An architectural rendering by Hernan Molina, a 2007 Master of Architecture graduate from Texas A&M University, won best of show in the 33rd Annual Ken Roberts Memorial Delineation Competition (KRob) hosted by the Dallas chapter of the American Institute of Architects.
Molina also won the Chapter’s Beck Prize for Excellence in Digital/Hybrid Media
The awards were presented by the Dallas AIA Nov. 15, 2007 at the Magnolia Theatre in Dallas.
Molina’s “Best of Show” rendering was generated as part of his M. Arch. Final review -- a proposed master plan for the Harbor of Valencia, Spain.
“The city of Valencia,” Molina said, “was seeking ideas to renovate this really important but abandon area.”
The image shows a section of Molina’s proposal. The tower is a mixed-used development incorporating a hotel and office space, as well as retail space at the bottom and top. In the background, the image shows a portion of a proposed coastal park that includes auditoriums and mixed used buildings. The other building visible in the rendering is a museum.
The Best of Show prize included a medallion and $500.
Competition jurors noted that Molina’s work clearly stood out from other submissions through a combination of superior articulation, approach, technique and media use.
“In my specific case,” he said, “the jurors said they liked the well-executed render but in the end they were more intrigued for the forms shown on it and the composition of the image.”
To accomplish the rendering, Molina primarily utilized software available at the College of Architecture, including 3d Studio Viz, Mental Ray and Photoshop. To generate some parts of the model he employed Topmod, specialized software developed by Texas A&M Visualization Department professor Ergun Akleman and others.
The competition was organized in 1973 by Ken Roberts, a talented Dallas architect who passed away the following year at age 34. The Dallas AIA chapter renamed the annual competition in his honor.
The contest includes a broad range of entries “of an architectural nature,” including drawings, plans, elevations, sections, or perspectives. The work can be conceptual or final renderings.
“I think that the ‘KRob competition’ offers a great opportunity for anybody interested in architectural delineation to show their work and to help explore the ways we represent architecture,” said Molina, who is currently working as lead designer in the retail group at RTKL Dallas.
The Beck Prize for Excellence in Digital/Hybrid Media, sponsored by The Beck Group, is awarded to the best student and professional entries that demonstrate excellence through an innovative use of media, with preference given to those that push the envelope of architectural representation. The award includes a $400 cash prize.
