Arianna Ramirez 2020-2024
This portfolio is a body of work developed during my time at Texas A&M University and at Syracuse University. The work analyzes the role of architecture to provoke engagement in the community and reflect on the culture in which the project is located.
My portfolio is dedicated to my family, friends and faculty who have supported me in the process of curating these projects.
AI4ALL Tower
Midjourney Produced Images
Can a tower be derived from sectional qualities? How can the AI influence the design of the building?
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Rhino//Illustrator//Photoshop//Keyshot Collaboration with Elijah Huggins, Peiying Yang and Martin Cho
AI4ALL is a non-profit organization with the initiative of bringing the knowledge of artificial intelligence to the masses, which includes underrepresented groups and cultures. Building on top of Maguire Gardens, essentially removing a distinct, a public park in LA, the project aims to offset the loss by incorporating a vertical garden that expands throughout the tower and establishes multiple public zones throughout the tower. By establishing a tower that meets the initiative of AI4ALL and targets the social issues presented, the project strives to present a tower that gives back to every group, every age, and everyone as well as incorporating AI within the project.
Personal Contribution: conceptual argument, 3D modeling, floor plans, renderings
Object using concepts from Midjourney
Parti Diagrams
How can Surfside allow homeowners to be on their own timeline in being adaptable for rising sea levels while retaining their place of living?
Rhino//Illustrator//Photoshop
Collaboration with Emma McDevitt
In response to the alarming climate crisis that imposes extreme uncertainty, homeowners of Surfside must find an architectural solution that allows them to reside in their original places of dwelling. This urban strategy emerges in response to the economic, infrastructural, and social needs of a community soon destined to be entirely covered by water. Here we find the potential vision for Surfside’s urban future, while simultaneously honoring and supporting the existing fabric and those who inhabit it. The existing homes must remain, but in order for Surfside to grow and sustain itself, a new medium must be set forth. A lightweight stilt structure elevates a new plane for construction and embeds a floating buoy system. New networks of simplified forms can be quickly constructed through prefabricated elements. The use of prefabricated elements would minimize excessive costs, emphasizing urban feasibility.
Personal Contribution: concept, physical modeling, drawings
Physical Model Photographs
Panel Iterations
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How can the exploration of scale change the representation and construction of architectural ideas?
Rhino//Illustrator//Photoshop//Keyshot
The project focused on the exploration of fundamental techniques of 2D drawing, 3D digital modeling, and digital fabrication as a means of communicating and articulating architectural ideas. As the scale of exploration changes, so do the strategies and tactics for constructing and representing architectural ideas by starting at 1:1 (the panel) and ending at 1:100 (site). Beyond just its fabrication and representation, the panel seeks to resemble a cushion or pillow as a means to convey ‘softness’. Transitioning between scales, the aggregation becomes a seating area for users to sit and converse, ultimately fostering an environment for vulnerablity. The landscape utlized the same conceptual moves as the panel and the aggregation while keeping in mind the composition.
Final Iteration Panel
Test Iteration Panel
scale, representation, experimental
Model Photograph
Site Plan derived from Panel Concepts
Parti Diagrams
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In what ways can the building and site conditions engage with its users?
Rhino//Enscape//Illustrator//Photoshop Collaboration with Austin Patterson
Located on Lot 61 at the Texas A&M University campus, the mass timber educational facility creates opportunities for students to practice their education through programs provided through the proposal. The education center is reflective of the angular pathway that was caused by the main circulation paths prior. To create connectivity as well as user engagement with the building, the angular condition was translated through the floor plan, structure, and systems.
Personal Contribution: floor plans, structure, site development, conceptual argument
Circulation Analysis Transportation Analysis
Bike Rack Analysis Parking Analysis
Section Perspective Render
Structure Render
Structure Framing Diagrams
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What does temporary housing entail? How to make a community for those living there?
Rhino//Illustrator//Photoshop
Collaboration with Samantha Garza and Kaitlyn Senelick
With the expansion of the student population at Texas A&M University, the cost of living, especially housing, rapidly increases leading to homelessness. In collaboration with Salvation Army, the project’s objective is to create a temporary, affordable housing solution for low-income families that are being displaced in the housing crisis in the Brazos Valley area. Modular units were used for prefabrication off-site; shifting the units allows for pockets of gathering spaces such as a community garden to foster social relationships between the residents.
Personal Contribution: floor plans, sections, conceptual image, unit development, site development
Conceptual Image
Loft Iteration 1
Loft Iteration 2
Different iterations were created to accommodate for all family types and sizes as well as arranging different furniture for different layouts
Independent Project - Lamp Shade
Initial Objects used
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How do our own unconscious biases dictate our perception and view of reality?
Rhino//Illustrator//Grasshopper//3D Printer//Metal Work
The Rorschach Test is used to evaluate someone’s psychological projection and to identify any mental illness; but in this project, the test taker gives their perception of what they view. Eyes are the only thing that can ground our view of reality, but when it becomes distorted or skewed, users begin to read between the lines, tricking us to see something others can or can’t see. This project aims to comprehend that our backgrounds and our view of reality influence the way others react.
Stand inkblot
Base inkblot
Every component is its own inkblot that users are able to see, that reveals a different message in each; pieces are not confined to standalone as they can work together to make another inkblot.
Base and Stand inkblot
Ink Blot Study from Lamp
Taken from the top view of the lamp different images are produced by changing contrast with the foreground and background.
YOU SEE?
SPIDER? TEETH?
Graduate Students of Architecture organization at Syracuse Univeristy focuses on the welfare of students in the M.Arch and M.S of Architecture as well as coordinating social events. This year, we are expanding our events to be more inclusive and diverse by including outdoor events and movie nights. As Marketing Director for the organization, my scope involves help plan events, design marketing flyers for the events, and distrubuting across all social media platforms.
