Portfolio

Merwick D’Souza PORTFOLIO

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Merwick D’Souza merwick@outlook.com (515) 708 3793

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Professional Work Samples

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Academic Studio Work

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2020 - 2023

2016 - 2020

HANGAR OFFICE AT TECH RIDGE Type: Adaptive Reuse St George, Utah 2021-2022 InForm Architecture This project transformed an old airplane hangar into an office space for a rapidly expanding tech company.

Situated on the grounds of the former St George Municipal Airport, we were tasked with creating a workspace to accommodate 60-70 employees.

With an open-plan concept, we preserved the two sizable openings to bring in natural light and offer panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. We reused and refreshed the exterior sliding doors for the openings to provide shade when needed. The open floor layout of the building promotes collaboration, complemented by meeting rooms on the mezzanine floor overlooking the main workspace.

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Markups delivered using Bluebeam, drafting by others

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TECH RIDGE PARKWAY OFFICES Type: Office St George, Utah

2021-2023 inForm Architecture We conceptualized and designed eight office buildings spanning 20,000 to 30,000 square feet each. As part of a larger development, our approach incorporated a repeated layout to enhance material scalability. We integrated a ‘ribbon’ element seamlessly flowing through all eight structures to have a unique layout. This design choice not only fosters visual coherence but also allows for individualized facades on each building.

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SOLDIER HOLLOW CHARTER SCHOOL Type: School Charleston, Utah

2021-2023 inForm Architecture To expand the school’s facilities, we incorporated a gymnasium into an unoccupied pre-engineered metal building. Due to budget constraints, we used a phased approach. The initial stage focused on the gymnasium alone, while future phases will add classrooms and other peripheral spaces to the school. Our vision for the space aims for it to serve diverse purposes, potentially generating revenue for the school beyond regular school hours.

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Markups delivered using Bluebeam, drafting by others

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RANCH HOME

Type: Single Family Residential Des Moines, Iowa 2020-2021 ETHOS Design Group

Drafted using Revit

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Drafted using Revit

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PARASITIC VERTICAL CAMPUS Para Site Pt 2 New York City, New York

Spring 2018 Instructor: Bo Suk Hur Partner: Nahla Al-Naamani BWBR Prize Finalist The Chelsea galleries in New York City are going out of business. Situated on the Highline, we were tasked with rejuvenating a few galleries by designing a parasitic vertical campus on top of them. This parasite then maintains a symbiotic relationship with the gallery as a means of revenue.

The campus comprises several tapered forms that stem from the idea of light cannons. They allow light to penetrate the spaces in and around them. The campus consists of Galleries, Libraries, Studios, Workshops, Classrooms, an Auditorium, and a Student Residential Wing. As a parasite, it strives to feed on crowds through its extensions and connections.

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Existing Gallery

Classrooms

Galleries

Residential

The form is divided into strips ranging from a public realm connected to the Highline to a private strip of student housing.

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Outdoor Spaces

Gallery, Library, and a connection to the Highline

Residential and Gym

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Studio Apartment

2 Bed Apartment

4 Bed Apartment 3 Bed Apartment

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AN EXCAVATION OF DIPLOMACY United States Embassy Mexico City, Mexico

Fall 2018 Instructor: Ivonne Santoyo Orozco Partner: Obhishek Mandal DLR Prize Finalist The studio’s goal is to challenge the typology of the Embassy and the idea of Diplomacy. Placed on the construction site of the proposed US Embassy in Mexico City, we were to envision a different possibility through our experience in the city and with findings of embassies around the world.

The design intends to acknowledge and situate itself within the urban context of Mexico City and cater to the function of being a public place. It also attempts to attack the deeper-rooted issue of subsidence in the city.

This project taught me that actions and decisions must be deliberate. Designing Architecture involves taking a stance.

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Mexico City is sinking. Once a lake within a valley, the lake was drained to pave the way for civilization.

Soil was dumped over, contributing to the physical instability and impermeability of the city. The issue of subsidence in the city stems from rapidly depleting groundwater due to overconsumption.

An American interest in tackling subsidence could benefit many cities in the United States and Mexico battling subsidence.

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Diagram of the public roof structure shaped for access.

Topography and openings are created to guide rainwater to the soil below. Additional openings are made for further sunlight penetration.

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Public Entrance to subterranean walkway

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Courtyard

Office Space

Public Entrances to subterranean walkway

Metrobus Stop

Museum, Gallery, and Restaurant

15 m 10 m 5m

Lacustrine Soil

0m

Contributes to impermeability

-5 m

Original Crust

-10 m

Top soil before urbanization

-15 m

Upper Clay Formation

-20 m

Hard Layer

-30 m

-25 m

-35 m -40 m

Lower Clay Formation

-45 m -50 m -55m

Deep Soils and Clay Groundwater

-60 m

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-65 m

-70 m -80 m

Roof Plan

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The roof of the building serves as the plaza, with an open public space that is programmatically divided up.

Access to the roof occurs where it meets the ground. In other places, the roof is raised above ground to create entrances into the building.

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Merwick D’Souza merwick@outlook.com (515) 708 3793