Keshika De Saram

Selected Works

Tatami Box

Contents

Cambridge: Reimaginingan American Small Town

Box Problem,2012

Street Wise, Florence, Italy, 2013

A Museum in Strata:The New Bell Museum

Graduate Design Studio OneFalcon Heights, MN, 2014

Master of Architecture candidate, 2017desar003@umn.edu / 701.799.0273

transporoCITY

Northern Spark Festival, Minneapolis, MN, 2015

Keshika De Saram

Sharing Stories/Sharing the Stage

Graduate Design Studio Two, Minneapolis, MN, 2015

A Museum in Strata: The New Bell Museum of Natural History

Picture our experience of the natural world, as urban dwellors. To people in thecity, the natural world is a place of adventure. It is a distant place that one travels to and explores, away from the comfort of the city. This museum uses a large wall as a datum, the familiar and comfortable place from which one canset off on various adventures in Minnesota’s natural world.

Falcon Heights, Minnesota, Fall 2014Instructor: Charlie Lazor

Site and context

Gibbs Museum

ResidentialNeighbourhood

UMN Research Fieldsh

UMN Saint Paul Campus

New Bell

Museum

Wall as grounding datum

WelcoomeCenteer

The PlainsT

Deciduous Forests

EvergreenForests

Cross the wall to access eachMinnesota biome

Project site as driver of tectonic design Site reinterpreted: Interventions on the ground plane

The museum presents adventure along the datum wall, as it punctures into the ground plane

Sketching to understand sectional relationships

Conceptual site model Seeing adventures in section

Process work: Understanding program and tectonics in section

Representing section on the datum wall

Museum organized in section

Level 1: Earth and Water Level 2: The Land Level 3: Wind and Clouds Level 4: The Stars

Four strata:

UP

UP

UP

UP

50 10 5Feet

N

UP

UP

UP

UP

DOWN

DOWN

DOWN

DOWN

DOWN

UP

DOWN

DOWN

DOWN

UP

UP

DO

WN

DO

WN

UP

UP

DOWN

UP

DOWN

UP

UP

DOWN

UP

UP

DOWN

DOWN

UP

WeWeWelclclcomomome e e CeCeCeentntnterere

ThThTheeee PlPPlPPPP aiaiainsnsnsThThThhhhe eee e PlPlPPlP aiaiainsnsns

DeDeDeciciduduououuus s FoForerer ststtss ss

EvEvEvererere grgrgrg eeeeeeennnnnForer stss

WeWeWelclcomommmmee eCeCeCeentntnterererrr

nsnsnsThThThe ee PlPlPlaiaiainnn

DeDeDecicic dududuououousssFoFoForerestststsss

EvverrrgrgrgreeeennnForeeststss

WeWeWWeWWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWWeWeWeWeWeWWWeWeWeWeWWWWWeeeeeeeeelclclcllll omeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCCeeCeCCCentntntntntntntntntnntntntntntntnnntntn erererererereerererererererrerererree

ThThTTT eeee PlPlPlPP aiaiaiaiainnsnnsnsnssn

DeDeD cccicidudduduuouououo sssFFoForrereststsssss

EvEvE ererere grgrgreeee n FoFoForeresttstsss

WeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeeWeWeWeWeWeWeWWeWeWeWeWeWeWWeWeWeWeWeWWeWeWeWWWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWeWWeWeWeWWWWeWeWeWeWWWWeWWWWWeWeeeWeWeWeWeWWWeeWeeWWWWWWWWWeeeeeWeWeWWeWWWeWWWWeWeWeeWWWeeeWWWWWeWeeeWeWelclcllclcllclclclclccclclcllclclclcllclcllclclclclclcclllcllclclclclcclclccccclclccccllccclcclcccccomomomomomoomoomomomomomomoomommomomommomommmommmomomomomomomomomomooooooomoomomomommommomomoooooomomoooommmmmommooooomomomommmmmomoooommmmomomomomomommmoomoomommommmmmommmommmmmmmmmomomommmommommmmmomoomommmoomomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCCeCeeeCeCeCeCeeCeeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeCeeCeCeeCCeCeCeCeCeCeCCeCeCCeCCeCCeeeCeeeeCeCCeCCCCeeeeeeCCeeeeeeeeCeeeeeeCeeeeeeeeeCeeCeentntntntntntntntntntntntntnntntntntntntntntntnnntntnntntttntntntntntntntntntntttntntnnntntnttntntntnntnntntntntntnttntntntntnttntntntntntnntntntntntntntnnnnnnntnnnttnnnnntntnttntnnntntttnnnntnttnttnnnnntntttnntnntnntnntnnttereeeeeeererereeeeeeerereererrerererrereeeeererereeeeerereerereerereeerereeeeereeeeeerererererrereeeeererererrreererererreererrrrrereererererrerereeeeereeeereeeerrrerreeeeereerereerrereereeeereeererrrrrrre

ThThThThTTThhThThThTTThThThThTTThThThThThhThThhThThThTThThThTTTTThTTThThhThThThhhThTTThTTTTThThTThThThThThThThThThTThTThTThTTTTThThThTThhhhhTThTThThTTThhhhTThhTTTTTThhThTTThThThTTThTTTThTThhhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee PlPlPlPlPlPlPlPlPlPlPlPllPlPllPlPlPlPlPlPlPPlPlPlPlPPlPlPllPlPPPlPlPlPPlPlPlPPPlPPlPPlPlPlPPPlPPPllPPPPP aiaaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiiaiaiaiaiaiaaaiaiaiaiaiaiaaiaiaiiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaiaaiaiaiaaiaiaiaiaaaaaiiaiaiaaiiaiaiaiaaiiaaiaaaaaaaaaaaiaaa nsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnnsnsnnnnsnsnsnsnsnnnssnsnsnnnsnsnsnsnsssnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnsnnsnsnsnsssnsss

DDeDeDeDDeDeDeDeDeDeDDeDeDeDeDeDeDeeDeDDeDeDeDeDeDeDeDDDeDeDeDDDDeeDDeeDDeeDeDeDeDDDDeDDDeDDDDDeDDeDDeDDeDeDeeeDeeeeeDeeDeeeecicicicicicicccciciciciciccicicicccicciciccciciciiciccicicicicicicicccicicccciccccicccccccccccccccc dudududududududududududududududududuudududuuduududududdddduduududduduuuduuuuddududduududududuouououououooouououuououououuouuouoouoououuouuuuouooouuouuuuuouoouuoouooouuooououuoooouuooouuooouoououououuuuuuuuuuuuuuuo ssssssssssssssssssss ss ssssssss ss FoFFFFoFoFFoFoFFFoFoFoFoFoFoFooFooFoFoFoFooFoFoFFooFooooFoFoFoFoFoFFoFoFoooFoFoFFoFFFoFooFoFooFoFoFoFoFooFoFFoFFoooFFooFoFFFFoFFFFFFFFooF rerererererererrrererererereerereererererereerererreereererererereeereereeeerereereerereererrrrr ststststststststststststststssttststststststststststststsstsstststttstssstststststststststtststststtststststststtststsststsstsssststtsssttssttsstttsstssttssssssss sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

EEEEEvEvEvEvEvEEEvEvEvEvEvEvEvEvEvvEEEEvEEvEvvvvEEEEEvvEEvEvEEEvEEEEvEvEEEvvvvvEEEvEvEEvvEEEvEEvvEEEEE erererereererererererererererererereeeree grgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrgrggrgrgrgggggggggggggggggggggggggggg eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnFoFoFFoFFoFoFoFoFoFoFoFoFoFoFoFooFoFoFoFoFoFoFoFoFFFoFFoFoFFoFoFFFoFoFoFoFoFFFoFoFoFooorererererereereerereerererererereeereereeeeerereeeereeeeeeeereeeererrererrerestststststststststststsstststssststtsstsststsssstsstsstsssssssttssssssssssssssssssssss

Four strata span three native biomes

The Stars

Wind and Clouds

The Land

Earth and Water

Pra

irie

Dec

iduo

us F

ores

ts

Eve

rgre

en F

ores

ts

ESAESSA/HubbA/Hubb//SA/HubbHHubbleblebblubbleA/HubbleSA//HHuubblbleS HHuubHHub

www.awww.alexsack.comalexsaww.a

g g plongtermresearchlongtermresearch.longtermresearch.longtermresearchongtermresealongtermresearch.ngtermresearch.gtermresearch.tete rchh.blogspot comblogspot comblogspoblogspot.compoblogspot.comblogspot.comblogspot.com

driverlayer cdriverlayer.comdriverlayer.codriverlayer.coriverlayeayer.comdrrdriverldriverlaydriverdriverlayer.codririver er.cod

Tatami Box

Tatami Box is a ritual box designed around the act of lighting incense. Thebox is designed to drive users to perform a specific ritual, a ritual that involves a gradual discovery of elements in an ordered process. The box presents contrasts of change and stability, symmetry and asymmetry, or passion andplacidity.

The user has to open the box to access the wooden tiles, small fossil stone, and incense cones. He or she has to then create an original pattern of the tiles ontop of the box. Placing the fossil stone on one of the tiles creates a surface toplace and light the incense cone.

Open box Discover contents Place tiles Light incense cone

Box Problem, Fall 2012mInstructor: Todd Rhoades

Symmetry with the human body

Cambridge: Reimagining an American Small TownUMN Minnesota Design Center/Center for Urban and Regional AffairsCambridge, MN, Summer 2015Advisors: Tom Fisher, Mary Vogel, Elissa Brown, Stan Gustafson

Labour shed to adjacent counties

Most streets are wide enough for complete-street infrastructure, such as bike lanes

Cultural/Arts Dead space Community lifeWaiting/Boarding

Dead space

S T A T I O N M A L L P A R K I N G M A I N S T R E E TP A R K I N G

Cambridge is a community of about 8000 people north of the Twin Cities. Muchof its labor force commutes to the metro for work and leisure, a trend that coulderode its small-town identity and weaken its downtown.

This research project identifies the urban challenges and opportunities facing Cambridge, including strenghtening its core, nurturing its small-town identity, and engaging its sense of community.

The arrival experience for rail passengers needs to be redesigned

Walkable accessibility to major institutionsAbundance of natural amenities Opportunities for renewed downtown vitality

NOMINATEDNominated by Tom Fisher for anational AIAS Honor Award forGraduate Student Research

transporoCITYCollaboration with Takashi Chibana and Kyle PalzerNorthern Spark Festival, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Spring 2015Instructor: Molly Reichert

Designed for the Northern Spark Festival, transporoCITY plays on the strong edge condition at the site. The site is where Minneapolis meets the Mississippi River, a condition accentuated by a sharp drop in topography immediatelybeyond the site.

The project uses material that is both translucent and reflective. Users seethe city refl ected behind them and the river landscape framed ahead ofthem. Going through transporoCITY is an experience of emerging into the river landscape, as filtered out from the city.

How do you experience an edge condition?

Site plan Refracctivti e property of sunfilm mimicks light on the surface of the river

Panes thahat bbotho rreflectcttt andandand trtrtransansmitmit lilightghtggggg

Walking through the field of panes, the river landscape emerges andthe city disappears from view

Section: Panes shorten as one moves through the site

City is visible inrefl ection

River is not visible City is no longer visible

River becomes visible

TransporoCITY defines our experience of an urban edge

Sharing Stories/Sharing the StageMinneapolis, Minnesota, Fall 2015Instructor: Aaron Amosson

When serving a culturally diverse community, a performing arts center needsto provide space for the audience to add their own narratives to the storiesbeing told. This center features five unique venues, each more intimate than the previous. A continuous stage runs through all five venues to formally bind them together and make tangible the gradient of intimacy.

The five venues are celebrated tectonically as important places, with expressive use of concrete and timber-frame construction. All the back-of-house amenities are expressed as a part of the neighborhood’s existing urban fabric, simple blocks that are a built with simple timber-frame construction.

Five venues along the continuous stageThe continuous stage

Gradient of intimacy across five differentperformance venues

Urban context along Eat Streetin Minneapolis

M I D T O W N G R E E N W A Y

L A K E S T R E E T

ORANGE LINE

I-35W

NICOLLET AVE

Theatre

Improv

Dance

Yoga

Meditation

The continnnnnn nuouous stage e binds thehe five vevevve venues tot gethereeee

Armature: An Urban Condition

UP

UP

UPUP

UP

UP

DN UP

DN

UP

Rehearsal

Company

ChangingRooms/Prep

Rehearsal

ProsceniumTheatre

Theatre in theRound Dance Studio Yoga Studio Meditation

Education

CompanyCompany

Company

Lobby

Rehearsal Rehearsal

ChangingRooms/Prep

DN

Plaza

C e c i l N e w m a n L a n e

Nicollet Avenue

Plaza

UPUP

Storage

Storage

Theatre Prep

Theatre Prep

Knoll/Outdoor SeatingKno

M i d t o w n G r e e n w a y

P r o p o s e d S t r e e t c a r L i n e

DN

DN

DNDN

DN

DN

DN

DN

Education Education

Housing

Housing

Housing Housing

Housing

Housing

Reception Reception Prep/Kitchen/ Storage

Company

Rehearsal

Housing

Housing

Greenway Level (Basement) Level 1L Level 2

Building as an extension ofurban fabric

Timber-framed roofs claim parts of armature

Level 10' - 0"

Level 212' - 0"

Roof22' - 0"

Greenway-12' - 0"

----

Roof Level Section: Proscenium theatre

Process sketches of conceptual development

Assembly: Expressive beam systems in each venue, Simple construction outside venues

Roof22' - 0"

Glue-laminated wood beam

Glue-laminated wood beams

Glue-laminated wood column

Curtain Wall

Wood Screen hangs outside curtain wall

Detail: Structure meets skin

Timber-frame construction and cast-in-place concrete Single columns sandwiched by double beams

Cast-in-place concrete

Treated wood plate

Steel plate

Timber beam

Timber beam

Detail: Wood meets concrete

Expressive beam system crowns each venue, celebrating it as an important space