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eviate / distort / remix / collage
portfolio Beren Saraquse 2016 - 2022
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B e r e n
S a r a q u s e
Recent graduate of Pratt Institute Undergraduate School of Architecture with excellent interpersonal skills and diverse work experience. Currently looking for position in a creative work environment to apply my education and develop my design sensibility.
EDUCATION BACHELORS OF ARCHITECTURE
august ‘17 / may ‘22
Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY Naab + Riba Accredidation minor in sustainability
ASSOCIATES OF ARTS: NTERIOR DESIGN july ‘14 / june ‘16
Fashion Institute Of Design And Merchandising, Los Angeles, CA
EXTRA-CURRICULAR RECIPIENT OF THE LYMAN PIERSMA AWARD may ‘22
XENOFEMINISM
october’19 Assisted in a panel discussion on Xenofeminism and the post natural. Developed graphics along with collaboration with Professors: Michele Gorman, Cathryn Dwyre and Eva Perez de Vega.
NOW WHAT?!
june ‘18 NOW WHAT?! Exhibition that examined the history of architects and designers working to further the causes of the civil rights, women’s and LGBTQ movements of the past fifty years in collaboration with Professor Michele Gorman.
REFERENCES Jason Lee
Acting Chair / Employer jlee1027@pratt.edu
Suzana Bellettiere
Past Employer: Section F Design sb@sectionf.com
linkedin.com/in/berensaraquse/ bsaraqus@gmail.com 949.228.2117
WORK HISTORY LEADER OF ARCHITECTURE ARCHIVES & PUBLICATION PRATT INSTITUTE
november ‘18 / may ‘22 Coordinated a team of eight that was responsible for planning and organizing archived work for publication. Organizing and producing strategies for the layout. Meeting weekly deadlines before publication. Developing graphics for posters and meetings. Work collaboratively with faculty to group and plan archived work.
JUNIOR ARCHITECTURE INTERN SECTION F DESIGN
june ‘21 / september ‘21 Assisted with DOB sets and renovation CAD drawings. Responsible for organizing materials for client meetings and surveying new project sites. Developing and implementing office agendas through manuals and protocols. Working collaboratively with the Principal Designer on renovation details and assisting with client meetings.
STUDIO MENTOR PRATT INSTITUTE
june ‘18 / august ‘19 Work collaboratively with assigned concentration faculty. Plan and lead designated studio space activities each day, support students’ questions and academic needs. Monitor attendance and support institutional conduct policies. Lead students on cultural activities and off campus excursions. Work collaboratively with faculty serving as an educational assistant and role model for students.
SHOWROOM ASSISTANT FARROW & BALL
october ‘16 / september ‘17 Ensure clients receive excellent customer service and build clientele. Advise on color options for clients and assist with wallpaper selections based on client’s wishes. Create color combinations based on client’s overall design inspirations. Ensure the showroom is visually merchandised to the highest standard. Create and implement marketing strategies for the local community.
INTERIOR DESIGNER NEWPORT COTTAGES
july ‘15 / august ‘17 Create new layouts for incoming merchandise. Create vignettes for upcoming collections and furniture pieces. Build relationships, develop clientele and establish a book of business. Develop concepts for store front displays. Operate register for financial transactions and provide admirable customer service to exceed clients expectations.
Tab le o f Co nt e n t s
archipe[LA]go: deviating the strip
05
Super - MAXI
13
Transhistoric Surrealism
19
The Womb
25
Entropic Playspace
31
Creative Collective
37
The Abnormalities of Normal
43
Thank U, Next Generation
49
Extra - Curricular Graphics
52
archipe[LA]go: deviating the strip
in collaboration with Sophi Lilles
The strip had repressed certain public and typological requirements of the city. There were flattened by the deamnds of LA’s verstion of 20th century retail urbanism and city life. Archipe[la]go reimagines the shopping strip typology, a linear commericalized main artery of the city. It offers an alterantive that distorts and reshuffles its fundamental armanture, the avenue, in order to create an archipelago of urban conditions that transforms the commerical strip into a plurality of public spaces. The urban archipelagos counter the previous strip typology that served as a desire machine to visitors and tourists and the familiar pieces of the past shopping strip are repurposed to serve the new islands of urbanity; like billboards now become media screens for viewing or become occupiable. We have used this as an opportunity to question what exists now and how it has or has not changed with the times. There was Banham’s LA, there was Suisman’s LA, and this is our Los Angeles, what is your LA?
Site
Critic
Level
Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA
Adam Elstein Frank Gesualdi Saul Anton
Design 503
5
day in the life of the archipe[LA]go
URBAN GUTTER: interval, gap, interstices, artery, service corridor, back of house, behind the scenes, side-street IN COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS...
BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH
URBAN GUTTER: interval, gap, interstices, artery, service corridor, back of house, behind the scenes, side-street
Originating from comics, the gutter is the inbetween space, is both the connecter and divider. Comic artist Scott McCloud defines the gutter as “the space between panels, an interstitial space where meaning is made by connecting the contents of one panel to the next.”
IN COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS...
IN FILM...
IN THE URBAN METROPOLIS... BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH
“Construction ‘with intervals’ suggests that in montage, it is not the elements that are significant, but the space in-between them that defines the potential depth. The space of the interval is a shallow compressed space, unfolding in time and linked together by the perception and recall of the observer.” - Stan Allen
E
G
TH
Originating from comics, the gutter is the inbetween space, is both the connecter and divider. Comic artist Scott T defines the gutter as “the space between panels, McCloud CU anP interstitial space where meaning is made by connecting M JUthe contents of one panel to the next.”
IN
US
IN FILM...
IN THE URBAN METROPOLIS...
“Construction ‘with intervals’ suggests that in montage, it is not the elements that are significant, but the space in-between them that defines the potential depth. The space of the interval is a shallow compressed space, unfolding in time and linked together by the perception and recall of the observer.” - Stan Allen
THE URBAN GUTTER
The urban gutter as a site allows opportunities to reveal what is otherwise usually hidden and behind the scenes. The gutter is characterized by its surroundings, what it is in between, rather than its own physical attributes. It is not a neglected space. With an emphasis on the ‘in between’ of places, buildings, and streets, urban gutters are spaces of flexibility that support the frames it divides. T
M
P
E
G
TH
JU
CU
IN
US
THE URBAN GUTTER
The urban gutter as a site allows opportunities to reveal what is otherwise usually hidden and behind the scenes. The gutter is characterized by its surroundings, what it is in between, rather than its own physical attributes. It is not a neglected space. With an emphasis on the ‘in between’ of places, buildings, and streets, urban gutters are spaces of flexibility that support the frames it divides.
EAT . DRINK . DINE
service door
exterior material
back facade
back door
exterior material
back yard
service d
]go
parking store entrance
GUTTER:
interval, gap, interstices, artery, dor, back of house, behind the scenes, side-street store entrance roof store window
parking store entrance
store window billboard signage
signage garage front door
front door roof window
window greenery front yard
PHIC NOVELS...
front yard
service door
service door exterior material
service door
exterior material back facade
AN GUTTER:
back facade back door
backmaterial door exterior
backexterior yard material
store entrance roof store window
service door exterior material
back yard
interval, gap, interstices, artery, corridor, back of house, behind the scenes, side-street BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH
D GRAPHIC NOVELS...
parking
interval, gap, interstices, artery, e, behind the scenes, side-street parking
roof parking
billboard roof
garage billboard
roof garage
greenery roof
roof parking
greenery
BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH
Originating from comics, the gutter is the inbetween space, is both the connecter and divider. Comic artist Scott McCloud defines the gutter as “the space between panels, an interstitial space where meaning is made by connecting the contents of one panel to the next.”
R:
interval, gap, interstices, artery, house, behind the scenes, side-street EAT . DRINK . DINE
Originating from comics,
the gutter is the inbetween
space, is both the connecter and divider. Comic artist Scott IN THE URBAN METROPOLIS... BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH
McCloud defines the gutter as “the space between panels, an interstitial space where meaning is made by connecting the contents of one panel to the next.”
IN THE URBAN METROPOLIS... BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH
E
G
IN
US
TH
Originating from comics, the gutter is the inbetween space, is both the connecter and divider. Comic artist Scott T defines the gutter as “the space between panels, McCloud CU anP interstitial space where meaning is made by connecting M U J the contents of one panel to the next.”
E
G
TH
Originating from comics, the gutter is the inbetween space, is both the connecter and divider. Comic artist Scott T defines the gutter as “the space between panels, McCloud CU anP interstitial space where meaning is made by connecting M JUthe contents of one panel to the next.”
IN
US
IN THE URBAN METROPOLIS... IN THE URBAN METROPOLIS...
THE URBAN GUTTER
THE GUTTER The urbanURBAN gutter as a site allows opportunities to reveal what is
The urban gutter as a site allows opportunities to reveal what is otherwise usually hidden and behind the scenes. The gutter is otherwise usually hidden and behind the scenes. The gutter is characterized its surroundings, what it is rather in between, rather characterized by itsby surroundings, what it is in between, than its own physical attributes. is not aspace. neglected than its own physical attributes. It is not a It neglected With space. With anan emphasis on the ‘inthe between’ of places, of buildings, and streets, emphasis on ‘in between’ places, buildings, and streets, urban gutters are spaces of flexibility that support the frames it urban gutters are spaces of flexibility that support the frames it divides.
divides.
EAT . DRINK . DINE
EAT . DRINK . DINE
THE URBAN GUTTER
The urban gutter as a site allows opportunities to reveal what is otherwise usually hidden and behind the scenes. The gutter is characterized by its surroundings, what it is in between, rather than its own physical attributes. It is not a neglected space. With an emphasis on the ‘in between’ of places, buildings, and streets, urban gutters are spaces of flexibility that support the frames it urbandivides. gutter as a site allows opportunities to reveal what
THE URBAN GUTTER
The is otherwise usually hidden and behind the scenes. The gutter is characterized by its surroundings, what it is in between, rather than its own physical attributes. It is not a neglected space. With an emphasis on the ‘in between’ of places, buildings, and streets, urban gutters are spaces of flexibility that support the frames it divides.
7
parking
STRIP CIRCULATION
HIGHWAY INTERCHANGE
N
Case Study: Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA
EMERGENT CHANGES OF THE BOULEVARD: how local distorions create non-local consequences to the strip armature.
138
20
EMERGENT CHANGES OF THE BOULEVARD: how local distorions create non-local consequences to the strip armature.
4020 138
138
40
20
EMERGENT CHANGES OF THE BOULEVARD: how local distorions create non-local consequences to the strip armature.
138138 20
EMERGENT CHANGES OF THE BOULEVARD: how local distorions create non-local consequences to the strip armature.
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EMERGENT[ CHANGES OF THE BOULEVARD: how [local create non-local consequences 00 ] 01-Adistorions ] [ 01-B ] to the strip armature.
138
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EMERGENT CHANGES OF THE BOULEVARD: how local distorions create non-local consequences to the strip armature.
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ARMATURE TO ENCLAVE
9
11
Super - MAXI in collaboration with Sophi Lilles, Ayse Bengiserp, Rithika Vedapuri, and Jia Yi Lin The Super-MAXI is derived from the menstrural hygine product: the maxi pad. Through superMAXI, we want to raise awareness on why and how plastic is used in menstural hygiene products. All feminine hygiene products are necessary for daily life. We recognize that plastic is a valuable material because it is effecient and sanitary. This project was implemented to begin a dialogue on the long-term implications of single-use plastic. Through module based studies, we were able to test various connection methods of welding, stapling, zippers, tape and sewing to acheive the most efficient module before going to a 1:1 scale. The concept behind the aggregation emphasized a PILE. The pile represents an accumulation of menstrual products in one’s trash. The nature of the pile is such that allows for interaction and movement for occupants. The spaces it creates are “cramped” or free-flowing; giving the occupants various types of engagement.
Site
Critic
Level
Governor’s Island, New York
Duks Koschitz Robert Brackett III
Design 403
13
15
ZIPPER CONNECTION FOR AIR
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2.
3.
SEWN SEAMS
1.
3.
5.
6.
7.
9.
4.
WELDED SEAMS
2.
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VELCRO CONNECTION FOR STRUCTURE
17
Transhistorical Surrealism in collaboration with Cameron Clark
As the site of the integration of baseball in the U.S., Ebbets Field is a significant African American space that was erased and replaced by a structure that introduces carceral logic for the public housing of African American people. The existing site of the field is now a behemoth apartment tower that casts a long shadow over the adjacent Ebbets Field Middle School and the Medgar Evers College library. As Crown Heights continues to prosper, the underlying qualities it offered to people of color who moved here for a better life from the Global South is continuously destroyed by wealthier people who are gentrifying the area. This project imagines an alternative reality where the Ebbets Field Apartments never existed by appropriating the space that was taken away from the Black community, and reclaiming history that has been buried.
Site
Critic
Level
Fomerly Ebbets Field Stadium
Scott Ruff Jeffrey Hogrefe
Design 402
19
The framework of the housing that supplanted Ebbets Field is reimagined in a way that restores the memory of a Crown Heights where Black life was celebrated by the introduction of a Black baseball player and black audience in a previously white institution. Through state sanctioned reparations, the project reimagines the possibilities for residents who are rehoused in a structure that supports their interests and abilities by highlighting the role of agriculture in the history of Brooklyn and the population of the African diaspora. Through growing, making, selling, cooking, and cultivating, the center brings the community back together with agricultural practices that celebrate African history. 21
23
The Womb
in collaboration with Wina Wu + James Rotondo
Welcome to the womb, where we firmly believe that every new parent deserves a private place to pump in the office. In the womb, a mother has the flexibility to pump at their own pace in a soft surrounding where distractions are left at your desk. Here at the womb, our team has established a catalog of spaces that allows offices of any size to accommodate lactation needs. We are transforming the culture of pumping in the workplace, no more pumping in a storage closet; this is a revolution for new parents going back to work. Here at the womb, we are rethinking the modern workplace thorught the eyes of new parents seeking a sanctuary for pumping in the office.
Site
Critic
Level
At An Office Near You
Abby Coover Hume Ajmal Aqtash
Design 401
25
27
29
Entropic Playspace in collaboration with An-Yi Cheng Communities in Far Rockaway experienced the brutality firsthand from Hurricane Sandy; and the peninsula faced disaster in 2012. Confronted with the fragility of our structures and the growing power of the elements they face - creating a building that is not only naturally resilient, but also resilient through culture and time, is a response to the temporal nature of how our world works. After visiting the site, we identified the important characteristics of the neighborhood that are found in the pitched roofs of the semi- attached and bungalow houses, the aged subway bridge, and the nuances of urban transformation in the brick from housing towers.
Site
Critic
Level
Far Rockaway, New York
Ane Gonzalez Lara
Design 302
31
33
35
Creative Collective in collaboration with Sophi Lilles This is the home of the Creative Collective. The occupants are young artists, filmmakers, and freelance creatives who have the freedom to work in different scales, within their own unit and throughout the building. The unit is designed with the idea that the occupants cna expose their works. Within the Creative Collective, the occupants’ work environments are vastly different. Through multiple workrooms throughout the building, each one is able to achieve a specific need to allow the occupants to produce their best work. By giving the choice of workspace to the resident, we remove the constraints of the cluster community.
Site
Critic
Level
913 Kent Ave, Brooklyn, New York
Sal Tranchina
Design 301
37
39
41
The Abnormalities of Normal Inspiration from edward sissorhands, cat in the hat and the truman show, these films all surround the concept of a suburb in which things are not what they seem. The idea of a single street, within their composition, are able to encapsulate the density of an entire life within its small space. Elaborating on the concept of suburban dystpoia where the dynamics shift and become less attractive to most changes how the perception is viewed. The neighborhood looks seemingly perfect and inviting, when at night a different kind of normal is envisioned. When visitors come to town and create a more controlled chatoic scene is when the street comes alive. Alien life comes at night and disrupts the idea of what is and creates a new normal.
Site
Critic
Level
Midwest American Suburb
Adam Elstein
Advanced Architectural Imaging
43
By focusing on the idea of what should be and what is created a dynamic shift in the street as a single home in a family friendly neighborhood started to deteriorate and cause the neighborhood to think less of them. A home that looks seemingly well manicured and yet could overnight change into what should be vs what is. The one that is less attractive to most is the one that is most attractive to others. That once ugly home is seen as attractive and wanted by this outside force. Inside the home is a peaceful chaos that looks and more importantly feels normal to them. Creating the abnormalities of normal.
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47
Thank U Next, Generation This module started as a three dimensional cube that was then split in the center.The slit slowly increases in measurement on the axis. The depth increases as the slit increases in length. Each module comes together by its number and is mirrored horizontally and then vertically. The parametric wall was placed behind the reception desk and is produced from plywood. The lobby is designed for the working class that want a little light in their lives. Bright colors of pink and salmon on the walls accents the terrazzo flooring. The reception desk overlooks the mid-century modern furniture which compliments the large panneled windows that look out to the bustle of Manhattan. Frosted glass office walls allow just enough privacy while keeping the office open and airy to guests.
Site
Critic
Level
Financial District, New York
Sebastian Misurek
Representation III
49
51
53
portfolio
Beren Saraquse 2016 - 2022