PORTFOLIO
Matadero Madrid is a complex of buildings that in the past used to work as a livestock slaughterhouse and market, but was later converted into an arts center. It became a laboratory at the service of arts and creative processes. This workshop consisted of intervening the Matadero Plaza, which is a courtyard between the buildings that has no particular function. It has been used for art exhibitions, music concerts, festivals, markets, host pavilions, etc The main problem with the plaza is that has no shadow and its usually just used as a transition space in between the differentbuildings in the complex. The idea of the workshop was to create a set of stands that could address the plazas problems and unique characteristics, by using wood as the only material. Inspired in Japanese woodworking a lightweight and movable structure was designed to serve 4 purposes. To create shadow, to serve as resting area, to subdivide the plaza and to provide a diferent perspective of the complex and of the activities that may occur on it.
This This Workshop Workshop consisted consisted of of thinking thinking in in aa long long term term master master plan plan for for the the community community of of Jefferson Jefferson Park, Park, in in Northwest Northwest Chicago. Chicago. The The community community which which used used to to be be an an important important cultural cultural location location is is now now living living serious serious problems problems of of deterioration deterioration and and abandonment. abandonment. Regardless Regardless of of the the great great infrastructure infrastructure of of the the area area people people started started leaving. leaving. The The 10 10 year year long long master master plan plan was was divided divided into into 33 phases, phases, which which progressively progressively transforms transforms the the community, community, allowing allowing the the inhabitants inhabitants to to adapt. adapt. Our Our solution solution to to this this problem problem was was to to connect connect the the two two sides sides of of Jefferson Jefferson Park Park community, community, which which were were divided divided by by the the Kennedy Kennedy Expressway Expressway and and the the Metra Metra Railway, Railway, allowing allowing the the community community to to regain regain its its unity. unity. This This would would be be achieved achieved by by an an elevated elevated park park that that crosses crosses over over the the expressway expressway and and the the railway railway eventually eventually reaching reaching up up to to the the Chicago Chicago River. River. The The first first phase phase would would include include only only aa pedestrian pedestrian onlybridge onlybridge that that connects connects both both sides sides and and small small pedestrian pedestrian greenways greenways that that connect connect The The Jefferson Jefferson Park Park with with Robertson Robertson Square Square Park. Park. In In the the second second and and third third phase phase more more greenways greenways would would be be formed formed towards towards the the creek creek while while the the bridge bridge and and existing existing greenways greenways grow grow in in size. size. Also Also the the addition addition of of mixed mixed used used buildings buildings along along Milwaukee Milwaukee Ave, Ave, and and restauration restauration of of iconic iconic buildings buildings and and sites. sites.
Typical Street Section
Plan View
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La Gloria, is a rural community in the outskirts of Saltillo, Coahuila. It is an irregular settlement that lacks many of the basic infrastructure. For this project we worked together with San Roberto Institute to create a master plan that would help improve the life in the community. T h e Institute had recently built a community center and a chapel that gives service to La Gloria. After visiting La Gloria and interacting with the community we decided that the Masterplan was centered in three areas: recreation, cultural and security. Main interventions take place inside the existing community center, due to security reasons. We developed acultural space that could host different activities and adapt to the necessities of the population. We redesigned the plaza outside the chapel and proposed to make it more open and accessible, by removing the wall that used to surround it. To address the security issue we proposed to improve the vinfrastructure by paving sidewalks and installing lamp posts, starting around the community center.
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After developing the Master Plan we divided the projects individually. Each team member focused on the design of a project following the Master Plan’s lineouts. “The Cube” was designed to address the community’s necessities as a 6x6x6 meters open plan cube. It was designed with a simple PTR structure and local materials as an example of a different construction method that could be replicated by the inhabitants or even by other communities. The first floor is elevated from the ground to protect the project from water in the rainy seasons and dirt in the dry summer days. The open plan and hinged walls allows “The Cube” to adapt depending on the exterior conditions and the desired activities. The project is located within the existing community center’s due to administration and security facilities. It is proposed as a first intervention, as its construction would allow more contact with the community.
For this project we had to develop a mixed-use building with Distrito Tec, an organization in charge of redesigning and regenerating the Tec District and its surrounding communities, as the client. The project was designed following Distrito Tec’s Master Plan, designed by Sasaki Studio. The main focus of the Master Plan is to create a vibrant community around the campus through strategic improvements. It proposes improved streets and parks to support walking and biking within the district. The project is located in what today is a football stadium parking lot but will become a linear park. The building is located in a key position to the master because of the streets surrounding it, and it is the main connection between the institution and the adjacent communities. We developed architectural, executive, and MEP plans as well a structural and cost analysis. The project consists of a 12 story, u-shaped building that includes, housing, commerce, offices and a kindergarten. The main access point is oriented towards the corner and the courtyard is completely open to the linear park to allow the flow of pedestrians. Commerce and offices are located in the first four floors while housing is located from the fifth to the twelfth floor to allow more privacy.
For this project we had to develop a space for exhibitions and presentation for the student projects made in the University of Nebrija. The site for the project was right next to the university , which is located in the top of a hill in northeast Madrid. The project was designed using only concrete. The main concept of the exhibition area was not to only generate a space for student presentations, but to provide students with a place for reflection. This was achieved by opening a courtyard in the center of the exhibition area, bring a part of the adjacent Dehesa de la Villa Park inside the building, creating a private garden. The building consisted of a one floor volume with a yellow tinted concrete, allowing the exhibition center to camouflage with the yellowish grasslands around it, allowing the University’s building to remain as the protagonist in the landscape. The exhibition area featured to different exhibition areas, for different type of projects, two enclosed rooms illumination exhibitions , a room for group presentations and lectures and a reception space, that can be used to host different events.
Delta Tower is a residential tower for guest professors of the University of Nebrija . The residences are located in a former water tower that was used in a nuclear power plant , which was later used as a meteorological tower after the plant was closed. The project is realized using steel as the primary material, and by utilizing the existing concrete structure of the tower.. Residences are hung with steel cables from a truss system on the top of the tower which is anchored to the floor by another set of steel cables. The supporting beams of the dwellings are also anchored to the tower. The program occurs both inside and outside the existing concrete structure, creating spaces with different atmospheres both in the residences as in the amenities. The program include four dwellings of about 30m2 and one 60m2. Each dwelling has a small kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and a private studio in the second level. The amenities are designed to encourage investigation and collaboration Between professors and even students, including a library, a lecture room, and a flexible floor that can be used as a co-work space. The top floor is also used as a lookout from which you can see most of the city. The dwellings, oriented south towards the city, feature movable panels which allow professors to open them when they want to relax, or close them when they want to focus.
South Elevation
Sectivon
BEFORE
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Monterrey Center
For this project we developed a master plan for a key area of Monterrey City. This area is mainly important due to its centric location and that through time it has become the main health district in the city. The area has two of the main hospitals of the city, together with various other health clinics and health organizations, The area also has the particularity that is enclosed by two natural systems (Mountains) and divided by a third system (Santa Catarina River). The district is designed around the central area, named THE CORE, where the biggest interventions are set to happen. The district is designed following three main axis: connectivity, mobility, and integration with the natural systems. To fight the gentrification in the zone, a inclusive living system was implemented in the mixed use buildings inside the core,
Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Monterrey , Nuevo Leon
Conceptual process
1. The intervention zone with the natural systems that interact with it.
2. The two zones that make up the district.
3. The necessary connection to unite the district.
4. A natural connection that unites both the district and the natural systems.
5. Delimitation of THE CORE area in the center of the district.
6. Highlight of main health organizations in the district.
Land Use Proposal
Along with the land use proposal, we proposed a public transport route inside the district that connects with the existing public routes in the city. (Pink route)
Inclusive Housing Core Buildings
Commerce and Services
Master Planvv
In the core area an underground pass is proposed along with an underground parking to completely get rid of cars inside the core. A direct connection with the river is proposed inside the core.