Architecture Selected Works 2021 / 2024 FAU School of
Presented by Joel Rojas
WELCOME
Hello everyone, I am
Joel Rojas
As a versatile creative professional, I’m deeply engaged in diverse artistic pursuits, from design and digital art to sculpting, painting, drawing, and sketching. With a strong work ethic emphasizing punctuality and dedication, I approach tasks diligently, striving to exceed expectations. Committed to growth in architecture and design, I foster proactive collaboration within teams while relentlessly pursuing knowledge from peers and seasoned professionals, driven by an unwavering dedication to excellence.
FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY
Bachelor of Architecture ,
Expected Graduation May 2024
FALL 2021- SPRING 2024
Studying for a Bachelor of Architecture at Florida Atlantic University, set to graduate in May 2024. This program enhanced my understanding of architectural principles, refines teamwork, and advances skills in computational design, building codes, 3D modeling, and environmental and site analysis.
HARPIAN HARMONIES
Resonating Melodies in New Orleans
Concept Statement and Morphology
Joel Antonio Rojas
Prof. John Clark
Studio 6
Spring 2022
Nestled adjacent to Harmony Circle at the intersection of Harmony Circle, St. Charles Avenue, and Andrew Higgins Boulevard in New Orleans, my architectural vision takes inspiration from the musical nuances of the harp, translating its essence into architectural form. This pivotal crossroads serves as the backdrop for a design narrative that seamlessly integrates outdoor roof gardens and expansive exhibition spaces. The curvilinear structure, shaped in response to the site’s topography and climate, pays homage to Bartheleme Lafon’s principles while mirroring the fluidity of the harp’s design. Embracing graceful ramps and interconnected pathways, the design harmoniously links Camp Street with the main thoroughfares, respecting and enhancing the area’s character. Evoking the harp’s qualities of motion, rhythm, and interconnectedness, this design strives to compose an urban symphony—a poetic tribute that resonates with the spirit of New Orleans, inviting all to partake in its fluid melodies and graceful resonance.
Exploded Axonometric
Exploded Axonometric
scale 1/20”=1’0”
scale 1/20”=1’0”
The floor plans and sections provide a comprehensive depiction of the community center’s layout and circulation, showcasing the integration of diverse spaces including a library, offices, music studios, open exhibition areas, rooftop gardens, a lobby, auditorium, and cafe/restaurants. They emphasize seamless flow, echoing site integration with St. Charles Avenue and Camp Street, capturing New Orleans’ pedestrian-friendly vibe
TRAILS IN MOTION
Cacoon Tower with Generative Facade
Positioned along New York City’s vibrant High Line, nestled between the bustling streets of West 15th and West 14th facing 10th Avenue, my envisioned 20-story tower serves as a testament to the embodiment of stigmergy principles—embracing the dynamic behaviors of branching, contracting, and optimizing. Employing the prowess of computational design, my innovative approach intricately weaves together 3D explorations and agent-based connections to 3D point attractors, mirroring nature’s organic stimuli like food sources to manifest stigmergy behavior within architectural constructs. This computational prowess translates into trails depicted as elegant vector lines, seamlessly etched into the facade, nurturing an environment conducive to self-optimization, enhancing connectivity to the High Line and its vibrant surroundings. Internally, the interplay among diverse organisms influencing trail sizes results in a tapestry of spatial intricacies, offering respite in shaded pockets and a rich tapestry of circulation routes. The design ethos reverberates with the harmony of architectural elements and stigmergy principles, propelled by the innovation inherent in computational techniques, forging a symbiotic union within the fabric of the urban landscape.
The study of slime mold behavior and stigmergy principles unveiled adaptability, complex form emergence, and local interaction impacts. Employing an optimization approach in Stage 5 experiments, adjusting parameters revealed optimal combinations across 8 stages. Human movement notably shaped various spaces in diagram variations, informing the Self-Organizing Map (SOM) with five chosen matrices. This study’s culmination led to 3D explorations utilizing 3D point emitters, generating organic shapes within spatial dimensions. These explorations informed design space visualizations, facilitating a 3D analysis through 2-point perspective views, elucidating intentions in the optimization process.
Vector Explorations of growth in 3-dimensional forms
Vector Explorations of growth in 3-dimensional forms
Vector Explorations of growth in 3-dimensional forms
Vector Explorations of growth in 3-dimensional forms
The 3-D meshes show vector and point attractors contract and retract against each optimal transportation and food network for the system to properly operate.
The 3-D meshes show vector and point attractors contract and retract against each optimal transportation and food network for the system to properly operate.
The 3-D meshes show vector and point attractors contract and retract against each optimal transportation and food network for the system to properly operate.
The 3-D meshes show vector and point attractors contract and retract against each optimal transportation and food network for the system to properly operate.
Drawing inspiration from three pivotal perspectives—The Highline, the Hudson River, and the dynamic 10th Avenue corridor—the selected site offers a multitude of connections and thoroughfares catering to both pedestrian flow and vehicular traffic within the vicinity. The envisioned hotel establishment stands to inhabit a space seamlessly accessible to all, strategically positioned to act as a hub fostering comfort and serenity within its nodes. Its strategic placement ensures a harmonious convergence of accessibility and tranquility, offering a retreat amidst the vibrant urban landscape, while simultaneously serving as a pivot point for diverse modes of movement and relaxation.
3D - Interior Mesh Explorations
3D - Interior Mesh Explorations
3D - Interior Mesh Explorations
3D - Interior Lumion Render
WYNWOOD COURTYARDS
Revitalizing Miami’s Vibrant Wynwood District
The project, situated in Wynwood, Miami FL, endeavors to seamlessly integrate into the urban fabric by intertwining two essential concepts: Biophilia and Art, creating a unified development that harmonizes with the area’s character and history. This affordable housing complex, an 8-story structure, revolves around the core principles of fostering a connection with nature and celebrating artistic expression. Biophilia, inherent in humans, drives the inclusion of interior courtyards across two levels and a lush rooftop garden, offering serene environments amidst greenery to alleviate stress and promote relaxation for both residents and visitors. These green spaces stand as essential oases amidst the city’s rapid urban growth, preserving moments for communal gathering and repose amid ongoing construction, which steadily erodes natural settings. Concurrently, rooted in Wynwood’s artistic heritage, the project envisions these public gardens and ground-floor retail spaces as platforms for local artists to exhibit installations and paintings. Influenced by the area’s history, the architectural aesthetics embody an urban-industrial vibe, with an exposed structural exoskeleton reminiscent of Soho New York’s style, honoring the migration of original art galleries to Wynwood in the late 20th century.
AND PROGRAMATIC ANALYSIS PART 3
My
Wynwood research highlights gentrification and limited green space. Propose affordable housing.
Property details: Parcel ID: 01-3125-000-0110, 013125-000-0120; Zoning: T6-8-0; Land Use: Commercial; Lot Area: 90,800 ft²; Max Building Height: 180 ft.
Facade Layer
(Curtain Walls, Glass Panels, Windows,Glass doors, Storefronts, Brick veener facade)
Structural Layer
(2’x1’ and 2’x2’ Structural columns, W-Beams, Structural steel truss system)
West Facades Proposals
Utilizing a thoughtful integration of features such as roof-like structures over shaded balconies and a natural ventilation system, this design aims to curtail direct southern sunlight exposure while facilitating the movement of hot air upwards and drawing in cooler air through perforated panels. The West Facade plan includes glass windows equipped with a louvered panel system to filter indirect light into the interior corridor. Moreover, the northern portion of the West Facade’s louvered panel balconies will incorporate a blend of louvers and natural ventilation openings, enhancing the overall building’s environmental adaptability and functionality.
West Facade Louvered Panel
Balconies
ECOVISTA HAVEN
Adaptive Reuse, Community-Centric Design
The project aims to revitalize the site at 4785 North Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale by developing an affordable housing complex with two towers. This endeavor involves adaptive reuse of the existing Wells Fargo Building, transforming it into studios with a modified facade, while employing a modular design strategy to arrange units and structural elements efficiently. The primary objectives encompass three key concepts: first, the creation of a range of affordable housing units catering to diverse community needs, with a significant portion allocated for low and moderate-income residents to meet affordable housing goals; second, the implementation of modular construction techniques to expedite building, reduce costs, and allow flexibility for potential future expansion or modifications; and third, the integration of green courtyards on the second floor to promote sustainability, foster a peaceful natural environment, enhance the quality of life for residents, encourage community interaction, and support overall sustainability efforts. The project seeks to address traffic-related challenges while creating a high-quality living environment that promotes sustainability and community engagement in Fort Lauderdale.
B1-: Boulevard Business
