Ready Mix Service: Interior Retrofit and Addition [Unbuilt]

the studio of liquid triangle worked on a renovation and new addition for ready mix service, inc., a family-owned ready mix concrete company in hamel, illinois, before the business was sold and the project abandoned. the program called for an interior demolition and reconstruction as well as a 800 sf new addition to their office facilities.

Floor Plan

Basic Elevation and Section

Green Features
balancing durability and the nature of their business, rms has chosen stamped concrete flooring.  additionally, south facing glazing with overhangs and built-in planters provide ample daylighting to frequently used areas.

Rooftop Garden

this rooftop garden was amy's personal sanctuary and magical oasis in the city.  the patio is 36' long x 8' deep and paved with bricks.  the only requirements were that plants were in containers and that there be space for a grill.  the final product is both functional and beautiful.  multitudes of herbs, tomatoes, strawberries, and raspberries feed the family.  decorative plant colors are kept consistent and pots grouped.  eating areas are screened from lounge areas by grouped evergreens.  and the bare concrete wall is screened with flowering vines.

vegetation will grow to screen the concrete wall

hanging baskets add vegetation to vertical walls

a small eating space

Suburban Front Yard Garden [class project]

Small Balcony Retreat

concept sketch

for this small balcony on a highrise near chicago, the constraints are plentyful. the small triangular space measures only 5'x8' at its widest point, it is on the 5th floor in a city known for its cold wind, and nothing can be permanently adhered to the structure.

small balcony plan

the client has a bonsai hobby, so amy created a bonsai balcony complete with dwarf tree and contemplative bench. because ithe solid guardrail obscures any view while seated, the space is inward and contemplative. a flat riverstone pebble mat is mechanically fastened to the concrete floor and a flexcrete triangular concrete planter holds a dwarf evergreen juniper.

bonsai tree as focal point

Cradle to Cradle Home Competition Entry

I haven't uploaded a lot of portfolio work here because i have a hard time uploading and formatting portfolio work on blogger when I will need to hire someone to produce an official website/portfolio in a year or so. But in honor of my Biomimicry Certificate Program interview tomorrow, I thought I would post my entry for the cradle to cradle home competition of 2004 because I referenced it in my essays.

Amy's C2C Home Competition Entry.  Click to enlarge.

the contemporary cradle2cradle home is designed for deconstruction and adaptability. it incorporates a central fireplace for cooking and warmth, operable night insulation, external louvers, and passive ventilation. it supplies its own food and energy, treats its own waste, and is composed of materials that maintain their integrity through multiple lifecycles or are returned to the earth for recycling; the c2c home improves the site on which it sits.