Loading

Sim Nothey Work Placemeant blog

Fig 2

Introduction

For my final unit of my second year called “learning in the workplace” i was required to carry out a minimum 7 week work placement with a architects or interior based company.

I will be carrying out a 10 week work placement at the well established west London based architects practice “stiff + trevillion” .This blog will documenatnt my experience in a week-by-week format referencing new skills and experiences that i will have learnt during the work placement.

Week One 04/03/17

Week one reflection :

During this first week of placement commencing on 4th of march i was reintroduced to the vectorworks software as this is the main application used within the practice and is used in both interior and architecture based projects.Therefore it is important that i was able to gain an understanding of this as soon as possible to enable me to help work on projects. This software although can be used for 3d work is used in its 2d form most often in this practice.It is mainly used for creating various plans and elevations of different spaces. As it is extremely effective In creating and conveying 2d details which other programs lack Within the software, different layers and classes can be created to help classify certain components with in document. This class system is useful when creating extremely detailed drawings as they are a powerful way to “organize the elements in a drawing project according to category” As classes work across all layers it is a way to organize certain elements into crateraeios across various layers. This concept of classes is something new to me as no previous software i have used has that this option built in and has proved to be an effective ability especially in an office environment when many keep share the same document, Furthermore, another aspect i found useful in vectorworks was the option of being able to reference whole files within new documentsThis proved useful to me as i had use this software extensively over the week to help with two separate projects referencing “allows you to use drawing elements from another file in the current file, which can improve consistency and efficiency in your projects” This means that drawings are able to look more professional to present to the client as several different people within the office can be working on a project at once all with different styles to ability to reference rence the drawing elements is befical.The first project i was instructed to work on during my first day “68 PORTLAND ROAD” required me to create door schedules within this software .Door schedules are essential to creating a ‘list” of all types of doors used in the site and presenting complex details such as dimensions and specifications to ensure that the installation process goes smoothly on siteThe schedule requires an elevation of said door and its plan view with “Typical information “stated on a schedule.Some of the key information needed includeCode number - referencing the door/s in the drawingName , style , sizeinternal/externalBrief descriptionStructural openingLeaf sizeThe finishFire ratingArchitrave type

This is a door seclude i help work on i have pointed out the key information that learnt need to be included.

The second project i worked on later in the week is “66 ABBOTSBURY CLOSE” where again using the software i had to reference the Lighting and small power outlets plans to the elevations and using vector-works draw them on as well as annotate them in the drawings.This was proved extremely beneficial to me as i was finally able to understand all symbols associated with the various electrical components as in past i avoided creating lighting plans as i believed it to be too different to understand however doing this activity i was able to get a grip with this in a simple way now i have an understanding on how to lay a plan out to show the configuration within my space this is a technique i want to be able to produce within level 6.

the key being used when creating a lighting plan

Overall the first week was useful in getting me used to vectorworks which was useful due to the amount i used it and will be using it over my placement .It is extremely useful to use in an office setting where multiple people are involved so work can be kept looking professional and constant such to the options of classes and layers i think this is a good software for creating plans , elevations and other 2d works however in 3d works i believe that other programmes such as revit are more siffencietn.

This first week introduced me to the office environment and the different needs of roles required to make a business work such as directors and pr and admin support.

I enjoyed this week as i was able to help with projects and in the office environment and get to know the employee .Having a good working relationship is essential in avoiding conflict within industry.

Week Two 11/03/19

During week 2 of my placement i have had the oppuintry to help work on three different large scale commercial projects .This has been interesting to see the differences from residential projects which i was working on the week before.This change was welcomed as i tend to be more interested in commercial design.

3598 -3 Burlington gardens

This was the one i spend the most time on during the week. This project comprises of a roof top extension of a commercial office space. In this project i was helping to create photoshop elevations and floor plans for the preparation of the stage 3 document which is currently being worked towards.

By creating these rendered elevations at this time we are able to identify if it is cohesive and if not what has to be changed to communicate the desired effect to the client.For example the figure shows an open elevation of a kitchenette originally the back splash was all black instead of the timber and white mosaic tiles we can now see. By creating this elevation at this time we found out the black was too harsh and did not work well with the rest of the limited material palette due to this relation we tried to limit the black to benhing the sink and countertop . I again produced this elevation but again it was identified to not be completely cohesive. I created a couple more experiments before deciding on this version. This demonstrated to me the importance to considering materials at an earlier stage then i have previously done in past projects as i often leave it to the last half . By doing this we came up with the best possible configuration to present to the client making communication of what is trying to be created much more effective and at an earlier stage making it clear to what is being created. By doing this it has helped me understand the amount of testing involved in producing a cohesive material palette , it often takes many experiments to create one that echoes the concept without in a cohesive manner. I will take this lesson forward with me into level 6 and test out various materials combinations before settling to create the most effective effect

4136-1 lyric square

During the later stages of the week i was invited to by my supivours to accompany her On a stage 6/7 hand over site visit of their lyric square project in hammersmith.This project included an extension and refurbishment of commercial offices spaces inside an existing brutalist building on behalf of a well known london property developer.This was an exciting opportunity as i was able to see a finish project in reality and in use .On this site visit i was able to ask questions to the project manager who was also on site.While on a walk around of the space he pointed out and explained about how particular design details that to be changed and what solution they found from the advice of others working on this project such as structural engineers.(Can be seen in the figures) this ernt to shows that there is often a lot of creative problem solving in projects at almost all stages as challenges and problems are guaranteed to arise within this industry.overall, this was an eye opening experience which i much enjoyed as i was able to see something i saw drawings and concepts for be created in reality

4136-1 lyric square site photos

various photos of the complete hammersmith site at lyric square to be let as various office spaces and social spaces

4356- 16 woodfield road

the final project i worked on during this past week . which is the practices own studio space where an extension and and refurbishment is planned and underway in the goal to create a more dynamic and productive working space. I was asked to help within the RIBA “Technical design” work stage 4 producing technical detailed drawings of the signage needed for the office. While increasing my understanding and competence in vectorworks it also showed me what are sufficient annotations i put onto technical drawings without waffling on .(which is a pattern i usually fall into as i have not been use what information is appropriate for a technical drawing) as well as the idea of including photos within the sheet to further explain the proposed design.This will help we within level 6 and beyond as it has given me an example of a way to effectively demonstrate a detail within a drawing more adequately.

signage manufacture drawings

To summarise week 2 has been an extremely productive week in my opinion as i have been able to get a better grip and understanding of vectorworks and therefore be given more complex tasks to carry out, expanding my skill set.Everyone at the practice is extremely helpful and support me in all task given in this way i am able to learn more easily and get the most from this experience as i work better form demonstration than self teaching myself from hand books or instructions. Furthermore, i am be included in many more commercial projects which expanding my experience as the previous week i was working within the residential sector. Commercial design is definitely something i'm more interested in and this week only helped build my interest in this sector.

Week three - 18/03/19

Week 3 of this placement has mainly been about trying to assist everyone with different part of their projects as they were all coming up to the stage 3 documents deadline.This created many opportunities to continue improving my vectorworks and photoshop skills. I was mainly helping the commercial team for the “3 burlington gardens” project from last week . I have become involved in this project from an early stage i believe i will be increasing involved as the stages move forward for example i will be going to a site visit for this project during the upcoming week.

This week has definitely brought up the challenge of time management as i have had to be able to balance various tasks from different projects with the ability to complete them to a high quality standard for presentations and similar deadlines. i believe this to be a blessing in disguise ! As i found effective ways to balance these tasks .

4356- 16 woodfield road

Apart from 3 burlington gardens i have been helping with the office renovations which are currently underway.The new kitchen extension has been mostly completed but was decided across the office that acoustic paneling was needed to help limit the noise pollution. I was tasked with undertaking the survey of the furthest wall where the acoustic paneling will sit.After gathering all the measurements needed i then drew up some elevations in vectorworks and created a sheet to put them in to illustrate some of the panelling designs that would be appropriate for the wall.I was given freedom and encouraged to explore different configurations that i believed would look balanced for the project manager to later decide with the directors which option is the best and to use. Although this was a simple task it made me a little nervous at first as i was given free rain on creating the task from start to finish ( from survey to presentation drawings) however it was nothing to worry about as once in the flow this task to completed in less time then expected as my understanding and speed in using vector works has been increasing.

One drawing of the many acoustic panel options

3598 - 3 Burlington gardens

As mentioned above the main project i was working on was this one .The Previous week i had to create photoshop renders of a proposed design to convey the material and colour choices to the client. However due to talks with the clients some design aspects have been changed in the overall site. This showed me that changes happen at all points in the project and we have to work to accommodate the client's wishes. This meant i had to redo the photoshop elevations with the new changes to replace the previous ones in the stage 3 presentation.I am really enjoying working on this large scale project as it's interesting to see how it unfolds and as i have been working on this project for a few weeks i will be excited to see the final designs!Next week i believe i will being going on a site visit and help in creating the” internal finishes” document

4390- City gate house

This was another project i was introduced to this week similarly to burlington gardens i was instructed to create photoshop elevations and plans of the washrooms and showers `for the stage 3 document currently being prepared. The finishes are similar to one of s+t previous projects (kxu london seen here on the website http://www.stiffandtrevillion.com/projects/view/kxu-london) so i was able to get some inspiration when creating the renders. Although i have had many opportunities to develop my photoshop skills this placement these elevations were challenging to produce something i was happy with. As the walls were white or white tile i have to add shadow to create context and contrast with the other white fixtures. This kept coming up grey rather than a cool toned contrast colour and for me it didn't created harmony in the elevation. Eventually with discussion with the project manager i had to settle of lower the opacity a little just to create context .This was not the desired look for me however it taught me in industry you have to compromise and not be “too “ precious on a document which is not the final one. As long as it gets the message across and looks “professional” and “presentable” then it is acceptable as spending too long on one thing can comprise the time given for more important parts of the project. (fIg opposite kxu showers)

Week Four 25/03/19

This week involved balancing and working on both commercial and residential as well as making revisions due to changing nature of the clients visions and attending site visits to ensure construction is in line with the project programme.

4321 - ABBOTSBURY CLOSE

On Wednesday i attended the second site visit for this project as Michelle my suviposer was off sick for the first one. She said that i could attend every site meeting for this project to understand what is talked about and how each meeting is run. This project recently moved into stage 5 with construction starting on the 4th of march, the day i started the placement . The meeting was also attended by the project manager , site foreman and contracts administrator. It was a great experience to be able to see how these meetings are structured and what things are talked about. I also found out that minutes are taken ! For what i saw they have a list of notes both from the project programme and from the previous meetings. They ensure that everything is up to date in the programme and that any issues from the past meetings have been rectified to keep to the timeline.

An RFI (request for information) was needed by the contractor from michelle about the steel framework dimensions i learnt that an rif is formal question/s “required to clarify information in the contract documentation or to provide information that was not complete at the time the contract was agreed.”(https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/)

This experience was really enjoyable as the last site meeting i went on was the completed project so it was nice to see this one at the start and how it will progress throughout the time i am on my placement.

SITE PHOTOS - Start Of basement construction , keeping the original staircase

4390 - City gate House

i worked on this extensively last week for the production of the stage 3 presentation. After the meeting with the client a few colours , and materials choose and location got changed. So i made revisions to the original photoshop elevations that i did to fit in with the clients wishes .This showed me that up until stage 5 nothing is “concrete” and clients change their minds extremely often , this is to expected due to the huge budgets they want everything to be as close to “perfect” as possible.

On a side note , the acoustic panels that i drew up various options for in week 2 / 3 for the new kitchen extension was chosen by the directories and installed. However everyone in the office including myself is not a fan of the colour and option they chose as it doesn't fit the space correctly so the directories and re-looking into this and how they can change it to create a more warm and comfortable atmosphere in the kitchen left fig - before , below fig - with panels

Week Five 01/04/19

This past week has been heavily focused on working in the residential sector , as per my request as i wanted to get a more in depth understanding on the similarities but more so differences then working on commercial projects which i have been doing the previous weeks. The residential team have a lot of project going on at the moment and being the smallest team with a member being off sick needs as much help as possible hence it was a natural and supportive environment for me to learn new skills.I was continuing to work on the vineyard project but also started working on a new project - 12 elims road

4348 - 12 Elims Road

i have been working on creating drawings for this project for application of non-material amendments which will be submitted next week. As this project was designed by a different architect in the early 2000’s planning permission was granted However construction of the basement was not completed and was left in this state for a number of years . the client decided that he wanted to complete construction.The ceiling levels of the basement did not follow building regulations so amendments by S+T have been made for this as well as other minor changes. This avoids the need for a new planning application to be submitted.As these amendments need to be submitted by next week my main task of the week was changing aspects of both the existing and proposed technical drawings and presenting them in a professional way ready for the clients approval and submission. Being able to work to this this allowed me to start gaining understanding of the various permissions needed to be able to work on a site as well as the documents required for this.As the deadline was 5:00 pm on friday to be sent to the client i felt under pressure for the first time during this placement as various revisions had to be made i did however meet the deadline with time to spare by working through lunch , this is a common thing and you can see many people in the office doing this especially near deadline time.

Next week i will be taught how to submit these documents and what information will be needed when filling out the forms.

4052 - Vineyard

The Earlier part of the week i was continuing to work on the vineyard project , i think this the project that is associated as being “my” “main” project as when others in the office talk to me they already know what i'm working on without me mentioning it when in the previous weeks they did not know. As it is a big office but everyone is associated with one main project that is “theirs” so seems like i've become associated with being an extended member of team Resi !

During this week i was just continuing to create all elevation and sheets for each individual room as this is a long task as there is a lot of rooms as this is a big project for private residential made up of 3 different units with a basement levels going up to level 3 as well as a number of courtyards.It is nice to have a main project while working on others as its exciting to see the development of something that you have spent a lot of time on.

Apart from the work side it was a very social week with eating out and after work drinks .This made me get to know people more as well as integrating with people that i haven't worked closely with. It was refreshing to talk to about more personal things happening in their lives rather than just project related talk. I Learnt that there is an office trip coming up to Belfast to explore the city , museums and some important buildings and at drinks i was ensured they would try and get me on this trip , hope this happens even though it is short notice!

Week 6 - 08/04/19

Week 6 has been the most exciting week so far filled with my usual residential projects however i was able to take a more up front role being able to design components.

The highlight of the week course being be offered a place on the all paid for office trip to Belfast over the weekend .This was an amazing experience to build rapport and contacts with the directors and other employees in a non formal setting.

4052-Vineyard

During the first part of the week i began working more in detail with Vineyard.I was asked to design and draw up proposals for the rooms that have not been designed yet in this 3 unit project. The scale of vineyard means there are still a lot of rooms to design !

When designing these rooms i also had to consider material options keeping in line with the finishes presentations that was shown to me(Seen in the figure). Thus i created several different options . These designs will be reviewed in 2 weeks when esther who heads this project comes back from holiday. Although this is a small part of the large overall project i really enjoyed and found it refreshing to be fully integrated in the design process. This is something that happens quicker in residential projects i have found out as the teams are smaller and project timelines are shorter.

When creating these design proposals i of course, as before drew them up in vectorworks , it was during this week that i noticed that that i didn't have to ask any questions or search answers on the internet on how to do specific things within this software. Becoming 100% more confident in vectorworks than when i first started will only benefit me in the future as when talking to one of the bim consultants he informed me that vectorworks is still the most used software in interior design.

4321- 66 ABBOTSBURY

ON Wednesday i went to two site visits .For Abbotsbury and Portland road to see the progression in construction. The Abbotsbury project hasn't changed much since the last site visit .Thus the site foreman requested monthly meetings instead of fortnightly ones.as currently they are still working on the basement and this will take a fair amount of time due to factors like soil removal in a busy city .

4370 PORTLAND ROAD

The portland road site visit got a little heated between the temporary works consultant and structural engineers. It was interesting to see each side pushing their own ideas about how to solve issues that arise and how this might clash or agree with how others want to do things. In this case the temporary works consultant was a lot older and have much more experience but put forward ideas that only a party walls consultant could answer. ( one was not present at the meeting). the quantity surveyor had to act as the “peacekeeper” in this situation as he knows and worked with the temporary works consultant before and knows how to do act if things are starting to get heated. . This was a useful experience to have observed as in the industry consultants can often clash with each other and seeing how this was handled was useful for the future.In terms of construction to the house it is still in the early parts it has been stripped out and is currently in the process of making sure all temporary works are satisfactory and meet regulations

internal strip out

Belfast

On friday we Departed London City Airport at 8.55am and Arrived at Belfast City Airport at expromitley 10.25am. This was definitely a non stop trip and we managed to see / experience a lot in a very short amount of time. Due to the large amount of people it felt a bit like a school trip !!Of course we visited a lot of places but i will mention the ones that stood out to me the most

Once landed we went straight to our first stop the lyric theatre for a tour as it was designed by the extremely well known irish architects O’Donnell + Tuomey and the site has been nominated as one of the six buildings shortlisted for the 2012 Stirling Prize thus making the site a place on interest.The building replaces a 1960's theatre that occupied the site previously and the new plan follows the outline of the irregularly shaped site

This tour showed us many new techniques that the firm used to design this building as it includes many site design aspect it was interesting to see how they are able to create transformable spaces with giving considerations to the acoustic and lightings needs.

For example in the figure the faceted Iroko wood lining is visible and aids in integrating stage lighting and improves acoustics.All the building materials are selected to endure and will be crafted to weather with age. Built in ‘Belfast’ brick, whilst the interior uses a mix of faceted timber lining , hardwood timber. Brick, and stone.

main studio

Another visit that i found particularly interesting was the botanic gardens and palm house as the victorian greenhouses the gardens are housed it ensures a grand presence on the viewer in fact the rust and tranishing add to the experience of history. As within my own design language i am passionate about integrating natural elements within spaces such as plants , water and natural materials to aid in holistic living visiting the botanic gardens more specifically the Tropical Ravine acted as some inspiration as how to do this in a way which is not only modern but sustabible. The building has energy efficient triple-glazed windows to retain heat and a fogging and misting system, and frameless glass façade.

The frameless glass facade are definity something i will consider in the future when creating holistic designs as it does not take anything away from the natural elements.

palm house
Tropical Ravine

Of course between and after all the visits to the site there was enough time to have a few drinks and in the evening of Saturday all decided to visit several bars in the local town this was a great way to break the ice with employees that are higher up and that i don't often come in contact with

Update on the communal kitchen the acoustic boards have been taken of the walls and been used as the backdrop of the dartboard that has been installed. At least they are still useful for something !

Various photos from Belfast

Week 7 - 15/04/19

3598 -Burlington Gardens

On monday ,as i have been involved with 3 burlington i sat in on the material development meeting which came from the feedback from client. We were able to lay out all the choices to see how we could create the perfect palette fit for the clients needs. We then went page by page from the previous presentation to see what materials we should add and take away. The last proposed palette consisted of jewell green tones However the client really liked the the copper mesh glass laminate sample that was presented and now has decided to instal these into the crittall screens to act as a partition for the meeting rooms spaces. As the laminate will make up most space in the room new materials need to be selected that will be almost “invisible” and will not gain attention. Within the material meeting we decided to order more timber samples with different tones so the correct one can be selected in the next few weeks aw well as different sized mesh laminates.After the meeting while the discussion was still fresh i created revisions to the photoshop elevations to fit the new material options that needed to be complete by Tuesday midday so had Lauren had enough time to place them in the next finishes document ready for the meeting the following Wednesday morning.

4370 -PORTLAND ROAD

On Wednesday I was tasked with making revisions to the door schedule that I had created in week one as naturally things have changed since then due to client meetings and other considerations from various consultants. I also started creating a window schedule for this site which I will continue to finish in the upcoming week as this is needed to be able submit documents in week 8 .

CPD

On thursday the office had its first Cpd since i arrived They usually had them every friday when i had my experience here the previous summer but due to the upcoming bank holiday on the friday it was moved. it was led by Webb Yates Engineers giving us a presentations on Stone for Low Carbon future: to illustrate this they used there 15 Clerkenwell Close project which is actually a well known one while its being conventional as it was being in the news recently as i have seen it before but had no idea who created it.Webb Yates Engineers is a multidisciplinary engineering practice comprising structural, civil, mechanical, electrical, and public health engineers.

Webb yates actually supplied and moulded structural exoskeleton made from raw quarried limestone, dotted with fossils.They explained that the stone columns are designed to minimise the size and required workmanship as far as practical which in turn would limit the amount of carbon being admitted in transportation. Furthermore , the finish of the stone is left largely as it was when it was cut from the quarry. Not only providing a contrast between the natural rough edges and lightly worked smooth edges but limiting again the amount of work needed and thus carbon admitted.

This cpd was really insightful as it explained the virtues of stone being low-carbon structural material.This is something i find important in this industry as i believe that we have a duty to be as environmentally friendly as possible Also the free lunch may have had something to with me enjoying this cpd.

15 clerkenwell close

Update on the communal kitchen , plats have finally been added , they are construbilly larger than i expected . They definity make the space less sterile and more welcoming and sociable . Although he have again noticed the problem of the soil and plants lacking moisture this is as it is a very dry area. Currently looking at ways to solve this issue or replace them with something else.To make the most of this space though the directors are providing free lunches every Wednesday to promote healthy eating.It was made by Lally who sits close to me friend so i always get the updates to what she is thinking to make the next week and they all sound delicious

Week 8 - 22/04/19

This week has been a quiet one.Although it has been a 4 day week due to the easter bank holiday on Monday, so have flown by.Which im grateful for however i don't want to wish my time away as i really like working for his practice so much so that i managed to extend my time here.

4370 -PORTLAND ROAD

I have been carrying working on portland road a few tasks have been needed to be carried out this week so this is the sole project that i have engaged in tue - thurs

As mentioned in the previous weeks blog post i started the windows schedule but managed to finish it on thursday To create the schedule i had to draw up the elevation view of each of the windows located in the site , label them on the plan and then add them to the plot file sheet with all the specifications of each type. Although simple it can be time consuming especially if there are many different windows or they are bespoke.

After this i then had to create the roof light schedule in the plan these had to be changed to standard sizes found on https://www.glazingvision.co.uk.Once these new sizes were drawn up in vectorworks i placed them in their own plot file document.

On a side note this week we once again had end of the month drinks , 2 new people have joined the office since then so it was a great opportunity to introduce myself to them. We also officially used the dart board for the first time luckily we didn't drink too much while trying it out ! i did not do very well thats for sure

Week 9 -29/04/19

This week has been a little unstructured and all over the place due to the fact that unfortunately i had a funeral to attend so my main attentions were on this of course. As i took a couple of days to during the week to attend.

So my main concern this week was working on the vineyard project alongside Esther and the others in the residential team as the drawings for unit 45 b needed to be submitted Wednesday. Due to the size of this project and that it only had one person working on it the majority of the time was behind in some aspects.Thus we are in the resi team came together to came sure very thing was completed for Wednesday therefore i was involved in only one task for the week alas it was a big one .

4052-Vineyard

My activities were concerned with the updating the elevations of unit 45 b with the changes of the most recent design proposals and after that making sure I updated all the plot files This definitely took a lot of time due to the amount of rooms in this unit I Nevertheless I enjoyed these tasks as I was able to see the design progression with this project from the previous weeks.This activity demonstrated to me why the stages 3 / 4 often overlap . This is due toTrying to keep to project program and the riba work stages but at the same time balancing client requests that change constantly to make sure making sure the client is 100% satisfied with the proposed designs.

.

Week 10 - 07/05/19

This final week was a lot more relaxed as all the stage 3 deadlines had been fulfilled the previous week that past thus a sense of calm was circulating the office. As I had mentioned in passing that I have a report to complete for my uni submission everyone I worked with insisted that I work on this for the last part of the week as there was no pressing tasks to be completed for me anyway as everyone's workload had decreased with the intermediate deadlines over.I was meant to attended the next site meeting for 66 Abbotsbury but this got cancelled and rescheduled for another day.

4052-Vineyard

At the start of the week however I helped again on the vineyard project doing the same tasks as last week but on a separate unit this time - unit 45A. I updated the elevations in the design files and then the plot files. As I have extended my time here they decided to give me more relaxed tasks until deadline is over which is something I actually really appreciate as they insisted that I focus on uni for this week.

In more exciting new me and joe attend the love and fear concert by Marina at the 02 in Bournemouth. We decided to wear matching tops with an orange print on it as celebration of on of our new favourite song “orange trees”.

Report Abuse

If you feel that this video content violates the Adobe Terms of Use, you may report this content by filling out this quick form.

To report a copyright violation, please follow the DMCA section in the Terms of Use.