Selected
Undergrad
Portfolio
Tom Lowe
Tom Lowe
t.lowe@northumbria.ac.uk
07484247227
education
B.ARCH
Northumbria Univeristy 2022-2025
CTEC
(Architecture and the built environment)
Notre Dame Catholic six form College 2020-2022
A-Level (Product Design)
Notre Dame Catholic six form College 2020-2022
A-Level
(Religious Studies, Ethics and Philosophy)
Notre Dame Catholic six form College 2020-2022
experience
STEN Architecture
unpaid work experience 2021
skills
SketchUp
AutoCad
Adobe Creative Suite
Handsketching
Rapid Protoyping model making
Photography
LIBRARY + 4-15
Psychology Library
WRITORS WORKSHOP 16--23
School for Psychological education
WRITORS RETREAT 24-27
Proffesor’s Writing Retreat
SUPPLEMENTORY WORK 28-29
‘LIBRARY +’
Course: Architecture Project 2.2: Second-Year Design Studio.
Date: 09/05/24
Project Description: Library+ is a visionary project designed to create a utopia of learning within the field of psychology, inspired by Carl Jung’s philosophy of the “shadow self,” which refers to the unconscious, repressed aspects of personality. As Jung noted, “Like plants, so men also grow, some in light, others in the shadows.” This principle is embodied in the design, which transitions from public to private spaces, symbolizing the journey of bringing the shadow self from darkness to light.
The library features a central divider that separates public access areas from specialized study zones, accommodating both general visitors and psychology students. Curved planes emanate from this central wall, representing the layers of consciousness and the process of individuation.
Role and Responsibilities: This was an individual project where I was responsible for all aspects of the design process, including research, conceptual development, schematic design, and final presentation.
Learning Objectives and Outcomes: The primary objective was to apply principles of sustainable design and community planning. Library+ successfully integrates these principles, resulting in a multifunctional space that addresses digital inequality, fosters community interaction, and supports education. The project emphasizes environmental stewardship through passive heating, thermal mass materials, and ground-source heat pumps. It also reflects Carl Jung’s psychological theories, symbolizing the journey of personal growth and the integration of the shadow self.
The initial site visit revealed that the south-facing front facade was the most prominent and historically significant part of the existing building. Its visual appeal and historical importance necessitated its preservation. This facade serves as a crucial link to the site’s past and a focal point for the new design, seamlessly integrating historical integrity with modern architecture.
The project’s design concept draws from Carl Jung’s theory of the “shadow self,” representing the unconscious, repressed aspects of personality. Inspired by Jung’s “The Red Book,” the project mirrors the process of bringing hidden elements to light. The preserved wall acts as a physical foundation and symbolic divider between public and private spaces. Curving planes emanate from this wall, symbolizing layers of repressed trauma to be uncovered. The design incorporates glazed and steel curved surfaces, inspired by the Banque Populaire de l’Ouest and Wayne Lyman United States Courthouse, adding spatial and conceptual depth.
Spatial
Arrangement and organization public vs private spaces
The spatial organization of the project balances public and private areas, guided by the existing wall that acts as a physical and symbolic divider. Public spaces are positioned towards the entrance, transitioning to more private zones as one moves through the structure. Curving planes, both glazed and steel, flow parallel to the preserved wall, creating pathways that guide users through the building. These architectural elements facilitate a natural movement and interaction, with distinct areas for public engagement and private contemplation, reflecting the project’s conceptual depth and functional versatility.
1. Atlas ™ Aluminium Cermet Precast Reinforced Concrete
2. Visqeen™ Polyethelene Vapour Barrier (10mm)
3. West Roofing Systems ™ TPO Roofing Membrane (1mm)
4. Hemspan ™ Thermal Insulation (300mm)
5. Savolit ™ Wood Fibre Aucustic Panels (25mm)
6. Frameclad ™ Stainless Steel Framing
7. Aluminium Warehouse ™ Aluminium Sheeting (5mm)
8. Kingspan ™ EPS Thermal Insulation
9. Buckland Timber ™ Douglas Fur Timber Heading and Packing
10. Autogate ™ Impact Security Triple Glasing Join
11. Spiral Steel Pile Foundation (Ground Source Heat Pump)
12. Raft Foundation
13. Aluminium Warehouse ™ Powder Cast Aluminium Cladding (3mm)
14. Sadev ™ S3000 Spider Glasing Fixture
15. Marshalls ™ Pourus Concrete Paving
16. FastWarm ™ Screed With Underfloor Heating from Ground Source Heat Pump (80mm)
17. 200mm Utility Void
18. Velux ™ VS/E Electronic Skylight
19. Velux ™ Skylight Guttering System
20. Velux ™ Guttering Underlayment
21. Stainless Steel Curved Skylight Covering
22. 1stChoiceMetals ™ Aluminium Flatbar (50mm)
23. WorkplaceInteriorShop ™ Raised Access Floor Adjustable Pedestalls (200mm)
24. Raised Access Floor Electrical Outlet
25. SimpleHandRails ™ Delux Glass Balustrade System
26. Polygroup ™Perforated Ventilation Floor Panells (300mm)
27. Kingspan ™ Kooltherm Ridgid Floor Board Insulation (150mm)
28. TileHaus ™ Arena Gray Porcelain Tiles (500mmx500mm)
29. Foamglas ™ Perinsul HL Thermal Brick (200mm)
30. Generic Gravel
31. SwiftDrain ™ P600 Wide Ductile Iron French Drain (300mm)
32. AmIndustries ™Steel Roof Rafters
33. Profix ™ Suspended Underfloor Timber (10mm)
34. Guttering with Flashing (3mm)
35. Hollow Core Concrete 200mm
36. Sand underfloor fillament
‘WRITERS WORKSHOP’
Course: Architecture Project 2.1: Second-Year Design Studio.
Date: 21/12/23
Project Description: The Writer’s Workshop is a multifunctional space designed for psychology students, fostering creativity, collaboration, and effective communication. Inspired by the structural philosophy of existentialism, the design features lightweight tectonic structures on the stereotomic foundation of Cliffords Fort battlements. A ropes and rods system ensures structural integrity for the cantilevered public area, with Corten steel cladding providing a weathered aesthetic that blends with the site’s atmosphere.
Role and Responsibilities: This was an individual project where I was responsible for all aspects of the design process, including research, conceptual development, schematic design, and final presentation.
Learning Objectives and Outcomes:
- Design collaborative, multifunctional spaces that enhance creativity and communication.
- Integrate user movement into architectural form, creating a journey-like experience.
- Apply site analysis findings to address environmental challenges and ensure sustainable design.
- Use materials and structural elements to enhance aesthetic and functional qualities.
- Create adaptable spaces for various activities, demonstrating flexibility in design solutions.
- Develop clear and compelling design concepts aligned with project goals.
The site analysis identified key climate challenges and contextual elements, leading to an elevated design above flood levels on Cliffords Fort battlements. The analysis highlighted the use of robust stereotomic structures for coastal resilience and tectonic elements for visual contrast and enhanced circulation. Strategic placement of west-facing openings optimizes seascape views, ensuring the design is functional and harmonious with its surroundings.
Situating proposal on site
Spatial Arragement and user experience
The Writers’ Workshop is designed to facilitate both public interaction and private study, mirroring a university campus layout. The spatial arrangement begins with public areas at the entrance, transitioning smoothly to private zones as users move through the structure. This journey is guided by tectonic monolithic structures clad in Corten steel, wrapping around timber-framed elements, and supported by substantial stereotomic forms. The progression from public to private spaces ensures a natural filtering of users, enhancing their experience and fostering open communication and creativity among students. The incorporation of light and transparent materials, inspired by precedents like Richard Meier’s Getty Center, creates an inviting and dynamic environment.
‘WRITERS RETREAT’
Course: Architecture Project 2.1: Second-Year Design Studio.
Date: 21/12/23
Project Description: The Writer’s Retreat is designed to harmonize with its surrounding landscape, addressing both climate adaptation and contextual cues from the Design Matrix. The project aims to create a coherent design influenced by conceptual and site-specific factors. Massing forms were initially shaped by combining site-specific elements with physical constraints from the Design Matrix, and further refined with inspiration from architectural precedents such as Richard Meier’s framed views and Daniel Libeskind’s non-conventional geometries.
Role and Responsibilities: This was an individual project where I was responsible for all aspects of the design process, including research, conceptual development, schematic design, and final presentation.
Learning Objectives and Outcomes:
- Integration of Conceptual and Site-Specific Influences:
- Demonstrated the ability to integrate conceptual influences and site-specific factors into a coherent architectural design.
- Climate Adaptation and Structural Design:
- Applied strategies for climate adaptation, such as elevating structures to address flooding risks.
Use of Architectural Precedents:
- Drew inspiration from architectural precedents to inform design elements, such as framed views and non-conventional geometries.
- Distinction Between Public and Private Spaces:
- Created clear distinctions between public and private spaces within the design, enhancing user experience.
- Stereotomic and Tectonic Integration:
- Explored the juxtaposition of stereotomic and tectonic forms to influence both the physical structure and its relationship with the landscape.
