ADRIAN
CARDENAS
P O R T F O L I O Kubrick House studio project 2016
2019
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ADRIAN
CARDENAS
P O R T F O L I O Kubrick House studio project 2016
2019
02
PERSONAL DETAILS
EDUCATION
ADRIAN CARDENAS
2017-2018
age
25
ethnicity
2nd year Bachelor of Architecture Degree program at the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design at the University of Houston
hispanic
LANGUAGE SKILLS english:
fluent
spanish:
fluent
2015 - 2016 1st year Bachelor of Architecture Degree program at the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design at the University of Houston
CONTACT INFO address:
5401 Chimney Rock Rd Apt 303 Houston TX, 77081
email: phone:
adrianmcardenas96@gmail.com 956.645.2734
SOFTWARE SKILLS AutoCad Revit Illustrator Photoshop InDesign Sketchup
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STUDIO PROJECT
KUBRICK HOUSE
Mass
FIRST YEAR OF STUDY // SPRING 2016 FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
Divide
The purpose of the studio project was to design a space for an artist to occupy for several days, when visiting the university. Some of the programmatic requirements included a living space, a studio for working, and an additional room specific to the artist. The project suggests that the artist be treated as a client, and therefore required much research to be done on the artist’s personality, and preferences.
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Kubrick House studio project 2016
Twist
The site is a small plot of land located next to the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture. It is along a heavy pedestrian pathway connecting the North side of campus to the central engineering buildings. The site is surrounded by many trees, and great view opportunities. To the North West there is a view of the Houston skyline, and to the south east, adjacent to the site, there is a koi fish pond. Through research, I discovered that Stanley Kubrick was an extremely private man, who
Sky Lights
rarely interacted with strangers. He preferred to work from the comforts of his home. With that in mind, the intention of the design was to create a space where Kubrick could live and work for a few days while maintaining a private environment for him to feel as comfortable as possible. The design of the space was heavily inspired off of the basic structure of storytelling. Given that Kubrick essentially devoted his life’s work to storytelling.
First Floor
Second Floor
Third Floor
studio project 2016 Kubrick House
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Process models showing design development. Experimentation with interlocking floors was explored.
A basic story is made up of three parts: the rising action, climax, and falling action. With that in mind, I began with a mass. That mass was then divided up into three equal parts. The middle section was then slightly twisted to open up the corners on the first and second floor. This simple gesture creates sky lights incorporating a simple solution to bringing natural light in, while still maintaining the desired privacy. Furthermore, this also reinforces the “story telling” design concept, by creating that point of “climax” in the design. The entrance is pushed back to the
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Kubrick House studio project 2016
middle of the site, to provide private access to the dwelling. The first floor includes a small kitchen, and a private screening room located at the back of the site. The second floor has a living space, and bedroom for the inhabitant. Finally, the third floor is a private study / office with a terrace offering panoramic views of the city. All three floors are tied together with an open staircase offering glimpses of activity happening on every floor. Light entering the space from skylights and windows creates intricate
shadows and compositions when hitting the stairs.
Section Cut
Isometric
studio project 2016 Kubrick House
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STUDIO PROJECT
BILLBOARD PROJECT
The idea for this project was to take an old billboard and convert it into a small dwelling. The existing structure of the billboard was given as a starting point. The program required a living space, small kitchen, restroom, bedroom, and studio to be included in the space. A guest sleeping area was optional.
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SECOND YEAR OF STUDY // FALL 2017 FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
This project did not include, a site, or client to help influence essential design decisions. All that was given was the billboard, and the program. With that in mind, I began experimenting with different circulation diagrams, which in turn led to the development of the form. I began with a mass in the shape of the board. The mass was then split in two separating the public and private spaces. A central atrium was then erected, dividing the private space. Finally, the atrium along with the private
Billboard Project studio project 2017
spaces were extended to accentuate the different programmatic elements in the space. The separation of public and private spaces was decided early on in the design process, which facilitated the placement of the program throughout the space. On the first floor, living, dining, kitchen, and bathroom were placed. The second floor includes bedroom, and studio. An outdoor walkway connects the two spaces creating a sense of exclusivity to the rest of the building.
Living
Dining
Kitchen
Bath Room
First Floor
Office
Bedroom
Second Floor
Roof Plan
studio project 2017 Billboard Project
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ss
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Left: Design development process models. Right: form development diagrams. The central atrium is enclosed in translucent polycarbonate panels that provide privacy from the busy highway below, while still providing plenty of natural light. This is a significant contrast from the dark Shou Sugi Ban wood cladding that encloses the rest of the building. Inspired by light houses, at night the atrium acts as a beacon for passing vehicles. Furthermore, the atrium acts as a unifying element, tying the entire program together. A guest bed attached to the roof of the first floor slides out into the void of
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Public Space Private Space
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Atrium
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the atrium, creating a unique experience of sleeping in an atrium.
Billboard Project studio project 2017
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Section Cut
South Elevation
studio project 2017 Billboard Project
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STUDIO PROJECT
WAUGH BRIDGE BAT STATION
The project’s site is located in the Buffalo Bayou Park adjacent to the Waugh Bridge at the site of the current bat colony viewing platform. Every evening at sunset, more than 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats emerge from the Waugh Bridge. There is an existing viewing platform with interpretive signage. Park visitors are encouraged to come to see the Waugh Bridge bats at night.
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Waugh Bridge Bat Station studio project 2017
SECOND YEAR OF STUDY // FALL 2017
The object matter of the studio project was to replace the current viewing platform with a new building; an observation structure for park visitors. A small exhibit space and an assembly space were required as part of the park’s expanded educational outreach. The initial design process began with a thorough analysis of the site. Wind patterns, sun paths, and views were studied, influencing the overall design of the project.
FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
I began with the idea of separating the exhibit space and office spaces from the more public areas. This led to the creation of two separate wings connected by the shared lobby space in the center. A twenty four hour ADA accessible observation deck, along with a gathering space are located on the roof of the building, offering a 360 degree view of the bats as they fly out of the bridge. At ground level, a city bike rental station was placed along the walking path of the park.
C’
D’
ASSEMBLY SPACE
BIKE RENTAL
B’
OFFICES
MECHANICAL ROOM
ENTRY/ LOBBY
B
RESTROOMS
A
A’ EDUCATION CENTER
C
Ground Floor
First Floor
D
A big challenge of this project was creating strategic points of entry that complimented the existing pedestrian paths. The main two being at street level and below along the park’s walking trail. The solution was to provide a clear and simple circulation into the interior, and exterior communal spaces of the building. A large ramp on the east side provides 24-hour access to the observation deck. Stairs doubling as seating provides a connection from the deck to the gathering space.
GATHERING SPACE OBSERVATION DECK
Second Floor
Waugh Bridge Bat Station studio project 2017
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Section A
Section C
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Waugh Bridge Bat Station studio project 2017
Section B
Section D
Waugh Bridge Bat Station studio project 2017
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North Elevation
South Elevation
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Waugh Bridge Bat Station studio project 2017
Left: Process models showing design development. Right: Diagrams illustratting form development Waugh Bridge Bat Station studio project 2017
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HOUSTON INNOVATION PLACE: PHASE 1
This short two week long experimental design challenge served as a warm up exercise to the second part of the project. It consisted of designing two distinctly different spaces using four modules as a starting point and combining the two to create a final design.
STUDIO PROJECT SECOND YEAR OF STUDY // SPRING 2018
Similar to the billboard project, this one did not include any site, or specific program. It can be said that this was a more experimental design challenge. The exercise consisted of three parts. The first and second consisted of creating two distinctly different designs: one orthogonal, and one nonorthogonal. The final part was combining the two concepts to create a final design. We began with four 24x24 sq ft modules. Utilizing these modules, three different
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Houston Innovation Place: Phase 1 studio project 2018
FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
arrangements were created. One arrangement was chosen, and a space was to be created based on the arrangement. The first thing that was done was setting up a simple 4ft grid. Then, based on that grid, a simple plane, mass, and basic structural system were set up. This led to several iterations, playing with space, walls, ramps, and so forth. For the second, non-orthogonal design, more freedom was granted. The basic idea was to take the four modules and their
Houston Innovation Place: Phase 1 studio project 2018
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Left: Phase one module study models. Right Top: Phase two module study models. Right Bottom: Phase three module study model
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respective grids and deconstruct them. This led to a much more experimental design where modules were sliced, folded and intersected with one another. In all, this design was more of an exploration of external envelope, while the first one was more spatial exploration.
envelope slowly eases into a distorted representation of one of the original modules. This distorted portion, doubled in size of the original module, wraps around the top portion of the space, and morphs back into the ordered grid that organizes the space.
The final iteration consisted of refining the spacial qualities explored in the first design and incorporating the concepts from the second. Using the original grid, a facade wrapping the space was created. The
The intention behind this was to create a sense of hierarchy for the viewer. With the chaotic top portion of the space, being the first place the viewer’s eye gravitates to, and slowly easing them back to order.
Houston Innovation Place: Phaset 1 studio project 2018
In the end this design was primarily an exploration of grid and how it can be played with and abstracted. to be used as a starting point in the next project.
Houston Innovation Place: Phase 1 studio project 2018
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HOUSTON INNOVATION PLACE: PHASE 2
This design is part 2 to the Houston Innovation Place Project, and a follow up to the previous exercise. This is a more traditional project in comparison to part one in the sense that an actual site was given along with program. The purpose was to design a maker space with an inclusive and diverse program located in Houston’s Midtown Park, where innovators and creators could come together.
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STUDIO PROJECT SECOND YEAR OF STUDY // SPRING 2018
The Houston Innovation Place, located at the southern end of the recently completed Midtown Park, represents a continuation of the public private partnership that was the genesis of the park itself. With the expansion of entrepreneurism and the growth of new learning and making technologies, cities are looking for new facilities and “innovation districts” that appeal to individuals comprising the growing entrepreneurial phenomena. Located between downtown and
Houston Innovation Place: Phase 2 studio project 2018
FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON
the medical center, adjacent to the Houston Community College with connections to both Rice University and the University of Houston via Metro Rail, the Midtown location provides an ideal location for connections to supporting “incubator organizations”. In addition, its location within the park provides for a relationship to other creative events occurring at the outdoor performance stage and associated facilities. In that regard, the goal of the Houston Innovation Place (HIP) is to provide a destination facility
1st Floor
2nd Floor Houston Innovation Place: Phase 2 studio project 2018
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MAIN ST
BERM
3rd Floor
4th Floor 022
Houston Innovation Place: Phase 2 studio project 2018
for use by entrepreneurs and makers while facilitating the growth of such a district in the city. The site played a big role in the development of this project. Early on, I realized there were two conflicting grids on the site. And having my previous project be about a grid and how it can be abstracted. This was an idea I wanted to explore deeper. The organization of the program is set up in a way that it surrounds the central atrium of the space. The maker spaces
are placed on the southern corner, so to provide more privacy, and most public spaces are on the first, and third floor, while the semi private spaces are all on the second floor. There is a pair of atriums located in the center of the space that brings the programmatic elements together. The circulation was, in part, inspired by how the circulation was arranged in the previous project. It is set up in a way that takes the occupants along the edges of the space so to
experience the atrium as one moves up. Materials chosen are a combination of a steel structure, glazing systems, and precast concrete panels. The structure consists of a series of steel columns and beams. The position of them was decided according to a 10’x10’ grid that was used to determine the spaces. Furthermore, the spans range between 10 feet or 20 feet depending on whichever is most appropriate. 023
Long Section Cut
North Elevation
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Houston Innovation Place: Phase 2 studio project 2018
Short Section Cut
East Elevation
Houston Innovation Place: Phase 2 studio project 2018
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