Carballo-PORTFOLIO

Architect Manuel Carballo Msc. PORTFOLIO
2003-2015
INDEX
01. Chandigarh Unbuilt, Competition to Complete Le Corbusier’s Capitol [DEC 2015]
02. Arne Jacobsen’s Lyngby Swimming Pool Building Reconstruction [JUL 2015]
03. Antoni Gaudí, Barcelona’s Flower Kiosk Reconstruction [ABR 2015]
04. Baltic Thermal Pool Park Competition [JUL 2014]
05. Alta Florida, Residential Complex [FEB 2014]
06. Beach House at Archipielago Los Roques [FEB 2013]
07. Modular Building Design Challenge Competition [FEB 2012]
08. Tower in Gothic Quarter: Bohemian Hostel for Backpackers Competition [ABR 2011]
09. International Musical Complex and Urban Environment Competition [JUN 2010]
10. Back Office Building [MAR 2008]
11. 509, Residential Complex [DEC 2007]
12. Aalto, Residential Complex [AGO 2007]
13. Townhouses at Puerto Piritu [FEB 2005]
14. TATE in Space, Student international Architecture Competition [JUN 2003]
INTRODUCTION
This is a selection of 14 representative projects of my
practice as an Architect since 2003 to the present, from
the most recent one made during my studies at the (ETSAB)
Technical School of Architecture of Barcelona at the (UPC)
Technical University of Catalonia, and ending with my thesis
on the (FAU) Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism at the
(UCV) Central University of Venezuela in 2003. For all of
these projects I served as the Chief Architect in charge of
the design, plans drawing and 3d modeling. I also had
the opportunity to be the construction supervisor of project
5, 6 and 7. For more information, please visit my portfolio
online at https://www.behance.net/mnl
I made the selection of these projects taking into account
the scale and importance of each one within my
practice. Despite leaving out some smaller scaled projects,
such as renovations, expansions and interior designs,
I think this selection is significant and exemplary of the
architectural language that I have developed throughout
my career.
During the development of my projects, 3D modeling
was always used as a design tool and not only as
a mechanism of representation. 3D modeling facilitates
the performing of spatial as well as scale tests during the
design process. Since 2011, (BIM) Building Information
Modelling was introduced into my design process. This
technique potentiated not only tridimensional reviews but
also streamlined the process, optimized modifications and
reduced time invested during project development.

01. Chandigarh Unbuilt, Competition to Complete Le Corbusier’s Capitol
(01) (02)
This is an international architecture competition
promoted by Archasm (http://www.archasm.in/index.html)
seeking to complete the Museum of Knowledge
of Le Corbusier’s Capitol Project in Chandigarh.
In that matter, my architecture proposal for the MOK
started with the division of the program into two main
buildings. One building, located underground, it is a
large basement that includes the R&D functions, the
administration offices, auditorium, and the digital library.
The second building is the exhibition galleries
of the museum . It is divided into 4 elevated galleries,
which are connected underground by the basement
level.
One of the main tasks of the MOK is to ensure the
archiving of the existing knowledge. For this reason,
I have designated the basement level as the proper
location for the R&D activities. This level, known as
Knowledge Center, covers the total area of the assigned
site . It is naturally ventilated by 6 courtyards
that allows the connection with the street level through
by the use of ramps and stairs. located on them. These
courtyards are fully covered with plants separating the
different areas visually and acoustically.
One of the main goals of the museum is to display
the knowledge produced and stored. The Museum level
is located 4 meters above the garden and divided
into 4 buildings connected with the street level trough
the repetitions of the already existing Le Corbusier
Ramp of the Martyrs Memorial which allow the connection
of between the Museum with and the garden.
The galleries are divided into 4 buildings, allowing
flexibility in for the curatorship of the exhibition.
Each of the buildings has 2 levels of exhibition, and
a terrace for outdoor exhibition, each of them are an
connectionted to the R&D basement and has an underground
connection with each other.
A B C D E F G H I J
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05 - Roof
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04 - Terrace
The street level connects with the Capitol Complex
through a large garden on the roof of the R&D
basement, and a little gradient slope that connect this
garden with the street. At this level are also located
two open air theatres, cafes, retails and tuck shops
that serve as an access to the building.
(03)
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03 - Level 2
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01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38
(01) Aerial render view of the project,
from the west side of Chandigarh’s
Capitol. At the background, Shivalik
Hills
(02) Interior render view of the Research
& Development offices at the basement
of the project.
(03) Floor plan of the exhibition galleries
at first level and longitudinal section
of the project by the stairs

02. Arne Jacobsen’s Lyngby Swimming Pool Building Reconstruction
In 1964 the municipality of Lyngby - Taarbæk
(Denmark) commissioned the architect Arne Jacobsen
to design a public indoor pool building for the municipality.,
Tthe council decision was made by inthe August
9, 1963. This first draft proposal was discussed
in by the council, producing several changes to the
project in the following months. Finally, on May 17,
1971, three months after the death of Arne Jacobsen,
the council decides not to build the project for economic
reasons. As a final result of this design process,
Jacobsen’s office produced a final project and a 3D
model of the design, the original plans and the final
model are located in the National Art Library of Denmark.
Here is where this research begins, as a final thesis
for my Master Degree at the Universidad Politectnica
de Cataluña in Barcelona Spain. I was looking to
rebuild a project that was never built. The publications
that gave coverage to the draft for the Lyngby project
only shows the blueprint presented by Jacobsen to the
City of Lyngby in 1964. It was published for the first
time in an article written by the same Jacobsen in the
magazine Arkitecktur no. 5 of 1964. I seek through
this reconstruction in order to showcase aspects of
the project that had not been shown before, placing
value on the intentions of the original project. I also
researched other references and projects built by Jacobsen
to enrich my proposal.
As part of the reconstruction of the project, I was
looking to recreate the landscaping project based on
the information appearing in the plans as well as other
references like Jacobsen’s watercolor perspectives
shown in the competition for the municipality of Tårnby
1960 and the Municipality of Glostrup 1954. In both
cases, the vegetation is used in a very controlled way,
with a geometrical pruning, generating volumes that
control the limits of urban space that is generated in
both projects.
The original photographs of the model appearing
in various publications over the years mainly show
photographs from aerial angles, of the exterior and
only one picture from interior of the building, that is
why by reconstruct the building in three dimensions,
I was able to show the building at a scale it was not
shown before.
During the process of redrawing of the original
plans and three-dimensional modeling, it was possible
to appreciate design principles that Jacobsen subsequently
used in projects such as the building of indoor
pool Fehrman, Germany. But it was also possible to
appreciate a style belonging to buildings such as St.
Catherine’s College, the National Bank and the SAS
Royal Hotel.
(01) (02)
(03)
(01) Interior render view of the swimming
pool area, from the terrace level
facing west.
(02) Collage of the watercolor reconstruction
using the 3D model plus fragments
of other water colors made by
Arne Jacobsen
(03) Floor plan at level terrace of the
indoor swimming pool building, and
2 sections, one by the swimming pool
and other by the thermal baths.

03. Antoni Gaudí, Barcelona’s Flower Kiosk Reconstruction
Only ink drawings on manila paper signed by Antonio
Gaudi and a project description are the only documents
left of the selling flowers kiosk and toilets drafted
by Antoni Gaudí in May 14, 1878, requested by Mr.
Enrique Girossi. (Expediente de Fomento no. 873) These
documents were located in the Municipal Archives of
Barcelona until the year 1970, and currently located in
the Municipal Institute of History. So, availing myself of
the existing draft, and project description, I proceeded
to make a three-dimensional kiosk proposal. The goal
was to place the buildings at the same twenty different
locations described in the original project, creating a
tour of the “Barcelona of 1878” using the base map of
the city at the time.
The description stated that 20 kiosks were to be installed
at a cost of 8,500 pesetas each. Mr Girossi de
Sanctis, was offered to install these kiosks-toilets at various
points in the city of Barcelona. In exchange, he requested
exclusive concession and authorization to place
in, lighting signs with advertisement and a flower shops.
The description named marble iron and glass as
construction materials. Each kiosk measures 4 meters
long, 2.40 wide and 4 meters high, with a top canopy
that protects from sun and rain on all four sides so the
passersby could be entertained with advertising placed
in opaque glass walls, internally illuminated at night
with light gas. Each kiosk also includes a paid restroom
service with toilets, urinals, and sinks and with anan
area for cleaning and store natural flowers that would
operate day and night.
In the central part under the canopy, a rectangular
plate with a clock was located in the middle on both
sides of this calendar. Further down, a barometer and
a thermometer were also included.
Locations proposed for Girossi’s Kiosk by Gaudi in
Barcelona City in1878:
1. Rambla del Centro, in front of Café Nacional
2. Rambla del Centro, in front of Casa Subiela
3. La Boqueria in front of La Virreina
4. Rambla de los estudios
5. End of rambla de canaletas
6. Entrance of Paseo de Gracia
7. Av. Gran Vía and Aragón Street
8. San Agustín Square,
9. Universidad Square
10. Nueva Square
11. Claris Street
12. Urquinaona Square (formerly San Sebastián)
13. El Borne Market
14. Paseo de San Juan (lower part)
15. Real Square
16. San Jaime Square
(01) (02)
(03)
(01) Final render of the Girossi’s kiosks
designed by Gaudi
(02) Photo montage of the Girossi’s kiosk
over Paseo de Ggracia boulevard
at Barcelona City
(03) Unique original document available
from Gaudi’s project, this is an ink
drawing on paper of the facade and
the schematic floor plan.

04. Baltic Thermal Pool Park Competition
(01) (02)
The Pool Park was conceived an integrated building interconnecting
all of the internal areas and its surroundings,
reducing the impact in the landscape and preserving the tree
groves. In order to reduce the impact to the surrounding areas,
an important part of the building is placed underground. This
characteristic not only reduce the total height, but also to take
advantages of the natural heat of the underground and protects
from cold winds during winter.
The outdoor pool is strategically located in the middle of the
complex, as it will be the central attraction of this park during
summer. This area is above the ground level seeking the fresh
summer breeze, the natural sun light and better views of the
surroundings. There are 2 swimming pools in this area, a large
thermal water pool, a pool bar with underwater seating, as well
as food and beverages zones. There is also a children’s outdoor
park and pool.
Since the indoor pool will be used during winter time, it is
well protected at underground level, surrounded by glass walls
and ceilings with skylights oriented according to the movement
of the sun during the year. There are 3 pools in this zone, a small
thermal water pool, a small pool with attractions, and finally a
children’s pool, close to the outdoor children’s park.
standard rooms and 10 family rooms. All of the rooms have an
outdoor terrace oriented to the tree groves and the sea. The villas
are designed as family houses and some of them are designated
for disable people. They have two bedrooms, kitchen , living
room, a private garden. The glass façade and ceiling skylights
are oriented according to the sun movement, in order to use the
natural sun heating during the winter
The food and beverages zone is located within the outdoor
pool area and includes a restaurant, a bar and a kitchen provided
with indoor and outdoor tables; the restaurant and the bar
are sharing the kitchen area .
The parking zone is located under the accommodation
building. The vehicle access is provided through the Kaleju ST.
and also the main pedestrian entrance is located at this area.
There are 288 parking spots distributed in half level floors with
open walls to provide natural ventilation.
The spa was designed all around a courtyard trying to isolate
itself from the noises of the outdoor pool using vegetation
and ventilation courtyards on each room. These individual courtyards
are equipped with outdoor private showers, and Jacuzzi.
The gym, the beauty salon and other areas are located under
the outdoor pool zone, using also natural ventilation trough the
individual courtyards during summer time.
The guest accommodation area is divided into 2 edifications,
one is the main building or hotel and the other is the villas
or houses. The hotel has 3 types of rooms, 20 Luxury rooms, 50
(03)
(01) Render of aerial view from the
south west side, showing thermal complex,
the covered swimming pool and
the hotel building.
(02) Render view of the project
from the Baltic sea side.
(03) Site plan and crossing section by
the hotel tower and the villas

05. Alta Florida, Residential Complex
The Alta Florida Residential Complex project was
designed as a gated community complex at the top
of a mountain in the “Lomas de San Rafael” suburb
in Caracas, Venezuela, this prime location provides a
360-degree vision of the Caracas city valley and the
Avila mMountain at the north side of the site . The existing
road in the interior of the plot allows the internal
circulation of vehicles. Each housingtownhouse unit has
its own parking space at the front and also a common
parking lot for visitors or personal use in the central area
of the site.
The project was conceived by locating the housing
unitstownhouses in the outer perimeter of the plot, leaving
the center wide open for the location of parking
spaces covered by an elevated green roof for social
areas and swimming pool. The project comprehends
a total of 16 two level semi-detached townhouses , a
basement with multipurpose room with access to the garden
and a rooftop terrace. The sizes of these units are
is of 360 sqmm2 and 280 m2sqm. As the plot has a
slope topography, a series of terraces were developed
with small stone- retaining walls between the units.
Every residential unit follows the same scheme,
starting at street level where the social area is located
staggered along the slope of the land, the ground level
includes the kitchen, service premises toilet and guest
room, the dining room and living room with a small outdoor
terrace facing city views. The 1st floor comprise 3
bedrooms with walk-in closets and one en-suit bathroom
each. Finally, the master bedroom with walk-in closet
and the en-suit bathroom. At the top of each unit, there
is a terrace with open views to the Caracas valley.
At the south side of the complex, beside the swimming
pool, there is a gathering area that includes a
gymnasium, a sauna, and a squash court that, along
with the swimming pool on the top of the garage, comprise
the social and recreational area of the complex,
providing residents the ability to develop different kind
of outdoor activities without leaving the complex.
The existing roads and trees did not allow the location
of units on the perimeter, this is why it was requested
the modification of roads as a new urban plan to
the Town Hall authorities. This proposal allowed us to
preserve many trees and to achieve a 360-degree view
of Caracas city. This layout also helped to allocate the
common parking area in the center of the complex. This
project is actually under construction, and according to
the schedule it would be finished in 2017.
(01) (02)
(03)
(01) Aerial render view of the project,
from the west side with the Avila Mountain
at the far left and Caracas city to
the right.
(02) Render of the project showing the
interior roads and units layout within
the site.
(03) Assembly site plan of the housing
project, showing the location of the
units in the outer perimeter of the plot
and a section of the project showing
the terraces.

06. Beach House at Archipielago Los Roques
The archipelago of “Los Roques” is located at 145
kms. from the city of Caracas, in the Caribbean Sea.
There, a small town called El Gran Roque, part of “Los
Roques” archipelago hosts this beautiful beach house
called Casa Verde (Green House). The great Caribbean
weather, the white sand and its clear water, makes
it a wonderful Venezuelan tourist destination for locals
and overseas. This town has particular regulation that
sets the specifications of building facades, so it was
mandatory to take into account these regulations but
also the location of the sun during the year and the
wind direction as a passive cooling system.
This project began as a renovation of an existing
house. Since Los Roques is considered a national park,
no new construction are allowed, but, the very poor
condition of this house helped us acquired an exceptional
construction permit as long as the new project
facades and the old building distribution were coupled
in an harmonic way. This proved to be a challenge
during design and construction.
The Beach House project is located next to the
beach allowing direct view of the sea but at the same
time, it is protected from direct sun rays by the use of
aluminum lattices . The social area is located to the East
side of the house, which remains cool during the year.
The implementation of lattices provided a wonderful interior
atmosphere and comfort.
The social area has movable lattice panels tailored
in aluminum carpentry, which when opened provide
sun protection and act like pergolas framing the visuals
of the Caribbean Sea. The bedroom area located at
the west side of the project is protected by an outer
thick wall perimeter that works as heat isolation by mass
dissipation.
The structure is a hybrid of concrete columns and
a wooden beam frame that support the roof which is
formed by a double sandwich of aluminum finishes and
a thick 150 millimeters isolation foam core. The nodes
that connect the concrete columns with the wooden
frame are custom designed prefabricated galvanized
steel pieces that works as connections between both
materials.
Once a year, the sea level raises and covers a
great part of the beach. To overcome this issue, the
house is placed on the top of a concrete basement.
Even with this extra height, big waves can potentially
reach the façade and interior, that is why all of the
furniture is made of concrete casted in place, including
beds, sofas, kitchen cabinets, even the bathroom
cabinets.
One of the main challenges during construction
was the shipment of materials from mainland to the island.
This required an important logistic work and a
very precise scheduling of activities to achieve compliance
goals. Another major factor was the supervision
of the construction site, given that labor was brought
from mainland to the island given the scarcity of local
manpower and qualified labor.
(01) (02)
(03)
(01) Actual image of the house being
constructed in final phases. Taken from
the sea, showing the South facade
(02) Actual image of the house being
constructed in final phase
(03) Floor plan of the project and south
facade

07. Modular Building Design Challenge Competition
(01) (02)
This is my proposal for the architecture competitions
of The Modular Building Design Challenge 2012
promoted by Urban Collective (http://urbancollective.
com.au/) aimed to not only stablish a dialogue within
the community about building interest on prefabrication
and modular design, but also to create contemporary
and affordable construction units to alleviate the widely
discussed housing affordability crisis in Sydney, Australia.
As this was intended as a competition of ideas
with no specific site constrain, there is no expectation
that submitted designs adhere to any specific planning
controls. Instead, designs are aim to propose contemporary
and functional modular solutions to provide
good standard housing for residents and the surrounding
neighborhood.
This Eco Modular Living Unit was designed using
4 modular units of 12,192mm long, 2,438mm wide
and 2,896mm height. Each individual unit expands on
size to double the area, from 29.5m2 to 59m2. The
4 modular units can be setup in a number of different
layouts in order to cater for different needs, functions
and site constrains like size and topology.
This living unit was designed for Sydney, NSW. I
took into account the weather and the need of good
insulation which was achieve using different kinds of
ecologic resources of energy such as solar panels and
wind turbines in order to generate electric energy, and
also using passive / low technology systems such as
trombe walls and thermal chimney to regulate the internal
temperature of the unit.
The 1st floor plant, is formed by a sort of basement
of 45cm of height witch separate the unit from
the terrain, and includes a swimming pool and rain
water collection system. This level contains the Living
/ Dining Room, the kitchen, and the studio / home
office, which can be changed to a laundry room if it’s
necessary.
At the 2nd floor two bedrooms with internal bathrooms,
and also individual spaces to study within the
room are located . The master bedroom has a comfortable
bathroom with bath, shower and panoramic
views of the surrounding areas. At this level is also
located the roof gardens that helps to regulate the internal
temperature of the unit.
This Eco Modular Living Unit uses different temperature-regulated
passive systems such as thermal chimney
and trombe walls. These are low-tech low-cost systems
which help to efficiently regulate the internal temperature
of the living unit, by changing the dampers configurations
during summer and winter. The location and
inclination of those systems are designed according to
Sydney insulation needs .
The facade is the result of the industrial aesthetics
of cargo containers, which were used as inspiration,
but were redefined in order to allow the expansion of
the internal space at the moment of installation.
(03)
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N
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(01) Render of aerial view of the project
showing the integration of the different
units together as a residential unit.
(02) Render view of the project taken
from the swimming pool area.
(03) Floor plan at ground level and
cross section by the Livingroom and
stairs.

08. Tower in Gothic Quarter: Bohemian Hostel for Backpackers Competition
The proposal for the bohemian backpacker’s hostel in
the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, was conceived through
five different areas: the garden perimeter, the basement,
the air terrace, the tower and the urban landmark
The garden perimeter was conceived as an extension
of the “Plaza dels Angels” (see map 01 ground and
aerial view of the proposal). Its purpose is to create a
gap between the proposal and existing buildings. These
surrounding edifications have windows and access to the
proposal site, making for both ventilation and lighting.
The inverted catenary was used to optimize the load
distribution of a structure that would reach 100 meters
high and would be appreciated from many different
points of the city of Barcelona. This element was widely
used by Antonio Gaudí in his work and is recognized as
a city landmark. The Bohemian Hostel would have LED
lighting along the inverted catenary so it could be appreciated
at night. Finally, this structure would include a panoramic
elevator, located at the terrace of the tower rooms.
It would run to a 100 meters high platform, to allow visitors
a 360-degree view over the city of Barcelona.
(01) (02)
The basement, as the area containing services necessary
for the operation of the shelter, contains the entrance
hall, reception, shop, bar (controlled by receiving
access). The main double-height hall (see internal view),
Internet room, administration, nursing and room service
(see drawings 03 and 04 floor) can also be found in the
basement. Deposits and laundry are shown in drawing
No. floor. 02
Above the basement, the air terrace (See map No.
05), is built acknowledging the height of the neighboring
buildings and to being kind to the context. At this level
the kitchen and the dining room are located. The latter is
proposed between a covered area and outdoor space to
enjoy the visual of the city.
The hostel rooms are situated along the tower. Each
floor has 10 rooms and 2 shared bathrooms and circulation
hallways along the edge of each floor. The corner
rooms enjoy a 180 degrees’ view.
(03)
(01) Render of aerial view of the project
without the context, showing the garden
at ground level.
(02) Render view of the project from the
Plaza dels Angel
(03) Floor plans of the project from left
to right: Level 1 main access, Level 2
exterior deck terrace and restaurant,
Level 3 Staff mezzanine. Level 4 Tower
typical plant.

09. International Musical Complex and Urban Environment Competition
The architecture competition for the International
Musical Complex and urban Environment provides the
opportunity to develop an area of great importance for
the consolidation of the Venezuelan music system.
My proposal for this competition aims to be a
platform to enable the international exchange and projection
of national talent. To achieve these purposes,
the complex is designed to perform various activities,
which were organized within a volume set, to supply
many functions inherent to orchestral activities such as,
concerts, essays, study halls, warehouses, administrative
offices, among others.
slope terrain in order to propose a basement-building
with many levels connecting the boulevard and park.
Finally, this Musical Complex merges the northern
front of a more urban character with the south side
framed by the park and surroundings. A building where
musicians can be inspired by the environment hopping
become the place of reference for music, youth, nature
and citizens.
(01) (02)
The volume located on the east side of the site,
conforms the building of the Music Complex. It is a
nine-story building containing 3 public spaces such as
audio library. Reproduction and digitization are located
at ground level. Most of this building is intended for
rehearsal and study for the musicians of the nation’s
system of youth orchestras, therefore, these spaces are
separated from each other by insulated double walls.
The three white floating volumes that make up the
concert halls are located at different levels, each with
independent access and services. The spaces resulting
from its forms and their location, demarcate the entrance
to the complex and opens it to the Caobos Park. It is
aimed to maintain the connection between the Amador
Bendayán Boulevard and Caobos Park creating an
open space that invites passerby to visit and enjoy.
The basement is generated taking advantage of the
(03)
(01) Render of aerial view of the project
taken from the boulevard Amador
Bendayan.
(02) Render of aerial view of the project
from the Caobos Park side.
(03) Cross section of the auditorium,
concert halls, and floor plan at street
level.

10. Back Office Building
The Premier Insurance building was designed for
this company as a back office, taking into account
their specific requirements, but at the same time allowing
flexibility for future growth and densification
by technologically flexible systems. The location designated
for this project is an industrial area named
La California in Caracas, Venezuela.
The project has a ground floor with a reception
area to attend visitors, providers and customers.
Then, the rest of the building enjoy an open-plan
layout that allows different types of furniture disposition
and densities, thus achieving a flexible project
that suited not only the current demands, but the potential
growth of the company and the performance
of new functions along with future changes in the
organization. All the electrical installations for lighting,
voice and data systems are distributed within
the ceiling area, so every desk configuration can be
installed on any floor and connected to the grid by
plugging-in the unit to the ceiling installations.
On each floor there is a service area, where toilets,
lifts and emergency stairs are located, as well
as the area that holds technical equipment. Each
floor layout is different, but in every case, the outer
perimeter was used to place room offices with
glazed panels that allow the natural sunlight to penetrate
the interior of the floor where the open space
and the furniture Is located.
We kept the number of columns to a minimum to
reduce the costs and to grant the open plan effect.
This design was supported by using deep pile foundations.
The parking at the basement was designed
in half levels, facilitating the ventilation.
A kitchen and dining room for the employees
was created at the ground level. The goal is to make
the building as autonomous as possible and to solve
the problem of the absence of nearby places for
lunch.
(01) (02)
(03)
(01) Exterior render image and main
access to the building
(02) Aerial render view from the North
West side of the building
(03) Typical floor plan levels 1, 2 and
3 of the office building and cross section
by the basement parking area.

11. 509, Residential Complex
The 509 Residential Complex, is located on the top
of one of the mountains of Alto Hatillo suburb, which
provides excellent visuals of the valley of Caracas. The
proposal consists of 6,500.00 m2 sqm of construction
area, divided into a seven-story tower with 12 apartments
and 5 individual townhouses, the complex have
an internal access road to the carpark and each townhouse
. The common areas are located in the basement
of the tower, which includes the basement carpark
with landscaped slabs.
Each townhouse unit was developed using the
same half level scheme. Starting at the street level, there
is the carpark and the main access to the unit. Half
way down comprises the social areas such as the kitchen,
the dining room, the living room and the outdoor
terrace, while half way up includes the bed rooms and
the TV room. The master bedroom with its own walk-in
closet and en-suit bathroom is located at the rooftop.
At the garden level, there is also a multipurpose room.
As the plot is located at the top of a mountain, we
used the topography of the terrain in order to take advantage
of north side views by staggering the location
of houses, thus achieving that, both the building and the
houses enjoy the views of the Avila Mountain.
The complex has already been built and sold 100
percent in presale. The project was successfully executed
according to plan. Only some landscaping work
and planting vegetation on the perimeter is left to be
completed. The strategy of providing a wide range of
housing units with different areas and features to cover
a much wider target audience, granted a successful
presale phase. It was so successful that it is now implemented
in other residential projects.
(01) (02)
The seven-story tower has 3 types of residential
units, the ones located at the first two levels which are
duplex with private gardens, then 3 levels of single level
units, and finally two duplex at the pent house level
with private rooftop terraces. Each single level apartment
was designed in order to allow contiguous units
to be joined together to double the area and function
as a single unit.
(03)
(01) Render of Aerial view of the project
from the north side.
(02) Actual image of the building being
constructed in the final phase
(03) Site assembly plan and crossing
section by the building tower and
houses.

12. Aalto, Residential Complex
The Aalto residential complex is located at the
top of the Alto Hatillo suburb, which provides excellent
visuals of Caracas valley. The project has
more than 20 residential units and 5,300.00 m2
of construction. This is a private urban residential
project developed within a bigger residential urban
promotion which is under construction.
(01) (02)
All social areas in each residential unit are located
facing north, while the rooms facing south enjoy
the view of El Hatillo valley. At the top levels, the
towers are terraced. The car park roof of the lower
level of each duplex, serves as a private garden for
each building.
All the social areas like the swimming pool, gymnasium,
and gardens are located at the north side of
the plot. There is an internal road that divides the
complex into two towers on one side and one tower
in the other. Each tower has a different height, starting
with 5 levels on the west side of the site facing
carparks and recreational areas, while on the East
side, the tower reach 7 levels facing a site aimed to
host future building with the same height.
This residential complex is already builtd. The
variety in units’ sizes and characteristics was a commercial
success given that all the apartments were
sold in pre-sale. The project catered owners of different
purchasing power, so all 22 houses were sold.
Some were joined together to create bigger spaces
and others were divided to create smaller homes.
(03)
(01) Render of aerial view of the project
from the north east side.
(02) Actual image of building being
constructed in the final phase
(03) Site assembly plan and north facade
of the project showing the 3 levels
of the residential towers.

13. Townhouses at Puerto Piritu
Puerto Piritu is a well know tourist area located in
the state of Anzoategui in Venezuela. Due to exceptional
geographical conditions like beautiful beaches
and lagoons. This region is characterized by sparse
vegetation contrasting with large beach areas that
are visited mainly by local tourists.
I chose to develop a hotel based on small townhouses
for rent. These townhouses have a common
parking area and swimming pool, but each unit has
a private outdoor area and garden.
The location of the site is very close to the best
beaches in the area. It is also located at the main
street for shopping. This concept of townhouses for
rent during holiday season is very popular in the
area. There are no services rooms within the townhouses
because the cleaning and laundry is commonly
outsourced.
(01) (02)
The units are freestanding townhouses with 3
bedrooms. The social area consists of a living room,
a dining room and an outdoor terrace. To ventilate
and illuminate the units, we I implemented courtyards
that separate the social areas from the private ones
and also function as ventilation for the bathrooms
and kitchen.
The structure is very simple, the walls are stone
and self-supporting brick. The structure is a frame of
beams and columns made of steel, while the roof is
made of prefabricated aluminum sheets finished on
both faces with an insulating foam interior.
They were arranged together in a way to improve
ventilation for common areas and to enjoy the
sea view. This disposition also achieved free corners
and enhanced the privacy of the outdoor terraces.
(03)
(01) Render of aerial view of one residential
unit from the North West side
(02) Render of aerial render view of
one residential unit from the south east
side
(03) Plan of the assembly project, showing
the staggered disposition of the residential
units.

14. TATE in Space, Student international Architecture Competition
This is a special project because it was my first
international experience at the very beginning of my
professional career. The Tate Modern Gallery in
London, called for an international student competitionstudent
competition to design the new headquarters
of the gallery in outer space. This My proposal
was selected as the first runner up, and also the
subject of the thesis for my academic degree at the
Central University of Venezuela, where it received
the highest rating and the mention of Best Thesis of
the Semester. The project was exhibited among others
at the “Maison Europeen de la Photographie” in
Paris / France in 2003 at the Art-Outsiders festival
gravity, the above and below and how gallery’s visitors
experience the artwork and navigate the gallery
in such conditions.
The final product of the design process includes
a 3D animated video navigating throughout the gallery
and a virtual visit to the exhibition galleries with
an art curatorship conceived in zero gravity.
(01) (02)
The architecture competition of the Tate Modern
Gallery was a contest of ideas, in which no time
was given for a deeper space and theoretical exploration,
which is why the same subject was further developed
as my thesis work so I could reach a deeper
theoretical development and exploration level. The
main theme was the architectural exploration under
the effect of zero gravity and the contemplation of
artwork under this condition of weightlessness.
The gallery was designed as a toroid based in a
uniform elliptical section extruded along an axis that
follows the path of the Mobius tape, generating an
outer surface with a virtually infinite path. The choice
of that particular form was based on the most evident
characteristics of the outer space, the absence of
(03)
(01) Render of external view of the gallery
in out space.
(02) Render of the typical section (03) 3D section of the typical extruded
section, in the center the main gallery,
at the left the secondary hall, and at the
right side the main circulation device.