SEMILLERO DEL VALLE NURSERY GARDEN
Semillero del Valle takes root in the heart of Central Aguirre, Salinas, with a mission to breathe new life into this once-bustling town. While the building functions as an agricultural workspace, its main purpose is to create a vibrant community hub that draws people back to Aguirre. The design puts community gathering at the forefront, with ground-level spaces that invite visitors to explore, meet, and connect while the elevated work areas support
backdrop. This connection to the land honors Aguirre's agricultural heritage while creating new opportunities for local businesses through markets, food distribution, and community events. The building's welcoming design, with its open layout and natural ventilation, creates comfortable spaces for people to spend time together, while its striking roof and thoughtful integration into the landscape make it a landmark that can help put Aguirre back on the map. By combining social spaces with agricultural work, Semillero del Valle aims to transform an abandoned sugar town into a
catalyst for bringing people back to Aguirre and creating new opportunities for its residents.
Semillero del Valle's east-facing orientation and open design creates natural cross-ventilation throughout the building, eliminating the need for mechanical cooling in Puerto Rico's warm climate. A mesh skin
strategically covers parts of the facade to block direct sunlight
distinctive zigzag roof not only provides shade but also serves a practical purpose by collecting rainwater that can be used for the agricultural activities below. This passive design approach makes the building eco-friendly and adapted to the tropical context.
On a site rich with local character, the Cuerdas Arte scenic theatre emerges as a cultural nucleus that celebrates Puerto Rico's vibrant street art heritage. The structure, centrally positioned to create an embracing public plaza, serves as both architectural landmark and artistic canvas. Its innovative facade system allows artists to modify suspended geometric panels, transforming the building's appearance while maintaining its architectural street art, now elevated into a curated, ever-changing installation. The that opens to all surrounding streets, naturally integrating with existing
patio that bathes the building in natural light and serves as a sheltered event space. Colored vertical elements throughout the interior create rhythm and movement, while stepped seating areas encourage casual gathering and social interaction. This synthesis of public space, artistic expression, and theatrical programming transforms the theatre into more than a
both planned events and spontaneous encounters.
can host multiple concurrent activities. The perimeter circulation remains uninterrupted while interior zones can be sectioned off to accommodate local art exhibitions, community gatherings, or smaller theatrical events. This versatility echoes the building's artistic facade concept, creating a seamless dialogue between exterior expression and interior functionality where both spaces serve as evolving canvases
Foyer
Patio
Simultanous Facade System
OLA DECK ESTUARY CENTER
The Ola Deck emerges as a new landmark within the Hogar del Estuario park, deriving its name from the wave-like observation deck that stretches across the San Juan lagoon. The project divides its program between a research wing housing laboratories and study areas, and an educational wing containing public spaces and kayak facilities, connected by expansive terraces overlooking one of America's largest estuary systems. The design serves multiple audiences, scientists conduct research in dedicated laboratory spaces, school groups engage in environmental education programs, and tourists access the lagoon through public kayak facilities, creating a dynamic environment where education, research, and recreation
context, with its undulating form following the natural rhythm of water movement, while the transparent facades dissolve boundaries between interior and exterior spaces. Positioned near existing parking infrastructure, the building transforms an underutilized area into a central hub that welcomes visitors from all backgrounds to explore and understand one of the largest estuary systems in America. Through its thoughtful integration of research facilities, educational spaces, and public access points, the Ola Deck creates new opportunities for visitors to engage with and understand the vital role of estuary ecosystems, while establishing itself as a destination
Establish decks by volume to merge with context
roofs organically to create large viewing decks
the program and establish main volumes accordingly
Establish main volume, sharing land and water Split, creating two wings based on program (private & public)
wings in relation to the terrain and distant views (Bay & Airport) Formation
The Ola Deck's architectural program is thoughtfully organized across two distinct wings that maximize views of both the San Juan Bay and the nearby airport while also helping divide more public and private
separation: the main wing encompasses administrative facilities, inclusive bathrooms, multipurpose spaces, and social gathering areas, while the research wing houses specialized laboratory facilities and a café. These wings split at views, the research wing faces toward the bay for aligns with views of arriving aircraft. The building's can catch glimpses of the views. Administrative spaces lead to a central social gathering area that serves as the project's heart. These spaces then branch into the specialized zones: on one side, the research facilities provide controlled environments
This positioning creates not just viewing platforms but interactive spaces where the building's users can engage directly with the estuarine environment.
The design prioritizes natural ventilation through a system of operable vertical louvers and large glass panels throughout the building. When opened, they create strong cross-breezes
public plaza through to the viewing deck, eliminating the need for AC systems. The louvers can be adjusted throughout the day to respond to changing wind patterns and sun positions, maintaining optimal comfort levels. The project also takes advantage of Puerto Rico's frequent rainfall by collecting water through integrated drainage channels that feed into underground cisterns for reuse in irrigation and non-potable needs. Furthermore extensive rooftop gardens and strategic landscaping with native plants create a green corridor that helps cool down the building naturally. The vegetation provides shade to the structure while the soil layers act as natural insulation. These passive cooling strategies (the cross ventilation, water harvesting, and green infrastructure) work together to create a sustainable tropical building that can stay comfortable year-round.
Multipurpose Space
Viewing Deck
ESCUELA CORTILE MONTESSORI SCHOOL
Escuela Cortile emerges as a Montessori school strategically positioned at the intersection of contrasting socioeconomic neighborhoods of Ocean
this educational philosophy - radiating classroom spaces encourage
open to outdoor spaces, supporting the Montessori approach of self-directed discovery. The theater component enriches the arts
Montessori education.
1. PROGRAM
EXTROVERSION AND INTROVERSION 3. ARTICULATING SPACES 4. EDUCATIONAL CENTER
Foyer
Escuela Cortile employs
Entrance
Central Patio
Classrooms Corridor
The design carefully implements vertical slats to enhance bot functionality and aesthetics. Depending on the use of the space the slats are positioned closer or father from modulation of spacing and depth responds directly to each interior space's unique lighting requirements.
North Elevation
East Elevation
Diagram
THE LIVING GARDEN BRIDGE
Modular Bridge Structural System
Modular Pathway System
Hybrid CLT + Seel Truss System
Steel Sub-Frame System
Parametric Roof Louver System
The SK-8-Way Bridge is covered by one horizontally stretched building envelope that is not fully closed. All sides of the building are combined with nature without any physical threshold, passively open to the environment through louvers, zero physical boundaries, and hovering modular pathways that allow nature to merge with the building. The horizontal form creates long and narrow pedestrian circulations that evoke a small town atmosphere, making it feel like a different world from its surroundings. This physical and psychological continuity throughout the blurred threshold creates a symbiotic relationship between the existing environment and newly introduced manmade programs, without alienating either locals or existing structures. The project integrates diverse programmatic elements, from the central plaza to wellness spaces and social gathering areas all
maintaining a strong connection to the urban context, demonstrating how recreational infrastructure can serve as a comprehensive community asset that bridges the gap between built form and natural environment.
without environment through and hovering modular pathways that allow nature to merge with the building. The horizontal form creates long and narrow pedestrian circulations that evoke a small town atmosphere, making it feel like a different world from its surroundings. This physical and psychological continuity throughout the blurred threshold creates a symbiotic relationship between the existing environment and newly introduced manmade programs, without alienating either locals or existing structures. The project integrates diverse programmatic elements, from the central plaza to wellness spaces and social gathering areas all unified under a dramatic modular roof system. The thoughtful arrangement of spaces promotes community interaction while maintaining a strong connection to the urban context, demonstrating how recreational infrastructure can serve as a comprehensive community asset that bridges the gap between built form and natural environment.
A. Train Connection
C. Nature Integrated Pathway
E. Skatepark Plaza
D. Hammock Bed/Resting Area
B. Bar/Restaurant Commerce
The integration of passive design strategies minimizes environmental impact while crafting dynamic spaces that transform through the interplay of light and shadow.
The Living Bridge employs a thoughtful facade system that marries functionality with environmental consciousness through its refined material palette and strategic design decisions.
Floor-to-ceiling glazing with an integrated louver system maximizes natural daylight while mediating solar gain, creating comfortable interior spaces that maintain a constant dialogue with the surrounding landscape. The transparency of the facade breaks down traditional barriers between inside and out, while elevated walkways and strategically placed planting zones work in harmony to create a microclimate that enhances user comfort.
ALONSO + DE LA CRUZ
