Alexander Farr RIBA Part II Architectural Assistant and Graduate Planner Educated at the University of Sheffield, I hold two degrees in Architecture and Planning and a member of the RIBA, RTPI and the Academy of Urbanism. My work responds to contexts of rapid urban change, emerging new technologies and their effects on work patterns and urban living. Combined with the Sheffield School’s focus on the social responsbility of architecture and design, I bring a holistic and broad skillset to my projects. Professionally, I have been engaged primarily as architectural assistant, working in the education, residential, commerical and mixed use sectors. Additionally, I am experienced with planning practice, both within development management and planning policy, and working freelance with neighbourhood groups. I also firmly believe in good research influencing design, with both my planning dissertation and writings on my proposal for an automation integration centre to be published in the coming months. Outside of work, I try to immerse myself in good design, literature, art, and film. Particular interests include modernist, speculative and science-fiction works. Where possible, I try to incorporate these influences into my project work. In my spare time, I enjoy board gaming, live music, bouldering and walking.
Education MArch Architecture & Town and Regional Planning University of Sheffield, 2016 Commendation in Architectural Management Robert Henry Memorial Prize Distinction (expected) in Town and Regional Planning BA(hons) Architecture University of Sheffield, 2012 Upper Second Class Honours A levels Shrewsbury Sixth Form College, 2009 AAA (incl. Graphic Design)
Contact Alexander Farr phone 07921 847403 email alexwfarr@gmail.com portfolio alexanderfarr.net
Experience
Freelance Designer LiveWorks, on behalf of BBEST Neighbourhood Forum, June 2015 - September 2015. Assisting with graphic layout, brand identity, imagery and mapping for the draft neighbourhood plan document (Work aborted due to unrelated client conflict of interest). Part I Architectural Assistant, Innes Associates, May 2013 - July 2014. Construction, tender and planning drawing production for projects in the residential and education sectors through RIBA work stages 2-5. Planning Assistant Shropshire Council Development Management, April 2013. Assisting with application approval in a primarily rural residential and agricultural context. Planning Assistant Shropshire Council Planning Policy, April 2013. Assisting the team with community consultation responses to proposed SAMDev preferred options. Work Experience Aedas Architects, Shrewsbury, 2008. DGA Architects, Shrewsbury, 2006.
Skills Proficient in Autocad, Vectorworks, Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, Microsoft Office Suite, and Modelmaking (3D-printed, Laser, and Hand). Working ability in Revit, Rhino, 3DS Max, Kerkythea, and Ecotect.
References Simon Innes Director, Innes Associates 6-8 Cole Street, SE1 4YH. 020 79286734 simon.innes@innesassociates.net Leo Care Director, MArch, Sheffield School of Architecture Co-Director, Live Works School of Architecture, University of Sheffield, Weston Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN 0114 222304 l.care@sheffield.ac.uk
Selected Projects
Goldthorpe Workshop of Technologies (pictured) Studio Collaborative Production, Daniel Jary. Commendation in Architectural Management. Typology: Commercial; Community; Industrial. My thesis asks how an architecture can facilitate and enable alternative economies to rebuild social bonds within postmonopoly and distrusting industrial contexts. Within the village of Goldthorpe is proposed experimental making and economic facilities for fly ash bricks. Spatial Resonances Live Projects, Carolyn Butterworth. Robert Henry Memorial Prize. Project: Short architectural films. Working in collaboration with the Sheffield Department of Music and Sheffield Modernist Society, this series of short films celebrated the range of modernist architecture in Sheffield ranging from the revered, to the derelict. The full series is available to view through my online portfolio.
Selected Projects
The Automation Integration Centre (pictured) Studio FutureWorks, Renata Tyszczuk & Julia Udall. Typology: Commercial; Community; Industrial. The Automation Integration Centre (or AIC) proposes a radical alternative to traditional Enterprise Zones on the site of the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Catcliffe, Rotherham. The associated theory and writings on this project are due to be published as part of the Stories of Change research project, and is available through my online portfolio. Broomhill Futures & Neighbourhood Plan Live Projects, Lucy Plumridge; Live Works, Leo Care. Project: Neighbourhood plan document. Broomhill Futures worked alongside BBEST, a local residents group, to develop strategies for their neighbourhood group. The team provided a series of design guides focusing on identified interest areas in Broomhill. I was later employed by BBEST to develop their neighbourhood plan document.
Selected Projects
Duke’s Wharf (pictured) Innes Associates, Simon Innes. Typology: Mixed-use; Residential; Commercial. Landscape-focused mixed-use scheme on a long-vacant 2.2 Ha riverside city-centre site in Norwich. A new southfacing lawn and hard landscape is enclosed by a family of new and existing buildings providing 149 new flats, 5 townhouses and 3 commercial units. My work on this project focused on development and coordination of the planning application through RIBA stage 2. All Watched Over by Machines of Loving Grace Sheffield Department of Planning, Matthew Cotton. Project: Participatory technology assessment. A research paper exploring the democratic implementation of Drones into Civilian Urban Environments. Currently undergoing editing before peer review and publication. The initial submission is available through my online portfolio.
Selected Projects
STEM Academy (pictured) Innes Associates, Simon Innes. Typology: Education. London’s first specialist 6th-form academy for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics was created in an adventurous and challenging remodelling of a 6-storey office building in Islington. My work on this project focused on the development from RIBA stage 3 through stage 5, and coordination of a graphic and wayfinding identity.