PORTFOLIO
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ARCHITECTURE south africa Natalie de Abreu
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Hello,
CURRICULUM VITAE natalie de abreu
I’m natalie de abreu!
PERSONAL STATEMENT I graduated in 2018, with a M(Arch) a Master of Architecture (with distinction) from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. During my 6 years of studies, I’ve worked at multiple firms during my holidays and completed my internship at internationally recognized Boogertman + Partners. This experience has provided me with an advanced background in the history and application of architecture, heightened my interest in the field and provided me with the hope of it’s impact on our society. After having completed my masters I traveled and worked abroad, with the intention and desire for a cultural submersion. I traveled around Europe and Morocco and completed the famous pilgrimage, the Camino de Santiago. I’m a hard-working and passionate young architect eager to face this brave new world.
WORK EXPERIENCE 2012
EDUCATION 2013-18
cnr Lynnwood Road & Roper st, Pretoria, 0002, South Africa +27 12 420 4111 I was accepted to study Bsc(Arch) at the University of Pretoria in 2013, I completed my Bsc(Arch) in 2016. I completed my B(Arch) Hons in 2017. I completed my MArch(Prof) with distinction in 2018.
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Switch Brand Agency.
+27 11 782 4896 I completed my entire school career at this school. Starting in Grade 0 in 2000 and ending with my Matric Certificate in 2012.
Unpaid internship
SL Architects
DESIGN SKILLS
37/2 Louise Rd, Monavoni, 0157 +27 82 495 3841 Paid Internship
full name natalie de abreu date of birth 30.03.1994 place of birth johannesburg
2015
Work exhibited at the 2015 Des Baker Architectural
email nataliedeabreu@hotmail.com
Student Design Competition
number +27 72 2346 215/
Imagining Tomorrows World Today.
+34 644 906 208 2016
Boogertman + Partners The Point, 1133 Jan Shoba, Brooklyn +27 12 429 7300 candidate architect
DECLARATION I declare that this portfolio is substantially my own work. Where reference is made to the works of others, the extent to which that work has been used is indicated and fully acknowledged in the text.
2017
revit
illustration
autocad
branding
sketch up
graphics
photoshop
conceptual
indesign
technical
LANGUAGE SKILLS english
spanish
portuguese
afrikaans
100%
65%
60%
50%
Position as a Candidate Architect under Francois Bredenkamp’s Design Team.
native speaker
speak + read
speak + read
speak + read
fluent
basic understanding
basic understanding
basic understanding
MAP Architects
HOBBIES + INTERESTS
Ballito Centre, 25 Sandra Road, Ballito 032 946 3853
NATALIE DE ABREU
candidate architect
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De La Salle Holy Cross College High School 2 - 22 Road No 3 Victory Park, Randburg, 2195, South Africa
4 Karen Street, Bryanston 011 706 9370
2014-15
University of Pretoria
Vacation work. Position as a Candidate Architect under Charles Taylor’s Design Team.
hiking during my travels I completed the camino de santiago (800km)
travel writing I have a travel blog called lamb&jam
languages understanding culture means understanding language
yoga yoga has helped keep my body and mind healthy during my studies
CONTENTS
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a sense of resolution mentors derick de bruyn project type human settlements + urbanism location fleurhof, jhb year 2018
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the social activation corridor mentors carin combrinck project type community based location mamelodi, pta year 2017
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newtown film studios mentors cliff gouws + francois brendenkamp project type film studio location newtown, jhb year 2016
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newtown regenertation 11-12
mentors cliff gouws + francois brendenkamp project type mixed use location newtown, jhb year 2016
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the healing factory mentors rudolf van rensburg project type civic building location hatfield, pta year 2015
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richmond memorial park mentors warno rude + francois brendenkamp project type urban design location richmond, western cape year 2016
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time away, time abroad 17-18
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2019-20 summary of time spent abroad
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mentors derick de bruyn project type human settlements + urbanism location fleurhof, jhb year 2018
This project was completed during my final year, Masters of Architecture. The project is located in-between the contrasting shades of black and white Johannesburg, Fleurhof. Fleurhof is defined by diversity, characterized by the contrasting identities that make up this suburb. The stark juxtaposition between rich and poor is typical of the nature of South African suburbs due to their spatial legacies. What makes Fleurhof’s location unique is the recent application of an Integrated Housing Model, the largest integrated housing development in Gauteng.
the diverse residents as a ‘breach in relationships’, and justice as a process of coming together to repair that breach. Furthermore, it investigates developing a ‘sense of resolution’ for Fleurhof by changing perceptions and establishing common ground among the residents.
Fleurhof was chosen as a laboratory for the dissertation due to its distinguishing nature as a heterogeneous mixture of diverse territories. This project views the conflict amongst
Programmed spaces include: a place for telling stories, a place for performance, celebration, making and showcasing and a place for network development.
This project aims to provide a new typology for conflict resolution with programmed spaces of activity to function as the vehicle to define ‘common ground’ amongst the residents.
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a sense of resolution
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01|PROJECT
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THE DESIGN + SITE MODEL 5
01|PROJECT
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the social activation corridor
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mentors carin combrinck project type human settlements + urbanism location mamelodi, pta year 2017
This design project was completed during my honours year. Both the specific site location and program was chosen through an extensive community mapping process.
Building on the idea that resource management ensures network growth, the design focused on using water as a link between the supplies, facilitators, participators and beneficiaries. The design is essentially a support structure which harvests resources while allowing the user/program adaptability through a variation of horizontal planes.
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To ensure the initial survival of the design concept, a cement brick making facility was identified as an existing network the design would be based on. In order to sustain itself the design aims to exist in symbiotic relationships with
broader networks that later will act as a catalyst that ensures the growth of the small business network.
02|PROJECT
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the healing factory
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mentors rudolf van rensburg project type civic building location hatfield, pta year 2015
The design generates architecture as a ‘heal-er’, that assists the ‘heal-ee’ through the making and memory of place. In an aim to de-stigmatize mental health and
the healing factory section
restore a loss of identity, the design aims to increase contact between the users and their urban context. Programmed spaces include: sports facilities, conversation spaces and places of rest.
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This design project was completed during the final year of my undergraduate studies. Set in the heart of Pretoria, this design project explored the possibilities of how a city can aid the psychological processes of healing.
03|PROJECT
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newtown film studios
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mentors cliff gouws + francois brendenkamp project type film studio location newtown, jhb year 2016
This project was completed while I was working at Boogertman and Partners, Pretoria in Francois Bredenkamp’s design team. The site is situated in one of the most important heritage precincts in Johannesburg, becoming a center of cultural expression within the city. Originally known as the Africana Museum, now the Museum of Africa. The project brief included the renewal of the Museum of Africa and Mary Fitzgerald Square, the new program being a film studio, outdoor sports grounds and supporting facilities.
Mary Fitzgerald Square. After being briefed by Silverline Studio’s we completed a leasing plan and began designing the studio and sports ground. With the help of our team, Wilan Roussow and I conceptually designed the renewal of the heritage precinct.
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Under the guidance of Architect Cliff Gouws, my involvement began by visiting and analyzing the site thereafter I modeled the existing Museum of Africa and
04|PROJECT
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newtown regeneration project
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mentors cliff gouws + francois brendenkamp project type mixed use location newtown, jhb year 2016
This project was completed while I was working at Boogertman and Partners, Pretoria in Francois Bredenkamp’s design team. The project is situated in Newtown, Johannesburg. The proposal brings together a complex history with a contemporary mixed-use, city lifestyle precinct.
The Newtown Masterplan was shortlisted under the Masterplan category of the World Architecture festival in Berlin in Nov,2016.
Under the guidance of Architect Cliff Gouws, my involvement began with an extensive site documentation and analysis, discovering the streets of Newtown in attempt to complete an urban design framework we could apply when designing the mixed-use development.
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After completing the extensive research we began to design each building within the precinct. With the help of my team I conceptually designed 2 residential blocks with retail ground floor components, an office and medical facility.
05|PROJECT
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richmond memorial park
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mentors warno rude + francois brendenkamp project type urban design location richmond, western cape year 2016
This project was completed while I was working at Boogertman and Partners, Pretoria in Francois Bredenkamp’s design team. The site was once home to 401 families who during 1972-1986 were forcibly relocated by the state.
Under the guidance of Landscape Architect Warno Rude, I conceptually designed the memorial park and helped develop the urban design components within the urban memorial precinct.
The memorial park is located on the periphery of the development and the boundary between the development and the community.
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The park aims to give back to the community by creating a space of leisure as well as to commemorate those involved in the relocation.
06|PROJECT
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time away, time abroad
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After finishing my Masters at the end of 2018, I decided I needed to refuel my energy levels and stretch my legs after sitting behind the drawing table for the better part of six years. I decided to travel abroad. In order to fund this adventure I became a part time English teacher and full time traveler. In an attempt to venture towards less cliché territories, I found myself in Morocco. Geographically Morocco, but territorially Spain. A Spanish enclave on the north coast of Africa, Melilla. The place I called home for six months. Melilla hosts the best of both worlds, an untouched African coastline and a Spanish historical old town with the second-largest collection of modernist buildings outside Barcelona. Living in a place home to two contrasting religious communities, it was surprising to see how openly and progressively they shared their city. A place where catholic Easter is as celebrated as the Islamic Ramadan festival. The six months offered plenty time to walk across the border to explore Morocco and take the ferry to the Spanish mainland. Being one of ten English speaking people in the city, I was able to truly immerse myself in the Spanish and Arab culture. After a European summer, I decided I couldn’t say goodbye to Spain just yet and promised myself one last Spanish summer. For the second part of my travels I was situated in Zaragoza, conveniently positioned between Madrid and Barcelona, and also home to the Basilica de Neustra Senora del Pilar. Zaragoza offered a traditional taste of Spanish living as well as frequent hiking trips to the Pyrenees.
and permaculture in the Spanish Pyrenees. COVID ‘19 however had other plans for me, so instead I spent months of full lock-down in a tiny studio apartment. These months entailed hours of conversation based English lessons online where I furthered my studies on the ins and outs of the Spanish culture. Once inter-provincial travel was permitted I set off to do the Camino de Santiago, taking the Camino del Norte route along the Spanish northern coast. Here I spent thirty five days walking in and out of Spanish cities and villages, up and down mountains and along the coastline. Each day consisted of living simply: reaching the next stage before dusk, finding a place to set up my tent and eating enough food to fuel my body. 800km’s later I arrived in Santiago, a pilgrimage dedicated to ending off my time abroad and processing all the wonderful things I’d learned during the time away. Although I may not have been practicing architecture in the traditional sense, I learned more about architecture and its people than my years of studying combined. During my travels, I studied the people that breathed life into the spaces we create. As they say, time makes the heart grow fonder. My soul was replenished but my hands itched to get creating again. I learned a lot about myself and my country while I was away, but one of the most important things I learned, was how lucky we are to call Africa our home. Space-makers in a developing and opportunity driven country.
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I had a job lined up starting April 2020 working on a regeneration project with a Spanish architect testing practices of regenerative development, biophilic design
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goodbye,
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thank you for your time!