Del rio yap by Lorena del Río

LORENA DEL RIO RICA* STUDIO MADRID-NY

LORENA DEL RIO

RICA*STUDIO MADRID-NY

Lorena del Rio_RICA*STUDIO MAD-NY My research and practice address both an interdisciplinary approach to design at the intersection of architecture, art and different disciplines dealing with the psycho-social development and a fascination on the perceptual phenomena. I am particularly interested in the way in which the dynamics and the experiential quality of space can be manipulated by the strategic use of material, color, and light. In that sense I consider the investigations and work of perceptual artists such as Joseph Albers, James Turrel, Dan Graham, Fred Sandback, Janet Echelman, Olafur Eliasson or Tomás Sarraceno, a perfect place to find design strategies in search of new spatial paradigms. As these artists’ body of work has demonstrated, experimenting with new formal relationships, color combinations or materiality result in the distortion of perception, creating extensions and compressions of space, the allusion of depth, misreading of scale, emphasis or dissolution of gravity... These interests result in a twofold personal investigation: firstly on materials in the specific case of plastics considering them as relatively new materials where it is possible to study with a multidisciplinary approach the first period of experimentation when architects, designers and engineers were searching for new forms and concepts that could adapt to the new products and the social and political connotations that were given to them being claimed materials of progress and future. In a more contemporary analysis the uses of new composites, more responsive plastic, are searching for innovative aesthetic effects resulting in the creation of atmospheric, attractive and sensual spaces while developing new technologies to improve material’s performance in order to produce more responsive constructive elements. This research will result in my PHD dissertation and has informed seminars on Building Technology and Theory of Architecture topics at Cornell University. Secondly my research is focused in the use of color as a mechanism to manipulate perception and its potential as a design tool. Color can be used as a way to transform the experience of spaces and dimensions, it can articulate and conceal formal elements but also it can render support or counterpoint to architecture features, modifying the spatial effect. It can be used with a functional purpose. It can erase traces of gravity or scale. It can generate emotion, produce meaning and identity. This investigation has resulted in seminars examining some decisive examples of colorful architecture from vernacular constructions to contemporary work. This analysis introduces aspects of color theory and focus not only on color physics, perception and psychology, but also on different design strategies. My experiential approach is also based on my believe that Architecture strives to enhance the human condition and should promote emotional well-being through very simple means: the manipulation of space, light, color, material and form. Architecture’s psychological affect can be profound. Illusion Playground is an investigation about the potential of illusion to generate sensorial retreats for hospitalized children with cancer. This work is the result of the collaboration with Juegaterapia, a non-profit foundation that operates internationally improving the life conditions of children with cancer. Several studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects that nature can produce on patiences, in some cases shortening the recovery time and reducing medication needs. But when collaborating with Juegaterapia foundation it was manifested that despite these facts not all the hospitals are willing to add vegetation into their infrastructures. As a result of this constrain, this research explores and analyzes the proper characteristics of natural environments that can be extracted and recreated by artificial means to be inserted in the existing structures. Through design it is possible to generate artificial systems that perform in a similar way that living systems, without mimicking natural elements literally in form but in their predicative dimension: movement, flexibility, density, sound, lightness... Also an interactive quality is pursuit, actions like sheltering, hanging, lying down under the shade, swinging… frequently done in nature should be also possible in these artificial environments. One of the main goals of this research is to explore the psychological dimension of architecture, investigating how configuration, texture, tone, movement... determine the sensorial experience of the space and can generate an “illusion” of a different reality. The main idea to convey is that design can be used as powerful tool to affect the subject and their emotional well-being, improving life conditions, at the level of the individual, the community and ultimately society. . Perception underlies both my research and practice projects. The boundary between them is blurred as usually the former informs the latter or the latter is a materialized consequence of the former. Young Architects Program at MOMA PS1 would be a dreamed opportunity to demonstrate some of the ideas I have been investigating in both my practice and research as an academic, in search of new material paradigms and aspiring by means of design to promote emotional well-being and to engage with the community. Thank you so much for your consideration.

BIO Professor Lorena del Río (Madrid, 1981) is an architect educated at ETSAM (Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid), where she graduated in 2008 and is also developing her PhD. Her research concentrates on materiality in architecture and investigates new concepts related to the specific qualities of materials in design. From 2012 to 2016, she has been a Visiting Assistant Professor at Cornell where she has led design studios as well as seminars on Building Tech, Visual Representation and Architectural Theory. Lorena has participated in reviews and lectures at several universities including MIT, Cooper Union, CCA, and Puerto Rico University where she also was a panelist at the symposium “Evolution of Pedagogy.” Del Rio is part of the Design Team of the Spanish Pavilion at the 15th edition of the Venice Architecture Biennale awarded with the GOLDEN LION. Her work has been recognize internationally; recently in the competition to design new sport facilities at Dalseong, Korea and Europan12. It has also been widely published in international journals such as GA, Bauwelt and Arquitectura Viva. Together with Iñaqui Carnicero and as a result of their collaboration since 2009 Del Rio founded RICA* Studio in 2014 a platform for design investigation operating across many scales, based in Madrid and New York.

CV 1981

Born in Madrid, Spain

2008

BS and Master degree in Architecture School of Polytechnic University of Madrid

2005-2006

Teacher Assistant in the course “Advanced Urban Projects” at the Architecture School of Polytechnic University of Madrid

2005-2006

Member of the Research Group “MINIMAL HOUSING” of Polytechnic University of Madrid

2008-2012

Project Architect at Selgascano Office. Madrid

2009-2010

Completed courses in Architecture PhD at the Architecture School of Madrid

2011-

Currently completing PhD Thesis in Plastic Architecture

2012-2013

Visiting Critic Architecture Department Cornell University

2013-2016

Visiting Assistant Professor Architecture Department Cornell University

2014

Found RICA*Studio, in partnership with Iñaqui Carnicero

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE 2005-2006

UPM ETSAM Architecture School of Polytechnic University of Madrid Teacher Assistant in the course “Advanced Urban Projects” at the Member of the Research Group “MINIMAL HOUSING” of Polytechnic University of Madrid

2012-2016

CORNELL UNIVERSITY AAP. Architecture Art and Planning Department

2012-2013 2013-2016

Visiting Critic Visiting Assitant Profesor

2014

UNIVERSIDAD SEVILLA+UNIVERSIDAD LUSIADA OPORTO+ UNIVERSIDAD LUSIADA LISBOA Fronteiras. Summer Workshop

SCHOLARLY SERVICES AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY Fall 2015

Member of the BArch Selection Committee. Early Decision. Regular Decision. Architecture Department

2014-2015

Member of the B Arch Curriculum Committee. Architecture Department

2014-2015

Member of the B Arch Curriculum Sub-Committee on Visual Representation. Architecture Department

Spring 2015

Member of the BArch Selection Committee. Early Decision. Regular Decision. Architecture Department

Spring 2015

Academic Careers Discussion in Architecture: Sessions for MArch II students. Architecture Department

Spring 2015

Portfolio Workshop: Sessions for Undergraduate and Graduate students. Architecture Department

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2014

RICA* Studio is founded by partners Lorena del Río and Iñaqui Carnicero

2012-2014

Collaboration with Iñaqui Carnicero Architecture Office

2008-2012

Collaboration with Selgascano Studio

2008

Collaboration with Raul del Valle at New Police´s Courts Building Competition in Madrid

2007

Collaboration with Iñaqui Carnicero at VIVA Competition for the creation of 320 Experimental Housing in Madrid

2007

Collaboration with Raul del Valle at Executive Project for 315 Housing in Os Capelos, Galicia

2007

Collaboration with Raul del Valle at Executive Project for 315 Housing in Aguas Vivas Guadalajara

2006

Collaboration with Raul del Valle at Executive Project for the multipoourpose room for the “Camilo José Cela School” Cela School”

RICA STUDIO* 2015

Luxury Resort in Nalati, with SW Studio: Andrea Simitch and Val Warke

2015

Museo de la Memoria, Bogotá. Colombia. Competition

2015

Court House. Lorca, Spain. Restricted Competition

2014

“El jardín de mi hospi” Playground in La Fe Hospital,Valencia

2013

Rada House. Private House in La Dehesa de la Villa, Madrid

2014

Miranda House. Private House for a Doctor in Manzanares

2014

Extension for the Lobby of the Museum of Anthropology, Madrid

2014

Housing Dwelling for 74 families. at St Claire Convent. Santander. Competition

2014

Dalseong citizen’s Gymnasium. Korea. Competition. Awarded

2015

Townhall in Sandness. Norway. Competition

IN COLLABORATION WITH SELGASCANO 2008

Selgascano Headquarters

2008-2011

Congress Center and Auditorium. Cartagena. Project Architect

2008

Congress Center and Auditorium Competition in Vitoria. Second Prize

2008-2012

Congress Center and Auditorium. Plasencia. Project Architect

2009-2011

Youth Factory. Skate and Climbing Park. Merida. Leader Architect

2009

Supercomputation Center in Santiago de Compostela. Competition

2009

Exhibition Center Al Adir for the International Horse Fair, Casablanca. Competition.Shortlisted

2011

Secondary School in Bilbao. Competition

2011

Cafe for Artists in Sevilla. Competition

2011

Congress Center and Hotel in the old Aktien and Maisel Brewery in Bayreuth. Competition

2012

Public Space and Skate Park. Aruba. Project Architect

2012

Yenikapy Transfer Point and Archaelogical Park. Restricted Competition 3

AWARDS · SCHOOLARSHIPS · EXHIBITIONS · PUBLICATIONS · LECTURES 2014 2013 2011 2011 2009 2008 2007

2005-2006 2004-2005 2003 2015 2015 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2012

Honorable Mention International Competition for the Design of the Dalseong citizen’s Gymnasium. Korea, Runner up. Europan 12 Competition. Housing Kagran,Vienna, with Neeraj Bhatia Honorable Mention. Europan 11 Competition. Housing San Bartolome with Iñaqui Carnicero Honorable Mention . Sculpture Museum at Leganes Garden. Madrid with Iñaqui Carnicero Shortlisted . Guest House Competition in Villafranca de los Barros. Extremadura with Iñaqui Carnicero Second Prize. Collaboration with Raul del Valle at New Police´s Courts Building Competition in Madrid First Prize. Collaboration with Iñaqui Carnicero at VIVA Competition for the creation of 320 Experimental Housing in Madrid

Awarded MEC Scholarship from the Spanish Ministry of Education Second Prize Emilio Larrodera Urbanism Awards, C.O.A.M Awarded Scholarship from the EU-exchange program at Roma Tre University Publication ASSOCIATON Vol. 7 Cornell University. Juegaterapia Playground Publication GA HOUSES Nº 141 PROJECT 2015. Editorial A.D.A EDITA Tokio. Spiral House Publication EUROPAN 12 Austria Awarded. Housing in Kagran Vienne Publication Bauwelt 17-18.4 May 2014 / 09.05. EUROPAN 12 Publication Architekturjournal wettbewerbe Jänner 2014/312. EUROPAN 12 Publication Europan 12 España Publication GA HOUSES Nº 130 PROJECT 2014. Editorial A.D.A EDITA Tokio. Revolutionary House Publication GA HOUSES Nº 136 PROJECT 2014. Editorial A.D.A EDITA Tokio. Rada House. Madrid. Publication ASSOCIATON Vol. 6 Cornell University. Various Projects Publication EUROPAN 11 Awarded. Housing in San Bartolomé

2012

Publication GA DOCUMENT Nº 121 (EMERGING FUTURE) Editorial A.D.A EDITA Tokio. Sculpture Museum in Leganes, Madrid

2010

Publication “CIRCO” Tuñon y Mansilla PhD Courses.Architecture School of Polytechnic University of Madrid

2007

Contributed to the publication “V.R. Vivienda Reducida”. ISBN: 84-935571-0-2, derived from the “MINIMAL HOUSING” project and its presentation, during the EURAU CONGRESS at ETSAM Polytechnic Univ. of Madrid

2005

Publication on the students´ yearbook 2004-2005 “CARNE FRESCA”. Università degli Studi Roma Tre

2002

Publication on the students´ yearbook 2002-2003 of Alberto Campo Baeza at the Architecture School of Polytechnic University of Madrid

2014

Exhibition EUROPAN 12. THE ADAPTABLE YOUNG URBAN STRATEGIES at “ AMSTETTEN.Vienne

2013

Exhibition at International 2013 Emerging Future at GA Gallery, Tokio. Japan. Revolutionary House

2012

Exhibition Awarded Sculpture Museum at Leganes Competittion at the Spanish Association of Architects

2012

Exhibition EUROPAN 11. TERRITORIOS Y MODOS DE VIDA EN RESONANCIA. ARQUITECTURAS PARA LA CIUDAD SOSTENIBLE at “ Circulo de Bellas Artes de Madrid”. National Exhibiton of the Europan 11 Awarded

2015

Speaker at Campus Internacional Ultzama. Fundación Arquitectura y Sociedad

2014

SYMPOSIUM “ La evolución de la pedagogía: arquitecture en España” Universidad de Puerto Rico. Panel: Jose María Torres Nadal, Antonio Vélez, Iñaqui Carnicero, Julio Salcedo and Rafael Balanzo.

2013

Lecture at Architecture School University of Puerto Rico with Iñaqui Carnicero

2012

Lecture at Gerald D. Hines Collage of Architecture, University of Houston

2007

Lectured at Architecture School of Polytechnic University of Madrid, for the Master of Urban Planning with Emilio Ontiveros

I have been always fascinated by architectureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s capacity to generate different atmospheres by means of light, color and material, influencing the way in which scale, gravity and geometry are perceived. My experience at Selgascano studio only increased these interests. I could learn from a particular way of practicing architecture. A different understanding of materials considering their sensory properties, color as a mechanism to manipulate the perception of the spaces, artistic references as the starting point of the design process, natural elements used as living materials in architecture and projects free of formal attachments are some of the characteristics that define this firm as one of the most interesting of the emerging firms in the world. During my collaboration with them I was involved in different phases of four remarkable buildings as a project architect: Selgascano Headquarters, Cartagena Auditorium, Youth Factory in Merida and Plasencia Auditorium. In that time I developed my skills in materializing architectural concepts, designing unconventional construction solutions and using different techniques to explore material characteristics as much as possible. My focus on materiality combined with my interest in teaching inspired me to complete my Architecture Ph.D. courses and start writing my dissertation, as well as has informed many of the courses that I have tought in the past five years. The versatility of plastics regarding shape, color, and transparency opens a wide range of opportunities, and also introduces new aspects of glow, shadows, reflections, transparency and translucency that can be present in the early stages of the design process. My research has focused in finding connections between material, technologies and architectural intentions in the specific case of plastics throughout history, from the first attempts to the most innovative uses today. Defining a new spatial paradigm for this materials is the starting point of my research.

* Juegaterapia Playground

This work is the result of the collaboration with JUEGATERAPIA, a non-proﬁt foun-

Hospital La Fe, Valencia

dation that improves the life conditions of children with cancer.They began delivering

Private Commission. Spain

panded their agenda and now they transform rooftops and leftover spaces destined

Design Project: 2014 Construction: 2016-2017

donated play-stations to the kids in order to be used during the chemo but they exfor installations in pediatric hospitals into playgrounds for the hospitalized kids. Several studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects that nature can produce on patiences, in some cases shortening the recovery time. But when collaborating with the foundation it was manifested that despite these facts not all the hospitals were willing to add vegetation into their infrastructures as there are concerns about costs and maintenance. As a result of this constrain, we explored and analysed the proper characteristics of natural environments that can be extracted and recreated by artificial means to be inserted in the existing structures. We discovered colors, repetition, the movement of the leaves, the flexibility of the branches, the different densities, the shade… Through design it is possible to generate artificial systems that perform in a similar way that living organisms, without mimicking natural elements literally in form but in their predicative dimension: movement, flexibility, variation of density, sound, lightness... Also an interactive quality is pursuit, actions like sheltering, hanging, lying down under the shade, swinging… frequently done in nature should be also possible in this new artificial landscape. We started to think about one material that we could use in different ways to recreate all these characteristics, and that would be easy to work with and inexpensive as the two constrains we had in the commission. We thought about the versatility of ropes, their resiliency, and the tactile quality that make them be one of the most used materials in playgrounds. Climbing walls, swings, hammocks… Can be done with just one material. We wanted to create a magic world, an open space where the elements that we proposed could generate artificial landscapes and that could blend with natural elements, where the various play structures could be used differently so the experience of playing could be new and unexpected every time. For that purpose we proposed big hang rope structures that would move with the wind, that would cast different shades during the day and that would cover open and flexible spaces that could be used as playground, exercise space, stage for shows and concerts…

Using the same material we filled the space with play structures, swings, hammocks, hanging ropesâ&#x20AC;Ś We wanted that this magic world could be enjoyed also from the rooms of the hospital, so the bird view of the playground was an important part of the design. The big structures are open to interpretation, performing as nature, but not referencing it literally. The final result is a highly autonomous form, apparently detached and unrelated to the context, but that in fact is a product influenced by economy, materiality and environment.

* Jello Pavilion

Cornell University. Ithaca

Part of the Building Technology Elective “ A journey into Plastics” Design and Construction: Spring 2015

The Jello Pavilion is an inflatable structure in the spirit of Ant Farm: the avant-garde group of architects who revolutionized the use of plastics with the ambition of creating flexible, democratic and fun spaces for people in the 1970s. Students in my seminar “A Journey into Plastic” conceived the Jello Pavilion as a collaborative design build project to bring a wave of fun during the stressful final weeks of the semester. With a budget around 300$ the pavilion is comprised of over 100 plastic panels of various geometries secured together through a calibrated technique of heating. This thin plastic shell achieves its volumetric potential with a high-power fan that inflates air in through a tubular appendage in a constant way. A globular shape when fully inflated, the pavilion is easily manipulated into different formal configurations through the fastening o f Velcro strips attached throughout the volume. Despite its complex system of assembly, the Jello Pavilion portrays a simple image of fun, and is filled with balloons and light projections at various times throughout the day. The Jello Pavilion is an opportunity for all to literally enter a bubble of fun in the midst of hectic campus life. It also carries on the tradition of plastics as a cheap, malleable and flexible material with incredible potential for designers. TEAM Nils Axen Danica Davis Bee Gan Yiwei Gao Irene Garcia Boyao Jiang Lucia Lee Jingyang Liu Liam Martin Alejandra Martinez Jinting Yang Yaoyi Zhou

out

Evacuate

Entrance

[COME PLAY] MAY 5 10AM-12PM SIBLEY DOME

JELLOpavilion 27

* English For Fun

English for Fun, founded in Spain in 2011, uses a revolutionary method for children

Kindergarden, Madrid

of any age or physical condition to learn English using their five senses. With this

Private Commission. Spain

participating in recreational activities and exploring high-interest topics in hands-

Design Project: Summer 2016

on workshops designed especially for their age group. English for Fun is a place for

Construction: Fall 2016

method, based in Reggio Emilia pedagogy, children acquire English effortlessly by

all children to learn. A number of children with hearing loss, visual impairment, and speech disabilities have learned English with this methodology. This pedagogical approach is based in the idea that every child is special and unique. The new center for English for Fun wanted to be a representation of this innovative teaching method, a place to booster creativity, imagination, and to stimulate all five senses. This commission represented an opportunity to investigate how design can shape experience and affect the subject in processes of playing and learning. The Reggio Emilia approach is an educational philosophy created in Italy in the late 40â&#x20AC;&#x2122; based in a self guided and very open interpretation of learning. It is based in three core principals:

the child as an active part of the learning process. it is based in

a non-guided way of playing where the kids have their own interpretation of natural and artificial play-objects.

the built environment of the school is considered the third

teacher, only after teachers and parents.

the process of learning has to be made visible

The proposal should overcome the cliches of spaces designed for kids, being non figurative and open to multiple interpretations. The goal was to create a space in the spirit of the adventure playgrounds where the play-objects, not toys, only develop their full potential in the interaction with the kids. The design should operate at the adult scale as much as the kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; scale, so it was important to create spaces that only children could inhabit and own. The answer was to propose a tinker tray, where all the objects involved in the play and learning process could be storage, the work produced exhibit and where the kids could also feel that they are part of it. The strategy was proposing a thick structure instead of thin partitions to configure the class room space, an inhabitable wall that will storage all furniture and object when not in use, making the reconfiguration of the class very easy.

The broken geometry of the structure creates a series of nooks, small spaces, that will be inhabited by the kids. The different typologies of objects were reduced to the minimum, establishing a generic module that can be used in multiple ways. It is not a chair, or table, or tower, or play kitchen, or car, or box for stones, or helmet, but all the above. .

The function of this thick inhabitable wall was twofold, first creating little spaces to be own by the kids, and second to provide storage space facing both, the classroom and the corridor, so the space that usually only serves as circulations is now activated and can be used as common ground for kids, teacher and parents. It also transforms the corridor into a showcase of the learning process, blurring the limits between the classrooms, and expanding the perception of the space, avoiding the conventional compartmentalisation of the classrooms.