DARIAN MARTINEZ

Portfolio. 2021
2024
 Lubbock Junior Arts 3

Center
LUBBOCK, TEXAS
FALL 2022 - ARCH. DESIGN III

Solar Observatory 6

SVALBARD, NORWAY
SPRING 2023 - ARCH. DESIGN IV

Austin Natatorium 9

AUSTIN, TEXAS
SPRING 2024 - ARCH. DESIGN VI

Contents Jebel-Ali Water Heritage

Museum
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
13

FALL 2024 - ARCH. DESIGN VII

Portfolio | Darian Martinez Selected Works | Lubbock Junior Arts Center
2

mac davis ln.

5
4

01 Lubbock Junior

ave. j
Arts Center
Term: Fall 2022
6
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Design Focus: Modularity
Instructor: Lahib Jaddo
Contribution: Individual Project

texas ave.
Situated at the edge of Lubbock’s cultural district, the Lubbock
Junior Arts Center features a modular, stacked design that
creates a dynamic spatial experience. Varying ceiling heights
establish a sense of compression and expansion, guiding users
through narrow hallways into expansive galleries and studios.

Natural lighting is integral to the design, with differing clerestory

heights corresponding to the program of each space. Tall LUBBOCK CULTURAL DISTRICT
clerestories flood exhibition areas with natural light, enhancing URBAN PLAN OBLIQUE
scale: 1” = 50’
visibility and focus, while softer, more subdued lighting defines 7th st.
transitional and auxiliary spaces. 1. helen devitt jones clay studio
2. LHUCA icehouse gallery
This interplay of modularity and lighting creates an adaptable 3. CASP live work studios
environment, ensuring each space serves its purpose while 4. charles adams gallery
5. future LHUCA gallery
enriching the user experience, creating a vibrant hub for artistic
6. project site
growth and creativity.
3
Portfolio | Darian Martinez Selected Works | Lubbock Junior Arts Center

8
10

11 9

WEST ELEVATION 6
scale: 1” = 20’
4

11

1
5

NORTH ELEVATION
scale: 1” = 20’

GROUND LEVEL FLOOR PLAN

scale: 1” = 20’
6. physical multimedia studio
1. entry/reception area 7. womens restroom
2. hallway gallery 8. mens restroom
3. primary exhibit space 9. elevator lobby/lounge area
4. secondary exhibit space 10. cafe
5. digital media studio 11. exterior installation space

4
Portfolio | Darian Martinez Selected Works | Lubbock Junior Arts Center

SECTION PERSPECTIVE
scale: 1” = 10’

5
Portfolio | Darian Martinez Selected Works | Solar Observatory

02 Solar
Observatory
Term: Spring 2023
Location: Svalbard, Norway
Design Focus: Solar Trajectories
Instructor: Deborah Pittman
Contribution: Individual Project

This solar observatory is designed to respond to the extraordinary lighting conditions

of Svalbard, Norway, throughout the year. By carefully manipulating the building’s
geometry, the observatory captures, reflects, and enhances the region’s unique
natural light phenomena - creating an experience that adapts to each season.
Svalbard’s lighting transitions, ranging from the soft pastel tones of twilight to the
continuous sunlight of the polar summer, and finally to the deep blues and stark
darkness of the arctic winter, are not just observed but actively integrated into the
design. The observatory serves as both a functional space for solar study and a year-
round destination for immersing visitors in the dramatic interplay of light and shadow,
highlighting the relationship between architecture and the extreme environment.

6
Portfolio | Darian Martinez Selected Works | Solar Observatory

AURORA BOREALIS
oct 1 - feb 28
diffused lighting +
viewing experience

DIRECT SOUTHERN LIGHT DIRECT NORTHERN LIGHT

may 17 - sept 30 may 17 - sept 30
30°- 35° elevation 10° - 15° elevation

-10° N 10°
-20° 20°

-30° 30°
12 AM
-7.00

-40° 40°

-50° 50°

-4.00

-60° 60°

SECTION W/ SOLAR ANIMATION -70° 70°

9 1
scale 1” = 20’ +10.00 +0.00

-2.00

-80° 80°

8 3
+5.00
+5.00

W E

7
+0.00
2
+0.00

-100° 100°
6

core spatial model compress shift carve -110°

5
110°

MASSING CONCEPTS
4
primary massing + solar hall -120° -4.50 120°

-130° 130°
SOLAR OBSERVATORY
OVERALL FLOOR PLAN
scale: 1” = 20’ -140° 140°

1. entry platform -150° 150°

2. central solar hall
3. public observation deck -160° 160°
4. lounge -170° 170°
S
5. women’s restroom
6. men’s restroom
7.research office a
SECTION CONCEPT SKETCH 8. research office b
trajectories 9. private observation deck

7
Portfolio | Darian Martinez Selected Works | Solar Observatory

Svalbard’s lighting conditions are defined by three SS

W
SW
WS
W

unique seasons. The “sunny winter” (March 1 to S W

May 16) brings diffused twilight that fills the sky with
W

blues and violets. The “polar summer” (May 17

E WN
SS

to September 30) offers continuous sunlight, with SE NW

the sun remaining above the horizon after April 20,

casting shallow, consistent light throughout the day ES
E
NN
W

and night. E N
E E
EN NN
06 solar hall
In contrast, the “Northern Lights Winter” sees a NE

return to deep blue twilight, leading into weeks

of complete darkness. The observatory’s design
channels and transforms these conditions, creating 05 roof

lighting effects that emphasize the natural cycles of

the arctic landscape.

INTERIOR LIGHTING EFFECT

04 envelope
northern lights

03 platform

12:00 13:00 14:00 15:00

02 excavation

01 site

16:00 17:00 18:00 19:00

20:00 21:00 22:00 23:00

EXTERIOR LIGHTING EFFECT EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC

midnight sun with polar summer sun path

8
Portfolio | Darian Martinez Selected Works | Austin Natatorium

03Term: Spring 2024

Austin
Natatorium
Location: Austin, Texas
Design Focus: Urban ‘Street-wall’
Instructor: Terah Maher
Contribution: Individual Project

This project for a natatorium begins with the

observation of the push and pull between the
regular urban fabric defined by the grid and the
irregularity of flowing water.

The floor plates comprising the base of the

structure represent a pulling upwards of the
urban fabric, a disruption caused by their
proximity to Shoal Creek which bounds the
site to the West. This pulling action takes
with it surrounding elements of the urban
environment, such as the sidewalk on the East
side of the building, which is transformed into a
ramp that leads the user directly off the street
level and onto the entry level.

This raised portion creates a physical boundary

that separates the two district visual form as
the riverbank of Shoal Creek which bounds the
site to the West. The second visual language
is seen in the tower, which emphasizes the
vertical and rectilinear forms seen in the
surrounding high-rise buildings.

URBAN STUDY MODELS

scale: 1” = 10’

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Portfolio | Darian Martinez Selected Works | Austin Natatorium

2 3 5 2
1 3

1
4.1

4.2 diving level

basement level 1 - diving pool

2 - diving platform (above)
1 - lap pool 3 - lightwell shaft
2 - mens shower
3 - womens shower
4 - spectator stands
5 - pump room

3 4 7
1 2
3

t.
404 rio grande st.

nde s
~55 ft 5
6

rio gra
pool level a
2
1 - cold water pool
entry level 2 - freediving pool (above)
1 3 - lightwell shaft
1 - terrace
2 - reception
3 - mens restroom
4 - womens restroom
5 - acoustic pool
6 - cafe
7 - mechanical

sh
oa 600 w 4th st. 5
lc 2 3
ree ~40 ft 2
k 1 3

4 pool level b

1 - hydrotherapy pool
second level 2 - freediving pool (above)
3 - lightwell shaft
1 - junior lap pool
2 - mens shower
w 4th 3 - womens shower
st. 4 - sun deck
5 - pump room

4 3
2
1 3
2

301 west ave. - jenga tower

~400 ft
1
pool level c
tower entry level 1 - cold water pool
2 - freediving pool (above)
1 - terrace 3 - lightwell shaft
2 - tower reception area
FIGURE-GROUND SITE PLAN 3 - womens shower
scale: 1” = 50’ 4 - mens shower

605 w 4th st 10
~40 ft
Portfolio | Darian Martinez Selected Works | Austin Natatorium

UNFOLDED ELEVATION PERSPECTIVE

scale: 1” = 50’

11
Portfolio | Darian Martinez Selected Works | Austin Natatorium

UNFOLDED SECTION PERSPECTIVE

scale: 1” = 50’

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Portfolio | Darian Martinez Selected Works | Jebel-Ali Water Heritage Museum

04
The Water Heritage Museum in Dubai is dedicated to acknowledging the region’s profound connection to

Jebel-Ali water, tracing its history from the ancient falaj systems to modern desalination plants, water farms, and
reservoirs. The museum highlights the critical importance of potable water in the region, where access
to drinking water has always been a vital concern. Designed to evoke the open canal format of the falaj,

Water Heritage Museum the museum’s architecture intertwines the past and present, symbolizing the inseparable bond between
society, culture, and water.

Term: Fall 2024 Visitors experience a thoughtfully designed space that prioritizes inclusivity and longevity, by incorporating
Location: Dubai, UAE features that take into account the unique users and needs of those using our building. Social areas,
Design Focus: Adaptive Reuse reflective pools, shaded pathways, and seamless multi-modal access (metro, cars, bikes, and walking)
Instructor: Asma Mehan cater to diverse users. Public zones offer open connectivity, while intimate seating areas bordered by trees
Contribution: Preliminary Design and Representation provide tranquility. By democratizing space and fostering community engagement, the Water Heritage
Partner: Arianna Cannon Museum becomes not just a destination but a cornerstone of Dubai’s sustainable future
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Portfolio | Darian Martinez Selected Works | Jebel-Ali Water Heritage Museum

MODEL PHOTOGRAPHY
exhibit hall exterior

CONCEPT SKETCH
plan

CONCEPT SKETCH MODEL PHOTOGRAPHY

section exhibit hall entry

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Portfolio | Darian Martinez Selected Works | Jebel-Ali Water Heritage Museum

MODEL PHOTOGRAPHY
exhibit hall interior

CONCEPT SKETCH
isometric

CONCEPT SKETCH MODEL PHOTOGRAPHY

section courtyard amphitheater

15
Portfolio | Darian Martinez Selected Works | Jebel-Ali Water Heritage Museum

reclaimed corrugated
reclaimed corrugated
panels, panels,
rusted &rusted
perforated
& perforated

roof membrane
roof membrane parapetparapet
cap cap

2x8 wood
2x8purlins
wood purlins
2x6 framing w/ batt w/ batt
2x6 framing spaced spaced
36” o.c.36” o.c.
rigid insulation
rigid insulation insulation
insulation

reinf. concrete
reinf. concrete
bond beambond beam
prefabricated
prefabricated
heavy timber
heavy frame
timber frame

2x6 wood
2x6girts
wood girts
precast precast
concreteconcrete spaced spaced
16” o.c.16” o.c.
wall capping
wall capping

6” reinf.6”
rammed earth wall
reinf. rammed earth wall
w/ 4” rigid insulation
w/ 4” rigid insulation 6x8 steel
6x8post base
steel post base

continuous reinf. reinf.

continuous
floor slab w/ slab
floor 3” w/ 3” reclaimed 36” concrete stem wall
concrete stem wall
reclaimed 36”
insulation
insulation corrugated panels panels
corrugated
continuous reinf. reinf.
continuous
concrete stem wall
concrete stem wall
perforated drain drain
perforated
line, vent to courtyard
line, vent to courtyard perforated drain drain
perforated
line, vent to courtyard
line, vent to courtyard
continuous reinf. reinf.
continuous continuous reinf. reinf.
continuous
concrete footing footing
concrete concrete footing footing
concrete

RAMMED EARTH WALL DETAIL EXHIBIT WALL DETAIL 1

-3.00

scale: 1” = 5’ scale: 1” = 5’

4 5
-8.00
6

7
-3.00

2
UNFOLDED WEST ELEVATION
scale: 1” = 20’

GROUND LEVEL FLOOR PLAN

scale: 1” = 20’

1. pavilion
2. amphitheater seating
3. amphitheater stage
4. courtyard
5. private corridor
6. restroom
UNFOLDED EAST ELEVATION 7. exhibit office
scale: 1” = 20’

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Portfolio | Darian Martinez Selected Works | Jebel-Ali Water Heritage Museum

EXTERIOR RENDER INTERIOR RENDER

courtyard amphitheater exhibit hall lighting effect

An extended canopy provides

shading to the amphitheater and Reclaimed corrugated panels are stripped of their coating,
courtyard while allowing airflow chemically rusted in brine, and perforated to create an effect
through the complex of stars projected on the ground, allowing users to experience
the stars despite the extreme light-pollution in Dubai.

Sea-breeze from the coast increase ventilation

and airflow throughout the exhibit, combating
discomfort due to stagnant, hot, and humid air.

The primary structure consists of heavy

timber frames prefabricated off-site to
reduce embodied carbon created by
steel transportation and construction.

Approximately 80% of the buildings area is fully or

partially below-grade, improving self shading and
temperature regulation of the courtyard and exhibit.

Soil excavated from the courtyard is combined with a The flow of water guides the movement of the user
stabilizer to create the foundation. This rammed earth throughout the exhibit. The desalination by-product of
is also used for the retaining walls and as the structure brine is re-purposed as a visual and auditory experience.
for the private areas, reducing the use of concrete. Brine supplied by the neighboring desalination
The river pattern is inspired by the Wadi Hatta, one of
plant is partially diluted and used for irrigating
the few natural freshwater sources in UAE.
green spaces. These areas are occupied by
Halophytes, salt-tolerant species of native plants.
SECTION PERSPECTIVE
scale: 1” = 10’
17
End.