S4 Studio. Cell Prototype

Stage 4 Studio (Cell, Block, District): A prototype dwelling (Cell) developed using the modular 3x3x3 structural cube system, with modular components such as walls, Windows, floors etc. The structural system allows for large span cantilevers, allowing courtyards to expose the nature from below and the allow light to penetrate from above. 2019.

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S4 Studio

Stage 4 Studio (Cell, Block, District): The centre of the development viewed from street level shows the vertical layering from the public, open gardens on street level to the private developments which have naturally (unplanned) taken shape above to suit individual requirements. 2019.

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34 Riverside View, Alloa

Craig's First project completed as a Design & Build Developer, while studying at GSA. He designed, detailed, costed, procured and project-managed the project between 2018 and 2019. The 22sqm domestic extension is a high quality design, utilising the confines of the site and passive design to enhance the spaces within with lots of light, ventilation and views to the garden. It uses High quality, long-lasting materials such as Dutch brick, Western Red Cedar, Zinc and Aluminium, and adopts a unique but simple steel ring beam to create seamless Corner openings. The final cost of £43,000 was under the national per/sqm average. See website. 2019.

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Art Gallery, Forth Valley College

The Art Gallery was Craig's final year Graded Unit assignment - a result of 6 months work to fully develop a large-scale commercial building, from design, technical detailing, costing, implementation and final presentation. It itilised a steel space frame and a hyperbolic parabaloid roof to create a range of spaces within. Craig recently revised the project to make small amendments to materials, vegetation and even implemented a new gallery. Craig developed the design alongside his tutor - a graduate of GSA himself, Stuart Taylor. Craig's use of 3d live rendering as a design tool during the project set a standard which the college later adopted and one which Craig has continually adapted over the years. Craig credits the building as preparing him for professional practice and his eventual enrolement on the GSA Architecture course. See Website. 2014, 2019.

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Dwelling Experiment A

Dwelling House A: Designed on a real-life plot, the Dwelling design was made by Craig as an experiment and was later used in his dissertation focusing on the viability of the architect to be both designer and developer. Using natural materials, and a unique structural approach, the Dwelling explores the possibility for designers to be more expressive in their designs while remaiming financially feasible. See website. 2019.

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Dwelling Experiment B

Dwelling House B: An experimental Dwelling project which explores vertical design on a Urban plot. The design features striking Architecture, designed to allow light and ventilation to reach all parts of the Dwelling providing an attractive and mindful internal environment that allows it's users to reconnect with the city surroundings while maintaining a sense of privacy and security. It utilises a range of materials from recycled brick, corrugated steel and Aluminium to increase building performance while recreating a spiritual connection to the Urban fabric. This project designed by Craig and was later scrutinised and costed as part of Craig's Dissertation. See website. 2019.

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Craig Stephens is a Student, Freelance Architectural Consultant, Project Manager and Architectural Developer.

He studied Construction and Architectural Technology at Forth Valley College where he graduated in 2014 before taking up his first post in professional practice at Pollock Hammond Architects where he took on the role of Architectural Assistant for three and a half years, completing range of projects from small extensions to large-scale commercial projects, participating in all stages of the RIBA plan of work from concept, technical stages, procurement and administration.

Craig is particularly interested in the development of housing in Scotland and the UK and believes that Architectural Developers have the potential to transform the housing market to provide better end-results and better value for money. Since 2018, he has been providing Architectural services as a Freelance Consultant, project manager and Developer. 34 Riverside View, Alloa was his first project constructed as a ‘Design & Build’ Developer. Completed in 2019, he designed, costed, and project-managed the project.

Craig Studied undergraduate at GSA on the part-time mode while he worked in practice. Beginning Stage 4, he switched to the full-time mode.

In Stage 4 Studio, he explored the relationship between Life and Work, developing a thesis based on his own experience as a work-at-home freelancer. His findings were that Life/Work is a balance that is constantly in Flux, influenced by individual requirements. A study of his own home environment, the successful implementation of Maggie’s Centres to provide mental stability, and Japanese Architecture as a way of blurring the lines between nature and the building environment, allowed him to focus on key factors in developing a successful design toolkit: Light, Nature and Adaptability. Adopting a Spacio-Structural system, inspired by the works of Kuma and Fujimoto, he developed a dwelling concept that would allow for quick construction and adaptation using 3x3x3m blocks which could be placed in a three dimensional modular layout. The result was a flexible, simple structural system that would allow nature to occupy the street level with dwellings floating above and courtyards to allow light to flood from above. Following this project, he worked on a new building adjacent to the development. This time a multi-storey commercial building that would provide development space for creatives to research, explore and develop their ideas. In order to maximise the creativity of the occupants Craig explored techniques for increasing creativity and productivity through the physical environment as developed a vertical building based on a continuous ramps system which followed the natural development of each project. This project is still in development.

Craig Developed his Dissertation on the viability of the Architect as Developer, as a practise that could improve the quality of social and private housing in Scotland and the UK. As part of the project, he developed his own experimental dwelling designs, based on real-life plots. From these he explored the design process, the construction process and the final costs, using his own experience and successful professional precedence.