ABOUT
This portfolio represents the culmination of four years of study at Victoria University of Wellington.
CONTACT: alessandrarose.lopez@gmail.com
Instagram: al.archdes
Linkedin: Alex Lopez
ARCI 412 | CAPSTONE PROJECT
PROJECT 2 - READING CINEMAS RE-DESIGN
This project re-designs the desolate Reading Cinemas site on Courtenay Place, Wellington. The design is inspired by the notion of the transitional space, and one of its purposes is to capitalise on the thoroughfare access across the site from Courtenay Place to Wakefield Street. The interpretation of transition was explored - whether it was the transition of history, the transition of space (vertical and horizontal), or the transition of the original building itself (from old to new).
The final facade alludes to the surrounding heritage buildings on Courtenay Place as well as including a wrap-around parametric screen facade as a nod to combining modernity with traditional buildings. The screen also conveys the notion of transtionality through the ‘movement’ of the facade screen.
For this design, it was important to incorporate the heritage and history that comes with Courtenay Place, while retaining as much of the original building as possible to reduce carbon emissions.
Figure 1 - Exterior Visualisation, Courtenay Place Frontage.
FLOOR PLANS
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The ground floor of this design features two entrances from the Courtenay Place frontage, and consists of a foodcourt, retail spaces, and a feature atrium that acts as the main circulation space in the center.
The first floor, or mezzanine, consists of more retail spaces and eating areas. It also features bridges that allow you to look over to the ground floor.
The second floor features eight cinema spaces and the ticketing booths. This area also has a staff area and a restaurant.
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This section shows the interior screen which envelopes the atrium area. The section also shows the skylights in the higher floors, as well as the roof garden on the top floor.
VISUALISATIONS
Figure 2 - Interior Atrium Visualisation
Figure 2 - Interior Atrium Screen Visualisation
ARCI 412 | CAPSTONE PROJECT
As a continuation from Project 2, Project 3 further develops the idea transitional space through the floor plans and sections on the Reading Cinemas site. Project 3 includes the use of skylights, a more playful atrium area, as well as incorporating the circulation in the center as part of the transitional experience. Additionally, construction considerations were developed.
PROJECT 3 - READING CINEMAS RE-DESIGN
FACADE PLAN
FLOOR PLANS
B
SECTION
ARCI 312 | CAPSTONE PROJECT
This architecture project delves into the narrative of New Zealand Colonialism, thoughtfully employing two distinct shape languages in the design, to emphasize the contrast between the two cultures, and to symbolize past hostilities.
The aim is to harmoniously integrate Pakeha and Maori symbols, encapsulating the duality of voyages as both instigators of hostility and bridges between cultures. To convey the symbolism of colonization, the design juxtaposes British and Maori vessel aesthetics, particularly their sails. This approach not only maximizes the site’s inherent opportunities but also fosters a tangible connection between people, land, and sea. Ultimately, the resulting structure serves as a significant commentary on New Zealand’s historical evolution and contemporary identity, offering a synthesized representation of New Zealand culture, as perceived through the lens of an immigrant.
PROJECT 2 - TE PAPA MUSEUM RE-DESIGN
INITIAL SKETCHES
These sketches illustrate my design thinking and how I was inspired by the idea of a vessel, and using a core movement through the centre.
Inspired directly from the sketches this first initial model aims to emulate the fluidity of the forms that was created. The design idea is also centred on a public central atrium space, to honor one of the main movement paths identified in the site analysis.
Design 2 completely takes a different approach, prioritising rigid forms and the pathway as compared to fluid forms.
This design is inspired by the shape of a waka and cantilevers as if it is about to sail off into the water.
The fourth iteration is a combination of the best attributes of design 1-3fluidity, prioritising the atrium path, and the cantilever.
Long Section
Short Section
GROUND
The ground floor of the design holds various venue spaces, as well as the cafe and the entrance to the large auditorium. Two small auditoriums were also placed on the ground floor. The first floor holds more venue spaces which looks out onto the harbour, as well as the o
ce space which looks out onto Cable Street.
SECOND FLOOR PLAN
The second floor holds the main exhibition spaces with seating. The large exhibition space is in the south-west, which has the least amount of light to protect the exhibition pieces.
THIRD FLOOR PLAN
The third floor holds more exhibition spaces as well as some storage spaces.
These elevations show how the design sits on the Wellington landscape. This also shows how the structure is celebrated and acts as an integral part of the success of the design.
This visualisation shows the final floor with the Marae and the open roof structure inspired by sails. This render also celebrates the structure of the roof.
ARCI 312 | CAPSTONE PROJECT
This project was to re-design the national archives building with the main material of concrete. Speculative illustrations vividly depict facets of colonization, employing symbolism such as the Treaty of Waitangi, a waka (canoe), and sails to symbolize the vessels historically utilized by the Maori people.
In its final iteration, the design concept seeks to convey the inherent instability associated with the colonial experience. This is achieved through a deliberate juxtaposition of rigid architectural forms, representing the colonial presence, with fluid and organic elements that symbolize the enduring connection of the Maori indigenous population to the land.
The incorporation of the grid structures of Wellington serves as a pivotal driver for these design movements, imbuing the project with a sense of coherence and contextual relevance. The Maori approach embraces and adapts to the natural contours of the land they inhabit, compared to the Westerners. Ultimately, the design concept embodies a profound exploration of the complex historical narrative, artfully translated into an architectural manifestation that engages with the dynamics of New Zealand Colonialism.
PROJECT 1 - NATIONAL ARCHIVES RE-DESIGN
A speculative drawing inspired by sails and looking at translucency. This drawing uses found photos of the Treaty of Waitangi and Maori sails, and how those forms could merge together. The straight orthogonal lines represent settler colonial shapes whereas the more fluid forms represent the Maori shapes.
Speculative Drawing
EXPLODED VIEW
These elevations show that... The exploded isometric view showcases how the different layers combine to create a cohesive design.The brief outlined that the materiality of the design must be concrete, which is why different ways of using concrete was explored in this design.
yers combine to create a he brief outlined that the esign nt of concrete s
Sloped
SITE:
These elevations show that... In its final iteration, the design concept seeks to convey the inherent instability associated with the colonial experience. This is achieved through a deliberate juxtaposition of rigid architectural forms, representing the colonial presence, with fluid and organic elements that symbolize the enduring connection of the Maori indigenous population to the land.
Interior view of auditorium space
North Elevation
The visualisation on the left shows one of the interior walkways on the ground floor, showing an exploration of a perforated screen, and the exploration of the materiality of concrete.
COMPUTATIONAL CLAY SYSTEMS DESIGN
This studio focuses on the design using digital fabrication and computational design and exploring additive manufacturing for sustainable design. This project focuses on using clay tiles as the main material in conjunction with other low-carbon materials such as mud and earth-based systems.
The process began with a re-design of the original Baths of Caracalla to suit modern bathing rituals. A clay perforated screen design was developed using grasshopper. These were re-designed in groups of two, however all drawings shown were made by me.
The next part of the process was to choose one space within the redesigned bath to design a parametric tile design.
Eindhoven University of Technology - Semester B 2024
Exploded View
The following diagram displays an exploded axonometric of the reinvented Bath of Caracalla design. It features a stripped back version, showing only the essential programmes that would be needed for modern day bathing.
ARCI 311 | COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN
PROJECT 3 - CONTEXT AND CODIFCIATION
This project incorporated computational design from tools such as Houdini as a basis to create architectural forms.
The scenario for this project was:
To survive and clean up nuclear radioactive fallout that was the result of a nuclear war. This involves recycling and filtering out the air.
The chosen solution:
Construct a facility that can withstand the radioactive atmosphere, recycle radioactive fallout waste products by speeding up their rate of decay, and filter the radioactive air to provide clean air once again is needed. This standardised design will be able to be implemented world wide to patch up and restore the damage created by radioactive fallout.
PHASE ONE: ADDITIVE
The additive phase of decay includes bacterial and fungi growth.
PHASE TWO: SUBTRACTIVE
The subtractive phase of decay is the decomposition of material itself which is determined by the growth of bacteria and fungi.
PHASE THREE: COMBINATION
In reality, phase one and phase two occur concurrently. Thus phase three explores the possibilities when combining these two properties.
The scatter node and shortest path node is used to create paths along the surface of a volume, a randomized path emerging from the “seed” points are generated. The number of points can be increased or decreased, and the “end” points can also be increased or decreased which leaves a lot of room for experimentation.
The paths taken to these points simulate the process of decay as it simulates bacterial growth on a surface.
The conceptual final design consists of a structure suspended on wires. The form generated would be different for each location dependent on the environmental factors such as sun and wind. These would all be accounted for in the script.
Designs generated based on each location:
SARC 321 | STRUCTURES
The task for this class was to design a multi-use residential building, with a focus on structure, services, and the facade. A moving sunshade screen system was designed. The details were drawn in Revit.
Final visualisation along the Wellington waterfront. Rendered using twinmotion and photoshop.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
HOKITIKA GORGE | PAINTING
Large Scale Acrylic Paintings
In my spare time, I like to paint. These landscape paintings were done over the summer breaks and depict places I’ve been to all around New Zealand. I also had a small business doing portrait commissions!
“Hokitika Gorge”
Painting closeup 2
Painting closeup 1
WINE BOTTLES + L&P | PAINTING
Painting Closeups
Large Scale Acrylic Paintings