An architect and landscape architect, trained at two top 20 universities, with four years of experience in architecture, engineering, and landscaping. This background equips me with the ability to bridge these often conflicting fields, particularly in the realm of sustainability. I aspire to build an international career focused on enriching society by integrating nature into spatial design.
ETSAM, UPM (Madrid)
Sept 2009- May 2018: Studies of Architecture in ETSAM (School of Architecture of Madrid), part of the part of the UPM (Polytechnic University of Madrid)
Indesign
Premiere
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June-August 2015: Intership at Cabeza&Sastre, an architecture studio based in Madrid.
July 2018: My Graduation Project is chosen as one of the finalists exhibited in the 2018 BEAU (Spanish Architecture and Urbanisim Biennale)
Faculteit Bouwkunde, TU Delft (Delft)
Master of Science in Landscape Architecture at TU Delft
Faculteit Bowkunde
Graduation project grade: 8,5
Travelling exhibition on the future of the Midden Delfland region’s polders
May 2022, alongside TU Delft
Jun 2022/ Sept 2022, alongside the Veldacademie
Oct 2020-Feb 2021: Landscape Architecture design for the domes 8 and 14 or the 2020 EXPO Dubai’s Kingdom of Spain’s Pavilion
Sept 2018-March 2019: employed as Architect in eadAT, a MEP engineering office in Madrid
March 2019-August 2021: Promoted to Director of the Facilities Design for the project of the 2020 EXPO Dubai’s Kingdom of Spain’s Pavilion
eadAT ingenieros engineering office (Madrid)
Rotterdam Architectural Mond/ IBA
Oct 2021-present: Freelance consultant for their SpecBuilder software (Spain and Portugal’s versions)
TU Delft
Aug 2022-Jan 2023: Collaborator in the publication “Room for Polderwater”, authored by Prof. Inge Bobbink.
Sept 2023-Sept2024:Design of play and recreation areas in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium
Oct 2024-present: Design of a playground and public square in the Spanish Basque Country
Nov 2024-present: Designer
BoerPLAY BV
iV
Cabeza
Sastre
BEAU
Dubai 2020 World Expo
Schneider Electric
Kempark
3DS Max
- Academic:
-All Hallows’ Catholic church and cemetery in El Pozuelo megalithic area
-On the rocks: a breakable heaven (Graduation project TU Delft) -Built:
-IJsselmonde Pavillion for the Architecture Month of Rotterdam Month (Veldacademie/TU Delft)
-Playground and sport area in Kerkplein
-Landscaping for the domes no 8 and no 14 in the Kingsdom of Spain’s pavillion for the 2020 Dubai’s World Expo
-My
All Hallows’ Catholic church and cemetery in El Pozuelo
Situation: El Pozuelo, Riotinto county, Huelva, Andalusia Region, Spain.
Type of project: Academic- own project Year: 2012-2019
Description:
This cemetery project in El Pozuelo, initially an academic exercise in 2012, revisits the mining-rich Río Tinto regionwith its historic Dolmen 7 as a focal point, which has remained central to various cultures. Inspired by the site’s profound natural and historical presence, I revisited this project in 2019 as a landscape intervention, structured around the dolmen without altering it, preserving its sacred appeal.
Visitors enter through an artificial lake, symbolizing an entry to another realm, ascending toward a church designed as a “Christian dolmen” aligned with All Hallows’ Day noon sunlight. The path is marked by monuments to victims of gender-based violence, deceased children, and fallen soldiers of the Spanish Civil War, ascending to connect with a route leading to the dolmen. The graveyard terraces use the site’s topography to create private “chapels” for each tomb, surrounded by azaleas, rhododendrons, and native plants, which thrive in the acidic soils. Terraces and plant screens are arranged to frame significant views, following English landscape traditions of strategic “eye catchers.”
Landscaping plan
LEGENDA:
0-Dolmen no7
1-All Hallows’ Church 2-Auditorium’s stage
3-Graveyard reception plaza 4-Gender-based Ciolence Victims’ memorial 5-Deceased Children memorial 6-Monument of the Fallen in the Spanish Civil War 7-Back entrance and Monument to Rio Tinto’s History and Memory
A-Car Parking
B-Remembrance Island
C-Mine workers’ Memory Garden
D-Monumental Cross
Plant selections are primarily native Iberian species or well-adapted, hardy plants chosen to peak during the late October to early November Hallowmass festivity. A Miners’ Remembrance Garden, a maze with vine-covered halls, and the Ceremony Island, an outdoor amphitheater for public events, add to this thematic landscape that honors the region’s history and cultural heritage.
Similarly, the church inspired by the dolmen is designed to align with All Hallows’ Day noon sunlight when Spanish families traditionally visit cemeteries to honor their deceased loved ones. This church acts as a transitional space, overlooking an esplanade of olive trees, which hold symbolic meaning in both Roman and Catholic traditions, representing peace, endurance, and connection with the land.
Pantheon’s crossection
Tombs and columbaria, crossection
Tombs and columbaria, crossection
Church interior as envisioned during Hallowmas day
On the rocks: a breakable heaven
Situation: Guadarrama Mountains, historic region of Castile, Spain, Type of project: Academic- graduation project Year: 2022-2023
Definition:
For my TU Delft Graduation Project under Professors Inge Bobbink and Ulf Hackauf, I tackled the urgent challenges facing the Guadarrama Mountains in Spain, specifically climate change, the energy crisis, and urban imbalance. This mountain range, which divides the Castile region , faces severe weather fluctuations due to climate change, including droughts, floods, and snowstorms. Such extremes strain the area’s reservoirs, which are the primary drinking water source for Madrid, and also impact local hydropower production
Population and economic disparities compound these issues. Towns in the southwest are expanding due to convenient transport to Madrid, but the north suffers depopulation and economic decline, with traditional industries like quarrying, timber, and farming in steep decline, leaving a neglected industrial heritage.
LEGENDA
LEGENDA
Existing canal (gravity)
Existing canal (gravity)
Existing canal (pumping)
Existing canal (pumping)
Existing reservoir
Existing reservoir
Proposed canal (0% slope)
Proposed canal (0% slope)
Proposed canal (pumping )
Proposed canal (pumping)
Dam = pumoing station/ turbine
Dam+ pumping station/turbine
Diagram showing the connection of the different water bodies in the project and the pumping
My project addresses these imbalances by creating a 120-kilometer canal-aqueduct system linking the existing reservoirs and intermediate water bodies. This network redistributes water during extreme weather, minimizes flood damage, and helps supply water during droughts. Additionally, water pumped to higher elevation abandoned quarries is stored where evaporation is low, preserving resources. This pumping system is powered by photovoltaic cells installed in the newly reorganized urban areas.
Section of the aqueduct Section of the canal
Diagram depicting the “new world” created by the project with old and new elements.
small water reservoirs large water reservoirs existing towns large quarries (mountain valleys) small quarries (mountain valleys) northern farmland (derelict) westernern farmland (derelict)
Diagram depicting the “ different elements’ in the project and their evolution in time
Diagram depicting the systems “heavy precipitation mode”
Diagram depicting the systems “drought mode”
The plan also reimagines urban settlements Southwestern towns, now overgrown, would be separated into smaller communities with intervening forested spaces and expanded reservoirs, both preserving resources and adding recreational space. Demolished sections would see residents relocated to new, compact towns in lower-altitude quarries, echoing traditional Castilian towns but incorporating modern pedestrian and electric vehicle routes. Cable cars integrated into the canal network provide inter-town transport, while plazas echo traditional Castilian design with pools for water harvesting.
Rendering of the main square in a quarry town
Section of one of the pedestrian-only street in a quarry town, showing the pumping
Rendering of one of the pedestrian-only street in a quarry the pumping
Rendering of a harvesting-fishing pond in one quarry town
Farmland adapts to the new waterway, accommodating seasonal cattle migration with a continuous, shaded canopy (a dehesa) that regulates light and water levels. This buffer strip around the canal serves as a floodplain during heavy rains and shelters groundwater with stone-lined beds. Farmers gain access to winter and summer pastures, revitalizing agriculture. Sewage treatment with methane extraction also supports the dairy sector by providing energy for milk processing, fostering a sustainable local economy.
This comprehensive approach rebalances water, urban structure, and agricultural practices to tackle the pressing climate, energy, and population challenges facing the Guadarrama Mountains, ensuring a sustainable future while respecting traditional landscapes and economies.
Rendering of the farmland in summertime during the migration
Rendering of the farmland in wintertime during the flooding
IJsselmonde Pavillion for the Architecture Month of Rotterdam
Situation: Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Type of project: Group project (with the Veldacademie)
Year: 2022
Description:
In my first year’s fourth quarter at TU Delft Bouwkunde, I had the unique chance to work in an interdisciplinary setting through the “Resilient Rotterdam” subject. This collaboration between TU Delft and Veldacademie allowed me, the sole Landscape Architecture track student, to explore the renowned Dutch Urbanism approach alongside students from Architecture and Urbanism. Under the guidance of Otto Trienekens and Andrea Fitskie, I worked with peers Thomas Bollen, Pooja Mishra, Yuequi Zhang, Rosalie Granata, Luca Van Loevezijn, and Femke Snel to build a pavilion in Rotterdam’s IJsselmonde for the city’s Architecture Month.
The task was both challenging and fast-paced, as we had just a month to design a structure that was easy to assemble and dismantle. Additionally, global events such as the Ukraine war had impacted material prices, pushing our instructor to secure plywood early in anticipation of rising costs. A small contest led to Pooja Mishra and me being selected to lead the design, and we soon decided on a large, striking pavilion to make a significant visual impact in the vast square.
Our design comprised two main elements. The first was a pergola-like structure built from porticos, designed for ease and lightweight assembly and enhanced by Luca Van Loevezijn, who focused on construction details. To bring life and movement to the space, we hung rows of leftover ropes from a nearby factory between the beams, arranged in a color-coordinated gradient that captured and transformed the wind from the Maas River into a mesmerizing, flowing effect.
The second element was a core set of modular furniture, designed to meet the community’s needs: seating for the elderly, a skateboard ramp, and stackable cubes for flexible use as tables and additional seating. During the pavilion’s unveiling, these adaptable features successfully fostered interaction, with locals enthusiastically engaging with the structure.
The pavilion was so well-received that it was later transported and reconstructed in Sundhausen, Germany, for the IBA, where it again became a local favorite spot for gathering. This project marked a steep learning curve for me, from design to assembly and beyond, giving me invaluable insights into the practicalities of “real” construction and installation, vastly different from my previous experience in Spain.
02SS01A
02SS01A
Playground and sport area in Kerkplein
Situation: Kerkplein (Omnisportveld), Schilde, province of Antwerp, Flanders (Belgium)
Type of project: Built, employed by BoerPLAYYear: 2024
Description:
In 2023, I began working at BoerPLAY, a company specializing in playground design across the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. The company’s structure relies on sales representatives to establish connections with local schools and municipalities, gathering their requirements and passing them on to the design team. Evelyne Vanderhaeghe, the sales representative for the Antwerp region, was always a pleasure to collaborate with, and with her support, I designed over twenty playgrounds in Belgium—this one being my favorite.
This park was originally conceived as a football field, shielded from the churchyard at the east by a Fagus sylvatica hedge and from the roads in the south and west border with a screen of Populus nigra which we decided to reinforce the existing screen through the introduction of a informal hedge of shrubs (Acer campestre, Carpinus Betula, Fagus sylvatica) whilst in the eastern part, we decided to create a long bed for the inhabitants could plant their own arrangements, encouraging community involvement.
The park is divided into four distinct zones, each tailored for specific user groups. In the northern area, there is a leisure space for seniors, featuring seating and a pétanque terrain. This zone is also adjacent to the play area for younger children, facilitating interactions between seniors who come to enjoy the park and those bringing children. The children’s area includes age-appropriate play equipment, a picnic table, and a checkerboard for adults to engage with kids. A pergola with swings connects this area to another space designed for older children, featuring taller play
structures like a zip line. When a soft surface is requires, wood-chips are used to maintain a natural aesthetic.
Football, the site’s original function, is preserved in a smaller designated area. Additionally, for adults and fitness enthusiasts, there is a running track ending in a “calisthenics corner”, separated from the children’s play zones by another informal hedge. This fitness area includes a pingpong table for a playful touch.
This park exemplifies how modern playgrounds can be multifunctional, supporting both biodiversity and community needs by integrating natural elements directly into urban spaces. It demonstrates how well-designed parks can enrich local landscapes, fostering connections with nature while becoming a meaningful addition to the urban fabric.
The new petanque terrain, during the inauguration. This picture was taken before the planting of the new
The old sport equipement was replaced in order to comply with the new regulations
The toddler’s area
hedges
Landscaping for the domes of the Kingsdom of Spain’s pavillion for the 2020 Dubai’s World Expo
Situation: Dubai, Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Type of project: Built, own project, state comission
Year: 2020-2021
Description:
When the 2020 Dubai World Expo was announced, the world looked forward to witnessing one of the most grandiose Expos ever imagined. Lasting from October 2019 to May 2020, it promised six months of extraordinary opulence, powered by Dubai’s oil wealth. Yet, in an unexpected twist, the global pandemic pushed all visions of grandeur aside, postponing the event until 2021.
One of the Expo’s anticipated highlights was the Spanish pavilion, designed by Madrid’s Temperaturas Extremas studio ( Amman, Cánovas & Maruri), emphasizing sustainability with unique “vegetal domes” featuring ceilings of plant rings. The challenge lay in integrating these circular shapes naturally while conveying the spirit of Spain. Plant selections were based on their resistance to Dubai’s hot, humid winters and local availability, given the Emirate’s still-developing landscaping sector.
Dome 14: Spanish Countryside and Romería Inspiration
Designed for the restaurant’s terrace, Dome 14 brings the atmosphere of Spain’s “romerías”— traditional religious pilgrimages often marked by outdoor feasts and celebrations—to Dubai. Using levels to create layers of closeness, the dome represents different stages of nature, evoking a May scene in Castile. The top level symbolizes holly oaks, with white bougainvilleas arranged to mimic branches. Middle levels feature fragrant Spanish jasmine and lavender, with rock-like textures represented by Tradescantia zebrina and Asparagus densiflorus, evoking Spanish wildflowers. A cascading “waterfall” of blue Ipomoea blooms completes the scene, merging tradition with Dubai’s landscape.
Diagram showing the different habitus of plants (climber, upright, shaped into trees)
Diagram showing the different pot sizes
Asparagus densiflorus sprengeri
Bouganvillea glabra ‘Snow White’
Bouganvillea spec- tabilis ‘White Stripe’
Bouganvillea glabra ‘California Gold’
Ipomoea indica
Jasminum grandiflorum
Jasminum sambac
‘Grand Duke of Tuscany’ Lavandula angustifolia
‘Royal Purple’
Bouganvillea glabra ‘California Gold’
Tradescantia zebrina
Situation of the dome in the pavilion
View of the structure with the plants right after the placing
Dome
Dome 8, inspired by muqarnas—ornate Islamic vaulting—is conceived as a symbolic antechamber. Mimicking the paper-like, layered shapes of muqarnas, light and dark bougainvillea create depth and evoke a sense of passage between worlds, as muqarnas often served as thresholds in Moorish palaces. In muted tones to reflect the effects of time and sunlight, this dome harmonizes with Dubai’s setting, with tradescantias suggesting the aged remnants of ancient paints.
Through these designs, the Spanish pavilion bridges cultural narratives and climatic resilience, creating a thoughtful nod to shared Arab and Spanish heritage, while echoing the splendor of the Expo itself.
Section of dome 8
Asparagus densiflorus sprengeri
Lavandula angustifolia ‘Royal Purple’
Tradescantia pallida
Bouganvillea x ‘Miss Universe’
Pennisetum setaceum
Diagrams showing the different pot arrays and their placing
Diagram showing the different habitus of plants (climber, upright, shaped into trees)
Diagram showing the different pot sizes
Situation of the dome in the pavilion
Placing of the plants in the pavillion
8: Muqarnas and Moorish Heritage
My parents’ home’s garden
Situation: Alpedrete, historic region of Castile, Spain,
Type of project: Built, own project
Year: 2005-present
Description:
This garden project, which began as an endeavor to create my parents’ garden, remains my most personal and formative work. I started designing it when I was just ten, after our family home was completed. At that time, my understanding of garden design came solely from magazines, which featured mainly English and American gardens. I envisioned sprawling lawns adorned with tall deciduous trees like beeches and lindens, winding paths, and picturesque ponds with grass extending right to the water’s edge. However, these visions clashed dramatically with the harsh realities of the dry Castilian climate and stony soil, with my hometown’s very name, Alpedrete, translating from Latin as “made in stone.”
To succeed, I had to adjust my designs to the local ecosystem. Instead of lush, open lawns, I embraced the shadowy, dense woodlands and rugged beauty of native vegetation.
Hand-drawn lan of the swimmig pool
We managed a rose garden, and despite losing the hydrangeas to frost each winter, they would faithfully regrow with soft blue blooms, thanks to the acidic soil generated by slowly decomposing granite. Likewise, camellias flourished if shielded from the northern wind.
In time, I found a balance between regional resilience and selective additions of non-native species Koelreuterias and Liquidambars adapted surprisingly well to the area, and our blue fir, now towering at four meters after multiple transplants, has become an iconic Christmas tree, though challenging to decorate. I embraced trees with a long tradition in the Castillian gardening as well, like the Lebanon cedars in ghostly shades of gray and blue, the elegant olive trees and the tall cypress trees that traditionally frame Spanish cemeteries. I also learned to appreciate the incredible utility of fruit trees, which provide shade, springtime blooms, and fruit without obstructing winter sunlight and featuring stunning fall foliage.
The garden’s centerpiece is a swimming pool designed to resemble the region’s natural mountain lagoons. I used aquamarine tiles and incorporated local granite stones around its edge to emulate natural rocailles with cascading waterfalls. This pool has even been featured in a magazine specializing in pool design, a proud highlight and testament to the project’s success.
