. Formally and spatially, the house shifts from finer grained and ‘grid-like’ [city] to broader and less confined [country] as experienced from east to west.

Edge Condition: Dwelling

The programmed elements also adhere to the logic of city/country; technology, office, and small green spaces occupy the city realm, while passive, open, and undefined spaces occupy the country. An understanding of climate data and passive sustainable design are integrated into the architecture.

[21]

east windows let in open for natural

morning light

ventilation

west exposure protected by covered deck and low-e windows

louvers designed to slide past each other and tilt allow for total solar control

geothermal system provides -electricity -warmth in the winter

Individual Project AutoCAD/SketchUp/Adobe CS6

[CRHBA Design Competition _ SAIT Polytechnic]

-relief in the summer

[22]

a plaza level plaza/weekend farmers market - 0 community seed exchange - 1 nightclub - 2 organic terraced market - 3 three level educational volume - 4 three level reception and education - 5 mechanical and electrical - 6 micro retail shops - 7 facilities storage - 8

The site, located in Kensington [Calgary] along the border between two communities revealed itself to be transitory and dependent on daily cycles of people and commuters. It lacked the armature for occupation and instead, facilitated flow.

[23]

main level seed bank - 9 restaurant - 10 restaurant/educational kitchen - 11 cooking school - 12 administration - 13 loading dock - 14 sunnyside train station - 15 cafe - 16 urban farm - 17

The form took on a tectonic of a heavy ‘substrate’ and a low/inhabiting/ dependent ‘surface’. Program ranging from: urban farm, seed bank, farmers market, restaurant/nightclub, and educational facilities began to take place within the logic of the form and site.

6

b

8 7

b

upper level urban farm includes leased plots hydroponic education and production greenhouses - 17 greenhouse storage - 18

5

4

1

Hillhurst Sunnyside

3 2

a

plaza level -1

3rd Ave NW

10th St NW

Urban Ecologies: Food & Entertainment District

By acknowledging the desired paths/elevations of travel in relation to the CTrain and community, a fold in the landscape emerged. This site analysis, done in parallel with a biomimetic study of the formal and performative characteristics of lichen, led to concepts surrounding this ‘fold’ and ways of occupying it.

Site Location in NW Calgary section b-b

a

a

15

14

10

b

b

13

17

12

11

b

b

17

3

17

a

a

main level 0

upper level +1

steel columns, steel web and glazing

cast in place foundation, cube, slabs tapered columns, and beams

structural section at north side of plaza

structural strategy

section a-a

Individual Project Physical Modeling/AutoCAD/SketchUp/Adobe CS6

16

[Intermediate Studio in Architecture _ EVDS Calgary]

9

[24]

We worked towards a maximum FAR and gained height and density allowances by incorporating accessible green spaces on the terraced roof of the building. The building was conceptualized as a set of stacked blocks that would formally separate the uses visually while maintaining cohesion.

Suite ‘A’

2494 5

UP

UP

1369 8

DN

5561

DN

DN DN

DN

Suite ‘B’

DN

Confluence Way

8058

trian W a

lk

DN

Pedes

ELEV 1 UP

DN

Garb age Door

Suite ‘C’

4000

DN

PL 1409 7

17706

6th Ave

15000

UP

Typ

1600

Collaboration with Gloria Juric & Marina Taratina Revit Architecture/Adobe CS6

East Village ARP Multiuse Development

[Graduation Project _ SAIT Polytechnic]

[25]

This project for the redevelopment of the East Village was completed in Revit. Our team worked within the context of the new Area Redevelopment Plan and proposed a 9 storey multi-use building that incorporated commercial uses at grade and effectively doubled the exposure of them by the inclusion of a pedestrian pass through courtyard.

Individual Project Physical Modeling 1:1/SketchUp/Adobe CS6

[Studio II in Architecture _ EVDS Calgary]

The table is envisioned to be one of many in a public space. At rest it lay on the ground, acting as a pseudo shelter, or nook to sit in. To activate, the user stands on the hinged side and erects the table; creating a dependency between the user/table/space.

Urban Ecologies: Table

This table design was a predecessor to the multiuse ‘Food & Entertainment District’ project on the previous spread. Through site analysis, it was discovered that the site had a dependency on urban flows of people throughout the day and yet it lacked a ‘catalyst’ for extended occupation.

[26]

[27]

Hand Drawn Selections

[28]

Individual Projects Watercolour/Ink/Charcoal

[Various]