Hasib Rajput - Creative Portfolio

C R E A T I V E P O R T F O L I O

I am a creative, hardworking graduate from the University of Bath, achieving a Bachelor of Science in Architecture with First-Class Honours, as well as being a RIBA-Foster Travelling Scholar nominee. I now seek new challenges within the architectural world, in hopes to progress my development as an aspiring architect, as I study my Masters degree in the academic year beginning 2023.

I have excelled in the artistic, technical and scientific categories of my higher education while studying at one of the UK’s leading grammar schools and have continued to utilise these skills within my university career; during which, I have attempted to explore innovative and sustainable design solutions throughout the various assessment briefs I have been tasked with. And in doing so I am able to tackle each brief presented to me, in the most efficient and architecturally appropriate manner.

I take pride in my work, from design through to presentation, ensuring my architectural decisions are thoroughly processed and calculated, while also putting a great importance on the visual and verbal declaration of my design proposals, a skill which I have developed and enhanced while performing many individual and group presentations as part of my design projects at the University of Bath.

I currently have 8 months of working experience at MacgregorSmith Landscape architects, during which I played a vital role amongst small design teams to resolve large masterplans of landscaping design. It was here where I began to understand the importance of the architect as an element of the wider design team and the architect-client relationship, committing to deadlines and iteratively working towards the clients needs.

Furthermore, over the summer/fall of this past year, I had the great opportunity to travel to the Karakoram range of Northern - Pakistan in order to work as a freelance Architect for two small residential projects. While designing, I was able to frequently visit the sites, allowing me to envision proposals within the environment they would inhabit, an experience which I found to be highly profound. And alongside meetings with clients, engineers and contractors, I was trusted with the responsibility of preparing the site for construction, including: clearing of an access road, excavation and the construction of a large stone masonry water tank.

Throughout these experiences I have been able to exercise and develop design and graphic presentation skills, interpersonal skills amongst design teams, and have gained a thorough understanding of the role and responsibilities of the architect and wider design team and I am eager to utilise these skills and knowledge within the working environment.

Linkedin

Hasib Rajput - Curriculum Vitae

+44 7983655475

H.J.Rajput@outlook.com

References:

Richard Parkinson, teaching fellow, Warwick School, Warwick, UK e-mail : r.parkinson@warwickschool.org

Martin Gledhill, teaching fellow, University of Bath, Bath, UK e-mail : mlg20@bath.ac.uk

Mick Brundle, personal tutor, University of Bath, Bath, UK e-mail : mwb27@bath.ac.uk

Key Skills and abilities :

Commitment, Ambition, Determination : From my academic career at school, throughout university and my extracurricular activities, I always aim to achieve, be it through accomplishing large workloads to strict deadlines or finding innovative solutions to complex problems. In doing so I ensure I can push myself to the limits of my work, and endeavour to do so in my career.

Creativity : I am a highly creative individual, always seeking innovative architectural approaches throughout the theoretical design projects I have been tasked with throughout my education. I now hope to use this creativity in my approach to work and design within the working environment.

I maintain my creativity outside of architecture through film making, writing and photography.

Leadership & Teamwork : While partaking in group design projects at university, to taking responsibility of large scale landscaping plans at MacgregorSmith Landscape Architects, I have a thorough understanding of the role of the architect within the wider design team and in doing so have developed strong interpersonal skills.

Detailed Design : Throughout the various design projects I have been tasked with at the University of Bath, I have developed a great appreciation for the importance of tectonics and detailed design. I always aim to understand my own scheme to the fullest before I can begin to present it, and through detailed design, drawing and model making, I am able to do this. I believe the understanding of the details of a scheme can further the broader whole of a proposal, as the details should influence the wider scheme and vice versa, the two acting in a harmonious relationship.

Interests & Hobbies :

Art & Architecture : I am continually occupied with the premise of architecture as a medium to provoke emotion, as is most. However to achieve this, while also improving the lives of the users who interact with the architecture, through design approaches which are socially, enviornmentally and economically sustainable, is a greater achievement. To then, additionally, produce a form which can maintain itself far into the future, alongside satisfying every element of the design brief; I believe this to be the ultimate goal of an architect and one I strive to achieve.

Photography, Film Making & Writing : Outside of architecture I enjoy producing visual and written media as a means of honing my creativity. When travelling I try to capture images that depict the cultural and economic state of the cities I am in, within the architecture surrounding me (both on film and digital media).

I enjoy writing screenplays for feature length films and have produced multiple short films and visual art, participating in two global short film competitions.

I believe these arts share transferrable skills with architecture, such as: building a narrative within a design proposal and visualising a scheme and its development throughout a projects iterations.

Practicing these, helps maintain a healthy level of creativity which positively influences my work as an architect.

Skiing, Bouldering, Mixed Martial Arts : I endeavour to maintain a healthy lifestyle and mindset.

Education:

2018 - 2022 University of Bath:

First - Class Honours in Bachelor of Science in Architecture

RIBA - Foster Travelling Scholar Nominee

2011 - 2018 King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys:

A-Level : A* Art, A Maths, A Biology Recipient of the Higgins Award for Art

Relevant Experience :

Freelance Architect for two small housing projects in Ali-abad, Hunza, Northern Pakistan.

Pakistan August 2022 - November 2022

During the Summer/Fall of 2022 I was granted the incredible opportunity to travel to the Karakoram range of northern Pakistan to act as the lead architect on two small residential schemes. I was trusted with sole design control and implemented the conceptual and technical design processes I had obtained from my higher education to positively influence an area experiencing a serious lack of architectural discourse. While designing I was able to frequently visit the sites, attend meetings with the clients, engineers and contractors, as well as present my design proposals to experienced peers for critiquing. Allowing me a clear understanding of the requirements needed of the architect when presenting work to: engineers, for structural plans, contractors, for quotations, and maintaining a healthy client-architect relationship.

Furthermore, I was given the responsibility to act as project manager for the preparation of the sites for construction, overseeing a small labour force tasked with excavation of road and land, and construction of a 12x12x10ft water tank.

Architectural Assistant at MacgregorSmith Landscape Architects.

Bath Feb 2021 - September 2021

Following my Third year of architecture at the University of Bath, I decided to pursue a working placement at a Landscape architecture firm in hopes of developing my design skills regarding the external elements of a design proposal.

While working amongst small design teams tackling large scale landscaping projects at MacgregorSmith, I was given a large amount of responsibility in preparing various visual graphics for client presentations and multiple detailed design documents for tender. Additionally I was able to sit in during client presentations, through which I obtained a great understanding of the interpersonal skills required to maintain a strong design team as well as strong relations with clients.

Furthermore, I was able to thoroughly develop my skills in various CAD, modelling and imaging softwares, some of which for the first time.

Re - use the Ruin Architecture Competition

Birmingham April 2020 - August 2020

Over the summer of 2020, I participated in my first global architecture competition. My first attempt at architecture outside of a university environment; while being far from successful, it was a great learning curve in beginning to work independently and learning to motivate myself to meet selfset deadlines. Furthermore upon the release of the winning entries I would often examine what was considered as winning criteria, be it through design, presentation and the selection of information best suited to selling a scheme, taking these characteristics and applying them within my own work.

Architectural Assistant at Associated Architects.

Birmingham Jan 2023 - September 2023

Key Skills & Competencies

Photoshop Illustrator InDesign Lightroom AutoCad Revit Microstation Sketchup Vray Lumion

Model Making

Hand Drawing

Advanced Advanced Advanced Intermediate Advanced Intermediate Basic Advanced Advanced Intermediate Advanced Intermediate

Design project : February 2022 - May 2022 H

Architecture competition : July 2020 - August 2020

R E C I P R O C I T Y 4th Year Individual Project

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The gentrification of Coal Drops Yard and its surrounding area, as a result of high-end retail and residences, has left the poorer communities of Camden and Islington in a state of disregard.

Decreased social interaction as a result of Covid-19 and chronic loneliness in the elderly and general public present issues which require attention, to which Coal Drops Yard is illequipped to address.

Furthermore, general health, financial and overcrowding issues, have put Camden and Islington as two of the most impoverished boroughs in London.

This building aims to address these issues by providing an affordable, sustainable and adaptable multi-storey market place, to allow the poorer communities of the area to consume in a sustainable and recreational manner and encourage meaningful social interaction, between socially isolated individuals, in a widely unused area.

Additionally, with upcoming changes in the surrounding area such as residential masterplans and pedestrian highways the market is in an optimal location to address this change.

S i t e -

Central axis following granary square, Coal Drops Yard - high end retail, Lewis Cubitt square, Lewis Cubitt park and the site at the northern most point of the masterplan.

Responding to Central Axis

Threshold approach from Lewis Cubitt park

Following the central axis, we can determine ideal locations for a primary public entry point, facing towards Coal Drops Yard, and a secondary community entry point, facing towards the poorer communities of Camden and Islington, as well as sitting directly adjacent to the soon to be built affordable homes masterplan by Macreanor Lavington.

Furthermore by viewing the common flow of vehicles and pedestrians we can determine an ideal location for the vehicle loading bay, kept well away form the primary and secondary entry points, as not to disturb them.

Decisions of Entry Points

External circulation - open floor plan Orient space to intersect with contextual axis Position entrances to target specific demographics

Community hall and auditorium Market floor and studio work spaces

Healthy, Affordable & Sustainably Sourced Dining

54% 36%

of people over 65 in Camden and

of children aged 10-11 in Camden and

57% 38%

of people over 65 in Islington are obese or overweight

of children aged 10-11 in Islington are obese or overweight

Poor access to good quality, healthy food is one of the leading global risks to health. Increased production of processed foods in supermarkets and the success of the high-street takeaway restaurant, has led to a vast shift in dietary patterns, causing an increase in the prevalence of obesity within urban communities.

Yet, it is often not the decision of the individual to eat unhealthily, but the inability to do otherwise.

Therefore, this building, alongside its consumer and trading markets, aims to provide sustainably grown, locally sourced, affordable and ultimately healthy alternatives for eating for the people of Camden and Islington. And will therefore attempt to address the rising problem of obesity within the community.

Bespoke Food Stalls

The food stalls have been designed with communal eating in mind, looking inwards towards the kitchen and other customers encourages dialogue between neighbouring diners as well as vendors.

Sequenced battens of recycled plastics and recycled aluminium form a layer of sound baffling, reducing sound output from stall kitchens into the market floor.

Exhaust ducts protrude from the ceiling of the food stall and continue to the service ceiling of the market floors, creating a series of verticals amongst the internal elevation.

Detailed & Perspective Sections 1:100

The market’s structure is constructed with simplicity in mind, keeping to a uniform cubic grid and creating desired, open floor plans and large spans without the overuse of materials.

The detached service and circulation cores provide necessary lateral stability to support the steel frame from lateral wind loading, ensuring the market can utilise a large open floor plate while remaining structurally stable

The 12x12 m structural grid provides a large open plan layout, allowing market floors and modular stalls to inhabit varying orientations and subsequently bare no limits in the scope of client needs and desires.

The simplistic, uniform structural grid allows for ease of addition and subtraction of structural and nonstructural elements by future clients and the simple steel plate and bracket connections allow for relatively simple deconstruction as a whole if necessary.

Stone clad - joined to the external envelope via a curtain wall - and channel glass - installed in large panels- allows for the altering of elevations and facade treatment by future clients relatively simple.

The chosen material palette: recycled steel, plastics and timber, is selected on its capability to both embody and represent low carbon construction.

As the market uses a steel frame of known dimensions, all steel used in the building can be sourced from recycled members.

First & Second Floor - Dining:

Monetary benefit to the Client, social benefit to the user.

Third & Fourth Floor - Consuming

Monetary benefit to the Client, social benefit to the user.

Fifth & Sixth Floor - Communicating: Social benefit to both parties.

Sustainable Consumerism

An important step to forming a sustainable society is the realisation of sustainable consumerism. While the recycling of products cannot satisfy all our consumption needs, it can address problems related to overconsumption; as often, we as a society consume more than we need. Thus by encouraging trade and second hand markets as a more prominent alternative to traditional consumerism, we are able to introduce an environmentally safer way of obtaining new products, while also sharing the products we no longer need.

Reducing how much we consume as a community further reduces waste produced, reduces demand and in turn supply, and as there is a greater emphasis on recycling rather than consuming, the carbon footprint of the community is lowered.

Furthermore, trade originates from human communication, and by creating a space for the trading of second hand goods, the market is able to act as a community centre, focussed on communication, as well as consumption.

As an extension of the rag market-client relationship, modular stall units are supplied. Allowing the ability to join together and form a larger network of store fronts, promoting business expansion for individual clients.

Hatches can be opened up on all sides depending on client and layout needs and can be closed and locked via a pivot point and latch.

Thus, with time as the clients gain in customers they are granted the ability to grow as well, allowing the market as a whole to evolve alongside them.

Furthermore, as the market floor plan is laid out on a uniform grid, market stalls can be arranged in varying orientations.

Bespoke Modular Market Stalls

DETAILED SECTION & ELEVATION 1:50

Roof Detail

Zinc. standing-seam roofing

Water proof membrane 25mm lam. wood boarding 40/60 mm battens 5 mm under-layer 40 mm thermal insulation/wood fibre under-layer 140 mm + 60 mm wood-fibre thermal insulation 3 mm vapour retarding layer 20 mm laminated maritime pine boarding 400/200 mm Glulam beam 20 mm laminated maritime pine boarding 4mm reflective sheet

Intermediate Floor Detail

500x500 mm Carpet tiles

15 mm Carpet board

120 mm mineral wool insulation

150 mm composite concrete floor slab with shear studs at 2000 mm centers

60 mm Auralex acoustic insulation

762 x 267 secondary Steel UB (castellated) at 2000 mm centers

Alpha wire mesh

The intermediate floor build up of the community spaces differs from that of the other floors, with the intention of conditioning them to a stricter degree than the market floors. To achieve this, the floors have additional thermal insulation, as well as a layer of auralex acoustic insulation on the underside of the composite concrete floor slab. Furthermore, a layer of 500x500 mm carpet tiles are placed over a timber floor deck to add an extra layer of insulation and provide an element of warmth to the more homely areas of the building.

The reflective ceiling of the pitched roof allows North light entering the space to reflect and light up the workshop rooms. As it is North light being reflected, disruption

caused by harsh glare is reduced and the rooms are able to experience a very pleasurable day light factor, optimised for studying, learning and socialising.

In order to make the library floors more intimate, the floor height is lowered compared to that of the market floors, while still allowing ample breathing room for its many occupants.

As the market is constructed out of a steel frame, the materiality of the building may seem quite cold, therefore to introduce an element of warmth, structural & non-structural columns and secondary beams are given playful colours of yellow and matte blue respectively.

Community Centre

The boroughs of Camden and Islington are facing drastic issues involving overcrowding, lack of public space and social isolation. While this building cannot solve these issues, the introduction of an active market and dining place and more importantly the positioning of a community centre, large and active enough to accommodate all those throughout Camden and Islington hoping to socialise, will aid in this endeavour.

Positioning this community centre in such a vital position between the two boroughs will help to draw the community back into the Coal Drops yard area.

Furthermore, as the Camden/Islington community hosts a multi-ethnic, multi-generational population, celebrating a multitude of varied cultures, it would thrive in a collective, multi-purpose community centre large enough to accommodate all of its demographics and needs.

Zinc. standing-seam roofing

Water proof membrane

25mm lam. wood boarding 40/60 mm battens 5 mm under-layer 40 mm thermal insulation/wood fibre under-layer 140 mm + 60 mm wood-fibre thermal insulation 3 mm vapour retarding layer 20 mm laminated maritime pine boarding 400/200 mm Glulam beam 20 mm laminated maritime pine boarding 4 mm reflective sheet

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 9 7

660 mm gutter Gutterboard

Water proof membrane

Double glazing, argon gas, Low - E coat, mechanical control window 4/16/4 mm 85/50mm steel RHS Load-transmitting seal

Double glazing: safety glass, argon gas, lam. safety glass 10/16/12 mm 36mm lam. safety glass fin c.o 3x12 mm toughened glass Alum. shoe for glass fin

Atrium Roof & Gutter Detail 1:20

6

5

8 10 4 4 2 3

1

House Amongst the Clouds

Freelance Architecture Work

Over the summer/fall of 2022, I travelled to Alia-abad, Hunza in the Karakoram range of northern Pakistan to act as the project architect in the design of a contemporary family home.

I began with exploring the regions traditional methods of construction and how they might be applied to efficiently enclose a contemporary scheme. Straying away from the regions modern structural norm of entirely reinforced concrete structures, I hoped to use crafts which have since been pushed aside due to the relative ease of concrete construction.

Thus the scheme incorporates a range of Stone block masonry walls, coated in a clay-mud mix - excellent for retaining thermal mass in the winter and maintaining a cool interior during the summer months - and exposed timber roof structures - representing the rural landscape within the home itself. While infusing these with more modern, western materials such as red bricks and slate roof tiles.

The site has vast views of the surrounding mountains, most notably Rakaposhi, while also possessing a host of Apricot, Mulberry, Russian Olive, and Poplar trees. Dead trees were cut down to be used by locals for warmth in the coming winter, and young Poplar trees which were knocked down to clear an access path to the site were replanted elsewhere. Reducing the impact upon the natural landscape was paramount in designing and preparing this house.

I was also given responsibility for the role of project manager for the preparation of the site for construction, this involved the overseeing of: the excavation of an access road to the site, the laying of a concrete water channel necessary for irrigation of the surrounding crop land and the marking of & excavation of the foundation boundaries.

Furthermore, as there are frequent water shortages in the area, I oversaw the construction of a 12ft x 12ft x 10ft stone masonry water tank, necessary for construction of the house, and the storage of clean water following its completion.

Excavation of access road

Laying of concrete irrigation channel Marking of foundation boundaries

Excavation of site

Construction of underground water tank Internal plastering of water tank

Central corridor

Traditional Pamiri Home

While designing contemporary structures, it is important to recognise and represent past cultural hallmarks.

Where the traditional pamiri house would have been the entirety of the antique abode, fit for: living, dining, and rest. The stove being at its centre for warmth and nourishment.

It is now used as a symbolic gesture as the main living space of the house, centred around the hearth.

Timber roof structure Isometric diagram

Window frames, Balustrades and furniture are all derived from the same tectonic language as the roof structure.

Exterior wall detail section 1:10

100mm Clay-mud mix

200x300mm stone masonry

50mm air cavity

200mm mineral wool insulation

25x40mm timber battens

25mm plasterboard

Roof detail section

1:10

Slate roof tiles

25x40 mm timber battens

water proof membrane

20mm lam. wood boarding

75mm rigid insulation 20 mm lam. wood boarding

150mm rigid insulation within 50 x 150 mm timber joists at 60mm centers

20mm lam. maritime wood boarding 300x200mm timber beam

Model Making

During my time at the University of Bath, I practiced various methods of modelling, ranging from timber work, steel work, and 3D printing, and in all cases, combining these media together.

I believe there is a great importance in model making. To be able to see how a building and its elements inhabit a 3D space outside of software, and be able to interact with that in real space is valuable and often profound.

I felt this particularly while building the 1:2 modular stall model for my 4th year project Reciprocity. I was constructing a model at a scale which I had never considered possible for myself, of a design which I had fabricated entirely by myself. And as the model became realised, I was able to study it to a degree which a smaller scale would not have allowed. And as these modular stalls were vital to my scheme, this was an important opportunity.

Re-use the Ruin Architecture Competition

The Piscina Mirabilis, a landmark of southern Naples, which has throughout time served an integral purpose to its surrounding community. In the past, as a means of sustaining life through the water kept within. To the present, as a bold reminder of the historic feats of ancient Italy.

It is therefore the duty of this task, to reignite the ruined reservoir and restore it, with the means of giving it new purpose. To hold life within once more, not life through water, but through the people and arts inhabited within.

Upon arriving at the ruin, the viewer is greeted with an entirely new structure. Sitting above the ruin lies a homage to ancient roman villas, with the archetypal double roman roof tiles and radiant white stucco walls, establishing the structure as a new landmark.

This building contains all necessary rooms and services of the brief above the ruin, as well as a central courtyard with newly placed skylights.

The Cistern consists of an intermediate mezzanine, running alongside the southern wall, giving viewers a higher perspective of the space and art within. And to signify the ruins previous purpose, a miniature reservoir lies at the centre of the cistern space, bringing natural life back into the bowels of the reservoir.

Despite this, the reservoir ruin is still represented from the outside, as the alcoves running alongside the ruin now fuse into the pilasters of the new structure. With parts of the ancient walls still visible from within the building. Thus creating a contemporary infusion of modern and ancient classical architecture.

Thank you for your consideration, please feel free to contact me regarding any further information.