Jacob Mills
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Jacob Mills 2021
Contents About me........................................................................ 1 Design Projects 3........................................................... 2 Bench Design Proposal................................................. 7 Sustainable Technology 3............................................. 8 Cultural Context:............................................................ 5 Environment and Legislation Garden Design............................................................... 6
Introduction
This Portfolio is a concise booklet, consisting of the most significant pieces of work that I have produced over the past 3 years. The work ranges from design projects, to construction drawings, planting schemes and garden design. I have provided condensed explanations for each piece of work, to help you as the reader understand my process of design and hopefully understand these projects further.
Cultural Context Philosophy &..................................... 11 Creativity Garden Design............................................................... 13 Sustainable Technology ............................................... 15 Group Project................................................................. 16 Design Projects 2........................................................... 18
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PeriSculpture
TM
Coloured lights reflect onto the trees surrounding the sculpture that alternate between purples, blues, pinks, reds and greens. A person using the sculpture will enter via the staircase (which will be covered over when the sculpture isn’t in use). His/her head will look through the hole in the centre of the sculpture and look down at the mirror which will be in font of them (inside the sculpture). Multiple Periscopes are inserted into the top of the Sculpture, which are angled to reflect the light and form of the coloured trees surrounding, and piece the sections together on the mirror inside (like a jigsaw puzzle). A unique image is created on the mirror which varies between season, time of day or colour sequence. The interior of the Periscope is very dark to optimise the amount of light seen be the user.
Jacob Mills 2021 My passion and drive to progress in the Landscape profession is orientated around my interest in conservation, environmental sustainability and creative design. I am captivated with my studies and am constantly trying to push the boundaries of my knowledge to exceed my potential. I enjoy socialising and networking with new people, which has made me the confident and approachable person that I am today. I’m hard working and outgoing, with experience in a variety of working environments that have provided me with a diverse range of skill sets. I would describe myself as a good team worker, with attributes that allow me to both organise and collaborate successfully in a group project situation.
Education Third year BA Landscape Architecture (level 6) Graduating June 2021 Predicted Grade 2:1
About Me
Design Software Skills
Name
Jacob Rhys Mills
Jacobrhysmills@gmail.com
Photoshop
SketchUp
Address
Blog Address
AutoCAD
Word
52 Wordsworth Avenue Penarth Vale of Glamorgan CF642RN
https://www.blogger.com/blog/ posts/5255849169864457130
Excel
InDesign
Hand Drawing
Illustrator
Lumion
Personal Skills/Interests
Hobbies
I enjoy model making, drawing, painting, playing the guitar and drums, skateboarding and surfing. I also enjoy regularly exercising, travelling and spending time with friends and family. I also like to organise take part in Charity events in my free time. • Full Clear Driving License • Level 2 First Aid
Work Experience C2J Architects I spent 2 weeks with the firm C2J Architects. During this time, I achieved a greater understanding of a variety of design software, such as Revit, Fusion 360, AutoCAD and Photoshop. I went on 2 site visits and spoke with Architects, Landscape architects and Structural Engineers who provided me with detailed information about the projects they were working on. The Urbanists The Urbanists provided me with an insight into Landscape Architecture as a professional and an overview of the typical software that they used. The team shared their passion for creative design with me and explained how they approach residential housing estate projects. This inspired me investigate Landscape Architecture further.
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Jacob Mills 2021
Semester 1 Context Map
Design Projects 3
Alney Island & Castlemeads AD6605 Semester 2 Project Context Alney Island & Castlemeads is a unmaintained and overgrown island that doubles as a floodplain. It is roughly 56 hectares in size, located on the north west boundary of Gloucester, Gloucestershire. It is comprised of a mixture of wetland, grassland and broad leaf woodland, with a series of pathways which snake across these different habitats. The site is surrounded by the River Severn, which parts in a wishbone form at the north and re-joins at the south of the island. The river also splits off into the Sharpness Canal in Gloucester Docks at the southeast of the site. The Docks, Gloucester Prison, Blackfriars student halls of residents and Blackfriars priory are significant landmarks adjacent to the island. The Cathedral can be seen from the northern end of the site.
Eco Chamber
Grass covered hand shaped mounds
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Mouth play park
Wetland Centre
‘Creating a wetland landscape which focuses on activating the physical and emotive senses’.
My Proposal The aim of this project was to rejuvenate the ecological and social potential of Alney Island and Castlemeads. The target demographic for the site were local residents, families, dog walkers, nature enthusiasts and professionals. Raised Board walks and a quayside were designed to combat flashy flooding. The purpose of the wetland is to encourage biodiversity and migration of new bird species, enhancing the ecological value of the area. Flood alleviation will be a paramount importance within this site, in order to separate flooded areas from new developments. Castlemeads will become a sensory landscape, encouraging people to experience the outdoors in physical and emotive ways. Social and self-reflective spaces will be created, in order to enhance the sensual experience of the individual. Each of these spaces will relate to and trigger the use of one of the five senses; Touch, taste, sight, sound or smell. The site will reference the historic background of Gloucester with a sculpture or piece of art, in order to provoke thought and emotional response from the visitors.
Semester 1 Features
Corten steel tunnel
The Concept
Band Stand
Flood resistant housing
Cafe with green roof
Community Gardens
Semester 1 Visualisations
Jacob Mills 2021
The Eye Shaped Platform
This image represents the desired impact of the view that will be seen from the top of the highest viewing platform. structure.
Lower Parting
Corten Steel Fragmented Tunnel
This tunnel travels the length of the south end of Alney Island, along the river bank. Tunnels connected to the main tunnel extend out on the river, which then joining onto viewing platforms. The interior of the tunnel is scribed with historic memorabilia and sculptures related to historic events.
Community Gardens The community gardens will be a hub for social interaction and the production of locally grown vegetables. Within the tents there will be hydroponic and aquaponic farming techniques. This will maximise the yield of plants grown and reduce the amount of input’s that would be wasted with conventional farming methods.
Circular seating pods which extend out from the Theatre, which allow people to sit outside and enjoy the Landscape and view.
Central Lake
The textured grass hands create a meandering journey as the raised gantry path weaves between the fingers.
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Jacob Mills 2021
Jacob Mills 2021
Semester 2 Visualisations
The Quayside
The flood resilient composite timber quayside is the most stand out feature of the scheme. The 1000mm high turf covered blocks creating seating for the amphitheatre and will resist and water erosion directly caused by flooding. A bridge at the edge of the circle allows flood water to flow into the wetland.
The Wetland Centre
The Wetland
The wetland is a unique mounded arrangement, which encourages secluded areas of planting and trees to stay protected from public interference. This allows aquatic bird species to secure safe spaces for nesting and creates the opportunity for bird watching.
The Amphitheatre
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Jacob Mills 2021
The Green Bridge The green bridge is a stainless steel construction perched on top of concrete pillars. These are positioned across the wetland, joining the quay side to the Wetland centre. The bridge is covered in lush planting and small deciduous trees.
The Riverside Walk
The river side walk will be highly active with pedestrian flow as it is the closest point to the urban Gloucester to the west. The amphitheatre can be used as a playful space for children and a seating area for families when its not being used for performances/ public discussions/musical events.
The Community Garden
How will I improve for future projects? The Lookout The lookout is a main point of interest in the design proposal. It will be used as a meeting and viewing point by pedestrians and it will enable them to appreciate the site in its entirety. The raised green bridge can be seen clearly in the left of this image aswell as all the other potential timber board-walk routes.
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Moving forward to future projects, I will consider more in-depth existing vegetation site analysis before proceeding to the next stage in the design process. This will help me to conserve existing plant species and match the new planting more accurately. I will also perform more primary investigations in the local area, in order to gage a first-hand impression of what the locals desire in the site. This will allow me to assess the current value of a site and suggest more thoughtful and personal changes that could be made.
Jacob Mills 2021
Bench Design Proposal Axonometric
The locally sourced natural stone creates a maze of spaces and multiple choices of routes. The main wooden seating is located in the centre of the structure, however, the stones can also be used to sit on or against for more casual seating.
Plan View
This bench design is an organic representation of a human hand, representing the design concept - the human senses. It is a spreading piece of sculptural design which will be used for seating, leisure and a source of historic information (engravings on the rock and timber, referencing Roman Gloucester through to WW2).
Stone Hench
TM
Eye Level View
This eye level view gives an impression of how a pedestrian would view the bench from ground level. The timber and stone screens have been raised and positioned at different levels in order to create a feeling of enclosure and exposure. This is intended to create a playful area where children can hide and play whilst parents can sit and chat.
Finger Shaped Sun Beds
The finger shaped sun beds will be orientated to face west in order to maximise the full potential summer sun in Alney Island. They will be made from composite timber to allow water to freely drain through the deck boards. The fingers that they rest in will be made from voided concrete to minimise the amount of concrete used.
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Jacob Mills 2021
Construction Drawings
Sustainable Technology 3 Alney Island & Castlemeads AD6604 Semester 2
Project Context The Sustainable Technology aspect of the Alney Island & Castlemeads project required me to dive deeper into the design process and focus on the technical aspects of my proposal. For this project I was required to produce a General Arrangement plan, Construction drawings, a Planting plan, a Levels and Drainage plan, a Setting out plan and a Bill of quantities.
General Arrangement Plan
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Jacob Mills 2021
My Proposal I used the same design for my Sustainable Technology plans as I did for my Design Projects 3. I chose to do this as it enabled me to fully assess the design I had created, and improve any aspects of the scheme that were potentially overlooked prior to this module. I focused mostly on levels and drainage during this project, as Alney Island is a high flood risk site. I discovered that many of my contours needed amending and after more tweaks and refinements my design became much more functional. My construction drawings helped me to understand how the materials and public would interact with one another. This helped me decipher if certain features were relevant or not; again, this helped me enhance the overall design.
How will I improve for future projects? In future projects, I will ensure that I further explore the current materiality and vernacular of the existing site and the surrounding area. I believe this is important in order to preserve character of a space and evolve this in the new development. This will allow me to more confidently choose my materials and tailor these to my construction drawings. In regards to planting, I will be sure to investigate heritage plants, local wild flowers and tree species further. The character of Alney is defined mostly by wild flowers, shrubs, grasses and pioneer trees species. Looking back at this project I should have recognised this earlier and spent more time focusing on the detail of the planting plan.
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Jacob Mills 2021
Planting Plan
I produced a planting plan from a 1:100 area on my General Arrangement plan. This planting plan was based around the colours Purple, Green and Yellow. I wanted to create a simple structure with low maintenance, so used many evergreen grass species such as to make up the body of the vegetation.
Setting Out Plan
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Levels and Drainage
The Levels and drainage plan enabled me to assess my scheme with a different perspective, and encouraged me to think more about the site drainage. This is particularly important for the Alney Island site as it is prone to regular flooding.
Tree Grill
Framework Masterplan
Cultural Context: Environment and Legislation Leckhampton Fields AD5603 - Semester 2 Vehicle circulation
Pedestrian circulation
Frontages
SuDs
Jacob Mills 2021
Project Context Leckhampton is a civil parish district in south Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England with a population of around 5000 residents. The area is in the civil parish of Leckhampton with Warden Hill and is part of the district of Cheltenham. Leckhamton hill resides within an AONB and along Greenbelt Areas on Leckhampton Hill just south of the site boundary have been designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) due to the biological interest of the unimproved calcareous grassland and for its geological exposures. The site lies between the Cheltenham Borough boundary, the Tewksbury district and the Cotswold district. Leckhampton has good access to Cheltenham time by foot, bike and bus route F from Leckhampton Road. The entire site is owned by Cheltenham Borough Council – Cheltenham Town Council purchased Leckhampton Hill in 1927.
The Brief The brief for this project required me to produce and LCA and a Framework masterplan. Leckhampton fields are located in the southern area of Cheltenham, beneath Leckhampton hill. These fields cover an extensive area which offered the opportunity of implicating a country park, new housing estate, school and a community garden. The small river and open space also opened up the opportunity for renewable energy sources such as Hydro, Solar or Wind Power.
My Proposal
LCA Contents
The site development will be based around subtlety with the conservation and enhancement of the ecological wealth that currently exists in Leckhampton. The development will consist of the introduction of 200 new terraced house dwellings, a Secondary school and a country park. The housing development will be arranged in blocks of 25 and 20 positioned back to back with joining gardens in the centre. Minimal housing development has been introduced to Leckhampton fields as past propositions by the JCS for larger housing schemes have been rejected by Cheltenham Borough council. This new small community of people will have a non-intrusive presence in the site and preserve as much as the natural Landscape as possible. The Country Park will give Leckhampton fields its wow factor, whilst the lakes serve a vital purpose in the new SUDs scheme to reduce flood risk. The park will open up the east side of the site and create a fluid walk through a natural looking open space. The scarp will be visible from the site and the park will be a great place for a picnic as a result. The Park will be filled will native tree species such as Quercus robur, Larix decidua, Pinus sylvestris, Betula pendula, Salix alba and Alnus glutinosa which will be left to Establish. The Secondary School will be situated at a close proximity to previous and new residential housing, creating good access to local people. The School has good links to the A46 along Farm Road (with good bus, cycle and car access to Cheltenham town centre) which makes the school accessible to people commuting. The school also has a large area for a playing field but could also use the new country park or Burrows Sports Field for larger activities or events.
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Jacob Mills 2021
Jacob Mills 2021
Garden Design
Project Context
3rd year project - Semester 2
In March 2021 my neighbour asked me to design his back garden which was to be developed the following April. I had never attempted any sort of garden design before this project so I was eager to take on the challenge and balance my time between my other studies. I had 3 weeks to complete a Master Plan, Planting plan and a page of dimensions.
The Brief ‘’I’d love a water feature, maybe a blade waterfall into a small pond, but also aware of costs and small children, so this could be part of the design but also part of phase 2. We want space for some nice garden furniture/seating area. I had an idea of a pergola so we could hang swings off it for the girls whilst they’re young enough (and a hammock for me) and keep the lawn space clear. As you’ll see from the pictures, it’s very open between us and the other neighbour, I don’t want a high fence, but maybe something to create some sort of privacy that side.’’
Design Development
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These images are of the original garden, taken by the client.
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Jacob Mills 2021
My Proposal To begin the project, I first recognised that I needed a plan for the next few weeks, in order to meet the briefs requirements in the short time frame. I could not visit the site due to Covid-19 travel restrictions, however, the client sent me multiple photos which allowed me to come up with some initial ideas for the garden. I sent a questionnaire to the client which containing all of the questions I needed answering to obtain the information required before I could begin. The brief specifications provided to me by the client helped me focus my design ideas quickly, and I used hand drawn sketches to represent these ideas. Before I began to take my ideas into any software, I sent the sketches back to the client to see what he thought. He was fond of the ideas and added some notes to the sketches in areas where he felt amendments were releveant. Once I had corrected the design I took them into AutoCad, and then into Photoshop. After this process I once again sent pictures of the design to the client, who then made his final comments which I went on to apply.
The final design encompasses all of the feedback and design specifications that the client wanted. The pergola is a unique design that is specific to this garden, to optimise the amount of sun and patio space. The end of the garden has been converted into a storage space, which is boxed off by trellis, removing the awkward point and maximises the usable space in the main garden body.
Planting Plan
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5. Final Master Plan
Jacob Mills 2021
Sustainable Technology 1 Winston Churchill Gardens AD4604 Semester 1
Project Context Sustainable Technology 1 was based in Winston Churchill Gardens, located on the southwest of Cheltenham high Street. The project brief was based around creating a garden that was inspired by the NHS. The garden that I designed was based around the shape of a human heart, as I wanted the space to be a central location and destination for pedestrians, families and tourists. The main colour which carries through the site is red, which can be seen in the paths, planting and pergola. This project was one of the first that I endeavoured on when first beginning my journey in the University of Gloucestershire. I have revisited this design and put it into Photoshop, in order to clearly represent the ideas that I could not portray at the time (due to lack of digital ability). I really like the simplicity of the layout and I believe that this particular project has the bones to be something great. Moving forward from this design, I feel as though elements such as the park and the main field could be refined and designed to accommodate the surrounding landscape and fit the context of the design. Design overlaying is a key part of my design process, as seen below in these initial sketches.
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Jacob Mills 2021
Group Project
Cultural Context Philosophy & Creativity Chaumont-Sur-Loire Garden Group Pictures
Visualisations
Project Context This project was one of five requirements for my AD6603 - a group project consisting of 6 members, including myself. We were required to enter the Chaumont-Sur-Loire Garden Festival in the Loire Valley, northeast France. Due to Covid-19 restrictions we were unable to travel to the festival, however, we still produced the brief requirements to complete the module successfully. The Chaumont-Sur-Loire Garden Festival is an annual event which is open to 20 entries each year. The site area’s area around 210m2 and the budget for the project was £12,000.
The Brief Create a show garden inspired by Biomimicry. You must produce a 1:100 Master plan, a 1:100 Planting plan, Construction drawings, a Bill of Quantities and Visitations.
Our Proposal Our design utilises hexagon shaped paving, curved to follow the golden ratio, forming an enclosed area adjacent to a pool of water. The hexagon form is continued throughout our design, using tall hexagonal posts to add interest and draw the line of vision, creating a journey through the site. As visitors enter, they will first be drawn to an area of lush planting in the entrance, before following the line of several hexagons along a small swale, designed to retain precipitation during wet weather, leading to a captivating hexagonal feature in the corner. From there, the appearance of trees amongst lush planting, as well as wisteria draping from the pergola, will encourage movement into the central space of our design. During movement round the site, a willow wall of varying heights will partially block views into the centre, creating a sense of mystery for visitors, whilst emulating a sense of enclosure in the centre, in which there is a seat that is perfectly positioned to enjoy a beautiful view of the water pool and surrounding planting.
How will I improve? In the next group project, I will suggest that members of the group discuss with each other about their individual skills and interests before delegating individual rolls. Naturally with this project, we all managed to get the rolls that were suited to us. However, with better communication and open discussion, it is possible to gain a better understanding of how members of the group view the project, and ask them directly what they would like to contribute. I have come to realise that good communication in a group scenario can improve the work efficiency, the quality output and the enjoyment of the project.
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Jacob Mills 2021
Cross Section
Bee friendly planting
Water feature Planting creates a tiered effect to add depth
The willow wall and raised planter create an enclosed seating area
Planter with seat
Willow wall
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Jacob Mills 2021
Semester 1
Project Context
The project was the second part of the AD5605 design projects scheme, which required me to zoom into my original 1:500 scaled master plan at a new scale of 1:200. The requirements of the project were to revitalise the Blackfriars location in Gloucester, which had fallen much into disuse (apart from during weddings or other events). The space needed to be opened up for 24-hour usage, a new green infrastructure strategy was to be developed and Blackfriars Priory should be emphasised as a point of interest once again. I was required to dive deeper into the culture and history of Gloucester, in order to successful brand the area, without damaging the existing heritage of the area.
My Proposal
I wanted to bring the captivating history of Gloucester to life once again, through a direct connection between two of most important historical sites. An intimate, channelled waterway of light and historic/literal reflection was used to guide people from the Cathedral, towards Blackfriars and down to the docks. The site design aimed to transform the area into a visually stimulating, factual and awe-inspiring journey through the great history of Gloucester, parallel to a section of the famous Via Sacra route, indicated by dark/contrasting cross shaped paving slabs. The Via Sacra was created in 1662 by Stephen Baldwyn and roughly marks the ancient Roman city walls enclosing the old town. It travels past existing historic listed landmarks in Gloucester and will now cross over the waterway which will have reference to the Via Sacra as it does so. I wanted to develop a hub for social interaction in the centre of the site, so I placed a ring of bars and restaurants to draw people from the high street into the site. Blackfriars frontage has been opened up and an area of green space has been added to allow people to sit, relax and appreciate the Priory building. Cafes and more restaurant building unity’s have been placed along the edge of this green space, to encourage a busy atmosphere that is available for 24-hour use. 1. Large buildings with more spacious surroundings are available for new art galleries or museums.
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Design Projects 2 Blackfriars Priory AD5605 Phase 1 4. Circle pool restaurant and bar water walk. People using the Bars/ Restaurant, they are able to tuck away behind the pools into the hidden sections surrounding each pool. This enclosed feeling is perfect for night-life to take place and bring people together.
Semester 1 Context Map
4 3. The buildings along the south of the Quay are linked by connecting bridges and are 2 storeys. These buildings overlook The River Severn and have balcony’s over hanging the waterfront restaurant and bars, resembling the style of the buildings in the circular pool walk.
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2. Blackfriars will have a straight grass section leading up to its front, this grass section is enclosed by building fronts and high-quality bars on its east side.
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Jacob Mills 2021
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Semester 1 Visualisations
Circular Pools Walk Hand drawn
How will I improve for future projects? If I was to revisit the Blackfriars Priory site again, I would be sure to assess the potential for the introduction more specific green infrastructure strategies, and potentially the opportunities for CPUL strategies. In my 1:500 design, I would complete more research into the opportunity for pedestrian hierarchy over vehicles, with the introduction of a shared space. The Priory could then become and integral part of the High street, and the public would feel more encouraged to enter the area. Finally, I would spend more time creating hand drawn sketches, to represent my initial ideas and pull apart my ideas more effectively.
River Side Walk
The Outdoor Cinema
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Jacob Mills 2021
Semester 2 Visualisations
Cross Section
Phase 2 Focused Development
Tourist Centre Exterior
Intimate Pathway
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