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PORTFOLIO
CARLOS MAURICIO GÓMEZ

CONCEPTUAL UNITS FOR EXPLORATION- URBAN POINT (SEE PAGE 09)

FOREWORD
The following selection is a sample of my work, while enrolled at “Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón
Cañas” (UCA), as part of my experience at work or as freelancer in architecture contests. Each project has
a brief description of the assignment and design objectives and introduces the product as finally presented.
Some of these projects belong to broader researches and have one or many documents associated with the
design process, feel free to contact in case you require any further information or hold any inquiry about these
or any other work not sampled in this document.
INDEX
ACADEMIC PRACTICE:
ECOLOGICAL HOUSING IN BICENTENNIAL PARK (2012)
INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP: CONCEPT PROPOSAL FOR SANTA ANA (2012)
RED VERDE- BUS TERMINAL AND MARKET IN SANTA ANA (2012)
URBAN POINT- HOUSING IN ST ESTEBAN NEIGHBORHOOD (2013)
HOUSING COMPLEX FOR LOW INCOME COMMUNITY IN FLOOD RISK AREA IN EL SALVADOR (2013 - 2014)
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE:
RELAXATION ROOM AND LIBRARY FOR TRANSACTEL HQ (2012)
SYMBIOSE- E-VOLO SKYSCRAPER COMPETITION (2013)
REGEN- BIG GREENHOUSE DESIGN COMPETITION (2013)
SEOUL 3G- SEOUL URBAN DESIGN COMPETITION (2013)
URBAN EDEN- MAPO OIL RESERVE COMPETITION (2013)
A
03
05
07
09
11
P
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03
As part of the assignment “technology in construction V”, it was required
to design a housing complex located in the middle of natural reservoir
(space currently occupied by an informal settlement). It was necessary
to minimize intervention impact; doing so while making use of traditional
materials, was the main premise.
ECOLOGICAL HOUSING IN BICENTENNIAL PARK (2012)
DESIGN TEAM:
Carlos Henríquez
Gracia Sosa
Luis Portillo
Sergio Guerra
POSITION:DESIGNER
PRESENTATION RENDER- COMPLEX

The resulting project consisted in a 48 housing units’ complex (60sq.m/each), with an artificial lagoon to mitigate
flooding (by water catchment) and a zone for compost, which could be used or sold by local dwellers.
Since the main objective of the subject was not the type unit design, greater focus was put on developing
elements that would allow the complex to integrate as much as possible to its ecological surroundings; Ken
Yeang’s theory of the ecological project was thoroughly revised in order to understand better how traditional
construction affects sites and the better way to implement materials with less impact.
The group decided to propose the usage of pre-designed beams and girders that could be easily replaced or
recycled in combination with trailer containers, which required little adapting for its new usage.
It was an experiment on how traditional materials could be applied with high tech solutions to reduce impacts
on natural environment in short term (by using designed components) and long term (by achieving a unit as
passive as possible).-
04
TYPE ELEVATIONSITE PLAN

05
Since some years ago, UCA’s school of architecture has been holding
workshops with guests from other universities from different countries from
all over the world. For 2012’s workshop it was re-quired to develop a con-
ceptual proposal for a specific part of Santa Ana city (2nd largest city in
the country).
INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP: CONCEPT PROPOSAL FOR SANTA ANA (2012)
DESIGN TEAM:
Camila Alarcia
Carlos Henríquez
Pamela Alcantara
Sergio Guerra
Vincent Van Impe
POSITION:DESIGNER
CONCEPT BRAINSTORM AND DRAFTS

El Salvador (as a product of its civil war) is currently faced with the social phenomenon known as gangs; basi-
cally, they operate by gathering younglings who come from dissociated families by offering them a sense of
belonging in exchange of committing crimes whenever required.
The intervention zone in Santa Ana had 3 sites for which proposals could be made 1) A bus terminal, 2) A market
and 3) Barefoot angels” program HQ. Barefoot angel is a non-profit organization that provides educational sup-
port for local community children in risk of becoming gang members or dropping school.
Once concluded the group stage of the workshop, participants were encouraged to choose one of the in-
tervention spots and propose for a specific site; having chosen barefoot angels the proposal was to demolish
scattered infrastructure in order to build in the back of the lot, while reforesting its front part, those trees would
eventually grow allowing the placement of aerial platforms for children to use and with community support, it
was even stated that the low circulation street in front of the facilities could be incorporated in order to establish
a public soccer field and visually improve the surroundings.-
06
SOCIAL ANALYSIS CONCEPT SOLUTIONCONCEPT SITE PLAN

07
Santa Ana is the 2nd most important city in El Salvador; this project (con-
ceived from urban scale), proposed the fusion of the occidental bus ter-
minal and its nearby market in a centralized building, in order to create
a hybrid space which would allow to potentiate positive characteristics
associated with these spaces, while concealing negative perceptions.
RED VERDE- BUS TERMINAL AND MARKET IN SANTA ANA (2012)
DESIGN TEAM:
Carlos Henríquez
Jackeline Juárez
Sergio Guerra
POSITION:DESIGNER
PRESENTATION RENDER- MARKET

RED (Spanish for NET) was an urban sized project proposing the revitalization of one of the main commercial
spots of the city, which contrary to projections and major flows of money, is pretty much recognized for its social
problems and criminality.
The most challenging aspect was the spatial program, which had to include dependencies for both, market
and terminal while considering green spaces inside and out of the structure to further promote encounters and
give added value to neighbouring land plots. Conceived throughout an exhaustive urban study it helped in
grasping much better the social and economic reality of the people immersed in that part of the city.
The final proposal was a 3 level building with and underground terminal; it was done so in order to hide buses
(associated with noise and contamination), while openly exposing market by using hybrid commercial-leisure
space which would be perceived as amenities and induce repopulation in the zone. In the end, the project
was perceived as a knot in the middle of an urban net that contributed to further develop by encouraging new
investment and creating attractive spots for dwellers on of the city.-
08
PROGRAM ANALYSIS MARKET LVL 2MARKET LVL 1

09
St Esteban is a neighborhood, in downtown San Salvador, capitol city of
El Salvador. In 2013, one of its most historical landmarks, the St Esteban
Church was destroyed during a fire. The assignment was a new building
on its lot; based on an urban study it was determined the best option was
housing to attract new dwellers and re-define low cost apartment.
URBAN POINT- HOUSING IN ST ESTEBAN NEIGHBORHOOD (2013)
INDIVIDUAL
ASSIGNMENT
PRESENTATION RENDER- INNER YARD

El Salvador’s city centre is well known for its historical landmarks, fine examples of master craftsmanship that
have survived the trial of time; however it has become increasingly difficult to attract new population and in-
vestment, causing urban decay and transforming some clusters into very dangerous crime spots.
An analysis was conducted to determine if a religious structure was required once more on site, it was deter-
mined that there was already a major presence of religious infrastructure in the surroundings; therefore what
the neighbourhood required the most wasn’t a new church, but rather a new land use that could benefit local
commerce and incite re-development.
The conclusion was urban point, named that way since it was considered a simple point in the overall fabric
of the city. Its intention was to offer a new concept of living for the mid-class dwellers, the project consisted in
32 minimal housing units (45sq.m) with an inner garden for internal coexistence and night activities (at the time
the space outside might not be fitted for it). It was intended as a rather small intervention that would allow us to
reflect upon the many opportunities for reconstruction being lost in our historic center.-
10
TYPE SECTIONS A AND B LVL1 PLAN

11
Developed for a community in San Luis La Herradura, deparment of La
Paz, El Salvador. This project required for a housing unit resilient to flood-
ing, a shelter and the housing complex itself; what was particular about it
was that community through integrated design and voting had decided
spatial program and needs.
HOUSING COMPLEX FOR LOW INCOME COMMUNITY IN FLOOD RISK AREA IN EL SALVADOR (2013 - 2014)
DESIGN TEAM:
Carlos Henríquez
Guillermo Magaña
Sergio Guerra
POSITION:
DESIGNER
PRESENTATION RENDER- SHELTER/ MULTIPLE USE HALL

Housing cooperatives are a new model being implemented in El Salvador by FUNDASAL, a local NGO; it organ-
izes low income community members in private societies in which all members are owners of infrastructure in
equal parts, being the main benefit preventing members from losing their homes as part of pawns or interest
from loans for example.
The design was asked to our university (Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas) which assigned it as
bachelor’s thesis for us, the design required a housing complex to be placed upon an already owned plot of
land for a community in process of becoming a housing cooperative; this meant design had to be developed
with the community in integrated design workshops (decisions to be taken by voting). The site, located near the
coastline was prone to flooding, so housing had to be resilient.
Furthermore, project had to be developed with low budget, so they were thought to allow community mem-
bers to take part in elaboration and reduce production costs. Wood was used as material since they were al-
ready familiar with similar techniques and due to easiness of component production.
12
PRESENTATION RENDER- HOUSE UNITS PRESENTATION RENDER- COMPLEX PRESENTATION RENDER- COMPLEX

15
As part of an internship opportunity in TELUS international I took part of
Transactel’s HQ remodelling in Plaza Merliot (a local shopping). Working
for the project department my responsibilities went from taking measures
to spatial proposals. The following images belong to relaxation room and
a small library designed for the site.
RELAXATION ROOM AND LIBRARY FOR TRANSACTEL HQ (2012)
DESIGNER FOR TELUS
INTERNATIONAL
PRESENTATION RENDER- RELAXATION ROOM

TELUS international runs El Salvador’s subsidiary for Transactel; an over the phone client service company which
due to its increasing number of employees required a remodelling of its main HQ, as designer for administration
department I was tasked to present ideas for different spaces. The library for example required that employees
could share ideas, leading to the placement of a central table for discussion in the centre of the space; for
those who required more privacy individual stations equipped with computers where placed on the other side
of the hall.
Another particular space was the relaxation room, which was intended to re-connect people with nature; due
to the type of work developed at call centres, employees are required to spend many hours inside the office,
therefore it was proposed to “bring nature in” by allowing the relaxation room to convey that same feeling. The
proposal eventually included a mini golf field inside.
The TELUS experience was great, as for it allowed me to take part into multidiscipline teams which worked really
fast paced, with proposals that had to be low cost and yet fulfill many requirements.-
16
PRESENTATION RENDER- LIBRARY

17
Symbiose (Dutch for Symbiosis) was presented as an entry for de eVolo
design competition in 2012-2013. It addressed the issues of cities moving
even further into coasts and depleting natural barriers such as reefs or
mangrove swamps.
SYMBIOSE (2013)
FREELANCER
CONTEST

eVolo skyscraper design competition is an international competition focused on gathering design ideas for the
future of our future vertical constructions. How can we develop in a way that’s positive for the environment?
Traditionally urban growth is seen as a negative effect of human existence; does it really have to be interpreted
in such a way? Wouldn’t it be possible to design in such a manner that our buildings restore and nurture natural
ecosystems?
Symbiose addressed that issue by considering two factors: 1) growth of cities towards the coast is increasing
and will continue to rise and 2) loss of coral reefs barriers on the shores around the world that lead to greater
effects from natural disasters. It was proposed that since we are moving into the coast, it would be more sus-
tainable to project buildings inside the sea so that levels below the water surface could be adapted to use as
artificial reefs that would eventually restore natural ones; by doing so, the building itself would be in a better
position to make use of green energy sources transforming into powerhouses for the rest of the city, thus con-
ciliating the differences between natural and built habitat, allowing us to coexist and reinforce our symbiotic
bond rather than denying it.-
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IDEA AND DEVELOPMENT

19
Regen (Dutch for rain) was presented for the Big greenhouse design com-
petition held by the Cascadia Green Building Council and the Interna-
tional Living Future Institute. The assignment required for the participants
to develop a greenhouse that adhered to the principles of the Living
Building Challenge.
REGEN (2013)
FREELANCER
SITE PLAN
CONTEST

Cascadia required for the participants to address the design of the type unit by taking into account as many
points as possible from the Living Building Challenge; a guideline that aims to create fully sustainable projects
in order to reduce mankind’s action effects on the planet. The proposal was to reuse idle plots of land within
the city to promote urban farming, by creating temporary structures out of adapted containers, thus ensuring
material and land recycling with minimal waste.
It was also required to demolish any non-permeable layer on any part of the plot, in order to increase rain water
absorption by soil and to allow the rest of the area to be used as a dwelling site by the creation of rain gardens
or small plazas (using alternative materials that allowed water infiltration).
The most important aspect was not the building itself which could be removed eventually but the sense of com-
munity it created and the fact that allowed people to come in touch with something so general (but so little
experienced) as food production that affects us all. An educational center for present and future generations
that would teach them on the importance of natural balance for humanity.-
20
SOUTH ELEVATION
CUT A
EAST ELEVATION
CUT C

21
Presented for Seoul Urban Design 2013, it was born from the interest of re-
connecting two separated parts of the city by the Jemulpo-Gil highway.
The project was divided in 3 zones which addressed problems previously
identified by the organizers in which it was intended to introduce nature
and address future urban issues.
SEOUL 3G (2013)
FREELANCER
SECTION 3- URBAN ANALYSIS
CONTEST

As part of an infrastructure project for Seoul, the metropolitan government planned to implement underground
tunnels that will house the previously mentioned highway, leaving only two lines for public and local transporta-
tion.
This will release a strip of ground on the surface; the contest goal was to propose ideas on how to reconnect
the two sections of the city (previously separated by traffic) by the means of a public intervention. Seoul 3G ad-
dressed 3 different zones by complementing their needs, in order to promote further development and allow
soil usage to remain the same, thus keeping its character and dwellers life as unaffected as possible.
A combination of urban forest, with urban crop initiatives and the reconnection of two separated tree strips
was the proposed scheme to reflect upon the city’s high values on nature and to provide the citizens with a
new space that they already owned but hadn’t had the chance to experience. Seoul 3G decided upon the
simple to unite the complex, for the city as a living being, requires not new parameters or rules but rather the
correct usage of those elements it already has.-
22
FULL URBAN PROPOSAL

23
The MAPO oil reserve competition was an international contest with the
goal of finding an adequate use for an abandoned fuel base in the city
of Seoul, Korea. This site is located in the Sangnam area, which in recent
years has been slowly turning into a leisure zone with ecological parks
and reserves, returning space to people.
URBAN EDEN (2013)
FREELANCER
CONTEST

During recent years, the city of Seoul has been implementing a series of competitions whose goal is find propos-
als for public space while reusing old infrastructure or refurbishing existing zones. Urban Eden reflected upon
Seoul’s effort to combine nature and technology. It intended to gather people through cultural activities com-
patible with green spaces.
The proposals for the 5 tanks were: Tanks 1 and 5 as workshops for plastic arts and drama rehearsals; tank 3 (the
one on the centre), projected as a living monument: by purposely letting nature settle inside the tank a sort of
greenhouse was created for people to get in touch with nature all year long as reminder of our bond with na-
ture.
Tank 4 was a complementary museum for the workshops on site, and a place for young artists to showcase their
work to the public; finally tank 2 was proposed as a public theatre for people to make broader use of site. In
the end, the intention was to breathe new life into space by associating it with new, cultural uses on behalf of
people, a natural monument for the new era.-
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PRESENTATION RENDER- TANK 03 SITE PLANPRESENTATION RENDER- PLAZA

PORTFOLIO
CARLOS GÓMEZ
Contact me: archcm.xiii@gmail.com
Linked in profile: http://goo.gl/7Dwu97

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