PORT FOLIO.
roberts susana a r c h i t e c t
iNDICE /index
Index
Introduction 4 IIN Office Building 6 Miami Institute of Culinary Arts 12
Zacatlan Community Center 24 Zacatlan Playground 34 Chihuahua Museum of Abstract Art 42 House 26 48 Personal Information 52
Introduction
In this portfolio I have listed the most important projects I worked on during my five year college degree in Architecture. The first project I worked on and completed during my first official job at LAbor Studio is also featured. Overall, I have focused on being a professional with the highest level of commitment to my work, focusing in the creation of an environmentaly friendly architecture, learning and taking advantage from traditional building styles.
5.
iin office building Location: Chihuahua City, México Collaborator: Rocío Rodríguez
The IIN Building is a project of a complex of office spaces for lease, located in the downtown area of the city of Chihuahua, Mexico, due to the great demand of projects of this kind. The building is located on the streets Irigoyen St., Independencia Ave. and Nicolas Bravo St. Hence the name, IIN. The program includes exterior and interior public spaces, underground parking space, a restaurant area and office leasing space in the different levels.
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Plot localization. Site is surrounded by a main city avenue on the front and by two narrow streets on the sides
Downtown Chihuahua is easily recognized for its over-abundance of automobiles and the lack of quality public space. For this reason, the project proposes to satisfy this need and provide the office worker as well as the pedestrian with a relaxing area in the middle of the city center. The inclusion of a restaruant area ensures the building will generate activity and movement during the night as well, even when the office space has been emptied.
Concept and zone divisioning diagrams.
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First proposal volumetrics.
Space distribution schematics.
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The project opens up a central plaza, clearing the ground floor for use. With the intention of creating additional office space, a volume floats over the plaza, incorporating structural emphasis and creating a more intimate public space below. The vertical circulations are centralized, giving each office space for lease privacy and isolation.
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The floating volume signals a secondary access point on Irigoyen Street, giving the project a second point of interest and a means of releif at peak hours. The materials used are modular in nature, and consist of corrugated and colored aluminum paneling. Plans species native to the region are used for landscaping, none of them requiring intensive care.
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The levels of the building are totally isolated from each other and offer enclosed and private spaces of different sizes to accomodate the needs of the possible clients. On the upper levels lie rooftop gardens, providing the user with a second shared space and providing the area with additional green life that mitigates the characteristical pollution of downtown Chihuahua. Project floor levels.
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MIAMI INSTITUTE OF CULINARY ARTS
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Location: Miami, Florida. USA. Collaborators: S. Ram铆rez, R. Arag贸n, A. Ayub
Miami City map and location od the project.
Miami Institute of Culinary Arts is located in the north area of the city of Miami; an area with a remarkable Latino identity due to the great number of Argentinian immigrants that have settled there. This zone, however, is also victim of social problems such as abandonment, vandalism and vagrants. The motive of this project is bringing this area back to life and provide the community with an element of common identity. The building lies in a block on Ocean Terrace Avenue, in other times planned as a highway connecting the whole of the city that unfortunately was never finished. However, the site boasts a fair quantity of Art Deco buildings, several family businesses with decades of history, and a relatively important Days Inn Hotel.
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Skyline of Ocean Terrace Ave.
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Since the location is a historic heritage site, a normative requirement for the project is the preservation of at least one third of the existing buildings in the block. Because of this, the project was developed in the interior of the block, respecting the surrounding buildings and their exterior facades, opening up the interior of the block to pedestrian traffic and creating a point of interest and social interaction.
Mappings of Miami showing shapes and main roads.
For the development of the project height restrictions and floor area ratio were taken into account, along with mappings of the area and diagrams showing points of interest in the surroundings. The map of the city was analyzed at a great scale, getting interesting shapes from the islands, roads and main green spaces within it.
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Mapping process concluded, the concepts explored and design elements obtained were condensed in four different models, each one exploring a different aspect of design such as geometry, repetition, connections and intervals. The design process continued with the elaboration of a final scale model where the ideas explored in the previous four were condensed and combined with the general design guidelines: to provide walkable public space and a landmark of identity for the community.
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The result of the process is a Culinary Arts School that creates its own identity, respecting the historical character of the area at the same time. The program includes several practical and theoretical classrooms, a library both for student and public use, a cafeteria and dining area, an art gallery, night restaurants, an area for street markets within the main corridor, and parking spaces for teaching staff and students. Colorful red bridges connect the two main buildings and allow access to the premises from street level.
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Access bridge to the complex in central corridor.
North access to central corridor.
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South access to central corridor.
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Central view of pedestrian main corridor.
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Main elevator lobby at school area.
Public library overlooking central corridor.
Practical gastronomy kitchen-classroom.
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Hydroponic vegetable garden on roof terrace.
The building features low-maintenance exterior finishes, adaptable to be close to the sea. The louvered faรงade prevents excesive solar incidence but takes advantage of the views at the same time. Finally, interior finishes--polished concrete floors, clean plaster walls--keep coherent wit the exterior, and consist of simple, natural materials with high durability and resistance.
23.
ZACATLAN COMMUNITY CENTER
Current conditions of site.
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Location: Zacatlán, Puebla, México Collaborator: Sarah Ramírez
Zacatlán Community Center is a complex of ball courts and sport facilities located on the outskirts of the town of Zacatlán, Puebla. Disuse and lack of publicity have rendered this complex practically abandonned. Because of this, local authorities saw the possibility of creating a public pool as an addition to the existing facilities in order to increase use and meet the needs of the people. The small town of Zacatlán is known as a “Magical Town” in México, which acredits it as a historically and turistically important site. Being located next to a ravine and a clear water river, the town also possesses enviable natural beauty and a very comfortable weather almost all year round. Both characteristics were taken into account for the design of the project.
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The topographic conditions of the place, the San Juan River, and the general geometric layout of the city were major design elements for the development of the project. The volumetry of the resulting building attempts to sintetize these elements with a creative concept of envelopement, cristalization and movement that captures in the architectural form the escence of Zacatlรกn as a whole.
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Area distribution and circulations.
Since the construction of a pool involves major excavations, and the zone height restriction prevents the construction of a large building, it was decided that space could be optimized playing with heights and half levels. In this way, a better use of the space can be accomplished, along with better distributive circulations.
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The appearance of the building responds to the appearance of Zacatlan: a body with a cut out part on one of its sides, to simbolize the deel ravine next to the town. The interior pool and the use of blue colored crystal in the fenestrations simbolize San Juan river. In order to prevent heat gain resulting from direct sunlight in the interior, the south and east faรงades have been closed off, sporting minimal fenestrations.
View of the entire facilities.
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The exterior materials are natural and require little maintenance: rusted steel paneling on the outside of the building and concrete in different colors for paving. It is important to mention that the main window is oriented to the north, which allows for natural light but prevents direct sunrays from entering the building.
North great window.
South and east faรงades.
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Left, from top to bottom: Floor plan Level -1, Floor plan Level 1, Floor plan Level 2. Right: Section A.
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A high vestibule on ground level makes interior space distribution efficient and simple, allowing acess to the pool and dressing rooms on an underground level, or to the cafeteria and terrace up on the rooftop.
Access as seen from pool level.
Roof cafeteria with terrace view.
32.
View from access lobby.
View of terrace skylight over pool.
33.
zacatlan playground
Another project located in the town of Zacatlán, Puebla, this time in the historic downtown area. Presently, the site is used as a children’s playgound, though in dire need of repair. Access to the playground is possible from the historic buildings that surround it: an old convent and a barroque temple. The initial state of the site showed a children’s playground park withouth landscaping design, no discernible space separation,
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Location: Zacatlán, Puebla, México Collaborator: Sarah Ramírez
and not enough infrastructure to accomodate the number of users. The rennovation of this place is, deductively, a matter of vital importance for the global appearance of Zacatlán. Among the preservable elements in the site is an antique rosestone fountain in the near center of the park. The design sets off from this fountain, and the space distribution revolves around it and gives it due emphasis.
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Zoning and access diagrams.
In the same way, access is possible from the streets that enclose the park from south and east, both pedestrian corridors. In total, the site boasts three access points with heavy flow and one (from the temple) less used.
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The program includes a seating area in the center of the site, from which parents can keep an eye on their young; a pond cojoined with the antique fountain sporting acuatic plants that children can see and learn from; two playground areas divided by age, and two planting zones that wrap around the park a give it privacy from the outside.
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Sitting area for parents.
Playground for children from 3 to 6 years old.
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Pond and fountain during the night.
Local plant species are used exclusively in the landscaping desing, ensuring low maintenance and long life. Circulation, seating and playing areas are clearly marked by their surface materials: concrete for circulation area, wood for seating areas and gravel for the playgrounds. The playgound infrastructure itself was designed with the children’s ages in mind, separating kids from 3 to 6 years of age to one zone and kids from 6 and older to another. The lighting design plays with sphetical and colorful elements in the pond and fountain area, with the intention of stimulating the children’s minds and of making the park a safe, well ilumintated place at night.
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In the playground area for children of 6 years and older, a climbing wall has been designed as a part of the playing infrastructure, that the child can explore and incorporate to his games. Openings framing interesing views in this 60cm thick wall become perfect hiding spots for children.
40.
The main access to the park runs paralell to the water fountain and ends at the play wall on the far end of the site. To keep visual contamination to a minimum, the pre-existing lightposts have been preseved, but all new additional lighting is installed on the floor.
41.
chihuahua museum of abstr art
Project located in downtown Chihuahua. The plot on which the building lies is at present time used as a parking lot. Due to the lack of spaces specifically designed for artistic appreciation in the city, the creation of a new museum is a need both imminent and unavoidable. The plot also boasts a great height difference, having an elevation of close to 20 feet above the ground on its north end. From this heigh dilemma springs the idea of playing with the building’s levels, making the complex accessible both from the high and the lower points.
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Location: Chihuahua, Chih. M茅xico Colllaborator: Rodrigo Arag贸n
The grand scheme for the project shows a semi-subterranean volume that plays with different entrances of natural light. The main access to the building is marked and sheltered by a great protuding volume in cantilever, which creates a very recognizable landmark. The half levels in the building create a circular tour for the galleries, in which the visitor does not have to pass the same place twice, and can easily walk in and out without interfering with other users. On the underground levels the building hides a restaurant iluminated by a trans-level skylight. This area can be easily used for private events, since access to galleries can be closed off, isolating the restaurant from the rest of the museum.
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The detonating idea for the volumetric shape of the project has its origin in a Design Workshop of one week of time, where site characteristics and metaphorical concepts were explored. At the end of this workshop two very abstrac models were produced, from which notable elements and interesting forms were rescued. These were consodilated in a final scale model, where metaphors and forms are translated in more realistic terms.
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Top: Temporary exhibit gallery. Middle: Underground restaurant.
Bottom: Light “chimney”
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Access lobby.
The museum contains three levels with interconnected galleries, an isolated gallery for temporary exhibitions, a restaurant and an auditorium. The areas in the museum are properly separated, which allows for different activities to take place in them without risk of interference.
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house 26
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Location: Chihuahua, Chih. MĂŠxico Collaborator: Saray Hermosillo
House located in Chihuahua, on the top of a hill overlooking the city. The beautiful views this entails were from get go an important design point. Another matter for consideration was the total separation of public areas (kitchen, living and dining room) from private ones (bedrooms). Since views were of vital importance, it was decided to allocate public spaces on the second level of the house, being the areas where the
users spend most of their time. The three bedrooms, though not having panoraminc views of the city for being on the ground floor, are benefited with the tranquility and beauty of an interior garden to which all have access. These spaces are separated by means of a vestibule between ground and second level, which every visitor must pass through before being able to enter the house.
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Floor plan Level 1, where all private areas are located.
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Floor plan Level 2, containing kitchen, dining area, living room and TV room.
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personal info
Susana C. Roberts mobile. 469 297 6252 320 Sandlewood Lane Euless, TX