A L E X A N D E R Z ATA R A I NPORTFOLIO OF SELECTED WORKS

University of OregonMaster of Landscape Architecture2014

Th e Evergreen State CollegeBachelor of Fine Art2009

Kyoto, Japan2013

Uzbekistan & Kyrgyzstan2009

Merit Award, ASLA Oregon Chapter2014

Betty Marie Laudahl Johnson Memorial Traveling Scholarship 2013

Dorothy Martone Scholarship 2012

Experience

Skills

Education

Study Abroad

Honors + Awards

DesignerStemmler Design2015

Layout ArtistSustainable Cities Initiative2014

Graduate Research AssistantUniversity of Oregon2012

InternRick Mather Architects2005

AutoCAD Adobe PhotoshopAdobe IllustratorAdobe InDesignGoogle SketchupMicrosoft Suite

Hand DraftingSketchingModel building

Portfolio of Selected Works2011 - 2015

ALEXANDER ZATARAIN

Portland, or | 2015 | Stemmler deSign

CURRENT WORKWALLED POOL GARDEN

The bare concrete backyard of this North Portland home is reimagined as a versatile, beautiful garden that can comfortably accomodate a lively pool party or serve as a relaxing retreat. Surrounding the existing pool is a concrete seating wall providing flexible seating while also protecting the lush plantings from the clients’ dogs. Near the house a large trellis and vine covers a wooden deck and dining area. Custom pavers are inset into the deck in order to prevent wear and tear to the deck from the dogs running in and out of the house.

My role at Stemmler Design ranges from sketches and conceptual design, design development, to the creation and presentation of compelling presentation drawings to the client. In addition to hand drawing, programs used on this project include Photoshop, Illustrator, and AutoCAD.

RIGHTSchematic design

LEFTTop: Existing wall Center/Bottom: Proposed wall treatments

LAWN

FREMONT ST.

CES

AR

E. C

HA

VEZ

BLV

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HOUSE

LAWN

POOL

FREMONT ST.Existing wall Groundcover between pavingNarrow path with stones

Grill & custom counter

Wood deck at grade with covered trellis

Custom paving inserted into deck

Hot tub

Concrete seating wall

Existing wall

Th e concept is to revitalize the Sanjo-Keihan multi-modal station and to provide an exceptional public greenspace in the heart of Kyoto. Th is gateway to Japan’s “Garden City” is a place to gather, grab a bite to eat, enjoy a beverage or just watch people going to and from transit lines.

Th e present station’s inward-looking shopping center is replaced with a new building at the eastern edge of the site. Its structure recalls the shape of an Ogi, or Japanese fan. Th e building overlooks a large refl ecting pool whose waters cascade into an amphitheater below. Th e sound of the falls masks the busy traffi c of the nearby boulevard. Japanese hydrangea softens the amphitheater’s hardscape. Cryptomeria and Japanese maples serve as vertical accents to the horizontal pathways that pass over the amphitheater and refl ecting pond to the building.

To create the station’s pathway, lines are drawn from the center of the site to surrounding areas of interest. In this way the paths act as way-fi nding guides for travelers emerging from underground station, directing them toward notable sights and districts. Th e gently curving road serves as a transit center for several bus lines and is a unique feature in a city otherwise dominated by an unrelenting orthogonal grid.

KYoto, JaPan | 2013 | ProF. ron loVinger

GARDEN GATEWAYSANJO KEIHAN STATION

shrineshopping district

Kamo River

Gion district

CURVED BUS LANETh e gently curving road behind the site serves as bus lane and is a unique feature in a city otherwise organized in an orthogonal grid.

ICONIC STRUCTURETh e building recalls the shape of an Ogi, or Japanese fan and captures the activity and energy from the nearby intersection

VERTICAL CONNECTIONA sunken amphitheater creates a vertical connection and active communication with the existing underground mall and subway.

WAYFINDING PATHWAYSTh e main circulation paths radiate outward, leading travelers emerging Th e main circulation paths radiate outward, leading travelers emerging Th e main circulation paths radiate

from the subway towards surrounding outward, leading travelers emerging from the subway towards surrounding outward, leading travelers emerging

areas of interest.from the subway towards surrounding areas of interest.from the subway towards surrounding

amphitheaterexisting underground mall

refl ecting pool existing subway mixed-use building

Kimball Avenue Park is one of fi ve parks along the Bloomingdale Trail, an abandoned elevated railway that is being transformed into a 2.7-mile linear park. Th e challenge: to provide ramp access to the Bloomingdale trail while also creating a welcoming street level park for the surrounding neighborhood.

Rather than merely providing an access point, the ramp is designed to be a procession -- a series of choreographed experiences. First, the ramp gently curves around the park boundary, embracing a lower courtyard and fountain. Finally, a small earthen mound at the top obscures the view until the path wraps around it to reveal a unique, elevated perspective of the neighborhood.

Th e shape of the ramp informs the site’s cross-section. Th e change in elevation is exaggerated by pushing a segment of the courtyard down to form a small pool with a fountain and by raising the upper lawn to form a grassy rise.

ChiCago, il | 2011 | ProF. Kenneth helPhand

PUSH & PULLKIMBALL AVENUE PARK

Located at the nexus of the Booth Kelly Natural Area and a proposed mixed-use development, Springfi eld’s back porch overlooks a vernal pool in the Natural Area. One of the primary design goals is to soften the edge between the built and natural environments, thereby increasing urban residents’ access to nature. A large wooden deck overlooks the vernal pool while wooden boardwalks link the natural and urban areas. Th is design is a civic place for the public to relax, take lunch, or spend a quiet moment and move through.

Th e form of the deck is confi gured to refl ect the historic circulation patterns and building footprints of the sawmill that used to occupy the site. Th e vernal pool references the historic log pond and is located where logs were pulled from the water into the debarker and sawmill. Plantings of Douglas fi r around the pool’s shore imagine a new function for the site while paying homage to the timber industry that helped Springfi eld fl ourish.

1907 1936 1951 2012

SPringField, or | 2013 | ProF. irene CUrUlli

ON THE EDGEBOOTH KELLY DISTRICT

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1936

1951

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20121907

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1907

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1907

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HISTORIC CIRCULATION & BUILDING FOOTPRINTS

DETAIL

PERSPECTIVE

GROVEALLÉE

CULTURALURBAN

NATURALISTIC

NATURALECOLOGICAL

MATERIALS AND PLANTING

Th e site is located at the confl uence of Springfi eld’s downtown, millrace, and nature park. Th is is refl ected in weaving of disparate materials and planting styles.

Th e planting and site materials work together to both honor the site’s past and emphasize the site’s new function as a transitory space and gateway from the cultural to the natural realm. Moving west to east, tree plantings transition from an allée to groves of trees and fi nally to natural clumps and groupings. Th e path transitions from concrete paving to wood to dirt trails, refl ecting the movement from the urban to natural environment.

DOUGLAS FIR Refl ects the site’s past as a sawmill. Th e ‘natural’ wood boardwalk signals the conservation area.

CULTURALURBAN

NATURALECOLOGICAL

CONCRETE PAVERSSignify the urban realm. Dark color adds visual interest and demarcates pedestrian walkway.

CONCRETE PLANK PAVERSLong plank pavers reminiscent of the doug fi r planks, serve as a transition between the urban and ecological realms.

STACKED LUMBER BENCHES

Rising seamlessly from the boardwalk, these benches constructed of stacked 3x6 lumber evoke memories of the site’s past use.

Th is temporary parklet was designed for the City’s South Willamette ArtWalk in partnership with the City of Eugene and the bicycle shop Arriving By Bike. Th e parklet was sited in front of the popular bicycle shop. Th e shop owner requested a pleasing space for activities, such as bicycle repair, and small workshops, but one that did not obscure the storefront. Th e design-build team identifi ed the need not only for a functional gathering place, but a more welcoming pedestrian space protected from the noisy traffi c and summer sun.

Built entirely from donated materials, the fi nal design “pulls” the storefront out to the sidewalk, providing a refuge that also serves as display space. It is a unique landmark on an otherwise bland and auto-centric street.

eUgene, or | 2014 | CitY oF eUgene

REIMAGINING PEDESTRIAN SPACEPOP-UP PARKLET

strong vertical element serves as landmark & distinct signage

shade awning

display space “pulls” storefront to the street

lush planting to soften the extensive hardscape

ABOVEConcept drawing

RIGHTBefore and After of project

displaydisplay noticenotice

gathergather

The visualization of landscape – how landscapes are seen, imagined, and drawn – underlies all of design and planning. Through traditional research, as well as the creation of several art pieces, this project critically examines the way we visualize the landscape today through the prism of historic landscape paintings and design. It is an attempt to see around and behind the singular romanticized landscape image and proposes new ways that landscape design can critically engage and actively shape the society in which it functions.

awarded the aSla oregon merit award

REVEALING A TRASHED LANDSCAPEMASTER’S THESIS