The architect is merely the curator. He sanctifies and celebrates a phenomenon which predates his involvement. He has complete authorship for it is his intervention that recognizes and makes possible the appreciation of the subject, yet the subject is itself authentic with or without an architect. It is this older authenticity, which originates from the events and social circumstances of the past, that gives weight to the subject.
CURRICULUM VITAE
SKILLS SUMMARY
Revit: Model building proficiency with various scales and departments (2016 - 2017 & 2019 - 2020)
Adobe Suite Highely proficient in the use of Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Enscape, TwinMotion used for presentation since ( Present)
Drafting/Modeling: 3D modeling experience in conceptual & design development using SketchUp & Revit and 2D using AutoCAD (2008 - 2020)
EDUCATION
University College Dublin, M.Arch Architecture September 2021 - July 2023
Teeside University, MSc Advanced Home Futures | September 2018 - August 2019
Newcastle University, BA Architecture September 2012 August 2016
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
MCA Architects, Dublin | July 2023 - Present
I joined this award winning practice as an architectural assistant and utilised Illustrator, InDesign, AutoCAD and Revit while working on a variety of
Projekt, Newcastle Upon Tyne January 2020 - November 2020
I worked at Projekt Architects through this turbulent year as an Architectural Assistant. I enjoyed constricuting to project presentations, producing phtorealistic renders and diagrams using Photoshopand Illustrator. I also used Revit to produce planning drawings for a range of projects.
FaulknerBrowns, Newcastle Upon Tyne November 2016 - September 2017
I joined this award winning practice as an architectural assistant and utilised Illustrator, InDesign, AutoCAD and Revit while working on a variety of
ACHIEVEMENTS
Lacrosse | Present
I am a member of the Irish national lacrosse team and have been since 2018. I was Captain and President of both the Newcastle University and University College Dublin teams. I have been selected to represent Ireland at the World Lacrosse Championships, San Diego, 2023.
AAI - Architecture Association of Ireland Present
I am currently on the committee of the AAI.
Volunteer Work & Charity Work September 2017
Organised and led a core team of 10 individuals to achieve a safe and memorable University Freshers Week, running and managing over 450 volunteers to continue Newcastle Universities status as best Freshers week in the UK.
Organised and completed an 1,800km circumnavgation around Ireland in 8 days for CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), raising € 8,000.
Adidas, Newcastle upon Tyne | 2015
Chosen by Adidas UK to be 1 of 5 Newcastle Student Brand Ambassadors out of over 6000 applicants. Led media events and conceptual marketing designs in a team including Adidas Ultraboost, Supercolour campaigns.
NCL+ Award, Newcastle University 2014
Honorable mention - 1 out of 5 finalist in “Sports & Recreational Deveopment” out of 2500 entrants. Recognising the achievments and contributions to University life and wider community, nationally and globally through extra curricular activites.
John Robert’s Academic Award, Waterford Institute of Technology August 2012
Distinguished as the recipient of Award of Academic Excellence (first place)
I completed my Radio broadcasting course and was part of a team running a variety of promotional events for one of Irelands top
TRANSFORMATION FROM CARPARK TO PUBLIC SPACE
ACADEMIC TERM: UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN | 2023
PROFESSOR: FIONA HUGES FIONA.HUGHES@UCD.IE
TYPE: URBAN
SITE: SOUTH QUAY, WATERFORD CITY, IRELAND.
PROJECT: INDIVIDUAL WORK
DEMISE - REVITILISE
By reframing how public places might be inhabited and seized to boost functioning through preservation and renewal minor, deliberate interventions, this thesis questions current responses to public spaces in Ireland. As Irish cities expand, so will their requirements, and it will be up to the city to provide the necessary accommodations using the proposed additions.
Formerly home to Ireland’s busiest commercial port, Waterford City’s South Quay is now almost a kilometre long of open-air parking. The thesis explores how the South Quay can be used to support the changing requirements of the Waterford community as the North Quay development is underway by preserving historical elements and restoring functionality.
Utilising the south quay’s rise/ fall to make it possible to create a platform and shower / changing rooms.
Extensive seating area allows for markets and live music, revitalising the plaza.
Providing a place where people might diverge and participate in this proposal, whether it be as observers or participant.
WATERFORD BATHS
WATERFORD BATH
RECREATION
1 PROBLEM 1 SOLUTION
FREEDOM FROM TECH DESIGNED BY NATURE
ACADEMIC TERM: TEESIDE UNIVERSITY | 2019
PROFESSOR: RICHARD SOBER R.SOBER@TEES.AC.UK
TYPE: CULTURAL
SITE: MOJA ISLAND, SWEDEN
John Robert’s Academic Award Waterford Institute of Technology Student work
Gold Awards
‘Best of the Best’ Market Hall Fulham Project Team Member NCL+ Award
Honourable Mention Newcastle University
THE ALL-ENCOMPASSING VEIL OF TECHNOLOGY WITH NATURE PROVIDING FREEDOM
FREEDOM FROM TECHNOLOGY
In this modern era, we are encompassed by technology. I am an advocate of technology and its progression but I am not the lack of ability to free our minds from it and refresh through the medium of mother nature.
People are more connected than ever to this matrix. Technology has made positive changes in the world but the negative effects of the overuse of technology needs to be addressed. The overuse of technology can not only lead to psychological / physical issues but may contribute to more serious health conditions, such as depression. wanted to use architecture to provide an outlet to experience nature and encourage social interaction. Finding ways to reduce social media use and interacting more with nature, may help reduce feelings of isolation in some people.
I chose a viewing / docking platform on the Archipelago island of Moja. This is to the East of Sweden’s capital, Stockholm and is the most popular areas for summer houses. The Swedish capital may be one of the most desirable locations on the planet but the city’s queue for rent-controlled housing is so long that it’s being considered by the Guinness Book of World Records. A 20 year wait for some of the more sought after neighborhoods.This pressure for a home adds an extra importance to the Swedish Summer House, “Sommarstuga”.
There are nearly 600,000 summer houses in Sweden. And more than 50 per cent of the population have access to one through family or friends. Come June or July, tens of thousands of Swedes abandon towns and cities and head to their summer houses for rest and relaxation. The appeal seems completely ageless and an ingrained ritual. Before there was cheap and accessible international travel, many Swedes took advantage of something else cheap and plentiful: land.
The project is conceived as an amalgamation of escaping from technology, embracing the intersection of nature, recreational, environmental, and social activities. The form simply manifests the complex nature and bespoke contours of the site into a built form. Resulting in a chain reaction of easily duplicated helpful build. “ “
Touch the earth lightly.
- Glenn Murcutt
MOJA ISLAND
Traditional Sommarstuga buildings create identity. The combination of construction alongside intimate understanding of place, creates rich architecture. This is instrumental to touching the environment lightly.
STRUCTURAL CONCEPT
This architectural addition was to provide a useful installation for residence of the island of Moja, to utilize while having complete harmony with nature. The goal was to enhance the visual and audible qualities of nature while keeping the visitors navigation intuitive and clear.
The structural concept for the building has been considered and developed to best achieve the architectural vision for the project, balancing between the ease of construction and cost.
A steel frame system inspired by the topography of the site is implemented to expedite the construction. Prefabricated steel mesh is draped over the primary structure to allow bracing for a potential complex structural arrangement to be realized efficiently. Deep pile driven foundation is used to counter the weight and marsh terrain.
The overarching structural scheme is a collection of structurally rugged elements
The structures foundation is secured by pile driven elements. A steel frame sits on this foundation along with the other components such as the shell and steel mesh. These elements are very malleable to a vast array of forms. This is essential as every platform must be influenced by the typography of the site to create harmony with the surrounding nature.
SOCIAL SHORTCUT
URBAN DISSONANCE CREATES SOCIAL HUB
ACADEMIC TERM: NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY | 2016
PROFESSOR: KATI BLOM | KATRIINA.BLOM@NCL.AC.UK
TYPE: URBAN
SITE: NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, UK
PROJECT: INDIVIDUAL WORK
SOCIAL SHORTCUT
Located between a large residential area and Newcastle city center. A walkway currently exists but is not used as it ends abruptly at a neglected building. This new addition would create a social shortcut into the city while inhabiting the bridge with small startup businesses, growing a sense of community.
The site is a derelict construction site with a large height discrepancy. The site exists as a dilapidated unsafe ecology on the fringe of the city. Intervention provides an alternate path for the visitors. Allowing unconfined aerial view of the city for the visitors, while creating a safe connection for residents.
1 EXIT TO RESIDENTIAL 2 - INTIMATE SOCIAL
Transition between isolated residentil area and the city.
Secluded seating area with panoramic views.
Access to create foot trafffic into market area in neglected side of the city
Individual retailers come together to sell and grow a sense of market community.
Located the city side of the site and this social hub
Access to shortcut but highly increased the probability of meeting a friend while passing this restign point.
The Social Shortcut provides a primary function of linking a heavily populated residential area to the urban city center. The existing bridge is clearly visible on the far left but leads to nowhere hence it is never utilized. The new addition provides that link and with the increased foot traffic, tactically positioned social spaces have been added. Two social spaces are provided, the first is at the top of the bridge and will provide scenic views of the city and potential gentrification of the site below. The second social space is provided at the entrance nearer the city. This will heighten the curb appeal and provide protection from the elements. The bridge has a lot of space below that is inhabited by local startup companies. These pods are located under the cover of the tensile cover or the bridges’ structure itself.
DOMESTIC ENGINE
AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
ACADEMIC TERM: TEESIDE UNIVERSITY | 2019
PROFESSOR: RICHARD SOBER | R.SOBER.TEES.AC.UK
TYPE: COMMERCIAL
SITE: GLOBAL
PROJECT: INDIVIDUAL WORK
COMPARING AND CONTRASTING THE AUTOMOTIVE WITH THE HOUSING INDUSTRY
After witnessing the slow deterioration of domestic construction over the past decade, I needed to tackle this problem. Housing is a global problem but during my studies in England, my eyes were opened to how bad this crisis is. Houses are getting more expensive and with the eradication
of minimum houses standards in the 80’s, living space has heavily decreased in size. The materiality of houses has also stayed stagnant for the past 100 years.
Housing has lost its sense of home. It feels like nothing more than
an overpriced shelter. This is why I looked at the automotive industry. learned how efficient the process is and how seamlessly the industry can integrate and respond to new modern technology. abstracted this idea to create a Domestic Engine.
The engine is the most essential part of any vehicle. It consists of a vast array of components that work in conjunction with another. This allows the vehicle to achieve the goal of transporting individuals from on destination to another.
The transmission transfers the combustion energy from the engine and converts it into rotating the vehicles wheels. This allows the car to achieve movement. Nowadays the transmission can not only utilise combustion energy but more efficient, potential energy from batteries.
The battery in a car is used to start the running of the engine. Once the engine is running the battery is used to provide energy for the variety of services found internally such as air conditioning, audio speakers and electrical windows.
The fuel port of the car is where the main source of energy for a Traditionally designed car is supplied. Cars used to run solely on petrol or diesel to run. Nowadays due to technological advances, these fuels have become obsolete and modern eco-friendly components are used.
Air Filtration provides fresh air internally to ensure maximum comfort within a car. The car is a confined space that clean air becomes an important factor. The
is
The thermal system sits behind the air filter. Once the air has been filtered it can heat or cool the air and supply it internally. The air intake is also utilised by components in the
Refuse in a house has become more sustainable over the past decade. A weakness is that people find taking the bins in and out for collection as well as separating rubbish as too much of a chore. This allows human error to come into the equation and can cancel out the economic aspect of refuse.
Domestic construction has not changed in 100 years. The building form and room size have become smaller and with the additional material goods, individuals possess, makes spaces cramped. The individuality of housing has disappeared. Building materials have not progressed. How can we have individuals living in the vacuum of space, yet we continue to use bricks and sheets of plastic to construct and waterproof our houses. If modern materials allow humans to live in space, surely our homes can utilise modern materials .
Housing needs to change to an ecofriendlier form. believe this can be achieved by integrate modern innovation just like the car industry has. I also believe the sporadic placement of services throughout our houses causes inefficiency of various services in our houses.
The charging port is a modern intervention to the car. This was a response to the growing efficiency of batteries ability to store energy.
Deliveries are dropped off at an individual’s door. If an individual is away it may be left at the door and may potentially be commandeered by another individual. A delivery may also go to a postal warehouse and will have to be collected in person. This takes up valuable time in our fast-paced society.
Grey water uses water that we have utilised for washing to flushing our toilets and should be common place in homes. This chemically charged water can be treated to prevent the destruction of the worlds marine life.
Heating is essential for comfort. Unfortunately, the design of housing today causes a vast amount of heat loss. Therefore the occupant burns more fossil fuels to keep the dwelling warm. Passive House regulations have been introduced to create a more airtight system and utilise the energy used more efficiently.
Ventilation must be provided to prevent sick building syndrome from inhaling micro particles from plasticised objects. It is also used to ventilate and cool the house. There are more efficient technologies that can accomplish ventilation and be a greater financial and eco-friendly option.
HUNT MUSEUM
LISTED BUILDING WITH A NEW ADDITION
ACADEMIC TERM: WATERFORD INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY 2012
PROFESSOR: MAIRE HENRY | MHENRY@WIT.IE
TYPE: CONSERVATION / NEW BUILD
SITE: LIMERICK CITY, IRELAND
PROJECT: INDIVIDUAL WORK
“I dislike the word art as to painting. There is only one art and that is the art of living.”
- Jack B Yeats
The most distinguished 18th century building in Limerick. It is a wonderful example of a Palladian-style building designed by Italian Architect Daviso de Arcort (Davis Ducart). Originally built as the Custom House (1765 – 1769). The Hunt Museum currently holds displays of P. Picasso, P. Renoir and my favorite artist J.B Yeats. Not only does this building show magnificent pieces of art but has a treasure from Stone Age items to old weapons and tools from the Celtic era.
As the Hunt Museum was originally a customs house used for the city of Limerick. This means that the venue was where all imports and exports passed through. I was conceptually intrigued by the thought that this building was where you would be able to see every object that would enter into the city. I wanted to celebrate this and choose to design an art gallery to continue this tradition of being able to show new items in this city.
I wanted to create a new and vibrant building that can not only act as a contemporary gallery for art and sculpture. I want to create a Gallery that will juxtapose the natural setting and rigid form of the existing Hunt Museum. I wanted to separate areas so the spaces can be used simultaneously for different events.
This building has the potential to become a creative epicenter for talented individuals that the building must reflect in its aesthetic.
The first step in the Gallery is a view of the reception and the sequence is change. Once the formalities are complete, the individual is free to enjoy.
The Main Gallery space can alternate between long continuous gallery space or it can be subdivided. Vertical is utilized for a pleasant viewing experience.
A centralized social resting space is at the heart of the art gallery. This area will attract conversation between guests and allow individuals to recharge phones for that important selfie. Coffee and food are accessible in the final segment connected to the main gallery space. This area leads to the existing external gardens.
The storage area is found below the Cafe area. The close proximity to the gallery space is essentials for upcoming exhibitions and the protection of the pieces.
PROFESSIONAL + PERSONAL PROJECTS
Type: SPORTS CENTRE
Site: BERWICK-UPON TWEED, ENGLAND
Involvement Phase: DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
+ Intensively studied the site and surrounding as the project wanted to integrate a phased construction method as it was a key element of the town.
+I put together presentation boards explaining the narrative of the project along with a physical model to show the phased construction method.
+ I attended a multitude of meetings with Northumberland and led public consultations with proposed project boards and model.
Type: CONSERVATION
Site: AGORA FULHAM, LONDON, ENGLAND
Involvement Phase: CONSRUCTION
+ took on a technical role for this project. I was involved in drawing detailed facades, both interior and exterior.
+ worked heavily on the front facade and worked on a solution for the entrance awning using both AutoCAD and Revit modelling software.
+ designed the spacial areas within this listed building to providing adequate
Type: COMMERCIAL
Site: EAST AYRSHIRE, SCOTLAND
Involvement Phase: PRE CONSTRUCTION
+ used Revit to build the Aldi model to create construction drawings as well as well as the 3D
+ travelled to Aldi headquarters in Scotland and learned about the types of materials and various energy efficient systems they integrate into each store.
+I worked with East Ayrshire county council to secure a demolition warrant for this project.
Type: COMMERCIAL
Site: BROXBURN, SCOTLAND
Involvement Phase: DESIGN
+ I used Revit to virtually build this Aldi store. Utilising the Revit model and Adobe software, I completed these realistic elevations and site plan.
+ I assembled a Design & Access document. It illustrateed the process that has led to the development proposal and explains the design for the local council.
+ I worked alongside various engineers to solve the ingress and egress of
Company: DOC CONCEPT
Type: GRAPHIC DESIGN
+ I created this company to develop my abstract thinking and concept narritives. wanted to challange my abiltiy to create unique narritives and to push my boundries with unique ideas on a variety of projects.
