Gerhard Allers - Masters Portfolio - Nelson Mandela University

Portfolio

Nelson Mandela University

Gerhard Allers

M Arch (Proffessional) - 2023

Contents

Resume

Pg. 4-5

Traditional Funeral Home (Thesis)

Pg. 6-17

Community-Run Recycling Intervention

Pg 18-25 Pg.

Fairview Mixed Use Complex

Pg. 26-33

Profile

Gradute of Nelson Mandela University Currently completing Master of Architecture (Proffesional) - 2023 Based in Port Elizabeth, South Africa Interested in the exploration of sustainable & passive design, particularly in Residential Architecture

Gerhard Allers

I am a Master of Architecture student, particularly interested in sustainable and passive design, with a focus on low eco footprints.

I enjoy group dynamics as I am keen to recieve guidance and and develop superior methods to recieve superior results.

As technology is constantly evolving, I am excited to persue the application thereof, to the benefit of individuals, communities as well as the commercial sector.

South African citizen.

WORK EXPERIANCE

SKILLS

» Bartender / Waiter 2018 - Present

MS Office •••••

Blender •••••

Revit •••••

VR Modeling •••••

Autocad •••••

Physical Model Building •••••

Adobe Photoshop •••••

Laser Cutting •••••

Adobe Illustrator •••••

Technical Drawing •••••

Adobe InDesign •••••

Conceptual Sketching •••••

Co-Organizer and co-founder of National Hunting Day and related competitions, advertising campaigns, and planning.

Lumion •••••

People Relations •••••

Vice Chair during the 2023 callendar year

Twinmotion •••••

Group Work •••••

The Cow Shed - East London

On and off holiday help during holidays and breaks.

Family‑owned restaurant and bar.

Management assistant, dealing with most client issues front of house.

Great experience with dealing with difficult and sometimes unreasonable customers.

» Board Member 2020 - 2023

Chasa - Confederation of Hunting Associations of SA

An original member of the Youth Committee founded in 2020.

EDUCATION » Matric

Hoërskool Grens 2018

» Bachelors of Architectural Studies

LANGUAGE Afrikaans

English

Home Language

First Language

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Nelson Mandela University - Port Elizabeth 2019 - 2021

» Bachelors of Architectural Studies - Honors

Nelson Mandela University - Port Elizabeth 2022

» Master of Architecture - MArch (Prof)

Nelson Mandela University - Port Elizabeth 2023 1 Subject outstanding - to be re-examined in 2024

INTERESTS Interest in Technological Advancement Sustainable / Passive Advancements Virtual Reality Modeling and Presentation Model Building

Fishing & Hunting Adventuring Naturalist

Traditional Funeral Home Masters Thesis

INFO Place

Dimbaza

Year

2023

Typology

Funeral Home & Memorial Park

Area

16 000m2

Abstract The intention of this treatise is to reinvigorate the public display of cultural identity of the traditional Xhosa community of Dimbaza, Eastern Cape, and how it can strengthen a sense of cultural belonging, while enhancing the built environment.

Dimbaza is a rural town that stands forgotten and run down after the “surplus” and “problematic” Bantu people were sent there under the apartheid regime. The failed industrialisation left the town dishevelled and is now mostly a survival farming region.

This led me to the reinterpretation of the western funeral home typology to an appropriate physical manifestation of cultural identity, while referencing the memory of Ntaba kaNdoda. The thought here is to create a living memorial to those lost during the various clashes in this area, while providing a space to provide those without a space to perform their traditional burial rites, a safe, comfortable and unique experience.

Based on this thinking the goal is to accentuate the existing funeral procession and supply the demand of some missing links in the process.

The creation of this funeral parkscape aims to establish it as a center of placemaking and expression of Xhosa cultural identity. The architectural design will focus on the collective memory and identity of the people of Dimbaza, while taking cues from the social structure and contextual quality.

01.

Community-Run Recycling Intervention Expression of Precinct Identity

INFO Place Year

Korsten - Port Elizabeth 2022

Typology Industrial, Educational & Exhibition Area

10 000 m2

Abstract The design of a Community-Run Recycling Intervention towards an expression of “Korstenness”, as a catalytic gesture towards recycling and regeneration of a dens commercially integrated residential area. It began with an interest in the rejuvenation of a repressed, disheveled community through a catalyst structure.

The inventive nature of Korsten, combined with a diverse cultural society, lends itself to some interesting possibilities in terms of spatial language, materiality as well as new modes of negotiating space. Like many cities, Port Elizabeth has a dense population of diverse cultures, each with their own sense of self and manner of expressing these values.

The design and implementation of a community-based recycling intervention provides a unique opportunity for the residents of Korsten to form their own expression while simultaneously improving their community through recycling of waste and economic growth due to the attraction of more visitors.

02.

Division of Built Mass

Open & Enclosed

Spatial Hierarchy

Ground Floor

Fairview Mixed Use Complex

Recreational, Commercial and Residential Hub

INFO Place Year

Fairview - Port Elizabeth 2021

Typology Mixed Use Area

12 000 m2

Abstract This presentation is a combination of 2 projects run in the final year of my BAS degree. These 2 projects work together to create a new urban block in the area of fairview.

Part 1 was to design a public rec center, focussing on the spatial and technicle requirements of a bowling alley, laser tag arena as well as a rock climbing wall.

Part 2 focussed on a residential and commercial node intergrated into the rec center.

This urban scale proposal deals with the issues of sustainable urban space making that enco urages a community lifestyle where most common services required by a community is encapsulated in a single modular development.

03.

The development of this project aims to inprove the public realm in Fairview by focussing on providing a “community living complex” that balances residential, recreational and other basic services necessary for a thriving community.

The ground floor is focussed on the public domain and provides spaces for both commercial and recreational activities, while providing positive urban space for visitors and residents to mingle and relax.

Along the edges of the site there are several opportunities for taxi, bus and private parking / drop off with a large scale basement for longer term parking.

The upper floors of the proposal focusses on further recreational activity on the east, while the western block provides a multitude of spaces for commercial activity such as retail spaces, small private office units as well as basic medical facilities.

The top level is a composition of family living arangements, with consideration for individual and couple living included among the larger units.

A public rooftop that serves as a gathering and socializing space for the residents of the complex also provides a touch of the natural to accentuate these spaces.

The park elements act to soften the hard masonry edges of the proposed structures, while encouraging pause for those visiting.

A large scale basement stretches under almost the entire site playing multiple roles. It mainly serves as parking space both for residents and visitors.

This basement is also broken up so that it becomes the service space for the equipment used in the recreational spaces, providing storage for water harvesting and distribution as well as storage spaces for the commercial and buisiness entities on site.