Part I - Architectural Portfolio - Francis R D Mussenden

LIST OF CONTENTS

YEAR 4

LAWRENCE HILL MOSQUE & ISLAMIC CULTURAL ARTS CENTRE,BRISTOL

YEAR 4

LAWRENCE HILL REGENERATION AND MASTER PLAN

YEAR 3

THE EDGE RETREAT, DINGLE, IRELAND

OTHERS

PHOTOGRAPHY

TRAVEL SKETCHES

WORKPORTFOLIO

SITE PLANNING & LANDSCAPING

ARCHITECTURE

INTERIORS

FREELANCE

FRANCIS R D MUSSENDEN

BA (HONS) ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING

FRANCIS.MUSSENDEN@OUTLOOK.COM

07516730303

GIVING THE MINORITY, THE MAJORITY

The project explores the concepts of community and religious culture; using the elements of social interaction and gathering to develop an interlocking cultural experience through members of the community and visitors to the site. The building is located just off the Stapleton Road high-street with a new large green boulevard situated to the South, allowing the proposal to become a focal point backdrop. The proposal is designed to incorporate high levels of natural light similar to traditional Mosque architecture. Taking an abstract approach to the traditional Mosque design, the main Prayer Hall is topped with a glazed pitched roof which subsequently allows for the flow of natural ventilation through the space. Alongside, the traditional Minaret “beacon” has also inspired the form of the cultural arts tower, which will be one of the tallest buildings in the area.

SOUTH ELEVATION

CULTURAL ARTS TOWER HIGHSTREET ENTRANCE

PRIVATE PRAYER GARDEN LAWRENCE HILL, BRISTOL

& CULTURAL ARTS CENTRE

CULTURAL ARTS CENTRE MOSQUE PRAYER HALL

REAR PEDESTRIAN PARK AND LEISURE SPACE

MASSING AND SITE STRATEGIES

The overall theme of the site and the urban strategy is connecting the community and create social space in which the member of the community can do so. While the Lawrence Hill community is strong and the people already have good relations, the surrounding environment is undersirable and many residents feel as though they do not belong - Lawrence Hill Statistical Ward Profile 202.

During the development of the scheme, social space and focus points were important to integrate and consider. An area such as Stapleton Road is large hub for shopping and eating and leisure, as the leisure centre is located just of the main road. Locating the building adjacent to the highstreet connecting to the park space creates the opportunity for this space to become a bridge in the community to connect people across the different regions of Lawrence Hill.

SECTION CUT // MOSQUE PREPARATION FACILITIES

ACTIVE FRONTAGES

Multiple active frontages will be added creating continuous activity throughout the masterplan. Active fronts will build a secondary hub for the Lawrence Hill area. There will be an active front on the southern block facing the park which will entice pedestrians.

The Prayer Hall is the main space of the scheme, especially for the Mosque. This will be a focal point for visitors. Although only people that practice muslim faith will be allowed in the space, it was imporant to make this space a valuable and enlightening space.

In the park boulevard there will be interactive features including outdoor fitness equipment and space for market stalls in the south-west region which will surrounding by green infrastructure to create a barrier between the residents and the social spaces.

This block does not comprise of large spaces and does not require much natural light but it is still important to incorporate as much natural light as possible. The spaces have been planned out so visitors will not bump into each other passing through the spaces. As a large number of people will use the facilities, it was crucial to create a smooth flow through each of the spaces.

The gallery will be the main focus space on the ground level, next to the workshop space. This space will be used for events and showcasing the arts created in the workshops of the cultural arts centre. The gallery is an open flexible space which can be occupied by different activities.

The Cultural Arts Centre will be a beacon of the community due to the stack effect of the workshops and other dedicated spaces above. The Mosque Preparation Facility will contain classrooms for Islamic practices and will be used for young children and adults to practice their faith.

MASTERPLAN LEGEND

Mosque & Cultural Arts Centre

Leisure Centre

Residential Blocks

Commercial/ Retail Terrace Houses

Existing Buildings

LAWRENCE HILL, BRISTOL REGENERATION & MASTERPLAN

EXISTING ROUNDABOUT

Currently the central space is unused by residents. People rarely interact with each other as there is no reason to. Crime has occurred in the space, as well as anti-social behavior and disturbances in the vicinity. There has also been severe issues with flooding. Arguably due to multiple issues, one being the design and post-war Planning, the site now has a negative perception, and has had a high number of accident clusters than other areas in the vicinity.

The space has excellent transport links with bus stops and the Lawrence Hill train station nearby. The city centre is also a 5 minute walk. The central space sits at 1.4 hectares; it is currently the largest ‘informal’ green space in the area and has potential to turn into a desirable place.

Continuing the movement of fast vehicular traffic in a North-South direction allows for a decreased impact on the community. Containing the heavy flow of traffic in a linear direction limits the effects that vehicles have had on the Lawrence Hill community thus far.

The land now available for development will go towards housing, commercial and retails spaces. These taller blocks will act as a barrier to the motorway from the remaining of the community reducing the impact of sound, smoke and light pollution.

The FIRST site will become an important aspect to the Stapleton Road highsteet area. New pedestrian and cycle paths will improve connections around Lawrence Hill. As a part of the masterplan Urban Strategies, it was crucial to create established routes across the communities which make up the ward. Currently residing here are large warehouses with areas of anti-social behaviour in between and little pedestrian access across.

The SECOND site is home to the new residential and retail/ commercial district in Lawrence Hill. Rerouting the roundabout and directing fast moving traffic in a north-south direction provides additional land for new development which will go towards new residential blocks for existing residents of the community.

PROPOSED LINEAR TRAFFIC

Interactive + Visual Green Spces

There will be a mix of green space throughout the masterplan with Interactive green spaces such as parks and urban green furniture as as Visual green spaces used shaping spaces around buildings and making barriers between pedestrians and roads. The masterplan will incorporate green spaces within the urban spaces. These areas will be located in the courtyards of resident blocks and provide a mix use space for pedestrains to call their own. These hybrid areas will be targeted to families with children; play areas which can be overlooked by the flats are higlhly valued by the community as it allows for safer spaces.

Green Barriers + Corridors

Current green spaces are not utilized and have become dead areas in the community with a negative perception and anti-social behaviour habits. New green spaces will surround the communities becoming a barrier to the main road infrastructure through the area; connecting spaces thus creates a green corridor through the masterplan.

The facility is inspired by rehabilitation. It is designed and intended for city dwellers in Ireland who are overworked and exhausted from their daily lives. This is a place where people can experience a change of scenery and be closer with the outdoors. As the Centre is surrounded by rich coastal elements such as: rocky coastlines, cliff faces and strands, residents are encouraged to spend their time outdoors. During all seasons, the facility is designed to take advantaged of the environment; carrying the aspects of the coastline indoors.

DINGLE, IRELAND THE EDGE RETREAT

The heart of the building is for public storytelling. Accessible from all areas of the building. Guests will have to pass through the area to get to other places in the centre. The heart of the building is the most important area for storytelling. A gathering point, a meeting point, a place to think and develope ideas.

COLLECTION ROOMS

Located directly next to resident sleeping quartes for private meetings between a few people. These spaces will are informal environments for residents to feel comfortable and safe with sharing their stories and discoveries whilst experiencing the landscape around them through wall to wall glazing.

VIDEO DIARY SPACE

A creative time capsule for storytelling, the idea is for residents at the centre to record stories when they arrive, during their stay and at the end prior to departure. These will serve as a record of their experience at The Edge and display how the coast and the centre has helped them rehabilitate their lifes.

SITE FACTORS + ANALYSIS TOPOGRAPHY MOVEMENT

SOUND

COASTAL FRONT

Residents will learn and be able to form their stories by the changing coastal environments. The intention is for residents to share their lives before beginning their stay. The heart of the facility provides a space where guests can share with zero judgement. Smaller story telling spaces provide more inimate sharing and video diary rooms to record the residents’ progress.

Less obstruction of landscape, the building will not standout from oncoming roadways. There is direct access from upper green space on to Clogher Strand. Building to feature materials of the coastline: Living walls, stone, plaster board to represent sand and wat er features and floor to ceiling windows and doors on to beach. The site is additionally close to existing roadway which provides direct access to motorways and the main access point tothe strand. The building location is sheltered from western peninsula which protects again harsh winds as the site can fairly exposed to the south.

MORNING MID-DAY EVENING

Moning sun is blocked by the cliff face to the east of the building location. Majority wll have shadow casted on the site happe ns during the early hours of the day. Space used during the morning will be located at the top of the building to make use of skylights. Mid day sun shines directly on building but may cause glare oooon the south face. May need tinted glazing or design modifications to diffuse sunli ght. Evening sun is blocked by peninsula on the west side of building site shading roughly half the building front. Resident rooms will be there.

Story Telling - A Tradition That Endures: A Love of Words

“This is their story, and I am telling it in memory of that person. I owe it to that person to keep their memory alive. “That story is that person’s gravestone.”

Bryan, M. M., O’Sullivan, V., Lenihan, E., 2020

PRE-APP DESIGN FOR PROPOSAL OF NEW BUILD HOMESTEAD WITH RENTAL UNITS,

BERMUDA

SCHEMATIC DESIGNS FOR ALTERATIONS TO EXISTING 3BED COTTAGE, BERMUDA

This new-build homestead was developed with the intention of creating large, open-plan social spaces for the family to enjoy and to host gatherings. As one of the largest freelance projects I have completed, this has given me the opportunity to work closely with the client and develop my skills such as collaborating to coordinate layouts, sizing + massing and spacial flow. In starting this project, it was crucial to correlate with the Bermuda Plan 2018 and the Bermuda Residential Building Code 2014 in order to tackle the site, which has an existing Listed Building in derelict conditions. In 2020, the project the presented to the Department of Planning for a Pre-App consultation with the Heritage Officer.

The Wreck Road freelance project was initiated with a request from the client to generate multiple proposals for the existing house to be altered to gain an income unit and provide a better layout and flow through the ground level. Out of the three different layouts created, a 3D model was created from the selected option (as seen above). In order to have the increased building mass of the income unit and still maintain majority of the green space on the property, the concept of a green roof was introduced to provide undisrupted yard access and views from the main house to the lower northern yard and open space. Whilst this method of roof construction is not common in Bermuda, it has been used in newer large-scale projects which will act as a precedant during the Planning Application process.

LIGHTHOUSE HILL ROAD

PRE PLANNING SCHEMATIC DESIGNS CREATED FOR EXITING 1 BED COTTAGE, BERMUDA

FIVE

RENOVATIONS AND ALTERATIONS TO EXISTING 3BED COTTAGE / GEOFF PARTKER ARCHITECT, BERMUDA

The client of the Lighthouse Hill property, prior to the design phase, had concepts of what they wanted to achieve with the schematic plans. Interpreting the clients desires and measuring them against the Building Code and Bermuda Plan, issues arose with building height. Due to the nature of the site, the existing house sits on the edge of a decline and thus to match the existing house level, a lower level will need to be incorporated. Additionally, with the request of a first floor above the new proposal, the schematic design stands at three levels; 30’ above ground level, which does not coincide with Planning Policy. As there are precedants around the island which can be used to back the application, a Pre-App consultation was carried out to understnad the Department’s position on the application, which resulted in the client’s favour.

Under the supervision of Geoff Parker as lead Architect, the Five Star View project involved the creation of a new driveway for the property and proper access via a new welcoming staircase up to the home, as well as built-out additions on to the existing home. Bringing a 1950s cottage to the 21st century required an intense overhall of the existing site. One of the biggest challenges was determining if the lay-by driveway could be implemented at the front of the property. As the existing home is nestled into the hillside, cutting the rock to create the access has the possibility of weakening the structural integrity. Consulting an engerineering and Planning records, it was determined that the rock in this specific area of the island is quite robust and could withstand the excavation for the lay-by. For increased measure, the engineer proposed a retaining wall to front the rock cut to better support the weight of the existing and new proposed water tanks.

3D DIGITAL MODEL MAKING

WORK COMPLETED AT OBM INTERNATION LTD. BERMUDA

SKETCHING + HAND DRAWING

SKETCHES COMPLETED DURING TRAVELLING AND ACADEMIC LIFE

Throughout the duration of my time at OBM in Bermuda, a large amount of my tasks revolved around visualisation for schematic designs in order to present concepts to clients. The style and complexity of the visualisation ranged depending on the type and scale of the project. Majority of the modelling was completed with SketchUp and ocassionally Revit with the assistance of rendering software. Gaining the experience in digital model making, pre-undergrad, was largely beneficial in my academic life having the ability to use another medium in order to convey ideas and concepts which I found very cruicial at the beginning of my architectural education.

Pencil drawing is a great tool to transfer reality onto paper in simple forms of lines and geometry. A great lesson learned in my undergrate is to not overcomplicate the beginning of a sketch when drawing from real life. In an image, most aspects of what is needed to be drawn is simply a series of horizontal and hertical lines, and once you can recognise those parts of what you need to draw, those lines will form the foundation of the full image, which can them be built upon with shading, etc. Taking this information through my academic life gave me a better appreciation for hand drawings and encouragement to practice my skills outside of university, (as shown in the images above).

PHOTOGRAPHY

CAPTURED ACROSS THE UNITED KINGDOM, EUROPE AND BERMUDA

PHYSICAL MODEL MAKING

MEDIA CREATED THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE

Architectural and landscape photography is a medium that has been a passion of mine due to its ability to be versatile and range in complexity. The source of architectural photography stems from the focus on geometry and the use of angles and perspectives. What intrigues me about this style is the clash and juxtaposition of textures, colours and materials, especially when capturing different types of architecture in a single image. Landscape photography is on the other end of the spectrum capturig warm and harmonious features of the environment; especially when those photos are take from more tropical areas of the world.

With a previous background in physical model making, pre-undergrad, it was imperative throughout my studies to continue the use of this medium in order to present ideas and concepts in the Studio. Gaining access to a large range of materials, I have experiemented using Lazer Cutting and 3D Printing; which was beneficial from having previous experience with SketchUp and AutoCAD. Whilst Lazer Cutting can be more complex due to it’s tedious process, I prefer the more detail oriented system as it subsequently forces the user to break down the model into individual pieces that will eventually accumulate to one.

IMAGERY

PART I WORK EXPERIENCE

WORK COMPLETED AT SAUNDERS ARCHITECTURE + URBAN DESIGN, BRISTOL

Project: Fenall Street / London / ARJ Construction

Joining the project team as a technician, I primary focused on the Part M4(3) compliant duplex flats which needed to undergo an intense review to comply with building regulations. As a requirement by the client, I further developed the kitchen and bath layouts which needed to compliant as the development was apart of a Council Affordable Housing Scheme. During this process I made myself very familiar with Part M and understand its importance for accessibility and flexibility for the user.

In developing more accessible housig for the Bristol area, my role in this project is to supply Phase 4 technical drawings and to be the Part M Specialist in the team to coordinate the drawing set with regulations to ensure the proposed development is compliant with Part M4(3) specifically. Additionally, my role involved coordination with the Civil Engineer to understand site levels for gradients and ramps and accessibility threshholds to comply with regulations.