Abbie Gilman
Architecture CV + Portfolio
Abbie Gilman e. abbiegilman94@hotmail.co.uk t. 07508 407 466
I am a hard working, motivated individual with a keen interest in all aspects of design. Having recently graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Architecture, this experience has allowed me to expand and explore my interest within design on a practical level, as well as allowing me to develop my skills using different digital softwares, including Vectorworks, AutoCAD, Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. It has also allowed me to discover the correct balance between efficiency and design quality. I am a passionate individual with an enthusiasm for problem solving and critical thinking with a keen interest in developing my design skills, as well as portfolio. I have gained valuable experience working as a member of a team, a leader, as well as an individual.
Education Liverpool John Moores University September 2013 - July 2016 BA Architecture - First Class Honours Degree Carre’s Grammar School • Sleaford September 2011 - July 2013 Design and Technology: Graphics A Level English Literature A Level Biology A Level General Studies A Level Psychology AS Level
Software Skills Photoshop InDesign Illustrator Vectorworks AutoCAD SketchUp Revit
Interests Furniture Design Architecture Fashion Graphic Design Creating digital and hand drawn art Fitness and yoga Travelling
References Available upon request
Experience Part 1 Architectural Assistant at Snook Architects • Liverpool August 2016 - January 2017 Throughout this position, I mainly focused on residential projects and commercial bars/ restauarants. Using Vectorworks to draw planning and construction drawings and details. Completing planning applications and creating visuals, using SketchUp and Photoshop. Showroom Leader / Showroom Assistant at MADE.com • Liverpool September 2015 - Present This role has involved developing customer rapport, providing excellent customer service in all circumstances, and providing accurate, honest and consistent advice to clients involving their furniture and design solutions. Another aspect of the role involves furnishing and styling the showroom, which has sharpened my eye for interior design, as well as ensuring the showroom is clean and presentable to a high standard. Having worked at the showroom since its opening in September 2015, I have enjoyed working as part of the team to represent the brand and help expand the reputation of MADE.com - a relatively young brand - within the North West. Liverpool John Moores Architecture Society September 2014 - May 2016 Whilst studying for my degree, I was involved with the running of the LJMU Architecture Society. I was co-president and treasurer from september 2014 - september 2015 and social secretary from september 2015 - may 2016. These roles have included organising society balls and socials as well as a successful lecture series, which has included guests such as Liam Young, Daniel Liebeskind and Eva Juricna. RIBA Mentoring Scheme • Owen Ellis Architects, Liverpool January 2016 - May 2016 Whilst finishing my degree, I was involved with the new RIBA mentoring scheme; sessions included an introduction to office life, creating a sketch scheme for a current project, a site visit as well as client meetings. Work Experience Placement • shedKM, Liverpool May 2014 I spent a week completing a work experience placement at shedKM, Liverpool, which involved learning how an architectural practice works, going on several site visits and completing a project proposal.
1. Arboreal Project -TRADA September 2015 - December 2015 Location: Formby, Merseyside The brief for this project was to create a flagship head office for the Sylva Foundation; a charity which cares for and protects forests within the UK. The location is close to Formby beach, with Freshfield station being the closest access to public transport, making the site easily accessible from Liverpool City Centre. The two storey timber structure has to house an exhibtion space, a seminar space for up to 30 people, and office spaces, which aim to develop the latest innovstions in timber engineering. The main strucutural material I chose to use was bamboo, due to its high strength: weight ratio and fast growing properties. I have used this to create an exoskeleton frame for the building, with glass and concrete facades behind this frame.
Perspective Image of Exhibition Space
Perspective Image of Building
Key: 1. Office space 2. Private office space 3. Office kitchen space 4. Conference room 5. Accessible WC 6. Seminar space 7. Roof terrace 8. Flexible exhibtion space
1.
2.
5. 2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Ground Floor Plan NOT TO A SCALE
7.
8.
First Floor Plan
NOT TO A SCALE
Roof Plan
NOT TO A SCALE
Detail A
Section
NOT TO A SCALE
5
6
1
1 2
4
4
4 3
5
Detail A- Side View NOT TO A SCALE
1. approx. 100mm diameter bamboo column with concrete filling at both ends and a 10mm steel plate inserted as node connection 2. 3x 20mm steel rings supporting bamboo column at both ends. Rings are spaced 70mm apart 3. steel footpiece with rocker bearing 4. 20mm thick steel plate with steel foot piece continuously welded to plate 5. concrete base 6. M16 hex drive bolt fixing steel plate to concrete base
3 1
Detail A- Plan View NOT TO A SCALE
1
2. Comprehensive Design Project CONNECT • CREATE • CARE December 2015 - May 2016 Location: New Brighton / Bootle, Merseyside This project aims to address three issues: 1. To connect Merseyside like it never has been before, so that one can walk from one side of the river to the other; something that has never before been possible. To connect people, by providing a space where they can experience new and unique situations. 2. To create a space that caters for the increasing creative industry in Liverpool - a place where people can live, visit, create and work. 3. To care - to provide a solution to social housing issues; by building up urban areas, which allows the countryside to be left untouched to provide space for the production of food for the increasing population. I have chosen to link New Brighton and Bootle with an inhabited bridge because, despite used to having been a vibrant sea side resort, New Brighton appears to be a lifeless, forgotton part of Merseyside. Similarly, Bootle, although it is a successful industrial area, the streets are quiet and characterless. I propose, that by connecting these two unique area with an inhabited bridge that provides Liverpool with a new creative, entertainment district, it will in turn bring life back to these areas.
Site Map Showing Location of Inhabited Bridge NOT TO A SCALE Prevailing Wind
Perspective image showing the form of the structure from approximately South West, with Bootle in the background. The main material used to form the structure will be concrete, due to its slower burning rate compared to steel, which - in the event of a fire - will allow people longer to evacuate the structure. The curved walls along the structure allow for protection from strong prevailing winds. They also are fixed into the river bed, acting as part of the foundation of the strucutre, along with concrete columns across the length of the structure.
Conceptual hand sketch of bridge
Perspective image showing the undercroft of the bridge. You are able to access the bridge via boat, which you are able to dock underneath the bridge and make your way up. Due to the tidal change of the river Mersey, these access points will change depending on the depth of the river.
Perspective image showing one of the many view points along the bridge. In this instance, from this point, you are able to view Fort Perch Rock and the lighthouse in New Brighton, as well as out to the Irish sea.
Photograph of physcial model of the inhabited bridge
CONNECT • CREATE • CARE Street Photography Gallery Amongst the spaces on the inhabited bridge structure, lies a photography gallery, which focuses on showcasing the work of local , young street photographers and local projects. The initial catalyst to this project was Martin Parr’s ‘The Last Resort’ project, in which he photographed New Brighton as a holiday resort in its last few years of popularity. The project will be displayed within the gallery, alongside the work of Tom Wood and Louis Bever, who are both street photographers who work, or have worked, in the Merseyside area.
Martin Parr
Tom Wood
Isometric Image of Photography Gallery
Louis Bever
The form of the gallery was dictated by the grid structure of the bridge, which resulted in the gallery being split into three areas. Two areas on the ground level of the bridge which are joined by a first floor gallery. The aim of this is to encourage visitors to view the whole gallery as they make their way from the entrance to the exit. The basement, which is below the right of the ground level plan, will occasionally be below water level, depending on the tide. The walls are primarily glass, which will give visitors the impression of being under water. On the first floor, to the left, there is a viewing area that allows visitors to see out to the north, to the Irish sea and the west coast north of Liverpool. There is a glass floor also, which will encourage visitors to look down into the river, and may make them feel on edge. To the right of the first floor plan, there is a roof garden, which is protected from the prevailing winds by the first floor gallery space.With the protection from the prevailing wind, as well as exposure to sunlight throughout the day, the garden will hopefully be a pleasant environment, with views to the Liverpool Waterfront.
Basement Level Plan NOT TO A SCALE
Ground Level Plan NOT TO A SCALE
First Level Plan NOT TO A SCALE
Gallery Section NOT TO A SCALE
Perspective image showing ground floor gallery space and staircase
Perspective image showing viewing area out towards the north of the bridge on the first floor of the gallery
Perspective image showing the underwater gallery space in the basement