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FRANCISCO CHOTO
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA Degree: Bachelor of Architecture Email: chotocruzf@gmail.com Phone: 831.818.4058
Table of Contents Projects [LA]YERS Location: Boyle Heights, California Project Type: Community and Mixed-Use Year: 2013 Duration: 6 months Pages: 4-11
The Circuit Location: Florence, Italy Project Type: Academic and Mixed-Use Year: 2012 Duration: 8 weeks Pages: 12-17
Transfigured Community Location: Somerville, MA Project Type: Medical Year: 2011 Duration: 10 weeks Pages: 18-23
Linearity Location: Florence, Italy Project Type: Civil Year: 2012 Duration: 5 days Pages: 24- 27
Augmented Reflection Location: Massignano, Italy Project Type: Civil Year: 2012 Duration: 3 days Pages: 28-31
Francisco Xavier Choto Cruz Degree: Bachelor of Architecture Education: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Email: chotocruzf@gmail.com Phone: 831.818.4058
Analog
Furniture Hand Drafting
Chaise Lounge
Year: 2009-2011 Project type: Drafting Location: Cal Poly Pages: 32- 33
Year: 2012 Project Type: Chair Location: Cal Poly Duration: 2 weeks Pages: 38- 39
Figure Drawing Year: 2011-2012 Project Type: Art Location: Florence, Italy Pages:34- 35
Rustic Table Year: 2012 Project Type: Table Location: Cal Poly Duration: 1 weeks Pages: 40-41
Living Table Year: 2012 Project Type: Table Location: Cal Poly Duration: 2 weeks Pages: 40- 41
Physical Models Year: 2009-2011 Project Type: Deliverables Location: Cal Poly Pages: 36- 37
[LA]YERS Location: Boyle Heights, California Project Type: Community and Mixed-Use Year: 2013 Duration: 6 months Advisor: Jonathan Reich
The intent is to design a mixed-use building to unite a community that is divided from the rest of the city and enclosed by surrounding industrial buildings, a river, and a freeway. As a result, the project will promote the use of more sustainable transportation as it’s placed between two metro stops, near a school, and in a residential area. I propose to look within the city to grow and densify within its existing body, and to unite an urban community of Los Angeles that is divided and in need of attention by bridging its differences with a mid-rise building that incorporates a healthy dense community. A community that allows residents to live and play at a close range from one another. A compact and mixed-use community would provide healthier social interactions, green spaces and reduce the use of automobiles. This is a place where one can take a brake alone or in the company of others from the hectic life of the city. The idea is to protect the original surrounding area while still making the area denser. I accomplished this idea by bridging over existing structures that hold value and can not be moved or replaced and leaving it unchanged while adding to its aesthetic appeal.
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Downtown Los Angeles
Since the freeway is a big issue and divides the site as seen on the drawing to the left, it was also a driving factor of my conceptual design. Seeing how the freeways weave with each other and the different lines and curves they create inspired my design process.
These are study models that show the relationship between the freeway and the city. They show the chaos of the freeway and how they make a barrier through the city. The two models off to each side show the scale the project could reach and possible ways of elevating off the ground.
Initial Form
Elevates to allow freeway and street to pass
Lowers to surrounding site
Elevated Plaza to unite both sides of the city
The image above is a concept image of the structural relationship to itself.
Void allows light to the underneath
Pushed together to keep unity within the project
Boyle Heights dates back to 1871 and is a very important and historic part of Los Angeles. This made it important to respect the historic surroundings like mariachi plaza, which host a variety of events from concerts to farmer markets. As a result I decided to create seating for the end closes to the plaza and a looking point to downtown Los Angeles on the other end.
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Level 5 Fitness Center
Level 4
Auditorium
Marketplace
Terrace
Program Distribution
Level 3
Administration
Outdoor Gathering space
Education
Retail
Art
Health
Gallery
Level 2
Library
0’
50’
100’
200’
400’
Level 1 Vertical Circulation Offices Lobby
0
25’
50’
100’
200’
Above is a night view from the elevated plaza bridge (terrace) towards downtown Los Angeles
Steel Box Truss
Steel Diagrid
Floor Slab
Spliced Truss
Braced Frame Diagrid
Interior Wall Panel
Tube Framing
Metal Paneling
Spider Glazing
Above is the view looking up to the bridge with the freeway running underneath
Acrylic site model at 150 scale
The Circuit Location: Florence, Italy Project Type: Academic and Mixed-Use Year: 2012 Duration: 8 weeks Advisor: Marco Brizzi Collaboration: Juan Chavez and Gabriel Santos
This project is located on the edge of the city limits of Florence, Italy. The idea behind this project is to provide a public space for the surrounding community that host a diverse program which includes a culinary and agriculture school, restaurants, food market, retail, farmland, and a housing shelter. The concept is to create a closed loop; from production to recycling, from farm to restaurant and back. Schooling is provided through the housing shelter which teach a trade reusable within the project. The concept of recycle, reuse and reduce is personified in a self-sustaining community in which the architecture maximizes the use and efficiency of food growth and culture in the perimeter of the city of Florence, a territory that “flows into the surrounding countryside and melts away, blending with farmland and creating interlude hybrid territories.� (Christiano Toraldo Di Francia)
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Concept Diagram
PRODUCE
5-3 Days
2-1 Days
Restaurant + Market
Second Selling Phase
Charity
Waste Compost
Recycle
Oil/Grease
Profit
Transportation
7-6 Days
Create Jobs Farming Seasonal/ Temporary jobs
Education -Organic farming -Community Farming
Produce
These diagrams show the process that could be taken to create a full cycle from production to consumption to recycling. The diagram on the left shows how the produce that enters the food market distribution center gets dispersed out through the city. Produce with a life span of between 7-3 days gets sold and the produce with a 2-1 day life span is food that goes to charity and can be used in this project to create a shelter, training, and jobs to families in need.
The ripples extending beyond the building’s footprint is made for education and used for the agriculture school. The produce grown in these fields go to the culinary school within the project and the food grown there goes to the restaurants. The waste created then goes to the compost center to create a full cycle, and the oil and grease from the restaurants can also be used to power engines.
Program Diagram Program Diagram 55,048sqm
Food Store/ Tasting Area
5.63%
55,048sqm
55,048sqm
12.9%
Three Restaurants Bookstore Culinary School Auditorium Bathrooms
Food Store/ Tasting Area
96.37%
Three Restaurants Bookstore Culinary School Auditorium Bathrooms
87.1%
Temporary Housing Retail Agriculture School Compost Farm Land
Temporary Housing Retail Agriculture School Compost Farm Land Original Program
Expanded Program
Program Arrangement
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Level 4
Level 3
Level 2
Level 1
Program Distribution
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Agriculture School
Retail
Administration
Temporary Housing
Food Market
Auditorium
Circulation
Services
Compost Center
Culinary School
Restaurants
Green Space
Lounge
Kitchens
Above is a view from within the courtyard of the project and shows the different types of activities that can occur.
The model above is made out of chipboard along with a site context mode. The view above shows the entrance that passes underneath the auditorium and the layering of the topography that builds up as it reaches near the building.
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Transfigured Community Location: Somerville, MA Project Type: Medical Year: 2011 Duration: 10 weeks Advisor: Curtis Illingworth Collaboration: Grace Choy
As the site is situated in a location that links the residential, commercial, and industrial areas of Somerville, designing an urban setting that fosters a sense of community among the many different people of the city is of major importance. In addition, providing outdoor spaces and buildings within the urban context that are versatile enough to withstand the test of time and the everchanging functions is crucial for the area to be sustainable. The site promotes the use of more sustainable transportation, such as the bus, train, and bicycling.
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As Somerville is known for its art scene, it is beneficial to integrate the existing art school and studio with art walls that weave the entire site together. To facilitate the changing functions of the buildings over the years, program elements are strategically positioned and grouped so that the functions within the buildings are still related regardless of time and the phase of the urban design project. Overall, creating an urban environment that embodies unity, adaptability, and human connections, which are major characteristics that guided the final design.
KITCHEN DINING
POOL MECH.
STORAGE
STORE BARBER
AUDITORIUM
ATRIUM / RECEPTION / LOBBY / WAITING / LOUNGE
INFIRMARY CAFE / LIBRARY
BREAK ROOM GAME ROOM / ARTS & CRAFTS
OFFICE OFFICE STORAGE
0 100’ 200’
400’
FIRST FLOOR PHASE 1 (ASSISTED LIVING) 0
32’
KITCHEN
MECH.
STORAGE
LO N E
LO
LO N E
RETAIL SPACE RETAIL SPACE RETAIL SPACE FOR RENT FOR RENT FOR RENT
LO
LOU
TO
TO
DINING
S OR E
AUDITORIUM L NDR
EC
L NDR
TOR
S OR E
L DR
EC
H TOR
L DR
LU R
H TOR
H
LOU
ATRIUM / RECEPTION / LOBBY / WAITING / LOUNGE
O EN O ELO
O TO LO
O EN O ELO
O TO LO
TOR LU R
TOR
ADMIN
SO
SO
S OR E
TOR
S OR E
FOURTH FLOOR
CAFE / BOOKSTORE / LOUNGE RETAIL SPACE RETAIL SPACE RETAIL SPACE FOR RENT FOR RENT FOR RENT
0 D N
32’
D N
STORAGE
FIRST FLOOR PHASE 2 (BUSINESS HOTEL)
SECOND FLOOR SECOND FLOOR
0
0
32’
32’
0
32’
THIRD FLOOR
THIRD FLOOR
FOURTH FLOOR
0
0
0
32’
32’
32’
H
SUMMER SOLSTICE OPERABLE WINDOW UNITS PIVOTING BRACKET
WINTER SOLSTICE WEATHER BARRIER PANELS
BRICK CLADDING
SITE CIRCULATION vehicular
train
pedestrian
bicycle
CROSS VENTILATION
bus stop
CONCRETE FLOOR SLAB
I-BEAM SOLAR PANEL LOUVERS
Below is a newsboard site model with acrylic and LED lighting to highlight the proposed project
PHASE ONE PROGRAM medical clinic
assisted living
retail
residential
train station
clinical office
gym
offices
parking
existing buildings
PHASE TWO PROGRAM medical clinic
assisted living
retail
parking
medical school
business hotel
offices
train station
clinical office
gym
residential
existing buildings
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SUMMER SOLSTICE WINTER SOLSTICE
GREEN ROOF
CROSS VENTILATION
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LEVEL 4
LEVEL 4
LEVEL 3
LEVEL 3
LEVEL 2
LEVEL 2
LEVEL 1
LEVEL 1
For the first phase, the assisted living building is located in the middle of the site because it is in close proximity to both the major public town square and the more intimate parks and green spaces. A united assisted living 60,000 SF building, creates more opportunities for social interaction among the residents. For the second phase, the building is transformed into a business hotel where professionals coming into town can stay and interact with their colleagues or other professionals. As the functions between the two phases are not too different, the only changes that need to be made are public functions on the first floor and minor interior remodeling and outfitting.
horizontal circulation
public space
private/service space
vertical circulation
atrium
individual residential units
hallway
stairs/elevators
Linearity Location: Florence, Italy Project Type: Civil Year: 2012 Duration: 5 days Advisor: Marco Brizzi Collaboration: Juan Chavez and Gabriel Santos
As the site is located next to the airport and links to the historic city of Florence, it creates a gateway to the city. The project provides a variety of program to cater to a diverse group of users. It is built underneath an existing over pass, which are spaces usually left untouched, but in this case used to maximize green space on the site and to create a park. It’s designed to create a greater sense of community among the many different types or groups of people that live, work, and travel around the area. The site’s openness and accessibility promotes the use of more sustainable transportation, such as the bus, train, and bicycling. So depending on how much time people have while waiting for their plane, bus, taxi, or train to arrive this project provides a variety of activities to do from showering to eating or even renting a room for the night.
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Program Gallery Vertical circulation Horizontal circulation Advertisement space Retail Restaurant
Underneath overpass
With overpass and new train station
Bus stop Offices Train station Train platform Restrooms Sitting area
Augmented Reflection Location: Massignano, Italy Project Type: Civil Year: 2012 Duration: 3 days Advisor: Christiano Toraldo Collaboration: Jacy Jung, Paolo Chiacchiera
This pavilion was created to reflect the context of the small town of Massignano, which is located on a hill top and looks over farm land and the Mediterranean Sea. The city is interestingly formed with voids, volume extrusions, and angled walls. The pavilion is made to be open spatially and also works great as an observation tower. My team and I represented these observations of the city as an augmented reflection.
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BUIIDING SITE BUIIDING SITE
HISTORIC WALL
HISTORIC WALL
SITE INSPIRATION SITE INSPIRATION
BUIIDING SITE
UNDERGROUND CIRCULATION THROUGH GROTTOES
UNDERGROUND CIRCULATION THROUGH GROTTOES
HISTORIC WALL SITE INSPIRATION UNDERGROUND CIRCULATION THROUGH GROTTOES
Site Context
Town Map
vertical circulation
restaurant
service public space grotto entrance
program
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roof terrace
fourth floor
partitions
skin
composite
structure
slabs
circulation
third floor
second floor
first floor
ground floor
Hand Drafting Year: 2009-2011 Project type: Drafting Location: Cal Poly Duration: Ongoing
These are just some of the hand drafted images I have done on a variety of media, such as ink on mylar and graphite on vellum. The images directly to the right are drawings I drafted using technical pens and ink with brushes on mylar sheets. The drafted images on the next page are of a precedent study I did using graphite on vellum, which included a siteplan, floorplan, elevations, sections, and details.
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Figure Drawing Year: 2011-2012 Project Type: Art Location: Florence, Italy Duration: Ongoing
These are some of the figure drawings I had the opportunity to draw while studying abroad in Florence, Italy. I was able to draw from a wide rage of models and objects. For example the image to the right is of a statue I ran across in a cemetery behind a church, and I was inspired to draw it because it was completely different from all the other statues around. This statue seemed to have a baby angel coming up behind it while a large deformed arm came out of the bottom. I was able to use a variety of drawing techniques and media like ink on watercolor paper, watercolor, eraser on charcoal covered ingres paper, and color chalk on fine grain paper.
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Physical Models Year: 2009-2011 Project Type: Deliverables Location: Cal Poly Duration: Ongoing
These are some of the models I have made using a diverse range of material and methods. Some of the materials I have used are masonite, newsboard, plaster, bass wood, LED lights, and acrylic using such processes as laser cutting, hand cutting, and mold making. I have always enjoyed making models from study models to final detailed models. It’s also very important for me to make models because it always helps me understand the project’s proportions and its relationship to its surrounding context.
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Chaise Lounge Year: 2012 Project Type: Chair Location: Cal Poly Duration: 2 weeks
This lounge chair is designed to be sculptural and versatile, and creates spaces to allow for play. Its form is derived from the study of the human body, and there are two models to this design. The contoured model is able to recline to a variety of positions, and the white model is made out of fiberglass and was molded off the newsboard model.
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Rustic Table Year: 2012 Project Type: Table Location: Cal Poly Duration: 1 weeks
The table to the right was made out of recycled and found square tube pieces of metal with a frosted acrylic top. The salvaged square tube pieces were cut and ground into straight pieces to make this table. After welding and grinding the connection points, the metal was left untreated with its previously chipped paint and oxidation.
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Living Table Year: 2012 Project Type: Table Location: Cal Poly Duration: 2 weeks
The interplay between natural and man-made is exhibited in this cantilevered coffee table. The table, a piece of reclaimed wood, pierces the base, made of twisted steel. While the table top is left in its natural condition, the steel is transformed, and together, they create a harmonious piece.
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thank you
Francisco Xavier Choto Cruz Degree: Bachelor of Architecture Education: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo Email: chotocruzf@gmail.com Phone: 831.818.4058