Alex Pina Undergraduate Portfolio - 2023

2019-2022

ALEX PIÑA

MODULARITY

Professor | Matthew Faulkner

01

Formal study of the creation of space through the repetition of a singular module. Each three inch by three inch chipboard square was carefully hand cut and scored to allow for insertion of additional modules. The series of individual components work to support one another, making the need for adhesion unnecessary. The module can continuously be added to explore a variety of scales. At its smallest scale, four modules are connected and held together at the moment of intersection. With the receptive nature of the module, the entire object can expand in any direction. The final object creates a unique ground condition and a series of ascending elements.

01. Physical Model

CONSTRUCT

Professor | Davi De Lima Vaz Xavier & Livia Loureiro

This project began with persistency studies of Pierre Koenig Case Study House #21. Three studies of regulating lines, frame, and nesting were used to derive a series of figures. With the utilization of formal operations, the figures created an abstract object that render similar use of the persistencies. The design study emphasized the importance of intention and developed an understanding for spatial organization between a series of objects. The series of persistency diagrams contributed to the understanding of precedent analysis. The design decisions studied throughout the analysis allowed for strategies to be reinterpreted and implemented into our final project.

02.Persistency diagrams highlighting regulating lines, nesting, framing 03. Final artifact process diagram

DIGITAL COMPOSITION

Professor | Nicole McIntosh

In a study of composition, Oliver Michael’s Untitled #H, from ‘Square in a Square Series,’ was used as the design foundation. Digital collages were overlaid Michael’s image to study the assemblage of materials and architectural elements. Our goal of the study was to signify various periods of time throughout Texas’ history. Therefore, the limestone and architectural elements from significant Texas landmarks were used in the collage. The investigation also explores relationships between varied placement of architectural elements, details, and materials.

01. Digital Collage study

Oliver Michael’s, ‘Untitled #H,’ 2013 ‘Square in Square Series’

02.

02.Digital Collage studies

URBAN POCKETS

Professor | Miguel Roldan Team | Patricia Rocha

Through the design of urban pockets within our site, our project aims to rewrite the distribution of private, semi private, and public to create a seamless threshold between spaces. In this specific area of Barcelona, the classification of what is private, semi private, and public contradicts the city normality. The Eixample blocks are most commonly organized with public space on the ground floor and private space concentrated above. The building begins to fold from the ground up in a continuous system, creating a shell that extends past the building into the urban pockets. The building acts as the core of the site, and the roof as the connection between landscape and interior program. This creates a connective quality that unifies the pragmatic needs and creates fluid circulation of the shell, the core and everything inbetween.

Contributions | research, design, modeling, drawings, renders, structural design, and section

01.Site Axonometric 02. Exterior courtyard render

by solar path and views of surrounding context.

Roof Articulation also informed by rainwater collection and defining public/private entrances.

03.Southeast Elevation 04. Northeast Elevation

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04.

Diagrammatic views to show roof articulation informed

Professor | Marcel Erminy Team | Christian Martinez

EFFERENT 05

Our project aimed to act as the symbol of refuge to the community. We understood fire as on element with a sense of duality, as it can be viewed as the utter destruction of everything it consumes, while the antithesis can be understood as an element that strengthens and brings revitalizing properties. To achieve this, we decided to incorporate an urgent care and health center into our program. Not only did the additional program support our design narrative, but also addressed the need for healthcare in such a rapidly growing area. With this mixture of programs, the station now accomplishes the purpose of being a place of refuge and strengthening. The structural design utilized the structural advantages of steel. The use of a large steel truss member allows for the crew living areas to be housed above the apparatus bay entrance, while maintaining columnless circulation.

Contributions | research, design, modeling, drawings, details, sections, and structural design

03. Exploded Axonometric showing structural truss member and layering of facade elements

03.

02. Perspective section showing apparatus bay and crew living areas

02.

Physical chunk model photo showing facade sun shades and apparatus bay entrance.

MISSING MIDDLE

Professor | James Michael Tate

In a study of vernacular living, a modest home with architectural qualities was selected to analyze and provoke the idea of problematizing the “normal”. In many cases, accessory dwelling units and housing with architectural intention are mutually exclusive. By studying the vernacular project and two precedents, the goal of designing a modest home with architectural attentiveness became obtainable. The ambition of the design was to emphasize the idea of cluster and establish axis through the orientation of porosity. While the accessory dwelling unit is a radical addition to the home, its relationship with the existing home and interior represent the coexistence of affordable housing and design with architectural notion.

01. Hinged axonometric of existing primary unit

02. Cutaway axonometric of proposed accessory dwelling unit

01. Front elevation - primary unit and ADU

02. Back Elevation - primary unit and ADU

03. Ground floor plan of existing primary unit and ADU

01.

02.

03.

04.Interior view of proposed accessory dwelling unit

04.

NEW MIDDLES

Professor | James Michael Tate

07

This project investigates works toward an alternative to single family detached housing in a 2-acre neighborhood block. Design responses and architectural provocation were produced by the combination of formal and vernacular studies. By using both single family dwellings and multi-unit precedents, the design is able to address the needs of the residents at multiple scales. The workflow consisted of frequent alternation between the entire 2 acre-block, groupings of 3-5 units, and the articulation and assembly at the single unit scale. In the New Middles proposal, the primary goal was to utilize curvilinear datums and the clustering of units to create a variety of shared spaces at different scales. The proposal also problematizes the coexistence of individuality and continuity within the silhouette and profile of the elevation.

01. Site Block oblique drawing - 25 units

02. Oblique drawing - 5 unit cluster

THANK YOU

CV EDUCATION

Bachelor of Environmental Design | May 2023

Texas A&M University | GPA 3.94

Minor in Business

International Studies | JAN-APR 2022

Barcelona Architecture Center | GPA 4.0

EXPERIENCE

AMO Enterprises | El Paso, Texas | JUN-AUG 2022

Drafting Assistant

Banes General Contractors | El Paso, Texas | JUN-AUG 2021

Field Engineering Intern

American Institute of Architecture Students | 2019-2022

Organization Member

Environmental Design Mentorship Program | 2019-2022

Mentor

Freedom By Design | 2021-2022

Organization Subcommittee Member

Paradigm Men’s Organization | 2020-2022 Member Development Committee Brotherhood Committee

HONORS & AWARDS

College of Architecture

Dean’s List 2020

End of Year Show 2021

Axiom Publication

2020 | 2022

BAC Program Publication

2022

SKILLS 1365 Loma Verde El Paso, Tx 79936 alexpina329@gmail.com 915-329-0641

Bilingual- English & Spanish

Modeling

Rhino

Revit

AutoCad

Rendering

Vray

Lumion

Keyshot

Adobe Suite

Photoshop

Illustrator

InDesign