THESIS PROJECTS
Students Status
Institution
BArch Thesis
Universidad Austral de Chile
The following showcases projects from architecture students whom I have mentored. Each project utilized a comprehensive method of active investigation, incorporating various mediums such as collage, drawings, films, and illustrations. This approach was further enriched with ethnographic field trips and a holistic connection to the environment. For more detailed information on these projects, please refer to the thesis section at Universidad Austral de Chile.
The proposed project is a navigable museum, conceived as a floating wooden colossus. This innovative design comprises three distinct components. The outer shell forms the first piece, intricately woven from a three-dimensional grid of recycled 2" x 8" wooden slats. This framework is designed to be strikingly visible, ensuring that spectators from the shoreline can easily spot the museum. The second part of the design is the interior void. This section provides the museum's distinctive boat-like silhouette and houses all the habitable spaces, including the museographic rooms, restrooms, and office. Concluding the structure is a floating steel platform, which not only underpins the entire proposal but also hosts the engine room.
NAVIGATING UNFINISHED RUINS
THE FLUVIAL HERITAGE MUSEUM
Sebastián Tomas González Bahamonde
LUX DIURNIUM CENTRO COMUNITARIO ASENTAMIENTO BAQUEDANO
Pamela Constanza Olmedo Rodríguez
The project recognized the potential in an existing barn on the site, choosing to preserve and integrate it into the new design, thereby establishing a deep connection with the site's heritage. Drawing from the barn's structural elements, the new architecture features a permeable grid that modulates light, reflecting the vernacular style. This design isn't merely an aesthetic choice but a homage to the past, making the barn a central feature and bridging history with modernity. Additionally, the project's positioning emphasizes the natural beauty of the lagoon and local avifauna, allowing residents to engage with nature directly. Such design considerations highlight the project's dedication to environmental, cultural, and social sustainability.
Situated in Valdivia, a hub of fungal diversity, the project emphasizes the symbiotic relationship between architecture and the environment, specifically highlighting the role of fungi. Designed to resonate with the mycophile community, it underscores the unique values of Valdivian fungi in tandem with Fungifest. The sustainable design employs reusable materials, with wood as the primary structure and a facade of mycelium plates, emphasizing the natural decomposition of fungi. The landscape encourages mushroom cultivation, balancing education with sustainable food sources, making nature more accessible. Derived from in-depth interactions with the fungi community, the design is a seamless blend of environmental adaptation and respect for existing surroundings.