TPS Architect Receives Best Design Award

19 September 2010

Continued Recognition for Architect Developing Sustainable Design Solutions as Design is also nominated for the RIBA Presidents Silver Medal

RIBA-recognised architect Rolland Velho’s contributions towards the built environment sector have been rewarded with the SLSA Chairman’s Prize for ‘Best Design’ award by the South London Society of Architects.

Rolland, who works as an architectural designer for leading design consultancy TPS, received the ‘Best Design’ award for his project ‘Edgehill Model Railway Club’ at the London South Bank University (LSBU) Architectural Design Exhibition in London this summer. The Award was officially presented on September 14th 2010 at LSBU’s Keyworth Building.

The award winning project focuses on The Vapour Order, which forms part of the analysis used to derive the building form. This is an innovative way of designing building forms called 'generative design'. “I use 'influences' to create 3d geometries to help evolve a building form,” explains Rolland. “In my case influences have been weather conditions (for sustainability), railway movement and vapour (steam from the world's first passenger railway). I then use these influences within generative scripts which results in a 3D geometric form that adapts to its surrounding and climatic conditions on site.”

The design has now been nominated for the RIBA Presidents Silver medal - the most world’s most prestigious award for architectural studies. This July Rolland also received a Distinction grade post graduation diploma in Architecture from LSBU, recognising his innovative work in comprehensive environmental design solutions.

“The LSBU course introduced me to the academic view on complex issues such as social and environmental matters, sustainability and reducing the carbon footprint of buildings,” Rolland explained.“I’ve embraced what has been taught and, within an academic framework, developed ‘parametric’ and ‘generative’ design techniques and methodologies that allow integrated environmental, social, sustainable and analytical parameters - all leading to comprehensive design solutions.”

Rolland’s combination of experience and academic insight has led to an unconventional approach to design. “I like to use analytical and scripting techniques to help arrive at geometric forms with a clearly defined operational hierarchy,” he explains. “Architects and designers are faced with a myriad of sustainability issues such as global warming, energy conservation, renewables etc. I have used my time at university to develop various techniques and strategies that will allow me to address these issues effectively as a designer, whilst creating both aesthetically-pleasing and efficient designs.”  

Rolland previously qualified as an architect in Goa, India, where he set up his own architectural practice and gained a reputation as a published practitioner. He has designed and delivered on a variety of projects which were won through national and international design competitions including; the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) Science Centre, the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) and conservation works on St Anne’s Church, Talaulim, Goa – a UNESCO world protected monument.

He moved to England in 2002 to further his experience by qualifying as a RIBA-recognised British Architect. He joined TPS in 2004 as an architectural assistant whilst progressing to his RIBA-accredited part-time post graduation diploma.  Within TPS Rolland has since been given the opportunity to work on a range of projects including correctional facilities, training academies and airports, with work undertaken across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Currently he is involved in two aviation projects in Rwanda.

“I’m delighted and proud that I’ve topped the university and won the ‘best design’ award,” he says. “To me, this is validation of the many months of extraordinarily hard work I’ve had to put in, balancing my studies whilst still delivering effectively on key TPS projects.

“I’m very grateful for the funding support provided by TPS, for the mentoring of both my line manager, Mike Keyworth, and also our Architectural Director, Malcolm Cook, together with the massive support that everyone in the TPS architectural studio has given me during my studies.”

Accomplishments/ Accreditations

• Pg Dip Architecture (Distinction) London South Bank University (2010)
• SLSA Chairman's prize for Best Design awarded by the South London Society of Architects (2010)
• Guest Speaker – Design seminar organised by MIZY, the Korean arm of UNESCO, Soeul, South Korea, (2010)
• Best Design for a Music School awarded by the James Allen Girls School, Dulwich (2008)
• Associate, Indian Institute of Architects, New Delhi, India. (1999) (Lifetime member)
• Member, Council of Architects, New Delhi, India (1997)
• Bachelor of Architecture (First Class - Honours), Goa University, 1997
  

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