Portfolio
RobERT McCaughan
E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
Work Live Community Blocks, Suzhou. Rapid urbanisation and the subsequent construction boom of the last few decades in China have changed the nature of the city. Traditional housing typologies and local constructional craft are being replaced with indiscriminate swathes of new urban areas at an astonishing rate. Large districts are formed where the housing is defined by high rise apartment blocks with uniform floor plans recycled from other parts booming cities. This process cuts up the historic city fabric into larger blocks with wide avenues bereft of urban life. China need to focus their attention on housing again to produce new models of housing that facilitates a rapidly modernising population. A new system that relates to the context- the social and working patterns of the people, were work and living can be combined, and a system that attempts to reintroduce some of the valuable attributes that we have seen before in Chinese housing, like shared community space in the old Lilong houses of Shanghai. This project is a study into producing such a housing model. The development is located centrally within the new Yuen City masterplan. People living here can enjoy the benefit of cutting out long commuter journeys, and live within walking distance of workplaces, parks, services, and all the leisure facilities that the city has to offer.
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
Work Live Community Blocks, Yuen, Suzhou.
RGU.
Transport Interchange: Monorail, Metro and Canal transport.
Feb. 2014 - May 2015.
Interested in ideas of solid and void, hinting at the various ways in which people can both live and work within the block. The voids are expressed as holes that cut through the building envelope and provide visual connections from inside the block to the city beyond.
A
The horizontal lines of the floors presents each floor as one unit and suggest intimacy between the rooms or flats.
Buildings are orintated along the canal edge. Each live work unit has a connection to the street below and the void within.
Office blocks
In the inner envelope of the courtyard block, the vertical pattern created by the louvres reflects the dense bamboo forest nearby.
B
B Focus Block
Shopping
Old canal network provides alternative transport medium and a connection to the traditional way of life in Suzhou.
Primary School
A
Bamboo forest and nearby bamboo projects and buildings.
Bamb
oo bic
ycle f
actor
y
Hou
sing
North
The blocks are divided into a three levels, the ground floor shop and workshop level (street interface), shared housing in the upper levels, and a rooftop garden/activity level. The courtyard floor is adopted by the shops and workshops, and above, the void is crossed at several points by bridges.
Tow
ers
Site Plan. Lines show Section cuts
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
Section BB
Shared Living Each floor has two shared living areas, facilitating around seven flats each. These areas open out into the double height voids that cut through the building and form terraces, offering views and an outside space. The terraces connect to other terraces and cross over the courtyard void. Here people can hang washing or tend planter boxes, inviting possibilities of collaboration and a rich living experience.
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
“...we are interested in investigating ideas of communal living, or notions of sharing spaces. Shared space simply means more space is maximised, less space is needed, less construction is needed, less energy is used, things cost less.” “...sharing spaces allows people to maintain contact with each other again.” - TAN, K.M., 2010. Sharing, Mixing, Richness. Lotus International, 141, pp. 88-94.
Construction Precedent, IBA Apartments, Hamberg, Germany Adjaye Associates.
Shared Terraces, Gifu Kitagata Housing Block, Gifu, Japan, Kazuyo Sejima.
Shared Living Spaces, Tietgen Student Housing, Copenhagen, Tietgen Student Housing.
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
Living Units The living units are arranged in a duplex system, offering higher ceiling heights for the work area of each flat. They are compact, with a small shower room and kitchenette as there is a larger shared living area for each set of flats.
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
Sketch Right: View from canal in the centre of the site. Image Far Right: View into one of the shared living areas. Below: Sectional Perspective AA.
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
Exploration Various methods and mediums helped me explore the design and investigate the construction and materiality of the design. Here I undertook a detail study of the building envelope and it’s construction. Below right I used watercolour to convey light and materiality of the interior (birch plywood).
1:20 Detail Study
Model and Drawings of Shared Terrace
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
Roof view
Terraces and Roofs
[Below]
Birds eye view over courtyard blocks. Notice the terrace areas that form ‘holes’ or connections from courtyard void to the outer city. Also see the various activity areas (such as a gym and allotment garden) that activate the roof level and provide another ‘street’ where people can interact and a community can grow.
[Left]
The Street [Left] Street level view over the canal to the bustling street environment at the base of the housing blocks. Things are being made and sold in this market like area. There is an emphasis on local produce and craft that speaks of the people here. Older folks from the houses above come and sit on the street and talk or play mahjong, others are working or getting lunch, while others are simple sitting and watching as people pass by.
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
Existing Plant Layout
Victoria Square Plant Area Arrangement, Belfast
Rapport Architects
Sep. 2015
Prospective restaurant tenant seeking to move into a vacant floor in part of the Victoria Square complex. The floors above and below are already occupied by restaurant tenants and use the roof as the destination for the ducting and services. The new tenant would require similar services and ducting. I drew the existing plant drawings below.
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
For now, we thought it would be worth reflecting on the particular qualities of the present or ‘old’ school building and the way in which students and staff have made use of it in recent years. During our time as students the Garthdee campus has changed beyond recognition. In the process we have lost a union bar in the city, but gained a number of new resources on site. As Year 6 students we are not just leaving the building, we are also leaving 2010-Present the school too. Looking back over the past 6 years it is interesting how much the school has also changed. Developments in the workshop (digital printing and laser cutters) and changes in the labs (the emergence of 3D modelling and BIM etc) have had a major impact on the work we produce and how it is presented. It feels as if architectural education has changed a lot, although we can’t quite agree on the nature of the change. Whether education is more or less radical, technologically driven or marketing-orientated are questions on which you might chose to make your own judgement based on the work in this year’s book. As we are moving to a new building, we thought it might be a good time to experiment with the format of the yearbook. We decided to go for a large square format so we could show work in a legible fashion. We hope you like it.
Graphic Design
A New Beginning
25 Stage 1 Studio 28 Stage 2 Studio 34 Stage 3 Studio 42 Architectural Technology 49 Journeys 54 Essays on Modernism 58 Product Design 60 Architecture Masters 61 Stage 5 Studio 66 Stage 6 Studio 84 Electives 86 Dissertations
Vector Portrait [Right] I made a vector portrait on Illustrator to use as an interesting and memorable title page for my CV. This was the first time I had tried to make an image like this on Illustrator and was a useful and enjoyable exercise.
90 Sketchbook
Scott Sutherland Yearbook 7
Editorial Team Holly Kennedy,//Volha Volha Druhakova EditorDruhakova // Editors
Contents
Holly Kennedy // Editor This is the last SSS Yearbook to be produced at Garthdee House. J’ Stewart // Commissioning By next year students will have spent a year in the new Riverside Shallom Okello //and Commissioning East building will, no doubt, want to reflect on the qualities of Zisan // Design Production their Duniya new home and and its impact on their education and work. Rob McCaughan // Design and Production For now, we thought it would be worth reflecting on the particular qualities Special Thanksorto‘old’ Penny Lewis of the present school building and the way in which students and staff have made use of it in recent years. During our time as students the Garthdee campus has changed beyond recognition. In the process we have lost a union bar in the city, but gained a number of new resources on site. As Year 6 students we are not just leaving the building, we are also leaving the school too. Looking back over the past 6 years it is interesting how much the school has also changed. Developments in the workshop (digital printing and laser cutters) and changes in the labs (the emergence of 3D modelling and BIM etc) have had a major impact on the work we produce and how it is presented. It feels as if architectural education has changed a lot, although we can’t quite agree on the nature of the change. Whether education is more or less radical, technologically driven or marketing-orientated are questions on which you might chose to make your own judgement based on the work in this year’s book. As we are moving to a new building, we thought it might be a good time to experiment with the format of the yearbook. We decided to go for a large square format so we could show work in a legible fashion. We hope you like it.
Scott Sutherland Yearbook 7
04 Scott’s Present, Past and Future 10 Competition entries 13 The Big Crit 2015 24 Architecture Part 1 25 Stage 1 Studio 28 Stage 2 Studio 34 Stage 3 Studio Scott Sutherland School 2015
1
We used the School’s move to new premises as an opportunity to change the design of the yearbook. We used a larger square format and came up with certain ‘rules’ or guideline with how we might used the square format and how we could be more flexible with where we placed objects and text.
42 Architectural Technology 49 Journeys 54 Essays on Modernism 58 Product Design 60 Architecture Masters 61 Stage 5 Studio 66 Stage 6 Studio 84 Electives 86 Dissertations 90 Sketchbook
Editorial Team Volha Druhakova // Editor Holly Kennedy // Editor J’ Stewart // Commissioning Shallom Okello // Commissioning Zisan Duniya // Design and Production Rob McCaughan // Design and Production Special Thanks to Penny Lewis Scott Sutherland School 2015
1
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
GRACE and GLORY
18th September Friday nights 7.30-9.00 PM // Age 11-18 yrs // starting FridAy 11 th SePteMber_
2nd October
address // 37 Knockbracken road website // knockbracken.rpc.org contact // Steven McCollum (+44 7580 800103)
2 week break
Knockbracken
Reformed Presbyterian Church
9th October
#KnockbrackenYouthClub
Knockbracken
25th September
Play games, try some craft, make new friends, and hear about the good news of the gospel!
16th October
6th November 13th November 20th November 27th November
14th - 17th October
11th September
Bible Week
Hey! you are invited to Knockbracken YoutH Club
.
20 12
The Love of Christ Sun 14th 11.30AM The Mystery of Providence Sun 14th 7.00PM The Restoration of Peter Mon 15th 8.00PM The Gentleness of Christ Visiting Speaker: Tue 16th 8.00PM Pastor Gerard Hemmings Pictures of Heaven Amyand Park Chapel, Twickenham, London Wed 17th 8.00PM 39 Knockbracken Road, Belfast www.knockbracken.rpc.org
Dates we are on in Autumn
Grace and Glory Leaflet [Right] Leaflet summarises week of special talks from visiting speaker Gerard Hemmings.
2015
4th december
GLORY
Reformed Presbyterian Church
Youth Club Leaflet [Above] Leaflet for the youth club at my church. The dates of youth club nights are listed on the back. The leaflet was printed and handed out to friends and homes around the local area.
BOYS
ADventure
CAMP
2015 Characters
Squads
ready...Set.....Go Go Go!
1
Bowser Chief Engineer: Matt Sampson
3
Racers: Ross Fallows, Jason McPeake, David McConaghy, Calvin Quigley 2
5
Chief Engineer: Mark
Luigi
McCavery Racers: Stephen Greer, Craig
4
BA Camp Book 2015
McKeeman, Tom Lowry, 6
Matthew Atkinson
[Right] Boys Adventure Camp book for boys aged 13-15 yrs.
8
Koopa Chief Engineers: Nathan Hawthorne and
9
Gavin Blackwell
7
Racers: Adam McCaughan, Taylor Allen10
Moore, Curtis Pollock, Callum McCurry
Wario Chief Engineer: Luke McCollum Racers: Joel Wallace, Luke Pollock, Dylan Duff, James Blair
13 11
6
12
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
14
Existing Church Drawings, Newtownards.
Rapport Architects
Sep. 2014
This small project allowed me to go to an existing church in Newtownards to both survey it and then draw it up. The intention of the church was to extend into the small court at the front to create a much larger welcoming foyer, full of natural light. Unfortunately I had to leave the office and go back to university before any real commitments or decisions were made, but it was a good exercise in drawing and surveying.
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
Retail Trust Estate Redevelopment, Derby. 2020 Construction Management Mar. - Aug. 2013 I went on several site visits to this project in Derby and took photos and measurements of the existing buildings. With this information I was able to draw and design the new path layout for the estate and also do drawings of the individual cottage units that needed amended.
Defect Inspections.
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
Residential Extension, Ballymena. 2020 Construction Management
Residential Extension, Ballymoney. 2020 Construction Management Apr. - May 2013
Timber Frame ‘chalet style’ house extension. The client was seeking to expand the building foottprint and this was achieved by adding floor space on all four sides of the original dwelling. This drawing below shows the cladding elevations.
Sun Room extension. I was involved from the beginning of the project, inception and site inspections, meeting the client, to drawing up the existing building and coming up with a design solution for the new sun room.
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
Apr. - Jun. 2013
Residential Extension, Belfast. 2020 Construction Management Feb. - Jul. 2013 The extention design substantially increases the living space in this house. There is an extention over the garage, an extention on to the kitchen and a Sun Room extention. I prepared the construction drawings and made changes to the drawing according to the client’s wishes. I was also responsible for sending the drawings out to tender and Building Control.
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
Masterplanning a Mountain: Tourist Resort Masterplan, Quanzhou. UDi
Dec. 2012 - Feb. 2013
The task was somewhat outrageous- to design a tourist resort over a vast mountain landscape. The scale of the project was hard to grasp and much of the site was greenfield untouched land with lakes and amazing views down the mountain. I was able to go on a site visit and be involved with the design of the hotel, which was based on a ‘European Style’ aesthetic.
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
Four towers and shopping plaza development, Quanzhou. UDi Nov. - Dec. 2012 For this project, I was involved in offering alternatives to the overall layout of the design, as well as sourcing relevant precedents to see how the design could be altered or improved to suit the clients desires.
New Landscape of Sanshui, Planning and Design. UDi
Nov. - Dec. 2012
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
Hotel, appartments, shopping and plaza development. The hotel was positioned close to the main road as a landmark. I was involved in the layout design stage.
UDI Heritage Reuse Study, Zhanjiang. UDi Dec. 2012
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
Health and Well-being Centre, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast. Ulster University
Oct. - Dec. 2011
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
Health and Well-being Centre, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast. A new Health and Well Being Centre on Ormeau Avenue, Belfast, to replace the derelict site currently being used as a car park. I was at first interested in pitched roofs and I took inspiration from the surrounding architecture and typologies. I developed this idea along with the tower element to afford views over the city.
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
Luthier’s Workshop and Residence, Henrietta Street Dublin. Ulster University
Feb. - May 2012
The task was to design new guitar workshop complex that included both living accommodation for the Luthier and a space to perform and test the guitars. The very narrow site may have seemed to pose problems but I saw it as a challenge that could provide opportunities for design, like positioning a solid brick wall on the east facade. The design also required me to address the question of designing something new next to a traditional Georgian terraced row. I decided to use similar materials and construction methods and instead of following the same strict pattern of the facade, I designed the positioning openings according to the qualities of light needed in each space.
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309
Robert McCauaghan E: robmccaughan@gmail.com M: +44 7885 743309