Portfolio

A N D R E W F A L C O N ER ARCHITECTURAL TECHNOLOGIST P O R T F O L I O 2014/2015

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ABOUT ME:

I am a recently-qualified Architectural Technologist, having finished my studies at Southampton Solent University this May. I am now looking to begin my professional career and develop my skills and knowledge in the workplace.

I have maintained an ongoing interest in Architecture for the last 17 years and coupled this with a strong desire to find out how things operate and are built.

My design influences include; Richard Rogers, Le Corbusier, Erno Goldfinger and Berthold Lubetkin. I am particularly keen on post war modernist or "Brutalist" concrete structures.

In addition to the traditional AutoCAD training, I am confident in the use of SketchUp and Photoshop, and am currently learning to use 3DS Max, Revit and ArchiCAD.

QUALFICATIONS & TRAINING: 2013- 2015 - HNC - Architectural Technology - Southampton Solent University (Awaiting result) CONTACT: 258 Bournemouth Road, Chandler’s Ford Hampshire SO53 3HB T: +44 (0) 7525 165 442 H: + 44 (0) 2380 266 429 E: andrew.falconer@talktalk.net

2007- 2009 – BSc Architecture – University of Portsmouth – (Incomplete) 2006-2007 – Access Art, Design & Photography – University of Portsmouth

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS: Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) Student Member – (awaiting Associate Membership) - Registration No. 028431 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) – Student Member - Registration No. 12090759 Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) - Student Member

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: RECTORY GROVE

During my studies, I was lucky enough to pick up some work in the field.

Through my network, I picked up some ad-hoc commissions through a new start-up Digital Architecture studio. This work consisted of context modelling in SketchUp, to allow intended projects to be put in, and later rendered.

This was a proposed development in conjunction with the Londonbased Architectural Firm, Russian for Fish.

The project involves a new housing project situated between existing terraces. I was asked to model the existing buildings and street frontage as context, to allow the intended development to be placed in later.

The work was completed using SketchUp, AutoCAD 2014 and was later rendered in 3ds Max and VRay. This project enabled me to improve my SketchUp skills, and look at including details to improve the finished render.

Top: - Example of the basic SketchUp Model Bottom: - The completed render, once the new development was included.

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: VICTORIA STREET

Example of the development including the listed faรงade.

Faรงade drawn in SketchUp from 2D AutoCAD plan

Again, this is a further project in conjunction with the earlier Digital Architects and Lynch Architects.

The proposed development is to be built around an existing listed faรงade. The faรงade has been painstakingly dismantled and placed in storage, ready to be rebuilt between the 2 new modern buildings.

Again, this project was completed with AutoCAD 2014, SketchUp and later rendered in 3ds Max and VRay.

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: BALGOWNIE HOUSE

Balgownie House is an imposing brick built building, located in Jarrow, Tyneside.

The property was originally constructed in 1875 for a local surgeon.

After a brief stint as council offices, the property was left empty for a number of years, until being bought at auction in 2012 with the express purpose of restoring the house as a family home.

Balgownie House – Front Elevation The house has 4 large rooms, (110 sq.m) on either side of a spacious hall and stairway. The house itself has many period features such as ornate plaster and woodwork, and a large amount of worked stone, a lot of which is in a poor state.

Presently the rooms have been divided for use by the council as offices. The work has been done sympathetically, and many of the old features have been preserved, or placed in storage ready to be reinstated, The property also has a number of later additions which will be demolished, one of which will be reinstated to serve as the home’s kitchen.

Balgownie House – Current Elevations & Roof Plans

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: BALGOWNIE HOUSE

Whilst the property is not listed, the local council has placed restrictions on the development of the property.

Since purchase the property has been subject to bat surveys by the local planning authority, which has held up any development.

Balgownie House – current site layout

Example of the period stonework in poor state of repair

The property also has a large outbuilding constructed in the 1960s and used as registry offices – These will be converted into 3 bungalow properties, and sold off.

As of March 2015, the council has granted planning permission to develop the property, pending provision of material samples and subsequent approval of materials.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: BALGOWNIE HOUSE

Proposed Elevations & Roof Plan for the adjacent Registry Office.

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ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE: WOOLSTON PROPERTY

This was a project to design a 4 bedroom family home in Woolston, Southampton.

The property was to be completed with strict spatial requirements for each room and was to be placed on a narrow site adjacent to the Itchen Bridge.

The whole property had to be designed from the foundations up, with special consideration given to ground conditions and other factors, such as sun path and drainage.

Example of footings for Woolston property

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ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE: WOOLSTON PROPERTY

Woolston property floor plans

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE: WOOLSTON PROPERTY

Woolston Site Layout including landscaping

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ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE: WOOLSTON PROPERTY

There were no design constraints on the look of the building only that this must fit in with other properties in the area.

As the area has a number of both new and period properties, I opted to create a modernist-style property, with period looking detail, such as Crittall-style windows.

I opted to specify a flat roof with a parapet wall, which presented a challenge, to create a large-span roof, which was suitably insulated and weatherproof.

This required the specification of engineered solutions for the joists, and connections to the cavity wall.

Parapet Wall and roof junction detail (Front Elevation)

Throughout the project, supporting information, i.e.

Manufacturer’s information, British Board of AgrÊment (BBA) certificates and Building Regulations needed to be included or referenced where required.

The project was predominantly created in AutoCAD 2014, with a 3D model created in SketchUp. I later chose elements of this to render using Visualizer plugin.

Roof Detail (Left Elevation)

I also briefly used Photoshop to adjust renders and display aspects in context.

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ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE: WOOLSTON PROPERTY

The house incorporates 4 large bedrooms, with an en-suite and dressing area for the master bedroom, a large family bathroom, study, playroom and utility room, along with the required kitchen, dining room, WC and living area.

Having to comply with strict spatial requirements, (no more than +/- 10%), this required some creative space planning in order to create usable rooms; these also had to be placed within proximity of other rooms, such as the WC and kitchens etc.

In addition, certain rooms had to be placed to make best use of the early-morning sun, such as the bedrooms, and the study needed to be north-facing to make best use of the steady levels of light throughout the day.

Unrendered SketchUp model in context (Front Elevation)

Special consideration had to be given to the neighbouring properties (currently the site is overlooked on 2 sides (pending development of the adjacent Vosper Thorneycroft site).

Small ribbon windows are placed high in the North-facing (or right-hand elevation). Which let light in, whilst maintaining privacy; skylights are also placed to increase light on the upper floor.

Site plan and layout, including landscaping (Rear Elevation)

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ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE: WOOLSTON PROPERTY

The property makes use of the view over the River Itchen, with large picture windows to the master bedroom and main living area.

The large open aspect of the rear wall required the specification of steel beams and columns, along with the addition of structural glazing.

This created a light and open space, without the privacy issues from neighbouring properties.

Unrendered SketchUp model in Context – Rear Elevation

The ground floor is mainly open-plan, with an island separating the kitchen from the main living and dining areas - this also incorporates 2 structural columns, removing these from the main thoroughfare.

The only aspects on the ground floor, not open-plan were the playroom, for noise reasons, the downstairs WC and utility room, and a foyer, for privacy reasons.

Render of Dining & Kitchen Area

ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE: FAMILY HOME

This project required the specification of construction techniques and materials for specified pre-designed property.

This called for a number of engineered solutions, such as lintels, engineered wooden joists, and the inclusion of I-beams, where necessary In addition, this project required a number of exterior finishes, such as cladding and render, which needed to be correctly detailed, along with expansion joints and metal beading.

This project was originally hand-drawn, and later duplicated and annotated in AutoCAD 2014.

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ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE: FAMILY HOME

Cross Section of Left Elevation

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ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE: MATERIALS LABS

TIMBER LABORATORY

RESULTS

This test allowed us to determine the difference in deflection between a plain timber and a composite beam to determine considerations when specifying timbers.

Plain Beam

A 2m beam was laid over a Loading Brace with load increased in increments of 100N, the resulting deflection being measured at the mid pint of the beam, 1/3 of the span and 1/6 of the span.

The experiment was then repeated with a composite beam of the same size, with steel plates bolted to either side of the beam.

8.00 L/6 (mm) 0.00 0.08 0.35 0.63 0.94 1.25 1.56 .184 2.13 2.41 2.70

L/3 (mm) 0.00 0.41 0.86 1.36 1.92 2.53 3.06 3.51 3.97 4.43 4.90

L2 (mm) 0.00 0.94 1.54 2.18 2.82 3.49 4.12 4.69 5.28 5.86 6.44

Composite Beam P (N) 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 Test in progress

L/6 (mm) 0.00 0.26 0.53 0.81 1.08 1.35 1.63 1.90 2.17 2.44 2.71

L/3 (mm) 0.00 0.40 0.85 1.30 1.75 2.21 2.66 3.11 3.55 4.00 4.43

L2 (mm) 0.00 0.82 1.40 1.96 2.51 3.5 3.59 3.93 4.66 5.18 5.70

Axis Title

P (N) 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000

Beam Deflection Results 6.00 4.00 2.00 0.00

L/6 (mm) L/3 (mm) L2 (mm)

As part of my studies, I undertook a number of other materials studies and testing, which included:        

Concrete Brick Sound Air Conditioning and Ventilation Steel Plastics and Polymers Sound Transfer Lighting

This helped me gain an understanding of material limitations, and also considerations when specifying materials and systems, in addition some of the labs showed how products and materials can be improved.

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INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCE: SMALL SPACE PROJECT

Corner detail (Left) and Wall Detail (Right)

With the onus on the burgeoning housing market, and those struggling to get on the property ladder, I wanted to design a small, eco-friendly house, suitable for single people and young couples.

The building is constructed primarily of wood, with a cassette-type build, is fully insulated, and can be configured to work “off-grid� if required.

I have also specified a number of space-saving features, such as folding bed and sofa, and integrated storage where possible.

Small Space Floor plan and front Cross-Section

Roof and Eaves detail (Left) and Floor-to-wall junction (Right)