antonio vergara

“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.”

Antonio Vergara

+1 (416) 435-0677 antonio.vergara@mail.utoronto.ca avergararuiz@gmail.com

From: Lima, Peru

Based in: Toronto, ON

Student Membership: OAA, RAIC, TSA contact

Daniels Faculty of Architecture

University of Toronto

Education

Experience

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

+ Architectural Intern. Panama City, Panama

Larkin Architects

Re-create Studio

May 2023 - Aug. 2023

July 2022 - Sept. 2022

+ Architectural Assistant. Toronto, ON, Canada

Sept. 2020 - Nov. 2020

+ Student Intern. Madrid, Spain. Brussels, Belgium

GNS Architects

+ Student Intern. Brussels, Belgium

Software

July 2020 - Aug. 2020

+ Rhino 3D, Grasshopper, AutoCAD, Revit, V-Ray, Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, ArcGIS, Lumion. Model-making

+ Laser Cutting, 3D Printing, CNC Milling, Woodworking, Casting.

Languages

+ English

+ Spanish

+ French skills

2020 - 2024 Native Native Work Proficiency

01 02 03

07 sanctuary Protection or safe place.

Adaptability

The quality of being able to adjust to new conditions.

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

Duality

An instance of opposition or contrast between two concepts.

Parametric

Design based on algorithmic processes rather than direct manipulation.

Habitat

The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.

Urbanism

The way of life of cities and towns.

Campus

The grounds and buildings of a university or college. 08

6-17

18-21

22-25

26-33

34-37

38-43 44-45 46-49

Protection or safe place.

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, 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.

Students in the cafeteria atrium can enjoy looking out onto the beautiful ravine below known as Philosophers Walk.

Circulation

The building is elevated on pilotis to allow for optimal circulation for pedestrians on the ground level. As such, this open-concept layout allows students moving between classes to traverse the site with ease while protected from rain and snow.

longitudinal section cross section manually-adjustable louvers

+/- natural light

+/- views

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

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.

02. Adaptability

The quality of being able to adjust to new conditions.

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.

03. Waves

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

This study space within the University of Toronto’s downtown campus embodies 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 while studying, researching and 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 from the side openings and large skylight above.

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.

04. Duality

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.

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.

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 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.

1:10

05. Parametric

Design based on algorithmic processes rather than direct manipulation.

Exploring the endless possibilities of computational design, a parametric tower was developed using an algorithm produced with 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, the need for efficient and 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. The result is a state-of-the-art development known as the Diamond Tower, the newest and most exclusive high-rise residential and office building within Toronto’s financial district.

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.

The glass facade structural columns metal frames spire roof floors

06. Habitat

Large packs of llamas and alpacas, originally from the Andean region of Peru, have recently been displaced around various regions of the globe to face adverse climates. In response to the growing stress and hyperthermia that llamas and alpacas endure due to excessive heat and humidity of the Southern US region, Project Llama seeks to provide a shelter for these displaced animals that find themselves battling for survival. This architectural intervention is successful in creating a new habitat that features abundant cooling techniques proven to be effective. Inspired by the vernacular hacienda-style architecture of the South, the building is able to generate a microclimate through passive cooling system composed of thick clay walls for insulation, high ceilings, small louvered windows and rotating doors allowing for cross-ventilation. The lush vegetation, interior courtyard with a pool, drinking and shearing stations also directly benefit these animals.

This isometric drawing shows the interaction between animals and building. It shows how llamas and alpacas can use the space, creating a new habitat away from home. It also depicts the successful integration of vernacular hacienda-style architecture with a modern twist.

While developing this project, a website was created to share the ways in which Project Llama is working towards improving the quality of life of these animals, and future projects in the works! Check out: https://sites.google.com/view/projectllama.

Seven different stations have been identified within the layout of this architectural intervention. They serve the purposes of cooling, shearing, drinking, feeding, moving, and resting.

5 stables lush vegetation pool drinking station shearing station animal threshold

7 sprinkler system

07. Urbanism

The way of life of cities and towns.

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.

08. Campus

The grounds and buildings of a university or college. INADEH Campus | Credits to Mallol Arquitectos | Summer 2023 | Professional Internship| Tocumen, Panama City, Panama kiosk design recyclable materials benches design parametric benches

The INADEH (National Institute of Professional Training for Human Development) is a college in Panama that aims to nurture, educate and develop young professionals with technical skills and applicable capacities to prepare them for the workforce. It mainly tailors to lower income sectors of the population given its location in an impoverished sector called Tocumen, in the outskirts of Panama City. As part of the Comprehensive Transformation and Improvement Plan, INADEH commissioned Mallol Arquitectos, a leading architectural firm of the region, to develop a new masterplan for the campus. Working alongside the design team of Mallol, I helped with 3D modeling of the masterplan on Rhino, particularly with the canopy design and entrance guardhouse. On a smaller scale, I developed a series of recyclable kiosks for students to sell their products made in their courses, and parametric benches to be placed all across the campus.

In order to reduce their carbon footprint and make their campus eco-friendly, the clients required that several furniture pieces were made from recyclable materials. As such, both the kiosk and benches were designed using high-density polyethylene (HDPE) - sheets made by compressing recycled plastic.

The bench design was achieved through changing parameters of a simple Grasshopper script. Here, we can see two prototypes for benches and a prototype for a front desk, also made out of HDPE sheets outsourced from Clandestino Labs.

antonio vergara

Education

Experience

Adaptability

Duality

Parametric

Habitat

Urbanism

Campus

Circulation

02.

Adaptability

03.

Waves

Concept

04.

Duality

05.

Parametric

06.

Habitat

07.

Urbanism

08.

Campus

This article is from:

Portfolio - Antonio Vergara