COSTA RICA
GRUPO ROBLE
Grupo Roble is a development firm which has presence throughout Central and South America. In Costa Rica their projects include Multiplaza Malls, several corporate centers and hospitality projects such as Intercontinental and JW Marriott. During my time there I was the Interior coordinator in the Architecture Department and worked in renovation and construction of several of these projects.
a. Multiplaza Escazú b. Escazú Corporate Center c. Hotel Real Intercontinental d. Plaza Roble
Multiplaza Curridabat
Escazu Corporate Center The Escazú Corporate Center is part of the Grupo Roble development in Escazú area. Along with a Multiplaza mall and the Intercontinental Hotel, this office building offers a very appealing setting for corporate offices. While involved in the design of all public spaces, my focus was in the main lobby. AREA
24,400 m2 LOCATION
Guachipelín, San Jose CR DESIGN
Grupo Roble RESPONSIBILITY
Interior Design, Product Design, Specifica on Book, Landscape Coordina on
Escazu Corporate Center LOBBY INTERIOR DESIGN . PRODUCT DESIGN . SIGNAGE
Common area Finishes
Restrooms Finishes & Accesories
front desk . glass installation . bench . signage
Multiplaza Curridabat
Multiplaza Curridabat By Grupo Roble designing and administering their own projects I was able to truly see my designs and interventions through. Not only did I get to design, purchase, install but I was able to see how they evolved within the project’s life.
Multiplaza Curridabat RENOVATION & EXPANSION TENANT COORDINATOR . INTERIOR DESIGN
Working with over 100 retail stores to adjust to new design criteria due to mall-wide renovations.
Multiplaza Curridabat
RENOVATION & FOOD COURT AREA
11,500 m2 LOCATION
Curridabat, CR ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT / DESIGN
RTKL / Grupo Roble LIGHTING DESIGN
Theo Kondos
RESPONSIBILITY
Tenant coordinator, Interior Design, Product Design, signage / wayfinding, specifica on book, create Design Criteria Guideline for retail spaces, coordinate Landscape
Multiplaza Curridabat
EXPANSION AREA
20,553 m2 LOCATION
Curridabat, CR ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT / DESIGN
RTKL / Grupo Roble LIGHTING DESIGN
Theo Kondos
RESPONSIBILITY
Tenant coordinator, Interior Design, Product Design, signage / wayfinding, specifica on book, create Design Criteria Guideline for retail spaces, coordinate Landscape
With this expansion project the goal was not only to create more retail space and have a better transit flow throughout the mall, but to also solve a critical parking problem. The expansion results in the creation of 1,100 parking spaces and a new wing which contains over twenty retail spaces, including one main department store and two mini-anchors.
Multiplaza
FOOD COURT
SITS
SITS
500 people
860 people
LOCATION
LOCATION
Curridabat, CR
Escazu, CR
ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT / DESIGN
ARCHITECTURAL CONCEPT / DESIGN
LIGHTING DESIGN
LIGHTING DESIGN
Grupo Roble/RTKL Theo Kondos
RESPONSIBILITY
Tenant coordinator, Interior Design, Product Design, signage / wayfinding, specifica on book, create Design Criteria Guideline for restaurants
Grupo Roble Luis Lozoya
RESPONSIBILITY
Tenant coordinator, Interior Design, Product Design, signage / wayfinding, specifica on book, create Design Criteria Guideline for restaurants
Multiplaza Curridabat
Wayfinding & Signage Designing and coordinating wayfinding/signage for Multiplaza, a newly remodeled mall which gets tens of thousand of visitors per week, allowed me to get an understanding of a wider scope of a project. How can design help guide and make our movement through space more efficient? A thorough understanding of circulation, the architecture of the building, human behavior, and marketing were required.
I was able to work with clients on their storefront designs, integrating them into the existing context of a public space all the while featuring their brand. Through managing the branding that’s implemented in main mall facades as well as all public spaces I was able to see how even small details can change an experience.
concept design . development . installation
Layers Studio RISD
Old Stone Church
connecting through camera obscura The Old Stone Church is located in the Wachusett Reservoir in West Boylston, Massachusetts. What is now a lake and beautiful landscape was once a town, which in the early 1900’s had to be relocated and dug out to give way to the reservoir which supplies water to Boston and the larger area. The only trace of the old town in this church, which throughout the last century has deteriorated and has become a ruin that blends with its surrounding. Although frequently visited, the interior of the church offers very little, and is currently on a state of life support. The challenge then is to create program that can sustain itself in a very restricted site (one that limits the types of activities and occupancy), to intervene in a way that historical integrity is respected and to play homage to the town that once was as well as the reservoir that was made in its stead. The resulting design was a project that turned the Old Stone Church into a camera obscura installation.
Basement Level
Ground Level
Providence Historical Preservation Society
The Study:Heritage Reanimated Group M proposes reanimating the heritage of the Study through an intervention that references the original floor plan and program of the space. Our proposal aims to restore the connection between multiple rooms of the first floor of the Aldrich House by re-opening the original doorways within the room. It alludes to the room’s initial program, the dining room, through moveable tables that can be arranged centrally to create a collaborative and interactive learning environment. To aid the RHIS in their mission of education, we have also adapted a small library within the furniture. The intervention further conveys this connection to the past by including the reuse of marble pieces from the authentic mantlepiece and repurposing them in the benches. These openings between the rooms give shape to the furniture and feature “hidden” partitions that are characteristic of the house. The proposed openings can be opened or closed in accordance with the needs of the space, providing the room with the possibility of additional circulation or additional privacy. Furthermore, the reinstated openings provide increased light and a renewed connection with the existing and surrounding environment, inside as well as outside. Our design for the Study provides flexibility and adaptability for the competing programmatic needs of the room: learning lab, exhibition space and events venue. Flexible storage, exhibitory and handling spaces accommodate students, scholars and staff members. Ample wall space, directed lighting, plinths and cases support displayed work along with locked vitrines and mobile furniture that allow events to coexist with artefacts.
Anthony Carnevale Elementary School
Autism Classroom
After winning the 2015 INTAR Charette competition, which consisted on designing an Autism Classroom for Anthony Carnevale Elementary School, a team of five students got together to produce these nine pieces. One of the biggest challenges was in the fine line that stands between specializing an object for an autistic child and helping in the mission of mainstreaming them with the goal of incorporating them into a standard class. We developed these pieces with that in mind, they can interact with standard furniture and be incorporated into standard rooms. Special attention was made to the sensory aspect of the project, from the color palette to texture . We designed and laser cut a pattern on fire-resistant fabric which then served as doors to the pieces. This allows visibility into the shelf but also serves as a physical barrier for when temper tantrums kick in. The closing mechanism for these is velcro in order to work fine motor skills. A magnetic white board piece was designed in order to hold work bins and provide these tools for the teacher. This piece also has an interchangeable surface, in this image felt is shown for story telling.
In order to assist teachers to control the order of the classroom, our team created the “Ball Cove”. They were designed around a 20” yoga ball and work to increase the student’s focus and release pent-up energy through the therapeutic bouncing experience. While bouncing on their seat, the furniture provides both vestibular and proprioception stimulation to the children, drastically promoting their attention span. Moreover, the piece can be rotated to become a play object and then again an armchair. The Ball Cove is made with 3/4” plywood and has a concave upholstered interior creating a safe and comfortable place for play.