South Atlanta Reading Places, Interior Architecture Thesis
SOCIAL HOUSING IN BARCELONETA
International Housing Studio, 2023 Fall Washington University in St. Louis
Instructor: Derek Hoeferlin, Emiliano López Matas
Site: La Barceloneta, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Individual Work
Housing makes up most of our built environment, the facades playing an essential role in forming a city’s character. Openings in these facades reveal and support political, social, and cultural manifestations, such as balconies that allow citizens to protest collectively or talk to each other in times of isolation.
The studio focuses on exploring the complex arrangement of individual and collective programs through the development of supports for the everyday; frameworks that can host intimate domesticity yet be open ended enough to absorb change and future uses. In addition, focuses on individual development of a collective housing proposal (of approximately 25-30 dwelling units) that is attentive to the particularities of the climate, culture, history, and social and physical contexts of the featured city.
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DWELLING TO COMMUAL
Physical Model
Before the actual design starts, our studio worked on an introductory exercise with two different critics/cities to become exposed to different design approaches, methodologies and climates. French Quaters is the oldest neighborhood in New Orleans and the city’s cliché postcard image. French Quaters’ architecture has one central concept that is the units always has a strong direct connection to the community space and indirect connection to the street.
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DWELLING TO CITY
Physical Model
Barcelona’s architecture uses lots of layers to create all different effects such as having different layers on the opening can be a way to control how sound, air and light gets inside and having different layers of room removes the corridor that encourage people to interact more with each other.
In addition, by using cross ventilation and “gallery“, it becomes possible to cool and heat different rooms without using HVAC.
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Axonmetic Diagram
The design consists of two primary components: one supporting the public plaza and the other housing the residential units. The ground floor serves as a community plaza, constructed with a concrete framework to support the cross-laminated timber (CLT) structure above. A central courtyard enhances the spatial quality of the project, promoting cross-ventilation throughout the housing units while creating a seamless connection between public and private spaces.
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Physical Site Model
Each studio develops a distinct project framework tailored to the chosen site, accommodating between 6 to 14 projects, each consisting of approximately 25 housing units. This approach fosters the creation of a “neighborhood” negotiated among students and their respective designs.
In my project, I was selected as the central building due to my unique shape and rotational geometry. Embracing this central position, I focused on designing a public plaza to host citywide and community events, encouraging interaction between my structure and the surrounding projects.
Rooftop Garden
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1st, 3th Floor Plan / 2nd, 4th Floor Plan
The design emphasizes adaptable layouts, with spaces defined by potential activities rather than fixed room labels. Co-living apartments serve diverse groups, offering shared spaces alongside private rooms with kitchenettes and bathrooms. Passive energy strategies, such as optimal orientation and cross ventilation, ensure thermal comfort with minimal energy use. The plan fosters inclusivity through a mix of dwelling types, accommodating various socioeconomic groups, household structures, and age ranges. 7
Physical Model Looking out from Unit C
3, 4, 5 Unit Plan - A, B, C
A - Two bedrooms unit
B - One bedroom unit
C - Three bedrooms unit 6 Physical Facade Model West/East Facade
SPORT CENTER IN BARCELONA
Barcelona Study Abroad Studio, 2024 Spring Washington University in St. Louis
Instructor: Tomeu Ramis
Site: Glòries, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Individual Work
Work elected for student work publication - Approach
The Barcelona Studio Project focuses on urban accident-ism, serving as an architectural research laboratory to explore and materialize emerging ecosystem trends within specific habitat environments. The design emphasizes connectivity and interaction among existing site elements, including geometry, topography, and railway tracks. It integrates climate-responsive strategies, such as passive cooling and leveraging the greenhouse effect, to create sustainable and adaptive architectural solutions.
Physical Site Model
Foam made site model with white wood layers of designed project.
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Design Concept
The project explores the potential of the site to address urban connectivity and spatial interaction, emphasizing how people move through and arrive at the site while offering dynamic visual connections to the city. By bridging two separate sites, the design creates a cohesive framework that fosters integration and flow.
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Climate Diagram
In response to climate challenges, the design harnesses natural ventilation through strategic use of wind, incorporating controlled windows to optimize airflow and minimize interior travel distances, ensuring a sustainable and comfortable environment.
Program/Circulation Diagram
Using peole movement to develop the program.
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Sections
The sports center design embodies urban accidentism by harmonizing its architectural forms with the existing environment. The first form, housing the sports courts, runs parallel to Meridiana, establishing a direct connection with the Barcelona’s main street. The second form, containing gym and exercise spaces, is oriented perpendicular to the street, functioning as a skybridge that links the courts to the swimming facilities. The third form, dedicated to swimming, aligns with the railway tracks, creating a visual dialogue between users and the surrounding exterior elements. In addition, providing interior walking through continuous corridors.
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Exoploded Axonmetric Diagram
The axon diagram illustrates the dynamic connection between the design and its existing environment. The Meridiana entrance links directly to the tram stop, serving as the starting point of circulation, while the swimming center connects to the residential area, offering a public plaza. Interior activities engage with urban elements such as the local train tracks and Barcelona’s main street, fostering visual connections and interaction between the architecture.
Physical Section Model
1/4’’ scale section model includes sport courts, bleachers, main entrance
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Section Perspective
In response to climate challenges, the designed project uses natural ventilation by aligning with prevailing wind patterns to improve airflow through the building. Operable windows are integrated to regulate ventilation and control airflow based on seasonal and daily changes, minimizing interior travel distances for fresh air and ensuring effective cross-ventilation while reducing reliance on mechanical systems. Double-height spaces are incorporated to enhance air movement and circulation, creating a more efficient natural cooling system. Additionally, a shading system is introduced to control sunlight exposure, reducing heat gain and improving comfort while maintaining adequate daylighting.
Physical Section Model
MUSEUM OF RICHARD DIEBENKORN IN BERKELEY
International Housing Studio, 2023 Fall Washington University in St. Louis
Instructor: Derek Hoeferlin, Emiliano López Matas
Site: La Barceloneta, Barcelona, Catalonia
Individual Work
The studio explores the experience of architectural space in zenithal light—of inhabited rooms on the ground illuminated by natural light coming from the sky above. The Richard Diebenkorn Museum, proposed to be sited in Berkeley, California, directly to the north of the University of California campus, will house the works of a single artist, Richard Diebenkorn (1922-1993), one of the most important Abstract Expressionist painters.
Through the interplay of zenithal light and shadow, the experimental exhibition space invites both —the act of drawing near enough to touch and the act of withdrawing far enough to contemplate, crafting a contemplative journey that seamlessly intertwines with the museum’s entry hall.
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Photos from Physical 1.5’ x 1.5’ Study Model
5 Interior Rendering
The exhibition space harmonizes filtered zenithal light with the contrasting textures of raw board-formed concrete and smooth white drywall, creating a balanced and contemplative environment that accentuates the artwork.
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Detailed Section Perspective
The exterior corridors visually engages the city, while partially underground storage minimizes the footprint, using angled insulated windows for rain protection and a ventilated ceiling gap to manage California’s humid air.
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Entrance Level Plan, Basement Level Plan - Storage, Site Model
The storage is positioned at the lowest point of the site’s topography to enable direct access for large trucks, streamlining the process of loading and unloading materials. This configuration integrates logistical functionality with the building’s design. Meanwhile, the main entrance is situated at the intersection of two major streets, providing a clear and accessible entry point for visitors while ensuring a strong connection to the surrounding urban environment..
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Second Level plan - Offices/Admins, First Level Plan - Exhibitions, Site Model
The exhibition spaces on the first level are arranged into three long parallel bars, with each bar stepping down by 2 feet to align with the natural slope of the site. This terracing creates an exterior corridor that maintains a visual relationship with the street, guiding circulation through the space. The pathway leads visitors toward a garden, which is situated at the terminus of the exhibition sequence and is visually integrated into the experience, offering a spatial connection to the exterior throughout the journey.
PERFORMING ARTS CENTER IN BEIJING
Personal Research, 2022 Summer
Instructor: Yiqi Song
Site: The Central Academy of Drama, Beijing, China Individual Work
The site sits in the heart of Peking, Dong Cheng District, surrounded by many historical Chinese Courtyards (SiHeYuan). On one side of the site, it is the Arrow Alleys (Hutong) area. On the other side, it is The Central Academy of Drama of China. The proposed performing art center provides a soft transfer space from the city to the school. In addition, providing exterior space for people to gather and rentable programs for local community to use. The brick building informs the traditional teaching methods and inspires innovative teaching techniques.
By carefully considering the texture, form, and tectonic of brick, the facade not only reflects or connects the traditional Chinese brick culture but also proposes a new form that determines the potential possibility of using brick. The front elevation and roof maintain the same language in the Hutong region, and connects the urban and school area.
Circulation Diagram
Elevation Diagram
The concept is using different transparency of the facade to tell different stories for each floor, making the west facade become the storyteller to the urban area. From bottom to top, the transparency increases, making people passing by easily understand. Meanwhile, using architectural elements such as Vertical language, Grey brick, and a Gable roof from surrounding Chinese HuTong, creates connections to the site.
The new performing arts center serves both The Central Academy of Drama and the local community. The major space for the project is the performance auditorium which provides more than 200 seatings with related support spaces. The secondary space of the project is the activity space and the office space. The activity space provides classrooms, communal working and social areas. The office program provides open offices and meeting rooms. To further serve the public, the exterior occupiable space on the ground floor provides spots for the local people to play and gather. The building provides a soft transition between the community and school.
1st Floor
2nd
3rd
Vertical Movement
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Second Level Plan
Third Level Plan
The first floor provides retail and rentable spaces; the second floor provides the entrance into the auditorium and the student activity space; the third floor provides the office area. The ceiling of the atrium would reveal the designed brick form, and the skylight brings natural light into the building. As the floor goes up, the functions of the different programs become more private.
3 Exterior Facade Rendering
4 Interior Atrium Rendering
Inside the building, the triple-height atrium space also provides an area for the general public to use and enjoy. Meanwhile, the atrium serves as the major circulation space. The monument stair is the beginning of the circulation which lets people have the chance to have a glance at the interior, and people circle the atrium space to go up.
Section Perspective
CHATTANOOGA CULTURAL CENTER FOR AQUATICS AND DANCE
5th Year Architecture Studio,Pre-Thesis Design, 2022 Fall Auburn University
Instructor: Charles Garcia
Site: 211 E M L King Blvd, Chattanooga, TN Individual Work
The new cultural center located in the heart of Chattanooga, connecting three different areas: the Central Business District, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus, and the City Hall Area, Makes the cultural center become the aggregation point. Through analyzing the city, the mountains and the river as the two Chattanooga icons are symbolized in the project for aquatics and dance.
This project incorporates the studio thesis topics. The topic is Grey space, an architectural concept proposed by Kisho Kurokawa. Grey space is an intermediary space between indoor and outdoor, which illustrates the ambiguity and multi valency of architecture and allows the compromise and co-existence of the two spaces.
Concept Diagram
Using existing environment to develop the massing and urban relations.
Grey Space Diagram
Analysising precedent to develop methods of desgining Grey Space.
3 Axonmetric Circulation Diagram
1st floor features a public plaza, ramped stairs, and an exterior pool, along with a café and food market beneath the dance space. It also serves as the entry for the aquatics program, which sinks underground for views from the ground level. 2nd and 3rd floor include grey spaces like rooftop gardens and courtyards, offering a blend of indoor and outdoor experiences. 4th and 5th floor house dance programs, including large and small studios, support spaces, and a courtyard.
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Renderings
The facade in the dance area is designed with a dynamic curvature, partially upwarped to allow more natural light to penetrate the interior, while also being partially downwarped to enhance the connection between indoor and outdoor. This form evokes the flowing nature of the Tennessee River, a celebrated landmark of Chattanooga. By elevating the dance program—symbolizing the river above—the design creates a striking contrast with the aquatics program located beneath it.
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE PROJECTS
South Atlanta Reading Place, Interior Architecture Thesis Project 2021 Fall, 2022 Summer
Instructor: Kevin Moore, Matt Hall, Jennifer Pindyck
Auburn University
Individual Works
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South Atlanta Reading Place
Street View Collage
The site is a ruin which only lefts with the exterior brick facade.
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South Atlanta Reading Place
Section Perspective
The project takes advantage of the existing frame and turns it into an adaptive reuse project of reading place. The reading place is about work, play, and gather. Work represents the different reading environments, play represents the playfulness moments - child play and exterior reading space in the building and gather represents the courtyard space for people to enjoy and relax.
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Interior Architecture Thesis Project
Interior Renderings: Housing, Lobby, Airbnb
Project using existing building in Montgomery, Alabama as the site. Redesigning only the interior. Design based on sustainability. Sustainability does not only care about the environment but also about the relationship between people. All housing units receive good quality light from the south and the shared space receives the northern light. Designing the building as social housing project provide shelter to the community to support the community growth. In addition, designing alternated solution: designing one system allows the housing switches to Airbnb to enhance the sustainability of the community economy.
OTHER WORKS
Architectural Internship at Totem Arquitectos Asociados
2024 June - 2024 August
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Totem Arquitectos Asociados Office
Plan Perspective, Section Perspective
Collaborated on visualizing plan and section perspectives of the office, incorporating diagrams to illustrate climate strategies and air movement
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Castellana 106-108 Competition
Solar Analysis, Facade Study, Facade Designs
Collaborated on the schematic design for an office competition by developing 3D models, 2D drawings of the existing building, schematic concepts, and structural layouts; conducted solar research to implement façade strategies and created visualized diagrams, emphasizing passive design, climate responsiveness
OTHER WORKS
Digital Ceramics
2023 Fall
Instructor: Kelley Van Dyck Murphy
Washington University in St. Louis
Individual Works
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Ceramics Printing, Drying, Bisque Fire
In recent digital discourse, we have seen the ability for endless variation and customization through the use of parametric design software. This work intends to underscore a thoughtful consideration of the relationship between technology and adaptability. Through material behavior and calibrated irregularities, we have the capacity to make each form unique.
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Semester End Exhibition
Through understanding the characterics of clay and 3d printing. I researched and discovered a rigorous workflow focusing on the relationship between the designer, the tool (3d printer), and the material (clay) and establish a feedback loop that reconsiders architecture’s emphasis on anthropocentric notions of precision and control. In this case, I am finding the possiblity for architects to rethink about scale and dimensions by building a 1:1 full-scale chunk of an architectural element measuring 30”x30”.
OTHER WORKS
Lighting Design: Rapid Prototype and CNC Fabrication
2024 Fall
Instructor: Matthew Branham
Washington University in St. Louis
Individual Works
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Cardboard Table Lamp
Designed and constructed a cardboard desk lamp that combines artistic aesthetics with functional illumination. Incorporate provided lighting supplies (bulb, socket, cord) into the design and explore the potential of cardboard as a creative medium for lighting objects.
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Cardboard Floor Lamp
Used the wall as a canvas and cardboard as contours, created a light installation that informs or defines a space in one dark room space. Mounted the lights to the back creating a recessed glow.
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3D Printed Lamp
“This project revolves around creating an exquisite 3D printed lamp that stands less than one build plate dimension in any direction. The lamp’s core material is white PLA. The primary objectives are to combine functional lighting with artistry, embrace 3D printing technology, and provide a compact, user-friendly object.”* *Assignment Description
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Wood Floor Lamp, 7’ x 3.2’ x 4.8’
“The Digital Lighting Design course has been an exploration of the intersection between technology and design, challenging you to imagine the possibilities of light in the digital age. As a culmination of your journey, the final project invites you to craft a unique, illuminated object inspired by your course explorations.”* *Assignment Description
