ARCHITECTURE
Studio RARE
October 2021 - Current London, UK -ONovember 2019 - Current London, UK
Founder & Creative Director
RARE is a future-facing studio working at the intersection of artistry, architecture & technology. It re-imagines the traditional design and architecture studio model by blending disciplines and leveraging technologies. Shifting the focus from construction-led growth through its research, products, projects and services.
Powered by an international network of ‘best in class’ technologists, inventors and creators, it pursues the addition of specialist knowledge and innovation at the inception of ideas to maximise positive impact and reach.
Founder & Creative Director
-O- operates as an international platform and network of ‘best in class’ innovators, designers and technologists for multi-disciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange. Accelerating the implementation of innovation by design. It aims to spark far-reaching, socially relevant and impactful projects that combine the strengths of different creative fields.
Clients include:
• SUPERBRIGHT
• NTT Data UK
• Private Client: Kinetic Sculpture in collaboration with Patten Studio - NYC
Clients include:
• Prior + Partners / Google
• Vibration Group
Heatherwick Studio 2015 - 2019 London, UK
Associate & Senior Project Leader
Responsible for the design direction, development and management of multiple projects ranging from large-scale urban planning to small-scale furniture pieces. Leading international consultant and specialist teams across Europe and the Americas.
Notably led the design & delivery of Maggie’s Leeds• from idea to build completion. This is the largest project successfully delivered within a full service scope at Heatherwick Studio to date, and the only one of its kind. The process led to a key role in the development of internal approach to design & design strategies, BIM/immersive/parametric workstreams, specialist input and multi-disciplinary design, project set-up procedures, financial tracking, design and risk management strategies, client management, contract and scope negotiations and internal team structures in order to deliver highly complex and risk-prone projects within the studio.
Other achievements:
• Established new and lasting relationships with international collaborators and clients including ETH, MIT & Block Institute.
• Successful new business and scope negotiations (including Google).
• Conversion of new business leads including Reinvent.
• Established and led successful collaborations with international project teams accross the UK, Europe and the Americas, including Prior+Partners, West 8, SiteLabs and Blumer Lehmann.
• Developed the detailed design of Maggie’s within the approved budget.
• Mentored designers through the successful navigation of their goals and into leadership positions.
• Identified the need for specialist consultants, defined scopes and navigated successful appointment negotiations with clients. Further monitoring performance and compliance.
• Contributed to the design of a bespoke tender process for Maggie’s that balanced high design quality and craftsmanship with technical capabilities at a target cost.
• Management of up to 21 trade contractors’ design input and coordination under a construction management contract.
• Spearheading application, development and feedback of studio processes for the management, resourcing and development of projects including: internal resource and budget management, sign off procedures, technical QA/QC, BIM integration, Health and Safety, CDM responsibilities, internal team structures and role outlines.
• External representation of the Studio in press, fundraising and royal engagements.
Maggie’s recognitions:
• RIBA Yorkshire Award 2022
• WAF Best use of Natural Light 2021
• Dezeen’ public vote: Architectural Lighting Design Award 2021
• Architizer A+ Award 2021
• Surface Design Award - Light + Surface interior category
• Structural Timber Awards 2020
• Civic Trust Awards 2020
• FRAME interior of the month Award 9/ 2020
• Civic Building of the Year 2020 - Dezeen
Other Projects include:
• Google San Jose
• Reinvent: strategic piece for a new and replicable typology of building and support services designed for women who have come in contact with the criminal justice system. In collaboration with Michael Wolff & the Centre for Social Justice.
• Design guidelines for Hope Street•
• Google King’s Cross•
• Savarin
• Pier 55/Little Island•
• Maggie’s Tables•
Flanagan Lawrence Architects 2013 - 2015. London, UK
DLA Architecture March - September 2013. London, UK
HWCD 2012 - 2013. London, UK
Possamai + Napolitano
2010-2011. Caracas, Venezuela
Luis Polito Arq.
2010. Caracas, Venezuela
Famiglietti & Associates
2007-2010. Caracas, Venezuela
Guillermo Barrios Arq.
2007. Caracas, Venezuela
AM Arquitectos
2006 - 2007. Caracas, Venezuela
Architectural Designer
• 11-15 Grosvenor Crescent. London, UK / £100m•
• Millendreath masterplan and design for 56 holiday villas. Cardiff, UK.
Architectural Designer
• Oaklands College Masterplan, St Albans. Including design for the MEP building, nursery and stables.
Architectural Designer
• Wuxi Open Water Theatre. Wuxi, China•
Project Architect
• Casa de la abuela. Venezuela. $2m.•
Architect
• Administrative Buildings for the ‘San Diego de Cabrutica’ power plant.
Architect
• National Assembly’s Cultural Centre, Bolivarian Museum.•
• CAF (Development Bank of Latin America) HQ International Competiiton.
• IACFA HQ Private National Competition
Architectural Assistant
• Exhibition devices for the John Boulton Foundation Museum.•
Intern
• Saltarrana House •
• Fernando Zubillaga Gallery
• Built
ACADEMIA
Architectural Association
June, 2022. London, UK
Bartlett School of Architecture
March 2021. London, UK
Bartlett School of Architecture
March 2021. London, UK
Bartlett School of Architecture
November 2020. London, UK
Bartlett School of Architecture
October 2020. London, UK
Faculty of Architecture & Urbanism
June, 2020. Remote
Falmouth University
December 2019. London, UK
Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL
November 2019. London, UK
Oxford Brookes University
2019. Oxford, UK
UAL- Central Saint Martins
June 2013. London, UK
Oxbridge TEFL
2011-2012. Barcelona, Spain
Faculty of Architecture & Urbanism
Jan, 2010. Caracas, Venezuela
ARTS & MEDIA
Magali Reus & Approach Gallery
2016. London, UK
K&R - Fête
2016. London, UK
Waraira Films
2012. London, UK
Medio Informativo Magazine
2007-2009. Caracas, Venezuela
Nominated to the Latin American Biennale of Architecture as ‘Best Publication’
Medio Digital Magazine
2006-2007. Caracas, Venezuela
PUBLIC SPEAKING
IALD Enlighten Europe
2018. Barcelona, Spain
Museum of Architecture
2017. London, UK
Yorkshire Festival of Ideas
2016. York, UK
PUBLISHED WORK
ON THE STREET:
Contributions to the urban space through architectural strategies.
Author: Ana Lasala
2018. Pasadena, California
Guest Crit - Design Research Laboratory - MArch
Studio Angius
Organiser, Guest Curator & Host - Lecture Series
Venezuelan Tertulia: Culture, Architecture & the Arts
Guest Lecturer - UD10 - BSc Architecture
Trans-cultural, multi-sensory and phygital storytelling
Guest Crit - Bartlett Cross-Crit - BSc Architecture
Guest Lecturer - BsC Architectural Practice & Enterprise
Multi-disciplinary Practice
Jury- International Design Ideas Competition - UD09
Ideas for COVID & Emergency Infrastructure in Venezuela
Guest Lecturer - MA Communication Design
Career trajectory, multi-disciplinary explorations and collaborations.
Guest Lecturer - Architectural Practice & Enterprise
Career trajectory, multi-disciplinary explorations and collaborations.
Guest Lecturer, OxArch De-Constructing Architecture Series
The design process of Maggie’s Leeds
Guest Curator - BA (Hons) Criticism, Communication & Curation Degree Show
Architecture course developer, teacher and teacher trainer
Guest Crit - Final Year Thesis -UD09 - MArch - UCV
Public Art and intervention in Public Space
Design Consultant - Mustard
Solo Exhibition at Stedelijk Museum, NL
In collaboration with the House of Loewe •
Creative Director
Annual immersive arts & electronic music event in a secret location in East London. Creative production, collaborative art direction for set & art installations with artist Sebastian Kite
Producer - UK Narrative
Documentary: Social housing solutions in Venezuela & Europe
Editorial Producer & Creative Director
Quarterly magazine for the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism - UCV. The magazine balanced written and visual narrative in equal measure, whilst generating debate around the cultural landscape of the country (architecture, music, art, policy and urban design) by showcasing drastically opposing views on matters of national and international relevance.
Writer
Digital Bulletin reporting on current arts & culture events.cally opposing views.
Keynote Speaker
Architecture & Lighting: Secrets to a successful collaboration
Keynote Speaker
Architecture for Wellbeing - Maggie’s Leeds
Keynote Speaker Maggie’s Leeds
To imagine green:
Set of architectural strategies to de-construct the walled edges of green spaces in Caracas; which are fenced as a response to violent crime and insecurity, hiding them. from public life and the city’s imaginarium. By re-imagining the traditional typologies of public space and adapting them to the unused edge conditions, the resulting spaces are carved in topography without facades, creating visual connection and safety.
HONORARY POSITIONS
Judge
Nominated by Thomas Heatherwick in 2017
Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering
Create the Trophy Competition
2017- Current. London, UK
QUALIFICATIONS
Architect Best Thesis Award UnitX Central University of Venezuela 2010 Caracas, Venezuela
Venezuelan Architects Registration Board Nº 7.421
Venezuelan Engineering Registration Board Nº 215.585
FURTHER TRAINING
BUSINESS CLASS Scholarship recipient
Premium entrepeneurship course for founders Jan 2022- Dec 2022. Online
TEFL - Teacher & Teacher Trainer Oxbridge TEFL 2011. Barcelona, Spain
Architecture Photography PHOTOUNO at the Lincoln Center 2010. New York City, USA
Media Training
BRUNSWICK 2015. London, UK
Leadership, coaching, effective communication, mentoring and public speaking training. Heatherwick Studio 2015-2019
RESEARCH IN PRACTICE
-OOngoing Use of emerging technologies in support of collective creaiton in multi-disciplinary collaboration. Exploring new ways of revenue generation, commissioning and collective recognition.
RARE LABS
Ongoing
Projects as products: re-imagining the architecture and design economy for enhanced equity, cultural relevance and reach.
Immersive architecture as experiential art that increases reach and access to exceptional design.
