I am Maria, I am passionate about art. It can be easily a channel to express ourselves, and how it affects our day-to-day lives. I enjoy creating, walks in nature, traveling, and a good book in my free time. My creative passions go from crocheting small stuffed animals to drawing with different kinds of mediums or even developing films for analog photography.
I have already lived in cities such as Istambul, London, and Los Angeles. I have always found that the ability to understand other cultures is essential for my development as an artist and professional.
As a professional, I always like to be adventurous to learn and develop new skills, from participating in architectural competitions to work as interior designer.
This project intended to modernize the space, from the staff area to the guestrooms. I worked on the “pre-phase”, on the Staff Cafeteria and Phase 1 on the Lobby and VIP Pool.
Our approach was to transform the Lobby into a big tropical forest, starting that concept right at the beginning with the port cochere.
In the lobby, we wanted to play with the mood of the place, so we deepened the sensation of comfort and richness as we got further into the space, on the way to the bar, by playing with fabrics, and volumes. The colors got darker and the textures softer.
The Diplomat has two pools at different levels and the upper level (same level as the lobby) had the new purpose of a VIP pool with an evening luxurious bar area.
This project is starting the procurement process.
Done in: Indidesign with Beatrice Girelli
Project year: 2023 to 2024
Software: Autocad & Sketchup
INSPIRED BY THE PRINCIPLES OF TROPICAL MODERNISM, THE DESIGN MERGES MODERNIST SENSITIVITY AND TROPICAL VERNACULAR, REPRESENTED BY THE LUSH VEGETATION THAT TRANSFORMS THE GLASS-HOUSE LIKE SPACE INTO A RICHLY LAYERED CONSERVATORY.
VIP POOL REDESIGN & FF&E
NEW POOL BAR
TOWEL KIOSK
BAR ACCESS
NEW BAR LEDGE
NEW ELEVATOR ACCESS
BESPOKE SCULPTURE
LOBBY NEW FF&E
NEW BUILT-IN PLANTERS AND OVERSIZED PLANTS
NEW PLANTS
OVERHEAD WOOD ELEMENTS TO ENHANCE SENSE OF ARRIVAL
LIME STONE STUCCO WITH LARGER AGGREGATES HORIZONTALLY SCORED/COMBED
NEW BASALT PAVERS AND HANDRAILS
ELECTROSTATIC PAINT AND SLATTED PANELS
NEW BUILT-IN PLANTERS CLAD IN TEXTURAL BASALT
SIGNAGE
SCREEN CONCEPT IMAGE
SCREEN IS FULL HEIGHT AND FULLY EXPRESSED BUT OPEN ONLY ABOVE THE SEAT
SOLID WOOD PANELS SCREEN ENDS
WATERFALL EDGES
RECESSED BASE
HIDDEN LINE
SECOND CURVED
EDGE HIDDEN LINE
SOLID WOOD CAP
SEE THROUGH WOOD SCREEN TO MATCH LB-118
INSET SOLID
WOOD PANELS AT WOOD SCREEN
BEHIND THE BACK
3"H METAL BASE
Don Koto is a new sushi restaurant to be built in an empty area of a shopping mall. Our client was a Japanese chef who wanted to have a night vibe Japanese experience, portraying his vision of authenticity in everything, from the entrance, down to the style of cutlery.
Our approach was to bring Japanese elements such as using a Japanese maple tree and sand gardens to balance the night energy with the calm and order associated with Japanese culture.
The culture is present on the floor tiles, the textiles, and the wood used on the screen and ceiling coves, these last ones were created on purpose to diffuse even more light for a calm and at the same time sophisticated environment.
Even with the little details, we invoke the detailed craftsmanship of Japanese culture through woodwork on the screens on the walls to the carved wood at the banquettes that serpentine at the center of the restaurant area. The kitchen, tableware, and cutlery are all open to the guests to maintain the sense of organization and the clean customs so present in their culture.
This project is in the last stages of its development.
Done in: Indidesign with Beatrice Girelli
Project year: 2023 to 2024
Software: Autocad, Sketchup and Rhino
SEATING LEGEND
INDOOR: 134-146
PATIO: 70
TOTAL: 204-216
OPEN TO PLENUM
SLATTED SCREEN ABOVE FIXED SEATING
POCKET DOORS TO CONNECT THE TWO SPACES
RETRACTABLE ENCLOSURE BEHIND MILLWORK PANEL
BUSSING CARTS AND DIRTY PLATES STAGING
LOUNGE SEATING AROUND FEAUTURED MAPLE TREE
JAPANESE DRY GARDEN ALONG THE GLAZING
“kintsugi” tiles on floor
INTERIOR WALL BETWEEN PATION AND RESTAURANT/BAR AREA
BANQUETTE WITH SLATTED SCREEN AT RESTAURANT/BAR AREA
glass
After the guestrooms, lobby, and pool area, this phase of the project intended to work on the Meeting Spaces and Pre-function area trying to use the same color pallet but with a slightly different change in the language and concept as used in the previous phases.
The Pre-function area was where the FF&E focus was, and due to its extension and the connection to meeting rooms, boardrooms, and ballrooms, instead of changing the furniture design, we marked/ differentiated each zone by applying different textiles to the same item.
The custom carpet design and wall paint delicate colors were chosen to emphasize the FF&E and show the contrast between the seating and case goods with the light fixtures.
All case goods, seating, light fixtures and artwork used in this project were custom-made.
Done in: Indidesign with Beatrice Girelli
Project year: 2023
Software: Autocad, and Sketchup
RELOCATE EXISTING J-BOX FOR NEW WALL SCONCE
NEW VANITY AND PLUMBING FIXTURES AT EXISTING LOCATION
HIGH PRESSURE LAMINATE WITH DARK WOOD GRAIN
EXISTING FLOOR AND BASE TILE TO REMAIN
This project was the transformation of a restaurant on level 1 of an apartment complex into a twobedroom apartment.
The challenge here was to adapt to a space that didn’t have the acoustic and thermal needs for an apartment, in a building that was more than 20 years old with poor construction. To overcome that problem we needed to build a double wall with thermal concrete blocks to provide the comfort needed in an apartment.
As the apartment was located at the level of the street, privacy was also extremely important. Without the usage of glazed glass, we played with the angles of the walls to create some reflex game and for more privacy, for when people are walking past the perimeter
The apartment is ADA-compliant.
Together with: André Malheiro from AM - ArqStudio Project year: 2022
Software: Revit
DRYWALL CEILING WITH THERMAL INSULATION
METALLIC WINDOW SILL TO MATCH FACADE COLOR
LIME MORTAR
THERMAL MORTAR
200MM THERMO BLOCK
EPS 60MM
WATER PROOFING MEMBRANE
ROUGH PLASTER
STUCCO
WOOD BASE
FLOATING FLOOR
CORK
METAL PLAIT
ETICS SYSTEM WITH 30MM XPS FOAM EXISTING BEAM
THERMALLY INSULATED BLIND
ETICS SYSTEM WITH 50MM XPS FOAM
SMOOTH PAINT FINISH TO MATCH EXISTING FACADE CERAMIC TILES
WINDOW FRAME WITH THERMAL BREAK AND DOUBLE GLAZING, FINISHED COLOR TO MATCH EXISTING FACADE COLOR
WINDOW FRAME WITH THERMAL BREAK AND DOUBLE GLAZING, FINISHED COLOR TO MATCH EXISTING FACADE COLOR
AT WINDOWS, CUSTOM MADE PLANTER CLOSING THE GAP BETWEEN METALLIC SHEET AND THE WALLS
BALCONY PROTECTION WITH METAL PERFURATED SHEET TO MATCH THE TO MATCH EXISTING FACADE COLOR
This competition intended to show the inhabitants of Fairbanks that it was possible to live in Net-Zero houses without giving up on comfort. It was given a small portion of land near a forest, to build 20 houses and one communal complex, all with very limited construction areas.
Our concept for this project was to create a “forest of houses”, besides showing the possibility of comfort, and also to create a more private and natural place, by the usage of wood on the paths and the cabins, combined with glass that would reflect the forest that would be created on the negative space. The large windows also helped bring the forest inside the cabin, as besides only focusing just on comfort we also wanted to increase mental and physical well-being by connecting with nature.
This project was car-free to encourage people to walk, so all houses were connected by a wooden path, that connected all houses and gave access to some of the negative spaces for community events.
Together with: André Malheiro from AM - ArqStudio
Project year: 2021
Software: Revit, TwinMotion, Photoshop & Illustrator
Cross Section
Longitudinal Section
Solar light and fireplace heat used to generate energy and warm water
This competition intended to create a co-working space for artists to innovate how we create art nowadays. The objective was to propose a place that promotes creativity, human development, and wellbeing.
We intended to create a building without constraints, without imposing an ideal atmosphere, it was thought to be adaptable. By playing with the natural light, heights, interstices, and structural elements, resulted in a combination of non-alignment “boxes” that designed the building’s shape. This effect was part of the principle to define an unfinished appearance parallel with the art itself and the struggle of the artist to understand when their art is truly finished.
It is impossible to define how the building will be used and evolve. The idea was to promote it as an “in development” building to encourage the occupancy of spaces and structural elements in a way that cannot be predicted or constricted, letting the art flow.
Together with: André Malheiro from AM - ArqStudio
Project year: 2021
Software: Revit, TwinMotion, Photoshop & Illustrator
This competition* intended to revitalize the Marina di Loano, as during the years and the different interventions it had lost its identity and it was completely disconnected from the city of Loano. Limited by the existing area without being able to decrease or increase by a small percentage, tthe buildings also could not be demolished, but the facade was able to be fully refurbished.
With this in mind, we decided to create an area of use and unite with Loano. The car parking was done all at a lower level which diminished the access gap between the city and the marina. By breaking the ground into platforms of different forms, sizes, heights, and shapes we create curiosity and visual interest for those who were arriving, inviting guests to explore materials, textures, colors, and objects.
When designing the new Harbor, themes such as environment and economy were crucial topics for various decisions during the design process. Buildings were absolved with a cocoon facade with elements that could easily be found during the demolition process and ocean cleanups like ropes, cables, and fishing nets. Wood from decommissioned boats and demolished facades were used to build the promenade of platforms. In addition, these materials had the intention to blend histories that were being re-written by giving them a second life.
Together with: André Malheiro from AM - ArqStudio
Project year: 2020 to 2021
Software: Revit, TwinMotion, Photoshop & Illustrator
*This project was a submission for a competition by YAC (Young Architects Competitions). It won a Finalist Award.
