Asela Chavez Basurto Master of Urban Planning Candidate
portfolio [1]
Contents
Ecomaterials Research Center
Circunvalacion 42
4
14
Vertical Neighborhood
Urban Ecosystem
8
18
Retablo Avenue Greenway
12
Library and Community Center
20
ECOMATERIALS RESEARCH CENTER
URBAN STRATEGY FOR SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE
location San Miguel de Allende, Mexico course Capstone Project III (spring 2014) advisors Ruben Garnica, Agustin Solorzano Joel Sanders, SOM Architects staff jury Projected a research center to address the needs of the community in San Miguel de Allende, based on an analysis of the city. The project aims to create a space where natural environments and local expertise promote innovation and research of ecologic building materials. Hence it is proposed beside the local dam, nearby construction materials shops, and a primary road; reinforcing a connection with nature, the industry, and the inhabitants. Nine buildings compose the technical college and research institute, each having distinct character and location on the site. The construction system’s main elements, inspired by Le Corbusier’s dom-ino house, concrete columns, slabs and open floor plan enable the discrete framework that forms each building facade.
EDUCATION AND INDUSTRY OPPORTUNITIES
[4]
PROJECT’S MASTERPLAN
roads
program
concept context analysis [5]
CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM
college
library
research center
main office
conference hall
students center
dom-ino system cafeteria
facades model
cross section [6]
CIRCULATION
perspective PLAZAS’ LANDSCAPE DESIGN
proposed vegetation
plazas cross section
proposed furniture proposed materials [7]
VERTICAL NEIGHBORHOOD location course advisor collaboration
Queretaro, Mexico Capstone Project II (spring 2013) Carlos Cobreros Asela Chavez, Armando Pardo, Alejandra Penagos, Angel Zepeda.
MASTERPLAN
Proposed a housing complex in response to the country’s growing housing needs, seeking to reduce environmental impact through an industrialized construction system. To create an inclusive community between residents and the neighborhood inhabitants the housing complex provides spaces for trading, performances, and recreation. Public spaces, like plazas, are nested between the resident areas promoting interaction. This arrangement is inspired by the historical archetype of the church’s atrium.
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The residential towers are composed of a basic floor plan that adapts according to the residents’ needs. The placement of the twelve buildings responds to the site analysis of solar orientation, noise and odor levels. Elevated walkways connect the different towers providing additional spaces for interaction.
Prolongacion Porvenir
surrounding streets
site conditions
CONCEPT
unemployment
Virgin Guadalupe
street vendors
church atrium
Queretaro’s sun
employment unemployment
integration with neighborhood
[8]
unifying icon
commerce
meeting area
sunlight
AREA STATISTICAL ANALYSIS
services accessibility range
52% women
48% men
70% born in the state
4% disabled topography
48% working population
70% health insured construction process
88% catholic
context longitudinal section [9]
UNITS’ FLOOR PLAN
transformable furniture for space flexibility floor plan arrangement possibilities
INTERIOR PERSPECTIVES
[ 10 ]
PASSIVE DESIGN STRATEGIES SITE’S SOLAR CONDITIONS
home orientation according to sunlight conditions
EXTERIOR PERSPECTIVES
passive strageties location [ 11 ]
RETABLO AVENUE GREENWAY location Queretaro, Mexico course Urban Design Methods (spring 2013) advisor Cynthia Banuelos Asela Chavez, Miguel Gonzalez, Liliana collaboration Ramirez Urban design proposal for the historic neighborhoods El Retablo and La Piedad in Queretaro. Based on the analysis of the community’s history, land use, circulation, image, green areas and urban equipment. Created a greenway in the main street inspired by the theory of urban networks by Nikos Salingaros. The project focuses on “El retablo” avenue, a residential road where the greenway intends to unify both neighborhoods and connect them with other green spaces in the area. By incrementing the size of sidewalks and placing urban furniture, the intention is to reduce cars’ speed and promote walkability as well as formalizing road lines and parking spaces. The greenway improves the urban image, sense of belonging and pride in the neighborhoods.
lynch analysis
real land use [ 12 ]
green spaces, inspired on Salingaro’s urban network
greenway location
PROPOSED CHANGES PER ZONE
zone 1
zone 2
zone 3
zone 4
zone 5
zone
floor plan
before [[ 13 13 ]]
after
axonometric
CIRCUNVALACION 42 Queretaro, Mexico Architectural Projects V (spring 2012) Edmundo Palacios Asela Chavez, Angel Zepeda
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Based on the city’s and neighborhood’s demographic analysis three residential typologies were projected, forming the 13 stories high building. The modular concrete facade reinterprets the architectural patterns of the surroundings: balconies surround the perimeter of the tower in every level providing spaces for leisure.
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This vertical housing proposal is a response to Queretaro’s rapid growth and the need to provide affordable housing in areas of low residential density and high economic activity. Applying the principle of urban acupuncture the project connects the historic center and residential suburbs. It provides spaces for shopping, recreation, and learning; balancing the pedestrian, cycling and automobile levels.
MASTERPLAN
venue lacion a circunva
location course advisor collaboration
DESIGN CONCEPT
nearby facades
building facade
neighborhood’s design principles [ 14 ]
Social Housing: the housing which maximum price does not exceed ten annual minimum salaries. QuerĂŠtaro area, minimum salary $59.08 pesos.
Queretaro’s social housing
urban sprawl
market researcch
AREA GEOSTATISTICAL ANALYSIS 18% 60+ years old 53% women
47% men
92% catholic 55% no car
74% born in the state 96% own a tv
56% working age
[ 15 ]
PROGRAM
landmarks
roads
LONGITUDINAL SECTION
land use [ 16 ]
PROPOSED HOUSING UNITS
view from soccer field
circunvalacion avenue entrance
units’ location 3 guerras street entrance [ 17 ]
URBAN ECOSYSTEM location course advisor collaboration
Queretaro, Mexico Architectural Projects IV (fall 2011) Carlos Cobrerosavez, Angel Zepeda Asela Chavez, Angel Zepeda
This high rise building aims to reduce energy and land usage by promoting a higher urban density in the city. The concept is producing an ecosystem between people, nature and the built environment which includes everyday necessities.
DESIGN CONCEPT
MASTERPLAN
city services
+
closed cycles
The main tower, 58 stories high, is connected to the parking and commercial buildings by elevated walkways. Harvest and ornamental gardens cover most of the roofs, walls, hallways, and interiors. Mixed uses at each level prevent dead spaces occurring at night. The project also provides space to collect, process and manage waste, energy, and water to foment closed resources cycles.
SITE’S CONTEXT
[ 18 ]
A CITY INSIDE A BUILDING project’s uses
project’s water cycle
terrace section [ 19 ]
LIBRARY AND COMMUNITY CENTER location course advisor collaboration
MASTERPLAN
Queretaro, Mexico Architectural Projects III (spring 2011) Federico Vidargas Asela Chavez, Angel Zepeda
Proposed a complex for the liberal arts college of Queretaro’s public university that includes a series of improvements: a library in the parking lot while conserving the number of parking spots; a community center and public plaza to promote interaction between neighborhood inhabitants and the students. Pedestrian and cyclist paths that follow the traffic flow of the block to improve connectivity. The proposed program areas are contained in a three-story building. Its shape follows the concept of the passage of time, the historical past of the college’s colonial architecture is represented by the thick walls and symmetry of the back facade; the aspiration for the future graduates is represented in the roof composition and the curvature of the main facade.
users’ circulation SURROUNDING STREETS
[ 20 ]
SITE ANALYSIS
DESIGN CONCEPT
semi-private use
public use
traditional style
modern style
principle
adaptation
model CROSS SECTION showing underground parking
[ 21 ]
floor plan
perspective
Asela Chavez Basurto asela.chba@gmail.com
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