selected work
Hey, I’m Tomas
I’m a Toronto based urban designer with a passion for cities. My love of cities started at a very young age and has remained a strong theme in my creative and academic work. As I grew older my fascination intensified and I became increasingly more interested in how urban regions function. As a result, I pursued my natural curiosity by studying architecture at The University of Waterloo. My university experience was intense and stimulating but it also allowed me to enjoy the many slower-paced opportunities to study and work in various cities throughout North America and Europe. The time I spent abroad in foreign cities has given me a broader perspective on the magnitude of complex urban problems and solutions and has had a lasting effect on the way I confront challenges at home. It may not come as a surprise, but I am naturally inquisitive, and I enjoy seeing the world through many lenses, including: politics, economics and design. I read voraciously on a myriad of subjects and I often draw parallels between urbanism and other fields. Moreover, I navigate between micro and macro scales regularly. The work in this portfolio explores the minute details of woodworking on the one hand, while on the other, it tackles the problems of a whole province’s economy. The following collection of pages are intended to be a brief showcase of some of my latest academic and professional work and I hope they paint a more complete image of my interests and style.
Cover Page: The location of the nearest airport from Fox Harbour: Argentia located on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula. The map was made for the project: “Plato del Mar” featured in part 05 of the portfolio.
Tomas Mashidlauskas 77 Loire Valley Ave. • Thornhill, ON L4J 8V8 • (647) 523 6170 • tomasmash@gmail.com
SUMMARY Results-oriented architecture professional with over 4 years of experience within the architecture and real estate industry. Proven track record in masterplanning mixed-use communities and urban developments in Canada, the US and the Netherlands. SELECTED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Giannone Petricone Associates Architects – Toronto, ON Junior Designer, 2017 – Present • Expedite the design development and rezoning process of a 3.6 million square foot (GFA) masterplan in Toronto • Coordinate deliverables with a consultant team for Cloverdale Mall redevelopment public open houses • Assisted in the conceptual design of Cumberland Square, a 1,600-residential-unit development in Toronto • Visualized studies for a 72-acre proposed mixed-use community in Mississauga, approved by city council in 2019 • Revised built form strategy for 256-unit condo tower to mitigate shadow impacts, achieved rezoning settlement Public Work Office for Urban Design & Landscape Architecture – Toronto, ON Student Designer, January 2017 – April 2017 • Investigated the design feasibility of the King Street Transit Priority Corridor, plan adopted by Toronto city council • Prepared drawings for TO Core: Downtown Parks and Public Realm Plan, received National Urban Design Award Burton Hamfelt Urban Architecture – Amsterdam, the Netherlands Student Designer, May 2016 – September 2016 • Carried out design studies for Sluisbuurt: a 28-tower, 5,500 unit, proposed neighbourhood district in Amsterdam Heitler Houstoun Architects – New York, NY Student Designer, May 2015 – August 2015; January 2016 – April 2016 • Developed brand standards for national roll-out of Drybar, start-up opened over 100 locations in the United States Atelier PRO Architekten – The Hague, the Netherlands (September 2014 – December 2014) Student Designer Kearns Mancini Architects Inc. – Toronto, ON (January 2014 – May 2014) Student Designer EDUCATION University of Waterloo – Waterloo, ON Bachelor of Architectural Studies, Honours – Co-operative Program (With Distinction), 2017 • University of Waterloo President’s Scholarship, 2013 • University of Waterloo International Experience Award, 2014; 2016 • GPA (3.7/4.0) • Study Abroad: Rome, Italy, 2016 rd • 3 Year Architectural Design Studio project presented at Adapting Heritage Conference, St, John’s, NL, 2017 SELECTED AWARDS, ACHIEVEMENTS & EXTRACURICULARS • Volunteer: Urban Land Institute (ULI) – Toronto: Communications Committee Member, 2018 – Present • Curate promotional content on Instagram, increased follower count by 16% to date • Created visual identity for ULI urbanism podcast: “Electric Cities” • Shortlisted: Kip Island Auditorium Architecture Competition, Riga, Latvia, 2017 • Exhibited in fine art symposium: “Menas Paveldui” (“Art for Heritage”), Trakų Vokė, Lithuania, 2013 • Language Skills: Intermediate proficiency in Russian & Lithuanian • Advanced in: Excel, Adobe Creative Suite, AutoCAD, Rhioceros 3D, SketchUp, Vray, Lumion
work
01
masterplan
tuscolano dovetail 4A Studio
11 . 2016
The Tuscolano Dovetail is a residential and mixed use complex for refugees, immigrants and locals in the Roman neighborhood of Tuscolano. This project is positioned within the context of the European migrant crisis. The proposal negotiates between existing ancient ruins within a park on Rome’s outer fringes while creating a thriving community for marginalised people. The proposal emphasizes public space and maintains a low profile for an active street presence. The complex dovetails with the existing urban fabric in order to strengthen the neighborhood identity and frame the adjacent street. Completed with Kobi Logendrarajah
02
design + build
gagarin chair 3A Elective
04 . 2015
Yuri Gagarin’s historic flight into orbit is a manifestation of humanity’s hunger to push beyond the status quo. Gagarin’s expedition and the work required to launch him into space proved to be saturating inspiration for the design of a chair. I, along with my partner, Teresa Tran, spent months designing and building an abstraction that emulates the shape and orbit of a Yuri’s rocket flight. Six modular pieces slide past one another to adjust the height of the chair, resulting in a completely disassemblable and multi-configurational seat; perfect for a night of stargazing! Completed with Teresa Tran
03
architecture
broch at birsay 4B Studio
08 . 2017
Broch at Birsay is a Scottish lodge that has two main features: a round exterior that blocks the wind and other elements from the interior, and a fire pit in the center for warmth, cooking and social gatherings. The lodge proposed here uses these same elements and appropriates these simple and once vernacular moves for a modern age. Perched atop the island, on arrival the building appears to be a rectangular slate block, however, upon entry, the visitor notices that their initial thought is deceptive by revealing before them a generous courtyard filled with activity, just like the Broch that may have stood there millennia ago.
04
masterplan
plato del mar 4A Studio
Exhibited
12 . 2015
Plato del Mar is a prototype for extensive aquaculture facilities as producers, innovators, and promoters of Newfoundland seafood and cuisine. The goal of this project is to draw from Newfoundland’s diverse, native ocean ecologies, and unique ‘forager’ culture to deliver delicious, and sustainable culinary innovations. Like Fogo Island Inn, this institution aims to tap in to high-end international markets to invigorate the community while creating international notoriety. Through on-site experimentation and research from farm to plate, this school will strive to create the most ethical and delicious seafood possible. Completed with Lara Isaac
05
masterplans + architecture
professional experience At Design Firms
2016 - 2019
The following pages are a series of projects in which I’ve been instrumental in delivering quality results. The samples are intended to display my skills and highlight the works which have interested me most. Over the past several years I’ve had the pleasure of working in the following offices: Giannone Petricone Associates, Toronto, CAN Public Work, Toronto, CAN Burton Hamfelt, Amsterdam, NL
01 tuscolano dovetail masterplan 4A [Rome] Studio // 11 . 2016 Completed with Kobi Logendrarajah
A Concept for the Periphery of Rome, Italy The German Pavilion at the 2016 Venice Biennale highlighed a unique approach to accommodating an influx of migrants. Of the many guiding principles established by the Germans is the understanding that “the success of a neighborhood is determined by the availability of small scale spaces on the ground floor.” In other words, in order to create a healthy neighborhood, a rich ecosystem of public and private interaction needs to be promoted on the lowest level of the massing strategy. As a result, the massing of the Tuscolano Dovetail naturally snakes across its’ plot in order to maximise bulk closer to grade, avoiding tower typologies which isolate inhabitants.
“The success of a neighborhood is determined by the availability of small scale spaces on the ground floor.”
left pg. the tuscolano dovetail’s active ground plane in cyan. the site: rome’s parco degli acquedotti
bottom left. grade changes create intimate spaces bottom right. a market arcade builds a sense of community
German Pavilion at the 2016 Venice Biennale
Planning Strategy: Perimetering The snaking gesture of the scheme is a perimeter condition that is not only the result of pure logic but is also a reflection of the site’s immediate surroundings. On the urban scale, nearby projects such as Mario De Renzi & Saverio Muratori’s Quartiere Tuscolano II establish the presence of explorations in perimitering just a couple hundred meters away while ancient aquaducts in the park establish the perimeter or edge condition of the site itself. As an organizational above. morphology diagrams
strategy, the architectural implementation of perimeters is an effective way of creating thresholds and bounding spaces at a more human scale. By implementing the formal consequences of a perimeter condition at an urban scale, the complex is able to dovetail the existing fabric of the city with the park. The bountiful spaces that result out of this operation are given to the public; a public that is diverse and ever changing.
top. the tuscolano dovetail in relationship to famous nearby long buildings bottom. site plan, the buildings frame the adjacent street and frame piazzas
top. typical residential unit plans above stores bottom. swath though cultural building, plaza with ruins, and markets
top. second level of cultural building 2nd from top. highest level of cultural building
2nd from bottom. section through cultural building and plaza bottom. section through stores, housing and court
During extreme humanitarian situations, some of the plazas can even be used as temporary shelters
02 gagarin chair design + build 3A Elective // 04 . 2015 Completed with Teresa Tran
“I could have gone on flying through space forever� Yuri Gagarin First person in space
Construction and Inspiration The construction of the Gagarin Chair relied primarily on laminations to form a curved shape which were then held together with a tongue and grove connection that could be pegged into place to change the chairs position. The curved shape was inspired by many space themes including the path of a shooting star or the orbit of a satellite around the earth. If the chair is flipped upside down, it becomes a cradle that rocks back and forth and directs ones view up toward the night sky.
03 broch at birsay architecture 4B Studio // 08 . 2017 A Lodge in Orkney, Scotland
“In Scotland, when people congregate, they tend to argue and discuss and reason; in Orkney, they tell stories.� George Mackay Brown Famous Orcadian Poet
Appearance The form is inspired by the traditional Scottish Iron Age drystone fort called a Broch. The form has two main features: a round exterior that blocks the wind and other elements from the interior, and a fire pit in the center for warmth, cooking and social gatherings. The lodge proposed here uses these same elements and appropriates these simple and once vernacular moves for a modern age. Perched atop the island, on arrival the building appears to be a rectangular slate block, however, upon entry, the visitor notices that their initial thought is deceptive by revealing before them a generous courtyard filled with activity, just like the Broch that may have stood there millennia ago.
above. a view of the lodge on the island of birsay bottom left. an illustration of an ancient norse broch
bottom right. an early sketch illustrating lodge massing strategy right page top. people gathering at the fire in the cloister
bottom left. outdoor spaces where the climate is mitigated bottom second from left. indoor + outdoor daylit spaces
bottom second from right. grey water use bottom right. temperature and humidity in indoor spaces
top. roof plan situating the lodge on the island of birsay middle. section through archive, sauna, outdoor plaza
bottom. section through hot tub, plunge pool and lounge
Key 1. w.c. 2. one person room 3. four person room 4. hot tub 5. six person room 6. artist’s residence 7. lodge manager’s apartment 8. exposed bedrock garden 9. storage 10. archive above. program plan
11. changeroom 12. sauna 13. cold plunge pool 14. fire pit 15. receiving room 16. waste room 17. mechanical room 18. office storage 19. office w.c. 20. electrical room 21. reception/shop 22. greenhouse
23. mechanical room 24. laundry 25. kitchen pantry 26. kitchen 27. lounge 28. kitchen w.c. 29. wet room 30. vestibule 31. lobby 32. entrance
top. north elevation middle. east elevation
bottom. perspective view from the north east
top. south elevation middle. west elevation
bottom. interior perspective of lounge with view to ocean
top left. view of the spartan accommodations top right. outdoor walkway to/from accommodations
bottom left. hot tub with views of the ocean bottom right. entrance of the lodge with direct view to the ocean
left. slate wall section detail
right. slate wall section detail at gutter
04
“In some of our coastal communities I can frankly say that aquaculture has rescued local economies and given them new opportunities.”
plato del mar masterplan 3B Studio // 12 . 2015 Completed with Lara Isaac
Presented at Adapting Heritage Conference [2017]
Gail Shea Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
Fox Harbour, NL’s new economy: Aquaculture Extensive aquaculture is a method of raising seafood in low densities and natural water bodies to avoid the ecological impact of wild catch and the contamination of intensive dense tanks. The bay between Argentia and Fox Harbour, Newfoundland provided the key conditions for extensive aquaculture: an underdeveloped area, an unused site, and topography to prevent future density. Proximity to Argentia’s airstrip is key to providing an easy avenue for exports and expanding this facility’s reputation worldwide. The proximity to Placentia, Newfoundland, ensures access to skilled employees, tourists, supply chains, and utility
above. an aerial collage of the Plato del Mar with floating boardwalks and oyster harvesting (orange)
infrastructure. By focusing production on native species only, Paleta Marea capitalizes on Newfoundland’s ecological resources and historic reputation, and by focusing on low quantity but high quality seafood products, the project takes advantage of Newfoundland’s wild and remote identity. The project creates demand for high skill, low-manpower employment from which the sparse population gains meaningful employment without the need to commute across the country in order to make ends meet.
predators
excess fish to ocean restore NL fish stocks
local fish infrastructure
high end seafood
aquaculture outport
local employment
culinary tourism
outport
daily express exports
overseas culinary culture
top left. sustainable economic strategy bottom. site plan in relation to Fox Harbour, Newfoundland
top right. physical model displaying oyster/fish enclosure & the floating boardwalk with net underneath
above. physical massing model of the building and enclosures
right pg. program axonometric
above. view from the marina underneath spawning tanks below. section through both wings of the building
above. view from the floating boardwalk displaying recreational activities and artificial floating bird islands in the background
05
professional experience Giannone Petricone Associates Architects Toronto, Canada // Nov. 2017 - Present
05
professional experience Public Work Office for Urban Design
King Street Transit Study How does one improve transit mobility on Toronto’s King St while simultaneously enhancing the public realm?
Toronto, Canada // Jan. - Apr. 2017
top. renderings of the various options for traffic on King St.
bottom. scaled drawings of the various options for a swath of King
King Street Transit Study, Toronto, Canada In early 2017, Public Work was hired as a consultant for a major Toronto Planning project titled: The King Street Transit Study. Our primary design goal was to create a redesign pilot for King Street that performed in such a way that streetcars would be able to move quicker and more reliably. In addition, the office was also interested in improving the public realm to be more spacious, lively and equitable for pedestrians and transit riders. During my time at Public Work, I was fortunate enough to work on the urban design team and I was the primary draftsman for this project. Together with my colleagues, we created presentations
for stakeholder and public meetings. The highlight of the project was building the physical model of a stretch of King street. I singlehandedly assembled the model using MDF, layers of laminated laser-cut veneers and 3d printed vehicles. Overall, the piece was the most effective communication tool to represent our ideas as it was very popular with news crews and members of the public alike. I enjoyed a great deal of responsibility on this project and I found it exciting to liaise with the many parties involved. I am no longer working on the project, however, like many Torontonians I am watching its’ development very closely!
top left. iterations of the design proposals being critiqued in-house top right. 3d printed vehicles sitting on top of the scaled drafts
bottom left. Me demonstrating the pilot options at a public meeting bottom right. a close-up of the physical model
05
professional experience Burton Hamfelt Urban Architecture
Sluisbuurt [right pg.]: In a city weary of “horizon pollution,� is Amsterdam ready for its first high-rise neighbourhood?
Amsterdam, The Netherlands // May - Sep. 2016
top left. the Entrada site, one tower proposal among existing top right. the Entrada site after the final phase
middle. illustrations of the hashtag tower proposal bottom. master planning goals and considerations
Entrada, Amsterdam (Left Page)
Sluisbuurt, Amsterdam (Right Page)
Entrada is a property located in the outer periphery of Amsterdam which houses some pharmaceutical companies looking to move out. Despite the area’s underutilised nature, the projects’ saving grace is a nearby subway stop that leads to the city centre in 20 minutes. Burton Hamfelt was asked to envision a residential community here for a local developer. The various schemes we developed were based on how much property would be bought by the developer. In the end the scheme we created had various scales and mixed uses which framed a new main street that sliced through the plot.
Sluisbuurt is a master planned neighborhood in Amsterdam that envisions high-density living primarily by implementing a tower and plinth typology for the urban fabric. At the current rate of growth in Amsterdam, the city cannot afford to continue to expand in its current shape. As a result, Burton Hamfelt was asked to look at other cities abroad that successfully created high rise communities and implement their ideas into a Dutch context. The result is a brand-new neighborhood build on an artificial island in the IJ not far from the city centre full of amenities at or near the ground plane and many unique block variations for residences above.
top left. a view of the community from a flat top right. visualising a swath of the community
bottom. block configurations visualised in 2d and 3d