Architecture Portfolio

HERITAGE MOSAIC

Our project focuses on community engagement after being inspired by the vibrant Kansas City river market neighborhood. When we visited, it felt like a celebration of different cultures full of flavors, sounds, and colors. However, when we walked down the street, it sounded and looked like we were leaving the party and encountered ourselves with a deteriorated space that is in efforts to be revived. Map making was employed as a tool to comprehend the site and its environs. Additionally, studies such as sun and wind diagrams, along with Acetone transfers, facilitated comparisons between different aspects of the park. The core objective has been the unification of individuals from diverse backgrounds of the River Market Neighborhood, and to bring them together within the park, all while respecting the integrity of the existing landscape. Our inspiration has been drawn from the vibrant dynamics observed at the City Market, where the community converges through the shared experiences of culinary delights, music, and cultural interactions. The centerpiece of our project is the amphitheater, designed to serve as a cultural epicenter. It not only provides a platform for local artists but also encourages individuals to impart their unique skills and hobbies to the community.

ARCH 301 • 2024 Hansen Prize Nominee • With Partner Luz Flores

SITE SCAPE

A comprehensive landscape and mapping analysis of Prospect Park, situated in Des Moines, was undertaken. The objective was to interact with the site and create maps to visually depict different acpects of the park. This analysis culminated in a mapping representation crafted solely from water, dirt, and leaves sourced directly from the site, achieved through collaborative efforts combining hands-on and digital methods.

DETAIL

ARCH 202

Through explorations using strictly architectural materials, I was inspired by the detail of acoustical CMU and set out to explore the boundaries of concrete through hands-on experiments. Factors explored include cement content of concrete, the water content of concrete mix proportion of concrete, use of supplementary cementitious materials, grading of aggregates size of aggregates, surface textures of aggregates, and use of admixtures in concrete. I explored connections through making molds and investigated the materiality of casted materials. Through brick splitting explorations, I discovered that the natural break created a natural connection between the pieces with a tight tolerance. I established design criteria based on this discovery and aimed to design parts that would have a tight tolerance, and would not require additional materials, such as mortar or metal connections, to connect together. Through this process, the focus transitioned to mold making in such a way no additional connections would be necessary, and the molds could be reused to make various shapes without being altered. The final goal was to create a screen from these shapes, but throughout the process, the molds themselves also became screens comprised of many smaller parts and processes.

INFINITY RESIDENCE

ARCH 202

The Infinity Residence stands tall as a high-rise dwelling situated in the heart of Chicago, Illinois, at 860 Lake Shore Drive, offering its residents views of Lake Michigan to the east and the dynamic cityscape to the west. Inspired by aspects within St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, its architectural form draws from plan and section drawings of the precedent. Transformative iterations were developed, through sketching, which turned into four distinct drawings being crafted from the architectural precedents. Select elements evolved into intricate patterns. These patterns became two definitive drawings, laying the groundwork for the residence’s defining facade. Through a series of iterative phases, a singular form was taken, meticulously sculpted, and refined to grace the facade of this high-rise residence.