RADU AXINTE

Architectural Portfolio

2007 - 2013

For me architecture is the process of realizing what the sites potential is, what it wants to be and what it needs to be in order to remain true for the people and nature. From a personal viewpoint, architectures greatest quality is to lift the spirit and facilitate human interaction. I strive to find fresh approaches to design, that go beyond traditional ideas regarding architecture and nature. My experience over the past six years is reviewed here in brief.

Thesis September 2013

Tech center
5th year studio February 2012

ECO office
4th year studio June 2011

TCC Hotel
4th year studio January 2011

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TCC Hotel
3rd year studio April 2010

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GMA school
RADU AXINTE
www.raduaxinte.com
Masters in Architecture Technical University of Iasi 2007 - 2013

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TECH CENTER
Thesis project MA degree Location: Iasi, Romania Research ( R&D/Conference/Park) September 2013

The tech center is located near the Eastern entrance to Iasi, in the former industrial part of the city. Structured as a natural landscape that blends with the hills of Iasi, the site will be a landmark for the expanding IT industry of the city. This 120 000m landscaped site will become Iasis new great meeting place, a new town square for the Est Side. An architecturally stunning urban space that will contain a central park, class A office spaces, conference center, R&D, exhibition spaces for public art and events, a library, showrooms and retail spaces along with hotel and retail facilities. Inspiration was taken from the regions landscape, culture and history. The seven beautiful hills of Iasi are translated in the general composition of the site. New and old buildings merge history and new technology to form the backbone for the new Tech Center. They act as a support for the activities here and will draw new residents, office workers, shoppers and tourists to the site throughout the year. The main building acts as a welcoming gate for the master plan. Trough it the visitors can access an elevated platform that offers clear views over the central park and Midtown Iasi skyline. The ground floor plan is dominated by the grand foyer and the interior garden. Both of them make a strong visual link between the office spaces and the public space and act as a focal point for the building. The interior of the Tech Center is focused on the experience gained while passing trough the space. The distance and succession of spaces act as a ritual that maintain a healthy balance between work and leisure time for the occupants. The boulevard like experience spirals its way upwards trough the building merging working space with lounge and green space. The interior boulevard ends with a grand square that blends with the roof garden. It acts as a exterior meeting space that offers broad views over the park and further to the city. The existing buildings on site offer considerable savings in both building materials and construction costs. The design of the tech center incorporates cutting-edge sustainable ideas, including green roof, double-skin faade, high performance glazing, earth-to-air heat exchange and photovoltaic panels to considerably reduce energy consumption. Water conservation is a main concern for the project, the new tech center addresses this issue in several ways. First, low-flow plumbing fixtures reduce water usage by more than 20 percent. Second, a graywater collection system is used in the sanitary fixtures to further decrease potable water demand. Third, the buildings utilize collected stormwater for green space irrigation via large storage tanks. These water tanks are used in conjunction with the heat exchange system to further reduce the energy demand on site. The features of the tech center set a sustainability landmark in the triple bottom line and a standard for energy efficiency along with social and cultural identity.

September 2013

Technology center

The two buildings existing onsite will become the backbone for the new development.

Briefing for the new project required ground public spaces, a media library, conference, office and meeting spaces.

The new building merges with the two existing structures. Interior spaces are arranged according to their public/private profile. Meeting spaces act as a buffer between conference, office and learning spaces while the ground floor houses only public programs. The gate connects the access piazza with the park.

Technology center

Park / Library / Conference / Research&Development

Thesis Project / Masters Degree

September 2013

Main access points are placed at either end of the building. The middle part acts as a gate between the access piazza and the park.

Four routes link the interior spaces. They create a boulevard-like experience that spirals up through the building and reach the roof gardens.

Light boxes are extracted from the raw volume and bring natural light to all spaces.

The final result differentiates green spaces designed for the interior and by elevation makes the dissociation between public and private space. The logical result is a building and blends with the existing context.

The library volume acts as a signal for the new tech development. The tech pavilion welcomes visitors in the access square.

Using the existing structures, the development blends technology with the natural emviroment.

Office Conference Library Green space

Office Conference Library Green space

Office Conference Meeting space Green space

Office Conference Meeting space Green space

Technology center

Park / Library / Conference / Research&Development

Thesis Project / Masters Degree

September 2013

September 2013

Thesis Project / Masters Degree

Park / Library / Conference / Research&Development

Technology center

ECO office
5th year studio Location: Iasi, Romania Office (Office/Meeting/Greenhouse) February 2012

Located in lowrise residential area, on a narrow site between the Bahlui river and a local road ,the project was designed to achieve a low CO2 footprint using the resources available on site and near the site in an sustainable way. The low CO2 footprint had to be done while maintaining a good-neighbor character for the building in a the residential area. The site benefits form good sun orientation, the length of it faces south along the river. Wind power is an important aspect taken into consideration in the overall energy scheme. There are permanent wind currents from West to East along the Bahlui river. To deflect and use the wind power an greenhouse volume is placed in the middle of the building. This concentrates the wind currents to the turbines and generate a constant amount of energy. The greenhouse also acts as an fresh air buffer, in hot or cold weather air comes into the building trough the greenhouse and brought closer to the interior temperatures before distribution in the office spaces. The interior greenspace houses fully grown trees that raise oxygen concentration in the office, which benefits the employees physical and mental health. Placed near the access, the greenhouse, welcomes and creates an vertical link between the office spaces. Visible from every point in the building, it offers the employees gathering, relaxation and meeting spaces while placing them in a close relationship with the natural environment. At the top floor are the meeting rooms for large gatherings or work briefings. The foyer of the top level meeting space benefits from the view over the greenhouse atrium and direct access to the roof garden. To further reduce the CO2 contribution of the building, the ground plane is reduced and consists of the main access, reception and meeting rooms. This creates an easy access meeting zone for external clients and guests. The left side of the ground plane houses an street level parking and underground parking access. The horizontal roof is organized as a garden with views over the lowrise nearby buildings. Photovoltaic panels have been placed on the South sloped roof to compensate the energy demand from public electric grid. The tilted top of the greenhouse acts as an heat chimney that helps evacuate excess heat and interior foul air. Further decreasing the energy demand, the building uses geothermal heat pumps to harness heat from deep ground wells and the nearby river. This decreases heat and cooling loads during summer and winter, while maintaining a low profile energy consumption.

February 2012

Sustainable office building

SITE

AIRSCAPE

SUNSCAPE
The sloped roof is South oriented and offers ideal support for an array of photovoltaic panels.

GOETHERMAL
Geothermal heat pumps help balance the interior climate and energy consumption.

The site for the ECO office is located on a narrow South facing land strip. A tall greenhouse volume deflects the main air currents to power The building will complete the narrow low-rise building pattern of the the wind turbines. neighborhood.

The roof garden offers employees views over the neighborhood and the nearby river.

Lowrise profile maintained in line with nearby buildings.

Sustainable office building

Office / Meeting / Greenhouse

5th year studio

February 2012

The greenhouse extends into the access piazza.

A custom mesh deflects the air currents to the local wind turbines.

The sloped roof of the greenhouse acts as a heat chimney. The ground and underground parking reduces the build footprint on the site.

February 2012

5th year studio

Office / Meeting / Greenhouse

Sustainable office building

4th floor plan

Informal office Green roof Conference room

3rd floor plan

Informal office Office space Meeting room Terrace

2nd floor plan

Informal office Office space Meeting room Terrace

1st floor plan

Informal office Office space Meeting room Terrace

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Sustainable office building

Office / Meeting / Greenhouse

5th year studio

February 2012

February 2012

5th year studio

Office / Meeting / Greenhouse

Sustainable office building

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TCC hotel
4th year studio Location: Iasi, Romania hotel (Restaurant/Conference/SPA) June 2011

Positioned in the South-Eastern part of the city, the TCC hotel is part of a development that will turn this former industrial site into an urban axis. The hotel is positioned close to the access point and acts as a symbol for the new development. The 66m triangular structure is organized around an central atrium. The goal was to create an omnidirectional floor plan that makes the best out of the city/park views and sun orientation. The hotel is elevated on a wide two story podium that blends the high hotel structure with the terrain. The North wing of the podium houses a cafe, daytime bar, interior pool and spa center while the South wing houses the restaurant, a conference center and an underground club. Both wings are South oriented facing the park and can perform independently from the hotel. The reception lobby is part of the ground floor. Located at the base of the atrium it is naturally lit from above. The lobby has easy access to the leisure and restaurant podium wings. An interior greenhouse and courtyard help bring natural light deep into the wide spaces of the podium. The three story greenhouse visually connects and helps light the main lobby, the conference center and the ground floor restaurant. In the North wing the courtyard brings light into the low levels of the spa center and also helps naturally ventilate the interior spaces. Floor fifteen hosts a two story restaurant that offers guests impressive 360 views over the seven sloping hills of Iasi. The parametric facade of the hotel visually reduces the volumetric scale, controls light penetration while limiting heat gain. The large square windows create grand frames in the rooms for the views over the city. The facade density is gradually reduced to the top floor, where the glass blends with the sky and at the top level disappears.

June 2011

Hotel

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SITE
The TCC site has good connection to public transport, green space and comercial venues. The project will act as an missing link in the urban fabric for the southeastern part of the city.

PROGRAM
Briefing for the project consisted in an 230room hotel, an conference center, restaurant and spa. The goal was to offer the best light and view conditions for every architectural program while maintaining a balance between public and private space.

ORIENTATION
The hotel is split into three different height volumes. Arranged in a triangle the volumes create a naturally lit atrium. The triangle shape is oriented to maximize natural light while offering the best views over the city and South facing park.

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Hotel

SPA / Restaurant / Conference

4th year studio

June 2011

PODIUM
The restaurant, conference center and spa form an South facing public podium for the hotel. At the top of the hotel a panoramic restaurant offers views to the seven sloping hills of Iasi.

VIEW
The parametric facade of the hotel visually reduces the scale of the building while creating frames for views to the city. The facade density controls direct light and heat gain.

FINAL
The final structure houses the 230room hotel in an functional and logical structure while maintaining balance with the surroundings.

June 2011

4th year studio

SPA / Restaurant / Conference

Hotel

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Conference Exhibition Office Kitchen Bakery/Cafe Terrace

1st floor plan

Typical floor plan

Ground floor plan

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Hotel

SPA / Restaurant / Conference

4th year studio

June 2011

June 2011

4th year studio

SPA / Restaurant / Conference

Hotel

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Pacu
4th year studio Location: Iasi, Romania Residential ( Residential/Public space ) January 2011

Pacu residential development comprises of 26 apartments in 2 distinct building types, a 7 story mid-rise building located at NorthEast of the site and a 5 story sloping low-rise to the South. Located near the center of the city, in a historical site, Pacu cultivates the development of community and pride of place. At center of the site a grand public piazza provides the space for workshops, public exhibitions and leisure. Central to the site the mid-century house is the pivot point that links the exterior spaces. The monument will serve as an art gallery. The interior exhibition will extent in the piazza an connect the gallery with the local workshops, giving new dynamics on street level. Sloped with the terrain, the low-rise building provides a local kindergarten facing South. The volume further extends in the local park and offers a nearby playground. The kindergarten, along with local workshops and exhibition spaces will reinforce the sense of community for the new development. The residential units are placed to maximise natural light and cross ventilation between two outside exposures - increasing the natural circulation of fresh air in homes and reducing reliance on air conditioning. Residential access points are placed separate from the pedestrian axes in the piazza and give privacy to the units that overlook the city and the public space.

January 2011

Residential development

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SITE
Located in a historical site, on a platform overlooking the city, the site holds a B class monument at the center. Height and view regulations exist on the site due to nearby buildings, pedestrian and auto traffic.

MONUMENT
The monument will house an art gallery that will extend throughout the site, along the length of the street. The low-rise slopes along the terrain and creates South facing terraces.

MIDRISE/LOWRISE
Two residential buildings are created. A midrise building overlooking the site and a sloping low-rise building that houses a daycare center. At ground level both buildings have local shops and public spaces.

FINAL
As a result, Pacu development blends into the exiting urban fabric while integrating residential, public space and art venues.

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Residential development

Residential / Art Gallery / Workshop / Public space

4th year studio

January 2011

Ground floor

1st floor

Terrace Cafe Shop

Terrace Access Appartments

Terrace Cafe Storage Residential access

-1 Level

January 2011

4th year studio

Residential / Art Gallery / Workshop / Public space

Residential development

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GMA school
3rd year studio Location: Iasi, Romania School ( Learning/Park/Public space ) April 2010

The site for the new GMA school is located between two major parts of the city. The goal of the project is to create a strong link between the two districts by reconfiguring the available site, and balance learning, sport and public space. Besides classroom and workshop spaces, the building will house an indoor sports hall, a library along with exhibition and event space. Different programmatic spaces will blur the boundary of learning activities. There are three teachers of children, adults, other children and their physical environment. Louis Mallaguzzi At the core of the building the meeting space clusters three types of space. Each is oriented to benefit from ideal light conditions and view orientation. Along the main street exhibition and event space create an urban pocket that gives new dynamics to the neighborhood. The core of the school is open to the elements and the meeting space becomes an interior courtyard. The courtyard is an omnipresent element throughout the building, all the hallways and vertical connections face the courtyard and make an interior loop between learning and recess time. The project makes a fusion from three typologies of space by balancing learning and social activities. The organic and natural distribution of learning, sport venues, public space and park creates a strong link with the community and gives to GMA local identity.

April 2010

High school

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The new GMA school will reorganise the site and will provide a local learning facility to the Tatarasi Neighborhood.

The learning spaces will blend with an indoor sports hall, an event space and exhibition for the students and community.

The solution proposes a three-nucleus organisation. The learning spaces are oriented North North-East. Sport facilities are placed on the South sidve and the event spaces and exhibition are oriented North-West, facing the city.

SITE

PROGRAM

CLUSTER

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High School

Learning / Sports hall / Park / Public space

3rd year studio

April 2010

The building creates three types of space along it. A public park on the East side, sport venues facing South and South-West and a covered public space facing the street. These three typologies of space give new dynamics to the neighborhood.

The core of the new school opens to the elements and creates an outdoor meeting space. For the sports hall and event space, natural lighting and ventilation is ensured by clerestory windows.

Conceived as a fusion of three types of space, the building reorganizes the available site in an organic an rational way. It merges the learning and sport venues with the park and public space.

PUBLIC SPACE

OPENING

FINAL

April 2010

3rd year studio

Learning / Sports hall / Park / Public space

High School

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Underground floor plan

Ground floor plan

Classroom Hallway Technical basement

Classroom Interior courtyard Cafeteria Event space / Gallery Sports hall Hallway

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High School

Learning / Sports hall / Park / Public space

3rd year studio

April 2010

1st floor plan

2nd floor plan

Classroom Greenhouse Cafeteria Administration Hallway

Library Green roof

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RADU AXINTE
Masters in Architecture Bucharest

TEL : Web

+40 (0) 742 892 505 : www.raduaxinte.com

E-mail : radu.a.axinte@gmail.com

All works Radu Axinte 2013. Please do not reproduce without the expressed written consent of Radu Axinte.