Lewis Williams

Lewis is a student currently in his third year at Cardiff University studying a Masters in Architectural Engineering; which is a four year course.  His course covers topics such as Computing, CAD, A History of Western Architecture, Drawing, and Structural Analysis through which he is able to gain a broad knowledge base. Upon graduating, Lewis is hoping to become a chartered engineer after training in industry where he would like to specialise in structures and the designing of buildings.  Lewis is achieving high marks in his exams that he has taken for his course, with his latest average amounting to a First.  He received the Norman Thomas Travel Prize in Civil Engineering “for exemplary performance in year two worthy of recognition”.  Before going into higher education he obtained 9 GSCE’s and 4 A-Levels (with 3 of the 4 being ‘A’ grades) along with 2 AS-Levels.  These A-Levels where in Graphic Design, Mathematics and Chemistry; with his highest mark in Graphic Design where he was able to use his design and imagination skills to his full potential to produce many high quality pieces of work.

Whilst at University, Lewis has developed many new skills.  He has been able to use his imagination and expand design skills in many study based projects that he has been faced with.  One of these current projects is the expansion and re-design of a Cardiff church centre into a new community centre and library; creating a central space for the wider community to gather.  Many of these projects are theoretical based although their application is to very real scenarios.  Lewis has been able to aid in the design of a handful of projects (some only up to the conceptual stage) which have included a new public entrance, W.C. refurbishments and workshop development to a workplace where he has previously worked.  These projects have included drawing of a series of 3-D models alongside consultations with the service manager.

Example of design work by Lewis Williams

Whilst working during his vacation periods he has also been able to amount several achievements.  A few of these being:

• A member on the Award winning ‘Plant Area’ team at one of the best Gardens Centres in the UK.
• Working for Kirman Design on their Gold Medal RHS Tatton 2006 Show Garden and Prize winning Southport Flower Show 2007 Show Garden.
• Recently gaining a placement with a top Engineering company.

Lewis enjoys the challenge that comes with engineering and the ability of being able to express his ideas in buildings.  Lewis comments: “The architecture of a building is an important way of tying it in with the surrounding.  With the ever increasing awareness with the environment, it makes it important to learn new ways of building and living with nature rather than destroying it.  Gardens are a great link with nature that is one of the reasons why I love gardening.  Different gardens have many different functions, from a place to relax to a working place where the full potential of a garden can be harvested.”

Lewis was encouraged by his Parents to be involved in gardening and is a main hobby of his.  It is a subject that thoroughly interests him and something he loves to do in this free time.  The knowledge he has obtained about gardening has come from working at the Garden Centre and helping out on the Show Gardens.  He has previously designed a few function-able gardens for family friends and now focuses most of his efforts of his Parent’s new garden.  This is a mature garden which has space for growing vegetables, fruit bushes and trees which Lewis has an active role in.

With the knowledge that Lewis possess about gardening, it helps him to understand the necessary link between buildings and their environment.  This is so that they are working in harmony so that we as a society are not destroying the environment, in our own ignorance, for future generations.