My thesis proposal exists as an exploration of strategies for facilitating the preservation of transient manifestations of commerce in Cardiff, through the reaffirmation of their identities through the establishment of a more permanent threshold.
In this regard my thesis is underpinned by an understanding of the deeply intertwined link between transient manifestations of commerce and explorers of the urban landscape, with both existing as alternative evocations of nomadism in architecture - tying the two of them together through a newfound interpretation of “the transient market”.
In the future, see linear threshold flourishing as a newfound vessel for manifestations of transient commerce, which ideally will serve as a catalyst within Cardiff for promoting a resurgence in the more individualistic and personalised shopfront across all iterations of commerce. Furthermore, through the creation of this newly commercial and transitional territory, I hope to instil the desire for urban exploration within the urban fabric, echoing the literary writings of Augé and Coverley
The life of signage unfolds in three evocative phases. In its vibrant stage, the sign is bold and intentional, freshly painted with crisp typography and vivid red accents that clearly communicate a message, embodying both civic and commercial identity for nomadic passersby and vendors. Over time, it enters a faded state of transition as paint chips, colours bleach, and legibility diminishes while neglect sets in, imbuing the sign with quiet melancholy, no longer useful yet not fully forgotten. Finally, it becomes haunted, a ghostly remnant of its former self, reduced to faint traces and palimpsests etched into the urban skin. No longer an active communicator, it becomes a silent witness to layers of lost history, commerce, and community.
B.Arch | 2023
St Vincents Sundial Mural
Silverthorne Lane Temple Meads, Bristol
We were tasked with designing an intervention based in Bristol Temple Meads which could take the form of: “A gift, an opening, a reframing, an announcement or a tweak”.
Silverthorne Lane is defined by its previous identity as an industrial powerhouse, with the remements of old industrial structures scattered alongside the road. St Vincents Works in particular is a defining piece of architecture who’s presence on the sight remains dominant through how the remains of its arches casts a series of stunning shadows across the adjacent fieldstone wall. These shadows truly defined mood and atmosphere of the road and served as the basis for my desire to explore the intimate relationship between shadow and texture.
As such my intervention took the form of a sundial which sought to highlight the connection between present day Bristol Temple Meads and its past industrial heritage.
Bristol Temple Quarter is one of the UK’s largest regeneration projects and a place set to change beyond recognition over the next 20 years as a part of Bristol's One City Plan
Since the rapid growth of Bristol as a commercial centre in the early 1800’s the area has developed as a light industrial landscape with a variety of built typologies cut through
by large-scale infrastructure and characterised by its association with the industrial era. Occupied by several defining pieces of architecture such as Bristol Temple Meads station, a station of great national historical significance, it is evident that Temple Meads is a place greatly defined by its historical heritage.
The sundial intervention was designed to be subtle and unobtrusive, allowing the beauty of the shadows to remain the focal point while blending seamlessly into the existing site. As a natural outcome of an in-depth exploration of shadow movement, the proposal features a series of 10mm lacquered brass inserts embedded into the fieldstone wall, marking the seasonal shadow lines cast by St Vincent’s central arch. Complementing this, the adjacent road and footpath are repaved in Yorkstone, aligning with the site’s ongoing redevelopment and enhancing the overall visitor experience.
Sundial Intervention Detail Section
St Vincents Works Proposed Sundial Mural
B.Arch | 2023
Subterranean Library
Feeder Road | Temple Meads, Bristol
In light of the redevelopment and lack of libraries near Temple Meads, my semester 2 proposal strives to reaffirm Bristol Temple Meads’ ties to the industrial era through the introduction of an Underground Public Library, which will specialize in the archiving of books/media tied to the history of Bristol Temple Meads.
Through the exploration of light and shadow as tools for informing our perception of spaces, my proposal will challenge the notion of what a library can be, whilst building upon the proposed redevelopment plans. As my proposal will serve as a beacon of information and knowledge for the local community, educating new residents about the site, whilst ensuring the preservation of Temple Mead’s distinct industrial heritage.
With the sunken courtyard being at the core of the scheme, the building’s circulation guides users around in a loop around the courtyard moving through each pavilion in sequence, allowing inhabitants to maintain constant views of the River Avon and Feeder Canal as they traverse the site. The 3 pavilions enclose the sunken courtyard, establishing a degree of privacy from the adjacent street, whilst creating a vibrant and biodiverse park for people to inhabit. The space enclosed by the pavilions aims to function as a key social space for those inhabiting the neighbouring development as well as those passing through the site via the cycle path and Feeder Road.
Belsize Park House involves the refurbishment and façade retention of a three-storey residence in North London, alongside the excavation of a fullfootprint basement to create additional living space. The project presents a distinctive opportunity to seamlessly integrate contemporary interior design within a modern family home.
As a Part 1 architectural assistant, worked closely with the Head of Interiors to specify and coordinate the arrangement and style of internal finishes, as well as support the selection and detailing of FF&E contributing to a cohesive and refined interior scheme.
was also involved in preparing early elevational studies for the key feature wall running alongside the floating staircase. This wall was envisioned as a focal point within the internal circulation, to be clad in quarter-matched stone slabs that emphasised the natural veining and geometry of the material. My role included developing a series of iterative drawings and visual studies to explore the alignment, proportion, and jointing of the slabs in relation to the stair structure and surrounding architectural elements
My thesis proposal exists as an exploration of strategies for facilitating the preservation of transient manifestations of commerce in Cardiff, through the reaffirmation of their identities through the establishment of a more permanent threshold.
In this regard my thesis is underpinned by an understanding of the deeply intertwined link between transient manifestations of commerce and explorers of the urban landscape, with both existing as alternative evocations of nomadism in architecture - tying the two of them together through a newfound interpretation of “the transient market”.
In the pursuit of newfound manifestations of commerce - a tool is created - in which my primer is born. Existing as a glimpse into the potential for Roath’s transient farmers market with newfound avenues for physically manifesting itself, standing as an exploration of the first of two strategies outlined to ensure the perpetuation of the transient marketplace as a typology.
A central pavillion is also introduced which acts as a tool for tents and canopys to be attached to. Simultaneously it serves as vessel for community events, with rotating polycarbonate screens being introduced to allow for more a more flexibly operative space.
A pedestrian of Roath’s urban fabric who wanders the boundaries of the city on their way to a desired destination.
THE GREETING
With their interest piqued, the customer engages with the vendor with hopes of securing a deal.
THE BARTER
The customer and vendor engage in a back and forth over an approproiate price
THE OBSERVER
As the wanderer, driven by curiousity, observes something of interest within their surrounding context they wander off their intended path.
THE SALE
Goods in hand, a sale as been made as the customer departs - perhaps to repeat this exchange with another stall.
THE FAREWELL
As the market prepares for close it becomes characterised by the casual chit chat and unwinding of customers and vendors as they prepare to head home.
THE ANTICIPATION
As the setup is completed, vendors wait patiently as for the arrival of prospective costumers to discover their stall.
THE SETUP
A brief period at the start of the market set-up characterised by the social freefall of vendors pining for the best spaces to set up their stall.
Beyond their physical manifestations, transient manifestations of commerce can be characterised by the predefined series of social exchanges that govern how we interact within the zones of commerce. This set of interactions is facilitated by the unlikely intersection between transient vendors as modern-day evocations of nomadicism, and the wandering pedestrians who stumble across these commercial manifestations, existing as both participants and observers of the mechanism of trade.
THE PARTICIPANT
In a brief instance, the journey of the curious wanderer intersects with fleeting manifestations of commerce uniquely positioning them as both participants and observers of commer
THE BROWSE
Weary costumers wander amidst the array of tents searching for something that may pique their interest.
THE RELAYER
Following the wanders discovery of a new transient manifestation of commerce they, relay the word to fellow wanderers encouraging them to further explore the urban fabric
In-Practice | Cousins & Cousins | 2024 Nuper | A Hub for Digital Nomads
Costa del Sol & Sardinia Spain
Cousins & Cousins, in collaboration with the Adir Group, is developing Nuper, a global, subscription-based living platform designed for remote professionals and digital nomads seeking a seamless work-life-travel experience. Targeted at Gen Z and Millennial users, the initiative supports a location-independent, tech-enabled lifestyle that blends productivity with exploration.
Aiming to redefine hospitality for the modern traveller, Nuper prioritises experience over ownership, with initial locations including Ibiza, Majorca, Costa del Sol, Sardinia, and Portugal. My role as part 1 involved the production of early-stage drawing packs, diagrams and conceptual sketches/visualisations, working in collaboration with the interiors teams to produce FF&E and area schedules.
The scheme was underpinned by a carefully developed kit-of-parts approach, comprising modular components such as compact kitchen units, integrated storage, telescopic tables, reconfigurable seating, and prefabricated bathroom pods. This modularity was key to supporting the fluid lifestyles of digital nomads, allowing for adaptable and efficient spaces that could respond to varying lengths of stay and personal preferences. To support this system, I produced a series of diagrams cataloguing all unit components and mapping how they could be interchangeably fitted across small, medium, and large unit typologies.
Mid-Sized Living Unit Proposed Visual
Section 4: Design Approach
Proposed Ground Floor Site Plan
Plan analysis:
This presentation will initially explore the amalgamation of residential units across the site to create 4 residential units.
This is divided into units 1, 2&3. Unit 1 consists of a 2 bedroom apartment with access from Mary Place and courtyard access. Units 2&3 are 1 bedroom apartments with access from the side passage parallel to Avondale Park.
We will then present our proposals for 43 Mary Place, consisting of three floor plans explaining the transformation of the existing residential apartments into commercial space.
Finally, we will explore functional and spatial opportunities within the rear hall.
We have proposed a series of vignettes explaining the potential interventions and activities proposed within the existing space. Our strategy for the rear hall is based on celebrating the existing structure and scale of the space, and opening it up to the local community.
The existing residential unit (Studio 2) is not included within the presentation.
In-Practice | Cousins & Cousins | 2024
George & Dragon Hall Bid
Notting Hill London
This project pitch, completed during my year in industry, was developed in collaboration with a Part 2 assistant, with both of us taking primary responsibility for design development and final documentation.
Located in Notting Hill, London, the scheme explores the consolidation of existing residential units to create four new dwellings: Unit 1 is a two-bedroom apartment with access from Mary Place and a private courtyard, while Units 2 and 3 are one-bedroom apartments accessed via a side passage along Avondale Park. The proposal also repurposes a disused hall at the rear of the site into a flexible, multi-functional space.
George & Dragon Hall, 39-41 Mary Place
Presentation | June 2024
Section 7: Proposed Rear Hall
Rear Hall: Artists Studio / Exhibition Vignette & Plan
Plan analysis:
The first depiction of the hall in use includes an exhibition in the main space, whilst a life drawing class / artists studio is in operation towards the northern end of the space.
These multiple uses are aided by the installation of WCs at either end of the floor plan and dual entrances.
This plan depicts the partition system partially closed, allowing for multiple activities to take place in the space with acoustic separation, whilst maintaining some visual connection.
The curtain is shown fully closed in this illustration, for use to hang artwork upon and to minimise excessive sunlight into the space.
This plan depicts the partition system partially closed, allowing for multiple activities to take place in the space with acoustic separation, whilst maintaining some visual connection.
The curtain is shown fully closed in this illustration, for use to hang artwork upon and to minimise excessive sunlight into the space.
Section 7: Proposed Rear Hall
1. 2. Plan analysis:
For the final vignette, we have suggested that the hall can be completely closed off for two separate functions such as wellness classes. As the door partition system will provide acoustic and visual separation, these spaces can operate independently.
class is focussed in the northern end of the space. Two entirely different activities could also be taking place in this format, such as a rented artists studio to the north and community use to the south.
Hall Proposed Illustration: Variation
Hall Proposed Illustration: Variation 2
The first depiction of the hall in use shows an exhibition in the main space and a life drawing class or artist’s studio operating at the northern end, made possible by WCs at both ends and dual entrances. A partially closed partition system allows multiple activities to occur simultaneously with acoustic separation while preserving some visual connection. In another vignette, the curtain is shown fully closed to block sunlight and serve as a display surface for artwork. The hall can also be entirely divided using the door partition system, enabling two independent functions such as wellness classes or a rented artist’s studio to the north and community use to the south to run concurrently with both visual and acoustic separation.
