ELEANOR JONES.
ARCHITECTURAL PORTFOLIO
JAN ‘25
SELECTED WORKS.
I am a Part 2 Architectural Assistant and recent graduate of the Manchester School of Architecture. Through my studies, I became interested in adaptive reuse and contextual design as a principal of designing for longevity and sustainability and have continued to pursue this interest throughout my academic projects and in my professional work.
I spent a semester abroad studying at Politecnico di Milano in Milan, Italy, during which I developed a curiosity for preservation and conservation methods as well as innovative and sustainable material application. I worked alongside other students from across Europe and the world and gained a value and understanding of varying perspectives and approaches to architecture.
I am a hard-working individual with a tenacious attentiveness to detail. I have a strong sense of self-motivation, which has allowed me to grow as designer and enabled my professional progression. The work highlighted in this portfolio is a reflection and testament to my enthusiasm and drive for high quality and humanistic architecture.
I am confident and proficient using CAD softwares including AutoDesk, Adobe Suite and ArchiCAD. I am equally inspired by tactile and elementary methods of designing through sketching and especially model making, and value principals of collaboration and iteration as part of the creative process.
Eleanor Jones
email: elliearchitecture@gmail.com telephone: 07535525060 instagram: @ellie_arch_ linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/elliejonesarchitecture
Part 2 Architectural Assistant
Tim Groom Architects, Manchester July ‘24 - Present
Working on both latter and early conceptual stages across a range of projects including, Residential and PBSA as well as Leisure and Culture. Delivering and coordinating projects through construction and handover as part of small delivery teams. Leading concept and design to planning stage, including working with heritage and listed buildings.
Part 1 Architectural Assistant
DAY Architectural, Manchester Jul ‘21 - June 24’
Working on multiple stages of listed and conservation as well as PBSA and PRS projects nationwide. Delivering application and bid documents with consistency and in keeping with company branding and image. Using CAD software to design general arrangements, conduct facade studies and iterative design work. Assisting in concept creation and site appraisal of new and upcoming projects including restoration and refits of listed buildings.
Short Placement
Denton Corker Marshall, Manchester Nov ‘19 - Mar ‘20
Attended frequent meetings and conducted on-site visits, alongside the Manchester office. Participating in meetings alongside other industry professional and developing my understanding in the process and tasks carried out within a practice, bridging my confidence between academia and professionalism.
Internship
Allies and Morrison, London Dec ‘17
Completing a brief individual project, alongside a team within the practice. Digital modelling using Sketchup as well as physical model making and creating presentation boards using Adobe suite, and pitching the final design to the team, in a crit-style presentation. This experience taught me a lot about architectural practice and enriched my understanding in the processes undertaken to complete a project.
*references available upon request*
MArch Architecture
The University of Manchester 2022-2024
Distinction (85%)
Semester Abroad Politecnico di Milano Jan-Jul 2023
BA Architecture
The University of Manchester 2018-2021
First Class Honours (85%)
A-Levels
Montsaye Academy 2016-2018
AAA
GCSEs
Montsaye Academy 2014-2016 10 A* 3 A
Office experience Adobe suite InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator Office experience 3D Modelling software Revit, Autocad, Sketch-up, Rhino and ArchiCAD Office experience Microsoft Office 4 years 3D Rendering software Enscape, Twinmotion
ArcDeck Radical Design Project ‘20
Awarded Top 10 in Global entries
Playhouse Competition ‘20
Awarded 2nd wave entry winner, featured in Competition book
Archisource Hometown Collective Drawing ‘20 Honourable Mention + Featured in Merchandise
Archisource: Drawing of the Year ‘22 Longlisted and Featured in Archisource annual 2022
The Dean’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement ‘21
Presented by The University of Manchester for consistent and remarkable academic success.
Modelmaking Awards
Presented by Stanton Williams + Henn ‘24
Semester:
Duration:
Team:
MArch Semester 3-4
6 months
Individual Thesis Project
Location: Typology:
Atelier:
Todmorden, UK
Adaptive Re-use, Education + Culture
Continuity. Manchester School of Architecture.
The Waterside Techincal is drawn from three continuous threads; water, architecture and time. The project tackles the transformation and preservation of the former Waterside Factory School, a once crucial institution of education and work for the residents of Todmorden during its industrial hey-day. A former weaving shed- turned firehouse - turned dressmaking and technical school, the building stands as the only relic of the Waterside Mill, which employed over half of the town’s population.
Despite its historical prominance the school is unlisted, and lies at the apex of the floodzone of the valley town. The building’s adjacency to both the River Calder and Rochdale Canal and its contribution to culture and work of the town are the genesis for its intended reuse and revitalisation. The project aspires to reconnect the building to its educational heritage and linearity to water, both natural and man-made. The scheme combines the programme of a working canal apprenticeship training school, and pays hommage to the town’s water-bourne origins through the creation of a canalside hub.
The proposal extends across the canal itself, reinstating a historic link bridge which once spanned up to the railway depot, creating new programmes for boat repair, community gathering and a hub for volunteers and visitors. The existing pitched form of the school is echoed through the site, with each massing housing a different programme, settled within the surrounding waterscape. The congregation of masses are connected by two bridges, drawn along historic axes and inspired by canal infrastructure and innovation.
The site boundaries are dictated by water. To the east the culverted river is opened, and can be seen and ‘watched’ and from the clock tower . To the west the canal is opened to form a new marina which intersects between the two new masses of the Boatshed and the Refectory. The marina abuts to these new forms, flowing easily in and out of the wet dock, which seems to cantilever out into the canal and equally nestle back into the steep rising of the moorside, marking the south boundary of the site.
Built within the waterscape, the landscaping and architecture constantly links back to the canal, connected by projected gutters that feed rain back into its banks, sunken seating which creates a flood reserve and stepped materials upon which tidemarks form depicting the waters steady rise and fall.
One of the most ancient forms of craftsmanship the traditional methods of boat construction stand the test of time due to their simple use and manipulation of a material by its own qualities. These same qualities inform the timber structure of the boatshed. The timber rafters are bent and formed into ellipselike shapes that connect at either end and centrally. These connecting points allow the rafters to serve as the cross bracing for the structure, preventing the need for a cross beam which allows open headheight for the work on boat repairs and restoration within the space. The form of the timber trusses are expressed both as elements of design and ornament.
The former schoolhouse is transformed, re-establishing the programme of education and of the passing of craftsmanship and skills down through generations.
The existing building is stripped to it structure and volume, retaining the original cast iron frame, and thick stone walls. Inside workshop spaces, galleries and teaching rooms are inserted into the volume, with a central atrium connecting the spaces and allowing a visual link between the public and private zones of the building.
Through the placement of the triad of buildings, the canal is re imagined as a central axis, rather than a border. The three masses are united by their form and distinguished by their material and colour. The Boatshed in a red patinated zinc, long and narrow in plan, is inspired by the colourful narrow-boats that line moorings and marinas. The Refectory in a reflective galvanised aluminium, sitting just shy of the water’s edge, acts as a continuation of the water’s dappled and metallic surface, blurring the line between building and water.
Semester: Duration:
Team:
MArch Semester 1
3 months
Individual Design Project
Location: Typology:
Atelier:
Preston, Lancashire, UK
Low-rise residential + Conservation
Continuity in Architecture, Manchester School of Architecture
The multi [home] revitalises traditional practices of inter-generational living, reimagined for a myriad of modern family dynamics. The homes are intended to remain within one household over two centuries, passing from generation to generation, providing a resolution to affordable housing demand and giving families the ability to share child and elder care within the family unit. The units are modular, with the family home stacked centrally bookended by individual units which can serve as granny flats, starter homes and annexes. These units can also be combined or divided to expand or contract the home as the family evolves.
Architecturally the multi[home] mirrors a Georgian townhouse reflecting the vernacular of Preston’s historic town centre. Drawing upon the symmetry, proportions and repetition of the surrounding context, ornament is added though stone banding, manoeuvrable screens and decorative brick string courses. The building responds to the sloped topography, semi-nestled within the landscape, the stacked units are accessed from multiple levels. In this sense the multi[home] reimagines the two storeyed entrances of historic grand townhouses giving each home equal private entry and a sense of arrival. Green diamondshaped tiles are used to add horizontality to the tall units, reflecting the diamond motif of the original cinema elevation which remains as gateway to the site.
Entry and arrival is addressed playfully throughout the whole site, recreating the feeling of narrow and private mews streets, screened by enveloping walls and accessed only through arched openings which give a glimpse into life on the estate to passers-by.
At Fishergate the original cinema facade is mantained and repurposed as a gateway into the reimagined lobby, a light filled courtyard enclosed by sweeping glazed walls.
The entryway became a interesting focus within the project, inspired by the way the entry space can create a sense of arrival and act as a medium between the public external and the privacy of the home. Studying the architecture and compostion of both the cinema and cinematography, inspiration was drawn from the use of symmetry, enveloping curved spaces and the juxtapostion between narrow and grand spaces.
The entryway vestibule serves both a pratical and spatial role, it is a medium betwen the external and internal allowing residents to take off muddy shoes, shake their umbrellas or shelter from the rain. The enveloping curve mirrors the geometry of the cinema lobby and the curved form typical of 1920s architecture. The narrowing of space creates a sense of privacy beyond the limits of the home, which then emphasies a sense of grandeur as the space opens into a large hallway lit the central atrium and staircase.
Team: Group Design Project Residential
E.Jones
L.Herkommer
J.Friedrich
Atelier:
Professor Bini/ Preservation Studio, Politecnico di Milano
Dopo Scoula tackles a vacant former primary school built by reknown BCGZ architecture group who’s work characterises Italiano Moderno architecture within the Northern region of Italy. Temporary intervention and self-building methods, adpative reuse of the building solves the issue of the vacancy of the listed building as well as providing affordable housing for the local community.
The project aspires to address three key concepts, the first to reimagine a solution for affordable housing using existing vacant buildings and spaces within the urban environment that allows local people the means to live affordably, sustainably, as a community and providing them the autonomy to design their homes around their daily life and practices. The second tackles the restoration and maintainance of historic and listed buildings. Dopo Scoula residents will carry out the restoration and maintenance of the building in exchange for being allowed to inhabit the building the residents. The living modules are designs to be standing structures and cause little to no impact on the existing building and can be dismantled and removed should the building be desired to be repurposed again.
Lastly the project questions the role of the architect especially within residential architecture. In Dopo Scoula the architect’s role becomes collaborative with the residents, providing design insight and solutions to the module design, while allowing residents a level of autonomy to choose how their home functions for them.
Coffee is served from the former technic room, which continues to serve as the central systems room but has accquired the secondary function as a cafe tabaccheria for the residents and local community. The long table is where the residents and locals meet, take a coffee and discuss the ongoing project, upcoming events and general small talk of everyday life.
The former corridoor and entryway is maintained and links the first floor residences and mezanine common spaces. The new landmark ramp brings residents into the northern entrance allowing the full length of the corridoor to be utilised and appreciated, giving a sense of arrival specific to the upper floors. The corridoor space was formerly utilised as a entryway like space to hang the childrens coats and bags.
The upper floor is characterised by modular and repeated ‘shells’, provided by the architects at the initial stage of the project. These insulated and heated boxes sit centrally within the former classrooms with varying balcony and terrace spaces. In some units a larger balcony is provided to the north, while in others the lower floor mezanine terrace is left open air creating shady outdoor space to retreat through the hot summers.
Within the units the residents shape and divide their space using modular box elements which form wall segements housing the storage, kitchen and wardrobes for the homes. These box walls serve as nucleus for the home allowing free plan in the surrounding spaces divided only by sliding doors or light curtains to give privacy where needed, maximising the use of the small units.
The project follows three key stages, firstly demoltion and rennovation works to the existing building, uncovering and reconnecting the electrical and pipework systems and removing material and old finishes. The architect’s intervention then follows , creating an insulated habitable box within the units using a shell of glazing and plywood within the central zone of the unit, prescribing terrace and balconies on either elevation. Underfloor heating is added to these insulated boxes and electrical points and pipes are connected to the previous wiring and plumbing.
Lastly the residents inhabitance, using the modular box system residents build their interior walls, dividing and arranging spaces freely within the shell. They ar e then able to connect the plumbing wiring and vent to the existing systems through rudiemental systmes of exposed copper pipes. The modular boxes hold all of the main functions of the home and serves as a nucleus of the space.
Existing structure with removal works ie. window frames
Red steel glazed walls
Terrazzo floor finish to outdoor spaces and drainage works
Underfloor heating system
Linoleum indoor floor finish
Connection to existing electrical points
Thermal insulation and Plywood panel finish Steel hand rail added at height of previous window frame
Modular Plywood box system with acoustic insulation
Plywood inserts to provide box function
Exposed pipework connecting to existing plumbing
Practice:
Stage:
Role:
DAY Architectural Planning approval Stage 02-03
Location: Typology:
Completion:
Chester, UK Hotel/ CommercialAdaptive Reuse 2026
The project is set on the site of the former Chester Gaumount Palace Cinema, an iconic Mock-Tudor theatre built in 1931, once the epicentre of arts and leisure for the local community. The Hotel Chester scheme re imagines the now abandoned site, replacing a series of dated extensions with a new hotel block and restoring the theatre back to its former glory, bringing new use as a restaurant and amenity space.
The new building is oriented toward the canal, the red brick palette is reflective of the local vernacular, and an arched motif is drawn from the form of the sloping bridges along the canal. The arched forms are expressed through brick corbelling and cast stonework, creating a crown to the top of the massing.
I was involved on the project at Stage 02, leading early design work, considering massing, material and elevational design. Alongside the project team I delivered the final planning drawing package and collating the Design and Access statement.
Practice: Stage:
Role:
Tim Groom Architects Planning approval Stage 05
Location: Typology: Completion:
Lancaster, UK Student Residential 2025
On the outskirts of the historic city of Lancaster, the scheme proposed two new student residential blocks, forming a central courtyard. The blocks take inspiration from the historical stone architectural vernacular, with buff coloured brickwork and cast stone used to creating horziontal and vertical division.
I was involved on the project during the construction stage and worked within a small team, delievering construction drawing packages including external detailing, general arrangement and spatial co-ordination. A large part of my role within the project required communication and co-ordination with sub contractors ensuring the various elements of the buildings construction were delivered and the original design intent was kept.
Practice:
Stage:
Role:
Tim Groom Architects Planning approval Stage 02-03
Location: Typology:
Completion:
Manchester, UK
Student Residential 2026
The First Street scheme imagines a prominent corner block within the emerging First Street district of Manchester. The building is divided into a tower and a pair of shoulder blocks, which take on two distinct material languages, reflecting the historic and emerging architectural contexts. An intertwining circular motif was developed inspired by the site’s former use as Gasworks during Manchester’s industrial heyday. The motif is used throughout the facade denoting entrances and creating interest and relief at the upper levels, creating a strong architectual identity which unifies the two distinct material blocks and reflects the historic past of the site.
I was involved on the project extensively from Stage 02-04, delivering the planning drawing package alongside later technical design packages, including co-ordination of the unitised facade, internal spatial co-ordination.
