FIRST YEAR UNDERGRADUATE
Jaliyah Nelson—MARANT Construction Limited Award


About the Award

MARANT Construction Limited Award:
MARANT Construction Limited is a leader in the commercial interior construction industry, and committed to an inclusive and supportive work environment. The company is establishing this award to support TMU students in Architectural Science who self-identifies as an Aboriginal person in Canada (including First Nations [status or non-status], Metis or Inuit, self-identifies as Black (including those that identify as Afro-Caribbean or African-Canadian), self-identifies as a woman, including cisgender and transgender.



The City of Embedded Flow

The City of Embedded Flow has inhabitation intricately linked to movement as its spaces are designed to facilitate fluid transitions between different day to day activities. With the use of organic shapes, the city creates a visually captivating landscape that invites exploration and encourages inhabitants to discover the unique character of every space, both above and below ground. By prioritizing accessibility and connectivity, inhabitants get a unique opportunity to experience a vibrant community with easy navigation and engagement with the built and unbuilt spaces.

The City of Embedded Flow explores the dynamic relationship between above and below-ground spaces, redefining urban circulation while fostering a sense of connectivity and harmony.

At the heart of the city’s design is a central opening that links the various levels above to the underground spaces, encouraging fluid movement throughout the city. This central void not only facilitates easy circulation but also capitalizes on natural light. Sunlight is utilized in highlighting a key pathway and creating a dynamic visual connection between the city’s layers, guiding inhabitants through their journey.

The floor-to-ceiling glazed facades also allows sunlight to pour in, creating an inviting environment that reduces the city’s carbon footprint and reinforces the city’s commitment to sustainability.

Each level of the city is uniquely programmed to serve distinct communal needs, yet the similar organic form of the structures ensures that every inhabitant experiences a cohesive, phenomenological sense of place. Whether navigating spaces for living, working, or recreation, the continuity in form creates a consistent atmosphere that fosters familiarity and belonging. This unity of design, while offering diverse functions, allows for a seamless experience as inhabitants transition between the city’s layers.

The organic, flowing design uses curvatures and deconstructed earth to blur the boundaries between the built environment and the natural world, allowing for a continuous flow of spaces. This integration ensures that inhabitants experience a harmonious connection with both their urban surroundings and the landscape beneath them.

By prioritizing both above and below-ground relationships, the City of Embedded Flow ensures that all groups are interconnected, creating a cohesive community where each space fosters engagement, interaction, and inclusivity.

Sustainability is embedded in the city’s design, addressing communal needs on all levels. Every element is carefully crafted to enhance the daily activities of its inhabitants, promoting accessibility, engagement, and exploration. The City of Embedded Flow is not just a place to live; it is a vibrant, dynamic environment where movement, community, and nature coexist in harmony, encouraging both individual and collective growth.

The City of Embedded Flow was my first studio project in Architectural Science, and throughout the process, I have learned invaluable skills and techniques that have deepened my understanding of design, scale, and functional space planning. This experience has fueled my passion for Architecture, and I am excited to apply what I’ve learned to future projects as I continue to explore the transformative potential of design in shaping our built world.



What inspired me to pursue Architectural Science was my goal to find a career path that would allow me to combine my passion for helping others as well as design and the ability to constantly learn by experience.

Architecture has the ability to encompass all of my passions and more and I believe with my dedication and personal drive, I will be able to make many meaningful changes within this career. My goal is not just a personal goal, but a pathway to contribute meaningfully to the profession and to add black female representation to the field.

My passion in committing myself to sustainable Architecture that creates positive and long lasting impacts to the built environment is rooted in creating harmony with the environment and uplifting the lives of those often ignored.

I believe it is an injustice that the housing market is not serving all members of our community, so I would like to see and be the change when  it comes to improving the economic situation of housing within black communities through the creation of affordable housing.

I hope that by entering the field of Architecture as a black woman, that my dedication and drive to make positive change will inspire other minority females to enter this historically predominantly male field of work.


 


Toronto Metropolitan Department of  Architectural Science Toronto, CA.