Portfolio | Suzanne A. Lawrence

Portfolio

Suzanne Lawrence

To work in an architectural office that will equip me with the training to further my development as a young architectural assistant seeking to become a registered architect. Also, to use the skills and lessons learned from my education and personal experiences to contribute to the prospective office’s productivity and efficiency.

Objectives

Curriculum Vitae

Urban Housing

09

Maison Du Peuple

19

Continuum

31

Group Project

National Sports Museum

43

KYMCA

51

Gateway to Guyana

61

Entrance Revision

Contents

Urban Housing

09

Cover- Housing Project

Sandringham Entrance

Design Studio 5 Urban Housing Project Site T4- Transitus

Lower Sandringham Ave.

Suzanne Lawrence 1200848 AS3

Design Studio 5 Urban Housing Project Site T4- Transitus

Model Stage: Development Page: 3 of 3

Site Plan

Process Models

Suzanne Lawrence

C

C

B

B

A

B

B

A

A

A

C

C

Ground Floor

First Floor

C

Concept

B

B

A

A

C

Second Floor

Eastwood Park Gardens is a residential area that is gradually becoming commercialized. Through my analysis. I realized that a major factor in the transition is use of space- how well one could create multipurpose layouts that allow residential and commercial areas to co-exist. My concept aimed to use this appreciation for mixed use structures to create a scheme that would both function as an open commercial space and also be adequately equipped to give residents that live there privacy and security. In addition to providing the general needs as mentioned above, my concept also sought to create an environment that would take its occupants away from the rigid and compact layouts urban areas tend to have. This was achieved through the use of green spaces which presented a pleasing contrast between hard and soft spaces along with creating special places that persons could visit and be undistrubed by the business that lied on the other side of the property’s gate. It is through these and other considerations along with guidance from those around me that led to the creation of my schemeEnclosure.

Residential Courtyard

Views on site

Circulation

Zoning

North Elevation

Public Courtyard

Section A-A

Section B-B

Maison Du Peuple 19

Courtyard Scene

Developmental Sketches

Concept

Calle Duarte

La Zona Colonial is the historic city of the Dominican Republic. Located on the eastern end of the country’s capital, Santo Domingo, this area is known for its rich history and architecture.

Although it is proud of the historical buildings that exist there, the old city is welcomed to new architecture, provided that it pays respect to the structures of the past. With that in mind, my design sought to use elements from the city that I found intriguing and fuse them with tropical and modern concepts. This approach led me to design a space that used the courtyard as a central area and that all the surrounding rooms in the building would have a relationship with it.

I wanted my design to mimic the layout colonial city planners used to design their urban spaces: a major plaza that would be surrounded by important buildings from which streets and other structures would radiate from this space.

Site Plan

Ground Floor

First Floor

Calle Duarte Elevation

Entrance Scene

Analytical Diagrams

Section A-A

Great Hall Scene

Section C-C

Continuum 31

External View

Developmental Sketches

Process Models

Site Plan Plan

Section A

Elevation 1

Concept Architecturally, bridges in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean region have stagnated. These structures have strayed little from the concepts developed during the Industrial Revolution and during the country’s colonial history. This structure brings bridge design into the 21st century, with its dynamic form and modern, structural concept. Due to industrial presence, Hunts Bay is a frequently traversed location. A site like this could benefit greatly from this design, not only because it is functional and useful, but also because it would add interest with its monumental form suggesting continuous movement and progress.

Grandiose, iconic and monumental are just a few of the terms we used to guide our design. We sought to create a bridge that would not only carry out the function of accommodating the specified object- one brick, but would also make a statement while complimenting the proposed context we agreed upon- Hunt’s Bay, Kingston, Jamaica. Continuum reflects the movement in Hunt’s Bay. Its tapered arches represent the varied but continuous flow of traffic throughout the space. The main arches and strong deck support allow for a series of tension rods to be used on the structure which assist with structural stability and prevent the view of Hunt’s bay from being blocked, due to their slender profile.

External View 2

Forces Diagrams

The structural system we implemented was essential in both making the bridge functional, as well as informing the overall design. The group decided upon a cable-tied arch system, which works in a simple but effective way. Two large, cladded, truss-based arches anchored deeply into footings suspend a steel framing system, on which the deck rests, by way of twentyinch tension rods, hung perpendicularly to the deck. The framing system itself, consists of longitudinal beams over transverse beams paired with cross bracing. The transverse beams extend past the width of the deck and are used as the anchor points for the tension rods. This superstructure is laid on top of thicker, deeper beams at the extreme ends. These beams also serve to anchor the arches together.

While in shorter spans, this system alone would be sufficient to support itself, the exhaustive length of our design would make this impractical. This framing is useful only as a secondary support. The forces exhibited by the dead loads of the deck and frame, along with the live loads of the vehicles on the deck are transferred into the cables as tensile forces. These forces are then carried into the arches which distribute them as compressive forces into the footing and thus, the ground.

Detail 1: Tension Rod

Detail 2: Deck Framing

As a group we sought to portray a modern idea that would change the preconceived notion of bridge architecture in Jamaica. However as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe once said “Architecture starts when you put two bricks together. There it begins.� As we proceded forward we realized the truth to this statement as we were able to utilize our previous knowledge of structure in a more hands-on way than ever before. As we build and impart structure, the architecture made slight changes.

We made decisions based on what would work structurally as opposed to what looks good.

If we were given the chance to reconcile, we would only seek to resolve the design more in terms of aesthetics. However, we were satisfied with the fact that our bridge was structurally stable enough to withhold not one but two bricks. Thus as a group we can conclude that our bridge was quite successful.

Final Model

National Sports Museum

43

Entrance View

A

Former Entrance A

Floor Plan

Revised Entrance Developmental Sketches

Concept The National Sports Museum aimed to respond to the need for Jamaica to have a place that pays respect to its athletes and the numerous accomplishments they have achieved over the years. My response to this need sought to create an experience that would ‘Honour, Educate and Inspire’ those who visited its various exhibits and spaces. Assignments that took place after the issuing of this project aimed to analyze how students treated entrances and thresholds and as a task to show a development in this concept, we were allowed to revisit our museum project and modify its entrance. My approach wished to create a more defined entrance to what was previously proposed. Elements such as barrier free access, levels and use of colour and textures helped to create this response.

North Elevation

Section A-A

KYMCA 51

Entrance Scene

Hope Road Hope Road

Trafalgar Road

Site Plan

Current Site Conditions

Concept “There is no objectively correct idea of a thing’s appearance, only its infinite number of subjective impressions of it…..Whether it makes an impression on the observer and what impression it makes, depends not only on the work of art but to a great extent on the observer’s susceptibility, his mentality, his education, his entire environment.”

– Rasmussen, Experiencing Architecture, p. 36 Taking the experience I had in high school and the words of Rasmussen, I’ve realized that the space you are forced to be in can have a lasting impression on you and as such how you feel and what you take from that space is very important. I want the people who use the Kingston YMCA to feel free and safe to be in a place that is clean, spacious, accessible and organized.

Developmental Sketches

Ground Floor

Analytical Diagrams

First Floor

Learning Centre Courtyard

South Elevation

Section B-B

Intent By seeing the current state of the Kingston YMCA, I wanted to organize my zones and create spaces that would not only give persons open areas for views and conduct productive and leisurely activities but to also feel safe in these areas, be barrier free and address the issues the current site is faced with. To achieve this axis, edges, levels and zoning became the major factors I worked with to design my scheme. The scheme is comprised of three main axes: the first is located along the main entrance and lines my vocational workshops and community spaces (cyber centre and homework room). This is terminated by my canteen and its courtyard which is the start point of the other two axes which run almost parallel to each other by the learning centre. In identifying my axes, my edges become defined and help to demarcate my main circulation routes. Levels play an important role in defining hierarchy, (especially in the case of the entry of my main hall) and addressing the flooding problem the site is currently faced with. I have raised my structures above ground which responds to the flooding that at times prohibits students and staff from accessing the southern end of the site when it rains. Lastly, proper zoning was needed in order to ensure public spaces could be accessible by those it would need to and the private spaces could be given the opportunity to operate free of distractions of persons passing through the space to reach public areas and the noise they could potentially carry.

Process Models

Section A-A

Gateway to Guyana 61

et

Water Stre Mundy Street

New Market Street

Site Plan

Developmental Sketches

Concept Inspiration was drawn from the story of Georgetown and how it came to be. It’s natural beginning, its Amerindian inhabitance, its European conquest and its strides towards modernity all contributed to form what exists as the city today. My design sought to honour this history, particularly in three stages: its natural stage, its colonial era and its present state that seeks to move towards the future. This is represented symbolically through three forms oriented in such a way that they respect the dominant axes of the site as they pay respect to the past (where the forms converge) and embraces the future (where they diverge).

Vegetation was also a key element in my design proposal as it was observed that the city lost its status as a garden city and my design sought to revive and recreate that experience.

The site adjacent to the area where my building proposal was designed was developed to be an open space for locals and visitors, particularly those who would be using the proposed cruise ship terminal. It’s paths somewhat mimic my proposed building design and the combination of hardscaped and softscaped spaces aim to create a variety of different, open experiences in one space. Also located on this site are shops that line a timber deck promenade, a tennis court and helipad.

Entrance Court

Analytical Diagrams

Intent The general function of the building is to serve as a civic or cultural centre that is equipped with performance spaces, a gallery, exhibition spaces and a business centre. Locals and visitors would be free to experience this space and in the form of a building, get a simulation of what the city has to offer. Levels were used in this design to highlight hierarchy and to also assist in conveying the experience of being elevated as you are carried through the space. Also, due to the issues of flooding faced by the city, the building was raised 2m from the ground plane. Other elements such as green roofs, solar panels and shading devices were implemented in creating a sustainable building however artificial ventilation was implemented in some areas, where certain variables needed to be controlled, such as the theatre and AV rooms.

Ground Floor

Process Model

First Floor

Second Floor

Section C-C

Section B-B

East Elevation

Cafe Scene

Theatre Site Lines

Construction Details

Materials, Detail and Design My design implemented a steel and concrete structural system where Wide Flange I beams were used to create the building’s frame and concrete was used to encase the steel, create walls, and clad to surface of the metal decks used for the flooring system. Locally available materials such as stone and black kakaralli timber were used to reinforce other parts of the building and help create façades that promoted a natural and tropical contemporary design. Other elements such as sound baffles, batt insulation and floating floors were implemented in certain parts of the building that required acoustic control. As it relates to sustainability, natural ventilation was used in the majority of the building and an extensive vegetative roofing system was implemented to add to the building’s natural look and garden city theme, as well as to help keep the building cool. Solar panels and skylights were also used to harvest renewable energy and make use of the natural light available respectively.

Wall Detail A

A

Generative Section C-C

Process Model

Sectional Model

Final Model

Fin