Samson Tam

PORTFOLIO 2015ARCHITECTURE + GRAPHICS + ART

CURRICULUM VITALE

EDUCATION

2013 - Present Master of Architecture, Candidate 2017 University of Toronto, Toronto, ON

2013 Certifi cate with Honors in Computer Aided Design and Drafting Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Cloverdale, BC Specialty in Mechanical Piping, Final Project in Wood-Frame House Construction

2007 - 2012 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts, Minor in Art History University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

LANGUAGES English (fl uent), Cantonese and Mandarin (profi cient), Japanese (conversational), French (basic)

TECHNICAL SKILLS Apple Mac and Microsoft Windows Microsoft Offi ce - Excel, Outlook, Word, Powerpoint Adobe Creative Suite 6.0 - Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign Drafting Software - AutoCAD 2013 3D Modeling/Rendering - Rhinoceros 5.0, V-Ray, Solidworks 2013 Marketing Platforms - Twitter, Constant Contact Basic Knowledge in HTML, Final Cut Pro Photography, Sketching, Printmaking

PROFFESIONAL WORK

2012 - Present 1.5+ years management experience with non-profi t, cultural organizations Major Employers: Gendai Gallery (Board of Directors, Toronto, ON) Topdown Bottomup (Artist-run-centre member, Vancouver, BC), 2010 - 2014 4 years museum/gallery experience, primarily designing promotional materials and exhibit content Major Employers: Blackwood Gallery (Toronto, ON) Museum of Anthropology (Vancouver, BC) Nikkei National Museum (Burnaby, BC)

2011 - 2013 2 years marketing experience developing promotional materials and graphics Major Employers: Rebus Creative (Vancouver), Quimera Theatre Collective (Vancouver)

misterstam@gmaill.com | 604.230.1228

FORM MAKING

URBAN FABRIC

VISUAL REPRESENTATION

Stacking: Peak Singles Sports Pavillion

Aggregation: Quartz Footbridge The Hourglass Reliquum

Expression: Ceramic Typologies

Graphics & Modeling: Matsunoyama Natural Science Museum Study R.C. Harris Water Center Arts-Bridge Community Center

Photography: Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan

X-Large: Allen Road Master PlanX-Small: Storefront Typologies

toronto + vancouver + global

toronto + global

SELECTED WORKS

toronto + global

Competition: UIA-HYP Cup 2014 International Student Competition in Architectural DesignHosts: School of Architecture at Tianjin University and Urban Environment Design Magazine Press

PEAKToronto Team:

Ashkan NazemiMartin Lui

Primary Duties:Conceptual Design

Renderings + Text

Peak functions as an urban park development operating on existing green space in the rural suburbs of Tianjin in Jinnan, Outer Ring. Through a series of three pathway levels, residents from the region are provided new elevation views of their existing, yet ever-changing environment. Users are able to observe the pre-existing tree canopies and the surrounding neighbourhoods of the old versus the new – the HuTong versus the metropolitan tower, now seen at varying new heights. Winding wooden bench seating on all levels encourage

social congregation at the site. A central glass and steel-framed core provides a semi-enclosed public space where larger group activities can occur. Each level, while designed as individual loops, comes together to form a single hilltop space – a reinterpretation of Chinese garden design elements.

Peak is for the 21st century Tianjin city dweller an opportunity to refl ect and reinterpret an evolving landscape of mixed historical and cultural traditions.

Left to right: Final renderings, physcial model and diagrams of the modular system

SINGLES SPORTS PAVILLION

An exerice in creating structural form. The pavillion is a trianglular folded structure that is independent and possesses adaptable confi gurations based on various needs and programs.

Open gaps between modules were utilized as a means of introducing exterior courtyard space.

Requires in the project involved the production of a spanning form with a support system covering 70% to 80% of a rectangular area of 56’x 64’

Further challenges in the project involved the development of strong forms without the need for freestanding support columns.

Top: Final rendering showing ping pong tables - a design requirementBottom: Early prototyping and renderings

Left: Final renderings, diagrams of the overall formRight: Cross-sections of the fi nal project

QUARTZ FOOTBRIDGE

105'1'CROSS SECTION 3/16" = 1'

1' 5' 10LONG SECTION 3/16" = 1'

1' 5' 10PLAN 3/16" = 1'

PERSPECTIVE 1 PERSPECTIVE 2

VOID AND STAIRCASE GEOMETRY

The proposed project is the exploration of creating a transitional space between two buildings. Program is to contain within the placement of three void spaces within the bridge

Two trapezoids intersect each other with one producing a “slit-hole” allowing for “fl ickering” glimpses of passing people. The third trapezoid allows for full-scale light to enter into the space. The exterior is a mute, blank curvilinear form while the interior is angular, bright and colorful.

Parameters considered in the design include one needed intersection between two voids and the establishment of providing links between two fl oors in each of the opposing buildings.

1' 5' 10CROSS SECTION 1/4" = 1'

1' 105'CROSS SECTION 1/4" = 1'

Left: Additional cross-sectionsRight: Light analysis renderings

Competition: UBC New Student Union Center Interactive Art InstallationHosts: University of British Columbia, SEEDS Initiative

THE HOURGLASS

Vancouver Team:Mike Nield,

Annie HongAmadine Kaya

Primary Duties:Form Development

In a team made up of both architecture and fi ne art students, the proposed project is an art installation that would be the centerpiece within the new student union building on the University of British Columbia Vancouver campus.

The proposed installation consists of two parts: a mechanical system of three ramps that would trigger a suspended water sculpture when stepped upon.

The development of various envelope design variations aimed to develope a form that could be site-specifi c and interactive.

to the bottom water reservoir

set of nine steps linked to the pumping system

lounge area

small hole punched on thetop of the platform that links

Above: Prototyping schemes

RELIQUUM

Client: Rebus CreativeLocation: Library Plaza, Downtown Vancouver Public Library

For the 18th annual “Word On The Street Festival,” the organizers sought out art installations for their “Unwritten Word” initiative.

The installation was designed on the basis of cost-effi ciency, easy setup, and maximum display of photographs belonging to authors from all across Canada.

The fi nal proposal utilized the manipulation of leftover corrugated plastic sheets into usable display stands for photograph.

Above: Sketches, Prototyping

CERAMIC TYPOLOGIES

In one year of experimentation, twelve hand-size ceramic forms were create from basic pottery techniques ranging from hand-thrown methods to using the potter`s wheel.

The resulting forms were the assemblage of resulting limits to the materiality of the clays used and a developing research-knowledge base regarding ceramics.

ALLEN ROAD URBAN DEVELOPMENT SCHEME

BUILDING FORMperimeter block

BLOCKbased on site

EXCAVATEto create individual buildings

EXCAVATEfor pathways

STACKINGto increase/decreaseprogram

NODESvarying buildinng heightscreate key regions of interst

Left & Middle: Final axonometric and with close-up cross-sectionRight: Diagrams and ground swatch

PARKINGPARKING

PARKINGPARKING

plazagreen spacepedestrian yardssidewalks / paths

MIXED-USEresidential (10 storey)offices (3 storeys)commercial (2 storeys)

RESIDENTIAL(5 storeys)

COMMUNITY/CULTURAL(5 storeys)

BUILD

ING

TYPO

LOG

IES

public plazasparking

private gardenspublic green space

bike lanepedestrian boulevards

Parks [30%]

Parking [17%]

Public Plazas [5%]

Bike Lane [8%]

Boulevards[5%]

Private Gardens [3%]

BuildingFootprint [32%]

Commercial [9%

Offices [15%

Parking [7%]

Residential [37%

Community/Cultural [11%]

Open Space [20%

OPEN SPACE PROGRAM

Accessibilitiy and mobility remain poor and dangerous along Allen Road in North York, Toronto, ON. with a lack of walkability and safety for pedestrians.

The proposal bridges the west with the east connecting heavily in regions where existing green space and parks reside through trails and pedestrian boulevards. To foster use and community within the new decked Allen Road, community/cultural centres and new mixed-use housing typologies are introduced.

The proposal includes the provision of a centralized bike lane creating a continuous loop of circulation with the existing bike lane on Marlee Avenue.

Above: Initial urban development schemes, metrics and building forms

STOREFRONT TYPOLOGIES

STOREFRONT TO STREET

INTERACTION + RELATIONSHIP

intergrated

overlapping

confronted

associated

inserted

extended

suspended

street edge

windowless frontprovides exclusivness

visual frontbig display with opening

recessed frontadded displays, limited frontage

fl at, closed front1-2 windows

sloping frontdisplay at right angles

large recessed frontmax. display, limited frontage

mixed frontlobby fl anked by displays

attached garage frontprovides parking space

interactive frontmovable facade formsusable furniture (chairs + tables)

Above: Typological study of various storefront variations

The analysis of North York, near Allen Road, reveals the reality of the North American cityscape: a landscape of isolated communities with cul-de-sacs and limited pedestrian friendly spaces.

The storefront is analyzed on the belief of their ability to encourage walkability and social interaction between people. Consideration is made to include both general typologies of storefronts alongside specifi c precedant studies.

shuto expressway

shibuya station

platform

Shibuya, TokyoJapanstore under expressway

Rotterdam,Netherlandsstore within residence

Toronto, Ontario, Canadatypical storefront + street

5.6 5.5 street 5.5 5.6

Above: Notable precedant studies of storefronts

MATSUNOYAMA SCIENCE MUSEUM STUDY

Exterior Envelope:6mm thick corten steelCan withstand a verticalload of 2,000 tons

Properties: 20cm expansion & contractionbetween summer &

Acrylic Windows:5.5cm - 7.5cm thick98% transparency

Above: Echigo-Matsunoyama Science Museum, Japan. Cross-Site Drawing

rice terraceparking lot

The Matsunoyama Natural Science Musum by Tezuka Architects was studied and redrawn in order to analyze the building`s ability to integrates itself into its existing landscape.

Analysis included looking into the Tezuka Architects` selection of materials in order to address the harsh climate of Northern Japan and to endow a building with a memorable exterior form.

Left: Axonometric RenderingRight: Site Plan

Above: Final rendering of swimming pool facilities

R.C. HARRIS WATER CENTER

Accessibilitiy and mobility remain poor and dangerous along Allen Road with a lack of walkability and safety for pedestrians.

The proposal bridges the west with the east connecting heavily in regions where existing green space and parks reside through trails and pedestrian boulevards. To foster use and community within the new decked Allen Road, community/cultural centres and new mixed-use housing typologies are introduced.

The proposal includes the provision of a centralized bike lane creating a continuous loop of circulation with the existing bike lane on Marlee Avenue.

1

1

1: 200PLAN VIEW

INDOOR SPA

CHANGE ROOMS / SHOWERS

DINING LOUNGE

EXISTING BEACH

EXISTING ROCK WALL

OLYMPIC-SIZED POOL

2

1

1

2

3

3

Above: Plans of main building (left) and swimming facilities (right)Bottom: Additional rendering and axonometric site plan

Above: 1:250 model, streetscape view

ARTS-BRIDGE COMMUNITY CENTER

Tasked with redeveloping the Lawrence Height community along Allen Road in Toronto, ON, Canada, provided is a proposed project featuring the creation of a art community center.

The material palettes of hand-crafted black foam, laser-cut 1/8” millboard and wire mesh express a fi nalized scheme where the interior is consisted of mute facades with an exterior envelope that is perforrated, transluscent and held up by steel trusses.

Above: 1:250 rendering with model, view from the Allen Expressway

PHOTOGRAPHY

Canada

Japan3. sapporo4. kyoto5. miyajima 3

4

5

1. vancouver2. toronto

12

3

4

45

2

1

22

Hong Kong

Taiwan

6

6. central7. jordan

7

9

10

8

11

8. jiufen9. taipei10. taichung11. kenting

6

7

66

8

9

1110