2023 Portfolio Selected Works

Lench 2023 Portfolio Selection

Ryan

Part II Architectural Assistant

Personal Profile

Ryan Lench

Having worked in a highly regarded practice for the past 12 months, I wish to further my career progression by diversifying my architectural experiences outside of the higher education sector by exploring alternative avenues of the built environment. Highly motivated and hardworking, my passion lies in sustainable design approaches such as Passive House and Net-Zero, creating more efficient buildings and a brighter future for new generations. Throughout my experience in practice and studies, I have developed a range of skills useful for projects of varying scales and degrees of complexity. These include the ability to take initiative working well under pressure, ensuring strict deadlines are met whilst being flexible to change, maintaining high levels of enthusiasm and commitment to

each project. Whilst my short-term aspirations are to work as a fully qualified architect for a well-regarded company my long-term aspirations involve pursuing sustainable design approaches with the intention of specialising in this field.

In my spare time I enjoy cycling being fortunate enough to have been selected for trials for GB Academy. Developing my skills more I am a member of a local triathlon and running club participating in many of their events. Like many I also have a passion for technology this being manifested through my enjoyment of programming and electronics.

University of Leeds | Net Zero Carbon Associated Architects

The project seeks to analyse a series of 21 buildings on behalf of the University of Leeds to determine suitable measures reducing operational carbon emissions. The project scope is currently limited to the 21 buildings chosen by the university, however, the university has further ambition to reduce the operational carbon emissions of the broader campus to zero by 2050. Associated Architects have been assigned 10 buildings approximately 130,000 sqm. to perform detailed analysis and options appraisals with 2 further buildings outside of the original scope to be picked up within a future workstream.

As the sole representative from Associated Architects in addition to a Director overseeing the project my tasks varied significantly throughout the project. After performing initial visual surveys of all buildings, fabric U-value analysis was undertaken by exploring archive construction information and using specialised software to calculate U-values of identified assemblies. This formed the main body of a series of reports from which a series of fabric improvement methods were explored. This involved proposing a series of retrofit construction details accompanied by U-value calculations and additional drawing sets from which M&E consultants were able to conduct extensive operational energy modelling.

Electrical Engineering Intervention Mark-up

Electrical Engineering Typical Details

Garstang Intervention Mark-up

Garstang Typical Details

University of Warwick | Anatomy Feasibility Study Associated Architects

The project seeks to deliver approximately 1,400 sqm of new teaching spaces as part of a refurbishment project to an existing 2-storey office building occupied by the Universities estate’s team. The client had previously worked with Associated Architects for a feasibility study to construct a newbuild clinical anatomy teaching facility, however, for sustainability reasons the University has decided to refurbish an underused building within the estate. Whilst working on the project up to the completion of RIBA Stage 2 my task was to work with university requirements to provide a series of design options which would provide the necessary facilities. Throughout the process, I was involved heavily in

value engineering with budget restrictions imposed by the university. The overall arrangement of spaces met the faculty’s requirements whilst meeting the limitations set out by the Human Tissue Authority regulations due to the nature of activities taking place within the proposed laboratories.

Destination and Departure | Passive House

Thesis Project

The project explores the role and function of a Gallery within modern society. The building typology has remained largely unchanged within its modern sense since the 1590s. However, with advances in technology and cultural shifts should the Art Gallery represent something which no longer just displays significant or expensive artworks? Working with emerging technologies and trends such as virtual reality and digital art the scheme proposes a gallery which no longer emphasises displaying historic works but one which focuses on creating userfocused experiences as well as showcasing the latest technologies.

The Gallery seeks to break the stigma around the art world by showcasing digital artworks that are accessible to all with the recent popularity boom behind the NFT world. The Gallery will host a series of exhibitions showcasing popular NFT artworks whilst allowing visitors to create and display their works leaving a lasting digital footprint within the Gallery. Alternatively, users will be able to experience a range of visually stimulating experiences through different media such as visual projection and augmented reality. Users will be able to choose from a library of Augmented Reality showcases enabling them to explore different exhibitions simultaneously within the same space creating a truly unique experience.

1. Movement

2. Enclosure

3. Public Realm

4. Identity

Basement + Mezzanine

1. Cloak Room 2. Staff Workshop 3. Staff Motion Capture Studio

Motion Capture Changing Facilities

Motion Capture Control Room

Mechanical Room

Black Box Exhibitions

Subway Station Concourse

Section B-B

Section A-A

Gallery Central Atrium

Gallery Exhibition Space

Gallery Cafe

Gallery Black Box

[1]

Fresh air is drawn in through the air intake located within the centre of the courtyard where it is passed through a series of filters removing any pollutants. The intake is located here as it is surrounded by vegetation which will act as natural filtration removing any pollutants from the surrounding air. Once the air has passed through a series of filters it is directed towards the Ground Source Heat Pump.

[2]

Stale air is extracted from the conditioned spaces through a series of vents spaced 10m apart along the ceiling of the conditioned spaces. The air is then directed through a series of ducts to the MVHR system located within the mechanical room. Once the air has gone through the MVHR system it is directed to the roof of the Gallery building where it is exhausted into the surroundings.

[3]

A Ground Source Heat Pump is used to pre-warm air during the winter and pre-cool air during the summer. Air is directed from the air intake fan into the GSHP where it passes through a water to air heat exchange unit. The GSHP operates by passing water through a series of underground pipes located just below the surface of the landscaping uses the temperature difference to extract heat.

[4]

An MVHR system is used within the scheme to recover the remaining energy left within the stale air before it is exhausted from the building. The stale air is directed to the MVHR system where the remaining energy is extracted and added to the supply air being circulated throughout the building. The remaining air is then directed to the exhaust vents located.

MVHR

Air Intake

Ground Source Heat Pump

Air Extract

[5] Heat Recovery

Heat Recovery systems are used within the AR Void to generate hot water within the scheme. This system works in combination with the double-skin façade. As air is warmed within the double-skin façade the warm air rises where it is then captured and drawn into a air to water heat exchanger. Energy is extracted from warm air and is used to warm water which can be used throughout the scheme.

[6] Double Skin Facade

The double skin is used to pre-warm air for use within the AR Void as this space is unconditioned. The air within the double skin is warmed up by the sun before being drawn into the AR Void through a series of intake vents located at the top of the void by the heat exchange units. During the summer months, the intake vents can be reversed and used to extract warm air from the void helping to cool the space.

[7] Combined Solar

A Combined Solar system is located on the roof of the AR Void and is used to generate power and additional hot water for use within the scheme. This is an ideal location as there is no shading covering any of the roof and will not be visible to passers-by. Generating energy on-site will help to offset the energy demand of the systems used within the gallery whilst providing sufficient energy to run the mechanical systems.

[8] Rainwater Harvesting

As the landscaping within the scheme contains a mixture of soft and hard surfaces it is possible to use a rainwater harvesting system within the scheme with the collected water being used within the scheme. Collected water can be used to water the landscaping within the summer months as well as used for flushing toilets and within the cafe kitchens within the scheme.

Barrowland Spine Group Urban Design

The Barras exists today as a home for multiple small businesses with budding creative spaces, however these all operate independently and give the Barras a fragmented nature. The Spine as a design intervention aims to create a more cohesive Barras experience by connecting these fragments and harnessing vacant areas to introduce activities that interrelate and embrace the creative direction which the region is heading towards.

The scheme aims to-do this through a series of 2 main intervention points. The first of which being the large triangle are at the top of the site. The scheme transforms this area into a community

focused development which will be home to the a proposed new society call the Barras Conservation Society who will be tasked with managing the development. The area also creates a series of new indoor garden spaces which work in partnership with the University of Strathclyde’s plant research group.

The second intervention location is the defined ‘Barras’ area and will become Glasgow’s new creative quarter building on the budding art culture within the area. This area will not only focus on the arts but a range of other talents providing facilities for local residents to develop their talents.

Mill Street Mews | Passive House Housing Project

The project seeks to build on the group masterplan by developing housing next to a proposed market. There is an existing mill present which will be removed for the creation of the homes and the market. The project forms a contemporary approach to terraced housing by offering residents more space and more efficient housing through the adoption of Passive House.

The project is informed partially by an existing brick portion of the mill noting the character of the gable end roof along with the many setbacks present in other parts of the mill. These setbacks have become a dominant feature within the project breaking the

traditional single plane frontage of many terraced streets within the area. This subtle change in plane is used to create additional defensible space at the front of the property alongside the definition of individual properties, something not present in Corn Street adjacent to the site.

Providing a mixture of home sizes the development is suitable for the demographics of the site offering smaller homes for single occupancy and or elderly. Larger homes such as model 98A/B are suitable for families of most sizes capable of housing 5 residents. The largest of homes available is suitable for large/ growing families offering 23m2 of adaptable space which can be configured as additional living space or bedrooms.

achieving a U-value

greater than current building regulations. Air flow through the envelope is highly controlled built to Passive House standards

throughout the home reducing running costs.

All dwellings are zero performance performance envelope. upfront costs buyers they have combined

[1] High Performance Envelope Exterior walls are highly insulated

4x

of 0.6h-1 @50Pa.

[2] Triple Glazed Windows High performance triple glazed windows are used throughout reducing thermal transmission. Alongside reducing energy consumption they also have great acoustic performance.

[3] Climate Control Split zone climate control is used throughout managed by a HVAC unit. Alongside this a heat recovery system is used to redistribute heat

[4] Net Zero

Passive House Planning Package Results

Passive

Results

Zero Capable capable of net due to their high envelope. To reduce buyers can choose if combined solar installed.

Combined solar can be fitted at the request of the buyer allowing the dwelling to become net zero. Combined solar will provide both hot water and electricity to the dwelling.

(Solar Yield in PH Results Above)

With the addition of

window

larger window openings

used without affecting building performance reducing the demand for artificial lighting.

[5] Combined Solar*

[7] Natural Light

triple glazed

units,

and skylights are

[6] Rainwater Harvesting Rainwater is collected from the dwelling roof and is used as domestic grey water. In conjunction low-flow fixtures are used along with dual flush toilets to reduce water consumption.

Passive House Planning Package Results