melanie o'brien | architectural portfolio

architect | designer | artist

M e l a n i e O ’ B r i e n

One Resume 2

Two Education Rhythmic Occupancy | thesis project 3 Surface-scape 5 RarefiedLand 6 Room to Manoeuvre 7 School as [Emerald] City 8 An Tearmann 9 Book Forest 10

Three Professional Experience DiMase Architects | Melbourne, Australia 11 O’Donnell Architects | Galway, Ireland 14

Four References 15 Antony DiMase | previous employer Simon Walker | thesis tutor, previous employer

Five ListofFigures | Skills utilized 16

Contents

Driven by an ethic focusing on craft,and simple, considered response, Mel has always found herself drawn to sus-tainable design, focusing on longevityand a holistic systems approach, partic-ularlyenjoyingexploringthesethroughamultitudeofmediainbothdigitalandanalogueformats. ArecentgraduateofarchitecturefromUniversityCollegeDublin.,Melfinishedwithfirstclasshonoursfromherbach-elor of architecture degree in 2010.She then proceeded to take two years out from full time education, gaininga year of professional experience in a

Melanie O’Brien | Introduction

boutique architectural practice in Mel-bourne, Australia, working predomi-nantlyonaspectsofdaylightdesign. On return to her postgrad-uate studies in Dublin, she received the school’s annual research award for her essay,“Morphology andMapping,”thenundertaking a semesterof studyabroad in the University of Melbourne receivingafullscholarship.Whilethereshefurtheredherinterestintheregen-erationofsustainabledesign. Inherfinalyearshecomplet-ed her research dissertation, “Biophilia: perceptionoftheenvironment” inves-tigatingtheanthropologicalsignificance

of connection to the living world inarchitecture, and her design thesis,“Rhythmic Occupancy” in examiningcross-cultural concerns for the built environment,focusingonre-makingofthe heart of a rural Irish town, a project which went on to win the Irish Walled TownNetworkResearchAward2014.

Beingparticularlyinterestedininterdis-ciplinary creative crossover within, as wellasoutsidetheofficeenvironment,shenowseeks tofindaposition in astimuatingpracticetogrowherprofes-sionalcapacityinthefieldofcollabora-tivedesignandpractice.

One Resume 2

Two Education Rhythmic Occupancy | thesis project 3 Surface-scape 5 RarefiedLand 6 Room to Manoeuvre 7 School as [Emerald] City 8 An Tearmann 9 Book Forest 10

Three Professional Experience DiMase Architects | Melbourne, Australia 11 O’Donnell Architects | Galway, Ireland 14

Four References 15 Antony DiMase | previous employer Simon Walker | thesis tutor, previous employer

Five ListofFigures | Skills utilized 16

Contents

Driven by an ethic focusing on craft,and simple, considered response, Mel has always found herself drawn to sus-tainable design, focusing on longevityand a holistic systems approach, partic-ularlyenjoyingexploringthesethroughamultitudeofmediainbothdigitalandanalogueformats. ArecentgraduateofarchitecturefromUniversityCollegeDublin.,Melfinishedwithfirstclasshonoursfromherbach-elor of architecture degree in 2010.She then proceeded to take two years out from full time education, gaininga year of professional experience in a

Melanie O’Brien | Introduction

boutique architectural practice in Mel-bourne, Australia, working predomi-nantlyonaspectsofdaylightdesign. On return to her postgrad-uate studies in Dublin, she received the school’s annual research award for her essay,“Morphology andMapping,”thenundertaking a semesterof studyabroad in the University of Melbourne receivingafullscholarship.Whilethereshefurtheredherinterestintheregen-erationofsustainabledesign. Inherfinalyearshecomplet-ed her research dissertation, “Biophilia: perceptionoftheenvironment” inves-tigatingtheanthropologicalsignificance

of connection to the living world inarchitecture, and her design thesis,“Rhythmic Occupancy” in examiningcross-cultural concerns for the built environment,focusingonre-makingofthe heart of a rural Irish town, a project which went on to win the Irish Walled TownNetworkResearchAward2014.

Beingparticularlyinterestedininterdis-ciplinary creative crossover within, as wellasoutsidetheofficeenvironment,shenowseeks tofindaposition in astimuatingpracticetogrowherprofes-sionalcapacityinthefieldofcollabora-tivedesignandpractice.

Revit certifiedprofessionalInDesignVectorworksPhotoshopIllustratorAutocadSketchupRhino PremierePro

Resume Skills

ReferencesGerryCahill|thesisstudiotutor gerry.gca@gmail.comAntonyDiMase|previousemployer antony@dimasearchitects.com.auSimonWalker|thesisstudiotutor info@walkerarchitects.ie

MelanieO’BrienMArchBScArchdateofbirth 02.25.1989nationality Irish w.e.In.

melanieelizabethob.wix.com/portfoliomelanieelizabethobrien@gmail.comie.linkedin.com/in/melanieobrien

Contact

Melanie O’Brien | Resume

Education Awards ProfessionalExperience

MArch UniversityCollegeDublin20142.1secondclasshonoursgrade1(3.48GPA)UniversityofMelbourne,Australia2013(studyabroadprogram)

BScArchitectureUniversityCollegeDublin20101.1firstclasshonours(3.77GPA)

TEFLqualification2010

LeavingCertificate|520/600points2007Biology(hA1)Art(hA2)Maths(hB1)Chemistry(hB1)English(hB2)French(hB2)Gaelic(oB1)

AutodeskCertifiedProfessional,Revit Architecture2014Winner,NationalIWTNresearchaward, HeritageCouncilIreland2014Winner,4thyearresearchandinnovation award,UCD2013InclusioninDescribingArchitectureexhibi tion,Dublin2013AwardedfullISEPScholarship,Universityof Melbourne2013InclusioninLightinWinterFestival,Mel bourne2012Winner,bestproject1styear,UCD2008Winner,finalyearartaward,ScoilMhuire 2007

WalkerArchitects (Jul14–Nov14) 110Lwr.BaggotSt,Dublin2,Ireland.ph.(+353)16767941www.walkerarchitects.ieContact:SimonWalker

DiMaseArchitects (Jun11–Jul12)342StGeorgesRd,NorthFitzroy,Australia.ph.(+61)394825144www.dimasearchitects.com.auContact:AntonyDimase O’DonnellArchitects(Aug10–Nov10)21MiddleSt,GalwayCity,Galway,Ireland.ph.(+353)878077069www.odonnellarchitects.ieContact:EmmettO’Donnell

Revit certifiedprofessionalInDesignVectorworksPhotoshopIllustratorAutocadSketchupRhino PremierePro

Resume Skills

ReferencesGerryCahill|thesisstudiotutor gerry.gca@gmail.comAntonyDiMase|previousemployer antony@dimasearchitects.com.auSimonWalker|thesisstudiotutor info@walkerarchitects.ie

MelanieO’BrienMArchBScArchdateofbirth 02.25.1989nationality Irish w.e.In.

melanieelizabethob.wix.com/portfoliomelanieelizabethobrien@gmail.comie.linkedin.com/in/melanieobrien

Contact

Melanie O’Brien | Resume

Education Awards ProfessionalExperience

MArch UniversityCollegeDublin20142.1secondclasshonoursgrade1(3.48GPA)UniversityofMelbourne,Australia2013(studyabroadprogram)

BScArchitectureUniversityCollegeDublin20101.1firstclasshonours(3.77GPA)

TEFLqualification2010

LeavingCertificate|520/600points2007Biology(hA1)Art(hA2)Maths(hB1)Chemistry(hB1)English(hB2)French(hB2)Gaelic(oB1)

AutodeskCertifiedProfessional,Revit Architecture2014Winner,NationalIWTNresearchaward, HeritageCouncilIreland2014Winner,4thyearresearchandinnovation award,UCD2013InclusioninDescribingArchitectureexhibi tion,Dublin2013AwardedfullISEPScholarship,Universityof Melbourne2013InclusioninLightinWinterFestival,Mel bourne2012Winner,bestproject1styear,UCD2008Winner,finalyearartaward,ScoilMhuire 2007

WalkerArchitects (Jul14–Nov14) 110Lwr.BaggotSt,Dublin2,Ireland.ph.(+353)16767941www.walkerarchitects.ieContact:SimonWalker

DiMaseArchitects (Jun11–Jul12)342StGeorgesRd,NorthFitzroy,Australia.ph.(+61)394825144www.dimasearchitects.com.auContact:AntonyDimase O’DonnellArchitects(Aug10–Nov10)21MiddleSt,GalwayCity,Galway,Ireland.ph.(+353)878077069www.odonnellarchitects.ieContact:EmmettO’Donnell

ResumeDate of birth: 25/02/1989Nationality: Irish e. melanieelizabethobrien@gmail.comph. (+353)831450209 EducationMArch (Master of Architecture) RIAI, RIBA Part II2014 University College Dublin (UCD)2013 (exchange semester) University of Melbourne, Australia BSc (Bachelor of Science, major Architecture) RIAI, RIBA Part I 2010 University College Dublin (UCD)Leaving Certificate 520/600 points2007 Scoil Mhuire, Trim, Co. Meath Honours & AwardsAutodesk Certified Professional, Revit Architecture 2014Winner, National IWTN research award, Heritage Council Ireland 2014Winner, 4th year research and innovation award, UCD 2013Inclusion in Describing Architecture exhibition, Dublin 2013Awarded full ISEP Scholarship, University of Melbourne 2013Inclusion in Light in Winter Festival, Melbourne 2012Winner, best project 1st year, UCD 2008Winner, final year art award, Scoil Mhuire 2007 Professional ExperienceWalker Architects (Jul 14 – Nov 14) Part-time project assistant. 110 Lwr. Baggot St, Dublin 2, Ireland.ph. (+353)16767941 _ www.walkerarchitects.ieContact: Simon Walker DiMase Architects (Jun 11 – Jul 12) Architectural assistant. 342 St Georges Rd, North Fitzroy, VIC 3068, Australia.ph. (+61)394825144 _ www.dimasearchitects.com.auContact: Antony Dimase O’Donnell Architects (Aug 10 – Nov 10) Architectural intern. 21 Middle St, Galway City, Galway, Ireland. ph. (+353)878077069 _ www.odonnellarchitects.ie Contact: Emmett O’Donnell Creative softwareRevit certified professionalInDesign 5 yearsVectorworks 4 yearsPhotoshop 4 yearsIllustrator 2 yearsPremiere Pro 1 yearAutocad 1 yearSketchup 1 yearRhino 1 year

Design Thesis UCD 2014Winner of the national IWTN Research Award, Masters category 2014Project: Agricultural Training CollegeTitle: Rhythmic Occupancy

Challenging contemporary planning, this project investigates placing an agricultural college and adult training facility, not on the periphery of a sensitive heritage town, but stitched into the grain of its dormant centre. It envisions a more progressive future for the town – breathing life and learning into its heart, which becomes an integrated hybrid of both landscape and urban condition. The everyday experience is both revitalized and regressed to a state familiar from Trim’s past.

Melanie O’Brien | Education

ResumeDate of birth: 25/02/1989Nationality: Irish e. melanieelizabethobrien@gmail.comph. (+353)831450209 EducationMArch (Master of Architecture) RIAI, RIBA Part II2014 University College Dublin (UCD)2013 (exchange semester) University of Melbourne, Australia BSc (Bachelor of Science, major Architecture) RIAI, RIBA Part I 2010 University College Dublin (UCD)Leaving Certificate 520/600 points2007 Scoil Mhuire, Trim, Co. Meath Honours & AwardsAutodesk Certified Professional, Revit Architecture 2014Winner, National IWTN research award, Heritage Council Ireland 2014Winner, 4th year research and innovation award, UCD 2013Inclusion in Describing Architecture exhibition, Dublin 2013Awarded full ISEP Scholarship, University of Melbourne 2013Inclusion in Light in Winter Festival, Melbourne 2012Winner, best project 1st year, UCD 2008Winner, final year art award, Scoil Mhuire 2007 Professional ExperienceWalker Architects (Jul 14 – Nov 14) Part-time project assistant. 110 Lwr. Baggot St, Dublin 2, Ireland.ph. (+353)16767941 _ www.walkerarchitects.ieContact: Simon Walker DiMase Architects (Jun 11 – Jul 12) Architectural assistant. 342 St Georges Rd, North Fitzroy, VIC 3068, Australia.ph. (+61)394825144 _ www.dimasearchitects.com.auContact: Antony Dimase O’Donnell Architects (Aug 10 – Nov 10) Architectural intern. 21 Middle St, Galway City, Galway, Ireland. ph. (+353)878077069 _ www.odonnellarchitects.ie Contact: Emmett O’Donnell Creative softwareRevit certified professionalInDesign 5 yearsVectorworks 4 yearsPhotoshop 4 yearsIllustrator 2 yearsPremiere Pro 1 yearAutocad 1 yearSketchup 1 yearRhino 1 year

Design Thesis UCD 2014Winner of the national IWTN Research Award, Masters category 2014Project: Agricultural Training CollegeTitle: Rhythmic Occupancy

Challenging contemporary planning, this project investigates placing an agricultural college and adult training facility, not on the periphery of a sensitive heritage town, but stitched into the grain of its dormant centre. It envisions a more progressive future for the town – breathing life and learning into its heart, which becomes an integrated hybrid of both landscape and urban condition. The everyday experience is both revitalized and regressed to a state familiar from Trim’s past.

Final Year UCD 2013Project: Community Sports GroundTitle: Surface-scape

Exploring the ideas of shelter and surface, this project became an exercise of minimal intervention. Throughout the landscape of the proposal this can be experienced, from the open bus stop shelter on the street front, to the sealed enclosure of the dance studios and on to the existing, natural tree canopy strategically linked with new interven-tions. The language of the project is that of a lightweight, flexible canopy sitting on a permanent surface, which rises and falls to bound and create space. Working as a member in a group, Mel successfully collaborated with five others to create this project.

10 11 12

Final Year UCD 2013Project: Community Sports GroundTitle: Surface-scape

Exploring the ideas of shelter and surface, this project became an exercise of minimal intervention. Throughout the landscape of the proposal this can be experienced, from the open bus stop shelter on the street front, to the sealed enclosure of the dance studios and on to the existing, natural tree canopy strategically linked with new interven-tions. The language of the project is that of a lightweight, flexible canopy sitting on a permanent surface, which rises and falls to bound and create space. Working as a member in a group, Mel successfully collaborated with five others to create this project.

10 11 12

Study Abroad University of Melbourne, 2013Project: Coastal walk with sheltersTitle: Rarefied Land

On a unique site that has in many ways been trapped in time, how or with what does one intervene? On exploration of this amazing Australian coastal park it was a case of increasing and safely allowing access. Facilitation was the key. This became a project of choreographed inhabitation of landscape through a series of experiential spaces drawing inspiration from set design and the picturesque landscape. The land itself becomes the stage as opposed to the backdrop.

14 15 16

17 18 19

Study Abroad University of Melbourne, 2013Project: Coastal walk with sheltersTitle: Rarefied Land

On a unique site that has in many ways been trapped in time, how or with what does one intervene? On exploration of this amazing Australian coastal park it was a case of increasing and safely allowing access. Facilitation was the key. This became a project of choreographed inhabitation of landscape through a series of experiential spaces drawing inspiration from set design and the picturesque landscape. The land itself becomes the stage as opposed to the backdrop.

14 15 16

17 18 19

4th year UCD 2012Project: Civil ceremony spaceTitle: Room to Manoeuvre

Centred around the key ideas of procession and union, this project was about designing the routes taken to any of the three ceremonial spaces. The spatial limitations of the site were taken on as a challenge - how to exude delight from the banal.Exploring predominantly through model, this was achieved through framing view and dramatizing light. Floor plates were pulled back from façades to reveal their totality on the interior, and spaces were allowed to spill together vertically as well as horizontally.

23 24 25

4th year UCD 2012Project: Civil ceremony spaceTitle: Room to Manoeuvre

Centred around the key ideas of procession and union, this project was about designing the routes taken to any of the three ceremonial spaces. The spatial limitations of the site were taken on as a challenge - how to exude delight from the banal.Exploring predominantly through model, this was achieved through framing view and dramatizing light. Floor plates were pulled back from façades to reveal their totality on the interior, and spaces were allowed to spill together vertically as well as horizontally.

23 24 25

Bachelors degree UCD 2010Project: Primary SchoolTitle: School as [Emerald] City

Taking the idea of school as city, this project sets about designing with the mind of a child at its heart - not as an issue of scale, but of perception and mind mapping. Using the natural level changes of this suburban island of green this school cre-ates its own safe world in a landscape re-invigorated and allowed to return to wilder roots.The expansive site is broken down into low lying wetland and nature preserve, school and community facilities shrouded in forest opening onto the upper sport fields. A pupil of this school is intended to leave with warm memories tinged with fantasy.

Bachelors degree UCD 2010Project: Primary SchoolTitle: School as [Emerald] City

Taking the idea of school as city, this project sets about designing with the mind of a child at its heart - not as an issue of scale, but of perception and mind mapping. Using the natural level changes of this suburban island of green this school cre-ates its own safe world in a landscape re-invigorated and allowed to return to wilder roots.The expansive site is broken down into low lying wetland and nature preserve, school and community facilities shrouded in forest opening onto the upper sport fields. A pupil of this school is intended to leave with warm memories tinged with fantasy.

Bachelors degree UCD 2009Project: Woodland RetreatTitle: an Tearmann

Massy’s Wood is little more than a short drive from the city South into the Dublin Mountains, yet lies solitary and forgotten. This, once the walled gardens of a great house now becomes a sanctuary, an tearmann. As the river through the forest offers a continuous route and sound, so water is redirected through the site to connect four individual profiled bars, which connect, soar above or nestle against the original garden walls.On foot or horseback, angled glass reflects either natural tree canopy or forest floor along these timber bars, framing their own patch of forest.

Bachelors degree UCD 2009Project: Woodland RetreatTitle: an Tearmann

Massy’s Wood is little more than a short drive from the city South into the Dublin Mountains, yet lies solitary and forgotten. This, once the walled gardens of a great house now becomes a sanctuary, an tearmann. As the river through the forest offers a continuous route and sound, so water is redirected through the site to connect four individual profiled bars, which connect, soar above or nestle against the original garden walls.On foot or horseback, angled glass reflects either natural tree canopy or forest floor along these timber bars, framing their own patch of forest.

1st year UCD 2007Winner of best project, 1st yr UCD 2008Project: Inner-city bookshopTitle: self-supported space On a trapped site on an inner-city back lane, this project aspired to insert a bookshop into the dilapidated storage volume of a prominent theatre.Taking inspiration from the simple cellular layouts of many revered libraries of Georgian Dublin, the structural timber col-umns grow wider and thinner to form the bookshelves themselves, punctuating all three floors. The bookshop as a whole is in essence a piece of freestanding furniture.

DiMase Architects Melbourne 2012Project: AHA BarProject architect: Melanie O’Brien Role: project architect from sketch design through to on-site construction.

testimonial

"Melanie quickly became a key part of our office in the time she spent here, as a person who combines communication and artistic skills in a way that is convincing and respectful of other people’s views."

Antony DiMase director, DiMase Architects

Melanie O’Brien | Professional Experience

DiMase Architects Melbourne 2012Project: AHA BarProject architect: Melanie O’Brien Role: project architect from sketch design through to on-site construction.

testimonial

"Melanie quickly became a key part of our office in the time she spent here, as a person who combines communication and artistic skills in a way that is convincing and respectful of other people’s views."

Antony DiMase director, DiMase Architects

DiMase Architects Melbourne 2012Project: Scout HallProject architect: Melanie O’Brien Role: project architect from sketch design through to planning application.

44 45 46

DiMase Architects Melbourne 2012Project: Scout HallProject architect: Melanie O’Brien Role: project architect from sketch design through to planning application.

44 45 46

DiMase Architects Melbourne 2012Winner, Best Commercial Design ArchiTeam Awards 2012Project: Matilda Bay BreweryProject architect: Angelique Brett Role: contributed to the design team.

O’Donnell Architects Galway, Ireland 2010Project: Private ResidenceProject architect: Emmett O’Donnell Role: assisted in the preparation of planning application drawings.

Date: 4 December 2014

REFERENCE for Melanie O’Brien

EMPLOYMENT: Part time and Full Time between June 2011 to June 2012.

To Whom It May Concern.

When I first met Melanie – I instantly liked her.

On that unscientific basis I employed Melanie in a part-time basis and then full-time basis at my architecture studio.

Her approach as an architecture assistant was always different to everyone else in the office.

She draws beautifully!

She makes exquisitely small models from brown cardboard!

She always has unusual ideas that warrant consideration.

Melanie quickly became a key part of our office in the time she spent here.

She thinks outside the box and helped develop design ideas and interesting details for many of our projects.

Melanie has a bright future in architecture as a person who combines communication and artistic skills in a way that is convincing and respectful of other people’s views. Melanie still has much to learn to become an architect however; she is worth investing in, as she is loyal, hard working and a person with a very bright future.

I am happy to provide a verbal testimonial and I can be contacted by phone or by Skype (dimasearchitects).

Yours Faithfully

Antony Di Mase Principal Architect | Di Mase Architects

T 03 9482 5144 | E adm@dimasearchitects.com.au342 St Georges Road North Fitzroy VIC 3068 | www.dimasearchitects.com.auDI MASE ARCHITECTS PTY LTD ABN 95 111 043 853

W A L K E R A R C H I T E C T S SIMON WALKER, B.ARCH. M.R.I.A.I. 110 LOWER BAGGOT STREET, DUBLIN 2. TEL 353 (1) 676-‐7941 / 353 (87) 247-‐3132 e: info@walkerarchitects.ie www.walkerarchitects.ie

re: Melanie O’Brien School of Architecture, University College Dublin August 12th 2014

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN I am happy to provide a reference for Melanie O’Brien, who is a recent honours graduate of the Masters in Architecture degree course at University College Dublin. I had the privilege of tutoring Melanie, as part of a group of six students, developing their thesis projects during the academic year 2013-‐14. Melanie’s thesis was concerned with the urban regeneration of her home town, Trim, Co. Meath, in particular with respect to under-‐used or dilapidated areas of the town centre. This is a very relevant issue in the context of urban generated expansion in the Leinster area. A highly contested debate surrounds the question of preserving intact town centres, of stimulating employment and providing new civic amenities. Above all, the skill set brought to the issue by students like Melanie includes looking afresh at the physical shape of these towns, their plan, their built heritage, their public spaces. Melanie demonstrated extraordinary skill in her drawn and modelled work, as well as a keen sense of perception of both the historical setting and the spatial analysis of the current urban condition. Her project centred around a proposal for an agricultural college, which reconnected the centre to the outlying farmland in a particularly apt move mirroring the space of the so-‐called mediaeval “Porch Field” and Norman castle, for which Trim is so well known, and providing a new link to the Boyne riverbank. As a tutor, I was impressed by the vision which Melanie so confidently put forward – my only regret is that such expertise is not more widely appreciated and employed in strategic planning by the authorities. Beyond the specific response to site and programme, her project investigated the potential meanings conveyed by form in a cultural context, and in particular the idea of a narrative-‐based architectural response to the programme, constructed in timber as a re-‐working of the mediaeval monastic plan of St. Gall, with specific spatial implications for the town. Contingent events were explained in terms of simultaneous narratives, some present, some suggested by the programme and others past. Melanie is one of the most talented students to graduate from the School of Architecture in the past year – her work is distinguished by her exceptional drawings, and the theoretical grounding she brings to bear on the project. She demonstrated her ability to master a complex programmatic overlap within the scheme, but above all it is her remarkable diligence and workrate which sets her apart from her colleagues. I would recommend Melanie as a perceptive and intuitive architect, with a particular receptivity to issues of context, who would be able to develop a complex and architecturally nuanced response to a given programme. Please do not hesitate to revert to me if you require any further information. Yours sincerely

Simon Walker, Design Studio Master, School of Architecture, University College Dublin

Melanie O’Brien | References

Date: 4 December 2014

REFERENCE for Melanie O’Brien

EMPLOYMENT: Part time and Full Time between June 2011 to June 2012.

To Whom It May Concern.

When I first met Melanie – I instantly liked her.

On that unscientific basis I employed Melanie in a part-time basis and then full-time basis at my architecture studio.

Her approach as an architecture assistant was always different to everyone else in the office.

She draws beautifully!

She makes exquisitely small models from brown cardboard!

She always has unusual ideas that warrant consideration.

Melanie quickly became a key part of our office in the time she spent here.

She thinks outside the box and helped develop design ideas and interesting details for many of our projects.

Melanie has a bright future in architecture as a person who combines communication and artistic skills in a way that is convincing and respectful of other people’s views. Melanie still has much to learn to become an architect however; she is worth investing in, as she is loyal, hard working and a person with a very bright future.

I am happy to provide a verbal testimonial and I can be contacted by phone or by Skype (dimasearchitects).

Yours Faithfully

Antony Di Mase Principal Architect | Di Mase Architects

T 03 9482 5144 | E adm@dimasearchitects.com.au342 St Georges Road North Fitzroy VIC 3068 | www.dimasearchitects.com.auDI MASE ARCHITECTS PTY LTD ABN 95 111 043 853

W A L K E R A R C H I T E C T S SIMON WALKER, B.ARCH. M.R.I.A.I. 110 LOWER BAGGOT STREET, DUBLIN 2. TEL 353 (1) 676-‐7941 / 353 (87) 247-‐3132 e: info@walkerarchitects.ie www.walkerarchitects.ie

re: Melanie O’Brien School of Architecture, University College Dublin August 12th 2014

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN I am happy to provide a reference for Melanie O’Brien, who is a recent honours graduate of the Masters in Architecture degree course at University College Dublin. I had the privilege of tutoring Melanie, as part of a group of six students, developing their thesis projects during the academic year 2013-‐14. Melanie’s thesis was concerned with the urban regeneration of her home town, Trim, Co. Meath, in particular with respect to under-‐used or dilapidated areas of the town centre. This is a very relevant issue in the context of urban generated expansion in the Leinster area. A highly contested debate surrounds the question of preserving intact town centres, of stimulating employment and providing new civic amenities. Above all, the skill set brought to the issue by students like Melanie includes looking afresh at the physical shape of these towns, their plan, their built heritage, their public spaces. Melanie demonstrated extraordinary skill in her drawn and modelled work, as well as a keen sense of perception of both the historical setting and the spatial analysis of the current urban condition. Her project centred around a proposal for an agricultural college, which reconnected the centre to the outlying farmland in a particularly apt move mirroring the space of the so-‐called mediaeval “Porch Field” and Norman castle, for which Trim is so well known, and providing a new link to the Boyne riverbank. As a tutor, I was impressed by the vision which Melanie so confidently put forward – my only regret is that such expertise is not more widely appreciated and employed in strategic planning by the authorities. Beyond the specific response to site and programme, her project investigated the potential meanings conveyed by form in a cultural context, and in particular the idea of a narrative-‐based architectural response to the programme, constructed in timber as a re-‐working of the mediaeval monastic plan of St. Gall, with specific spatial implications for the town. Contingent events were explained in terms of simultaneous narratives, some present, some suggested by the programme and others past. Melanie is one of the most talented students to graduate from the School of Architecture in the past year – her work is distinguished by her exceptional drawings, and the theoretical grounding she brings to bear on the project. She demonstrated her ability to master a complex programmatic overlap within the scheme, but above all it is her remarkable diligence and workrate which sets her apart from her colleagues. I would recommend Melanie as a perceptive and intuitive architect, with a particular receptivity to issues of context, who would be able to develop a complex and architecturally nuanced response to a given programme. Please do not hesitate to revert to me if you require any further information. Yours sincerely

Simon Walker, Design Studio Master, School of Architecture, University College Dublin

Melanie O’Brien | References

EDUCATIONAL PROJECTSFinal year thesis | Agricultural Training CollegeFigure 1 Trim Town Plan. Trajectories. Original scale 1:5000 | Vectorworks, hand rendering.Figure 2 Photo of Dining Hall model. Douglas fir, bpl timber, lino. Original scale 1:50 | WoodworkFigure 3 Ground floor plan. Scale 1:5000. Original scale 1:200 | Photoshop, Vectorworks, hand rendering.Figure 4 Upper floor plans. Original scale 1:500 | Hand drawn.Figure 5 Worms eye view, Watergate Theatre. Acoustic pipes | SketchingFigure 6 Perspective of Dining Hall. Volume held apart between horizontal planes | SketchingFigure 7 Bird’s eye view of Dining Hall. Concrete hearth above timber rug | SketchingFigure 8 Photo of model in context. Facing east. Scale 1:500. Original dimensions 900x900x85 mm | Laser cutting, woodwork, physical model making

Final year | Community Sports GroundFigure 9 Surface material plan. Original scale1:100 | PhotoshopFigure 10 Photo of model in context. Facing south. Scale 1:500. Original dimensions 1500x1500x110 mm | Laser cutting, physical model makingFigure 11 Detail design through model. Scale 1:50. Original dimensions 180x320x220 mm | Physical model makingFigure 12 Surface material plan. Original scale1:10 | PhotoshopFigure 13 Photo of part model. Internal view of Sports Hall. Scale 1:100. Original dimensions 450x750x350 mm | Laser cutting, plaster casting, Photoshop

Study Abroad | Coastal Walk with SheltersFigure 14 Series of drawings describing intervention 03

List of Figures | Skills utilized

’hidden dwellings’ | Sketching, Vectorworks, BIMFigure 15 Photo of model in context. Camping shelter. Scale 1:50. Original dimensions 297x210x150 mm | Physical model makingFigure 16 Series of drawings describing intervention 02 ’room’ | Sketching, Vectorworks, BIMFigure 17 Photo of model in context. Vitals rest stop. Scale 1:50. Original dimensions 325x130x110 mm | Physical model makingFigure 18 Series of drawings describing intervention 05 ’empty hall’ | Sketching, Vectorworks, BIMFigure 19 Photo of model in context. Event venue. Scale 1:20. Original dimensions 225x130x170 mm | Lazer cutting, physical model makingFigure 20 Concept sketch. Negotiating landscape | SketchingFigure 21 Programmatic site plan | AutoCAD

Fourth year | Civil Ceremony SpaceFigure 22 Long section through project. Original Scale 1:50 | Vectorworks, pencil render, PhotoshopFigure 23 Part plan. Original scale 1:50 | Hand drawingFigure 24 Internal perspective | Hand drawingFigure 25 Project plans. Original scale 1:200 | Vector-worksFigure 26 Photo of model. View from street. Scale 1:50. Original dimensions 360x320x340 mm | Physical model making, Photoshop

Third year | Suburban Primary School | 2010Figure 27 Concept drawing. Woven facade | SketchingFigure 28 Site plan. Integration with landscape. Original scale 1:500 | Hand drawingFigure 29 Schematic Axonometric. Levels of learning. Original scale 1:500 | Hand drawingFigure 30 Section through project. Classroom study. Original scale 1:50 | Hand drawing

Figure 31 Photo of model. Interior view. Scale 1:20. Orig-inal dimensions 700x280x440 mm | Woodwork, Physical model making

Third year | Woodland Retreat | 2009Figure 32 Concept drawing. Water collection | SketchingFigure 33 Perspective of living accommodation. Original scale 1:200 | Hand drawingFigure 34 Project site plan. Building as wall. Original scale 1:200 | Hand drawingFigure 35 Photos of site. Canopy | Photography, Photo-shopFigure 36 Project site section. Profiles | Hand drawingFigure 37 Photo of model. Dappled canopy. Scale 1:20. Original dimensions 700x180x390 mm | Woodwork, Physical model making

First year | Inner city Bookshop | 2007Figure 38 Internal perspective. Structure as furniture | Hand drawingFigure 39 Photo of model. Scale 1:50 | Physical model making, Photoshop

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCEMelbourne, Australia | 2012Figure 40 Proposed design drawings | VectorworksFigure 41 Perspective of proposed design | Sketching, PhotoshopFigure 42 Photo of completed projectFigure 43 Ground floor plan | VectorworksFigure 44-46 Photos of model. Scale 1:500 | Physical model makingFigure 47 Perspective of ceiling and lighting specifica-tions | SketchingFigure 48 Photo of completed projectGalway, Ireland | 2010Figure 49 Planning application drawing | AutoCAD

For more information on Mel and her work, please feel free to browse her website:

w | melanieelizabethob.wix.com/portfolio

Thank you!