Portafolio of my work as an Architect and as a Planner.

1. PORTFOLIO:
John Dunn
• Architect
• Planner
• Blogger
• Writer

2. PORTFOLIO:
John Dunn
• Architect
• Planner
• Blogger
• Writer

3. INDEX:
FOREWORD___________________________________4
AWARDS __________________________________5
OTHER COMPETITIONS _________________________________19
COMMUNITY PLANNING _________________________________38
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE _________________________________58
CONFERENCES _________________________________78
GENRAL INFORMATION_________________________________83
REFERENCES _________________________________84

4. FOREWORD:
I’ve been developing a special interest in the urban and regional
scale issues, since my undergraduate thesis in architecture, which
was an urban-scale renovation for the Shipyard Quarter in Guayaquil,
Ecuador. That research started as an exploration of the boundary
between natural events (in this case, the Guayas River and the
surrounding estuaries) and the City, the urban event. My
intervention proposal wanted to generate a third space between the
two existing ones, following Hegel’s principles.
Years later, during my professional practice, I’ve been lucky enough
to be involved in big-scale projects; such as Guayaquil’s Bus
Terminal (915.000 ft²), and Guayaquil’s Samanes Park, the second
biggest park in South America, with 940 acres. Those opportunities
made me aware of the impact that one person’s decision may have into
a huge area.
Then, when I started to write a bi-weekly column in the most read
newspaper in my country, about Guayaquil’s urban conflicts, I
started to go deeper into those problems a Metropolis have to deal
daily. That helped me to understand the city as a collective
organic system, whose problems are basically urban decompensations
caused by a lack of understanding the city as a whole.
All those experiences pushed me to read about Urban Metabolism.

5. AWARDS:
• The Floating Parks for the Guayas River.
APA-AL 2013 Student Competition
First Prize
• The Inhabitable Docks for the Salado Estuary
WAC 3rd Competition Mention of Honor

6. FLOATING PARKS FOR THE GUAYAS RIVER:

8. Guayaquil is the biggest city in
Ecuador. The city’s population is
around 2.5 million people, and more
than 3million people in its Metro area.
While Quito is Ecuador’s Capital and
therefore, the political center,
Guayaquil is the biggest port
infrastructure in the country. However,
the Guayas river -Guayaquil’s
connection with the Pacific ocean- has
been suffering several problems because
of its streams sedimentation. In 1950,
the city was forced to relocate the
ports on the south side, breaking the
existing relations between the city and
the port activities, affecting the
relations among its urban zones.
Since then, navigation on the Guayas
decreased dramatically and
sedimentation has become critical. Even
a small island appeared during the last
two decades.
The consequences of the caudal
deterioration may be harmful for the
city. Flooding and water shortage may
be in Guayaquil’s future, if nothing is
done to avoid it. The river's future
depend on human’s will to use it and
therefore, to preserve it.
This research started in order to look
for a proposal that might bring
benefits to the community, while
linking the people back with the river.
That’s when the Floating Parks appeared
on the scene.

9. Instrad of carrying vehicles, this barges are implemented with
vegetation, public furniture, small trees and some other shade
generators; in order to make trips over the river comfortable and
unique. The “Floating Park” replaces the conventional idea of a
“floating bus” as usually river transportation has been treated.
Although barges may not be fast, they still have some advantages during
peak hours and traffic jams.
Finally, the Floating parks can also “create” public spaces when
needed. The floating parks can be still one beside the other,
transforming themselves into a bigger park; which might be useful –for
example- for cultural events, like concerts. Musicians or actors can
use the floating parks as a stage; while the audience enjoys the show
from the riverfront.

10. Diploma given during the award-ceremony of the Alabama Chapter of the
American Planning Association.

11. INHABITABLE DOCKS IN THE
SALTED ESTUARY:

13. This was a project planned as a solution for the slums settlements located
the estuary waters that surround the southwest side of the city.
The idea is to provide the existing dwelling units with an structure that
would support them, after relocating them. It also would provide electric
power, water and connections to the sewage system; while it provides a
public space and infrastructure for small economy development.

17. The intervention area is pretty much like this: a lot of dwelling units
built with no structural background over the waters, destroying the
existing mangrove forests.
After relocating the existing dwelling units into the inhabitable docks
(houses are only conditioned by weight and volume), mangrove can be
reforest in the surrounding areas.

19. OTHER
COMPETITIONS:
• Proposal for Quito’s Financial Platform.
• Proposal for Ecuador’s Legislative Palace
Renewal
• Proposal for a Housing Project
in “El Beaterio”, Quito.
• Street Design proposal for New York’s
• 42nd Street.

20. PROPOSAL FOR THE FINANCIAL PLATFORM
IN QUITO, ECUADOR:

21. In Quito we can find the infrastructure
established by colonial miscegenation.
The void space of the plazas work as
landmarks which articulate social and
political relations. The same happens in a
small scale, when the domestic spaces
connect themselves through the typical
inner patio taken from the Spanish
dwelling model.
This was seen like the opportunity to
refresh the concept of the public
building, by taking away some element
related with power and oppression. Public
buildings and public spaces should be
named so for being used by the public as a
gathering place, beyond the public
institutions that may be contained inside
of them.

22. Voids and solids at any scale:
Quito is contained in a narrow
glaciar valley, where the
mountains occupy a great part
of the landscape. The sky is
forced to share its space with
the mountains, way above the
heads of the people. From
there mat come the beginning
of this solid and void
relation.
This pattern of composition
inspired incas and panyards in
their understanding of space
and their shaping of the
built-up environment.
Later, on the 2oth century,
the jones-odriozolla plan
turned into an alternative to
define the city growth across
the complex geography that
surrounds it. Metropolitan
parks were used as big-scaled
voids; combined with circles
in the main street crossings.
This proposal pursues to
explore the solid-void nature
of Quito on the design of the
Financial Platform, which may
be understand as the
relocation of different
institutions related with the
management of the Ecuadorian
economy.

23. Quito’s Jones Odriozola Plan. The Concept.
The Design Components.
1. The Buildings 2. The Ramp 3. The minor
Square
4. The slope 5. The
Auditorium.

29. A Street Design for the 42nd Street.
Newy York, NY.

30. This competition requested a street design for the 42nd Street in New
York. Participants are requested to consider a light rail that is going
to be built in the future.
In order to do something remarkable and unique -something that only could
happen in New York- this proposal suggested to complement the light rail
with a roller-coaster.

33. Remodeling and Expansion of
the National Assembly of Ecuador

34. The existing building of the National Assembly in Quito, Ecuador, is not
big enough. The competition asked to their participants to connect the
actual building with some new buildings and also with some existing others.
Some of them are registered as historic heritage. Also, the public spaces
between them must be intervened.

35. Office Building for Congressmen
The new buildings follow the modern lines from the 1950s that
characterizes the main building. It is designed to contain the
assemblymen’ offices.
There are some void spaces, in order to have some spaces to expand the
area, in case the number of assembly members will be increased in the
future.

36. A Housing Project for “El Beaterio”,
Quito, Ecuador.

37. A big-scale housing project, organized by the Ministry of Housing. This
project was meant to be developed in the south side of Quito in an area
called “El Beaterio”, an abandoned industrial zone, that requires to be
developed.

38. COMMUNITY PLANNING:
• Slope Analysis.
• A Urban Community Design.
• A University Campus Project.
• Urban Proposal for Mobile’s
• Peninsula Area.
• Proposal for Urban Renewal
of Montgomery’s
Peacock Place.

39. SLOPE ANALYSIS:

40. A URBAN COMMUNITY DESIGN:

41. A DENSE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS PRJECT:
Using the footprint
from the existing
buildings in Auburn
University Campus,
students were asked to
redesign the campus,
with a higher density.

42. Sketches:

43. Land Use Zoning proposal
The Peninsula, Mobile, AL:

45. The Peninsula Area
is in the South of
Mobile Downtown. It
was one of the
first areas in the
city developed with
a suburban style.
Most of their
inhabitants, used
to depend on the
labor positions
related with the
Air Force Base
located beside the
area.
The shutting down
of the Base and
Hurricane Katrina
hit this area hard,
and so far the
couldn’t recover
from them.
This proposal
pursues to set
regulations that
will motivate the
urban development
in the area, based
on flood safety,
inclusion of mixed
areas and promotion
of new economic
activities.

46. In order to get that, there must be a recognition of areas under the flood
line. Those areas use to be conditioned by hard and expensive insurance
terms. New residential developments there might be more flexible, if the
insurance contracts rely on new and safer building technologies.
However, the area need places for business and for social gathering. A urban
square is proposed for the actual Trimmers Park, with a bigger density and
mixed uses.
Since Airbus is about to open an plant in the Air Force Base, this proposal
recommends the development of a business area between the airport and the
Mobile Bay. Hotels, convention centers, restaurants, bars and retails. Those
activities may complement Airbus and the airport.

48. Zoning & Street Design proposal
For Mobile Street. Montgomery AL:

50. Peacock Place is an area beside
Downtown Montgomery, AL; blighted
since it was crossed by two
Freeways.
The Planning Department of the
City of Montgomery requested an
intervention to recover this
abandoned area.
Our group was designated to work
on the area of Mobile Street; a
part of the Historic March walked
by Martin Luther King Jr. and all
the persons who fought with him in
order to pursue for fair civil
rights.

51. PROJECT GOALS
• Improve bike and
pedestrian facilities
along the Mobile
street corridor.
• Improve the
intersections along
the corridor to
facilitate bikes and
pedestrians and
improve safety for
both.
• Maintain a high
level of street
connectivity and
access
• Improve mass transit
accessibility and
use.
• Bring positive
activity to the area
to facilitate
economic growth and
cultural
preservation.

54. Considering that Mobile Street has a lot of
abandoned lots nearby, this proposal raises the
construction of a small park in the area, which may
work as a public space, while also highlighting the
historical value of the site.

56. In order to mark the streets used during the Historic Mach, we propose to
pave Mobile Street and some others with bricks molded with the shape of a
footprint. Also, glass screens with pictures from the march will be
located in site.

57. Street bench
URBAN FURNITURE:
Street Light

58. PROFESSIONAL
EXPERIENCE:
• Los Samanes Park, Guayaquil.
• Community Dock Prototype.
• Guayaquil Tennis Club Gate.
• The “Pink Floyd” House.
• The “B, C & D” House.
• “Montclair”.
• NoMíNIMO.
• Olga Doumet Fine Couture Workshop.
• The Poly Ugarte Foundation Headquarters.
• The “Ecohuellas” Center.

59. Los Samanes Park (Original Proposal).
Guayaquil, Ecuador.

60. Project Location:

61. The project was requested by the Ecuadorian Government to use a huge
area, previously used by rice farms. The park hired Ricardo Mortola as
the project Manager. He hired me as the Architecture Manager.
The park extension is 380 Hectares (694 acres). We designated an area for
a Natural Reservation. The other area contains a broad program; with
sport fields, a “Great Lawn” like area for concerts and picnics and a
contemplation area.
The third phase –located beside the river- had an artificial beach, a
city of science and a Museum.
Program:

62. Surrounding the 2nd Phase, there’s a triple band for jogging, bicycling
and walking. This pedestrian bands have trees between them, in order to
provide some shade for the ones developing physical activities there.

63. Considering the lack of public
and recreational spaces in the
area, the first phase includes
one third of its extension
dedicated to different kinds of
sport field, to satisfy the
need of recreational
activities.
Sports fields are inserted in
the middle of reforested areas,
in order to provide shade and
work as clear areas within a
forest.

64. The
Contemplation
Area has a
series of paths
passing through
different types
of vegetation
and water. In
order to
remember its
previous use as
a rice
plantation,
rice plants are
also included
in the
landscaping.

65. Several lagoons and islands are conceived to provide landscapes that
inspire moments of introspection and silence. Local species are combined
with some already introduced into the area; taking care on not producing
conflictive mixtures of species.

66. A huge area will be destined
for big scale events like
concerts and festivals. The
capacity of this area will
be 150.000 people.
The area can also be used
for picnics, while there’s
no event on the schedule.

67. The Daule River, beside the park does not have the best conditions to
develop a natural beach. However, the implementation of the “Crystal
Lagoons” would help to implement a big artificial beach for the people.

68. Community Dock Prototype (design).
Guayaquil, Ecuador.
After receiving the Mention of Honor from the World Architecture
Community, the City of Guayaquil requested us to explore the possibility
to design a inhabitable dock, but not for housing purposes but for
Community services. This was the final prototype we presented.

69. Design Process:
AGORA
White Models:
2 Floors on the Dock
A Dock
Location of Spaces

70. The “Pink Floyd” House
(about to be built).
Guayaquil, Ecuador.
An un usual project for a urbanized city as Guayaquil. A house out of the
city limits, but with a modern line of design. The house is cut in four
sections connected with bridges. As the lot has a slope that goes down the
hill, the house begins with on floor on the first sections, and have two
floors in the others.

71. The “B, C &D” House
(already built).
Portoviejo, Ecuador.
This house was designed by a huge contrast of users: a young couple
recently married and two third aged women. The client requested to include
all the spaces in just one floor. She also asked us to preserve all the
existing trees in the lot.

72. Guayaquil Tennis Club Gate
(project).
Samborondon, Ecuador.
A Tennis Club
requested some
ideas for its
main entrance.
We suggested to
use build a
transparent
container fill
up with a layer
of tennis balls,
behind a
transparent
layer of glass.

73. “Montclair” Men’s wear Store.
Guayaquil, Ecuador.
A Retail store for men clothing. The upper floor was programed for suits
tailoring. The stairway was conceived as an sculptural icon. In the ground
floor, the platform in the center works as exhibition desk and as catwalk.

74. “NoMíNIMO” Cultural Space (Art Gallery).
Samborondon, Ecuador.
A small space that was meant to be used as an art gallery, with a small
classroom and the manager’s office. The only way to keep the exhibition
area and split the spaces according to the program requirements was to use
frosted glass divisions with steel wires in front of them.

75. Olga Doumet Fine Couture Workshop.
Guayaquil, Ecuador.
A small space designed for a locally famous fashion designer.

76. Poly Ugarte Foundation’s Headquarters.
(proposal)
Guayaquil, Ecuador.
We were requested to present a proposal to locate an Ecuadorian NGO that
works against breast cancer. Their program was divided basically in
administration offices and a day clinic. The program generated two
independent L-shaped buildings, that surround a small plaza.

77. “Ecohuellas”
Center of Sustainable Development.
(proposal)
Guayaquil, Ecuador.
An Ecuadorian NGO related with sustainable development had a lot of one
hectare. They wanted to develop something that would help them with the
infrastructure the need on their daily activities. The program was
extended, projecting different phases for the future, like sustainable
offices for rent in a building with solar panels and a rain-water
collecting system; a research center done with a skin structure of bamboo
cain, etc.

78. CONFERENCES
(posters and Pictures):
• Lecture for CEMDES; Guayaquil September 2009.
• Lecture in TEDx Peñas 2012, Guayaquil.
• The 2013 Galapagos International Architecture
Workshop (invited Teacher).
• Modern Architecture in Guayaquil
during the XX Century

79. Sustainable Building: The Moment of Change.
Guayaquil, Ecuador 2009.

80. TEDx Peñas 2012:
Improvement of Urban Spaces.
Guayaquil, Ecuador 2009.

81. The USFQ’s
Galapagos International
Architecture Workshop.
Puerto Ayora, Ecuador 2009.

82. Modern Architecture in Guayaquil.
Samborondon, Ecuador 2009.

83. Invited Teacher for Second Year
Studio of Architecture, Auburn
University College of
Architecture Design and
Construction. Spring 2015.
Architect,
University San Francisco de
Quito,
2001
University Teacher in three
Colleges
of Architecture in Ecuador:
Universidad San Francisco de
Quito.
-Univesidad Católica de
Guayaquil
-Universidad de Especialidades
Espíritu Santo.
Columnist in “ El Universo”;
the most read newspaper in
Ecuador.
Collaborator on Gkill City, an
Ecuadorian e-magazine.
TEDx Peñas 2012 Speaker
Independent Blogger on “
Ladrillazos” [in spanish, “
Brickshots”]
John Alejandro Dunn:
516 East Glenn Avenue, #128.
Auburn, AL 36830.
• jzd0034@auburn.edu
• dunnarq@gmail.com
Born on June 26th 1974,
in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Married; two children.
Second Year Student, Community
Panning Master Degree in
Auburn, University.
GENERAL INFORMATION

84. Karen Rogers:
• Associate Dean,
Master of Community Planning Program School of Architecture, Planning and
Landscape Architecture. Auburn University
• 334-844-5384
• klr0008@auburn.edu
REFERENCES:
John J. Pittari Jr.:
• Associate Teacher,
Master of Community Planning Program School of Architecture, Planning and
Landscape Architecture. Auburn University
• 334-844-5424
• johnpittari.jr@auburn.edu
Diego Oleas:
• Former Dean,
College of Architecture and Interior Design,
Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ). Quito, Ecuador.
• doleas@usfq.edu.ec
Jaime López:
• Head of the Galapagos International Architecture Workshop.
College of Architecture and Interior Design,
Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ). Quito, Ecuador.
• jlopez@usfq.edu.ec
David Hinson:
• Professor and Head,
• APLA, Auburn University.
• 334-844-5418
• hinsondw@auburn.edu