hars samrai

A ground-floor and loft extension for a client based in Birmingham. The ambition is to increase the value and keep construction costs low.

Worked on behalf of Project Architects on a proposed upgrade to terraces and city blocks in Tower Hamlets to green standards required by the government. Working with a resident led housing company we provided a report that included a vision of the dwellings in the future with realistic benefits to the occupant and community. Our advice consisted of informing in the appropriate uses of solar panels, green roofs and recladding to intelligently improve the carbon footprint and enrich the surroundings for the public.

Worked for a freelance practice in Vienna which involved visiting the sites and producing 3D rendered images and scale models of the planned designs. I witnessed the excitement of projects being both commissioned and completed, these experiences introduced me into the adventurous and competitive world of a private practice. I accompanied senior members of staff and engaged myself in meetings with clients to identify their needs and develop a concept that would progress the build. Here I learnt how to extract the required information to carry out the desired task.

I had the pleasure of working at a top architecture practice who had a design driven ethos with competition entries that were competing with and sometimes defeating the most established practices in the world. I predominantly worked on a project in High Holborn, Central London that was going through a planning rebuttal, which was a first for everyone. The concept to the building derived from the skins of an onion. The task involved us to intricately explain the proposed idea with the drawings presented in a report. The whole challenging experience underlined the drama of battle between planner and architect that eventually gave the accomplishment more satisfaction. Unfortunately due to the downturn in the market I was made redundant along with 30% of the company.

A short term contract for work experience at a commercial architecture practice in Southampton who have projects primarily on the south coast ranging from community churches to industrial sheds. This was my first involvement with designs restricted to a tight budget, so space efficiency was a key driver to most buildings. Finding the balance between cost and aesthetics was challenging and I began to approach design more functionally.