Sabina Barrett-Ryan [Architecture Portfolio]

SABINA BARRETT-RYAn architecture portfolio

project directory studio CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY BRIDGE

studio HOSPICE + AFFORDABLE HOUSING

recycling architecture WEATHERING STUDY: BRION CEMETERY

directed studies abroad GUADALAJARA 2015

directed reading DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

studio: honours project METTRE EN VALEUR

This project is centered on a design for a pedestrian access across the Mississippi River in Almonte using the abandoned Canadian Pacific Railway bridge. In terms of functional requirements, the design must allow access between river shores and connect to the existing pedestrian network. It needs to balance both circulation and pause (i.e. provide a safe method of traverse as well as opportunities for observation).

My design is derived from the surrounding environment, namely the river. Aesthetically, the canal design contrasts the aging historic structure it is set upon, while at the same time complements the flowing nature of the water below. To enhance this connectivity, water pumps are dispersed along the length of the canal allowing passers-by to pump water from the river below adding to the infinite cycle of movement and variation reflected from below. These features are supplementary to the hidden pumping station at the north end of the bridge which allows water to flow continuously.

The design punctuates the center of the bridge while being narrow enough to leave two paths on either side. Niches are also integrated into this design to allow people to pause to the side of the path and enjoy the view.

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CROSS SECTION

STUDIO CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY BRIDGE

PLAN DETAILS

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The proposal for Almonte’s St. Paul Anglican Church was to create a supplementary form of income to sustain the parish while at the same time giving back to the local community. The new design would initially be focused more on the addition to the existing church structure and adjacent buildings, however it must allow for future opportunities to expand further into the existing buildings as the parish community continues to shrink.

The overall design criteria was to create both affordable housing and community hospice units behind the church. The design must be conscious of sight-lines within and beyond the property and must not obstruct views to the river.

The foundation of this design is derived from the roof pitch of the main church volume, both scaled down and set back from the original to indicate hierarchy. The set of apartment units with frontage on the street are set just below the overall height of the church but high enough to see over the hospice units further down the hill, thus allowing views of the river from virtually all buildings on the property.

Gabion wall assemblies are the dominant cladding material. Typically they are used for retaining walls, however recently they have been used in architectural applications. The gabion stone is intended to echo the original masonry. The assembly is distinguishable yet complimentary to the original, as well as a cost effective option for both construction and maintenance.

ROOF PLAN (NEW + EXISTING)

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sTUDIO HOSPICE + AFFORDABLE HOUSING

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UPPER FLOOR PLANS (HOUSING + HOSPICE)

SECTION ELEVATION (SOUTH)

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LOWER FLOOR PLANS (HOUSING + HOSPICE)

SECTION ELEVATION (EAST)

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(PHOTO: thegorgeousdaily.com)

(PHOTO: urbanarchnow.com)

RECYCLING ARCHITECTURE WEATHERING STUDY: BRION CEMETERY

Brion Cemetery was designed by modern era architect Carlo Scarpa from 1969-78. Within the cemetery complex is the Chapel, which features a tall, blank facade whose concrete surface has become a canvas for the marks of the environment. Scarpa achieved an allowance for weathering through his signature ‘ziggurat’ forms which he interrupted using a gap, allowing rainwater to bleed down onto the outer surface of the building, leaving a prominent black stain. Scarpa was conscious of the value of weathering and its resulting patina and as such he incorporated it into his design as a stance against the modern ideas of the time.

The chapel is a calculated statement opposing the current views on architectural aesthetics in the modern movement of the time. He utilized modern materials and technology while drawing attention to a feature that could at first appear to be a homage to purity, yet over time this characteristic is allowed to season and mature.

Ultimately, Scarpa intended the building to improve aesthetically over time through the allowance of environmental weathering.

The accompanying image (right) is an exercise in hybrid drawing intended to serve as the foundation for an extended analysis of intentional weathering on a structure. It is an interpretation of the imposed environmental effect gathered from Scarpa’s drawings and other images (left).

(DRAWING: CARLO SCARPA)

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https://sabinabarrettryan.squarespace.com/ writing/

ELEVATION + AXONOMETRIC DETAILS

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PRINCIPAL ELEVATION (SOUTH)

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The key focus of this project was to document Casa Cristo, a historic site in Guadalajara designed by architect Luis Barragan, with the intent to preserve. Thorough documentation helped serve the site owner, the City of Guadalajara, and the community, to protect, maintain, and stabilize the existing materials, form, and integrity of the building in terms of its components and its context, while at the same time protecting its heritage value. Additionally, the intent of the workshop was to provide an environment for students entering the heritage profession to learn and practice advanced recording techniques.

Documentation was accomplished in two teams (students from Carleton Architecture students and Universidad de Guadalajara CUAAD Architecture and Urbanism), by dividing the work into the lower and upper floors of the building. Both teams used a combination of Total Station surveying, hand surveying and sketching, various types of photography, and extensive research to complete the scope of work outlined at the onset of the project.

directed studies abroad GUADALAJARA 2015

My task was to oversee surveying with the Total Station and sketching of the principal elevation and upper floor plan for the second group as well as to complete the final architectural drawing for the principal elevation (left).

The final deliverables included an overview of the architect and his works; the history and significance of Casa Cristo; urban context; floor plans, elevations, cross sections; a photo portfolio identifying character defining elements and condition assessment; and lastly a set of recommendations for preservation based on the information gathered.

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The purpose of this project was to document Ottawa’s Dominican University College for the purpose of posterity as well as to prepare for subsequent coursework where students are asked to adapt the library and church interior to accommodate shifting priorities (see next project).

In a group of ten people, building was documented using both manual and digital techniques. These included, hand surveying and sketching, Total Station and 3D scanning, rectified photography, photogrammetry, as well as drone-aided aerial photography (see top left).

DIRECTED READING DOMINICAN UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

Combined, the data from each process allowed the group to complete a set of architectural drawings ranging from plans, sections, and elevations.

I served as group leader for the duration of the course, focusing mainly on digital surveying. This included post-processing data where both CloudCompare and AutoDesk ReCap were used to manipulate point cloud data (see bottom left). From here images of each elevation, section, and plan were able to be exported for tracing in AutoCAD to produce architectural line drawings.

I was tasked with completing three major elevation drawings (see right).

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EAST ELEVATION

WEST ELEVATION

NORTH ELEVATION

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CONTEXTUAL SITE PLAN

EXPLODED ISOMETRIC (FLOORS 1 -5)

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Dominican University College (DUC) is looking to expand their library from roughly 130,000 volumes to 175,000 over the next decade. The task is to design a contemporary academic library that accommodates both individual study and collaboration. While the library expansion will need to take some of the nave of the church, it must be remembered that the church remains a center for religious practice.

The church interior must be considered while developing a thoughtful, contemporary space for both the religious and academic community. ‘Mettre en valeur’ is a term used to define showing something in its best light. This may involve the rearrangement of a place or simply to make it more beautiful. Most importantly, these changes, especially in terms of design are executed with the intent to achieve a sense of admiration and pride of place.

This project aims to recreate a church within the new surrounding library space in an attempt to emphasis community and maintain the relevance of the church by establishing is as the main focal point.

STUDIO: HONOURS PROJECT METTRE EN VALEUR

To reinforce this notion, the church itself will be constructed of torched timber beams, as a symbol of the durability and in reference to the history of the church by referencing a significant fire in the past that left only the exterior masonry walls of the church to rebuild what we see today.

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PLANS (FLOORS 1 -5)

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LEFT TO RIGHT: LONGITUDINAL SECTION (NORTH OF CENTER), CROSS SECTION (WEST OF CENTER), DETAIL 1 (LIBRARY BALCONY)

LEFT TO RIGHT: LONGITUDINAL SECTION (ON CENTER), CROSS SECTION (ON CENTER), DETAIL 2 (CHURCH DIFFUSE LIGHTING)

LEFT TO RIGHT: LONGITUDINAL SECTION (SOUTH OF CENTER), CROSS SECTION (EAST OF CENTER), DETAIL 3 (CHURCH ROOF SOLAR TUBES)

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SABINA BARRETT-RYAn architecture portfolio