to the at tention of
Edge Design Workshop
RUBEN ALONSO Studio Bravo
COVERING LETTER to the attention of Mr Krause
Fourth, February, Two Thousand Fifteen.
Dear Mr Krause, I am writing you in response to the job advertised in Dezeen for Project Architect. It is my believe I fit the job description very well, so it is with delight I would like to request from you an interview. I consider I could bring the experience required as well positive aspects through my technical know-how and intellectual discipline. It is always somehow difficult to write about yourself, but if we are what we do, then I can describe my approach to work as the result of my studies, practiced work, and my life experiences. I have lived in four countries and speak four languages. Over those years I learned to deal with people from all walks of life, finding ways to learn and problem solve. My education has revolved around two main fields: Architecture and Image Making. Beyond it being my education, they are my passions and life. I am committed to them, I thrive in them. I have over five years’ experience working in the UK (and seven outside UK), first in Edinburgh as a Junior Architect for JM Architects and visualizer, and most importantly, over the past two years, when I have been the one-man team engaged in the developing of two residences in the Manchester Area. One of them, a traditional semi-detached house from the 30’s, which has been doubled in area and spatially overhauled to a modern and suggestive space, is now nearing completion, with only some finishes to execute. In this project I have gone through every bit of the process, from planning to delivery, leading from the position of Project Manager. The challenge it was to face a project including renovation, alteration and new built, balancing the stringent planning regulations with a forward thinking space has been formidable and enriching. I believe design ideas must transpire through the whole process of designing and building, at all levels, from detailing to work sequencing. At times, inevitably, this causes struggles with other agents involved in the project and the embedded economics. But time and again, it has been proved that a strong intellectual framework can be interpreted in such a variety of ways so as to find alternatives to move things forward. Within an architecture practice, I consider myself an all-rounder. Years of experience and an innate curiosity for all processes part of the architectural profession has resulted in a wide variety of abilities: typographic design, layout, image making, presentations, 2D and 3D drawing, computational design, project management, detail design, etc. The samples included in this application intend to show this wealth of resources.
Ruben Alonso
"Ruben is the architect of the future, the digital architect-maker, but with tons of history on his back"
Olga Subiros, Associate Architect at Program Collective. "Ruben has shown time and again his capacity to lead, not only teams, but most importantly his
capacity to lead in the way he brings ideas and know-how into the practice of architecture and beyond."
Enric Ruiz Geli, Principal Architect at Cloud 9.
SELEC TED MAIN AC ADEMIC STUDIES 2011-2013
Master in Architecture • THE BARTLETT, UNIVERSITY COLLAGE OF LONDON Thesis: The production of architecture in the optical space.
2003-2005
Diploma in Photography, Film And Imaging • EDINBURGH NAPIER UNIVERSITY Dissertation: Synthetic Spaces.
1995-2001
Degree in Architecture • SUPERIOR TECHNICAL SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE MADRID Specialization: Urban Design.
OT H ER R EL E VA N T AC A D EM I C S T U D IE S 2011
Smart Geometries • UNIVERSITY COLLAGE OF LONDON • (London) • Generative design. Creation of parametric models using Grasshopper.
2007
Creative Code & Generative Design • PRADO MEDIA LAB • (Madrid) • In depth course on Processing programming language and Arduino. Focused toward the production of complex geometries and interactivity in design.
1998-2001
Digital Modelling and Rendering • TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF MADRID • (Madrid) • Various courses on 3D modelling and CGI. Packages included 3DS Max, AutoCAD 3D and V-Ray.
1995-1996
Drawing Methods • NOVICIADO ARTS ACADEMY • (Madrid) • Two year long course on drawing and painting, including ink drawing, watercolour, oil based media, etc.
1997
Sculptural Expression, artist residency • KEITH HAMLET • (Manchester) • Three months live-in residency, learning the skills to work with clay, and developing a personal project.
SELEC TED AC ADEMIC WORK EXPERIENCE 2015-present
Seasonal Lecturer • RAVENSBOURNE COLLAGE • (London) • Invited crit for first and second year architecture students. Part of a crit panel, it involved day-long reviews of students projects at key stages of development.
2013-2015
Invited Crit • ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION, CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS • (London) • Invited crit for first and second year architecture students. Part of a crit panel, it involved day-long reviews of students projects at key stages of development.
2009
Co-Tutor • ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION • (London) • Architectural Association Summer School. Member of the unit 1, lead by Gaspar Libedensky, which run a three-week workshop. Entitled Performative Structures, students developed aspects of London into 1 to 1 physical models, and mixed them with audio-visual resources to create spatial narratives.
2007
Researcher • MEDIALAB PRADO • (Madrid) • Member of the research team 4D Visual Group. I developed low cost alternatives for stereoscopic digital vision.
2005
Assistant Tutor • EDINBURGH COLLAGE OF ART • (Edinburgh) • I taught drawing for entry students to the architecture school. Students drew from set up geometrical models as well as street scenes. A variety of traditional drawing tools were used, if often applied experimentally.
C V • R E S U M E Ruben Alonso
SELEC TED WORK EXPERIENCE S E L F E M P L O Y E D 2013-present
Principal Designer • STUDIO BRAVO • (Manchester, London) • In 2013 I founded Studio Bravo, a design and architecture practice. Within it, all knowledge accrued during my career has come to coalesce. The studio method of production is based in knowledge, networking and mobility. Since its creation the practice main focus has been in architecture, but the scope of interests is much wider. Works on moving image, image production, typography and photography has been undertaking. An interdisciplinarity which we want to move forward. .
2012-2013
Senior Editor • URBANAUTICA • (London, Italy) • Urbanautica is a leading global online publication in the field of photography and architecture. Initially hired as a tutor for a workshop on landscape photography, my involvement grew into the role of senior editor.
2010-2011
Associate Designer, Director • LOFTE • (Porto) • Lofte was a interdisciplinary studio and cultural hub at the heart of old town Porto (Portugal). I was one of the foundational members. This involved the renovation of Lofte premises, as well as devising creative strategies to insert the project in to the cultural and social fabric of the city, which we did, linking to cultural institutions and producing successful events and exhibitions.
2001-2009
Associate Architect, 3D Artist • NOLANDLAB • (Madrid, Edinburgh, Barcelona, etc.) • Nolandlab was the first studio I founded. Together with fellow architecture students, we set up a passionate and radical practice with strong interest in interdisciplinarity. Initially based in Madrid, the studio soon geographically fragmented, which gave me an strong interest and knowledge in mobility at work in a digital age. We participated on several competitions and build a house. In 2007 the studio won a competition and successfully worked with Skunkfunk (an international fashion brand) in creating their retail strategy, through shop design and visual identities.
E M P L O Y E E 2006-2009
Senior Architect, 3D Artist • CLOUD 9 ARCHITECTS • (Barcelona) • International award winning practice, with a strong emphasis on experimentation and cutting edge design. Winner of NYC Aquarium competition among other high profile projects. I was part of the team MediaTIC, WAF World Best Building of the Year 2011. My duties in the studio varied as the size of the studio and working methods required people with a wide range of skills.
2003-2006
Architectural Assistant, 3D Artist • JM ARCHITECTS • (Edinburgh) • Large studio with offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Manchester and Abu Dhabi. For a year, employed as a freelance architectural visualizer, I became in house architect and visualizer, participating in the office bids for PPP Schools in Scotland, including the successful bid for Aberdeen Cults Academy, which was subsequently developed to completion.
1998-2001
Architectural Assistant • AUREA 3 ARCHITECTS • (Madrid) • Small size architectural practice dedicated mainly to the residential sector. It was my first My duties were various, mainly giving support to architects. The reduced scale of the studio proved to offer a total insight into the making of architecture .
C O L L A B O R A T O R 2010-2012
Architect • FREE FORM DESIGN • (Porto) • Long running work relationship with FFD for the development of projects and bids in a series of works located in the Middle East (Bahrain and UAE). Projects ranged from exhibition design to urban interventions.
2008-2009
Digital dimension developer, 3D Artist • PROGRAM COLLECTIVE • (Barcelona) • Exhibition Design for DaLab Art Centre at the European Parliament visitor centre.
SELEC TED PER SONAL AWARDS 2007
Competition, 1st Prize • SKUNKFUNK. BRANDING AND RETAIL STRATEGY • Design and production of retail strategy for international fashion brand Skunkfunk. As the result of the competition over 6 retail spaces were designed and fitted in across Europe.
2012
Competition, 2nd Prize • INTERNATIONAL BIENNALE OF MEDIA ARCHITECTURE • Ideas competition for media wall.
2010
Competition, Finalist • CLOUDSCAPES COMPETITION • International ideas competition. Honourable Mention.
•
e xpert
proficient
user le vel
• D I G I TA L S K I L L S E T
AutoCAD
Drawing
Vectorworks Illustrator 3DSMax
Modelling
Rhinoceros Sketchup Photoshop
Matte Painting
3DS Max Photoshop
Image Post-Processing
After Effects Premier Pro V-Ray
CGI
Maxwell Renderer Real Flow
Fluid Dynamics
Phoenix FD Smoke Processing
Code Programming
Grasshopper Lightroom
Photography
Photoshop Photomatix Panoramics Indesign
Layout
Illustrator Fontlab
Typography
Indesign Muse
Web
Flash Office
Microsoft Word
Project Management
Microsoft Project
Microsoft Excel Presto
+ The listed software is intended to show main areas of expertise. It is only indicative. Many applications and plugins are not shown. The extensive experience in working with computers allows me to quickly learn new softwares. It is also sometimes the case that an application or plugin is learned only to be implemented in a particular project.
• SEL EC T ED P ROJEC T S HIS TO RY
DATE
ROLE
08/2006 - 09/2009 08/2006 - 09/2009
•
PROJEC T
T YPE
Principal Architect / Project Manager
Bramhall House
Residential
£ 170000
Principal Architect
Compstall House
Residential
£ 250000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect
GCC Bahrain Exhibition
Exhibition
$ 250000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect / Project Manager
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect / Project Manager
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect / Project Manager
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect / Project Manager
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect / Project Manager
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect / Project Manager
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect / Project Manager
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect / Project Manager
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect / Project Manager
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect / Project Manager
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect / Project Manager
MediaTIC
Office
€ 27.000.000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect / Project Manager
Bramhall House
Residential
£ 170000
08/2006 - 09/2009
Principal Architect
Compstall House
Residential
£ 260000
+ The listed software is intended to show main areas of expertise. It is only indicative, as many other plugins and applications are not shown. The extensive experience in working with computers allows me to quickly learn new softwares and it is the case that applications are only learned an applied on a project basis.
BUDGET
SELEC TED WORK all content, graphic production , photography, layout, etc ., unless otherwise stated , is the sole production of ruben alonso .
12
Ruben Alonso
to the attention of Edge Design Workshop
MEDIATIC BUILDING Project Architect
Š Photograph by Iwan Baan
MediaTIC building, located in Barcelona, is possibly the highest profile project I have played a key part on. Selected Best Building of the Year 2011 by Word Architecture Festival (WAF), the building has been widely published and it is regularly referenced in architecture literature. Part of a stable team of four architects whitin the international architectural practice Cloud 9, I was involved in all the stages of design and construction: from initial visuals and animations for the competition’s winning entry, to detailing and coordination with consultants (structural engineers, mechanical engineers, project managers, etc.).
14
Ruben Alonso
to the attention of Edge Design Workshop
MEDIATIC BUILDING Project Architect
I have worked in several projects where complex geometry was a key variable of the design. In most occasions this geometries were worked out digitally. 3D packages software play a central role in my design process. I have worked with them for over fifteen years, mainly with 3DS Max and Rhinoceros 3D, but I have touched on many others. I have reached the point where modelling has become as natural as hand drawing for me. My understanding and practice of digital tools in the production of architecture has not been limited to modelling. My interest in computing led me to integrate other fields such as animation, videography or fluid dynamics and architecture.
16
Ruben Alonso
to the attention of Edge Design Workshop
CATWALK HOUSE Principal Architect
I understand architecture as a holistic discipline. Automation and productivity have made strides into fragmenting its processes, but the carefully crafted architecture perspires from sketch to detail to construction. I approach every drawing in relation to all other drawings, aiming for discipline and coherence with the choosen representational systems. This is true with detail drawings where the fleshing of the construction emerges.
18
Ruben Alonso
to the attention of Edge Design Workshop
CATWALK HOUSE Principal Architect
Image making and 3D Modelling are essential aspects of my work process. Standing on an in-depth knowledge of the necessary skills, I have worked at professional level in the visualization industry. Modelling and rendering has become as natural as hand sketching. The insight into light and textures, accessible through this tools, has greatly expanded the potentialities of my design practice. The accompanying images shows key stages during the development of Catwalk House. Typically, in projects with low geometrical complexity I work with SketchUp Pro (right page), while I use 3DS Max when the work requires more complex processes or Rhinoceros 3D, when accuracy and fabrication are involved.
20
Ruben Alonso
to the attention of Edge Design Workshop
CATWALK HOUSE Principal Architect
22
Ruben Alonso
to the attention of Edge Design Workshop
SNAPE MALTING COMPETITION Principal Architect
This spread intends to portray two facing stages in the design of a project: an initial hand drawing, containing all the key characteristics of the proposed building, its proportions, topology generative and parametric design The acco The hatched scribbled lines find a development in the miriad of parametrically generated flaps of the panels.
24
Ruben Alonso
to the attention of Edge Design Workshop
MODEL MAKING Model Maker
Traditional model making, real cut and paste, is a central part of my design process. Whenver the constaraints allows it, I make working models in every project. I have also long experience in the coordination of high-end, complex maquettes. As project coordinator I have directed the production of maquettes with professional model workshops. Ditigal manufacture of parts, sourcing of materials or drawing of cutting patterns are some of the skills I have gained over the years . The photograph shown here depicts a 2600 by 1800 mm model for the proposal of 70 m long performative installation at Zurriola beach, in the norther Spanish city of San Sebastian.
26
Ruben Alonso
to the attention of Edge Design Workshop
PHOTOGRAPHIC PRACTICES Image Maker
Trained in film and photography during my diploma studies, image making has now been integrated into my design practice, a way to read space and a tool for its production. The images in this spread are examples of my artistic practice, where photography making, collage and image manipulation are used to “draw� alternative realities, other possible spaces. Despite of the raw material belonging to the capture of reality, it is in the very act of capturing where the architect delineates boundaries and therefore draws the beyond, the un-existant. I value this understanding and the skills to work with this raw material as fundamental in an age where architecture is inundated by the hyper-representation of renders and photographs. It has proved very beneficial in my ability to design.
C O N TA C T
07767783239 ruben@studiobravo.org