J. Aarón Gutiérrez

Master of Architecture [ 1998 ]
Bachelor of Architecture [ 1996 ]
Southern California Institute of Architecture [ SCI_Arc ]
Los Angeles, California

Royal Institute of British Architects [RIBA] Cr.1 Architecture Theory and Design. [1990]
University of London
London, Engalnd

USP Minor , Urban Studies and Planning. [1993]
University of California San Diego
San Diego, California

Bachelor of Architecture Program. [1992]
Newschool of Architecture.
San Diego, California

This is an experience overview and an online portfolio of J. Aaron Gutiérrez. It is a section about work produced since 1990 as an independent entity, as a partner in entreprenuer associations, and as an employed designer. J. Aaron Gutiérrez began his career as an architecture student in 1989 and right away began his search for deeper meanings in the realistic realm of practice. Experimenting in diferent kinds of firms, Aaron has found experience and knowledge in firms ranging from corporate through theoreticaly inclined studios. A list of Aaron's personal mentors who he wishes to thank is found at the end of this section.

1990-1991. J. Aaron Gutiérrez began a course in Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Graphic Design in the University of London. While in London, Aaron's working interests and necesities forced him to work at the Royal Institute of Brittish Architects [ RIBA ] as an exhibition designer and draftsman for several events at the RIBA. Among drafting and the little amount of design that this job required, Aaron was forced to delve into manual labor such as wood-work, drywall installation, and concrete pouring. Exhibitions included the Robert Adam exhibition entitled the 'Golden City:The Synthesis of the Gothic and the Classic' at the Heinz Gallery in London.

Photographs courtesy of Robert Adam Architecture

Other exhibitions included The Association of Catalan Architects at the Heinz Gallery, The Honorary Fellowships of the RIBA at Tate Gallery, and Homage to the Square II at Flaxman Gallery.
In order for the possibility of the manipulation of the rules, one must understand them.

1992-1993. Back in San Diego and while attending undergraduate architecture school, Aaron began a search for work leading to experience in commercial, residential and institutional projects. With architects such as Ed Laser, AIA, Joseph Porras, AIA, and Don Edson, AIA, Aaron began dealing with architects as his clients for models, hand drafting, and presentation renderings among other internship tasks. In projects such as Congregation Beth Am in Carmel Valley, Aaron was comisioned to do a three-phase model of the education center, Synagogue and future housing.

Model of Congregation Beth Am and actual construction

Commercial buildings were a part of Aaron's experience in this period as well. Projects like the El Cajon Shopping Center and several retail tenant improvements in Horton plaza like Benetton and The Original Kite Shop were among his internship projects.

1994-1995. It was not until this time when Aaron began to discover the true essence of practice in the field of architecture. Working with mentors and great designers such as Teddy Cruz, Héctor Pérez, Ted Smith, Eric Naslund, and Hussein Munaim among several others, he began to merge into a true research about what was going to be the most passionate activity for him. With an already theoretical and curiously rebelious mind, Aaron's association with such architect's forced him to recognize the value of quality and excellence in design. Be it chance or not, these relationships opened his mind on to the search for the complete experience of place and space: Form must be derived from our understanding of the human condition as a whole, be it sensorial, theoretical, mathematical, psychological, sentimental and the list can go infinite. We should derive our inspiration as designers and creators of our built environment from a wide range of sources not traditionally related with our own fields. Exploration from now on was the mission.

While at OdA [Teddy Cruz and Hector Perez], Aaron participated as draftsperson, designer, and modelmaker. The hands-on dynamics of this office permitted Aaron to explore in the design-build approach this office had taken with the Las Gradas House. A house which won the San Diego AIA House of the Year Award in 1994.

Las Gradas

In the workshop of Hussein Munaim, Aaron's experience was in furniture construction and design. Producing and designing complete retail spaces such as Ricardo's Menswear in Horton Plaza and several kitchens for Jonathan Seagal's Island Lofts.
Work for Studio-E Architects [ Eric Naslund ] included modelmaking and design for the Indian Wells senior housing development which has won several national and local AIA awards.

1996. After a few years of working for mid-scale San Diego offices, Aaron decided to partner and form [with colleague George Gilli] Gilli + Gutiérrez Studio, a design and drafting firm dedicated to serve the outsourcing needs of San Diego Architects. The task of this partnership included the design development of various types of buildings from type V to tilt-up construction. The interaction and negotiation between the firm [us] and the architects as our clients. Clients included Richard Yen and Associates, DiDonato and Associates, Dick Parrish, AIA, and X Studio [Armando Paez] among many others.

Gllli + Gutiérrez Studio office view

In the fall of 1996, the partnership disolved. There were many other things to learn in Los Angeles, California. Just a few hours away yet about 25 years ahead.

1996-1998. While in Los Angeles, Aaron had the opportunity to work for two firms. Jay Vanos and Wylie Carter Architects. While at SCI_Arc, Aaron met Jay who at the time was still a senior project architect with Eric Owen Moss. The work realized alongside Jay, gave way to understanding phases, materials and methods of construction. With an amazingly organized manner of approach to each project, the three-dimensionality in autocad prompted many a solution in such complex forms such as Jay's.
At Wylie Carter Architects, Aaron served as the only employee tackling all tasks that an architecture office requires. With residential projects for high-end Los Angeles clients including the singer Cher, the designer of Giorgio Beverly Hills - Fred Hayman and several other entertainment industry personalities. For the most part, Wylie Carter Architects specialized in soundstage design. Several projects underway while working at this firm included Hollywood Center Studios, the development of several master plans for SKG Dreamworks studios in Culver City, and other soundstages for Fox, CBS, and KTLA.

F.H. Building storefront, Beverly Hills

While in Los Angeles, Aaron Gutierrez formed The Los Angeles Cooperative, a collective of architectural post-graduate students from The Southern California Institute of Architects [ SCI_Arc ] and the University of California Los Angeles [ UCLA ], an independent freelance work generator. Among the projects developed while at the LA Cooperative were the Pacific Palisades WMCA, The Gary Shaffner Home in Venice Beach, and the Morton Simon Museum addition alongside Greg Walsh [ senior designer at Frank O. Gehry Architects ].

1998-2002. After graduate school, Aaron returned to San Diego to work for corporate architecture firms such as Martinez + Cutri Architects and for more design oriented ofices such as Roesling Nakamura Architects. These firms gave Aaron the experience of working with multi-million dollar projects for government clients as well as private enterprise.

While at Martinez-Cutri Architects, Aaron worked on San Ysidro High School, a $40 million school project for the Sweetwater High School District. Involved in the design, construction documentation and construction administration of six classroom buildings. Also worked on UETA [ World Duty Free ] San Ysidro, CA alongside master Architects from the firm. Duties involved construction documentation and permit process with the city of San Diego. In addition to these major projects, Aaron also worked on housing projects, five other school modernization projects, casinos and hotel design. Concurrently to these assignments, Aaron also served as the head of the Design Review Board [DRB] at Martinez + Cutri for one year. 1998-2000.

San Ysidro High School, Rudolph and Sletten Construction

While at Roesling Nakamura Architects [ RNP ] Aaron worked on several institutional and residential projects for the State of California as well as for the City of San Diego. Projects include Fletcher Elementary Library and complete school modernization, Grant Elementary Classroom building and complete school modernization, both buildings were an average of 4,000 square feet. Tasks included the complete project from the schematic design through construction documents and permits as well as construction administration. Other projects were the design of the South Oxnard Library [ alongside Ralph Roesling and Hector Perez ], a 16,000 square foot project, and design for the Fallbrook Branch Library, among many other projects.

Fletcher Elementary Library, Soltek Pacific Construction.

1999-2003. J. Aaron Gutierrez Started Amorphica Design Labs in 1999 as an independent design firm dedicated to the full experience of multi-disciplinary design. This firm is composed of several affiliates ranging from licensed architects to graphic and web designers. With numerous awards and publications, amorphica design labs has evolved from a mere cyber space to a fully operating design laboratory. In 2002 Aaron along with other partners formed Amorphica and since have been operating with numerous projects and affiliations. Amorphica and its affiliates are aware of the vast canvas that is this region. Located in San Diego, Amorphica has worked with clients in both California [US] to Baja California [Mexico]. In the United Sates, Amorphica has executed projects for California State Parks and Recreation, The American Institute of Graphic Arts [ AIGA ], as well as various other private commercial and residential clients. In Mexico, Amorphica has produced projects for the Government of Baja California, as well as commercial and residential clients. For a complete list of projects including images and detailed description, visit www.amorphica.com.

SI Memorial Competition [Stanton Island] Amorphica.

In 2003, Aaron partnered with Mexican Architect Octavio Quijada to form the bi-national firm Quijada Gutierrez + Associates as a parallel firm dedicated to commercial projects in Otay Mesa and San Ysidro as well as in Tijuana and Rosarito. Quijada Gutierrez + Associates is a firm that takes on mid to large-scale commercial and mixed-used projects on both sides of the border. In Mexico, Quijada Gutierrez is not only an architectural firm, but also a construction company. Projects that are executed in Mexico are also built by Quijada Gutierrez + Associates. More information and images from projects under construction will upload in the near future.

Commercial . Institutional . Residential

2003-PRESENT. J. Aaron Gutierrez continues to generate an absolutely socially conscious, an explorative experience and experimental body of work at Amorphica Design Research Office. For a complete list of projects including images and detailed description, visit www.amorphica.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

J. Aaron Gutierrez wishes to thank the following people for being a personal part of his professional growth:

Mom
J. Aaron Gutiérrez Esparza
Sir Robert Adam
Josep Ma Montaner Martorell
Arturo Lopez
Ted Smith
Ralph Roesling
Eric Naslund
Kurt Hunker
Joseph Nicholson
Francis Safie-Brown
Adele Naude Santos
Anthony Cutri
Keith Pezzoli
James Becher
David Pfeifer
Laura Burnett
Ed Laser
Joseph Porras
Teddy Cruz
Hector Perez
Armando Paez
Hussein Munaim
Al DiDonatto
C. Gregory Walsh
Michael Cranfill
Coy Howard
Perry Kulper
Michael Rotondi
Norman Millar
Kazys Varnelis
Aino Paasonen
Karl Chu
Michael Monier
Joseph Giovannini
Jay Vanos
Sam Mockbee
Ben Van Berkel
Heather Kurze
Keith Downey
Michael Speaks
Alberto Perez-Gomez
Marcos Novak
J. Scott Carter
Billie Tsien
Hernan Diaz Alonso
Pamela Burton
Eric Kahn
Russel Thomsen
Marty Paull
Margaret Crawford
Marco Cenzatti
April Greiman
DAL
Claudia Escala
Joseph Martinez
Man Ching Lam
Mun Yin Kung
Kotaro Nakamura
Chikako Terada-Hart
Daniel Stewart
Fernando Vossa
Bart Ziegler