Louis Derek Aston Portfolio from professional practice and studies 2022
07377 411536 louisaston1@gmail.com
+ Civic architects - Amsterdam, Netherlands ITC University Twente Enschede. The new ITC building will overlapp the existing steel and concrete structure with timber consortia. ITC aims to be a hub of innovation for climate change where the facuality play’s a key role in Geo-thermal research. I worked holistically from concept to technical design stages, bringing together an amalgimation of existing ideas and visions for ITC to propose the an extension onto the existing scheme. On-site work of existing structure 06/2021
Highlighted in plan the addition I contributed to proposal
Key idea sketch, produced by Civic
Evaluating Facade rythm with staircase + enterance options
My Stage 3 project encompasses an experience of “Energy, Landscape and Culture”, where place-making comes above all else in straddling the pragmatic and poetic nature of architectural design.
Final Render - principle elevation and main entrance
+ Civic architects - Amsterdam, Netherlands Stations, Duivenrecht. Civic was and continues to be contracted by the local municipality to provide insights into upgrading the public transport network within Amsterdam. I was involved in producing, evaluating and summarising iterations for a transport hub located near a events arena, where the passenger frequency demanded an upgrade of current facilities.
Options for levelling up of public transport
A model from freelance work for Cameron Webster architects.
Wind Direction Sunrise 16th December
Sunset 16th December
Sunrise 20th June
Sunset 20th June
+ Stage 4 Technical Report - Most current work My most current work focuses on an ongoing report for a thesis project detailing the sustainable principles for architectural design. The singular building aims to reduce the impact of poverty in a deprived area by providing a platform for residents to use a centralised renewable power source for everyday tasks, such as cooking and bathing. This effectively reduces the impact of fuel poverty, where the user can save up to 1/4 of their weekly income.
Preliminary inter views of atrium spaces
Primary Structure- Timber glulam beam Secondary Structure - Steel I-beam
Between frames liable to intense tortion - Steel cable connecs portal frames Load Path Compression Tension
Portal frame perptually into itself due to gravity Teritary structure - Timber columns & JJ-I joists
Each portal supports each other buttress style frame negates impact of lateral loads
Curtain Wall strategy, Brestappel walls, timber caolumns support flexible interior spaces
Perspective of main pool 1 : 100
South - facing elevation. Drawn at 1 : 50
Technical section 1 :50
A selection of hand drawings considering facade typology, texture and experience in relation to cooking, bathing and relaxing .
North facing elevation
Sketches at 1 : 200
Structural bay isometric with sun shaders - South Facade
Sxploded structural bay
Stage 3 Project : Balloch My Stage 3 project encompasses an experience of “Energy, Landscape and Culture”, where place-making comes above all else in straddling the pragmatic and poetic nature of architectural design. Creating a public performance hall and private music retreat compete in layering a project to both explore within sheltered confines and express ideas, talents and innovativeness to a public forum where troubled youths are challenged to learn an instrument and play in an orchestra to friends & family in an attempt to bring stability to young people from troubled backgrounds, working alongside and inspired by Sistema- a Scottish Charity. Situated adjacent to Balloch Pier, the site offers a designer to bridge the landscapes, cultures of Scotland where Loch Lomond meets the River Leven defining the Highland and Lowland boundary regions which now acts as commuter towns to Glasgow (Scotland’s most populace city). My idea embodies the role of knots in timber, where they stand to defy the natural pattern of the grain instead directing and sculpting the natural flow of ripples in the landscape where architecture can act as the epicentre of change in the region through experiences that embody light, spatial relationships and material sensibility. In a conscious effort to design sustainable architecture the music retreat c0nsides “Passive house” principles throughout where internally the proposal is a monastic experience similar to that of the Classical Roman Villa where high exterior walls protect interior courtyards separating the user from existential problems where learning an instrument becomes an individualistic ritual, experimenting and developing at one’s own pace to share in a group within the practice rooms or performance hall. Charlie Chaplin who played music from a young age used it as a gateway to escape his troubled youth
Research Project Site research culminates in an interactive model where working diagrams are placed on-top of a topographical model to show the growth of Balloch
The Site... The juxtaposition of Highlands and Lowlands intrigued me to explore the surrounding region discovering vacant Victorian factories and the beauty of Ben Nevis.
Location Plan @ 1:25000 identifying the Alexandria dye works relation to site & Concept section
Initial site Interventions model
Private gardens (left) & Public walkway (right)
Haptic responses to materiality Charred timber rubbing ( Top Left) Reclaimed sandstone brick, fallen slate roof tile, Charred timber plank stained in coffee (Above)
Hallway Render showing light at sunset
Developing the building envelope and exploring theme of Highlands and Lowlands - Lightweight timber structure sitting on masonry retaining walls in Col. pencil and ink
A
B
To Highlands E-E
Sunset A-A
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To Lowlands Sunrise D
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N 1:1250
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an wl o L
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Roof
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Private 1
A 2
Brick Vaults 7.
8. Practice Studio
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Service
Facade A-A N
Highlands
Social Spaces
1:500
Slice of south facing facade, timber screen projects onto thermal capacity brick wall
Reclaimed brick Timber window frame
Timber screen
Trombe Wall configuration
Environmental Drawing The building interacts with the prospect of a trombe wall. Reclaimed bricks fill, characterise internal and external parts of the building. The thermal capacity and principles play an active role in holding and releasing heat. Each facade and its relation to sunlight is characterised bythese ideals. wW
Section illustrating atmospheric spaces in relation to one another
Exploded isometric of timber bay
Exterior South facing facade morning sunrise
Practice studio and hallway transition evening sunset
Service space in brick vaults
Building threathold + Typical social space
Developing a lowered courtyard which connects the retreat and performance hall while sculpting the path of light. Designing in sketch models allow me to better visualise and express my strategies to peers for critical feedback in a tactile medium.
Grey Board & Balsa
1:500
1:200
Diagrams on self imposed load (Snow) Load path
Thatch roof; Outer coat , bacecoat , teritary spruce batons , Dpc, Air cavity , laith and fire proofing, Mineral wool insluation , Acoustic spray
Compression + Tension Tension Only Steel and glulam roof opening composite with woven stainless steel tension wire
Spruce glulam horizontal bracing
Primary glulam timber column
Secondary glulam timber rise
Teritary spruce timber cladding
Cladding Glulam column
plywood internal wall partitions
reclaimed sandstone masonry brick Woven stainless steel tension cabel
Hot rolled steel rebar
Stainless steel column
Teritary spruce timber framing
Perpetually falling into itself Extended Glulam Columns
Poured concrete slab
Secondary Glulam Coluns
Primary Glulam Colums
hot rolled steel rebar Pile cap friction piling
Concrete ramp cast
Personal Structural Submission The performance hall is structurally comprised of a steel/ Oak Glulam composite where loads are transferred to four distinct cores braced by tension wire. A ring beam is able to channel uninterrupted light from the roof to habitable zones where the light pattern changes dependent on season and time of day, influencing atmospheric performances.
Retaining wall
Exploded Isometric