Heirloom Architecture, 2023

AGING is inevitable; the threats of revival and demolition is therefore always on the brink. My hopes is to (re)discover feasible design strategies that transcend heirloom architecture, enabling our cultural artifacts to find permanence from one generation to the next. Heirloom ideas are both timeless and avant-garde - written into the first draft of history. It aspires to restore buildings to their responsibility of centennial service through careful intents, through design.

CONTACTS

Email tommy.tso.kf@gmail.com

Phone +1 (416) 277-1523

Web www.tommytso.com

Instagram @tommy_tso

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommytsokf/

Seek Full-time Architect (References provided upon request)

Relevant Experience

HOK Architecture Inc, Toronto

Architect(FP+SD+CD) $5B Centre Block Rehabilitation + Welcome Centre for the Parliament of Canada

(SD) Dallas Fort Worth Airport, (SD) Finch West Garden Housing, (SD) Pearson Toronto Terminal 3 Expansion

OCAD University, Faculty of Design, Toronto

Sessional ENVR 3007 Residential Design / Inclusion

Creative Genius Art Academy, Toronto

InstructorTeaches design to high school students, guide student in their university portfolio preparation

architectsAlliance, Toronto

Intern Architect(DD+CD) $100M Clover on Yonge Condominium, (CD) $60M Pier 27 Phase 3

University of Toronto, Daniel’s Faculty of Architecture, Landscape & Design (5 separate positions)

Teaching Assist.ARC108 Computation + Design 2016/2017: Grasshopper, Rhino, processing

Arc1022 Visual Communication 2016/2017: Grasshopper, Rhino, renderings, digital fab (CNC, 3D print, lasercut)

Orangeink Design Inc, Toronto

Architect Assist.Prepared 12 complete sets of building application for low-rise residential projects: drawings, forms, & renderings

CS&P Architects Inc, Toronto

Architect Assist.(CA) $17M Regent Park Community Center: RFI, CO, site, and shop drawings review

(CD) $6M Aurora Community Space: documentation and consultant coordinations for SPA, Tender, and Addendum

Credentials

LEED Green Associate

University of Toronto Masters of Architecture (Adv. Standing), with academic honours certificate (top 4 of graduating class)

Ryerson University Bachelor of Architectural Science, with honours GPA 3.51/4.3

Skills

SoftwareRevit 2022 (7 years), Rhinoceros 7 + Grasshopper (11 years), AutoCAD 2020 (15 years), Sketchup 2021 (13 years), Adobe CS Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign (18 years), ArchiCAD, Renderers (vRay + Enscape), MS Office, Massmotion 11.0

LanguagesEnglish, Chinese (Cantonese + Mandarin)

Achievements and Awards

CanBIMCanBIM Innovation Spotlight Award Designer

UTorontoRAIC Honours Roll (top 4 students of graduating class)

UTorontoJohn and Myrna Daniel’s Fellowship

RyersonUHonours Distinction at graduation (1 of 7 distinctions, of 110 grads)

York RegionHighest monetary award winner of the Queen Elizabeth Aiming For High Scholarship

RyersonUDean’s List, for academic excellence

Competition3rd place winner of ‘Mount Pleasant Bike Rack Design Competition’

Competition1st place winner of ‘CitiesAlive International Green Roof Design Competition’

Competition1st place winner of ‘Air India Memorial in Bathurst Canada Design Competition’

Competition2nd place winner of ‘RU GREEN - Sustainable Open Space Design Competition’

CompetitionBird Feeder design selected to participate in ‘Canada Blooms Design Exhibition 2008’

RyersonUSecond highest GPA of the academic year in Architectural Science, with scholarship

RyersonUCompetitive entrance scholarship winner (1 of 350 students, across 22 programs)

CompetitionGold Medallist team, Skills Canada Cardboard Boat Race

Others

Travel Paris, New York, Chicago, Washington, Dallas, Fort Worth, Lisbon, Barcelona, Boston, New Haven, New Canaan, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Nanjing, Detroit, London, Cambridge, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Rome, Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Holon, Haifa, Cairo

HobbiesBasketball (playing & watching), Cooking (at home & as a wedding caterer), Music (keyboard & voice)

heir·loom /

erl

om/ 1. (n.) a family possession passed down from generation to generation 2. (adj.) an old variety cultivated again

HEIRLOOM ARCHITECTURE

Academic + Professional Portfolio of TOMMY TSO

Heirloom Alpha (BArchSc Thesis)

Centre Block Rehabilitation

Finch West Garden City

Low-Rise Residences

High-Rise Residences

Regent Park Community Center

Aurora Family Leisure Complex

Wave Platters

Lamp Trapeze CanBIM Awards

Installation: Agony

Weaved Lids

Urban Canvas

Post-Carbon Strip Mall (not a) Ferry Terminal Heirloom Beta (M.Arch Thesis)

HEIRLOOM ALPHA

2010, thesis w/ Masha Etkind, studio in Tel Aviv, Israel, 12 weeks https://www.tommytso.com/4-collage-alpha

Heirloom Architecture unapologetically collages local typologies and cultural heritage together to find relevant programmatic and formal solutions. It is designed to emerge in phases, based on key milestones. It hopes to be a resilient heirloom for the city.

This is an option studio abroad, studying the southern region of Tel Aviv. This UNESCO heritage city has a large collection of modern architecture. While at its center, the city is divided by the remains of a railway route; it once gave life to the city, now it divided communities.

1. PROGRAMS

Derived from local needs & conditions

2. GENOTYPES

Growth tolerable typologies defining embryos (plan & section types), genes, and sizes

3. BREEDING

Mating compatible programs: based on the need for sun, public or private use, and unimpeded growth types

7.

6.

9.

HEIRLOOM ALPHA

2010, thesis w/ Masha Etkind, 12 weeks https://www.tommytso.com/4-collage-alpha

+ RECREATION

Industrial District: Amphitheatre + Synagogue

Cultural District: Farmer’s Market + Recreation Centre + Housing

Power District: Kinetic Energy from the Club is harnessed by a Power Plant

Art District: Opera House + Cafe + Higher Education

AGGREGATE LIVING

2010 TMU Studio, 6 weeks

https://www.tommytso.com/3-aggregate-living

Aggregate is a mixed-use development. The site has many presences: due Southeast is the beloved ROM (museum) by Libeskind, due Southwest is the beautiful RCM (music) by KPMB, but due East will be an undesirable condo, standing 100m tall and sitting 5.5m away. To attract and avoid these presences, the surprisingly rational resolve is a corrugating and shifting facade.

The form is shaped by the context: views open to the ROM and close

University of Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) Future condo 100m tall

Royal Ontario Museum (RCM)

9-storey medical building

The traditional grid doesn’t address the site

A floor plate shift gives

neighbour access!

Facade: Insulated Panel Construction

Construction details

Context constraints, the form faces away from the undesirables The landscape of neighbouring balconies

CENTRE BLOCK REHABILITATION

Ongoing since 2017, +CENTRUS (HOK-WSP Joint Venture) Source:https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/citeparlementaire-parliamentaryprecinct /rehabilitation/edificeducentre-centreblock/elements-eng.html

HOK: https://www.hok.com/projects/view/centre-block-rehabilitation/

Centre Block is home to the Parliament of Canada. It embodies our history and represents our democracy. The design reorganizes and renovates the entire 1922 Beaux Arts Parliament building, Peace Tower, and adjacent grounds. This work (my area of work since 2017 are bolded) includes creating a new central entry, constructing a new underground Parliament Welcome Centre, providing seismic protection and new building systems, archiving heritage assets, and making Centre Block an accessible and sustainable building

New underground Parliament Welcome Centre

Foundation of Peace Tower and Confederation Hall becomes the central feature of the Parliament Welcome Centre

Parliament Welcome Centre highlighted in brown New central entry to Parliament Welcome Centre

Front lawn

CENTRE BLOCK REHABILITATION

Ongoing since 2017, +CENTRUS (HOK-WSP Joint Venture) Source:https://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/citeparlemen taire-parliamentaryprecinct/rehabilitation/edificeduce ntre-centreblock/elements-eng.html

HOK:https://www.hok.com/projects/view/centre-bloc k-rehabilitation/

Centre Block new interventions (my area of work since 2017 are bolded) includes retrofitting the courtyards with a new parametric skylight, infilling above the Hall of Honour, modernizing the Parliamentary Chambers, providing seismic protection and new building systems, archiving heritage assets, and making Centre Block an accessible and sustainable building

New parametric glass roof in the West Courtyard

House of Commons Chamber and infilled West Courtyard. New expanded lobbies highlighted in yellow.

House of Commons and Senate Chamber gallery seatings is reconfigured to meet modern codes and accessibility. Enclosed West Courtyard

Hall of Honour Infill Offices

Hall of Honour Infill Top Floor

Hall of Honour Infill previously unused space

FINCH WEST GARDEN CITY

2020,

https://www.tommytso.com/3-finchw-garden

The form of a housing development peaks and valleys in response to density and its sensitive low-rise contexts. This courtyard building has a garden and a community-centric ground plane.

Site Section

Courtyard Garden

A housing form derived from context

The result is a porous courtyard building that peak and valleys

Massing driven by density (FAR) and sensitive low-rise context

Access driven from key existing circulation patterns

Low density public school facing and access

Finch W. Ave sidewalk access

Low density suburban community facing

High density Finch W. Ave corner

LOW-RISE RESIDENTIAL

2015-16, +Orangeink Design Inc. https://www.tommytso.com/3-residence-r1 https://www.tommytso.com/3-residence-t1 https://www.tommytso.com/3-residence-d1

At Orangeink Design, I’ve prepared building application for low-rise residential projects: drawings, forms, and visualisations.

HIGH-RISE RESIDENTIAL

2015-16, +Orangeink Design Inc. https://www.tommytso.com/3-residence-r1

At architectsAlliance, I worked on two condominium projects during Construction Documentation. I

Residence R Front

Residence

Residence T

Residence D

ArchiCAD

REGENT PARK COMMUNITY

CENTRE

2011-14, +CSP Architects https://www.csparch.com/project/regent-park-co mmunity-centre/

Contributed in Construction Documentation and Contract Administration.

AURORA FAMILY LEISURE COMPLEX

2011-14, +CSP Architects https://www.csparch.com/project/aurora-family-l eisure-complex/

Contributed in Construction Documentation

Visualization

Stretching room feature, in drawing

Stretching room feature, completed

Construction Documentation

WAVE PLATTERS

2016, 3 weeks https://www.tommytso.com/3-wave-platter

CNC fabricated wood platters in Cherry and Walnut lumber. Geometry is generated from T-splines.

LAMP TRAPEZE

2011, TMU Fab Lab, 3 weeks, Group of 2 https://www.tommytso.com/2-lamp-trapeze

Lasercut components

Flat-packed assembly instructions below

Wood: Cherry (front) and Walnut (back)

Wood: Cherry (front) and Walnut (back)

CanBIM AWARDS

2021, +HOK+YorkU, 12 weeks https://www.tommytso.com/3-canbim https://www.buildingtransformations.org/awards-designs/2021

HOK and York University created the CanBIM’s 2021 Innovation Spotlight Awards by lofting the word profiles CAN and BIM together. The award is made from cherry and walnut lumber and it is fabricated with a 5-axis CNC mill.

The award is complemented by a modular case that protects it during transport, emphasizes its design ideas, and transforms to become a variety of display stands.

5-axis CNC mill

MasterCAM CNC mill set up

CNC milled trophies (Cherry and Walnut wood)

3D-printed case (PLA) that can transform into various display stands

CanBIM AWARDS

2021, w/ HOK + YorkU, 12 weeks https://www.tommytso.com/3-canbim

Thirteen 2021 CanBIM Innovation Spotlight Awards

INSTALLATION: AGONY

2011, RU Fab Lab, 7 weeks, Group of 6 https://www.tommytso.com/3-agony

Trapped within a vulnerable space, users are given a responsive pneumatic interface to interact with. As participants move through the pavilion, they can augment the agonizing surrounding to find comfort,

Exploded 1-meter installation mock-up (photo next page) Design vision in sketches: the space stirs agony

Pneumatic Design

Agony: The intrusiveness and vulnerability of space

Installation for Nuit Blanche

INSTALLATION: AGONY

WEAVED LIDS

2008, Canada Blooms, 1 week, Group of 4 https://www.tommytso.com/3-weaved-lids

There is no wastes in nature. Inspired by this principle, a bird feeder is constructed using common garbage like coffee cup lids, stirs, and copper wires. The design was selected to display at Canada

2008.

Suspension supports

Materials: salvaged coffee stirs are reinforced with salvaged copper wires, weaved together to form a flexible structure

Overspill trays

Blooms

2011, RU Fab Lab, 7 weeks, Group of 6 https://www.tommytso.com/3-agony

Material Tectonics

Digital fabricated joints and details

Pneumatic Rings

Pneumatic components

(Left) Prototype and (Right) production Material experimentation: sir tightness Routering

Pneumatic assembly

Selected for the Toronto 2008

Prototype Sketch plan

Sketch design vision

Common waste: coffee stirs and lids

Hanger Caps

Feed pods

URBAN CANVAS

2009, RU Open Space Design Competition, 3 weeks, Group of 6

POST-CARBON STRIP MALL

2009, CITIESALIVE International Competition, 3 weeks, Group of 4 https://www.tommytso.com/0-walkable-strip https://nowtoronto.com/lifestyle/sustainable-strip-malls

Although the intent of American strip malls was to centralize suburban commerce, the result has been the creation of alienating buildings in large asphalt parking, with little to no greens. This renewal adds diversity, encourages urban activities, and enhances existing envelope performances.

BEFORE:

AFTER: new rooftop housing above the mall

BEFORE: surface parking

BEFORE: old apartments

AFTER: Allotment Gardens + underground parking

Diversity and mixed use: Housing, garden, market, outdoor theatre, playground, water retention, urban farming

strip mall use only

Post-carbon strip mall

The podium is a choice meeting place

The generic grid lines are receptive to a diversity of expositions

Urban serenity - soothed by the sounds of the water fountain

The podium and water fountain

Competition model

Podium in Spring convocation mode

Podium in Winter ice festival mode

Roofscape

South Elevation

Longitudinal Section

North Elevation Program and simulation formed floor plan

Pedestrian Dynamics Simulation

(NOT A) TERMINAL

2015, studio w/ Brady Peters, 12 weeks https://www.tommytso.com/4-ferry-terminal

HEIRLOOM BETA

2016, M.Arch Thesis w/ John Shnier; 8 months https://www.tommytso.com/5-heirloom https://www.tommytso.com/0-heirloom-idea

The pursuit of permanence | There is beauty in legacy. Heirlooms can offer dimensions of meaningful agencies, robust performances, resilient versatility, and idiosyncrasy through craft. My premise is, the path to permanence can be found through one or more of these dimensions:

FRAGMENTS OF PERMANENCE

Fragments of Permanence: Nine paradigms of potential permanence

SKIN BONES

Craft is the skillful and artistic expression of physical objects; it is the cornerstone of permanence

Spaces should have anthropometric relevance, allowing us to populate memories and sentiments

Serviceability can be fulfilled in mass, strength, circulation, or any number of energy consumption criteria

Physical resilience can accommodate change with sustainable ease and feasibility

[Right] Fragment 01: The New Pyramid is an expression of performance by mass. The large construction units is reminiscent of landscape.

[Right] Fragment 02: The Silly Putty has a malleable envelope. You can mould your own bay windows for sitting, exhibiting, or viewing.

[Right] Fragment 03: The House of Stairs is a place of agency through discovery and play

Path 01: Idiosyncratic Craft

Path 02: Meaningful Agency

Path 03: Robust Performance

Path 04: Resilient Versatility

HEIRLOOM BETA - FRAGMENTS OF PERMANENCE

2016, M.Arch Thesis w/ John Shnier; 8 months https://www.tommytso.com/5-heirloom https://www.tommytso.com/0-heirloom-idea Fragments of Permanence: Nine paradigms of potential permanence

SKIN BONES SKIN BONES

[Right] Fragment 07: The City that Always Sleeps is an anthropometric artifact, a vertical community of beds, helical slides, and plastic

[Right]

[Left] Fragment 04: The Curtain Wall is an expression of permanence by impermanence. It is sustainable by means of constant reconstruction.

[Left] Fragment 05: The New Cathedral is a display of opulent craft.

[Left] Fragment 06: The Exhibition of the Ordinaries is a cabinet of curious living programs, giving full visual agencies both inside and out.

ball pits.

Fragment 08: The Elevator City has an exoskeleton crafted by a plethora of moving rooms.

[Right] Fragment 09: The Parkour Haven is built for versatile play. It encourages imaginative agency both inside and out.

HEIRLOOM BETA - CATALOGUE OF PERMANENCE

2016, M.Arch Thesis w/ John Shnier; 8 months https://www.tommytso.com/5-heirloom https://www.tommytso.com/0-heirloom-idea Catalogue of Permanence: the legacy of excellent craft

Catalogue of Permanence, skin

Therefore, when we build, let us think that we build for ever. Let it not be for present delight, nor for present use alone…

and that men will say as they look upon the labour and wrought substance of them, “See! This our fathers did for us.” John Ruskin, The Seven Lamps of Architecture, 1907

AGING is inevitable; the threats of revival and demolition is therefore always on the brink. My hopes is to (re)discover feasible design strategies that transcend heirloom architecture, enabling our cultural artifacts to find permanence from one generation to the next. Heirloom ideas are both timeless and avant-garde - written into the first draft of history. It aspires to restore buildings to their responsibility of centennial service through careful intents, through design.

CONTACTS

Email tommy.tso.kf@gmail.com

Phone +1 (416) 277-1523

Web www.tommytso.com

Instagram @tommy_tso

Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/tommytsokf/