Ronquillo
Thomas Jefferson University Architecture Portfolio
Reimagining London
Zaha Hadid Architects
Computation & Design (ZHACODE)
Fall 2024
GrandStand Jazz Bar
Comprehensive Integrated Design
Fall 2023
Sustainability Techtonics
Collaboration
Spring 2023
Extreme Climate Center
Sustainability Techtonics
Collaboration
Spring 2023
Human Composting Center
Comprehensive Integrated Design
Fall 2022
Koshino House
Case Study House
Precedent
Fall 2021
Integrating Sustainable Urbanism, Public Space, and Climate Adaptiation
Prof. Shajay Bhooshan
Prof. Jiafei Chu
Prof. Taizhong
D9 Spring 2024
This studio was led by Shajay Bhooshan, co-founder and head of Computation and Design (ZHACODE) at Zaha Hadid Architects. The core focus of the studio was to explore the integration of computational design and artificial intelligence as tools to enhance the design process. This project seeks to reimagine architectural and urban strategies at a larger scale to address the city’s ongoing urban crisis.
The objective was to analyze the existing urban conditions of this London district and identify a critical urban challenge to address. Given London’s long history of flooding, the project aimed to enhance the district’s adaptability and resilience by integrating a network of canals. Additionally, the proposal emphasizes the incorporation of green spaces and public realms to foster a more pedestrian-centric urban environment.
The northern context aims to transform a disorganized urban fabric into a decentralized framework, enhancing cultural and commercial spaces. Meanwhile, the southern context adopts a radial plan, integrating canals for stormwater management while strengthening connections to the Thames River.
The objective was to analyze the existing urban conditions of this London district and identify a critical urban challenge to address. Given London’s long history of flooding, the project aimed to enhance the district’s adaptability and resilience by integrating a network of canals. Additionally, the proposal emphasizes the incorporation of green spaces and public realms to foster a more pedestrian-centric urban environment.
Utilizing the ComfyUI software, the low-poly base model created in Maya facilitated the generation of rapid and effective renders. These visualizations effectively communicate the spatial narrative, emphasizing key moments within the redesigned St. Paul’s Cathedral, the new boulevard, and the district’s integrated canal network.
With ComfyUI, an aerial view of the low-poly model generated multiple design iterations aligned with the intended vision. The reference image in Figure 1 illustrates the newly developed design from Maya
The reimagined district of London is enriched with green spaces, offering moments of pause and engagement with the site. Anchored in sustainable urbanism principles, the design prioritizes a pedestrian-centric framework that enhances connectivity and environmental resilience.
Prof. James McKenna
This design objective for this project was to design a grandstand that adapts to the climate and site conditions along side the Schuylkill River.
This project was all about understanding how site design, envelope, structural, lighting, and MEP systems integrate into a building. The project was broken up into 2 parts. The 1st part was to design a new grandstand at the finish line of the Schuylkill River Rowing Course located north of the existing grandstand on Kelly Drive. The structure will accommodate a public and private program, primary for the viewing of rowing and regatta events. The ground floor will house office space, an amenity program that will face Kelly Drive and support recreational activities other than row ing, as well as restrooms and mechanical space. The upper level will accommodate a large grand room that can be rented for special events as well as host large groups of people during formal events. A grandstand with a capacity of 750 peo ple, will face the river and will be protected from sun and weather. The 2nd Part, was to continue building off of part 1 and begin adding in structur al, envelope, MEP, and detailings to the project.
The design prompt was to used an existing plot that bridged both Springfekd and Baltimore street. The design was to unite and create a bridging program that could compliment the community.
With the bar culture and the need of housing within the surrounding context, the program of the design became a Jazz bar. The first level would service as of hub of music that would host music events along with any community staged activities. The upper floors transitioned into a residential complex open for the residency of the neighbor and had a love for Jazz.
The design opted for unique moments for light and the sound of music to ripple throughout the space. The interior utilizes a warm oak wood that would help encapsulate the sound of music, while reflecting the warmth of the space.
The lower levels would accomodate for large gatherings for residents that are looking for a comfortable space to socialize and listen the music. The space also served as a banquet space that could host community held events.
The multi level design allows for it to utilize an interlocking unit configuration, creating an engaging inhabital space for the residence of the neighborhood. The design also works and integrates itself with the Jazz bar, creating moments where both programs converge and commune with the sound of the music.
Prof. Amy Kassler-Taub
The Extreme Climates project revolved around the challenge of designing a research center located in an “extreme” setting. The design is floating research facility that would travel the pacific ocean, carrying over 60 researchers.
The trancept of the research center would travel from the United states, across the North Pacific Ocean to Japan. Along its path, the research center would collect data on microplastics that effects the sea level ecosystem and sea life. The “mothership” would send out submarine pods to gather water samples as well as explore unprecedented areas of the Northern Pacific Ocean.
The Human Taphonomy Center aims to offer an alter native burial ceremony to Philadelphia through the pro cess of human composting. The design of the Human Taphonomy Center includes the design of a chapel, burial chamber room, and an arboretum. This program creates opportinites to interpret an new meaning of death and different way for someone to return to the Earth after death.
The conceptual design of the Human Taphonomy Center was inspired by an ancient burial ritual in the Phillipines that involved the process of hanging coffins on the side of a mountain. The different levels of the Human Taphonomy Center takes the concept of elevation to influence the experience of each space.
In the Chapel, the family of the deceased, and body meet at the highest point within the center before departing back to their own planes of existence.
Afterwards, the body undergoes the burial chamber process where the bodies are transfered into special chambers where they can turn into soil.
After the process is complete, the family can choose to keep their remains or let soil rest in the arboretum for the souls to return to the Earth.
Prof. Carol Hermann Spring 2021
At the begining of the semester, each student chose a case study house to analyze and diagram for the semester. As the semester progressed, I used the diagrams to further develope my own designs relating back to this case study house. In this instance, I had the Koshino House from 1984 designed by Tadao Ando.
One of the unique architectural aspects of the Koshino House is the weigh it engages with its site. The house did not cut down existing trees on the site in respect to nature. And most notably, the home cuts through the landscape like a knife, creating unique moments for light to pierce through the home.
THe house went through a second addition later after the design of the first two rectalinear form. The third rounded form created a contrast to the existing rectalinear language, however, used the curvature to guide the user through the home.
My favorite aspect of the home is the way it responds to nature. The house uses multiple opportunites to let light in and become an active resident within the home. Each zone of the house has a unique lighting condition that has its own personality.
In the studio space, the curved walled creates a waved light that bends along side the walls. Meanwhile in the more private sector of the home, the lighting serves as a more gentle guide through the home.
For project 2, Mondo Materialis, the objective was to create an obstract articaft that would express the concepts shown through the case study house assigned in the previous project. In this instance, I created an abtract model that projected the principles of materiality, light, and order.
Tado Ando is known for his manipulation of light through his architectural gestures. This artifacts aims to do something similar through the use of specific incitions on the would. This allows for a unique shadow and light interation that occurs, allowing for it to guide your eye through the tunnel.
The respect of nature is also help high in Tadao Andos work and this is expressed through the materiality of project. The design utilized a pine would that was later stained to give it a more darker tone, yet light enough for the grain to show. This gesture symbolized and pays homage to nature playing with the elements of light and shadow.
The last main design element that was showcased in the Koshino house was its strong sense of geometric order. This artifact responds to the concept of order through its use of repetition. Its repetitive nature allows for light to take shape and create a unique shadows that become part of the object itself.
