Portfolio | Alejandra Quezada
CONTENTS
PROFESSIONAL PROJECTS
ACADEMIC RESEARCH
Meadowland/ A Prairie Garden
04
Heat Vision for Havenstad
06
Diagnosis and Challenges of the City with Focus on Entrepreneurship and Innovation
08
Masterplanning for the Context of Ciudad Juan Bosch
10
Spatial Development Plan Hondo Valle
12
MasterPlan Ciudad Juan Bosch
14
Territories of here and there infra|supra structures for multi-temporal practices at the Hispaniola border
16
Deltaic Edge A strategic framework for Metropolisation Processes within Buenos Aires to enable the city’s embrace of its Deltaic Context
24
Don’t Waste It [AMA 2050] Waste and energy flows for local Sustainable peri urban areas in the AMA
28
Filling the Void From Leftover to Place
32
Interaction With Urban Space Human being - environment interaction for the affective link with public city spaces
36
Santo Domingo Convention & Recreation Centre
40
Six Strategies For Bávaro
42
MEADOWLANDS / A Prairie Garden Wildflower meadows are hotbeds of localised biodiversity, providing habitats for rich insect ecosystems (including pollinators) that support other communities along the food chain. Urbanisation and climate change accelerate habitat and biodiversity loss so the solutions to our environmental problems should have an urban component and our cities must provide for as many communities as possible‌plant, insect and animal as well as human. This garden installation promotes the importance of these wildflower habitats and their attendant insect communities and immerses visitors within the rich landscape of a prairie meadowland...allowing a closer appreciation of the communities that share our urban and natural landscapes. A wildflower meadow is suspended in a bowl of re-used pipes (PVC or cardboard) that from the outside betrays no sign of the naturalistic landscape within. Visitors wend their way through the external columns to the centre where they emerge surrounded by a wildflower meadow...face to face with the flowers, grasses and insects that inhabit this prairie microcosm. A distilled and ecologically rich natural landscape, focused on the viewer and framing the sky above.
Designer Jardin de MĂŠtis - Competition entry in collaboration with Neil Moncreiff [November - December 2019] MEADOWLANDS | Den Haag - Delft, The Netherlands
|4| Professional Projects
Axonometric View of the garden
Garden Elevation
Project View |5| Professional Projects
ENERGY VISION FOR HAVENSTAD With the aim of optimising the demand of energy and heat for the regeneration of Havenstad, this project addresses the spatial connotations of heat equipments and infrastructure at the scale of the dwelling, the building, the block and the neighbourhood. Given the ambitious housing goals and the specific requirements of emerging energy and heat alternatives (WKO, data centres), in this project we intersect such parameters to not only understand the possible combinations or the space they would demand but also to link these solutions with design interventions that create a healthy neighbourhood while maintaining high density.
Urban Design and Research Trainee Havenstad, Amsterdam, The Netherlands [May - August 2019] FABRICations
|6| Professional Projects
Energy Elements Fact Sheet
Energy Option WKO
Energy Option Local Water Source
Energy Options in combination with medium-high density urban block design schemes |7| Professional Projects
DIAGNOSIS AND CHALLENGES OF THE CITY WITH FOCUS ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION Under the new efforts to introduce smart tools that can address the challenges of the Greater Santo Domingo and Santiago, this consultancy focus on understanding the relationships between the existing urban challenges (validated by each municipality) and the entrepreneurship ecosystem. From the challenges we found and the data needed to address them, there are areas opportunities for entrepreneurs to develop new tools that will facilitate a change of culture in data production and data sharing with the goal of creating healthy cities with urban management tools that react to current demands.
Urban Planner and Researcher [Consulting Team] Greater Santo Domingo and Santiago, Dominican Republic [December 2018 - April 2019] CIVICA
|8| Professional Projects
Publication of the report ‘Diagnosis and Challenges of the Greater Santo Domingo in regards to entrepreneurship and innovation’ |9| Professional Projects
MASTERPLANNING FOR THE CONTEXT OF CIUDAD JUAN BOSCH Santo Domingo Este (SDE) municipality, stronlgy relies on Distrito Nacional (country’s capital) to access infrastructure and facilities. This master plan proposal for the new development of 5 000 dwellings, Ciudad Juan Bosch, integrates such expansion with the existing metropolitan area. The plan expands the initial plan for the growth of SDE is based on six zones which indicate the allowed uses and desired density, as well as the criterion (Urban consolidation, Regeneration by sector, Urban Expansion, agricultural area and strategic urbanisation) to further develop the East of the Greater Santo Domingo.
Spatial Analyst and Assistant Planner Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic [December 2015 - January 2016] Department of Spatial Planning and Development
| 10 | Professional Projects
MasterPlan and New Planning Areas
Section articulating Ciudad Juan Bosch with the surrounding mobility network | 11 | Professional Projects
SPATIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN HONDO VALLE Hondo Valle is a border municipality of 10,587 inhabitants and it is characterised by compromised social infrastructure, water sources and forest land as well as limited economic opportunities which motivates the population efflux. Even thou public transport routes are scarce, this territory depends on nearby cities to access basic services due to the absence of local facilities. In addition, landslides, drought and flooding are consequences of agriculture practices. This spatial development plan is a pilot project to introduce planning instruments in the Dominican context and address the current vulnerability to climate change. This plan introduces a zoning scheme to address the soil condition and remediate forest and water streams. It also integrates cacao and coffee plantation models as an strategic measure for sustainable development. Furthermore, defines an urban chracter for the municipality with new amenities, centralities and local services.
Spatial Development Plan Hondo Valle Department of Spatial Planning and Development Spatial Analyst Hondo Valle, ElĂas PiĂąa, Dominican Republic [September 2015 - April 2016] Department of Spatial Planning and Development
| 12 | Professional Projects
Trend Scenario of Hondo Valle: Hondo Valle only depends on nearby cities to access services and facilities which contributes to the increase of emigration percentages. In addition,forest areas and productive soil will continue to erode due to intense subsistence agriculture using unsuitable crops and the infrastructure and ecological vulnerability increases.
Possible Scenario of Hondo Valle : Hondo Valle is connected to nearby cities with transit infrastructure and public transport routes which enables synergies with other settlements. Regulations on productive and urbansation land promote the remeidation of forest and water ways.
PU 1: PROTECTED AREA PLANNING UNIT Strict Conservation Area Recovery Zone Area of Special Management and Allowed Public Use Special Management Zone with land use change Buffer zone PU 2: SETTLEMENT AREA PLANNING UNIT Settlement Area Settlement Area [Expansion] PU 3: PRODUCTUVE PLANNING UNIT Productive Zone Type A [Class V Soil] Productive Zone Type B [Class VI and URP 27 Land] Productive Zone Type C [Class VII and URP 27] Productive Zone Type D [Class VII and URP 14] PU 4 : SPECIAL PLANNIG UNITS Special Services Tourist Potential Flooding Risk Areas
Planning Units Zoning | 13 | Professional Projects
MASTERPLAN CIUDAD JUAN BOSCH Santo Domingo Este municipality, stronlgy relies on Distrito Nacional (country’s capital) to access infrastructure and facilities. This master plan proposal for Ciudad Juan Bosch seeks to change the current dynamic and to allow a more balanced exchange between Santo Domingo Este (where the proposal is located) and the capital. The metropolitan area of Great Santo Domingo is in constant demand of housing for its growing number of inhabitants. Although, this master empowers Ciudad Juan Bosch. It also creates interdependencies with other communities in order to achieve an integrated urban region. This master plan pursues a sustainable, productive and functional city fro 25.000 inhabitants. Along with the provided housing, there is a non polluting- industry area and a water treatment plant to cover common urban necessities. It also introduces small scale green spaces and playgrounds for residential areas. Three sustainability aspects served as guidelines for this design: social, public spaces for social engagement, environment: preserving 30% of green surface, mix use of land and spaces for markets and local companies.
Urban Development Competition Entry Ciudad Juan Bosch - El Algarrabo Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic [July - September 2013] Competition - Aponte & MĂŠndez
| 14 | Professional Projects
Function analysis
Proposed accessibility model
Current dynamic on the metropolitan area
Buffer zone Parklets Lineal Park Juan Bosch’s stories Park Comercial Plaza Shopping mall Soccer field Civic Center Trails Scultoric landmarks Economic housing Middle income housing Pedestrian path Lagoon
Master Plan
Proposed dynamic on the metropolitan area | 15 | Professional Projects
Existing trees Proposed trees
TERRITORIES OF HERE AND THERE: infra|supra STRUCTURES FOR MULTI-TEMPORAL PRACTICES AT THE HISPANIOLA BORDER
At the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, weekly bi-national markets exemplify (within a tense social context) the economic relevance of goods and people metabolism as well as the impact of emerging bi-national social relations. For this border territory, a temporal perspective is productive to comprehend the area: markets, daily local/insular logistics, commuters and yearly border fairs, reveal this character. Furthernore, inhabitants of the border engage in transmigratory practices, meaning, they pertain and participate in more than one community. Malpaso|se is a strategic node at the southern border connecting the main capitals of the island. This location host the most important border logistic check point and binational market on the territory, reasons why is the site for this project. The spatial organization of Malpaso relies on the dialectic of mobile and fixed spatial configurations given the nature of the market scheduling. However, its current configuration prioritises security -with its inherent violencehinders the potentials for cross-border interaction, restricts the operability of the current activities on site and reinforces pejorative socio-spatial dynamics. In that regard, I based the approach of this project on cross-border itinerant programs, infrastructure thinking and adaptable design interventions. The project produces a common territory, promotes multi-temporal practices, fosters bi-directional social exchange and develops spatial configurations that respond to the usage uncertainties under different temporal frameworks; daily, weekly, monthly, yearly.
MSc Urbanism: Graduation Project Individual Project Malpaso, Border Region, Hispaniola MSc3-4 [September 2017-July 2018 ] TU DELFT
| 16 | Academic Research
| 17 | Academic Research
Weekly rhythm Daily rhythm Cross-border commuters
Entrepreneurs [cross the border every other week to work with women from the network on the other side of the border]
Kids go to school [MON to FRI]
Man goes to the market [Monday and Thursday]
Monthly rhythm
Yearly rhythm
Construction worker [goes back home every other month to ďŹ nish his family house]
Street vendor [uses public space | goes back home every year with supplies for his family shop]
Aproximation to transmigratory actors and their rhythms of travel on the island | 18 | Academic Research
Analysis of transmigratory travels on the island, places of origin and destination and the duration/frecuency of each travel across the territory.
Bi-national markets along the Haitian-Dominican border.
Spatio-temporal diagram of transmigratory practices in Malpaso|se
| 19 | Academic Research
Evaluation of Malpaso in terms of spatial configurations, program and schedule. In (1) market days [MON/THU ] the spatial configuration on site transforms if compare to the organisation during the rest of the week (2). In addition, this analysis reveals the diferences in program on each side of the border.
The spatial configurations that satisfy the programmatic needs on site operate under mobile and fixed arrangements. More importantly, such arrangements are dialectic since mobile configurations relay on fixed structures and vice versa.
| 20 | Academic Research
Given the spatial deficiencies on site, the approach takes infrastructure, itinerant program and design interventions[mobile/fixed dialectic] to produce the ‘commom’ territory of Malpaso|se
Spatiotemporal Composition for Malpaso|se [MON/THU]
Spatiotemporal Composition for Malpaso|se [TUE/WED/FRI]
Spatiotemporal Composition for Malpaso|se [SAT/SUN]
The intervention responds to the schedules on site and the diversity of the program in order to validate and benefit the binational market, transport logistics and itinerant recreation for common spaces. | 21 | Academic Research
Physical Structures: Defining Limits [FIXED]
Containers [FIXED]
Space of encounter [MOBILE]
Building: Binational Institution [FIXED]
Open spaces Physical Structures: Affordances [FIXED] Roof: Shade [MOBILE]
Building: Binational Institution [FIXED]
Leisure Space [MOBILE] Vending Space [MOBILE]
Design Detail: Model for vending spaces. Due to the market dynamics and the dialectic of fixed and mobile configurations, the design for the market area follows a flexible framework to enable transformation and rearrangement. | 22 | Academic Research
Vending Space [1]: MON/THU
Vending Space [1]: TUE/WED/FRI-SUN | 23 | Academic Research
DELTAIC EDGE
A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR METROPOLISATION PROCESSES WITHIN BUENOS AIRES TO ENABLE THE CITY’S EMBRACE OF ITS DELTAIC CONTEXT Historically, Buenos Aires has had a strong relationship with the port. This infrastructure determined the economic success of the city in early 20th century and more importantly, inspired the demonym of its inhabitants: ‘Porteños’. Puerto Nuevo, the site of this project is the main example of how the fragmentation of the urban tissue has transformed the relationship of the city with the expanding river frontage, a consequence of sedimentation processes of the Paraná Delta. In addition, the site is influenced by public transport and logistic processes which has increase the ‘splintering effect’ of infrastructure on social-spatial dynamics. This project defines metropolitan, urban and site specific interventions to re-incorporate Buenos Aires to its deltaic edge in search to reintroduce ecological systems in the urban condition. This is achieved by a system of islands to appropriate sedimentary processes while re-mediating the ecological habitat. Moreover, the project transform connectivity and accessibility in order to improve social cohesion.
MSc Urbanism Group Project: Jan Cyganski, Neil Moncrieff, Aikaterina Myserli, Vera Nimax, Alejandra Quezada and Ardian Wiratama Buenos Aires, Argentina | Delft, The Netherlands MSc2 - 4th Quarter [April - July 2017] TU DELFT | Universidad de Buenos Aires
| 24 | Academic Research
Existing Further evolution
Evolution of the sedimentation process and growth of the edge of Buenos Aires.
Speculations on further growth
| 25 | Academic Research
Socio-spatial fragmentation: concentration of gated communities in the north and informal settlements in the south
Transport and delta catchment systems at the metroplitan scale
Urban development along the major infrastructure corridors
Matrix of design principles
Delta dynamics study. | 26 | Academic Research
Diagram of island evolution
Site Intervention adressing logistics, public transport, spatial fragmentation and delta sedimentation
Green corridors as public spaces integrating the diverse urban tissue [Barrio 31, water edge and the traditional city grid]. | 27 | Academic Research
DON’T WASTE IT! AMA 2050
WASTE AND ENERGY FLOWS FOR LOCAL SUSTAINABLE PERI URBAN AREAS IN THE AMA When looking at metabolic flows is evident that energy and waste flows are those with the biggest impact. Energy is needed for most of the processes and waste is a result of most processes. Therefore, this project focus on these two cycles to identify how these cycles can be improved and combined and how they can contribute to a sustainable development of peri-urban areas. This project pays attention to peri-urban areas as spaces for interventions. These territories which are neither totally urban nor totally rural, cover most of Europe and accommodate important functions and facilities, are neglected from a planning as well as from a policy point of view, while they withhold spatial potential (Wandl 2014). Hence, this project also introduces Circular Economy frameworks to create efficient waste and energy cycles within periurban areas. After identifying waste and energy networks in the AMA and their clusters, we assessed possible new connections and interdependences between municipalities based on their waste and energy production/ demand and on the strengths that this communities have. Based on these elements, we create the flows of upcycling waste, biofuel, upcycling material, renewable energy and CO2 to demonstrate the opration of this systems at the regional and local scale.
MSc Urbanism Group Project Mona zum Felde, Junzhong Chen, Alejandra Quezada and Susanne van Rijn Amsterdam Metropolitan Area, The Netherlands MSc2 -3rd Quarter [February - April 2017] TU DELFT
| 28 | Academic Research
Anlaysis of municipalities of the AMA to identify potential waste and energy interdependencies region.
Schematic energy and waste flow section at the metropolitan scale
| 29 | Academic Research
Vision Map for the AMA. Clusters of energy or waste production can be a source to satisfy demands on the region and create synergies between municipalities.
Cluster Analysis. This case presents heat production excess,manufacturing industries (waste production) and territory for wind production
Strategies for Key Project [Following Trash] | 30 | Academic Research
Key Project Following Trash Waste and energy flow system Circuit connecting facilities that produce heat waste, industries (waste production) and public spaces. Industries exchange useful waste, heat residues are transported to community distributors that also serve as waste collecting spots.
Atmospheric View Waste and energy flow system | 31 | Academic Research
FILLING THE VOID:
FROM LEFTOVER TO PLACE Borja & Muxí (2000), said “in the city, first the streets and squares, the collective spaces, only later the buildings and the roads will come”. Out of scale elements in a city ignore the basic human needs of space, therefore people avoid using this areas of the built environment and they can be interpreted as spatial voids. Monolithic buildings and high traffic roads have created a spatial structure that has disconnected socially and visually, people from people and from place (Salirangos, 2001). The area of Rotterdam South contains facilities that have an important role in the city, such as the Ahoy Convention Center, the Zuidplein Mall and Metro Station and the Hospital. These large scale facilities occupy an important area of the neighbourhood, however, some of these areas are not used by the inhabitants, mainly by visitors outside the site. In addition to this, residential streets are absent of actors, there is not a collective life and no interior-exterior relation. These spaces, the ones not used by residents, create ‘negative’ spaces in the neighbourhood. The project focuses on the Metroplein strip to connect the local theatre with Ahoy Rotterdam and transforming the residual areas of the station’s traffic machinery. It consists of waiting areas for the different transportation systems, shops,eating and resting spaces, along with promenade to link cultural anchors of the area.
MSc Urbanism Individual Project Rotterdam South, The Netherlands MSc1 - 2nd Quarter [November 2016-February 2017] TU DELFT
| 32 | Academic Research
‘...sense of enclosure. The enclosure of space in this manner is the purest expression of a sense of place, the centre. It is here that order is created out of the undifferentiated chaos of the world beyond’. Cliff Moughtin, Urban Design: Street and square Conceptual Development for Metroplein Strip. Observing Metroplein Station the spatial character of the space and the potential as the essential destination on the area.
| 33 | Academic Research
Site analysis with attention to scale, infrastructure and public space activities
Reflective Stainless Steel Ceiling in the foyer and waiting area to reflect natural and artificial light, the rest of the station ground reflects from below with two water mirrors.
| 34 | Academic Research
Foyer
Bus waiting area
Promenade | 35 | Academic Research
INTERACTION WITH URBAN SPACE:
HUMAN BEING - ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION FOR THE AFFECTIVE LINK WITH PUBLIC CITY SPACES Human beings act in space through the process of perception, cognition and evaluation. Thus, the conditions of an environment will shape the activities people do while being in urban spaces. When functionality and safety are provided, people will do basic, necessary activities; if comfort and sociability is also present, activities will be more social (Gehl, 2010), and if interesting and meaningful aspects are part of the space perception, more desired and engaging activities will be experienced; leading to a affective link between people and public urban spaces (Kageyama, 2011). Zona Universitaria is the surrounding area of UASD Campus, with many students and a strong commercial dynamic. The analysis of the site revealed that the functional conditions only support necessary activities. Characteristics such as safety, comfort, conviviality, interesting and meaningful were sparse or not found at all. The project seeks to blur the division between the Campus and its surroundings by providing public spaces, plazas, pedestrian lanes and engaging sidewalks. They satisfy the demands for quality urban functions and respond to a wide range of users for a positive relationship between inhabitants and space.
B.Arch: Graduation Thesis Project Individual Project Zona Universitaria, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 5th year Architecture Bachelor [September 2012-July 2013] Pontificia Universidad Catรณlica Madre y Maestra
| 36 | Academic Research
Interactions from 10:00-11:00
Interactions from 15:30-16:30
Interactions from 20:30-21:30
Analysis of the program in Zona Universitaria, the purpose of each activitity and frecuency of use.
| 37 | Academic Research
Transport and Public Space Strategies
Site Plan Zona Universitaria 1st L Interaction
2nd L Interaction
3rd L Interaction
Program Proposal incorporating attractive activities in relation to the context.
Detailed Site Plan | Main Entrance
Detailed Site Plan | Arts Plaza
| 38 | Academic Research
Section A | Arts Plaza. Introduction of program based on the existing activities. A platform structure become spaces for musicians and artists on campus while connecting to public transport.
Section A | Main Entrance. Definition of the main plaza creating open and intimate spaces to seat providing comfort and shade.
Main Entrance
Arts Plaza
| 39 | Academic Research
SANTO DOMINGO CONVENTION & RECREATION CENTRE In Santo Domingo, few venues can accommodate large scale events such as conventions, therefore this program satisfies an absent facility on the territory. In addition the city is in need of multifunctional public spaces that grant activity to the central district of the city. The selection for he site is a reaction to the routes of formal and informal public transport, hospitality accommodation networks, availability and potential for urban transformation. The immediate context of the plot is surrounded by major overpasses representing a visual and physical boundary in the area which in combination with the intense traffic congestion, diminish the urban quality. The proposal provides a public open space to improve the urban quality with a open plaza to give space to the sidewalk. The centre amenities such as theatre, restaurants, casino and gallery.
B.Arch Group Project Pamela López and Alejandra Quezada Polígono Central, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 9th Semester, 5th year Architecture Bachelor [September-December 2012] Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre Y Maestra
| 40 | Academic Research
Existing Street Spatial Arrangement
Public Space and redefinition of the street profile
Architecture Drawings: Floor Plans
Cross Section | 41 | Academic Research
Design Model
6 STRATEGIES FOR BÁVARO Bávaro is one of the main tourist destination in the Dominican Republic, and the exploitation of the land without a suitable planning model has lead to a rapid deterioration of the natural resources along with informal urban settlements, founded by residents that constitute the work force of the tourism industry. This proposal for the regional planning of Bávaro consisted on 6 main strategies: Urban space structure, diverse touristic model, housing improvement, biodiversity Protection, Community Engagement and Participation and Coast Planning. The concept behind this project is to identify the different landscapes and social groups found in Bávaro and Punta Cana, and see how they interact with each other. This will then help provide the circuit of public spaces for the noninteracting groups to merge and socialize in a common place. The proposed master plan focus on a mayor circuit that serves as public space with a ecological and recreational program. The design intentions for Bávaro profit from the nature already present in the area. A perfect example of this, is the Lagoon Path, in which the landscape of palms inside the lagoon served as background for a public plaza.
B. Arch Group Project Laura Madera and Alejandra Quezada Bávaro, Dominican Republic [February 2012-April 2012] 8th Semester, 4th year Architecture Bachelor Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre Y Maestra
| 42 | Academic Research
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9 Profile of residents in Bรกvaro and matrix of interactions
Public Space Corridor in Bรกvaro based on matrix of residents.
| 43 | Academic Research
Tourism diversity
Tourism diversity
Public Transport
Coast Planning Strategies for Bรกvaro: Tourism, Mobility and Coast Management | 44 | Academic Research
Masterplan
Detail Lagoon. Activation and remediation of the local lagoon using the water body as a connecting element in the landscape
Detail Urban garden. Introduction of green spaces in Bรกvaro to diversify the program of the city with a structure of elevated urban orchids that also serves as a common space within the corridor
| 45 | Academic Research
Alejandra A. Quezada Moreno alejandraqm@gmail.com
issuu.com/alejandraaracelisquezadamoreno www.linkedin.com/in/alejandraquezadamoreno
