Portfolio - Tomas Quaglia

Tomás Quaglia

Master of Architecture in Urban Design | Harvard GSD

Selected Works 2016 - 2023

Urban Design | Ecology | Architecture | Research

This portfolio exhibits my recent work in architecture and urban design, both academic and professional. Ranging from a large, territorial scale to a small, unit scale, these projects address the issues of borders within cities, urban regeneration and resilience, focusing on the potential of neglected and undervalued elements of the city.

The majority of the world’s population lives in cities. A decade ago, the urban global population exceeded 50 percent, and is currently in continuous expansion. It is therefore necessary to formulate answers to this rapid growth.

description

Connecting Borders

Urban River Restoration towards an Integrated City

2017 - 2019

Thesis Project

Suquía River, Córdoba, Argentina

In collaboration with Emilia Darricades - Ana Isaía

Agustín

Berzero - Adolfo Mondéjar

For many years, rivers were a source of transportation and power that defined the foundation of cities. But, as cities became industrialized, urban rivers suffered important alterations in their biophysical structure, which became more evident in industrial and post-industrial periods. In many cases, they turned into polluted banks, they were deflected, covered, buried underground and forgotten. Urban rivers are essential for the foundation of cities and have several characteristics that make them one of the most important means of change and transformation.

River recovery projects proved to be a fundamental tool for a complete urban renovation, while stimulating functional and integrated community spaces. Urban rivers should be restored considering their natural condition and memory with a water sensitive approach. This way, cities can recover urban green spaces, reduce the risk of flooding and increase biodiversity.

In Córdoba, Suquía River has a great potential; it crosses the city from West to East having a direct impact on a large part of the urban population (58% live less than one mile away from the water course). Under this position, we proceeded to identify the needs and characteristics of the different areas located on both sides of the river in order to define the possible activities and infrastructures of each sector. The Suquía River is a border in the heart of the city. Our goal is to regenerate that missing piece towards an integrated city of Córdoba.

Distinguished Project, International Biennale of Architecture of Argentina, 2018.

Honorable Mention, Degree Final Project Competition: Rethinking Architecture.

Honorable Mention, Tamayouz Excellence Award: International Graduation Projects.

suquía river /

Integrates Urban Ecosystems

Green areas of Córdoba are usually disconnected, and not linked to the network of public spaces, making them inaccessible to citizens. Suquía River is an axis with the potential to integrate all these spaces and reduce pollution, create environmental awareness, preserve native species and generate different cultural, learning and observation scenarios.

Suquía River

Native Forest

Grass / Pasture

Parks

Sensorial

Urban farming

Wetlands

Resilence / Floods

Resilence / Floods

Wetlands

Urban farming

Sensorial

Parks

Grass / Pasture

Native Forest

Integration of urban green spaces Recovery of vegetation and biodiversity

Connecting the ecological network of green spaces throughout the city. This area represent more than 9m2 for every citizen, as suggested by the WHO.

Definition of multiple land uses and vegetation for a diverse ecological system.

Recovery the river to its natural condition, removing concrete canals, which extend for 3 miles.

Development of multiple tools to control floods and other risks. Devices to Resist, Delay, Store, Discharge.

Suquía River

Promotes Urban Development

The recovery and renovation of the Suquía River means that proprieties values in surrounding areas will rise. It also generates interest in private investors to develop projects around the river, and causes a renewal of the nearby urban fabric, often degraded.

Renovation

Density

Infrastuctures

Institutions

Institutions

Infrastuctures

Densifty

Renovation

suquía river /

Supports Sustainable Mobility

Suquía River crosses the city from West to East, through the highest urban growth areas. That represents a great opportunity for the development of a sustainable mobility axis articulated with the existing transport systems.

CONCEPT

Borders are spaces for interaction

Usually, in urban design the focus is the center of cities, neglecting the borders. Borders, in nature, are areas of an habitat where organisms become more interactive, due to the encounter of different species or physical conditions. The border contains more energy than the inside. Taking advantage of this in the design of cities is crucial to create spaces for interaction that encourage the integration of the urban population.

Upper way: New sustainable mobility system

Lower path: Reaching the water and public space

Large, Medium, Small

The plan is developed through three different scales. [Large]: Territorial study of the entire river across 18 miles. [Medium]: “Priority Projects”, areas where solutions are needed more urgently, with the potential of being major projects of the system. [Small]: “Tool Box”, which contains a series of devices that solve particular issues and that respond to actions such as use, connect, reach, store, clean and resist.

P2

Infiernillo Canal

P1 San Martín Natural Reserve

Flux & Transition

Waterfront Development in South Boston

2021

Academic Work - Harvard GSD

Boston, MA

in collaboration with Zhihan Wang

tutors Stephen Gray, Rahul Mehrotra

Flux & Transition understands the site’s potential to complete the Emerald Necklace by proposing a “Waterfront Bracelet” of continuous open spaces and public programs. The urban fabric is designed to have a gradual transition from South Boston, with a low residential density, and Seaport, with a rising density and mixed use configuration, gradually growing in density, diversity of programs, accessibility and ecological function of open spaces.

Our proposal is based on transitions. From South Boston to Seaport, from land to water, from port and industrial use to residential neighborhoods. First, the transition from South Boston to Seaport. In order to have a gradual transition from South Boston, with a low residential density, and Seaport, with a rising density and mixed use configuration, the new housing units gradually grow in density and diversity of programs. . The open space axis, on the left, goes from public space in the south to ecological restoration closer to the water. In the urban fabric axis, on the right, we propose a gradient from neighborhood to urban program and density.

These strategies are intersected by a new axis on the first street, including a light train system for a fast connection to downtown, and it is also intersected by the new waterfront pathway, which we call the waterfront bracelet. Throughout the waterfront, the bracelet considers the post industrial identity of the site, with some remaining structures like electrical grids and cranes, and combines them with new programs, like markets, playgrounds and stations.

Knot Charleston

ULI Hines Competiton Mixed Use Development

2023

Competition - WINNER

North Charleston, SC

with Youngsoo Yang, Emily Johansen, Ben Parker, Rachaya W.

General design, Axonometric, Diagrams, User Profiles

For the past 100 years, the western shore of the Cooper River has been a military and industrial center, lined with working docks and the Naval Shipyard. In the next 100 years, shifting economies and emerging technologies will continue to change the nature of work, transportation, and energy. North Charleston should be ready to capitalize on the opportunity to turn these 7 miles of waterfront into vibrant, dense, mixed-use urban development & parkland that beautifies the city, preserves the character of existing neighborhoods, and creates homes & jobs. This will be North Charleston’s new downtown, its postcard waterfront, the thriving heart of a thriving city

Knot Charleston will become a new community hub for North Charleston, where neighbors from different parts of the city can get together to take advantage of the community benefits and amenities on the site. The site is also located in the city’s former industrial axis. The Knot mantains that identity while incorporating mixed uses and diverse programs, tied together through a food loop that connects existing and future establishments. Finally, in the urcentain future due to climate change, the site has a key role in ensuring a resilient ruban development of North Charleston. The Knot integrates the ecological corridors and incorpores them into the mixed use development.

The Knot is a new vision for complete living in North Charleston, tied together by food. Drawing on the highest aspirations of LEED, WELL, and the Living Community Challenge, this mixed-used project synthesizes these certifications with the city’s unique context to create a well-connected, affordable, and enriching place to live for generations.

awards Winner - Urban Land Institute (ULI) Hines Competition 2023

The Knot aerial view from the Cooper River

Regional Vision

Riverwalk Section

Climate Action in Latin America

IDB Publication for the C40 Cities Summit

2022

Research - Publication for the Inter American Development Bank

C40 World Mayors Summit 2022 in Buenos Aires, Argentina

Felipe Vera (PM) Rolando Girodengo, Tanushri Dalmiya, Aimen Fatima Publication Layout, Research, Tables, Diagrams

Latin America and the Caribbean is the second most urbanized region in the world, with 81% of the population living in urban areas1. This high urbanization rate has led to an increased demand for transportation, higher production of waste, and overconsumption of fossil fuels for energy purposes that include electricity generation, building construction, and industrial processes. LAC contributes to less than 10% of the global greenhouse emissions that predominantly stem from agriculture, land-use and forestry sectors - which together account for almost fifty percent of emissions across the region - while cities produce one-third of regional emissions2. In turn, LAC is among the regions most challenged by climate change, being exposed to climatic shocks such as floods, storms, and heatwaves hitting particularly the most vulnerable groups3. The approach to combating the climate crisis has largely involved mitigation efforts, calling for attention to adaptation strategies.

This report constitutes a first effort in providing an overview of the current sectoral greenhouse gas emissions generated by the region, the main climate challenges and the capacity of cities to lead transformative climate action. It builds on from the climate action plans of cities with most available information and evaluates their country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), bringing an interesting approach to turn the global goals of the Paris Agreement into implementable actions at all scales.

Summary of results and strategies of selected case studies

Comparison of NDCs and mitigation strategies of all countries in Latin America

Urban Water Intelligence

Office of Urban Resilience (ORU) Catalog of Solutions

2022

Research - Open Access Website

Mexico and LATAM

Supervised by Adriana Chavez, Elena Tudela and Victor Rico (ORU)

Research, Website Design, Mapping, Content Development

In Latin America, the global urbanization process occurs at an accelerated rate: more than 80% of the population lives in cities. The urban development of this region usually occurs without considering the environment and natural resources, which brings consequences to its population.This problem is considerably increased by the effects of global climate change. Floods, droughts and problems of access to water are multiplying exponentially throughout the region. Despite only producing 5% of CO2 emissions globally and having the second lowest pollution per capita, Latin America is one of the most affected regions with extreme weather and natural catastrophes.

Water is the most affected resource in this process. Cities were founded around rivers, lakes and oceans, since water is essential for their operation. The climatic imbalance and the inefficient management of urban water cause water resources to become a risk. The intelligent management of water in cities is essential to reduce the imminent risks that climate change causes in the region and to guarantee comprehensive access to water for the entire population.

The water crisis in the region is growing exponentially and generates the need to urgently seek solutions. The current model of water management in the cities of the region is not enough to counteract the consequences of climate change. It is necessary to develop new strategies and solutions for urban design.

website https://www.o-ru.mx/urban-water-intelligence

Homeostasis

The Role of Iceland in the Global Energy Transition

2022

Studio Project

Iceland

Rolando Girodengo - Sarah Page - Pam Setpakdee

General design, Diagrams, Regional Plans, Presentation

In the midst of a global climate and energy crisis, we have to collectively move forward to reduce our overall consumption and transition to renewable energy sources. With the development of local circularity practices and leading use of clean energy, Iceland serves as a leader in building models of practice and innovation.

The Energy Circle Plan works to further ongoing efforts by reimagining the relationship between spaces of human habitation and energy production to create a regenerative relationship with natural systems. This effort is accomplished through a multi-scalar approach to circularity. At the local level, energy production is developed through microgrids and tied to local economies, creating closed loops of circularity.

Regionally, the system is able to mitigate changes in energy production in order to satisfy temporal energy demands and respond to local limitations. At a national scale, the project functions as a link between existingregional economies and tourist attractions, diversifying Iceland’s potential.

The project frames Iceland’s role globally to act as an innovator in connecting scales of circularity that can be deployed elsewhere in the world.

In Between Natural Layers

Almaviva Park Proposal

2020

International Design Competition - Honorable Mention Villavicencio, Colombia

Soledad Patiño, Stefano Romagnoli, Lautaro Do Campo, Taller de Arquitectos,

General Design, Landscape Units Research, Technical Drawing, Presentation

Almaviva Park understands the context and history of the territory in which it is inserted, and is configured as a new structuring element of the city and regional park, which values the natural and cultural heritage of Villavicencio as the capital of the plains and the foothills . The Park is constituted as a key piece in the urban conformation of the public, ecological and recreational identity of the city.

This is achieved through three strategies: [Suture] Connecting and completing the biological network ensuring continuity and connecting with metropolitan ecological system. [Diversify] Restoring and improving biodiversity in existing while promoting new cultural and recreational activities for the community. [Enhance] Making water streams and rainforests accessible to the city, considering its symbolic and social location in the metropolitan region.

The buildings are separated from the ground to avoid interrupting ecological processes. These interventions are designed to guide visitors through the diverse natural layers located at Almaviva Park.

Emergent Layer

Canopy Layer Understory Layer

Layer

Pedestrian and Bike Paths

Museum

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Creative Warehouse

Recovery of a Railway Infrastructure

Mendoza, Argentina

As railway systems declined in Argentina, many venues and building were abandoned in key locations within cities. In Mendoza, a large railway land close to the city center was recovered for public use. Four different warehouses, used to repair trains are now part of a cultural venue of Mendoza’s University. One of this buildings is being transformed into a “Creative Warehouse”, a center for research, art and innovation.

The proposal looks for a balance between heritage importance and identity of the old building and the incorporation of a new element in the interior, which is necessary to enable a new program ,encouraging innovation and collaborative work. The interior is divided in two long spaces, according to the original layout for train refurbishment. A compact block, both introspective and permeable, is located in one of this spaces, containing all the activities that require a greater level of control and acoustic, climatic, security and privacy protection.

The second space becomes a free ground floor plan, a large multipurpose space to integrate a wide range of activities and presentations. Its flexibility makes possible a meeting and exchange environment, both creative and social to democratize the access to digital manufacturing and new technologies. Most of the interior space remains empty, a void that enhances an existing tree in the center of the proposal, where the main access is located. In this void, a “technical cloud” suspends from a continuous rail with lighting and sound systems, curtains, platforms and elevators to support the multiple layouts of the ground floor.

Emilia Darricades - Ana Isaía - Seizen Uehara - Francisco Astrain - Santiago Páez

Distinguished Project, International Biennale of Architecture of Argentina, 2018

Front facade view

Existing tree

West

East South

Access and Open Space

Continuous expansion in the west and south facades, service access in the east

Circulation

Service corridors in the east facade and central elevator

Technical Cloud Program

Suspended infrastructure to support multiple layouts

Compact block with private activities and services for the continuous flexible space

Ground floor flexible program

Souther facade, open for continuous expansion

awards

Sustainable Housing Prototype House for the Compact City

2018

National Design Competition - FIRST PRIZE

Córdoba Argentina

In collaboration with Agustín Berzero - Valeria Jarós - Emilia Darricades

To achieve a sustainable urban development it is necessary to promote a dense and compact urban fabric. The main problem for the development of single-family homes is the scarcity and high cost of land. Therefore, it is essential to reduce land use through compact constructions. The proposal is committed to the consolidation and regeneration of the existing urban fabric, achieving more appropriate urban density. This way, it takes advantage of the proximity to urban centers with its opportunities, achieving a better quality of life.

A housing prototype must be based on achieving a more sustainable urban development, since every architectural proposal designs the city. The contemporary inhabitant is essentially urban; it is not a typical user or family, it rather requires an flexible and changing habitat that adapts to different needs over time. The housing prototype must adapt to multiple users and requirements, support different locations and must be able to grow and change.

Our proposal is a prototype systematized in modules, with the possibility of internal growth. This means, it understands the need for growth by providing the structural module to contain it. The layout allows a high degree of adaptability and occupies a small area, enabling both its capacity to adapt to different lots and its wide range of possible units. A housing proposal is presented, but it is actually a reflection about a modular system that allows the development of economic housing with spatial and material quality, contributing to sustainable urban development.

Holcim Foundation Sustainability Award, Acknowledgement Prize Latin America

Distinguished Project, International Biennale of Architecture of Argentina, 2018

Housing Infill for a Sustainable City

Front facade view, urban location

awards

Scenic Mist

2018 - 2020

International Design Competition - FIRST PRIZE [Built in 2020]

Dubai, UAE

MMBB Arquitetos [Sao Paulo] - Ben Avid

General Design, Concept Diagrams, Renderings, Presentation

The pavilion presents the Brazilian waters, rivers and mangroves. It choses water a central topic for discussion. Water means fertility of life and is the most important natural resource for sustainability worldwide. The whole lot is flooded with a slim layer of water in a continuous topography.

With a steel tensile structure and light white fabric, it creates a screen able to receive projections, creating an immersive atmosphere of variable images, sounds, smells and temperature. It is a place for animations and interaction place with a distinct scenic character. At the same time, it is a visualization and experimentation scenario of nature and cultures, both in the past and in the future.

The exposition and service program is contained in a steel block suspended over the water square. In the main exposition area, a long window gives the visitor a new perspective of the pavilion and the projections. Under this block, a restaurant and a shop take place in a pavement platform with 360 degree views to the pavilion. The focus is to preserve and promote nature and sustainability through technology.

Archdaily Building of the Year 2023, Commercial Architecture

Brazilian Pavilion EXPO 2020

Amazonia Projections Water Square