top of page

INTRO 2

INTRO 2

CORE 2

m.arch | m.ucd

Sierra Maren McCormick

M. ARCH & M.UCD THESIS

A compilation of work designed by Sierra McCormick for the completion of the M.ARCH and M.UCD Degree at the University of South Florida, School of Architecture and Community Design.

PART I: M.ARCH
In my thesis I analyzed and studied the process that North Korean Defectors take on their journey from the DPRK to South Korea, the horrific realities that are faced in and outside of North Korea, and finally the process that it really takes for those people to become South Korean citizens and to fully integrate themselves back into society. Unfortunately, the reality is that those who can come to escape and make it to South Korea have significant mental health issues, and are rarely a success story. In my project I have designed an extenstion of the exsiting system in South Korea by creating a transitional campus and life long resource for them to utilize to aid in job skill training, culture shock, mental and physical health, and transitional housing. Below are select pages from my final thesis document. The link to the full document follows.

DOCUMENTATION

Following my final presentation, as a requirement for my degree, I created a document compiling all my research and design work I have completed over the past year. I am beyond proud of this body of work and and so thankful that I was able to pursue this topic. If you click this image, it will take you to the ISSUU page where you can read the entire document digitally.

PART II: M.UCD
In 2020, I continued my education by pursuing the Masters in Urban Community Design from the University of South Florida, and was able to continue and expand upon my previous thesis. I had always envisioned my project to be replicated in most major cities across South Korea, as it is encouraged by the government to have defectors move into less urban environments for their mental health. But most do not want to leave Seoul, as there is less opportunity for their careers and less resources for them to access. For this extension of the project I did significant research on the major cities in South Korea, their economic viability, access to schools/universities, health care, and what kinds of jobs these areas are known for. Below are my final graphics for my M.UCD Thesis.

CITIES 2.png

OVERALL DAEJON_FINAL 8.4.png

BUBBLE DIAGRAM SMALL.png

ZOOM WITH LANDMARKS SMALL.png

topography sml.png

OVERALL_FINAL 8.5.png

BUBBLE DIAG BUSAN SMALL.png

ZOOM WITH LANDMARKS BUSAN SMALL.png

TOPO BUSAN SMALL.png

OVERALL DAEGU_FINAL 8.5.png

zoom with landmarkssml.png

OVERALL JEJU_FINAL 8.5.png

BUBBLE JEJU SMALL.png

ZOOM WITH LANDMARKS SMALL JEJU.png

TOPO JEJE 2 SMALL.png

PRESENTATIONS

MP1 FINAL PRESENTATION:

At this point in my project, I had done a serious amount of research into the complex issues that face Defctors in all stages of their lives. I had also begun my research into Hanok design and began my initial designs for my units.

MP2 MIDETERM PRESENTATION:

Following my initial presentation, I was able to travel to Seoul, South Korea in Mid-January, and used this trip to better understand life in Seoul and the culture, as well as use this opportunity to select my site and experience it my self. I began to analyze and diagram the site to bettter understand the formal language and pull from that in my final design.

FINAL PRESENTATION:

Due to the pandemic, my class was unable to have physical presentations, and instead connected virtually. This was my presentation board viewed on MURAL. I gave a formal slideshow presentation alongside this.

bottom of page