IGNACIO ALVEAR BROWN Academic & Professional Work

Design is product of the process that involves history, context and function in order to conceive a certain space in a given place. Therefore it is important to relate form with its surroundings resulting from a constant search until reaching a solution that most adequate-ly adapts to the collective need and the city.

education2005-2010

2009

2004-2005

1998-2004

ITESM Monterrey Campus

ETSAB, Universitat Politécnica de CatalunyaUniversity of British Columbia

Colegio Americano de Quito

Monterrey, México

Barcelona, España

Vancouver, BC

Quito, Ecuador

professional experience 2008

2007

languages Spanish Native

English Proficient

French Basic

Constructora Nacional

Gonzalo Diez Arquitectos

Quito, Ecuador

Quito, Ecuador

IGNACIO ALVEAR BROWN

competitions2010

2009

2008

12th Arquine International Competition (1st Place) Jury: Mauricio Rocha Camilo Restrepo

Self Sufficient City, IAAC

Cátedra Luis Barragán Contest, (1st Place) Jury: Carlos Ferrater Josep M. Montaner

software Autodesk AutocadAutodesk 3dsMaxAutodesk RevitAutodesk VIZ

Adobe PhotoshopAdobe Illustrator

Mexico DF, Mexico

Barcelona, Spain

Monterrey, México

PROJECT INDEX

single family housing

multi-family housing

Cuatro House (2007)Housing in Cadaqués (2009)

Housing in Sarrià (2008)

Paul Rivet 315 Building (2008)San Pedro Clinic (2008)

Student and Comunity Center (2008)Ark- Flood Observatory (2010)

Self Sufficient City (2009)

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mixed use

public buildings

urbanism

CUATRO HOUSE

Cuatro House is the result of a profound study of Mies van der Rohes architec-ture in Europe.

Fluid spatiality, structural order and transparency are concepts abstracted from case study examples such as the Tugendhat house and the Barcelona Pa-vilion which are then applied to this contemporary single family housing ex-ercise.

Function and program are essential in the concept design, but a strict adapta-tion to the topography combines these virtues and gives place to three vol-umes: private, public and service.

Structural order allows for each space in the house to be proportionate to a four meter module, hence its name in Spanish: “Casa Cuatro”.

Monterrey, México

longitudinal section

transverse section

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HOUSING IN CADAQUÉS

The project consists of six containers capable of sheltering 200 square meters for life and work; a conceptual abstrac-tion of a traditional workshop or “ate-lier”.

A unique and precise integration to the site is achieved by assimilating the terrains slope and predominant winds from the Catalan Tramuntana, adjusting living and working spaces towards an optimal sun orientation and ocean views.

The pThe project encourages social relations by the interaction of different public spaces protected from the strong winds, whilst terraces convert open space into private through embankments in the slope that generate rhythm in the over-all proposal as seen from Cadaqués.

Finally, attention to detail in materials and construction elements compli-ments an exploration of contemporary living within a rural context.

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Cadaquès, Catalunya

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“Details, when achieved correctly, are not merely decoration. They dont distract, nor entertain, but allow for a full comprehension of the project as a whole.”

P. Zumthor

HOUSING IN SARRIÀ

In this 2090 square meter terrain, a 4300 square meter program is posi-tioned within the irregular geometry. The complex, respects the continuous urban façade and tries to blend within the historical pattern of the old city, generating an internal patio that dia-logues with the existing Heritage do the City: a Catalan Masía or house.

The 26 dwellings are staggered from the street towards the internal patio, where the project reaches its maximum height, allowing for optimal sunlight and reduc-ing feeling of confinement.

Following the citys perimeter, geom-etry conducts the pedestrian towards the heart of the project whilst respect-ing the border, creating a true perme-able envelope.

The project also comprises commercial spaces on the ground floor and half buried parking reducing costs and re-specting existing circulations

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Barcelona, España

150 m2

100 m2

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roof terrace

núcleo vertical

typical floor office 300 m2

1st floor office 250 m2

ground floor commerce 400 m2

subsuelo basement 620 m2

PAUL RIVET 315 BUILDING

Constant growth within the urban me-tropolis leads to reduced free space, which is even further fragmented. In such cases these sites con become a world of possibilities, turning limita-tions into opportunities.

This mix use building comprises offices and commercial spaces, where edifica-tion is brought to the top without re-senting public space, which in turn be-comes a protagonist of the concept.

With the purpose of designating more public space to the city, the sidewalk flows into the inside of the building, be-neath it until it ends with a central atrium which holds the two service modules.

Floor plans are liberated by a free plan scheme which is beneficial for parking distribution in such compact site. Like-wise the façade enhances verticality by integrating the central service modules on the roof.

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Quito, Ecuador

typical florr planground floor plan

SAN PEDRO CLINIC

Starting from a group master plan con-cerning the urban development for a particular area of the city of Monterrey, this Clinic serves as a reference for a transverse axis crossing east- west. Therefore the reason for becoming one of the most referential structures of the aarea.

The compound combines the function of a clinic while introducing a good number of housing in the upper levels. Since the axis ends in the clinic, pedes-trian crossing is not interrupted by the project, allowing people to circulate freely through the ground floor.

The first three levels serve as a base which contain all public programs and of common use, such as the clinic and public squares. There are also two verti-cal modules of circulations that connect to the upper housing floors.

This mixed use of a public space, with private housing allows for rich spaces in the lower floors such as double and triple heights. Flexible structure needed for hospital services, is also taken advantage for rich living areas in the next 15 floors.

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San Pedro Garza García, México

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ground plan

cross section

longitudinal sectiontypical housing plan

CECYNTL-student and comunity center

Luis Barragan Competition 1st place

The pThe project results as an effort to attend the need of a marginalized school CE-CYNTL, where a student and community center that could serve the city and the institution is proposed. Hence the scheme of the two parts the building; one more civic towards the town and another becomes a new center and another becomes a new center and square for the school.

Within this new inner space, students and citizens converge in an “L” distribu-tion where they share certain amenities such as kitchen and a dining hall. The courtyard has a favorable orientation that enhances social interaction as it becomes a tangent to predominant cir-culation axis in the school.

Collaborators:Valeria de LeonOscar GonzálezSofía ArevaloLiliana Lutteroth

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García NL, México

ARK- Flood Observatory

12th Arquine International Competition1st palce

This edition of the competition sought to encounter new solutions for facing flood problems in the south of Mexico.

The Therefore the proposal tried not to face the river as an enemy, but as a means.TTrying to liberate as much possible space for reforestation an absorption in the given site, the project embraces the river and branches towards the water by several platforms as a fruit tree would do. Certain points for anchorage con-tain the major programs such as a shel-ter, laboratory and observatory, while floating cells are grouped around like clusters.

Using the river as a mean of transporta-tion, basic need solutions can navigate within these cells towards affected areas along the water instead of serving one specific area.

In a way these cells, are seeds that can be planted along the Usumacinta River to boost development in times of crisis.

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Tabasco, México

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A smart way of living

SELF SUFFICIENT CITY- Institute for Advaced Architecture of Catalunya

Looking forward to a more sustainable city, a new model of urban regeneration is proposed for the city of Monterrey, part of which was presented for the Competition held by the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalunya (IAAC) for a more Sustainable City.

The model tries to avoid urban sprawl, The model tries to avoid urban sprawl, in order to replace the current horizontal growth of the city, into a vertical model. The primary objective is to obtain changes in the quality of life by reduc-ing travelling times and distances to work as well as pollution.

Trying to conserve the city’s industrial legacy, new nodes where housing, retail and work spaces are within an appropri-ate walking radius are introduced in the low density city center. At the same time, energy supplied for homes will be a result of the optimization of Bio Mass waste waste recycling, only possible with the integration of typologies within a re-duced area.

Finally, increasing density will stop the uncontrolled sprawl on the outskirts, and encourage a more interactive life within the city center.

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These new typological nodes will be grouped by the type of industry and will be relocated in the city center, elevating current density of 28 inhabitants per hectare to 120 inhabitants.

At the same time, spaces that wheAt the same time, spaces that where previously occupied by industries and plants, will become available as green spaces or in the form of brown fields around the city.

x12=120 hab/ha

proposed day activities

current day activities

Collaborators:

Lorena Darquea Mauricio KuriLiliana LutterothValeria de LeónSofía Arévalo

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x12=120 hab/ha

3000m2 high-density housing

Monterrey, México

2005-2009