Gintaras_Valiulis_Portfolio_Complete

gintaras valiulisPORTFOLIO

the artist centre

RIVERDALE RUINS

CYCLETOPIA

VILIJA 2.0

BIG + SMALL

BATHURST QUAY MARKETPLACE

42

36

28

26

22

2

12

gintaras valiulisa: 4188 SUGARBUSH RD.

MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO L5B 2X7e: [email protected]

T: 647-401-3231

TORONTO BUS TERMINAL

1portfolio CONTENTS

CONTENTS

The buses that currently stop at Union Station utilize the Gardiner Expressway to get to and from their destinations. These bus routes can be broken down into east destinations and west destination with Union Station being the center axis. Whether approaching or departing from the east or west the buses always utilize the same routes to get onto and off the Gardiner Expressway. At the intersection of Bay Street and Lakeshore Blvd. West. there are one way streets and turning restrictions as to where vehicles can maneuver. This proposal creates two separate arrival and departing platforms for each the east and west bound buses within the terminal. The eastbound buses do not have access to the westbound platforms as the westbound buses do not have access to the eastbound platforms. The division between east and west circulation introduces a new level of efficiency. The entrances and exits of the buses into and out of the Terminal are determined by the surrounding vehicular infrastructure including the one way streets, on and off ramps from the Gardiner Expressway and vehicular maneuvering restrictions. The eastbound buses enter and exit from different locations than the westbound buses. The Terminal employs the quickest and most efficient way to moving buses into and out of downtown Toronto.

westbound path

westbound program

westbound volumes

eastbound path

eastbound program

eastbound volumeswest east

CIRCULATION

Gintaras Valiulis2

Currently downtown Toronto services its bus commuters through two bus terminals the Union Station Go Bus Terminal and the Toronto Coach Terminal. As the commuter population continues to grow these two terminals will become inadequate to service the larger numbers of people entering Toronto daily. These bus terminals are small, not located in optimal locations, and are inefficiently laid out. This thesis proposes the design of a new bus terminal in the heart of downtown Toronto at the north east corner of Bay St. and Lake Shore Blvd. West. large enough to service all the Toronto bound commuting buses in one location essentially replacing the current two bus terminals. By implementing a helical shape in its design, it is as if the public roadway branches off and curls onto itself forming a continuous vehicular pathway for buses to utilize. Buses ascend and descend these rampways daily, reducing roadway congestion and utilizing the greater number of bus bays to offer commuters the most efficient commute. Due to its location and vicinity to highways and Union Station, the Toronto Bus Terminal establishes itself as an important node to the greater Toronto transportation network.

march IV - prof r. levit - TERMINALtoronto bus terminal

D

+5500

+11000

-5500

+16500+22000

ENTRANCE

EXIT

+16500

D

A

A

A

+5500

+11000

ENTRANCE

EXIT

-5500

-14500

A

DA

D

3portfolio toronto bus terminal

Currently the Union Station Go Bus Terminal has seven bus platforms and the Toronto Coach Terminal has seven platforms as well. As the population of Toronto grows there will be a greater demand for buses and platforms to service the growing population. Both current bus terminals are limited in their ability to expand in size and allow more buses with more routes. Today many buses have to park on public vehicular streets blocking driving lanes and adding to the citys congestion due to lack of space. The proposed Toronto Bus Terminal provides thirty two bus platforms and due to its helical shape and long departure and arrival routes within the Terminal, it reduces vehicular congestion on public streets by allowing space for buses to park and wait where they do not impede traffic. The circulation in the helix is separated with the buses circulating on the outside of the Terminal while all pedestrian circulation is in the center and the two never coincide making it a safer environment for commuter travel. The bus platforms utilize a sawtooth drop-off and pick-up system to improve efficiency. This prevents the need for buses to back up, turn around, or maneuver in any directions unnecessarily. Depending on whether it is the eastbound or westbound route, the bus will either ascend or descend before unloading and reloading passengers and leaving the Terminal. Each bus platform is serviced by a minimum of four escalators for pedestrian access. There are two main pedestrian entrances and exists from the Terminal. One is on the ground floor at the north west corner of the site. This entrance services people who exit the Air Canada Center at grade after a sports game or concert, as well as people who approach from Front Street, or commuters who arrive utilizing the Go Train and descend the arrival platforms and emerge from under the bridge. The other main entrance is located on the below grade number two level which has a pathway that transverses below Bay Street and ties into Union Stations existing platforms. This entrance services commuters that utilize the TTC as well as other commuters arriving at Union Station. During the winter months this entrance provides shelter from the elements for arriving and departing commuters. In order to increase efficiency and streamline the departing and arriving process, escalators move commuters to either their departure platforms or from their arrival platforms. Each bus platform has a minimum of four escalators. One that goes down to the ground floor, one that goes down to the second level below grade, one that goes up from the ground floor and one that goes up from the second level below grade. So no matter what platform a commuter is on, they always have access to one of the main entrances or exits of the Terminal. Between bus platforms there are staircases for pedestrian circulation as well as elevators. Each bus platform as well as waiting areas have respective programs. Either cafes, bars, restaurants, coffee shops, magazine stands, etc. to allow for comfortable commutes. The bus platforms are separated from the waiting areas by a tube. The concept behind this is so that the commute is simple and routine. As one steps onto an escalator to get to their destination, they either ascend or descend through a tube and when they get to the top, they finish off the final step of the commute by crossing through a tube and boarding their final bus. The whole process of either leaving or entering the city becomes very easy since the pedestrian circulation methods employed basically take to commute to where she or he has to go quickly, easily and effortlessly.

second flooreast arrival circulationground floor entrance

fourth floorwest departure circulationunion station entrance

Gintaras Valiulis4

To the left is a isolated view of the series of escalators that move commuters to and from the various platforms within the Toronto Bus Terminal. Each commuter platform is serviced by a minimum of four escalators.


1 entrance2 ticket booth3 washrooms4 waiting area5 cafe6 bus platform7 gardiner expressway8 bay street9 lakeshore blvd. west10 air canada center11 condominium

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1:200SECTION A

1:200SECTION B

section a

section b

9portfolio TORONTO BUS TERMINAL

1:200SECTION A

1:200SECTION B

Gintaras Valiulis10

This option studio challenged me to design a marketplace at the bottom of Bathurst street across from Billy Bishop Airport on the south east corner. Currently the site is occupied by the historic Canadian Malting Silos as well as parking and vehicular traffic for persons coming from and leaving the airport. In the immediate vicinity of the site exists many residential units from town houses to condominiums, as well as a community center, a school and a couple of parks. After analyzing the site there exists two central points of focus. One in the southern direction towards Lake Ontario and the other to the east towards Torontos downtown core. Part of the studios requirement was to include another program into the marketplace. The local community center does not have a swimming pool and so as an added feature to attract people to the market, I created an infinity pool on the south part of the site that looks as if it is continuous with Lake Ontario. The market remains on the north part of the site, oriented in the east west direction, enclosed with a glass envelope. The swimming pool is oriented in the north south direction and is open to the outdoors. Vast barrel vaults extend over the pool to provide shelter over the area. During the winter the pool would become a skating rink for people in the community to enjoy. Since the site is directly across from the airport, there is sometimes a fascination with planes taking off and landing. In order to enjoy the spectacle of flight, I designed a seating area on the south-west part of the site with steps that emulate the adjacent waves of Lake Ontario. The steps cascade down into the swimming pool and face the landing and take off airways of plane traffic from the airport.

Due to the axial nature of the site as well as its close proximity to water, I decided to use the barrel vault as the primary structural form for the vast open spaces of the marketplace. The barrel vault simulates the rolling waves of Lake Ontario in shape and as well barrel vaults provide long, straight and focused views in an axial direction. The marketplace vaults orient in the east-west direction allowing a spectacular view of downtown Toronto for people to enjoy as they shop and eat. The swimming pool/skating rink vaults orient towards Billy Bishop Airport and

the Toronto Islands to allow impressive views both during the night time and day time for those who skate and swim. To create the organic ribbon-like columns I first created a parabolic barrel vault and then projected circles onto its surface. The circles distorted and elongated once draped over the barrel vaults. Next the barrel vaults extents were cut in half allowing for two portions: the upper portion - the roof/shelter and the lower portion - the pedestrian programmable area. The barrel vaults with ribbon columns were then copied and placed one next

Gintaras Valiulis12

march III - prof r. levit - marketplace bathurst quay marketplace

to another to create a seamless roof and interior space. Since the ribbon columns would overlap and meet at point loads, every second barrel vaults ribbon column could be trimmed and its barrel vault load be taken up by the other ribbon columns. This act allowed for more open space and less columns within the pedestrian programmable area. To ensure that the ribbon columns would not buckle under the weight, the point load areas were thickened and a cross-over method resembling an X was used to add support between point loads. For the last step, additional ribbon-like horizontal supports were projected

onto the barrel vaults and were terminated at the point loads in order for the ribbon columns to support greater surface area. This would allow for fewer ribbon columns.

13portfolio bathurst quay marketplace

1 market2 lockers3 swimming pool / ice rink4 kids swimming pool5 wave seating6 lake ontario7 existing silos8 existing community center9 under ground parking10 towel/skate rental

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section a

section b

section c

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The ribbon like columns used to support the barrel vaults and create the marketplace are composed of high strength steel in order to allow them to span great widths. The operations explaining the conception of these columns was explained earlier. The columns appear to be continuous and seamless like water. Throughout the columns the profile of the column in section changes. Areas that require more strength like the nodes and bases at the foundations are thicker and places the require less strength are thinner. The intent was to make it look like the columns are not working very hard to support their upper structure as well as to make it look like the columns are all working together seamlessly rather than individually. The columns rest on plinth foundations that can be seen in the underground parking level which gives the appearance that the marketplace is floating delicately rather than fixed to the ground. The south ribbon columns have greater spans in order to provide a larger open space at the outdoor leisure area. These columns are much larger in profile and require more steel to achieve their goal. To continue this theme of floating and fragility the columns come out of the swimming pool and their foundations blend into shape of the swimming pool in order to hide their robustness and size.

The roof is to resemble the adjacent waves of Lake Ontario. The undulating forms of the barrel vaults closely resemble the calm waves that ripple their way to the edge of the site. The roof is composed of eleven barrel vaults. Five cover the outdoor swimming and skating area and are in the north south orientation, while six cover the marketplace area and are enclosed and oriented in the east west direction. No two barrel vaults are the same size or shape. The ends of the barrel vaults differ in height and width as well. The marketplace vaults are wider and higher on the east part of the site. This is done for two reasons. The first is to allow the maximum amount of daylight into the marketplace as the sun rises in the east as people do their morning shopping. As the sun sets in the west the vaults are smaller on that side to reduce the amount of glare entering the marketplace. The second reason is to open up to a greater view of downtown Toronto. As the sun rises in the east the downtown area is backlit from the rays of sunlight and as the sun sets, and the night lights of Toronto begin to turn on, it offers another marvelous view of the city from a different perspective. The pattern of circular skylights on the barrel vaults were derived from a grasshopper algorithm utilizing a picture of a series of waves of Lake Ontario. The skylight circles differ in diameter and location creating a gradient on the entire surface. The skylights possess an inner light fixture around their circumference which gives them the capability to light the marketplace and outdoor leisure area at night allowing the indoor and outdoor space to assume a number of programs.roof structure

column structure

Gintaras Valiulis16

The north part of the site underneath the marketplace is an underground parking area that provides space for 205 cars to come and park at the site. Throughout the parking area there are columns that support the marketplace floor and foundations that support the ribbon columns. The ribbon columns rest on separate foundations and do not support the main ground floor in any way, much like the ground floor marketplace plays to structural role in supporting the barrel vaults above. At various locations throughout the parking floor there are vertical circulation access points with elevators and stairs making the entire marketplace entirely barrier free. At the south part of the parking area is access to a below grade corridor that leads to male and female locker rooms. The locker rooms are equipped with showers, washrooms, change rooms, and lockers for people to use. They are located below grade so that these spaces can be controlled for heat and cold and thus could be used all year round whether it is during the winter or during the summer. Towards the south part of the site there is a stairway that leads up to the ground floor and allows access to the main outdoor leisure area above. These stairs are directly under the wave stairs and as one ascends the steps they can see the undulating underside of the wave steps that closely resemble the movement of waves. Since the stairs are under the wave stairs and under the exterior barrel vaults, they can be used year round regardless of the weather conditions.

The north part of the site is occupied by the marketplace. The marketplace is open and does not have a fixed plan for the vendors and merchants and can change from week to week. This is done on purpose to allow the space to be reconfigured for various functions of different styles. There are washroom and a couple of locations to allow for vertical circulation to access the underground parking below. Throughout the marketplace floor there are a series of glass ovals that are placed around the areas that the ribbon columns protrude from the underground parking. The glass acts as a skylight to allow indirect light to enter the underground parking area, as well as mimic the surface of water. As the columns come out from the underground garage thought the glass, it looks like the columns are coming out of water and it further professes that the marketplace is very light, fragile and appears to have no fixed point to the ground. The north west part of the site has the ramp to the underground parking garage. The south part of the site is all exterior and covered by five large barrel vaults. Just outside the entrance to the marketplace is outdoor seating with benches, chairs and tables. To the left of that, what appears as a spiral is the outdoor locker area rental area. During the summer the kiosk provides towel rentals and during the summer it allows people to rent skates. The south most part of the site is the infinity pool that appears to run into Lake Ontario. There is a small removable divider that separates the deep swimming area from the shallower area where children and their parents can enjoy the water. At the south west area of the site is a seating area what resembles waves. The steps of this area cascade down directly into the swimming pool/skating rink.ground floor

below grade


The design intent behind the pool seating was for them to emulate the water upon which they overlook. The seating appears to be organic and fluid as it emerges out of the swimming pool area. There exists a transitional connection from the pool that appears to seamlessly merge with the lake and to the public seating as it emerges out of the pool. People swimming within the pool can easily climb the seating and sit and enjoy the view. The seating is composed of three types of sizes each for a particular bodily expression whether sitting, leaning, lying down, etc. The reason behind this lies in that the seating should be unpredictable and suited to each persons disposition or character at that time. By mixing these three types together it creates the opportunity for diversity.

type 1

WAVE STAIRS ELEVATION

WAVE STAIR SECTION E

WAVE STAIR SECTION F

type 2 type 3

Gintaras Valiulis18

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1800

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7092

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R49137

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R143

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R2078

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50MM DIA. STAINLESS STEEL HANDRAIL (TYP.)

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SEATING AREA REFER TO INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS FOR DIMENSIONS (TYP)

SEATING AREA REFER TO

INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS

FOR DIMENSIONS (TYP)

CONTINUOUS LAMINATED TEMPERED GLASS GUARDRAIL

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WAVE STAIR PLAN


1800

900 900

1800900 900

13140

1491

5

7092

5344

7845

7532

5148

4942

R49137

R17

258

R143

56

R2078

79

R154

41

21 R

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20 R

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SEATING AREA REFER TO INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS FOR DIMENSIONS (TYP)

SEATING AREA REFER TO

INDIVIDUAL SECTIONS

FOR DIMENSIONS (TYP)

CONTINUOUS LAMINATED TEMPERED GLASS GUARDRAIL

EL.16


F16

E16

E

20 Gintaras Valiulis

21bathurst quay marketplaceportfolio

38 X 184 NORTHERN No.1 WOOD ROOF PLANKS MITERED AND OVERLAPPED

600MM TREE TRUNK (TYPICAL)

140 x 286 NORTHERN No.1 TIMBER FRAMING ROOF CROSS BRACING

38 x 286 NORTHERN No.1 TIMBER FRAMING CROSS BRACING


HIDDEN STEEL PLATE CONNECTOR COMES WITH HEX BOLTS AND WASHERS- ALL MEMBERS TO BE GALVANIZED- TYPICAL AT TIMBER FRAMING ROOF BEAMS

140 x 286 NORTHERN No.1 TIMBER FRAMING ROOF BEAM- TYPICAL OF 8

LINE OF PLATFORM DECK BELOW

LINES OF 5.7MM DIAMETER STEEL ROD CROSS BRACED GUARDRAIL SYSTEM BELOW

UPPER GALVANIZED STEEL COMPRESSION RING MOUNT WITH INNER LINED FRICTION PADDING COMES WITH WELDED STEEL ANGLES AND HARDWARE- ALL MEMBERS TO BE GALVANIZED

A

A

ROOF PLAN

ROOF FRAMING PLAN

4200

8400

45

4028











A

A

ROOF PLAN

ROOF FRAMING PLAN

4200

8400

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4028











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A

ROOF PLAN

ROOF FRAMING PLAN

4200

8400

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4028

Gintaras Valiulis22

big + small

The BIG + small treetop post is founded on the idea of a large, overhanging, roof structure sheltering a very small viewing platform. The large roof structure is emphasized by using thick wood members, while the small viewing platform uses thin wood framing members. The large roof structure extends far beyond the limits of the viewing platform, effectively sheltering viewers from snow and rain. As a result, while the structure is still open to the outside, viewers are experiencing a sheltered space similar to an enclosed space. The roof is attached to the large trunk of the tree, while the viewing platform is suspended from the roof. Thin steel rods are used to suspend the viewing platform, creating a floating appearance. This is in stark contrast to the attachment of the roof to the tree trunk appearing as an extension of the tree. Additionally, while the use of steel rods resist wind uplift, the platform is able to sway horizontally adding an intriguing dimension to the viewers experience.

march III - prof a.spick - structures ii in colaboration with duncan sabiston & chris chung











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ROOF PLAN

ROOF FRAMING PLAN

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4028

23portfolio big + small

89 x 89 NORTHERN No.1 TIMBER FRAMING RIM BEAM

38 x 89 NORTHERN No.1 FLOOR JOIST SPACED AT 400MM O.C.- TYPICAL OF ALL PLATFORM JOIST FRAMING

5.7MM DIAMETER STEEL ROD (TYPICAL)


HIDDEN WELDED STEEL ANGLES COME WITH HEX BOLTS AND WASHERS- ALL MEMBERS TO BE GALVANIZED- TYPICAL AT ALL TIMBER FRAME PERIMETER CONNECTIONS

89 x 89 NORTHERN No.1 TIMBER FRAMING FLOOR BEAMS

GALVANIZED STEEL MOMENT JOINT CONNECTION - TYPICAL OF FOUR AT TIMBER FRAME BEAM TO BEAM CONNECTIONS

25 X 140 NORTHERN No.1 DECKBOARDS


5.7MM DIAMETER STEEL ROD CROSS BRACED GUARDRAIL SYSTEM SPACED HORIZONTAL 100MM O.C. MAX.


OPERABLE HINGED DOOR HATCH

OUTLINE OF ROOF STRUCTURE ABOVE

TREE MOUNTED LADDER BELOW

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A

3

4.25

PLATFORM PLAN

PLATFORM FRAMING PLAN

CROSS SECTION - A



38 X 184 NORTHERN No. 1 WOOD ROOF PLANKS MITERED AND OVERLAPPED

140 X 286 NORTHERN No.1 TIMBER FRAMING ROOF BEAM

HIDDEN STEEL PLATE CONNECTOR COMES WITH HEX BOLTS AND WASHERS- ALL MEMBERS TO BE GALVANIZED

140 X 286 NORTHERN No.1 TIMBER FRAMING ROOF BEAM COMPRESSION MEMBER

38 X 286 NORTHERN No.1 TIMBER FRAMING CROSS BRACING

LOWER GALVANIZED STEEL COMPRESSION RING MOUNT WITH INNER LINED FRICTION PADDING COMES WITH WELDED STEEL ANGLES AND HARDWARE


89 X 89 NORTHERN No.1 TIMBER FRAMING FLOOR BEAM BEYOND

OUTLINE OF TREE MOUNTED LADDER BEHIND

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38

13781663

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1010652

3235

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1240

740

5515

7495

90

42

2029

205

2197

1875

4277

6306

35

Gintaras Valiulis24

89 x 89 NORTHERN No.1 TIMBER FRAMING RIM BEAM

38 x 89 NORTHERN No.1 FLOOR JOIST SPACED AT 400MM O.C.- TYPICAL OF ALL PLATFORM JOIST FRAMING



HIDDEN WELDED STEEL ANGLES COME WITH HEX BOLTS AND WASHERS- ALL MEMBERS TO BE GALVANIZED- TYPICAL AT ALL TIMBER FRAME PERIMETER CONNECTIONS

89 x 89 NORTHERN No.1 TIMBER FRAMING FLOOR BEAMS

GALVANIZED STEEL MOMENT JOINT CONNECTION - TYPICAL OF FOUR AT TIMBER FRAME BEAM TO BEAM CONNECTIONS

25 X 140 NORTHERN No.1 DECKBOARDS


5.7MM DIAMETER STEEL ROD CROSS BRACED GUARDRAIL SYSTEM SPACED HORIZONTAL 100MM O.C. MAX.


OPERABLE HINGED DOOR HATCH

OUTLINE OF ROOF STRUCTURE ABOVE

TREE MOUNTED LADDER BELOW

A

A

3

4.25

PLATFORM PLAN

PLATFORM FRAMING PLAN

CROSS SECTION - A



38 X 184 NORTHERN No. 1 WOOD ROOF PLANKS MITERED AND OVERLAPPED

140 X 286 NORTHERN No.1 TIMBER FRAMING ROOF BEAM

HIDDEN STEEL PLATE CONNECTOR COMES WITH HEX BOLTS AND WASHERS- ALL MEMBERS TO BE GALVANIZED

140 X 286 NORTHERN No.1 TIMBER FRAMING ROOF BEAM COMPRESSION MEMBER

38 X 286 NORTHERN No.1 TIMBER FRAMING CROSS BRACING

LOWER GALVANIZED STEEL COMPRESSION RING MOUNT WITH INNER LINED FRICTION PADDING COMES WITH WELDED STEEL ANGLES AND HARDWARE


89 X 89 NORTHERN No.1 TIMBER FRAMING FLOOR BEAM BEYOND

OUTLINE OF TREE MOUNTED LADDER BEHIND

3325

38

13781663

3325

135

1010

1305

1010652

3235

45

45

1663

90

45

+/-

1750

0 (T

OP

OF

GR

AD

E)

1980

(TO

P O

F D

EC

K)

103

1240

740

5515

7495

90

42

2029

205

2197

1875

4277

6306

35

25portfolio big + small

Gintaras Valiulis26

My family owns a cottage up at Wasaga Beach that has been in the family for over 60 years. it is named Vilija after a river in Lithuania that ran near my grandparents home in Lithuania before they fled during the Second World War. My grandparents bought it when they first came to Canada in the early 1950s, and used it during the summer months with my dad and uncle. The cottage is pretty old sitting on top of 2-3 row high concrete block stacks. The exterior walls lack proper insulation or vapour barriers and so the cottage is often victim to the temperature fluctuations outside during the day and night and gets too cold to be used during the winter. The current plan layout is inefficient as well with the kitchen being too small, the absence of a proper dining room, the rear exit to the cottage being through the washroom, and there being too many doors in and out of the cottage that arent being used. As I grow older and use the cottage more often, I may propose one day to tear it down and reconstruct it with a more functional plan. The cottage location would continue to be in the family and would continue to be used by my parents, myself and occasionally my siblings during the hot summer and cold winter months. At the rear of the cottage, a foldable doors wall would allow for an inside/outside connection and allow the fresh north air to enter the cottage during the summer months. High cathedral ceilings with exposed wood roof rafters would give the space a more cottage-like ambiance drawing a connection between the cottages construction and the surrounding trees and nature.

march Iv - prof t.kesik - cottage renovation wood frame construction - location: wasaga Beach, ont.

vilija 2.0

1 KITCHEN2 LIVING ROOM3 DINING ROOM4 BEDROOM5 WASHROOM6 CLOSET7 OUTDOOR PATIO

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27portfolio vilija 2.0

The common form a condominium housing complex takes is a tower where the center core becomes the vertical circulation for the building. The core becomes the primary method for getting anywhere in the complex whether it is visiting friends, carrying groceries, or going to the movies, the stairs and elevator become the vehicles for movement within the tower. The housing units are arranged around the core facing the exterior. The floor plates are often small and narrow and restricted in order to obey building standards and codes.

The first step is to lay the tower on its side before placing the housing units around its exterior. By placing the tower on its side it ceases to be a tower and instead assumes a characteristic of a bridge or pathway. By this operation the circulation of the building becomes ones of horizontality, moving left and right instead of moving vertically up and down. This creates a larger floor plate and more intimate connection between those utilizing the floor plate for circulation.

This proposal presents the idea that a bicycle will become the primary vehicle for future transportation within the city. The previous step of laying the tower on its side allows for creativity and ingenuity in how a bicycle would be able to navigate within the housing complex in the horizontal direction. The center part of the housing unit assumes the role of circulation and using minimum and maximum allowable slopes, a circulation network is derived which allows for bicycle and pedestrian access to all levels and areas of the building comfortably.

After the circulation network is derived the voids between each of the paths becomes filled with various programs, so that users can enjoy a diversity of activities as they navigate the building as if bringing a busy public space into the indoors. Some of the programs would be workout centres, bike rental areas, bike repair areas, shops, marketplaces, cafes, restaurants, magazine shops, etc. Since the space is indoors and protected from the elements, the center circulation core becomes an area that can be used year round.

The last step is the fill the outer perimeter of the building with housing units. The various sizes of units get plugged into the building and each unit has access to the central circulation network. The front of the unit faces the indoor programmable space and the back of the units faces the exterior for views and natural light.

Gintaras Valiulis28

march III - professors h.njiric & m.white utopian housing proposal for city of toronto

This design studio involved the exploration of the term Utopia and the possible manifestation of utopian principles within certain Toronto neighborhoods. Cycletopia presents the utopian concept that in the future the bicycle will become the dominant mode of transportation within the city of Toronto slowly eradicating the use and need for the car. As road congestion within the city grows and more residences are being constructed every year, more people will turn to the bicycle as their primary means of getting around. The chosen site is located in the east part of Toronto at the intersection of Victoria Park Ave. and Gerrard St. East. Surrounding the site is an extensive existence of automobile friendly programs, dealerships, mechanics, auto rental companies, etc. Due to the abundance of these automobile specific programs, they are slowly going out of business. On the site I propose to create housing complexes that have bicycle corridors that transverse the entire building. Essentially every part of the building is accessible from the bicycle. Indoor communal spaces become indoor streets that residents use to go from one place to another. The individual housing units are equipped with designated bike parking and indoor front patios. On site there will be a bicycle factory that supplies bicycles to the residents are a low cost and to vendors off site. Within the complexes half of the program will be dedicated to bicycle repair shops, rental boutiques, and stores. The rest of the program will provide social and living amenities such as market places, shops, fitness centres, small retail stores, and green spaces.

cycletopia

The proposal presents that cars will not be very common in the future since the amount of congestion in the city will put people off from using them. So in theory the spaces that are allotted for cars at each home, the garage and the driveway can be given to a public communal space. The communal space would be the location of various programs that the residents all get to share and call their own. The central circulation network with its infused program is an example of a communal space that the residents of the housing unit all get to share and enjoy.

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1 KITCHEN2 LIVING ROOM3 DINING ROOM4 BEDROOM5 WASHROOM6 BIKE GARAGE7 OUTDOOR PATIO8 OFFICE

There are two main types of housing units within the housing complexes. One is two storeys and the other is a single storey unit. This is done in order to accommodate different kinds of people and their lifestyles. Larger families, bacherlors, recently married, common law, etc. Both types of units have the same basic amenities with kitchens, washrooms, living rooms, bedrooms, and the like. Both units also share a balcony type. The balcony is located on the inside facade of the unit, so that it is outdoors since it received sunlight and it is a semi-private space, but yet indoors since it is sheltered from the elements and can be used all year round. The balconies are significant in that they create the sense of community and friendliness that some current condominium towers lack. Since the path network transverses throughout the entire building, one gets to know their neighbours more easily since they see them and pass them every day to go anywhere. The balcony becomes a welcoming space where neighbours get to congregate, talk, and develop new friendships. Since the balcony space can be used year round it promotes a communal spirit all the time. Each units is also equipped with bicycle garages that are located right off the balcony platform. Since the bike becomes the primary method of transportation it is given its own space. The amount of bicycle parking area given to each units is proportional to the square footage of the unit and its occupancy. Today may bicycle owners use their outdoor patios as storage for their bicycles. These floor plans allow for a convenient storage space for the bicycle avoiding unnecessary clutter. Just like a car, as one comes home, they put their bike in the garage and keep it safe for the next day.

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The inspiration for the exterior facade of the individual housing units came from a bicycle chain. The pins of the chain hold together the outer and inner plates of the chain yet allow them to move and rotate freely. The exterior facade of each housing unit is equipped with metal shades that have a series of horizontal slits in them. These metal shades can be moved freely at any time. The slits are wide enough to let in daylight during the day, however still narrow enough to offer a element of privacy as well. The metal shades have turning wheels and are mounted on outdoor rails to allow for easy sliding. Due the various spacing patterns of the horizontal slits within each metal shade, they produce and let in different amounts of light. All the shades can slide over to one side and let in as much light as resident wishes or they can be scattered throughout the rail and diffuse the amount of light that enters the unit. At certain positions the horizontal slits of each metal shade align and can completely block any passage of light into the unit. The reflective nature of the shades help repel sun rays as well.


35portfolio CYCLETOPIA

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Along Broadview Avenue, a few blocks south of the Danforth, exists Riverdale Park whos landscape opens up to a spectacular view of downtown Toronto, the financial district, the Don Valley Parkway, historic neighbourhoods, etc. Taking in the beautiful sight, however, can be difficult. The steep landscape is marked by informal paths carved into the terrain from public use making it at times difficult to descend or ascend, as well as the lack of shelter makes it extremely cold during the winter and occasionally hot during the summer. Concentrated on the northern edge of the park, this assignment allows for the opportunity of an architectural intervention to solve both problems of accessibility and shelter, while still emphasizing Torontos horizon. This projects intent is to accomplish three primary goals through its design. The first is to facilitate pedestrian movement through the site, the second is

march i - prof C. MOUKHEIBER - STUDIORIVERDALE PARK ARCHITECTURAL INTERVENTION

riverdale ruinsdidactic in nature with the aim of bringing awareness to the site from pedestrians, and the last is to encourage, promote and foster a social atmosphere. The design is inspired directly from the existing topography of the site. I resurveyed the land accurately recording valleys, summits, the steepest and flattest areas as well as the paths most traveled. The topography is very interesting and unique to the site and thus I deliberately avoided the use of any cutting or filling operations, with the intent of preserving the site. A series of platforms were designed which emerge out of the hillside. These platforms act as steps to facilitate ascending and descending the hill, but act as places of leisure as well, somewhere to sit, read a book, or have a picnic. The platforms follow the contour lines of the site to bring awareness to the unique topography. The platforms are purposely dispersed to encourage exploration, which leads to an intimate connection between the pedestrian and the site. The placement of shelters was also dictated by the site, the steepest areas could allow for the greatest cantilever. The cantilevered spaces were encased in wood framing spaced a couple of inches apart. The framing protects against the elements, however the gaps between the framing at particular angles create interesting views out and cast shadows in.

37portfolio riverdale ruins

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39portfolio riverdale ruins

41portfolio RIVERDALE RUINS

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To accommodate an expansion of the University of Torontos Faculty of Architectures curricular programs, the university has presented the opportunity for the Faculty of Architecture to build a Centre for Transdisciplinary Design at the corner of Glen Morris St. and Huron. St. on the university campus. The Centre is to establish a connection between art, architecture, landscape architecture and urban design, and facilitate research and experimentation done in the above mentioned fields of study. The Centre is to become a place for students, faculty, and artists to congregate and undertake innovative research. At any time print-makers, painters, ceramists, photographers, sculptors, or other members of applied arts will occupy the building and use it not only for research and work, but for displaying their art work, socializing, and promoting the arts.Art can be beautiful, nostalgic, melancholic, and even absurd, however despite its classification it requires an understanding and conscious effort of analysis; someone has to closely observe every brush stroke, every chisel, and every motion whether intentional or not. The building proposed to house the artist community at the University of Toronto attempts to manifest the same analysis used when attempting to understand art. The building is very irregular in plan with abrupt corners, unforeseen stairs, and constant change in elevation. The intricate analysis and patience that an admirer of art uses when looking at a painting is the same analysis and patience that an occupier will use to understand and navigate through the building. It is the intention that the complexity and mystery that the artist uses in his or her art will be manifest in this building which will display their art. Through the use of many open spaces and voids, the program of the building can constantly change to accommodate the needs and demands of the artists. Art is a very public expression, and so the connection between the gallery spaces, social spaces and studios becomes one of coherence and overlap. The voids become programmed accordingly and the building serves the artists and their needs throughout the duration of their stay.

march I - prof C. MOUKHEIBER - STUDIOARTIST STUDIO & GALLERY - UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO CAMPUS

the artist centre

43portfolio the artist centre

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