Selected Works by
Oscar Avila
Statement of Purpose Oscar Avila | MArch
I am applying to the Master of Architecture program at Texas A&M with the desire to earn a professional degree and take part in an experience that will expand my knowledge of the profession and will contribute to my eventual goal of becoming a licensed architect. Throughout my undergraduate studies in the Texas A&M College of Architecture, I realized that while projects initially seemed very open and subjective, which at times was frustrating, this was not necessarily a negative aspect. This eventually led to a fascination within me regarding the thought and production behind the projects. While the overview and site was the same for everyone, each individual produced different ideas that were drastically different in terms of how the problems and requirements were approached, which led to projects with distinct characteristics ranging from their interior circulation to their location on the site. Similarly, these ideas garnered a wide variety of responses and opinions from the individuals that would review them. This eventually led me to realize that as designers, we do not have identical ideas and philosophies, yet we have to work together to create a project that addresses the requirements. While it may not be a perfect solution in the eyes of every single person, it is still a product that was a result of lots of thought and discourse among various individuals and disciplines. This fascination is what is fueling my desire to pursue a professional degree and expand my knowledge. The discourse that I will be involved in at the graduate level is something that I am certain will expand my views of the profession and further shape me into an individual that can go out into the world and have the same conversations in a professional setting with others in order to address the contextual issues that we are presented with. When researching the program, I noticed the recent acceptance to the Integrated Path to Architectural Licensure Initiative, which is something that caught my attention and has interested me throughout the entire process of applying. The program’s acceptance to this initiative, making it the first in the state to do so, along with the arrival of a new department head in Dr. Gregory Luhan, let me know that this is a program that is looking to grow and expand into something that can undoubtedly be one of the top programs in the nation and can be an excellent representative of the largest student body in the United States. Naturally, as someone that is looking to grow as an individual and expand their knowledge, this growth by the program is something that I would like to contribute to and take part in. Outside of the classroom, I was a member of AIAS as an undergraduate student, which allowed me to volunteer my time by being involved in the mentorship and career fair committees. These opportunities are something that I am glad to have experienced as I was able to expand outside of the studio and contribute to something greater than myself. Whether it was connecting many students to the professional world as the Career Fair Director, or providing advice and guidance as a mentor, it was a very rewarding experience knowing that I was able to help others in a genuine manner, and this is something that I hope to continue as a graduate student.
Contents 1 Belvedere ARCH 305
2 Light Tower ENDS 106
3 Confounding Intersections ARCH 205
4 Generosity ARCH 205
5 Inner Harbor Marina & Hotel ARCH 405
6 18 x 18 x 36 ARCH 406
Belvedere ARCH 305 Critic: Miguel Roldan Collaboration with Rodrigo Matas
The city of Barcelona is a domain of multiple levels. In contrast, the Parc de la Ciutadella consists of only a ground level, with the two multistory spots being the fountain and the water deposit. Our project aims to expand the levels of the city into the park by organizing spaces in a way in which there are multiple levels and platforms. Through these various levels, the visitor is liberated from a singular view, and now has the freedom to experience the park from multiple perspectives. Inversely, there is also an inner to outer expansion, as the platforms and roof of the existing museum have been converted into green areas, which creates an extension of the park towards the city.
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+10.25
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Lounge
Level 2 1:250
Cafe Terrace
+6.00
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Level 1 1:250
Library Study & Reading Conference & Lecture
+1.00
0.25 +0.25 Exhibition Polyvalent
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Theater Administration
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Level 0 1:250
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Light Tower ENDS 106 Critic: Julie Rogers
After establishing the client of the light tower as a guitarist, the form and material choice was based around the lifestyle of the client. The tower is comprised of five individual vertical elements, which symbolize the fingers used by the client to perform on their instrument, while also representing the spectrum of musical notes from high to low. The wood used as the exterior material, along with the different colors and shapes, represent the construction of the instrument itself, while the metallic elements are reminiscent of the frets and other hardware on the instrument.
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Confounding Intersections ARCH 205 Critic: Shawn Lutz
Through the exploration of what can be achieved through the manipulation and boolean intersection of many different extrusions, what was quickly found was that the amount of outcomes were endless, which therefore prompted a question to better guide the direction of the project: what can be achieved by transforming 3 symmetrical and angular extrusions? Taking the question even further, this resulted in the search for a form that can become asymmetrical from something that is originally symmetrical, while also creating interior spaces and apertures through which a person can navigate through. To undergo this process, the chosen shapes were a square, rhombus, and hexagon, 3 shapes that adhere to the symmetry and angularity previously mentioned.
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Generosity ARCH 205 Critic: Shawn Lutz
The Menil Campus, located within a neighborhood on the outskirts of Houston, is a site that aims to have serenity and tranquility, rather than be enveloped by the chaos and daily hassle of a large city. When considering this, the goal of the project was to create a digital media and art appreciation center on the southside of the campus that did not disrupt this tranquility . Therefore, a question arose: How can an object derived from a boolean process, which clearly has its own distinct character, be used in order to create a building that not only takes full advantage of the geometries and conditions of the object, but also remains generous to the site itself?
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1. Galleries 2. Theater 3. Cafe 4. Staff Offices 5. Restroom 6. Back of House 7. Storage 8. Electrical and Mechanical 9. Studios
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Inner Harbor Marina & Hotel ARCH 405 Critic: Koichiro Aitani Collaboration with Rodrigo Matas
Located in the heart of Baltimore, the project aims to integrate and merge multiple characteristics of the city and become a new center of attraction. With the harbor just a few meters away, the first level houses a yacht & marina club. Above it, the restaurant offers and serves seafood dishes which are a staple of the city. The upper levels consist of a high-end boutique hotel with the best possible views of the downtown area and the surrounding waters. Along with the sailing and seafood aspects, Baltimore has also been a large center of art for many years. To accomodate this, a large exterior area was created between the second and third floors. This space serves not only as an area for installations and showcases by artists, but also as a barrier between the large public areas below and the quiet, intimate rooms above.
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Structure Grid
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18 x 18 x 36 ARCH 406 Critic: Marcel Erminy
The project revolves around the idea of an 18x18x36 meter grid, and how a solution for the program can be approached and achieved while being respectful of these conditions. After deciding on continuing with a library as the main program and taking into consideration that the site was a corner condition, the idea of a cascading stair was developed. This stair acts as an intermediary that affects both interior and exterior by providing a unique journey through the library itself, while also wrapping around the corner and creating a break in the facade, which helps not only aesthetically but also functionally as it allows for the entrances to be made clear, which is especially important in a corner condition as there are two visible sides rather than one.
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Underground
Second Floor
Fourth Floor 33
First Floor
Third Floor
Fifth Floor 34
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Oscar Avila Austin, TX 512-903-7125 oscar.avila384@gmail.com @oscaravila13
ACTIVITIES AIAS
• Member, October 2018-May 2021 • Mentorship Program, October 2018-May 2021
EDUCATION Texas A&M University • August 2017-May 2021 • GPA: 3.619 Barcelona Architecture Center • August 2019-December 2019
• Career Fair Subcommittee, October 2018-February 2019 • Contacted firms and helped set up the Texas A&M College of Architecture Career Fair
• 2019-20 Career Fair Firm Liaison
• Was in charge of reservations and helped with coordination and organization on the days of the career fair.
• 2020-21 Career Fair Director
• Organized the Texas A&M Department of Architecture Virtual Career Fair in collaboration with the AIAS career fair subcommittee and handled details such as setting up the online platform and monitoring it to ensure that registrations were processed.
SKILLS
AWARDS
• Rhino
Celebration Of Excellence, 2018 & 2019
• Illustrator
• Projects selected to be showcased at the Texas A&M College of Architecture’s annual Celebration of Excellence.
• Indesign • Revit • AutoCAD • V-Ray
Regents’ Scholarship • Awarded to 900 first-generation students at Texas A&M. Sherrye & Joe Bass ‘83 Study Abroad Scholarship Global Opportunity Fund William Henry Fowler Scholarship Michael G. Meyers Memorial Scholarship
EXPERIENCE Amazon Warehouse Associate, June-August 2019 • Worked in a fast-paced supply chain environment. My roles consisted of moving and sorting packages to ensure they were delivered on time.
Thank You