Playchitecture by justinavaic

JUSTINA VAICELIONYTE

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

M.ARCH PORTFOLIO 2022-2025

EDUCATION:

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Master of Architecture

Miami, Florida | Aug 2022 – Present

GPA: 3.99

JUSTINA VAICELIONYTE

Email: jvaiceli@fiu.edu

Cell: (954)-319-6118

Address:

2800 SW 27TH Terrace, Apt 1903 Miami, Florida, 33133

Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justina-vaicel/

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

Bachelor of Arts in Environment and Sustainability

Miami, Florida | Jan 2021 – Aug 2022

GPA: 3.86

THE COOPER UNION

Architecture and Design Studies, New York, NY | Aug 2016 – May 2018

LANGUAGES:

English (Advanced)

Lithuanian (Advanced)

Spanish (Beginner)

SKILLS:

(0-100%)

DESIGN & MODELING:

AutoCAD (95%), Photoshop (90%), Illustrator (90%), InDesign (90%), Rhinoceros (90%), Revit (85%), Lightroom (80%), GIS (60%), Premiere (50%)

RENDERING:

Look X (95%), Enscape (90%), V-Ray (90%), Twinmotion (80%)

OFFICE SOFTWARE

Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Publisher)(100%)

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE

Virginia Dominicis Design Studio, Miami, Florida | December 2023–Present

-Specialized in technical drawings and architectural plans using CAD, ensuring design accuracy and functionality.

GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT

Florida International University, Florida

August 2023-Present

-Budget Management , Providing spending reports to the Government agencies, Event planning, Marketing and Recruitment.

PARTICIPANT- AIA FLORIDA

AIA Florida, Capitol Hill, Tallahasee, Florida

-Presented the Senators and House of Representatives Members the need for Florida Resilient Building Advisory Council Board at the AIA Florida Legislative Day.

DESIGN BY FIU-DESIGNER

Florida Interantional University, Miami,Florida- August 2024-December 2024

-Worked with Design by FIU directors on schematic design, drawings, and visualizations for the Boca Woods Country Club master plan.

THESIS PROJECT with Bermello Ajamil & Partners

Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Coral Gables, Florida, August 2024-Present

-Worked along side Bermello partners to develop a concept for a mixed-use Residential Tower proposal using Miami 21 and Live Local Building code and requirements

-Concept development, site analysis and zoning.

INTERN

Perkins & Will, Miami, Florida | September 2015–May 2016

FABRICATION:

3D Printing(95%), Laser Cutting (95%), CNC Milling (80%)

-Contributed to design projects by developing conceptual and architectural iterations during highschool.

PARTICIPANT

SCI-ARC Pre-College Program for Architecture, Los Angeles, California | June 2015–August 2015

-Completed an intensive 6-week course on design principles, model building, and spatial dynamics.

AWARDS:

AIA Student of the Year Award FIU, 2024

Ratcliffe Design Incubator Fellowship Recipient, 2023–2024

Dean’s List, Florida International University, 2021–Present

Villager's Scholarship for Excellence in Arts, 2015

Honorable Mention for Excellence in Visual Arts, 2013

ORGANIZATIONS:

American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS) — Member

MBUS Leads — Mentorship Program Member—Cohort '24

Ratcliffe Art + Design Incubator — Fellow '23, '24, '25

REFERENCES:

Virginia Dominicis | Owner Dominicis Design

+561 801 3708 | virginia@vmddesign.com

Mark Marine | Director Design by FIU +305 301 7222 | mmarine@fiu.edu

Jamie Canaves, FAIA | Professor at FIU +305 321 3764 | canavesj@fiu.edu

AIA-STUDENT OF THE YEAR (FIU) 2024

LOCATION: LEMON CITY, MIAMI, FLORIDA

YEAR: 2023

PROGRAM: PUBLIC AQUATIC CENTER

THIS PROJECT THOUGHTFULLY INCORPORATES OPEN AREAS AND SECLUDED SPACES, INVITING USERS TO IMMERSE THEMSELVES FULLY WITH NATURAL ELEMENTS SUCH AS THE EXPANSIVE SKY AND VERDANT GREEN TERRACES. THESE FEATURES EVOKE AN OUTDOOR WILDERNESS AMBIANCE, ALLOWING MOMENTS OF ESCAPE AND TRANQUILITY IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT, WHERE NATURE AND ARCHITECTURE SEAMLESSLY COEXIST.

IN THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY, A LIVING CANVAS UNFOLDS—A VISIONARY COMMUNITY CENTER CONCEIVED FROM THE VERY ESSENCE OF LIMESTONE'S POROUS POETRY. HERE, THE CONVENTIONAL BOUNDARIES OF INSIDE AND OUTSIDE CONVERGE, AS THE STRUCTURE BREATHES LIFE, INVITING THE NATURAL WORLD TO DANCE WITHIN ITS WALLS WHILE EMBRACING THE LOCAL ECOSYSTEM. SOURCED FROM THE QUARRIES OF FLORIDA, THE OCALA LIMESTONE EMBODIES A COLLECTIVE NARRATIVE, FOSTERING A PROFOUND SENSE OF BELONGING AMONG THE INHABITANTS. THE PLAY OF LIGHT, INSPIRED BY LIMESTONE’S INTRICATE POROSITY, PAINTS A CHOREOGRAPHY WITH CIRCULAR MOTIFS OF VARIED DIAMETERS, CASTING A PLAYFUL SPELL UPON THE IMMERSIVE COMMUNITY CENTER. THE NATATORIUM PROVIDES SPACES TO GATHER AND BLENDS THE LINES BETWEEN INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR REMINDING THE VISITORS THAT WE ARE ALWAYS SURROUNDED BY LIFE AND LIGHT.

SUBTRACTION MASS (-)

ADDITON GREEN SPACE (+)

SUBTRACTION LIGHT PORES (-)

DESCENT

LOCATION:MIAMI,FLORIDA

YEAR: 2022

PROGRAM: PUBLIC PARK

ABOUT:

DESCENT PROJECT IS LOCATED IN ALICE WAINWRIGHT PARK. THE NATURAL ECOSYSTEM INCLUDES A NATURAL FOREST COMMUNITYTROPICAL HARDWOOD HAMMOCK. IT ALSO CONTAINS THE REMNANTS OF THE HISTORICAL BRICKELL HAMMOCK. THE SITE ALSO CONTAINS THE MIAMI ROCK RIDGE, WHICH IS A CONTINUOUS LIMESTONE OUTCROP THAT FORMERLY ENCLOSED A LARGE EXTENT OF FAR SOUTH FLORIDA, INCLUDING PORTIONS OF THE EVERGLADES ECOSYSTEM. DEZEND STRIVES TO CREATE AN EXPERIENCE FULL OF MYSTERY AS THE USER TRAVELS THROUGH THE SPACE AND UNFOLDS THE EXPERIENCE. THE NATURE OF SHIFTING SPACES ALLOWS FOR THE CHOICE OF NAVIGATION, THUS ALLOWING THE USER TO BE THE AUTHOR IN HIS OWN EXPERIENCE.

THE MAIN STORY UNFOLDS UNDERGROUND AS THE USER TRAVELS THROUGH THE EXCAVATED SPACE. THE EXCAVATED NATURE OF THE PROJECT CREATES A NATURAL COOLING EFFECT AND A SPACE OF ESCAPE FROM THE HEAT OF SUMMER FOR THE USERS. THE PARK FEATURES A FEW SPACES OF GATHERING THAT ARE EXCAVATED INTO THE GROUND AND BECOME AREAS OF OBSERVATION TO TAKE IN NATURE. THE SKY BECOMES THE CEILING OF THE SPACE. THE WHOLE PARK CREATES A PEACEFUL EXPERIENCE AND FEATURES ZEN SPACES THROUGHOUT. THE GOAL IS FOR THE USER TO BECOME ONE WITH THE LANDSCAPE AND APPRECIATE THE NATURAL SURROUNDINGS.

THE PARK FEATURES AREAS WHERE NATURE RECLAIMS THE SPACE, WITH TREES PENETRATING THROUGH THE PARK’S LOWER LEVELS AND CONNECTING SEAMLESSLY TO THE NEIGHBORING PRESERVE.

THE PROGRAM OCCUPIES THE UNEXCAVATED AREAS OF THE PARK, WHILE THE VOIDS SERVE AS PATHWAYS FOR CIRCULATION.

THE PROJECT’S TECTONICS ARE SHAPED BY A DESIGN GENERATOR INFORMED BY SITE-SPECIFIC DATA, INCLUDING HYDROLOGY, FLOOD PATTERNS, WEATHER, AND UV EXPOSURE. THIS GENERATOR SERVES AS AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE, DIRECTING THE DESIGN PROCESS. THE PARK ITSELF BECOMES A SUBTRACTIVE ELEMENT, CARVING OUT COOL, SHADED SPACES THAT OFFER RELIEF FROM MIAMI’S TROPICAL HEAT WHILE CREATING AN IMMERSIVE, MYSTERIOUS EXPERIENCE. AS VISITORS JOURNEY THROUGH THE PROJECT, EACH VIEW IS CAREFULLY FRAMED, GUIDING THEM FROM GROUND LEVEL DOWN TO A DEPTH OF 12 FEET, UNVEILING A SEQUENCE OF SPACES THAT REVEAL THE LANDSCAPE’S HIDDEN NARRATIVES.

AQUA COVE

LOCATION: MIAMI, FLORIDA

YEAR: 2022

PROGRAM: PUBLIC PARK

ABOUT:

THE PIGEON KEY ISLAND WAS IMPERATIVE TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE 7-MILE BRIDGE FUNDED BY HENRY FLAGLER. TODAY AQUA COVE STANDS AS A CELEBRATION OF THE ENORMOUS EFFORTS OF THE WORKERS THAT MADE IT POSSIBLE BY LIVING ON PIGEON KEY ISLAND AND WORKING IN HARSH CONDITIONS. LOCATED IN THE ISLANDS OF THE FLORIDA KEYS AQUA COVE IS AN ORGANIC FORM INSPIRED SPIRITUAL DWELLING WITH ZEN-DERIVED PODS AND CONTEMPLATIVE NOOKS THAT CREATE AN ECO-CONSCIOUS HABITAT, ALLOWING VISITORS TO DISCONNECT FROM THE BUSY NETWORK OF MODERN LIFE AND REFLECT IN THE ARMS OF NATURE.

IT CREATES AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT TO THE NATURAL WORLD BY BLENDING ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS WITH ARCHITECTURAL INNOVATION. USING BIO-CONCRETE, WOOD, AND STEEL FOR STRUCTURAL SUPPORT, THE FORM IS A TWISTING COVE THAT ROTATES ON ITSELF, TAKING INSPIRATION FROM CORALS AND THE REEF. THE COVE CREATES A SPACE FOR REFLECTION AND FOSTERS A DEEP CONNECTION WITH OCEAN LIFE AND SPECIES. THE INHABITANTS AND VISITORS CAN EXPLORE THE BIODIVERSE MANGROVE AND CORAL ECOSYSTEM THAT ARE HOME TO THOUSANDS OF SPECIES, INCLUDING FISH, AMPHIBIANS, BIRDS, AND INSECTS. THE DIRECT EXPOSURE OF THE VISITORS CONTRIBUTES TO THE IMPORTANCE OF OCEAN LIFE AND ITS WELL-BEING, RAISING THE NEED FOR AWARENESS IN OCEA++N CONSERVATION.

ENGAWA

LOCATION: TOKYO, JAPAN

YEAR: 2024

PROGRAM: RESIDENTIAL

ABOUT:

THE ENGAWA HOUSE IN TOKYO, JAPAN, IS A REFINED ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT POSITIONED ADJACENT TO THE ICONIC SOU FUJIMOTO NA HOUSE. SPANNING 1,200 SQUARE FEET, ENGAWA DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM THE SEAMLESS INTEGRATION OF INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SPACES, CREATING A RESIDENCE THAT FEELS LIKE A NATURAL EXTENSION OF ITS ENVIRONMENT.

WRAPPED IN A DELICATE MESH, THE STRUCTURE OFFERS BOTH PRIVACY AND TRANSPARENCY, TRANSFORMING THE RESIDENCE INTO A “PRIVATE FOREST” FOR THE TWO COUPLES WHO CALL IT HOME. THIS MESH LAYER FILTERS LIGHT AND VIEWS, SUBTLY BLURRING THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN THE BUILT AND THE NATURAL WORLD.

THE SLANTED COLUMNS ARE NOT ONLY STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS WORKING IN COMPRESSION AND TENSION BUT ALSO SCULPTURAL FORMS THAT EVOKE THE ORGANIC IRREGULARITY OF NATURE. THESE ANGLED SUPPORTS, ALONG WITH THE CURVED FLOORS AND CEILINGS, UNDULATE AND DIP, ECHOING THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE’S TOPOGRAPHY AND ALLOWING THE ARCHITECTURE TO BREATHE WITH A SENSE OF NATURAL RHYTHM.

THIS PROJECT EMBODIES THE PHILOSOPHY THAT ARCHITECTURE CAN BE AN EXTENSION OF NATURE. THROUGH ITS THOUGHTFUL DESIGN, ENGAWA HOUSE IMMERSES ITS RESIDENTS IN AN EXPERIENCE THAT IS BOTH GROUNDED AND TRANSCENDENT, OFFERING A TRANQUIL, FOREST-LIKE RETREAT WITHIN THE URBAN FABRIC OF TOKYO.

GROUND FLOOR SECOND FLOOR

THIRD FLOOR INSPIRATION

ENGAWA HOUSE OFFERS AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE THAT TRANSPORTS ITS RESIDENTS FROM THE DENSE URBAN LANDSCAPE OF TOKYO INTO A SERENE FOREST SANCTUARY. ENVELOPED BY A DELICATE MESH THAT FILTERS LIGHT AND FRAMES VIEWS OF LUSH GREENERY, THE HOME FEELS SHELTERED YET OPEN, BLURRING THE BOUNDARIES BETWEEN ARCHITECTURE AND NATURE. THE TREES SURROUNDING THE STRUCTURE CREATE A SOFT, DAPPLED LIGHT THAT FILLS THE INTERIORS, ALLOWING RESIDENTS TO FEEL AS THOUGH THEY ARE LIVING WITHIN A FOREST RATHER THAN A BUSTLING CITY. THIS INTIMATE INTEGRATION WITH NATURE TRANSFORMS THE HOME INTO A TRANQUIL RETREAT, PROVIDING A SENSE OF ESCAPE AND CONNECTION TO THE NATURAL WORLD AMID TOKYO'S VIBRANT DENSITY.

BIOSYNC LAB

LOCATION: MIAMI, FLORIDA

YEAR: 2024

PROGRAM: PUBLIC RESEARCH CENTER

ABOUT:

BIOSYNC LAB INTEGRATES SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES, INCLUDING WATER COLLECTION, NATURAL VENTILATION, GREEN ROOF SYSTEMS, AND A BIO-REACTIVE FACADE, TO MINIMIZE FOSSIL FUEL USE AND PROMOTE A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT. AS A RETROFIT PROJECT, IT PRESERVES AND SUBTLY TRANSFORMS THE EXISTING STRUCTURE, DEMONSTRATING THE POTENTIAL TO REDUCE THE CARBON FOOTPRINT TYPICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION.

THE PARK FEATURES FOUR MAIN ELEMENTS:

ELEVATED PATHS – THESE ALLOW VISITORS TO EXPERIENCE THE PROJECT FROM ABOVE, ENGAGING WITH THE SITE AT MULTIPLE LEVELS.

INTERACTIVE DESCENDING PATHS – THESE PATHWAYS LEAD VISITORS BELOW THE WATER’S SURFACE, EXPOSING THE HEALTH AND ACTIVITY OF THE MANGROVE ECOSYSTEM, INCLUDING FISH NURSERIES.

RETROFITTED STRUCTURE – INSPIRED BY ARUP'S BIQ HOUSE, THIS COMPONENT FEATURES A BIO-REACTIVE FACADE THAT GENERATES ENERGY THROUGH PHOTOSYNTHESIS.

UNDERGROUND MUSEUM AND NATIVE SPECIES PARK – THIS IMMERSIVE AREA IS FILLED WITH NATIVE FLORA, ENHANCING VISITORS' CONNECTION WITH FLORIDA'S ECOSYSTEMS.

BIOSYNC LAB IS DEDICATED TO LEARNING ABOUT AND PRESERVING FLORIDA'S NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS, OFFERING AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE THAT BRINGS PEOPLE CLOSER TO NATURE. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROJECT IS SEAMLESSLY CONNECTED TO THE NEARBY UNDERLINE, CREATING A CONTINUOUS GREEN NETWORK.

DESIGNED FOR SEA LEVEL RISE

BIOSYNC LAB’S BIO-REACTIVE FACADE, INSPIRED BY ARUP'S BIQ HOUSE, USES ALGAE-FILLED PANELS TO TURN SUNLIGHT INTO OXYGEN AND BIOMASS, OFFERING A RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE WHILE IMPROVING AIR QUALITY.

THIS DYNAMIC FACADE ADAPTS WITH CHANGING SUNLIGHT, CREATING NATURAL SHADING AND AN ENGAGING, RESPONSIVE SURFACE. IT’S A POWERFUL EXAMPLE OF HOW BIO-TECHNOLOGIES CAN BLEND SEAMLESSLY INTO ARCHITECTURE, MAKING SUSTAINABILITY BOTH FUNCTIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL.

BANYAN PLACE

LOCATION: MIAMI, FLORIDA

YEAR: 2025

PROGRAM: MIXED-USSE

ABOUT:

THIS MIXED-USE TOWER EXPLORES HOW LAYERED HORIZONTAL VOLUMES AND INTEGRATED GREEN SPACES CAN CREATE A DYNAMIC RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CITY. BY ALTERNATING TRANSPARENT AND SOLID FAÇADES, THE DESIGN PLAYS WITH VISUAL DEPTH AND OPENNESS, INVITING INTERACTION BETWEEN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENTS. TERRACES FILLED WITH GREENERY PROVIDE RESIDENTS AND VISITORS OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT WITH NATURE, SOFTENING THE BUILDING'S PRESENCE WITHIN THE URBAN CONTEXT. THE SOLID PODIUM GROUNDS THE TOWER WITH ITS TEXTURED FAÇADE, CONTRASTING THE LIGHTER GLASS VOLUMES ABOVE. OVERALL, THE PROJECT THOUGHTFULLY BALANCES ARCHITECTURAL COMPLEXITY WITH A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY.

THE DESIGN ALSO ENGAGES DIRECTLY WITH THE URBAN LANDSCAPE THROUGH CAREFULLY PLANNED PUBLIC SPACES AND ACCESSIBLE GREEN TERRACES. BY INTEGRATING LANDSCAPED AREAS AT MULTIPLE LEVELS, THE BUILDING ENCOURAGES SOCIAL INTERACTION AND CREATES MOMENTS OF QUIET RESPITE WITHIN THE CITY. ITS DISTINCTIVE FORM NOT ONLY PROVIDES STRIKING VISUAL INTEREST BUT ALSO OPTIMIZES VIEWS, NATURAL LIGHT, AND AIRFLOW FOR ITS OCCUPANTS. THIS APPROACH REFLECTS A COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY, SHOWCASING HOW ARCHITECTURE CAN ACTIVELY ENHANCE URBAN LIFE WHILE RESPECTING THE ENVIRONMENT.