UNDERGRADUATE PORTFOLIO
THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
BENJAMIN VELA
CONTENTS
1
Urban Housing
3
Meander Cafe + Bar
7
Oxford Redesign
11
Thom Browne Retail Flagship
13
Hornsby Bend Bird Blind
19
DTLA Bike Stops
21
Hornsby Bend Nature Center
25
Luminaire Build
27
Co Working Space
31
Milk + Honey
37
Reclaimed Space
41
Oxford Redesign 2
Urban Housing Advanced Design Studio Paris Fall 2014
Studio Paris proved to be one of the most challenging studios during my time at UTSOA. Designing for a culture other than your own is a great deal harder than it sounds. Comprised of a school, gym, office, retail, and a housing space this structure was massive. A virtual extrusion of the site, the building started as a monolithic block. Space was then carved out for light, site forces, and the units. Circulation was added by placing some of the carved out space back into the structure. The units which were all composed of at least two glass walls on either side featured a panel system that allowed for variation in privacy. From the exterior, the facade of the building is constantly changing based on how the occupants have there screens configured. A unique garden system grows around the circulation paths creating the illusion of a huge vertical garden that is featured through out the entire interior circulation system.
3
introduction of skin
circulation carving
carving for light
introduction of park
carving for ventilation
10th floor plan central void
section diagram
extrusion of site 4
circulation system
residential- 25000 sqm
comercial - 20500 sqm
recreation - 7000 sqm
school - 4000 sqm
section perspective
retail - 3000 sqm
site study 5
Unit Rendering
screen system
6
Meander Cafe + Bar Design III Fall 2012 Tamie Glass
In between 9th and 10 street on Congress avenue sits a line of historic buildings. By day the area is full of families and shoppers that take advantage of all that historic downtown Austin has to offer. At night the city is transformed and as vibrant as ever. Entitled Meander the idea was turn this historic structure into a poetry and literature center that would function as a community space for the downtown area and have a secondary function as temporary housing for a poet laureate. Materiality was important in this project, it was used it to help differentiate the old from the new. Instead of trying to blend the new design into the existing limestone interior I decided to make it very evident that it was two separate pieces, what was existing and what was inserted. This two story spaces features a cafĂŠ and full bar, pre function space, performance area, reading room, and one bedroom one bathroom apartment.
7
Short Section
Facade Elevation
Long Section
20 8
Upper Level
Lower Level 9
Front Bar Model
Stair Section
Stair Model
10
Oxford Redesign Design V Spring 2013 Allison Gaskins
The Oxford shirt redesign began with an in depth look at the human body..The first form of shelter that our bodies engage with on a daily basis is clothing. The assignment was to take the iconic white oxford shirt and re interpret its design and how it interacts with the body. The oxford shirt is such an iconic piece of clothing. For my redesign I began to study what makes it so recognizable. I arrived at the collar and cuffs. The idea for the redesign was to take all the material that was only connecting important pieces together and to give them a more direct function. The next challenge was discovering what method to use in order to do this. Peeling material in order to give it function is how I began to inform the new design of the shirt. The final product combined the original white material and an added black mesh in order to give the idea of negative space. This was to make the cuts, folds, and peels more intentional.
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12
Thom Browne Retail Flagship Design IV Spring 2013 Clay Odom
Set in Austin’s 2nd street shopping district at the foot of the W hotel This retail flagship store was designed for menswear designer Thom Browne. The minute you step foot through the door you are immediately immersed in the world of Thom Browne. His designs are displayed on to your left, right, above and even below you, through use of glass display cases and the clever effects of shadows it takes the art of display to another level. The store boasts a display floor for both clothing and shoes, a tailoring lounge and office space for a personal stylist. How merchandise is displayed was one of the driving design factors behind the planning of the store. There are three tiers of display that dictate how the store is run and set up on a daily basis.
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Facade Design Progression
Final Facade Design
Final Facade Design with Materials
14
STREET LEVEL
7
9
6
1
Display Cases
6
Foot ware Lounge
2
Sky Light Displays
7
Water Closet
3
Transaction Counter
8
Fitting Room
4
Sales Floor
9
Back of House
5
Bag Lounge
8 3
4
3
2
5
1
2
15
Sky Light Displays
Transaction Counter
SECOND LEVEL 16
15
Tailors Office
11
Pattern Wall with Model Tailoring Lounge
16
Elevator
12
Stylist Office
17
Runway Collection Display
10
15
13
Walnut Planks
Transaction Counter 13 Sales Floor 14
12
Fitting Room
17 11
Unfinished Concrete
14
Tufted leather
Grey long leaf pine
10
Metallic Wall Covering Product Display Elevation
16
10
Pattern Wall with Model
FURNISHINGS A
Soho Tufted Sofa
F
Display Trunk
B
Alexander Makwhno Work Table
G
19Th C. Swedish Metal Sideboard
C
Soho Tufted Chair
D
Display Hutch
E
A
B
C
Alessandro Isola Torque Desk
D
Product Display Section
E
F
G
18
Hornsby Bend Bird Blind Design II Spring 2011 Smilja Milovanovic-Bertram
The Bird blind design focused heavily on site analysis. A great deal of time was spent collecting information about the native plants, animals, and terrain. An equal amount of time was also spent studying the behavior of these animals. It was through the examination of the bird’s flight pattern that the breaks in the wooden structure began to form. The design of my blind cuts through four very distinct terrains. It is series of slatted wooden cubes that each offer a unique amount of shelter and views depending on what type of terrain the structure is located on. It was a challenge trying to essentially create environments within pre existing environments. Thew viewer had to have an unobstructed view of the animals while remaining camouflaged enough as to not spook the animals that were being viewed.
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DTLA Parking Diagram
DTLA Bike Stops Design Internship Summer 2014
A side design project while completing my summer internship in Los Angeles, the DTLA bike stops were designed to help encourage the use of public transportation. A great amount of research went into the existing infrastructure of the public transportation system. Looking at current metro,subway, and bus stops helped inform where these stops were placed. Looking at parking was the next layer of information collected. The map to the right shows our findings with the red areas being able to hold more cars than the yellow. The system was designed to allow users to check out bikes on there mobile devices. Once checked out they were given a color that corresponded to the bike and the stop. A LED strip would light up letting the user know which bike to take.
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22
Photo Voltaic mounted to power the stations.
Digital Display with map of all stops in the area. Speed bumps to slow oncoming car traffic
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Interface for Digital Reservation System 24
Hornsby Bend Nature Center Design II Spring 2011 Smilja Milovanovic-Bertram
The Hornsby Bend Nature Center was designed with three main functions in mind. The first was to provide a space for bird watchers to convene with one another. The second was to provide a space for park rangers to work and headquarter out of. Lastly it was intended to create a space specifically for the act of bird watching. The site that was allocated for this project covered a wide array of topography types. A flat plane gave way to a steep slope downward that eventually met with a swampy area. Situated alongside the gradual slope the nature center allowed for a more accessible transition from the high to low side. With one entrance and exit located at the top of the slope and the other at the bottom, the structure served as a means of connection in the landscape.
25
Section through Nature Center 26
Luminaire Build EC I Fall 2012 Keith Simon
Assigned as a design build project this lamp was designed for use by design students in a classroom environment. The Armature is a drafting lamp that features both an Edison incandescent bulb and two LED arm lights. Perfect for placement in the middle of four drafting tables the incandescent bulb provides a more atmospheric light that illuminates the general vicinity. While the LED arms are for more focused activity such as drafting or model making. The slatted design of the lamp disguise the two top arms which swing out and allow for flexibility of motion in almost any direction. The construction of this lamp used no glue. Four dowels run through the lamp at each corner holdup up each piece of wood.
27
2 five bulb LEDs blue / white 2.5 V LED motherboard
Incandescent Yellow 120 v Candelabra base
Dimensions: 1’ x 1’ x 2’ Materials 56 Walnut 1’x 2” x 3/4 “, 4 1/2” dowels at 2’ high Flip switch on side of fixture
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RENDERING OF OPERATION PROCESS
Co Working Office Design VI Fall 2014 Tamie Glass
Designed with the modern working individual in mind, parallel is a new take on how the built environment can improve the day to day lives of the individuals inhabiting it. Built on the concept that people work best in environments they feel able to control. This office space offers a multitude of ways to customize the workspace. Keeping in mind that people also become complacent when they fall into routine and their surroundings begin to bore them. The space is designed to allow for constant rotation throughout the office. Finding a blend between the two almost opposite concepts of having control over an environment and a constantly changing workspace proved to be tough but it was in designing the space between the parallels, where the concept for this modern office was born.
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4
CONFERENCE ROOMS
11
REFILL
DISPLAY
6 1
2
ENTER
ASK
COLLABORATE
ENTER
STOW
TALK
LISTEN
WORK
REVIVE
Flow Diagram 7
3
4
FLOOR PLAN LEGEND
8 5
10
1 RECEPTION
7 WORK ZONE “WE SPACE”
2 OFFICE
8 PROJECTION LOUNGE
3 INFO TUNNEL
9 COFFEE BAR
4
CONFERENCE ROOMS
10 SERVER ROOM
5
BREAK OUT SPACES
11 PRINTING STATION
6 WORK ZONE “ME SPACE”
9
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6 WORK ZONE “ME SPACE”
INTROVERT AN INTROVERT IS A PERSON WHO IS ENERGIZED BY BEING ALONE AND WHOSE ENERGY IS DRAINED BY BEING AROUND OTHER PEOPLE. .• MORE PRODUCTIVE WHEN BOUNDARIES ARE DEFINED • PREFER PRIVATE SPACES • QUIET / SOFTER MATERIALS • BACK MUST NEVER FACE A POINT OF ENTRY • CONTROL OVER THERE IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT
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EXTROVERT AN EXTROVERT IS A PERSON WHO IS ENERGIZED BY BEING AROUND OTHER PEOPLE AND WHOSE ENERGY IS DRAINED BY BEING ALONE. • • • • •
MORE PRODUCTIVE IN COLLABORATIVE SPACES PREFER OPEN SIGHT PATHS ENERGIZED LOUD ENVIRONMENT MUST BE ABLE TO EASILY COMMUNICATE WITHIN GROUPS CONTROL OVER THERE IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT
FURNISHINGS A
TUXEDO SOFA
F
INTERACTIVE PANNEL SYSTEM
B
MEDICI TABLE
G
HIGHTOWER SOFA SYSTEM
C
MASSAUD WORK LOUNGE
D
SHE SAID STOOL
E
GOETZ SOFA
B
A
C
D
E
Lighting Plan F
G
34
3 INFO TUNNEL
MATERIALS CHERRY WOOD PLANKS
CONCRETE FLOORING CARPET SQUARES QUARTZ COUNTER TOPS DARK WALNUT FLOORING
GREEN 3 FORM
F
35
INTERACTIVE PANEL SYSTEM
8 PROJECTION LOUNGE
S1 Long Section
36
Milk + Honey
Freelance Summer 2015 Kasey McCarty Interior Design
Offered to me as a freelance render job Milk + Honey is a day spa in Austin known for its high end design and finishes. Built and rendered entirely on Revit 2015 this job was an exercise in material mapping and custom parametric family buildout. Almost every piece of furniture throughout the space had to be built as a custom object which brought a greater level of reality to the renderings. The two spaces shown here are the hair salon and manicure / pedicure spaces. While they use the same materials they were rendered to convey two different environments. The salon more earthy and vibrant and the mani/ pedi stations more peaceful and calming. This project is scheduled for construction in early 2016 in an up an coming neighborhood in Houston, Texas.
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11
40
Reclaimed Space Junior Designer June 2012January 2014
Reclaimed Space is a modular home builder out of Austin, TX. I came in and completely redesigned their website, giving it a cleaner more streamlined aesthetic. They ship their work all over the country and have clients that aren’t always able to come in to the Austin, Texas office. For this reason there web presence and perception was very important to them. Since it was the first and sometimes only window into the company and their work they wanted a very professional and sophisticated look that also did not take away from their beautiful product. Aside from web design I have also had the opportunity to create conceptual designs for cabins of my own. I also handle the majority of the ad design work that comes into the office. Contributors: Emmie Myers, Tracen Gardner
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Design Process Diagram
Website Redesign 42
MODULAR HOMES RANCH DEVELOPMENT
RECLAIMEDSPACE.COM
Promotional Ads 43
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Benjamin Vela 956.645.3098 benvela92@gmail.com benjaminvelamedellin.com
academic s
Education The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture Bachelor of Science in Interior Design
August 2015
École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville
Fall 2014
Skills Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Revit Architecture, Rhino, Google Sketch Up, AutoCad, Microsoft Office
Design VI Assistant Professor: Tamie Glass
Spring 2015
Edible Materials Lab Graphic Chair Professor: Igor Sidiqqui
Spring 2015
IIDA Texas Oklahoma Chapter Student Member
Spring 2013-15
Experience Gensler
Summer 2014
Working Proficiency in Written and Conversational Spanish
Design Intern Los Angeles, California
Experienced in Hand Drafting, Photography, 3D Modeling, Digital Fabrication (Laser-cutting, 3D Printing, CNC Routing) Graphic Design, Writing, Website Design
Created info-graphics for Hospitality design competition. Modeled parametric families in Revit including casework and FF&E components Revised and modified construction documents and mill-work Rendered full spaces for presentation to client.
Honors Design Excellence Nomination Professor: Tamie Glass
Spring 2014
IIDA 2014 Design Excellence Awards Honorable Mention
Spring 2014
IIDA 2014 Spring Student Showcase Finalist
Spring 2015
Reclaimed Space Junior Designer Austin, Texas
2012-2014
3D modeling, modeled parametric families in Revit, web design Assembled Construction documents and interior FF& E packets
Él Mañana Newspaper Photographer Nuevo, Laredo, Mexico
Summer 2010, 11
Photographer for an international newspaper Worked in the field and in the office taking photos of everything from car accidents to social events Assited with layout and editorial content as well