Marcu Dinca - Architectural Portfolio

email: marcudinca@gmail.com

Tel: 07585600143

Marcu Dinca - CV

Architecture has defined how I view places from early on. Having lived in Romania for the first 12 years of my life, I had always described Romanian cities by their “communist” style blocks. This had made me realise that even to a child the architecture of a place had the power to define whole cultural views. Because of this, I strived to create architecture that truly considers all the ways it can effect the its context by understanding its surrounding socio-cultural, environmental and typological issues.

Architectural Experience:

2016 - 2019 Portsmouth University Undergraduate Degree:

My undergraduate course at Portsmouth was very constructive as I had a limited understanding of Architecture beforehand. The time at Portsmouth had spiked my interest in Urban Design and Sensory Design. To me, these practices seemed most fruitful and complex therefore I began my research into designing within Urban Contexts and creating sensory enticing spaces.

2019 - 2020 BrightSpace Architects - Part 1 Architect:

My Part 1 at Brightspace offered a good understanding of how different types of projects can unfold across the different RIBA workstages. While my involvement was mostly between stages 0-3, I had worked on many different types of projects during the key design & development stages.

During this period, I had major involvement in:

Grade II listed Recording Studio (S2-3) - Air Studios

Bespoke Home (S1-3)

Changing Rooms (S0-3)

- Lake House

- Fordingbridge Football Club

400 House Pre-App Development (S0-1) - Pagham South Masterplan

And minor involvement in:

Factory Reception & Staff Area (S3)

Art-Deco penthouse renovation (S4-5)

- Faerch Plast

- Bournemouth Yelverton Rd

Residential & Mixed-Use Apartment(S2) - Luxury Apartments, Poole

2021 - 2023 Oxford Brookes University MArchD:

My experience at BrightSpace had formed an interest in Urban Design and when I joined Brookes it was with the intent of doing the Urban Design specialisation. Year 1 was that, focusing on understanding typologies, context and also trying to re-connect with my previous interest in Sensory Design.

This led to my 2nd year which intended to look at and understand the Sensory Experience in the urban context of Bath. These 2 years helped develop my understanding of designing in historic contexts while incorporating biophilic sensory and well-being strategies.

Softwares:

Year 3 Final Project

Part 1 - Faerch Plast Factory Reception

Year 5 Final Project

Undergraduate Degree Works

The Youth Hostel

Year: 2017

Team: Year 2 Undergraduate

Type: Training facility & hostel.

Key Learning Points: Responding to context to address - form, orientation, use, client & vernacular languages.

A brief to design a hostel/activity centre for a client that we see fit for the context. The retreated Hilsea Lines location had young cadets training throught the site which sparked the idea of a training facility that accomodates training needed to become a cadet. This decision was also made due to the neighbouring Cosham College and their Army Preparatory Course, which could also use the site as it’s a 10 minute walk from the college.

Section showing training course integrated with the building.

Axonometric showing displacement of private/public spaces.

The Local Theatre

Year: 2018

Team: Year 2 Undergraduate

Type: Local flexible centre (Cinema, Community centre & Theatre). Key Learning Points: Urban understanding and application using Kevin Lynch principles.

An open brief with no client, but a strategy to analyse urban spaces and devise a client based on the needs of the surrounding context. The given analysis style was the Lynch Urban Analysis.

A study of urban spaces

Concluding the Lynch analysis I had found that the area I had picked to study, just east of Garrison Church, had major flaws in how it was occupied. The space lacked good traffic to and from the seaside, a large green area that went heavily unused and a lack of nodes which offer activities to gather more people, new visitors and local.

Site plan showing integration with context.

View showing blue integration and perforated CorTen steel for internal atmospheric light.

Hiveology

Year: 2018

Team: Year 3 Undergraduate

Type: Urban settlement on the Moon

Key Learning Points: Understanding all needs for life in a settlement, how these can be produced and how architecture can accommodate them.

A brief for a self sustaining shelter and expanding colony on the Moon. The design had many unusual challenges from analysing the needs for basic human survival in outer space, to coming up with a expansion strategy. The proposal saw great opportunities for exploring representation as well as abnormal forms.

Subterranean Escape

Year: 2019

Team: Year 3 Undergraduate - Final Project

Type: Pollution research facility with accommodation. Key Learning Points: Responding to limited architectural context and understanding how to design respectfully to an AONB.

A heavily uninhabited site with little to no structures around on the Isle of Wight Needles proposed a different kind of challenge. An observatory alongside study areas and accommodation on the edge of a cliff with a chalked ground structure where there is close to no greenery.

The project saw plenty of experimentation with structures above ground, however, the site saw no need for any structures in order to add beauty as it would mostly impose on the natural beauty that is existing on the site. Therefore the idea to lower the building into the ground with only 1 observation tower above ground and expose the underground structure at certain points for light seemed the best idea to protect the natural beauty.

Conceptual structural section & plan of cliff integrated dwellings.

View of slanted walkway which starts the descent into the subterranean escape.

Site Plan view showing minimal visual impact to landscape.

Section showing the lowering of the structure within the needles cliff side.

View showing bedroom’s integration with natural rock surfaces.

View showing living area’s levels and light integration.

Part 1 Works

Lake House

Year: 2019 - 2020

Team: BrightSpace Architects

Type: Bespoke 5 Bedroom house in Surrey.

Key Learning Points: Understanding how to work with an existing structure in an AONB and taking the design through planning.

A forgotten 11 acres in Surrey that provided as many opportunities for a beautiful bespoke home as it had restrictions due to it being in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The proposal was to lower the bottom half into the hillside on the existing site with a smaller hill partly blocking the lower half. The proposal ended up getting approved and is now undergoing Stage 5-6 RIBA.

proposed 3d view View showing conceptual house shape integration with landscape.

Photomontage - Perspective View Across Lake

View showing conceptual house on existing site.

Elevation view showing landscape leading up to lower floor integration to landscape.

Fordingbridge Changing Rooms

Year: 2019 - 2020

Team: BrightSpace Architects

Type: Changing Rooms Renovation.

Key Learning Points: Re-structuring internal layout and providing more room with minimal extensions outside the footprint.

A forgotten 11 acres in Surrey that provided as many opportunities for a beautiful bespoke home as it had restrictions due to it being in an area of outstanding natural beauty. The proposal was to lower the bottom half into the hillside on the existing site with a smaller hill partly blocking the lower half. The proposal ended up getting approved and is now undergoing Stage 5-6 RIBA.

Isonometric view showing changing rooms open when in use.

Existing eAST SITE sECTION

Visual

Elevation showing old clubhouse next to proposed new changing rooms.

Proposed eAST SITE sECTION

19048 - Fordingbridge Sports Pavilion | November 2019

View showing approach to the new changing rooms.

Fordingbridge Sports Pavilion | November 2019

Drawings not to scale

ELEMENTS

Elevation showing new proposal integrated within Grade II existing building.

Faerch Plast Factory

Year: 2019 - 2020

Team: BrightSpace Architects

Type: Reception, staff areas and offices.

Key Learning Points: Understanding public involvement and getting involved in public consultation prep and delivery.

Faerch is a international packaging company and they came to BrightSpace with a brief to design their new reception, staff areas and offices. This space had to accommodate for a courtyard, changing rooms, offices, canteen and main entrance/reception. We decided to go for a lower stature building as to not impose on the residential structures across the road. This was compensated with a slanting room to allow for an open feeling on the approach.

Floor plan showing rec. areas, integration to existing factory and relationship to existing street.

View showing perspective from the street and green buffer.

Art Deco Renovation

Year: 2019 - 2020

Team: BrightSpace Architects

Type: Interior Penthouse Renovation

Key Learning Points: Understanding how material schedules come together.

I joined this project at stage 4&5 with the role of aiding in preparing the material schedule. The project is an art-deco renovation in the city of Bournemouth with bespoke interior finishes. My role was to render and bring to life the desired finishes of the client and prepare material schedules for the contractor.

View showing lobby & private elevator area of the penthouse.

Postgraduate Degree Works

This project aims to understand the Socio-Cultural issues which affect the Urban Landscape of Dubai. It delves into understanding and criticising the list of local priorities in terms of constructions from Sustainability, Economic Structure, Transport Systems, Urban Environment & Socio-Cultural. The project aims to also understand vernacular architecture in order to provide a grounded project to provide a Hybrid Identity for Dubai rather than the global one it is currently designed for.

Axonometric showing Street with vehicle access and tram stop.

Site plan showing tram integration into the development and marshlands interaction with the sea.

Axonometric showing Street with green & blue strip.

Render showing Semi private courtyards.

Site Floor Plan showing internal & external layouts.

Render showing

Public Realm aspect of the development.

Render showing landmark effect of the wind tower.

QR Code leading to YouTube flythrough of development.

Biophilic Escapism

Year: 2022/2023

Team: Year 5 - Masters

Type: Sensory Retreat

Key Learning Points: Incorporating sensory design guidelines for improved well-being across all levels of urban design.

This architectural project embraces the Trauma Design Guidelines principles to create a healing space for individuals recovering from traumatic experiences. The aim is to foster a sense of safety, empowerment, and tranquillity within the built environment, supporting the holistic healing process. This project will work in conjunction with Trauma Recovery Centre in Bath and will provide a posttreatment safe space for people to transition into their lives by entering a safe transitional space.

The project explores tackling issues related to the negative sensory exprience at different scales within the city of Bath. It starts by looking at the city-wide scale and provides a sensory friendly network along the river and adds space for green infrastructure additions. It then scales into the site scale where it provides green filters and miandering paths which

The proposal features a character areas suchas the Orangery and the Retreats. These all come together through re-purposing of existing structure, introducing new structure as arches, and creating walkways utilising perforated corten steel panels.

River Walkway

Green Park Station Orangery

Walkways

River Walkway

Green Park Station Orangery

Walkways

“Front Stage”, the Georgian city centre, the river.

it stops at the river, not interferring with City. One of the only industrial pieces of the Green Park Station. This has remained where it is currently used as a car park. both the city centre and the Trauma closely with. This site is halfway along the the 5.4km route.

Diagram showing integration from City-Wide to Site to individual Retreat.

Marcu Dinca

Researching Hempcrete and finding precedents to follow.

STRUCTURAL STRATEGY

Section through Retreat showing structural design.

Internal wall supporting beam

Conceptual model/render exploring green integration with arches. Finished product showing green integration with arches.

Site Section showing topography, relation to river and general height in relation to context.

Highlighting goals & methodologies.

ABSTRACT

Biophilic Escapism

This architectural project embraces the Trauma Design Guidelines principles to create a healing space for individuals recovering from traumatic experiences. The aim is to foster a sense of safety, empowerment, and tranquility within the built environment, supporting the holistic healing process. This project will work in conjunction with Trauma Recovery Centre in Bath and will provide a post-treatment safe space for people to transition into their lives by entering a safe transitional space.

The design will double down as a sensory retreat, where people overwhelmed by the urban environment of Bath could escape to without leaving the city.

Thank You!

Thank you for taking the time to look into my portfolio. Please feel free to use the details below to contact me. If you would like to see more of any of my samples of work from the pages above, please let me know and I will bring those to an in-person meeting. I look forward to discussing the opportunity of working together.

The design incorporates principles of biophilic architecture, promoting connections with nature to restore emotional well-being. Abundant natural light, soothing colors, and organic materials create a serene atmosphere. Thoughtful spatial planning enhances privacy, allowing for personal introspection.

email: marcudinca@gmail.com

Tel: 07585600143

The project emphasizes sensory considerations, incorporating acoustic dampeners such as soft materials and greenery to minimize triggers and promote a calm environment. Integration of aromatherapy, soft textures, and comfortable seating. This promotes relaxation and provides opportunities for grounding and self-regulation.

In alignment with trauma-informed care, the architecture embodies principles of choice and empowerment. Flexible spaces allow for personalized adjustments and individual control over lighting, temperature, and sound levels. Private therapy rooms, proximity to the Trauma Recovery Centre allows people to travel along the safety of the Green Strip and engage with their therapists if there is a need for it.