Teaching Portfolio_ Melina Guirnaldos, Architect
TEACHING PORTFOLIO Melina Guirnaldos Díaz, Architect Melina Guirnaldos is a qualified Architect engaged in Architecture research (both theoretical and research by design), design and teaching. This triple profile has allowed her a constant cross-feeding between these 3 fields fostering the intellectual quality, innovation, social engagement and creativity of her professional and academic achievements
Since 2013, she has developed the role of Design Tutor and Unit Leader at undergraduate and postgraduate level at the Welsh School of Architecture (WSA) where she is currently a PhD candidate. She has been lecturing and attending juries at the Architectural Association (AA), ETSAB of Barcelona, Cardiff University, the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Granada University among other HE and public institutions.
Founding partner of W+G Architects, she has developed projects such as the Landscape Intervention and Restoration of the Palace of the Emperor Susenyos, the Jesuit cathedral in Ethiopia and the competition for the urban regeneration of Santiago de Chile Government area. Their work has been largely published and awarded different prizes such as the most recent Europa Nostra 2019 Award.
Teaching Portfolio_ Melina Guirnaldos, Architect
WSA- YEAR 1 Design Tutor (2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17, 2017/18)
Studios were first and foremost a space for students to develop a creative intent with spatial thinking at its core; they offered a series of opportunities for students to consider within their projects the act of being in space (and how being fully in space is a way of connecting with our bodies, our community, surroundings, planet, and even the universe) as a fundamentally architectural question. This topic was very much covered in Term 1 and further developed in Term 2 through a problem-based case project.
During the academic year, students were invited to be part of the process of designing through making (1:1 prototypes, models, experiential devices, material and structural explorations…) individually and collectively.
Iterative Tectonics and Grange Gardens place based community (2016)
Teaching Portfolio_ Melina Guirnaldos, Architect
RiverSonics Part 1 (2015)
Teaching Portfolio_ Melina Guirnaldos, Architect
RiverSonics Part 2 (2015)
Teaching Portfolio_ Melina Guirnaldos, Architect
Lanzarote (2018)
Teaching Portfolio_ Melina Guirnaldos, Architect
Mental health (2018)
Teaching Portfolio_ Melina Guirnaldos, Architect
WSA-Unit Leader Vertical Studio 2014 : Recycling the Incompiuto Siciliano
‘Recycling the Incompiuto Siciliano’ was run in Sicily in 201 in partnership with the School of Architecture of Reggio Calabria (Italy), The brief was inspired by the documentary research ‘Incompiuto: The birth of a Style’ which presents a new read of the Italian landscape trough unfinished public buildings. Students were asked to search for innovative design
reactivation
strategies
that
reconnected these unfinished structures with communities and surroundings. Final results were exhibited at the Institute of Architects of Messina (Italy) and at the Welsh School of Architecture (UK).
Teaching Portfolio_ Melina Guirnaldos, Architect
WSA Unit Leader-Vertical Studio 2015 : Ruins in reverse
Ruins in reverse in 2015 was based in Cardiff and students were asked to identify the hidden prints of its Post-Industrial past in order to reveal them through temporary tactical design proposals. Again, encounters with different stakeholders such as experts from CADW
1
, Save Coal Exchange social
platform and visits to archives were organized
Teaching Portfolio_ Melina Guirnaldos, Architect
WSA- Unit Leader/ Supervisor MA UD (Master in Urban Design) The aim of MA UD design studio was preparing students to address real challenges as future architects and urban designers encouraging the teamwork collaboration. Topics such as gentrification, social cohesion, obsolete landscapes, and politics of heritage among others have been raised in the studio. Under my supervision, 2 of my students were nominated, and one of them awarded, with the national Urban Design Grant in 2014 and 2015.
Teaching Portfolio_ Melina Guirnaldos, Architect
Student:Jie Li (2020)
Student: Harry Davie (2015)