Issuu

2024 antonio vergara 1

architecture portfolio

00. antonio “As an aspiring architect, I strive to explore the potential of sustainable vernacular architecture in the form of affordable housing for marginalized communities. I want to challenge the current notions of architecture as being for the top 1%, rather using it as a means to mitigate poverty, the current housing crises and environmental challenges that developing countries, such as my own, face today.”

contact

Antonio Vergara +1 (416) 435-0677 antonio.vergara@mail.utoronto.ca avergararuiz@gmail.com From: Lima, Peru Based in: Toronto, ON

Daniels Faculty of Architecture 2020 - 2024

University of Toronto

experience

education

BA (Hons). Architectural Studies, Design Specialist + Minor in Human Geography + Certificate of Sustainability + Certificate of Global Studies + Dean’s List (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) + CGPA: 3.78 + Orientation Leader, Student Mentor, AVSSU (Student Union) Panelist

Mallol Arquitectos

May 2023 - Aug. 2023

+ Architectural Intern. Panama City, Panama July 2022 - Sept. 2022

Larkin Architects

+ Architectural Assistant. Toronto, ON, Canada Sept. 2020 - Nov. 2020

Re-create Studio

+ Student Intern. Madrid, Spain. Brussels, Belgium July 2020 - Aug. 2020

GNS Architects

+ Student Intern. Brussels, Belgium

Software + Rhino 3D, Grasshopper, AutoCAD, Revit, V-Ray, Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, ArcGIS, Lumion. Model-making + Laser Cutting, 3D Printing, CNC Milling, Woodworking, Casting.

skills

Languages + English

Native

+ Spanish

Native

+ French

Work Proficiency

curriculum vitae 3

01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08

sanctuary Protection or safe place.

adaptability The quality of being able to adjust to new conditions.

void There is no solid without a void and vice versa.

duality An instance of opposition or contrast between two concepts.

materiality The quality or character of being material or composed of matter.

waves Movement with an undulating motion that remains fixed to one point.

parametric Design based on algorithmic processes rather than direct manipulation.

urbanism The way of life of cities and towns.

6-15 16-19 20-23 24-31 32-35 36-41 42-45 46-49

table of contents 5

Leading a proposal to build new student housing for the University of Toronto campus, this state-of-the-art residence becomes a sanctuary of green areas, sports courts and gathering spaces that foster community and improve the mental health and well-being of 350 students. In terms of its architecture, the project explores the themes of public engagement and circulation, the duality of solid and void, and the aggregation of units. Furthermore, the addition of an adjustable louvered facade empowers students to adapt their units to their liking by tailoring views and natural light and enhancing privacy, while also giving a sense of dynamism to the design. The building features three large atriums (voids) created from the subtraction of units that accomodate a cafeteria, library, and a vertical garden with terraces to enjoy the views of downtown Toronto.

isometric

site Adjacent to Philosopher’s walk, students in the cafeteria atrium can enjoy looking out to the beautiful ravine below.

site plan

circulation The building is elevated on pilotis to allow for a free circulation of pedestrians on the ground level. As such, this open-concept ground floor allows students going to and from class can traverse the site with ease and can even be protected from rain and snow during Toronto’s crude winters.

ground floor plan

floor plans

rooftop site

extrude ninth floor

voids

fourth floor

pilotis

second floor

dynamic louvered facade

concept diagram

below grade

longitudinal section

manually-adjustable louvers +/- natural light +/- views +/- privacy

cross section

typical room layout + bedroom + ensuite bathroom + walk-in closet

elevation north elevation north elevation

concept

massing model 1:100

The massing model for this project depicts the adjustable louvered facade and pilotis made out of basswood dowels. We can see less density of the louvers in the three atrium areas of the building allowing for increased natural light and views in these communal gathering areas. Moreover, the rooftop garden receives increased sunlight and fresh air - two aspects proven to improve the mental health and well-being of students.

massing model on site 1:100

In partnership with Lamalif, an NGO that supports the educational development of children within impoverished regions of Morocco, an adaptable bookshelf furniture was designed as a solution to the limited space and lack of furniture to store books in local schools. The design encourages reading and other student activities by engaging with students in a fun and innovative way. Inspired by the accordion, the Qira’a (Arabic for reading), is able to expand and compress depending on its use and environment, creating a unique interior space. As such, it can be placed in interior environments with more limited space as well as in exterior conditions given its resistant, transluscent waterproof material. Replicating the vernacular Moroccan architecture, the colourful arch design empowers the local community by representing the rich heritage of their culture, while also providing a creative solution that successfully meets their needs.

exterior render

interior render

compress

three functions

expand

floor plans

butterfly

exploded isometric

As a preliminary study, I investigated the Row House, designed by renowned architect Tadao Ando in Osaka, Japan. Ando successfully adapts the house to the limited space of the Sumiyoshi District by enclosing and creating three divisions (solid-void-solid). The two solids on either side represent the living spaces, while the void in the center acts as a courtyard that attracts natural light and fresh air - an oasis within the bustling neighbourhood.

exploded isometric

roof plan

second floor plan

first floor plan

front elevation

section A-A

longitudinal section

section D-D

concept model depicting solid - void properties 1:20

interactive model 1) place solid base 2) add void 3) cover with exterior shell

After investigating the precedent of Tadao Ando’s Row House, students were given a narrow site within the highdensity neighbourhood of Kensington Market in Toronto. The Scissor House responds to its context by integrating both a private residence and a street food restaurant within the same space. Given the limited area available, the concept of scissor staircases is implemented in order to maximize the floor space, natural light, and views for the residents and customers alike. As such, both parties share each floor of the house, while still maintaining a sense of privacy and duality that the clients require. Furthermore, through a light-shadow study, a skylight penetrating the whole building and a series of adjustable flaps were created to maximize natural light flowing into the spaces, while still maintaining a sense of privacy from the bohemian neighbourhood.

massing model on site

site

extrude

setback

voids

windows

flaps

private

public

private + stairs

floors

staircases

public + stairs

scissor house

scissor staircases This diagram depicts the concept of scissor staircases - two interlocking stairways providing two separate paths of circulation located within one stairwell enclosure. Scissor stairs are particularly effective at reducing the floor area required for circulation and save on the cost of building two distinct stair enclosures.

elevation The house successfully blends into the landscape given its opaque concrete finishes and low height due to regulations of the area, while also representing a beacon for modernity in a neighbourhood filled with traditional Victorian architecture and masonry facades. The lower-level adjacent to the street opens up as a bar/delivery booth, integrating the public with the private and inviting the Kensington Market residents to try the food.

west elevation

fourth floor

third floor

cross section

second floor

longitudinal section ground floor

isometric

concept model core structure depicting scissor staircases 1:10

massing model to place within neighbourhood context 1:100

Investigating the precedent of the Casa Sobre el Arroyo, the first part of the project consisted of selecting an architectural element of the house and casting it at a 1:1 scale - I chose a staircase railing. Subsequently, in the second stage of the project, a combination of different elements were to form a new creation. Exploring core themes of the residence, from its originality to recent restoration and the constantly evolving nature of the house, the experimentation process was essential to explore new techniques which led to creating new forms and materials. These experiments in deconstruction and reconstruction leaves us with a balancing act. Each piece relies on each other just as the house relies on its architecture.

mould-making

CASA SOBRE EL ARROYO Experiments in deconstruction and reconstruction

exhibition pamphlet

plaster + basswood saw dust

plaster + woodchips, fine bark

mould-making On the previous page we saw a series of exploded isometric drawings that explain the process of casting for different objects. The object above is a part of the staircase railing from the original house. The colours represent different pours to create the voids and fillers to save unnecessary quantities of material.

materiality

plaster + MDF saw dust

Through the experimentation process, a new material was discovered through the mélange of plaster + saw dust. Interestingly, when mixed with plaster, the saw dust generated a chemical reaction that caused the colours and texture to ‘age’ and oxidize. Therefore, while at the pouring stage the mixture resembled a typical pure plaster grain, throughout various days the colour and texture of the object would continuously evolve, representing the constant evolution of the house.

plaster + saw dust at different stages of curing process

Close ups of sculpture with different textures and materiality

Tasked to design a study space within the University of Toronto’s downtown campus, the brief specified the need for light, openness, and flow. Inspired by the concept of waves, an organic form was developed to contrast the rigidity of the conventional rectilinear buildings that exist on campus. Creating a sense of motion and flow, students are invited to explore this eccentric design and interact with it through diverse activities such as studying, researching or reading. The building consists of five floors connected by stairs and bridges, with an outer shell supported by columns. The interior features an open-concept layout with vast natural light entering the premises through the side openings as well as the large skylight above.

isometric

shell facade

columns

floors

composition The building is composed of undulating floors, a large atrium that pierces through the whole building, creating unique pockets for study spaces, and a curvilinear outer shell to enclose the footprint.

exploded isometric

plan

section

concept model 1:100

concept Inspired by the free-form properties of waves, the form was reached by drawing a series of NURBS curves which were then converted to 3D by using the loft command. Then, the contour function was used to further segment the form into additional surfaces. Finally, some of these surfaces were removed to allow natural light to enter the building. The concept model allows us to fully visualize and grasp the unique form of the building.

Exploring the endless possibilities of computational design, a parametric tower was developed through an algorithm using Grasshopper software. The iterative process, made possible through the adjustment of various parameters within the algorithm, allows us to obtain a series of iterations from one base script. With a rapidly evolving architectural scene, and the rising demand for high-rise residences in Toronto and other global cities, the need for prompt continuous development is essential within our field. Parametric architecture allows us to do so by providing adaptable and adjustable designs in minutes rather than re-modelling each tower from scratch. Introducing the Diamond Tower, the newest and most exclusive high-rise development within Toronto’s financial district to date.

diamond tower render

iterations Six different iterations of the tower were created by adjusting the different components and sliders within the algorithm. Parametric design allows us to modify the tower easily rather than modeling the whole tower again from scratch.

spire roof

glass facade

structural columns metal frames

floors

NURBS curve

loft

rotate

array

facade

The NURBS curve is formed using 8 points and determines the geometric base shape of the tower.

The loft between NURBS curves determines the height of the tower (120m). The upper NURBS curve is scaled at the top.

The tower is rotated counter clockwise by 90 degrees at the top.

A series of floor plates are created using the linear array command.

The facade is created through the use of the Voronoi command forming a 3D surface that resembles diamonds.

isometric

In an effort to combat Toronto’s current housing crisis, a series of affordable housing interventions were designed to meet the requirements of the Yellowbelt - an area of land designated as suburban neighbourhoods by the City of Toronto that prevents high-density development. Focusing on the Finch Hydro Corridor, a neighbourhood to the north of Toronto, a series of roof additions were proposed as rental units for each single-family detached house. These units follow their respective roof typologies to stay in line with the architecture of a typical suburban North American nieghbourhood. Furthermore, these units receive vast amounts of sunlight, are adjacent to green spaces and are located at a close proximity to Toronto’s Line 1 subway. This intervention would generate a positive return to the local economy as the owners would make profit while renting at an affordable price for students and young professionals alike.

site plan

1. addition to hip roofs

2. addition to hip + gabled (mixed) roofs

3. addition to gabled roofs

4. addition to contemporary (flat) roofs

typologies Four different roof typologies were identified through field research carried out in the Finch Hydro corridor - hip, gabled, mixed, and contemporary. As such, the roof additions follow their respective typologies.

collage

thank you. gracias.