Selected Works 2025

SELECTED WORKS Daniel Jafet Medina A modular index of architectural explorations Adapted per submission March 2025

1

CONTENT

03

Cal Poly Pomona (Spring 2023) Santa Ana Mixed Use Housing

11

Cal Poly Pomona (Fall 2022) Scientist Retreat

18

Cal Poly Pomona (Fall 2022) Lookout Pavilion

23

Cal Poly Pomona (Fall 2021) Museum of Contemporary Japanese Art

27

Cal Poly Pomona (Fall 2023) Water Delegation Center (The Last of Us) Contributors: Chelsea Santos

33

Cal Poly Pomona (Fall 2024) The Baker, The Teacher, And The Librarian Contributors: Batul Jamaly/ Brian Arenas

2

Santa Ana Mixed-Use Housing How can modularity create both economy and experience? This project explores vaulting as a spatial strategy, balancing grandeur with efficiency while fostering communal interactions.

3

101

001

201

202

2

S

204

002

103

205

203

104 23

19

STUDIO

1 BEDROOM

1:1

1:2

Unit Diagram

Units in model 4

19

19

2 BEDROOM/ LIVEWORK 1:3

19

19

3E

A-405

102

A-201 1C

28' - 4"

UP

UP

78' - 1" 24' - 3"

2 A-310

UP

UP

UP

B

UP

2

B

UP

UP

UP

UP UP

.

GROUND FLOOR

5

Ground Level

Plateau Level

A-200

Long Section A

Exterior Visualization 6

NTS

RA-2

WA-1

FA-3

FA-2

Wall Section 2 A-310 7

WALL SECTION TOP

RHEINZINK STANDING SEAM ENKAMAT WATERPROOFING PLY. SHEATHING( CURVED)

2X8 ROOF RAFTER(CURVED)

FLASHING 3 PART STUCCO

CONCEALED GUTTER

CONTROL JOINT BLOCKING WRB

D-5 VAULTED ROOF MEETS EXTERIOR WALL

D-5 Vaulted Roof Meets Exterior Wall

South/East Elevation 8

R-19 W.I

2X6 STUD

Chunk Physical Model Scale: 1/2”= 1’ 9

Scientist Retreat Set in the historic landscape of Mt. Wilson, this retreat celebrates the site’s legacy of discovery and exploration.

Suspended above steep topography, the architecture embraces its natural surroundings through radial circulation that echoes the telescopes onsite. Four structural cores define public and private zones while organizing program. These elements come together around a central gathering space — the symbolic and spatial heart of the retreat — offering scientists a place to work, reflect, and connect with the environment.

10

3FT 567

5673

NO PARKING 2% SLOPE

42% SLOPE

42% SLOPE

42% SLOPE

42% SLOPE

567 3FT

2% SLOPE

2% SLOPE

5663FT

5663FT

5663F T

5673FT 2% SLOPE

2% SLOPE

2% SLOPE

42% SLOPE

40% SLOPE

42% SLOPE

5653FT

565 3FT

5653FT

5653FT

5653FT

3FT 565 FT 53 56

N

Site Plan 11

FT

Aerial view 12

NO PARKING

4’-6”

B

12

1-18

A

DN

5677

5

A

12

8

DN

3

5677

5 4'-6" 4 3

1

2'-0"

2% SLOPE

0'-0" 12

10

4 1-18

1

12

2'-0"

4’-6”

10

0'-0" NO PARKING

B

2% SLOPE

A A

8 2% SLOPE

2% SLOPE

4'-6" 2% SLOPE

2% SLOPE

5667 5667 2% SLOPE

2% SLOPE

2% SLOPE

42% SLOPE

2% SLOPE

2% SLOPE

5657

2% SLOPE

42% SLOPE 40% SLOPE

5657 40% SLOPE

42% SLOPE

42% SLOPE

B B

Ground Level B B

A

5677

9

6

7

1-18

A

-(5’-6”) 6

5677

A

UP 9

7

1-18

UP

-(5’-6”)

5667

1 5667

2 1

11 11

-(5’-6”)

4

2 DN

1-18

-(5’-6”)

5657 5 5657 3

A

DN

1-18

4 5 3

B B

Level -1

13

9. REST ROOM 1. DAY ROOM/KITCHEN 10. DECK 2. BED ROOM 11. MEETING DECK 3. BATHROOM 1.

DAY ROOM/KITCHEN 12.ADA PARKING 9. REST ROOM 4. CLOSET 10. DECK 2.

BED ROOM 13. PRIVATE PARKING 5. SERVICE 11. MEETING DECK 3. BATHROOM 14. STORAGE 6. RESEARCH OFFICE 12.ADA PARKING 15. TRASH 7. RESEARCH LAB 4. CLOSET 13. PRIVATE PARKING 16. LOBBY 8. POWDER ROOM 5. SERVICE 14. STORAGE 6. RESEARCH OFFICE 15. TRASH 7. RESEARCH LAB 16. LOBBY 8. POWDER ROOM

East Elevation

16

1 16

10 13

Section B

14

1. DAY ROOM/KITCHEN 10. DECK 13. PRIVATE PARKING 16. LOBBY/HALLWAYS

RA-01

WA-01

D-1

D-2

FA-01

Wall Section

15

WALL SECTION 1

Exterior Visualization

16

Lookout Pavilion Inspired by the mechanics of a camera lens, this lookout redefines the journey’s end as a spatial experience. Rather than simply framing a view, the architecture becomes the view — extending outward in a cantilever that captures light, shadow, and landscape. Manipulating a simple rectangular volume, the form is rotated and sliced to optimize natural light and directional focus, creating an immersive moment of pause, reflection, and framed perspective.

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SEAMLESS METAL CLADDING

CIRCULATION

POLYCARBONATE PANELS

STRUCTURE

DOUBLE PANED GLASS

System Diagram

18

B

12-24

A

A

12-24

DN

12'-0"

B

Level 2 -12'-0"

B

1-12

DN

UP 12-24

A

7'-7"

6'-0"

UP

1-12

0'-0"

B

Level 1

19

A

RA01

Long Section A

Exterior Render 20

Museum of Contemporary Japanese Art This museum explores the concept of nesting — a space within a space — to create a layered and introspective visitor experience. Circulation weaves along the building’s periphery, engaging with nested gallery voids that vary in light and spatial intensity. The nesting strategy shapes both program and form, organizing galleries, public zones, and support spaces into a cohesive and contemplative architectural journey.

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04

03

02

GROUND

SERVICE AND ART STORAGE SERVICE AND ART STORAGE

MAIN STAIRS AND RAMPS MAIN STAIRS AND RAMPS SUBLEVEL

AUDITORIUM AND CLASSROOM AUDITORIUM AND CLASSROOM

EGRESS CORES EGRESS CORES

ADMINISTRATION ADMINISTRATION LOBBY LOBBY GALLERIES GALLERIES CAFE AND BOOKSTORE CAFE AND BOOKSTORE OUTSIDE SPACE OUTSIDE SPACE

Program Diagram 22

Exterior Render 23

B

C

B

C

DN

UP UP

DN

UP UP

8 1

A

3

7 1

A

2

UP

8 UP

2

3

B

A B

A

4

B

4

4

A

4

5

DN

6 5

UP

DN

5

UP

5

5

B

C

B

C

B

C

Ground Level

DN DN UP

2

A

2

2

B

2

3 8

A B

A

C

DN

DN

DN

UP

B

Level 2 24

UP

5

2 8 B

C

2

9

DN

2

8

DN

UP

2

2

A

2

2

3

2

B

2

3 8

A

A

3

2 1

1

UP

13

DN

10

12

SECTION A SCALE: 1/8” = 1’-0” 1 LOBBY 10 AUDITORIUM 2 GALLERY 11 STAFF OFFICES 3 BOOKSTORE 12 CONFERENCE ROOM 7 PREPARATION ROOM 13 CLASSROOM 8 OUTDOOR PATIO 9 CAFE

25

10

11

B

Long Section A

7

C

1 5 10 10LOBBY 2 GALLERY 3 BOOKSTORE 7 PREPARATION ROOM 8 OUTDOOR PATIO

20 AUDITORIUM 10 11 STAFF OFFICES 12 CONFERENCE ROOM 13 CLASSROOM 9 CAFE

B

B

C

C

DN

DN DN

UP

UP

2

2

B

2

2

A

2

2

8 A

SCALE: 1/8” = 1’-0”

26

A

DN

UP

B

Elevation A A ELEVATION

2

8

A

UP

B

2

3

B

C

0 1

5

10

DN

20

Elevation ELEVATION B B SCALE: 1/8” = 1’-0”

C

0 1

5

10

20

The Last of Us Water rights in the Southwest have long been shaped by opaque and unequal systems. This speculative project imagines a radical alternative: a transparent, community-oriented Water Delegation Center that challenges the bureaucratic norms of water management. Designed through a custom collaborative tool — a turn-based spatial “chessboard” — the process informed every aspect of the project, from circulation to form. The resulting architecture invites public participation into what is traditionally an inaccessible process, advocating for equity, clarity, and design as a political act.

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SECRETARIAT AND ARCHIVE CONFERENCES ASSEMBLY HALL UNPROGRAMMED SPACE CIRCULATION AND OFFICE LANDSCAPE FOUND OBJECTS

Program Diagram

28

Design Tool Created To Facilitate Collaboration The tool works like chess. Using the grid tailored to any project, one designer has a turn to place a piece in a layout that pleases the eye. The other designer can take a turn and either add, subtract, or agree with the move. In order to facilitate collaboration this project was done so in using this experimental tool.

Form/ Architectural Space

Ground Floor First Iteration

29

Direction/ Architectural Moment

Stationary Moment/ Core

Direction/ Circulation

Layout Diagram

Landscape Iteration 1

Iteration 1 (Plan)

Landscape Iteration 2

Iteration 2 (Plan)

For the landscape portion of the project, a move towards a more 3 dimensional layout was required. Using shapes informed by the established language, the board was set to B design the landscape.

+10.5’

+8’

+3.5’

+0’

A

A

-3.5’

-3.5’

Ground Floor B

30

Section A B

SECTION A SCALE: 3/64” = 1’-0”

A

A

Second

SECOND

B B

A

A

B

THIRD

Third 31

Exterior Visualization

Kit-O-Part Model Picture 32

The Baker, The Teacher, And The Librarian This project explores interior urbanism — the idea that leftover and in-between spaces within buildings can become active, public, and meaningful. The program unfolds like a story: books serve as bait, but people are the true protagonists. Geometric forms represent symbolic characters — a triangle for a culinary school, a rectangle for a bakery, an oval for an auditorium — each contributing to a vibrant inner city. Circulation mimics urban flows, and spatial sequencing mirrors narrative structure, inviting users to discover knowledge in unexpected ways.

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Design Tool Created trough Collaboration Iteration #2 Through collaborative model making, the concept of interior urbanism emerged.

Iterative studies led to a process-driven conclusion rooted in spatial experimentation.

The Teacher

The Storyteller

Iteration #3

The Baker

The Librarian

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Conclusion

Resolution

Rising Action

Interior Render

Enclosed Program Vertical Circulation

Circution Diagram

Horizontal Circulation

Introduction

35 Interior render

12

UP

08 09

11

UP

07

10

DN

Market St

DN

UP

UP

06

UP

DN

01

02 UP

01 Bakery 02 Sunken Courtyard 03 Culinary School - Kitchen 04 Outdoor Class/Serving 05 Study Tower 06 Atrium 08 Parking Access

04

10 Bookstore 11 Circulation Core 12 BOH

05

03

Ground

0 4

Manchester Blvd

8

16

UP DN

26

UP DN

DN

DN

UP

23

DN

14

Ground Floor Plan

DN

UP

DN

DN

25

24

Floor 3 Third Floor Plan

36

14 Auditorium 23 General Library 24 Classrooms 25 Study Tower 26 Circulation Core

32

28

23

06 14

17

13 Market St

04

Long Section

tion

37

Exterior Visualization

02

01

NTS

01 Bake 02 Sunk 04 Outd 06 Atriu 13 Socia 14 Audit 17 Gene 23 Gene 28 Stud

38

Interior Urbanism