I started learning architecture while building scale-models and delivering blueprints when I was a kid in Caracas. Nowadays, I am a versatile solution-oriented architect specialized in sustainable architecture with more than 18 years designing and constructing projects with substantial positive impact around the world. My experience includes collaborations for international and local awarded projects, private multi-million dollars beach-residences, and nation-wide institutional projects. I have worked for clients such as Prince Charles Foundation for Building Community, Agence Nationale des Parcs Nationaux (Gabon), Ministerio de Ambiente (Panamá), Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (Venezuela), Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (Belize), and selected private clients.
Core Qualifications:
• Architectural Design (national parks, hi-end private residences, and resorts)
• Creativity adaptable to any media or scale: Architectural, Interior, Industrial, and Graphic Design
• Managing and coordination of interdisciplinary teams
• Ability to adapt to new and complex situations.
• High performance and sustainable design strategies
• Producing detailed and clear documents for construction and production.
• Fluent in written and spoken English and Spanish
• Proficient in Vectorworks 2D/3D, 3DStudio, SketchUp, QGIS, Office365 (Word, Excel, Powerpoint), Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, AutoCAD, Revit.
Cresolus S.A., Panama City, PA, Senior Project Architect
Boutique Architecture & Construction firm (3-5 Architects).
DUTIES
• Design sustainable projects (Private Residencies, Eco-Resorts, and National Parks facilities) in Central America, Central Africa, and the U.S.
• Produce technical documentation for Construction.
• Design and produce presentations for all design phases using hand sketches, Vectorworks (BIM), Photoshop, PowerPoint, Sketchup, V-Ray, InDesign.
• Design and oversight the production of furniture pieces.
• Produce Land Development and construction cost estimations.
• Buildings surveying for restoring plans.
• Coordinating with suppliers, laborers, engineers, and other people related to the project.
• GIS Project Manager
ACHIEVEMENTS:
• Contributed substantively to define key concepts and strategies for The Akanda’s Masterplan project which was honored with APA National Planning Achievement Award 2016.
• Reduced 90% the firm time and expenses associated with land-surveying studies and earthworks design to start offering a highly rentable (+$100,000 / Year) in-house land-consultant service.
• Leader Architect on the firm first over $3 M. Budget and 11044 sqft of construction, private residence project, Hacienda La Perla.
• Created the ‘Blob coffee-table’ which has been the firm’s most-praised-by-client furniture piece.
• Managed international purchasing orders for over $150 K of custom-made windows & doors for high-end residences.
• Successfully produced and organized, without additional documenting team, full sets of detailed architectural construction documents, covering project sizes from tiny-houses to complex institutional projects.
• Raised the quality and set new standards for technical documents.
• Taught to my-self GIS and then integrated site analysis, land surveying, mapping, and digital site modeling, to my duties.
• In the last 2 years, 80% of new clients came from referrals to projects in which I worked.
• Mentored less experienced staff.
Freelance, Caracas, Architect
APRIL 2-28, 2013
‘Next to Normal’ Musical - Set Design. Teatro En Circulo. Panama / Built
Scenography for the Play Next to Normal, Nominated as Best Play, Premios Escena 2013.
APRIL 20, 2011 – MAY 30, 2011
Banesco Tower - New Emergency Exits. Urb. El Rosal. Caracas. Venezuela / Built
Design and Renovation of facade and exterior areas of a 24 story bank tower to implement evacuation system according to the Venezuelan standards. This included: Designing of new emergency exit and circulations, exterior stairs, generators area, transfer room, Landscaping, and Access Control System.
2007 - 2010
Hacienda Santa Teresa’s Rums brand (Gran Reserva, Selecto, 1796, Araku, and Orange Rum). Caracas. Venezuela / Produced and Build.
Interior Design Retail Architecture and itinerants installations to be used in exclusive promotional events in selected locations; Furniture design for: End-Caps, Bars, Mini-bars, Portable Displays, and shelters.
FEBRUARY - JULY, 2003
Wetter family - Apartment Revamp Project. Santa Fe. Caracas. Venezuela / Completed
Revamp project for an apartment of 300 square meters: redistribution of internal spaces, closings, roof construction for terrace, benches, grill, bar, garden, kitchen and bathrooms. Detail engineering and supervision of the execution of works and installations.
JULY. 2002
Historic downtown Facades restoration. Soublette Ave. La Guaira. Vargas State. Venezuela
Design of the color composition for the restoration of facades of historic houses and buildings of the XVIII century, which were severely affected by the devastating floods and mudslides on December 1999.
Watch A Frog, Caracas, VE., CEO - Founder
Creative consultant services office. Its vision combined multiples disciplines such as advertising, Information technologies, graphic design, industrial design, company identity, and architecture, to create a unique design solution approach. Clients: UNESCO, BANESCO Universal Bank, Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ), D-Linea Films, McDonald’s, among others.
ACHIEVEMENTS
• Recognized business and institutions with an in-house IT Department hired us to process their data, and create easy-distributable products to deliver in seminaries, curses and international conferences.
• Created, led and positioned a profitable company the Venezuelan competitive market.
Boca Proyectos, Caracas, VE., Project Architect
• Project Architect for private residences and retail stores.
• Designing of constructive details and technical specifications (wood, concrete, steel)
• Construction documents and drawings 2D/3D. (AutoCAD, Sketchup)
• Construction oversight.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Collaborated in design and construction oversight of recognized international brands retail stores.
Levi Strauss & Co, Retail Stores:
• Las Virtudes Mall. Punto Fijo. Estado Falcón.
• Sambil Mall. Maracaibo. Estado Zulia
• Buenaventura Mall. Acarigua. Estado Portuguesa
• La Vela Mall. Porlamar. Estado Nueva Esparta
• Sambil Mall. Paraguaná. Punto Fijo. Estado Falcón
"Crepes and Waffles" Restrooms revamp project. Sambil Mall. Caracas.
"Bon Appétit Café" Kiosk". Centro de Arte Los Galpones". Los Chorros. Caracas
Sony Style Store's Home Theater Showroom. Area 10.45 m2. Sony Style Store. Sambil Mall. Barquisimeto. Estado Lara.
Marianella Montero Cadíz - Architecture & Urbanism, Caracas, VE., Architect Inspector
• Assuring compliance with contract documents and specifications
• Ensuring construction contractor procedures and materials follow specifications and quality standards.
• Enforcing the national construction code.
• Checking quantity and quality of works.
• Preparing monthly reports.
• Checking compliance of safety regulations
PROJECT :
Fundación Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho (FUNDAYACUCHO). Building Restoration. Project. La Urbina. Caracas. Venezuela
Engineering Department. Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Government of Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Barinas, VE, Architect
• Leader Architect for institutional facilities.
• Projects oversight: progress tracking, weekly reports
• Supervising projects: inspecting works, coordinate, contractors, deadlines, progress reporting.
• Coordination with other non-design professionals (consultants) and other government institutions and departments (Ministry for Lands and Agriculture, Ministry for Education, Army and local government officers)
• Coordination for documents production and CAD drawings. (AutoCAD)
• Cost Estimations.
• Site Analysis
PROJECTS:
Latin-American Agro-ecological Institute “Paulo Freire” (IALA) Master Plan. (1000 students)
Area 5.5 ha., Hacienda “La Marquesena”. Boconoito. Barinas State.
“Simon Rodriguez” Library Architecture Project, supervision / Completed
Area 314 m2. Ciudad Deportiva “Antonio José de Sucre”. Barinas. Estado Barinas.
Ciudad Deportiva’s Dining-Hall Revamp Project / Completed
Area 445 m2. Ciudad Deportiva “Antonio José de Sucre”. Barinas. Estado Barinas.
Students Dormitories, Repairs Project / Completed
Cuidad Deportiva “Antonio José de Sucre”. Barinas. Estado Barinas
VIADICO / ARQUIAREA, Caracas, VE., Architect
• Design of public spaces, urban Equipment, and Furnishings
• Presentations and community speeches.
• Coordination with other architecture offices with projects in the area and other non-design professionals and consultants.
•Technical Assistance for housing buildings restoration
• Monitoring, progress tracking, analyzing, and reporting on activities, results, and recommendations relating to the project execution.
• Inspection Coordination.
• Design of Maintenance Manual.
PROJECTS:
• “Rufino Blanco Bombona”, Technologic Institute Architecture Project. Carrizales, Edo Miranda.
• “Pariata” Community Restoration Project. Catia La Mar, Edo Vargas.
• “10 de Marzo” Community Restoration Project. Catia La Mar, Edo Vargas.
• “Conjunto Residencial Marapa” Architecture Project. Catia La Mar, Edo Vargas.
• “Guaracarumbo” Community Restoration Project. Catia La Mar, Edo Vargas.
• “Romulo Gallegos” Community Restoration Project. Catia La Mar, Edo Vargas.
• Petare-Guarenas Road Restoration Urban Project. Designing the public space for 3.4 Km of highway that composes the limits and urban-facade of the largest “Barrio” of Caracas, Petare.
Estudio Profesional de Arquitectura, Caracas, VE., Junior Architect
‘Barrios’ (Informal Settlements) Physical Upgrading and Private residences revamp projects.
• Coordination of a team of engineers and consultants.
• Analyzing of the urban equipment and structure to generate a macro-plan of strategic actions for rehabilitation, including: proposal of new roads, vehicular and walk connections, study of precarious access areas; infrastructure plan, location of possible areas for urban equipment and substitution-housings, coordinating evaluations and inventory of houses in unstable areas, public utilities studying. Identifying problems and opportunities.
• Communicational aspect: exhibitions and round-tables with the affected communities.
• Architectural design and details engineering for a penthouse revamp project;
PROJECTS:
• “Barrio Ojo de Agua” and “Barrio Tacagua” Urban Restoration Projects. Edo. Miranda. Caracas.
Projects exhibited in La Biennale di Venezia, 50th edition, “Estructuras de Supervivencia” (2003)
• D’Ambrosio Family - Pent-House revamp Project / Completed. Altamira, Caracas
Regional and Urban Studies Institute (IERU) of the Simon Bolivar University (USB), Caracas, VE., Research Assistant
Determining structures of historical and patrimonial value for the collective memory; through analysis, site observation and contact with communities. Checking physical and structural conditions of buildings of possible historical or cultural value for their rescue and conservation. Inventorying, using databases, plans drawing and sketches.
PROJECTS:
• “La Guaira, Historical and Cultural Patrimony Inventory”. La Guaira. Estado Vargas.
• “La Guaira Historical Downtown Restoration, Feasibility Study”. La Guaira. Estado Vargas.
Universidad Simon Bolivar, Sartenejas. VE, BArch, Architecture
Thesis: “Architecture generation through social and urban structures” / Outstanding Thesis Award.
National APA's Pierre L’Enfant International Planning Achievement Award, Award
The American Planning Association (APA) national awards program, the profession's highest honor, is a proud tradition established more than 50 years ago to recognize outstanding community plans, planning programs and initiatives, public education efforts, and individuals for their leadership on planning issues. These efforts help create communities of lasting value throughout the country -- and the world
The Pierre L’Enfant International Planning Award recognizes planning practices and efforts undertaken outside the United States to promote communities of lasting value. The award criteria are based on a set of goals developed by the Global Planners Network.
For more information, visit https://www.planning.org/awards/2016/achievement.htm
---
President Ali Bongo Ondimba’s commissioned the Akanda Masterplan and SmartCode to protect the local environment while thoughtfully accommodating growth. The Masterplan establishes a new set of green, walkable communities of varying scales that also showcase the Gabonese nature, culture and commerce. The SmartCode is the first of its kind for Gabon. The Sustainability Guide and Tropical Building Design Guidelines address topics such as building and block energy design, as well as ensuring buildings are responsive to local climate. The vision for the Masterplan was developed through an Enquiry By Design process that brought together an international team, the expertise of the L’Agence Nationale des Grands Travaux (ANGT), and diverse array of local stakeholders including chiefs of local tribes, community members, and government officials.
