In the heart of David Douglas High School’s campus, “The Forest Edge” stands as a testament to contextual nature-inspired architecture. Designed to symbolize the meeting of forest and river , the building integrates mass timber with a steel atrium , fostering a dynamic learning environment that connects students with the natural world.
Adaptive High-Curvature System(s)
Pages 10-11
PNW Sustainability Center
Pages 12-13
Our studio worked with Dylan Wood to research the potential for bi-layer technology. We utilized an active layer (saturated piece of wood), the restrictive layer (thinner dry piece), and the passive layer (thicker dry piece). I decided to try to create the “S” shape. I was successful on the first try and quickly began to understand the different ways to manipulate the curvature using this simple methodology.
Addresses a series of complex issues ranging from seismic preparedness to houseless services . This site is a particular region of interest in Portland, as completes the Northern Park Blocks it’s neighbor is the Pacific Northwest College of Art. The sustainability center would act as a publicly accessible beacon of learning, research, and a source of resources for those in need.
Court du Millénaire
Pages 14-15
The lack of affordable housing in the Parc Millenaire of Aubervilliers, France is significant. This location lies slightly outside the periphery of the Paris, and is in the process of being developed. According to the ICADE plan by the French government, they will develop more office buildings in this area. I proposed an afforable housing complex that features programming throughout to keep the site active and constantly in surveillance
Additional Projects
Pages 16-19
Two projects prior to attending University of Oregon. Two projects showcasing technical, smaller-scale work.
Statement of Intent
“Am I the best person to design these spaces?”
Throughout my undergraduate degree, I’ve searched for my motive within architecture. While there were always topics that interested me and aesthetics that I tried to follow, my approach changed in the first year of my master’s degree abroad. Assigned with the task of designing social housing for the people of Algiers, I was met with a project with no pre-defined limitations or specifications. As much as I appreciate a challenge, the idea of designing housing for a country I had never set foot in seemed inappropriate. I found myself with a moral dilemma.
The importance of learning to design projects like social housing cannot be understated. However, parallels with colonialist mistakes arise when foreign architects, especially from the West, undertake projects in developing nations. I began to examine spaces important to me where I’d seen this type of design influence.
The sustained influence of Spanish colonialism in my father’s community in Ecuador is one that I have always felt is wrong. The impact can be seen in everything from people’s last names to their building design. The traditional material for housing in Otavalo is rammed earth, but the majority of the existing houses are constructed from concrete, a material that is not suitable for the region. This is not only creating unsuitable habitations but also resulting in the erasure of indigenous knowledge. Many architects from the capital city Quito come to our community in Ecuador with radical ideas that do not refelect the needs of the community. It is important to be ambitious, but those ambitions should also take into account existing cultural dynamics. Ultimately,
“The best designer for a community is the community itself.”
There is a lot to learn from exploring new cultures and places, but the distinction between architecture that infringes versus architecture that restores is found in two things: the mentality of the architect and the architect’s relationship to the community of their tasked project.
To preserve cultural knowledge within the communities I engage with, my aspirations lie in Public Interest Design and Non-Profit work. My primary interest is in vernacular architecture, and I aim to synergize emerging technology with traditional building methods regardless of my location. Overall, I think this portfolio is an accurate reflection of my journey, but not a limit to what I hope to accomplish.
Where River Meets Forest Edge
S24/ University of Oregon/ S. Rockcastle/ Site: Portland, OR
Vision and Design
The vision for the CTE building revolves around the confluence of natural elements— mass timber representing the forest and a steel atrium embodying the flow of the Columbia River. This design concept not only creates a striking aesthetic but also reflects the school’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.
Symbolism and Functionality
The steel atrium serves as the building’s centerpiece, symbolizing the flow of energy, creativity, and knowledge. It carves through the timber structure, providing abundant natural light and flexible spaces for collaboration and learning. This design encourages movement and interaction, fostering a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere.
Interior Perspective of Main Gathering “River” Space.
Exterior site view including terraces and main entrance to the site.
Environmental Considerations
Sustainability is a core principle of the project, with mass timber chosen for its renewable properties and low carbon footprint. Energy-efficient systems and renewable energy sources further enhance the building’s environmental performance
Integration with the Campus
The CTE building is designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing campus, respecting the scale and context of the surrounding buildings. Pathways and landscaped areas mimic natural trails, promoting outdoor activity and environmental awareness among students.
Design for Economy
Mass timber offers economic advantages through sustainable sourcing, rapid construction, and costeffectiveness. Its prefabricated nature reduces labor costs, while its thermal insulation minimizes long-term heating and cooling expenses, making it an attractive choice for modern architectural projects.
Design for Well-Being
The project prioritizes occupant well-being through thoughtful design choices. Large windows flood interiors with natural light, promoting mental and physical health. Permeable materials enhance indoor air quality, while inclusive design ensures comfort and connectivity with nature, fostering a welcoming environment for all occupants.
Design for Change
The project prioritizes resilience and adaptability to address future risks and vulnerabilities. Through flexible design strategies, it anticipates changing needs and markets, ensuring usability and value over time. Passive survivability and livability are integral, enhancing the project’s ability to withstand environmental changes and remain functional.
Design for Discovery
The design process for spaces for elementary students prioritizes ongoing collaboration, sharing performance data and experiential stories. Lessons from construction administration are disseminated for continuous improvement. Strategies focus on fostering discovery and delight, creating green areas and community interaction opportunities within the spaces.
Design for Ecosystems
The project prioritizes ecological health, integrating nature-based solutions like outdoor gardens to support regional habitat restoration and biodiversity. By fostering connections to the regional ecosystem and providing equitable access to nature, it builds resilience and awareness while minimizing human impacts on land, water, and atmosphere.
Design for Water
The project meticulously manages water resources, prioritizing efficiency and quality. It implements systems for rainwater harvesting, stormwater management, and greywater reuse. By promoting water resilience and equity, it contributes to a healthy regional watershed, ensuring sustainable water usage and function even during emergencies.
Design for Equitable Communities
This educational project aspires to transcend its boundaries, integrating Career and Technical Education (CTE) with community engagement. By designing inclusively, fostering social equity, and promoting community resilience, it becomes a nexus for learning and connection, enriching the broader community fabric while ensuring accessibility for all.
Design for Integration
“At the Forest Edge” epitomizes the “Design for Integration” framework by seamlessly blending nature with architecture, engaging senses, and fostering community connection. Its integrated design process ensures sustainability and inclusivity, creating a space of enduring value and beauty.
Design for Resources
Mass timber combines sustainability with longevity, offering durable structures that can last for generations. Its natural properties and renewable sourcing make it an attractive choice for projects seeking both resilience and environmental sustainability.
Design for Energy
The building embraces passive design strategies to enhance performance and comfort while reducing energy use. It exceeds code efficiency standards, aiming for net zero energy and carbon. Powered by clean, renewable sources, it ensures continuous performance improvements, integrating seamlessly with the building grid for long-term sustainability.
Impact on Students and Community
“At the Forest Edge” provides an inspiring environment for students to explore, create, and connect. It symbolizes the school’s dedication to educational excellence and environmental responsibility, serving as a source of pride for the community.
Well-being:
Prioritize occupant well-being by maximizing natural light, indoor air quality, and biophilic design elements to enhance comfort. Incorporate resilient design features to withstand environmental challenges and promote adaptability in the face of future uncertainties.
Interior Experiential Image of Elementary side entrance.
Exterior Image of private outdoor play area for younger children.
Exterior Perspective of co-existing private and public outdoor spaces along with green rooves.
Exterior Image of publically accessible outdoor terrace.
Adaptive High-Curvature System(s)
W23/ University of Oregon/ D. Wood/ Site: Portland, OR
As a class, we conducted several experiments to test out the process of creating curvature. We started out with an introduction on how to laminate and attach these different wood types to eachother. There are three main components for a lamination: the active layer (saturated piece of wood), the restrictive layer (thinner dry piece), and the passive layer (thicker dry piece). From there we understood the process of how to create these laminations. Then we were able to select a shape of our choosing in order to conduct our individual experiments. I selected the “S” shape to try and create. I was successful on the first try and quickly began to understand the different ways to manipulate the curvature using this simple methodology.
Front elevation of strucutral component in a building.
The primary concept for this “Pod” Component is that it can be flatpacked in transportation in order to be easily accessible and more affordable. Given the base dimensions of a semi-truck, the component was made to fit with extra room available. The components then clip into the lateral beams in a roof structure. On top of that, I placed a glass
roof structure toprotect the space from water damage, and to allow ample amounts of light inside. The “Pod” Component really shines in it’s sectional view, where the connection to the lateral beam is visible as well as the entirely of it’s shape. The top of the component acts structurally.
Mass transportation diagram.
“Pod” Component front view
“Pod” Component Flipped Side View.
Long-end, section cut.
Acoustics Absorption (red) + Sun Diffusion (blue) diagram.
Wood layering lay-up for processing.
PNW Sustainability Center
F22/
University of Oregon/ T. Hahn/ Site: Portland, OR
In Portland, Oregon there is an undeniable push from the community for more “green” space. Whether this refers to sustainably built spaces or actually physically green spaces (parks), people want it. This is my first project that I completed at University of Oregon, beginning my master’s degree. We addressed a series of complex issues ranging from seismic preparedness to houseless services. This site is a particular region of interest in Portland, as completes the Northern Park Blocks it’s neighbor is the Pacific Northwest College of Art. With the area in development, and the city pushing to create a greenway along with the greenloop in the area, this building seeks to act as a notch in the urban landscape. As a center for sustainability, the program includes educational facilities, houseless resources, pop-up retail spaces, a high-bay research lab, etcetera.
Exterior perspective from Glisan looking towards Hoyt
Experiential image of interior quality.
Experiential image of skybridge atmosphere.
I intended the Mass Timber to act as grid that mimics the iconic tilt in the existing park blocks. The building is meant to last beyond the typical lifespan of a building. Given this quality, I needed to consider the potential for expansion. The steel grid that acts as the central pathway is a visual representation for the potential expansion of the building as
time goes on and more program is needed. Given the easy construction and manipulation of mass timber, this makes the process of renovation and addition more realistic than if it had been a typical concrete, steel construction method applied. The surrounding landscape is sunken in order to allow them to remain untouched and act as an overflow space.
View of deck and landscape.
West Elevation
Exploded axonometric with steel structure removed.
East Elevation
Court du Millénaire
F23/ Meiji University/ J. Tamura/ Site: Aubervilliers, France (Paris Metro)
Public Pathway around the Site
Defining the Issues to be addressed:
The previous industrial district of the Avenue des Magasins is now in the process of being developed to revive the area. Parc du Millenaire consists of office buildings and commercial spaces and while there are some residences they are isolated in the northern sector and there lacks a third-place for people to occupy.
Site + Surrounding Context:
I propose a series of inverventions in the area, but my primary focus includes creating aordable housing that will create safe community spaces through the implementation of a 24/ hr loop to keep the site active.The result is a series of courtyards that share a larger courtyard with the surrounding area.
Elevated
I decided to address the lack of affordable housing in the Parc Millenaire of Aubervilliers, France. This location lies slightly outside the periphery of the Paris, and is in the process of being developed. According to the ICADE plan by the French government, they will develop more office buildings in this area. However, with the growing population
of France, the Paris Metro area needs to expand in order to accomodate not only French citizens but also foreign migrants. In my project, I worked to create safe public space that brings the community in rather than making it private. This is achieved by the placement of public and resident program throughout the building in order to ensure community
T4 Unit Typology Axonometric
T4 Unit Typology Interior Image
Ideation sketches
T1 Unit Typology Interior Image
North Park Blocks Art Foundation
W19/
Portland State University/ K. Malaia
Levels 1-4 w/ program indicated by color
This project considers the necessity of adaptable transparency in the public sphere, with regards to the particularities of the site. The use of wooden slats on the façade act not only as a differentiation between private and public spaces, but also as a means of customization of light. With program like gallery, offices, and an Artist-in-Residence space, there is a need for the variability of light depending on the activity. With the interior courtyard that makes use of the pre-existing windows on the Emerson school next door, and the transparent café façade, this building provides visual cues for those passing by to help differentiate public versus private spaces and engage further if they so choose. As an infill building, the largest challenge was providing enough natural light for the people inside to experience.
Physical Model photo of Eastern Facade with two surrounding buildings on either side of the lot.
Photo of final luminaire construction.
Dwelling in Algiers
F21/ Hochschule Luzern/ A. Seifert, L. Deon
This semester’s intention aims to address the lack of affordable housing within the city of Algiers. Considering the age groups in desparity for housing, there are three clear distinctions. Primarily, there are families and the younger generation without housing, or in desparate need of better housing. My project attempts to react to this lack thereof by creating two apartment types, the Plaza, and the Tower. The plaza is directed towards families who need more room. While the tower is curtailed to the needs of single students or youth without extended family. The orientation of the towers is purposefully to catch the wind and cool down the spaces during the hot months. The plaza apartments on the other hand are oriented to the direction of the sun, with overhangs that prevent the summer sun from entering but allow the winter sun.
Unit Typology Daylighting Strategy
Shared Courtyard Perspective
Building Enclosures
F24/
University
of Oregon/ M. Fretz, J. Rowell
In Building Enclosures, our class has three projects we have completed in order to understand the complexity of enclosure and how we can ensure our building envelope is properly sealed. In Project 2, we examined the potential use of Terracotta Baguettes as a solar shading device. The building also utilizes a curtain wall system in addition to a steel stud system. We were provided the plans, elevations, sections and detailed information on the dimensions of structural members. From there we were tasked with the creation of a 7 details drawn in Revit. I chose to include the Parapet detail on this page as well as the window head, window sill in order to show the full wall detailing. I also included the partial elevation that calls out the details pictured and a simple axonometric that identifies the major components of the construction.
Parapet Detail, Window Head Detail, WIndow Sill Detail
Partial Elevation Detail
Luminaire Design
S23/ University of Oregon/
I. Elzeyadi/ Partner: Ryan Peden-Spear
The aim of this luminaire is to address the need for soft lighting within our designated cafe space. The existing lighting iin the Price Science Library is quite harsh, and is only amplified by the glare that accumulates in the space due to the large amount of glazing. The Woven Helix attempts to emulate something similar to the formation of DNA and the woven aspect of threads of knowledge and research. The frame is constructed using a veneer bilayer in order to form the top and bottom rings. There are several plywood fins that form the structure to ensure the structural integrity of the luminaire. The yarn provides a soft appearance as well as potentially addressing some of the excess acoustics in the space. Not only will it diffuse the light into the space, but it will help keep the space quiet.
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