1.
Lewis Grant
I am Lewis Grant, a Glasgow based architecture graduate originating from the town of Falkirk in the Central belt of Scotland. In November 2016 I graduated with a Masters of Architecture degree with merit from the University of Strathclyde. My recent successes have been receiving the fifth year student award - GIA Parchment, the Presidents Award from the Stirling Society of Architects, the GIA Small Works Award 2016 and the A r t h u r L e s l i e H a m i l t o n M e m o r i a l P r i z e . I am a keen and motivated critical thinker with a passion for great architecture and design.
This portfolio documents selected works chosen to highlight my interests in the field of architecture and design. Projects include the following categories: academic architectural design, ‘Live Build’, architecture competition, exhibition design and industrial design. More information on these projects and other design work can be found on my website listed below.
Email: lgrantarchitecture@gmail.com Phone: +447972 154 930 Website: www.lewiscgrant.com
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Contents
3
Building on the Edge
11
A Bath House for Glasgow
17
Kelvingrove Hospice
23
The Land
27
Uaimh
31
Exist
41
Adventures in Space
45
Coffee Table
47
C.V.
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Building on the Edge. A laboratory for construction research and experimentation. This thesis project addresses issues within the building culture of an extreme climate on the Western Edge of the British Isles - the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Through local material sourcing and the establishment of a construction laboratory
Building on the Edge. PgDip thesis design project. (2015/2016)
- The Long Isle Laboratory
(LIL) - the project proposes locally sourced construction materials along with a valuable learning environment.
4.
Opposite: Location plan highlighting the laboratory in the village of Ness.
Right: Drawing depicting the eight phases of the LIL from existing to proposed.
5.
Opposite: A mapping exercise highlighting the location of the LIL in Ness and the settlement patterns throughout the Outer Hebrides.
Left: Plaster cast model depicting a three-dimensional version of the Outer Hebrides.
Below: Close-up of the ‘Long Isle’ plaster model.
6.
Above: Spatial investigation -
Left: Handmade model of the LIL.
programme collage.
Below: Opposite: Ground Floor Plan of the LIL.
Interior perspective of the Sawmill.
9.
Above: Perspective depicting the ‘Material Network’ opening day event.
10.
Above: Perspective depicting the ‘Rammed Earth Robot’ in action.
Below: Interior perspective of the Brick Works.
11.
This bath house design reacts to the marked deterioration of the relationship between water and the city since more appreciative, or even celebratory, Victorian times. The project develops the brief of a standard bath house to imagine a modern urban environment with a renewed appreciation for the everyday presence of water. Spaces for simple interactions with water are uniquely designed allowing
A Bath House for Glasgow. Hons design project. (2015)
the user to reconsider their relationship with this resource and it’s true value in everyday life.
12.
Left: Inspiration from Ricardo Bofill.
Opposite Top: Network of installations throughout the city.
Left: Opposite Bottom:
Stewart Memorial
Design/structure
Fountain.
model of main pool space.
Built 1872 in celebration of the sluce gates opening at loch Katrine providing fresh water to Glasgow.
13.
Opposite: Ground Floor Plan, hand rendered.
Below: Section A-A, hand rendered.
Below: Detailed plan of the wash hand basins. Male and female are positioned back to back, both feature natural light from above, open drain, recessed hand dryers and embedded mirrors. Designed to focus attention on the activity through evoking the senses.
14.
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Above: East elevation.
Below: Section B-B.
16.
Below: Design model showing shower layout.
17.
Reacting to the sensitive brief of designing a palliative care facility for young adults this hospice design aims to provide both social and peaceful environments. With a domestic welcoming scale, this design acts as somewhat of a filter between the city of Glasgow and the natural setting of the Kelvingrove park. Organically arranged bedrooms are scattered along the riverside. A flow space creates
Kelvingrove Hospice. Hons design project. (2014/2015)
a buffer to the social area and staffing facilities are housed in a hard edged, ‘backbone’ block that faces the city.
Above: Perspective section through bedroom unit.
Opposite: Site plan showing the Hopsice’s position on the edge of the park as well as its relationship to the bandstand.
Right: External perspective of entry approach.
19.
Opposite: Ground Floor Plan.
Below: Internal perspective of contemplation space.
20.
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Below: Structural diagram.
Bottom: Long section through social space, courtyard and entrance.
Below: Floor plan of bedroom units.
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23.
To compliment my masters in architecture study I organised the LAND ‘Live Build’ project as part of the Festival of Architecture 2016. I inherited the design for a timber structure that would improve accessibility and shelter to an outdoor classroom on the land of Wiston Lodge in South Lanarkshire. It was my task to gather a team of enthusiastic students, produce construction information, order material and
The LAND. Masters ‘Live Build’ project. (2016)
tools, organise transport, accommodation and food and oversee the construction of the project whilst teaching necessary skills.
24.
Opposite: Existing outdoor classroom (caravan) with completed deck and portals over doors.
Right: Team briefing.
Right: Explaining fixing techniques to the team using props.
25.
Right: Lifting top section of portals into place with the aid of temporary bracing.
Right: Discussing construction drawings along with structural model created to clarify the construction process.
Below: Team completion photo with client, Meg Beresford of Wiston Lodge charity.
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I was part of a team of students and architects gathered together to design and construct small-scale structures to feature as part of Mhor Festival 2016. Uaimh was designed over a couple of months and constructed over two weekends. 150 sheets of OSB were used in the construction, each of them having a unique profiles cut out before being layered together. What resulted was a box-like form from the exterior with a
Uaimh. ‘Live Build’ for Mhor Micro. (2016)
smooth undulating interior to climb into and sit within. From inside multiple views of a stunning landscape are captured.
Below: Uaimh in action at the Mhor Festival. Proving a huge success with children who had much fun climbing all over the structure.
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Left: Layering up the sheets. Each sheet was individually glued and screwed together in sections of ten before being assembled as the final form.
Below: Once assembled many hours of sanding had to be carried out to achieve a smooth interior with minimal skelfs.
30.
Above: Carving out the interior.
Right: A cosy place to sit.
An illustrated short story that considers
31.
a science fiction scenario and the potential associated architecture. Written in partnership with Ayla Riome, images produced by myself.
Exist. Competition entry for Fairytales 2017. (Dec 2016)
It was ambiguous but almost
the elevator ascends to the 58th
certainly alien contact. There,
floor; a smile spreading across my
as plain as day, like the
face whilst my mind replays last
striking of a match in the night
night’s event. This morning’s
sky by some colossal being,
commuters spoke about the event
a flash of light illuminated
as if it were a trivial episode
planet Earth. Somewhere over the
on the latest Netflix series.
Atlantic they say the light was
I know better. A bubble of
the most intense but you didn’t
excitement rises within me and my
need to be there to witness it.
smile grows wider. I picked up
Through the dense smog of urban
my phone moments after the flash
Tokyo it flared, in the forests
to confer with my colleagues.
of Sweden the crisp spring snow
We are agreed that it is highly
that lay silent in the black of
likely to have been generated by
night was lit up like fields of
extraterrestrial life. Sixteen
diamonds, even in daylight herds
years as a radio astronomer is
of wild horses bolted across the
about to pay off. With a cheerful
Colorado plains as if startled
‘bing’ my departure from the
by gunshot. For an indescribable
elevator is announced, I hop out
period of time this glare
in the direction of my laboratory
sparkled across the globe, long
for a day of history-changing
enough to turn one’s head upwards
analysis.
in wonder, yet brief enough to make one consider if it had
~
really happened at all. With a blurred mind I step ~
through the automatic doors that are fast closing behind me. They
As I lean against the handrail
do so with a deflating nudge.
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I expect to be lulled by the
evening’s achievements race as
familiar rumble of the elevator
ascent begins. A tireless three
shaft and sink into the consensus
days was all it took myself and the
of anonymity as descent begins.
team of astronomers to do it. But
This evening is different. The air
there is was - proof that aliens
feels charged and a tension reflects
had contacted us. A pulsar is
against the confines of steel.
what had caused the flash. Like a
The motion exacerbates an already
giant lighthouse out there in the
churning stomach. Anxiety grips me
solar system spraying its message
as I scroll through my newsfeed.
in every direction. There was
Like a plague the news has been
so much more to uncover though,
spreading and enveloping the
as Professor Burnell promptly
collective mind of mankind. My mind
reminded us, suggesting that we all
races to escape these thoughts,
recommence sharp in the morning.
looking for a way out. ‘It’s 67
Checking my wristwatch as I exit
light-years away for crying out
the elevator an illuminated face
loud.’ I mutter to myself. ‘What
reads 7:43am. Tiredness doesn’t
danger can anything pose at such
seem to even dawn on me as I march
a distance?’ The carriage reaches
with excitement at the prospect of
earth with a gentle thud. I
how much wonder is to be uncovered
hesitate as I leave, it seems that
today.
the elevator has offered me comfort compared to the threats awaiting me
~
out there. A shuddering descent provides the ~
backdrop to my internal monologue this evening. It has taken 29 days
‘I can’t believe we proved it!’
for the next pulsar to beam down
Reflections on the previous
upon the earth. This time brighter.
34.
35.
It hadn’t startled me as much
avoidance of eye-contact that I
this time, knowing the nature of
have come to know so well. Though,
pulsars it was almost expected
as we ascend something’s different.
that another would soon follow
I notice it in myself too not just
the first. However it was in the
others, but there’s a shiftiness in
moments after that the dots began
everyone’s movement. It was like a
to connect, this could only mean
fissure appearing amongst the human
one thing! A fear had gripped
race, two camps of mentality. Which
me since realising that they,
side is everyone on? We were all
whatever they are, were moving closer. Branded across the inside of my eyelids was the number 65. That was today’s revelation. 65 light-years away they were. ‘They’ve travelled two lightyears in 29 days!’ Enlightening or not, to me this only caused more confusion. What on earth are they capable of!? As I near the ground floor I sip tentatively on my comforting coffee whilst calculating in my mind. ‘Three
thinking it, we had all stayed up to witness the world leaders debate what we should do. It was obvious to me. We have to reach out, we have to welcome them it’s the only way for the long term survival of humanity. ‘How could anyone be fearful of this moment in history, it’s so exciting!’ I step out of the elevator assured that my colleagues will greet me with similar thoughts.
years is all we have, three years until the end of humanity?’ The
~
doors part and I scurry out into the lobby.
I repeatedly tap the illuminated button, knowing that the elevator
~
has its own pace and won’t bow to my anxiety. Practically prying
Stepping into the elevator this
the doors apart I slip into the
morning I prepare for the expected
elevator.
36.
37.
Without even acknowledging those
moment. We were all on our way to
around me my mind is overwhelmingly
light the nightly beacons. Spiral
pre-occupied. All I want to do is
stairs chased us upwards, here and
indulge my instincts to protect and
there pockets of leftover space
escape immediately!
assigned for living accommodation blocked our view, not that they
~
were important anymore. All that mattered was reaching out.
As we surge to the top of my tower I think of the grandeur of human
~
achievement and the hope starting to emerge within this assemblage. For two and a half years I’ve
I’m relieved to once again be on
been working with the METIC region
my way towards greater safety as
(Movement for Extra Terrestrial
the carriage rattles, pulling us
Intelligence Cooperation). We’ve
downward. I’ve found an outpost of
been building upwards. A we ascend
HID (Humanity’s Invasion Defense).
through the gargantuan core of
We’ve abandoned our cities and
our tower I glimpse outwards,
devoted our efforts to digging
gazing upon our achievements with
downward. Jolting passed layers of
contentment. Great monuments of
this underground bunker I wonder if
hope, ornamentation littering their
there are any other creations quite
exteriors the like of which had not
as secure as this. It troubles
been seen for hundreds of years.
me to think of all those who have
Our creation was to be the Wonder
prioritised reaching out to the
of the World - A forest of towers.
aliens, they are all going to
Some piercing over 1000 meters into
suffer… And then with a flash from
the sky. All they consisted of were
above my mind shifts back with an
a lift shaft so large that it could
involuntary twitch to the ever
raise 1,400 people to the top at a
increasing fear of what looms upon
time. As it was doing so at this
us.
38.
39.
The pulses have been getting more
chance for Humans to truly preserve
frequent. I hope our subterranean
their existence!
fortification serves us well. I gaze upwards shielding my eyes to
~
confirm with myself that the opening is indeed small and unnoticeable,
Peering upwards through a slot in
only allowing the slightest
the concrete shelter I reflect on
trickle of light to penetrate down
the fact that self-preservation has
into the chasm. ‘It’s completely
prevailed and the pessimism that
indiscernible above ground.’ I
inhabits my brain has infiltrated
mutter fraudulently to myself. We
my life. My existence, I have
must preserve the fragility of
ultimately chosen, will be played
human existence.
out in this underground cavern.
At that the elevator comes to a
It all changed that night upon
halt and I exit hurriedly towards
the tower as we shone our lights
the safety of the concrete
skyward, I realized that the
barriers.
dreadful feeling that had worked upon me since the first day of
~
this new era still haunted me. A pitiful feeling in my soul, one
A mirage of thoughts inhabit my
that refused to cease despite what
mind as I look out over our new
hope and excitement I fed it with.
city of celebration. The beacons
That only added to an imbalance of
are alight - I wonder if they will
thought. Down here it was as if the
see us tonight. What would they
drive for existence operated as a
think of this great human species;
perpetual motor within each of us,
might they bow to our greatness?
unsettling, resilient.
Might they offer to join forces to take over yet unknown exoplanets throughout the galaxy? This is the
40.
41.
An elective class run by Jonathan Charley and David Reat in my final year of study. It involved the development of a design for an exhibition focusing on the architecture of science fiction, titled Adventures in Space. Included here are some of the images I produced in this process between initial concepts and detailed design.
Adventures in Space. Exhibition design. (2016)
Unfortunately the exhibition we designed failed to go ahead. However, there is hope for its revival in the near future.
Above: Initial concept image of a ‘visual landscape’.
Opposite: Initial layout idea for the first floor gallery of the Lighthouse.
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Left: Portal construction detail.
Below: Information panels embedded into corridors.
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Above: Corner detail design for where two corners intersection.
Below: Visual concept for corridor experience.
45.
A piece of furniture I designed for the Old Sail Loft, Stornoway. This work involved sourcing materials from local manufacturers and providing drawings for the fabrication of the legs. Assembly and finishing carried out by myself.
Coffee Table. Furniture design. (2014)
Above: Coffee table in action.
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Right: Metal to reclaimed wood junction.
Right: Industrial finish of galvanised steel legs.
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C.V.
Basic info Name - Lewis Grant Date of birth - 21.06.1992 Place of birth - Falkirk, Scotland
Education University of Strathclyde, Glasgow Bsc Hons, PgDip AAD, MArch 2010 - 2016
Arkitektskolen Aarhus, Denmark Erasmus Exchange 2013
Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Postgraduate Exchange 2015
Experience Tog Studio Live Build Event - Tog House 2016
Roots Design Workshop Summer Internship June 2015
Tog Studio Live Build Event - Boathouse 2014
Architecture Library Library Assistant 2014 - 2016
Anderson Associates Part I Architectural Assistant Sept 2013 - Aug 2014
Tog Studio Live Build Event - Lighthouse 2012
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Awards GIA Small Works Award 2016
GIA Parchment Award 2016
Arthur Leslie Hamilton Memorial Prize 2016
SSA Presidents Award 2015
Edwin Morris Prize 2012
Competitions Fairy Tales 2017 Dec 2016
Skills Advanced
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Autocad, Sketchup, Photoshop, Indesign, Imovie, Indigo Renderer, physical model-making, and hand drawing.
Standard
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Illustrator, Rhino, Grasshopper and website design.
Interests Athletics, exhibition design, football, graphic design, photography, product design, literature, self-build construction and travel.
Languages English Native
German Basic