Alfred Sierra
Contents
2006/2010 Alfred Sierra
Introduction Resume Sketches and Drawings SD.1: SD.2:
Perspective Self Portrait
Conceptual Architecture CA.1: CA.2:
Ninja Training Ground Rebellious House
Architecture Studio AS.1: AS.2: AS.3:
Fire Station Cambridge Housing Marine Research Center
Photography and Digital imaging PDi.1: PDi.2: PDi.3:
Reflection Faithful Walk Santorini
Introduction Mirriam Webster defines an architect in two ways. It initially describes one as being “a person who designs buildings and advises in their construction”. Secondly, Webster defines an architect as “a person who designs and guides a plan or undertaking”. I personally, prefer the latter. My father was a roofing contractor for 37 years. Always by his side, I very quickly found a fascination in construction as I observed numerous magnificent structures brought to life. While in school, I have always excelled in mathematics and every possible subject, but it was not until my first semester in Texas A&M University’s College of Architecture at that I dis¬covered my true calling. Despite the massive course loads and rigorous projects, I believe that my efforts have always been rewarded by the final product. The support of my teammates, the constructive feedback from my instructor and field professionals, but most importantly, the satisfaction of a working design, has given me the fuel to keep moving. I always leap towards opportunity to shine. Having traveled to many wondrous places in Europe, I have seen the extent of creative and ambitious minds. I have been inspired to create a magnet of artistic and architectural evolution here in America. My goal is to bring together young and radical designers shunned by rigid social norms to create something new. Specifically, I strive for a more individualistic approach to the way buildings and forms are made, taking into account the financial and environmental situation. In regards to a future thesis, I wish to break the lifeless molds of cookie-cutter suburbia, to steer away from this “structural communism” binding our way of life. Just as vehicles and interior spaces are personalized for the individual or family, a feel the home should be the same way, if not more so. In my pursuit of professional internships and graduate studies in architecture, I intend to work harder than ever before. I plan to take advantage of all the opportunities for advancement in this prestigious field. As I said before, I wish to learn as a well as teach. As an architect, I want to be an artist, a designer, a decision-maker, and most importantly, an inspirer.
Alfred Sierra
Education
Texas A&M University Masters of Architecture May 2012 (In Progress) Bachelors of Environmental Design May 2010
Academic Honors
College Board National Hispanic Recognition Award 2006-2010 Texas A&M president’s Achievement Scholarship 2006-2010 National Society of Collegiate Scholars
Activities and Service
AIAS Texas A&M Chapter Spanish Honor Society “Big Event” Committee - House painting and cleanup for the elderaly and incapacitated of Bryan, Texas - 2007-2008 International Studies (January - May 2009) Instituto Politecnico de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain Architectural Studies
Work Experience
Aggieshacks Freelance Design June 2010 - Present Freelance architectural drafting and residential design. Small developer based in College Station and Bryan area. Oslin Nation Co. Dallas, Texas Shipping and Recieving Summer 2006 In charge of movement and assembly of water pump and gas regulators for shipment to neighboring branches. Also assisted with walk-in customer orders.
Languages
Multi-lingual capability. Excellent command over English and Spanish, spoken and written. Learning German.
Computer Skills
AutoCAD, Revit Architecture, Rhinoceros, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, inDesign, Flash, Google Sketchup Pro
Additional Skills
photography, public speaking, writing, power tool operation, and general computer/electronics maintenance.
180 Perspective ENDS 115: Drawing Instructor: Richard Davison Summer 2007 Materials: 2B and HB Lumograph and 5mm lead on newsprint (48� by 18�) A three point perspective drawing with the center point being on the forward horizon, and the other two being at the left and right side. A section of the assigned project, the drawing below illustrates the optical illusion created by peripheral straight lines becoming curves. This is sometimes called the fisheye effect. The location chosen was the 3rd floor of the Langford Architecture Center, at Texas A&M University. SD.1
Reverse Self Portrait ARTS 212: Life Drawing. Instructor: Joshua Bienko Fall 2009 Materials: Prisma Neupastel and Charcoal on tan-colored French Canson Mi-Teintes paper. (31” by 25.5” cut) Photographs were taken of each student. The first step was to draw a complete blur, instructed strictly to ignore the systematic insticts of drawing from the mind, rather than the eye. Each of the photographs that followed was less blurry, and part of the process was to correct the “purposeful” series mistakes. In the end, there was final product and a powerful, yet distict, lesson on artistic perspective.
SD.2
CA.1
Ninja Training Course ENDS 105: Design Foundations Instructor: Julie Rogers Summer 2007 The first year studio involving a conceptual approach to the design process. This final project involved the creation of a series of training exercises for ninja. The entire class would build a section consisting of three exorcise stations, a sacred tree of meditation, a bridge, and a river contour that connected each of the sections accurately. This was the beginning course in a series of 20. The course began its sequence with the bridge crossing. Stage 1 consisted of a scaling wall and beam jumping. In stage 2, the ninja must unlock a door, that the released a boulder the. The ninja must quickly outrun the boulder, climb to safety and move on. Failure would lead to a blocked path, or death. The final stage was the tower the ninja must climb that would lead him to the next training course and continue on his path. It is the ultimate measure of a ninja’s strength, agility, and cunning.
CA.2
Rebellious House ENDS 106: Design Foundations 2 Instructor: John Fairey Summer 2007 The object of the course curriculum to develop a design style. The steps involved included finding a word the student and fellow classmates felt was very descriptive of the person, and use that word to guide every project throughout the remainder of the course. Additionally, the course dealt with physical brainstorming and massing, meaning, no drawings were allowed. The word chosen for my projects was “Rebellious”. This residence was designed for an unmarried female architect living in Bryan, Texas. Notable aspects include the leaning walls and my trademark “punchout” windows. The prime focal point, however, is the semi-exterior waterfall that connects both floors and allows for the circulation of cool southeastern breeze. This water feature redirects rainwater so that it never actually reaches the stairs and hits the person. Finally, the water collects in an underground cistern for later use.
Fire Station 5 ENDS 205: Architectural Design 1 Instructor: Ray Holliday Fall 2007 Located in downtown Bryan, Texas. The main goal was to achieve sufficient circulation and adequate room adjacencies as specified by the project’s program. Water collection through the double-sloped roofs and underground cisterns was a personal addition to the final design concept.
AS.1
The overall layout of the project followed the program guidlines for the construction of the actual project, which was to be designed by BRW Architects’ Bryan branch. The main objective was to blend a red brick masonry exterior of the traditional downtown with a more contemporary form. The large windows would bring in the great natural lighting of Bryan into the station during the day. At night, the lighting would be expressed brilliantly to the nearby vicinity, making the station’s presence known, while giving a sense of tranquility and safety to the residents.
Marine Research Center ARCH 405: Architectural Design 4 Instructor: Pliny Fisk and Craig Babe Summer 2008 A collaborate effort of Texas A&M University’s College of Architecture, the Department of Geosciences, and the Ecuadorian Navy to design a research center in the Galapagos Islands
AS.2
Inspired by the Solar Decathlon project, this selfsustained modular research center incorporates motorized photovoltaic panels that adjust to the shifting rays, a wind turbine, cross-ventilating louvers, removable wall partitions, and a platform base that adapts to and does minimal impact to the fragile ecology of the Galapagos Island. A subplatform water collection system is optional.
The structural basis of the project is it’s scaffold frame. The frame provides strong lateral resistance and allows for external connections for shade devices or utility ductwork or pipes. This frame is then directly connected to the subplatform foundation posts and the water collection cisterns.
Photovoltaics Louvers
Gutter Shade
Cistern
Dormitory Corridor
Laboratory
This research-driven project called for 5 weeks of extensive ecological analysis. Materials were to be local, therefore, Brazilian recycled aluminum seemed appropriate. It’s ecological footprint, as compared with standard aluminum and other metals, was much lower. Wood material was also made readily available through nearby South American destributers such as Eco-Madera, who specialized in environmentally conscious techniques of processing materials
AS.2
Kitchen/Dining
A trademarked piping system known as Isotherm was considered due to its recyclable material and opaque texture allowing the coagulation of debris and/or bacteria to be easily noticed and cleaned. Additionally, its resistance to heated appeared to be very well suited for the area. The project consisted of 7-person teams. 2 members built the full-scale scaffold sample. 2 others generated conceptual images. 3 members, myself included, built the physical models at 1-100m and 1-20m scale. These new renderings I personally produced after the project submission.
Cambridge Housing ENDS 205: Architectural Design 2 Instructor: Carlos Reimers Fall 2007 Guest lecturer housing complex for Harvard University. Inspired by Le Corbusiers Unite d’habition and the Panoramique by Architekten Cie, this structure consists of overlapping modules that greatly reduce the circulation with hallways on every two floors. The first two floors consist of the circulation desk and commercial centers for residents or anyone else from the area. Included in the plan is a bicycle shop, a restaurant and two accessible housing units. The remaining floors, 3 through 8, follow a sliding sequence of apartment modules to form the building’s lean toward the lake.
AS.3
The space created in between the the first floors of each unit, approximately 6 feet, is used as hallway space. Thereof cutting off the circulation by 1/2 for the housing sector of the complex.
Kitchen/Living/Dining
AS.3
Restaurant-Bar
This was a 2-person team project in which my partner built the physical model and helped draft the final floor plan. I came up with the modular concept, designed the computer renderings, and assisted in the formation of the overall plans.
Circulation
Typical Bedroom
Personal Reflection Photograph taken at Utrecht Uiversity, in the Netherlands. The final product combined the use of Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Different layers merged a play of desaturation, photo negatives, and an addition of lively colors. The overall goal was to create a well balance dark and lifeless, with more something more vibrant, and to contrast the reality with the reflection.
PDi.1
Faithful Walk This photo negative was taken in the winter months in Barcelona, Spain en route to Gaudi’s famous church, Sagrada Familia.
PDi.2
Santorini Summer 2009 photograph taken on a Greek isle outside the coast of Athens.
PDi.3