Undergraduate Portfolio

simple. elegant. sophisticated.

simple. elegant. sophisticated.

elizabeth kreska

university of detroit mercyschool of architecture

detroit, michigan

portfolio submission for masters of architecture 2011

warsaw politechnikaschool of architecture

warsaw, poland

architectural design studio i professor allegra pitera fall 2008

Portable Homeless Shelter

In honor of Homeless Awareness Week, this studio designed and created shelters for the homeless made from one 4’x6’ sheet of cardboard. No glue or tape was to be used and the shelter had to be portable and specific to a particular spot on the University of Detroit Mercy McNichols campus. This spotwas also chosen by another member of thestudio from their research of the campus.

architectural design studio i professor allegra pitera fall 2008

Star Origami Pod

In order to release the origami star, one must remove each wood piece, one-by-one.

Live/Work Bakery Detroit, Michigan Paradise Valley

Each student was assigned a different plot of land on a site in Paradise Valley and an occupational trade. I was assigned a bakery in which the owner could live above his or her place of work. Working with fellow studio peers, we decided to have openings in each others’ buildings so that customers can look into the adjacent businesses to become interested.

architectural design studio iv professor thomas roberts winter 2010 architectural design studio iv professor thomas roberts winter 2010

Community Foundation Center Chicago, Illinois Bronzeville

The Bronzeville Community Center was designed to promote the community of Bronzeville and its rich heritage by creating opportunities through recreational and performing arts activities.

iintergrated design studio professor joseph odoerfer summer 2010

first floor plan second floor plan

architectural library detroit, michigan university of detroit mercy

the universiry of detroit mercy architectural library not only houses an abundant source of architectural books and magazines, but is also houses a quiet place for students to study, a two-hundred seat lecture space, and group-study rooms. the architectural library is not just a place for architecture students, but a welcome environment for all universiry of detroit mercy students.

intergrated design studio professor joseph odoerfer summer 2010

architectural design studio v professor wladek fuchs fall 2010

apartment complex detroit, michigan core city

the core city apartment complex focuses on providing a single-parent friendly community. first floor businesses cater to families and their needs as single parents.

professional experience i wakely associates, inc./architects fall 2010-winter 2011

apartment complex detroit, michigan core city

the core city apartment complex focuses on providing a single-parent friendly community. first floor businesses cater to families and their needs as single parents.

professional experience ii wakely associates, inc./architects fall 2010-winter 2011

New Science Lab Warren, Michigan Cousino High School

This project was very personal to me, because this classroom belonged to my high school architecture teacher and it was my job to turn it into a science lab after I suggested this classroom for its size to the principal of the high school. I learned a lot on this project, from where to sawcut for new plumbing to choosing hardware and casework.

professoinal experience ii wakely associates, inc./architects

Science Lab Renovation Warren, Michigan Warren Mott High School

When the project architect heard that this was my old high school, I was immediately put on the project so that I could give insight. Part of this bid was to renovate all of the science labs. This particular science lab was where I can Chemisty so I knew how hard it was to navigate the desks to get to the sinks when you have chemicals, also there were not enough desks. With my new design, I was able to create a better functioning science lab.

fall 2010-winter 2011

architectural design studio vi professor justyna zdunek-wielgolaska winter 2011

warsaw/praga district

warsaw, polandca e

nn

architectural+designinternational academy

ground floor plan second floor plan

international design academy warsaw, poland praga

the warsaw/praga architectural and design international academy is formulated around the four phases of time; past, present, parallel, and future.

-students will learn and discover new ideas while being submerses in the heart of praga. -students are but a glance away from the bazaar rozyckiego, where they can expereince firsthand, the magic of warsaw’s past and present. -students will learn about what is happening all over the world and how to design for different cultures and lifestyles, while also designing for the future as an architecture students. -this building will be a vessel for the students and community to engage each other in their daily roles. -the ground floor is open to the public with shops and an exhibition space to display the students’ works, serving as a portal for the present. -the past is represented on the first floor, where the staff and professors’ offices are located. professors are a link to the past, they can teach it, because they lived it. -the future is represented on the second floor, where the students’ classrooms and studio spaces are and is also where the students are learning how to design buildings for the future. to tie the builidng together, the courtyard space represents -the parallel, which connects all of the floors together and shines light into all of the other floors, allowing the users to see what others are working on. through the academy, the community will begin to understand the role of an architect in our world and will be able to learn how to accept change and work in harmony.-while this building was created for the students to have almost everything that they need to attend the academy, the curriculum and community involvement will interest them to step outside the walls of the building, venture to the bazaar, creep out to the city of warsaw, and the branch out to see the world.



third floor plan fourth floor plan

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Commercial Business

Residential and Commercial

Residential

Hospital

Landmark building

Bike Rack

Site Building ABC

Parking

Micellaneous

warsaw_praga design concepturban design studio

prof. pawel trebacz , phdwinter 2011

mollie decker_ania jackow_elizabeth kreska

section of zone b

section of zone asection of zone c

vi

urban design studio dr. pawel trembacz winter 2011

urban design studio dr. pawel trembacz winter 2011urban design studio dr. pawel trembacz winter 2011

Site ABC Development Plots

Parks and Green Space

Tertiary Networks and Connections

Secondary Networks and Connections

Primary Transportation Routes and Boundaries

main idea 1:10000




Axes

Landmarks

Public Spaces

public spaces 1:2000

Site ABC Development Plots

Parks and Green Space

Tertiary Networks and Connections

Secondary Networks and Connections

Primary Transportation Routes and Boundaries

main idea 1:10000




Axes

Landmarks

Public Spaces

public spaces 1:2000

Public Park and Bike Path System Warsaw, Poland Praga District

Using the same sites as our studio project, our group created a bike path system that wouldconnect each of our public spaces. We also made plans for new buildings and accentuated the first floor commercial with aparment complexes above.




urban design studio dr. pawel trembacz winter 2011 architectural design studio vii professor virginia stanard fall 2011

8 Mile

John C. Lodge

Woodward

UDMMarygrove

McNichols

7 Mile

Casual Necessities

many initiatives have begun in detroit. this studio worked in collaboration with the architecture firm within the university of detroit mercy school of architecture, called the detroit col-laborative design center (dcdc). we shared research with the detroit economic growth corporation (degc), architecture firm hamilton anderson, and detriot works. this studio was structured to be based on research, especially at the urban scale. the following pages will discuss the research backing my final project. the degc has asked for this specific research to be used in the actual project taking place on the same site as our studio’s.

casual necessities detroit, michigan 6 mile corridor

architectural design studio vii professor virginia stanard fall 2011

11 mile

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n

stre

et

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ingt

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ue

good mix of venues,

even distribution of repeat businesses

9 mile

woodward

restaurants

entertainment

salon/barber shop

cafe

fast food

retail

club/bar

pretty good mix of venues,but woodward is very large obstacle for multi-purpose trips

clusters of businesses are apparent in royal oak and ferndale

no clusters of businesses on livernois

Royal Oak

Ferndale

Livernois

livernois

7 m

eli

too many repeat businesses,only respond to residents, not students

e


this is a study of the commercial corridors that are highly functioning and ‘successful’ in the metro detroit area. all the scales are the same to show the relationship between the corridorrs.

limit advertisements. use simple, generalized names of products to catch the eye

price ads cheapen the facade

soften barrier by using simple vegetationasks people not to trespass, but also pleasant enough for business’s facade

tells potential customers to stay away

this business is open, but it is unclear as to what it is or where to enter

use signage that is clear and easy to read from street and reflects products and services


the area of opportunity that I chose to focus on is called ‘casual necessities’. I choose the name to describe the four blocks of mostly commercial businesses. these businesses cater to the every day needs of the neighboring communities and the students at the university of detroit mercy.


install street and facade lighting tohelp create a safer and walkable street

abandoned lots and buildingsdo not promote walkability

maintain existing architecturalelements for antiquity

architectural elements are coveredor removed from facade

(i.e. cornice and plaster details)

use fenestration for sunlight. allows for customers to see

products and services

without fenestration, potential customerscannot see into establishment

make upper stories lookoccupied to promote vivacity

discolored window treatmentseven in second story

conditions are unattractive provide glass doors forcustomers to peer inside businessbefore opening door. also allowsworkers to see incoming customers

cannot see into establishment

simple.

elegant.

sophisticated.

elizabeth kreska2008-current works

Documents

Undergraduate Portfolio