Aleksandrs Feltins Portfolio by Aleksandrs Feltins

ALEKSANDRS FELTINS’

PORTFOLIO Selected works and extended Curriculum Vitae

©Riga 2010

Aleksandrs Feltins Portfolio

Curriculum Vitae

Aleksandrs Feltins is young architect from Latvia. He graduated from the Facultaty of Architecture and Urban Planning at Riga Technical University (RTU) in 2009. His graduation project «Spatial Development of Riga Northern Corridor Landscape» had been acclaimed as successfull exploration of the possibilities in modern–day urban development. Beyond studies, he has diverse practical background since 2000. Also, he participated in various related professional activities, such as international architectural and urban planning workshops, international competitions such as EUROPAN 9&10. Now he pursues his studies on Academic Master of Science level at the Facultaty of Architecture and Urban Planning at RTU with research proposal «Transformation of the public space in the Post–Soviet housing areas in the 21st century». Also, he contributes as freelance writer in the Latvian portal on architecture and urbanism www.a4d.lv.

CURRICULUM VITAE Personal information Name

Aleksandrs Feltins

Home adress

Gramzdas 21–76 Rīga Latvija LV1029

Temporary adress (from 2.10. 2010 till 31.03.2011)

Borgfelder straße 16 20537 Hamburg Germany

Mobile

+4917638481711

aleksandrs.feltins@gmail.com

Date of Birth

August 18th 1984

Gender

Male

Citizenship

Latvija, EU

Education M.Sc.

2010 HafenCity Universität M. Sc. Urban Design. ERASMUS excange program. Witner term of 2010/11 study year. 2010–2011(expected graduation) Riga Technical University Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning M. Sc. studies in Architecture Master Thesis: «Transformation of the public space in the Post–Soviet housing areas in the 21st century»

Professional studies

2007-2009 Riga Technical University Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning. Acquired qalification of the Architect. Diploma project: «Spatial development of Riga Northern Corridor Landscape» Cum Laude

B.Sc.

2003–2007 Riga Technical University Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning. Diploma of higher professional education in Architecture B.Sc. (undergraduate) degree in Architecture Bachelor thesis: «Perception of Space»

Aleksandrs Feltins Portfolio

Additional eduactional activities 2004

Summer school in Nesvizh, Byelorussia: «Negotiating Baroque Heritage of the Radziwilli family». Proposal for renovation of the Bernardyni Monastery

2004

Summer school in Riga, Latvija. «Architectural Heritage in Progress: UNESCO World Heritage Site in Riga». Proposal for intensification of use of public space in Old Riga»

2006

11th ifhp summer school in Helsinki, Finland organised by Centre for Urban and Regional Studies. Proposal for regeneration of Saynatsalo Town center

Language skills Russian

mother language

Latvian

fluent

English

competent/good. IELTS Overall Band Score 6.5 Academic (ID LV3277194)

German

begginer

Work experience 2006–2009

«NRJA,» architectural office, junior architect. Projects: Waterfront Housing Development in Riga (2006–2008, ongoing), Office building in Riga (2009, ongoing). Competitions: Europan10 Site in Trondheim (2009, no prize), AB bank headquarters and urban development (2009, no prize), 2H office building (competition and technical project (2006–2009, 1st prise). Contribution in preparation of project documentation, drafting, model making, graphic design, design project managment on sketch an technical level.

2004–2006

«AD,» architectural office, architect–technician. Projects: Detached house in Babīte, Latvija (2004-2007, implemented). Semi–detached house in Juglasciems, near Riga, Latvija. (2004–2008, implemented). Contribution in preparation of project documentation, drafting, graphic design.

2002–2004

«KROKS,» architectural office, architect–technician. Projects: Multistorey apartment building in Riga (2003, implemented), Urban infill in Riga (2002– 2005, implemented). Contribution in preparation of project documentation, drafting, graphic design, scale models.

2000–2002

«LATINWEST,» swiming pool design company, engineer. Contribution in preparation of project documentation, drafting, project managment.

Curriculum Vitae

Relevant additional professional activities 2003

International Architects and Urban Planners Workshop on Future Vision for Maskavas Forstate district in Riga, together with Harris & Kjisik Atchitects (Finland). Volunteer. Contribution in graphic design, model making.

2007

International Architects Workshop on Future Vision for Paula Strādiņa University Core hospital in Riga, together with Venhoeven CS Architects (Netherlands). Volunteer. Contribution in graphic design, model making.

2010

Summer school «Urban Outcast» Preparation of the lecture and excursion to the Large–scale residential districts in Riga.

2009–2010

Internet portal on architecture www.a4d.lv. Moderator and writer. Analytical and Critical writings on current trends in international and local isuues concerning architecture and urbanism.

Computer skills Platforms

Mac OS & Windows

Drafting

AutoCAD: advanced; ArchiCAD: beginner

Google SketchUp + Erath: advanced; Rhinoceros: intermediate; Autodesk 3ds MAX intermediate; Autodesk Maya beginner

Graphic design/ production apps

Adobe CS (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign): intermediate; Microsoft Office, iWork, OpenOffice: intermediate

Other relevant professional skills Freehand sketching

intermediate

Architectural and urban model making

intermediate

Architectural project management

basic understanding of the process

Photography

basic skills in architectural photography

Other activities 2008

«Moving Baltic Sea» moving short film festival on ecology of the Baltic Sea August

2009

Intercultural exchange

2010

Neighbourhood activist seminar

Aleksandrs Feltins Portfolio

Map of the potential of the Ķīšezers lake ©Aleksandrs Feltins

FINAL (DIPLOMA) PROJECT:

RIGA NORTHERN CORRIDOR LANDSCAPE

Project type

Academic, final, (diploma) project, Cum Laude (The project was highly appreciated by The Development Department of Rica City Council and a follow-up possibility awarded.)

Year

2008–2009

University

Riga Technical University Facultaty of Architecture and Urban Planning

Project team

Aleksandrs Feltins

Project tutor

assoc. prof. Egons Bērziņš (email egons@apollo.lv)

Location

Latvija, Rīga

Aleksandrs Feltins’ contribution

Definition of the task, urban planning background research, context analysis, development of specific modelling methodology, scale model, graphic design (all maps, drawings and images)

Final (Diploma) Project: Riga Nothern Corridor Landscape

Project background Diploma project is the last work in architect’s professional studies. The definition of task was up to me, and it was possible to choose the field in which I’m interested the most.

Illustration of strategic situation: new highway within Ķīšezers lake South bank context ©Aleksandrs Feltins

Precursor for this work was research project «Ķīšezera Agenda,» made in 2008, which defined the site and task for diploma project. Ķīšezers lake in Rīga City was main research object during the track of this undertaking. The landscape of Ķīšezers lake is unique natural value, which is undervalued and often neglected in master plans. The Riga Northern Transport Corridor had been identified as a potential threat to the qualities of this place. After defence of diploma project, results had aroused interst in Riga City Council’s department of Development. In order to visualise the impacts Riga Northern Transport Corridor to surrounding urban landscape, I’ve been comissioned to create interactive, multi-scale representation of this infrastructure development project.

The Task Riga Northern Transport Corridor is the largest transport infrastructure development project in Latvia in recent decades. Objective of the Project is to divert the traffic from the centre of Riga, connect Riga Freeport to road network of European importance and increase the competitiveness of East-West transport corridor in Latvia. The Project has benefits in the scale of city, region, State and Europe. But what about its local consequences? The Highway’s project inspired to evaluate and imagine the future of affected territories — the Southern bank of Ķīšezers lake. How can we adjust the power of highway project in order to deploy potential of the place — Northern Corridor Landscape?

Aleksandrs Feltins Portfolio

Methodology In order to approach such large and heterogeneous territory, traditional planning tools seems inappropriate — eventually, development can have different scenarios. Therefore, to understand the potential of territory and possible implications of development scenarios, modelling of development had been used. In model, relatively permanent and changing elements had been identified. It had been presumed that some neighbourhoods and industrial sites at the scale of observation is relatively stable elements. Territories, zoned for new development, infrastructure and green areas are unstable elements in the model.

The Model Territory was overlaid with 100x100 grid, and in each grid cell dominant element was determined. The model in scale 1:5000 had been made, showing territory much greater than the area of the Riga Northern Corridor Landscape.

Development Scenarios In «traditional» planning, current land use and potential maximum is defined. Relying on two moments in time, this planning methodology does not show the process, how urban pattrns evolve. But, proposed modelling techinique is based on the staging of different development scenarios, taking the uncertainty, purposefull intervention and partial implementation into account. The methodology is Shifitng Geography. 4 freeze-frames had chosen during modelling process. First — current situation. Second — default scnario — new highway create clear border between Southern bank of Ķīšezers lake. Third — continuation of deafult scenario: development is subordinated to highway, which defines clear border between the city and Ķīšezers lake bank. Fourth — Intervened scenario — The blue-green elements and those directions of the territory being respected. In specific areas, there high public demand is present, «natural» crossing over the highway is assigned.

Final (Diploma) Project: Riga Nothern Corridor Landscape

All images and model ÂŠAleksandrs Feltins 9

Aleksandrs Feltins Portfolio

Local Plan Intervened scenario, as a result of modelling process, became а foundation for Local Plan of the Northern Corridor Landscape. Due to the generalisation of the Model, it is possible to decide crucial feature of the development. The «compromise» with the features of landscape, nature and new development had been found. Here, the ways to mitigate highway’s negative effects on surroundings were codified. Going further, it is necessary to «translate» in model codified relationships into traditional planning formats. In order to define the development of the territory of such scale the planning level between detailed plan and City’s masterplan is necessary.

6 In this case, Local Plan defines the relationship of new highway and surrounding terrain. Traditionally, it is zoning plan, with several zoning codes, clearances and rights of the way.

atslēgas vieta

4 3 2

Illustration of Local Plan

Pieņemtie apzīmējumi Teritoriju atļautā izmantošana

Pieslēgumi maģistrālei

Centru apbūves teritorija

Dabas pamatnes teritorija

Pilsētas iela

Maģistrāle

Jauktā dzīvojamās un darījumu apbūves teritorija

Publisko apstādījumu teritorija

Vietēja iela

Maģistrāle uz estakādes vai tilta

Jauktā rūpnieciskās un darījumu apbūves teritorija

Ūdens teritorija

Dzelzceļa līnija

Maģistrāle tunelī

Publiskās apbūves teritorija Dzīvojamās apbūves teritorija

Ielu tīkls

1 2 3

Daudzlīmeņu krustojums ar Gustava Zemgales gatvi (Austrumu maģistrāli) Daudzlīmeņu krustojums ar Viskaļu ielu Pakalniešu ielas pieslēgums

The holistic view to the development 4 of5 Northern Corridor Landscape development had been created from 6 known ambitions, infrastructure project and potential spots as well. Mārkalnes ielas pieslēgums

Daudzlīmeņu krustojums ar Jaunciema gatvi, nākotnē— ar Baltezera apvedceļa turpinājumu Daudzlīmeņu krustojums ar autoceļu A2

Final (Diploma) Project: Riga Nothern Corridor Landscape

All images and model ÂŠAleksandrs Feltins 11

Aleksandrs Feltins Portfolio

Key Area

this place specific planning framework. If it would be necessary to sreate a detailed plan for this area, the greatest challenge of this undertaking could be the resolution of the vertical relationships of the landscape and the highway.

In the context of Northern Corridor Landscape’s development, it is crucial to find «key area» — the strategic site with unique potential, which is threatned the most, and define for

Three section schemes («transects») had been created as a guidelines. 1 — «valley»: here, the highwayis elevated over the «valley» — the combination of nature preserva-

Final (Diploma) Project: Riga Nothern Corridor Landscape

Sketch of the landscape transects — four ways to overcome the highway. ©Aleksandrs Feltins

Illustration of the detail plan for Key Area — zoning plan and transect which defines vertical relationships at the same time ©Aleksandrs Feltins

tion areas and low-rise housing development. 2 — «the crosswalk». Here, the overpass is intended on the second level. Taking into account the closeness of the dense and active neighbourhoods, mixed land use is assigned, with height accents at the highway. In modest case scenario, the bridge over highway; if development achieve sufficient ambition and demand — the platform with mixed use over the highway. 3 — «estuary of the river» — highway is on

embankment and crosses the river with a bridge. Thus, specific approach to the challengas of modern day development had been created. But, this approach to modelling and visualisation, if adjusted, could be implemented elswhere with different contexts.

Aleksandrs Feltins Portfolio

Examples of close– by preview of the visualistion: Bridge over the Daugava river (above) intersection with Port highway (below) ©Aleksandrs Feltins

Norther Corridor schematic representation with traffic scheme in GOOGLE Earth ©Aleksandrs Feltins

REPRESENTATION PROJECT:

RIGA NORTHERN CORRIDOR VISUALISATION Project type

Professional, following diploma project

Year

2010

University

Riga Technical University Facultaty of Architecture and Urban Planning

Project team

Aleksandrs Feltins, Arturs Bērziņš

Project leader

assoc. prof. Egons Bērziņš (email egons@apollo.lv)

Location

Latvija, Rīga

Aleksandrs Feltins’ contribution

Development of representation concept. .KML content creation (3d models of the planned infrastructure development and urban context, adaptation of zoning maps for GOOGLE Earth use)

Representation Project: Riga Northern Corridor Visualisation

Project background My graduation project «Riga Northern Corridor Landscape» arose interest among officials in the Development Departement of Riga City Council. Northern Corridor is the largest Transport Infrastructure Development project in Riga. It will change considerably to the traffic in Riga and influence the affected urban landscape considerably. Riga Northern Transport Corridor project lacked visualisation.

Examples of close– by preview of the visualistion: Skanstes area (above) Begging of the highway at the edge of the city(below) ©Aleksandrs Feltins

The Task and Methods Large infrastructural project is the part of greater road network, and it has small local consequences at the same time. Consequentelly, it influences the situation on various scales: urbanised region, neighbourhood, urban block between main roads and small area around intersection. Traditional representation techniques such as static images or animated video preview from a fixed motion path seemed inapropriate for this reason. Therefore GOOGLE Earth environment had been chosen. It is mlti-scale environment on the one hand, and it has convenietn sharing options on the other. The produced content includes realistic 3D models of proposed highway objects and precisely georeferenced vector and raster maps of land use and right-of-the-way, aireal imaginery. In specific spots, where the decision should be made, various options of proposed highway had been presented together with generalised 3D representation of context of the affected areas. The outcome of the project con be downloaded from the website of Northern Corridor Project: http://www.ziemelukoridors.lv/Projekts/Grafiskāinformācija/GoogleEarthvizualizācijas/tabid/116/Default.aspx

Aleksandrs Feltins Portfolio

View from the North (above) and urban context of the EUROPAN site ©Aleksandrs Feltins

EUROPAN9 ENTRY AS SEMESTER PROJECT

“FOREST CONNECTION”

Project type

Academic, First project in Urban Plannig Studio. The task accomodated from EUROPAN9 topic. Result submited to the competition.

Year

2007

University

Riga Technical University Facultaty of Architecture and Urban Planning

Project team

Aleksandrs Feltins

Project leader

assoc. prof. Egons Bērziņš (email egons@apollo.lv)

Location

Latvija, Rīga

Aleksandrs Feltins’ contribution

Analysis of the site and its urban context. Development of the development concept. Graphic design (3D model, all drawings and images, layout of the boards)

Europan9 Entry As Semester Project «Forest Connection»

Concept -Mix Up forest and city in new housing area, using the forest as a „forest park”. Green fingers goes from forest to Jugla street.

-Make new connection with the Juglas lake, also making existing stadium accessable for future & existing residents of the area.

-Make the place recognizable in the city. Make vertical accent in the turning point of Jugla street, mark the edges with remarkable buildings & public space.

Topic within EUROPAN9 framework As a task for this semester project in Urban Planning EUROPAN9 competition had been taken. «Extensions in question» was the specific topic for his site. Developing the city along an infrastructure, simultaneously addressing the large scale of an urban band, and the local scale with its fringes. The main objective for the competition in given site was to produce a scheme for high-quality district, taking advantages of site — presense of nature on the one hand and proximity of the sity on the other.

Location The site is located in Jugla, Western part of Riga. Region as whole is recognizable for it’s rich greenery, water areas and Juglas Lake, of course. The main traffic artery which connects Jugla to the centre of Riga is Brivibas street. The project site is connected to Brivibas street with Juglas street. It is also main urban axis of the study area. The presence of forest is essential in the area: starting with housing areas with rich greenery Juglas street goes through the forest nearby the study area. The existing housing areas are like islands, which are separated from forest with network of roads. The main benefit from the surroundings of the site is a possibility to soften the border of the forest and make «forestcity» and Nearby Juglas lake has a lot of potential recreational and public attractors.

Aleksandrs Feltins Portfolio

Detail plan of the negotiated area scale 1:6000 all images on this and next page ÂŠAleksandrs Feltins

Europan9 Entry As Semester Project «Forest Connection»

Building typology Main goal of the plan is to achieve physical and visual connection with nature. 4 Ways to achieve this goal was developed. Tower apartement blocks with public base. Also serves as a landmarks in the area along main road.

Small tower apartement blocks, “vertical detached houses”each floor contain one flat only, providing qualities of detached house — light from four sides and privacy. Semiunderground car park as artifical relief with semi-private terrace.

2-3 Storey row housing, located along Maza Jugla street. Basic sqare shape of the blocks is transformed to save existing greenery. No underground parking, parking space is provided along new street.

3-5 Storey courtyard blocks, partly opened to south east. The scheme allows a lot of variations to achieve desireble density, keeping good lighting conditions.

Aleksandrs Feltins Portfolio

INTERNSHIP PROJECT:

WATERFRONT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

Project type

Professional, Residential building with public space at the waterfront

Year

2006–2008

Office of Internship

NRJA (www.nrja.lv)

Project team

arch. Uldis Lukševics, Aleksandrs Feltins

Project leader

arch. Uldis Lukševics (uldis@nrja.lv)

Location

Latvija, Rīga

Aleksandrs Feltins’ contribution

Development of structure and access concept, design of the apartment layout, facade concept, site logistics and landscaping scheme. Preparation of endorsement drawings, 3D model, scale model, project managment (coordination of the associate designers)

Internship Project: Waterfront Housing Development

Project’s background Project was started in 2006 — it was the time then Latvia’s economy boomed and the demand for new apartments was high. Generally, the client’s main condition was to design according to program, which reached the maximum of certain sites’ planned capacity in terms of building height and floor area ratio. When I started to work on this project, the concept and placement of the building in site had been already developed. This apartment building located at the shore of Ķīšezers lake, on the site partly occupied by the former paper mill. The plan of the edifice is made in the shape of letter «W» in order to ensure view to the lake for the maximum dwellings — thus, the name of the project became W5 — together with the number of storeys.

Conceptual sketch (this page bottom left) ©Uldis Lukševics Draft model of the building model and photo ©Aleksandrs Feltins

The Task The object I was given was to solve the division of the edifice into sections with individual access, and to design a layout for each. And, at the same time, I worked on overall spatial solutions for the building — visual image, facades, concept of structure, site logistics and landscaping scheme. All solutions I made was developed to the sketch (endorsement) project stage.

Aleksandrs Feltins Portfolio

Detail of the 1st floor plan: apartment section with access from the staircase in the north Scale 1:250 ÂŠAleksandrs Feltins

Detail of the 1st floor plan: apartment section with access from the staircase in the middle of the edifice Scale 1:250 ÂŠAleksandrs Feltins

Internship Project: Waterfront Housing Development

1st floor plan Scale 1:800 ÂŠAleksandrs Feltins

Design of apartments The edifice had been divided into 33 houses, in order to accommodate characteristic and familiar loacal type of multi-storey apartment building with staircase core as vartical communication for modest amount of dwellings per floor. The 4 longest wings of the dwelling alternate 2 types of section. In first and third wing staircase is located on the Northern side, and living rooms with the view to the lake on the Southern side. In second and fourth wing staircase is in the middle of section, thus the view to the lake from the North and sunlight from South is provided.

Aleksandrs Feltins Portfolio

Details of scale model Scale model and photo ÂŠAleksandrs Feltins Transversal section (bottom) Scale 1:500 ÂŠAleksandrs Feltins

Internship Project: Waterfront Housing Development

Rendering of the facade pattern ÂŠAleksandrs Feltins

Develpment of facade pattern ÂŠAleksandrs Feltins

Form development In order to ensure better solar insolation and minimise potential cramped sense in the courtyards, terraced scheme for the sections was chosen â&#x20AC;&#x201D; each floor has 1.8 indent. For overall formal scheme honeycomb pattern is used, extruded and stretched in order to fit the distance between load bearing walls. Thus, each dwelling had been provided with open space which is oriented towards the lake and facing south.

Aleksandrs Feltins Portfolio

INTERNSHIP PROJECT:

OFFICE BUILDING

Project type

Professional

Year

2008

Office of Internship

NRJA (www.nrja.lv)

Project team

arch. Uldis Lukševics, Aleksandrs Feltins, arch. Linda Leitāne

Project leader

arch. Uldis Lukševics (uldis@nrja.lv)

Location

Latvija, Rīga

Aleksandrs Feltins’ contribution

Development of design concept, site logistics and landscaping scheme, design of the office layout, exterior concept. Preparation of endorsement drawings, 3D model.

Internship Project: Office building

Project background The site is located in the Southern suburbs of Riga, between railway line Riga–Jelgava and highway A2 Riga–Warsaw. There is university, school, student hotel close by to the site. In general, there is big development potential, but the local infrastructure is underdeveloped and neighbourhood lacks distinctive image. At the beginning, developer commissioned to make a research which program for the office building it is possible to fit in given site, taking into account that building must be cost–effective in terms of construction expenses. In later stage, project had been adopted in order to accommodate requirements of the State Stock Company «Latvia’s State Forests».

The Task The objective I’ve been given first, was to study the potential of the site and define possible size of the program, and second, to develop project of the office building according to the client’s requirements until the level of the sketch project. Thus, I’ve developed project from concept to the sketch project level.

Aleksandrs Feltins Portfolio

Groun floor (top) West elevation (middle) Second floor (bottom) Scale 1:500 ÂŠAleksandrs Feltins

Legend for floor layouts Semiâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;public areas

Office areas

Storage areas

Internship Project: Office building

The Layout

The building’s position within the site is defined by planning and zoning requirements — shelter belt of the railway and construction lines of adjoining streets and client’s requirement for 200 parking places on the ground level. The program of the building consists of 5000 m2 of office space, storage areas, conference hall and canteen. Public spaces such as large conference hall and canteen are located along main street, and main entrance also is located in the intersection of the streets — thus, «public interface» of the headquarters had been defined. In relatively wide edifice (24 m) three small courtyards had been proposed. Small conference areas, office spaces, recreation areas are gathered around them.

Outdoor installation «Forest of Light» The site of the building is located in a neighbourhood, which lacks distinctive image. «Forest of Light» is the outdoor street lighting installation, which reminds pine trunks. It is proposed in order to create new landmark in the intersection of the railway line and neighbourhood’s main street, and to identify the owner of the building — « Latvia’s State Forests».