Selected Works by Daniela Ferrari

Selected Works by Daniela Ferrari

Visitor Center

p.[1-6]

Collective Housing

p.[7-12]

L.A. Masterplan

p.[13-16]

Community Center

p.[17-22]

Professional Work

p.[23-30]

Hidden History Visitor Center

Location: Jefferson Island, Louisiana

Type : Educational, Cultural, Civic

Course : Landscape studio 2021, Professor Carrie Norman

The Jefferson Island visitor center resembles the sense of concealed history that is distinctive to the site and its story. Jefferson Island is characterized by its unique geological feature known as a salt dome. In 1980, during an oil drilling operation, the salt dome was punctured, causing a massive whirlpool in Lake Peigneur that swallowed over 65 acres of its surrounding territory. Today, Jefferson Island draws visitors with its exotic gardens, cafe, and scenic landscapes, but its hidden history remains unknown to many.

The design concept acts as a metaphor and mimics the concealed history of the site by carving a seamless slit in the landscape. The project takes the visitor from the highest point of the site all the way through to Lake Peigneur, while simultaneously unveiling its history. The goal of the project is to provide visitors with an immersive experience that honors the island’s rich history while harmonizing with its unique landscape.

Initial Volume

Seamless Slit

Plaza Opening

Axonometric view

Perpsective view from river

Metahome Collective Housing

Location: New Orleans, Louisiana

Type : Residential, Recreational; 33,000 sq ft

Course : Housing studio 2021, Professor Margarita Jover

This collective housing project explores the concept of a “Metahome,” designed to provide shared spaces for a community with common interests. This project aims to efficiently increase urban density while simultaneously giving back to the city through its public amenities.

Tailored for a dynamic wellness community, this project is situated within the perimeter of an urban block, and features 72 private residences alongside public wellness amenities and retail spaces. The residential units are concentrated on the upper levels, interwoven with private communal spaces exclusively for residents. A central void, featuring a running track, acts as a clear divide between public and private domains. The lower levels engage with the surrounding city, offering a variety of sports and wellness facilities that foster interaction with the broader community

SplitinVolume StructuralSupport

Unit Type A

912 sq ft 2 bedrooms

Unit Type B

1824 sq ft

3 bedrooms

Running Track Plan

L.A. Masterplan

Location: Los Angeles, California

Type : Residential, Recreational, Cultural

Course : Urban studio 2022, Professor Ruben Garcia

Partner : Jace Ambwani

This masterplan project near downtown Los Angeles embraces Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) principles to address the city’s prevalent issues with car dependency and traffic congestion. By strategically locating and shaping mid- to low-rise, mixed-use spaces, our design encourages walking, cycling, and creates an engaging, human-scale urban landscape. This approach not only reduces reliance on cars but also promotes a vibrant, accessible urban environment. Our aim is to redefine commuting in Los Angeles by creating a streetscape that enhances connectivity, sustainability, and community engagement within the site.

L.A. Community Center

Location: Los Angeles, California

Type : Adaptive reuse, Educational, Cultural

Course : Urban Studio 2021, Professor Ruben Garcia

Located amid many of Los Angeles’s culturally significant enclaves, the Community Center is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the city’s rich culture. For this project, a previously existing warehouse building has been re-adapted into a multifaceted facility. The center comprises two distinct wings: one serving as a market and exhibition space, and the other as a dynamic community hub featuring an auditorium, open study areas, a computer lab, and more.

The building’s open layout, high ceilings, and expansive floor space offer flexibility for accommodating various activities ranging from art exhibitions and cultural events to workshops and performance venues. With its comprehensive range of amenities, this project is designed to facilitate and nurture creativity, learning, and cultural exchange within the community.

Pre-existing conditions create barrier between pedestrian zones Removal of central portion of building

Courtyard as gateway between pedestrian zones Bridges promote circulation between buildings

Image and design by Escobedo Group

Elliptical Staircase

Location: Austin, Texas

Type : High-End Residential, Parametric Design

Designer : Escobedo Group

In this project, I was responsible for modeling and rendering a complex elliptical staircase, with a specific focus on the baluster design. While I did not design the staircase itself, I contributed design ideas for the balusters and optimized the iterative process using Rhino and Grasshopper to streamline the modeling workflow. By leveraging Grasshopper for parametric modeling, I made the design process more efficient, enabling rapid adjustments to the baluster layout, spacing, and form. This approach allowed me to adapt the workflow to efficiently respond to fast-paced, demanding deadlines, ensuring that changes driven by client feedback could be implemented quickly.

To ensure constructability, I collaborated with the fabrication team to gather insights on material implications and construction methods, which informed and guided the modeling process.

Scheme

Scheme B

Scheme C

Efficiency

Eliminates the need for manual calculations or adjustments, streamlining the design process.

Automated Baluster Placement

Input a 2D profile, and the script automatically generates 3D balusters and posts, arranging them precisely along the railing.

A2.24 STAIR DETAILS

A2.25

A3.1 WALL SECTIONS

A3.2 WALL SECTIONS

A3.3 WALL SECTIONS

A3.4 WALL SECTIONS

A3.5 WALL SECTIONS

A3.6 WALL SECTIONS

A3.7 WALL SECTIONS

A3.8 WALL SECTIONS GYM & CABANA

A3.9 WALL SECTIONS GYM & CABANA

A4.13

INTERIOR DOOR DETAILS

A4.14 INTERIOR DOOR DETAILS

A4.15 INTERIOR DOOR DETAILS

A4.16 INTERIOR DOOR DETAILS

A4.17 INTERIOR DOOR DETAILS

A4.18 INTERIOR DOOR DETAILS

A4.19 INTERIOR DOOR DETAILS

A4.20 INTERIOR DOOR DETAILS

A4.21 INTERIOR DOOR DETAILS

A4.22 INTERIOR DOOR DETAILS

A4.23 INTERIOR DOOR DETAILS

A5.0 FINISH SCHEDULES

A5.1 INTERIOR ELEVATIONS

A5.2

INTERIOR ELEVATIONS

A5.3 INTERIOR ELEVATIONS

Drawing by McAlpine House

INTERIOR ELEVATIONS

INTERIOR ELEVATIONS A5.47

A6.1 CABINET SECTIONS

A6.2 CABINET SECTIONS

A6.3 CABINET SECTIONS

A6.4 CABINET SECTIONS

A6.5 CABINET SECTIONS

A6.6 CABINET SECTIONS

A6.7 CABINET SECTIONS

E1.1 MAIN FLOOR KEY ELECTRICAL PLAN

E1.2 MAIN FLOOR ELECTRICAL PLAN

E1.3 MAIN FLOOR AND GARAGE ELECTRICAL PLANS

E1.4 SOUTH GARAGE AND SHOW GARAGE ELECTRICAL PLAN

E1.5 GYM AND CABANA ELECTRICAL PLAN

E1.6 SECOND FLOOR ELECTRICAL PLAN

E1.7 MASTER WING AND STAFF OFFICE ELECTRICAL PLAN

E1.8 BASEMENT LEVEL ELECTRICAL PLAN

Single-Family Home

Location: Austin, Texas

Type : High-End Residential, Parametric Design, Panelized System

Architect : McAlpine House, Kaiser Trabue

Builder : Escobedo Group

For this large-scale, single-family residence, designed by external consultant architects, I have been responsible for coordinating information from a range of consultants, including architects, landscape architects, structural engineers, and MEP engineers, to ensure an integrated design and streamline the construction process.

I collaborate closely with the fabrication division, translating the design into a constructible, panelized system, and facilitating the fabrication and construction process, while preserving the design intent and the client’s vision.

This coordination is managed through a BIM environment (Revit), where I consolidate the 3D model and its corresponding data to ensure all systems come together seamlessly.

From the model, I also extract information for budgetary estimates and inventory management, and produce construction documentation for field use that consolidates design intent with practical construction solutions. To see our work come to life and gain further understanding of fieldwork, I have participated in site visits to observe concrete work and panel installation for the first phase of the project.