KARINA MENDOZA
B.Arch / MSc. IUDD
2015-2024
KARINA MENDOZA | BAUHAUS-UNIVERSITÄT WEIMAR | karina.alejandra.mendoza.llontop@uni-weimar.de |
KARINA MENDOZA
Final-semester MSc student in the Integrated Urban Development and Design program at Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. Peruvian architect with 5 years of professional experience in architectural design.
Schopenhauerstrasse 5, 99423 Weimar, Germany +49 176 84157958 / +51 992824017
karina.alejandra.mendoza.llontop@uni-weimar.de
www.linkedin.com/in/karinamendoza-arquitecta
LANGUAGES
Spanish
English
German Native speaker
Professional proficiency
C1 - 8.0 IELTS band score
Intermediate proficiency
B2 - Berlitz Institute
SOFTWARE
Architectural Design AutoCAD, Rhino, Grasshopper, SketchUp, Revit Architecture, Vray
Geospatial data analysys ArcGis, QGis, GeoDA
Graphic Design Photoshop, Ilustrator, Indesign
Microsoft office Word, Excel, Power Point, MS Project
B.Arch / MSc. IUDD
EDUCATION
Bauhaus - Universität Weimar | MSc. Integrated Urban Development and Design
Oct. 2022 - Sep. 2024 - Weimar, Germany
Universidad de Lima | B.Aarch Architecture
Apr. 2012 - Jul. 2017 - Lima, Peru
Universidad de Alicante | Study Exchange Program
Sep 2016 - Feb. 2017 - Alicante, Spain
WORK EXPERIENCE
INFAR, Bauhaus Universität Weimar | Research Assistant
Sep. 2023 - Sep 2024 - Weimar, Germany
Develop a workshop for the Building Resilient Infrastructure Conference in Addis Ababa based on the analysis of masterplans for emerging cities in Ethiopia. Develop scientific paper for the 14th International Space Syntax Symposium in Cyprus based on the mobility-based analysis in Bishoftu, Ethiopia.
Metropolis Oficina de Arquitectura | Architect - Project Leader
Jan. 2020 - Jul. 2022 - Lima, Peru
Responsible for leading the design and project development phases of a 26-story multifamily building of 19000 m2 for affordable housing.
Responsible for leading the design phases of an 8-story cultural institute building of 6700m2 in Arequipa.
Responsible for leading the design and presentation of two mix-used buildings for private architecture competitions , obtaining the first place in both.
Responsible for developing layouts for retail and affordable housing residential for urban development and renewal projects.
Arve Arquitectura Paisajista | Collaborating Architect
Jun. 2019 - Dec. 2020 - Lima, Peru
Responsible for the design, construction documents and construction supervision of 6 landscape architecture projects (green roofs and walls).
Metropolis Oficina de Arquitectura | Junior Architect
Sep. 2017- May. 2019 - Lima, Peru
Collaborating in the design and project development phases of residential, retail and office refurbishment projects.
IDIC, Universidad de Lima | Research Intern
Sep. 2017- May. 2019 - Lima, Peru
Assistant at Scientific Research Institute for the publication “The Canon Idea in Peruvian Modern Architecture” through literature review and graphic production.
CONTENTS
ACADEMIC DESIGN PROJECTS
04-08
RURAL-URBAN TRANSFORMATION
Studio Project | 2023 | Bauhaus - Universität Weimar
Instructor: Sven Schneider / sven.schneider@uni-weimar.de
Group work / Authors: Karina Mendoza, Farzaneh Semati, Rana Saadallah
09-18
EDUCATIONAL PARK
Thesis project | 2018-2020 | University of Lima
Instructor: Pablo Inti Díaz Mora / pdiaz@ulima.edu.pe
Group work / Authors: Karina Mendoza, Lucía Hurtado
19-23
URBAN AXIS REGENERATION
Urbanism Seminar | 2016 | University of Lima
Instructor: Marina Vella / mvella@ulima.edu.pe
Group work / Authors: Karina Mendoza, Lucía Hurtado, Alessandra Rodriguez, Daniela Barrera
24-29
COLLECTIVE HOUSING
Architectural Design VIII | 2015 | University of Lima
Instructor: Monica Baez Barriga/ mbaez@ulima.edu.pe
Individual Work: Karina Mendoza
RESEARCH
30-33
MOBILITY-BASED URBAN ANALYSIS
Scientific paper | 2024 | INFAR, Bauhaus - Universität Weimar
Supervisor: Sven Schneider / sven.schneider@uni-weimar.de
Authors: Sven Schneider, Martin Bielik, Karina Mendoza, Rana Saadalla
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
34-37
ROMA 498
Affordable Housing | 2020-2022 | Metropolis Oficina de Arquitectura
Chief Architect: Jose Orrego / jorrego@metropolisperu.com
Supervisor: Milagros Lopez / mlopez@metropolisperu.com
Lead Architect: Karina Mendoza
38-40
INSTITUTE FOR DESIGN
Eduactional facility| 2020-2022 | Metropolis Oficina de Arquitectura
Chief Architect: Jose Orrego / jorrego@metropolisperu.com
Supervisor: Milagros Lopez / mlopez@metropolisperu.com
Lead Architect: Karina Mendoza, Brenda Nuñez
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YEAR: 2023 LOCATION: BISHOFTU, ETHIOPIA SIZE: 139
URBAN - RURAL TRANSFORMATION
PARAMETRIC URBAN GROWTH MODEL FOR A PRODUCTIVE CITY
In Ethiopia, the rapid population growth is increasing urbanization, particularly in small towns surrounding Addis Ababa, such as Bishoftu. This has resulted in a transformation of land use in these areas, shifting from primarily agricultural to semi-industrial. Despite the increasing industrial development, there is a lack of focus on local economies, which could be a better option for Bishoftu, given that its agricultural land is one of the most fertile in Ethiopia. Bishoftu is known for its crops and its natural landscapes that attract tourism. These conditions offer Bishoftu the potential to develop local economies.
Therefore, the project proposes an extension area in North Bishoftu, which is at the semi-rural edges of the city. Two main design goals were prioritized: enhancing local economies and optimizing land consumption. To accommodate both urban and economic growth while preserving agricultural land, we are exploring the transition from a rural area to a productive city. We aim to achieve this through a simulated growth process with a productive hub as a center, using an incremental strategy. Three scenarios are evaluated based on the location of the productive hub.
Authors: Karina Mendoza,Farzaneh Semati, Rana Saadallah
Team project | Responsibilities: Urban Analysis, design concept, parametric planning strategy, evalution criteria.
Existing town
Extension area
Image by Farzaneh Semati and Karina Mendoza
MAIN GOALS
ENHANCEMENT OF LOCAL ECONOMIES
Bishoftu is characterized by the variety of commercial activity in different scales. From coffee shops, restaurants to the coffee offered on the streets or the shoe cleaners. Nevertheless in Bishoftu North there is reduced commercial activity that could be nourished by the community itself or tourism.
DESIGN CONCEPT
OPTIMIZATION OF LAND CONSUMPTION
Having Bishoftu one of the most fertile lands in Ethiopia, it is key for its economy to protect it. In the context of rapid population growth and the increasing industrial developments around this area, it is important to optmize land consumption by making it productive.
The productive hub is the center of the new development and it works as the main connection with the rest of city and agricultural areas. It is developed in 3 phases (as the growth model) and consists of an area of market, area of manufacturing / workshops, education and public space. The idea is to produce not only an economic and urban center, but also a point for social encounter that enchances the community. Depending on its location, the sorrounding city changes.
PRODUCTIVE CITY
The main concept consists of an extension urban development in which the land being used is productive. For this, the main strategy is to develop an incremental city growth that has its center on a new productive hub in North Bishoftu that could activate the urban areas sorrounding it and together with the inclusion of mix-uses, incremental densification, layering of activities and urban agriculture could enhance local econmies, while optimizing land consumption.
GROWTH MODEL
+ Agricultural economy
+ 3000 inhabitants
+ Low density
+ Majority Agricultural plots + Productive hub phase 01
+ Agricultural / Manufacturing economy
+ 6000 inhabitants
+ Low / Medium density
+ Majority mixed - used plots
+ Productive hub phase 02
+ Diverse economy
+ 10 000 inhabitants
+ Medium density
+ Majority mixed - used plots
+Productive hub phase 03
Graphic by Farzaneh Semati and Karina Mendoza
BOUNDARIES
MAIN AND SECONDARY ROADS STREET NETWORK PARCELLATION AND DENSITY
Productive hub
High density
Medium density
Low density
Urban farming
Undeveloped agricultural land
Assignment of of density for inner urban growth
EXISTING ROADS AND PARKK
Productive hub
Commercial + Residential
Mix used residential
Religious
Cultural
Education
Assignment of land uses for activities layering
Productive hub
Urban Agriculture plots
Agricultural land
Plots for mix used activities
Parcellation for inner urban growth
Graphics by Karina Mendoza
Graphics by Karina Mendoza
Graphics by Karina Mendoza and Farzaneh
Graphics by Karina Mendoza
YEAR: 2018-2020 LOCATION: SJL, LIMA, PERU SIZE: 7 Ha
EDUCATIONAL PARK
URBAN VOID RECOVERY
Authors: Karina Mendoza, Lucía Hurtado
Team project | Resposibilities: research, urban analysis, concept idea, plans and graphics.
San Juan de Lurigancho is a developing area in Lima and it is the district with the largest population with approx. 1 milllion inhabitants. It is also a place of cultural encounter as a result of migration from the highlands. Its rugged topography, with hills inside and surrounding the city, is a preferred area for informal settlements and land traffic. This unplanned sprawl has resulted in the lack of green areas and public spaces. In addition, it has become one of the most dangerous districts with high crime rates.
In this context, the Educational Park is a 7 ha urban project developed to recover and protect from illegal occupations on the neglected south side of the hill in a neighborhood called “Proyectos Especiales”. The goal is to transform this urban void into an operative and learning landscape: a space that fosters education, culture, and leisure opportunities. The project consists of the park masterplan and 3 buildings for education open to the community.
Image by Karina Mendoza and Lucia HUratdo
“Proyectos Especiales” is a neighborhood built around a hill. It consists of two groups of settlements with a conflictive history: the first group established around the lower southern area (1980) and some years later (2000´s) the northern hillside was occupied by informal settlements. The land zoning policy defines this hill with a recreational use. Nevertheless, in 2012 and 2016 there were two failed invasion attempts (by families in the northern area) of the empty side. Neighbors from the lower southern area, as prevention, have created urban gardens in the terraces left by the invaders. Despite this efforts the hill is still an urban void that increases the perception of insecurity and the risk of land traffic in an area with lack of recreational and cultural facilities.
Unfinished lookout point
Sports courts
Urban garden terraces
Existing green areas
Gathering points
Garbage
Main local roads
Secondary local roads
Stairs to access the northern hillside
CONNECT 1) ACTIVATE 2) IDENTITY 3)
The hillside is a barrier due to the lack of connecting roads, fragmenting the neighborhood. Therefore, the first intention is to design roads and the project becomes an urban integrator.
The urban void creates conflict and insecurity perception. Therefore the intention is to integrate new spaces thats foster activities for the community´s needs.
The terraces and gardening activities integrates the community and connects it to their landscape. Therefore, the third intention is to use and enhance this element to create a place with identity
Settlements in the lower southern area
Informal occupation in the northern hillside
Schools
Sports courts are the most active spaces
Neighbors take care of the terraces..
Empty spaces are used as a dump.
Flatten hilltop for a future lookout point
+58.00
+2.00
Photography source: Google Earth / Graphics by Karina Mendoza
Photography and graphics by Karina Mendoza and Lucía Hurtado
Graphics by Karina Mendoza
CONCEPT - MASTERPLAN
The project aims to integrate the main goals (connecting, activating and creating identity) through a park plan that proposes a learning landscape. This idea becomes especially relevant in a context in which 83% of schools have poor infrastructure and the youth is involved in criminal activities. The concept is taken from the book “Space and Learning” and the project explores the idea of a learning city that works as a macro-school. To achieve this it is necessary to understand that learning is a life-long process, meaning that we can learn anywhere and at any time, so the city becomes a learning agent. Given this, we asked the next question:
HOW DO WE LEARN IN THE PUBLIC SPACE?
Social Interaction Interaction with the built and natural environment
Native species with low water consume
ACTIVE SPACES SYSTEM
Existing sports courts New sports court (1)
Educational Buildings (2) Fair Plaza (3)
Lookout point and theather (4)
MAIN STRATEGY: LAYERING through
Main active spaces
Intermediate spaces
Existing access
Road for vehicles Main Pedestrian path
Pedestrian path Stairs
Based on the three main goals and the study of learning in public space the project consists of the integration of three systems: roads, active spaces and green systems. The main strategy is to work with layers, identifying the existing elements and adding new ones to transform this void into a catalyst to revitalize the community.
Graphics by Karina Mendoza
Sketches by Karina Mendoza
Urban gardens with native vegetations
Intermediate space for calisthenics
(1) Main access and sports court 01
(2) Sports court
Plan by Karina Mendoza and Lucia Hurtado
(3) Children´s educational building
(4) Young adults and adult´s educational building
(5) Senior´s educational building
(6) Fair plaza
(7) Lookout point and theater
(8) BBQ area
(09) Terraces area
(10) New terraces
Graphics by Lucia Hurtado
SPORTS PLAZA
The educational buildings offer learning spaces for the whole community and they complement schools in the surroundings with learning facilities such as classes, workshops, patios, libraries and art rooms. The project is divided into three buildings by ages (children/ young adults and adults/ seniors). Nevertheless, the three of them respond to the same concept: integrate interior and exterior environments to produce varied learning experiences, with the goal of exploring the educational complex as a a micro-city and to blend it with the landscape. This is achieved through flexible and adaptable spaces, rather than the rigid traditional mold.
STRATEGIES
1) Adapt architecture to the landscape through platforms and the topography lines
2) Sequence of open and close spaces to define internal patios between platforms and create different environments.
Connect the buildings by transforming the roofs into plazas and blur the limits with the landscape
Graphics by Karina Mendoza
Graphics by Karina Mendoza
Graphics by Karina Mendoza
Graphics by Karina Mendoza
CHILDREN´S BUILDING
The children´s educational building consists of 4 platforms with different learning environments, such as flexible classrooms, patios, a library and an interactive platform. Each level has its own entry and reception for control, therefore they can also work independently.
Indoor spaces for presentations and interactions
Outdoor spaces for play and to explore.
Outdoor spaces for classes and contact with nature
Reception Hall
Graphic by Karina Mendoza
Graphic by Karina Mendoza
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
The ground floor plan consists of the main entrance and flexible learning environments around the central patio. The main space is the interactive platform which is a double height area that kids can use freely. On the other side, the classrooms are flexible spaces.
ENTRY PLAZA
Plan by Karina Mendoza and Lucía Hurtado
Image by Karina Mendoza and Lucía Hurtado
Image by Karina Mendoza and Lucía Hurtado
SECTION
This section illustrates the sequence of the different spaces with an in-between patio. This distribution allows better natural lightning and crossed ventilation for all the classrooms and other areas . The roof from each level becomes a terrace that is connected to the other two educational buildings.
SOLID CONCRETE SLAB
LIGHTENED SLAB
Secction by Karina Mendoza
MULTILEVEL PLATFORM FOR PUBLIC SPACE
The facade merges with the landscape. This is achieved by blurring the limits between the architecture and the landscape through horizontal lines, extended terraces and vegetation. There are two types of facades as a result of a bioclimatic analysis. The main materials are gray and red concrete, adapting to bricks and concrete used by self-constructed buildings in the urban context.
Graphic by Karina Mendoza
Image by Karina Mendoza and Lucia Hurtado
Image by Karina Mendoza and Lucia Hurtado
Sliding
Lightened
Planter
Ground floor grey concrete facade with wooden slabs
Third floor red concrete facade
YEAR: 2017 LOCATION: HISTORIC CENTER LIMA, PERU SIZE: 3km
URBAN AXIS REGENERATION
STRATEGIC CONNECTION OF DISTIRCTS
Cercado de Lima and El Rimac are both historical districts of Lima located in the center of the city and separated by the Rimac River. They are both part of the historical center of the city. Nevertheless, the neglected and contaminated river acts as a barrier between them, causing fragmentation. Although the river is one of the core projects to develop in the urban agenda, the assignment for this exercise was to explore other strategies for their integration
As a result of site visits and data analysis, we identified a potential 3 km-axis transversal to the river consisting of 3 streets. The project develops a masterplan for the regeneration of these streets as a united commercial-recreational axis.
Authors: Karina Mendoza, Lucía Hurtado, Alessandra Rodriguez, Daniela Barrera
Team project | Resposibilities: research, urban analysis, concept idea, plans and graphics.
The selected axis is composed of three streets. Jr. Andahuaylas (Cercado de Lima) is a street with high commercial activity in the ground floor of the housing buildings and it also has some of the most visited markets in the area, such as the municipal market. Along Jr.Hualgayoc and Jr. Atahualpa (El Rimac) there are several historical reacreational areas, with low activity due to being sorrounded by mainly residential use and former industrial infrastructure that is no longer operating. These streets hold a high pedestrian-traffic flow and a moderate motorized vehicles-traffic flow, which give it the potential to become a pedestrian axis with restricted cars entrance.
Plan by Karina Mendoza
Municipal Market Alameda de los Descalzos
MAIN STRATEGY : CONNECTING AXIS
Jr. Atahualpa
Jr. Hualgayoc
COMMERCIAL AXIS
RECREATIONAL AXIS
Jr. Andahuaylas
Andahuaylas
EL RIMAC
CERCADO DE LIMA
PlAZA DE ACHO (historic bullring)
PASEO (Walk)DE LAS AGUAS
ALAMEDA (Walk) DE LOS DESCALZOS
ALAMEDA (Walk) DE LOS BOBOS
Puente Balta
CERCADO DE LIMA
EL RIMAC
MUNICIPAL MARKET
Photo source: Carolyn Alafaro Photo source: limalaunica.pe
Existing pedestrian streets: they are few and unconnected.
Existing public spaces and green areas: the axis lacks of them in the Cercado de Lima sector.
No existing bikeways: motorized transportation is prioritized.
New pedestrian streets: They are strategic connecting public spaces.
INTERVENTION STRATEGIES
New green corridors: transversal to the axis, connect public spaces and green areas.
New bikeways: connenting public spaces and both districts as an alternative sustainable transportation.
PROPOSAL
Existing historical/ cultural points
Existing markets
Existing commercial + residential use
Educational facilities
New infrastructure for informal markets
Existing closed green areas to open
New plazas
Uninhabitable buildings to demolish/ New housing with commercial use in the ground floor
Factory infrastructure to recycle for the new Rimac cultural center
New commercial uses in ground floor of existing housing
Facade restorations and improvements
Artistic intervention on blind wall
Core projects to develop
CONNECTING BRIDGE
Puente Balta is a historical bridge and one of strategic points of the axis because it is the pedestrian connection between El Rimac and Cercado de Lima.
Its improvement is critical for the project, given that it has a high pedestrian traffic flow, however it is an insecure place with high crime rates.
Plan by Karina Mendoza
EL RIMAC CULTURAL CENTER
PUENTE BALTA
RECEIVING PLAZA
BOOKS MARKET
Photo source: Archdaily
MARKETPLACE BOULEVARD
01) Direct arrival to receiving plaza by lowering the motorized traffic under bridge.
02) Improvement of spatial conditions of the bridge
03) Retreiving book market to create a receiving plaza
CONNECTING BRIDGE STRATEGIES
There are three main strategies to enhance the connection between the two districts through the bridge. Two strategies are related to the receiving ends of the bridge, by creating direct arrival to plazas. The third strategy is related to the spatial conditions of the bridge to increase security (pavement, lighting, street furniture, shadow, food carts, bikeway, etc).
Graphics by Karina Mendoza
NEW GREEN AREAS ALONG THE RIVER
Photos of existing conditions
Authors: Karina Mendoza
COLLECTIVE HOUSING
OPEN WATERFRONT
Ancon is a coastal district in the north of Lima known for its beautiful bay. Historically, it was one of the first urbanized districts of the city and it attracted people from different economic backgrounds. This can be seen to this day in its contrasting urban form with modern high rise residential buildings close to the sea and developing areas with single family dwellings closer to the hills. Despite this, the area is known for a pacific coexistence between these groups, sharing the main public spaces: the waterfont and the beach. Nevertheless, some private condominiums and clubs that were established along the coast, have restricted and limited the access to the beach in some areas. This intervention starts with a site plan for a collective housing complex that would replace a private club. Based on this plan, the project develops one specific housing building that aims to create access and views to the seascape, instead of creating a barrier for the rest of the citizens.
Image by Karina Mendoza
SITE ANALYSIS
The intervention is located in an 7 ha-private club. The current construction sorrounded by a blind wall blocks 800m of access to beach. In addition, the area has a green space deficit with only 3.66 m2 per inhabitant (SINIA, 2018)
MAIN STRATEGIES
1) Permeability of the waterfront for urban access
2) Pedestrian street inbetween blocks uniting the complex.
3) Buildings along the waterfront consider visuals to the sea and a distribution of blocks that create green areas
4) Commercial uses in the ground floor to activate the waterfornt and support local economies.
SITE PLAN
The new site proposal replaces this area with a collective housing complex that creates several access to the beach. In addition, several green areas are included and a pedestrian street is created in between the buildings to connect them. The blocks consider internal patios with open access that creates public space for the citizens.
Photography source: Google Earth / Sketches by Karina Mendoza
Photography source: Google Earth / Sketches by Karina Mendoza
Photography source: Google Earth / Plan by Karina Mendoza
Green areas and plazas outside and inside the blocks
Pedestrian and bike lane inbetween the blocks
Commercial uses in the ground floor
Graphic by Karina Mendoza
The project is based on the idea of a building that works as an element of urban integration and interactions. On the one hand it aims to enhance the relationship between the urban area and the beach by creating access and visuals. On the other hand it aims to stimulate social interactions at different scales by generating public space in the ground floor and different social areas throughout the building.
Central Patio 1)
Access from the city 2)
Visuals to the see 3)
Graphics by Karina Mendoza
Graphics by Karina Mendoza
Voids for social areas 4)
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
There are four main types of apartments that respond to the different family types in Ancon. The grouping of bathrooms and the modular structure allows the distribution to be flexible and adaptable
Plan by Karina Mendoza
Plan by Karina Mendoza
The facades consists of two parts: the base and a body to break the idea of a single heavy block. The elevated ground floor and vegetation provide privacy for the apartments in the fisrt level.
The exterior facade consists of a concrete base and the superior levels include sliding bamboo lattices to control sunlight and privacy, given that these apartments have balconies .
Balcony detail
Secction by Karina Mendoza
MOBILITY-BASED URBAN ANALYSIS
MOVEMENT FLOWS AND RETAIL DENSITY IN EMERGING CITIES
In rapidly urbanizing emerging cities, developing urban plans that ensure social, economic, and environmental sustainability is crucial. In the context of emerging cities, where city growth follows a more organic pattern, urban planners and designers must understand their unique spatial dynamics to sensibly guide its growth.
This paper developed for the 14th International Space Syntax Symposium, focuses on understanding the relationship between movement flows and retail density distribution in Bishoftu, Ethiopia. The relevance of this study lies in the understanding that retail is not only an important source of income for the inhabitants but also a catalyst for urban vitality and safety.
Through the digital tools for mobility-based urban analysis, this research aims to understand the specific spatial patterns of retail in Bishoftu, which includes both formal and informal economic activities.
Team project | Resposibilities: literature review, urban analysis and graphs, text writing.
The SSS14 proceedings can be found at: ; Complete PDF: http://www.tabedizioni.com/space_syntax_symposium_14/space_syntax_symposium_14.pdf;
Book page: https://www.tabedizioni.it/shop/product/space-syntax-symposium-14-1734?order=ordering+desc&open_access=1
Authors: Sven Schneider, Martin Bielik, Karina Mendoza, Rana Gamil
THE CONTEXT: BISHOFTU
Bishoftu is a city located in the Oromia region in Ethiopia. This city has a strategic location between two major Ethiopian cities (Addis Ababa and Adama) and it has a strong touristic potential, due to its landscapes and natural resources, like volcanic lakes and vast farmlands. This has resulted in Bishoftu´s growing population and a city that is being rapidly urbanized, despite its agricultural nature. As an emerging city, Bishoftu has experimented an organic development with spatial patterns that are a result of social and economic internal dynamics more than established external plans.
Due to the rapid urbanization process that this city is experimenting, plans for its expansion are being developed. This underscores the need to understand the already existing spatial patterns (such as retail distribution) to develope regulations and plans that adapt to local dynamics.
RETAIL IN BISHOFTU
MOVEMENT FLOWS AND RETAIL DISTRIBUTION
Retail plays a vital role in a city since it serves not only as an important source on income, but also as a catalyst for social interaction. In the context of Bishoftu, retail plays a crucial role in the active social lilfe in the streets. Therefore, for urban planners, understanding the spatial patterns of retail in Bishoftu within its urban grid is essential. Various factors affect the distribution of retail within an urban environment. The configuration of the street network is a fundamental one due to its relation to movement flows. Retail emerges where people move and movement of people is highly affected by the configuration of the urban grid.
In this research we examined the correlation between distribution of retail in Bishoftu and movement flows calculated through a centrality analysis.
Volcanic lakes
Images by Mauriz Porsche and Alp Akan Akatan
Seasonal lakes
Railway Main road Expressway Market
Retail mapping
The data collection process of the retail density distribution in Bishoftu required first to select a representative sample of street segments to analyze, given the resources and time limitatios for this study. The data was collected on site by filming the selected streets with a 360° camera and then manually mapping the identified retail establishments. Retail in Bishoftu is characterized by a mix of formal and informal establishments. Both of them are a crucial part of the economy and social life in the streets. Thus in in this research we collected data for stationary stores, as well as for street vendors. After data was collected and retail was manually counted, a heatmap for detail density was produced by counting the existent retail per street segment and then normalizing it per 100 m.
Maps by Karina Mendoza and Rana Gamil
Stationary establishments Street vendors
Retail density distribution heatmap
MOVEMENT FLOWS AND RETAIL DENSITY DISTRIBUTION
Betweenness centrality analysis
R correlation coefficients for betweenness centrality per Radius and Weight
Predicted retail density distribution
Betweenness centrality for r = 2000 by building-footprint weighted
Existing retail density distribution
In this research we employed the Space Syntax method to describe movement patterns in Bishoftu. Different radii were used to capture different types of movement flows, ranging from r = 500 to r = N). The smallest radii describe pedestrian movement, given that by individuals on foot typically cover shorter distances. While bigger radii were utilized to characterize heavier motorized movent. Different weighting methods were also employed to add detail to the model. Subsequently, the results of each variation was then statistically compared with the existing retail density distribution. The highest correlation was obtained at the the radius 2000 m, which could imply that the distribution of retail establishments is related to the tendency of the people in Bishoftu covering longer distances by foot or to the use of light motorized vehicles (such as bajaj) that allows them to cover larger areas.
ROMA 498
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Team project | Responsibilities: Project leader and coordinator
The rapid population growth of cities in Peru, particularly in Lima, have significantly increased the need for affordable housing and densification of the city. Roma 498 is a housing project developed under regulations of “Housing of Social Interest” with the peculiarity of being located in the most exclusive district in Lima. The project consists of 26 floors with a variety housing units going from 40 m2 to 190 m2 , a commercial groundfloor and a set of social areas distributed along the building. The construction of this project ended in 2022.
Image by Claudia Paz, edited by Karina Mendoza and David Cadez
Authors: Metropolis Oficina de Arquitectura - Jose Orrego Herrera
Accordingly to the “Housing of Social Interest” regulations, this building was design to offer 50% of the housing units for an official affordable price, which represented a challenge due to its location in the most exclusive district in Lima. This was achieved by creating a range of different housing units design that culminated in almost no identical floor plan.
ROMA 498
4TH FLOOR
26TH FLOOR
Plans by Karina Mendoza
Images by VyV Inmobiliaria
Authors: Metropolis Oficina de Arquitectura - Jose Orrego Herrera
INSTITUTE FOR DESIGN
EDUCATIONAL FACILITY
Team project | Responsibilities: Project leader and coordinator
With this project, the Peruvian-North American Institute for Design and Communication in Arequipa aimed to expand its infrastructure by introducing a new building to the city. The proposal not only addresses the institute's growing spatial needs but also integrates innovative architectural solutions that reflect its commitment to sustainable design. The building's design emphasizes bioclimatic principles, optimizing natural ventilation, lighting, and thermal comfort to enhance the quality of interior spaces. Additionally, the façade incorporates dynamic elements, creating a sense of movement and visual interest.
Image by Jose Antonio edited by Karina Mendoza
The project consists of 8 levels that include different types of classrooms, workshops and laboratories, administrative areas in the 1st floor and second floor, a library in the sixth floor, and a cafeteria in the 7th floor. The spaces are arranged around a central patio that allows for cross ventilation in all rooms. Parking is covered in 2 underground levels plus the future expasion area in the back of the building.
7TH FLOOR - LIBRARY
8TH FLOOR - CAFETERIA
3RD FLOOR - CLASSROOMS GROUND FLOOR
Plans by Karina Mendoza and Brenda Nuñez
BIOCLIMATIC
The general arrangement of closed spaces around a central patio with a top lucarne allows for natural ventilation and extraction of hot air, while the injection of air is done through buffers in the facade, which also compose its esthetic pattern and movement.
Plans by Karina Mendoza and Brenda Nuñez