RWZ Architecture Portfolio

PORTFOLIO

‘‘The only way to do great work is to love what you do’’

-Steve Jobs

Architecture represents a way to impact people’s life. it is not only creating a space, but also generating emotions, moments and memories. My philosophy of design is focused on exalting the scenic characteristics of livable spaces and integrating them within the natural environment.

This book is covering different kinds of design projects and showing variety of professional experiences that I have gained. I hope it could convey my personal vision of architectural design.

Introduction

Index

La Rioja HouseResidential unit

5-28

Astros ParkApartments complex

29-56

La Resolana ParkMix-use park

57-80

Laureles PlazaShopping plaza

81-102

Location Tlajomulco de Zuñiga, México.

Status Completed in 2012

Size 2,260 sq ft

Design and Realisation RWZ + I&A Constructores

6

La Rioja HouseThis house, makes use of concrete,

wood, steel and natural light to create a scenic and open escape to the hills of the Primavera Forest.

The single family residential structure rises two and a half levels, straight up, to afford forest views; yet spaces flow openly between a double-height space, the private family area and the all glamour of the dramatic central staircase.

8

A irregular, dense lot called for design solutions that supported the owners’ open, casual lifestyle at the same time it created a dramatic and lightly built space.

9

SiteLocated in a private community in southwest Guadalajara City. The rear of the property borders with the community limits, while the lateral and front side opens the view to the near ‘La Primavera’ forest.

TLAJOMULCO

Contry State Municipality North

12

Lateral View

13

A reinterpretation of the patio house in a modern language. The idea was to apply the design concepts that give the traditional patio house its desired atmosphere; among the elements that stand in the composition of this type of housing and give their elders characteristic are: the vestibule, the porch, the patio and the fountain.

The fountain/water, as a central element provides a sense of abundance and serenity. ‘The visual point’.

The garden/patio, landscape of nature tamed and safe. ‘Virtual space’.

The porch, are not defined as an inside or outside. It’s a permeable space where develops coexistence and communication.

The vestibule, transforms the exterior and interior. An elongated place limits between public and private space.

Concept

16

Lateral Entrance

‘‘A sense of abundance and serenity.’’

Since the very beginning, the purpose of this project was clear: to create a house in which a balance between modernity and coziness was struck. Therefore, we chose to use few materials in order to achieve a quick reading of the volumes.

Requirements for the design of this project included a ‘‘relaxing hot tub’’, and we fulfilled them by creating one and surrounding it with concrete planters. In this way, the hot tub was turned into a part of the garden landscape.

For this project, we decided to integrate the structure into visual language of architecture, so that the conception of the structural components became a part of the design instead of functioning as mere structure items.

With this principle in mind, we commissioned to show the structure as a main character in a double-height space.

Structure

17

Structure Schematics

18

In addition to the exposed structure, we designed a concrete wall with floating stairs that works both as the visual end of the living area and as the vestibule of the house entrance.

The concrete wall serves as a stiffening of the whole

structure

Exposed structure follows form and function

light structure reduces weight and costs

2

1

63

5

4

11 12

97

10

8

18

13

16

17

17

14

15

19

0 5.0

m

First Floor

Second Floor

Entrance

‘‘An elongated space, limits between public

and private.’’

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22

The vestibule, located on the facade allow the passage of natural light by showing a full size window. The sun shading creates a shadow pattern that brings privacy and scenery to the transparent space.

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View from Vestibule

Back Elevation

24

Lateral Elevation

Front Elevation

0 5.0

m

25

The house has two bedrooms, a double-height living room, a bar and an open plan kitchen that is integrated into the space. There are three modern style chandeliers connect two flooring in the living/dining area

By using few but carefully selected materials, we created delightful areas that met our clients’ expectations.

Section A

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Kitchen

Section B

0 5.0

m

27

From the street, the residence looks like a clean and private construction; the use of sun sha-dings, the concrete wall and the white facade, grants it the contemporary character that is required by urban planning requirements.

From the rear, the home becomes a composition of rectangular elements with large glass surfaces; like a series of typical modernist volumes, stacked in a equilibrated configuration.

‘‘Not defined as an inside or outside.’’

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Living and Vestibule

Location Guadalajara, México.

Status Under construction

Size 22,600 sq ft

Design and Realisation RWZ + Construactiva

30

A communal roof terrace with facilities for outdoor dining and socializing can be accessed using the building’s lift and staircase, while the ground level provides private parking and enclosed gardens.

The astros park apartments project contians nine residential units, in a four-

story building. Each typical floor holds three apartments with balconies and internal patios.

Astros Park

31

The neighborhood itself is a remainder of the modern architecture movement that occurred in the city in the middle of the last century. The demolished house at the site left behind a medium size plot with an extremely irregular shape. There is a park on the north border of the site, which works as a buffer againsts noises from the surrounding avenues, also it provides a visual relief from the urban landscape for the apartments.

SiteLocated at Guadalajara city in a neighborhood famous for its entertaining sites. The apartments complex is surrounded by parks, shopping centers and the most important landmarks of the city.

GUADALAJARA


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36

Roof Terrace

37

ConceptThe apartments conceptual design is based on the inevitable connection that it have with the adjacent park. The idea is to consider the humans community as the trees in a park/forest; all members are different and even from different species but they live in harmony creating a ‘whole’. The idea for this project is ‘unity in variety’, which has been translated in the shape and facades with distinguishable

difference in heights, materials and textures that represents the diversity of tastes and personalities of the people and at the same time provides the aesthetic style.

39

Thereby the aesthetic language of the entire apartment building translates into a set of vertical elements at different heights and different materials interrupted by delicate horizontal lines that end giving up the sensation of being treetops.

The hallways create a sensitive, multi-layered sequence as you come from public to private space; it makes the distance between the street and the apartments to feel bigger, and also provides shelter from rain, without being completely closed.

Architecture

‘‘They live in harmony creating a whole’

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View from Park

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75

4

3

2

2

1

Ground Floor

0 10.0

m

5.0

1 | Visits Parking Lot2 | Gardens3 | Trash Room4 | Stairs/Elevator Hall5 | Equipment Room

6 | Residents Parking7 | Bike Parking8 | Hallway

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It was important to make the people feel the connection with the outside regardless what area of the apartment they were. The use of internal patios went beyond of a simple solution for ventilation and lighting. They became the focal point for most of the internal areas, creating a remembrance of the outer park.

First Floor Bathroom

5

5

5

1

3

4

6 87

7

2

3

4

5

5

5

7

7

69

8

8

5

5

57

7

3

46

9

9

0 10.0

m

5.0Second and Third Floor

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1 | Stairs/Elevator Hall2 | Bar3 | Grill4 | Hot Tub5 | Fireplace

6 | Storage7 | Restrooms8 | Service Area

links to topography and landscape, making the inhabitants aware of a sense of the elemental.

Living/Dinning Room

45

Rooms are organized around the common areas, eliminating circulation corridors, by employing a spare palette of materials like ceramic floors, plastered masonry walls, and insulated glass; the interior spaces echo variations in the quality of light, and the colour of the surrounding foliage, the only urban

1

2

5

5

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7

4

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3

0 10.0

m

5.0

Fourth Floor

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Roof Terrace

‘‘A haven in the hearth of the city’’

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We find solution to this by taking the typically forgotten roof floor and converting half of it in a roof terrace with grills, fireplaces and a panoramic hot tub, that can be considered as a haven in the heart of the city for inhabitants.

In the current trend of real estate development, this apartment have been particularly challenged by requiring a communal space that could compete with the ones of horizontal developments of the city.

49

For this project, we chose to adopt a selection of surfaces whose long-term benefits are considerable; hence our preference to build with singular materials expressed in their natural state such as the concrete, natural stone and the wood panels.

Side Elevation

Street View

0 10.0

m

5.0

50

Front Elevation

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Modeling Process

The model is a traditional and simple way for architects to understand the form and details of a building and in cases like this, it is also a powerful marketing tool.

Some of the potential buyers are unfamiliar with standard architectural representations and graphics in two dimensions, for this reason it was important to achieve a selling model that would allow an average person to perceive the heights, axes and overhangs as well as the most realistic textures and finishes in a more intuitive way.

Model

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Roof Terrace Model

Right and bottom. Production of columns and steel beams according to the shop drawings.

Up. Everything starts with the excavations for the new foundations.

Left. the accuracy in the pouring foundation is essential, because the position of the plates base depends on it.

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Structure Construction

Process

Right. Colocation of the steel-deck. This system makes the pouring process easier and at the same time makes the building lighter, which reflects in budget benefits.

Right. After checking levels and defining the last trace, the formwork is ready for the concrete pouring that will create the final slabs.

Up. First the assembly of columns and then the beams.

Right. Welding supervision after the finishing of every stage and during the assembly.

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Structure View on Fourth Floor

55

The project is being undertaken for clients who are seeking to retain the property as a long term family investment, and therefore durability, maintenance, and environment impact have been important considerations in the selection of materials and technologies; such as the low power elevator, the LED lighting system, the cellular concrete plates on the

facade and the hybrid electric power system with solar cells.

This has not only been a marketing strategy but a way to further integrate the building with the natural environment that surrounds it.

‘‘Represents the diversity of the people’’

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Street View

Location Acatlán de Juarez, México.

Status Under construction

Size 47,000 sq ft

Design and Realisation RWZ + Construactiva

58

Created in conjunction with an urban renovation project via a trust of 50 million pesos of a federal investment, it’s planned to open to the public in late 2015.

This approximately 47,000 square feet park holds a volleyball/basketball stadium, water

features, skate park, seating areas, outdoor gym, water conserving irrigation systems, both drought tolerant and native region plants and a cultural corridor.

Resolana Park

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An abandoned under construction park; called for an extreme makeover. This site was abandoned by the old contractor leaving behind unfinished concrete platforms that local inhabitants adapted for skating and as improvised soccer fields.

Since this park was located at one of the town’s entrances, there was a good opportunity to take the full advantage of the location and not only attract people from the Acatlan town but also target people from nearby villages and travellers passing through the state highway.

SiteEmbed in the heart of one of the most historical and traditional neighborhoods of Acatlán De Juarez town, la resolana park shares its location with the neighborhood of the same name at the western foot of Acatlan’s hill.

ACATLAN DE JUAREZ


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Square

The social life in the villages has been traditionally developed around water bodies such as lakes, rivers and dams, where people used to enjoy different activities; like walking around the lake, sit and listen to the flow of a river, sleep, play, or even do some exercise.

Nowadays with the pace of modern life, new generations cannot find time to do outdoor activities because of the time they had to spend just to get to their outdoor destination.

InspirationResolana park was planned to bring back memories from the old times where families spend the day in one place with enjoyable amusements for all the family members but in a contemporary and controlled environment.

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Valencia Lagoon in Acatlán de Juarez

‘‘Bring back memories from the old times’’

The furniture selection and furniture design played a big role in this project, one example of multi-functionality are the swing benches (own design) that brings the solution of a conventional bench, the fun of a classic swing and the landscaping of a sculpture.

When we think about public spaces design the-re are two fundamental factors that we have to keep in mind, the first are the social needs and second the budget. If we mix these two factors we realize that multi-functionality is the clearest solution for furniture design and architectural spaces, with this we fulfill both requirements.

Design Pilosophy

Square

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Tensioners avoid latteral

moviment

Hanging bench

Resting tensioner

Tensioners allow swing in two

directions

Structure-frame

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centerpiece allows connection in three ways

Ramp bench with bike rack

The ramp bench is ideal for relaxing

Made of polymer concrete to withstand heavy use

Multipurpose Field Area Benches Concept

the outdoor gym and the multipurpose field. By night the same wall can be used as a cinema screen to project films.

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Multipurpose Field

Concrete wall

Shadow projection

The concept of multi-functionality is architecturally represented in the concrete wall of the stadium, where in addition to serving as structure it is planned to cast a shadow in the time of higher isolation on over both the

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light for the night

Shadow for the day

Pergolas Path View

‘‘The charm of classic outdoor elements’’

Another example of this philosophy is the pergolas phat, which attempts to bring the charm of the classic outdoors elements with a bigger utility by not only casting shadow during the day but also serving as luminary during the night.

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The design accommodates a complex program, layering the intergenerational uses with a number of meaningful gathering and recreational spaces for the residents. Outdoor gym, skatepark, multipurpose field, children’s play areas, and contemplative seating areas allow for various groups to utilize the park spaces in different ways.

The cultural corridor can be used for art exhibition and also provide the community with an area for flexible programming during larger gatherings, such as celebrations for independence day, expositions, and other cultural and civic events.

Architecture

1 | Main Field2 | Entrance Square3 | Cultural Corridor4 | Playground5 | Skatepark6 | Multi Purpose Field7 | Outdoor GYM8 | Square9 | Stadium Lobby10 | Pergolas Path11 | Trash Containers

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1 | Main Field2 | Locals Locker Room3 | Visitors Locker Room4 | Sports Equipment5 | Management

6 | Janitor Room7 | Machine Room8 | Park Restrooms9 | Stadium Restrooms10 | Waiting Area

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Playground and Stadium

The stadium has the form of the Greek theatre where the concrete wall serves as the visual point in front of three lines of grandstand. We chose this composition because it allows us to use the stadium for many other purposes such as concerts, lectures and theatrical performances.

The service areas of the park are placed in a half level under the grandstands in order to save space and maintain the required illumination and ventilation.

11 | Main Entrance12 | Secondary Entrance

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0 10.0

m

5.0 Underground Floor

The park uses pavement materials, which will endure the heavy use while the patterning itself is designed to delineate areas according to their use. In contrast to soil materials, the textures and finishes of the walls have a softer look, similar to the surrounding buildings.

Cultural Corridor

The structural solution plays an important role in the architectural result, but in this project the structure blends into the architecture from the foundation to the roof, resulting in a fully integrated landscape construction, where structural elements are part of the beauty in the project.

StructureThe project required a light structured roof that allowed the natural light illuminate until late in the day and at the same time resistant to the weather conditions.

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Interior of the Stadium

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Insu

late

d pa

nel

Purli

ns

Trus

s

Colu

mn

Conc

rete

wal

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Roof Structure Schematics

‘‘Enjoyable amusements for all’’

Outdoor Gym

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The landscape design focuses on providing Resolana Park with an environment, which draws the spirit from the local nature available in the state region.

The planting is composed of species that have been grown naturally in the Jalisco natural landscape.

This palette of plants is able to withstand the demanding conditions the town provides; low humidity, dry seasons, poor soil conditions, and bare maintenance and care.

80

Location Zapopan, México.

Status Project

Size 37,839 sq ft

Design and Realisation RWZ + I&A Constructores

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The shopping plaza has a coffee and ice cream shop, a bank, retail spaces and one

gym on the ground floor, which extends to the second floor. The upper floor host a restaurant area with terrace and a bar is projected in cantilever above the main entrance.

Laureles Plaza

83

The avenue is busy during the day but when night approaches this situation changes. The way this building relates with its context is by breaking away from what is common to the zone, which are big apartments complex and warehouses from the adjacent seafood market

SiteSituated in the northwest of Guadalajara city, the shopping plaza is located right next to the ‘’mercado del mar’’ which is the largest seafood market in the city. In the surrounding there is also a social housing area and the university district with its theatres and libraries.

ZAPOPAN


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Gym and Bank

The building form is the result of a study from the sun path, the visual and traffic flows of the site.

With a rotation of 15º at the second floor relative to the natural direction of the lot and the cantilevered elements, we attempt to create a dramatic visual impact on street flow to attract people’s attention.

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Sunrise

Sunset

90º Visual angle perception

105º visual angle perception

Design Process

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Traffi

c dire

ctio

n

Rotation

‘‘An atmosphere that envelops the users

senses’’

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Ice Cream Shop

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The goal was to design an atmosphere that envelops the users senses, creating more enjoyable stay, a greater user compatibility to motivate their stay and increase their potential return.

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The scheme presented here volumetrically envisions the shopping center by proposing the following zoning to the property.

With the planning of this commercial space in a low population density neighborhood comes the urge of develop an architectural strategy for boosting the market appeal and retail area of the property.

Based on discussions with the plaza owner, we proposed an open-air shopping center with a ‘’U’’ shape plan, a large central parking lot and private & public outdoor areas.

Commercial Thought

Food Court View

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Square Feet 2,696

5,737

6,490

22,916

Areas Schematics

Retail

Hallways

Green areas

Parking

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First Floor

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3

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9

88884

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1818

1818

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12 13

Second Floor

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m

5.0 10.0 15.0

1 | Parking Lot2 | Trash Containers3 | Ice Cream Shop4 | Coffee Shop5 | Terrace

11 | Fitness Studio12 | Staff Room13 | Office14 | Spinning Studio15 | GYM

6 | Storage7 | Janitor Room8 | Retail Store9 | Bank10 | GYM Reception

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The plaza is composed of two volumes, first one is a ‘L’ shaped building and the second portion is a small one storey building. The two buildings together create the above mentioned ‘’U shape plan’’.

Most of the program spaces are accommodated in the largest building with double heights and terraces, which are aesthetically expressed in black and white silhouettes that fuse.

Architecture

16 | Green Roof17 | Food Court18 | Restaurant19 | Bar20 | Kitchen

The smaller building, makes use of warm materials and a dramatic shape in order to create a greater impact on how the building are perceived.

The placement of the parking lot at the center generates an efficient and continuous flow of the incoming people to the plaza.

Coffee Shop and Bar

Bank Corner

‘‘Silhouette with an infinite line’’

The corridors’ ceilings are lined with white reflective paint while straight lines of LED lighting creates the illusion of a light streaks that shows the path to new areas.

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The ‘’light streak’’ idea goes beyond the lighting and it takes form in the building silhouette with an infinite line, which attempts to make the shopping plaza seem bigger than what actually is.

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We dramatized the stairs by presenting them in a light and thin structure; almost invisible that seems to float in front of the gym’s double height windows, while traversing the ‘’Zen garden’’ creating a pleasing climb.

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Lateral View

Section A

0 5.0

m

10.0

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‘‘The illusion of a light streaks’’

Parking View

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The green areas initially requested by the local building code plays a dominant roll in the lands-cape image and become the main attractive vi-sual aspect and also create a connection with the urban space through the parking.

Roberto Valdez NuñezEngineer Architect

[email protected]

USA +1 (530) 540-3330

MEX +52 (33) 1381-3256

www.rwzarchitecture.com

RWZ Architecture Portfolio

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