tiago rocha damasceno - portfolio

Exploring interests through my architecture school years

A portfolio of work between 2005-2010

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The following portfolio shows my work through my
academic years at UCT as a student of architecture. It
represents not only my explorations with architecture
as a socially responsive discipline, but also shows my
interests in rural life and its way of living.
The last project shown here, my MArch thesis, is a
culmination of the six years of personal explorations
on these interests.

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 2005-2007 : BAS

2nd year 2006 – Know-Here Hotel

A design that tried to merge the public functions of a square

with the internal experience of a Hotel. It was projected to do
this through a combination of spatial and visual connectors.

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 2005-2007 : BAS

3rd year 2007 – Des Baker Entry - Transformation

In between, a brief that inspired futuristic views on the city

as a response to the current conditions of South Africa. Our
project was aimed at rethinking an urban park situated in a
vibrant and historical area of Cape Town. Using the playing
energy of children the park generated a safe recreational
space for the neighbourhood and for the city.
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 2005-2007 : BAS

3rd year 2007 – mini thesis – Resocializing

This project procured to use architecture as a tool for social

integration. The program was aimed at people with addic-
tions regarded as social rejects. Besides accommodating their
healing, the project aimed at promoting their re-insertion in
society.

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main ideas
1st proposal
2005-2007 : BAS

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2005-2007 : BAS

1st proposal
1st proposal
2005-2007 : BAS

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 2005-2007 : BAS

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development of idea
 2005-2007 : BAS

development of idea 11
 2008 : Practical

2008 – Barefoot College, India

During my practical year I joined the Barefoot College, an organization that provides basic
services and solutions to problems in rural communities, with the objective of making them
self-sufficient and sustainable. My experience there has reached varied disciplines including
photography and film, solar engineering and architecture.
I have drafted the entire campus of the college with the intention of showing the develop-
ment of this through the past 20 years. I have also written an essay about the different archi-
tectural projects of the College, which made me study their approach towards architecture.
Lastly, I have produced a book that summarizes the architectural experiences and principles
of the Barefoot College.

www.barefootcollege.org
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 2008 : Practical

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2008 : Practical
 2008 : Practical

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2008 : Practical
 2008 : Practical

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2008 : Practical
 2008 : Practical

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 5th year – Mowbray
2009 : BAS (HONS)

Mowbray Hall is situated in an important movement junction of

the city. Its Adjacent Library receives many visitors a day de-
spite the fact that it is detracted and fenced off the main move-
ment route.
Taking advantage of the open space and commercial opportuni-
ties of the site and justifying on the uncomfortable placement of
the current Library, this project proposes a new Library and in-
formal economic facilities. It is arranged to define a new public
square controlled by occupation rather then by fencing.

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 2009 : BAS (HONS)

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2009 : BAS (HONS)
 2009 : BAS (HONS)

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2009 : BAS (HONS)
 2009 : BAS (HONS)

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 2009 : BAS (HONS)

5th year - Urban Project

Subsequently we engaged in an urban design project that aimed at applying the principles and
ideas that were brought forward in Plot and Block. Our aim in the Youngsfield project was to
develop the area creating new urban possibilities while respecting the natural order of the
site. The project proposed an urban grain that would welcome different economic groups and
provide them with opportunities to improve their economic capabilities. The design spanned
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from a metropolitan scale to an architectural typology proposal.
 2009 : BAS (HONS)

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2009 : BAS (HONS)
 2009 : BAS (HONS)

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2009 : BAS (HONS)
5th year – Orientation Node on Long
2009 : BAS (HONS)

Orientation on Long proposes a facility building in a prominent

corner of Cape Town. It is a combination of public services with
privatised spaces that intends to contribute to the betterment of
the city. The choice of materials and detailing for this project
came as a response to the importance of the building as a touris-
tic icon for the city and for this particular neighbourhood.

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2009 : BAS (HONS)
 2009 : BAS (HONS)

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2009 : BAS (HONS)
 2009 : BAS (HONS)

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 PUBLIC PLACE MAKING IN ENKANINI – A SOCIO-SPATIAL METHODOLOGY
2010 : M Arch (THESIS)

FOR INTERVENING ON THE INFORMAL.

­
Architectural and urban design projects implemented on informal settlements tend to neglect the
local existing patterns of living. As a result, these projects impose new social and spatial condi-
tions that are often not liberating to the communities that they serve.
As an alternative, this thesis proposes a methodology that contrasts this approach, a process that
aims at understanding the socio-spatial conditions of a particular area in order to inform spatial
intervention.
As such, this thesis will incorporate a study of the general conditions that define Enkanini, an in-
formal settlement of Cape Town. Such conditions will consequently inform where, how and when
one must implement interventions on this settlement.
The outcome of this thesis will consequently not be a formal design of a singular building; it will
rather focus on concepts that would guide strategic spatial intervention in Enkanini.
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position
2010 : M Arch (THESIS)

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2010 : M Arch (THESIS)

field research
field research
2010 : M Arch (THESIS)

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 2010 : M Arch (THESIS)

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urban scale proposal
 2010 : M Arch (THESIS)

precinct scale proposal 41

 2010 : M Arch (THESIS)

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community scale proposal
 2010 : M Arch (THESIS)

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 2010 : M Arch (THESIS)

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community scale proposal
 2010 : M Arch (THESIS)

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 community scale proposal
2010 : M Arch (THESIS)

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Architecture Students Congress 2007 - ASC07

Took part in the organization of tours for the ASC07

Formed part of the technical team for the lectures of
ASC07

Photography

Participated in a few amateur photographic

competitions
Published pictures in The Cape Town Globalist
in 2007/2010

EXTRAS

Project with the Barefoot College

In 2008 was involved in organizing the project that took three women
from rural Mozambique to India (Barefoot College) to be solar engi-
neers. 47
 Trip through India

Travelled through India in 2008 for a month

visiting Architectural projects that were
aimed at community development. Within
the visited were:
SIFFS Housing Project in Cudalore
Auroville
Hunnarshalla
CEPT
RASTA
COSTFORD
EXTRAS

EUNIC Studio

In 2009 was a participant in the Eunic Studio that occurred in Hilbrow,
Johannesburg.

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A Procura de Pancho

In 2010 was involved on the conceptualization and

realisation of the movie A Procura de Pancho. The
movie was awarded being shown in the Architect
Africa Film Festival 2010.

http://vimeo.com/16987348

EXTRAS

Architour
Maputo+Johannesburg

Also in 2010 was involved in the

organisation of a tour through Ma-
puto with the Masters class of 2010
architecture UCT. This tour was
documented through a movie called
Vaya Machibombo Vaya.

http://vimeo.com/14692440
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 thank you very much

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