Undergraduate Portfolio [Third Year] - Ben Romo

Ben Romo

Portfolio 2023

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MicroHome Design

Marketplace Design

Urban Design

p.02-07

p.08-13

p.14-19

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01 - Guryong Shed Buildner Architecture Competitions Microhome Summer 2023 Softwares: Revit, Rhino, AutoCad, AdobeCreativeSuites

Within one of the highest carbon emitting cities in the world, in one of its wealthiest districts, lies the slums of the city.

Guryong Village, Seoul, South Korea defines the nature of the socio-economic crisis in South Korea. In Guryong, the people live in homes made from retired pieces of scraps like wood, metal, or any other accessible materials. Nonetheless, the people of Guryong wake up to the rising sun and sleep when it sets. Their tenacity is reflected in supporting their families with professional jobs, regardless of their humble living situation. The goal of this project is to give the underappreciated, deserving people of Guryong a better place to support their family, while halting the environmental

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Photos Via The Guardian and PhMuseum

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Materiality: Guryong is set at the foot of Mt. Guryong right off the edge of a lush pine forest, making pine a prime material. Pine is utilized in the framing and finish. However, there are limitations to the number of trees one can cut.

Using recycled pieces of old Guryong, one can reduce the number of trees used. Unusable wood scraps become essential building components when recycled to create wood fifiber insulation and plywood. Also, the abundance of old concrete in the village can be reused for concrete components of the house.

Concrete Shingles

Passivity: Seoul experiences a year-round weather change, which makes passivity diffifficult but not impossible. In the summer, the roof ’s long overhang blocks sun from entering upper clerestory windows, while allowing light to enter the lower ones for prime light in the living areas. The short axis of the house faces the westward prevailing winds of the area. The bifold doors, when opened, allow a suffifficient cross breeze for cooling and close tight in the winter. In the winter, the angle of the sun is much lower. This allows all levels of clerestory windows to bring warmth into the home. The thick walls, stuffffed with wood fifiber insulation, maintain its constant temperature.

140x291 mm beams

PSL int. Finish

Wood Fiber Plywood Stucco ext.

Insulation Finish

Roof Beams + Girders

Ground Floor + Loft

Concrete Foundation

19x184 mm facia 610x610 CLT Columns 38x39 mm studs Fresh Water Collection

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Ground Floor Plan:

Loft Floor Plan:

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Lateral Section:

Interior Prespectives:

Longitudinal Section:

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02 - Exo-S University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Urbana Marketplace Spring 2022 Softwares: Revit, AutoCad, Rhino, AdobeCreativeSuites

Given a random verb (connect, bend, stretch, or fold), we were given the task to create conceptual models from said given verbs. From ‘connect’, a free standing rib like structure was designed using triangular forms to mold space and cross bracing for stability. With a triangular shaped site, three spaces were conceived radiating to each corner from a central pentagon. Each leg has an associated program which includes different products and employee spaces. The form that is created by the triangular ribbing allows a mezzanine floor in each leg that not only provides access to the upper floors of the pentagon but also shelters market stalls. The rib structural system acts as an exo-skeleton and emphasizes its exposure as an architectural expression.

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South East Axon:

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North Elevation:

South Elevation:

Fourth Floor ( Bar and Grill)

Third Floor (Cafeteria)

Second Floor (Fresh Produce)

Ground Floor (Meat, dairy, seafood, and handcrafts)

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Ground Floor: Meat & Dairy Seafood

Second Floor:

Third Floor:

Fresh Produce Handcrafts

Fourth Floor:

Longitudinal Section:

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Ground Ground Floor: Floor:

FourthFloor: FourthFloor:

Level 4 Level 3 Level 2

Level 1 13

03 - Albany Media Hub University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library of Things Fall 2023 Softwares: Revit, Rhino, AdobeCreativeSuites

A neighborhood rich in history and diversity. Albany Park was once a farming community before being annexed by Chicago. With the introduction of the train system, the neighborhood urbanized and became what we know today: a cohesive community of Asian, Latin, and American cultures centralized around the Kimball brown line station. Today, the neighborhood is known as one of the most racially diverse communities in the United States. To keep these distinct cultures connected to home and their community, spaces are provided to borrow literature from around the world, listen and share information, and even create your own media.

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Neighboorhood Portrait:

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Interior Collage:

Lawrence Ave. Elevation:

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Ground Floor Plan:

Mezzanine Plan:

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Reading Room Rend:

Print Storage Rend:

Lateral Section:

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Thank You