University of Sheffield

Architecture (Ba hons)

Year 2

Sheet showing how I look for beauty within even the seemingly 'dullest' of objects and then translate that through into an architectural language.

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Contents:

                                   1.  Art Therapy Centre - (Fig.1 - 13)

                                   2.  Joint Architecture/Engineering Roof project - (Fig.14)

                                   3.  Keyworker Housing - (Fig.15 - 26)

                                   4.  Urban Intervention (Chess Club) - (Fig.27 - 32)

                                   5.  Congkak (Side project for the Malaysian society) - (Fig.33)

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Art Therapy Centre

This was our final project of 2nd year, and it required us to design an art therapy centre aimed at the mentally unwell, and was located in Sheffield. My approach to the brief was focused on the idea of 'inner calm' and how this is achieved and maintained. From this I went on to explore the delicate architectural relationship between inside and out, and the way spaces, activities, and forms interlink just as the numerous network of neurones within the mind do in forming a comprehensive 'system'.

Fig. 1 - Rendered view of member entrance.

Fig.2 - Analysis of types and degrees of activity along a route through Sheffield to the site.

Fig.3 - Analysis of the site and wider area, and my response to this information.

Fig.4 - My concepts and how they informed the design.

Fig.5 - Structure and sustainability infused together in the design.

Fig.6 - My early design before the mid-stage review.

Fig.7 - Sequence of developmental sketches, models, and details.

Fig.8 - Ground floor plan, showing how the building sits within its context.

Fig.9 - Floor plans.

Fig.10 - Elevation A & Section B, showing the range of busy activities going on within at each level.

Fig.11 - Street facades and section showing the 'grand' staircase.

Fig.12 - 1:20 construction model showing how the workshop and roof terrace spaces work and link.

Fig.13 - Construction and material details.

Fig.14 - Rendered images from around the building.

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Joint Architecture/Engineering Roof project

This was a short one week project where our architecture department was divided among the first year engineers with one or two architects to every five or so engineers. Our task was to design and build a roof structure which would span a set distance and would only be able to be constructed out of the materials they provided; balsa wood, paper, thread, and glue. As the architect of the group, my design intention was to avoid the obvious arch, but instead think of whether there was another method of making the span. I decided upon utilizing the tensile strength and lightness of thread in creating an elegant, lightweight but very strong, robust roof.

Fig.15 - Sheet showing developmental sketches, precedent, and final outcome.

The roofs were then tested structurally in the engineering department. The requirement was for them to be able to resist a 8kg load. Watch the following video clip to find out how our roof design fared... 

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Keyworker Housing

For this project we were designing mass-housing in a dense urban environment for keyworkers (public sector employees). My aim for this project was to avoid the 'tower block', but make the dwellings feel more like a collection of terraced housed. This was in order to give the inhabitants more spacious apartments, more security, and a greater sense of ownership. It was also important for me to create an outdoor 'green' space as well as devote some space in the scheme to be useful to the surrounding community as well.  

Fig.16 - Aerial view of our two sites in Liverpool.

Fig.17 - Rendered images of both exteriors and interior.

Fig.18 - Roof plan showing how the scheme sits within its context.

Fig.19 - Ground floor and 1st floor plan, along with exploded diagram of how apartments interlock.

Fig.20 - 2nd and 3rd floor plans, along with development work. 

Fig.21 - Larger, more detailed plans of two apartments at 1:50

Fig.22 - Main elevation and section revealing structural elements. 

Fig.23 - Sections showing how the apartments interlock and how they work in cross-section.

Fig.24 - Sheet presenting the main concepts and how they informed the design.

Fig.25 - Up till the mid-stage review I was caught between two schemes, and it then became an issue of choosing one or finding a way of creating a hybrid of the two.

Fig.26 - My response to the analysis of the site, and how a sustainable approach can be adopted.

Fig.27 - A diverse range of precedents fed into influencing many different aspects of my design. 

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Urban Intervention (Chess Club)

This project required us to design a small scale public building (a chess club in our case) which would also be integrated within a landscape. For me, I wanted to link up 'green'/open spaces around Liverpool, and also provide the local area with more than simply a chess club which benefits only one group of people.

Fig.28 - My response to the immediate site and wider context, and strategy for the brief.

Fig.29 - After analyzing the different types of local 'street art', I experimented with how a new form of expression/artwork could be integrated within the design.

Fig.30 - The development of the building and landscape form.

Fig.31 - Ground floor plan.

Fig.32 - 1st floor and roof plan.

Fig.33 - Sections showing how the building are occupied and how they sit within context.

Fig.34 - Many of my precedents for this building came from fortress-like structures. 

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Congkak (Side project for the Malaysian society)

Fig.35 - The design originated from the traditional congkak boards which were used as a form of board game.

University of Sheffield

Architecture (Ba hons)

Year 1

Formulating a more coherent appreciation of how spaces, materials, light and all other aspects encapsulated in architecture work in accordance together.

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Contents:

                                              1. A house of sorts (brewery/home) - (Fig.1 - 10)

                                              2. A space for contemplation - (Fig.11 - 15)

                                              3. Atmospheres - (Fig.16 - 17)

                                              4. Sketch book sketches - (Fig.18 - 20)

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A house of sorts (brewery/home)

The driving concept for this project was for the building to emphasize the structure working like an organism, embodying a complex range of functions and spaces which all have to work in sync with each other. 

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A space for contemplation

The main concept for this project was the transcending from one space to another and the suspension of time in this process.

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Atmospheres

This project asked us to represent the atmosphere we perceived of the space we were allocated. The space I was given was within the library complex, down in the basement levels, where there were no windows or natural lighting. There was a really low ceiling, and the floor was one vast space filled with numerous book shelves. My portrayal of the space was with a distorted double-level labyrinth game.

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Various conceptual sketches from my sketch journal exploring space and texture.

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