Diaz Olivia Portfolio by Portfolio

PORT FOLIO

Selected Work:

2023-2025

Olivia Diaz

C O N T

The Collective

Scale for Floor Plan Drawings:

Materials: Chipboard, Sticks, Moss, Paper, Spray Paint

Dimensions:

- Model 1: 1’ = 1/8th” Scale Physical Model

- Model 2: 1’ = 1/32” Scale Physical Model

Scale for Unit Plan Drawings:

Scale for Elevation Drawing:

This project is designed to foster community among graduate students through a point-loaded building composed of two towers connected by a shared base that serves as the social core. The base contains resident-only communal spaces alongside a public coffee shop and convenience store, with a green roof above providing additional shared outdoor space. The existing site road is preserved and integrated into a bridge-like condition to maintain movement through the site. Twisting communal balconies allow natural light into each unit while creating shared outdoor spaces for each ﬂoor, strengthening everyday social interaction.

Olivia Diaz

1/32nd” = 1’ Scale Model

Olivia Diaz

1/8th” = 1’ Scale Model

Olivia Diaz

The Roman Library

Scale for Floor Plan Drawings:

Scale for Elevation and Section Drawings: Materials: Chipboard, and Spray Paint Dimensions: 1’ = 1/32” Scale Physical Model

Axonometric Diagram

Program and Noise Diagram

The design of my library emphasizes both functionality and aesthetic harmony with its surroundings. I incorporated arches throughout the entire building, with the arched windows deﬁning the rooms and taking center stage on the facade. The library is primarily designed for studying, offering quiet spaces, while the basement houses the main book collections and provides ample storage. As visitors move higher, the noise level increases to encourage collaboration and community engagement. The large steps leading to the entrance are intentionally designed to foster gathering, much like the New York Public Library, offering as pace for people to sit and connect. Ultimately, this library is meant to be a community—a place for both individual study and shared experiences.

Olivia Diaz

Physical Model

13 | Olivia Diaz | 2025

Olivia Diaz

The Watchtower

The principles of timber construction, particularly the use of studs and framing, have long fascinated me due to their efﬁciency and adaptability in architectural design. Exploring these structural techniques, I collaborated with a classmate to construct a watchtower as part of our Tectonics course.

Our careful planning and construction of the structure, which relied on a methodical strategy for load distribution and stability, necessitated an in-depth familiarity with framing principles. We made sure everything was executed precisely by creating thorough architectural plans before building began. The signiﬁcance of both technical planning and workmanship in architectural design was driven home to me by this practical experience, which deepened my understanding of the complexities involved in structural stability.

Scale for all drawings:

Materials: Wood Stirrers, and Chipboard

Dimensions: 22” inches by, 10” inches, by 10 inches”

Physical Model

Blueprint of a Glass Maze

Immersing myself in the realm of ancient myths and mathematical wonders, I embarked on a mission to design a labyrinth. Merging the Ancient Greek Myth of the Minotaur, and the golden ratio, discovered by Euclid and Pythagoras, I crafted a maze that symbolizes life 's challenges and decision-making. The vivid red thread within the maze highlights the hidden path shaped by the golden ratio. Like architect Daedalus, I added my own twist to the maze; to exit this labyrinth, one must understand the key: the awareness of the hidden golden ratio pattern, allowing them to follow its path out. I chose to design and make the model of the labyrinth using small clear acrylic panels for the walls, adding an extra layer of disorientation for those inside.

I chose to design and make the model of the labyrinth using small clear acrylic panels for the walls, adding an extra layer of disorientation for those inside. To conclude, I set the entire structure on a pretreated light-sensitive fabric, to capture the sun's interplay with the transparent walls and provide a bird's-eye blueprint of my design. This creation mirrors a pivotal phase in my life, where each step implies an independent decision. Much like navigating through a maze, I frequently wrestle with the importance of crucial choices that could reshape my course and guide me to the exit. Just as the thread guides Theseus throughout the maze, knowledge and intuition remain essential in my life's journey.

Materials: Cyanotype, Acrylic panels, and Red thread

Dimensions: 31” inches by 21” inches

Page 17 | Olivia Diaz | 2024

Olivia Diaz

Sketchbook

During my summers in Galicia, Spain, from sunrise to sunset, I have a loyal companion by my side, whether it is feeding, grooming, braiding its mane, or riding— they’re always there, be it Oreo, Gigante, or Rio. Constantly surrounded by their presence, they inspired me to challenge myself and sketch each of them. I began with simple shapes, gradually delving into intricate details and unique characteristics. It was during this process that I discovered tiny nuances previously unnoticed (gentle spots, peculiar patterns on their skin, and the subtle contours of their muscles). Trying to capture them in a still moment in the stable proved to be a challenge, but horses, like all animals, are creatures of habit and will return to the right place if you are prepared to wait. Utilizing a diverse range of graphite and charcoal pencils, I applied sketching, blending, shading, and cross-hatching techniques to convey depth, contrast, and texture. With these sketches, I aimed to encapsulate their anatomy and unique spirits.

Materials: Charcoal, and Graphite pencils

Dimensions: 17” inches by 12” inches

Page

| Olivia Diaz | 2023

Ohbra House

As a sailor, the Sydney Opera House, designed by Jørn Utzon and Peter Hall, is one of my favorite iconic buildings, evoking the image of sailboats gracefully navigating the harbor with its elegant architectural design.

It was during my own sailing experiences that I grew frustrated with the discomfort caused by the additional pads in my sports bras. One day, as I was removing the paddings, I couldn't help but notice the uncanny resemblance to the distinctive curvature of the Sydney Opera House's iconic roof.

Inspired by the dual elements of the triangular shape of the soft material and the architectural masterpiece, I embraced this combination in my design. Crafting a symmetrical model referencing the Sydney Opera House's graceful and dynamic form. This shifts the way I perceive foam padding both aesthetically and in terms of its signiﬁcance; this unusual association of seemingly different components highlights how design and functionality intertwine, revealing the correlation between the female curves and the architectural design.

Materials: Bra paddings, Styrofoam, and Pins

Dimensions: 11” in tall, 16” inches long, 9” inches wide

21 | Olivia Diaz | 2024

Olivia Diaz

Sails of Hope

My passion for sailing sports drove me to become a sailing instructor at the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation. While going through the routine of teaching my students how to rig and derig the Windsurf sails, one of them accidentally rolled up the sail the wrong way, prompting me to unroll and re-roll it. During this process, as I undid the sail, I noticed it formed a tent-like structure, only to suddenly realize the material's potential.

Therefore, I joined forces with the Foundation to procure unused, damaged Windsurf sails, seeing an opportunity to make a positive impact in the face of South Florida's homelessness crisis. Additionally, given Miami's tropical and often scorching climate, the waterproof nature of sail material was something I saw the potential in crafting shelters for the homeless. These shelters offer ample shade and are positioned to prevent rain accumulation and leaks. Prioritizing portability, the shelters can be effortlessly set up and transported with a simple enough design that uses the minimum intervention necessary.

The manufacturing process was simple, requiring just velcro, an 8” meter repurposed Windsurf Sail, and duct tape. My goal is to provide temporary help by offering immediate mobile shelters to individuals without a home, trying to restore their dignity and hope. In order to take this project to the next level, alongside the Foundation I will present my idea to our sailing community.