Andrea Muchori's 2025 Architectural Design Portfolio
MUCHORI
Andrea Lea Ann Muchori
Iowa State University
Bachelor of Architecture
Ever since I was young, I knew I wanted to pursue a career path that would enable me to work toward something greater. Today, I see my role in the design world as one that reimagines the discipline by focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion. As a student, I embrace change, challenges, and diverse perspectives. I am committed to intentionality in all my work, ensuring that social justice strategies and equitable design practices are at the forefront. I am confident that I can contribute meaningfully to a professional design practice, as we all work toward creating a more just, equitable, and diverse future in design.
alam
Artist Statement
Albina, Portland, Oregon
Ledges State Park, Madrid, Iowa
Chorillos District, Lima, Peru
Highway to Nowhere, Baltimore, Maryland
Portland Public Schools, Portland, Oregon
graft Reparation
Reimagination Reclaimation
Under the direction of Ayodele Iyanalu In collaboration with Nick Cheung, Tim Zhang, Jami Sarceno, Juan Argueta, and Sophia Maguina
Graft is a dialogue focused on reclaiming land and providing long-overdue access to resources. It serves as an introduction to projected growth, acknowledging the current emptiness of the lot and imagining a brighter future. As a team, we envision Graft as a restorative act, a means of healing through the reclamation of Black agency. By embedding itself in the land, Graft creates a strong connection. Through both vertical and horizontal strategies, Graft brings together resources while compiling individuals’ ideas and ambitions. Graft exists at the intersection of living, working, recreation, and self-expression. It takes the form of a covered space that offers shelter from the elements while maintaining a porous, connected public area for easy circulation. Our intention is clear: Graft starts small, but over time, it grows, evolves, and becomes a unified force, sustaining a thriving community for generations to come.
This proposal aims to build resilience through design, nurturing a lasting entrepreneurial and creative spirit.
Albina, Portland, Oregon
alam
2023 NOMA BGL STUDENT DESIGN COMPETITION
scale 1:75
Portland is a hub of diverse ideas and cultural practices, but despite its progressive reputation, marginalized groups have been excluded from key discussions and opportunities. The Albina neighborhood highlights this issue, as Black residents continue to face displacement and disenfranchisement due to unfair social and political policies that limit their power and voice.
We propose a self-sustaining creative campus that fosters an inclusive, vibrant environment where everyone can freely express and create without restrictions.
The three massing studies relate to how our conceptual program resulted in space.
Identified program adjacencies while maintaining a compact building footprint, ensuring there is still ample space for greenspace.
EXPAND
The central covered space acts as a foundation for various programs, creating “third spaces” for community interaction.
CONNECT
The architecture promotes community cohesion by offering spaces for events, commerce, education, and housing.
We envision a dynamic hub of socioeconomic activity, organized in a campus-style layout.
GRAFT
1 residential units, studio / 1 bd
2 community museum and library
3 business incubation and arts hub 4 residential units, 2 bd / 3 bd
“graft”
scale 1:40
We imagined a hub of social and economic activity supported by its spatial arrangements on site. Albina’s new marketplace will be a must-hit tourist spot, hosting a large fair of food, items, clothing, plants, and more. Empowering the existing cultural footprint by showcasing its productions.
Graft is a foundation that empowers the black community, giving them collective control over their environment. It serves as a dialogue between the city and its people, symbolizing resilience. By relinquishing control of the site to its rightful owners and breathing life back into the neighborhood, the Albina community is empowered to flourish, setting a foundation for a just and joyful future.
model imagery
encased
Perception
Connection
Exploration
The semester involved an in-depth exploration of architecture and its intricate relationship with the landscape. The project developed by investigating various elements of the landscape and seamlessly integrating these elements into the design of a built environment. The approach aimed to create a harmonious connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. The design was thoroughly articulated through detailed representations, including plans, sections, and elevations, providing a comprehensive understanding of how architecture is shaped by its surrounding natural context.
The site was located in Ledges State Park, known for its deep ridges branching from the Des Moines River. Investigations of the site revealed a contrasting narrative between the natural, dense vegetation of the state park and the flat, repetitive farmland cultivation of the neighboring private lands.
alam
Ledges State Park, Madrid, Iowa
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN III
ARCHITECTURE X LANDSCAPE
Under the direction of Consuelo Nunez Ciuffa In collaboration with Kailee Quang
The site investigation revealed a contrasting narrative between the state park’s dense, naturally occurring vegetation and the neighboring private farmlands, characterized by flat and repetitive land cultivation. The goal is to connect the pre-existing landscapes by merging three distinct vegetation types, fostering a cohesive environment where they can thrive together.
Rather than disrupting the beauty of the existing ridge, it was incorporated into every aspect of the design process. The most effective designs work with what already exists, continuing to create balance in practice.
Subtractive and additive elements ground the building within both the site and nature, intentionally creating interruptions between the exterior and interior. These elements function as a parasite, allowing the surrounding vegetation to naturally inhabit the space.
Key site considerations include identifying a point of agreement between the contrasting vegetation and orienting the space to encourage deeper movement, accentuating the ravine’s depth.
The massing is placed along the deepest part of the Ledges ravine within the buildable site area, surrounded and enclosed by the thick forest vegetation.
fe y alegría n°34
Design + Build Collaboration
Tacticle Urbanism
Under the direction of Peter Zuroweste
A studio-wide project with ARCH4030 students (ISU) and Universidad Privada del Norte students (UPN)
Fé y Alegría N°34 is a project focused on improving the urban environment and play spaces in Chorrillos. During the Fall 2024 semester, this studio designed and built a shading structure for Fundación Fé y Alegría N°34, a school in Lima, Peru, serving preschool to middle school children. The school and local community expressed the need for better shade on their recreational fields to protect children and parents from the intense equatorial sun. The shading structures offer a place for gathering, relief, and fostering connections.
Students from both Iowa State University and Universidad Privada del Norte built the structure. The project created 175 square meters of shade, providing a space for families and neighbors of Fe y Alegría N°34 to gather.
Chorillos District, Lima, Peru
RDG - BUSSARD COMPETITION FINALIST
SUBSTANCE PRIZE COMPETITION FINALIST
Our project started with a student design competition, the goal was to enhance the urban experience along the NW wall of the school and replace two shade structures near the recreational fields at 175 sqm each. Design constraints included no excavation, a 3m height limit, limited resources from a local shop, and the need for materials to withstand intense UV, coastal moisture, and earthquakes.
The budget was 22,000 soles ($6,000), and designs had to be site-specific and feasible for construction by students in 10 days with little experience.
Each group had 2 Iowa State students and 2–4 UPN third-year architecture students. Over three weeks, the teams collaborated to develop proposals, considering feasibility, budget, schedule, materials, structure, and legal requirements.
The final design combined successful elements from multiple proposals. Grasshopper was used to explore truss designs, and a bamboo structure was chosen, adjusted for regulations and material constraints. Cost limitations led to reducing the structure to two rows of columns, with finalized beams, foundation, and shade details.
Our project schedule included timelines for prefabrication, material procurement, and design finalization.
Each day, 20-40 students helped with construction. Despite setbacks, beams were built, assembly began, and two strong modules were completed. In 10 days, the structural frame and shading were finished, demonstrating adaptability and teamwork under pressure. project master schedule
The original plan included a timeline and task assignments for bamboo cutting, jute work, building elements, site marking, and module construction. Around 140 bamboo stocks were used to build 14 beams, 20 columns, and complete over 300 rod connections.
ISU students contributed about 1,800 work hours on-site, averaging 95 hours each in the first 10 days, requiring strong coordination, teamwork, and communication.
Construction On Site Phasing Diagrams
Phases 1 - 6
Phase 1
Deconstruction & Site
Surveying
Phase 2
Site Layout & Bamboo Cutting
Phase 3
Foundations & Element
Assembly
Phase 4
Module Section Tilt-Up
Phase 5
Beam Installation
Phase 6
Yute Fabric Installation
collecterra Placemaking Access
Resiliency
Under the direction of Bosuk Hur In collaboration with Hao Cao, Truc Nguyen, Sebastian Salamanca, and Olivia Maasdam
Historical Context: This story is familiar: stolen land, oppressive development, and the erasure of a community. In West Baltimore, this persecution manifests as an expressway plan in Maryland, led by Robert Moses, the alleged father of American renewal. The area bounded by North Avenue, Eutaw Place, Calhoun Street, and Lafayette Avenue was once a close-knit, thriving community, but Moses viewed it as an obstacle. His goal was to clear the “black slums” for the white flight of the 60s and 70s. The construction of the highway left a mile-long physical wound where the district once thrived, leaving a haunting memory for those who remember its significance. Today, efforts to right the wrongs of the past remain stalled. However, a new time has arrived with plans to redevelop and regenerate what was lost.
Our proposal was a community-centered transit hub aims for resilience through design, creating spaces that foster community-building and personal development.
alam
Highway to Nowhere, Baltimore, Maryland
1 reveal Uncover generational truths to identify what needs to be reclaimed
3 adapt Open up the spaces with adaptable outdoor installations
2 relate Finding spatial relationships between the programs
4 contextualize Integrating in the urban context and surrounding building language
The goal is to foster economic development by providing spaces for local businesses and community engagement, creating opportunities throughout the district. To connect with younger generations, childcare services and youth development programs are offered to help build a sense of belonging for the future.
vacancy
Red as all the vacant homes in the area
green space
Green as all the open-public green spaces in the area
master site plan
The goal is to reflect on and honor the communities affected by the highway while celebrating West Baltimore’s culture today. This includes
relative age groups
Each color representing an age group in the area, lack of youth ages
transportation routes
Yellow as car traffic, orange as train line, and red dots as bus stops includes reparations and potential development opportunities.
This proposal seeks to reclaim space for the Black community by creating a connected, covered space that integrates various elements, forming a cohesive and dynamic environment for activities.
Featuring a single unified form with different elements integrated into it, it allows for flexibility at a smaller scale while maintaining a systematic structure at a larger scale.
The courtyard typology is adapted, expanded, and woven into the surrounding urban fabric, transforming the residual space within the street block into a vibrant area that fosters a rich synergy of activities.
The housing options aim to create a sense of ownership for families of all sizes, focusing on community development and economic growth. The design process centers on preventing gentrification and honoring the culture and history of West Baltimore. Key goals include reconnecting neighborhoods, supporting local economic opportunities, and ensuring affordable housing.
The plan emphasizes landscaping, energy efficiency, and providing education and workforce training, particularly for young people. Transit, air quality, and water efficiency will also be key considerations. Partnerships with local institutions and services like childcare, employment, and study spaces will help meet community needs.
transit hub
community center housing
publication
Education and the City Equitable Development Alternative Programmings
Under the direction of Tim Ganey
In collaboration with Tyler White
The concept of ‘edutopia’ offers a framework for assessing how cities shape education by considering their historical role in the development of educational spaces. This perspective prompts exploration of various themes, strategies, and design ideas for transforming cities into more effective facilitators of education at multiple levels.
Education is viewed as a spatial practice, meaning the physical locations where learning takes place, such as traditional public schools, educational third spaces (like libraries, community centers, and daycare), and adjacent facilities (such as museums, bookstores, and tutoring centers).
By examining education as a spatial practice, the focus shifts from its role in socialization to the movement between and within educational spaces. This involves investigating the historical development of these spaces and how they shape the social lives of the communities they serve. The design and accessibility of these spaces have often been influenced by exclusionary factors, such as enrollment limits, age restrictions, and specializations, which contribute to inequalities in access to education.
Portland, Oregon
NOMA FUTURE FACES FELLOWSHIP
andrea muchori
education
Iowa State University College of Design, Ames, Iowa
a current fifth-year student working towards a Bachelor’s of Architecture, a five-year program
achievements
• NOMA Future Faces Fellow
• SOM Winter Shadow
• HOK Design Scholar
• Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholar
• RDG - Bussard Student Design Competition
Finalist
• DLR Group Student Design Competition
Finalist
• George Washington-Carver Scholar
• Anne E. Lightfoot Internship Scholar
• Full Honors Student
• Dean’s List
skills
PROFESSIONAL
• diagramming
• hand-sketching
• communicating
• reliable
leadership
NOMAS
TECHNICAL
• adobe creative suite
• rhinoceros 3d
• autodesk suite microsoft suite
• 2024/25 Chapter President
• 2024 NOMA Future Faces Fellow
• 2023/24 Public Relations & Secretary
references
CONSUELO
NUNEZ CIUFFA
Associate Professor of Practice
consuelo@iastate.edu
Iowa State University
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
E andreamuchori@gmail.com
L www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-muchori
T 515-802-5604
experience
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)
Winter Shadowship Program in New York City, New York, USA
January 2025
• Engaged with various teams across multiple disciplines - Communications, Planning, Structural Engineering, Architecture Design, and Model Making
• Gained valuable insights into different roles and processes through shadowing design professionals, enhancing the ability to observe, learn, and adapt to different working environments
DLR GROUP
Architectural Design Intern in Portland, Oregon
June 2024 - December 2024 created schematic drawings for the predesign phase, attended client meetings and architectural design internal meetings for a local police headquarter project
• completed a summer scholar research project that focused on the historic and systemic racist planning policies used in the Portland Public School District
Neumann Monson Architects
Architectural Design Intern in Iowa City, Iowa
May - August 2023 , December - January 2024
• produced competition graphics and construction documents
• assisted in the ideation and schematic design of a commercial office renovation edited visuals for client presentations, company media-marketing, and internal graphic standards
Iowa State University’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Student Innitiatives Assistant in Ames, Iowa, USA
January - May 2021
• Provided office support across various functions, including creating documentation, designing office graphics, and brainstorming ideas for potential student programs
extracurricular
Summer Scholar Research Project in Portland, Oregon
June - December 2024
• Created a comphrenshive document that The project covers urban planning, history, and education
• Explored historical context, key events, and their impact, highlighting current projects and evaluating Portland’s current educational landscape
Study Abroad Program in Rome, Italy
January - May 2024
TIM GANEY
DLR Group
Global Design Leader
tganey@dlrgroup.com
• Studied abroad in Rome, gaining valuable cultural insights and design perspectives while building confidence and industry connections through classes taught by Italian instructors and collaboration with art and design professionals.
