workslivingmichael voelkel

[tangible]

[conceptual]

[contact]

livingworks

[representational]

tangible

[residentail]

[public]

[commercial]

A once magnificent entrance,the entryway had become adesolate waste land, lendingitself to a much needed facelift.The client charged us withdesigning a ‘Mediterranean’inspired estate. We envisioneda water feature, new plantings,and travertine paved path withcurved features to complimentthe arched entry gate.

During the excavation of theoriginal soil, we found that thecleanout for the original retainingwall construction lay six inchesbelow the grade. Two inches ofsolid concrete covered the frontyard. In order to mitigate theissue, we created raised plantingbeds with stone boulders foundonsite. This allowed for theproper soil depth needed for thelarge shrubs called for in theplanting design.

In an effort to maximize theexposure of the San FranciscoBay views, the client chose upona flue-less gas fireplace. Tocompliment the existing residence’sarch ornamentation, I developeda beautiful limestone hearth andmantle design.

[planting study]

[fireplace study]

[entry vignette]

[work done by self at pedersen associates]

[work done by self at pedersen associates]

[work done by self at pedersen associates]

residentialtiburon.ca

[layout plan]

[garden entry][back terrace]

[drafted in vectorworks]

[work drafted by self at pedersen associates]

Understanding the circulation ofthe user was critical on thisproject. By placing an emphasison the most traveled routes, withan eye on potentially less traveledroutes, we were able to discovernodes within the site. These areasof convergence are highlightedwith a different paving material.

To help with the run-off filtrationfrom the lawn and the roof tops,we placed bioswales throughout thesite. This filtration techniquehas helped clean the toxic waterbefore it leaches into thebrownfield below the site.

To increase the infiltration ofrainfall onsite, we implementedthe use of pervious pavers in conjunction with concrete walks.The pavers were sourced from a local fabricator.

[flow/plant study]

[layout plan]

[nodes path study]

[work drafted by self at pedersen associates]

[work done by self at pedersen associates]

[work done by self at pedersen associates]

commercialsan rafael.ca

[vector paths][bioswale]

[drafted in vectorworks]

[work drafted by self at pedersen associates]

[layout plan, LEED gold]

We established a visible centrallocation for the water feature.This location landed on the main sitecirculation axis. By bisecting this main artery, we came about a radialpattern complete of geometricvectors. All of these vectorsoriginate from the the water feature.

To help soften the harshnessof the strong geometric lines, wedesigned a visual boundary element.This element is based off theoriginal geometric vectors. Toframe the boundary element, webookend the boundary element withthree Washingtonia robusta’s and twoPhoenix dactylifera’s on one side,and one Phoenix canariensis onthe opposite.

Placing high water-use plants, suchas Equisetum hyemale, near droughttolerant plants, such as the Phoenixdactylifera, required a sophisticatedirrigation plan. Each planting arearequired their own controller to helpregulate the amount of water used.

[plant/framing study]

[irrigation plan]

[vector paving study]

[work drafted by self at pedersen associates]

[work done by self at pedersen associates]

[work done by self at pedersen associates]

publicsan francisco.ca

[array][boundary]

[drafted in vectorworks]

[work drafted by self at pedersen associates]

[planting/layout plan]

representational

[competition]

[collegiate]

competition

[site plan rendering]

[park perspective][auto perspective]

[gro

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aut

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bas

e & sketchup bldgs done by self; autoCad, sketchup, illustrator, photoshop]

[ske

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[sketchup, illustrator & photoshop done by self for group]

For the annual GeraldD. Hines ULI competition,I led an interdisciplinaryteam of Cornell designers,planners & real estatestudents charged withdeveloping a sustainableand economically feasibledesign for Houston, TX.The site is a US Postaldistribution center thatis located at the edge ofdowntown Houston. We decidedto embrace the vehicularculture of Houston & createa transit-orienteddevelopment. We tookadvantage that the site islocated on the main entry todowntown by capturing carswith on-ramps and reroutedroads to improve thecirculation. The bus systemwas rerouted through oursite. We incorporated agreen space that doubled asflood mitigation andrestored the native riparianhabitat. Car parks werehidden from view byincorporating them intobuildings that housedrestaurants and dwellings.

collegiate

[master plan]

[shale plaza perspective]

[36”x42”; autoCAD w/ photoshop/illustrator]

The Beebee power plant in Rochester, NYended operations in the early 2000s,leaving in its wake a brownfieldcondition at the base of the beautifulHigh Falls. Upon further analysis, my teamput together an intervention thatmaximized the ecological value bybalancing the social needs of theneighborhood. The area at the doorstep ofthe plant lent itself for a plaza thatcould maximize this relationship. Pullinginspiration from the existing gorgegeological horizons, the plaza is brokeninto six sections. Through differentialweathering, each section reveals differentconditions for both social value andecological value. Each section providesdifferent soil conditions based on itshorizon- limestone, shale, sandstone;which results in different plantcommunities. The rate of weathering leavesdifferent social environments that thecommunity can utilize.

shale plazaperspective

[24”x36”; autoCAD/sketchup/photoshop]

[transparency]

[harness]

conceptual

transparency

In a globally connected world,there still is lack oftransparency between academia& the professional realm.I have teamed up with thechair of the department tolead a group of programmers,behavioral scientists &graphic designers to tacklethis issue of increasingthis transparency, and ineffect enhance the studentexperience at Cornell. I haveproposed to the department atruly revolutionary idea thathas not been done at anyof the other top landscapearchitecture programs inthe country. I proposedthat each student in theprogram be offered avoluntary profile page onthe program’s website thatthey can upload work andcontact information. Thiswill in effect create a“living” website for theprogram instead of thestatic site that currentlyexists. Employers can accessthese profiles to search thestudent database. Studentscan link their profile pageto resumes & cover lettersto showcase more work to apotential employer.Prospective students canobserve what student workis being completed atCornell. Finally, as studentsgraduate, an alumni databasewill develop for currentstudents to contact. We’rehoping to have the websitepublic by fall 2012.

harness

In 2011, the Cornell University Sustainability Design (CUSD) studentgroup took on the daunting challenge of designing the most sustainableuniversity building in the country. Seizing this amazing opportunity, Ivolunteered to join an interdisciplinary team of designers and engineersto design the decentralized stormwater/wastewater treatment system forthe building. To accomplish this feat, we proposed a system that is

decentralized from the municipal water system. We begin by harnessingthe rainwater that falls onto our proposed rooftop. The roof has been

designed to be 8,000 sq. ft., giving us the potential to capture150,000 gallons annually. Once the rainwater is in the cistern,

the water gets sent to the building’s sinks and showers. The wateris then sent through our chlorine treatment system, restoring the waterto a potable quality. After the chlorine system, the water is sent to

a living wall that both purifies the water and acts as a visual teachingcomponent for the public. Once through the living wall, the water is sentto low-flow composting toilets. The resulting compost is at a pure enoughgrade that can be used onsite for ecological uses. Only a few examples

of this innovative closed loop system exist in the country.

contact

[michael voelkel][graduate] master of

landscape architecture

[undergraduate] bachelorof environmental designUniversity of Colorado

[reside] 101 Brook LaneIthaca, NY 14850

[mobile] 303.917.2576[email] michael.t.voelkel@gmail.com[website] michaelvoelkel.com

[employment] pedersen associates landscape architects

[related skills] AutoCAD 2012; Vectorworks 2011; SketchupPro8; Photoshop CS5; Illustrator CS5; InDesign CS5; iWeb; iMovie; iDVD; Cyberduck; FilemakerPro9v.3; Landmark 2009

[awards received] LEED AP; Bay-Friendly Qualified Landscape Design Professional; Eagle Scout; Paul Harris Fellow; member of Heritage YP, INFORUM, Symphonix, Las Aguilas de Diablo,

Cornell University

CUSD-SRF & CU Design Competition