Inside/Out Exhibition →

From August 3rd to September 4th, the exhibition Inside/Out will be open to the public in the College of Architecture at University of Houston.

This is installation has been designed and built by architecture students lead by professors Jason Logan and Josh Robbins, re-interpreting traditional construction methods of this area.

As always, honored to photograph LOJO's work. Congratulations to the team!

Inside/Out
Adapting a Shotgun Storehouse for the Greater Fifth Ward
Inside/Out is simultaneously an exhibition about Houston’s Fifth Ward community and a structure-in-waiting.
The title describes both the way in which the design research is organized and the way in which the built structure will function once it is re-constructed within an existing building – supporting a dilapidated shotgun storehouse from the “inside-out”.
The exhibition is a cross-disciplinary eort between the Interior Architecture program (INAR) and the Community Design Resource Center (CDRC) at the University of Houston, in collaboration with numerous community partners and stakeholders. The exhibition showcases research developed during the Collaborative Community Design Initiative, an eort organized by the University of Houston’s CDRC in 2013-2014. This research provided the context for a design/build studio co-taught by adjunct professors Jason Logan and Josh Robbins in the INAR program. Working with community partner Olivet Missionary Baptist Church in the Fifth Ward, the INAR 3501 spring studio considered the adaptive re-use of a “shotgun” storehouse into a public reading room and e-resource center. The resulting structure was fabricated in the University of Houston’s Keeland Design Center and built by the studio over a two week period. At the conclusion of the exhibition, in early September, the structure will be disassembled, transported, and stored on-site until additional funding is raised for the reassembly of the structure within the existing shotgun storehouse.
On the outside of the structure, visitors will find a selection of the research used in the studio to frame both the history and the context of the Fifth Ward. This out-side information influenced the design development of the inside structure throughout the semester. Inside the structure, visitors will find design process documents, models, and fabrication drawings developed during the three phases of the spring 2015 INAR design/build studio. These documents track the evolution of the design and how it is integrated into the project site. A
“Projective Map” on the outside of the structure links the INAR project to the larger Fifth Ward community development strategies proposed by the CDRC. In doing so, the structure stands as a both a prototype for a way of making, and a prototype for sustainable community development.

 

#houstonArchitecture

This is BRAVE Architecture.

Recently I've been asked to photograph this project designed by Brave Architecture. This little jewel is a police station located in Houston's Police Memorial Park, very close to downtown and Buffalo Bayou. The function of this program is to host officers 24/ 7 that are guarding the park and the Memorial that honor Houston's police force and the officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. 

Brave Architecture, lead by Fernando Brave, FAIA, is one of the most prestigious firms in the city, reason why I feel deeply honored by them inviting me to capture their work.

www.bravearchitecture.com

Source: http://www.ayalavargas.com/photography/#/m...

Country Day School, Costa Rica, new animation video

Recently released animation by our friends at Tiltpixel. This is the project for the Country Day School in Costa Rica that is under construction. I'm extremely pleased with how Tiltpixel captured the spirit of the place with this clip that in a short minute is able to convey the essence of this project.

Project Animation for Country Day School in Alajuela, Costa Rica. Design by Stantec; Luis Ayala, AIA; Trey Laird, AIA; Taryn Kinney, AIA; Raul Pinol. Video Animation by TiltPixel

#tiltpixel #CountryDayCR @tiltpixel @CountryDayCR

Photographing LSU Hilltop Arboretum, Lake Flato architects →

Last month, I've been asked by Lake Flato architects to photograph this beautiful project they did for Louisiana State Univesity in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. An addition to their original project was finished recently. I was struck by the beauty of this place and how perfectly the building blends with its environment. Users are constantly flowing through spaces and all kind of activities are going on, like wedding photo sessions, seminars for elementary students, families enjoying a break or people walking their dogs.

Pictures don't make justice to this place. This is truly a must visit project if you are in the area.

To see more photos click here: http://www.ayalavargas.com/lsu-hilltop/

The World Sends Us Garbage, We Send Back Music

Lack of resources is just a lame excuse not to get results. It must trigger our creativity to create the best of us.

An eskimo builds with ice, the only resource available to them. (Angelo Bucci)

The Landfillharmonic in Cateura, Paraguay builds musical instruments out of garbage, allowing students of the community to learn music against all impediments their surrounding environments presents. My deepest respect and congratulations to Maestro Favio Chavez and his team for this huge accomplishment.

Please watch the TED talk video about Landfillharmonic here: 
http://tedx.amsterdam/talks/the-world-sends-us-garbage-we-send-back-music-favio-chavez-at-tedxamsterdam/

#landfillharmonic #cateura #musicwithgarbage

#ODA15 Jose Cubilla and Javier Corvalan among 15 best "en español" architecture

My very good friends and colleagues Jose Cubilla and Javier Corvalan were selected as two of the 15 finalist of ODA15 award. This year, 1000 other buildings were considered and nominated by public vote and only 15 were shortlisted.

A massive achievement for Paraguayan architecture and immense pride for my friends's deserved recognition. Congratulations!

#ODA15 #ParaguayanArchitecture #ArchDaily

#ODA15 #ParaguayanArchitecture #ArchDaily

Source: http://www.plataformaarquitectura.cl/cl/76...

#ODA15 Joseto Cubilla y Javier Corvalan votados entre las 15 mejores obras del 2014

Un orgullo de la arquitectura paraguaya, de entre 1000 obras construidas que participan en la premiación, 15 son seleccionadas finalistas de las cuales 2 son arquitectos paraguayos, José Cubilla y Javier Corvalan.

Enhorabuena a mis buenos amigos y colegas! 

#ODA15 #PlataformaDeArquitectura #ArquitecturaParaguaya

Source: http://www.plataformaarquitectura.cl/cl/76...

The American Institute of Architects elected paraguayan Solano Benitez as Honorary FAIA 2012 #aia

Old news but worth sharing...

My dear friend and mentor Solano was bestowed one of the highest honors when selected by the AIA (American Institute of Architects) to be Honorary FAIA in 2012. 

The Fellowship program was developed to elevate those architects who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society and who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession. Election to fellowship not only recognizes the achievements of architects as individuals, but also their significant contribution to architecture and society on a international level.

 

Source: http://www.aia.org/practicing/awards/2012/...

How should we design libraries of the future? Our theme lecture at CIES Chile 2014, with Taryn Kinney and Stantec

SHW Group merges with Stantec

We'll be part of a community that unites more than 13,000 talented employees working in over 200 locations.

So what's changing? The combined creativity and innovation we'll be able to bring to  projects! With SHW's reputation and expertise in education and Stantec's global resources and strength, we'll be able to provide  added value. Our coming together will allow us to make a more profound impact on education and society as a whole. We will make an even greater difference through design.

Stantec's mission is to design with communities in mind. They have the unique ability to connect to projects on a personal level and advance the quality of life in communities across the globe. Given education is essential to the social and economic advancement of every community, it's a natural fit for SHW to bring leadership in education to Stantec. We're really excited to become part of a Company that cares as much about communities as we do.

Visit stantec.com and you'll see first-hand how Stantec designs with communities in mind.