P O R T F O L I O
NICHOLAS GAW
RESUME
NICHOLAS GAW +1 (323) 970-8532 ngaw@usc.edu www.nickgaw.com
WORK EXPERIENCE MAY 2020 - JUL 2020
Architectural Intern
SKILLS Digital Modelling & Drafting Rhino Autocad Revit 3D Rendering V-Ray Adobe Creative Suite Illustrator Photoshop InDesign Lightroom
LANGUAGES English - Native Cantonese - Fluent Mandarin - Fluent
CL3 Architects - Hong Kong, China Created 3D Rhino model for the Shui On Center renovation and the new Banyan Tree resort in Zhuhai, China / Utilized photoshop to edit renderings and prepare design proposals for client meetings.
JUN 2019 - AUG 2019
Edge Design - Hong Kong, China Architectural Intern
Contributed to the design of a rooftop light installation for the Qin-Tai Museum in Wuhan, China / Put together presentations for client meetings
MAY 2018 - JUL 2018
naked Group - Shanghai, China Architectural Intern
Contributed to 3D Rhino model of new resort in Nanjing, China / Used Autocad to implement changes to floor plans / Visited construction sites with design team
MAR 2017 ~ PRESENT
Freelance Photographer
Captured aerial photographs and videos of 2 newly built projects for architecture firm Ronald Lu & Partners / Sold personal images of urban cityscapes and street photography / Instagram photos featured on Hypebeast, Porsche, and other pages
EDUCATION AUG 2017 ~ MAY 2023
University of Southern California
Bachelor of Architecture / Minor in Real Estate Finance
Member of USC Architectural Guild / Founding member of The Supper Club
AUG 2014 - JUN 2017
Hong Kong International School High School Diploma
Leader of Photography Club / Senior project on urban & architectural photography
INTERESTS & HOBBIES Photography, Skiing, Cars, F1 Racing, Travel & Food
REFERENCES William Lim - Managing Director of CL3 Architects william@cl3.com
Delphine Yip - Co-Chairman & Chief Design Officer of naked Group delphine@livenaked.com
01 THE MUSIC CO-OP
CO-LIVING / INFILL DEVELOPMENT
02 CORNER PLAYROOM
VISUAL PERCEPTION STUDY
03 WAREHOUSE KINDERGARDEN
MATERIALS AND METHODS
PROJECTS
04 THE EXPLODED HOUSE TRANSFORMATION STUDY
01
THE MUSIC CO-OP:
CO-HOUSING / INFILL DEVELOPMENT Fall 2020 3416 W. 43rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90008 Situated in the diverse, creative community of Leimert Park, this project creates a space for music driven individuals to congregate and live together in a co-op / co-living setting. The project is comprised of a housing program, music school, and a small-scale performance space.
At the heart of the site is a performance space with a double height ceiling that allows light to illuminate its interior through clerestory windows. Around the courtyard is a modular housing system in which three variations of bedroom units are arranged into different configurations to suit the diverse needs of the residents. The three unit clusters include a two bedroom family oriented suite, and two different co-living configurations. All units are organized on a 12’x12’ grid system across three floors. The negative spaces leftover are filled with outdoor ‘breezeways’ to allow for cross ventilation and ‘collective’ areas which are fitted with communal kitchens, laundry rooms, and lounge areas. Each floor has multiple outdoor spaces spread out across all sides which become shared areas for residents to engage and customise.
The material systems highlight the relationship between private and shared spaces. Introverted spaces such as the music rooms are clad in dark wood panels, while extroverted spaces such as the common areas are clad in white insulated metal panels.
The exterior skin is comprised of a modular system of 3’x3’ panels. It is fragmented and transparency levels vary throughout the facade to communicate the boundaries between private and communal spaces. The skin also acts as a sun shade, especially for south-facing units where it extends outward to provide more shading.
01: THE MUSIC CO-OP
01: THE MUSIC CO-OP
SECTION A
SECTION B
01: THE MUSIC CO-OP
SUSTAINABILITY DIAGRAM
EAST ELEVATION
NORTH ELEVATION
WEST ELEVATION
SOUTH ELEVATION
02
THE CORNER PLAYROOM VISUAL PERCEPTION STUDY
Spring 2019 2765 Wholesale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021 This is a re-designed 30’ x 30’ corner of an arts district industrial warehouse with a triple-pitched roof structure. Habitable structures and spaces are formed through a series of “projections” from the windows. The material palette is inspired by the LA vernacular, comprising of various materials found in the existing built environment of the arts district.
02: THE CORNER PLAYROOM
03
THE WAREHOUSE KINDERGARDEN MATERIAL AND METHODS
Spring 2019 2765 Wholesale Street, Los Angeles, CA 90021 In this project, the full tripled-pitched shed is repurposed as a kindergarden. It is a continuation of the concept of projection explored in “The Corner Playroom”. The original roof structure is transformed to allow natural light to enter the converted warehouse from different angles. The learning spaces inside are open and free, allowing for multi-purpose use and student gathering.
03: THE WAREHOUSE KINDERGARDEN
03: THE WAREHOUSE KINDERGARDEN
04
THE EXPLODED HOUSE: TRANSFORMATIVE STUDY SPRING 2019 This transformation of Morphosis’ Sixth Street House explores the spatial concepts of offsetting and overlapping. The material system utilizes elements from the precedent and draws inspiration from the LA-school style, such as the use of exposed structure and eccentric moments of connection.
PRECEDENT SECTION PERSPECTIVE
TRANSFORMED SECTION PERSPECTIVE