Architectural Portfolio
BArch (Hons)
for: Masters of Architecture MArch RIBA Part II University of Westminster School of Architecture 20182023
Rebecca Leighton
Application
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The Balneum Fable University Project
Sites of Hybridity University Project
Modern Intervention University Project seven
Tracings - A Lockdown Film University Project
The Canonbury Residence Placement Project
Technical Detailing Placement Project
The Kensington Residence Placement Project
Contents
one The Balneum Fable Civic Bathhouse Project Information: Nottingham Trent University 2020-21 BArch (Hons) Architecture Project Supervisor: Gabor Gallov gabor@gaborgallovarchitect.com Studio Tutor Final Year University Project Victoria Embankment, Nottingham GRADE ACHIEVED: FIRST CLASS To create a civic bath: a place for people to gather and meet, to discuss political events as well as family affairs - a space to relax and recharge. To convey a chosen concept through phenomenology and atmosphere, using water as a material The Brief:
THE BALNEUM
BEE LEIGHTON SECTION AA 1:100 A0 MYOPIA POOL EMERGING RAMP FLOATING POOL FLOATING POOL EXTERIOR CHANGING SHOWERS DESCENDING RAMP UTOPIA POOL ASCENSION STAIRCASE “Where the waters agree, quite wonderful the relief they give” Jane Austen T quote seemed entirely well-suited my project. My chosen Atelier create civic bath place for people to gather and meet, discuss political events well family airs, as well as to relax and recharge. My chosen site located by the River Trent so that connection could be created between free- owing water, and the enclosed spaces water have designed. My concept for the project stems from research into the wider site. T area home higher number People Colour than the UK average, yet also has higher number racist attacks by the public and police cers than average. T turned into my concept of freedom oppression. A narrative developed through each pool that designed how society is perceived by the unaware, the reality society, and how society could be. focused on establishing physical sensory experience that accessible everyone despite ability, which emphasised by details that are not solely visual. decided all should able to perceive the spaces the same way centralising equality. focus on phenomenology evident in the heavy contrast between light and shadow used throughout. Di erent lighting methods are used each space ect the narrative of the individual pools. Emerging Ramp Floating Sensory Pool Descending Ramp Fait Accompli Pool Plant Room Storage III. Fait Accompli Pool Utopia Pool Steel Cap Cant Limestone Block EPDM Membrane Insulation DPM Screed Concrete Beam Concrete Column Limestone Blocks Mortar Paving Slabs Insulation Concrete Slab Insulation Block Blocks Hardcore Concrete Block Mortar Insulation Paving Slabs Screed Insulation DPM Concrete Slab Blocks Hardcore Concrete Block Pile Foundation ROOF PLAN NOT TO SCALE SECTION 1:100 @ A0 1:20 A0 FREEDOM IN OPPRESSION THE BALNEUM FABLE BEE LEIGHTON one
FABLE
Presentation Boards
concept
The initial formulation of my concept formed on the contrast and simultaneous balance between the joy water can bring and the vertigo inducing depths it can create as visualised through watercolour paintings.
Research began in current societal events of contrast and confict which was examined through data analysis and collage, then materialised in 3D. Wax was poured into water to represent freedom, concrete was cast into rigid shapes to represent oppression, and fnally wax was cast into concrete and melted away to demonstrate how oppression takes away our freedoms.
This was then illustrated in 2D and the concept of the juxtaposition between freedom and oppression was further explored and how these can combine and form inversion of each other in meaning and in form.
To create a civic bath: a place for people to gather and meet, to discuss political events as well as family affairs - a space to relax and recharge.
To convey a chosen concept through phenomenology and atmosphere, using water as a material
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This site was chosen due to the juxtaposition of the creation of a bathhouse, an enclosed space of water, and the adjacent river, freeflowing water. This led me to experiment with blurring the lines of enclosed versus open water to further the concept analysing the evidence of freedom in oppression.
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Vegetation Diagram Midday Shadows Diagram
Buildings of Significance Diagram Initial Massing Diagram
site exploration
mixed media development
The project was advanced through a study of various materials from hand drawings, sculpture and computer generated renders. An architectural programme was introduced in which visitors could experience a ‘choose your own ending’ story whilst on their visit by deciding which pools to bathe in and which to not advance forward into.
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small and large scale
The project was considered in its entirety, which included at a detailed small scale.
As the scheme’s concept centered around freedom and oppression, and the inequality that this brings, it was vital that the bathhouse was accessible to all.
This came in many forms, and the spaces created used a combination of the senses to tell the intended story.
This included tactile fooring and walls to allow visually impaired visitors to fnd their way through the bathhouse and to the pools. Additionally, hand rails were designed with water fowing through leading to pools, with a temperature change as a visitor was straying away from the entrance/exit.
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final renders
The fnal project contained four pools and three transition spaces located round a central shower and changing space. Together these spaces told a fable.
The route to the bathhouse is from a riverside walk. The river Trent is then brought into the site, leading people to the entrance by allowing them to follow the freefowing water.
After ascending the changing rooms, visitors are led into the frst bath - the Myopia Pool. This pool represents how we view society; with tunnel vision. The light cannons exemplify how we only see what we ourselves desire to perceive.
This leads up to the Floating Pool. This is a salt water pool that allows visitors to foat and refect. Then a choice is given to continue through or to exit.
Continuing forward leads to the Reality Pool which is a replica of the initial ‘oppression’ concrete concept model I cast.
Ascending up a spiral staircase, visitors reach the Utopia Pool. This is the only pool with a view to the free-fowing water of the River Trent through idyllic circular windows - a freedom we aim to achieve but remains out of reach
The exit is found by descending back down the spiral staircase, showing how the freedom displayed in the view from the Utopia pool is what is striven for, yet this is not the reality we face. Visitors are steered back through the reality pool and are reminded of how society is at present.
CHANGING SHOWERS DESCENDING
UTOPIA POOL ASCENSION STAIRCASE
MYOPIA POOL EMERGING RAMP FLOATING POOL FLOATING POOL EXTERIOR
RAMP
ro nd foor not to scale
plans and details
The fnal plans show the routes that visitors can take through the various pools of the bathhouse.
The materiality of the pool areas are made with limestone blocks, which is a contrast to the brick of the changing areas. Each of the changing chimneys is built using the traditional kiln method of continuously laying bricks in a circular layout to form a strong cone.
rst foor not to scale
The concept of equality is continued through the design of the foor plan with all of the pools being to the same scale of x by y and each transition space being 1/2x by 1/2y. This is so that the transition spaces do not overpower the story conveyed through the pools.
roof plan not to scale
one steel cap cant blocks insulation EPDM Membrane felt insulation DPM screed concrete slab concrete beam concrete column limestone blocks mortar
slabs screed insulation insulation block DPM concrete slab hardcore concrete block pile foundation
slabs screed insulation DPM concrete slab hardcore concrete block pile foundation reclaimed brick mortar insulation
paving
paving
The Brief:
The Brief:
To create a hybrid social housing scheme with a library element, whilst respecting the history of the area and being sympathetic to this through the design.
To create a garden retreat for a Canonbury residence, providing a space for relaxation and a music recording studio for my musically inclided clients.
The site of this retreat is surrounded by vast foliage which infuenced the materiality and the usuage of light in the project
two Sides of Hybridity
Hybrid Housing
Second Year University Project Kirkgate, Leeds
GRADE ACHIEVED: FIRST CLASS
Project Information: Nottingham Trent University 2019-20 BArch (Hons) Architecture
Project Supervisor: Jeffrey Keays BArch MRICS BCAS j.keays@ntu.ac.uk
Studio Tutor
With this project I took the term ‘library’ loosely and created the social housing with a borrowing library which allows tenants the ability to borrow items they may require without needing to buy new.
The concept for this focused around a community based issue - lgbtq+ rights. After studying the data, young people found Kirkgate, Leeds to be a space they did not fnd to be safe identifying as lgbtq+. The aim of the ground foor was to provide a community space and a safe space to those who need it.
This concept takes representation in the parallel lines used in the design. Each line does not stand alone, but is paired with another.
This is to represent how those in the lgbtq+ community do not stand alone but are supported by those that use the building, as it is a safe space for people to be who they are.
The fnal model was laser-cut and assembled using 2mm card. The massing model was constructed using foam and each piece was hand shaped by sanding to the correct size and height. This proved to be essential whilst designing a building sympathetic to the historic site context.
two H Y B R I D H O U S I N G B B B B B B A A SECTION AA 1:200 SITE LOCATION 1:2500 FACADE PART ELEVATION 1:50 SECTION BB 1:200 SECOND FLOOR 1:150 FIRST FLOOR 1:100 GROUND FLOOR 1:150 FLAT LOWER FLOOR WELCOMING TO VISITORS OF THE BUILDING TO ENTER AND MEET FLAT UPPER FLOOR A MORE PRIVATE SPACE FOR RESIDENTS WITH PRIVATE BALCONY R E B E C C A L E I G H T O N SHARED BALCONY OVER LOOKING CENTRAL WALKWAY PRIVATE BALCONIES OF UPPER FLOOR OF FLAT BORROWING AREA SHELVES WITH ITEMS TO LOAN FLAT FLAT 2 FLAT 3 FLAT 4 FLAT 5 FLAT MEETING AND READING SPACES MEETING AND READING SPACES FLAT 1 FLAT 2 FLAT 3 FLAT 4 FLAT 5 FLAT MEETING AND READING SPACES SHARED BALCONY SHARED BALCONY MEETING AND READING SPACES QUIET READING SPACE MEETING SPACE BORROWING AREA BORROWING AREA CAFE AND SEATING STAGE AND SEATING AREA KIRKGATE OUTDOOR MARKET CONNECTING BRIDGE VOID VOID FLAT 1 BEDROOM GREEN ROOF FLAT 4 BALCONY KITCHEN AND LIVING QUIET READING SPACE LIVING WALL ROOF LIGHTS CAFE KITCHEN AND LIVING FLAT 5 BEDROOM KITCHEN AND LIVING BORROWING SPACE TIMBER CLADDING COLOURED GLASS READING BAYS TIMBER CLADDING PRIVATE BALCONIES PUBLIC BALCONIES FLAT 6 BALCONY FLAT 5 BALCONY ENTRANCE TO BALCONY KITCHEN MEETING AND READING SPACES MEETING AND READING SPACES BRIDGE BORROWING SPACES BI-FOLD DOORS TO MARKET MARKET AND BORROWING LIBRARY THE MARKET INCORPERATES A PRIDE RAINBOW AS PAVING AND LGBT+ EDUCTAION STANDS. THE MARKET LEADS INTO THE GROUND FLOOR INDOOR BORROWING LIBRARY BRIDGE COLOURED GLASS REFLECTS COLOURED LIGHT ONTO THE MARKET BELOW READING SEAT INCORPERATES COLOURED GLASS TO REFLECT COLOURED LIGHT
To create a space for a local skatepark charity within a preexisting dilapidated structure. This was a live project and we worked with the skatepark owners. A small selection of work, including mine, was then put forward to the charity board to highlight the importance of this space to the community.
To create a garden retreat for a Canonbury residence, providing a space for relaxation and a music recording studio for my musically inclided clients.
The site of this retreat is surrounded by vast foliage which infuenced the materiality and the usuage of light in the project
Second
Immersion
three Modern Intervention Skatepark
Project Information: Nottingham Trent University 2019 BArch (Hons) Architecture Project Supervisor: Annie Duquemin BA BArch annie.duquemin@ntu.ac.uk Studio Tutor
Year
GN
ACHIEVED: FIRST
University Project
Railway Warehouse, Nottingham GRADE
CLASS
SITE STRATEGY
The design of this skatepark was aimed to be inclusive to skaters of all abilities. The largest space is the lower ground which allows beginner skaters to practice easier tricks without the intimidation of more advanced skaters. As a skater advances through the training, they too advance through the foors of the building where at the top foor they would fnd an Olympic sized bowl.
The model for the project was partly laser-cut from 2mm MDF. To form the roof, I sculpted a foam block to the desired shape and used vacuum forming to create a plastic clear element. The interior of the model was hand cut from 2mm card.
TRANSFORM
DESIGN PROPOSAL
FINAL MODEL
TRANSFORM FINAL MODEL
SKATING SOCIAL RAMPS CREATOR SPACE TOILETS MEETING ROOM This project was approached with the concept of FLUIDITY AND CONTINUITY These are words that I found essential to skate culture as skaters tend to live freely. This coincides with the physical movement of skaters - long and fowing, leading to daring stunts. eeping this in mind, the foors of my intervention are linked and continued by fowing skate-able ramps which lead up to the most diffcult obstacle, both physically and mentally, the Olympic bowl, which sits on the top foor, crowning the building. R. LEIGHTON
SECOND FLOOR UNDER THE BOWL FIRST FLOOR ENTRANCE SHORT SECTION AA 1:100 STEEL GRID STRUCTURE INTERNAL AND E TERNAL S ATEA LE COLUMNS SURROUNDING GREEN LANDSCAPE AND OUTDOOR STREET S ATING AREA A A
ROOF MASSING RETAIL GREEN LANDSCAPING CREATIVE MARKET ACCOMMODATION WALKING ACCESS ROUTES Paved paths will lead through grass park land from both the city to the North and the Creative Market to the South so that the skatepark can be accessed by skateboard. The North elevation - kept with minimal disruptions to the existing wall of the warehouse to give a sense on ambiguity and to interest people to explore the building. The South elevation- use a swooping over-hang for city visitors to see. The ground of the site will be excavated so that there is more space in the building for its main function - skating. A social space and viewing platform will sit outside the walls on the South side which will be heated by the South sun. The skating sections will be kept cooler by being inside the existing walls. Outside skating will create a link with the creative market and the skatepark. Circulation types: Moving through foors Moving round foor R. LEIGHTON NORTH SIDE SOUTH SIDE SKATING MASSING ENTRANCE MASSING SOCIAL SPACE MASSING
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The story of this film is centred on the absence of people but despite the covid outbreak, evidence of human activity can always be seenreminding us we are not alone.
To view my short film either scan the QR code or follow the link: https://youtu.be/NtZpBGIGqjg
The Brief:
The Brief:
Entering into ‘uncertain times’ as the early lockdown period was named, university projects continued. This masterclass was to create a short flm based on phenomenology. With limited resources and after moving back to my village, I created this short flm about the Traces left behind in an seemingly deserted world, confned to our houses.
To create a edgdwgdugwiuegiugwoqiueyri
four Tracings - Short Film
A Lockdown Film Stills
Project Supervisor: Carlos Marquez carlos.marquezdiaz@ntu.ac.uk Second Year University Project Filmed in Whittle-Le-Woods, Lancs
Project Information: Nottingham Trent University 2020 BArch (Hons) Architecture
GRADE ACHIEVED: OUTSTANDING FIRST CLASS
To create a garden retreat for a Canonbury residence, providing a space for relaxation and a music recording studio for my musically inclined clients.
The site of this retreat is surrounded by vast foliage which infuenced the materiality and the usage of light in the project
Placement Project Canonbury, London
Retreat
five The Canonbury Residence Garden
Temple Project Information: Gabor Gallov Architects Ongoing project
Brief:
The
multi media exploration
This project was explored through my creation of sketches, models and renders to give a well-rounded, fully examined building. This allowed the client to understand the design. The renders were produced using Photoshop, the sketches were fully hand-drawn, and the model was produced using a mix of basswood and walnut, all cut and sanded by hand.
The Brief:
The Brief:
A previous addition to this project was a treehouse in the garden for the client’s children. Our brief was to create an ‘adult treehouse’ - an extension to the house where the clients could ‘hang-out’. I designed this project, created a mount-board model, and drew the construction drawings in CAD to form the tender set.
To create a garden retreat for a Canonbury residence, providing a space for relaxation and a music recording studio for my musically inclided clients.
The site of this retreat is surrounded by vast foliage which infuenced the materiality and the usuage of light in the project
six Technical Detailing
North London Residence
Placement Project Haringey, London
Project Information:
Gabor Gallov Architects
Ongoing project
six Construction Details
six Construction Elevations & Sections
The
The
seven The Kensington Residence Leaded Glass Design Project Information: Gabor Gallov Architects Completed Dec 2022 To create a edgdwgdugwiuegiugwoqiueyri
Brief: Placement Project Kensington, London To create a London pad for a client using bespoke detailed joinery and leaded glass. This project was the frst project I worked on when beginning my placement and I have seen it through to completion from initial design, to strip-out, to building works, and fnally the handover.
Brief:
The project clients have an affnity for leaded glass, I was tasked with creating a design for this element of the project which would form the center-piece to the apartment.
I began by looking at the view from the apartment window which faces the central private gardens of the square, and the houses through the trees beyond, After trialling variations, I designed the leaded glass to be a refection of the outside view, into the interior. The green central triangle and stem are an abstract line of trees, and the orange triangles behind are to represent the roof tops of the houses that can be seen beyond the real trees from the window.
I then contacted a local glass artist and worked along side her to create this piece for the client.
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Thank You for viewing my portfolio Contact Information: email: beelleighton@gmail.com studio email: bee@gaborgallovarchitect.com instagram portfolio: @leightonarchitecture
