R.G.
UNDERGRADUATE PORTFOLIO
THE CONCRETE ARCH Freshman Year Material Exploration Studio Proposal: Designing space & structure Faculty: Christopher Romano Group Members: Alexandra N. Coop, Matthew Dellehunt, Ryan Hughes, Edgar Martinez, Giovanni Perez & Peter Urban Won award for Most Structural
In this semester we worked with an assigned material, concrete. Our installation spanned thirty feet across our studio and stood ten feet high, and provided an enclosure for our group of eight students. Through numerous efforts of trial and error, we were able to design an aggregate mixture of concrete bringing the overall weight (per bay) down by 35%.
process work /
We designed a system that would be able to resist the tension of both concrete members leaning on each other by casting a plywood joint within the concrete. Pouring the first mixture resulted in a total weight of 536 lbs/beam. After substituting rocks found in the concrete mixture with ground blue insulation foam and fiberglass, we achieved a final weight of 360 lbs/beam. Left: preliminary study models, Bottom Left: concrete casts being poured, Middle: joint connection, Bottom right: trowel designed to smooth out casts.
final assembly /
DEFYING THE HORIZONTAL Study Abroad Studio in Barcelona, Spain Proposal: Inversion Pavilion Faculty: Dennis Maher & Nerea Feliz
This semester studied the process of inversion through a series of graphic collages and mixed media explorations. The project began with studying Mies van Der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion. Inversion began by taking Mies’ methodologies for space making and material usage then degrading its appearance, spatial qualities, and form.
process work /
Through the porcess of collage the Mie’s intentional horizontality emerged. thus pushing my project to explore vertically, in efforts to invert his intentions.
final proposal /
These images were taken in Barcelona during our final review. This studio pushed me to expand my graphic and spatial lens. The model was built in order to understand the overall composition of the layered curtains. Left: final review pin-up, Bottom: layered model hung from ceiling
The horizontality of the pavilion disappears as towers rise, suspending mesh curtains expressing a tall, airy, and unstable structure.
final proposal /
THE WEL Senior Comprehensive & Competition Studio Proposal: Artist Colony, Studio & Exhibition Space Faculty: Annette Lecuyer Group Member: Andre Assis [andreass@buffalo.edu] Finalist for Senior Competition
Located in Allentown Buffalo, the facility augments the thriving arts community. This urban art colony includes apartments for residential fellowships of 1-3 months, together with studio spaces for both fellows and local artists. The south-facing living units, together with a rooftop bar and terrace for the artists who live and work in the building, are situated along Allen Street, while open plan flexible studio floors face the north. A triple-height entrance lobby on Allen Street leads to a ground level public cafe and a skylit atrium at the heart of the building, where a monumental stair leading to public galleries on the second floor also serves as an informal auditorium for performances and events. The atrium, dividing the living and studio zones, links the public spaces on the lower levels with private realm on upper floors. Open stairs crisscross the void, so that artists pass back and forth through the atrium as they move between their dwellings and workspaces. The site cast concrete building, like a daylight factory, has a robust industrial character. Panels of stainless steel mesh veil the north and south faces of the atrium, providing artists with privacy, while allowing views into the public realm. The west atrium wall flanking the vertical circulation core is a hydroponic green wall, which helps to filter air in the building. The Main Street facade of the studio block likewise has stainless steel mesh external sunshading, while on Allen Street, the more open residential facade is defined by an exposed site cast concrete wrapper and recessed glazing.
final proposal /
final proposal /
final proposal /
final proposal /
RAHUL GHERA rahulghera@gmail.com 917.566.6635 EDUCATION
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Bachelor of Science, expected May 15, 2015 Major: Architecture Minor: Urban Planning & Environmental Design
STUDY ABROAD
University at Buffalo, School of Architecture and Planning – Studio Seminar Barcelona, Summer 2014 People to People – Student Ambassador Australia, Summer 2007
AWARDS
Student Academic Excellence Award – Sustainable Design University at Buffalo, April 2015 • Nominated by faculty from the Architecture & Planning Department • Awarded for research work on an Independent Study supervised by Harry Warren UB-NOMAS Poster Challenge University at Buffalo, Architecture & Planning Department, March 2015 • Awarded best poster design for a featured lecturer visiting the university The Chairs Scholarship University at Buffalo, Architecture & Planning Department, February 2015 • Recognized for design excellence amongst external and internal applicants
SKILLS & ABILITIES BEG
SPECIAL PROJECTS
NOMA Competition Challenge – New Orleans, Claiborne Corridor Rehab National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS), January 2015 – Present • Competition Director: responsible for scheduling, assigning work & delivering final proposals
950 Broadway & The Outsource Center – Clinic, Office & Residence Proposal Independent Study, January 2015 – May 2015 • Working under the supervision of Harry Warren to repurpose an abandoned building • Deals with superimposing program requirements from three clients • Final work presented to the clients and a community meeting in order to arrange for funding
Net Zero – Energy Urban Residential Design Independent Study, August 2014 – December 2014 • Working under the supervision of Karen Tashjian to design a sustainable Live/Work environment • Synthesizing a modest footprint while providing space for public and private events • Challenging the status quo of traditional urban housing • Developing the foundation for upcoming thesis
Drawing Against Gravity – Gallery Exhibition Architecture Elective Course, Fall 2013 • Working under the supervision of Dennis Maher • Intensive research and graphic studies of conceptual structural manifestations, under a gravitational lens • Final productions were displayed at Glow Gallery in Buffalo, NY
The WEL – Artist Colony Design Senior Comprehensive Studio, August 2014 – December 2014 • Working under the supervision of Annette Lecuyer • Challenged to design Live/Work units along with a grand public space • Finalist during Senior competition
ORGANIZATIONS
EXP
AUTOCAD RHINO VRAY / FLAMINGO GRASSHOPPER REVIT PHOTOSHOP, ILLUSTRATOR & INDESIGN MICROSOFT WORD, EXCEL & POWERPOINT SPANISH HINDI SINDHI
UB-NOMAS – Competition Director National Organization of Minority Architecture Students (NOMAS), January 2015 – Present