LEONEL
SANCHEZ
UNDERGRADUATE
PORTFOLIO
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UNIVERSITY
OF
TEXAS
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p. 04
WILDFLOWER
p. 08
WILDFLOWER
p. 14 p. 20
VISUAL
WEST
MALL
ARBORETUM
p. 24
WOOD
p. 32
GREEN
NAUTICAL
p. 48
URBAN
p. 58 p. 62 2
BAUTISTA
DE
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GRASSHOPPER
COMPETITION
LEARNING
CENTER
COMMUNICATIONS:
WOOD
JOINT
CENTER
HOUSING
CONSTRUCTION
JUAN
REVIT
DESIGN
VISUAL
p. 40
CENTER
INSTALLATION
COMMUNICATIONS:
FOUNTAIN
p. 38
ARBORETUM
WALL
ANZA
ASSEMBLY
HISTORIC
TRAIL
STUDY
SHELTER
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HOSTEL
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year
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Design I Design III visual communications visual communications III Architecture and society world architecture: ugs:usa and mexico industrial rev. to present
construction I geographical systems physics energy modeling and design
design v environmental controls construction III microeconomics
Design II wood design visual communications ii four masters of modernism world architecture: u.s. history origins to 1750 calculus i + ii sociology
design IV construction II design process site design statistics
design VI environmental controls II construction IV
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WILDFLOWER C
ARBORETUM E N T E R 5
+ This project is an extension of an ongoing study and analysis of graptopetalum paraguayenes succulents. The resilient nature of this plant as well as its geometric composition became a strong motif for the design concept. This learning center sited at the Lady Bird Johnson Center on the outskirts of Austin, Texas employs sustainable performance methods and aims to become a part of the landscape. with extended views on both ends of the arboretum, the form
1. entrance deck 2. information desk 3. family restroom 4. exhibit 5. lecture space 6. storage 7. kitchen
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aims to draw visitors into an intimate space and then be exposed to the surrounding environment. The pavilion acts as a naturally cross-ventilating structure with minimal enclosure to promote free flowing movement of air and people. The roof and the landscape act as a single water collecting system for self-reliant methods of performance.
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WILDFLOWER I
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ARBORETUM L
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+ The lbj wildflower center required several shading instillations that would reflect the analytical and geometric characteristics of native plants. through a series of analytical drawings and studies of the graptopetalum paraguayense, a modular shape was produced to be repeated in parametric form to create the following pavilion to provide visitors with both shading and a higher sense of curiosity for the wildflowers and their environment.
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WATERCOLOR
PATTERNS
[DERIVED
FROM
SUCCULENT
GEOMETRIES]
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VISUAL R
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COMMUNICATIONS G
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REVIT
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PARAMETERS
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REVIT
REPRESENTATION
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WEST
MALL C
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FOUNTAIN M
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the sole purpose of a university is to educate its students. our infrastructures may profess this same ideal. this water fountain is emblematic of seven major rivers in texas: rio grande, colorado, brazos, red river, guadalupe, nueces, and san antonio river. the rivers are not only significant to texas, but to austin’s infrastructure and surrounding site for the fountain. the streets around the University of texas are named after the most critical rivers in texas. The seven rivers are represented by the seven slabs of limestone, creating an enclosure around the central texas-shaped water feature. the water is channeled out from the central curved slabs of grey stone, through the slits between the seating slabs and ground floor, and around the outer canal at the edge of the fountain. the vines planted on the planting areas will eventually grow up the steel posts and over time, intertwine through the beams creating a higher sense of enclosure. on the interior surface of each of the seven slabs, an information panel will display ecological and geological infromation respective to the river which is represented by the slab.
rio grande nueces colorado brazos red river
guadalupe guadalupe
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STUDY
ROOM
LIGHT
PENDANT
I chose to create a light fixture for my study room in order to create a more pleasurable space to study in. Each individual layer of the fixture is shifted in order to provide channels of lights and shade. The play on lit vs darkened spaces helps create intriguing shadows in this 6’ X 6’ space. Materials: - - - -
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wood veeneer wood glue fishing line pins
LIVING
ROOM
BENCH
For my final project, I created a bench piece made of walnut and soft maple that would accentuate the use of orthogonal lines for structure and design. The structure is held together by miter joints and also reinforced with a biscuit joiner. The pieces of walnut were cut accordingly to maintain the appearance of a continuous grain pattern. A break in the bench was employed by use of a soft maple piece glued to the walnut pieces by a rabbet joint. This break meets the soft maple shelve elevated 4 1/4” off the ground in order to convey a sense of connection between the two materials. A reveal was added to the front face of the walnut to once again maintain a sense of continuity in the piece in order to solidify the sides and top of the bench. No nails or screws were used in the process, solely wood glue. 26
18”
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10 1/2” 4 1/4” 1 5/8”
15 1/4”
54 1/4”
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GREEN C
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LEARNING T
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ground level ground level 1. information desk 2. exhibit gallery 3. restrooms 4. outdoor patio 5. bike shop 6. library 7. computer room 8. moss facade exhibition 9. lecture space 10. classrooms 11. elevator 12. event space 13. offices 14. storage
first ground level level
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The building’s functions wrap around a private yet public space accessible form the South Congress corridor. In order to invite people to experience the microclimate created by the layout, the open green space can lend itself to another teaching strategy regarding a sustainable approach to living such as a display of urban farming or species of plants which are emblematic of this philosophy. As seen by the rendering on the right, the ground floor is pushed in diagonally to decongest the sidewalk and further guide people into the building. The staircase is situated at the entrance in order to provide ease of access to the classrooms on the second level and the offices and event space on the third level. 34
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+ The Green Learning Center acts as an exhibition space and teaching service to the surrounding community of South Congress. The central motif of the local learning center revolves around a the use of a “moss facade.” This method of “green” implementation was influenced by “Surface Deep,” a playground designed by students of the Harvard Graduate School of Design in which a garden wall was designed with panels arranged in such a manner to form a twisted ribbon-like playground. The moss facade in the green center will involve the use of sun-loving moss species, Niphotrichum canescens, which will thrive in times in which the southern and western sun are prominent. The moss facade will wrap around the outer edges of the building in a similar screen pattern such as the one on the precedent study. The aim of this facade is to attract the people of austin into the center by instilling a sense of curiosity and to further question the different uses of ”green” attributes in design.
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VISUAL
COMMUNICATIONS
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SoCo R
Nautical
Center
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+ Sited in South Congress, Austin TX, Trophy’s Bar once served as a destination point for local bikers. However, the development of neighborhoods and schools surrounding the site began to shift the identity of the area, thus gearing the renovation process towards transforming Trophy’s Bar into a local nautical center for the Light became a critical factor in the performance of the active swimming areas. An investigation of how light would enter the space was carried out by means of the hybrid model displayed on the left. The main source of natural daylight was a spine which spanned from the east and west elevation of the nautical center. This “spine” would primarily be made up of glass, however, to reduce the amount of glare and high solar heat gain in the interior, a translucent light screen with a wave surface pattern became employed in order to allow soft daylight in the interior swimming areas without discomforting glare.
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PROCESS
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first floor first_floor
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second floor second_floor
1. front 1. front desk desk 2. mensrestroom/showers restroom 2. men’s 3. womensrestroom/showers restroom 3. women’s 4. viewing 4. viewing deck deck 5. pool 5. shallow and deep end pool 6. 6. laplap poolpool 7. office 7. office/storage 8. showers 8. showers 9. elevator 9. elevators 10. daycare 10. smoothie shop 11. viewing deck 11. lounge 12. viewing deck
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SOUTH
LAMAR
URBAN
HOUSING 49
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PUBLIC
commercial Green Space
the northernmost part acts as an extension of downtown austin with single, high-density housing from treadwell to west mary. the middle section serves as the heart and character of south lamar with locally owned businesses from west mary to blue bonnet. the southernmost is an area for potentially less expensive high density multifamily housing from bluebonnet to barton skyway. the design of a housing development for this rapidly growing area will respect the two poles of high density housing with a swath of low rise commercial buildings mixed with open gathering space in between to serve the residents in these complexes and further promote a sense of community.
Open Lot Single-Family Residence Multi-Family Residence Railroad
Semi-Private niches
N private
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+ After studying the South Lamar corridor, the potential connection to the downtown was highly apparent. However, it had its own character. Although it is considered a part of the urban environment, there are open spaces that decongest pedestrian traffic and eliminates that overwhelming feeling of high rise structures surrounding you. I aimed to preserve that ambience and take a step further into finding a way to blend the open green spaces into the design. + the program revolves around vertically mixed use buildings that provides necessities for its inhabitants as well as offers services back to the surrounding community. The site contains a preexisting open lawn where visitors bathe in the sun and enjoy a drink on weekends.
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ground level
second level
roof level
the ground level central plaza is surrounded by a grocery store (blue), pharmacy (orange), and retail (red). Second through fourth floors house all inhabitants and the roof top lends itself to urban farming in which produce grows that can later be sold back to the grocery store beneath. The urban farms are also meant to promote communal behavior and interaction with those who live within this complex.
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CONSTRUCTION: 58
WALL
ASSEMBLY
STUDY
[SPORTS
CENTER
IN
SARGANS
BY
BLUE
ARCHITECTS]
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In Sargans, Switzerland, a new sports centre was to replace a triple gymnasium. Because the marshy site cannot bear large loads and the existing pile foundations were to be reused, a light-weight wood structure was the ideal response to the design problem. The client wanted a sustainable building that employs local building materials and would only require a short construction phase; wood served as the best candidate material for the client’s needs. Not only the building exterior, but also the interior, are characterized to a great extent by the use of this material. Although offering a visually simple facade design, the complexity with which the facade interacts with sunlight allows the gymnasium to stay well lit, while allowing natural light to diffuse the space. Using wood as the pioneering material allowed Blue Architects to play not only with the slats on the facade as a shading element for the users inside, but also as a material in which would absorb the heat allowing less heat to seep inside.
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WALL
SECTION
MODEL scale:
1"
=
1'
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Juan Bautista de Anza Historic Trail E X P L O R A T I O N
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+ in 1776, the 1210 mile epic journey taught the colonists about place, the adversity of climate, and diversity of ecosystems bounded by the Sonoran Desert. Throughout their journey to establish a new colony, a sense of permanence could be found in the tribal settlements of the Native Americans and a new understanding of how mankind could adapt to such dry conditions. fathers, mothers, and children experienced the unfamiliarity of place in a time where leaving your town to establish a new colony would have a profound influence in history. therefore, the hostel establishment must take control of the land. excavation and retention will work hand in hand to control and claim the site as its own, just as the 200 colonist took claim of what is now the san francisco bay area . the sedimentary conditions of the site are to be represented by materiality and order of space for a closer relationship to the desert geology. furthermore, the hostel is a further exploration of how permanence and timelessness can be communicated by design.
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TRAIL
ANALYSIS
by working with trail management offices and gis data sources, a series of analytical maps were produced to gain a clear understanding of what the design was to address. the purpose of this study was to eventually choose a site for which to design a shelter and a hostel that would improve the experience of the average thru-hiker. through a series of maps conveying fire safety hazards, flood zones, water accessibility, and distance from populated areas, the sonoran desert in arizona seemed like the area which would benefit from a shelter and hostel the most.
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the sonoran desert is considered the most diverse desert in the world, partly due to the fact that it is home to over 2000 native plant species. phenological factors are important to both thru hikers and survivalist as the a plant in bloom is indicative of how recently it has rained in this brutally dry environment. The sonoran desert sees a summer monsoon season in the months of july, august, and early september which can be a critical time for hikers to experience the beauty of the blooming season. the map above conveys the three different altitudes which these selective group of plants usually thrive in.
The area of interest for the shelter, highlighted by the circle, is exactly 23 miles from the starting point of this segment of the trail. assuming an average walking speed of 3 mph, a hiker would reach this area after about 7 hours and 40 min of hiking ready to find shelter as the day nears its end. surrounded by the maricopa mountain range, this proves to be a suitable location to place the shelter above the valley as a means for protection against a sudden flash flood. the shelter would also take advantage of the cool air sinking down the mountainside slope for a more comfortable night’s rest.
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+ in order to respect the phenological factors of the mountain-side, the shelter is to be supported by 5 slabs of rammed earth, perpendicular to the slope, so as to maintain a clear pathway for water runoff to feed the surrounding plants. The slabs of earth will have notches so as to support wood floorboards above floor level. All construction materials are to be indicative of site conditions. + the epic journey led by juan bautista is about permanence and responding to the topographic and climatic challenges presented by this extreme ecosystem
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WATER
RETENTION
SYSTEM
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+ the location of this shelter is high enough from the trail to maintain its primitive character while keeping the hiker safe from a potential flash flood.
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While the shelter made a point to limit the amount of retention done on the mountainside, the hostel, with a higher sense of permanence in its function, aims to extend from the mountainside. A hiker is in continuous contact with its environment which was a phenomenon I aimed to reflect in the design of this hostel/exhibition space. It aims to be a balance of both claiming and extending from the mountain.
SITE
MAP
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MATERIALS
PALETTE
+ rammed earth seemed like a suitable material to use in this hot and dry environment primarily due strength, durability, and ability to absorb heat during the day and release it at night which reduces the need for air conditioning and heating.
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SERVICE
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LIVING
PUBLIC
GATHERING
HOSTEL
LIVING
+ scars perforating the central mass allow light to creep into the interior entrance and dining area. They also serve to represent the brutl nature of the expedition which juan bautista led.
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oriented to collet NW winds uses mountain slope to collect run off water for sanitation absorbs solar energy by means of the shading masses which hold the hostel residents
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B a c k g r o u n d
LEONEL SANCHEZ
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS 3RD YEAR ARCHITECTURE STUDENT
CONTACT
phone number:
956-533-4308
address:
600 W. 26TH ST. APT. 3315 AUSTIN, TX, 78705
email:
leonelsanchez@utexas.edu
I n f o r m a t i o n
EDUCATION + International Baccalaureate Diploma High School Program: August 2006 - May 2011 + Drexel University Architecture Summer Program: July 2010 + University of Texas Architecture Program: August 2011 - present + National Hispanic Institute of Debate: January 2007 - November 2007
SKILLS + EXPERIENCE Spanish + French
Sketchup, EnrgyPlus, Rhino, Revit, AutoCAD, Photoshop, Illustrator, Climate Consultant, ArcGIS
AWARDS + First Place National Competition NHI Oratory Debate 2007 + Certificate of Completion Drexel Univerity Summer Architecture Program 2010 + International Baccalaureate Diploma 2011 + Third Place Masonry Wall Design UTSOA Competition 2014
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EXTRACURRICULARS
+ Texas WOD Club co-founder, treasurer, and media designer + Humane Society volunteer + UTSOA Mentor
VOLUNTEER
+ Global Architecture/Environmental Brigade, Torti Abajo, Panama + “Burpees for Boobies” Breast Cancer Benefit Crossfit Competition organized by Texas WOD + “Rockin for a Cure” Cancer Benefit Concert Organized by my band + Rio Grande Valley Humane Society + McAllen Refugee for Women and Children + Lamar Academy Psychology Fair + Legionaries of Christ + UTSOA Mentorship Program
WORK EXPERIENCE
+ Student Ambassador at the University of Texas Division of Housing and Food Service: February 2013 - Present + Ron Fu Mongolian Grill Server: June 2012 - July 2012 + Architecture Intern at Spazio Design & Construction: June 2011 - August 2011 and June 2014 - Present + Guitar Teaching: August 2008 - May 2009
REFERENCES Courtney Howard choward@austin.utexas.edu Alison Kothe a.kothe@austin.utexas.edu Lisa Diaz l.diaz@austin.utexas.edu 83