Portfolio by mssoto

Portfolio Magdalena SofĂa Soto

dArt Gallery Dallas, Texas, United States

Vivienda Social de Cholula Cholula, Puebla, Mexico

Live.Work.Green.

Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Irreconcilable Forces on The Llano Estacado

Other Projects

01 02 03 04 05

Art Gallery & Dart Rail Station

Social Housing & Commercial Integration

Living Units & Co-working Office Stations

House & Courtyard

Hand-drafted house analysis & Bike renovation

dART Gallery project site | Dallas, Texas program | offices, art galleries, Dallas Dart Station The design of the dART Gallery was generated by taking the axes around the site that lead to Downtown Dallas and I-75. With these axes, guidelines were created in order to base the initial stages of the design, of off a grid. Diagram experimentation on performance is the basis for the form of the building. The gallery space spans 370 feet, and the program is concerned with the overall experience and relationship of the building and the user. The gallery begins on the second floor and ends at the ground level. The user travels down the ramp (1:20 ratio) and observes the art pieces demonstrated along the way. The Dart Station and offices are then located on the first floor, opposite from the galleryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s terminus. Business is conducted at this level, thus minimizing the interruptions that could be caused by the visitors. For the final stages of the project, a physical model was built. It addresses the structural qualities of the project at a conceptual scale.

Primary Intersection

Existing Site

n Sa c

Site Plan Ja o int .

I-75

N oo

G d tim

La er Ex py

Dart Rail Station

Painted aluminum Roofing over sloped insulation

U-Profile glass units

Lightweight concrete/steel deck Steel wide-flange beam, 6” Translucent insulation

Steel connection plate U-Profile glass units with translucent insulation

Silicon adhering surface Sealing Strip

Steel wide-flange beam, 6”

Aluminum Framing

Tension rod Intermediate channel slip connection lighting

Detail [D01]

D01 Solid concrete slab

Steel wide-flange beam, 6”

Steel wide-flange beam, 6” Glass, 2”

Tension rod

Ring joint

Solid concrete slab

Detail 02 [D02]

Detailed Section

Perimeter foundation drain

Floor Plan 02

36’ 5

room bath

ator

elev

large gallery

y lcon

oor ba

outd

3 4

A’

B’

C’

D’

E’

F’

Floor Plan 01

ator

elev

office up

small gallery

room

work

garage door workroom entry

office

52’ 30’

try street en lobby

main exit

1’-6”

lobby dart entry

Longitudinal Section 20’

9’

1:20

370’

D02

0’

perspective cinco de mayo - commercial spaces

Vivienda Social de Cholula project site | Cholula, Puebla, Mexico. program | living units, commercial spaces, courtyard Research began with a trip to the site. As a group, we analyzed the cultural and architectural qualities of Mexico, as well as the characteristics of the possible users. Cholula is known as a “Pueblo Mágico” – magic villa – in México, and studies helped understand the ways people utilize their properties in order to attract local, national, and international investors. In the case of Cholula, the city houses one of the major universities in the country and students have become a major group in the city, leaving most local low-income families with the need for living spaces. The idea of the project is to create a connection between living and commercial spaces so that residents can live there and make a living from that same site. Since the site is located on one the major corridors of Cholula, Cinco de Mayo Street, this allows for a successful implementation of retail space at the street edge.

rien

social housing

ent

rien

co de m

oni

cin

ayo

project: multi-use space commercial

15 units

residential

26 units 2 bedroom 1 bathroom

site analysis

The given site was carefully analyzed in order to implement strategies that would make the project successful in its given environment. The adjacent activities were investigated in order to ‘imitate’ and/or improve the ways users utilize their spaces. After the analysis took place, the project began to take shape. Units were carefully designed in order to fit in the site along with other necessary programs: on-site parking, hand-washing laundry areas, retail spaces, etc. Furthermore, the addition of a courtyard compliments the cultural needs of the inhabitants, allowing for a social space where residents can interact with one another adding to the sense of community highly appreciated in Cholula. In addition, the utilization of materials was a key element of the project. Most social housing projects in Mexico use concrete structural systems (in situ & CMU); therefore, material consideration was respected and continued. Moreover, recycled materials like wooden slats were considered for exteriors in order to cover walls or protect ‘vistas’ to/from some of the units’ patios.

site plan

265’

80’

cinco de mayo

0.03

0.02

0.01

04 up

ground plan

0.00

Tenantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Courtyard

Public parking

Living Units, 627 sqft

Living Unit, 600 sqft

Individual Residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; parking

Retail spaces

04 vehicular entrance pedestrian entrance

01 03

floor plan

0.01

03 02

Tenantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Courtyard

Public parking

Living Units, 620 sqft

Living Unit, 486 sqft

floor plan

0.02

Tenantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Courtyard

Public parking

Living Units, 620 sqft

Rooftop water tanks

Rooftop laundry areas

39’

32’

32’ 30’

25’ 22’

22’

14’ 11’

11’

0’

transverse section

0.01

0’

transverse section

0.02

39’

32’ 30’

30’

25’

25’ 21’ 16’

14’

0’

transverse section

0.03

tenants

local markets

hand-washing area

no street offset

local merchants

pedestrian area

weekend get togethers

section perspective interior and exterior spaces

perspective exterior - residential spaces

user accomodation

current social housing (existing projects)

individual patios

local water collection (current local strategy)

courtyard

strategies

local materials

live. work. green project site | Atlanta, Georgia. program | community offices, living apartments, green spaces, and parking. Located near downtown Atlanta, the curvilinear site is 715 feet long, with the widest dimension being 35 feet and the narrowest being 8.5 feet. It is sandwiched in between two important industrial corridors of the city: Marietta St and the railway. Both of these corridors travel northwest from downtown, making them tactical elements for the planning of the project. The adjacent streets, as well as other elements of the city were analyzed and diagramed in order to develop strategies that satisfy the programmatic requirements and geometric challenges: strategies – break, length, pattern, and green The length is broken vertically and horizontally by a number of forces: (see diagrams on next page) First, a horizontal break occurs due to the force produced by vehicular access. This force ‘breaks’ the program in two: Live and Work. This break provides for a removal of hierarchy and gives comparable importance to the live and work environment. Second, a vertical break occurs causing the lengthy slabs to be pushed, pulled and/or removed. This provides for the integration of paths of interaction for the program’s community. The vertical break is produced from the diagrammatic patterns that affect the site. Third, the concept of a green environment is incorporated into the program creating patches of vegetation that will allow the tenants to recognize a connection to Atlanta’s topography of rolling hills with a dense green coverage. Fourth, unit zoning was incorporated. The units were distributed in order to become patterns that further break the length of the project. Each unit’s program is developed naturally through a set of intrinsic regulating lines.

Marietta St NW

atlanta

metro stations within 1mi from site other metro stations

BeltLine major parks

Historic Fourth Ward Park

North Avenue Station

Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark

Civic Center Station Peachtree Center Station Vine City Station CNN Station

Gordon White Park

Boulevard Crossing Park D.H. Stanton

railways_01

atlanta rapid transit authority_01

parks and the BeltLine_01

high medium low West Marietta St NW

i-75

Northside Dr NW

i-85

West Marietta St NW

i-75

i-85

Northside Dr NW

North Avenue Station

DeKalb Ave NE Marietta St NW

Marietta St NW

Civic Center Station

Historic Fourth Ward Park Historic Fourth Ward Skatepark

Peachtree Center Station

i-20

Vine City Station CNN Station

Gordon White Park

Boulevard Crossing Park i-75/85

i-75/85

highway and major roads_01

housing based on income_01

composite_01

D.H. Stanton

DeKalb Ave NE

green live green drive/parking work

mass

screen protection live/3slabs green drive/parking integration of vertical circulation integration of 2D diagrams work

tta ri e Ma

site mass

divide

circulate

screen protection live/3slabs green drive/parking

screen protection patios

vertical circulation

integration of 2D diagrams

driving ramp unit zoning

driving ramp units

green drive/parking

work

ri Ma

break/move

zone

aS ett

1000

999

998

997

1000

999

998 997 996

995

994

995

994

996 993

992

991

990

991

1 - one bedroom unit 2 - community offices

Plan|Ground

993

992

section 01

UP UP

A01 A02 A03 A04 A05

A07

C01

C02 C03

section 01

A06

C04 C05

E01 E02

E03 E04

E05

E06

E07

E08

G01

G02

UP UP

1 - Parking area

Plan|Parking

Q P01

P N02

N01

N M

L09

L08

J01

J02

J03

J04

J05

J06

J07

L01

L02

L03

L04

L07 L06

L05

1 - one bedroom nano unit 2 - one bedroom unit 3 - two bedroom unit

Plan|1st Floor

A 2

A01 A02 A03 A04 A05

A07

C01

section 01

C02 C03 C04

C05

E01 E02

E03 E04

E05

E06

E07

E08

G01

G02

DW WD

UP DN

section 01

2 DN

A06

Q P01

P N02

N01

N M

L09

J01

J02

J03

J04

J05

J06

J07

L01

L04

L03

L02

1 - one bedroom nano unit 2 - one bedroom unit 3 - two bedroom unit

3 2

Plan|2nd&3rd Floor

L08 L07 L06

L05

2 DN

1 - green roof 2 - roof deck

Plan|Roof

17’-6”

37’-0”

49’-0”

61’-0”

66’-6”

80’-0”

steel corten panels

4” diameter SpacePak Heating and A/C system duct

1/2” gypsum white board 1/16” vapor barrier 6” light gauge stud rigid insulation 1”-1/2” air space 3”-5/8” light gauge stud rigid insulation 1/2” exterior sheathing 1/16” waterproofing 1”-1/2” wood furring 3”-1/2” wood cladding 3” sand cement 3” insulation 6” concrete deck

1” double glazed awning window

Section|Details 1 & 2

1/16” waterproofing 1” light gauge stud

1” aluminum panel C12x25

1” double glazed awning window

Plan|Section 01

section_01

-15’-6”

0’-0”

3/8” =

7000|ft

ino ch

5000|ft

~38

[ mph] wind speed

month

~78째

nds

temp [ 째F ] ~40째 ~23

3000|ft 12

13 10

12 09

avg. wind speed mph

~148|miles

7000|ft

ino ch

5000|ft

~38

[ mph] wind speed

month

~78째

nds

temp [ 째F ] ~40째 ~23

3000|ft 12

13 10

~148|miles

12 09

avg. wind speed mph

Irreconcilable Forces project site | on The Llano Estacado program | house and courtyard There is a distinct thing about the wind in semi-arid, drastic climate regions like the Llano Estacado. This ecoregion is located in the southern end of the Great Plains of North America, in Texas and New Mexico. One of its primary characteristics is its vastness and lack of drastic topographical changes. It is also located east from the southern Rocky Mountains, thus allowing for leeward winds to come in contact with its terrain. A combination of air masses, allowed by its location and surroundings, collide throughout the year permitting pressures and drastic temperatures to influence the wind behaviors. The composite map [on the previous page] analyzes the different encounters amongst these masses; the analysis was done using aerial and section views of the Llano Estacado. This search aided to determine two forces that collide in the region and are irreconcilable: trajectory and drag. These two forces inform the design for a house and courtyard. Their interactions with one another along with sunrise and sunset light will be primary form-givers for the project. A supplementary research [to the right] was done alongside the abovementioned focusing on Violet light, also commonly known as the Golden Hour sunlight. This light has a particular characteristic: it happens when the sun is below ten degrees above the horizon [sunrise and sunset]. During this time, daylight travels horizontally through greater depths of the atmosphere and casts longer and dramatic shadows in and out of spaces. One can see how the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;spectacleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; relies on the way the light is being pinched, shaped or capture by the physical constraints of the built environment. With this, the light begins to take a visible form, made up of immaterial matter. The light becomes a volume that inhabits our spaces and transforms with time. It has a degree of quality that interacts sharply with our surroundings.

diagrams

The study models were created in order to demonstrate the ways in which Violet light affects the house and its courtyard. In addition, the models are to show how the two irreconcilable forces, trajectory and drag, are to come in contact in the courtyard and be shaped by the boundary that creates the space. The composite drawings represent a study of the housesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; courtyards and their performing functions as they sit on the Llano Estacado. The application of its surroundings and the local atmosphere affects the way light plays a role in the courtyard, thus illustrating the different events and effects that are expected throughout the year

01 02

House Analysis: Villa M端ller by Adolf Loos | hand-drafted [project completed as a first-year undergraduate student at Texas Tech University]

Bike: 1970s Schwinn Stingray Junior | renovation [project by CRAFT Design]

01 02

House Analysis: Villa M端ller by Adolf Loos | hand-drafted [project completed as a first-year undergraduate student at Texas Tech University]

Bike: 1970s Schwinn Stingray Junior | renovation [project by CRAFT Design]

Villa Müller by Adolf Loos project site | Czech Republic program | house The Villa Müller is a representation of modenist architecture and it illustrates Loos’ ideas of functionality. The objective of this house study is to analyze and research the house in order to understand construction, design, and spatial relationships. Vellum and lead were used as the media for this project. Floor plans, elevations, and isometric drawings are used to portray the house’s analysis.

1970s Schwinn Stingray Junior project | bike renovation by CRAFT Design The Schwinn Stingray Junior was acquired in its original state. (images to the right) And, CRAFT Design took on the project of renovating it. The bike was in a pretty rough state: it was not operational; the metallic blue was peeling and the chrome rusting. So, the intention was to renovate the bike and give it an industrial character. Since some of the parts needed upgrading the initial conceptual design process led to a discussion of the parts to be acquired and/or updated. In addition, hardware and paint were removed in order to be cleaned, polished, and/or repainted. The final customization happened through a process of sand blasting and powder-coating applications. New wheels and tires were updated, and all hardware was polished before reassembly. *primarily helped with the conceptual design and polishing of parts.

Image References of images not taken by Magdalena SofĂa Soto

02 05

pedestrian area: http://ximenava.wordpress.com/ hand-washing area: http://preciod.com/cl/tendedero-suspendido-del-cielo-sistema-de-poleas-o-al-muro-SBdaO/precio-html local merchants: http://casas.mitula.mx/casas/traspaso-negocio-tlalpan weekend get togethers: http://www.tooflynyc.com/life/2012/07/30/nyc-summer-2012-trip-recap/

Schwinn Stingray Junior: left images by seller; right images by CRAFT Design

Magdalena SofĂa Soto M.Arch/MBA Candidate magdalenasofia.soto@gmail.com