POCOL PAULA PORTFOLIO APPLICATION FOR: MSC ARCHITECTURE AT TU DELFT
SELECTED WORKS 2016-2019 - UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH CONTACT tel:+ 40769089164 email: pocolpaula.arch@gmail.com
PAULA POCOL CURRICULUM VITAE Recent Graduate with a First Class Bachelor’s Architectural Degree from the University of Greenwich. I am a dynamic professional able to adapt to any situation and undertake a series of complex design challenges bringing them to completion.
Contact E-mail: Tel:
pocolpaula.arch@gmail.com 00 407 69089164
Languages English French German Romanian Spanish
Advanced Conversational Beginer Native Conversational
SKILLS Digital skills Photographic manipulation Hand Model Making Hand Drawing
AutoCAD, 3DS-Max,Revit, Rhino, Scketch-up, Vectorworks Photoshop, Afinitty, InDesign, Illustator Advanced Advanced
INTERESTS Photography Traditional farming Mountain trekking Mushroom foraging Dancing
AWARDS
WORK EXPERIENCE
2019
RIBA Stirling Prize Bronze Medal Commendation Project-Sommers Town Community for Women
2019-2021 Architectural Assistant EPR Architects
2019
University of Greenwich Outstanding Dissertation Award University of Greenwich Outstanding Student Performance Award
2019 2019
RIBA South London Best Exhibition Runner Up
2019
University of Greenwich Design Department Year 3 Outstanding Performance Award
EXHIBITIONS
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Prepared several pre-planning and planning applications for a diverse array of clients and was an active member of the pitching team. I worked in an extremely dynamic rhythm and was able to adapt to tight deadlines
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Assisted with Initial Conceptual Design on TFL (Transport for London) led schemes and produced 3D models and 2D studies. On these projects, I conducted extensive site and demographic research and closely worked with local administrative bodies.
2019
RIBA Stirling Prize Exhibition Project-Sommers Town Community for Women
2019
University of Greenwich End of Year Exhibition
▻ Was in charge of the Interior package construction drawings of a 8 building, 480 homes development, which I coordinated with structural engineers, fire safety specialists, mechanical & electrical engineers.
2018
University of Greenwich End of Year Exhibition
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2017
University of Greenwich End of Year Exhibition
EDUCATION 2016-2019 University of Greenwich (UK) -Graduated with First Class Honours BA (HONS) Architecture 2016
Bacalaureat Diploma -Mathematics (9.25/10), Physics (9.75/10) and Literature (8.90/10)
2016
Certificate of Proficiency Computer Science
2012-2016 National College Andrei Muresanu Dej-Computer Science Physics and Mathematics Department -Graduated with Honourable Mentions First Class
2018
Summer Workshop Member-EBBA Architects -La Falda ▻ Worked as part of a team responsible for creating a facade for a primary school in Alicante, Spain. Was tasked with painting, assembling and cutting bespoke elements. ▻
2017
Nominated for the Architects’ Journal Small Projects Award 2019
Intern -BogArt Construct-Summer Internship ▻
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Designed the facade and layout of 1 of 4 buildings in a 1100 homes development and was an active member of the public presentation and debate team.
Produced topographic studies and 2D architectural drawings for a multi site refurbishment project.
Motivation Letter
Table of Contents
I firmly believe that the culturally and socially diverse environment of TU Delft, with its affinity for technological progress and advancement is the best environment for me to continue my education in architecture.
1: Transformation: Extension of The Waterstones on Malet Street .............................P 4
My architectural journey started at the University of Greenwich in London. Studying architecture in such a culturally diverse and vibrant city has been an eye opening and rewarding experience. I engaged with both the micro and macro scales that exist within the city, and my architecture studies have been greatly influenced by that. During my bachelor’s course I became interested in studying the Eastern European vernacular, especially domestic space. This has resulted in an acute awareness of the cultural context of designing, and my university education has emphasised that along with flexibility, empathy and thoroughness when creating architecture. The studio that I am most interested in from the Architecture track is Architecture and Dwelling. My fascination for the relationship between people, place and space is most evident in my third year design project ‘Somers Town Community for Women’ that endeavours to create bespoke life-long homes for retired women with the purpose of keeping them engaged in all aspects of life and community. My thesis would focus on the ‘dwelling’ in crisis, with two possible avenues of study. The first one is the identity crisis of the East European Vernacular and the phenomenon of ‘performing the west,’ integrating west European forms and attitudes without filtering them through the existing cultural context. The other possible subject is exploring the climate crisis and its implications on the microcosms of the home. This would require engaging with concepts such as sustainability, socio-economic factors, cultural context and medical implications of climate change. These two fields of focus are not mutually exclusive and could be combined in a single research project. For me architecture is the intersection of all avenues of society and is a reflection of human nature, it requires empathy, curiosity and a drive for ‘better.’ The masters program at TU Delft perfectly aligns with my aspirations, sense of ethics, interests, goals and would provide me with the necessary tools for my personal and professional growth.
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3. Sommers Town Community for Women ...........................................................................P 8 Awarded:
RIBA Stirling Prize Bronze Medal
Commendation;
RIBA South London Best Exhibition Runner Up
2. Institute of Documentaries and Voyeurs .......................................................................P 23
4. Cricklewood Development ...............................P 27
Transformation: Extension of The Waterstones on Malet Street
THE SITE The given site is the Waterstones on Malet Street. The book shop is situated in a central area of London and has three facade on three, busy roads, however due to it’s static nature one of the building’s facade is perceived by passers-bys as an exit point rather than an enticing entrance.
THE PROGRAMME Reusing London’s public building stock, layers are added to a given existing building in order to create new spaces. The given site gains an extensions that has the purpose of not only bringing the focus back to an otherwise neglected facade, but also to harmoniously combine a reading space and a string quartet rehearsal space.
TYPE YEAR LOCATION TUTORS
INDIVIDUAL ACADEMIC PROJECT 3RD YEAR OF BA,TERM 1 (2018-2019) KINGS CROSS, MALET STREET,LONDON KIERAN HAWKINGS & BENNI ALLAN
String Quartet Rehearsal
kieran@cairnarchitecture.co.uk ba@eb-ba.co
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Reading Space
Initial Massing Year 3 -Term 1-Project 1
First Iteration
Second Iteration Long Facade of the Extension - Not seen from the street
Third Iteration Hand-made experimental models and plans made before the site was chosen
Short Facade of the Extension - Seen from Malet Street
String Quartet Rehearsal Space - View from Handmade Model
Final Iteration - After Site was chosen
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Year 3 -Term 1-Project 1
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Long Section of the Extension
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C Plan of the Extension
Collaged view of the 2 spaces added and their link to the existing architecture
1. Perforated Wall/ Colonnade 2. Window seating
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A. String quartet rehearsal area B. Reading Nook C. Existing Waterstones Connection Year 3 -Term 1-Project 1
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Short Section of the Extension
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Cutaway Axonometric of the Extension
View of the Reading Area of the Extension
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A. String quartet rehearsal area B. Reading Nook C. Existing Waterstones Connection Year 3 -Term 1-Project 1
Somers Town Community for Women THE SITE
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The chosen site, Chalton Street, Somers Town is part of the Euston - King’s Cross corridor, a dynamic, vibrant and well-connected location. The site location is on the strip between Levita House and the road. The 5,5 m width of the street’s typical London houses - is used to create a grid for the proposed estate, so the design can be fully integrated into the site. The columns are extruded from the grid, spatially manifesting the proposal.
Diagrams used to create a 5.5 m column grid for the women’s community
TYPE YEAR LOCATION TUTORS
INDIVIDUAL ACADEMIC PROJECT 3RD YEAR OF BA, TERM 2 (2018-2019) KINGS CROSS, CHALTON STREET, LONDON KIERAN HAWKINGS & BENNI ALLAN kieran@cairnarchitecture.co.uk ba@eb-ba.co
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Year 3 -Term 2-Project 2
THE PROGRAMME Somers Town Community For Women is an architectural exploration of the statement: ‘Women, undoubtedly the strongest pillars of our community’ (Meera Satpathy). It seeks to elevate female independence while coexisting in today’s world. It provides life-long private homes for elderly women, creating a Community that keeps the residents engaged with all aspects of society. Ateliers and Private Residences blend into one to provide a dynamic environment to practice and teach a craft.
A successful retirement requires purpose and sense of belonging. The proposal provides this by establishing a close relationship between the private house, the atelier, the women’s community, and the public. Several crafts are proposed as part of the program (music, sculpture, cooking, and woodwork).
Visual representation of the concept of “women as pillars of community”
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Year 3 -Term 2-Project 2
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Ground Floor 1. Music Atelier 2. Music Atelier+Living Area 3. House Type 1 4. House Type 2 5. Market/ Main Entrance
First Floor 6. House Type 2 Mirrored 7. House Type 3 8. Secondary Entrance 9. House Type 3 Mirrored 10. House Type 4
11. Woodwork Atelier 12. Mew 13. Communal Terrace 14. Sculpture Yard 15. Communal Terrace
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Second Floor 16. Communal Terrace 17. Communal Laundry 1 18. Cooking Atelier 19. Sculpture Atelier 20. Communal Laundry 2
Year 3 -Term 2-Project 2
House 1
House 1
House 2
House 2
Meeting Points Example 1: A panel can be opened from House 1 to House 2 so music played in one house to the other one. (Both inhabitants have to open the panel from their house, the purpose is to live harmoniously not be intrusive.)
The Private Houses are designed around a series of ‘meeting points’ such as connecting doors, communal laundries, or open-able panels. These are used to create a sense of intimacy and community. These meeting points should be in ‘neutral’ areas as not to be intrusive.
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Year 3 -Term 2-Project 2
House 1
House 1
House 2
House 2
Example 2: A communal laundry can be used by half of the Community as both a place for ‘chores’ and for leisure activities. (Each house has it’s own laundry area so using the communal one is optional.)
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Example 3: A communal terrace can be used as part of everyday life activities.
Year 3 -Term 2-Project 2
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Step 1: Pre-cast support
Step 4: Pre-cast columns PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Step 6: Pre-cast facade
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Diagrammatic representation of the construction sequence
Facade fragment in elevation and section
Structural Element
Facade Detail 1
Method of Construction
The dominant architectural element of the proposal, the column, is in fact a series of components assembled in such a way as to create a ‘pillar’ that serves a wide variety of purposes (a stylized sandwich panel). The principal reason for choosing this specific method of construction is flexibility of the architecture, equally this approach facilitates the impression that the ‘columns’ are load bearing, hence still complying to the main design drive and initial concepts. 13
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Finish Layer
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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Step 3: In-situ concrete
Step 5: Pre-cast beams PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Step 2: Concrete slab
Insulation Layer
Interior Finish Layer
Construction diagram of one type of column that includes a structural element
Year 3 -Term 2-Project 2
Horizontal Pre-cast Concrete Element (Aesthetic Purpose only)
Insulated Pre-cast Concrete Sandwich Panel Drain Pre-cast Concrete Column
Pre-cast Concrete Column
Sandwich Panel with Wooden Finish
Sandwich Panel with Wooden Finish Hardwood Floor Timber Baton 6
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Concrete Slab
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Pre-cast Concrete ‘Snug’ for the Columns Pile cap
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Hardcore
Pile 1. Foyer 2. Kitchen 3. Accessible Bathroom 4. Master Bedroom
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5. Library 6. Communal Laundry 7. Balcony Year 3 -Term 2-Project 2
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A. Music Atelier B. Music Atelier+Living Area of House Type 1 C. House Type 1 D. Communal Laundry 1 E. House Type 2 F. Market/ Main Entrance G. Cooking Atelier H. House Type 2 Mirrored I. House Type 3
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Long Section of the Somers Town Community for Women with the 2 Entrances and Corresponding Ateliers Highlighted
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J. Sculpture Atelier K. Secondary Entrance/ Sculpture Exhibition Yard L. House Type 3 Mirrored M. House Type 4 N. Communal Laundry 2 O. Woodwork Atelier/ House Type 1 Mirrored Living Area P. Communal Terrace
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Sectional Axo of the Market and Cooking Space A. Market B. Cooking Area C. Eating Area
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Year 3 -Term 2-Project 2
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Public - Private Privacy is necessary even in a co-living, open and embracing environment. A sunken mew provides a private pathway for the Women’s Community. Deep thresholds and short ‘column’ elements are used for an added sense of intimacy. The public atelier entrances have a raised level to create a necessary pause between the community and the outside.
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A. Cooking Atelier B. Market
Year 3 -Term 2-Project 2
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House adjacent to Cooking Atelier- Second Floor
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House adjacent to Cooking Atelier-First Floor
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House adjacent to Cooking Atelier-Ground Floor
The Market The existing bi-weekly market that takes place on Chalton Street will be extended into the Community’s grounds to build a rapport between the Women’s Community and locals. The women are encouraged to sell home cooked food, so the market is placed underneath the cooking atelier.
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1. Living Area 4. Extension of Library 2. Flexible Space Moving Platform- 5. Platform Shaft Used as Workspace 6. Master Bedroom 3. Library - Can Become Guest/ 7. Kitchen - Used when the Occupant Caretaker Bedroom feels the need for privacy
Year 3 -Term 2-Project 2
First Floor-Music Atelier Communal Terrace
Ground Floor-Music Atelier
Atelier-House The Home and the Atelier have a close relationship, the atelier being an extension of the active space of the household. The flexible teaching space that can be used for music is seen as a secondary living area for Private House 1, a small deck accessed through the atelier becomes a garden and laundry drying area.
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Year 3 -Term 2-Project 2
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House Type 1-Ground Floor 1. Foyer 2. Kitchen 3. Dining Area 4. Bathroom 5. Meeting Point between the houses
House Type 1-First Floor
House Type 1 -Second Floor
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10. Laundry area 11. Tea/ social area 12. Balcony 1 13. Balcony 2
Library En-suite Bathroom Master Bedroom Meeting Point between the houses
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Year 3 -Term 2-Project 2
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Craftsmanship | Companionship By providing an environment for creation that simultaneously allows for respite, the community ensures a fulfilling retirement of mixing work and social interaction. Teaching and resting are balanced, able to happen as one. The sculpture atelier is the responsibility of the residents whose house it extends into. It is a shared living area that is craft centred, but part of the home.
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A. Sculpture Atelier B. Secondary Entrance Year 3 -Term 2-Project 2
The Market The facade of the Somers Town Community follows the rhythm of the street while being deliberately distinct from it. The women’s community seems monumental, but it is dwarfed in size by the Levita House of Ossulson Estate.
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Year 3 -Term 2-Project 2
The Somers Town Community for Women speaks to the wider context and, while an imposing presence, on closer inspection, it’s gateways provide entry into the creative environment of the atelier. The Chalton street Women’s Community is not a elderly house but a lifelong home for women who have retired from their professional fields and seek to pursue a harmonious community centred life with likeminded individuals.
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Year 3 -Term 2-Project 2
Institute of Documentaries and Voyeurs
THE SITE The given site is the area next to the substation of Charing Cross, north of the Thames in Victoria Embankment Gardens. A junction of the most walked paths is the chosen location for the 3 building School of Documentaries and Voyeurs Charing Cross
Charing Cross
School Substation Interviews
Social/
THE PROGRAMME The Institute of Documentaries and Voyeurs is an Experimental learning experience for documentary makers. The busy and dynamic area of Embankment provides perfect opportunity to observe the behaviour of people from all strata of society. The students are encouraged to observe passer-bys and each other. Students become Voyeurs as they use a Clandestine Observing Structure to gather data on their peers. Documentary Maker
TYPE YEAR LOCATION TUTORS
Documentary Maker
INDIVIDUAL ACADEMIC PROJECT 2ND YEAR OF BA TERM 2 (2017-2018) EMBANKMENT, LONDON PEDRO GIL & JONATHAN WALKER mail@studio-gil.com j.walker@greenwich.ac.uk
Voyeur
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Voyeur Year 2 -Term 2-Project 2
A Long section through the School and Recreation Area
A The initial concept for the architecture of the institute comes from the exploded axo of a river boat. This reference was provided by the Unit/Studio brief.
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Short section through the School and Interview Area The Red Areas are the Clandestine Observation Structure that enables an in depth Voyeuristic study of the students by their peers.
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A. School B. Recreation Area C. Interview Area Year 2 -Term 2-Project 2
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Initial Material Concept Model B A
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Second Floor Plan 5
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B A Method of working: A rapid succession of handmade models and sketches and collaged sketches were used to develop an architectural language from the exploded form of the boat.
Ground Floor Plan
First Floor Plan A. School B. Recreation Area C. Interview Area 1. Waiting Area 2. Foyer 3. Amphitheatre
The Red Areas are the Clandestine Observation Structure that enables an in depth Voyeuristic study of the students by their peers.
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4. Eating Area 5. Smoking Area 6. Gender Neutral Bathrooms Year 2 -Term 2-Project 2
Sound Insulation
Hand sketch of study area-used to design the individual pods
Oxygen tank
Sound Insulated POD Roof
One-way Window Insulated Clandestine Observation Structure
Insulated Entrance to Clandestine Observation Structure
Voyeur
Sound Insulation Work Area
Variations on the Study POD
Padded floor
Individual Study POD
Clandestine Observation Structure
Study POD On the first floor of the School there are a series of pods that facilitate individual study and editing. These pods are insulated from the outside world in order to enable concentration and the creative process of a documentary maker. They are still susceptible to observation through the Clandestine Observation Structure.
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Year 2 -Term 2-Project 2
The Institute for Documentaries and Voyeurs is an experimental way of learning. The students are encouraged to observe the passer-bys while simultaneously being observed by them. A second layer of observation is achieved through the clandestine structure. The purpose is to create documentary makers able to become voyeurs when their craft demands it
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Year 2 -Term 2-Project 2
Work Experience: Cricklewood Lane THE SITE & PROGRAMME The site is a disused parking lot and B&Q (hardware store), that both the local authorities and the community were extremely keen to see redeveloped. The development had two driving concepts: First, provide much needed green space for the community in a area that, due to it’s position at the border of two boroughs, has been neglected by local authorities. Second provide an economic boost to the area. This project was an extraordinary opportunity for me as I was able to work on it in it’s incipient phases and was my first experience with public consultations and developing social housing.
Massing Testing using physical models
TYPE YEAR LOCATION ROLE
GROUP / WORK EXPERIENCE PROJECT 2019-2020 CRICKLEWOOD LANE ,LONDON FACADE AND INTERNAL LAYOUT DESIGNER, BLOCK B SUPERVISOR JAMES EVERITT & STEPHANIE NELL James.Everitt@epr.co.uk
All Drawings were made by the Cricklewood design team as a collective.
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Work Experience
Sketch views used to develop façades and a sense of the green community area
Planing CGIs
All Drawings were made by the Cricklewood design team as a collective.
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Work Experience
Paula Pocol
tel:+ 40769089164 email: pocolpaula.arch@gmail.com
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