alexander nicholas georgouras folio

A L E X G E O R G O U RA S FO L I O academic

UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES

bachelor of landscape architecture professional SPACKMAN MOSSOP + MICHAELS (AUS) graduate landscape architect competitions DESIGN OUR RYDE MOSSOP + MICHAELS (USA) landscape architect + urban designer in collaboration with urban toolbox WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL (NZ) GUGGENHEIM HELSINKI

urban designer

in collaboration with gv architecture

writing ARCHITECTURE and curation AUSTRALIA

LANDSCAPE

contra-flow

SELECTED FESTIVALS

unsw: emergence // nzila: small urban

PHOTOGRAPH OF GLACIER GRAY (AUTHOR, 2016)

academic

UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES

bachelor of landscape architecture

EDUCATION TO ME Regardless of ones technical ability as a designer or a researcher;01adult students have an understanding of their ambitions, values and reasons for undertaking study in the first place. I view tertiary education as a way of supplying the tools and lenses to the student; to go further, examine more fully and ultimately empart a greater knowledge within their mileu.

BACKGROUND

Area of Investigation The nature of the Graduation Studio allows us to select a site that we have identified within our Masterplans and undertake further design research.

BIG IS BIG, SMALL CAN ALSO BE BIG PROBLEM What I found most compelling the research our Throughout my professional degree,about I explored in depth, the power of design uncovered was the dominance of the existing as being an Masterplan agency of change within culture, environment and wellbeing. I north south linearity. It was almost a case of ‘all roads found myselflead constantly being drawn to either larger out of Gosford’ . Furthermore, both President’s Hill projects or small projRumbalara Reserve are severe on either side ects that hadand the potential to tap into aedges greater meaning. of the CBD, almost ‘strangling’ the existing built form.

From left to right: Regional map of the Sydney Metropolitan Area (Author, 2013) Local map of Gosford City showing site area connecting fragmented ecologies (Author, 2013) 01

OPPORTUNITY

BACKGROUND

Through my research, I wanted to investigate the value of reconnecting these landforms for the site, local and regional scales. Could ecological urbanism provide the identity, social and economic proponents of a healthy city core?

Gosford

Rumbalara Reserve

Introduction

President’s

The UNSW BLarch Graduating Studio is a 14 week, intensive design studio that encompasses the production of: Richmo hmon nd + your own design project and brief + methodology(ies) for design investigation + communication of design proposals for final presentation resulting in what is essentially a “design thesis” COURSE CONTEXT

SITE

Hornsby

This final studio is a follow on from the previous semesters work as highlighted in the course outline; ‘students use design to investigate issues generated by the explorations of landscape urbanism in the group projects undertaken during Semester 1 in LAND 2401 for the CBD and waterfront of Gosford, NSW. ‘

Penrith

Site Surrounding Landforms

Gosford is a city located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia, approximately 76 km north of Sydney. Interestingly, Gosford has been designated as an important growth centre under the NSW Metropolitan Strategy1. However, there are many road blocks standing in the way of Gosford and the city it could become. It currently experiences urban ailments such as a declining population, a lack of identity and complex social and environmental issues2, making it an ideal site to investigate for graduation studio.

Lep epp ping ngtton

Sydney

Liverpool

Key: Urban Centre Passenger rail Urban Density 1 “Cities Taskforce”. NSW Government Planning & Infrastructure. Retrieved 11 May 2013.

2 Draft Gosford Community Strategic Plan 2031, Gosford City Council.

2012

Freight Rail

To Wollongong

0km _4

500m

1km

2km

_8

1

academic

UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES

explorations through mapping

RUMBALARA RUMBALARA RUMBALARA RUMBALARA RUMBALARA RUMBALARA RUMBALARA RUMBALARA RUMBALARA RUMBALARA RUMBALARA RUMBALARA RUMBALARA RUMBALARA RUMBALARA RUMBALARA RUMBALARA RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE

Clockwise from top right: 1. Fragmented Aerial of Gosford City showing CBD wedged between the two fragmented ecologies of President’s Hill Rumbalara Reserve (Sky Image, 2013) 2. Regional map highlighting the fragmented ecologies of Gosford are apart of a greater network of biota (Author, 2013) 3. Gosford City character images; largely depicting the dominance of automobile infrastructure such as multilevel carparks (Author, 2013)

GOSFORD GOSFORD GOSFORD GOSFORD GOSFORD GOSFORD GOSFORD GOSFORD GOSFORD GOSFORD GOSFORD GOSFORD GOSFORD GOSFORD GOSFORD CITY CITY CITY CITY CITY CITY CITY CITY CBD CITY CITY CBD CITY CBD CITY CBD CITY CBD CITY CBD CITY CBD CBD CBD CBD CBD CBD CBD CBD CBD

PRESIDENTS PRESIDENTS PRESIDENTS PRESIDENTS PRESIDENTS PRESIDENTS PRESIDENTS PRESIDENTS PRESIDENTS PRESIDENTS PRESIDENTS PRESIDENTS PRESIDENTS PRESIDENTS PRESIDENTS HILL HILL HILL HILL HILL HILL HILL HILL HILL HILL HILL HILL HILL HILL HILL

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND BACKGROUND BACKGROUND BACKGROUND BACKGROUND BACKGROUND BACKGROUND BACKGROUND BACKGROUND BACKGROUND BACKGROUND BACKGROUND BACKGROUND BACKGROUND BACKGROUND BACKGROUND _7_7 _7 _7 _7 _7 _7 _7 _7 _7 _7_7 _7 _7 _7 _7 _7_7

2

WORD

layer

academic

APPROACHOF NEW SOUTH WALES UNIVERSITY

owed me to 03

‘urban-agri-bush gradient’

explorations through sketches typical

ideal

gosford

MODEL

best ation of een later in

Clockwise from top left: 1. Deconstructing the grid (Author, 2013) 2. Functional drawings exploring Gosford (Author, 2013) 3. Watercolour sketch over a photo of a concept model (Author, 2013) 4. Scans of design journal (Author, 2013)

‘common threads’

Explorations (Sketches) layers

y/retail/civic

ecology/education/research

active edges (human use)

shelter and climate

‘urban-agri-bush gradient’

Through the conceptual process sketching allowed me to quickly test, clarify or record ideas. This was undertaken in both illustrative and diagrammatic methods. I would often find myself in an evolutionary process of making constant iterations to reflect my new findings.

In terms of production, I found stylistically the best way to communicate my design was a combination of drawing and computer graphics. This can be seen later in this design report.

typical

‘common threads’

ology/wetplay/infrastructure

‘deconstructing the grid’

LOCATION

dertaken s. I would making

layers

ideal

active edges (human use)

gosford

shelter and climate

_24

initial key plan

A

ecology/agriculture/recreation

ecology/education/research

B

C

ABSTRACTION

ecology/retail/civic

ecology/nursery/agriculture

ecology/wetplay/infrastructure

‘deconstructing the grid’ _25

3

academic

UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES

explorations through models

From top to bottom: 1&2. Redundant carparks (blue foam) being deformed by projected ecosystems (red paint) (Author, 2013) 3. 2D cadastre drawing with laser cut 3D model overlayed (Author, 2013) 4a. Topography constructed out of coloured candle wax (President’s Hill = green / Rumbalara Reserve = pink) and melted to see convergence (Author, 2013) 4b. Presentation model with redundant carpark infrastructure (pink) (Author, 2013)

Conceptual Models)

project I wanted to keep it nd conceptual provocations. onting a site of this size, one I felt quickly generating models sometimes feeling ‘stuck’.

SCALE MODELS FOR REHAB Top: Box-board sketch model Middle: Layering city form Below: Perspex presentation model

Middle: Layering city form Below: Perspex presentation model

volved: choosing three s from those words and, from over these. My subconscious, geoplaced these ideations on cally rather brash, these images d better the human scale and desires for these spaces.

nvergence of President’s_27 Hill and mages on the top right depict the static-fluid _27 state of wax to using two differing colours for elineate the effect of one on the

SCALE MODELS FOR REHAB Top: Box-board sketch model SCALELayering MODELS Middle: cityFOR formREHAB Top: Perspex Box-board sketch model Below: presentation model

APPROACH _27

_27

SCALE MODELS FOR REHAB Top: Box-board sketch model Middle: Layering city form Below: Perspex presentation model

SCALE MODELS FOR REHAB Top: Box-board sketch model Middle: Layering city form Below: Perspex presentation model

APPROACH

APPROACH

4

academic

UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES

explorations through presentation

Clockwise from top left: 1,2&3. Presentation Panels (Author, 2013) 4&5. Photo of myself presenting to a panel of 6 jurors. (Schynns. B, 2013)

APPROACH

5

professional

SPACKMAN MOSSOP + MICHAELS (AUS)

graduate landscape architect

MOSSOP + MICHAELS (USA)

landscape architect + urban designer

WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL (NZ)

urban designer

CULTURES AND ECOSYSTEMS Attempting to deepen my understanding of the diversity of landscapes and cultures across the world I have endeavoured to work extensively abroad.

Although I am not against the concept of the tourist; I believe being able to practice within a city forces one to adapt, like a plant, to the surrounding ecology.

Left to Right: 1. Father and son watch a freight train go by in the Marigny, New Orleans (Author, 2015) 2. Jack;a food stall vendor who utilises the Press Street Garden to set up shop (Author, 2015) 3. Ian; a solo artist who uses the Press Street Garden performance space (Author, 2012)

COMMON THREADS What has been more fascinating than the obtuse and acute differences is actually the common threads across these cultures.

Although the stark differences between New Orleans, Sydney and Wellington; people still exercise certain liberties, such as the act of cooking in public spaces.

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professional

SPACKMAN MOSSOP + MICHAELS (AUS)

graduate landscape architect

MOSSOP + MICHAELS (USA)

landscape architect + urban designer

WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL (NZ)

urban designer

Clockwise from top left: 1&2. Vray renderings of the proposed upgrade (Author, 2013) 3-5. Photos of completed project (Author, 2013) 6. Construction details of outdoor classroom (Author, 2013)

A ROYAL ENCLOSURE As part of a number of enclosure upgrades within Taronga Zoo’s Bradleys Head location Spackman Mossop Michaels were engaged to design a new enclosure that would house native Australian animals, in an attempt to provide a one-stop-shop for interational digniteries.

Some of the first visitors to the freshly opened enclosure included the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge with their son Prince George.

SPACIOUS LIVING Taronga Zoological Society is committed to exceeding the minimum set off requirements for enclosures and through working closely with the Principals at Spackman Mossop Michaels; we achieved an amazing 150% on average across the enclosures.

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professional

SPACKMAN MOSSOP + MICHAELS (AUS)

graduate landscape architect

WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL (NZ)

urban designer

THE THING ABOUT SYDNEY Removing parking to make way for cycle infrastructure within Sydney is like waving a red flag at a bull. The project would simply get shot down and therefore we needed to rethink our approach.

A CYCLEWAY IN DISGUISE My role on this project while at Spackman Mossop Michaels was to examine how Waverley Council could integrate a cycleway all while providing other amenity for the street; the project aptly being named ‘Waverley Council’s Complete Streets’. I was responsible for generating the community consultation panels and spatial planning of the street.

Proposed upgrade elements included; bespoke shade structures, additional street planting and a higher quality paving surface.

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professional

MOSSOP + MICHAELS (USA)

landscape architect + urban designer GROW, HARVEST, EAT WELLINGTON During my time in NewCITY OrleansCOUNCIL I was involved(NZ) in a variety of community based projects.

New Orleans is known for its fusion of Spanish, French (Creole) and Caribbean cuisine and one of the projects I was involved in was readapting an abandoned site into a community garden. It was the intent of the Press Street Institute to use this edible garden as a method for teaching people to transform their own neighboring lots into productive urban farms. I generated as built drawings, crop rotation information and was the photographer for the launch party.

urban designer

Clockwise from top left: 1-5. Photos of a completed Press Street Garden (Author, 2016) 2. As built sketchup model of Press Street Garden (Author, 2016)

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professional

WELLINGTON CITY COUNCIL (NZ)

urban designer

A LANMARK PROJECT The second most popular attraction in Wellington is the Cable Car - A red vernicular car that connects the city to the beautiful Botanical Garden Kelburn. As part of celebrating this landmark - WCC commissioned the upgrade to the entry of the Lambton Quay station. As project urban designer I was responsible for design, project and contract management on the $3 million dollar upgrade.

Due to the fast paced nature of the project (construction had to be timed within routine shutdown of the car over winter); I generated the concept design, documentation review and construction programming, all within 3 months.

Clockwise from top left: 1. Documentation drawing of proposed canopy with seismic movement (Author, 2016) 2. Existing condition of canopy with cracked perspex, rusty steel members and lots of pigeon shit (Author, 2016) 3. Concept perspective of upgrade including new canopy, lightbox signage and repaint of heritage buildings (Author, 2016) 4. Axo sketchup drawing (Author, 2016) 5. Photo of onsite management of design with contractors (Author, 2016)

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competitions DESIGN OUR RYDE

in collaboration with urban toolbox

GUGGENHEIM HELSINKI

in collaboration with gv architecture

A WASTE OF TIME? Competitions in the architecture profession are constantly under criticism. Many of these critics arguing that we are the only profession to do unpaid work on such a large and well accepted level.

MY REASONS Regardless of the arguments for and against competitions – if they weren’t relevant people would not do them. I see them as an ability to design freely responding to a brief without the pressures of a QS or client getting exciting over ‘value engineering’.

For me they have also been a great way to build relationships with other professionals – many competitions that I have done have led to being invited to work on real world projects with those team members.

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competitions DESIGN OUR RYDE

in collaboration with urban toolbox

GUGGENHEIM HELSINKI

in collaboration with gv architecture Clockwise from top left: 1-4. Presentation panels (Author, 2015) 5. Axonometric of proposed museum and surrounding public spaces (Author, 2015) 3. Exploded floor plans (Author, 2015)

How beautiful are the Autumn leaves!

Katso! Sen Muumi jäissä.

それでは、いくつか のアートハウス映 画を見てみましょう

LANDSCAPE NOT LANDMARK When I was given the opportunity to go up against the starchitects of the world in an open competition for the Guggenheim Helsinki, I thought; ‘let’s focus on the landscape rather than the landmark’. The concept examined the museum as a nexus of city, waterfront and park typologies.

I generated all drawings and received guidance on massing and layout

by Furio Valich and GV architecture.

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writing and curation LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AUSTRALIA

contra-flow

SELECTED FESTIVALS

unsw: emergence // nzila: small urban EXPOSURE As landscape architects we have a responsibility to keep the profession relevant and strengthen connections both within our field and to the greater society. In recent times we have seen the rise of architects and planners openly encroach on the design of the urban landscape under the guise of ‘urban design’, ‘placemaking’ and ‘geo-design’.

This should be taken as a catalyst to focus our lenses and sharpen our tools to ensure we remain just as relevant over the next century.

Left to Right: 1. Article ‘Contra-Flow’ published in Landscape Architecture Australia, ed. 50, 2016 2. I install a temporary green wall as part of the graduating landscape architecture exhibition ‘emergence’, UNSW, 2013 3. People gather in the gallery space of UNSW, Author 2013

PROMOTE I have enjoyed the ability of promoting our industry through writing, organizing festivals and curating exhibitions.

For an industry that designs largely for the public arena we have a fantastic opportunity to more fully engage the greater society/end users in our process.

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contact:

alexgeorgouras@hotmail.com

ILLUSTRATION OF PATAGONIA’S GLACIER GRAY (AUTHOR, 2016)

+61404626520