UCL_Architecture & Design_Portfolio

LUCAS MCCARRON

DESIGN & ARCHITECTURE PORT FOLIO SELECTED WORKS 2 0 1 9 - 2 0 2 4...

A D A P T E D F O R U C L..

FOREWORD

School of Art, Design and Architecture Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business Plymouth University Drake Circus Plymouth, Devon | PL4 8AA www.plymouth.ac.uk

To the admissions tutor:

18 February 2024

I am writing to support Lucas McCarron’s application to the MArch programme.

I have taught Lucas throughout his BA (Hons) Architecture degree at the University of Plymouth, where he obtained a first class qualification. Lucas has distinguished himself from the beginning among a very strong cohort, mainly through his particular sensibility combining context awareness, tectonic refinement, and passion for the technical and constructive aspects of architectural design. In his first year, Lucas was part of a live project team that delivered the Riverside outdoors classroom, a participative design built entirely by our students; the merits of the project have been recognised through the RIBA MacEwen Award commendation.

Although I have supported Lucas’s development across the Design, as well as History & Theory in Critical Context streams throughout the degree, it was during his Y3 dissertation that I became particularly well acquainted with his worldview, ethos, and approach to the field and practice of architecture. Lucas’ praxis centres on the idea of architecture as meaningful social gesture, which has to negotiate between various factors and forces impinging on both the context of application and the potential proposal. In his theoretical work, he was particularly concerned with how places and artefacts of memory can make manifest and tacitly support conditions of racial, spatial, and socio-economic injustice. This attitude is highly transferable into critical design work, where attentive untangling of all these aspects at complex urban scales can directly inform the quality of the proposed work. In his work outside part 1, Lucas has also kept developing his expertise of traditional and contemporary techniques of construction, testing these through smaller scale builds, whilst also keeping up with the complexities of larger practice (e.g. medical facilities) through his placement work.

Lucas’ other interests – his passion for sustainability, alongside his appetency for music – also contribute to shaping his approach to architecture – interdisciplinary, rich and critical, and focused on meaningful action towards change. Through these qualities, as well as his rigour and impeccable work ethic, Lucas is ideally suited to integrate any Part 2 design studio. Therefore, it is my pleasure to recommend him for yours.

Should you require further information, I would be happy to provide it via the email contact listed below.

Yours sincerely, Dr Ioana Popovici | Lecturer in Architecture B.Arch, M.Arch, PhD | ioana.popovici@plymouth.ac.uk Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

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School of Art, Design and Architecture | Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business University of Plymouth Roland Levinsky Building | Room 401

CONTENTS

MIND BODY SOUL University of Plymouth, Year 3

p. 1 - 4

THE GROWING SHELTER University of Plymouth, Year 3

p. 5 - 6

FRAME University of Plymouth, Year 3

p. 7

PEOPLES PERFORMING ARTS University of Plymouth, Year 2

p. 8

YEAR 3 DISSERTATION Objectification of Colonial Ideology

p. 9

GATHER MAKE LEARN University of Plymouth, Year 1

p. 10

THORNEWOOD HOUSE No. 5 Church Square, Bristol

p. 11

365 - Health Spa, Lympstone Manor - Design Review

1.00 Design Proposal

KTA Architects & Urban Designers

p. 12

RSA Rud Sawers Architects, Totnes

p. 13 - 14

Proposal, looking across existing pool

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MIND BODY SOUL Stonehouse is rich with creativity and expression, yet neglected by local funding, facing major socioeconomic pressures, medical crises and threat from climate related flooding. How can these challenges be faced to secure and solidify an increasingly disparate community?

Mind Body Soul incorporates programmes of public bathing and clay sculpting, reviving forgotten local rituals from the site. Drawing from Japanese bathing culture, it aims to evoke collective wellness and foster community bonds through shared memories and traditions.

p. 1

MIND BODY SOUL BATH TEA STATION

SENSORY DEPRIVATION CAPSULES

GROUND FLOOR PLAN 1:200 [Right]

FIRST FLOOR PLAN 1:200 [Below]

1. Natural marsh pool 2. Walkway approach 3. Descent to changing rooms 4. Public gallery and archive/ storage 5. Water tanks and under pool facilities 6. The bathers central gathering and bath tea grinding station 7. Shinrin-Yoku forest 8. Heated natural marsh pool 9. Falling water massage (utase-

1. Walking showers and prewash station/toiletries 2. Rest and cool area (with bath tea facilities) 3. Water tank sensory deprivation therapy 4. Entry to bar, lobby and cloak room

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GROUND FLOOR PLAN

p. 2

MIND BODY SOUL SECOND FLOOR PLAN 1. Sculpture reveal 2. Upper art and sculpture exhibition space 3. Light well to baths 4. Sculptors overlook, hired art rooms 5. Clay workshop 6. Clay firing 7. r Roof garden for outdoor exhibitions 8. Retracting panels 9. Seeing the journey ahead, allowing natural light to ground displays

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p. 3

THREE FLOOR AXONOMETRIC

MIND BODY SOUL

Exploring tactility, materiality and phenomenology was key in allowing the idea of embodied space to permeate from research to manifestation, and design synthesis naturally adopted a tactile and tangible methodology, often making use of clay - a central programmatic aspect implemented as a social mediator.

Models assisted in key aspects of physical design decisions threshold, vertical interactions, play of light, spatial hierarchy and geometry of the facade.

Modelling is an intuitive, meditative and experimental design methodology, and the intention was for this emotional process to transmute into the feel of the design.

EXISTING CAR PARK STRUCTURAL GRID

STRUCTURAL SYNTHESIS

p. 4

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THE GROW NG SHELT ER Devonport is a culturally diverse district of Plymouth, currently facing economic deprivation and encroachment of urban schemes threatening vital shared public spaces. How can parks function holistically and self-sufficiently in order to reduce commercial intrusion, allowing them to remain in the hands of the public users?

Our scheme aimed to unravel the palimpsest of historic sites across Devonport Park. Growing Shelter adapts an existing air-raid bunker, a buried monument of a once essential community shelter during the second world war.

The new programme is intended to bring prevalence to local agricultural groups through the creation of a self-sustained, small scale circular economy incorporating aquaponics systems, countering rising food prices in struggling communities.

p. 5

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THE GROW NG SHELT ER PROCESS & SYNTHESIS Our group scheme created a framework that fed directly in to a series of proposals. Some of these proposals were developed as individual projects and others existed as part of a wider outline masterplan.

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Devonport Peoples Park

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These included the addition of new public transport and electric tram routes, a bypass utilising existing infrastructure to reduce traffic, inner city fishing pools and pop-up markets utilising historic sites.

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I created a plan and design for the conceptual model [Top] and constructed it in collaboration with two group colleagues.

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The masterplan intervention schemes [Below] were also my work, designed in Adobe Illustrator.

Devonport Peoples Park

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Devonport Peoples Park

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Devonport Peoples Park

Welcome To Devonport

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FRAME A collaborative project working with sustainable forestry groups to design an seating space that aims to frame and express the story of Fingle Woods forest, highlighting its rich, prehistoric past.

This was a team based experience, we decided to camp out to immerse ourselves in the Fingle Woods to gain a more tactile understanding of the site and materiality. *All work showcased is my formatting based around a collaborative digital model that I was continuously involved with*

p. 7

THE PEOPLES PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE With aspirations greatly affected by the philistinistic attitude of the 2020 government towards the arts sector with deprecating campaigns to encourage re’skilling, alongside a city-wide loss of culturally significant venues and pubs, this space affords prestige to the artdependent local community by placing their talents at the forefront.

A project responding to the Plymouth National Marine Park coastal rejuvenation scheme, aiming to use this influx of funding to reinstate the seafront as a place that has, historically, dissolved social boundaries. The intention is to utilise the transcendent language of performance to bridge increasingly disparate communities in the area.

p. 8

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YEAR 3 DISSERTATION: OBJECTIFICATION OF COLONIAL IDEOLOGY The widely publicised Black Lives Matter protests of 2020-2021 in the UK sparked the public dismantlement of monuments representing figures responsible for an uncomfortable British colonial history of slavery, persecution and oppression. This was a public reaction to persistent, deeply engrained cultural hegemonies and pedagogies.

This dissertation confronts Britains self-centred postcolonial memorialisation of history, interrogating monuments as a layer of the urban environment, and exploring how hegemonies, imagined traditions and ritual behaviours are spatially perpetuated.

A network of imposed memory

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ESSAY STRUCTURE Architecture is explored as a landscape that can inflict psychological control, mapping points solidified history within the built environment, touching on themes such as Michel Foucaults (Jeremy Benthams) theory of the urban ‘Panopticon’.

Relationships are drawn to contemporary issues such as digital media, which risks becoming a weighted blanket spread across a landscape of false histories, augmenting misinformation.

Ultimately, the essay urges towards an architecture of malleability that enables dialectical inquiry, seeking ways of enabling conversations and fostering diversity as the new norm.

Tota l Proj ising ectio ns

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A network of imposed memory

p. 9

GATHER MAKE LEARN Featured by RIBA - [ https:// rb.gy/m8p1vj ] This collaborative project during my first year at University of Plymouth saw the full stage construction of an outdoor learning area at Riverside Community Primary, with a brief intending to encourage children to learn through doing and moving, challenging the traditional classroom structure.

Our class worked towards a final design selected from one team, and then undertook the construction process together by allocating specific roles. My jobs included sourcing and preparing recycled pallets and offcuts in the wood workshop into usable wood bricks and pallet walls, taking care to assure these were suitable for use by children.

[Photo credits: Andrew Morris, Lucas Voss]

p. 10

THORNEWOOD HOUSE NO. 5 CHURCH SQUARE, CLUTTON After passing this project through the planning process and passing successfully on first submission (changes only to external cladding), we took on the construction of this low energy home from the ground up, in place of an existing disused garage.

Construction was intended to be minimal waste, and we aimed to reuse materials and offcuts wherever possible.

This was a drastic learning opportunity for myself as I personally completed design and planning phase alongside my grandad - a carpenter, and worked from to foundation to construction.

The build was completed after 10 months of construction with 2-3 on site workers including myself, and the help of electricitians, plasterers and crane operators.

p. 11

KTA ARCHITECTS & URBAN DESIGNERS Following our self build project, I took up a position as a Part 1 Architectural Assistant at KTA Architects, Exeter.

During my time here, I had the opportunity to work on primarily on a range of NHS based healthcare projects, including initial design & massing for new build hospitals and extensions, as well as floor plans and room layouts for wards and retrofits. I also worked briefly on large scale residential design and detailing.

Using Adobe Suite and Revit extensively, I worked from RIBA stage 0 to stage 4 over a range of different projects, as well as working with many medical departments, GP practices and dealing directly with clients, requiring specific design responses and unique solutions.

I learned a lot about collaborative practice and the nature of large scale projects during this experience, and explored new MMC techniques, modern construction and design technologies.

Contractors to check all dimensions on drawings.

Any discrepancies must be reported to KTA Architects Ltd or the contract administrator before proceeding.

Do not scale except for planning purposes, work to figured dimensions.

A Fire Consultant must be appointed for this project. KTA drawings & schedules to be read in conjunction with the Fire Consultant Fire Strategy Report.

The Fire Strategy Report takes precedence over any KTA drawing or schedule & any discrepancy should be brought to KTA’s attention This drawing must be read in conjunction with all relevant consultants drawings.

This drawing is

KTA Architects Ltd. Revision Schedule

Revision Number

Revision Date

Issued/ Authorised by

Revision Description

Contractors to check all dimensions on drawings.

Any discrepancies must be reported to KTA Architects Ltd or the contract administrator before proceeding.

RK

IN

SS

Do not scale except for planning purposes, work to figured dimensions.

RE

OG

PR

A Fire Consultant must be appointed for this project. KTA drawings & schedules to be read in conjunction with the Fire Consultant Fire Strategy Report.

The Fire Strategy Report takes precedence over any KTA drawing or schedule & any discrepancy should be brought to KTA’s attention

WO

This drawing must be read in conjunction with all relevant consultants drawings.

This drawing is

KTA Architects Ltd. Revision Schedule

Revision Number

Revision Date

Issued/ Authorised by

Revision Description

Winslade House, Winslade Park, Manor Drive, Clyst St. Mary, Exeter, EX5 1FY Tel: 01392 360338 Email: kt@kta.uk.com Web: www.kta.uk.com

Author

Chckd by

Checker

Project

2272

Drawing number

2272-KTA-xx-xx-xx-A-0044

Scale Status

@ A1

Pre-Construction

Plot date: 27/04/2023 16:19:24

Title

Author

U:\Lucas.McCarron\Local\2272-KTA-BM-XX-M3-A-Building Model_lucas.mccarronD55C9.rvt

Project

Medical Hub Building

1 to 50 Cladding Option Axo's

QMF 128 -V1.0 - 24/11/2022

RK

WO

IN

SS

RE

OG

PR

Winslade House, Winslade Park, Manor Drive, Clyst St. Mary, Exeter, EX5 1FY Tel: 01392 360338 Email: kt@kta.uk.com Web: www.kta.uk.com

Author

LM

Project

2272

Chckd by

Scale

LF

Status

Drawing number

2272-KTA-ZZ-01-VS-A-0202

@ A1

Pre-Construction

Plot date: 17/03/2023 16:39:16

Title

Open Plan Office Axo

U:\Lucas.McCarron\Local\2272-KTA-BM-XX-M3-A-Building Model_lucas.mccarronD55C9.rvt

Project

Breast Care, Histopathology & Medical Records Building

QMF 128 -V1.0 - 24/11/2022

p. 12

RSA RSA - LARGE SCALE RESIDENTIAL Following my time at KTA, I decided to gain experience in a smaller architecture firm to better understand the difference in practice when dealing with smaller projects in a fastpaced a close-knit team.

Rud Sawers Architects offered me an invaluable experience as a Part 1 Architectural Designer, working within a range of sectors.

Entering this 99 house scheme mid construction using 2D drafting software was a great way to improve my detailing knowledge.

p. 13

RSA RSA SMALL SCALE - RESIDENTIAL During this time, I dealt directly with clients, contractors, consultants and planners and eventually began running projects. I primarily used Adobe Suite, Sketchup, MicroStation, and sketching skills to work on design and development, detailing, and achieving planning permission.

[Top Right] - Technical detailing for stage 4 of a three bed residential build, liaising with roof designers and contractors.

[Bottom Left] - Concept for a client, timber infil structure within a historic (non-listed) first floor courtyard.

[Bottom Right] - Collaborative design with Rud for a replacement dwelling, surrounded by a small dense pine forest.

p. 14

RSA RSA - EDUCATION, INDUSTRIAL, BESPOKE This experience allowed me to build unique techniques to liase with clients, and develop designs progressively, as well as increasing my appreciation and care for finer details, materiality and achieving a design that emboddies and reflects the needs of the client.

[Top Right] - Creating detailed sections for a large school extension including classrooms and supporting spaces.

[Bottom] - CADing Ruds design and creating plans for a series of industrial units intended for multifunctionality as offices, storage and small business uses.

[Bottom Left] - Preliminary design for a private client, a small footprint wellbeing spa and gym adjoining an existing pool. Envisioned as a multi-use adaptable space.

365 - Health Spa, Lympstone Manor - Design Review

Proposal

Proposal, looking across existing pool

p. 15