Leah Kyllo

nyhoff architecture

university of calgary master of architecture

selected works

2011-2013

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habitat for humanity sustainable house competition

costa vida

trace

100 year house

04121826

34425054

d.talks

urban systems

university of calgary information kiosk

university of calgary club space

university of calgary master of architecture

nyhoff architecture

Contentsacademic

professional

the sustainable home | a | dirtt

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DIRTT and Sprung are local building systems, the former parametrically defined interior partitions and the latter high tech vinyl and aluminum structures. The two designs integrate each inherently affordable and sustainable system into a residential model. Using the systems to tackle the technical side of sustainability allowed for concentration on the paradigmatic side. It seemed that changing the way we look at the home can have as impactful and far reaching advances sustainability as the most cutting edge technology. Looking to the self-sustaining households of the past revealed personified beliefs about dwelling. Homes had hearts, that is they were communal and centrally focused, typically around a hearth. Materials were raw and directly connected to place. These values were re-framed with the lens of contemporary society and a hybrid emerged in

the resulting designs.

The Sustainable Homehabitat for humanity design competition

conceptual | private residential

independent senior research studio | professor graham livesey

winter 2012calgary | alberta | canada

the sustainable home | a | dirtt

front entry

reading room

hearth

dining

kitchen

half bath

mechanical

full bath

bedroom one

bench

hearth

bedroom two

bedroom three

lower plan

upper plan

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solar panels

cross-ventilation

conc. solar mass

low angle glazing

sustainability

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the sustainable home | b | sprung

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full bath

bedroom one

bench

bedroom two

bedroom three

entry

up

lounge

desk

cargo door

dine

cook

laundry

half bath

upper plan

lower plan

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the sustainable home | b | sprung

A matrix depicting the string

of formal and organizational

possibilities and decisions

leading to the resultant design.

process matrix

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costa vida

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Costa Vidastudy abroad barcelona studio

conceptual | public temporal

with justine wade and matthew vandenberg | professors eduardo cadaval and clara sola-morales

fall 2012barcelona | catalonia | spain

Ephemeral architecture shifts focus from itself to its users. As defined in this project it is the ability to temporarily take over a space and provide a structure that allows for new fluidity and vitality. Through a series of operations, a simple linear structure was converted into a system that specifies primary functions and allows for emergent conditions. Situated on a waterfront plot of land in the industrialist residue of Barcelona, the balance of structure and user-based emergence instigates the re-population of the coast in an everyday fashion. The result shown is one instance of configuration subject to time and

future iteration.

costa vida

ribbon

natural movement

density

new circulation

offset

emergence

concept development

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A schematic model exploring

a horizontal ribbon structure

with texture, material and

density. The emergence of

secondary structure occurs on

the vertical axis

schematic plans

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costa vida

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trace

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Tracecomprehensive studio

conceptual | public institutional

with justine wade | professor thomas debicki

winter 2012calgary | alberta | canada

How is the growth of a city recorded? By whom and in what medium? Trace examines the question of large scale growth through the lens of collective memory. As an Institute of Metropolitan Transformation, it provides city dwellers with a retreat from the speed and sound of the downtown core, while the traces of these visits are recorded as evidence of the city’s transformation. Placing the bulk of the institute beneath the rail line creates a bridge between the downtown core and the beltline providing vitality and multiplicity of use. The phenomenological qualities of honest materiality, submergence and the

train above provide sensory moments unique to anywhere else in the city.

cafe

core block

archives

contemplation

bike path

bar + theatre

patio

gallery

terraces

reflecting pool

theatre

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lower plan

upper plan

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trace

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patio

gallery

cafe

mechanical

archives

relecting pool

railway

contemplation

bar

theatre

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long section

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trace

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100 year house

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100 Year Houseshelter design competition

conceptual | private residential

with chris beaudin

summer 2011kananaskis | alberta | canada

The relationship between humanity and nature in the past was mutual and rich. Today humanity’s connection to nature exists in the shock of catastrophic events. While approaching mastery over nature, the instincts of fear and yearning for the wilderness continue to exist within us. The 100 year house provides a platform for a relationship of mutual vulnerability to be forged between nature and man. A floating courtyard traces the changing water level of the Elbow River, allowing continuous access and changing the makeup of the house with the changing seasons. Organized around the courtyard, program transforms vertically and radially from highest vulnerability and transparency to highest safety and privacy. Safe within average yearly water levels, the house is at the mercy of the 100 year flood level, following the wilderness principles

of impermanence, vulnerability and continuous renewal.

Yearly hydrological data for

the Elbow River basin and the

corresponding heights of the

floating walkway.

hydro-graph

axonometric

wood slats

concrete shell

circulation + glazing

j f m a m j j a s o n d

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layered axonometric

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100 year house

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100 year house

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floating courtyard

entry

study

living

bath

kitchen

dining

mechanical

bedroom

bath

bedroom

terrace

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upper plan

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100 year house

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building iconomy

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Building Iconomyd.talks presentation

conceptual | public commercial

nyhoff architecture

spring 2013calgary | alberta | canada

D.Talks is a local group that hosts a series of events that question and discuss the state of design in Calgary. The Building Iconomy event called on local architecture firms to imagine possibilities for a 44 year old brutalist building that is threatened by its recent sale to a developer. The reality of the situation called for a pragmatic approach; to find the balance between preserving the best brutalist icon in the city and the realistic pressures of land value, core densification and profit margins. A rigorous process of research, precedent studies and massing led to the approach of integrating the existing building into a development that would both meet the desired floor area ratio for the site and re-purpose the existing building to increase

its vitality and use.

building iconomy

The complexities of the task

demanded a rigorous process

of research, testing and

evaluation. The strength of

the final design came from the

breadth of logical steps that

resulted in it. The process was

documented and compiled into

a book, the pages of which can

be seen here.

process compilation

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building iconomy

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building iconomy

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urban systems

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Urban Systemsinterior office renovation

completed | office | renovation

nyhoff architecture

2012-2013calgary | alberta | canada

Urban Systems is a consulting firm specializing in urban design, planning and engineering. In Calgary, the Urban Systems office is located on the fringe of an industrial area in a two story open-structure building. Nyhoff Architecture was approached to update the office to better reflect Urban Systems’ innovative attitude toward design. The goal was to enhance the open office concept while allowing for a flexibility of working and meeting spaces. Strong colors, clean lines and bold graphics were a

unifying element that reflected the vibrance of the company and its people.

urban systems

Within the double story space,

high sound reverberation and

the banality of open office

space was a concern. The

creation of individual “cubbies”

with sound attenuating panels

allowed for quiet, compact

work spaces.

touchdown cubbies

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The upper mezzanine was

transformed from a series

of individual offices to open

concept workspaces. In the

surplus space we introduced

a collaborative area with a

variety of seating options.

One such option was booths

which are punctuated by vinyl

graphics depicting the location

of Urban Systems offices in the

four other cities they exist.

meeting booths

urban systems

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urban systems

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information kiosk

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Information Kioskuniversity of calgary student union building

in progress | public institutional | new build

nyhoff architecture

2012-2013calgary | alberta | canada

Nyhoff Architecture was approached to design a new information center for MacEwan Hall- the student’s union building at the University of Calgary. The kiosk was to be the gateway to the University, so we began by approaching the design as an object that could perform as a beacon for new or visiting students. The process of development and testing revealed three organizing principles; formal definition, transparency from all sides, and practical efficiency. The resulting design took the form of a continuous ribbon that proved to be sculpturally dynamic and functional. The design was so well received that by the time the design went to tender, the University had decided to customize and build multiple kiosks throughout the campus.

information kiosk

The compact efficiency of this

design required meticulous

detail and coordination

with lighting and structural

consultants to ensure value

engineering did adversely effect

the quality of design.

coordination

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club space

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Club Spaceuniversity of calgary student union building

completed | public institutional | renovation

nyhoff architecture

2012-2013calgary | alberta | canada

MacEwan Hall is also host to dedicated meeting rooms, work spaces and storage for University clubs. Nyhoff Architecture was approached to transform the existing cramped and outdated offices to an inviting lounge-like space with hot desking and shared meeting rooms. The design focused on visibility, function and atmosphere; allowing the students their storage and workspaces while maintaining an attractive, open layout. While material choice was tempered by budget restrictions, bold

colors and a strong material palette were integral in the creation of ambiance.

club space

Multiple iterations of the

layout, materials and colors

were modeled and presented

to the client. This set of images

illustrates the bold colors and

graphics that would eventually

be the direction chosen and

executed.

schematic images

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club space

Transparent, rent-able meeting

rooms of varying sizes were

centralized to maximize space

use and efficiency.

offices

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Lockers were bundled and

embedded into the outer

walls of the space to maximize

storage while reducing its

visual impact.

lockers

club space

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club space

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university of calgary

master of architecture

study abroad | barcelona spain | 2011

lmpkyllo@gmail.com

587.998.0919501-2011 university drive nw

calgary | alberta | canada

t2n 4t4

university of calgary | university of victoria

bachelor of communication and culture with distinction

study abroad | seville spain | 2010

2008-2012

2007-2010

Leah Kyllo

education

contact

cv

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nyhoff architecture calgary | alberta

intern architect, aaa

joanne dafoe consultation and design | denira landscaping and contracting | guyshill landscaping | spruce it up garden centre

calgary | alberta freelance landscape design and visualizations

adobe photoshop adobe illustrator

adobe indesign

rhino 3d

vray for rhino

autocad

autodesk maya

google sketchup

2012-2013 | 13 months

summer 2013 | 5 months

professional experience

software proficiency