Ana Maria Diaconu | BA Hons Architecture | PART I | University of Westminster
ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO
CURRICULUM V ITA E
(UK) 07340219178 (RO) +40729102117 anna.diaconu08@gmail.com
Ana Maria Diaconu Architecture Graduate
https://www.flickr.com/photos/annadiaconu/ 35 Marylebone Road, NW1 5LS, London
EDUCATION __________________________________________________________________________________ September 2014 July 2017
University of Westminster - London, BA (Hons) Architecture Graduated with Upper Second Class Honours 3rd year: 2nd year:
Design Studio 6 with tutors Tom Raymont and Harry Paticas Project: Regenerative Homes Design Studio 1 with tutors Elantha Evans and Anthony Powis Project: Fleeting encounters / crafted moments
Sep 2013 - June 2014
Sketching, Technical Drawing & Descriptive Geometry Lessons|Bucharest, Romania
Sep 2010 - June 2014
George Cosbuc Bilingual High-School - Bucharest, Romania Baccalaureate Diploma
WORK EXPERIENCE __________________________________________________________________________________ April 28th, 2017 9 May 2017
University organised Workshop | Lusto from Lastu, Finnish Forest Museum Punkarju, Finland Building a fire shelter only using timber, stones and hand tools guided by Finnish architect based in Norway Sami Rintala of Rintala Eggerston Architects and Tom Raymont, DS3(6) Tutor
January 23rd, 2017 February 3rd 2017
University organised Work Experience | Aedas London London, UK Project 1: Kensal Canal Side - Invited competition - coordinated by mentor Alasdair Mealey Preject 2: Barkli Group Hotels - A facade redesigning project - coordinated by Corrie Jones
December 2016 July 2017
RIBA Mentoring Scheme | Stiff + Trevillion - with RIBA mentor Emily Watson
November 2016
Extended Essay field trip | Unviersity of Westminster - Tutor: Jon Goodbun
London, UK
Oslo, Norway Snohetta Practice Studio, Oslo, Norway November 2016 May 2016
The Site Diary Project | Tim Greatrex Architect London, UK
A house refurbishment project located at 43 Franconia Road, London, on whichI have taken part as an observer, going to site visits and writing a report on my findings, under the supervision of Tim Greatrex January 2015 – October 2015
Artconfex - Anne Bebe | Graphic Designer and Coordinator
June 2015 – July 2015
Volunteer in Press and Media Management
September 2010 – August 2013
Bucharest, Romania
BRD Open Bucharest
Teen Press - Magazine | Main Photographer, Fotoreporter & Photo Editor Bucharest, Romania
ACCOMPLISHMENTS & PUBLICATIONS ___________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ June 2017
The Best Student Design-Build Projects Worldwide 2017 | ArchDaily ArchDaily Website, AD Editorial Team
May 2017
Student pavilion: Westminster University’s shelter in the Finnish woods | AJ Architects’ Journal Website, Rob Wilson
January 2014
“An Architect in Bucharest” - A picture report Bucharest, Romania Teen Press Magazine
June 2012
Photography Contest - SpirObiectiv Bucharest, Romania First Prize
SKILLS ________________________________________________________________________________ Advanced:
Vectorworks | Photoshop | Lightroom | Lumion | Premiere Pro | Microsoft Office
Intermediate
SketchUp | Illustrator | Revit | InDesign | All Adobe Suite
Beginner
Microstation | Rhino
LANGUAGES _______________________________________________________________________________ Native
Romanian
Fluent
English | Italian
Intermediate
French
Basic
Turkish
SPECIALTIES ________________________________________________________________________________
Hand Drawing
|
Rendering
|
Photography
REFEREES ________________________________________________________________________________ Thomas Raymont, 3rd year tutor | AAdipl RIBA University of Westminster - 35 Marylebone Road, NW15LS, London +44 (0) 7503 221 761 | t.raymont@westminster.ac.uk
Elantha Evans, 2nd Year Tutor | Serrano Evans Architects University of Westminster 35 Marylebone Road NW1 5LS, London +44 (0) 7976283042 | E.Evans@westminster.ac.uk
AVAILABILITY _________________________________________________________________________________ September 2017 - September 2018
CONTENTS * Light Texture of The Public Manifesto and Support Centre
Year 2 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Concept Design 2A : The BrainWash Project Pub, Launderette, Brewery & More | Urban and Public Space
Developed Design 2B : The Public Manifesto and Support Centre An institution created for the people who have something to say, a place for help and an inhabitation of the public street
Year 3 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Concept Design 3A | Love-A-Dove Romantic Getaway and Honeymoon suite - A simple dove experience in the heart of nature
Developed and Technical Design 3B| RF Cast & Crew Theatre & Coffee - The Wooden Village | Accommodating the future of acting
Cultural Context - Extended Essay | Educational Sustainability in Architecture A research based on UK and Norway studies and personal reflections
Technical Studies: From London to Lastu A research based on the tectonic of Reciprocal Frames and the construction of Lastu, a fire shelter build by DS(3) 6 in the middle of a Finnish forest
Photography, Hand Drawing, Mixed Media ____________________________________________________________________________________ Photography & Handrawing Skills A collection of personal work done in the last 3 years
Brief Name: Fleeting Encounters | 2016 Semester One: Crafting Moments Brainwash is a launderette and microbrewery by day and a music club by night. The unique design exposes the relationship between the washing process and the brewing system, whilst carrying out social activities for the bar goers, designed to serve beer and beverages from the proposed brewery.
Section And Ground Floor of BrainWash
Roof Garden 3D Render
Bar interior View
Final Roof Plan
Exterior Water Feature View
Brief Name: Fleeting Encounters | 2016 Semester One: Crafting Moments
After the sunset, the brewery becomes a glowing based on the polycarbonate facade. The main form of the barrels inside and other equipment would be visible as silhouettes right froma first glance at this building from a far distance - from Kings Cross, for instance.The research done for this project makes room for a multitude of challenges and opportunities: social activities, clear relationship to water, reinventing the facade of a typical brewery space, playing with forms and light and becoming a collective space for the process itself. The building consists of a number of uneven levels, concentrically arranged onto the plan, to achieve the effect of level changing that can be found throughout the whole site
The Public Manifesto and Support Centre
Brief Name : Fleeting Encounters - Second Year Second semester - A public convenience?
The main inspiration for the proposal was the initial brief of designing an institution for the Civil Liberties. After a thorough research on the area and exploring the surroundings and the possibilities of the existing site, I came across the idea of the Soap Box in Hyde Park. It has driven my whole concept as the proposal has become a Public Speaking institution, hence called “The Public Manifesto and Support Centre�. Located on the highly circulated Strand Street of London, right across the Royal Courts of Justice, the proposal engages with activities that support the public speaking and the people who organising it. It runs as an Institution which provides schedules for the manifestos, support of documentation, a library on the top floor, a Cafe Space with a built in exhibition of the public speaking history and a private floor for the employees working in the building. The Design is indeed strong as the opposing street becomes a Spanish inspired piazza, strenghtening the meaning of public and pedestrian circulation. The building has a built-in stage within the facade on which the public speakers perform. Meanwhile, in the middle of the piazza, there is street furniture element consisting of a camera stand which records the public events taking place for both of the Centre and the Royal Courts of Justice.
Long Section
Proposal Ground Floor In Context
From Left to Right: Ground Floor Audience Cross Section Library View Street Furtniture Representation
Project 1 - Woodland Habitat For this semester the proposal began focusing on the Turtle Dove and on its habitat. Indeed, the turtle dove’s situation in UK is important, being listed on the endangered species list.Therefore, what the design promises is to reintroduce the turtle dove within the UK while finding a useful meaning for the building as well, in relation to the clients. In order to create a space for both people and birds it was mandatory to create a romantic experience for the visiting couple, without letting them interfere with the birds. In addition to that, the materials used for this project consist of wood and stone so that the birds can be seen by the people, but not vice-versa. Another way of achieving this was by creating a foliage wall with Mashrabbyia patterns, having clear but gentle openings from the people’s space to the birds’ space. This is why, after several proposals and ideas, the precedent of a dovecote was the most inspiring. The final stage of the design integrates a romantic honeymoon suite alongside a stone traditional dovecote on the side. The proposal is being held under the trademark of LandMark Trust franchise. A partnership has been formed to bring people and birds together under one roof. The reason Love-A-Dove is
Turtle Dove Study & Dimensons
accepting couples mainly on their honeymoons is because the Turtle Dove is the symbol of love and friendship.
S
Detail Section In Context
Exterior Perspectival View
Intterior Perspectival View
Pergolal View
Roof Plan in Context
RF CAST & CREW Theatre and Coffee | The wooden Village | Accommodating the future of Acting
*Entry Module & Ramp - Axo Section
Brief Name: Regenerative Houses This project is based on the Reciprocal frames tectonic. As a primary inspiration, the DaVinci’s bridge mechanism has made possible the unification of 2 points via a ramp structure. Therefore, RF Cast & Crew evolved around the creation of the previously mentioned ramp, becoming an urban realm for pedestrians. Firstly, it begins on the Waterloo bridge, goes through the site and ends at the Southbank area, in close proximity to the Thames. This way, after calculating the routes, people in a hurry to get to the theatre would spend 2 minutes on the ramp using this path as opposed to 7 on the closest option. This truly shows the importance of the ramp. Here people can enjoy reading a book on the existing benches or just walk by and stop at the coffee shop. The Key Moments: 1. The ramp - A public and accessible route, offering benches and urban furniture such as swings, hammocks and platforms for live performers. 2. The cafe space - built around another RF frame which supports the roof as well. In the middle of the structure, as there is the void, the roof becomes a skylight sustained by the structure while there are beams starting on the extremities and ending on the walls. 3. The Theatre - it comes on 2 levels, the second one being the mezzanine. The theatre has entrances and toilets for both actors and spectators and while not used for a play, it can be used as a rehearsal space for the accommodation actor clients. 4. The inner courtyard - acts as another pedestrian street with benches and flowers on each side.
3D testing of Reciprocal Modules
Entry Modules Description In order to emphasize each of the entries throughout the whole reciprocal wooden elements, each of the doors consist of a number of horizontal wooden beams. They meet at the top, forming a tunnel. The circulation of the wooden village is therefore guided by these, becoming one of the landmarks of RF Cast & Crew.
Courtyard View Towards the Theatre
Ground Floor Plan
Third Floor Plan
Roof Plan
Long Section Through Cafe, Ramp, Accommodation and Theatre
Cross Section Through Cafe And Ramp
The Key Reciprocal Elements 1. The ramp which is made by adding a multitude of basic RF structures which would reach the height of 5m (the height from the Waterloo Bridge and the first terrace of National Theatre). The height could be achieved by adding 20 beams in a circular pattern, made from Oak wood which is strong and thus good for the structure. The ramp tree structure is integrated within the concrete foundation of the site and then, where the modules meet, enforced with an iron enclosure. The ramp’s actual surface is positioned on the extremities of the ramp, which, when applying pressure to the gravity, it stabilizes the ramp itself. 2. The roof of the accommodation is a basic 7 elements RF structure on which the roofing comes on in wood beams. The roof is then covered with slate to prevent the rain decay of wood. 3. The reciprocal Courtyard roof - Obtained using a basic 3 elements RF structure and then multiplying it by dozens of times. Of course, to be extremely stable, the elements need to be nailed to each other and then positioned on the accommodation roof.
Cultural Context - Extended Essay | Educational Sustainability in Architecture A research based on UK and Norway studies and personal reflections Table of Contents I. Introduction - What is sustainable architecture? - A brief history II. Architectural Education •Where did it all begin? •How is the sustainable education framed in architecture? • Norway - teaching a critical lesson • A trip to Norway • Sustainable Education for Architecture in UK • Sustainable Education for Architecture in Europe III. Present times actions -Education in Architecture for the 21st Century •Oxford Conference 2008 •The Oslo Trienalle 2013 - On sustainability IV. What about today? V. Conclusion VI. Appendix - Interviews with people of various cultures and beliefs - Copyright to author VII. Bibliography
*Full Document Available on Request
DS(3)6 Goes to Finland Lastu - A fire shelter in the heart of the Finnish Woodlands
What is Lastu? Third year students at the University of Westminster (my studio, precisely) have designed and built a timber shelter in the Punkaharju forests of eastern Finland. The structure was built without the use of power tools from locally sawn Red Pine. Construction was completed in nine days under the guidance of architect Sami Rintala (Rintala Eggertsson) and Tom Raymont. The shelter was built spontaneously and collectively without the use of drawings, simply by arranging and adjusting elements until the group agreed on the correct design. From footings to floor, to columns, walls and roof: each part was built in response to the former but without predetermining what was to follow. The result was an intimately site-specific structure that responded to the adjacent avenue of birch trees, the gently sloping ground and the serpentine edge of the nearby lake. The floor, columns, walls and roofs were all built from hand-sawn timber and nails. Linseed oil was used to give the roof additional protection whilst all other members are left to weather. The structure may last just a few years or decades if regularly maintained. It forms a public gathering space for up to 20 people located just off a popular hiking and skiing path in the forest. It is in the grounds of the Lusto Forestry Museum and becomes one of their collection of timber structures and artefacts recording the last 100 years of forestry in Finland. The building was christened “Lastu” in empathy with the museum building nearby and meaning a flake of wood thrown out when cutting or chiselling wood. The workshop was commissioned by the Finnish Institute in London. It is part of the Mobile Home 2017 project, a collaborative project between the Finnish Institute’s in Paris, Berlin and Benelux Countries. It is part of the Finland 100 programme celebrating the centenary of Finland’s independence in 2017. The building was opened to the public on 9th May. The only reason we managed to finish the shelter in only 9 days is due to the strong bond created within the studio and an amazing team work of facing vv hard work Day 6
Me!
Whole Roof, Remaining walls, Beginning of Ramp
The roof is opaque so that the prgression of the wall can be seen
ession of the wall can ca be seen
*Construction Timelapse - Views extracted from my 3D
Architectural Drawings
Timelapse 2D Drawings
Roof Plan
Existing Main Joints - Technical Visualisation
Also
Me!
Photography, Hand Drawing Skills
Falling Waters House - Frank Lloyd Wright. The drawing is made on paper (A3 – 29,7x42cm) in graphite pencils (B2, B3, B4 and B5). and in color pencils, in order to emphasize the environment.
The Church of San Pietro in Montorio. The drawing is made on paper (A3 – 29,7x42cm) in graphite pencils (B2, B3, B4 and B5), as a quick sketch with shadows.
Vana Venturi House. The drawing is made on paper (A3 – 29,7x42cm) in graphite pencils (B2, B3, B4 and B5). and in color pencils, in order to emphasize the environment.
The Casino from Constanza. The drawing is made on paper (A3 – 29,7x42cm) in graphite pencils (B2, B3, B4 and B5)
Thank you!