DIGITAL FABRICATION

Artichoke Lamp

Wall Partition

PROFESSIONAL WORKS

Wiseman Medical Offices

Circle C Child Development and Community Center

Peña Residence

Restaurant Benba

Northcross Redevelopment Alternative Vision

ACADEMIC WORKS

pixHOTel

Northcross Version_2.0

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Lamp modeled and mirrored to form complete surface.

Vertex moved in z-axis based upon existing z-coordinate.

Surface divided and relationship between individual panels established.

Polylines extracted and offset, creating intersections between surfaces.

Three vertices extracted from each panel and one moved outwards along the normal to form a planar surface.

Scaled uniformly in x and y axes. Surfaces intersected and notched.

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Date: January 2010 Location: Barcelona, Spain Instructor: Luis FraguadaContribution: Designer Context: Create and fabricate a shading device using Grasshopper

With IKEA-zation, affordable design has become more readily avail-able but has also spread uniformity throughout our living environ-ments. In order to counter this, a supplemental lampshade was cre-ated for the Ikea Melodi pendant lamp. By altering sliders within the parametric definition, the common lamp becomes highly customiz-able for the individual consumer.

ARTICHOKE LAMP

Copy and rotate the surface to estab-lish a ‘top’ and ‘bottom’ for the panel

Slice the surfaces to required geom-etry, 48 x 48 cm

Loft and mirror the curves to establish a surface

Array, group, and taper the curvesEstablish a single curve within the parameters set out in the assignment, less than 20mm from peak to valley

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Date: November 2009 Location: Barcelona, Spain Instructor: Marta Male AlemanyCollaborators: Jeff Clarke and Joel LetkemannContext: Provide a 48 x 48 cm sample of a wall partition to be fabri-cated with 3-axis milling machine

WALL PARTITION

Parallel lines projected onto the surface, offset according to the desired tool (9mm ball-mill)

The overlapping of surfaces creates the possibility for a perforated surface. Meanwhile, the opposing dependencies of each surface mean that the thickness/thinness of the material is established in a criss-cross pattern, sufficient to maintain the strength of the panel.

Toolpaths on surface

RhinoCAM visualization

Date: October 2008 Location: Austin, TX Firm: Block 16 ArchitectsContribution: DesignerContext: Medical offices for father and son with second floor cold-shell for future tenant finish-out The floorplan creates a gradient from public spaces to exam rooms providing privacy and security for patients, while efficient circulation for staff remains intact.The building was placed on the site according to an existing site plan that included the approved permit for the parking lot.

WISEMAN MEDICAL OFFICES

Central public space with circulation

Second floor finish-out commercial space added

Roof pulled over for sun protection

Roof pushed back and screens applied, framing the entrance from the parking lot

Central nurses station with storage dispersed throughout

Vertical circulation

Doctor offices at rear edge with easy acces-sibility

Exam rooms pulled away from center for privacy

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Classroom Administration Multi-Purpose Kitchen Playground Breezeway Covered WalkwayStorageBreak RoomLobby/ReceptionClassroom Gardens

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CROSS SECTION

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

Date: July 2008 Location: Austin, TX Firm: Block 16 ArchitectsContribution: Conceptual DesignerContext: Greenfield development at center of Circle C Subdivision The design focuses on the integration of indoor classrooms with positive outdoor spaces along with a central, multi-use community space. Covered walkways provide transition at the main circulation paths between the classrooms, courtyard, playgrounds, and muti-use space. The building form reflects the history of the site as a former ranch, providing an identifiable community space.

CIRCLE C CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY CENTER

Opposing trusses linked with additional cable supports

Bow-trusses with steel cables chosen, reducing the amount of material needed

Initial glulam truss design Alternating columns moved outward and beam added for increased stability

Additional cables woven in criss-cross pattern between trusses, strengthening the system

STRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF MULTI-USE SPACE

EXISTING EXTERIOR

EXISTING VOLUMES

FIRST FLOORNEW VOLUMES

SECOND FLOORNEW VOLUMES

NEW EXTERIOR

Bathrooms

Storage and utilities

Living spaces

PatiosBedrooms

Additional patio

Main living space popped-up

Master bedroom popped-up

Vertical circulation

Flexible living space with option for future bedroom

Date: January 2008 Location: Austin, TX Firm: Block 16 ArchitectsContribution: Designer and project manager Context: Complete remodel with second floor addition for blind client The owners of the house needed further space, requesting a second floor and more open living spaces. Using the existing floor plan as the framework for the design, new first floor volumes were formed within the parts of the program primarily occupied by the blind client. By varying the ceiling heights within these spaces, acoustical proper-ties and changes in air pressure serve as wayfinding tools.

PEÑA HOUSE

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FIRST FLOOR PLAN

SECOND FLOOR PLAN

RESTAURANT BENBA

Date: March 2011Location: Barcelona, Spain Firm: Blue Barcelona / GDEContribution: Conceptual Development and Presentation Drawings Collaborators: Marc García-Duran, José Luis Echeverria, Estanislau PuigContext: Invited Competition for a Macrobiotic Restaurant in the Mare-magnum BuildingResult: 1st Prize

The architecture is inspired metaphorically by the Mediterranean cove, situated with back to the rocks and the view towards the sea.The kitchen is located between the two dining rooms like a large rock. The configuration responds to the functional needs, while welcoming guests at perimeter seating areas, creating a threshold between guest and chef. This condition also resolves the functional service and storage needs of the support elements in the dining room.In its interior, the rock contains the heart of the machine, providing the food, but also nourishment through air, light and energy. Heated through energy recovery from the kitchen, the air is distributed through ducts that journey outwards from the rock, accompanied by light guides. Fiber-optic technology introduces natural light into every corner.The rock and the beach (ie the kitchen walls and floor) are covered with wood providing warmth and contrast. The abstraction is enhanced by the surrounding glass, which reveals and hides the spaces of the two restau-rants.

COCINA130 m2

RESTAURANTE 80205 m2

RESTAURANTE 30130 m2

SERV.30 m2

SERV.11 m2

Existing Shell(520m2)

Rocks (kichen and services) placed defining separate dining rooms

Circulation pulled through maintaining relationship to the harbor beyond

Dining room and kitchen configu-rations

Cool air pulled from exterior

Distribution of recovered heat

Fiber-optic light guides

Ceiling system pattern

40' fountain15' seating area 15' seating area

8' sidewalk

8' sidewalk

12' driving lane

12' driving lane

10' parallel parking

10' parallel parking

8' planter

8' planter

12' sidewalk

12' sidewalk

building

building

Date: January 2007 Location: Austin, TX Contribution: Design Committee Leader Context: Alternative vision greyfield redevelopment in central Austin The design served as alternative to the traditional suburban devel-opment slated for the site and was intended to be the catalyst for future sustainable growth in the area. Neighborhood linkages were restored creating a walkable environment. Through a signature main street and park, connected by a pedestrian boulevard, identifiable community gathering spaces were generated. The integration of a wide variety of residential and commercial spaces provided the op-portunity for a vibrant street life.

NORTHCROSS MALL REDEVELOPMENT

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Burnet Road

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A Retail/Residential (1 floor/3 floors)B Retail/Office (1 floor/2 floors)C Civic (2 floors)D Live-Work (2 floors)E Retail (1 floor)F Retail/Residential (1 floor/2 floors)G Residential (3 floors)H Residential (2 floors)I Structured Parking (2-4 levels)

pixHOTel

Meta-ball diagram establishing natural circulation and service cores

Meta-balls populated with individual units

Date: March 2010Location: Mumbai, India Contribution: Designer Instructors: Willy Muller and Maite BravoContext: Concept hotel

Traditionally, hotels have created a stark contrast between public and private, citizen and tourist. This fissure within the urban fabric has left movement between the two, virtually non-existent. By focusing on this threshold between tourist and citizen, the pixHOTel is a con-cept hotel designed to create permeability and overlap. Where this shared experience occurs, the notion of the ‘touristizen’ is generated. The pixHOTel uses film as the means to achieve this shared experi-ence. Housed within the traditional hotel program are multiple small theaters and one large events theater that transform the space into a reflector of local culture and cultures from around the globe.

GymLobby Services

BarMulti-use Retail

A/V RoomsDining Restaurants

Theaters Pool

StorageAdministration Rooms

INITIAL PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION

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1 FLOOR PLAN

7 FLOOR PLAN

2 Floor 3 Floor 4 Floor

THEATER PLANS

SURFACE APPLIED OVER THE SITE

Commercial

Parking lot

Green space

Multi-familyresidential

Single familyresidential

Public

Drainage

Bus stops

Traffic lights

Existing streets

Date: June 2010Location: Austin, TX Contribution: Designer and project manager Instructors: Jordi Pages and Lluis Viu i RebesContext: Alternative vision 2.0 Northcross Mall Redevelopment

Today, in American society, the individual is more isolated than ever before. This, in large part, is due to the onslaught of post WWII suburban develop-ment designed for the “convenience” of the automobile. Traditionally, be-fore WWII cities had a slower rate of growth which was based on mixed-use and pedestrian oriented developments. Now with suburban development practices, all the uses have been separated and boundaries have been established that only the car can move between, creating islands within the urban fabric. New Urbanism is a model offered as an alternative to the sub-urban dilemma. It is based on the key fundamentals of walkable environ-ments, creation of public gathering spaces, mixed-use, and transportation choices. New Urbanism uses the common language of the “smart code.” This form-based code is inherently parametric by nature, establishing rela-tionships and linkages between different scales of development. In 2006, in Austin, Texas, the struggle against suburban sprawl was high-lighted when Wal-mart submitted plans to build a store in a greyfield rede-velopment site in the center of the city. This attempt to bring the suburban model into the core of the city was widely rejected by the people in the surrounding neighborhoods. Using the New Urbanist model, I produced an alternative vision for the site with the grassroots community organization, RG4N. The plan was well received by the community, highlighting the de-sire and need for smarter urban developments. This particular microcosm represents a dilemma taking place across the American landscape. Where New Urbanism often results in traditional forms, the ‘New New’ Urbanism approach provides community identity through unique, dynamic forms. The objective for this project was to use parametric software in order to provide a toolset that could be utilized to offer multiple alternative visions. Grass-hopper was used to establish parametric relationships between geometries, producing multiple patterns in order to create a link in the disjointed urban fabric. The resulting design contains several key features: pedestrian and traffic linkages to the surrounding areas; building forms that gradually grow from the landscape, creating a smooth transition from the neighborhood; community gathering spaces including a central core; parks and plant-ing patterns creating niches for outdoor activities; and an oscillating edge which encourages movement into the site.

SURFACE APPLIED OVER SITE

EXISTING PROGRAM WITH VERSION 1.0

NORTHCROSS VERSION 2.0

The surface is divided establish-ing direction of flow throughout the site. Points represent maxi-mum number of individual lots.

Attractor curves placed on site creating fractal division within the grid. Density and potential building typology established within the pattern.

Paths bifurcate throughout the site creating different conditions for potential intersticial space and circulation.

Corners of the grid moved into the center of the lot based upon distances to attractor points, creating individual building geometries. Gradient of intersticial spaces are established on site and varying edge conditions form.

The pattern is disrupted by intro-ducing a non-flat surface at the beginning of the grasshopperdefinition.

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Central axis of the site identified as pedestrian/social core

Corners of geometries moved in to direct pedestrian circulation and sightlines to the center of the site

Building footprints projected onto surface forming roofscapes

Floorplates established every 4mSurface created from points moved in z-axis based upon retrieved distance values

Values obtained from distance mea-surements between field of points to attractor curves

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ROOF SYSTEMS

PROGRAM

PLANTING PATTERN

PARKS ANDSTREETS

UNDERLYINGGEOMETRY

Retention/Filtration ponds

Office

Commercial

Residential

Roofscapes

Terraces