Molly portfolio 2007-2015

portfolioLandscape architecture and garden design

Molly Kumer

date of birth:19.06.1978

address:TBILISIJSKA 401000 LJUBLJANASLOVENIA

phone:++386 51 362 333

e-mail:[email protected]

My name is Molly and this portfolio is the result of the past 8 years of learning, creativity, and growth, my pride and joy. Also my blood, sweat, and tears. A few sleepless nights thrown in for good measure.

I was fortunate enough to have had worked for two different landscape architecture studios, starting at the Institute for Integrated Development and Environment Domzale and only a year later continuing my professional growth with Studio AKKA. This amazing team has shared their knowlege, teckniques, and aproaches for the past 7 years and still continues to inspire and teach me daily. Studio AKKA focuses mostly on landscape and urban design for public clients, but does not shy away from private gardens either. Projects range from town planning to parks and gardens, from playgrounds to town squares and historic renovations, regardless of scale and type of interventions.

The past years have tought me a trasury worth of knowledge in all fi elds, computer programme use, skill in building models, practical understanding of the translation of drawings into the reality of land forms, paving, plant choice, retaining walls, and garden furniture. While I cherish and am greatful for the experience and knowlege, I have also come to the realisation that my curiosity, joy, and interest lies in the smaller scale of private projects. I enjoy being involved in the creation of something personal, connecting a home with its immediate surrounding, the intimacy of a private garden.

Molly Kumer

Street corridor on Dunajska road

SVIZ

Architect Pleniks garden - reconstruction

Social and work activities center for the disabled

Public bathing area Fiesa

Kindergarten playground renovation

Student campus Koper

Celovka residential neighbourhood

Sports park Stoice - playground

rnue residential neighbourhood

Private garden Hrovaa

Private garden 09-05

High-school Ravne grounds

Football association of Slovenia Brdo pri Kranju

Nordic center Planica: mountain stream

portfolio directory

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Ljubljana, SloveniaStudio AKKA, 2008 - 2010

authors: prof. Ana Kuan, u.d.i.k.a., Luka Javornik, u.d.i.k.a., Za Brezar, Mojca Kumer, u.d.i.k.a.

Street corridor on Dunajska road

The design deals with the problem of protecting the pedestrian from harmful impact of traffi c, thus enabling the more complex use of street space. Proposal for Dunajska 2 respects the future redesign of the whole Dunajska road corridor. Trees are located at the edge of the road, underplanted with a strip of shrubbery. Pedestrian corridor is wider. An undulating line of seating elements is put in the middle of the corridor, defi ning a functional zone as a boundary between private and public, concentrating activity in the middle, and setting free the outer and the inner zone for communication.

master plan

1

Dunajska road

cross section

detail: cast concrete seating elements

Dunajska road

virtual to reality

Ljubljana, SloveniaStudio AKKA, 2009

authors: prof. Ana Kuan, Mojca Kumer

SVIZ

In this minute garden belonging to the headquarters of Education, Science and Culture Trade Union of Slovenia our aim was to create an ever changing abstract pattern of ground cover, easy to maintain, winter hardy, and heat resistant.

master plan

2


authors: prof. Ana Kuan, Mojca Kumer, Eva Zupan

ARCHITECT PLENIKS GARDEN - RENOVATION

Conservationist renovation of Pleniks garden where the aim was to recreate a concept established by Plenik himself. He saw his garden as a creative polygon, a harmony between man made and natural. - A pergola accents the longitudinal axis of the garden;- the brick wall serves as an exibition area for Pleniks cast concrete elements, reminding us of his habit of saving and whenever possible reusing surplus elements from his construction sites;- the beehive, bees being an inspiration to the architect, restored to a pristine condition, stands as witness to Pleniks almost regimental work habits;- the tradition of renting out the vegetable garden patch has been kept alive since the architect moved in the house in 1920s.

garden master plan

shadow view of the garden and house

3

PLENIKS GARDEN

details for the cast concrete and wooden parts of the pergola and their assembly

PLENIKS GARDEN

the renovated garden today


authors: prof. Ana Kuan, Mojca Kumer, Luka Javornik

SOCIAL AND WORK ACTIVITIES CENTER FOR THE DISABLED

model of roofed storage and activities area

- foam board- wooden skewer sticks

view of roofed storage and activities area

view of green border with rest niches

Social and work activities for the disabled Toncka Hocevar is a well functioning facility that only needed an update of the small garden that surrounds the facility itself. The objective was to give the residents defi ned areas for socialising, work activities, and rest, all connected with a path that can be easily manged whatever the disability a particular resident had.We created a long pergola-like structure that serves as dining and work activities area and also houses a kennel for the therapy dog, and a storage unit for garden tools. The thickly planted garden border is shaped into niches with benches for resting or spending time with visitors or therapists.

4

CENTER FOR THE DISABLED

garden plan

CENTER FOR THE DISABLED

renderings

Fiesa, Slovenianational competition, 1st prizeStudio AKKA, 2010

authors: prof. Ana Kuan, Mojca Kumer, Ana Tepina, Luka Javornik, Miha Slekovec, Za Brezar, Martina Tepina

PUBLIC BATHING AREA FIESA

illustrative master plan

This little sliver of Slovenian coast is one of the few places where a sweet water lake is found in the imediate vicinity of a salt water body, separated only by a narow strip of land.The proposed plan extends the beach into which runs a path from a nerby town, thus connecting the two water bodies with a single light surface.The landscape and volume of the camping grounds connect through support walls onto which buildings are leaning, designed in a toned down architectural design. This way the wall is a connecting element hemming the area while at the same time creating a discrete dividing line between cultural and natural.

5

FIESA

plan of the area - traffi c and interest points

cross section A

cross section B

B

A

FIESA

3D views


authors: prof. Ana Kuan, Mojca Kumer, Gaja Ttrbian, Luka Javornik

Show at DKAS exibition Landscapes, Ljubljana 2010, Ethnographic museum

LEDINA KINDERGARDEN PLAYGROUND RENOVATION

model

- foam board- craft paper- textile mesh- cardboard

This playground spans over several two which created several chalenges as well as opportunities in the design process. The playground is divided into several areas of soft and hard surfaces: gently ondulating grass, gravel, sand, asfalt, and polytan. The trees on the edges provide shade while the area by the main building is shaded with the aid of a UV resistant army masking net. Play equipment includes structures for climbing, sliding, crawling, digging, and several ways of incorporating water into the play and learning. The asfalt surface is shaped into a cycling lane for learning traffi c rules while also rapresenting a large canvas for chalk art.

6

LEDINA

playground master plan

LEDINA

playful moments

Koper, SloveniaStudio AKKA, 2009 - 2011

authors: prof. Ana Kuan, Mojca Kumer, Luka Javornik

STUDENT CAMPUS KOPER

The plan for the student campus focuses on an open area amidst the university buildings, forming a square with alleys connecting the square with the outside space. Planting follows the ortagonal design and is executed in a raster in the paving.

campus master plan

7

detail: green island cross section

detail: green island plan

CAMPUS KOPER

In the narow spaces between buildings the green islands are lifted off the ground in round container-like concrete stuctures with seating on the rim. These containers are planted with small, multi-stemmed trees and a herbacious layer of ground cover.These island are designed as rest points for students on breaks or after class, the trees provide shade on warmer days while the robust herbacious layer offers an additinal surface for sitting or even lying down. The ground cover consists of a selection of hardy and resiliant herbs like creeping thyme, dwarf variety of mint, and simmilar that emmit a pleasant aroma upon touch.

roof terrace: front view

roof terrace: plan

CAMPUS KOPER

The plan for the student campus also includes an open air study room or chill out area. It is situated on a roof terrace of one of the faculty buildings. The space is articulated with large outdoor furniture and containers for climbing plants, small trees, perenials, and herbs. The climbers create a strong vertical element, covering the steel cables and the roof structure with shade providing greenery.

layer of mulched bark

metal rod

steel cableTrachelospermum jasminoides

drainage layer

container

Ligustrum lucidumMentha crispa Strawberry

anchoring systemPlatypus

growing substrate

Mentha sp.

Teucrium fruticans

Lavandula angustifolia

roof terrace - detail:plant containers

roof terrace: plant selection

CAMPUS KOPER

Ljubljana, SloveniaNational competition 2011, acknowledgmentStudio AKKA

authors: prof. Ana Kuan, dr. Tatjana Capuder, Za BrezarLuka Javornik, Mojca Kumer, Ana Tepina, Miha Slekovec,

CELOVKA PARTNERSHIP

The spatial design for the degraded part of Ljubljana along the Celovka road comes from two starting points:1. in the context of the entire city Celovka road represents one of the constitutive veins through which the city spreads outwards. The spatial design recommends the redisign of this city axis into a city-shaping element, i.e. a boulevard, with a city-shaping profi le along the entire length.2. in the past, before the succesive construction of the late 20th century, there was farmland on both sides of the Celovka road.The spatial design of the area suggests intertwining both of the above starting points while at the same time looks to the conceptual idea of the greek polis as the ideal: public life is equaly intended for all the cityzens of the area.The green open spaces are embedded in a broader picture of the city system. The main park axis lies in the N-S direction with the connecting surfaces following the E-W direction serve mainly as a recreational coridors. The green belts along the main roads serve as ecological coridors, since the resence of traffi c diminishes their attraction for recreational purposes.

8

CELOVKA PARTNERSHIP

model

- foam board- paper- craft paper- plexi glass


authors: prof. Ana Kuan, Luka Javornik, Mojca Kumer, Ana tepina

PARK STOICE - PLAYGROUND

The playground is part of a large sports park in Ljubljana, where all the main sports events are held. The area is fenced off from the rest of the park, providing containment and security for children and enclosed in a cool embrace of a lush green border.

The playground consists of two main areas: area for young children (up to 6 yrs old) and an area for kids age 6 to 15 yrs. The two areas are connected by two terrain modulations: a large concrete bowl-like structure and a grassy slope, both apropriate for use by both age groups of children.

The concrete bowl is nestled in a larger concrete structure, a climbing wall with different inclinations of its walls, so it can be used for climbing (at its steepest side it has climbing holds), runing, crawling, sliding and rolling down its sides safely. The grass surface is equipped for less adrenalin fi lled activities, has two slides leaning on one of its sides and some climbing ropes to incorporate excersize for additional muscle groups.

The playground is equipped with a variety of play equipment, structures and surfaces that provide a wide span of recreational activities apropriate for all age groups and types of activities: demanding fi sical activities like the climbing wall and a complex structure of wooden trunks, classic playground equippment like swings, carusels, and also caters to the more creative and exploratiry mind with musical instruments, willow evergrowing mistery tunnels, etc.

The two entrances to the playground are designed as nodes between the playground and park. Both entrance points are equipped with concrete seating, a drinking fountain and rubbish bins. The resting areas are all located under the canopy of trees, thus providing protection from the hot summer Sun and also creating an entry motif. Both entry points are connected with a concrete surface, that also facilitates access for the disabled.

playground area

9

playground master plan

STOICE

STOICE

rendering


authors: prof. Ana Kuan, Luka Javornik, Mojca Kumer, Za Brezar

RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBOURHOOD RNUE 10

detail: retaining wall with planting detail: rest area with bench

Landscape for residential area in rnue is envisioned as a translation of the idea of a garden into the space between densly bult residential buildings.

Landscape design aims at creating unfolding spaces that offer shelter and can be used by all age groups of residents. Buildings are hence set into green islands of groundcover plants, lined out by low retaining walls thus defi ning a clear divide between the public and the private. Bays of gravel and grass line up the undulating areas of pavement enabling intimacy as well as supporting informal socialization. Distribution of benches, tables and chairs equally in shady and sunny locations support this idea, including positions from which views open to the neighbouring pond.

Light transparent crowns of robinia and sorbus curtain direct views between the apartments. Small leaves allow sunlight to touch the ground and provide enough light also to the apartments facing north. Horizontal layering of planting and its fi ne granulation make the space look larger than it really is while the softness of curvilinear structure alludes to cosiness and domesticity. Design aims to make clear its reference to the garden, the refugee, stimulate relaxed use of space, encourage socializing and thus strengthen social ties among the residents.

master plan

RNUE

RNUE

3D visualisation

Hrovaa, SloveniaStudio AKKA, 2011 - 2013

authors: prof. Ana Kuan, Luka Javornik, Mojca Kumer

PRIVATE GARDEN HROVAA

This garden is situated in a small village in the rural part of Slovenia, the house being part of several other already renovated buildings in the near vicinity. The project included a complete renovation of the house and designig a garden that would stay true to a traditional structure of a rustic farmhouse garden. Followeing those guidelines we aimed to create a simple space, with accents on heirloom fruit baring trees and only an occasional old variety frowering shrub. The entrance to the garden is fl anked by a row of one of the most typical pear trees followed by a modern take of a traditional vine supporting structure. Rows of peonies and currants hide the top part of an underground gas tank, while behind the barn hide a traditional fenced herb and fl ower garden and the jewel of every homestead, an apple and plum tree orchard.

11

HROVAA

model

- foam board- craft paper- clear plastic sheet- lime tree seeds

HROVAA

a young garden with much growing and maturing yet to do


authors: prof. Ana Kuan, Luka Javornik, Mojca Kumer, Ana Tepina

PRIVATE GARDEN 09-05

garden master plan

cross section

This garden follows a gentle slope rolling away from a family hose on the edge of a forest. The garden design takes advantage of the terrain, creating spaces for social activities like a fun evening at the fi re pit, areas for quiet refl ection with enchanting views of the surrounding landscape, and poinst for appretiation of the beauty of the ever changing shape and color of nature. While the terrace closest to the house is a meticulously kept lawn, the lower terraces further down the slope only get mown occasionaly, mostly fl owing with tall grasses and wild fl owers of an unkempt meadow. The plants chosen were mostly wild species for soft merging of a cultivated space and wild growing forest.

12

GARDEN 09-05

a much loved and enjoyed family space

Ravne na Korokem, SloveniaStudio AKKA, 2012 - 2014


PUBLIC HIGH-SCHOOL RAVNE GROUNDS

The landscape design of the area is part of a larger school and recreational center area. The design derives its characteristics from the form of the new school building while also taking into consideration the natural conditions of the terrain: the rising terrain behind the school, the edge of the forest, and a pond.The large paved area infront of the new building connects to the sports buidings in the West via a paved path, that leads over the side of the pond. There are two tribunes, a larger one, enclosed in an atrium, for school events and open air lectures, and a second, smaller one offering a chill out area for the kids to enjoy.

13

RAVNE

the school and its new, fresh grounds just befor the opening.

Brdo pri Kranju, SloveniaStudio AKKA, 2012 - 2015


FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF SLOVENIA HEADQUARTERS

The placement of the football headquarters takes into consideration the quality of park design and, as far as circumstances permit, exploiting it for a programme and design upgrade. An important design and conceptual starting point is the heritage of the landscape garden that gave the local area its character. Historicly park Brdo has served as a center for protocol events and accomodated guests of the state and it still holds its image and importance following its function. The Football association is placed in the West part of the park, once a farm land (ferme orne), and it still maintains its original spatial ratios between open fl at land and the volume of the forest, such as found in documents from the 18th century.

14

master plan

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

still in the process

MANAGEMENT OF THE MOUNTAIN STREAM

Planica, SloveniaStudio AKKA, 2012 - 2014

authors: prof. Ana Kuan, Luka Javornik, Mojca Kumer, Miha Slekovec, Za Brezar

NORDIC CENTER PLANICA

As Planica is set at the forefoot of the largest protected area in Slovenia and forms one of the most exciting entryways to the Triglav National Park, large sport facilities take their own stand. Design is based on the profound relation between architecture, the constructed site, and the natural setting. The precise design of topography, the systematic reduction of material, bold shapes and clear geometrical forms, all lines itself with the monumental silhouette of the mountains and the calmness of the pines and beech forest.

master plan of the entire project with position of the stream riverbed

15

PLANICA

master plan of the cast concrete walls of the stream

The Nordic Centre at Planica is an intervention into the magnifi cent Alpine frame and its symbolic charge, which renders all excessive design absurd. Design follows technical and organizational requirements of a large sport facility thus revealing the new character of the space. It stands in contrast to the natural dynamics of the surrounding mountainous landscape and creates an organized, functional and technically fl awless counterpart that is perfected by the logic of engineering.

PLANICA

model of the valley throught which the stream fl ows

- cardboard

PLANICA

from drawing to reality in the overwhelming scale of open space

Documents

Molly portfolio 2007-2015