Architecture
D e s i g n Portfolio
Zilsalina Mendieta
Statement of
P u r p o s e Designing for the sole purpose of the self, culture, and society begins to shape the underlying theory inherent in the overall impact architecture has on its environment, both built and natural. This occurs on the transcendant continuum of scale; the micro-architectural detail, the tectonic, tactile, and spatial relationships within a project, the holistic, dialectic, and ethnographic nature of architectural creation. Architecture begins to morph and coalesce with the social and physical dimension, ultimately affecting all forms of perception of the human, both tactile and metaphysical. In essence, I have come to realize that this interdisciplinary field requires knowledge of all aspects of the known world. To attain this expertise is my ultimate goal, used as a motivation tool to learn, progress, develop, and influence the constructed and theorized architectural world of today in ways that are socially, environmentally, and sustainably sound.
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Year 4|Study Abroad
Year 4|Study Abroad
Entwined Urban Equilibrium
Year 4|Study Abroad
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Selected Writings
Year 2
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Shiba Ti Urban Landscape
Year 2
Spiritual Ascension
Zilsalina Mendieta University of Florida School of Architecture Current 1416 NW 6th Ave Gainesville, FL 32603 Permanent 5000 SW 92 Ave Cooper City, FL 33328 9 5 4 | 6 8 2 - 6 8 1 1 zmendieta@ufl.edu Term Fall 2012
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Monestarial Ruins
Portfolio
C O N T E N T S
D e s i g n
Table of
Architecture
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Year 3 Year 3
Metaphorical Coalescence
Parametric Fabrications
Year 2
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Year 2
Penetrating Glimpses
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Florida Landscape
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Vertical Abstraction
Envmt. Tech
Transgressional Luminaire
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Year 3
Archive
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Ireland
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Melismatic
Archive
of Illuminated Manuscripts Location|Ireland Critic|Martin G u n d e r s e n Y e a r | 2
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Gregorian Chants were an integral part of the monastic life, somewhat more specifically in Ireland. The reverberation of song within the catehdrals of medieval Ireland was an influence for this project. Along with the element of earth, the dichotomy of sound above and below ground begins to manipulate the architectural language of this archive of illuminated manuscripts.
The axis acts as a grounding feature emerging from the hillsides of Ireland. The enclosed area located below ground increase the possibilities of sound reflecting, creating a large concentration of sound particles and engulfing the occupant in a resonant timbre of oral music. Juxtaposed above is an area minimally enclosed to allow a more free-flowing, uncontrolled flow of sound.
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Initial Analysis
Axial Section Elevated Plaza
Grounded Enclosure
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Spatial Juxtaposition
Archive Ireland
Light Analysis
Sound Analysis
Ascension
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Year 2
S p i r i t u a l
Ascension Critic|Martin G u n d e r s e n Y e a r | 2
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To become spiritually liberated, emanicipation of the soul from the physical world is a necessity. Spiritual endeavors can only occur within the individual. Light embodies and symbolizes the idea of wisdom, spiritual emancipation, and enlightenment. The project focuses on the inner struggle present in everyday life of the individual; in constant search, and sometimes within the grasp, of enlightenment itself.
Intimate Enlightenment
Experiential Circulation
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Public Congregation
Inner Core
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Landscape
Reinterpretion of the Chinese Tea House L o c a t i o n | Shi ba Ti District, C h o n g q i n g , C N Critic|Albertus Wang Y e a r | 4 East Asia Summer Study Abroad P a r t n e r s | Kim Connell, Danae Cardenas, Mario Lambert
Landscape
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Chongqing
Chinese tea houses have been around for centuries, acting as communal areas of relaxation, interaction, and contemplation for all. As tea houses developed, they became areas of solace from the mundane, everyday life. People from all walks of life, rich and poor, could settle here and share the joys of tea. Disputes among enemies would be discounted as they enjoyed the healing qualities of tea. ChongQing is said to be the first global port for the exchange of tea and herbal medicines. This landscape begins to urbanize the significance of the tea house and reinterpret the essence of tea and the significance it has to China. The green Landscape acts as a “breath of fresh air� from the quick pace of the city. Just as tea has been a point of pause and
reflection for the people of China, so is this reinterpretation of an urban landscape acting as a relief from the quickened pace of city life. 11
Analysis began with the analysis of traditional Chinese architecture within the local areas of the Shiba Ti district. Shiba Ti was traditionally known as the oldest city district of Chongqing, acting as an area stuck in time, untouched by China’s quickly urbanizing momentum. this urban landscape will act as a refuge from the urban life, emphasizing community, sustainability, and preserving the rich Chinese architectural heritage.
Landscape
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Private Commercial
Central Terraces
Residential
Historical
Multi-Use
Commercial|Retail
Hybrid Circulation
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Chongqing
The Traditional Chinese Tea House was then further developed and reinterpreted into four main aspects of the urban fabric: tower, podium, urban pocket, and cultural plaza. Different representations of the tea house were embodied within these moments and contributed to increasing interaction among the community; bridging the gap between old and young, poor and rich, rural and urban, traditional and modern, focusing on the traditional Shiba Ti Road.
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Landscape
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Chongqing
Interaction occured most along the old Shiba Ti road. The tower’s relationship to the podium and that interaction with the urban landscape located to its west allowed for a dynamic dichotomy within the area. Each tower focused on a differing interaction with the continuous podium: puncturing, interlocking, direct contact, and floating vs. aground. The differing forms of contact engendered interstitial spaces which doubled as green spaces and allowed for an area of reflection, contemplation, and relief from the rapidly urbanizing China.
Cross Section
Cultural Plaza
Pedestrian Corridors
Tea Houses
Roof Terraces
Section Model of Urban Landscape
Writings
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Beijing
The Metaphorical
Blurring
And intertwining of the Traditional and the Modern L o c a t i o n | Beijing,China Hong Kong Critic|Hui Zou Y e a r | 4 East Asia Summer Study Abroad
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Throughout the history of multiple cultures, architecture has become the iconic art, which stands the test of time. Monuments of the past of all cultures, including Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt, are still standing today. This art of manipulating space, perception, and light transcends the dimension of time and acts as a unifying factor, binding together eras, ages, and dynasties. As China rapidly continues to urbanize, it is struggling to maintain a sense of balance and equilibrium between hundreds of years of history and culture and the insatiable necessity to Westernize and sustain itself. The interplay between the traditional and modern architectures of China begins to shape and mold the urbanization of China, its people, and its future. Ultimately, the intertwining of modern and traditional Chinese architecture can lead to a reformation of vision and interpretation of the everyday life. In order to sustain itself, China began adopting urbanization strategies and openings its doors to Western influences. Traditional architectural styles have been somewhat abandoned making way for the absorption of Western elements. Traditionally, the wealthy ornamented their residence in such ways in which separated them from the common man and the working class. As China rapidly urbanized, traditional Chinese architectural design had been abandoned in order to persevere itself and pull itself out of economic depression. “However, the traditional skills of Chinese architecture are still applied to the construction of local architecture in the vast rural area of China� along with bamboo scaffolding in the more urban areas. As the traditional need to display their socioeconomic status through ornamentation of architecture dissipates and the need to sustain itself with capitalism engenders urbanization, the Chinese have unified the ethnic minority groups into one group: the People’s Republic of China. As the country continues to urbanize and adopt Western culture, preservation of the traditional Chinese culture remains. Traces of ancient Chinese traditional architecture still remain as snapshots caught in time; embedded within the current modern, urban fabric as hidden gems and as continual reminders of the Chinese history and their efforts to revive the one destitute nation.
Because “architecture can shape a lived and sensed intertwining of space and time; it can change the way we live,” function, communicate, and mature. The manipulation of light and space begin to structure the perceptional view of the individual and its surroundings. “Architectural synthesis of changing background, middle ground, and foreground with all the subjective qualities of material and light forms the basis for an intertwining perception.” For example, admiring the Forbidden City within the modern urban fabric on a hilltop, materials from the courtyard homes, the billowing trees, the distant view of the rocks below and the cityscape behind all begin to merge to create an intertwining of the spatial continuum. In essence, the harmony of all of these materials, traditional and modern, begins to paint a perception of what the culture represents and construct an interchanging relationship between what was, what is, and what will be. As the morphing and diverse perception of the Chinese urban culture begins to unfold upon the individual, it creates a sense of understanding of the culture observed. One still frame of this culture can describe the essence of said culture utilizing the basic principles that compose it: light, architecture, culture, urbanization, and history. This intertwining of principles is what creates the perception of this Chinese culture as it is—economically transforming and quickly urbanizing, while maintaining and preserving a sense of the deep-rooted culture. The properties of light and its interaction with surrounding spatial conditions have always been an essential part of the foundation of this intertwining of the traditional and the modern. “Though we can disassemble these elements and study them individually during the design process, finally they merge” and create an enmeshing continuum of experience composed of light, geometry, spatial sequence, and time. As time passes and an indigenous group of people grows, a culture specific to that group begins to form. This culture continues to morph and grow as an entity, creating its own identity and absorbing influences from others, which ultimately engenders a new, modern, and developed identity. China, for one, 18
Arterial Circulation Shiba Ti Road
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Interlocking
Traverse S y m b i o s i s Location|ShibaTi District, ChongQing, China Critic|Albertus W a n g Y e a r | 4
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Interlock|to be joined firmly, as by a neutral connection of parts. As a city fabric begins to emerge, unfold, and mature, parts begin to coordinate in such a way that all work together effectively; a symbiotic relationship forms known as a community. This community can begin to be defined as an interlock of structure, spatial sequence, and organization. The holistic view of the city and the sum of its parts creates a sense of global equilibrium. Groupings of programmatic function generate public spaces which then double as green spaces. These public spaces extend and morph to interconnect and interlock program, function, structure, and organization.
Traverse
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ChongQing Internally dispersed throughout the site are programmatic cells—each functioning as individuals but created as functioning, systemic entity. Within these interstitial spaces created between the holistic, programmatic cells are public spaces created for all. These public spaces then act as a bridge between the green areas, the podium, and the tower. Public spaces then begin to bridge the gap among the community.
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Traverse
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ChongQing Interlocking into other functions creates a larger sense of community, thus emphasizing the historical and ever present significance of the communal tea house. Each part can function independently of one another but out of their interlocking, symbiotic relationship emerges a stronger, whole entity.
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1:Cultural Park 2:Private Retail 3:Commercial Shops 4:Offices 5:Overhead Walkway
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Listening to Words
Highlight Densities
Chair
Bench
Bookshelf
Canopy
Passively Viewing Words
6 The
Metaphorical
Coalescence
of the Reading Mind L o c a t i o n | UF Architecture Building, Gainesville, FL Critic|Ruth Ron Y e a r | 3
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This coalescent libraby is an experiential, multi-use furniture designed for the common architecture student. It consolidates the student’s experience of the library into one succinct, cohesive whole. The Seating and reading areas were created from MRI scans; parts of the brain that were used during typical library activities, including reading words passively and listening to words, were highlighted as main formal gestures for the furniture. All areas within the furniture were designed to be comforting for the human body, allowing maximum retention of words and ultimately, knowledge.
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P a r a m e t r i c
Fabrications
L o c a t i o n | UF Architecture Building, Gainesville, FL Critic|Ruth Ron Y e a r | 3
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Parametric fabrications focus on the manipulation of perforrations of metallic panels that aid in minimizing solar gain within the fourth floor studios of the University of Florida Architecture facility. Using light patterns caused by the canopies of nearby Floridian trees, perforrations along the surface of each panel are created to provide a natural shading for occupants within. With the use of natural shading as the determinant perforrations of each panel, architecture students are able to have a simulated connection to the natural world, thus supplying the human need for a connection to the natural, outside world. This connection with the outside world can provide students with an optimal environment for designing.
Oak Foliage Densities
Birch Foliage Densities
Palm Foliage Densities
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Luminaire
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Environmental Tech
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12 Pentagonal Templates
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Transgressional
Luminaire
L o c a t i o n | N Y R e s t a u r a n t Critic|Thomas Smith Y e a r | 4
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Transgressional tendencies of the basic geometric pentagon, begins to inform the overall movement and shape of the luminaire. Rotation about a singular, common point within all plates creates a diversity and focal point for each dining experience. Minor rotational shifts maintains the overall properties of the fundamental shape, but then begins to transgress and push beyond to create a new entity.
Rotational Shifts of Pentagonal Plexiglas Plates
Inner Light Core with 60W Bulb
1/4� Hex nuts on 2’ threaded steel rod to ensure stability
Plate Rotations
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Tower
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Year 2
V e r t i c a l
T o w e r
M u s i c a l Programming Critic|Nitin J a y a s w a l Y e a r | 2
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Abstraction of music and its evolution through human history begins to inform the abstraction of the vertical programming located within the tower. Based upon musical progression and evolution, manipulation of instrumental music influences maipulation of materiality, thusly informing the spatial characteristics of each interventional pod, joined together through the commonality of musicality and human expression.
Primordial Utterance
Multi-faceted Compilation
Contemporary Manipulation
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10 F l o r i d a
Landscape
L o c a t i o n | Newnan’s Lake, Gainesville, FL Critic|Mick R i c h m o n d Y e a r | 2
Written language is used as an informative generator for the spatial and organizational language of the school of Music. SaKaNa is an Arabic word that means “to dwell” or “to inhabit.” Applying a certain principle of the Arabic language where each letter is assigned a specific meaning, three words are created influencing the experience of the occupant.
Kaaf:produced through friction and tension|creating a dissonance of the sense within the occupant. The disparity between tactile and visionary intensifies until it heightens and is dispelled on the lake, which is where sight, sound, and touch become synchronized.
Nuun: Interiority of things|Influences the circulatory system within the complex, forcing all circulatory migrations to the interiority.
Siin: points to what is ample and flat|Newnan’s lake is the literal representation; axial, central circulation brings the occupants to the lake.
Landscape
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Florida
The project focuses on creating tension within the occupant using a disparity of the senses. Upon entering the site, the dissonance between the senses of sight and tactition is of a minimal influence. As the occupant travels forward through the entrance of the complex, the central corridor created by purely laminated glass exacerbates the tension between the visual recognition of the exterior, natural world and the body’s sensation of an interior, conditioned space. This tension created within the occupants forces movement towards the final destination space: the performance area within the school of music.
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Landscape
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Florida
Elevation
Steel frame + Wood Paneling: Reusable materials with relatively low embodied energies allow for minimal, negative environmental impact and versatility.
Cross Section
Green Roofs: reduces the cost of energy, roof upkeep, and insulates the building. It can also provide aesthetically pleasing environments.
Trellis + Insulated glass:Trellis provides shading during hotter months, lowemissivity insulated glass is insulated with PVB interlayer thus reducing solar heat gain and loss.
Western Shading
Eastern Light Shelves+Louvers
Southern Passive Cooling
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P e n e t r a t i n g
Glimpses L o c a t i o n | Historical District, Charleston, SC Critic|William Tilson Y e a r | 3
Art Institute
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Charleston
The importance of the Charleston ports is a large influence on the development of the city itself. Woven within the fabric of the city grid, visual connections to the ports begin to map out certain complexities. These dense complexities that frame the visual connection to the ocean are the driving forces in the project. The Charleston Art Institute is a haven for the classical musician. It acts as a mediator, bridging the gap between the audience and the performer. As the occupant travels throughout the institute,
Art Institute
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Charleston
the overhead and varying ground conditions also begin to manipulate the visual experience of the occupant. Because light is an important aspect of the of the sense of sight, the organization of the institute is based about a central circulation lightwell which ultimately influences the overall circulation of the populace. Within the institute, the visual complexities that once connected it to the ocean and the ports are mimicked in such a way that allows for a gradient of varying viewing capacities within.
Human Circulation
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Light Response Formulations
Resultant Form