Portfolio Akna Marquez

AKNA MARQUEZ

P O RT F O L I O

Urban intervention proposal in Ave. Manuel Espinosa Batista Panama City, Panama. Project team: Arch. Grecia Omaña, Arch. Akna Marquez Architecture Graduation Thesis The Manuel Espinosa Avenue, in El Cangrejo, currently presents serious problems of mobility, accessibility, infrastructure and image. The experience of this project generated contributions in various aspects, in a methodological and research perspective, regarding how to address an urban intervention in the process of identifying problems, potentials, finding solutions and the projection of places with meaning.

From start to finish there was a concatenated process, starting with the selection of a theoretical model “The Place Diagram” from Project For Public Spaces (1997), as a spinal cord for the project. This structured the entire development; as a methodology to extract the contributions of background research and case studies, as macro-categorization for the diagnosis, and finally, exploring its applicability as a practical model to guide the design proposal.

Analytical summary of the diagnosis

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The focus: placemaking

Comfort and Image

Access and Linkages

4 main problems

detected according to each key attribute of place Uses and Activities

Sociability

General proposal

Urban intervention actions

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Current urban image

Insertion of the Park of the Senses Continuous crosswalks

Urban sculptures: dynam and user interaction Vegetation: thermal comfort and cozy image Ornamental plant treatment: university surroundings Current urban image Universidad de Panama

Incorporation of native vegetation Wide sidewalks

Accesible crosswa Permeable border with University of Panama Protected bike path

Image intervention through focal points of the area (nodes)

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mism

alks

Comfort and Image

Preservation of existing floor texture Insertion of Flexible Square Sculptural promenade : spatial triangulation

Use of property setbacks for public space

Dialogue between Iglesia del Carmen - sculptures environment Sculptures made with different heighted 6�

- 10� tubes (frosted glass, wood, mirrors)

Placement of new floor texture: continuity with the urban intervention

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Universidad de Panama

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Comfort and Image

Facade

intervention + local economy through markets

Iglesia del Carmen

Creation of spaces of social interaction in

the environment and aesthetic renovation to buildings to exalt the existing landmarks.

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Access and Linkages

Uses and Activities Park of the Senses

Flexible Square

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Multi-use spaces: interactivity of place through customization of urban furniture

Sociability

The Power Of +10

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Portobello Green Market San Cristobal, Venezuela. Inventiva Estudio. Client: DISALVEN Portobello Green Market is a grocery store with fresh and natural products, with more than 10 years of regional trajectory, that aims to establish itself as a healthy food franchise. With this objective in mind, Inventiva Studio is commisioned for the design of their second commercial store.

The design process is inspired by the dishes produced by Portobello and its current service dynamics, seeking to translate its essence to give meaning and continuity to the brand.

Looking for visual simplicity within a small space and a limited budget, the material palette is maintained in a simple range of wood and concrete finishes, in contrast to the red and green colors that characterize the store, now constituted as fundamental part of its identity in architecture and branding. The result allowed to redefine the architectural vision for next stores next to the client and to participate in entrepreneurial competitions with a clear visual language.

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FUSION Museum - Contemporary Art

San Cristobal, Venezuela. Collaboration: Luisana Contreras Carlos Raul Villanueva National Architecture Student Contest 2010 Both in form and function continuousness is key, taking it from the outside into the building, with an extended surface growing from the terrain, playing with an intervention of layers to an open ground entrance storey, where the exhibition starts.

Existing topography as an advantage: sustainability of the terrain

Fusion of museum building and park

The tour of the upper areas is produced in a wraparound way, through ramps that envelope triple height spaces between the exhibition halls, creating spatial relationships and a visual dialogue between the expositions.

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2.

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Mondrian Pediatric Clinic San Cristobal, Venezuela. Academic Work.

The objective involved the coherent and solid design of a high complex project, which difficulty is implicit in its function and scope: a pediatric clinic with attention

Scale

Nature

Anthropometry Recreation

Therapy

for 100 beds.

Through a composition of pure volumes where white and a minimal use of colors predominates, the work of artist Piet Mondrian is reinterpreted. Access points are accentuated with primary colors (first colors that kids

Children Colors

learn to recognize) to capture the attention of the children audience on focal points and to turn the building into a work of art in an integral way.

Art

Pediatric

Clinic

Function / Zones

Materials

Hospital asepsis

Normative

Interaction between users and green areas through physical and virtual connections between therapy garden patios.

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Form

Emergencies Ground Floor

Hospitalization / Consultation Center

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Architectural Gastronomy: Food As A Story ELISAVA - Barcelona School Of Design and Engineering. Design for Food. Academic Work.

In the process of experimenting the role of design in different branches of human life I got interested in the gastronomic area. This project consisted in approaching food with more of a theatrical methodology. The overall concept starts from the interest in the activity of eating as an experience that is enhanced by each sense. It will be explored with different elements to create a more dramatic experience of the dish, beyond its taste.

The story: food as a sign of love and bonding.

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Romanticism: Sweet / fresh

Smell

1. Emotions translated into an architectural composition with the element of the cantilever.

Passion: Spicy

Touch + Sight

Art on the plate

Interaction

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2.

Brush as a composition tool, and also, as cutlery

2. The idea arises from the concern for new tools that could be used to eat.

Objects that may serve unusual purposes.

3. The essence of the experience is the pairing with music. Is it true that a sweet sound deepens the perception of that flavor? Enjoy while listening: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1S4957ZvM4 Tim Vets @ IPEM, UGent. (2013).

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Hearing + Touch

Ode to chocolate Two characters

Comfort: Warm / cozy

Balance Warm feeling

Reference: Spence, C. Piqueras, B. (2014) The Perfect Meal: the multi sensory science of food and dining.

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Guad-Hex Construction System

Structural team: Arch. Francisco Aguilar, Arch. Grecia OmaĂąa, Arch. Nathaly Garcia, Arch.

Akna Marquez. Residential project: Arch Akna Marquez. Academic Work.

Reinvention of housing modules + structural protagonism of bamboo

Ecological properties: strenght, elasticity, fast growth rate and low weight of the material

Prefabricated steel node: 16 GA sheet metal.

1.10

1.10

give shape and rigidity

1.10

Truss elements that

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The project represents the challenge of the invention of a construction system, which can operate in a modular way to provide a housing solution. Guad-Hex emerges as a progressive housing alternative, based on bamboo as its main material, for its environmental and economic benefits.

Rebar Ø 3/8”

Metal node A-1

Rebar Ø 3/8” Metal node

bolt Ø

node B-1

A-2

Hex nut Hex nut

Metal

bolt Ø

3/8”-16

Hex nut bolt Ø

3/8”-16

3/8”-16

Frame structure of bamboo hexagonal modules, with the option of growth up to 3 modules in vertical, which adapts to topographical slopes and allows stacking. From this global idea, each one of the constructive elements required for the system’s operation was designed.

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Purity in the materials and geometry leads to a simple

scheme that can grow according to the family’s need.

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Latest professional work Mallol Arquitectos

Oxford School

Year: 2015 Construction area: 10,850.00 m2 Building status: design development Participation: design team / schematic design

Greenwood Plaza Year: 2014 Construction area: 113,340.00 m2 Building status: under construction Participation: design team / construction plans coordination

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Greenwood Country Club

Year: 2014 Construction area: 492,140.00 m2 Building status: under construction Participation: design team / construction plans coordination / sustainability alternatives

Excalibur House

Year: 2014 Construction area: 200 m2 Building status: under construction Participation: design team / construction plans coordination

Balboa Office Center 2 Year: 2012 Construction area: 142,550.00 m2 Building status: under construction Participation: design team / studies of functional relationship and volumetric connection to existing building 21

Personal projects

sustainab

Design blog: thoughts and musings.

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There are infinite ways of looking at things; some remain undiscovered. To stimulate those new ways of seeing is to cultivate our cognitive and perceptual skills. As a consequence, an enhancement of the relationship between environments, objects and human beings will occur.

connections beauty

“Verbalizing design is another act of design” -Kenya Hara

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bility

story-telling

multi-sensory design

A space for exploration. A path to deepen in thoughts and creative

process. A way to serve inspiration and value for others.

http://www.aknamarquez.com/blog/

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www.aknamarquez.com