alexander piña portfolio
contents 3
photography
13
collage
21
two-dimensional work
27
architecture
2
photo series project first year - second semester design studio (2021) this exercise asked members of the studio to photograph an object or place 16-25 times. the photos were then to be paired off, and a haiku to be written that would speak to the thesis or area of emphasis of the project. after completing the exercise, it became evident that the photo series was intended to serve the studio in gaining familiarity with the concept(s) of framing, seeing different viewpoints and most importantly editing. this project opened my eyes to new vantage points in architecture, materiality, and a multitude of contrasts between light and shadow, as well as corner and curve. the subject of the photos is a classroom building on the Claremont Colleges campus in Claremont, CA.
3
figure 1a: curated diptych from the photo series
4
figure 1b: curated diptych from the photo series
5
figure 1c: curated diptych from the photo series
6
figure 1d: curated diptych from the photo series
7
figure 1e: curated diptych from the photo series
8
figure 1f: curated diptych from the photo series
9
figure 1g: curated diptych from the photo series
10
figure 1h: curated diptych from the photo series
11
unnoticed corners and curves, doused in black, dressed in a glow... same time tomorrow?
haiku
12
case study collage first year - second semester design studio (2021) This case study project challenged the studio to use interpretive visuals to best describe what they were distilling from the research on their selected project. I chose to study a collaborative restoration and new construction project designed by Alvaro Siza and Eduardo Souto de Moura. The MMAP + MIEC, museums in Portugal, taught me to focus on the details of materiality and curvature, specifically in circulation spaces. The most important takeaways from this exercise, are the idea of ‘transofrming reality’ (which I learned from a direct quote of Alvaro Siza’s) and the medium of collage. The medium of collage allowed for me to break through a blockage in understanding sectional qualities. I have added hh
13
figure 2a: single collage from series
14
figure 2b: single collage from series
15
figure 2c: single collage from series
16
supplementary sectional study
first year - second semester design studio (2021) clippings from the photo series project were used to collage together studies of space, more specifically, sections and plans
17
figure 3e: 2d: sectional h collage studies
18
figure 2e: supplemental collage studies
19
figure 2f: supplemental collage studies
20
time-map diagram
first year - second semester design studio (2021) i set out to track the motion of my right arm, whilst in the act of shooting a basketball. the diagram shows, over 150 still frames, extracted from 25 different shot attempts. ordered by lineweight, from light to dark, one can see the different paths of motion captured in the study. ultimately, this became a lesson for me to observe subtle nuance(s) in repeated and overlapped curves and shapes. also, beginning to see the spaces created by repeated curves or shapes was a significant takeaway.
21
figure 3a: time map diagram
22
cmu block
first year - first semester design studio (2020) the cmu block project was intended to familiarize members of the studio with Rhino 3D software and its standard tools and functions (i.e. boulean difference). the block is intended to be used in both load bearing and breeze screen functions. the following are two-dimensional drawings of the block, its varying sides and the mold required to cast the block.h
figure 3b: cmu block
24
figure 3c: cmu block faces
25
figure 3b: cmu block mould
26
spatial experience exercise alexander pina this exercise tasked members of the studio to take what they gleaned from their photo series and time maps and apply their rule making, hierarchies and designs to the three-dimensional world. The major focus was the creation of experiential space. For me, the project thesis was:
nuances of a seemingly repeated shape, overlap one another in circulation space(s) and puncture holes in the envelope of the space to create unique viewpoints and light qualities akin to the photo series of exercise 01 and spaces that transform reality.
27
figure 4a: experiential interior view
28
b
long
figure 4b: cut-plan view
29
a
figure 4c: long section cut
30
figure 4d: short section ‘a’
31
figure 4e: short section ‘b’
32
figure 4f: experiential interior view(s)
33
figure 4g: experiential interior view(s)
34
beam first year - first semester design studio (2020)
beam is an open-air pavilion structure set in the southwest desert of the Americas intended to be a place of refuge
for any and all migrants who encounter it. Considering the long, arduous journey both in their home countries and the unforgiving, constantly undulating terrain that these migrants are traversing, the idea was to create a bold, solid, and highly structured space (almost to the point of rigidity) to provide contrast and comfort to those most in need of both. A long pathway peaks out in the topography near the southeast corner, inviting any passerby to cleanse and rest both metaphorically and literally before heading north-northwest at the opposite corner of the site, on to a better future.
35
figure 4h: experiential view of pavilion
36
figure 4i: transformational-volumetric diagram
37
400
398
394
390
386
386 390
394
404
394 408
390
386
408
404
398
400
A
394
390
386
B
SCALE: 1/16” = 1’
figure 4j: site plan
38
1
2
3
4
5 6
FIRST FLOOR PLAN 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
figure 4k: floor plan 1
39
ENTRANCE HAND WASHING STATION STORAGE LOCKER TOILETS (ACCORDION DOOR) SHOWERS (ACCORDION DOOR) OUTDOOR PATIO WITH SEATING AREA
3
4
2
1
5
SECOND FLOOR PLAN 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
RESTING MATERIALS OPEN RESTING SPACE GATHERING SPACE FOOD PREPARATION CONSUMPTION SPACE
figure 4l: floor plan 2
40
figure 4m: experiential view(s)
41
figure 4n: experiential view(s)
42
figure 4o: experiential view(s)
43