Arkitekt MSA
CHRISTINA GHERMAN
CONTENT
04
ACADEMIC
PROFESSIONAL
Master Degree Project The Saxon Countryhouses in Transylvania - survey on the rural heritage, its present challenges and future possibilities
Freelance INSIDE Monaco •3D modelling and visualisation
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Hotel Carcavelos - vacation culture; British ease meets Portuguese modernism
20
House Brunshög - the role of a villa in urban densification
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Internship, integrated in master Saguez & Partners, Paris •Mall of Netherlands - interior design concepts; materials and furniture implant Internship, independent Winghårds, Stockholm •Friends Arena Hotel •Solgård - early sketches residential implementation
P R I VAT E
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Casa Leontina - extension of Master Degree Project Sketches - documenting places, a selection of hand drawings
ACADEMIC
THE SAXON COUNTRYHOUSES IN TRANSYLVANIA master degree project 1 semester year 5
My master thesis took me all the way to Transylvania, a historical region in today’s Romania. The region is known for its unique Saxon villages, characterized by their unique fortified churches and their settlement pattern, which has remained unchanged since the Middle Ages. They are an important part of the cultural landscape. Seven of them are listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and there is a great value in working for the preservation of many more. Honoured with a place at an exhibition in The Swedish Royal Academy of Arts, the most important aim of this project is to highlight and raise awareness of the unique architectural heritage of Saxon Transylvania. But also to find a modern way of pursuing architecture in the area, for its future architectural development. It is therefore divided into one theoretical part, focusing on telling the contextual story, and one practical consisting of a design suggestion, which I will briefly present here.
village plan - Senereus, Romania
Link to the whole project: https://issuu.com/christinagherman/docs/191030_examensrapport_ christina_gherman
visualisation, new addition to a traditional Saxon farm
the Saxon farm
- Building typology
type 1 Residential building Elevated, Status, Lavished - placed in the front of the courtyard, facing the street - massive brick walls, plastered and often decorated. 2-3 residential rooms 1/2 level above ground - spacious attic and spacious basement, half buried
type 3
type 2 Service building Accessible, Practical, Simple - placed privately behind the residential building - massive plastered brick walls. 1 room at ground level (kitchen, summer kitchen) - no basement
Economy building Lofty, Weather protection, Light and airy - placed in the very back of the farm, for enclosure - pillars and beams of massive wood placed on big river stones. Completely or partly covered with wooden planks. .
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cultivation zone
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1. official room 2. entrance and multi-purpose room 3. dormitory/room 4. summer kitchen 5. dwell 6. bread oven 7. stables 8. outhouse 9. annex
agrarian zone
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domestic zone
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street
The houses, as well as the whole courtyard, has a well defined organisation of spaces and use. public street life in front of the Type 1- Residential buildings
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the project site - adding, extending & reprogramming Site B - Restoration - creating a semi- public space, which can attract new faces to the village through restoration workshops. - “open house” spirit, new gathering point for locals and visitors
B
Site A - Addition - giving the site a new face - the front and “head office” for the workshops on site B - service and accommodation for the workshop participants
A existing buildings new additions & extensions
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site plan - with new additions and new programming 1. restoration workshop 2. semi- public outdoor space/hangout 3. new addition- “the hybrid� 4. reprogrammed- guest house
5. reprogrammedprivate house 6. reprogrammedprivate house
7. extension- private house 8. private outdoor space 9. reprogrammed- private barn 10. garden
11. barn for storage 12. poultry garden 13. secret entrance/stream promenade
The new hybrid building has a very exposed position, perfectly placed to be representative for the site. The opportunity to explore this placing is unique. Nothing new, that is official and of architectural quality, has yet been build on this high impact position, in any Transylvanian Saxon village.
cross section
street front, elevation
The roof tiles have a long and unique tradition in the region. The roof tiles are also the only material that unites all Saxon building types, on the site, but also in the village. All buildings are a perfect unity underneath the shades of terracotta; fortified church to shed.
longitudinal section
courtyard side, elevation
the hybrid house - design concept type 1, residential building
type 3, economy building
type 2, service building
type ?, hybrid building
- view & visual contact
the hybrid house - ambiance pictures
level 0
level 1
level 1 & 2
level 1 & 2
plan 0
plan 1
plan 2
service & meeting point
living room office & dorms
terrace & dorms
A
C
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3
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A
1 B
earthen floor
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brick paver, reused or from local production
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wooden planks
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A beautiful view on the imposing Fortified Church, and the surrounding landscape.
Overlook on the Workshop site and visual contact with the charming Pink house.
Shaders, made of suspended roof tiles, creates that kind of light effect and atmosphere found on the attic of a Saxon building.
A
B
C
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cross section
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longitudinal section
planks - exterior cladding
bricks preferably reused
plastered - faรงades
plastered - interior walls
planks - interior floor
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massive wood - preferably reused from other disassembled barns (found free or for sale in the region).
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Shaders, made of suspended roof tiles
the variation of roof tile styles allows multiple combinations and patterns
Shaders, made of suspended roof tiles, creates that kind of light effect and atmosphere found on the attic of a Saxon house. Inspired by the traditional window shutters, they also provide privacy and shading. The tile pattern and its density, can easily be varied by using the three different type shapes from the local tile factory.
visualisation, interior - light effect by the brick shaders
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south elevation, street front
light effect, through brick wall
planks - exterior cladding
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east elevation, courtyard
roof tiles - local production
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shaders, made of suspended roof tiles
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visualisation, street view - the relation between the old and the new
HOTEL CARCAVELOS - British ease meets Portuguese modernism 5 weeks single work year 4, (Master year in Lisbon)
the site
train station car traffic & parking pedestrians the sea pine forest old brittish school outdoor sports area
Right outside Lisbon, facing the most popular beach in the area, lays a large unexploited site. The spot has a rich history. It was once a winery, producing an almost forgotten regional fortified wine. Later it turned into a British engineer settlement. The employees of a science project were housed in a small neighbourhood on the site, and a new school was build for their children. Today there is not much left of the times that passed. Most of the site is covered with trees and wild vegetation, big enough to make you forget the nearby busy city. The two abandoned residential buildings from the science project adds further to the atmosphere of wilderness. The English school however, has continued its services, and is now a well reputed education. The assignment for this project was to reintroduce the wine production, and enrich the site with a suitable hotel.
visualisation, implementation of a new hotel into reintroduced wine fields
N
plan, hotel ground floor
new winery level 3 new hotel old colony
Improvement of site use, affected by the new structures and wine fields
level 2
level 1
Inspiration from existing buildings for a wind protective shape and placement of new winery and hotel
plan, level -1
north elevation - closed towards the school area
south elevation - open towards the sea
section through lobby
corridors - horisontal communication hotel lobby -vertical communication To maximise the south side’s sea view in each hotel room, the communicative spaces are placed along the north facade. visualisation hotel lobby
Narrow windows runs like horizontal cracks in the northern limestone facade, giving framed views towards the winery and the wine fields, without compromising the privacy towards the school area. zoom, window detail
cross section
detail section, north facade
detail elevation, north
longitudinal section, the suite
The suits have a private and quiet location within the hotel, providing direct access to the spa area. The layout is inspired an effortless lifestyle, where even the showers offers a sea view. Meanwhile, bold architectural details, raw limestone and warm walnut, gives the suites a modernist yet timeless framing.
suites
plan, the suite
Material palette: Portuguese limestone Lioz Classico, American walnut, white lime plaster
bedroom, the Suites
HOUSE Brunshรถg - the role of a villa in urban densification team work, 2 pers 2 weeks year 1
In the Swedish town, Lund, a new neighbourhood is being developed and the local council aims to integrate the new area into the cityscape. The goal is to create an urban architecture with features of a denser city. In a collaboration with the municipal council of Lund, we interviewed people living in the nearby areas. Our goal was to gather information about their ideas of an ideal home, and then design a prototype dwelling following these ideas. Our design was based on an interview with a 60 year old man, Christer. His main wish was a private brick villa, with access to a garden and surrounding green areas.
visualisation, a private urban villa
B
transparency - in/outside views private public A
A
B
evening light
plan, first floor - the apartment
B
transparency - in/outside views
private public A
A
evening light B
plan, ground floor - the urban villa
The windows facing the backside, are carefully placed to limit the sight between the two different floors, and keeps therefore the integrity of the private garden on the ground floor.
Our response to Christer’s visions of a private house, and the contradicting urbanisation requirements from the city council, is a two story town house which contains two different types of dwellings. The house follows the urban pattern and is placed close to the street like a traditional Swedish town house. The two dwellings in the house opens and closes in different directions. To satisfy Christer’s wish for a private space, the urban villa on the ground floor is designed with the qualities of a private villa. It opens to a private backside garden and has a closed character towards the street. The apartment on the second floor has a more extrovert character featuring a terrace overlooking the street life below. It is a response to the requirement of a more dense and urban neighbourhood.
section B-B
section A-A
backyard elevation
street elevation
PROFESSIONAL
INSIDE Monaco, Monaco
INSIDE Monaco - 3D work & visuals Freelance, various projects Sketchup, Ps
During 2020 I started working independently for INSIDE Monaco. My tasks concerned the creation of 3D models and visualisations. The collaboration was of a flexible nature, with an ongoing communication allowing INSIDE Monaco to change the instructions and descriptions of the tasks, as their design process evolved. It was a dynamic work flow, appreciated by both parts.
visualisation, lobby
Sketches and designs by INSIDE Monaco, which I modelled and visualised along as the design process evolved.
visualisation, office
SAGUEZ & PARTNERS, Paris
Mall of Netherlands - shopping breaks Solo work with supervisor Illustrator, Sketchup, Ps
green stroll
I overtook the project after its first interior design concept had already been presented. It was a good experience to finish and update the original ideas. I worked alone, but with supervision and with regular video meetings with Westfield’s own design team in Netherlands (I was considered to be a particularly good asset during this international project due to my English skills).
vibrant city
Westfield’s Mall of Netherlands aims to be an “innovative, unique retail, dining, leisure and entertainment destination.
The project was of a significant large scale, and I learned to handle a big work load during limited time. Presented here is only the ground floor and two furnished “shopping break” spaces.
plan - costumer journey, entrance level
Refuel Zones - the shopping break concept
We developed a concept for the Refuel Zones of three different sizes, easily adaptable to their location. They are recognizable throughout the whole mall.
The furnitures chosen connects the Northern Green Stroll area with the Southern Vibrant City. They are therefore a mix of natural fair wood, leather and big greeneries with a touch of edgy urbanism.
the Shopping break concept: 3 types of Refuel zones
Small
Medium
Large
plan, Large refuel zone
City Node - a special shopping break
elevation with detail, paravent City Node
cross section, paravent City Node
Ceramic wood for durability and a warmer look. It is combined in different patterns and colours.
plan, City Node floor material
The City Node, is the main shopping break in the Vibrant City area, with a protecting paravent structure against the busyness of the mall. Its ship like shape is a blink to the seafarer tradition of the region. The furniture and the materials however, keeps an urban sobriety.
visualisation, City Node
WINGĂ…RDHS, Stockholm
Quality hotel Friends - Extension investigation 2 interns & supervisor Autocad, Revit, Ps
cross section
zoom on extension
plan, extension - 2:nd and 3:rd floor
plan, extension - first floor
Quality Hotel Friends, is located in direct connection to Friends Arena, the national arena of Sweden. With the neighbour being the biggest shopping center in Scandinavia; Mall of Scandinavia, the area offers a highly developed commercial and event activity. During this project I assisted the work of investigating a transformation or extension of the entrance / event hall of the arena, into a hotel facility. I helped testing and optimizing different layouts, as well as creating visualisations of the proposed extension.
photo, the Arena entrance hall Adding three extra floors upon the entrance hall, gave us more freedom to create the desired amount of hotel rooms with access to daylight through 5 patios. With the insertion of patios, all hotel rooms will have access to daylight.
visualisation, extension upon the entrance hall
visualisation, extension - daylight patio
WINGĂ…RDHS, Stockholm
SolgĂĽrd - School & residential solo work under supervision Revit, Ps
SolgĂĽrd was an undeveloped site in the outskirts of Stockholm. The client asked us to do an investigation of the potential of the site. The aim was to develop a residential area with enough room to host a school and provide the space required for the children to play outside. Together with a supervisor, and another team which were responsible for designing the school building, I helped to bring forward two different approaches: One, placing the school building on the highest and greenest point of the site, and low-rise apartment buildings close to the street. The second option, did the inverse, placing the school building more accessibly on the lower point by by the street, and letting the residential buildings, in the shape of town houses, climb the hill. I will here present the second option.
the site and surrounding area
school
site plan, foot print - with representation of building stories
Me and the team were particularly intrigued by the chance to play with the terrain and recreate the beautiful modernist splitlevel town houses created in Sweden during the 50’s and 60’s. By breaking down the apartment buildings into town houses, and letting them follow the terrain, they would nicely blend into the nature and emphasise the natural qualities of the site. contemporary reference project
GFA kvm apartments town houses total
10 140 8814 18954
3D diagram - school placed accessible by the street - apartment buildings towards the street, protecting from noise - town houses on the hill, easy adaptable to the landscape
modernist reference project
cross section, proposal - possible site exploitation
town house
apartment building
longitudinal section, proposal - possible site exploitation
school
town house
town house
apartment building
PRIVATE CASA LEONTINA - ongoing extension of Master Degree project
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Casa Leontina is an ongoing private project in collaboration with my family. During my master thesis, I chose to focus on another design, more interesting from an architectural point of view. However, Casa Leontina holds a bigger private interest and needs to be built before experimenting with building workshops and inviting people for similar activities to the farm. Today, there is a small dormitory squeezed into the domestic area of the summer kitchen, which is more accessible since it doesn’t necessitate constant climbing of stairs, and heating of big spaces. The Type 2 (summer kitchen) house, works fine for one person, but as soon as the family or friends arrive to stay, all the activities are evolving around the tiniest space on the whole farm. Therefore, this space has been enlarged with a new extension, to better suit the modern needs of the family. The oversized agrarian zone has been reduced, and one of the barns transformed into a space for leisure. Today, there are only poultry still kept on the farm, and life has become more about socialising with the family.
...the private outside space and the barn 3 4 1 Outdoor space, for spontaneous visitors, summer tenants, workshop participants, or bigger gatherings 2 Extension, private service building with a generous service/social space for the family 3 Private outdoor space, only for the family, an intimate space with a pool, connected to the barn. 4 Reprogrammed barn, recreational space for the family and friends. Connected to the outdoor space with pool, lounge and sport equipment
...the private extension
...the semi public outdoor hangout 1
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The anatomy of the massive traditional brick walls is a guiding concept for the extension. To keep material efficiency, without compromising their massive impression, I let them act as hosts for storage and seating areas.
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Ancient house 1. well 2. master bedroom 3. technical space 4. storage
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New extension 5. entrance hallway 6. bathroom 7. kitchen 8. dining room 9. fire place 10. living room 11. BBQ 12. outdoor space/patio 13. Pool 14. outdoor lounge plan, the private extension
interior visualisation, old house
The ancient house keeps its dark ambience, perfectly suited for a private quiet bedroom, meanwhile the extension reflects a modern social lifestyle. It features big windows for a light and airy multifunctional space. The materials are kept local and traditional, but combined and treated in a contemporary manner.
interior visualisation, new extension
SKETCHES - documenting places, a selection of hand drawings
medieval Transylvanian gate tower Senereus, Romania
neo gothic Transylvanian church Senereus, Romania
by the river Lisbon, Portugal
MERCI ! Christina Gherman +33 749 446798 christina.alexa.gherman@gmail.com