MARIA GIMENEZ
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Architecture, Infrastructure, and the city - Spring 2025
This project involved the redevelopment of a 16-acre site in the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston. Surrounded by several universities, affordable housing complexes, an MBTA train station, and the Southwest Corridor, the site offered strong potential for a community-focused design. I proposed a mixed-use development that combines retail areas and affordable housing to foster community interaction, improve transit access, and expand green space. As part of the design, I focused on creating a student and faculty center block that could serve all nearby universities. Given the site’s strategic location, this space was envisioned as a central hub for academic collaboration, services, and student life.
ACTIVITY HUB
The urban project is thoughtfully designed to encourage outdoor activities and programming by extending interior functions into the open air. Key areas mirror indoor spaces, such as an outdoor gym adjacent to the indoor fitness center and an outdoor café that complements
the indoor one. These transitions create a seamless indoor-outdoor experience that promotes active, social lifestyles. Additional seating areas and flexible multipurpose spaces further support community gatherings and events.
VARIETY OF HOUSING
The urban project incorporates a mix of apartment typologies to support diverse living needs and foster community interaction. These range from compact studios for students and faculty to larger 2-3 bedroom units designed for faculty families. Additionally, dedicated dormitories provide shared living spaces for students. This variety encourages vibrant, interconnected communities both within individual buildings and across the entire development.
ZEN GARDEN
A zen garden offers a peaceful space for students and faculty to relax and connect. Open to the entire community, it fosters a tranquil ambiance that encourages reflection and meaningful interaction. Its calm setting supports both personal well-being and a sense of shared community.
SHARED BALCONIES
The student building features dorm-style apartments with shared balconies to encourage social interaction. These semi private outdoor spaces give students a place to connect, relax, and build community outside their rooms.
OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING
The project emphasizes outdoor activity by mirroring indoor programs in adjacent open-air spaces. This includes features like an outdoor daycare beside the indoor childcare facility. These elements promote a healthy, active lifestyle while supporting community interaction and family-friendly spaces.
CONNECTING ARCHES
Arches connect one building courtyard to another, creating a continuous flow between spaces. These arches include extensions of the zen garden, with plants and seating that invite pause and reflection. They serve as peaceful transitions that strengthen the sense of community across the site.
FENGERS
Urban housing - Fall 2024
This project explores urban housing design by analyzing and prototyping building typologies and site strategies within Boston’s Fenway neighborhood. Through research on circulation systems, zoning, and urban conditions, I developed a collective housing proposal that integrates diverse residential layouts and shared spaces to foster interaction. The study incorporated building code considerations, such as construction type, egress, and accessibility, ensuring both feasibility and adaptability.
My project, Fengers, is an urban housing complex inspired by Antonio Bonet’s philosophy of balancing art and life. It seamlessly integrates communal and private spaces, fostering community while preserving privacy. Thoughtfully planned circulation and shared areas encourage interaction, creating a harmonious blend of connection and individuality.
TYPE ATYPE BTYPE CTYPE D
TYPE A TYPE BTYPE C STUDIO
- 1B
- 2B 1B - 1B1B - 1B PH SITE CONTEXT
- 1B PH
APARTMENT TYPES DIAGRAM
3B - 2B PH
3B
2B
2B
FLOOR PLANS
FLOOR 1
FLOOR
FLOOR
FLOOR
FENWAY PAVILION
Site, Space, Program - Spring 2024
This project embodies the values and principles that would later define our final project’s identity. Serving as a space to connect people, the pavilion fosters interaction and community, with its form and layout designed to inspire dialogue and engagement.
This pavilion is a dynamic stair that functions as both a bridge and gathering space, seamlessly connecting two sites while encouraging interaction with the surroundings. Designed for both movement and rest, it offers spaces to sit, walk, and immerse in nature. More than just a transitional pathway, it fosters reflection and connection, blurring the boundaries between built form and the natural environment.
BRIDGE STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE DIAGRAM
PROGRAM RENDER
GLASS RAILINGS
WOODEN OPEN ROOF
SITE BOUNDARIES
VEHICLE
PEDESTRIAN ACCESS & VEGETATION
CONCEPT MODELS
EGLESTON LIBRARY
Site, Space, Program - Spring 2024
This project explores the transformation of public libraries from static repositories of books to dynamic, mixed-use spaces for knowledge exchange and community engagement. As collections become increasingly digitized and off-site, the library’s role must be redefined balancing its historical significance as a civic institution with contemporary demands for accessibility, inclusivity, and adaptability.
This project explores the evolving role of public libraries as dynamic social spaces. Inspired by the Boston Public Library’s mission, my design envisions a library with a transparent, glass-like arts center on the ground floor, a space where people can connect, see, and be seen from both inside and out. This open, interactive environment fosters accessibility, creativity, and community engagement, redefining the library as both a civic landmark and a modern cultural hub.
FLOOR PLANS
NORTH VIEW
ALMARENA
Arquetipo - Internship Summer 2024
During my internship at Arquetipo in Asunción, Paraguay, I worked on “Almarena,” a gated residential development in the town called San Bernardino. I helped design a family home, conducted site visits, and tested various facade materials—later sourcing them from São Paulo, Brazil. A major focus of my work was addressing Paraguay’s hot, humid climate by proposing cross-ventilation strategies, such as an indoor patio and strategically placed sliding doors, to improve airflow and comfort. I also helped organize the lots by price range and contributed to the planning of shared outdoor spaces to encourage community interaction.
VENEER BRICK WALL SECTION
Architectonic Systems - Spring 2024
This project documents a “¾” = 1’-0” scale wall section of a two-story brick veneer with a CMU backup cavity wall, designed for the Northeastern USA climate. It extends from the footing to the parapet, featuring a full basement, a flat green roof, and window sections with light shelves. Emphasizing clarity and precision, the drawing follows professional construction document standards with structured dimensioning, labeling, and a hierarchical line weight system to ensure contractor readability.