Fabrication: 3D Printing, Laser Cutting, Hand Drafting, Hand Modeling
Personal Interests: Sculpting, Painting, Tennis, Football, Journalism, Graphic Design
An Intermediary
Professors: Wendeline Redfield, Inaki Alday
Year 4, Semester 1
Recent architecture in Vals, Switzerland has been polarizing the village into two main bodies of people: those who live there and those who work and vacate there. This is generally evident by analyzing the two sides of the Valser Rhein (the main river in Vals). The northern side inhabits modern and expensive amenities for affluent travelers, for example the 7132 hotel complex. The southern side houses local villagers, with very little commercial architecture. Choosing to build next to the river, this proposal depolarizes Vals by cultivating an environment and program that can be enjoyed by tourists and natives. This is achieved by catering to popular Vals activities and traditions with allotment gardens, farmers markets, and hiking refuges.
As Swiss code regulations put a heavy emphasis on building on, near, or in the place of pre-existing buildings, this proposal will build on top of a pre-existing storage garage by keeping its footprint and overall grid system. The ground floor is meant to attract local farmers and villagers through affordable food options, and the program slowly begins to shift to a more visitor based program. The site’s proximity to several hiking and skiing trails lead to a travelers refuge for backpackers. Inside the jagged crown of the building, visitors can rest and socialize amongst fellow travellers. There is also a preparation area for hikers to shower, change, and eat before they embark on their daily adventures. The proposal adopts a vernacular architecture by utilizing a building’s pre-existing footprint while also drawing from the mountaintops to form a spontaneous and iconic roof condition for Vals.
photographs of allotment gardens throughout vals
site map with allotment gardens and plaza space
third floor plan: mediatheque
sixth floor hostel perspective
latitudinal section perspective
The Library Hostel
Professor: Irene Keil
Year 3, Semester 2
To understand the distinct identity of New Orleans architecture, it’s crucial to examine historically relevant buildings from iconic cathedrals to abandoned trains stations. A visual consistency amongst many antique attractions is the arch geometry. The arch has been consistently used to form vernacular architecture within the region, yet is hardly utilized as more than a standard threshold or common fenestration. This proposal attempts to rethink how we currently view arches, and how they can portray more poetic spatial conditions and promote concepts of porosity, water retention, and cross ventilation.
There are two main structural systems utilized in this proposal: a post tensioned concrete slab construction for the conditioned structure and a precast concrete structurally self reliant shell of distinctly oriented arches. A theme of contrast and duality therefore forms. There are contradictions in the orientation of the arches, and variations concerning the depth of some porticos. Material contrast can also be observed with the dichotomy between concrete exterior shell and channel glass protecting conditioned space. The project proposes somewhat of a resolution between two structural systems, two materials, and two programs (the hostel and the library). In addition to proposing an affordable refuge for visitors of the New Orleans Central Business District, this hostel also focuses on educating tourists and locals as a beacon for New Orleans history and education. The hostel rooms are somewhat tucked away, allowing the congregation between the rooms and reading nooks throughout the arched shell.
of 3 major components
axon
fragmentation diagram
south elevation perspective at night
1”:16’ model: disected for ceiling and spatial conditions
1”:16’ model: assembled for interior views
1”:8’ model: non egress stair
1”:32’ model: exterior vs interior conditions
Jefferson Island
Professor: Wendeline Redfield
Year 2, Semester 1
Jefferson Island is one of the five major salt dome islands of Louisiana, but those who visit the island are incapable of witnessing the geometry or magnitude of the salt dome layers. This project attempts to convey the grandeur of the salt dome layers by using their size, shape, and location as the foundation of this Jefferson Island gallery.
The chosen location of the proposal not only aligns with the salt dome layers, but also incorporates the hillside of the island, as Jefferson Island features an abundance of topography compared to the rest of the relatively flat Louisiana. This project seizes the opportunity of constructing a space above, below, and within the ground. This results in different views and perceptions of the mass of the structure depending on the individual’s location.
As one moves from hilltop to lake, they are confronted with a large excavated square following the size and orientation of the deepest salt dome layer. Upon arriving at the structure, one must submerge themself into Jefferson Island by spiraling down a ramp, exposing them to the underground movie room and dark exhibition space. Once they meander to the taller structure’s entrance, they circulate upwards in a square shaped fashion to find a central courtyard space, which serves as the sacred center of the structure. By using the salt dome layers as the foundation for the form and circulation, this project relies on a series of simple modifications to the pure geometry of the square in order to create an emotional and profound gallery embedded in the historical Jefferson Island.
site analysis: differentiating elevation
site analysis: differentiating planes
axon
site axon showing relation to salt dome layers
interior perspective of exhibit space
interior perspective of corridor surrounding courtyard
The Archipelago
Professor: Juan Medina Year 2, Semester 2
The Archipelago project provides a euphoric housing environment for a community of local artists in the West Riverside Neighborhood of New Orleans. The design stems from stacking and rotating geometries reminiscent of traditional New Orleans shotgun homes. The 72-degree rotation provides a full rotation for every 5 stacks, allowing for individuality and distinct views for each home. The distinct morphology allows this metahome to also serve as an architectural icon for the city of New Orleans.
The stacked shotgun tubes form a protective barrier for an interior courtyard space at the heart of the Archipelago, giving artists of all mediums the opportunity to work in a more tranquil outdoor environment. This spacious courtyard sprinkled with trees and boulders can also transform into an exhibition space for artists to present their work and draw inspiration from peers. A light curtain covers the entirety of The Archipelago for a softer exterior facade, sparking a contrast with an interior of abundant dissimilar angles. The first and most popular typology is designed for art, design, and architecture students who occupy one private tube and share dining and office spaces. The second typology is designed for couples, with three private tubes adequate for cooking and within close proximity to dining options. The third typology is for families or artists who require more abundant studio space, allotting five private tubes for extra comfort and space to work. For perimeter congregation and horizontal circulation, a series of paths along the exterior allow neighbors to interact.
collage of 10 floor plans
figure ground
program variations
axon of home with walls removed
interior bedroom perspective
exterior perspective
connection between interior and exterior
worms eye perspective of non egress stair
Vertical Vegetation & Volumes
Professor: Sonsoles Vela Year 3, Semester 1
Situated within a master plan proposal of downtown Los Angeles, this urban catalyst aims to combat the lack of green space and limited square footage by creating a mediatheque for downtown residents to reconnect with each other and the natural environment through an emphasis on vertical vegetation. A green facade poses many advantages to the community, such as air quality improvement, sound absorption, natural visual aesthetics, and light filtration.
The design for this urban catalyst initiates with a 15 foot by 15 foot grid used for structure and program organization. Certain volumes formed within the grid protrude outward, creating depth in the facade while serving as auditoriums and classrooms. The volumes provide areas of connecting the exterior to the interior, while also creating a meandering circulation for the inhabitants. The first floor of the mediatheque is dedicated to the printed forms of literature such as books and newspaper articles, the second floor of the mediatheque is for education spaces, classrooms, and electronic devices for learning, and the third for is dedicated to the fabrication of auditory, culinary, and visual arts specific to downtown Los Angeles with the auditorium, restaurants, and studios. As a means of corresponding with the site, vegetation is designed more heavily on the south facade for a more balanced light dispersal. The palette of the vegetation derives from local LA plants that can grow vertically, such as the african iris, lemonade berry, bears breeches, sea lavender, toyon, kangaroo paw, santa barbara daisy, and purple needle grass.
kangaroo paw santa barbara daisy
african iris lemonade berry bears breeches
section perspective with LA native vegetation
puple needle grass
sea lavender toyon
Limestone Springs
Professor: Angus Ritchie
Year 4, Semester 2
This bathhouse for the Catherine McEwan Foundation was developed during my study abroad in Scotland. The project explored architecture as a catalyst for healing and reconnection on an elemental level. It required balancing creativity with budget, feasibility, and consideration of the client’s unique needs to form a holistic approach to designing for wellness.
Situated east of the historic Govan Old Church along the River Clyde, Limestone Springs is a bathhouse and space of refuge for those with Crohn’s disease. Submerging oneself in different water temperatures can be not only therapeutic but also reparative, and its healing properties seem particularly appropriate for the Crohn’s community. Inspired by the ancient roman bathhouse structure of moving from colder to warmer temperatures, the project composes a journey of cold to hot while allowing for wandering and exploration.
The Catherine McEwan Foundation claims that those with Crohns’ are twice as likely to have mental health difficulties, and providing assistance with mental health is a large part of the foundation’s identity. Additionally, some studies suggest that thirty percent of people with Crohn’s also have arthritis. As water can improve digestion, improve blood flow, reduce stress, reduce inflammation, alleviate joint pain, and ease tension on the muscles, this proposal serves as a holistic remedy for those with Crohn’s.
The form of the proposal follows a series of rectangles, resembling fingers that branch out toward the river. Each rectangle is 30 feet wide but ranges in length according to what the site allows. The heights of the volumes also undulate to create a variety of spatial conditions as one moves through the bathhouse. The main method of circulation occurs from the Old Church’s pre existing path, but one must first descend into this excavated terrain to access the structure. Excavating the site allows for a level ground plane for the presence of exterior baths, and also allows the site to engage with the theme of water by becoming more level with the adjacent river. After considering visual aesthetic, strength, water-resistance, affordability, sustainability, and maintenance, an exposed structural stack bond limestone was chosen as the primary material because of its natural appeal, its popularity within the historic context of Govan, and the affordability of shipping the locally sourced limestone to the site.
ABSORBING
HEAT FOR RADIANT PANELS
THE WATER CYCLE
RAINWATER COLLECTIONAND
RECYCLINGSYSTEM FOR POOL WATER
GEOTHERMAL
TO FLOOR HEATING
HERMALPIPING TO FLOORHEATINGSYSTEM
MECH ROOM
VEGETATION INHABITIGN SOLAR ROOF
before entering the baths ceiiing condition of the caldarium
center for crohn’s disease
plaster model
light study model
clear acrylic model
Cargo Community
Professor: Juan Medina Summer 2024
The Cargo Community project originated as a horizontal and vertical home concept developed during my second year under the guidance of Juan Medina. Initially a learning exercise, the design was further refined and expanded to create a comprehensive proposal suitable for submission to microhome competitions. With an estimated over 500,000 abandoned shipping containers in the U.S. alone, the Cargo Community addresses the surplus of unused materials while providing affordable housing solutions. The horizontal home consists of two shipping containers placed side by side to form a small square-like floor plan for kitchen, eating, bathroom, and living spaces. A welded aluminum shell is added on top of the shipping container to allow for floated mezzanine spaces. This provides room for sleeping, working, additional floated seating, and storage. This design minimizes the footprint by situating essential social functions on the ground level, while private areas are elevated for efficient use of space. Conversely, the vertical home flips a shipping container upright, featuring a double-skin system that creates a gap for vertical circulation between the polycarbonate exterior and the shipping container. This design organizes rooms of the home by stacking different programs, starting with social areas at the base, a kitchen in the middle, and bedrooms above. The wrap-around staircase serves as both a circulation path and communal area, fostering interaction among residents while maximizing the efficient use of vertical space. Through these innovative designs, the Cargo Community project exemplifies how architecture can creatively repurpose materials to promote sustainability and enhance community living.
exterior perspective
interior perspective
polycarbonate shell
steel structure
wooden stair
bedroom
master bedroom
floor: office, bathroom, closet
exterior perspective
interior perspective
Gensler
Cities 4
Summer 2024
During my 2024 full-time summer internship at Gensler, I was a member of the Cities 4 team specializing in Healthcare Architecture with projects located in Brooklyn, Long Island, Harlem, and the Bronx. For Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, I was responsible for assisting in a portion of the urban furniture design for an open street in Borough Park. The goal of this temporary urban plaza was to attract local pedestrians with custom seating interventions and incorporate the work of local artists. I was also involved in providing skylight iterations for Maimonides Medical Center’s lobby. This included 3D modeling the ceiling iterations in Rhino, rendering several options in Enscape, and using Grasshopper to analyze the amount of sunlight for the iterations. For NYC H+H Harlem - Pharmacy on Lenox Avenue, I assisted in formatting, labeling, tagging, and making edits to section, elevation, and plan drawings in Revit. During our Harlem site visit, I learned more about how the renovations will proceed from conversations with the architects and the structural engineer. For Catholic Health of Long Island, I also used Revit to assist in making changes and additions to plans, sections, and elevations. Additionally, during my summer at Gensler, I engaged in a summer studio hypothetical proposal for civic architecture in the Morris Heights neighborhood. As a team of five, we proposed a large web-like cap spanning over the Cross Bronx Expressway and Major Deegan Expressway, developing the concept and design over two months.
Bold: Featured
Gensler Intern Summer Studio: the WEB
Projected Year of Completion: NA
Softwares Used: Rhino 7, V-Ray, Photoshop
Maimonides Medical Center Temporary Urban Plaza
Projected Year of Completion: 2025
Softwares Used: Rhino 7
Maimonides Medical Center Lobby
Projected Year of Completion: 2025
Softwares Used: Rhino 7, Grasshopper, Enscape
NYC H+H Harlem Pharmacy
Projected Year of Completion: 2025
Softwares Used: Revit 2023
St. Francis Maria Assunta Renovation
Projected Year of Completion: 2030
Softwares Used: Revit 2023
the WEB
Team: Miya Kutchins, Erin Freeman, David Ambul Summer Studio Directors: Selwyn Bachus, Tim Amin
The Major Deegan Expressway and Cross Bronx Expressway contribute to significant fragmentation within the Morris Heights area of the Bronx. The car-centric nature of these roads has led to severe noise and particulate pollution, preventing Bronx natives from accessing the river or experiencing sufficient green space. The Wholistic Expressway Bridge (WEB) aims to address this by reconnecting critical yet disjointed social infrastructures, increasing public green space, reducing air and noise pollution, and improving safety and mobility. This project was informed by researching community needs and former efforts to alleviate the harmful effects of the Bronx expressways. By spanning over the Major Deegan Expressway, this proposal promotes a more pedestrianfriendly Morris Heights, allowing for the residential neighborhoods to congregate without fear of the looming expressways.
David Ambul
urban scale application of kintsugi
atmosphere: paths and kiosks shown in white
WEB
distinct ceiling condition from the Major Deegan Expressway
WEB joining river, expressways, birthplace of hip hop
Maimonides Temporary Urban Plaza
Team: Tyler Mudge
Studio Director: Val Lieu
Maimonides Medical Center, located at 4900 10th Avenue, occupies an area heavily dominated by car traffic and notably lacking in pedestrian-friendly spaces. Gensler’s initiative seeks to redefine this environment by introducing a temporary urban plaza that fosters human connection. The design features modular seating made from 3D-printed from recycled materials, along with large displays of local artwork The project is expected to be complete by the summer of 2025.
Responsibilities:
My responsibilities included assisting in the design and refinement of outdoor furniture based on the site’s relevant geometries. I also produced dimensioned plans, sections, and axonometric drawings in addition to an InDesign presentation board for communicating the concept to the community.
cavetto R0'-3"
conge
Model by Decibel
9"
R3'-4"
Hand Models
Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Year 1, Semester 1
This modeling investigation was conducted during my study abroad at the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya in Barcelona. In the course, Spatial and Formal Analysis, the objective was to explore the formal and spatial potential of vectors, planes, and volumes through a variety of materials. First was the exploration of planar surfaces, manipulating black and white foam sheets into three-dimensional forms. The goal was to develop a consistent rule or pattern that would evolve into a unique spatial entity. Second was an exploration of vectors through wood and wire. To contrast the additive processes of foam, wood, and wire, the next phase focused on clay. This phase highlighted the potential of twisting and curving forms. These three distinct approaches to modeling expanded my understanding of morphologies and spatial conditions, shaping a more comprehensive perspective of materiality and form in architecture.
