Architecture Portfolio 2024 - Extended

Part I Architectural Assistant

University of Bath

PORTFOLIO

James Goodwin

This document is an extended version of my curated portfolio, highlighting further projects and experience gained during my studies at University, my Professional Placements, and my prior Apprenticeship as an Architectural Technician. Additional drawings and a more complete narrative are presented for each project, which I hope is of interest.

After leaving college in 2016 I spent 4 years working in Practice, developing my skills in a hands-on environment. Whilst challenging, this period fuelled my passion for Architecture which I took forward into my University studies.

During my career, I have had the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects, from concept through to construction, and for an array of clients across the residential, commercial, public and leisure sectors.

I hope these pages give you a useful insight into my architectural experience to date.

Please read as a double page spread for optimal viewing. All work is my own unless where credited or noted otherwise. All drawings produced on placements or in previous employment are copyright of the relevant Practice.

JAMES GOODWIN

Part I Architectural Assistant

jgoodwin9520@gmail.com

07809 139943

25/02/1999

16 Lagoon View, West Yelland, Barnstaple, EX31 3LD

Education About

My route into Architecture has been less than typical. After leaving college a year into my A Level studies, I began an apprenticeship with an architectural practice in North Devon. I worked as a Technician for 4 years, immersing myself in the Practice and learning all I could in this time. I developed a strong technical backbone during my apprenticeship, and a pragmatic, detail oriented approach to my work. I carried this skillset through into my degree studies at the University of Bath, where I recently submitted my final project - a cyclical brewery set in Swindon.

Seeing a project progress from an initial idea or conversation through to a fully formed building gives me immense satisfaction, and the positive change that buildings have on our clients drives my passion for Architecture - be that improving the lives of a single family or driving change for a wider community.

This drive for change has been a narrative present throughout my university work, with my projects including a consistent drive to improve the public realm and give back to the wider community which may interact with my proposals. The current focus on the Climate Crisis has also pushed my interest in both sustainable design and retrofit, with my more recent university projects especially focussing on the integration of innovative, low carbon materials or methods of material reuse.

BSc (Hons) Architecture

University of Bath, 2020 - 2024

Graduating July 2024, Results TBC

Construction HNC (Level 4) with NVQ

Exeter College, 2018 - 2020

Achieved: Distinction

Construction and Contracting

Operations BTec (Level 3) with NVQ

Exeter College, 2016 - 2018

Achieved: Dist* Dist*

AS Levels (Art, Maths, Physics, IT)

Petroc, 2015-2016

Achieved (Respectively): B, C, B, B

GCSEs (Inc. Art, Triple Science, Computing, Additional Maths)

Pilton College, 2010 - 2015

Achieved: 7A*, 5A, 1B

Prior Experience

Bath, UK

Feb 2023 - Aug 2023

Part I Architectural Assistant

• This period was a 6 month work placement completed as part of my University degree.

• I was involved in a number of projects between RIBA Stages 1 and 4, ranging from bespoke housing developments to the adaptive reuse of large buildings within Bath. I spent most of my placement working at Stages 3 & 4.

• Most projects were at a larger scale than I had encountered previously, and I gained useful experience working with larger, multi-disciplinary design teams.

• I learnt a great deal about working with existing buildings; working with Local Planning & Historic England to determine sensitive interventions whilst ensuring client’s requirements are met.

Mears Architects Ltd

Barnstaple, UK

Feb 2022 - Sept 2022

Part I Architectural Assistant

• This period was a 7 - 8 month work placement completed as part of my University degree.

• I was involved in several projects between RIBA Stages 1 and 4, ranging from small residential projects to large hospitality buildings.

• I was responsible for liaising directly with clients on some projects, and independently managing information production to meet key deadlines (including a full tender pack for a new private dwelling).

Peregrine Mears Architects Ltd

Barnstaple, UK

Feb 2016 - Sept 2020

Junior/Intermediate Technician

• My main period of employment at PMA was part of a 4 year apprenticeship starting as a Junior Technician in 2016. At the time of leaving the practice I was working at an Intermediate Technician level, working autonomously on projects alongside the Project Architect.

• I worked on a range of projects throughout all work stages, covering several sectors - spanning from residential extensions to new community centres and a multi-million pound redevelopment of a holiday resort.

• During this time, I played a key role in delivering a new private house (approx £700k budget), working between RIBA Stages 3 and 6. This project gave me a basic working knowledge of Contract Administration, as I was responsible for liaising directly with the Contractor throughout the construction process and running bi-weekly site meetings.

Skills

Highly proficient at drafting using Vectorworks, along with strong 3D modelling & Sketchup skills. Working knowledge of AutoCAD, Photoshop and Indesign alongside proficiency with Full MS Office Suite. Competent digital rendering and visualisation skills. Good technical problem solving skills with a detail oriented mindset.

Full UK Driving Licence (Cat B, Obtained 08/2017). References available on request.

Peregrine

Aaron Evans Architects Ltd

Hop[e] Brewing

Year 4.2 - Final Year Project

Location: Swindon, UK

Sector: F&B / Research

Year: 2023 / 2024

The culminating design project of my undergraduate degree is a cyclical brewery; merging the historic and traditional process of brewing with cutting edge science to create a process where ingredients are cultivated in-house and waste products are recycled into biogas. The proposal reimagines the vacant Old Town Hall & Corn Exchange in Swindon as a test bed for this new method of brewing; a manifesto project to develop and expose this technology for adoption by larger brewing manufacturers. Taking references from the existing Listed structure and arranged as an inflection of served and service zones, the proposal offers opportunities for the public to observe and understand the roles the various spaces and processes play in the continued operation of the building.

With the demolition of an existing neighbouring building a necessity for the proposal, the project takes a unique approach to repurposing these otherwise waste materials. Instead, they are viewed as a kit of parts, with their integration into the scheme creating a visible dialogue of reuse.

The full design report for this project can be viewed by scanning the QR code above, or by clicking here

In 2020, global annual beer production was estimated at 1.82 billion hL (1hL=100L). Of all waste produced during this process, wet BSG (Brewers Spent Grain) accounts for 85% - equating to an annual production of 39 million tons worldwide. For every 100 litres of beer produced, 20kg of spent grains are created as a waste product.These currently have little opportunity for further use outside of feedstocks or compost, with around 20% sent to landfill. For every ton of BSG sent to landfill, 513kg CO2 is released.

In 2022, the UK produced 37.5 million hL of beer, ranked 4th in the EU. Using the ratios discussed previously, it can be estimated that the approximate annual UK production of brewers spent grains is 750,000 tons. Anaerobic digestion processes can turn these grains into hydrogen; a clean fuel which can be turned into electricity using a fuel cell. The only waste emission is water; the ‘left over’ BSG can be used for compost. A circular model is critical to generate maximum potential from this otherwise waste product - the UK produces enough spent grains to generate enough clean energy to satisfy the annual power demand of 1.1 million homes.

Lauter Tun

Brewing Kettle

Whirlpool Tank

Fermentation Tank

Serving Tanks, Canning & Kegs

Pre-treatment Tank

Separator Tanks

Granular Biomass Reactor

Anaerobic Digester

Exhaust Gas Flue

Hydrogen Storage Tanks

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Water Filtration System

Solar PV Battery Storage

The existing 1970’s office block (‘The Forum’) is demolished. Materials salvaged and retained to be reused within the new proposal.

New trussed butterfly roof structure and mezzanine inserted into existing Corn Exchange. Continuous clerestory added to East and West elevations between the underside of the new roof, and top of existing wall.

New massing proposed to South and West of existing building, with the extent of massing to the South informed by historic plot boundaries. Massing stopped short of the existing Town Hall to form a courtyard and allow the existing building to breathe.

[Demolish]

[Insert]

[Envelop]

[Align] [Inflect]

The elevation to the West is skewed to align with adjacent road edge, maximising the active frontage and meshing the building with the public realm.

New tower added to South West corner to anchor the new massing, acting as an inflection of the existing bell tower to the North. The new West facade at first floor level is extruded to abut the existing Town Hall building, providing enclosure to the new courtyard.

[Emphasise]

Sections of the Ground Floor are recessed to add vertical emphasis to the new elevations and further reinforce the solidity of the new tower. Sawtooth roof planes are added over key spaces (the brewing hall and labs) to provide North light and break up the flat roof plane.

My proposal aims to re-inhabit the existing vacant Old Town Hall and Corn Exchange, known locally as the Locarno. The building has a rich history - built in 1852 and currently Grade II listed. It was gutted by two fires in 2002 and 2004 which left the building as a vacant shell; long since abandoned with no plans for its redevelopment.

Being a highly active, public building, the project aims to enliven the area surrounding the Old Town Hall and so breathe life into this fractured area of Swindon. The building can be seen as a nexus; stitching together the myriad of architectural languages, urban grains and masterplanning typologies which clash within the wider context of Old Town. It also creates a building which the community can rally around, and from which they can draw new civic pride.

My proposal sees an adjacent 1970’s office block demolished; the structure used as a ‘catalogue of parts’ which both informs the design of, and is used in, the new building. Through the development of the project, a language of reuse has emerged, with materials used in their raw and unapologetic state as taken from the demolished building. New interventions are designed in a lighter, sympathetic language, sparking a dialogue between new and old.

Visual from Taproom

The proposal is planned around an inflection of public and manufacturing zones, reflecting the historic and new elements of the scheme. Interfaces at the boundaries provide opportunities for the public to observe and understand the roles the various spaces play in the continued operation of the building.

The building is a permeable entity, able to be entered and explored from several angles. This naturally draws the users into the heart of the proposal; the taproom. From here, each distinct aspect of the building is visible, and the served/service boundaries typical to food & drinking establishments are blurred.

The scheme proposes a clear tectonic strategy to clearly differentiate historic, reclaimed and proposed elements. New structure is typically lightweight timber, contrasting with the heavier masonry of the existing building. This creates a strong narrative of levels of permanence - the new lightweight structure easily removable at the end of its life, whereas heavier elements (including those reclaimed) are tied to the site either in their historic form or reimagined for a new lease of life.

The proposal endeavours not to purely reuse materials in their original forms, but to reimagine how they may be reused or repurposed into forms not originally intended. This both extends the life of materials which would otherwise be left as waste, and opens a crucial dialogue on how new projects elsewhere in Swindon, the UK or across the world can inventively reuse old or reclaimed materials.

Within the existing Corn Exchange which houses the proposed taproom, the main intervention takes the form of a glulam butterfly truss, a lightweight structure which supports the roof above whilst allowing for generous clerestory above the existing walls. These elements come together to create a language of insertion, with the existing stone walls acting as a container for the new structure.

The primary benefit of a truss of this type is that all forces are contained within the members, with no external forces applied on the existing building apart from at the base of the columns. In turn, this ensures there will be no long term damage to the existing walls; the frame can hypothetically be removed at the end of the building’s life and leave no imprint on the existing structure.

Butterfly Roof Development Model (1:200)

Visual in Brewing Hall

Sitting adjacent to the taproom and facing onto the busy public realm to the West of the site sits the Brewing Hall. The tectonic language of this space is about ‘connections’ - opening the space up to both the taproom and public realm to engage the public with the activity occurring within. In line with the overall concept, it can also be viewed as an inflection of the tectonic of the taproom; a heavy brick ‘lid’ sitting over a lightweight base, as opposed to a lightweight roof sitting over heavy masonry walls.

As a result of this, the materiality of the ground and first floors are vastly different; the ground level much more permeable, and the first floor more solid. Continual glazing runs the length of the ground floor, exposing the glulam structure and brewing vessels behind. Galvanised mesh panels provide varying degrees of privacy, and an ever changing play of light and dark within the space. On the contrary, the masonry panels read much heavier; hung from the glulam structure with deep openings punched into the facade.

Line of soldier coursed brick to top of wall, bedded in lime mortar 1m x 1m reclaimed brick panel cut from facade of existing demolished building, bedded on 25mm thick concrete backing panel

Sawtooth Roof Gable Detail (A)

Glulam structure (300x500mm)

CLT roof deck

Reclaimed standing seam roof

PPC aluminium pressing

Year 4.1 - TED Integrated Design Project

Location: Swindon, UK

Sector: Education

Year: 2023

Our group project in fourth year, the TED Happold Integrated Design Project, placed us in a group with Civil Engineering students and set a complex design brief for a proposal at a much larger scale than any of our previous projects. This year’s brief called for a new HE institute in the town of Swindon, set on a vacant site adjacent to the railway, specialising in two key subjects chosen by the group.

Our group chose to focus on the subjects of Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science; proposing that our Institute works closely with a nearby UoB & UoO research hub called iCAST. Our scheme was developed with the idea of ‘transfers of knowledge’; facilitating spaces of all scales to enable shared learning between all stakeholders of the building - from students and researchers, to staff and public.

Our brief for our group project was complex; to design a new HE institute in the town of ‘New Swindon’ combined with an industry innovation hub, which together will act as the public face of a regional university. The building was required to facilitate two specialist subjects of our choosing - these were Materials Science and Medical Engineering. The project was required to include a detailed schedule of accommodation, which is summarised below.

Through industry collaboration, the proposal aims to pull new FE students into STEAM fields. The site, Bristol Street Car Park, sits within the now designated Swindon Railway Conservation Area and is in the local vicinity of several significant buildings including the Mechanics’ Institute, Historic England archives and the National Trust ‘Heelis’ building.

Establishing two key connections through the site. The first is the Mechanics’ Institute to the new bridge adjacent to our site. The second is iCAST to the new public realm.

We introduce the two subject faculties which meet at the corner creating an informal ‘meld’ used for knowledge transfer. The massing is stepped back away from the existing wall.

Using the key axes, we established a route through the site. We connected our ‘heart’, an amphitheatre used for knowledge transfer as well as acting as a rain garden, a key part of the scheme.

Student accommodation lies on the top floors of the north building, providing a strong facade to the railway. The student library occupies the next floors of the smaller tower.

Our massing has been arranged around the route through the site, creating a central courtyard surrounded by two L-shaped buildings.

In response to the railway, we have cut out sections of the massing to create depth and interest to onlookers from the trains.

We have a public lower ground level within the existing structure of the site. All public functions are arranged along the main route across the site with auditorium and food hall at either end.

At the top of the smaller tower, we have placed an industry workshop. This is to be used as our Innovation Hub where collaboration is the focus of all activities and knowledge transfer between research and industry is fundamental.

1. KEY AXES

THE ROUTE & HEART

THE MASSING

LOWER GROUND & PUBLIC 5. THE FACULTIES & ‘MELD’ 6. STUDENT LIFE

THE RAILWAY FACADE

THE INNOVATION HUB

Our proposal re-imagined a locally available, vernacular material – stone – as a structural exoskeleton, with the building acting as a manifesto for this emerging method of construction. Stone provides many benefits as a material, but is currently ignored in the wider construction sector. Drawing on existing precedents such as 15 Clerkenwell Close (designed by Amin Taha + GROUPWORK, and Webb Yates Engineers), this choice demanded a collaborative approach where structural, architectural and environmental requirements were of equal importance. Our unique structural system, alongside a considered architectural design and rigorous environmental strategies, created a carbon negative building with the capacity to last for generations.

Bristol Street

Bristol - London Railway Line

Auditorium

Exhibition Space

Visualisation from ‘Innovation Hub’

Stone exoskeleton beams (500x600mm)

Galvanised steel connection ‘T’ with integrated thermal break positioned within insulation line

Glulam trimmer beam between trusses (200x300mm)

Powder coated aluminium fascia to parapet

Proprietary insulated structural angle (IsoChemie ‘Winframer’) allowing for glazing frame to be positioned within insulation line, so eliminating cold bridging from interface

Multiwall polycarbonate glazing (by Lamilux) with thermally broken frame - U value 0.9 W/ m2K

Horizontal louvres fixed to exoskeleton beams (to suit South East facing facade orientation)

Timber acoustic panels fixed to ceiling (with acoustic insulation between and above timber fins) to suit required reverberation time of less than 1 second

Screed layer over CLT floor (providing vibration dampening, acoustic and thermal mass

Insulated timber cassette panel with rainscreen panels over

Detail A (Facade to Roof)

Detail B (Facade to Floor)

Detail B

The specialist teaching spaces are arranged within distinct faculties with labs on the lower floor and workshops above. Each faculty has a double height atrium and a dedicated stair between the two floors. This creates a sense of identity to each faculty and prevents a ‘copy/paste’ approach. Informal and flexible study spaces are provided between defined teaching spaces to facilitate discussions and “transfers of knowledge” between students, researchers and staff.

Labs and workshops were designed to respect the hierarchy of the grid established by the exoskeleton, with the same linear language continued inside to ensure a cohesive whole.

Section Through Biomedical Engineering Faculty

Triple glazed rooflight with thermally broken frame

U value 0.9 W/m2K

Rooflights fixed on angled firrings to allow for drainage

Fins framed with softwood battens, voids infilled with acoustic insulation batts

15mm plywood facing to fins (by ‘Purebond’ or similar, containing zero formaldehyde or VOC’s) with routed slots

Recessed shadowgap at joints with integrated LED lighting

Rooflight Fin Detail (C)

Glulam posijoist

As part of our schedule of accommodation, we were required to include 124 student bedrooms. We designed these with a focus on socialising, providing opportunities for interaction at every level of ‘division’ within the accommodation blocks. To do this, we turned to the concept of streets; at the larger level, providing internal and external shared streets which facilitated socialising between flats. Internally, bridges linked flats across a three storey atrium, creating a community within the student accommodation.

At the smaller scale, we challenged the concept of a corridorseeing this more as a street with flats organised around paired doorways. This creates more intimate connections between individual rooms and their ‘neighbour’, referencing the elevations of Brunels’ GWR Workers Cottages adjacent to the site.

Fourth Floor (Student Accommodation) Plan Extract

Visualisation of Internal Student ‘Street’

Axonometric of Student Room Cluster

Structural Axonometric

Detail A

Detail C

Detail B

N.B: Flooring systems not shown for clarity

Details drawn by myself, designed in collaboration with group engineers

Detail A: Exoskeleton to Primary Beams & Floor Slab

Detail B: Exoskeleton to Secondary Beams

Detail C: Internal Structural Node Connection

Exploded Facade Assembly Sketch

Playtime

Year 3.2

Location: Oxford, UK

Sector: Community / Performing Arts

Year: 2022 / 2023

Our main design project of third year revolved around designing a new community theatre within the historic city centre of Oxford. My chosen site was an existing but underutilised building to the north of Bonn Square, which was to be demolished following a hypothetical fire. Sitting at the West end of Oxford’s historic high street and adjacent to the Westgate shopping centre, the proposal evolved from a simple theatre into a multifaceted offering which gave back to the public realm and reactivated the square it faced.

Our proposals were required to be designed in response to the needs of a minority / under-represented group, who would utilise the theatre in either a performer or audience role. My proposal focussed on the homeless population of Oxford, with my chosen site (Bonn Square), being the rough sleeping hub of the City Centre.

My scheme incorporated a small hostel which could be used by rough sleepers, and included a communal kitchen, washing, laundry and sleeping facilities. The theatre would act as an extension of an existing local charity - Crisis Skylight - who provide employment and support for homeless and struggling people through the medium of theatre.

According to the 2019 Index of Multiple Deprivation, 10 of Oxford's 83 neighbourhood areas ('Super Output Areas') are among the 20% most deprived areas in England.

The number of rough sleepers in Oxford has increased by 400% since 2012.

In Oxford the average house price of £513,754 is around 17 times the UK average yearly household income of £29,600.

Proposed Site

Oxford City Council

Homeless Oxfordshire

The skyline along Oxford High Street, and indeed throughout Oxford itself, is dominated by spires. Each is used as a wayfinding device, helping users navigate through the city. In the case of the High Street, the towers draw people along its length by providing a dominant feature in the backdrop of each snapshot of the street.

On arrival at Bonn Square, my chosen site, there is a break in this rhythm. Previously, St Peter le Bailey church filled this gap, with the church tower sitting harmoniously with Carfax tower (to the East). But following the demolition of the church in the 1870’s, there has been no new tower on this site. This proposal aims to rectify this, with a new tower element of similar scale to Carfax, which reintegrates the site into the wider context of Oxford.

Annotated aerial view of Oxford High Street, highlighting the network of spires along its length. Bonn Square is also highlighted in red

Concept model showing the two towers of the proposed scheme in relation to the surrounding buildings

Along with an auditorium and associated supporting spaces, our proposals were required to provide a ‘Gift to the City’. For my scheme, this took the form of a flexible auditorium, capable of being arranged to suit a multitude of uses. This provided a secondary benefit of the auditorium acting as an extension of the adjacent public square.

lectures,

Transverse Stage Thrust Stage

POOR THEATRE... Jerry Grotowski

POOR THEATRE... Jerry Grotowski

Audience near to performers

Audience near to performers

A transverse stage layout which creates an intimate proximity between the performer and the audience. The stage is open to the square, allowing the public to be ‘invited’ into the auditorium. This stage layout facilitates ‘poor theatre’ styles of performances - a term coined by Jerry Grotowski which involves minimal props and a focus on characters and immersion.

More 'traditional' theatre, but still less of a focus on props and sets and more on experimental type theatre. Smaller

More 'traditional' theatre, but still less of a focus on props and sets and more on experimental type theatre. Smaller

Covered Market Space

POOR THEATRE... Jerry Grotowski

POOR THEATRE... Jerry Grotowski

Audience near to performers

Audience near to performers

End on for other activities - lectures, seminars, talks etc.

Visiting Exhibitions or Events

End on for other activities - lectures, seminars, talks etc.

audience size so much more intimate

audience size so much more intimate

A thrust stage with seating on three sides. The stage is closed off from the square and provides an intimate relationship between the performer and the audience. This setup can facilitate both traditional and experimental types of theatre.

The size of the auditorium provides ample room for pop up markets, or similar events. The scope of these events can be expanded to take over the entirety of Bonn Square, breathing new life into the public space.

Alternatively, the space could be utilised for visiting art exhibitions or events, with the public easily able to interact with any exhibits once the space is opened to the square.

Long Section (A-A)

100mm reclaimed brickwork in Flemish bond

200mm wood fibre insulation batts

140mm ‘Porotherm’ thin joint blockwork

12mm wet plaster finish

Typical Ground Floor Buildup (B):

100mm reclaimed brick floor finish

75mm screed with UFHS to offices etc.

150mm rigid insulation

50mm proprietary waterproof membrane and spacer (Type C)

150mm reinforced concrete slab

Proprietary Type A waterproofing membrane

25mm sand blinding

150mm compacted hardcore NTS

Typical Roof Buildup (C):

Zinc standing seam roof

18mm plywood carrier board

50mm ventilated void

Proprietary breather membrane

75mm wood fibre insulation batts

18mm plywood

75mm wood fibre insulation batts

350mm x 150mm Glulam structural truss

Proprietary vapour control layer

100mm acoustic insulation batts

25mm open boarded timber cladding

Key Plan

Typical Wall Buildup (A):

Rehearsal Space

Dressing Rooms Corridor

Auditorium

Entrance Lobby

Sunken Black Box Theatre Space

W.C’s

Final Proposed Bay Elevation

Proposed Elevation Studies

Existing Street Elevation

Proposed

Visualisation of Auditorium

Biophillia

Year 3.1

Location: Bath, UK

Sector: Community / Public Space

Year: 2022 / 2023

Biophillia is a term that defines our innate affinity to connect with the natural world. As a result of urbanisation, we have lost our connection with nature, and more recently, with our neighbours and wider communities.

This three week group project in third year challenged us to redevelop a dilapidated brownfield site in the western quarter of Bath. Our proposal revolves around the core narrative of regeneration; regenerating the site and the community in tandem. Clear connections are developed to the neighbouring Church and Samaritans centre, providing new facilities for those in need.

RECLAIM

The existing brownfield site is reclaimed in preparation for remediation.

CONVERT

After the initial remediation phase, the existing warehouses are converted and associated hard landscaping works completed.

ASSESS

At the end of the anticipated design life of the existing warehouses, the site will be assessed to determine how the later stages of development should be carried out.

REDEVELOP

If a more suitable use for the site is identified at the end of the design life of the current proposals, the site can be redeveloped to facilitate another use.

REMEDIATE

An extended programme of bio- and phyto-remediation breaks down and removes contaminants from the soil, through targeted planting schemes.

CULTIVATE

After the full remediation programme is completed, planting pivots to crops to be used in both the cookery school and wider community.

MAINTAIN

If proposals are shown to have a positive impact to the local community, and no other uses are identified for the site, then further maintenance and upgrades can be provided to extend the design life of the scheme.

The intention of the proposal is to work closely with the adjacent Church and Samaritans charities to provide additional facilities for use by people in need.

The masterplan for the site was developed through creating a strong axis between the important elements on the site; namely the Church (to the North), warehouse buildings (t0 the East), and river (to the South). Pedestrianising a section of road outside the Church facilitates a more direct connection to our site; creating an informal square which can be used for events and gatherings.

The site contained two existing portal framed warehouses, which will be converted into a cookery school and greenhouse to supplement the proposed allotments. These three elements will come into use after the remediation measures are completed.

In tandem with this, a lightweight timber canopy will be created between the two warehouse buildings, providing a flexible multi-purpose space for food events, performances, markets or simply as a covered seating area.

Masterplan Development Sketch

Design Development Sketches

By making plants & wildlife a dominant force within the public realm, the lines between natural and urban are blurred; nature becomes part of the spatial experience for those moving through the urban environment. Both the allotment spaces and reed bed will change throughout the seasons, as will the types and abundance of wildlife - making for an ever changing space which will bring benefits to the wider community for years to come.

Medical Centre

Year 2.2

Location: Bristol, UK

Sector: Healthcare

Year: 2021 / 2022

My main second year project focused on providing a new medical centre set within Castle Park, Bristol. The building was set within a complex site context, including a Listed church tower (St Mary le Port) which sits adjacent to the Northern facade. The site was previously occupied by the vacant Bristol Law Courts, so this redevelopment provided the opportunity to enhance the public realm at the same time.

The scheme aims to create a place of calm and healing within the busy city context, through defined boundaries between public and private. At its core, the proposed building is one which wishes to heal the users as much as the doctors and nurses who work within it.

The initial move was to insert a solid element along the Northern boundary of the plan area to separate the adjacent public space from the private spaces within the medical centre. This element was cranked to run perpendicular to the desire line of public movement running between the church tower and the nearby bridge.

The L shaped plan sets up two strong axes which run the length of the mass, with horizontal circulation occurring along these axes and both views/permeability and vertical circulation provided at the ends.

The two entry points into the building are positioned at the intersection of the two axes (principal entry on the upper storey, and a secondary entrance on the lower storey).

A partially sunken mass is inserted to the South of the courtyard, bounded by the new wall. The single visible storey on the courtyard side reduces the building’s impact on this space.

The mass also creates three distinct courtyard spaces each with different characters; the West space focused on movement, the North stiller and focused on the church, and the South much more private and calming.

The plan allows for a clean distinction of spaces over both floors; with served spaces (consulting rooms etc.) pushed to the front of the plan to benefit from the connection to the private courtyard and the staff and BoH spaces placed at the rear of the plan.

The waiting room is located at the West end of the plan to benefit from the Southern views down river and the adjacency to the entrance.

To divide the consulting spaces thick masonry fins are inserted perpendicular to the main axis; these provide a feeling of enclosure and separation and improve patient privacy.

01. L Shaped Wall Inserted to Provide Privacy

Axes and Entry

Served and Service Spaces

Perpendicular Fins

Courtyards

02.Sunken Mass Inserted to South

The proposed building aims to sit subserviently to the existing church tower, ensuring the spire remains dominant in the surrounding context. To create a calm internal space in a public dominated realm, the building takes the form of an L shaped plan which provide separation from the existing public plazas. One of the legs of the L is oriented off angle to face directly South – the building’s edge framing the view of the river.

The proposal is spread across two storeys, with the lower floor embedded into the topography of the site. In response to my site analysis and the need for increasing tiers of privacy throughout the spaces, the plan developed into a linear spatial arrangement – with the levels of privacy increasing as the users move through the building.

Refer to next project for details of Housing Scheme.

Detail Section Calculating Depth of Shading Devices

Embodied Carbon Calculation of Structural Elements

Graph Highlighting Space Heating Requirements Against Passive Internal Gains

Ventilation and Daylighting Strategy Section

PrEvailing wind from South & South wESt

no Sky linE (to ridgE of houSing adjacEnt)

Visualisation from Church Courtyard

Visualisation of South Facade

City Centre Housing

Year 2.1

Location: Bristol, UK

Sector: Residential

Year: 2021 / 2022

This short group project in Second Year challenged us to design a small housing development set within Castle Park, Bristol. Context was key to this project, with the proposals needing to respond sensitively to the adjacent historic buildings, as well as sit comfortably next to a busy public park.

The proposal made use of the existing connection with the site to the River Avon by creating two short runs of 4 houses built into the existing river wall, separated by a sunken courtyard. This courtyard was in turn serviced by two cafés located on the ends of each run of housing. The intention was to create a public offer which was ‘given back’ in exchange for the housing, so better integrating the scheme into the very public context.

01. Single Mass Interacting with River

Public path pushed behind to provide privacy & views to dwellings.

Creating public space between the two masses and reconnecting the park behind to the river. This also provides a place to pause along the path - something which is currently not provided.

Terraces split to set up strong facade rhythm, responding to opposing buildings.

Balcony recessed into main floor, angled to face direct South and accentuating the view down river.

Internal arrangement organised around a central core, which divides the spaces into a South facing living/sleeping zone and a service zone to the North.

Lower storey built into existing wall allowing views from the park over to opposite roofs and the rising city beyond.

Single storey mass peeled back from main facade line to highlight entrance; low wall continues to form ‘buffer’ space between public and private.

02. Mass Pulled Apart

03. Mass Sunk into Wall

06. Entrance

04. Terraces Split into Three

07. Spaces Organised around Central Core

Massing from Approach (NW)

Massing Along River (SSW)

05. Forming a Balcony

Visualisation of Sunken Courtyard

South Site - Floor Plans

Therapy Retreat

Year 1

Location: Northumberland, UK

Sector: Social / Healthcare

Year: 2020 / 2021

The main design project of First Year focussed around designing a building within a walled courtyard, to be used as a ‘retreat’ for a function prescribed by us. I chose to design a space for those suffering with mental health problems, where the building could be used as a therapy retreat as an escape from the real world. This was especially poignant as the project was completed during the COVID 19 lockdown.

My proposal aimed to break down the boundaries between public and private spaces, integrating intermediary spaces into the plan programme which reduced the jump between personal space and shared space. The journey of recovery is captured within the building; users moving between spaces of gradually decreasing privacy before arriving in a shared therapy room.

Two storey mass added to North of site to hold living spaces, single storey mass to South to hold therapy spaces.

Opening added in East wall of courtyard to provide view to the nearby shore and sea. This view is a ‘constant’ which occupants can easily relate back to.

Facade of two storey mass angled to open out to the view to the East.

Roof form of single storey mass pitched to allow for South clerestory light.

Two storey block stepped back to reduce overall ‘weight’ of the mass and impose less onto Western courtyard.

Covered walkway added between circulation cores of both masses to provide easy access between the two buildings.

Southern Internal Courtyard Elevation

Southern Elevation

Detailed Construction Section (Drawn Originally at 1:10 @ A1)

RNHRD - ‘The Min’

Conversion of Listed Hospital to Hotel

Location: Bath, UK

Sector: Hospitality

Year: 2023

Status: Various Stages; In Progress

One of the key projects I was involved in during my most recent professional placement (at the start of 2023) was the conversion of the vacant Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases - known locally as ‘The Min’ - in Bath to a 160 bed hotel. This included a full retrofit of the existing structure, construction of a new extension wing, and associated landscaping works. I worked on various tasks between RIBA Stages 1 & 4, including survey work, space planning, options analysis and technical detailing. I enjoyed the opportunity to get deeply involved in a larger retrofit project, and to improve my knowledge of working with Listed Buildings.

Visualisation by Others

One half of my involvement on this project was spent exploring existing concept proposals in greater levels of detail - testing previously drawn proposals to minimise any future delays as the project progressed. This involved liaising with various product manufacturers (for larger items such as lifts & dumbwaiters) and surveying sections of the existing building to add extra detail to existing survey drawings. Both 2D drawings and 3D digital models were produced as part of this process.

These drawings were also produced to help guide any suggestions & amendments put forward by the client; highlighting potential issues or constraints and proposing adapted solutions.

Concept Drawings for Proposed Bedrooms (Above) Testing Options for Deliveries and Servicing to Restaurant Kitchen (Right)

Proposed new goods lift (with larger car size) providing access to basement level for deliveries.

Ground Floor Plan Extract (AEA Option 1)

Isometric View of Basement Proposed

Basement

Floor Plan Extract (AEA Option 1)

Along with exploring and testing concept proposals, I was also involved in preparing a package of drawings to facilitate a soft strip of the existing building, planned for the end of 2023. The intent of these works were to open up the existing building as much as possible to inform later detailed surveys and drawings; removing modern ceilings and partitions and removing redundant hospital FF&E.

The package of information produced by AEA included a full condition and photographic survey of the building (a total of 400+ rooms, completed over 3 days), GA drawings highlighting specific demolition items, along with detailed survey drawings and ‘protection details’ for key historic elements. This included the original Victorian staircase, which I was responsible for surveying and subsequently preparing a set of protection details.

Images Taken During Soft Strip Survey

Leadengate Fields

New Private Dwelling (PMA)

Location: North Devon, UK

Sector: Residential

Year: 2022

Status: Under Construction

This project was undertaken during my professional placement in the first half of 2022.The client asked us to replace an existing dilapidated prefabricated holiday cottage with a new contemporary dwelling, located within the popular seaside town of Croyde, in North Devon.

The site was incredibly small for the size of building the client was looking to build. The proposal was developed around the idea of two linear pitched roof masses containing the living and sleeping spaces, linked by a small circulation ‘core’. This strategy helped to reduce the impact of the building on the neighbouring dwellings whilst maximising the available space on site.

I was involved in this project from Stages 0 - 4 (I left PMA during the Tendering period). I produced all drawings for this project, including the full tender pack and written specification, and liaised directly with the client & design team throughout.

Slab Edge Detail (Originally 1:5 @ A1)

Eaves Detail (Originally 1:5 @ A1)

Eaves Detail (Originally 1:5 @ A1) Flat Roof Verge Detail (Originally 1:5 @ A1)

The Ark

New Private Dwelling (PMA)

Location: North Devon, UK

Sector: Residential

Year: 2018 - 2020

Status: Completed

‘The Ark’ is a bespoke dwelling in Ashford, North Devon, situated to the edge of the village with panoramic views over the Taw Estuary and beyond. The form takes inspiration from a traditional Devon Longhouse, with the building oriented along the line of the topography, facing South.

I was involved between RIBA Stages 3 & 6 on this project, working alongside the Project Architect to develop Planning and Tender Packages. I was directly involved in the construction process after the Project Architect left the Practice, dealing with the clients and contractor, resolving site queries and participating in bi-weekly site meetings.

Regional Finalist: LABC Building Excellence Awards 2020 (Best Individual New Home)

First Floor Plan Ground Floor Plan

© Lawrence Liddy

© Lawrence Liddy

Galvanised 203x203x46 UC as S.E design and specification Webs to be fully filled with rigid insulation 15mm

8mm galvanised steel plate welded to underside of beam to support stone wall, as SE design and specification

25x38mm s/w battens shot fired to steel plate above, providing fixing for flashing

PPC aluminium flashing, RAL 7016

PPC aluminium flashing, RAL 7016 Fixed back to battens with C/S screws with heads coloured to match flashing

38x50mm s/w battens to cill fixed back to chipboard floor deck Void between battens to be filled with mineral wool

EPDM sealed to VCL

Window Head & Cill Details (Originally 1:5 @ A1)

Flexible bitumen sheet cavity tray, contractor selected item

Weep holes provided in blockwork to drain cavity, spacing as manufacturers guidance

PPC aluminium flashing, RAL 7016 Drip edge to be provided at end of flashing Fixed back to plywood rip above Top edge of flashing to be laid underneath end of cavity tray

EPDM taped and sealed to underside of steel plate

Isochemie ‘ISO-BLOCO 600’ expanding sealing tape to gap between window frame and flashing to be installed in accordance with manufacturers instructions

Schuco AWS 70.HI openable aluminium window, RAL 7016 Fixed back to structure with window straps and base block as Schuco standard details

EPDM lapped and sealed to single ply membrane

PPC aluminium cill/flashing with profile matching side/head flashings RAL colour TBC Cill to be angled to allow for water runoff Timber fillet to aid drainage

Kingspan Thermabate, or similar approved insulated cavity closer, sized to suit 140mm cavity Shorter flange (nearest to internal blockwork skin) to be removed as Kingspan guidance

Slab Edge Detail (Originally 1:5 @ A1)

© Lawrence Liddy

N.B: Visualisation produced prior to Value Engineering works

Riverside Community Centre

New Library, Council Offices and Community Hall (PMA)

Location: Bovey Tracey, UK

Sector: Public

Year: 2016 - 2022

Status: Completed

The project proposed a new Community Centre within Bovey Tracey; collating the town library, tourist information centre, and the Town Clerk’s offices into a single building. The design took inspiration from the industrial background of Bovey Tracey, and proposed an offset sawtooth roof form over a large multi-purpose hall, with the ancillary spaces encasing the sides and rear.

This project passed through several stages of Value Engineering before reaching site, to bring the scheme back within the Client’s budget. This resulted in numerous changes visible in the drawings and photos shown on the following pages.

I was involved on this project between RIBA Stages 3 & 5, working with the Project Architect to develop various drawing packages and assist in Contract Administration on site.

Winner: RICS UK Awards 2022 - Best Public Sector Project, South West Region

Project featured in the Architect’s Journal

James Goodwin

University of Bath

Part I Architectural Assistant