Blanca van Elderen Alonso - Architecture Portfolio

blanca van elderen alonso

education

Master in Architecture (MArch) IE University (2023-2024) - (Máster habilitante)

Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture Universidad Politécnica de Madrid - ETSAM. (2017-2023)

Tropical Architecture Program - Bali Institut Desain & Bisnis Bali (August 2022)

Architecture Summer Program - Prague

European Centre for Career Education (July - August 2021)

BIM Basic Course

OFF MIAU Academy. (2021)

Actúa UPM

Competition for innovative entrepreneurs. (2020) Project: Programa(r)

languages

Spanish +Native.

English +C1 Advanced. +TOEFL score 101.

German +A1 Goethe-Zertifikat.

experience

Internship at Chapman Taylor - Prague (August 2021)

Collaboration with Calima Homes

Video rendering of different properties. (2023)

contact

email blvanelderen@gmail.com

blancavanelderen@student.ie.edu

phone +34 67022188

address Poeta Joan Maragall, 60 Madrid

issuu https://issuu.com/blancavanelderen

software

Rhinoceros

Autocad

Illustrator

Grasshopper

Lumion

Photoshop

Indesign

HULC

Revit

about me

I have an unwavering commitment to merging corporate needs with sustainable principles to build resilient and efficient cities.

I constantly look for new experiences that allow me to grow professionally and personally, whether that comes from the best architects in Prague to the bamboo masters in Bali.

Table of contents

01 - Transformation of the Palacio de Congresos

Culinary Center

The transformation and rehabilitation of existing buildings is a fundamental issue in the current architectural debate. One of the aspects that contribute most to the reduction of carbon emissions and, therefore, to sustainable architecture lies precisely in the conservation and adaptation of buildings to contemporary uses without the need to destroy existing structures.

The congress palace and my proposal, a culinary center, share their vocation as public spaces capable of transforming the broader context into which they are inserted. The original grandstand will work as a continuation of the plaza, housing a market, cooking classes for those who want to prepare the food they just purchased, gastronomy labs and so much more. The adjacent buildings programmes are also centered around food, becoming a culinary school and a restaurant that will take you on a journey through Spain’s diverse gastronomy.

The choice of program was influenced by the new intensive use of the Bernabéu Stadium, that is located next to our site. As frequent agglomerations of people are to be expected, I also intervened on the 3 entrances to the complex, creating more comfortable urban spaces that invite you into the building.

Blanca van Elderen Alonso

The initial design of the Palacio de Congresos comprised three interconnected buildings. Buildings A and B constitute the original layout, with building C being added at a later stage.

Given the variation in street levels, access to building A is done via the front plaza, while buildings B and C are accessed through the garden situated between them.

New uses for the complex:

Building A: market, research labs, open classes and auditorium

Building B: culinary school

Building C: restaurat

Bernabéu Stadium

From

From

To

To

- Burnt down wing

- Restore the original volume

- Lost double auditorium

- Recover the original section of the auditorium

Blanca van Elderen Alonso

North elevation

East elevation

Wets elevation

02 - Dune

Leisure infrastructure in La Manga del Mar Menor: a social agglomerator.

The objective of this project was to design common place and meeting point for a community that must be structured through civic activities and enhanced through architecture. La Manga del Mar Menor is a highly dense urban development with almost no public infrastructure, so balancing the demands of tourism with the preservation of local culture and ecosystems is crucial.

“Dune” focuses on architecture not from form and function, but from its conception as infrastructure capable of enhancing social activities and their expression through a place where they become possible and visible.

The location played a major role, as even if it is nestled in natural settings of great symbolism –desert or dune, aridity or wetland– both are extraordinarily artificial, introspective, interior, detached from their surroundings and are a constructed identity for the tourist and their way of life.

Blanca van Elderen Alonso

Agriculture

Silviculture

Mines and quarries

Aquaculture and fishing

Secondary production

Commercial services

Community services

Cultural, leisure services

Transportation networks

Public utility services

Residential

Transition areas

Abandoned areas

Natural areas

Aquatic areas

Unknown

Blanca van Elderen Alonso

first intentions

The goal for this project was to create a visual corridor that allows the pedestrian to enjoy the views of both seas at the same time. The high density of the masterplan and height of the buildins cuts off the view through out the strip, even on sections like this one were the width is only a 100 meters.

program

Due to the overdevelopment of this strip of land, little to no space was reserved for public buildings, such as markets and sports facilities. My proposal divides the program into three bands, locating the pavilions on the two outer ones and framing the view towards the sea.

Blanca van Elderen Alonso

South building:

-1: pool lounge

-2: swimming pool

-3: first aid center

-4: pool filtration system

-5: gym administration

-6: locker rooms

-7: cardio - gym

-8: leg zone

-9: chest/back zone

-10: shoulder zone

-11: arms zone

-12:lounge space

-13: cafeteria

-14: open bicycle parking

03 - Re-imagining Castellana 156

Castellana 156 is a typical building along the Castellana axis. Brick façades with close to no insulation, and very large apartments that are inaccessible to most families due to the rising housing prices.

My objectives for this projects were clear, re-imagining a housing building in that parcel, that had a wider range of apartment typologies, included common spaces accessible to all who live there, and come up with a contructive solution that increases the energy efficiency of the building, that would lower the cost of utility bills.

I settled on charred timber cladding for the façade, following a traditional Japanese wood charring method Shou Sugi Ban, also known as Yakisugi, which gives the charred timber a unique texture, makes it resistant to harsh weather conditions and ensures it is durable over time.

Blanca van Elderen Alonso

Blanca

Housing (1-3 floor)

Paseo de la Castellana

04 - East meets west

With its tropical beauty, rich spirituality, and traditional arts, the island of Bali has drawn to its shores an international tribe of artist, designers, and creative entrepreneurs. Now, as Bali faces the ecological challenges arising from mass tourism and rapid economic development, the visionary tribe has led the way in creating a new kind of environmentally sustainable tropical style, based in natural materials- bamboo, thatch, wood, stone, even mud - and inspired by vernacular forms.

My intention behind this design was to create a balanced harmony between surroundings and architecture, where upon arrival the visitor is immediately struck by the warmth and openness of the spaces. I paid special attention to the positioning of the new buildings, following the concept of Sanga Mandala and Tri Angga.

Lastly, the garden was designed to accomodate topography, incorporating the rice terraces concept, water ponds and local vegetation to preserve the tropical nature of the site.

Blanca van Elderen Alonso

The Arya Balinese architectural form has a simple, stable visual character indicating the existence of unity, harmony, symmetry and balance.

Blanca van Elderen Alonso

Second floor master villa

First floor master villa

Villa 2

Villa 3

Roof - Kepala

Frame - Badan

Topography - Kaki

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