ARCHITECTURAL PORTFOLIO
Alexander David Press (Alex)CURRICULUM VITAE
ABOUT ME
I am an aspiring architect with a commitment to using design to facilitate positive social change. My interest in architecture began with a desire to create spaces that not only inspire but also serve the needs of diverse populations, particularly those who are underserved or marginalised.
ALEXANDER
DAVID
PRESS (KNOWN AS ALEX)
ARCHITECT PART 2 STUDENT
Reference Contacts
Simon Venables - Director
Ainsley Gommon Architects svenables@agarchitects.co.uk 01244 537 100
Dominic Wilkinson - Programme Leader
Liverpool John Moores University d.e.wilkinson@ljmu.ac.uk
Eduction
2022 – Present
M.Arch at Liverpool John Moore’s University
2017 – 2020
BA (Hons) at University of Huddersfield Architecture
Architecture International
Achieved 2:1
2015-2017
York College of Further Education
2010 – 2015
Fulford School, York
I have a passion for developing innovative approaches to affordable housing design and focus on finding solutions for today’s challenges: sustainability, affordability, and the drive to achieving net zero.
Interest in Passive house design.
Passive house design represents a holistic approach to sustainable architecture I am fascinated by the potential of passive house principles to revolutionise the way we design and construct buildings, harnessing natural resources and employing passive strategies to create buildings that are not only environmentally responsible but also provide superior comfort and liveability for occupants.
MASTERS DEGREE
During my Masters course at Liverpool John Moores University I have enjoyed the opportunity to enhance my knowledge of construction methods and spent time discovering alternative ways to approach architectural challenges. This has strengthened my ambition to become a fully qualified architect and to work, not only in the UK but overseas.
SKILLS
Confident user of Computer Aided Design software (CAD)
• Revit
• AutoCAD
• Photoshop
• InDesign
• Lumion
• Enscape Rendering
Have also used architectural software’s including;
• SketchUp
• Rhino Proficient in hand drawing and model making
Competent in using Microsoft packages
04 Lodge Lane Liverpool, UK 10 - 11 02 Zorrotzaurre Bilbao, Spain 6 - 7 01 Zorrotzaurre Bilbao, Spain 4 - 5 03 8 - 9 Lodge Lane Liverpool, UK
LODGE LANE WONDERLAND
Year 2022
Location
Lodge Lane, Liverpool, UK
Degree Level
M.Arch Postgraduate Year 1, Semester 1
Liverpool John Moores University
Project Description
The project task was to redesign the urban layout of Lodge Lane. The brief was to improve and make a radical change to the urban layout whilst still being pratical for the local population and businesses.
My individual design work focused on the idea of creating a social area for the community, using precedents from the POP in Brixton and Spark in York. I decided to use repurposed shipping containers as accommodation for small independent businesses and create a social area.
Stacking the shipping containers on top of each other creates different heights and levels which increases interest, different views of the surrounding area and encourages exploration. I included two performance spaces that can be used flexibly for entertainment and creates the feeling of being safety being enclosed within an environment.
I then modelled the design in Revit and once I was happy with the design, I used photoshop to create floor/site plans and exported the Revit model into Lumion to create the rendered images.
LODGE LANE CO-LIVING
Year 2023
Location
Lodge Lane, Liverpool, UK
Degree Level
M.Arch Postgraduate Year 1, Semester 2
Liverpool John Moores University
Project Description
Innovative approach to designing an affordable and sustainable living environment that encourages social cohesion regardless of income level.
My first year M.Arch project was to develop a new build proposal. The brief stated that the site must develop the concept of coliving, with the emphasis on sustainability and community living.
My design focused on a shared garden area that allows all residents to meet and socialise in a safe space. Fencing heights were set at 1500mm, to provide personal space but to allow visual monitoring of children in the shared space.
Different typologies of dwellings are included within the site plan to accommodate a wide range of housing needs. “Tenure blindness”, is a valuable design principle for mixing ‘market’ and ‘subsidised housing’ in one development, and it is one I incorporated into this design brief.
Energy efficient technology is integral to the design of each dwelling, and this includes the use of solar panels, building to passive house standards, using renewable energy sources to the use of LEDs in street lighting.
Rainwater Tank Rainwater Tank 2 3 4 7 8 9 10 12 6 Solar panels Solar water heaters 2 Ground source heating/ cooling 3 Underfloor heating Rainwater harvesting Natural circulated to reduce overheating Community garden 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Lighting in the shared outdoor space Permeable surface areas Natural shading Passivehaus standards Limited car parking 5 11 5 Pond For environmental and Biodiversity purposes Integrate Bee Bricks 13 14 13 Integrated Bat Boxs 14
Wall Section Model
Pond Environment View
Seated Social Space
Shared Garden Pathways
Shared Garden Pathways & Mini Forrest
Integrated Bee Bricks
Ground Floor Plan - 1B Apartment layout
Integrated Bat Boxes First Floor Plan - 1B Apartment layout
ZORROTZAURRE
PARK
Year 2023
Location
Zorrotzaurre Island, Bilbao, Spain
Degree Level
M.Arch Postgraduate Year 2, Semester 1
Liverpool John Moores University
Project Description
A group project which explored the opportunities to design an accessible urban parks for residents and develop Zorrotzaurre as a tourist destination, offering a diverse range of environments.
Development of an “Eden Centre” on Zorrotzaurre was inspired by Bilboa’s Master Plan which aims to develop as a sustainable city. Bilboa is more vulnerable than other cities to extreme climate events and requires adapting to climate change quickly.
Reconnecting people with the natural environment has many health benefits and allows research into biodiversity, whilst supporting wildlife and natural habitats to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce flooding, to which Zorrotzaurra is especially prone. This includes an educational park allowing the research to be shared.
Developing Zorrotzaurre as a tourist destination we included a multi use area for watching and holding sporting and social events and festivals. We were inspired by the London 2012 “Olympic Way” which allows thousands of spectators the ability to walk to every event and it is completely accessible.
Forest Area
Leading up to Bilbao’s Eden Centre is a forest park which encourages wildlife habitats to become established and creates a natural environment to support well-being.
Cycle & Jogging Ribbon
Surrounding the site is active travel environment that is accessible via nonmotorised means; walking, cycling running/jogging can all be enjoyed safely by all age groups. Seating areas allow people to stay, socialise and enjoy the natural surroundings
Shaded Walkway
The inclusion of a shaded walkway enables pedestrians to move between the sculpture park and the amenities on the island within shade offering a haven from the searing heat of a Bilbao summer.
Zorrotzaurre Boulevard
A person-centred pedestrian street frames Bilbao’s Football stadium, this gives opportunity for entrepreneurial ventures including pop up shops, stands and street performances to take place.
Density & Zoning Light & View Angles Elevation Design 3D Urban Design
Bilbao Eden Centre
Education & Sculpture Park
Pedestrian Boulevard
Urban Square
Site Plan
Person Perspective in the new Bilbao Eden Centre
Sculpture Park
ZORROTZAURRE
REBIRTH
Year 2024
Location
Zorrotzaurre Island, Bilbao, Spain
Degree Level
M.Arch Postgraduate Year 2, Semester 2
Liverpool John Moores University
Project Description
Development of a 15 minute urban city design with mixed use buildings that accommodate: commercial, residential, recreational and business facilities.
My final M.Arch Year 2 thesis was design and develop a proposal for Zorrotzaurre located in Bilbao, Spain.
My thesis is to develop a “design guide” that would be used by architects when designing each building on site.
In collaboration with residents and stakeholders the design principles will ensure that homes, work places or leisure facilities have a focus on creating spaces that; transform communities, connect people, take account of sustainable design to achieve net zero.
The guide will support both quality and quantity because there is a high demand for housing in Bilbao as well as vibrant new space for leisure.
I designed the master plan with sustainable infrastructure at its heart, complete with; renewable energy, layered transport systems, zero emission buildings and nonmechanical means of temperature control.
Proposed Urban Site Plan Scaled Site Model Site Plan Development Proposed Building