Architecture Student Portfolio | CF Sinalo

Architecture Portfolio

CHIPOSI F. SINALO

Creativity and curiosity paired with my ability to learn and understand things at a fast pace have always been my daily drivers. This mentality allows me to take my passions to places that not most are willing to travel and in ways that are deemed unconventional to the majority.

I was born into a family of four siblings. My mother is a retired court reporter but also did tailoring and my father owned one of the first furniture factories and was also involved in construction, music, and photography. With a family like mine, I was surrounded by creativity. Although I was interested in design and photography from a long time ago, I bought my first camera in 2012 after being influenced by my older brother Chikondi who is a photographer as well. In other words, creativity runs through my blood and I am passionate about it. From a young boy who loved to draw to a young man studying architecture and highly into design and photography, visual storytelling has always been a part of me. This is quite essential in my life as I am not a man of many words, therefore, I put my effort into expressing myself through my visual work whether it be through sketches, designs and/ or photographs.

This architectural portfolio is a brief selection of few projects from University that portray my architectural skills and character. The projects range from Office and commercial to residential design.

(5th Year Master’s Treatise Design Project 2019)

The design of a bicycle manufacturer, in Airport Valley, Gqebera Township, Walmer, explores the potential for industrial areas to contribute positively to their surrounding urban landscape with a focus on the ‘urban poor’ environments. On an urban scale, the project stands as a gateway, and urban playscape to Airport Valley which is an informal settlement, surrounded by industrial, commercial, and suburb areas which pose as barriers instead of connectors to social and economic opportunities.

The design plays on the concept of the roof as a ‘walkable continuation of landscape/ playscape’ whilst dealing with a contrast of privacy and openness. As the design is of a an industrial building, materials that have the potential to enhance the working environment are explored whilst realizing the need for the materials to be economical and yield a return on investement. Therefore, a timber structure made of cross laminated timber roof resting on glulam timber beams and columns is used as an environmental friendly alternative with the potential of a connection to wellbeing for the users of the building.

The structure sees itself being premanufactured as parts in a factory and assembled together on site paying reference to the idea of how a bicycle is made.

AIRPORT VALLEY BICYCLE CENTRE

Studio Master: Andrew Palframan, Bryan Wintermeyer

Urban Plan

Urban Frontal Perspective

TECHNICAL DRAWINGS

HANOVER PREST PAVERS ON HIGH-TAB PEDESTALS

HIGHLOAD EXTRUDED POLYSTRENE INSULATION

CROSS LAMINATED TIMBER ROOF

GLULAM BEAMS WITH CONCEALED BEAM HANGER CONNECTIONS

CLT FLOOR HANG FROM GLULAM BUILDING STRUCTURE BY HIGH STRENGTH STEEL TENSION RODS

GLULAM COLUMN BOLTED TO WEATHERPROOF COATED STEEL KNIFE PLATE BASE CONNECTOR BOLTED TO ANCHORS SET IN IN-SITU CONCRETET

CROSS SECTION A-A

Factory Shop

Roof Playscape Perspective

(4th Year Design Project 2018)

Studio Master: Bobhan Varghese, Graeme Eckley

The simplistic attempt to make an inclusive CBD in the Port Elizabeth context failed. To complicate matters further, the segregated social fabric, the unstable political landscape and the economic crisis of the major businesses and institutions have moved to new suburbs and the buildings are occupied by undervalued activities exhibiting a decaying urban built fabric. While this could be a recent trend, the lack of a cohesive strategy and implementation mindset is detrimental to the city and its citizens.

The design project aims to transform a site on Govan Mbeki avenue through design interventions. These developments could bring desirable changes to some of the stifling spatial and social conditions and create opportunities for inclusive growth fit for a 21st-century smart city. The chosen site has a great opportunity for integrating the Govan Mbeki avenue to the historical core precinct Constitutional hill and beyond.

Basic design cues are used to create an informed architecture; The edge of the building is brought to the boundary in response to urban design norms which help create a better street enclosure. Although this is so, the ground level is edged softly with vegetation and left open for public penetration into the main atrium/forecourt which can serve as a retail zone.

Screens are used to control the light and heat coming from the North. This poses an opportunity to take advantage of the Sun energy in the form of photovoltaic energy which can be used as electricity in the building. Light wells also help get lighting deeper into the building and allow for natural ventilation control.

INNOWIND HEAD OFFICE

Frontal Perspective InnoWind Headquarters

Interaction to street

Cross Section Perspective

Connection of Street Edge to Valley Edge

Conceptual Section

Taking inspiration from nature presenting itself as a sea creature coming ashore and wrapping itself around the lighthouse, bringing forth its program and marrying it with the existing to create new interactive spaces. The sea creature takes on a luminous object which although represents a change in the function of the lighthouse but carries on the concept of ‘light in the night’. The existing finds new function as service core whilst the new entity is an open volume for various production and leisure activities. Tempo-rarity is brought about by the use of a light footprint to the surrounding and old lighthouse which in turn gives a contrast of old and new, heavy and light.

THE LIGHTHOUSE (THE COLLECTIVE)

PG BISON 2016 COMPETITION

(3rd Year Design Project)

Studio Master: Donald Flint, Stephen Lear

A collective has been put together to work on a massive international sporting event that will be taking place in Port Elizabeth. This collective has been tasked with putting together the creative, advertising, marketing PR logistics for the event, but also includes experts in sport and venue management, align with technical and logistical professionals.

Brief: You have been tasked with creating the space in which this team will operate over a 4-year time frame. This space needs to foster creativity, design, interaction and maximum productivity. The Collective includes people of various ages, from diverse social and cultural backgrounds

The physical environment must enable this group to achieve their goals

This new space will be open 24/7, with members of the Collective being able to work whenever they choose. As such, please consider “softer” spaces for chilling, eating, home comforts and contemplation

You need to create specific areas for the following; one that is entirely free of any technology, and one that embraces all the latest, technology, and allows maximum connectivity to the rest of the world

Most importantly, your design must stimulate highly productive collaboration and support interaction among the diverse group

Your design must be able to be completed within a year

While the building is no longer a functional lighthouse, consider the symbolism of the structure in creating awareness or attracting attention in your design

The chosen design takes inspiration from nature presenting itself as a sea creature coming ashore and wrapping itself around the lighthouse, bringing forth its program and marrying it with the existing to create new interactive spaces. The sea creature takes on a luminous object which although represents a change in the function of the lighthouse but carries on the concept of ‘light in the night’. The existing finds new function as service core whilst the new entity is an open volume for various production and leisure activities. Tempo-rarity is brought about by the use of a light footprint to the surrounding and old lighthouse which in turn gives a contrast of old and new, heavy and light.

The design was showcased at the PG Bison Competition dinner night.

WALMER ICE RINK

FAIRVIEW ICE RINK

(3rd Year Design Project 2016)

Studio Master: Donald Flint, Stephen Lear

BRIEF: You are required to design a completely new, from scratch, indoor ICE SKATING and gaming center. The client/developer, supported by the department of SPORTS AND RECREATION, is ICE NIKE who are investing in such centers all around the country (just doing their little bit towards sport, peace and global happiness).

Designed to bring life into Fairview Street (Walmer, Port Elizabeth), the Ice Rink takes on a dynamic form imitating the majestic flow of a well experienced Ice skater.

As much as the building is tasked to be an environmental container, with priority in maintaining an enclosed cold space for ice skating, the building takes on the challenge to give a sense of height to a relatively flat area of Walmer. Therefore, presenting itself as an object or art piece in the middle of a landscape. The Fairview Ice Rink offers a range of mixed leisure activities such as food, gaming, and shopping. The building is made up of reinforced concrete walls with a selfsupported curved glulam beam structure with Rheinzinc roof cladding.

Longitudinal Sectional Perspective

Building as an art piece

Privacy Gradient

Frontal Perspective Fairview Ice Rink

50 mm Pre-cast concrete wall

216 x 216 x 8 L-angle bolted connection

A307 M20 Nut and bolt

40mm Rigid insulation

RhineZinc Titanium Diamond panels on 150 x 50 purlins at 600mm distance nailed to, 150 x 50 Glulam beam curved to engineer specification

200 mm Cast in-situ concrete wall

M20 expantion bolts

600 x 381 cast in-situ concrete beam

RhineZinc Titanium Diamond panels on 150 x 50 purlins at 600mm distance nailed to, 150 x 50 Glulam beam curved to engineer specification

380 x 130 timber beam bolted to 230 x 180 timber column

Column cap end CC54-6 clipping timber beam to column

A304 M22 Nut and bolt holding beam onto timber column

A307 M20 Nut and bolt clipping column and beam together 230 x 180 timber column

90mm Iso-board insulation

Section 1 - Callout 1

Section

Callout

10mm "earthcote" polished concrete floor finish on 200mm concrete floor

230 x 180 timber column bolted to column base end

CB1012 Column base end

A307 M30 nut and bolt clipping timber column to column base end

M22 Anchor bolt hook anchoring timber column to concrete floor

150 x 50 Glulam beam curved to engineer specification

Clevis conncector to engineer specification

A490 M42 Nut and bolt clipping beam connector and concrete connector

900 x 2000 Cast in-situ concrete base

Section 1 - Callout 3

Section 1 - Callout 4

A THREE BEDROOM HOUSE (absolute MAX 150m2) THE FAMILY AS GENERATOR. THE SITE AS GENERATOR THE HOUSE AS CONTAINER A VERY small but COMPLEX PROJECT.

BAAKENS CLIFF HOUSE

(3rd Year Design Project 2016)

Studio Master: Donald Flint, Stephen Lear

A THREE BEDROOM HOUSE (absolute MAX 150m2)

THE FAMILY AS GENERATOR.

THE SITE AS GENERATOR

THE HOUSE AS CONTAINER

A VERY small but COMPLEX PROJECT.

The Baakens Valley (Port Elizabeth}, being a well preserved natural site, gives off great views of fauna and flora. With limited space and a great awareness of the site, the design takes shape as two blocks each taking one site boundary line as an axis to creating privacy. The two blocks, one taking on timber tectonics and the other concrete join at their ends to create a point of access and communal space. The use of timber and concrete materials allows for a contrast between light and heavy, warm and cold. The design allows for framed views of the Baakens valley whilst working with privacy gradients to turn its back on the street edge and open up to the natural valley with communal areas as the pivotal point.

Site Plan

A small selection of photographs showcasing photography capturing and editing skills.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Portrait in the Woods, Thyolo

Portrait in the Mountains, Thyolo

LEFT: Cell Tower, Blantyre. RIGHT: Alexander Forbes Building, Sandton

LEFT: Harbor Cranes, Port Elizabeth. RIGHT: Pedestrian Bridge, Blantyre

TOP: Pedestrian Bridge, johannesburg. BOTTOM: Taxi Rank, Blantyre

TOP LEFT: Sunset City Skyline, Port Elizabeth. TOP RIGHT: Clouds. BOTTOM: Pitched Roof, Blantyre

CURRICULUM VITAE

CURRICULUM VITAE

Chiposi F. sinalo

1st November, 93

INFO

Port Elizabeth, South Africa chipsinalo265@gmail.com

+27 603 039 792 (SA)

ABOUT

“Education, love and a strong will to persist through anything and everything is the only thing that will keep one growing.”

WORK EXPERIENCE

ARCHITECTURAL INTERN

Ministry of Transport & Public works

Government of Malawi

PHOTOGRAPHER

Aug 2017 - Jan 2018

Chip Sinalo Photography 2013 - Present

▪ Photo editing and graphic design

▪ Customer Service

JUNIOR DRAFTSMAN/TECHNICIAN

Clinton & Evans - Blantyre, Malawi

Mar 2015 - Oct 2015

▪ 3D autoCAD model/drawing

▪ SIte inspection and event recording

SOFTWARE DEVELOPER

Moyo Wanga Health Services - Blantyre, Malawi

▪ Data entry

Dec 2014 - Feb 2015

SOCIAL linkedin.com/in/ChipSinalo fb.com/ChipSinalo @ChipSinalo

EDUCATION

ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES (M.ARCH)

▪ Professional

ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES (BAS)

▪ Qualified for Masters Program

4- AS LEVELS

▪ Microsoft Digital Literacy Certificate

Architectural Studies graduate and masters student; highly motivated by design and its capabilities to influence human interaction. Brief working experience and solid skill base in various CAD software and image manipulation programs.

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU)

Graduation: April 2020

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) 2016 St. Andrews Intl. High School 2011

CREATIVITY AND CURIOSITY PAIRED WITH MY ABILITY TO LEARN AND UNDERSTAND THINGS AT A FAST PACE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN MY DAILY DRIVERS. THIS MENTALITY ALLOWS ME TO TAKE MY PASSIONS TO PLACES THAT NOT MOST ARE WILLING TO TRAVEL AND IN WAYS THAT ARE DEEMED UNCONVENTIONAL TO THE MAJORITY. I WAS BORN INTO A FAMILY OF FOUR SIBLINGS. MY MOTHER IS A RETIRED COURT REPORTER BUT ALSO DID TAILORING AND MY FATHER OWNED ONE OF THE FIRST FURNITURE FACTORIES AND WAS ALSO INVOLVED IN CONSTRUCTION, MUSIC, AND PHOTOGRAPHY. WITH A FAMILY LIKE MINE, I WAS SURROUNDED BY CREATIVITY. ALTHOUGH I WAS INTERESTED IN DESIGN AND PHOTOGRAPHY FROM A LONG TIME AGO, I BOUGHT MY FIRST CAMERA IN 2012 AFTER BEING INFLUENCED BY MY OLDER BROTHER CHIKONDI WHO IS A PHOTOGRAPHER AS WELL. IN OTHER WORDS, CREATIVITY RUNS THROUGH MY BLOOD AND I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT IT.

FROM A YOUNG BOY WHO LOVED TO DRAW TO A YOUNG MAN STUDYING ARCHITECTURE AND HIGHLY INTO DESIGN AND PHOTOGRAPHY, VISUAL STORYTELLING HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF ME. THIS IS QUITE ESSENTIAL IN MY LIFE AS I AM NOT A MAN OF MANY WORDS, THEREFORE, I PUT MY EFFORT INTO EXPRESSING MYSELF THROUGH MY VISUAL WORK WHETHER IT BE THROUGH SKETCHES, DESIGNS AND/OR PHOTOGRAPHS. THIS ARCHITECTURAL PORTFOLIO IS A BRIEF SELECTION OF FEW PROJECTS FROM UNIVERSITY THAT PORTRAY MY ARCHITECTURAL SKILLS AND CHARACTER. THE PROJECTS RANGE FROM OFFICE AND COMMERCIAL TO RESIDENTIAL DESIGN.