Alice Williams Architecture Portfolio 2024

Architecture Portfolio 2024 Al Williams BA (Hons) Architecture Central St Martins (UAL)

CONTENTS

PAGES

COVER LETTER

3

CV

4-5

THE FOREST’S CLASSROOM site research & mapping user experience & construction user experience & research

6-9 10-13 14-19

COMMUNITY HOUSING AND ART CENTRE research & site exploration design process user experience

22-25 26-29 30-35

Cover Letter I have recently graduated from Central St Martins, University of the Arts London, with a 2:1 degree in architecture. I focus on socially political architecture and designing for communities which have historically been overlooked by architects.

I specialise in designing functional and engaging spaces for children and young people to learn and play in. My design theology aims to bring colour and a playful sensibility into areas of architecture which have traditionally been black and white.

I believe that an investment in child and community-centred architecture can improve people’s lives long term and have a positive impact on society’s outcomes.

Using this principle and my experience of growing up in Edinburgh, I aim to develop an architectural career in Scotland which focuses on socially engaged civic projects. The commitment of this course to teaching nuanced responses to the political and environmental questions facing architecture would support me in following this path successfully. I would be an asset to this course by applying the unique experimental and political design methodology I learned during my degree at Central St Martins.

In my second year, I explored my belief about the importance of third places for a community to interact and connect. My final proposal retrofitted a disused space in Tower Hamlets, London, into a community arts centre. I chose this use due to my research of the area’s creative spirit and declining community spaces.

I continued this theme with my third-year design thesis based within Epping Forest, London. It outlined a learning centre where children would look after the forest and improve their mental well-being. The belief that drove this project is that good infrastructure and investment within our natural spaces will help democratise access to our outdoor spaces. In doing so this will encourage more people to invest their time and effort into caring for the natural environment and improve their overall well-being. The driving force behind this project was the belief that the younger generation needs resources and examples of how to challenge and combat climate change.

It is very important to me to have the knowledge and skills to practice architecture in a way that is focused on sustainability and the environment. I think that this course would be a great opportunity for me to refine my skills within this area, due to the research-led nature of Edinburgh’s teaching. I began to explore how architecture can be more sustainable during my bachelor’s. In my second year, I focused on retrofitting a 1943 spitfire factory as the best environmental and cultural response to the site. I used a lightweight timber structure to reduce the number of structural changes needed and to keep the integrity of the existing structure. As Edinburgh is a university with specialised knowledge in the retrofitting and conservation of historical buildings, I think it would be beneficial to develop my interest in this area.

CV Contact Information

Education

Email Alwilliams1515@gmail.com

2:1 BA Architecture, University of the Arts London (Central St Martins)

Phone 07 828 526 645

George Heriot’s High School (20132020)

Address 23/1 Torphichen Street Edinburgh EH3 8HX

- 3 ‘A’ grades at Advanced Highers, in German, Maths and Art - 5 ‘A’ grades at Highers

About Me I have recently graduated from Central St Martins, University of the Arts London. I have highly developed architectural representation skills, with a focus on 3D modelling and sketching. My interest in social and political issues means that I am particularly strong in the areas of research and contextual studies.

Skills Software Autocad, Rhino 7, Enscape Adobe: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat Microsoft Office Suite, SQL, HTML & CSS website design Practical Desk-top Model Making Woodworking Other

TEFL level 5 (teaching English as a foreign language)

Employment Off to Work (2022 - present) Waitress & Events Staffing -Using multiple payments systems - Delivering high-quality services at a range of venues, including weddings and corporate settings - Adapting quickly to new venues, clients, and colleagues Loudons (Summer 2022) Waitress at an upmarket brunch venue - Responsible for taking orders and payments - Developed interpersonal connections with returning customers and colleagues

Work Experience 2023 Took part in sustainability exhibition at Lethaby Gallery at CSM - Organisational skills and a deeper understanding of what it takes to put together an exhibition and encourage the public to attend and interact.

2019 Work experience at Jupiter Artland, a 3D Sculpture Park in Scotland - Helped with planning and research for an upcoming exhibition, as well as helping in the shop and customer-facing interactions 2018 Work experience at SHS Burridge Architects - Initiated my interest in pursuing the profession of architecture

Volunteering British Heart Foundation, a year volunteering at a charity shop -Customer experience and organisation skills, working mainly on the tills and helping customers Mosaikschule Marburg, a special education school in Germany - Worked as a classroom assistant, helping young people study in German Classroom assistant for a primary school art class - Lesson planning and helping the young people with their work

The Forest’s Classroom

3rd Year Design Thesis Learning Centre for children within Epping Forest

User Activities Building Geodomes

Play

Caring for the forest

Dressing Up

Reading

7. WOOD MOUSE

10. BUFF TIP MOTH

8. GREENFINCH

9. GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER

9

10 7 1

1.

ARTIST’S MUSHROOM

2. FIRERUG INKCAP

2

3

5

6

4

3. BIRCH POLYPORE

8

4. TURKEYTAIL

5. NITRONS BONNET

6.ROOTING SHANK

Section and Plan of natural elements within the specific site FIRERUG INKCAP

NITRONS BONNET

ARTIST’S MUSHROOM

ROOTING SHANK

BIRCH POLYPORE

TURKEYTAIL

Site research and mapping Photo from site exploring shape and texture

1:500 Site model showing contour lines

Context within Epping Forest

site

Construction Details Pitched Roof 1:20 Detail

Exploded Axo of the building with pitched roof Roof Cladding Weatherproofing Battens and rafters External cladding and windows Secondary structure Primary structure Flooring Timber floor structure Concrete foundations

Timber Materiality - Atmospheric Effect and Construction

Construction Sequence

1. Site excavations

2. Concrete foundations poured

3. Timber wall frame put in

4. Timber roof framing

5.Roof cladding added

6. Cladding added to walls

7. Windows and doors

8. Flooring and Final Interior Finishes

Plans

Long Section

Elevation

Initial design sketches based on fairytale inspiration.

Fairy Kingdom

Baba Yaga

Storybook Architecture

Community Housing and Arts Centre

Second Year Design Project Community centre and mixed use housing based in Tower Hamlets, London.

Collage exploring the design concept

Photographic montage introducing the project

Research The site is situated in an area of London with good schools and jobs in the creative industries making it popular with young families and working professionals. The area suffers from a lack of appropriate housing and community spaces.

Key issues identified: Lack of premises for existing community therapies

Lack of work spaces

Marginalised community in borough need affordable housing to avoid being priced out

Issue with overcrowding, large families often struggling to get big enough flats

Site exploration The existing building was constructed in 1943, designed by Morris Cohen.

Originally used to manufacture Spitfire cockpits, it became derelict in the 1970s. Parts of the site are currently used as gallery space and a dance studio.

5 2 1

4

1 - Site 2 - Chisenhale Gallery 3 - Chisenhale Primary School 4 - Hertford Union Canal 5 - Victoria Park

3

June Solstice Sun Path Animation

Link to the Video via YouTube; https://youtu.be/OKSAuEqM2M0 View from Chisenhale Road

Interior view of main factory space

Site Exploration Sketch Victorian Terraces Housing

Elevation of buildings opposite the site on Chisenhale road

Canal boat plan

Canal boat section

Canal boat section in context

Process As part of the design process I initially created smaller scale spaces with the same themes for a canal boat. This informed the creation of the spaces on a larger scale in the desired site. The main lesson I took from this was the materiality and how a timber frame could be utilised to create different spaces.

1:20 scale model of the timber frame

1:5 scale model of a timber joint

1:50 model of the finished canal boat

Process The proposed activities within the space informed the arrangement and final design of the extension and interior retrofitting. I arranged the spaces by access and light qualities desired.

Community Spaces Painting Studies

Art Classrooms

Dark Room Photography

Community Galleries

Digital Art Spaces

Housing 3x large housing units for 3x housing units for young families

W

working professionals

N

N

W

W

N

Arrangement of community spaces Ground Floor

GALLERY STUDENT WORK GALLERY STUDENT WORK

DARK ROOM NO NATURAL LIGHT PRIVATE SPACE

BATHROOMS LIGHT BUT COVERED WINDOWS ACCESSIBLE

S

First Floor

SEATING

SEATING AREA

NATURAL LIGHT WITHOUT PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO IR AND UV LIGHT AREA NATURAL LIGHT WITHOUT PROLONGED EXPOSUREGOOD TO IR AND UV LIGHT PUBLIC PUBLIC DAYLIGHT ACCESSIBLE

NO NATURAL LIGHT PRIVATE SPACE

ACCESSIBLE TEACHINGACCESSIBLE TEACHING

BATHROOMS

LIGHT BUT COVERED WINDOWS ACCESSIBLE

GOOD DAYLIGHT GROUND FLOOR

GALLERY DIGITAL ART

GOOD DAYLIGHT ACCESSIBLE

DARK ROOM

KITCHEN AREA

NO NATURAL LIGHT BUT STILL PUBLIC AND INVITING

KITCHEN AREA

GOOD GOOD DAYLIGHT DAYLIGHT GROUND FLOOR

DIGITAL ART

GOOD DAYLIGHT ACCESSIBLE

ACCESSIBLE

E

LIGHT BUT NO GLARE PRIVATE SPACE

SE

S

GALLERY PAINTING

DIGITAL ART

NATURAL CONSISTENT LIGHT

PAINTING

GALLERY PAINTINGS NATURAL LIGHT WITHOUT PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO IR AND UV LIGHT PUBLIC

NATURAL CONSISTENT LIGHT

NO NATURAL LIGHT BUT STILL PUBLIC AND INVITING

GALLERY PAINTINGS NATURAL LIGHT WITHOUT PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO IR AND UV LIGHT PUBLIC

TEACHING PEOPLE - YOUNG PEOPLE DIGITAL ART- YOUNG TEACHING GOOD DAYLIGHT LIGHT BUT NO GLARE PRIVATE SPACE

GOOD DAYLIGHT

E

Exploded Axonometric Plans

Final outcome Axonometric view extension in context

Ground floor plan

Long section

Elevation canal side

Exterior view extension

Section in context

Interior view extension

Architecture Portfolio 2024 Al Williams BA (Hons) Architecture Central St Martins (UAL)