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Virginia Tech

Of Surface and Shadow. Proposal for a new School of Architecture

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Puerto Rico is a place of strong sunlight, temperate winds and humid climate. It is also a place where the landscape and the natives are very colorful. Today's culture consists of a chaotic urban atmosphere which tends to obscure an extraordinary geography and the natural richness of its surroundings. As in any Western metropolitan area, urban life demands its toll. San Juan is plagued by noise, and heat intensifies between its buildings. Modern air-conditioning is by now a part of every work place and many residences, but beyond mechanical technology, architecture still can offer generously places of shade and shelter from the sun's rays. This project studies the essential characteristics of the landscape and climate of Puerto Rico, and aims to expose these architecturally. The rediscovery of these conditions is articulated by studying the compositional qualities of mass, surface and shadow.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Architecture
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Architecture
Department dc:contributor.department
Architecture
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
1997

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Mendez, Clarissa
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • O'Brien, Michael J.
  • Schnoedt, Heinrich
  • Sarpaneva, Pia
  • Weiner, Frank H.

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-1621183972971
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/36519

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Mendez, Clarissa. Of Surface and Shadow. Proposal for a new School of Architecture. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/36519