Erin Kurtycz
University of Michigan
Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
The proposed replanning and innovation of the Kalamazoo Post Office Branch allowed for my investigation in the cross-section of the Kalamazoo Public School System and the Post Office as institutions with access to both public funding and the public masses. They can be linked in order to initiate further stewardship addressing general recycling and waste practices. The new design proposes the introduction of a recycling center and a student lounge with study spaces and viewing access to the recycling processes. © Erin Kurtycz.
Jury
Monica Chada
Andrew Santa Lucia
Stephen Slaughter
Robert L. Wesley (Chair)
I am extremely honored to be a recipient of the Robert L. Wesley Award. Being recognized by the SOM Foundation provides me with both personal motivation and further career opportunity as I continue pursuing my journey as an architect. I am excited to connect with industry professionals and further understand how I can personally contribute to a more empathetic future within all facets of design.
A-Lot proposes an outdoor gallery space within the Heidelberg Project, an outdoor art environment in Detroit that aims to empower and represent the surrounding community through art. Using the vernacular of the dormer, we designed module gallery spaces that followed a similar existing typology within the project, pushing on the decay of inner-city neighborhoods and the effects of urban sprawl through emphasized yet familiar instances. The project aims to keep the majority of the site as-is. Space in between is kept unpaved and landscaped as a typical grass lawn. Viewers are not formally invited into the space, but must almost “intrude” onto the property in order to investigate the dormer forms that don’t directly present themselves as art. © Erin Kurtycz.
As a student, Erin has demonstrated an outstanding spatial intuition and sophisticated design ability. Her passion for architecture is evident in her work, where she consistently demonstrates a genuine spirit of inquiry and an immersion in design principles. She consistently demonstrates a natural aptitude for creativity and admirable work ethic.
Zain AbuSeir, Lecturer in Architecture and DEI Faculty Lead, Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning, University of Michigan
“A House for People Who Like Hot Yoga” questions the limits of interior and exterior space, constantly carrying the “porosity” of the interior domestic space. The areas throughout the house exist on a gradient from exterior to completely interior. The material and formal decisions such as the constant shifting of the roof, slatted flooring, and open scaffolding pathways allow for exterior context such as natural light and urban bustle to seep into the more obviously enclosed spaces. These decisions further speculate on the idea of how much structural enclosure it takes for space to be considered “interior” in the first place. © Erin Kurtycz.
“A House for People Who Like Hot Yoga.” © Erin Kurtycz.
“A House for People Who Like Hot Yoga.” © Erin Kurtycz.
Erin Kurtycz
University of Michigan
Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning
Erin Kurtycz
is a fourth-year architecture student at the University of Michigan’s Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning. She most enjoys spending time in studio and making new friends. While faculty might call this distracting other students from their projects, Kurtycz believes the type of critical yet non-judgmental socialization she engages in with her peers has been the most important aspect of her education. She sees the skillset held by architects as a tool for the transfer of abstract ideas and mutual understanding among various groups of people. She hopes to continue challenging the idea of exactly who and what purpose architecture is meant to serve, forcing both client and designer to constantly question their own intent. Other than architecture, Kurtycz holds a position as a tattoo artist and loves dancing to techno music and petting dogs in her free time.