Graduate School Application Portfolio - Alexandra Matute Blanco

architectural design

portfolio Alexandra Matute Blanco 2018-2020

M.Arch Application Portfolio

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Co n t e n t Architectural Design cognitive oasiseu (Fall 2020) Le Chene Maison (Spring 2020) Urban Ecology Center (Fall 2019) Osmose Mechanism (Summer 2020) Anfractuous Tour (Summer 2020) Vineyard Experimentation (Spring 2019) Poker Cards (Spring 2019) Pre-Liminary (Spring 2019) Breaking Ground (Fall 2018)

Material Studies Therme Vals (Spring 2020) Harmonic Pouring (Fall 2019)

Studio Art Sketch Mania (Fall 2020) Skyscraper Piercings (Spring 2019) 3

Yongsan-gu

Hans River South Korea

cognitive oasiseu

Critic: Golnar Ahmadi Studio V Fall Semester 2020 Seoul, South Korea is a hot spot of development and incredible work ethic, however the near perfect city has it’s faults. Modern S. Korea is a consumerous society, mainly driven by appearance and socio-economic status, while underating the need of mental well-being. This year of uncertainty has highlighted the significance of mental health. This Soul Center located in Yongsan-gu family park is open to a public who wish to retreat from a overwelming city enviromentment. As it encourages a pleasant change in senary of the mind.

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right wing building section

medium building section

bubble diagram

left wing building section

eco-park hillside section

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Model Process +Development 6

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Wall Building Section

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1 2 3 4 13’ 0 12’0

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1. wood panel frame 2. pine wood roof 3. steel framing 4. metal joints connection 5. wood panel siding 6. ondol (heating system) 7. concrete base 8. timber purlins seperations 9. ground dirt 10. timber baton seperation 11. cavity insulation 12. interior ceiling 13. interior finish 14. water drainage prevention sheet 15. vented airspace 16. metal pillar framing

1’5 1’0

6 7 8

scale 1/2’ = 1’0

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Le Chene Maison

Critic: Nick Wickersham Studio IV Spring Semester 2020 This French Oak home embodies its surrounding deciduous Shenandoah site to create a space that is rooted into the land. It’s natural and fresh scenery provides an environment which any photo enthusiast would embrace and enjoy.

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Urban Ecology Center

Critic: Evelyn Tickle Studio III Fall Semester 2019

Site Plan Drawing

The development and increase of population in the DC area has lead to environmental issues, especially affecting the Potomac River.

The location of the site NRG Generating Station, is an abandonde electrical plant across the Potomac River.

This project focuses on rehabilitating the seagrass and eagle polulation. This will serve as the union between DC’s natural enviromentment and human occupance.

Elevation Drawing

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Mapping Process N STUDIO_III_URBAN_ECOLOGY_CENTER

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Human Inhabitance + Seagrass laboratory zone

Other Species of Birds

12 Bald Eagles Nesting Zone

Model Process +Development

STUDIO_III_URBAN_ECOLOGY_CENTER

Site Model Development

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Osmose Mechanism

Critic: Jori Erdman Sustainability in Built Environment Summer Semester 2020 Human and natural waste create blockages on current storm drains when heavy rainfall occurs, thus flooding the area. A design, inspired by marine sponges, filters rainwater while also preventing storm drain system from clogging. Hydroscopic pours within the concrete enables water filtration and absorption.

Capillary action allows for water retention and prevents spillage.

The design will additionally be used as a public bus stop to create an awareness of human pollution.

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Anfractuous Tour

Rendering contributing to “ One Drawing Challenge” Competition.

Summer 2020 This competion was an embrace of a creative and freeing outlook. By viewing a different perspective of the world, and venturing a more abstract field of architecure.

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Vineyard Expirementation Critic: William Tate Studio II Spring Semester 2019 Group Members: Vanessa Rodriguez, Alexandra Matute Blanco Barren Ridge, a local vineyard farm in Shannadoah, Virginia, has a rich history of wine production. The vineyard owners wanted to expand and create a comfortable and inclusive space designed to foster grant events. My duties involved model creation and special play to enhance an enjoyable atmosphere.

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Poker cards Critic: William Tate Studio II Spring Semester 2019 Gerrit Rietveld (King), Marriane Brandt (Queen) and Antoni Gaudi (Jack),are famous architects and designers. They have inspired me and others by creating notorious works of art. I commemorate them and their work on this deck of cards.

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Critic: William Tate Studio II Spring Semester 2019 This begins an exploration and understanding of architectural drawing overlay from previous studio works. By creating new spacial concepts.

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Breaking Ground Critic: William Tate Studio I Fall Semester 2018

This studio was inspired by a term of Athena, which brings back a wisdom to how space is studied and interpret.

The researched continuted by studying Bernard Tschumi conceptual drawings “The Manhattan Transcripts� by involving events, and actions in a space.

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Therme Vals

Peter Zumthor Critic: Evelyn Tickle Material and Methods Spring Semester 2020 Group members: Jessica Derrow, Alexandra Matute Blanco Our review examines the architectural concept and studies of Peter Zumthor’s Theme Vals in Graubundent Canton, Switzerland. A combination of hotel and spa which fuses an experiential scenary.

We individually choose a componenet piece from the building to examine and analyze in detail. I chose to focus on the sky framing, that explored the varies ways light enhances the interior spaces.

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Harmonic Pouring

Critic: Evelyn Tickle Making and Meaning Fall Semester 2019

The architecural material study class help develope and understand concrete pouring. Multiple trials with different insertions, distinct materails, and skin play help evolve the concrete pieces further.

The biodegradable study lead to finalize egg cartons being a product to enhance the concrete piece.

The final piece combines both studies, by creating a floational egg carton, and pouring of a 3x12 inch concrete block. The Flotational Egg Carton Collage form a struture of movement, while having voids for human inhabitance.

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Flotational Egg Cartons Collage

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Sketch Mania

Graphic Sketch Process Putting into perspective the process and development of idea search.

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Skyscraper Piercings Critic: Mark Rooker Metals and Jewelery Spring Semester

In an era of expression and art body modification has made a huge facade of itself, by creating a diversity in looks. The Skyscraper Piercing tackles an innovational and creative way to accessories.

Expressing growth, by involving an architectural frame of mind onto the human body.

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Thank You.