HELLO!
MY NAME IS RAFAELA AND I AM A FIFTH-YEAR ARCHITECTURE STUDENT AT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY.
THIS PORTFOLIO INCLUDES A SELECTION OF MY ARCHITECTURAL PROJECTS, PERSONAL CREATIVE WORKS, AND OUTPUTS FROM MY CO-OP EXPERIENCES. IT IS A PRODUCT OF MY LEARNINGS FROM VARIOUS GLOBAL EXPERIENCES AND REFLECTS HOW THESE HAVE INFORMED MY ARCHITECTURAL THINKING.
I’M THRILLED TO BE NEARING GRADUATION AND EAGER TO DIVE INTO PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE!
FALL 2024 - FIFTH YEAR, NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
COURSE: ANTIDISPLACEMENT STUDIO
PROF. LILY SONG
GROUP MEMBERS: ELENA MERCURIO
ABOUT THIS PROJECT WAS AIMED AT ANALYZING CHANGES IN THE COMMERCIAL AND CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF CHINATOWN. IT WAS PART OF A SEMESTER-LONG COLLABORATION WITH THE CHINATOWN COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT ONGOING ANTI-DISPLACEMENT INITIATIVES.
CONCEPT
ARCHIVAL AND IN-SITE RESEARCH INFORMED THE BOARD DISPLAYED TO THE RIGHT. COMMERCIAL STOREFRONTS WERE EXAMINED OVER A 15-YEAR PERIOD TO UNDERSTAND HOW CHINATOWN’S BUILT ENVIRONMENT HAS CHANGED OVER TIME AND HELP INFORM COMMUNITY PRESERVATION EFFORTS.
HIGHLIGHTS
THIS PROJECT ALLOWED US TO IDENTIFY PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF DIFFERENT BUSINESS TYPOLOGIES AND THE IMPACT OF SOCIO-CULTURAL DYNAMICS ON VISUAL CHANGES OVER TIME.
REQUIREMENTS / EXISTING CONDITIONS
- INCLUDE HEIGHT AND WIDTH OF STOREFRONTS
- INCLUDE ANALYSIS AND BREAKDOWN OF BUSINESS TYPES
- INCLUDE CALLOUTS OF MAJOR VISUAL CHANGES
- INCLUDE WAYFINDING MAP
BREAKDOWN OF BUSINESS TYPES
FALL 2023 - FOURTH YEAR, NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
COURSE: ARCH, INFRASTRUCTURE & CITY
PROF. MARIE LAW ADAMS
GROUP MEMBERS: LEE ANDERSON, MICHAEL COLLAZO
ABOUT
THIS WAS A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT IN WHICH WE PROPOSED AN URBAN DESIGN FRAMEWORK FOR A SITE IN BOSTON’S MISSION HILL NEIGHBORHOOD. INFORMED BY THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DYNAMICS OF THE AREA, THIS PROPOSAL CONTEMPLATES BUILDING VOLUMES, PROGRAM TYPES AND DISTRIBUTION, CIRCULATION AND OPEN SPACE.
CONCEPT
THE PROPOSAL CONSIDERED THE EXISTING FRAMEWORK OF THE SITE AND AIMED TO TACKLE THREE MAIN THEMES: RESILIENCY, INTERGENERATIONALITY, AND COMFORTABILITY.
HIGHLIGHTS
BASED ON THE THREE THEMES, WE DEVELOPED A SERIES OF GUIDING QUESTIONS THAT INSPIRED OUR PROPOSAL: WHAT MAKES A PLACE RESILIENT? HOW CAN WE FOSTER INTERGENERATIONAL LIVING? HOW CAN WE DESIGN THIRD SPACES THAT FOSTER INTERACTION AND SUPPORT MOST VULNERABLE AGE GROUPS? HOW CAN WE INTEGRATE SHADE INFRASTRUCTURE, VARIED SEATING OPTIONS, AND PUBLIC BATHROOMS TO PROVIDE COMFORT?
REQUIREMENTS / EXISTING CONDITIONS
- SURFACE PARKING LOTS, A CULVERTED WATERWAY, NEW AND ONGOING CONSTRUCTION, HISTORICALLY DESIGNATED BUILDINGS, PUBLIC OPEN SPACE, A RAIL TRENCH, STREETS, AND MORE.
- INCLUDE THREE PROGRAMS, WITH A MINIMUM OF TWO-THIRDS OF BUILT VOLUME BEING RESIDENTIAL.
- INCLUDE NEW SWEENEY ATHLETIC FIELD.
PROPOSAL INCLUDES A NETWORK OF PEDESTRIAN AND CAR-DOMINATED STREETS
COMFORT STRUCTURES (INLCUDING PUBLIC BATHROOMS AND KIOSKS) ARE DISTRIBUTED THROUGOUT SITE
Comfort infrastructure: kiosk, bathroom and rain shelter Soccer fields
CAPTURES THE EXPERIENCE OF PROPOSAL: COMBINING GREENERY, APPROACHABLE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS, VIBRANT COMMUNITY SPACES, AND COMFORT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR RESIDENTS AND NON-RESIDENTS ALIKE.
Balconies allow for greater connectivity between families and students through direct views of soccer field
Transition space between family row houses and Wentworth student building encourages interaction
Biodiverse freenery used to provide greater privacy to ground floor residents
Companion seating and ramp access
PROPOSAL FOCUSES ON PROVIDING ACCESSIBILITY, GREEN SHARED SPACES AND RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS THAT CATER TO VARIED RESIDENT GROUPS.
Trees are a mixture of ages and native species to provide diverse canopy cover
Benches placed in clusters of at least 2 to promote interaction
All residential buildings have operable windows and different shading methods based on facade exposure to sun
Ample bike parking to encourage sustainable transportation
Kiosks to act as a sheltered resting space that includes public bathrooms
FALL 2022 - THIRD YEAR, EXCHANGE SEMESTER AT IE UNIVERSITY
COURSE: DESIGN STUDIO - TECHNIQUE
PROF. MAXON HIGBEE
GROUP MEMBERS: SARA OUNEJJAR, PAULA MESSINA, VALERIA VARGAS
ABOUT THIS GROUP PROJECT INVOLVED DESIGNING A PAVILION
TO BE LOCATED IN A QUIET PLAZA OF THE CITY OF SEGOVIA, SPAIN. WE WERE CHALLENGED TO CREATE A NEW PAVILION THAT DREW INSPIRATION FROM THE MUKKULA MANOR PARK WOOD PAVILION BY AOR ARCHITECTS IN LAHTI, FINLAND.
CONCEPT
THE SEGOVIA PAVILION REIMAGINES THE MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES OF THE MUKKULA MANOR PARK WOOD PAVILION. IT UTILIZES THE FINGER JOINT AND STEEL BAR CONNECTIONS OF AOR ARCHITECTS’ PAVILION TO CREATE A STRUCTURE THAT TWISTS AND TURNS AROUND THE PLAZA’S EXISTING ARCHITECTURE, TOPOGRAPHY AND FLORA.
HIGHLIGHTS
USERS INTERACT WITH THE PAVILION BY WALKING ON IT OR BENEATH IT. THE SEGOVIA PAVILION, WITH ITS MANY TIMBER PLANKS, CREATES MEANINGFUL SHADOWS THAT USERS CAN EXPERIENCE WHEN WALKING BENEATH IT. IT ALSO ALLOWS USERS WALKING ON IT TO EXPERIENCE THE PLAZA AND ITS VIEWS IN A NEW WAY, ACTIVATING THIS QUIET YET MEANINGFUL PART OF THE HISTORICAL CITY.
REQUIREMENTS / EXISTING CONDITIONS
- DRAW INSPIRATION FROM PRECEDENT (MUKKULA PAVILION)
- USE SAME MATERIALS AS PRECEDENT
- USE SAME BUILDING TECHNIQUES AS PRECEDENT
- RESPOND TO SITE CONDITIONS (HISTORICAL WALL, CHANGE IN GROUND HEIGHT, STAIRS, TREES).
SEGOVIA PAVILION WRAPS AROUND AND ACTIVATES EXISTING ELEMENTS OF PLAZA
USERS WALKING ON PAVILION EXPERIENCE THE PLAZA AND ITS VIEWS IN A NEW WAY.
USERS WALKING BENEATH PAVILION EXPERIENCE SHADOWS CAST BY IT.
MUKKULA MANOR PARK PAVILION - ROOF PLAN AND ELEVATION
Sara Ounejjar and Rafaela Reppucci
Design Studio 5: Technique + Encounters
Prof. Maxon Higbee
Elevation 1
1:1000 m
0.5 0.5 1.0
FINGER JOINT CONNECTION
Sara Ounejjar and Rafaela Reppucci
Design Studio 5: Technique + Encounters
Prof. Maxon Higbee
PRIOR TO CREATING OUR OWN PAVILION, WE PRODUCED DRAWINGS AND PHYSICAL MODELS OF THE MUKKULA MANOR PARK PAVILION TO LEARN WHAT MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES WERE USED TO BUILD IT. WE USED THE SAME MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES TO CREATE OUR OWN, ENTIRELY NEW PAVILION COMPOSITION.
Elevation 2 1 :1000 m
0.5 0.5 1.0
STEEL BAR CONNECTION
SPRING 2022 - THIRD YEAR, NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
COURSE: URBAN INSTITUTIONS
PROF. WONWOO PARK
ABOUT LOCATED IN A PARCEL NORTH OF JARVIS STREET IN BOSTON, THIS HOUSING PROTOTYPE OF 21,840 SF FOLLOWS A SERIES OF GUIDELINES FOR ACCESSIBILITY, EGRESS, ROOM DIMENSIONS AND OUTDOOR SPACES.
CONCEPT
TO ACCOMMODATE A VARIETY OF CLIENTS, THIS HOUSING PROTOTYPE INCLUDES 4 DIFFERENT UNIT TYPES. NATURAL SUNLIGHT AND VENTILATION ARE MAXIMIZED BY INCLUDING AN OPEN SPACE ON EACH END OF THE UNIT. INTERACTION AMONG RESIDENTS IS ENCOUARGED THROUGH SHARED CIRCULATION AND SITTING SPACE.
HIGHLIGHTS
THE FACADE WAS PROJECTED TO REFLECT THE SPATIAL ORGANIZATION OF THE BUILDING. VERTICAL WINDOWS ARE USED FOR BEDROOMS, HORIZONTAL CLERESTORY WINDOWS ARE USED FOR BATHROOMS AND FLOOR-TOCEILING WINDOWS ARE USED FOR SHARED LIVING SPACES.
- FRONT SETBACK: BETWEEN 5’-15’ FROM THE BACK OF THE SIDEWALK
- REAR YARD/SETBACK: AT LEAST 15’
- SIDE LOT: AT LEAST 12’ OF THE SIDE LOT LINE OF THE BUILDING SHOULD BE A ZERO LOT LINE (PARTY WALL) CONDITION
- THE REAR OF THE SITE IS 6’ LOWER THAN THE SIDEWALK.
- ALL UPPER FLOOR UNITS ARE ACCESSIBLE BY A STAIR (AND NOT AN ELEVATOR)
- THE MAXIMUM HORIZONTAL TRAVEL DISTANCE TO AN EGRESS STAIR IS 75’
- EVERY UNIT MUST HAVE A PRIVATE EXTERIOR SPACE SUCH AS A TERRACE, PATIO, OR BALCONY.
NATURAL SUNLIGHT + VENTILATION
CIRCULATION + SHARED SPACES
FLOOR-TO-CEILING WINDOWS
INDICATE SHARED LIVING SPACES
VERTICAL WINDOWS USED FOR BEDROOM SPACES
HORIZONTAL CLERESTORY WINDOWS USED FOR BATHROOMS
WINDOWS PERFORATE EGRESS STAIRS TO GENERATE GREATER INTERACTION BETWEEN NEIGHBORS
ENTRANCE TO APARTMENT UNITS ENCOURAGE INTERACTION AMONG RESIDENTS AND PASSERSBY.
UNIT TYPES AND DISTRIBUTION
DUPLEX WITH 6 BEDROOMS, 2 BATHROOMS, 1 GUEST BATHROOM
3 BEDROOMS, 1 BATHROOM, 1 GUEST BATHROOM
2 BEDROOMS, 1 BATHROOM, 1 GUEST BATHROOM
2 BEDROOMS, 1 BATHROOM
FALL 2021 - SECOND YEAR, NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
COURSE: SITE, SPACE AND PROGRAM
PROF. BENJAMIN PEEK
ABOUT
LOCATED IN BOSTON’S CHINATOWN NEIGHBORHOOD, THIS LIBRARY BUILDING WAS ALSO DESIGNED TO SERVE AS A MIXED-USE COMMUNITY SPACE.
TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE DIFFERENT USES, THE LIBRARY BUILDING WAS PROJECTED TO INCLUDE FLEXIBLE SPACES. THE DESIGN EMPHASIZES FLUID SPACES TO ALLOW COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO GATHER IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BUILDING.
HIGHLIGHTS
THE LIBRARY’S PROGRAMS ARE SEPARATED INTO THREE VOLUMES. BACK OF HOUSE FUNCTIONS IN THE FIRST VOLUME. PUBLIC AMMENITIES IN THE SECOND. BOOK COLLECTIONS AND READING ROOMS IN THE THIRD.
- TOTAL SITE AREA 25,000 SF
- MAX. BUILDABLE AREA 12,500 SF (50%)
- BUILDING GROSS AREA 20,000 SF
- 5,000 SF SHOULD BE USED FOR A SHELTERED EXTERIOR SPACE (SHOULD BE FLEXIBLE TO INCLUDE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY FUNCTIONS)
- ALL THE PRIMARY SPACES WITHIN THE BUILDING MUST BE ACCESSIBLE BY ADA STANDARDS.
- BUILDING MUST CONTAIN 2 OR MORE LEVELS ABOVE GRADE.
- BUILDING SHOULD CONNECT TO SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOOD CONTEXT.
- BUILDING SHOULD ACT AS A MIXED-SE COMMUNITY HUB AS WELL AS A LIBRARY.
- BUILDING SHOULD HAVE SPACES DEDICATED TO READING AND HOUSING BOOK COLLECTIONS.
FARMER’S MARKET + CAFE
MODULARITY
THE PICTURES TAKEN IN CHINATOWN INSPIRED THE STUDY MODELS SHOWN HERE, WHICH I USED TO DEVELOP THE CONCEPT AND FORM OF MY FINAL BUILDING PROPOSAL
SPRING 2024: 6-MONTH CO-OP AT AW2 - PARIS, FRANCE
SPRING 2023: 6-MONTH CO-OP AT UTILE - BOSTON, UNITED STATES
ABOUT AT AW2: PRODUCED INTERIOR DESIGN PROPOSALS FOR THE RENOVATION OF A LUXURY VILLA, AS WELL AS RENDERS FOR COMPETITION PROJECTS AND CLIENT MEETINGS OF HOTEL MASTER PLAN PROJECTS. DEVELOPED 2D DRAWINGS FOR A BOOK PUBLICATION AND WORKED WITH THE MATERIAL LIBRARY DEPARTMENT.
AT UTILE: PRODUCED TECHNICAL DRAWINGS, RENDERS, DIAGRAMS AND PHYSICAL MODELS FOR A NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL PROJECTS. INCLUDED IN THIS PORTFOLIO IS A DIAGRAMMATIC RENDER OF A BOSTON HOTEL’S FACADE RENOVATION.
IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF PAGES ARE ARTWORKS I PRODUCED DURING A CREDIT-BEARING SUMMER ARTS COURSE AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY, A DRAWING CLASS AT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY AND IN THE 2-YEAR IB VISUAL ARTS COURSE. MY ARTISTIC EXPERIMENTATION INCLUDED SCULPTURE-MAKING, DRAWING, PHOTOGRAPHY, COLLAGE AND PAINTING.
ADDITIONALLY, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CURATE AND EXHIBIT MY ARTWORKS - SHOWN TO THE RIGHT. THE EXPERIENCE ENCOURAGED ME TO THINK OF FLOW OF MOVEMENT AND SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION.
ARTWORKS:
1 BRAINWASHED
2 UP THE LADDER
3 SECLUDED
4 THE POWER OF MONOPOLIES
5 IMBALANCE
6 FAMILY PORTRAIT
7 DETAIL DRAWING
8 WRAPPED
9 IMPRESSIONS
10 LIFE’S BURDENS (SECLUDED)
