ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO
CURRICULUM VITAE
PERSONAL INFO
Laura Madrigal
Email: lau.mdg597@gmail.com
Contact: +506 87220427
LANGUAGES - Spanish (native) - English (B2: Basic professional competence)
EDUCATION
2015-2024
2010-2014
Degree in Architecture / University of Costa Rica (currently in thesis process)
Claretiano High School / Graduate
ADDITIONAL EDUCATION
2023-2024 Grasshopper - Computational Mindset Program
Online course by architect Jak Drinnan, CEO of Tekne Lab
2023 Workshop on Rammed Earth and Reinforced Adobe / ADEPA House
Given in San Miguel, Santo Domingo, Heredia, Costa Rica, by architects Karen Poulain and Bernadette Esquivel
2023 Workshop on Bamboo and Earth Construction: Domocaña Technique
Given in El Bambusal, Montenegro, Quindío, Colombia, by architect Lucía E. Garzón and agronomist Ximena Londoño
2022 Workshop on Wattle And Daub and Rammed Earth Construction
Given in Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica, by architect Karen Poulain and DAO+Re Architects
2019 Seminar “Ways of seeing on a dying planet: Visual Evidence, Ecocide, and the political aesthetics of memoria ambiental”
Given in University of Costa Rica by Ph.D Hannah Meszaros Martin of the Centre for Research Architecture, Forensic Architecture, Goldsmiths University of London
CURRICULUM VITAE
EXPERIENCE
INTERNSHIP Interned at OPB Architects, for a duration of 6 months
-Experience in conceptualization and design of medium to large-scale institutional, commercial, and landscape projects
-Conceptualization of a national government architecture competition
-Experience in drawing architectural and construction plans
-Introduction to BIM tool
FREELANCE
-Conceptualization and design of renovations and small-scale projects
-3D visualizations
COMPETITIONS
2021 - Elini Cultural Stations / Young Architects International Competition
-Group design for the remodeling of the city of Elini in Italy
-Finalist proposal
2021 - Women’s House / Kaira Looro International Competition
-Group design proposal for the Women's House in Senegal, Africa
-Winning design proposal for the Starlette residential project in the city of Strasbourg, France
SKILLS
DESIGN -Revit (Intermediate / Advanced)
-Sketchup (Intermediate / Advanced)
-Autocad (Intermediate)
-Grasshopper (Beginner)
-Rhinoceros (Beginner / Intermediate)
3D VISUALIZATION
-Lumion (Intermediate / Advanced)
-D5 Render (Beginner)
POST-PRODUCTION
-Photoshop (Intermediate / Advanced)
-Illustrator (Intermediate)
-InDesign (Beginner)
ARTICULATING NODE 01
FOR THE ESTANQUILLOS
TOURIST CIRCUIT
Year: 2018
The articulating node of the city of Estanquillos is a project focused on enhancing rural tourism in the area, which is part of a medium-scale local project oriented at different strategic points of the territory.
This consists of providing a meeting space for tourists who come seeking information about tours, accommodation, and various activities in the area. It includes administrative area, reception, bathrooms and showers, parking lot, bicycle workshop and rental, and a small restaurant with panoramic views of the Estanquillos mountains. It also aims to be as sustainable as possible, which is why wood was chosen as the main construction material. It is also fully open to the outside, allowing natural ventilation and lighting to enter, as well as to appreciate the views offered by the area.
The columns rise resembling an internal forest that blends and complements with the surrounding landscape, thus giving the feeling of being inside the forest at all times.
DEUX RIVES STARLETTE 02
STRASBOURG, FRANCE
Year: 2020
This project stems from a quest to address the need for housing in the Deux Rives project in Strasbourg, France. Its development begins with research into the area where it is located to identify its characteristics and opportunities for conceptual development, with the main intention of the project being to provide the area with the benefits of a residential complex linked to commercial spaces, all directly related to its French urban context.
In this way, the project has active and commercial spaces on its first levels, as well as an underground parking lot. Alongside this first level, there is also a commercial development comprising offices, shops, and a kindergarden. The importance of each area and its relationship with urban activity is crucial, so a strategic connection is developed using materials that allow necessary visibility while protecting against possible relevant factors of the natural environment.
The spaces closest to the Vauban Basin, namely on the western facade, have amenities and commercial activities such as co-working spaces, shops, a gym, and apartments, taking advantage of their direct relationship with the river and its landscape. On the eastern facade, furthest from the Basin, parking lots and the central office tower are located. More permeable materials are used on the northern facade to counteract the effect of low solar radiation, while loggias are located to the south to take advantage of the best climatic conditions within the building.
Both horizontal and vertical circulation favor people's movement by minimizing distances and providing a practical route to their destination. Apartment residents have the opportunity to access the various terraces on each level and enjoy the comforting space that offers connections with nature, the use of greenhouses and vegetable gardens for their own consumption, furniture for relaxation, and contemplation of views towards the Vauban Basin and the city of Strasbourg.
03
KAIRA LOORO COMPETITION:
WOMEN’S HOUSE
SENEGAL, AFRICA
Year: 2021
The project arises from identifying the duality between a nurturing space and an area of expression and pride. Based on this concept, two modules are proposed; one that fosters dialogue and another more open towards the main path and that hosts collective activities. These two modules in turn have a duality between the curved and the orthogonal, abstracted from the typologies observed in the area. The curved one accommodates the main activities while the orthogonal configuration is utilized for accommodating management areas, organization, storage space, along with a provision for sanitary services. The two modules create a gesture of embracing a central impluvium.
The central canal and impluvium unify the duality. This central area can be used for various purposes since the stored water can be below the level of a central floor. The channels along with permeable enclosures seek to promote air circulation and thermal comfort within the Women's House.
At the same time, flexibility in the use of spaces is sought. In the area of collective activities, this is implemented through lightweight enclosures independent of the structure that can generate different configurations in the space. On the other hand, between the dialogue space and the service and storage area, there is an area that can be used depending on the other areas, or it can be utilized for less defined activities such as children's play or waiting and socialization zone.
04 WOMEN’S HOUSE
LIMÓN, COSTA RICA
Year: 2021
The Women's House is a project that emerges with the aim of providing a space for Afro-descendant women in Limón, Costa Rica, where they can feel heard, supported, and in the company of others through various activities. This vision converges in three key spaces: the sisterhood space, which aims to create intimate dialogue, the coexistence space, where they can exchange ideas and conversations with women from all walks of life, and the expressive space, where they can find a place to work, exhibit, conduct workshops, and engage in various expressive dynamics.
05 MEDIA-CALI
MEDIA LIBRARY FOR LA CALIFORNIA, SAN JOSÉ
The project arises from questioning the various activities surrounding train transportation, its users, and the sites already housing the city of San José. La California neighborhood is immersed in a developing city that brings together different types of users: workers, office workers, tourists, school, high school, and university students, artists, among others. Additionally, San José presents the dynamic of being inhabited by people from both the local area and nearby provinces, such as Heredia, Cartago, and Alajuela.
There is a direct relationship with the train due to its location and being one of the most used means of transportation by users. But what happens during the waiting time for the train? What do different users do with their time? Furthermore, with the arrival of "work from home, users shift towards office dynamics, seeking a space that provides the necessities for remote work. Therefore, La Cali Media Library seeks to offer co-working spaces, both on a group and individual level, as well as entertainment through the use of technology, and an open space available all hours of the day for studying, working, enjoying, or simply being.
The program includes a library, a room for workshops, training, etc.; a space for relaxation, reading with a view of the city of San José, co-working spaces, individual workspaces, a computer room with video games and virtual reality, a room for video and photography work, a children's area, and a cafeteria.
