Geselle Stephany Alfaro This architecture design portfolio documents my process and work throughout architecture school. Join me on this journey of exploring the idea of home and place-making.
Contact 515 710 0125 gesellealfaro@yahoo.com
01
02
South Bend, IN
Cabana, Peru
Stadium Lofts
Ayagachi
03
04
Des Moines, IA
Des Moines, IA
Locust St. Ministry
The Blossom
05
06
Benton Harbor, MI
Saugatuck, MI
Skybox Studios
07
Watercolor Sketches
Lakeside Sauna
08
Pottery
Contents.
01 Stadium Lofts South Bend, IN
A linear path points to an ultimate destination. The South Bend site will direct its residents and community members to a path of improvement. The urban sprawl will be addressed through public space and mixed-use solutions. This way, it will not continue to spread through downtown South Bend. The site has the potential to become lively, as it is across from the Cubs Stadium and a working transportation system.
2 A6
WEST MONROE STREET
-
MAIN STREET
SOUTH LAFAYETTE STREET
---
WEST SOUTH STREET
SITE PLAN 1" = 60'-0"
K.1
12
11
J.1
I.1
10
9 H.1
8 G.1
7 F.2
6
E.2 5
F.1 F
4E E.1
D.13
D 2
1C
B
A
Housing 103' -
Housi 94' - 1
Housi 83' -
Housi 71' -
Housi 59' -
Housi 47' -
Housi 35' -
REI Floo /W 2 19' - 1
Floor_F
Ball -2
2
NORTH ELEVATION 1" = 20'-0"
A
B
1
C
1.1
2
3
D 3.1D.1 4.0
4
4.1 4.2 E.1 E 5
5.1 E.2
6
F.1 F7
7.1 F.28
G
G.19
10 H.1 10.1 H
11 I I.1
12 J 12.1 J.1
K K.1
Housing 103' -
Housi 94' - 1
Housi 83' -
Housi 71' Flo 6 Housi 59' Flo 5 Housi 47' Flo 4 Housi 35' Flo 3
Flo 2
REI / W 19' - 1
Floor_F
Bal -2
3
SOUTH ELEVATION 1" = 20'-0"
East and West Elevations
4
Detail 1 1" = 1'-0"
STEEL SIGN
TIMBER AND STEEL SUNSHADE
6" DIAM. DRAIN TILE W/ FILTER FABRIC COVER
4" 4,000PSI AIR ENTRAINED CONC W/ 6X6 1.2X1.2 WWF
5,00PSI CONCRETE PILE CAP UNEXCAVATED EARTH (2000PSI BEARING CAPACITY)
BRICK PAVER
Section 4 1/2" = 1'-0"
24"X6" CONC CURB CONTINUOUS
1
T.O.F. F0_P0 -4' - 0"
6" CONCRETE SLAB W/6X6 1.2X1.2 WWF
2" FILL SAND
1/2" EXPANSION JOINT
4" GRADED GRAVEL BACKFILL 2" EXTRUDED POLYSTYRENE INSUL. (XPS) 12" LINEAR FOUNDATION WALL W/ #5 HORIZ. AND VERT. REINF. STEEL
COMPACTED SOIL BACKFILL
#5 60K HORIZONTAL REINFORCING STEEL @1'-0" O.C.
2 A5
4 A5
WALL SECTION
5 A5
R.E.I. SPORTS STORE
R.E.I. SPORTS STORE
Housing F4 47' - 1 5/8" T.O.B. F4 46' - 7"
Floor_P4 T.O.B. P4 45'- -10" 0" 44'
Temp.Floor_F3 Level 1 Floor_P3 T.O.B. P3 35' - 2 1/8" 35'- -10" 0" T.O.B. F3 34' 34' - 7 1/2"
Floor_P2 REI / WF P2 F2 T.O.B. 20' 5/8" - 0" 19' -19' 10 T.O.B.- 10" F2 19' - 4"
Floor_F1_P1 0' - 0"
T.O.F. F0_P0 -4' - 0"
5
2
Detail 2 1" = 1'-0"
A
Section 4 - Callout 1 1" = 1'-0"
A
B
---
T.O.B. F4 46' - 7"
Housing F4 47' - 1 5/8"
Floor_P4 T.O.B. 45' -P4 0" 44' - 10"
Temp.Floor_F3 Level 1 Floor_P3 35' - 2 1/8" T.O.B. 35' -P3 0" 34' - 10" T.O.B. F3 34' - 7 1/2"
Floor_F1_P1 0' - 0"
24 STANDING SEAM STEEL ROOFING 3" EXTRUDED POLYSTYRENE INSUL. (XPS) ON 2" METAL DECK
6'-8" X 3' GLASS DOOR
METAL THRESHOLD 3" LW CONC. ON 2" METAL DECK
1/2" GYPSUM BOARD-TAPED AND PAINTED
6 MIL POLY CONT. MOISTURE BARRIER
FIBERGLASS BATT INSULATION 6" COLD FORMED LT. GAGE STEEL STUD
5/8" DENS-GLAS SHEATHING
AIR FILTRATION BARRIER 2" RIGID INSULATION BOARD 2" AIR SPACE 3" FACE BRICK PATTERN 5/8" STUCCO
STONE PARAPET CAP 2X BLOCKING
3" EIFS EXT INSUL
METAL FLASHING
STONE TRIM 15# ROOF FELT
WOOD CANT STRIP 3/4" OAK FLOORING
C9X15 STEEL
30WF X 90 STEEL BEAM
CURTAIN WALL 2 1/2" WOOD PANEL
A
B
Housing Roof 103' - 0 1/2"
Housing F8 94' - 11 5/8" T.O.B. F8 94' - 5"
Housing F7 83' - 0 1/8" T.O.B. F7 82' - 5 1/2"
Housing F6 71' - 0 5/8" T.O.B. F6 70' - 6"
Floor_P6 T.O.B. P6 65'- -10" 0" 64'
Housing F5 59' - 1 1/8" T.O.B. F5 58' - 6 1/2"
Floor_P5 T.O.B. P5 55'- -10" 0" 54'
WHOLE FOODS
R.E.I SPORTS
FITNESS CENTER
18LB20
POOL
PARKING
COMMERCIAL RETAIL
COMMERCIAL RETAIL
Commercial Level Plan
Residential Level Plan THIRD FLOOR PLAN 1" = 30'-0"
MAIN FLOOR PLAN 1" = 30'-0"
WHOLE FOODS RESIDENTIAL
R.E.I SPORTS
FITNESS CENTER
Left page: Process model and outdoor space diagram Right page: View of parking lot from public bus station (southeast)
REI store and residential interior perspectives
02 Ayagachi
Cabana, Peru The Ayagachi experimental agriculture center will be a model for green building technologies and solutions in the Puno region of Peru. Agricultural innovations will set the standard in order to fight malnutrition in the region. The center will be organized as working farm with tight knit buildings, in order to protect against the cold highland climate.The student run center will provide the financial means for every child to experience an Adventist education. Visiting the site for two weeks helped me connect personally with the locals and to understand the culture.
Work done in collaboration with Andrews University urban design studio
Preliminary concept sketches pre-charrette work.
Zero Waste Facility
The campus will be a model for waste disposal, a severe problem in the region. Combustible waste will provide heating and electricity for the site.
Energy Diagram
Irrigation Diagram
Circulation Diagram
Land Use Diagram
Pedestrian Center
The hamlet will have a pedestrian oriented center. The plazas and paved walkways will allow visitors to explore the site freely.
Andean Zoo
The zoo will include local animals such as llamas, guanacos, vicachas and Andean foxes.
Nazca Irrigation System
Tapping into underground water reserves will allow for a system to irrigate crops.
Site detail of Hamlet
Above: Sections showing typical guest accommodations Below: Existing adobe construction on-site
STORM WATER SYSTEM
SITTING SPACES
This collection pond will collect water accumulated during storms. Water can also be pumped from the aquifer to keep the pond full for drinking water.
Benches are integrated into stone walls. They will provide areas of rest and reflection.
DRAINAGE CANALS
ANIMAL INTERACTIONS
Sloped drainage canals will prevent flooding in the rainy season, by directing water to the irrigation system.
Zoo animals will be released into the courtyards. This will not be a typical zoo experience for visitors.
03 Locust St. Ministry Des Moines, IA
This Adventist ministry center serves as a gateway for the people of Des Moines. Members of the public who visit this center will participate in a program that targets body, mind and spirit for personal growth.
Wall detail and partial elevation
Existing site photograph
john appa rk P n h a Jo ture P Sculp
15th t Stree
am
Dre ican Amer es in Mach
et t Stre
s Locu
Site
Building first floor
Top and bottom: Transverse and longitudinal sections
The Locust Street Cafe Interior
Sanctuary Interior
04 The Blossom Des Moines, IA
Located in the historic Court Avenue district, this live-work unit supports a thriving community. The elegant, classic nature of the building draws from the surrounding building fabric.
Wall detail and partial elevation
Storefront transverse and longitudinal sections
05 Skybox Studios Benton Harbor, MI
The arts district of the twin cities, Saint Joseph and Ben will thrive in this complex of modern, modular studios. Artists will be able to express themselves in an environment that serves as a blank canvas for the city of Benton Harbor. The positive/ negative space of the cities will be a topic of conversation in itself.
Corner detail and structural models of the studios. The enclosure around the timber frame structures was SIP panels with a stucco finish.
North elevation
West elevation
Main level floor plan
Transverse
South elevation
Site elevation
Transverse section cut
Second level floor plan
06 Lakeside Sauna Saugatuck, MI
This finely crafted Finnish Sauna takes on a shape of transition and nostalgia. Its exposed timber frame structure is pulled apart from the rest of its wood clad skin. The simple house shape is a simplification of the Dutch gable roof of the corresponding main house.
The structural models show the way the sauna is integrated into the sloped terrain. Plexi-glass illustrates the glass railings and roof structure.
East elevation
West Elevation
Floor plan
Transverse Section
07
Watercolor Sketches Included are perspective studies and sections from my European study abroad. I use watercolor as a technique to express the emotion of spaces and places.
08 Pottery This pottery was the result of a study exploring plant forms in combination with simple geometries. Modeling a piece of clay into a dimensional property helped me get a good sense of space and depth.
Geselle Alfaro 515 710 0125 gesellealfaro@yahoo.com