Portfolio Maria Laura Guevara

María Guevara Architecture

PORTFOLIO

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Design & Development

María Guevara Architecture PORTFOLIO

Lara Bolaños House Place: Orotina,

Costa Rica

Status and Date: Design and development

2006

Description: Single family

house

Area: 4,840 sqft house on

a 3.6 acre site

Lara Bolaños House is a one-level single family resi-dence with four-bedrooms and a guest suite with inde-pendent access. Energy effi-cient climatic comfort, maxi-mum advantage of panoramic views and independence of each area were carefully studied for this design. The elongated form was selected according to prevailing winds, sun exposure and panoramic views. Circulation areas and terraces are open to have a direct contact with nature. The bedrooms have crossed ventilation without losing inti-macy and, are separated from living areas such as the kitch-en, dining and living room.

FRONT (SOUTH) ELEVATION

REAR (NORTH) ELEVATION

FRONT (SOUTH) ELEVATION

REAR (NORTH) ELEVATION

SIDE (WEST) ELEVATION



Las Catalinas Beach Club Place: Guanacaste,

Costa Rica

Status and Date: Built

2008

Description: Restaurant, Spa, Gym and

Kids Club

Area: 86,000 sqft

2.4 acre site

This project was the winning proposal in a contest for the design of a beach club loca-ted in a touristic development of 900 acres in the province of Guanacaste, in the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica. The club was meant to serve 1,500 re-sidences; however, the buil-ding should allow expansion for 1,000 residences more, predicting their expansion in about 10 to 20 years. To solve this issue we created a modular layout, over a crosslink of 21’ x 21’, where an additional com-ponent could be easily added when required

The project’s form and spa-ce were conceived as a vestibule towards the sea. It rises along a central axis that loses itself in the sea, interrupted only by a pool of 230’ long, that flows parallel to the beach. Its buildings are covered with autochtho-nous materials like local sto-ne, wood, clay tile, bamboo, which along with the compo-sition of its volumes evoke a language of vernacular archi-tecture. Volumes disposition somewhat disperse from one another allow the view to be the main character.

Co-Design

PORTFOLIO



Jacarandas Condominium Place: Guanacaste,

Costa Rica

Status and Date: Master Plan and

Pre-design 2005

Description: Multifamily low rise

condominium

Area: 180 houses of 1,000 to

2,000 sqft in a 24 acre site

This multifamily housing proj-ect consists of a segment of a tourist development which includes hotels, houses and a golf course nearby the pacific coast. We were to study the

amount of housing units to in-corporate based mainly on the following: saving every pos-sible healthy tree; giving pan-oramic views of the mountains to each unit; and profitability.

One of the greatest challenges was the steep slope that left 50% of the area unutilized. A 16’ x 16’ structure module was created to fit the different units and substantially amend the

financial costs. All columns and beams are made out of steel and are identical for easy prefabrication. Secondary ele-ments include lighter materials like drywall and wood.

Co-Design


PORTFOLIO

ATYPYK Condominium Place: San José,

Costa Rica


2007

Description: 4 Unit multifamily gated

community

Area: 4,300 sqft units

18,000 sqft site

Four houses face each other and are connected through a shared access street that serves as a common central patio. The vibrant façade of each house brings out a sen-se of mutual integration. At the same time, the interior designs grant privacy and independen-ce with windows viewpoints leading towards independent yards. We chose CMU wall as the main structure and desig-ned it in a modular approach –doing away with columns—and thus optimizing construc-tion timing and costs.

Co-Design

B

S

S

SS

Second floor

The building was planned to ac-commodate three small com-mercial premises in the ground floor, and a fitness center in the upper floor. Taking advantage of the corner location of the lot and the commercial natu-re of the building, sides were

completely covered in glass, leaving the metallic structures completely in the open. Para-sols and soffits were placed in the western side to protect the building from solar exposure while the northern side was left uncovered.


Paulina Plaza Place: San José,

Costa Rica


2005

Description: Retail

building

Area: 4,950 sqft building

5,110 sqft site

Co-Design

Argyle House Place: Washington DC,

USA


2009

Description: Residential renovation

design and build

Area: 5,500 sqft building

15,000 sqft site

Co-Design & Project Management



PORTFOLIO

CONCEPCIÓN Supermarket Place: San José,

Costa Rica

Status and Date: Built 2015

Description: Supermarket


18,000 sqft site

The strip mall has a small gour-met supermarket who works as an anchor store, and six additional stores. There is a stimulating ambiguity between wall and ceiling, the purpose was to provide proper lighting to each store while protecting from direct radiation and rain.

Co-Design


PORTFOLIO

ALMENDAR 3A Apartment Place: San José,

Costa Rica

Status and Date: Built 2015

Description: Interior Design


18,000 sqft site

Complete interior design for a 3300 S.F. apartment with three bedrooms, a gym and a large social area, whose centerpie-ce is the kitchen island which is also the dining room, made of beautiful black marble and seats eight people.

The ductwork, pipework and upper concrete slab were left exposed. This helped em-phasize the character of the other materials used. Gra-nite, metal, glass and black lacquered wood are the main actors of space. The delicacy and perfect smooth wood, the purity of the glass and the smooth texture of marble and granite, powerfully but subtly contrast with the roughness of the concrete.

Co-Design


PORTFOLIO

BURDETTE House Co-Design

Place: Bethesda MD

Status and Date: In Construction

Description: Single Family House

Area: 9,500 sqft


PORTFOLIO

GLENWOOD House Co-Design

Place: Bethesda MD


Description: Single Family House

Area: 4,300 sqft


PORTFOLIO

GREENHILL Winery Conceptual Design Place: Middleburg VA

Status and Date: Conceptual Design

Description: Production Building and

Tasting Room

Area: 10,000 sqft

4'-0

"2'

-6"

0'-4"

8'-11"

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1'-0"

0'-8"0'-10"

1'-1

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1'-5

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MASTER BATHROOM l A 2.0

ELEVATION 1/4" = 1 - 0"

ELEVATION 1/4" = 1 - 0"

ELEVATION 1/4" = 1 - 0"

ELEVATION 1/4" = 1 - 0"

ELEVATION 1/4" = 1 - 0"

FLOOR PLAN 1/4" = 1 - 0"


PORTFOLIO

WENDELL Apartment Interior Design Place: Washington DC

Status and Date: Recently Completed

Description: Single Family Apartment

Area: 4,200 sqft

1

8'-7 3/4"

2'-1

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D

5'-4 3/8"

5'-9

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2'-1

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1'-6 3/4"C

2'-0

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3' - 8"

2'-0

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2'-0

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5'-4 3/8"

0'-8

1/2

"

*

1'-3 1/2"

D

C

E

5'-4 3/8"

0'-8

1/2

"2'

-0"

5'-9

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8'-5

1/2

"

10'-2 1/2"

8'-7 3/4"

1 2

1'-6 3/4"

2'-0

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43

1'-10" 1'-10"

4'-0

"2'

-6"

0'-4"

8'-11"

4'-0

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1'-0"

0'-8"0'-10"

1'-1

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3'-4"

2'-2 3/8"

1'-5

1/8

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1'-5

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2'-3"

MASTER BATHROOM l A 2.0

ELEVATION 1/4" = 1 - 0"

ELEVATION 1/4" = 1 - 0"

ELEVATION 1/4" = 1 - 0"

ELEVATION 1/4" = 1 - 0"

ELEVATION 1/4" = 1 - 0"

FLOOR PLAN 1/4" = 1 - 0"


Del Rio Condos Place: San José,

Costa Rica

Status and Date: Pre-design

2009

Description: Multi-Family

Residential

Area: Four-story building of 10 units

from 1,800 sqft to 3,770 sqft

Design


ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE

Ballena Beach House Place: Playa Ballena, Puntarenas,

Costa Rica

Status and Date: Sustainable design

workshop 2005

Description: Single family

house

Area: 680

sqft

The project consists of A two-bedrooms two-levels low-bud-get house for a single family designated for local melamine plantation workers. I incorporat-ed in the design passive strate-gies for this specific tropical hu-mid coastal climate. Building orientation was planned ac-cording to prevailing winds, sea breeze and sun. Proper over-hang was studied for rain pro-

tection and for shade. The wet areas like bathroom and kitch-en sink were located in the west for humidity control and as shield for heat in living ar-eas. The house was suspend-ed 3’ over land level for mois-ture and insect control; also to assuage soil sealing. The main material for the construc-tion would be certified local melamine wood.

Design

PORTFOLIO


Moín, Limon is a city with a sheer contrast between the vast wealth of its natural re-sources and the economic poverty of its inhabitants. As a result, and in order to help out in changing this situation im-prove, my thesis partner and I grew an interest in this area for our graduation project, and proposed an innovative and sustainable bioclimatic design of a Hotel/School. Our propos-al speaks to the need of train-ing students to become tour-isty and hotelier professionals, opening the door for these professionals to improve their economic capacity and thus, that of the city.

The project combined both the large-scale master plan as well as the detailed design of each of its main compo-nents (a hotel and a tourism school with student residenc-es) and subcomponents such as classrooms, laboratories, student housing, guest bun-galows in the middle of the forest, a restaurant, and a

spa. It was essential for us to actively blend our knowledge with that of local experts in the design of the project. There-fore, we consciously met on an on-going basis with local partners in the development of the project.

The lot has a favorable and strategic location, adja-cent in the north to a public street that connects to the main street of the province of Limón and the entrance of the Matina River; in the south to the main railroad and the Caribbean Sea.

In order to limit the access of vehicles to the project, one single access point from the street was designed. Once in the project, the ac-cess point opens itself to the three main core compo-nents of the project: hotel, residences and school. By doing this, we were able to design lobbies from all three entrances to stand close to each other, and thus allow-ing easy pedestrian cross-ings from lobby to lobby. This helps to promote direct contact between the differ-ent individuals.

Finally, a north-south axis was employed for passage with-in the hotel, in order to place the buildings in an east-west axis for climatic suitability. The buildings of the project are centered and dampen-ing zones are allotted at the northern and southern sides of the project.

Moín Hotel-School Place: Limón,

Costa Rica

Status and Date: Graduation project

2007

Description: Hotel-School

Area: 60 acre

site

Master Plan


Costa Rica

San José

SiteCaribbean

Sea

MOÍN

María Guevara Architecture Portfolio


Moín Hotel-School Place: Limón,

Costa Rica


2007

Description: Hotel Reception, manage-

ment and souvenir shops

Area: 3,800 sqft

Hotel Reception

The main purpose of the ho-tel reception is to welcome, inform, and distribute clients. It includes a waiting room, re-strooms, administration offic-es and three shops that could consist of a convenience store and a local arts and crafts shop.

The hotel reception com-municates directly with the

school, the beach café and with the rest of the hotel. The central volume is taller than the building to stand out its receiving character and to allow the evacuation of warm air. The guests will have the advantage of un-loading bags in a covered drop-off area.


The rooms are strategically located for guest privacy and direct contact with nature, but close enough to each other to augment costs by excessive circulation of guests and main-tenance services. Each room has an independent access, a terrace, a kitchenette, a bal-cony, and a bathroom with a shower leading to a view of nature. There are three types of rooms: single, double, and for handicapped.

Moín Hotel-School Place: Limón, Costa Rica


2007

Description: Single, double and ADA

guest bungalows

Area: 480 - 570 sqft

Guest Bungalows

The openings are made of wooden lattices with sieves to catch insects. The open-ings at deck-level contain a fixed screen. The direction of the decks in the terrace and bathroom are due to the need for protection from precipitation and radiation. These spaces also serve as a buffer to maintain the room isolated from the radiation coming from the east and west side.


Moín Hotel-School Place: Limón, Costa Rica


2007

Description: River canal

dock

Area: 90 0 sqft

River Dock

The river dock is located in the river canal at the end of the hotel´s main pedestrian circulation point. It will be used to enable guests to take a boat ride and/or to gaze at the view from the canal. It has public restrooms, a covered common area, and a balcony, which has an altitude of two floors, and thus allows for a unique and stunning view of the canal and mangrove swamp.



PORTFOLIO

BUS STATION Design

INTERCITY BUS TERMINAL AND HOSTAL, Washington DC2011

In a bus terminal many transitions take place. In this case, a transition between Washington DC and other cities, between the city and the building, be-tween the building and the bus, between the dirty and the clean, between movement and pause. The journey and experiences of the different users to, from and around the terminal is also key in the de-velopment of the building design. In addition, con-stant movement of cars, taxis, buses and pedestri-ans will define the outline of the scheme.

The site is a portion of where the old convention center was between 11 St. NW, 10 St. NW, New York Ave and H St. NW.


PORTFOLIO

MOBIUS CHAIR Design

Chair for Battery Park should be more than just a resting point for a passing tourist. Although it ought to work perfectly as an ordinary chair, it should also include attributes encouraging other interactions as well. We imagined a chair that was also a desk, a bench, a lounge chair or even a picnic table. Accom-modating tourists, residents, and workers, this chair makes a place to rest alone or with others, enjoy a leisurely lunch, or have a small office meeting.


PORTFOLIO

MOVIE THEATRE Design

ELEVATION 2 SCALE 18" = 1' - 0"

ELEVATION 1 SCALE 18" = 1' - 0"

SCALE 1" = 40' - 0"

SECTION SCALE 18" = 1' - 0"


PORTFOLIO

AT HOME IN THE CITY Design

The topic of this thesis is about how a diverse community and the feeling of home come together at different scales, the scale of the city, of the neighborhood, of the street and of home. It is also about how architecture weaves these scales to adjust the boundaries of “self ” and “other”. It focuses on how to transi-tion from thebig scale of the city to the intimate scale of home.

It examines the walls of home and how they interact with so-ciety. Also, it extends the elements of home beyond the inti-macy and safety of our bedroom. It embrace mixtures of uses and it seeks to generate diversity.

The topic seemed important to me because it is a relection ofthe constant movement and change of times. Also, it explores the elementes that make a home. It has always intrigued me what is it that makes you feel at home. It sometimes seems that units are treated like garages that can easily park in and out individuals. In these layouts dwellers fail to feel rooted. It is almost as if they are never able to “unpack”.

Finally, it serves personal interests. I am one of many young, early professionals and parents from diverse cultures that move frecuent-ly and seek fertile ground for re-invention and to build a home. In my own search, my inspiration and point of reference in this exploration led me to the Southwest region of Washington DC.

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GROUND FLOOR PLAN SCALE 1/8" = 1' - 0"


Portfolio Maria Laura Guevara

Documents

Transcript of Portfolio Maria Laura Guevara