Adrian-Constantin Alexandrescu
selected work 2013/2015
*remake after KRob 2013 Professional Digital/Mixed winner
Adrian-Constantin Alexandrescu adrianconstantin.alexandrescu@yahoo.co.uk
in
uk.linkedin.com/in/adrianconstantinalexandrescu/ +447456490609
Education and Qualification 2014 - 2016
Oxford Brookes University Oxford, United Kingdom MArchD Applied Design in Architecture
2010 - 2013
Anglia Ruskin University Chelmsford, United Kingdom BSc (Hons) Architecture | First Class Honors Degree
2006 - 2010
Central School Bucharest, Romania Mathematic-Informatics intensive English
Work Experience October 2013 - August 2014
XD Architects Beijing, China Part 1 Architectural Assistant
June - September 2013
Department of Engineering and Built Environment Chelmsford, United Kingdom Research Assistant
June - August 2012
Agence d’Architecture et de Decoration Rabat, Morocco Architectural Assistant Intern
June - August 2011
S.C. Altrix Arhitectura S.R.L. Bucharest, Romania Architectural Assistant Intern
2010-2013
Employment Bureau Chelmsford, United Kingdom Temporary Assignments
Competitions 2015
Detroit Station for the Arts - ArchMedium
2014
Playhouse competition - Life of an architect
2014
Architectural Delineation Competition 2014 - KRob Traveling Sketch
2012-2014
Graphic design competitions - 99 Designs
Awards 2013
RIBA East Student Award 2013 Anglia Ruskin University Final year project
Skills
IT
AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, Rhinoceros, VRay, Maya, 3DS Max, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom, Corel Draw, SketchUp.
Other Hand Drawing, Laser Cutting, Model making, 3D printing Language English Romanian French Mandarin, Spanish
Speaking, reading and writing with high proficiency Native language Speaking semi-fluent and reading/writing with good confidence Basic knowledge
Certifications Aug-Sept 2013
Structure Standing Still: The Statics of Everyday Objects
June-July 2013
Climate Literacy: Navigating Climate Change Conversations
January-May 2014
Roman Architecture
CONTENTS
Melbourne E-GATE | 6 mixed | urban design
Sino-Japanese Museum | 12 public | culture
Cement factory renovation | 18 public | entertainment & recreational
Haikou Ruyi Island Bridge | 22 public | transport & retail
28 | Hoffman Theatre public | performing arts
34 | Changing Chelmsford mixed | urban design
38 | Detroit Station for Arts mixed | independent competition
42 | Hand drawing illustration | sketch
Heart of Melbourne E-GATE practice | commission Melbourne, Australia
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he proposal is for a 20 Minute neighbourhood located in South Central Melbourne. The site currently houses a train terminal. After looking at the Melbourne Plan in detail, it was understood that the Victorian government wants to move towards a more sustainable, eco-friendly and healthy city where people can walk or bike to anywhere they need. The concept behind the design is to provide a healthy neighbourhood with open spaces, gardens and terraces that promote a healthier lifestyle for the citisens. It solves the problem of creating housing, office spaces, commercial spaces and community based spaces without compromising the openness that one would associate with the countryside. The focal point of the proposal is the Yarra river and the walkways and paths around it. Here, one can enjoy serenity in the middle of Central Melbourne, being disconnected from the city yet somehow right in the middle of it.
River pattern analysis The important landmarks of Melbourne are connected in order to generate a pattern for the new canal that will cross the site.
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1 - Existing condition
2 - Mass breaking
3 - Defining the building area
The site is characterised by a railway terminal in an area of the city with low rise industrial warehouses.
A new artificial canal will split the site and give birth to riverside activities. Two major roads will link the area to the north and south of the site while providing access to the development.
The boundary is offset and the built area is separated by walkways and plazas in order to create workable areas
4 - Volume extrusion
5 - Adaptation of volumes
6 - Resulting shapes
The building plots area extruded to create the required number of apartments, shops, offices and institutions.
The volumes are shaped in such a way so that they create a 2-3 storey central area (close to the river) and much taller edges. This will create a noise barrier and create an enclosure for the site.
Each building is conceived as a courtyard volume. The East and West edges of the site are residential with commercial, while the middle volumes are offices, hotels and mixed-used blocks surrounded by green areas and public plazas.
7 - Creating the towers
8 - Terraced roofs
To enhance the yield area and accommodate the hotel, the towers in the middle are extruded, this results in high density commercial spaces at the base and specialised hotels in the towers.
The slopes are then terraced to accommodate balconies and terraced roofs, these become an important aspect of the project and result in an overall green area. These also helps to reduce the carbon footprint of the proposal and create interesting view points.
Traffic and circulation
Perspective section
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he proposal looks to create a sustainable environment to move Melbourne in the positive direction of become a more sustainable and ecofriendly city by 2050. Most of the building is made with in-situ concrete which relies on locally sourced materials and aides the local job market. The buildings collect rain water that can be used by the neighborhood as a source of drinking water. It also provides terraced gardens which people can use as vertical farms to grow their own products and help the local economy. These open spaces have immense potential for the future and can reduce the carbon footprint of the neighborhood substantially. Apart from this, they also promote a healthier lifestyle in the middle of the city and can set a benchmark for the rest of the city to follow. They can be used for community based activities and as community parks where people can gather on a sunny day for barbecues and sports.
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Sino-japanese war museum practice | competition Shendong, China
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asting from 1894 to 1896 the First Sino-Japanese war had a great impact on China’s territory, political administration and stability. This museum commemorates the past by reaching deep into what happened during and after the war and bringing out the idea of unity even on the brink of defeat. The building is inspired by the war and looks to transmit the idea of fragmentation. However when analysed closer it is clear that the structure is not being broken apart, it is being connected.
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part from the main exhibition areas and the other spaces necessary for this type of building, the museum will accommodate a 5D Cinema and an auditorium with the capacity of 100 people. The exterior of the building defines the way in which spaces will be used on the inside. The main part of the building will be designated for exhibitions while all other spaces will be uses will be surrounding it, complementing the vast open space. This strategy was used in order to comply with one of the competition requirements which demanded a large uninterrupted exhibition space for the primary function.
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reat attention was given to the way in which the building is approached. Located at the end of a three kilometer pear, the way in which guest view the building and how they interact with it from a difference was crucial. By using the broken elements of the building as connectors, the space was extended beyond the initial boundaries in order to guide people in and create large plaza areas for recreation purposes. The same extension of space was used as a generator for the creation of a separate entrance and exit for the building which symbolises the way in which the country changed from the beginning of the war to the end of it. The change that affected all areas of the living and quality of life within the country.
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Cement factory renovation concept design practice | commission Luoyang, China
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ven though the title sounds simple the project was anything but that. Through the renovation process two things were supposed to happen as part of the design process: redevelop the old cement factory that stood on the site and create a completely new science and entertainment park in which children and adults could enjoy their time while learning about the latest advances in technology. Each one of the newly developed structures would have a different function. From 7D cinemas to drive in theatre and technology centre, the site incorporates all the elements necessary for an amusement park to function. Due to the location of the site, outside the city limits, the proposal includes a 20 levels hotel that would facilitate not just this project but the overall redevelopment of the area. The design focuses on motion and the idea of the future technologies in order to make a statement and create an identity of the pace.
Concept design derived from the motion of fluids The fluid study bellow was realised in Maya by moving emitters through the area of the site and looking at how patterns are form. Those patterns later gave birth to the roads, buildings and space separation on site.
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hrough the renovation of the old cement factory, the proposal aims to make out of that particular space a hub for arts and culture. Modern art will be the main driver of the new facility that would also include traditional art and spaces for performing arts. The space follows the language and feel of the site with the new circulation system twisting and bending around the old silos while still following a predetermined pattern that allows the visitors to experience the space as it was intended by the future curators and the architect.
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Haikou Ruyi Island Bridge practice | competition Hainan, China 22
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ocated in the Hainan province in the south of China the ‘Dragon’ Bridge connects mainland to a man maid island. Perfect luxury destination for the high class, the island needs to be properly introduced to the visitors through a gateway bridge with iconic features. With the initial concept determined by the idea of motion, the base of the bridge is simple in order to allow the ‘dragon’ structures to unravel and take hold of its length.
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Section through the main structure The structure was designed to support three levels of different uses. Inside, people would be able to enjoy a relaxing environment filled with activities, restaurants and shops. The last floor is created to be used as a spa area where people will be able to enjoy a moment of tranquility.
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ive dragon shaped structures will inhabit the bridge, each with its individual features but only one of them accommodating functions such as restaurant, retail and spa. Equipped with a tramway station the building opens to its visitors through a large restaurant area overlooking the ocean on all sides. At night the metal frame structures will create a spectacular show of lights. The LED’s placed on the side and top of each building are meant to give the impression of dragon scales and are made visible at night when dragons are supposed to be on the hunt.
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Restaurant located on the second floor of structure
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Spa room (view from the water bar)
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he last level of the central ‘dragon’ will be designated for relaxation and tranquility. The spa follows the language of the exterior but it is unique through the simple yet elegant features that it incorporates. Built on shades of gray the area is meant to detach visitors from their day to day life and transport them into a calm, stress free environment. With facilities such as massage tables, water bar and a small pool the space inspires relaxation through its curves, bends and twists.
Spa room (view from the reception desk)
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Hoffmann theatre academic project Chelmsford, UK 28
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esigning a theatre to connect a city was the main focus of the project which looks to create a tighter link between the social and cultural parts of Chelmsford. The city lacks a modern theatre and the Anglia Ruskin University aims to create a new space for ceremonies and large conventions. The design combines both visions into a singular multi-purpose theatre. Through its two stage layout the building shouts out for diversity in terms of use - capable of accommodating from large scale plays to small conferences and rehearsals. The building opens up to the visitors through a large glazed faรงade. The views are only disrupted by the series of columns which add support as well as height to the front of house.
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he internal layout of the theatre was designed on a series of concentric arches, each one with a different function. From the front of house through the auditorium and finishing with the back stage area the building creates a clear separation of spaces in order to divide the public from semi-private and private spaces. This will maintain a clear circulation and a secure environment. The entrance of the building is strategically located on the facade. The split between the Marcony and Tindal building give the final placement. This creates a connection between the building and people even if not in directly contact.
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Small auditorium arrangement 3
Small auditorium arrangement 2
Small auditorium arrangement 1
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he development proposal for Chelmsford City Centre is meant to stimulate the redevelopment of a city which grow in size but kept for too long the old and unaesthetic buildings in its centre. The design idea was to create a diverse space that will engage the people. Located right behind the shops of High Street and facing the river Chelmer the site is currently designated to car parking. In staid of that we saw the opportunity to open up the street to the river which once was the main trading root of Chelmsford and recreate a lost connection.
Changing chelmsford academic project Chelmsford, UK 34
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Sustainable Travel The scheme enhances permeability with its numerous routs, channelising the path flow from the train station to the city centre. The core objective is the creation of a urban that will push Chelmsford into the future and be respectful to its growth. The city needs more public spaces and focal areas that is why the scheme proposes several nodal points with different characters which will enhance the experience of the urban environment.
Industry Chelmsford has long been seen as a dormitory city with nearly a fifth of its workforce commuting to London. While its proximity to the capital is a positive factor, actions will be taken to promote the city’s heritage and identity as a centre for innovation and technology. Creating a visually and specially stimulating town centre will generate a distinctive and welcoming place to live and work.. The newly developed centre will encourage 24 hour economy, enterprise exchange and spaces to facilitate a large workforce.
“Growth is inevitable and desirable, but destruction of community character is not. The question is not if your part of the world is going to change. The question is how.� (Edward T. McMahon - The Conservation Fund)
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Detroit Station for arts independent competition Detroit, USA
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his project proposal seeks to create physical changes to the old Detroit Station that can capture the social changes within the city. The intention is to acknowledge the past without erasing it, but adapting the building to the social and cultural changes of the present time. In conjunction with Detroit’s sustainable practices, this project places sustainability at its core. The exhibition space, showroom and main auditorium are divided into smaller ‘pods’ to ensure energy-efficient heating and cooling systems. Natural lighting is emphasised within the design, where cutouts are created throughout the main building, as well as within the residential tower. This is to allow natural light to enhance the interior of the building, as well as connect the interior spaces to the exterior and reduce the demand for artificial lighting. The full-height atrium in the residential/ hotel tower allows fundamental light through, but also ensures the natural ventilation of the building by connecting to the ground floor uses.
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his project proposes a change in the entrance level to offer a new spatial experience of the building. By locating the entrance separate from the main structure, the project aims to create a smooth transition from the exterior to the interior this allowing a much better temperature and humidity control. Inside the building, different levels of spaces create a narrative of movement and invites exploration of space amongst the exhibitions. The new Detroit Station for the Arts acknowledges Detroit’s upcoming art movement not only with its inward significance, but also in its outward appearance.
“The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance” –
Aristotle
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Hand drawing time-out Anywhere and everywhere
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rawing is a big part of understanding architecture for me. I sketch a lot when I am designing and I do not see myself creating anything without hand drawing it first. Apart from being a tool, it is one of my hobbies. These section is dedicated to some of the drawings that I produced over time and it also represents the last part of my portfolio so if you did enjoy my work till now you better hang on to your sox.
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illustration | independent illustration | XD Architects
illustration | independent
illustration | independent competition
festival poster | Oxford Human Rights Festival
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illustration | independent
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Adrian-Constantin Alexandrescu
p o rt fo l i o
architecture|design