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Conor Burke B.Sc (Hons) Arch, M.Arch (Dist) conordburke@live.ie
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Conor Burke B.Sc (Hons) Arch, M.Arch (Dist) date of birth: 16 / 05 / 1990 address: Callaghane, Grantstown, Waterford. Ireland. nationality: Irish email: conordburke@live.ie contact: 00353 87 2289951 web: conorburkearchitecture.tumblr.com 2
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Contents: Postgraduate Studies - Thesis Project [RE]ACTIVE REGISTER[/S]
p. 6
- Exhibition [RE]ACTIVE REGISTER[/S]
p. 18
Undergraduate Studies - Cork Wood Works : Sawmill
p. 24
- Merchants' Quay Modular Housing
p. 30
- Youghal Wetlands Library
p. 34
- "Siteless" Primary School
p. 38
Work Experience
p. 42
Sketchbook Art - Representational - Imaginative Curriculum Vitae
p. 44 p. 46 p. 48 p. 50
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[RE]ACTIVE REGISTER[/S] M.Arch Thesis Project:
Left: Oceanographic Data Iso displaying fragment dispersal along the "Gibraltar Arc" Subduction Zone Above: View from the base of the Medina Wall towards the archive and assembly jigs
[Re]active register[/s] operates as a network based of a fleet of floating oceanographic laboratory and equipment platforms as well as a corresponding land based fabrication site and receiver / archive on the edge of the Tangiers medina. The project is developed from a thesis established from a study of the interstitial spaces caught between the military fortifications and the civilian / post-colonial vernacular within and around the ancient medina of Tangiers. These liminal fragments were identified with relation to the city wall, those caught spaces between the military landform and the vernacular architecture it brushes against. Using transformations derived from the actions of the medinas six Armstrong artillery pieces, these fragments were dispersed outward into a field contained within the trajectories 7
of the coastal artillery. This suggested fertile ground (/waters) for a networked scheme. Returning to the city fortifications for programmatic clues (from pre-existing wall straddling infrastructure), a programmatic portmanteau was derived from the aspects of the weather tower and customs house. Thus developing the concept of a weather store or archive. Upon researching the viability of a weather monitoring orientated scheme I realised the particularities of the strait of Gibraltar. These included the seismic interest in the area (with regard to the supposed source of the Lisbon earthquake), its ocean wildlife and the particular thermohaline occurrences with regard to the nature of the water flows in the region (resulting from the unique interaction between the Atlantic and Mediterranean waters). The discovery of the seismic nature in particular to some of the other observatory concerns suggested that the network be unfurled to reach across the width of the strait. All the while taking the shipping corridors into account whilst still maintaining a relation to the tectonic subduction zone known as the “Gibraltar Arc�. As far as the waterborne platforms making up the network were concerned, several functional requirements were dictated by the necessary monitoring / observational facilities to be available; wind flow, water flow, salinity, marine biology, radar, oceanography laboratories, SODAR arrays, ROV launch bay, and seismic probes. Enabling these to serve as working (i.e. manned) laboratories also called for the inclusion of crew facilities, cabins etc. similar to a ship. Operating from the land base is the main archive, cartographers and strategist/tacticians suite as well as the series of assembly jigs. Here, the gathered information from the strait (whether seismic, oceanographic, meteorological, thermohaline, etc.) as well as visual data from the bastion mounted visual data instruments is stored and sorted across a range of media from digital to physical. The gantries serve to fabricate the buoyant structural frames of the waterborne platforms, before jettisoning them to the water via overhead rails, whereby they are then guided towards the module pontoons. The pontoons then serve to assemble the appropriate spatial
/ instrumental modules depending on the platform variant being constructed. Once completed, the unit is then deployed into clusters dispersed across the strait or to any other waterborne area of interest.
Previous Page: Early investigations into the main points of defense along the walls of the medina. This page: Above; The medina of Tangiers and the identified interstitial spaces on its perimeter. Right; Plan form studies of some of the medina wall defenses and artillery trajectories. 9
This Page: Transformation studies whereby identified fragments are cast outwards according to the trajectories, overlapping areas of effect and inversions of the medina artillery. Opposing Page: Studies of the medina cannons, plan of the superimposed transformations and iso displaying the identified fragments of interstitial space. 10
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This Page: Left; plan of the network spanning the Strait of Gibraltar. Above, view through on of the assembly jigs. Opposing page: Plan and elevation showing the relation between the elements superimposed upon the coastal bastion and the offshore module assembly pontoons. 12
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Above: View towards the Strait of Gibraltar from the medina above the assembly jigs. Opposing Page: Section of the land base and photo of a test model of a floating laboratory, later to become one of the suspended models within the exhibition space. Below: Frames from the animation displaying the construction and deployment of a floating laboratory. This played on a screen within the largest suspended model in the exhibition space.
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This Page: Underwater perspective of a module assembly pontoon and exploded iso of the various elements that make up the land base Opposing page: Above; Overview of the base in relation to the medina, looking towards the network stretching out into the Strait of Gibraltar Below; Iso of assembly jig and view from pontoon back to Tangeirs 16
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[RE]ACTIVE REGISTER[/S] M.Arch Thesis Project [exhibition]:
The project was exhibited in a classroom in the disused South Presentation Primary School, Douglas Street, Cork. In order to provide an appropriate atmosphere to the exhibition, I had made the early decision to control the light in the space. This was in an effort to create an atmosphere to allude to the technology implied in the project thesis, and through illumination of models, to create to appearance of an interactive radar display with models as “blips�. The darkened exhibition space contained three large lightboxes displaying primary drawings and renders outlining the project. The space articulated by the models of receding scales served as a three dimensional perspective illusion intended to evoke the exspanse covered by the project as it spans the Strait of Gibraltar. The largest element serves not only as a representation of the curved block of the archive and a nearby assembly jig, but also a representation of an item of furniture from the archive, a map cabinet. Cartridges suspended within this piece could be removed for examination, displaying additional drawings and renders from the project.
This Page: Above; View towards the archive / strategists desk from beside a 1:75 lab model. Below: View of the space from the vantage point of the desk / archive. Opposing Page: Panoramas within the classroom that became the exhibition space.
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The purpose of controlling the light in the space was mainly to serve as an allusion to the radar and sonar technology which partly inspired this project. In the controlled environment of the darkened classroon, the illminated models appeared like pings on a radar. This was designed to also allow the viewer to experience an atmosphere similar to the strait of Gibraltar at night. A hidden speaker gave the impression of distant waves crashing, while gentle movement of the tethered models gave the appearnence of sway.
Previous Page: Left; The principal pontoon model, illuminated and displaying an animation of the lab construction process. Above; The archive / desk and the drawing cabinet within Below: View towards the field of decreasing scaled models. This page: Illuminated models swaying in the darkness give the illusion of the Strait at night.
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Previous and current Page: The smaller models making up the field of floating laboratory platforms.
Video and additional photos can be seen on my tumblr weblog at conorburkearchitecture.tumblr/ com 23
Cork Wood Works
B.Sc (Hons) Arch Final Project (year 4 semester 2) Deriving from an initial thesis on quayside site reclamation in Cork City, the brief for the project is to outline a proposal for a sawmill on the brownfield site that was once the Kent Station freight yard fundamentally linked to Horgan’s Quay. Developing from an observation of the use of timber throughout Cork over its history, its influence on the maritime industry in Cork and linking to Cork’s social, industrial and maritime history, the proposal would be for an “urban” sawmill. Through studies and observations a suitable site was picked in the disused freight yard of Cork Kent train station as it was a suitable large site that fit the requirement of being a site that had a historical relationship with the immediate quayside as can be seen from the series of closed gateways that previously allowed rail access to the adjoining quay. The brief of a sawmill was selected as it offered a suitable function for the site, whilst also allowing a use closely associated with Corks maritime history to return to the site.
External B&W render, internal render and plan and elevation of the sawmill. 24
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This Page: Rendered views from the log sorting zone towards the mill building, final design above, interim design below. Previous page: Above; Final render of the sawmill at the end of the timber production line, here timber is stacked in the open aired shelter of the lamella canopy. Below; Interim renders of an earlier proposal whereby kilns and admin facilities were contained within a large block towards the end of the facility.
The concept for the design was to serve as a critique to the common usage of standardised industrial sheds to house modern sawmills. Upon observation of the typical constituent elements of a sawmill production line, it was observed that a much more efficient system would be possible if the machinery was allowed to operate as a true production line i.e. a linear process. Where most mills currently operating in Ireland and elsewhere “fold� the process into the generic portal framed industrial shed, this project would aim to combat that. As a result of this, there was less of a need for a traditional schedule of accommodation as much as a list of machinery to provide adequate working space and access for. 27
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Previous Page: Renders at each stage of the wood sorting, cutting and drying processes. Center: Various renders and physical models studying or displaying lamellar timber construction. Top left; section of lamellar roof built at half scale. Below; 1:50 lamellar arch in balsa and plaster. Right: Sawmill sections. 29
Modular Housing B.Sc (Hons) Arch (year 4 semester 1)
Treating the Cork City "Island" as a city block in itself, this project aims to investigate the intensification of underused riverside space. To test this concept, the site of Merchant's Quay was selected, taking advantage of the generous footpath and roadway. By occupying a portion of the road and reaching into the river, a suitable width was obtained to allow for an undulating pedestrianised plinth, which would hypothetically blend with the intended cycle and walking routes the council have planned for the city. The flexible area offered by the undulating surface would be capable of accomodating routeways, landscaping, cyclepaths, marketplaces etc. The accommodation would take the form of modular timber clad dwellings suspended within a concrete framework. The weave of timber surfaces within a concrete frame plays upon the established palette of the traditional quay wall framing of stone with timber buffering, albeit inverted, whilst also invigorating an otherwise monotonous waterfront to the quay. Key points in the development would be marked suitably: - The Merchants' Quay Shopping Centre entrance area opening onto an overlooked urban beach. - St. Patrick's Street and Angelsea Street junctions serve as the location for a landmark tower and stepped block respectively. - The area to the East, opposite the bus station would be more open to allow for landscaping.
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Above: Plan of the Merchants' Quay proposal, in relation to St.Patrick's St., the shopping centre entrance and the bus station. Below: Concept diagram and long elevation of the scheme.
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This Page: Above; render from the waterside. Below; Diagram of the elevated "flatpack" housing module. Opposing Page: Above left; Short section of cluster. Below Left; Render from St. Patrick's St. Right; Detail drawings and elevation of housing moduls. 32
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Youghal Wetlands Library B.Sc (Hons) Arch (year 3 semester 2)
The main source of inspiration for this project was the site, a post industrial wasteland between the town of Youghal and the natural saltwater marshes. Large channels would be cut into the landscape to encourage natural reclamation and semi organic creation of a post-industrial park. Meanwhile the library itself took the form of a monumental spiral rising from the marsh, to elevate the library within from the damp environment and to allow an elevated view of the landscape and waterscape without.
Above: Final render of the wetlands library, and plan with context of town in proximity to wetlands. Below: Model photo and contextual section.
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Previous Page: Above Left; Perspectival section through Library spiral. Below Left; Plans of floor segments as they ascend through the spiral. Right; Sample plan at first loop of spiral (equivalent to floors 1a-1c). This Page: Left; Initial concept image and final model of library. Above right; Interim concept perspective of library above the wetlands. Below Right; Library elevations.
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"Siteless" Primary School B.Sc (Hons) Arch (year 3 semester 1)
The aim for this project was to design a school that could fill the role once held by the vernacular Irish primary school. Conceived as a “siteless� building capable of insertion within ghost estate areas (specifically upon a large green area in one such estate in Youghal). The school was designed to be based around a modular classroom unit and therefore capable of expansion or contraction to suit the particular demand. The modular classroom area in itself was built around the concept of the daily routine carried out by the child, whereby they would descend a ramp around the rear of a box containing storage and WCs, hanging coats and bags as they went, before passing a control point that confined the children for the purpose of enabling the teacher to carry out a head count, before entering the classroom proper, which in turn is entirely visible from the corridor above, further enabling self surveillance.
This Page: Above; Bare render of primary school 3d model superimposed on hand drawn landscape plan. Below; Perspectival section through classrooms and corridoor spine. Opposing Page: Plan of the school and landscaping within the area of the green of the "ghost estate". 38
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Previous Page: Left; Facade study and timber frame dteails. Above Right; Ventilation studies. Below Right; Sunlight Studies. This Page: Left; Context model of school location within housing estate green area. Right and below; Ventilation studies in section and plan displaying air flow and ventilation zoning.
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Work Experience
Wigham, McGrath and Partners Architects Waterford During my work experience with Wigham, McGrath and Partners Architects I had many duties in assisting the design team across several projects. Such duties included photographic site surveys, surveying existing features, assisting in the design process, research of materials and features, preparation of tender documents and conservation reports etc. Projects I assisted the practice with covered a variety of sectors including residential, commercial, cultural and conservation projects. I also served as assistant to the Project Architect, efficiently translating design changes into 3d as projects developed during design meetings. Pictured are two private residential projects I for which I built or modified the 3d models to suit the design requirements as they arose.
This Page: Model of a proposed "Moden Palladian" design. This project aspired to emulate the classical villa in proportion, albeit with modern construction and features.
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Opposing Page: Model of a proposed partially subterranean house on the Wexford Coast. The agreed condition that the house would not be impair the view from the coastal road and design influences from ruins of the ringforts along the Irish coastline informed the nature of this concept.
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Sketchbooks
M.Arch Thesis Project Sketch Journals
Several spreads from my sketchbooks kept over the course over my MArch year. Here I explored thoughts as I developed the project from inception, documenting and re-documenting field notes, exploring sketch designs and 44
concepts, developing forms and features, establishing a brief and project requirements and even construction drawing sketches for the creation of the large scale pieces that would form part of the installation of the final exhibition.
For my thought process I find sketching and notemaking to be an incredibly important aspect of designing anything, crucial to developing my own understandiing as well as helping communicate and develop my ideas.
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Representational Art
Atelier Training at the London Atelier of Representational Art During the gap year between my B.Sc(Hons)Arch and M.Arch, I elected to pursue my artistic interests and studied for a year at the London Atelier of Representational Art (LARA). At LARA I found myself modifying drawing techniques practiced in architectural hand drawing which when combined with the teachings
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of the atelier resulted in a highly efficient approach to accurately drawing and rendering the human figure. Two of the works I compleed at the atelier remain on display as part of LARA's permanent collection and are regularly used as teaching aids.
Previous Page: Left; "Constanza" Cast Study in charcoal and "Death Mask" Cast Study in charcoal. Center; "Beethoven" Life Cast, Cast Study in charcoal. Part of the LARA collection. Right; "Ruta" Figure Drawing in pencil. Part of the LARA colllection.
This Page: Left; "Sophie" Figure Drawing in Pancil. Center; "Eamon" Figure Drawing in Pencil. Right; "Sebastian" Figure Drawing in Charcoal. 47
Imaginative Art
Personal Art & Freelance Illustration Drawing has always been a interest of mine, which led me to study architecture in college. However in recent years I have become increasingly fascinated with digital illustration and concept art. Digital illustration has provided a means to test what I have learned in my artistic studies and create imagery from the imagination and often inspired by books, films or video games. I have since been teaching myself how to recreate similar artwork in photoshop, and recently have been acquiring work as a freelance illustrator.
This Page: A selection of images either done out of personal interest (above) or for online challenges (below,; redesigning characters from the Iron Man films, in an industrial revolution setting).
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Each of the images on this page is a 30 minute digital sketch illustration done in Photoshop. Over the last year I set myself the challenge of completing one of these every day in an effort to become increasingly familiar with the illustration process, as well as to increase efficiency in working with Photoshop.
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Conor Burke B.Sc (Hons) Arch, M.Arch (Dist) Curriculum Vitae Profile: date of birth: 16 / 05 / 1990 address: Callaghane, Grantstown, Waterford. Ireland. nationality: Irish email: conordburke@live.ie contact: 00353 87 2289951 web: conorburkearchitecture.tumblr.com Education: University (Postgraduate studies) 2013-2014: Masters In Architecture (Distinction), Cork Centre for Architectral Education (CCAE), University College Cork. - Graduated First Class Honours. Awarded Distinction. - M.Arch I.T. consultant / representative to the Architecture Society. - Graphic Designer within the team resposible for the production of booklets and handouts for the CCAE Summer Exhibition and Cork Culture Night events. - Invited to deliver drawing lectures and tutorials to the new (2014/15) MArch students at CCAE Atelier studies 2012-2013: Atelier Training, London Atelier of Representational Art (LARA): - Assisted the supervision of LARA’s weekly drop in life drawing sessions. - Two of my works remain at the school as part of their permanent exhibition for use as teaching aids. University: (Undergraduate Studies) 2008-2012: Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Architecture, Cork Centre for Architectral 50
Education, University College Cork. - Graduated First Class Honours. - Graphic Designer for the brochures that accompanied the “Untidy Intimacy of Places” Exhibition during third year of my BSc.Arch. The exhibition opened on the 24th November 2010 in the Town Hall, Youghal, Co. Cork. www.youghalonline.com/ tag/cork-centre-for-architectural-education/ - Member of the UCC Architecture Society, Visual Arts society and Art Society. Awards: - M.Arch First Class Honour. Awarded Distinction. - Nominated to represent the London Atelier of Representation Art (LARA) for the figurative drawing Scholarship from the British School, Rome. - Graduated First Class Honours in B.Sc(Hons) Architecture - Twice awarded scholarships from the University College Cork College of Science, Engineering and Food Science for academic achievement. - My Primary School design was selected for a proposed exhibition with the Irish Minister for Education. - My primary school and library designs were cited by John McLaughlin as part of a profile on the Cork Centre for Architectural Education in the Architects’ Journal: www.architectsjournal.co.uk/culture/cork-centre-for-architectural-education-ireland/8617890.article Experience: 2011 (June - August): Architectural Intern at Wigham, McGrath and Partners Architects. 2010 (June - August): Architectural Intern at Wigham, McGrath and Partners Architects.
I assisted with several projects in the practice, ranging in scales and sectors including residential, cultural, commercial and conservation. Notable amongst the projects I was involved with included the Theatre Royal Waterford. My duties in the practice icluded, photograhpic surveys, surveying, assisting the design team and the preparation of tender documents and creation and rapid modification of SketchUp models. 2006-2010: Irish Water Safety Swimming, Lifesaving, and Basic Life Support Instructor at Waterford Crystal Leisure Centre. Duties included the teaching of swimming to children of all ages, teaching lifesaving to teenagers and adults, supervising the reenactment of lifesaving “scenarios”, teaching Basic Life Support and delivering lectures in a classroom environment on its various aspects (the respiratory system, spinal injuries, CPR, choking and the Heimlich manuever etc.). Skills: Sketching Hand Drawing Model Making Woodwork Metalwork Digital Illustration Matte Painting Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator Adobe Indesign AutoCad SketchUp VRay 3DsMax Microsoft Office Photography
Interests: Drawing, Digital Art, Photography, Visualisations & Rendering Links: Tumblr: conorburkearchitecture.tumblr.com Online portfolio: http://issuu.com/conordburke/docs/portfolio2014/0 LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/conor-burke/ a8/4a/684 references available upon request