SinĂŠad MacMahon Portfolio
SINÉAD MACMAHON
w: sineadmacmahon@portfoliobox.net e: macmahon.sinead@gmail.com t: 6465496810
Address: Phone: Email: D.O.B:
33-44 31st ST, Astoria, Queens, 11106, New York 6465496810 macmahon.sinead@gmail.com 14th July 1988
Noel MacMahon, Consulting Engineers, Galway Assitant Architect
May - Sept 2011
Preparation of CAD drawings for planning permission for numerous domestic projects of varying scales.
SKILLS EDUCATION 2006-2011
Computing
School of Architecture, University of Limerick B.Arch, Graduating with a 2.1 degree, second class honours Thesis: An exploration of the motorway condition in Ireland and a reinterpretation of its connections to place. It focused on the presence and effects of motorways in rural Ireland, and a potential redesign of the exsiting situation.
2001-2006
Salerno Secondary School, Salthill, Galway Leaving Certificate, June 2006, 7 Honours Junior Certificate, June 2004, 10 Honours
May 2012 - Present
Part of the design team adding a design input into the research, planning and design stages of the LST project. The position included a range of tasks including undertaking site surveys, completing site research, organizing community information days and public presentations, design of new infrastructure for the city.
School of Architecture, University of Limerick Teaching Assistant
Others Excellent Teaching Skills from T.A. work experience and hockey coaching to junior players. Full clean Drivers License since 2008 Good organisation skills, coming through in my T.A. experience Excellent Writing and Presenting skills
ACHIEVEMENTS
EMPLOYMENT Smarter Travel, Bank Place, Limerick Architect & Researcher on Infrastructural Design Project
Very experienced in Adobe applications (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator), Vectorworks Trained to a high standard in Rhino, AutoCAD, Sketch Up. Have increasing skills in Maxwell Render and Revit Software. Looking to further my skills in all programmes. Highly proficient with MS Office software (Microsoft Word, Excel, Project, Powerpoint) and am an extremely fast learner
Sept 2011 - June 2012
to Rosemarie Webb, Galway City Senior Architect and Lecturer of Design and Civic Governance, SAUL I was responsible for assisting Rosemarie in all aspects of the course, from working with the students and editing and giving presentations/lectures, to arranging an exhibition of the course work. One of the main roles was to manage and present to community meetings which were an essential part of the course.
My final year thesis was Highly Commended in the Maurice Craig Thesis Category in this years Architectural Association of Ireland (AAI) Awards, the awards exhibition and book launch are scheduled for Sept 2012, thesis project to be featured in both. Received a letter from the President of UL for outstanding results for my final year. Finishing amongst the top of my class with a QCA of 3.74 Captained the UL Hockey team for two seasons from 2009 to 2011 and also held the treasurer’s position on the club’s committee. Played on the Varsity team for five seasons. Represented Connaught in hockey at Under 18 and 21 Interprovincials from 2006-2010
REFERENCES Rosemarie Webb, Senior Architect Galway City Council Galway 086 785 3443 rwebb@galwaycity.ie
Prof. Merritt Bucholz, Head of School, University of Limerick, Limerick Dublin mbucholz@bmcea.com
Peter Carroll Director, A2 Architects 3 Great Strand Street, Dublin pcarroll@a2.ie
CONTENTS PROJECTS
SKILLS & RESEARCH
LANDSCAPE WITH THE PASSING OF CARS
SURVEYING & DETAILING
THE MOBILITY PROJECT / SMARTER TRAVEL
GEORGIAN QUARTER INFILL
PHOTOGRAPHY
DESIGN & CIVIC GOVERNANCE / MAPPING
PRODUCTIVE LAND
LECA PISCINAS DAS MARES, ALVARO SIZA
CITY GRID LIBRARY
OAKLAND MUSEUM OF CALIFORNIA, KEVIN ROCHE
P1 / THESIS LANDSCAPE WTH THE PASSING OF CARS A reflection on the motorway in Ireland, uncovering the latent opportunities within this complex piece of ground. Motorways are new to this country and their positive effects cannot be doubted. These connectors however, have come with consequences, both physical and social, suffered by rural landscapes. Motorway construction involves the buying of private land. However the majority of this land lies unused alongside the new road, highlighting the dividing nature of the motorway in place. The project addresses this condition, on the Gort-Crusheen by-pass, making a productive landscape for food research from this forgotten land. This new activity working directly off the consequences of motorway construction reconnects the land with its locality, while also providing new experiences for motorway drivers.
The experience of approaching the building while driving on the motorway
The entire length of this land alongside the 22km stretch of motorway is open to the public, creating a new type of countryside parkland which avails of existing roadside pathways and attenuation ponds. The land organisation echoes the existing grain and field pattern, running perpendicular to the local Tubber road. Emphasis is always on the locality and place, with the motorway as a secondary element.
Mapping of the land left alongside the motorway after construction. Attenuation Ponds for motorway drainage, as well as access tracks and the local road network are also mapped
An overlay of the grain of the project, extending beyond the limits of the purchased land. This offers local farmers the opportinity to buy into the research scheme, reconnecting the fragmented landscape
An elevation of the productive verges and its Infrastructure Tower
Flatness of the new motorway vs existing undulating landscape
The original concept for the building was that it should be one point in the landscape where different and users and activities are wrapped up into one point. One static form amongst the different scales of movement. A study of the Irish Tower House developed this further, taking concepts such as its height,strength and form. Stacking and circulation were also main points of focus. After working through the design for the building, the final concept was a stacking of landscapes. The building is almost a cube in its dimensions (31x31x37m), but has no skin. It is a rudimentary building open and exposed to the elements, with the ability to be closed off in certain parts. It acts as trays of landscape stacked above one another. The growing and productivity moves up through the building on the outer edge of each shelf. Some internal spaces can be made on each floor, depending on the programme on each level. Roadside attenuation ponds become a focus for wildlife and nature
Process Models
Process Models
Ground Floor
Workshop Space
Research Floor with extended SE growing terrace
Research Floor with extended SW growing terrace
Slow Food Restaurant
Administration Floor
Processing and Packaging Area
Rooftop Viewing Terrace
SITE PLAN The tower sits along old stretch of the local Tubber Road. It is raised off the ground, with land allowed to continue underneath. Only the four cores, and the beginning of the external route which wraps around the building touch the ground. A low lying broken and permeable bar sits on the opposite side. These spaces are storage sheds and classrooms. Changing rooms, toilets and bicycle parking are opposite the building, while a small shop fronts the bar and meets the car park. Similarly the second bar beside the wetland is made up of storage, a house for the apiary and hostel like accomodation.
P2 / GEORGIAN QUARTER INNfill The brief for this project was to fill a part-vacant plot in Limerick’s Georgian Quarter. Th city’s historic quarter is currently undervalued and underoccupied. The project is attempt to physically and socially fill the void n the dormant area. The concept for the infill building is a brick skin which wraps around the extents of the plot, emcompassing an internal world of activity and vitality. A blurring of situations and spaces allow encourage a flow and movement up and across the building. The building sits with the existing grain of the ground floor building and extends upwards and to the back. While maintaining the ground floor grain, its function is also kept and enhanced. The site exists as a single storey pub and local shop. The concept is to play on the existing situation and reintroduce the traditional role of the public house, as publican, grocer of local produce, restaurant and inn. The right half of the plot is the anchor of the project. Its three storeys house the shop and feed into all the other spaces up through the building. The left side houses the ground floor public house, the double height restaurant and two stoerys of casual accomodation.
First Floor: Double height Restaurant space running the entire length of the plot. The back arm houses the kitchen, service stairs and WC Second Floor: Shop level three, accomodation and garden terrace Third Floor: Bar of Accomodation, Outdoor Terrace and double-height CafĂŠ Fourth Floor: Second Floor of Accommodation and Roof Terrace
A pocket is carved out of the plot to create a first floor garden . This pocket space allows light into the centre of the long plots, and allows for height to be stacked at the arm at the back, which houses the service/fire stairway, as well as the restaurant kitchen, WC and second and third floor terraces. Al levels and spaces are broken in parts and open in others for continuous sightlines from one space to another. The also allows for spaces to flow into one another, with each activity always looking onto and aware of the other. The accomodation is basic and small, designed to be a hostel-like service. A bed and WC is provided, frosted glass walls provide privacy while allowing for light to enter each room. Windows run along the top of each glass wall. An external walkway connect all rooms and lead to access stairways, elevator and an outdoor terrace.
Detail Section through concrete floor, external brick walkway and glass wall of accommodation
P3 / PRODUCTIVE LAND
This short project aimed to find a vacant piece of land within Limerick City and transform it into a productive landscape.
This site is located on the edge of the city and is a huge void as it exists. The limits of the site are huge, however the majority of the land is a flood plain for the nearby River Shannon and the Groody River which flows through the site. The top left corner of the site is occupied by an unfinished shopping centre development. With the recession, construction ceasesd on the majority of all major developments in Ireland. This is one of many construction sites in Ireland which have now become permanent and static fixtures. My proposal for this site was to make a parkland out of the entire site, with all paths leading to this monument of recession. The contruction site would remain as is, but made safe. It would then house a huge range of activities within its many spaces and floors, becoming an entirely new destination for the city.
The existing skeletal building was surveyed through drawings and metal models of particular spaces were made in order to further examine they’re potential.
A stage designed from the leftover materials onsite, to be inserted into a space to accomodate perfomance,
outdoor
screenings and play
‘Backstage at the Opera’
The spaces with the skeleton are to be only designated and left almost undesigned. This is to allow for people to inhabit the shell as they see fit. Temporary installations can be inserted easily, and may become permanent. The empty shell can slowly be filled and become a hive of activity. A complete contrast to the fixed development which had been intended and is now abandoned. Adrenaline junkies, dancers, concert-goers, artists all co-exist freely within this shrine of recession.
P4 / CITY GRID LIBRARY
At the moment huge pocket’s of Limerick’s population are socially excluded. Libraries have transformed from being institutionalised sources of knowledge to being understood as interlinked repositories of information, as interfaces for data access. Most importantly, they have become places of social interaction. With changes taking place simultaneously in the perception of a library and within Limerick City, the development of a library is something which would have a great affect on the city, providing open access to education and helping to decrease social exclusion. Ground Floor Plan
This project envisioned a library for Limerick City based on it’s grids, medieval and eighteenth century. The building found form in turning with the change in direction of the two grids. This allowed for a large space to house the library. The space is fragmented, but little is actually enclosed. The concrete structure becomes the dividers of space, while housing the shelving and initmate pocket reading spaces.
First Floor Plan
The floor space is free and temporary, allowing the users to wander amongst the five zones, each housed in a wedge. Each wedge, which radiate out from the entrance point, is capped by a glass wall which opens out onto a garden and the River Shannon. Levels vary between each wedge, informing people of a change in space. The entrance space contains a newspaper area and cafe. The main floor space contains adult, teenage and children’s libraries, a courtyard, a music room, a service block and an exhibition space.
S1 / SURVEYING AND DETAILING A SURVEYING EXERCISE OF PART OF HISTORIC GEORGIAN QUARTER, LIMERICK The facace survey is an extensive detailed drawing of two sides of a Georgian block, in an important part of the city. The project was undertaken at the beginning of the second semester of fourth year and ultimately led to a design project on this site. A second facade and sectional survey was also carried out later in the year along a different street in the city centre.
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Elevation Wickham St. and Fox Bow Backlands. 1:20. Jeremiah Cahill & Naomi Panter
S2 / PHOTOGRAPHY ELECTIVE 2011 During the elective it was an aim to develop visual abilities and technical skills in photography, but also to understand how photography can visually communicate an idea / set of ideas, and to develop personal photographic work that engages this understanding. Lastly I found that the skill of photography is extremely useful in exploring everyday elments in a different way. In this study the physical, social and emotional qualities of the meeting of land and sea were explored. When sea meets land, a particular intensity of encounter is set up. The physical properties of the coast as meeting point can be wrapped up in a sense of unceasing mobility: dynamics of light, sound, presence, absence, surface, depth and texture are continually (re)worked and become apparent as alternating activities of construction, destruction and reconstruction. Through the tool of photography, the work is to draw to attention the allencompassing spatiality of the coastal edge, and the interwoven dynamic of the physical and the social at the meeting of land and sea.
R1 / LECA PISCINAS DAS MARES, PORTUGAL A MODEL-MAKING EXERCISE AND EXPLORATION OF THE SIZA BATHS The project dates back to the 1960’s and is one of Siza’s most famous project, along with the Boa Nova TeaHouse which is situated just to the North of the baths. The project is set alongside Porto’s seaside promenade with mimimum intrusion on the existing rock landscape. The pools can be accessed from the promenade via a ramp which leads down into the concrete complex as you lose sight of the Atlantic. The transition from the higher level promenade to the pools is gradual and controlled.
The building was explored through handmade grey card models. The homogeneity echoes that created by Siza through his extensive use of concrete alongside the seaside rock. The models explore landscape, building elements, construcion and path
Off the ramp, one enters under a canopy into a cooler, shaded space. The changing booths are made of dark brown wood fixed to crossbeams that disappear into the black ceiling. From the dressing rooms, the path leads into a long courtyard enclosed by weathered concrete walls. The space widens and you pass through a tall gate and you regain a view of sea and horizon.
R2 / OAKLAND MUSEUM, CALIFORNIA A PRECEDENT STUDY OF THE OAKLAND MUSEUM, KEVIN ROCHE The permeable nature, flow of space and various scales and methods of movement within the project were explored. Busy roads on all sides of the block deal with high speed traffic. The terraced roof garden caters for people moving through the block from one side to another as part of a bigger route. Its permeability allows people to stroll or wander within the complex, passing from inside to outside. It’s function as a museum then provides ample opportunity to stop, observe and think, always moving at a very slow pace. There is a seamless passage from foot path into the centre of the block and through to the other side. The block has a large, welcoming entrance on each side of the block. I believe the success of this project is in how it imaginatively fulfils its brief and simultaneously gives so much back to its context and locality, while maintaning a seamless flow of spaces throughout.
R3 / THE MOBILITY PROJECT SMARTER TRAVEL LIMERICK People in Ireland are overwhelmingly reliant on the car for transport. Smarter Travel Areas, is a programme that will demonstrate how we can reduce car travel, encouraging people to walk and cycle, car-share and to avoid unnecessary car trips. In February, 2012 Limerick City & County Local Authority was announced as the winner of the National Competition for Smarter Travel Areas and was awarded total funding of €21.7 million over a 5-year period to transform Limerick City & Environs into a ‘Smarter Travel Area’, promoting, among other measures, cycling and walking, the use of public transport and reducing car travel. The Smarter Travel Area proposal for Limerick is being delivered by City and County Councils in partnership with the University of Limerick (UL) and its Mobility Project. The Mobility Project is a design labratory for smarter travel implementation. Through the mobility project, the University will lead the effort to build knowledge and intelligence to support a sustainable and long term commitment to Smarter Travel, and embed Smarter Travel within the processes that drive society. The focus of the Mobility Project is to move away from the concept of “transport” with the passive role of the human as the thing that is transported, and towards the idea of ‘Mobility”: human centred, human scaled and individually focused.
This design project will relate directly to people’s personal interests of a full and engaged lifestyle that has different appeals across generations and cultural differences. The Mobility Project is varied, comprehensive and tied specifically to the objectives of Smarter Travel in order to remain relevant to achieving the goals of the Smarter Travel project. The design team is responsible for research projects, the design and planning of physical infrastructure and linking with organisations and communities. The proposal is focused on 4 HUBS and 5 ROUTES, from hub to city centre. The Smarter Travel initiative seeks to facilitate travel in a more sustainable manner, within and between the hubs. The delivery of sustainable transport for Limerick presents challenges and opportunities given the diverse population base. Affluent residential communities exist side by side with some of the most deprived areas in the country; there is a flourishing immigrant community and a growing student population The original submission outlined the four main hubs, five main routes, and links between the major routes. After the announcement of funding in early 2012 a team began working on implementing the aims outlined in the bid. The team was made up of managers and heads of engineering from Limerick City and County Council, Professor of Engineering and Prof. of Architecture from UL, as well as a base team of Architects and engineers.
LINK 1 - CORBALLY Community Design and engagement was a huge part of the original bid. In March 2012 the team began researching the selected routes and began engaging with related communities. The aim was to present their areas to them in a way they have never thought of before. We wanted to discuss their ideas, issues and queries with them and learn as much as possibe about each area from those who know it best. Once we felt we understood the area we could begin to design its infrastructure. The Riverside Corbally Walk was the frrst route to be explored. Historic mapping and environmental information was collected and compiled into a document presented to the public. Basic images of their own area being used in different ways were created. As the first step of the Mobility Project, a basic design was put forwrd for Part 8 Planning submission to the City Council which outlined the upgrading of an existing path as well as the provision of park infrastructure and designed spaces along the route.
Existing Terryland Forest Park
Many different communities locate themselves on the periphery of the space, which is currently void
R4 / URBAN DESIGN AND CIVIC GOVERNANCE
Strategic mapping processes are being explored as part of a continuing research project in the School of Architecture at the University of Limerick . The research involves direct collaboration between the School of Architecture , operational managers in local government in Ireland and neighborhood community leaders over time on real issues articulated by the community in a particular place. The emphasis is on the use of mapping as a tool in enabling sustainable planning and development. The particular focus is on developing and applying strategic design mapping techniques that can reveal and represent the nature and complexity of place and which can be used as a platform to instigate discussion about the nature of the place as it exists and as it might develop in the future.
The processes being developed to examine neighborhoods and towns directly explore the potential of mapping to link technical with social and cultural concerns in the conceptualization and creation of places. Through practical application, mapping as a creative practice is tested in terms of its ability to assist evidence based decision-making and enhancement to the quality of physical infrastructure provision in communities. The research aims to support a process of engagement in civic conversations and advances the use of mapping as a method of characterization of place and of assisting in building the physical and cultural fabric of communities.
Roads fragment the park
Very few entry points All informal and non-descript
Bothar na dTreabh bisects the area, completely fragmenting the space, offering no connections across
Sinead Mac Mahon
There is an interest in developing a process-based approach to city development which is underlined by three fundamental ideas: 1
2
3
Integrating top down and bottom up planning processes Interdisciplinary approach to the provision of public infrastructure The use of mapping as a tool for developing collective intelligence about place
The Reflective Map includes information gathered from both official and unofficial sources as well as from fieldwork and observations. The exercise is to collect and classify data and then to display this information in an easily accessible graphic format The Projective Map portrays what could exist in a place, highlights possibilities, proposes design concepts for the place based on an analysis of the reflective map produced. This map or series of maps re- formulates the information represented in the reflective map (or maps) into an architectural design concept about the town or neighborhood, which can then be used to assist in guiding the development of that place.
Design and Civic Governance - The School of Architecture, University of Limerick Strategic Mapping Processes These strategic maps were produced as part of an Advanced Theory Course for 4th and 5th year students in the School of Architecture at the
URBAN DESIGN AND CIVIC GOVERNANCE TEACHING ASSISTANT
2011-2012
During the second year of the UD&CG, Strategic Mapping Research I worked on the project as teaching assistant to project coordinater Rosemarie Webb. During this year we progressed the project further with more intensive and involved collaboration between students and local authority personnel.
University of Limerick. The course involves students in working directly with operational managers in local governance and neighborhood community leaders over time on real issues articulated by the community in a particular place. In the course, students learn about the recent history of sustainable development as it relates to civic governance and the implementation and development of sustainable, place-based urban planning. The emphasis is on the use of mapping as a tool in planning and development processes. The particular focus for the students of
Architecture is on developing and applying strategic mapping techniques that can reveal and represent the nature and complexity of place and which can be used as a platform to instigate discussion about the nature of the place as it exists and as it might develop in the future.
Strategic maps address one of eight topic headings: Water Landscape Energy
The processes being developed to examine neighborhoods and towns directly explore the potential of mapping to link technical with social and
Exchange Performance Community and Memory
cultural concerns in the conceptualization and creation of places. Through practical application, mapping as a creative practice is tested in terms of its ability to assist evidence based decision-making and enhancement to the quality of physical infrastructural provision in communities. The course aims to support a process of engagement in civic conversations and
Mobility Settlement
advances research on the use of mapping as a method of characterization of place and of assisting in building the physical and cultural fabric of communities.
A single conceptual principle is then explored within that heading. ! $ " map describing what exists already ! " which describes the place as it could exist.
We continued to make place-based maps and covered four more sites; Swinford Town, Rush Village, Shannon Town and Caledonia Park, Limerick.
The # # % # and observations. The exercise is to collect and classify data and then to There is an interest in developing a process based approach to city development which is underlined by three fundamental ideas: 1 Integrating top down and bottom up planning processes
The project was made up of mapping seminars, research work, community engagement, public presentations and exhibitions. I was responsible for compiling lectures, giving public presentations, organising community meetings and workshops and coordinating the results
2 Interdisciplinary approach to public infrastructure 3 The use of mapping as a tool for developing collective intelligence xxxabout place
display this information in an easily accessible graphic format.
The Projective Map portrays what could exist in a place, highlights possibilities, proposes design concepts for the place based on an analysis $ $ architectural design concept about the town or neighborhood, which might assist in guiding the development of that place.
Caledonia Park Aerial Map
exhibitions.
Rush GreenHouse Produce Map
Swinford Transport Map
N18
Gort An Gort ‘The Field
Caherbroder Cathair Bhruadair
THESIS MAPPING
Derry An Doire Oakwood
Ballybaun Baile Bán
Ballyhugh Baile Mhic Aodha
Cappaneasta Ceapach na Péiste ‘Tillage Plot’
Ballyboy An Baile Buí
M18 MOTORWAY
Ballylennan Ballysheedy Baile Uí Shíoda
Glenbrack An Gleann Breac ‘valley entrance’
Gortavoher Gort an Bhóthair ‘ Famine Road’ Lurga An Lorga
Carhoon An Cheathrúin
Sheeaun An Sián | An Suíochán
Crusheen An Croisín | Croisín ‘the small cross’
Derrygarriff Doire Gharbh ‘The rough woods’
Srangalloon Srath na nGealbhan ‘sparrow?’
Curtaun
Rathwilladoon Ráth Mhaoile Dúin ‘Flat Ringfort’
Cloonagowan Cluain na nGamhan
Gortaficka Gort an Phice ‘pitched field’
Clooneen An Cluainín | Cluainín
M18
Carrahill Cearchaill ‘stump/log’
Bearnafunshi Bearna na Fu ‘gap , source/o
Caherphuca
Monreagh
Survey of 22km stretch of motorway Human Condition Map locates the built, figure ground of each town and one-off houses in between. Field patterns and local roads.
Local Road Network & Field Patterns along motorway
Ecology Map recording fields, landscape, water, flora and
Geology/Soils/Flora/Fauna
M18 Gort to Crusheen Route with points of entrance and exit to and from the motorway/land Water - Rivers, Streams, Lakes Land - Field Patterns, Wooded Areas
Old Red Sandstone is one of the two dominant rock types of the region.
This rock is mainly found to the east of the area surrounding the route, making up the Slieve Aughty Mountains. The range spreads over both County Galway and County Clare. The highest peak in the Slieve Aughty Mountains is Maghera in Clare which rises to 400m (1,314ft). The mountain range consists of two ridges divided by the Owendallaigh river which flows west into Lough Cutra, which lies just east of the old Gort to Crusheen road.
fauna
Here and there are scattered ruins of whole villages and isolated houses and the abandoned schools remind us of the many families who worked their small holding and cut their turf on the many bogs in the villages between the mountains. The Sliabh Aughty hills contain vast tracks of some of the most desolate landscapes in Ireland.
23 Ecological Sites
were identified along the route, 11 of which are fragmented by the new route
13 Habitat Types
Gort River
Inchicronan Lake Moyree River
Millbrook Stream Castlelodge River
exist along the route corridor Animals identified in the area include otters, pine martens, badgers, Irish stoat, foxes, hares, rabbits Amphibians include the frog, viviparous lizard and the common newt. Badgers and otters are common all across the area. The ot ter is widely distributed along the rivers in the area, espcially the Moyree River
Scrub and wetland habitats exist along the route and there are some examples of limestone pavement, one of which occurs within the route corridor. Grasslands and fens are widespread. The area is low-lying, and is bounded to the east by the Slieve Aughty Mountains and to the West by the Burren. The topography is undulating and is made up mostly of poorly drained bog, and wet marshlands or turloughs.
Lough Mannagh
Dromore Lake
Carboniferous Limestone is the most common rock type and underlies the entire length o
Gort to Crusheen route. This landscape can be characterised by underground drainage, and by the exp limestone pavement, which occurs at some points along the route corridor but most examples would b the west of the M18, along the edge of the Burren. Other features of the limestone lowlands are the turl transient lakes, which appear and disappear with the rise and fall of the water-table.