GUYLEE SIMMONDSMArch BSc (Hons)

Nakuru Project

Empowerment Exhibition

Mutende Project

Elemental Shetland

Fixperts ResidencyBenchmark

NAKURU PROJECT

Orkidstudio partnered with the St. Jerome’s Chil-dren’s Centre in Nakuru, to design, fund and build them a new home. Over the course of a year we selected a team of volunteers, coordinated the design through a series of workshops, then went to Nakuru to build the new project over the course of two months.

Earthbag building was introduced to the local community through the project, enabling us edu-cate unskilled people with a economical approach to building. A timber frame then sits above the rendered earthbag walls.

I was in charge of material procurement for this project, visiting timber yards, builders merchant’s as well as organising the employment of all of our 100 Kenyan workers.

Design, Procurement, ConstructionSeptember ‘13 - September ‘14Nakuru, Kenya

Veneer Cores

Whilst buying some structural timber I visited a timber yard’s plywood pro-duction facility. Logs were delivered, shaved into thin veneer sheets, then glued. However when shaving the logs, the machine reached a point where the diameter of the timber was too narrow. This produced a by-product of the process in the form of a veneer core, a solid pole of the strongest part of the tree, yet normally turned into wood chippings.

Seeing an opportunity I bought 2,500 of these veneer cores and we em-ployed them as a durable and beautiful cladding product on the exterior of the building.

EMPOWERMENT

Empowerment: Social Change Through Building built on the research of my Master’s Dissertation of the same name and sought to explore the role of the architect as not just the designer of a beau-tiful finished product, but as a facilitator of social change through design and making. This research built on my work as a trustee of humanitarian de-sign organisation, Orkidstudio. (www.orkidstudio.co.uk)

Rather than focus on the end product, the exhibi-tion used the characters and individuals from our construction projects, to demonstrate the pow-er of design and making in affecting the lives of people in poverty. The power we argued, was not in the building itself, but in empowering the peo-ple we worked alongside, with skills, knowledge and confidence in their abilities.

Curation, design and buildExhibition open November ‘14 - April ‘15 The Lighthouse Gallery, Glasgow

MUTENDE PROJECT

The Mutende Children’s Village near Chingo-la, Zambia offers opportunities for orphans and abandoned children to be cared for in a loving, family environment. In summer 2013, along with a team of ten volunteers, we designed and con-structed a large hall space, which can be divided into three classrooms plus an office and IT suite.

I was involved in the design and funding in the build up to this project, prior to spending two months in Zambia leading the construction with fellow Orkidstudio trustees.

Design, ConstructionSeptember ‘12 - September ‘13Chingola, Zambia

ELEMENTAL SHETLAND

The model of a Shetland crofting community is one of autonomy and self sufficiency. My MArch thesis proposed the establishment of a commu-nity for veterans with mental health disorders to retreat for a number of weeks or months, to engage in a variety of activities that have thera-peutic benefits within the elemental environment.

The self sufficiency of the community and its ability to develop organically, was reflected in the use of materials. Primarily, I developed an approach for processing local driftwood into structural timber, using glue lamination methodologies. With this new material, I developed specific connections and ways of building that embraced the thick lami-nations.

A accompanying guide demonstrated the pro-duction and use of this material.

Master of Architecture Design ThesisSeptember ‘13 - June ‘14Shetland, UK

EDUCATION

SKILLS

Welsh School of Architecture

Cardiff University2009-2014

TECHNICAL SKILLS

SketchingDraftingDigital ModellingTechnical DesignGraphic Design

OTHER SKILLS

First Aid QualifiedUK Driving License

2013-14 Architectural Studies MArchDouble Commendation

Design Thesis - Therapeutic Power of LandscapeDissertation - EMPOWERMENT (1st in Class)

2009-12 Architectural Studies BSc (Hons)1st Class Honours

DIGITAL SKILLS

MicrostationAutoCad3DS MaxRevit ArchitectureSketchup Pro

PhotoshopIllustratorInDesign

EXPERIENCE

Currently running a complicated residential project in East Sussex through all work stages, as well as several other commissions, both architecture and carpentry.

Designing and running their projects worldwide, and maintaining the publicity and raising awareness whilst the charity grew substantially. In the summers of 2013 and 2014, with my fellow trustees, I led the construction of a school in Zambia and a children’s home in Kenya respectively. In autumn 2014 I curated and managed a Orkidstudio exhibition at the Lighthouse, Glasgow.

My year in practice involved an intense level of involvement and project engagement experience in a two person practice alongside the pressures and rewards of running a new Architecture studio. I learnt a great deal, working on projects ranging from a £1.8 million Primary School, the conceptual stages of design for high rise affordable housing for the Guinness Housing Trust and several residential and ecclesiastical conversions.

In 2009 and 2010, I spent summers working in Haiti, involved with general logistics, some architectural consultation and surveying, as well as providing relief to earthquake victims in Port-au Prince. I’ve remained involved with consultation and design for the charity.

FreelanceDesign & Making

Jul. 2010 -

Trustee/Project Manager

Orkidstudio Worldwide2012 - 2014

Architectural Assistant ZRP Architects2012 - 2013

Logistics Coordinator

HHA, HaitiSummer 2009

2007-09 Art, English, Geography, Maths, Physics, French38 points out of 45, International Baccalaureate

2005-0710 A*s and As at GCSE

King’s College School

Wimbledon1999-2009

PRACTICAL SKILLS

CarpentryGroundworksBricklayingJoineryBasic Metal Work