two houses
sketching por la isla: yauco y san germán
Estos son algunos bocetos que realicé el pasado sábado mientras acompañaba a Jorge Rigau y su curso de Historia del Caribe.
Here are some sketches I did last Saturday on a trip with Jorge Rigau’s course on History of Caribbean Architecture.
Condición urbana (parque/plaza) en Yauco; diagrama espacial de la residencia Franceschi (tipo sala-pasillo-comedor) y alzado parcial de la Villa Ange del arquitecto Pedro Méndez.
Fachada frontal de la Ermita de Porta Coeli y un diagrama de la condición urbana (parque/plaza) en San Germán.
Diagrama espacial de la Residencia Acosta y Forés (tipo A-B-A), perspectiva del mediopunto en la sala y un detalle de los estarcidos del área del comedor.
Diagrama espacial de la Residencia Ortíz Perichi y una perspectiva de la Residencia Vélez del arquitecto Henry Klumb.
thoughts on space: a few rough observations on henry klumb’s dominican convent
convento de las carmelitas, thomas s. marvel
Designed in 1971 by Thomas S. Marvel, the Carmelite Sisters’ Convent in Trujillo Alto is often considered one of the best examples of early brutalism in Puerto Rico. It is troubling how closely it was modeled to resemble Le Corbusier’s convent of La Tourette. However, its proportions lack the mathematical correctness and spatial aspirations of the French masterpiece.
In truth, the similarities lie only within the use itself, the materials employed and its siting. The Convento de las Carmelitas rests on top of a small hill in a somewhat pastoral setting. Exposed concrete or “betón brut” was the main construction material employed.
There is no way to access the main cloister unless one becomes a Carmelite Sister (or a robber, as one of the sisters told us). The only spaces that welcome visitors are the refractory and the chapel which can be accessed through an entrance courtyard. Here’s a view of that space looking towards the main gate, the belfry and the chapel’s entrance. I have also included an interior photograph of the chapel to illustrate the lack of proportions and poor spatial qualities.
plaza de armas, viejo san juan
last sunday i went with my students to plaza de armas in old san juan to have them develop a few spatial / analytical drawings.
sketching this space has always proved to be a good exercise that challenge students to see beyond the ordinary in other to understand the design intentions that shape the space.
although every time I do this exercise I make a drawing to illustrate the ideas, this one has always been my favorite. I made it when I took my first design studio students back in 2002.
traveling through cuba: havana
Here’s another city map pasted in my sketchbook where I traced down the different places I visit last time I was there. Dashed lines refer to walked paths but also by car or scooter.
museo nacional de antropología
The Museo Nacional de Antropología, Chapultepec Park, Mexico City.
Designed in 1963 by Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, Jorge Campuzano and Rafael Mijares, it is an impressive example of modern architecture.
The main courtyard is partially covered by a roof (know as “el paraguas”) suspended by a single pillar around which splashes an artificial cascade. The halls are ringed by gardens, many of which contain outdoor sculptures.
turisteando por la isla: casa wiechers-villaronga, ponce
there is much more to this house in its interior but for now I only include its “chaflán”.
parc de la zona volcànica de la garrotxa
Parc Natural de la Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa
El volcán del Croscat
After years of extraction of volcanic gravel and the subsequent use of the site as a landfill, in the early 1990s this area was turned into a Natural Reserve. The landscape intervention at el volcán del Croscat (which is only a fragment of a whole lot of interventions throughout the territory) aimed at restoring the extraction site and landfill to recover the morphology of the volcano and the surrounding landscape. This award winning project minimized the visual industrial impact, prevented further erosion of the volcano, and allowed for public access through a series of trails that connect the natural park.
The quarried flank or las grederes has exposed the internal structure of the volcano -as a cross section- allowing for the scientific as well as leisure observation of the internal volcanic structure of the Croscat.
traveling through spain: sevilla
aquí algunos dibujos que olvidé “postear” en el mensaje anterior.
“mapping” con los recorridos.
andenes de la estación de santa justa de los “antonios” cruz y ortíz.
anonymous_architecture 