Portfolio - 2025 by nazmendoza27

Progression of Time: The Decline of the Mottled Duck

Spring 2024

The mottled duck population, once thriving in the freshwater of the Baytown Peninsula, is now moving further into saltwater due to water contamination. This pollution, primarily caused by nearby industries and the Houston Ship Channel, is not only affecting the ducks but also harming their food sources and the surrounding plant life.

To address this issue, we propose the installation of a Gaia device— an innovative solution designed to restore the habitat and improve water quality. This device will help cleanse the water, create healthier environments, and provide new, sustainable homes for the ducks, supporting the restoration of the local ecosystem.

Primary Contaminants

Impacts Map

Contamination

Contributing Factors

The contamination on the Baytown Peninsula occurs in six phases. The first phase involves land subsidence due to channelization and industrial development, disrupting the natural landscape. In the second phase, flooding and erosion cause the loss of vegetation, leading to turbid water. This degrades water quality and reduces food sources for ducks, forcing them to leave the area.

Impacts Narrative

Patch and Structure Model

First Six Months

First Year

Two Years

Consecutive Years

Expansion phases of the proposed Gaia Device

Section

Kitchen

Outdoor Patio

Bathroom

1. Entrance 2. Outdoor Workspace 3. Laboratory 4. Storage 5. Loading Docks

The A.R.C at Harrisburg

Fall 2024

The A.R.C., located at the Harrisburg Art Museum site in the Lockwood Corridor, aims to transform an underused space into a cultural landmark celebrating East End history and local art. The design includes public areas, exhibition halls, classrooms, a coffee shop, and a history exhibit on the ground floor. The second floor features classrooms, artist exhibitions, and an outdoor space with sunlight balance. The third floor houses a library with art books and a small gallery for student art. Sustainable features like solar panels, LED lighting, and rainwater recycling minimize environmental impact. The A.R.C. serves as a hub for culture, education, and artistic expression, connecting the community through art and history.

Proposed Site: Harrisburg Blvd.

Cultural Corridor in the Bridging Communities Masterplan (Pg. 55-56)

Massing square footage Create main entry points Add circulation between masses Subtract to create an indoor-outdoor relationship

“Harrisburg Grounds” Lockwood Corridor

1. History Exhibit

2. Coffee Shop

3. Museum Shop

4. Shop Storage

5. Restrooms

6. Lobby

7. Main Exhibit

8. Curation+Restoration

9. Artwork Storage

10. Lecture Space

11. Classrooms

12. Children’s Area

Coffee shop + History Exhibit

Exhibit Space

Linearity in Spaces 03

Fall 2023

Precedent Analysis

Thaden School / Marlon Blackwell Architects

We began by studying a precedent design that used linearity and simple rectangular forms. Based on our site analysis, we created guiding lines that helped shape a mass diagram, which was then adjusted to fit the building’s required square footage.

To address flooding concerns, the main programs are located on the second floor. The roof design draws inspiration from the precedent’s angled shape but is made steeper to allow for skylights, providing natural light to the second floor.

The building is strategically placed for easy access from two main streets. The program design incorporates elements from nearby shops and businesses, aiming to provide communal resources that better serve the surrounding neighborhood.

Proposed Site: 5130 Bellaire Blvd

The studio site is located at 5130 Bellaire Blvd, on the site of an abandoned Randall’s store positioned between two major intersections. This project focuses on adaptive reuse, repurposing the original structural wall of the former store to form the foundation of the new design, preserving elements of the existing building while integrating them into a fresh, functional space.

01 SOLID MASS

Rectangular mass with required sqft

03 ROTATE

To align to the site

BREEZEWAYS CUTAWAYS

Design system used by precedent

05 FIT TO SITE

Indicate connection to site

04 ROTATE PROGRAMS

Compress programs together to create form

06 GRID SYSTEM

Finding linearity and system to design

10. Library 11. Study Rooms 12. Meeting Rooms

13. Restrooms

14. Mechanical Rooms

15. Children’s Library

16. Art Studio

17. Art Library

18. Music Rooms

DETAIL

Chunck Oblique

Interior Library

Structural Oblique

Room City 04

Spring 2022

This project is located directly across from the Menil Drawing Institute. Room City explores the relationship between interior and exterior spaces by examining the key elements that define a room. These elements were extracted and reimagined to create new forms of urban and public experiences. The design process began with a precedent study, where we examined how rooms are typically expressed. After analyzing factors such as circulation, program arrangement, and form, we moved on to develop two distinct alterations. Following this exploration, we focused on one of the alterations, refining it to create the concept of a “city within a room,” blending architectural and urban elements into a cohesive, dynamic space.