Architectural

Profile

I am a self-motivated, enthusiastic architecture and engineering graduate with a “can do” approach. I am highly driven by challenges and goals with a proven ability to work both individually (being self-employed) and as part of a team (at UV Architects). I particularly enjoy understanding how and why things work and solving practical problems in design and make projects. I consider myself to be organised and thorough with an excellent ability to produce work with the highest attention to detail and accuracy. I have gained excellent communication skills by collaborating as part of a design team and liaising with clients at UV Architects.

In both my professional and personal-life I am enthusiastic and self-motivated by my desire to continually learn and often work on innovative design projects in my spare time. I am now looking forward to applying my skills, knowledge and passion for architectural design by joining a collaborative, professional and fun team to achieve larger scale architectural projects.

Skills

  • Pro Engineer Expert
  • Revit Advanced
  • Dialux 6.0 evo Intermediate
  • 3D studio Max Intermediate
  • AutoCAD Advanced
  • Adobe Photoshop Intermediate
  • Adobe InDesign Intermediate
  • Microsoft Project Intermediate
  • UK driving license

Projects

2019 – to date (self employed)
2021 – Hollen Street: ongoing

Remodel of the configuration of a top floor duplex apartment to create new kitchen and dining spaces.

Riba Stages: 3D model of the existing 6th floor created from existing 2D developer’s drawings. Stage C concept 3D model proposals for kitchen & dinning space presented to client. Construction drawings for M&E services, lighting, audio and curtain tracks produced.

Please click on underlined text to view individual projects

2020Whitley Bay

Creation of a 2nd storey side/infill extension to an existing 3 bed 1900s semi-detached home. To improve the utility and storage space on the ground floor and create a combined extra bedroom and fun space in the loft for a growing family. Riba Stages: Measured survey & 3d model (A&B), brief, concept designs (C), planning proposal (D), construction drawings (E), room elevations combining electrical & lighting layouts (F&G).

2021Garden office

Design a comfortable (insulated) and simple to construct (flat pack) multi purposed space:  garden office / storage unit. The design concept was to use standard sized SIPs panels and sheet materials to create an insulated shell. Which was weather proofed with weather board cladding and a standing seam steel roof. The project provided full construction drawings, materials, suppliers & cost (BOM) information

2019Orpington ongoing

Creation of a 2-storey side extension and remodelling of existing 4 bed 1960s home to create a modern open plan ground floor and reconfigured first floor. Riba Stages: Measured survey & 3d model (A&B), brief, concept designs (C), planning proposal (D) – pending client decisions

2013 – 2018 Realise design (self employed)

2016 – 2020Banstead

2018 – 2020 Construction Being the project manager and main constructor (with a friend) on the project allowed me to learn all the skills and experience the physical effort needed to deconstruct and reconstruct every stage of the building process (excluding: concrete pouring, glazing, EPDM roof, Electrics & Gas) from my detailed construction drawings & 3d model.

2016 -2018 Design Reconfiguration of the existing ground floor layout and extend into the garden to create an accessible single level open plan living space. Redesign the entrance to allow step free access to the dwelling. To relocate a new staircase & first floor layout consisting of guest bedrooms and a shared bathroom.

2017Cambridge

Creation of 3D visualisations of potential remodelling of an office space into a command centre, allowing engineers to collaboratively interact and analysis Real-time displayed information from a remote drilling operation.

2017-2018Reading

Extension and reconfiguration of a 4-bed detached home into a 6 bed 3-bathroom home in a suburban area to accommodate a large family. I worked with the client and the planning officer to achieve the maximum allowable 2 storey side extensions on both sides of the existing home. The approved planning proposal added 50% to the living area of the home.

2016Hayes

Creation of a new build 2-bed detached 2 storey dwelling on an existing 3 garage plot plus rear garden in a suburban location. The client and I had preplanning meetings with the local council planning department. The proposed design attempted to address all of the planning restrictions, with a design and access statement and 3D visualisations as part of the proposal

2016 – 2018 UV Architects –

Part 1 Architects Assistant – London Bridge

I worked on a range of different scale projects from residential home alterations in the central London area to the development of 9 new build flats on top of an existing block of flats, Sandhurst court on Acre Lane in Brixton. The residential projects gave me experience of:

Surveying (laser distance measuring) and Lidar 3D scanning on 2 projects with potential right to light issues. Using the surveys to build 3D revit models of the existing Victorian or Edwardian homes and producing drawings.

Creating 3D concept models of a range of possible re configurations to best meet the clients brief and program requirements. Presenting the concepts to the client using a combination of 2 & 3D visual media and discussing the benefits and limitations of each concept.

Producing planning drawings and making applications using the planning portal. I worked on the design of bespoke fitted furniture, storage and utility layouts at Thurleigh road project featured below:

www.mcgarchitects.co.uk

will@mcgarchitects.co.uk

While working on Sandhurst court I gained experience of producing a suite of construction drawings for the internal fitout of 2 single level and 7 duplex flats. Then going to site and seeing the building develop while overseeing the construction of the details and snagging the final fit and finishes of the flats.   

Images of Sandhurst court can be seen at:

www.thegentlemanarchitect.com

mick@thegentlemanarchitect.com

Education

2013 – 2016 2.1 BA Hons Architecture

Newcastle University

Experience and Process of Photography Institute

(final year project)

My graduation project used a site on the edge of Richmond (North Yorkshire) to highlight sustainability through the reinstatement of a native woodland that separated an assemblage of timber structured buildings. This provided a public experience of the urban and rural landscapes of Richmond and a private institution researching, teaching and implementing the analogue and digital processes of photography. The project was inspired by a studio visit to Tenerife to explore light and materiality through photography.

1997 – 2001

2.1 Meng Hons General Engineering

Brunel University

1995 – 97

Distinction Btec in Engineering

Kingston College

1993 – 95

11 GCSE’s A*-C grade (5 A*’s, Art, Science x2, Geography & CDT)

Projects continued

2013 – 2016 Hotbox  
new build – Design & Construction

I explored the experience of intimacy and comfort in an inhabitable space by designing and constructing the minimum feasible and comfortable habitable space (16m2) in a cold enclosed area of 93m2.

2010 – 2013 Hinckley  
renovation – Design & Construction

My brief was to create a workshop space and modernise my home. This involved research, site survey, concept design, cost estimation, management and liaison with a structural engineer and planning officer, I also experienced project management ,liaison with a building control officer and learnt the construction skills needed to build the project.

Interests

Please click through the website and explore my design and make projects