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P R O F E S S I ONA L E X P E R I E NC E
M A J E L L A WA L S H 5 Glenview Park, Grange, Co. Sligo, Ireland
Employer Shane Santry SSA Architects, 42 Haddington Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 016687939 or info@ssa.ie Date December 2016 to September 2017 Job Description Part 1 Architect Responsibilities Surveying, designing and meeting with clients. Drawing up finalised designs to be tendered. Employer Deirdre Conway Eason’s Book Store Sligo, 45 O’Connell St, Sligo 071914 0660 Date July to November 2016 Job Description Sales Assistant
0851530521 majellamaria@gmail.com www.linkedin.com/in/ majella-walsh
Employer Walk in Love Centre Arusha, Tanzania Date 2nd July to 2nd August 2015 Job Description Volunteer work Responsibilities Care of underprivileged children
S O F T WA R E
E D U C AT I O N
AUTOCAD SKETCHUP REVIT RHINO VRAY PHOTOSHOP INDESIGN
2013 - present Bachelor of Architectural Design in Dublin School of Architecture (DSA), DIT Bolton Street ACHIEVEMENTS
Treasurer for the ASA (Architecture Student Association) 2015 - 2016 Member of the Order of Malta and CFR (cert. First Responder) Gaisce Silver Award CREST Bronze Award Sligo Student Enterprise Award
CONTENTS page 4 1. HAROLDS CROSS LIVE 2018 A new urban vision for Harolds Cross
Year Long Collaborative Urban Redevlopment Plan
page 12 2. HOMELY CONCRETE
Compettition entry for the 2018 Concrete Design Competition Project based on the theme ‘Tactility’ 3. ROOFTOP BAR
page 14 Vertical Extension to Mont Clare O’Calllaghan Hotel Dublin Collaborative Proposal for SSA Architects 2017
page 16 4. FIRESTATION AND RUNNING TRACK Salthill galway Third Year Project 2016
page 20 5. SKETCHES AND PHOTOGRAPHY Or how I see the world
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1.HAROLDS CROSS LIVE 2018 A new urban vision for Harolds Cross Under the directon of Dermot Boyd, Sima Rouholamin, Sarah Sheridan A colaborative project with the class of Fourth Year Arch DIT 17/18 In particular ChloĂŠ Cattan, Ronan MacTiernan, Adam Maloney
With the expansion of Dub heritage around which the sites and craftsmen’s works
The aim of the project was promote a re-development a view to developing a real
The community is engaged exhibition takes place in H
Preliminary Masterplan for Harolds Cross by Majella Walsh
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blin city centre, Harolds Cross today does not lose of the e community was built. Cemetery, convents, industrial shops, shops, rivers and parks give way to housing.
s to study and analyze the area, and propose solutions to t of community life. The project was in fact launched with Local Action Plan for the Harolds Cross community.
d, the critiques are held in the local pubs, the final Harolds Cross Park. It’s a live project.
1.DEFINE A STRAGTEGY
THE FIVE POINTS 1. Reconnect Connect the outer profile of Harold’s Cross to promote access to the revitalised central zone Reconnect points of interest and make efficient the space between them 2. New Heart A new heart to be established- creating a strong sense of place with a focus on vitality and accessibility. The aim is to improve the socioeconomic, environmental/cultural growth, and quality of life for citizens and visitors alike 3. Activation Following the reconnection of main routes and establishing the new heart, various zones throughout Harold’s Cross become activated Activated Zones include Mount Argus; Industrial Park; Cemetery; and Hospice. 4. Ecological Revival Preserve, rejuvenate, and conserve the existing green space of Harold’s Cross with focus on Mount Argos Park to foster protection of the environment and improve quality of life for residents 5 . W o r k- L ive - Pl ay An overall more focused reconfiguration of Harold’s Cross to include: Residential units Upgrade facility conditions for workers Restore and increase public amenities
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2 . D E V E L O P T H E E D U C AT I O N A L H E A R T “A n C r o í O i d e a c h a i s ”
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A new bell tower for St Clare’s convent
Post office
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New crèche, housing and shops
Old St Clare’s convent, to be turned into housing
An Croí Oideachais Masterplan by Majella Walsh, Chloé Cattan, Ronan MacTiernan, Adam Maloney
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GROUND FLOOR PLAN 1:500
Entrance to the secondary school
Peggy Kelly’s Pub
PROPOSED HAROLD’S CROOS ROAD ELEVATION 1:500
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AN CROI OIDEACHAIS Our plan is to design a new secondary school at the site of the old Greyhound Stadium, surrounded in a forest that branches out in pathways towards the already existing infrastructure that is Harold’s Cross.
Harold’s Cross Live Review
Green routes through the trees lead students to and from each block. The old greyhound track leaves its trace in a track, which surrounds the school, and becomes an axis for ecological pathways to spread out into the area like branches forming new connections. The forest too spreads out beyond the school and running track, and spills into newly created green areas, playing fields, playgrounds and allotments. These pathways connect the school to the other proposals for the site. Social housing blocks grouped together surrounding a plaza at the entrance of the site, mews houses with shared green space, a men’s shed and workshops, commercial units and a crèche.
Preliminary Work
Worms-eye view of proposed Secondary School
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Section Cut through Creche and Commercial Block
C R E C H E A N D C O M M E RC I A L BLOCK A Montessori Crèche located in the educational heart of Harolds Cross will provide a place for learning through discovery and play. Afterschool care and activities are provided for the children of St Clares Primary school. A vertical extension to the primary school negates the need for prefabs, and rooftop playground allows for more outdoor play.
Ground Floor Plan
First Floor Plan
Programme of New Crèche and Commercial Block Crèche Apartments Bookshop and Cafe Hospice Charity Shop Mens Outfitters
Second Floor Plan
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1:200 Ground Floor Model of CrĂŠche and Commercial Block
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Detail Axonometric of CrĂŠche
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SKETCHBOOK IDEAS FOR ST CLARES PRIMARY SCHOOL
W O R K R E S T P L AY A Playschool to be set up in the new civic centre
ECO LO G I C A L G R OW T H Creating new green areas, parks and playgrounds
SOCIAL CONNECTIONS Creating new routes and connections to make the education hub more permeable
C U L T U R A L R E - A C T I VAT I O N Providing spaces for new after school programmes and community activities.
C U L T U R A L R E - A C T I VAT I O N Expanding the entrance to St. Clare’s primary school, so it connects with Harold’s Cross Park and the civic heart. The existing buildings to the right of the entrance are to be knocked and replaced with a new civic centre. 10
Bookshop and CafĂŠ outside the CrĂŠche
PAST St. Clares convent and gardens around the late 18th centuary.
PRESENT St. Clares chapel and gardens which are maintained by the poor Clare nuns.
FUTURE The proposed creche is situated behind St Clares chapel and continues the chapel gardens into a play area for the children
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2.
H O M E LY C O N C R E T E C O N C R E T E TA C T I L I T Y
“Natural materials - stone, brick and wood - allow our vision to penetrate their surfaces and enable us to become convinced of the veracity of matter. Natural materials express their age, as well as the story of their origins and their history of human use. All matter exits in the continuum of time; the patina of wear adds to the enriching experience of time to the materials of construction. But the machine- made materials of today ... present their unyielding surfaces to the eye without conveying their material essence or age� - Pallasma, The Eyes of the Skin (1993)
CAST
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PROCESS
PRODUCT
IDEA
MOSS
Concrete structures in Ireland evoke an image of cold grey and dark green, the grey of the limestone based concrete commonly used across the country and the greenery of the landscape in which it resides. This colour palette is seen in a smaller scale too, overgrown gardens crawling up the sides of a house and in the moss covered old walls. Trying to capture this feel of warmth and nature into the surface of concrete, I propose the idea of “homely concrete”. By creating a pattern of grooves into the surface of the concrete blocks that allows moss to grow, the concrete surface is no longer cold and austere. The concrete would instead have a “homely” tactility.
From my research into growing moss fast and effectively, I found that there are two main ways in which to do this. First, is to put yoghurt or buttermilk onto the concrete surface and place gathered moss onto it. Both of these are mildly acidic mixtures which would balance the high pH of concrete and create a comfortable environment for the moss to grow. The second method is to create a “moss slurry” where you again gather moss, but also blend it with rainwater to create a “slurry” that you then paint onto the concrete. A damp, sheltered environment is vital for moss growth.
CEMENT Concrete begins life at a highly basic pH of about 13, which then falls over time to a pH of about 8.5. Moss can grow at a range of pHs but prefers a slightly acidic environment. This caused a problem for the experiment as newly cast concrete will have too high a pH for moss to grow effectively. Researchers at the Univeritat Politècnica de Catalunya in Barcelona have been developing a new type of concrete that captures rainwater to create living walls of moss and fungi. While this research is for developing a high-tech layered concrete walls, the information from the research has proved useful. The concrete contains a biological layer that collects and stores rainwater, providing a moist growing environment where micro algae, fungi, lichens and mosses can thrive. A waterproofing layer separates the organism from the inner structured part of the concrete, while an outer layer acts in reverse, allowing rainwater in and preventing it from separating. The concrete also absorbs carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and acts as an insulting material and a thermal regulator. In this development, they used magnesium phosphate cement as a well as an altered portland cement with a lower pH. Magnesium phosphate cement (MPC) is slightly acidic so it does not require any treatment to reduced its pH. MPC is still in its experimental phase to test its strength, endurance and wear, so commercially available mixtures like Ceramicrete are expensive and difficult to obtain.
EXPERIMENT The experiment was to test the possibility of creating concrete blocks with patterned grooves growing moss. Firstly, I made four formwork moulds; all had the same dimensions, but with various different surface patterns. Two of each formwork was cast, and then treated with either a buttermilk or yoghurt mix. Each block was then painted with moss slurry and left in a damp sheltered environment. Overall the result was successful. The experiment showed that the yoghurt coating was more succesful than the buttermilk coating. However, in some cases, the yoghurt grew mould instead of moss. CONC LUS I ON Although the experiment proved successful, the moss grew slowly and had to be maintained and watered with rainwater every few days. It was a tediuous and slow process. To further investigate if this could be used as a viable product, I would need access to the materials to make Magnesium Phosphate Cement, and more time to see results. A P P L I C AT I O N S - Warm and homely tactile concrete that expresses age and the passage of time. - Create a highly aesthetic decorate façade for structures and walls. - Create garden and landscaping structural elements. - Improve air quality through oxygen production of enhanced plant coverage if used for interior façades. - Acts as a passive acoustic insulation.
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3. ROOFTOP BAR
Elevation of Mont Clare
MONT CLARE HOTEL DUBLIN The Mont Clare Hotel is situated in the centre of the city and overlooks Merrion Square and the Narional Art Gallery. Rich with history, and once a favourite of James Joyce, the hotel in recent years is somewhat lacklustre and is looking to refurbish. With the influx od tourist into the city, and a high demand for hotels, SSA architects proposed an extension to the rear providing 89 bedrooms and an additional 6th floor featuruing a rooftop bar. In 2017, while working as a part 1 at SSA architects, I helped design and draw this new rooftop bar. The addition of a rooftop bar provides a tourist attraction in itself given the views that will be afforded out over Merrion Square to the south. The rooftop bar is constructed from a lightweight steel structure with a glass finish to minimise the impact in terms of the appearance of the front elevation. The bar itself is set back towards the rear and therefore cannot be seen from the corner of Merrion Square and the surrounding streetscapes. Indeed, the existing lift overruns and water tanks are already visible and the new intervention will enhance the elevational treatment and rooftop design of the hotel.
Plan of Mont Clare Rooftop Bar
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Interior perspective of rooftop bar (V-Ray and Photoshop)
Interior perspective of rooftop bar (V-Ray and Photoshop)
Interior perspective of rooftop bar (V-Ray and Photoshop)
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4 . F I R E S TAT I O N A N D R U N N I N G TRACK S A L T H I L L G A L WA Y On this relatively small 5000m squared site in Saltill, Galway, we were required to design a fire station and full running track with facilities. A full 8 lane 400m running track was obviously not possible on this site, so a compromise had to be made. The site is located along side Salthill’s promenade which is frequented by joggers, so a running track would have to offer a different experience to the existing promenade. The site is located at Blackrock pier which is well-loved by the local community and visitors. I chose to keep this pier, and design a 300m running track around it, suspending the structure above the water on hollow concrete supports. This creates a unique oppertuniny to literally run over the sea, while giving the runners beautiful views and vistas of the salthill area. GROUND FLOOR The plan of the fire station is in a horse-shoe shape. This is due to the shape of the site and access to the main road. Ease of circulation for people and their vehicles is very important for reaching emergencies in time, so the aparatus bay had quick and safe access to the main road. The aparatus bay is quick to reach from any part of the fire station. An eternal training ground is centred in the courtyard of the building. There is a seperate entrance for the gym and changing facilities that corespond with the running track. It is accessd along the promenade.
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FIRST FLOOR Sleeping quarters for the fire fighters form a bridge across the building for easy access into the aparatus bay. The running track cuts into the structure at this level. The running track is accessed from the roof level, a stairs brings people from the ground floor up to the changing facilities at this level and up to the roof to access the track. ROOF The figure of eight shaped running track can be accessed from the roof level. There is a viewing area with seating for spectators to watch when competitions are held. The track is 300m long and has one level 100m stretch and one sloped 100m stretch. External gardens allow light into the main building block. The roof is mostly a greenroof. Solar panals are fixed to the roof to make the building more environmentally friendly. There are 3 winter garden courtyards that break up the corridor-like space in the office part of the fire station. The garden courtyard has 3 glass facades around it, allowing nature and light inside. The lecture rooms either side of it are lit naturally because of these glass facades. The gardens also provide natural ventilation. Detail of Firestation Wall and Green Roof
North Elevation of Firestation and Running Track
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1:200 Model of Roof Design
1:200 Model of First Florr Plan
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Interior Modellan
Sketch of Black Rock Pier, Salthill, Galway
1:200 Model of First Florr Plan
SKetchbook Drawings
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5. SKETCHES AND PHOTOGRAPHY
Sketches from Malta and Gozo 2018
Detail from Luan Cuff House, Mallta 2018
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Carlo Scarpa Pavillion, Venice 2018
St. Ignatius Church, Galway City 2016
Jiangsu Province Art Museum, Nanjing, China by Ksp JĂźrgen Engel Architects 2016
Schottenring Station Vienna 2016
Stephansplatz Vienna 2016
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Photographs taken in Malta, 2018
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