curriculum vitae_kevin o'brien

KEVIN_O’BRIENCreative, original, motivated individual with a degree in Architecture and Architectural Technology with over one year of design led experience_

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k e y _ a c h i e v e m e n t s

Sole responsibility for the design and development on a number of multi-disciplinary projects, including, residential, commercial, education, care facilities and adaptive reuse projects_

Responsible for articulating and communicating the clients vision, goals and objectives by establishing the direction and documentation of the projects design under the supervision of the principal architect_

Sole responsibility for development of conceptual ideas and projects through a number of stages, from feasibility studies, draft design, scheme design, specifications and research of materials, planning, tender and construction documentation, on site survey and inspection of works, compliance with building codes and relevant planning documentation_

Key team member in the design and development of an 200m2 extension and refurbishment of 400m2 of a primary education institute set within rural Ireland. As part of a multi-disciplinary office I was expected to work independently on project development while maintaining a clear line of communication with outside consultants, contractors, planning departments and the client. The project involved preparation of successful presentation materials using 2-D graphic layout solutions, along with digital mediums and physical models to contextualisze the design idea. The project schedule involved, full site and buildings survey, draft designs for review by schools board of management, post review general arragement drawings preparation of planning documentation, construction documentation, detail design and specifications writing and issuing of tender packages for contractors_

Responsible for development of principal architects conceptual ideas for a rural housing project, consisting of 12 residential units, ranging from 230 - 350m2. The early design process involved the researching of rural vernacular architecture, materials and crafts. The project challenged and developed my spatial awareness and problem solving abilities, I also gained invaluable experience in organisation and interpersonal skills as communication at all levels of the design process had to be maintained. The project developed very quickly as strict deadlines had to adhered to. The time scale for the project from concept to construction and contract documentation was 4 weeks_

Sole responsibility for design development of a 320m2 crèche and after school facility to be located in a small rural town in County Monaghan. The project consisted of early design presentations to client along with on going line of communication with county council planning departments with regard to the strict building codes and legislation which the design and development of crèche and care facilities encompasses_

Sole responsibility for co-ordination and editing of a large scale survey of Dublin’s north inner city. In this position I acted as an editor of a large number of survey drawings and photographic elevations at a number of scales, all part of the schools end of year exhibition “ common ground “_

Selected to exhibit at Venice Architecture Biennale 2012, as part of the international student exhibition “40,000 hours”, curated by Sir. David Chipperfield. The model selected was a “perspective” model of the rooms at Le Corbuiser’s La tourette in Lyon, France_


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W O R K _ E X P E R I E N C E

05 / 2008 _ 08 / 2009Kenneth D. Lonergan & Associates ltd.

Architectural Intern & Assistant_

Initially joined the practice as an intern, remained in the position until end of summer 2009 as an architectural assistant_

Timeline of works_

05_2008 Design development on a number of one off houses_

06_2008 Development and planning of 12 units in a rural development_

07_2008 Feasibility studies and survey of a 180m2 commercial shop unit__

07_2008 Concept design and development on a 90m2 extension to house_

08_2008 Concept and design development for the refurbishment & extension of a 80 year old schoolhouse for re- development as a dwelling_

05_2009 Design development on a number of one off houses_

06_2009 Design development on a 320m2 crèche and after school facility_

07_2009 Design development, planning and construction documentation on a 200m2 extension and partial refurbishment of a rural school_

Development of conceptual ideas to create comprehensive building designs and site strategies. Projects were taken from concept through to client draft approval, planning and preparation of construction documentation, building code administration and technical detailing_

Gained experience within a number of sectors including , residential, education, mixed use, commercial and adaptive reuse projects_

Preparation of presentation materials and layout solutions for client approval on a number of different projects_

Worked independently on projects and also maintained a clear line of communication with consultants, contractors, planning departments and clients_

My time in the office allowed me to understand the importance of architectural detailing, problem solving and spatial planning_

Gained experience in project scheduling and scope of works_

Familiarity with general concepts of structural, mechanical electrical and civil engineering disciplines in relation to the role of the design of a building_

Responsibility for organisation and maintaining of project files in accordance with standard office procedures_

Participation in client meetings along with detailed writing of minutes_


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e d u c a t i o n

2010 _ 2013B. Sc (Hons) Architecture_

University College DublinResults: 1.1 First Class Honours

Modules_• Architectural Design• Environmental Science• Architectural Technologies• Urban design• Theory and design of structures• History & theory of Design• Visualisation & Photographic technique• Ecology of Architecture• Digital Visualisation

2007 _ 2010B. Sc Architectural Technology_

Waterford Institute of TechnologyResults: 1.1 First Class Honours

Modules_• Architectural Technology• Construction Technology• Environmental Science• Materials & Detailing• Graphics & AutoCAD • Building Surveying• Conservation• Architectural Documentation• Professional Practice• Planning & Building Regulations• Construction Law

s k i l l s

Autodesk Suite_• AutoCAD• Revit• 3D Studio Max

Adobe Creative Suite 6_• Photoshop• InDesign• Illustrator

Digital Modelling_• Google Sketch up Pro• V-ray ( Sketch up )

Presentation materialsArchitectural Drafting ( Office standards )Project SchedulingArchitectural Detailing Model making ( Card_Plaster_Timber )Epilog Laser cuttingHand Drawing & SketchingPhotographyBuildings SurveyingMicrosoft Office SuiteOffice Administration & OrganisationMac & Windows versatility

i n t e r e s t s

Maintaining Tumblr blog with personal architectural & design projects_Illustration, graphic design and typography_Photography_Sketching_Travel_Classic Cars_


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e x a m p l e s _ o f _ w o r k

I have included a collection of work in the following pages of this document. The links show below direct to work which has been published in various college yearbooks and also my own blogs. I would like to thank you for taking the time to review my application_

U.C.D Architecture Yearbook 2011_http://architecture.ucd.ie/2011.pdf#page=185

U.C.D Sculpture workshop 2012_Part Ihttp://materialsculptureworkshop.blogspot.ie/2012/02/last-thing-you-forget.htmlPart IIhttp://materialsculptureworkshop.blogspot.ie/2012/02/fiber-notch.htmlPart IIIhttp://materialsculptureworkshop.blogspot.ie/2012/03/right-where-it-belongs.html

Venice Biennale 2012_Part of Sir David Chipperfield’s “40,000 Hours” international student model exhibition. Image courtesy of CAST Architects.http://goo.gl/SXk5M

Personal Tumblr Blog_A collection of my own designs, sketches and photography. Updated 3/4 times per week.atelierwhat.tumblr.com

Instagram Photo Blog_A travel and design photographic journal. Updated daily_http://instagram.com/atelierwhat

“Kevin’s duties involved assisting with our de-sign staff members of the practice and also full design of particular projects both res-idential, commercial and educational.

Kevin contributed to the general day to day running of the office and showed a great in-terest in his work. He also showed great initia-tive on his designed projects and went beyond the required needs to guarantee their success.

I found Kevin to be punctual and diligent with great responsibility to detail and correction. I have no hesitation in recommending Kevin to any potential employer and I am confident he will exercise his duties with professionalism.”

K e n n e t h _ D . L o n e r g a nm a n a g i n g _ d i r e c t o rk e n n e t h _ d . _ l o n e r g a n _ & _ a s s o c i at e s

“Kevin is currently ranked in the top three places in his 3rd year B.Sc. Architectural Technology degree, and graduated with first class honours in summer 2010. During his time on the course Kevin has demonstrated an ability to undertake research and to present same in a clear and concise manner.

He participated excellently with his year groups and is curious about the relevant aspects of building design, construction and environmental issues. I am confident that he will make a very positive contribution to his chosen career.”

J o h n _ K e n n e d yf i n a l _ y e a r _ t u t o rm . r . i . a . i _ c o n s u l t a n t _ a r c h i t e c t

C o m m u n i t y _ C o m m e r c e _ & _ Vo c a t i o n a l _ S c h o o l _Location: North Wall, Custom House Quay, Co. Dublin_area: 3000m2

site area: 15,200m2

year: 2013

“ I decided early on in the project that I needed to find a solution which was not simply about it’s functionalism, that it extended beyond one dimensional design, it was intended to be a project which was not bound in it’s entirety to the present, but that it resonates into an uncertain future. In my opinion, it is important that buildings such as schools are no longer designed to a Department of Education checklist, but that it has a conditioned openness, that there is the possibility for future change. This allows the school to adapt constantly to the needs of it’s students. It allows the building to then be populated in a number of different ways. There are a multitude of highly complex issues with regard to how exactly a building is colonised, it moves from the individual, to the small groups through to the large groups, it encompasses current and prospective students, staff and visitors, all of which move around the space a different times of the day. The spaces are removed of hierarchical order, in the sense that it plays a mediating role between the individuals who use it, and the larger society which they are part of.”

Learning Space_ Early Concept Design_

B o x i n g _ C l u b _ & _ G y m n a s i u m _Location: North Inner City, Co. Dublin_area: 800m2

site area: 980m2

year: 2012

“ During the peregrination from O’Connell Street to William Street North one is absorbed into the cities urban mesh. It was during these walks through this “fabric” that inchoate ideas were formed, idea’s which dealt with the importance of urban strategy and how it links into the development of the designed spaces. This building is not an isolated entity, it is part of a highly intricate urban mesh, one which is made up of deep layers of social and economic history, as a designer, it demands one to become the author of that space, which focuses on the creation of a distinct identity, and the establishment of a relationship between the building and it’s setting. At a more “localised” scale, the flow through the streets is dictated by the circumambulation of St. Agatha’s church,which in turn creates an imbalance of scales in such a small area of buildings, most of which are single storey and two storey 19th century dwellings. I wanted to represent this “imbalance” in my own design as a heavy weight, robust and esoteric structure.”

H o u s i n g _ & _ R e s e a r c h _ F a c i l i t y _Location: Rush, Co. Dublin_No. Units: 16 Dwelling units_ 1 Pallative Care Centre_ 1 Marine Biology Research FacilityUnit areas: 140 / 320 m2

site area: 5000m2

year: 2012

“ The Housing project presented many challenges, housing by it’s nature is a highly complex issue, and is best described by Le Corbusier as “the problem of the epoch”. This project is representative of communality, with a suggestion of shared experiences, social interaction and the heightened responsibility for the shaping of spaces to facilitate this idea. One realises that there is the challenge of the suppression of the individual in favour of the collective. It was my intention to design a project which proposes a qualitative impact on the physical and social environment which is bigger than the sum of the individual units. As one walks through Rush, it becomes apparent that a pattern is forming along the street, each block of houses has a lane-way in the centre, which leads down to the vast farmyards which stretch down to the shoreline. This break in the houses allows one a view towards a world of long narrow glass houses and furrowed land, all of which are part of the rich tapestry of the agricultural industry in rush.”

C r e d i t _ U n i o n _ & _ C o m m u n i t y C e n t r e _Location: Rush, Co. Dublin_area: 500m2

site area: 1200m2

year: 2011

“The greatest challenge in the design of a mixed use building was to find viable contemporary answers with credibility and a sense of proportion to the many questions which are raised throughout the search for integration. The location of this site in Rush is unique, as it is set in a residential neighbourhood which holds a majority of the towns population, but has very few public facilities. This is a tight knit community, many of the residents of rush were born here and have stayed all their lives, raising their families and working within the long-standing agricultural and fishing industries. This project was intended to strengthen local roots, and enable this neighbourhood to hold a social centre. The site is very constrained and bound on three sides by public roads, it is also exposed to the elements being on the periphery of the residential blocks and facing onto the coast of the Irish sea. Therefore it was important to create a building which was robust and encouraged occupation, while activating into the public space which surrounds it.”