Javier's Portfolio

Architecture Portfolio

029059114

Javier Perez Rios

Academic Projects

Personal Work

In this assignment I was given a 2d shape and used vanishing points along with the picture plane to get a 3d representation of the object. Using what I learned I also made a section cut in perspective. The information given was a floor plan along with wall and roof heights. With this information I made the section cut. I used HB for the lines and 4B for the shading.

Shape Generation and Hierarchy

Shape generation was an exercise that challenged me to make interesting forms out of lines. The rule was to make lines crossing two existing corners. Out of 60 compositions we had to choose our favorite 6, out of those 6 we chose our most favorite.

We used our most favorite composition to develop a hierarchy. In my composition I noticed an italicized backwards N. I wanted to bring the N out in the hierarchy, to do so I made the N the boldest line. The normal N I wanted a medium line weight to make it stand out as well but not as much as the backwards N. This assignment Made me realize the importance of line weights, and why they are used in drawings

Pen render made me use what I had learned about line weights and apply it to a perspective render. Heavy line weights were used for shade and shadow while the lighter line weights were used for materials in the light. The render is of an open market place.

Design Like Frank Gehry |

Design like Frank Gehry challenged me to think and design like Frank Gehry. He first starts the design process by making simple sketches, out of these sketches he started to develop the facade of the building. I went through the same process as Frank Gehry does for this assignment. I used the sketch made by my group to develop my floor plan. I used the sketch very loosely on the floor plan. I also used the sketch as inspiration for the elevations. Every line drawn is wavy, so I tried to make the walls as wavy as possible. I cut out a pattern on one side to imply an entrance, the building looks more like a building if it has defined entrances.

Floor Plan

Top Down View

Sketchup | Photoshop

Defined space made me think of space in a different way than I once thought of it. I was asked to answer 8 questions after completing a model with a kit of parts.

1. How is space defined?

Space is defined by physical barriers like walls but also can be defined by boundaries like cardboard base implies space.

2. What is the difference between defined and implied space?

Defined space is space that has measurable volume, Implied space doesn’t have measurable volume.

3. How do the choice of parts and the rules established for their usage affect the visual quality of the composition?

The parts allowed to be used are all 3” in length, this influences the composition to follow a grid structure. The variety of parts helps give the composition visual appeal.

4. Are you following the grid system implied by the kit of parts?

I did follow the grid system implied but the kit of parts, I found it hard to stray away from the grid since it made the most sense when building my composition.

5. How are three dimensional things and spaces visually related from the air and within them?

The three dimensional things and spaces are visually related because the space and air takes the space of the three dimensional thing.

6. How can the space implied by the base be strengthened by and integrated into the composition? The composition could strengthen the implied space given by the base by acknowledging the boundaries and working within the space. Also by building on the grid system implied by the base.

7. Are you creating and integrating spaces within and between elements?

Spaces were created within elements by physical barriers, space was also created between elements since they follow a grid system.

8. How is the kit of parts affecting your exploration? The kit of parts affected my exploration by making me think of space in a different way. Also how to define and imply space.

Concept Drawings

North Face

South Face

East Face

West Face

Office Building Model |

Revit

ARCH 24 | Spring 2022

The assignment was to build an office building. My thought process behind this design was to have sunlight enter the building. The office spaces I’ve been in have very little natural lighting. I wanted my design to have more natural than artificial light. To do this I created overlapping roof systems, in between the roof systems I added windows. This will allow diffused light to enter the space. This element is also facing the west to allow morning light in. I believe office workers would appreciate this design choice since the lighting would be more natural. The building was designed with brick veneer on metal stud. The roof is made of corrugated steel panels. I chose brick veneer on metal stud since it meets the fire rating required for the occupancy it’s designed for. I chose corrugated steel panels to give the building an industrial look.

VENEER BRICK 4" x 8"

Sketchup | AutoCAD | Photoshop

3 x 3 x 3 started as a cube 4.5” x 4.5”. With this cube I split it into 6 different pieces. With these 6 pieces I made a composition that had defined space within it. I wanted the composition to have many openings to see in and through it. The model was made with balsa wood which presented a challenge to construct it. The pieces had to follow a grid system or the composition wouldn’t work. When designing the piece in sketch I had to take into account the materials thickness. The drawings were made in AutoCAD to be cut in a laser cutter. Once the individual pieces were made I made the composition I first designed in sketchup.

Accidental discovery was an opportunity to experiment with composition. The task was to make a composition out of a scale model kit. The kit I used was an F-22 Raptor. I cut the wings and the mold branches to make an interesting form. The form looks like 3 triangles inside the wings. We later used these models to pull a parti for a design competition.

The parti I got out of my composition was a bold triangle which represents the three triangles going through the wings. The thin V represents the cut wings. Together it made my parti that I would later use for a design.

Dental Office Design Competition

Sketchup | Lumion | Photoshop

With the parti I pulled from the accidental discovery I used it as a parti in my design for a dental office. I started the design process with a pencil sketch. The columns are inspired by the parti with its diagonal arms. The program for this composition informed us that the site is in an industrial area, knowing that I wanted the design to look industrial. To get this style I used metal and wood. Corrugated steel panels were used and the roof and ceiling in the waiting area. I also wanted to use overhangs to imply an entrance from all angles so the overhang is taller than the rest of the building.

The program wanted 3 operating rooms to be 11’ x 11’ or greater. My design fulfills this requirement. My design also satisfies other requirements like an office room, conference room, 2 restrooms, record room, breakroom, X-ray room, sterilizing room, utility room, and waiting room. The site given was 120’ x 100’.

To get the industrial look I used steel beams for the ceiling system. On top of the beams are corrugated steel panels which are insulated. I believe this gives the building an industrial look to help it fit into the buildings around it.

The program required 5 LEED credits to be fulfilled. I satisfied this requirement with.

1. Heat Island Effect. The whole building is painted in light colors to reduce heat absorption.

2. Cool Roof.

The building is equipped with a cool roof to reduce heat absorption.

3. Insulated Metal Panels.

The panels used for the roof are insulated to reduce heat absorption.

4. Renewable Materials.

The building uses wood throughout the buildings, both structural and as a finish.

5. UV Blocking Windows.

The windows have a film that blocks UV, used to reduce harsh sun light and heat absorption.

Sketechup | Lumion | Photoshop

In this assignment we were asked to make a yoga pavilion in whichever style or material we wanted. I wanted my design to be circular. I wanted a circular pavilion to break away from the traditional yoga class layout. The common yoga studio is a square or rectangle. In these studios you are instructed by a leader in the front and center. I wanted to break away from the norm and do something new. Instead of a square the floor plan is a circle without a center. I did this on purpose to have a more democratic yoga experience. What I mean by this is that instead of being lined in a linear grid you are spaced out in a circle surrounding a center. SInce there is no center there wouldn’t be a leader to follow. The group has the freedom to practice at their own pace or poses they would like to.

The beams and columns are made of glulam as is the center column. The roof is made of corrugated steel panels. Windows are placed to allow in diffused light inside the pavilion.

I started with an octagon and moved the center on top to allow space for the center column. After that I divided the remaining octagon into 8 pieces. These pieces were tilted to show movement.

Vienna Cafe Study Model

Later that semester we entered a design competition in Vienna, Austria. The site was 131 ft x 32 ft. The first design which I first sketch then made it into a physical model is long to fit within the site given. I wanted wood details to give the building a natural look, also to give the facade depth. The white foam core represents white plaster. The foam core helps give the facade depth. I wanted the design to have an outdoor seating area. The outdoor seating is implied by the wood column and beams that are connected to the roof. The model’s scale is ⅛” = 1’. I didn’t end up furthering this concept. I instead chose a different design for my final entry.

I started off with a sketch I drew to see how the sine wave would look as a facade. Pleased with the results I then started to model the wave in Sketchup.

1.First I made a box that fit within the site.

2.I then pulled the wall in to get a single wall 1.5’ thick.

3.I then broke up the wall into columns spaced every 8.5’ O.C.

4.I then placed the sine wave on the column, where the sine wave touched the column and pushed that point in 0.75’.

5.The Columns were rotated counterclockwise 18 degrees.

6.I then cut the columns at 20’.

7.After that I added a front.

8.I also added a side wall, back wall, and ceiling.

Sketchup | Lumion | Photoshop

I wanted to use the sine wave from trig as my parti. I wanted to use the sine wave as a parti because coffee shops are known for being a place for intellectuals and represented a safe and comfortable space to share news, discuss philosophy or politics. Many people who like math will recognise the sine wave in the facade.

The final design has the sine wave in its facade. I didn’t want it to be a very eye-catching element since it would overshadow other parts of the building. It was done very modestly. I also wanted the design to use metal and curtain walls to mimic the buildings around it. The buildings around it are multi-storied with metal and curtain walls. I used metal panels and curtain walls in the facade. I also made the building 20’ feet high to try and blend in with the multi-storied buildings.

The inside of the building there is a lot of wood. I like to use wood in the interior to give the interior a natural cozy feel. In the interior renders you could see the exposed ceiling. You could see criss crossing beams that connect the twisted columns to the side wall. The beams are connected with metal plates. The void space left by the beams gave the form to the ceiling lights. The lights fill in the empty space with their shape and light. All these elements together give the interior an industrial style as does the exterior.

House Topographic Model |

ARCH 40 | Spring 2023

In Arch 40 we were tasked with designing a house. I wanted my house to be in the mountains. To help design a house I made a study model of a house on top of a valley. What I took away from this exploration was that roof rafters would be a good element to be used in my final design. Roof rafters are both functional and could be used for looks. I also want to take the three sided wall design along with the exposed columns on the exterior walls. The exposed columns are both functional and could give the facade depth.

I designed the roof to attach and detach from the rafters. There is a gap in between the triangles that allows the rafter to slide in. I designed it this way to take interior pictures after finishing the model.

CCCAP held a design competition, the design had to promote unity between different backgrounds. In my design I wanted an amphitheater for the community to use. The program wanted usable outdoor space. My design gives a lot of outdoor space to the public for recreation and organized events. The design allows for events to be held in and outside.

The curved glass is reflecting the amphitheater and separates the indoor gathering space with the outdoor gathering space. For the indoor space I wanted sunlight to light up the space so I added skylights. The skylights also bring together the two sloping roofs.

Office Building

| Arch 22 | Spring 2022

Floor Plan

For Arch 22 the class was tasked to design and create construction documents for an office building. I created a floor plan, elevations, sections, ceiling plan, roof plan, window and foundation plans.

Light Chimney Study Model

This project like many others started with a sketch. The project was about making a house of our own design. I decided to make a house out of concrete to reference the brutalist style. At first I wanted two contrasting colors for different levels. In my first sketch I wanted dark concrete for the first floor and light concrete for the second. I changed my mind as I started making the study model.

After having an idea of where I wanted to go with this project I started making a floor plan. To allow the hassle of creating a deleting walls in revit I instead created a new process for making floor plans. I like how easy and dispensable post-its are. I decided to use them to find a floor plan that works. While making the floorplan I wanted a way for light to get in the spaces, I thought about using skylight but then decided to make a hole through both floors. It’s almost like an empty elevator shaft that is made of glass to let light enter both floors. In both pictures to the left you could see the floor plan I made using only post-its. I also put a layer of trace to develop the 2nd floor without building outside the 1st floor.

After finishing the study model I found that the “light chimney” works as intended. It lets light enter the space. On the side that isn’t facing the light source you could see the windows light up indicating light is bouncing within. In the design I wanted the transition between the light and dark colors to be hidden. To do this I raise the 2nd floor on black foam core to separate the colors and it also gives the facade shade and shadow. The shadows contrast the main concept behind this design, as the light and dark concrete contrast themselves.

Community Development Service Fresno West

Sketechup | Lumion | Photoshop

Community Development Service Fresno West was a non profit charity work I did during Fall 2022. The organization asked the architecture department if it could have a student create renders for an abandoned lot that was gifted to the organization. Their goal is to one day reopen this building for the people of West Fresno. They asked to render the front, street view, and street side view. They were thankful once I submitted the renders to them. The job lasted from 9/15th to 9/26th. In that time I learned alot about sketchup and how to use Lumion. I did the job independently and submitted when I felt the job was completed.