Fragments of Vision

Fragments of Vision - an architectural journey -

Andreea-Laura Nica Portfolio 2015

Fragments of Vision ‘Give me a goal to achieve.

Reach whatever you can!

Give me a more challenging one.

Reach the impossible.’

Who is to say that the impossibility of today won’t become the ordinary of tomorrow? Just imagine what it would be like if for one day everything we draw becomes real; what a mad and intriguing world it would be....

Contents Information Academic Projects

01_The School of Recycling and Experimental Building 02_The Water Temple 03_aCROPolis- The Green Machinery 04_Invisible Weaving Gallery

Exploring new planes

05_Technical Experimentations

06_Model Making Visions

07_KREOD Pavilion

08_Practice Experience

Work Experience

Information I was born in 1992 in Bucharest, Romania. I earned my bachellor degree in architecture in July 2014 from University of Westminster with a First Class Honours. During my education I had the opportunity to deepen in the subjects of architectural design, technical studies, urbanism, architectural history and theory.

For me, architecture represents a sense of wonder, a world where ideas of chaos and order are combined, an amazing world which captures imagination and engages with our deepest emotions. I aspire to continue my studies to develop my visions and my need of spatial understanding, linking fragments to my architectural journey.

EDUCATION Sept 2011- July 2014

WORK EXPERIENCE BA Architecture (First Class Honours) -University of Westminster-

Aug 2014- present (* until July 2014)

School of Recycling and Experimental Building - Dr. Constance Lau aCROPolis- The Urban farm - Michael Guy The Invisible Weaving Gallery(*) - Natalie Newey Sept 2009- June 2011

Bucharest, Romania

Feb 2014

Shadowing the process of large and diverse projects Special focus on the Project Management services. Attending several meetings and site visits. Design and production of Photoshop graphics for concept presentation; Attendance at design meetings shadowing the project Services Department.

AWARDS The President Medal Awards -Bronze Medal Shortlisted-

-Royal Institute of British ArchitectsJan 2013 + 2014

July 2013- Aug 2013

Assisting the Director in several projects and formal meetings.

Repeated site visits (Masterplan of beach villas near Grand Baie, Mauritius; apartment refurbishments, commercial building in Rose-Hill) and design concept for a mixed-use proposal.

Awarded for the best overall academic results.

Polyport- International Collaboration -Royal Institute of British ArchitectsCreative workshop held in Rome, Italy.

May 2013

Feb 2013- Aug 2013

Assisting the Senior Architect and Interior Designer from early stages up to construction of a residential extension in Nottinghill, London. (In charge of editing the feasibility report, prepare the planning application, working drawings and client meetings).

CLAWSA Prize

-Nominated for the Best Portfolio in First Year Architecture-

Visiting a site construction (Hotel development in Old Street, London) and documenting the process of works. Gain basic understanding of the people involved in the built environment and main documents required.

VOLUNTEER WORK Dec 2014

Architectural Assistant -5Plus Architects-

Student Charrette Certificate

-American Institute of Architects (AIA)May 2012

Architectural Assistant

-Teelock Associates, Quatre Bornes, Mauritius-

Achivement Award

-University of Westminster-

Oct 2013

Intern

-PRP Architects-

Mathematics and Computer Science Class Final Sore: 9.91/10 and Final exam: 9.1/10

July 2014

-Wilkinson Eyre Architects-

Architectural Assistant for a new crossing over Hudson River in north of New York. The new bridge will replace an existing structure and improve rail and road access between New Jersey and New York. WEA are currently developing design options for ‘signature bridge’.

Romanian and International Baccalaureate -Bilingüal Highschool ‘Miguel de Cervantes’-

Part I Architectural Assistant

Livable Cities Workshop

-Engineering for Global and Societal Wellbeing-

Aug. 2012- Sept 2012 Nov 2014

-Circular Jam- FabLab Global Sustainability workshop using Circular Economy Aug 2012- Sept 2012

Sept 2008- Sept 2011

Assisting the Senior Architect, the Landscape Architects and Interior Designer from early stages of the project, on a large retail development in Perm, Russia. In charge of image editing and preparing the feasibility report and the advert brochure.

Production of working drawings and general massing.

Building volunteer

-KREODThe pavilion exhibited between during the London Olympic Games. Winner of the Structural Awards 2013.

Volunteer Youth Coordinator

-CISV International Global Sustainability workshop using Circular Economy

OTHER Aug 2013- July 2014

Adobe Creative Suite CS5

Laser Cutting 3D Printing ECDL Certification Driving Licence

Microstation V8i Vectorworks 2014 Rhinocerous 5.0 V-Ray

Romanian (Native proficiency) English( Full Professional Proficiency) Spanish (Bilingual Proficiency) German (Elementary proficiency)

Laser- cut technician

-University of WestminsterAug 2012- July 2014

SKILLS

Architectural Assistant -The Buchan Group-

Graphic Designer

Marketing and Sales Assistant -Marylebone Bookshop Ltd.-

Sept 2011- Sept 2014

Student Ambassador

-University of WestminsterSept 2012- July 2013

Art & Design Teaching Assistant -Westminster Academy-

Academic Projects

01_THE SCHOOL OF RECYCLING AND EXPERIMENTAL BUILDING

RIBA Bronze Medal Nomination Published in the OPEN2014 University Catalogue

02_THE WATER TEMPLE

Competition project part of a larger collaboration Published on the Univeristy Website Winner of the PolyArk International Collaboration; workshop held in Rome

03_ACROPOLIS - THE GREEN MACHINERY

Published in the OPEN2013 University Catalogue

04_THE INVISIBLE WEAVING GALLERY

CLAWSA Prize Nomination Published in the OPEN2012 University Catalogue

The School of Recycling & Experimental Building - Cycles of architectural re-configuration-

Most works of architecture are considered to be ‘finished’ upon the completion of building works. This however does not take into account issues of mobility and adaptability which are prerequisites for sustainability in a constantly changing environment. The concept of Recycling, which involves occupation, subsequent alterations, decoration and personalisation by users are key considerations for a building’s prolonged existence. Hence the ideas of spatial evolution and modification should be prioritised over demolition and ruin. This is especially important in London where land scarcity necessitates the need to deliver reusable spaces.

The interest in recycling, building materials and flexible spaces are explored in the School of Recycling and Experimental Building, located in Camden Market. This site has been chosen for its strong relations to trading. The proposed scheme presents a six-stage programme, which sees the School as an educational platform that celebrates the notion of a recycling facility. The design proposal is composed around the notion of an ephemeral versus a permanent architecture.

The School expands on the idea of a bazaar which records the surrounding activities in order to establish the development of future spatial requirements and programs. One key feature of the School is the Breaking Chamber, which is designed as an allegorical crane. This structure is placed in the middle of the proposal and is responsible for dismantling and reassembling the recycled construction materials. By accommodating the disassembling process and by re-considering the boundaries between private and public space, the historically rich Gilbey’s Bond will function dually as a theatre. This labyrinth of habitable spaces accommodates the construction courses in the School which include architectural workshops for material experimentation, galleries of recycled objects and the temporary depository.

By enhancing the apparent layered and multi-faceted qualities of the existing site, the project is a design for disassembly and celebrates ideas of change and future adaptability for an improved built environment. The building platform is continuously shifting and adapting to new conditions, and the potential for new spaces and use are integral to the architecture.

Aerial view of the Recycling Facility

Location and Context Camden Town- material circulation

Dismantling Camden Market Phases of Material Removal

Assembling the Building School- material expiration

Wood primary structure Engineering Glulam frames

Timeline of sequential additions and process diagrams

Flooring Larch floorboards

Circulation Tower

The Amphitheatre

Breaking Chamber

Parts of the modern development are broken. Roofs from the Tack Rooms and Gilbery’ Bond are removed.

A metaphorical grid is placed on the existing mall. This acts as a superimpossed gridwhich helps in the material circulation.

The installation of the Breaking Chamber uses cranes and mechanical devices to pull the modules inside and start the recycling process.

The ongoing project stops at middle-stage, where parts of the existing mall are dismantled.

Glazing

The Depositorium

Timber Secondary Structure

2D Site analysis Cantilevered circulation platform Supporting Anchorage joint

Flooring

Amphitheatre

3D Site analysis

Aerial view of the Building Bazaar Phases IV of recycling configuration

Experimental Modulation- technical flexibility

Allegorical Crane

Short Section through main Dismantling Space

Experimental Gallery

View from the Tack Rooms towards the Breaking Chamber

The Breaking Chamber

View from the Building Yard towards the Atrium

The Water Temple The main brief for Polyport suggests the notion of ‘exchange’.

This term has many meanings and can be applied to a wider argument which in this istance ooks to extreme weather conditions, and especially natural disasters associated with water. The melting of ice caps causes a general increase in the sea level and extreme flooding that occurs creates problems for inhabitants who live next to water sources such as seas and rivers.

On the premise of this narrative, the architecture (and architect) adapts and responds to the fluid and transitionary nature of the environment in which we live for the design proposal.

The Celebration of Water The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew in London is situated on the edge of the Thames River and although located within the flood risk zone, does not benefit from having flood defenses. Moreover, the flat site is especially susceptible to flooding during extreme weather conditions when the water level in the river rises dramatically.

As oppossed to prevention, the design proposal seeks to engage with the massive-scale phenomena of flooding through exploring current possibilities and future opportunities with regards to the role of architecture. Hence the idea of a water temple considers the long term cause and effect of flooding. The structure celebrates the visual qualities, and interacts with the force and movement of water. In addition, the different resulting spatial and programmatic configurations will serve to inform and enable the users to personally experience this approach to architectural design.

Designed as a transitionary structure which adapts to different topographies and can be placed strategically on different water edges, the Temple of Water is a dynamic structure which is capable of interacting with both the rain and the river in extreme conditions.

Extreme flood conditions Architectural water adaptations

The Water Temple

Aerial view of components

The Floating Vassel and Amphibious Cables

The Kew Royal Botanical Gardens- London View of the potential uncontrolled risk areas

Aquatic Transformations -phases of flooding-

Marina Bay- Singapore

View of the artificial flooding control areas

Water Celebration

Aerial view of the Recycling Facility

aCROPolis The Green Machinery - Urban Farm of Bethnal Green-

The project seeks to fuse an existing industrial landscape with a creative and experimental local community by proposing a speculative platform for experimental urban farming and plant research.

The main project is a multi-functional building at Bethnal Green Oval’s nearly landlocked crossing of canal and railway. The fundamental objective of the project is to reconsider the farm concept, excite and inspire the inner city dwellers to grow their own food. The Urban Farm represents a test of a viability of a community food and the urban-agriculture future of the entire Oval site.

The new design will be a continuous process- a living machine that grows, dies, moves according to the community’s participation. Whilst extending the concept of hydroponics, the proposal delves deeper and explores other ways of using different ways of plant growing. The CO2 will be the main generator and will determine the internal development around it. The maintower represents the ‘hearth’ of the proposal; a glass void which virtually connects the architectural components, the occupiers and the machine. The plants will be used not only as a source of food, but as an experiment for the mechanical laboratory, generating movement in the whole building.

Architecturally, the project proposes a Laboratory of Plants.

Starting from a temporary installation, the concept developed into a design which investigates the use of sequence, space and texture to address movement and influence the surroundings.

A matrix of contrasting passageways and duct pipes, will invite the visitor to explore further and learn about farming in the city.

Seen as a greenhouse, visitors will not only be shown the process and research going into such work as growing hydroponic crops, but will interact, by bringing general waste on the site to enhance the experience.

The Urban Farm

Aerial view of components

2

Mirrors

n Rai

A

ir

Light

3

1

Water Recycling Plant

Hydroponics Centre

Reservoir

Control Room

Plant Growing

‘Energy’ Storage

Building Components Weather and seasonal change People ACROPOLIS THE GREEN MACHINERY 1. The Oval 2. Green Machinery 3. aCROPolis installation

Location and Context Bethnal Green - site dynamics

The Green Machinery Process Models

Theatre Mechanism Water circulation and space around gas

South Elevation

Top View

East Elevation

Rolling wheels which activate the instalation Stairs which lead to the vamtage point

Gas Baloon

Movable Pannels

Exhibition Entrance

Ruptured glass tubes containing earth; the plants grow around them;

Sitting Space

Viewing Platform

Gas Baloon

aCROPolis Installation

The Green Machinery Main Floor Plans

3 1 4 5 2

6

UPPER BASEMENT FLOOR PLAN

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

1. Water tanks and garbage collectors 2. Wet Laboratories

3. Water Gallery 4. Damp Gallery 5. Main Entrance 6. Theatre

10

11

9

8 7

12 FIRST FLOOR PLAN

ROOF PLAN

7. Closed Restaurant 8. Kitchen 9. Accommodation 10. Summer terrace

11. Growing Platform 12. Mechanical Gallery generated by the gas

The Urban Farm

Sectional Perspective

The Vegetarian Restaurant

View from the Restaurant towards the Hackney Brewery

The Wet Labs

View from the Algae Farm towards the main Damp Gallery

The Invisible Weaving Gallery Expanding the concept of a mechanical art wall, the building proposal tries to celebrate the idea of craftmanship and replace an existing building. Starting from a deep understanding of a remote craft activity, the project unwaves the process of making the Panama Hats. These hats take long time and real craft dedication to be created and reach a high standard quality.

Situated in Whitechappel, the area is constrained by the lack of direct sunlight and shadowing by the other buildings. The finess and lightness of the building appears to be a valuable characteristic, similar to an excuisite Panama hat.

As oppossed to segregating every single process stage of

creating a hat, the entire movement and circulation within the building relies on the pulley system which circle the entire levels.

Receiving the raw material and depositing the straws, sending them through vertical lifts until the boiling rooms and hangging them until drying required a spectacle of movement, a dynamic vista and a startegic layout.

This resulted in a transparent architecture statement, where every level enables the user to experience and view the process. The structure celebrates the visual qualities and the light sensitivity, as well as creating a beneficial space for the workers. In addition the different resulting spatial and programmatic configurations will serve to inform and enable the users to personally experience this approach to architectural design.

The Weaving Gallery

Exploded axonometry of components

Exploring New Planes

05_TECHNICAL EXPERIMENTATION

Humid Facade Paper Stand

06_MODEL MAKING

Studies on fluidity

Hygroscopic Façade -adaptable building skin design-

The proposal is for a 8 x 4m South-facing façade within location 0° 41’ 48’’ - 7° 6’ 30’’ (Malé, Maldives).The façade acts as a modular element covering a temporary café, near the shore.

Functionally, the façade will be a passive element which will react to the environmental changes, in a hot and humid climate of the island, achieving constant internal temperature, a well ventilated space and controlled daylight.

The hygroscopic building envelope will be a biomimetic skin, with a number of specialised components, which respond to a sustainable environment. Experimenting with desiccant materials, such as silica gel granules, the main layer will absorb the inside moisture and will natural ventilate the building.

Detailing

Detail A

Detail B

Detail C

Detail D

INTERIOR

EXTERIOR

‘HYGROSCOPIC SANDWICH’

SUNLIGHT

-Maximum Temperature (0C)-

REFLECTED SUNLIGHT

MOISTURE

Hygroscopic system

-Relative Humidity (%)-

Environmental exploration

SPECIAL FABRIC

VENTILATION

SILICAGEL LAYER

Sunlight

TRANSPARENT ELASTIC LAYER

Sunlight

HUMIDITY: <40%

groscopic

60%

>80% Hygroscopic bending process

re heated

ic acetate

F

F

AGGLUTINATED GRANULES FREE GRANULES WET (HUMIDITY >60%) DRY (HUMIDITY <40%)

ronment, ency and

Ventilation Glass

Closing the frame gaps, placed to maximize the natural light

y

x

Hygroscopic sheet Multireflection Sunrays and heat radiation are reflected on polished surfaces, focusing on the hygroscopic assembly

ube.com/watch?v=ArruKZcOgXg) Wind

The flexible and adaptable element of the façade. It will open and close the gap to control the natural ventilation

Steel sheets These will reflect the sunlight and the ground radiation, focusing heat on hydroscopic assembly, for drying

2

3

4

Paper Stand The proposal is for a 2 m vertical stand to act as a element of displaying a minimum of 5 kg of paper.

The stand represents an elegant and lightweight supporting element, made out of plywood board with a thickness of 5 mm, glued togheter to act as a compresion element. And a curbed stick, which represents a soaked round wooden element, drilled and pulled inwards by a rope, to as as a tension element, supporting the horizontal plate.

The proposal proved to be very efficient and elegant solution to material performance and structural support.

Paper and card models

Metal model

Connection details

Final model

Metal vs Wood

Twisted fine metal strings and attached to the support Cotton rope- element in tention

Blocked connection

Two points of the platform held by the cotton rope

Fine metal strings (predispose to tortion)

The third wooden stick to support the platform

5 mm metal strong support (difficult to bend it equally) 5 mm metal support bent in the shape of an equilateral triangle, for balance Bent connection (weakest point, predispose to failure)

Bent Plywood

Small wooden platform with 3 legs for better ballance

Joint holding the two sticks Glued connection to support the platform (predispose to failure)

End of cotton rope -pin joint

Possible solutions

Possible shapes

Tensegrity metal models

1. Final Moebius Experiment

Studies on fluidity -lichid and movement design-

1. The initial development started from a 2D Moebius strip. By adding volume, the model tries to investigate the continuous shape and fluidity of space. The interpretation of a fragile embryon, the models explore

Section AA

2. By experimenting with different scale and streching the previous proposal, the development seekd for solid application into the cultural urban environment. The cast proposal investigates the texture of worms. The movement of the elements create certain cliffs which bring back the fluidity study.

Section BB Sculptural photography of the 3D printed model

2. Possible masterplan interpretation of clay experiment

2. Sections through the Mastreplan experiment model

Work Experience

07_KREOD PAVILION

Volunteer Work

Winner of the ‘Small Projects’ Award, BCIA 2013 Finalist, WAN Awards Facade and Surface Design Awards

08_PRACTICE EXPERIENCE

Wilkinson Eyre Architects, PRP, Teelock Associates, 5Plus Architects

KREOD Pavilion

Practice Experience Wilkinson Eyre Architects

PRP Architects

Architectural Assistant for a new crossing over Hudson River in north of New York. The new bridge will replace an existing structure and improve rail and road access between New Jersey and New York. WEA are currently developing design options for ‘signature bridge’.

Shadowing the process of large and diverse projects Special focus on the Project Management services. Attending several meetings and site visits. Design and production of Photoshop graphics for concept presentation; Attendance at design meetings shadowing the project Services Department.

Claire’s School is an existing secondary school and educational facility for primary classes to experience school.

This is a potential job to renovate and redesign another campus area for more effective usage.

SKILLS KREOD Pavillion -drawings, construction-

Teelock Associates Assisting the Director in several projects and formal meetings.

Repeated site visits (Masterplan of beach villas near Grand Baie, Mauritius; apartment refurbishments, commercial building in Rose-Hill) and design concept for a mixed-use proposal.

Water Temple

tion entry-

Adobe Creative Suite - Photoshop 5plus Architects - Illustrator Assisting the Senior Architect and Interior-DeInDesign signer from early stages

Adobe Acrobat Vectorworks AutoCad Rhinoceros

up to construction of a residential extension in Nottinghill, London.

(In charge of editing the feasibility report, prepare the planning application, working drawings and client meetings).

MicroStation Rhinoceros Laser Cutting Massing Visiting a siteAnalysis construcSite tion (Hotel development in Old Street, London) Experimental Photography and documenting the process works. Gain 3Dof Printing basic understanding of Brewery Installation -second year project-

the people involved in the built environment and main documents required.

City Road Hotel

ECDL Certification (Word, Excell) - site visit, planning brochure,PowerPoint, drawingsDriving Licence Romanian (Native proficiency)Beach Village, Grand Baie, Mauritius -presentation, visualisation, site visitEnglish (Full professional proficiency) Spanish (Bilingual proficiency) German (Elementary proficiency)

REFEREES Dr. Constance Lau

Andrea Cesati

e.: C.Lau01@westminster.ac.uk t.: + 44 (0)20 7911 5000 a.: University of Westminster, 35 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5LS

e.: acesati@5plusarchitects.com t.: +44 (0)207 492 1827 a.: 31-35 Kirby Street, London, EC1N 8TE

-Architect, Lecturer and Design Studio Leader-

Beach Village, Grand Baie, Mauritius -presentation, visualisation, site visit-

-Architect, Associate at 5plus architects-

Thank you!

Andreea-Laura Nica ID: 203027

January 2015