THE ANTHROPO[S]CENE
Carlos J Balza Gerardino
Carlos J. Balza Gerardino, originally from Venezuela, earned his Bachelor in Science in Architecture and Master of Architecture from Texas Tech University. After a year of professional experience at two architectural firms in Texas, Balza Gerardino completed his Master in Science in Architecture at Pratt Institute. His research focuses on two fronts: the role that public education, and its design, plays in a Post-Pandemic New York City, and the role of beauty and aesthetics in contemporary design methodologies and its public perception.
Carlos currently works as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Pratt Institute for the different studio rotations at the MS level, as an Architectural Designer for Harrison Atelier creating designs for competitions, local pavilions, and extensive design research into Multi-Species co-habitation, and as a Special Projects Coordinator for the GAUD at Pratt Institute setting up and designing exhibitions throughout the year for the public. Additionally, he is an accomplished international writer with different texts about THE ANTHROPO[S]CENE published in Oculus AIANY, NYCxDesign, PLACES Journal, DWIH New York, and MIX Magazine in London.
Proficient: Rhino 6, V-Ray Next, Adobe Suite Knowledgeable: Revit, Lumion, Dimension5 Render, AutoCAD, TwinMotion Familiar: QGIS, Unreal Engine
Carlos currently works as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Pratt Institute for the different studio rotations at the MS level, as an Architectural Designer for Harrison Atelier creating designs for competitions, local pavilions, and extensive design research into Multi-Species co-habitation, and as a Special Projects Coordinator for the GAUD at Pratt Institute setting up and designing exhibitions throughout the year for the public. Additionally, he is an accomplished international writer with different texts about THE ANTHROPO[S]CENE published in Oculus AIANY, NYCxDesign, PLACES Journal, DWIH New York, and MIX Magazine in London.
Proficient: Rhino 6, V-Ray Next, Adobe Suite Knowledgeable: Revit, Lumion, Dimension5 Render, AutoCAD, TwinMotion Familiar: QGIS, Unreal Engine
Artist Statement
Looking at a brighter future of Post-Pandemic New York City, last year made very visible that the public education and health systems have been severely neglected and collapse easily. Governors Island can provide support to both of these systems.
During the Fall 2020 semester, the project was concentrated on the Trust of Governors Island mandate which prioritizes the use of the island as an environmental hub, including research and education. It proposed a way of implementing permanent infrastructure on several open spaces which allows Governors Island to serve as an educational hub to surrounding schools districts in the surrounding neighborhoods of NYC and Brooklyn.
During the Spring 2021, the project was located inside House 14 and it transformed the interior space from a single family unit to a small classroom. The existing balloon frame enclosed a hybrid system of 16 metal columns and vaults that went from the basement all the way to ceiling, creating a single spatial experience, and providing a positive educational environment.
Finally, during the Summer 2021 semester, a new pier system held together by floating pontoons on the west side of Governors Island is the infrastructure proposed. The pier is a double-sided solution where each face of it provides the necessary conditions to nurture an ecology: on the bottom side it caters towards the local marine ecology while on the top side it nurtures an active, academic space. Additionally, the pier increases the access to Governors Island from the surrounding neighborhoods, and can be utilized seasonally for different events.
During the Fall 2020 semester, the project was concentrated on the Trust of Governors Island mandate which prioritizes the use of the island as an environmental hub, including research and education. It proposed a way of implementing permanent infrastructure on several open spaces which allows Governors Island to serve as an educational hub to surrounding schools districts in the surrounding neighborhoods of NYC and Brooklyn.
During the Spring 2021, the project was located inside House 14 and it transformed the interior space from a single family unit to a small classroom. The existing balloon frame enclosed a hybrid system of 16 metal columns and vaults that went from the basement all the way to ceiling, creating a single spatial experience, and providing a positive educational environment.
Finally, during the Summer 2021 semester, a new pier system held together by floating pontoons on the west side of Governors Island is the infrastructure proposed. The pier is a double-sided solution where each face of it provides the necessary conditions to nurture an ecology: on the bottom side it caters towards the local marine ecology while on the top side it nurtures an active, academic space. Additionally, the pier increases the access to Governors Island from the surrounding neighborhoods, and can be utilized seasonally for different events.