Justine Aguilar

Justine Aguilar is in her final year of the BA (hons) Architecture at Ravensbourne. In addition to earning a degree in design she has also completed a BTEC certificate programme in construction and the built environment. This helped her understand the field and fuelled her desire to pursue her goals in architecture. She enjoys specialising in all types of architectural work, but her primary passion is to incorporate sustainability and nature into architecture. Aguilar grew up in Ecuador – where nature represents peace and calmness – and this concern for the environment is an essential component of her architectural practice. In her work, she is motivated to nurture a relationship to the natural world.

BeeActive Project,  Front View
BeeActive Project, Front ViewShe has chosen to design a health clinic as her Final Major Project, allowing sick people to use the building and participate in its activities. It was crucial for her to complete this type of project since sick individuals who spend a lot of time in hospitals are seldom given the chance to be active, enjoy the outdoors, or get fresh air. She has also considered the public who aren't unwell, which is why she established a room where everyone could have a place to sit and get meals. She opted to change the site's landscaping to make the building and the surrounding environment more welcoming since she wanted the building to blend with the natural setting.
BeeActive Project, Top View
BeeActive Project, Top View Aguilar felt it was crucial to show the top perspective of the structure she had constructed for her BeeActive project. This is because the upper perspective will show how closely she wants the building to be connected to nature. For instance, she chose to add a green roof to the first floor so that people could stroll around on it, sit outside, and enjoy the impression that they are in a real park. She has also put numerous planting boxes along the fence to give the area a jungle and Amazonian feel. The possibility to see the pieces that have been added to the building's exterior is also provided by the top view. For instance, putting a pergola on the building's entry was crucial since it creates a relaxing atmosphere, offers protection from the rain, and provides some shade. She was able to use this project to showcase the kind of architect she wants to become.
BeeActive Project, First Floor Perspective
BeeActive Project, First Floor Perspective A clearer understanding of how the BeeActive project will look with all of the elements is possible thanks to the perspective view from the first floor. It also makes it possible to see how she constructed the building using organic materials like wood. Why wood? Wood is one of the building materials that offer the chance to reduce the embodied carbon of the structure, making it a sustainable structure. It was crucial for her to figure out how to construct a structure that won't significantly alter the landscape of the site because it is a park with a lot of greenery. She also considered how to minimise any environmental impact inside the building. She decided to utilise broad glazing to let natural light pass through the window so that the interior wouldn't need as much artificial lighting as light pollution has become a significant issue today.
Above and Below the Horizon, Perspective View Section
Above and Below the Horizon, Perspective View SectionAguilar was able to participate in a competitive procedure for the 'above, below the horizon' project because it was both her first residential building and her first art studio project. Given that the project's site is located distant from the city's hub, Aguilar sought to create a complicated concept with a lot of accessible places. Aguilar decided to build a single large art studio on the ground floor for them to use and have a connection with, but in case they would want privacy, a separation wall was added. She also wanted the families to have a space where they can reunite before going to their house. The client needed two houses for two families and an art studio for them to use, but it felt very awkward knowing that only two families would be in the same landscape/site. She worked to improve both the building's and the landscape's appearance.
Collages
Collages Collage-making is yet another talent that Aguilar enjoys using. Collages provide her with the freedom to arrange shapes as she likes, to delve deeper into the study of colour, and to have a better understanding of how the public would interact with the building and the location before she gets to the final proposal of any project or in her own time. These collages were created by the student during the final term of her second academic year. Since Aguilar's idea was to include a green area inside the building and on the terrace, the project was a food market where people would have access to enter and have the chance to be in a green space. She was confident that the public will identify strongly with the building if she implements these concepts.