Architecture Portfolio
Andrea Quinones
University
of Virginia School of Architecture
Threaded Ground
Echos of Exchange
Unfolding Layers
01
Threaded Ground
Spring 2025
Richmond, Virginia
Threaded Ground is a building complex with 36 units, designed as a weaving of fragments—landscape, architecture, relationships, and urban life—into a seamless, continuous thread of connection. Situated across a divided site in Richmond, separated by a road, the design stitches together both sides through a continuous curve that acts as both pathway and place. This curve is not simply circulation—it is a spatial narrative that forms courtyards, invites pause, creates connection, and bridges the fragmented city fabric.
At the heart of the project lies its relationship to the green space of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. The design extends the museum’s green space through a courtyard creating a threshold between the spaces. Gardens and a series of courtyards unfold along the building’s curve, integrating movement with landscape and bridging the gap between interior and exterior spaces.
The ground floor is an open, forest-like commons that fosters recreational spaces for young professionals. The experience created by the movement within the complexes allows for a sense of immersion that blurred boundaries and encouraging interaction. With cafés, gathering spaces, a gym, and work areas, it becomes a stage for community life. The green roofs above offer residents moments of solitude in contrast. The project’s connection of spaces through movement and green space, allows for movement to becomes more than functional and gains meaning; where landscape and form are woven together to cultivate presence, belonging, and shared experience.
Axonometric
Sitte Diagrams
Movement
Green Space
Figure Ground
02
Echoes of Exchange
Fall 2023
Charlottesville, Virginia
Echoes of Exchange is a project designed to foster community engagement while responding to the distinct soundscapes of the site. The northern edge, adjacent to the church, offers a tranquil atmosphere, while the southern edge, bordering the Downtown Mall, is characterized by higher levels of noise. To integrate these contrasting environments, I have conceived two buildings that mirror one another, responding to and enhancing the surrounding acoustic conditions. The spatial arrangement is guided by intersecting lines derived from access points and surrounding structures, which inform the geometric organization of the buildings.
The building located near the quieter side of the park houses a library, conference rooms, and study spaces, offering a serene environment for reflection, learning, and collaboration. On the more dynamic side, the second building accommodates a market, dining areas, and a kitchen, creating a vibrant gathering space. The two buildings are conceptually linked, balancing the park’s varied atmospheres.
Both structures feature inclined green roofs that encourage public interaction, with areas designated for community gardening. The produce grown on these roofs can be utilized in the kitchen below, promoting sustainability and local food systems. This thoughtful design integrates acoustics, nature, and community, creating a cohesive and engaging environment for all users.
Unfolding Layers
Fall 2024
Charlottesville, Virginia
Unfolding Layers is a project that responds to the natural topography of the Rivanna River, seamlessly integrating with the landscape to create a structure that gradually steps down toward the water. By following the sites contours, the design unfolds in harmony with its surroundings, inviting users to experience both the beauty of nature and the functionality of the space. Transparency and a central void containing a tree inside the structure invites nature into the space, blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior environments. This connection to the natural world creates a reflective, immersive experience for visitors. Layered platforms above the river provide a space for foragers to admire the flowing water, offering moments of reflection while allowing interaction with the landscape. These platforms also serve a functional purpose, acting as a pier that facilitates access to the river, enabling crossings and further enhancing the site’s relationship with the water. The project aims to bridge the gap between architecture and nature, creating a space that is both a peaceful retreat and a functional structure deeply rooted in its environment.
