post education portfolio

PORTFOLIO

RAEGAN ALBRIGHT SPENCER

_


_8110 PIERPOINT DRIVEHARRISON TENNESSEE 37341T: 256 468 7769

[email protected]

970,000Nearly 45% of the population is younger than 15 years old. Meaning 10% of all Malagasy children are orphans. The population growth rate of 3% is relatively high, and continuing to add to this demographic. 80% of the population is rural and relies on agriculture for its livelihood. By most standards it is a very impoverished country.

Source: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), and US Census Bureau, HIV/AIDS Surveillance Database, 2003.

MADAGASCAR’SPOPULATION IS

CURRENTLY ARE ORPHANS

TWENTY-ONE MILLION

At almost 5% of the entire population, this demographic is a glaring concern for Madagascar. The country itself is the fourth largest island in the world, located in the Indian Ocean and across from continental Africa along the Mozambique Channel. The total land area is 581,540 square kilometers, slightly less than double the size of Arizona. Currently there are several distressing statistics:

970,000__ nearly half of the school age children are not enrolled in schools;__ illiteracy affects more than half of the population (of which 56.5% of women) with a higher among the young;__ nearly one third of the Malagasy population’s life expectancy is below age 40;__ more than three quarters of the Malagasy people have no access to drinking water;


CENTRE D’ACCUEIL ET DE TRANSIT DES JUMEAUX ABANDONNES_

1 Site before construction

RAEGAN ALBRIGHT SPENCER_8110 PIERPOINT DRIVEHARRISON TENNESSEE 37341T: 000 000 0000

[email protected]

2013

Mananjary is a small village located off the Southeastern coast of Madagascar. The population is only several thousand inhabitants, made up primarily of the Antambahoaka tribe. This small village, like many throughout the country,

is deeply rooted in their oral traditions. Yet, there is one center trying to make a difference for those considered fady. Centre D’accueil Et De Transit Des Jumeaux Abandonnes (CATJA) is home to eighty-six orphans, but these

are not just orphans, they are kambana, the Malagasy word for twins. In the local area twins are considered taboo and are often abandoned by their families.CATJA is a privately

funded non-profit orphanage that was

founded in 1987 by Mdme Julie Rasoarinanana and her late husband as a haven for these children. Since she and her family opened their doors they have saved hundreds of twins from death.

2 Rendered Perspective looking towards the library nook.

JULY 2012 -MAY 2013


A CONCERN FOR ARCHITECTURE_Mananjary Madagascar Private project while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer

The most important aspect of designing and building in a developing country is to know your client. In addition to making a design appropriate for the community, the designs should be native to place - environmentally and culturally.

GOAL ONEIt is our goal to engage and challenge the students spatially while providing them with a variety of learning environments. We have achieved this by creating several different learning zones. The most prominent space in the school building is classroom space. The windows are located such that outside activity would not be distracting during lessons. There is

an elevated quiet area, which can be used as a reading area, and a place of reflection and independent learning. The site strategy is another learning zone. The south terrace can serve as an outdoor classroom or as a play area, abutting the proposed agricultural field. All spaces are adaptable to serve the different learning needs of different students.

GOAL TWOIt is a goal of ours to minimize the energy consumed by the classroom as it serves to educate the community about green building strategies. We have accomplished this by constructing with local materials and implementing passive energy strategies.

Locally acquired building materials include bricks made on-site, locally and sustainably harvested wood, and locally manufactured windows and sheet metal. Other building materials, such as windows, sheet metal, and hardware will be bought locally, supporting Malagasy industries. Passive energy strategies incorporated in the classroom include a passive lighting design, passive ventilation, thermal massing, proper insulation, and rain water collection. The clearstory lighting allows for maximum ambient light to enter the classroom without the harsh glare and heat caused by direct equatorial sunlight. The

windows are positioned in order to maximize natural ventilation, flushing the hot air out of the classroom with southern prevailing winds. Rain water is collected from the metal roof of the classroom and can be used to irrigate the agricultural fields as well as for use in the children’s garden. GOAL THREESafe building practices are too often not implemented in Madagascar. Through the use of properly designed foundation and roof systems, as well as load-bearing masonry walls, we hope to illustrate proper building techniques in a building with structural integrity.

The window of the elevated reading nook is glazed with the bottom of glass bottles. The locally brewed beer brand, Three Horses Beer (THB) are being donated by the manufacture. Over 100 bottles will be needed.

JULY 2012 -MAY 2013

PROGRAMMATIC ELEMENTS:LIBRARY 56 M2

READING NOOK 4 M2

NURSERY CLASSROOM 56 M2

COMMUNITY OFFICE 20 M2

CHILDREN’S GARDEN 10 M2

OUTDOOR LEARNING AREA 10 M2

OUTDOOR PLAY AREA 10 M2

The project focuses on three main goals, to create a classroom, which inspires engaged learners, which has a small carbon footprint by using local materials and passive energy strategies, and to implement and encourage safe building practices.

1 Program Axonometric Diagram

Existing site conditions.

COMPUTER RENDERED PERSPECTIVE: AUTOCAD, FORMZ, SKETCHUP, + PHOTOSHOP

KAMBANAMANANJARY_

CENTRE D’ACCUEIL ET DE TRANSIT DES JUMEAUX ABANDONNES (CATJA) is home to 86 orphans from across the entire island of Madagascar. Yet, these are not just orphans, they are kambana, the Malagasy word for twins.+ In the local area twins are considered taboo and are often abandoned and left for death by their families. This center is hoping to change the local culture, while providing a second chance for

these special children.+(matching is the actual translation)

2012

_

JULY 2012-SEPTEMBER 2013

THE LIFE OF TWINS BORN IN MADAGASCAR...THROUGH THEIR EYES/A VISUAL COLLECTION RENDERED BYRAEGAN ALBRIGHT SPENCER

2012

_

2012 2013

_

COOPERATING OUT OF POVERTY_


_ras

DECEMBER 2012 -MAY 2013

INTERIOR VIEW FROM THE LIBRARY NOOKINTO THE CLASSROOM.

ALL IMAGES OF CHILDREN (KAMBANA) ARE THE ACTUAL ORPHANSOF CATJA, TAKEN DURING MULTIPLE SITE VISITS (2013).

COMPUTER RENDERED PERSPECTIVE: AUTOCAD, FORMZ, SKETCHUP, + PHOTOSHOP _

MANANJARY, MADAGASCAR (CATJA)

_

CATJA LIBRARY PROJECTPRECONSTRUCTION PHASE

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS

JULY 2012 -MAY 2013

SYNERGIC URBANISM_

PHASES 1+2

PHASES 3+4


ETH MASTER’S THESIS

SYNERGIC URBANISM+

LOCATOR

SEPTEMBER 2008 -SEPTEMBER 2009

JIMMA, ETHIOPIA

COMPUTER RENDERED MODEL: AUTOCAD, FORMZ, + RHINO



ETH/AAU. Zurich, Switzerland + Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Master’s Thesis

As economic enterprises cooperatives play a meaningful role in increasing the socio-economic conditions of their members and local communities. They represent a model of economic enterprise that places a high regard on democratic and human values along with respect for the environment. The world today faces unstable financial systems, increased insecurity of the food supply, growing inequality, rapid climate change, and increased environmental degradation. In this context, cooperatives offer a compelling model for economic enterprise. Given the situation in Ethiopia, where cash crops such as coffee, cereal, and cattle, are some of the major economic generators, new means for sustaining an increasing population should be based on the potential of indigenous agriculture. Situated in a currently undeveloped area in the northeastern region of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region (SNNP), the site for the new city is located eighteen kilometers south of Jimma. As a result of the rural context, initial development begins by organizing the agricultural production in small-scale cooperative units. The main cooperatives established in the city focus on coffee, cattle, cereal, cotton, construction, and logistics. The organizational system provides both economic and social support to the community, through which knowledge can be transmitted. The city develops in phases, aligned with the time line of agricultural production and the growth of the cooperatives. The strong topography combined with the influence of the cooperatives is reflected in the spatial characteristics of the city.

GONDER

If it is true that Ethiopia’s best potential resource is their people, and that cash crops such as, coee, cotton, cattle are the major economic generators, new means to sustain an increrasing population should be based on the potential of indigenoius agriculture, as a method of connecting to all scales of trade networks.

GONDER


1 Network Scales Diagrams

SU focuses on the potential of cooperatives through the global networks of socio-economic + environmental connectivity. Studying this connectivity at global, national, and local scales, the flows of people, goods, and information across borders is revealed. Cooperatives become a driver for enhancing these networks.

GONDER



2 Cooperative structure Diagrams: Coffee3 Cattle Coop Diagram

4 Cereal Coop Diagram

CATTLE

COOPERATIVEAA CATAA TLE

+

HUSBANDRYCOLLEGE

TO IMPROVEREPRODUCTION

QUALITY

PASTEURIZEPP

DAIRYPRODUCTION

ABBATAA OIRFOR NON

DAIRYPRODUCING

COWS

IMPLEMENTATT TIONAAOF NGOs

INTERNATION SALESAA DIRECT SALESREGIONAL SALES

FOOD PRODUCTSEDUCATIONAA TANNERIESTT ABBATAA OIR

BIOGAS FROMCATAA TLE

(METHANE) REMAINS 1 COWYIELDS 4KM OF

ENERGY

LEAATHER GOODSAA

MEATAA REMAINS

TRANSPORT NETWORK

$PROFIT FOR

COMMUNITYDEVELOPMENT

AGRICULTRE

CASH CROPS COOPERATIVEAA

COTTON

RAYON

IMPLEMENTATT TIONAAOF NGOs

NGO FARMERFF

TRANSPORT

COFFEE FILTERS LEFT OVERS

FODDER

FISHNET


ABRICFF YARNYY TEXTILES

PACKAGING

TRANSPORT NETWORK

$PROFIT FOR

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

COFFEE

CASH CROPS

HULLINGSORTNG

WASHINGWWPULPING

FERMENTINGWASHINGWW

WASHINGWWSUN DRYING

DRY METHOD WET METHOD

TRANSPORT

WAREHOUSEWW

CUPPING AUCTION COLLABERATIONAA PAPP CKAGING

BRANDEDNAME FOR

JIMMA

IMPLEMENTATT TIAAON

OF NGOs

TRANSPORT

NGO FARMERFF

RETURN PROFIT FOR COMMUNITYAND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE

DEVELOPMENT

CONSTRUCTION

$


CEREALS

CASH CROPS

MILLINGSORTNG

STAPLE CROPTTFOR FOODSECURITY+ FODDER

TRANSPORT NETWORK

BREAD

SSTTOORRAAAAGEGE

INTERNATION SALESAA DIRECT SALES

IMPLEMENTATT TIAAON

OF NGOs

NGO FARMERFF

CEREALSFLOUR

TESTING AUCTION COLOLLLABEABERRAATIONTIONAAA PAPP CKAGING TRANSPORT

PRODUPRODUCCCCTIONTION

OFF FARM FFSITE

LOCATIONAA

RETURN PROFIT FOR COMMUNITYAND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE

DEVELOPMENT

CONSTRUCTION

REGIONAL SALES

$

In a country like Ethiopia, where the livelihood of the majority of the population depends on agricultural output at only subsistence levels, credit facilities are almost non-existent for ordinary people. Likewise, financial institutions,

Communities join to form cooperatives with a view of fulfilling their need to bring about changes in their social, economic and cultural environment.

like saving and credit cooperatives are of paramount importance for providing facilities for extending credit to improve the mean livelihood. The major objective of organizing the cooperatives is to produce cash and sustenance crops in order

to support and build the community within the urban fabric. The efficient use of

resources such as land, water, and energy, allow for the cooperatives to use surplus profit to benefit community spaces. Collective and

recreational spaces are then used as key components of this strategy. Small public spaces are distributed throughout the cooperatives structure, creating human-scale spaces, rather than large and anonymous ones, in an effort to grow and support a mixity of spaces.


SITE PLAN JIMMA, ETHIOPIA Enlarged section of plan showing new development of urban fabric based on the ideal of SU.

COMPUTER DRAFTED PLAN: MICROSTATION + ILLUSTRATOR

ADMINISTRATION -TOWNCENTER

KEBELE-WATER CENTER

SCHOOL-MEETING CENTER

MARKET-RECYCLE CENTER

RESIDENTIALINFILL

URBAN AGRICULTURE

GREEN CORRIDOR

CLINIC

FUTURE ANCHORS

URBAN AGRICULTUREFUTURE GROWTH AREA

TREE NURSERY

COOP FIELDTERRACED HIGH DENSITY HOUSING

STADIUM(SOCIAL ANCHOR)

GREEN CORRIDOR

FUTURE COOP AREA

CHURCH

COOP BLOCK


Thousands of lower-income households are in danger of being displaced and adversely affected by this process of ‘urban development.’ The government and foreign developers are currently implementing Western techniques of design and construction in order to adapt to the ideals of a modern, developed city while striving to meet the needs caused by extreme population growth. The Western model of multi-story block condominiums—densely spaced, lacking cultural spatial organization, and devoid of the traditional communal outdoor spaces—must be restructured to address local socio-economic issues. The process of relocating people from

the city center to the periphery also affects the existing urban fabric and social networks. In the name of development, old building structures are demolished, and with them, social anchors are being destroyed. In short, the fixation on what is represented as progress is, in effect, fragmenting the city. In the meantime, volatile social issues, such as how to handle the continual rise in population and inadequate housing in Addis Ababa, are ignored. Gergi site plan. The blur strategy of mixity demonstrated in the models A-F were used as tools to define the hierarchy of social anchors and thereby influence the potential structural framework.

FRAMEWORK — The strategy of proxemic urbanism combines the previous methodologies and blurs their boundaries to use the mixity of urban fabric as a tool, illustrated by the structured framework of plots.

GRID - An Efficiently organized system, flexible enough to ensure the mixity while remaining adaptable for a variety of future developments

ORGANIC (CENTERS) — To inform these public spaces, the framework restructures around the social anchors to create the areas of interaction.

BLURRED — The dual-function facilities of social infrastructure, with overlapping public and private occupations.

PROGRAM — The site will promote social and land-use mixity.

DENSITY — To meet the extreme need for housing, areas of the site will have a density greater than the surrounding city while allowing for areas to be adjusted to the needs of the users.

Although there is a renewed sense of progress and growth within the middle- and upper-class communities, what is to become of those families who live in the densely populated squatter settlements in the areas slated for urban renewal?

2 Mercato Grid Structure3 Infrastructure Model

4 Anchor Influences Model5 Urban Density Model

Enlarged section of plan showing new development of urban fabric based on the ideal of SU.


MARKET PROBE: PROXEMIC SOCIAL ANCHOR_

COMPUTER RENDERED PERSPECTIVE: RHINO + PHOTOSHOP

2009

INHABITATE THE BLURErase or redefine the physical and programmatical thresholds and boundaries through overlapping programs and built infrastructure. By blurring these spatial divisions we avoid the creation of monocultural environments and separation to achieve diversity and heterogeneity.

Rendered Perspective looking down the commercial connector.


Rendered view of cisterns.

SYNERGIZE THE SPACE Achieve the flexibility of different programs and spatial qualities in order to enhance the density of activities. The cooperation created through the mix of urban elements lead to the advantage of a rich urban fabric.

RAEGAN ALBRIGHT SPENCER 1 Terrain section showing intercropped plants and interconnected cisterns.

Hydraulic lift is the movement of water between soil layers contrasting in water potential through plant root systems. Deep-rooted plants in intercropping systems provide an opportunity for the associated crops to utilize water from deep in the soil layers through this movement allowing the water table to rise to met the needs of the shallow-rooted plants.


TEFF + SORGHUM

FRUIT TREES

COFFEE TREES

ENSET

COWPEAS

2 Seasonal calendar of community involvement

2009

BELG SEASON MEHER SEASON

50

150

200

100

HEIGHT SHOWSCROP YIELD

WIDTH SHOWSLONGEVITY

250

150

100

200

50

BRASSICACEEN

RUBIACEAE

POACEAE

MALLOW

MEAN ANNUAL

HIGH ANNUAL

CROPS

RAIN

SOLANACENE

BRASSICACEEN

RUBIACEAE

POACEAE

MALLOW

200

0

EACH FORM SHOWS THE TYPICAL CROP ROTATION CYCLE

0

200

“TRITICALE PRODUCTION IN

SECURITY AND POVERTY”VON ASHENAFI GEDAMU GOBENAKASSEL UNIVERSITY PRESS

COOPSCOFFEE

COTTON

CEREAL

CATTLE

EDUCATION CONSTRUCTIONEDUCATION

EDUCATION

AGRICULTURAL TIMELINE

EDUCATION

550 MM 600 MM

600 MM 725 MM 800 MM

500 MM

650 MM

1100 MM

600 MM

WHEATWHEAT

MAIZECEREAL

CEREAL

COFFEE

POTATO

TOMATO

COTTON

COTTON

COTTONSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYYYYYYY NSB SBEANSBEANBEANBEANSBEANSB NSBE SSEBBBEE

RRRRRAPESEEDAAAAA SEEEEDPEPES EEE ESE DEP D

RAPESEED

1200 MM

FROM SUBSISTENCE CROPS, WHICH ARE THOSE FED TO THE PRODUCER'S OWN LIVESTOCK OR GROWN AS FOOD FOR THE PRODUCER'S FAMILY TO CASH CROPS, WHICH ARE USUALLY ONLY A SMALL PART OF A FARM'S TOTAL YIELD, -WHILE TODAY, IN NON-DEVELOPED NATIONS, CASH CROPS ARE USUALLY CROPS WHICH ATTRACT DEMAND IN MORE DEVELOPED NATIONS, AND HENCE HAVE SOME EXPORT VALUE. IN MANY TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL AREAS, JUTE, COFFEE,AND COTTON ARE COMMON CASH CROPS. IN COOLER AREAS, GRAIN CROPS, OIL-YIELDING CROPS AND SOME VEGETABLES PREDOMINATE. PRICES FOR MAJOR CASH CROPS ARE SET IN COMMODITY MARKETS WITH GLOBAL SCOPE, WITH SOME LOCAL VARIATION BASED ON FREIGHT COSTS AND LOCAL SUPPLY AND DEMAND BALANCE. A CONSEQUENCE OF THIS IS THAT A NATION, REGION, OR INDIVIDUAL PRODUCER RELYING ON SUCH A CROP MAY SUFFER LOW PRICES SHOULD A BUMPER CROP ELSEWHERE LEAD TO EXCESS SUPPLY ON THE GLOBAL MARKETS

Seasonal rotations determine the programmatic productivity that initiates the cooperative members vocational shifts between construction, harvesting, and education. The urban fabric fluctuates based on these varying effects, as seen in the structural growth patterns with each additional cooperative formed from profit surpluses.

AGRICULTURAL TIME LINE

In many African countries, jute, coffee, and cotton are common cash crops. In other regions, grain crops, oil-yielding crops and some vegetables predominate. Prices for major cash crops are set in commodity markets with global scope, with some local variation based on freight costs and local supply and demand balance. A consequence of this is that a nation, region, or individual producer relying on such crops may suffer low prices, if there is a surplus or agriculture crisis. For many farmers cooperatives offer protection from many of these common problems. By intercropping food and cash crops it is possible to utilize the soil, nutrient, and water needs of a variety of species to produce agronomic benefits. Design Strategies of deep-rooted fruit trees with shallow-rooted coffee plants, provide partial shade and hydraulic water lift, improving the crop quality.Seasonal rotations determine the programmatic productivity that initiates the cooperative members vocational shifts between construction, harvesting, and education.

ENSET

COWPEAS

View towards the coffee cooperative and terraced agriculture plots.

View across the river towards the cereal cooperatives and future growth area.



SELECTED PROFESSIONAL PRECEDENTS_

Professional Work: GSP Hospital, Corporate + Urban Design Sectors

Gresham Smith + Partners. Charlotte, North CarolinaIntern Architect

1 Arcadian Residence and Resort Charlotte, North Carolina

2008

2 Moses Cone MedCenter High Point Greensboro, North Carolina3 Dilworth Walk Charlotte, North Carolina

JUNE 2007 -SEPTEMBER 2008

Mission: GS&P

Transforming architecture through a spirit of exploration, collaboration and creative design. GS&P is a leading design and consulting firm with staff that specializes in serving the industry in the U.S. and abroad. Our ability to develop solutions to meet the needs of today and the demands of tomorrow is grounded in research and a solid understanding of industry issues and trends.

4 List of all project involvement while at GS&P

Corporate + Urban Planning:

The CenterTbilisi, Republic of GeorgiaSweet Water Urban DevelopmentMadison, AlabamaArcadian Residence + ResortCharlotte, North CarolinaDilworth WalkCharlotte, North Carolina

Healthcare:

Mary Black Memorial HospitalSpartanburg, South CarolinaWest Florida HospitalPensacola, FloridaCookeville Regional CenterCookeville, TennesseeMoses Cone Med Center Greensboro, North CarolinaFort Mill Medical CenterFort Mill, South CarolinaFort Mill HospitalFort Mill, South Carolina



Professional Work: GSP Hospital, Corporate + Urban Design Sectors

The Center: A Multi-Use Office ComplexTbilisi, Republic of Georgia

PLAN

2 Elevation studies

2008

1 Renderings showing program mixity in the inner atrium.

JUNE 2007 -SEPTEMBER 2008

The atrium mixed-use building is located in Tbilisi, the city is situated in East Georgia on both banks of the Mtkvari River. The elevation of the city ranges from 380-770 meters above sea level (1246-1968 ft.) and possesses the shape of an amphitheater surrounded by mountains on three sides. In an attempt to bring the beautiful outside into the grand atrium space of the interior, the building occupies the entire perimeter of the city block.The structure of the atrium office building was designed

View towards the interior of the atrium space.

The program includes, retail, office space, residences, restaurants, and a gallery. This vast diversity helps to bring activity inside the common atrium space.

to maximize open floor space for the office while indicating the circulation paths that surround the atrium. A 35’x 35’ module serves as an organizing mechanism for the structure and accommodates a great deal of flexibility within the rentable floor space. The abstract shape of the building helps to capture the views along the roadside, and up and down the river.



Professional Work: AUSlArchitekt

AUS, Zurich + Bern, SwitzerlandIntern Architect/ Exhibit Designer

ETHIOPIA+

SWITZERLAND+

2 NESTown, Amhara Model Ethiopia3 AAU Exhibition Design, Ethiopia

1 NESTown, Amhara Model Ethiopia

SEPTEMBER 2008 -NOVEMBER 2009

Franz Oswald-AUSlArchitektThe NESTown (New Energy Self-Sustained Town) concept was created by Prof. Em. Franz Oswald (ETH). The goals and approach of the project are to address the challenges associated with the rapid population grown of Ethiopian cities by creating a new, sustainable pilot town to accommodate around 12,000 people.

HAPTIC LEARNING CENTER_


UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE MASTER’S THESIS

LOCATOR

NASHVILLE+

SEPTEMBER 2006 -MAY 2007

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

post education portfolio

Documents

malagasy children

entire population

population growth rate

malagasy people

malagasy word

impoverished country

developing country

school age children