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WAKING THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
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W T C A THINKING THROUGH MAKING
CHARRETTE DESIGN WEEK
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WAKING THE SLEEPING BEAUTY APPENDIX
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School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Newcastle University, 2014/15
LEARNING EXPERIENCE SUMMARY For the last three years I have been attending the Newcastle University, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, and studying towards a BA (Hons) degree in Architecture. I consider these years to be very significant to my personal and professional development as well as a substantial step further - towards my career in the field of architecture and/or design. My final year in architecture school was challenging yet rewarding, during which I had the chance to expand my understanding of architecture both as an art and as a profession. I consider my learning curve this final year to be very uneven and fluctuating, having moments of procrastination or uncertainty and periods of inspiration, clarity and great productivity. Reflecting on my year I found a strong direct correlation between periods of inspiration and my productivity. Looking back I believe I was unfortunately uninspired for most of my second and half of my final year in the university, which probably resulted in me not producing my greatest work during that period. The group visit to London at the beginning of this January could really be considered as a turning point in my architectural studies this year. It both inspired me as well as helped me to socialise and develop better relationships with my peers and tutors. This was a crucial element in my professional development- assisting me in becoming more confident at communicating with my colleagues and tutors about my work and progress, hence teaching me how to communicate design ideas, receive constructive feedback and respond to recommendations and advice. I believe my biggest mistake this academic year and possibly the whole architectural degree was my solitude in the studio and distance learning from home: not only did I not develop enough friendships with my colleagues but I also missed a great amount of valuable feedback, advice and support that I could have received from them. Even though studio based learning is at the core of an architectural education I have not been able to fully utilize this asset for the first two and a half years of my degree. Recognizing that competition and collaboration are inherent in both the academic and professional worlds, has helped me to revaluate and understand how beneficial design studio can actually be. First of all, studio stimulates healthy competition between peers that is a very useful and motivating thing that drives you to succeed in a project and reach your full potential. Secondly, studio culture promotes collaboration: encouraging students to work jointly and teaching skills of teamwork, compromise and how to work well with others. Additionally, studio can encourage students to learn from each other whether it is a drafting technique, rendering trick or a good work ethic. Finally, studio provides a good social environment for the students to give and receive emotional and spiritual support through a natural bonding process that may lead to lasting friendships and possible future business partnerships. Recognizing such benefits has helped be to reconsider my own personal learning and my attitude towards the design studio not only in my current course but in future employment and professional development as well. Time management and organisational skills was another crucial aspect that substantially affected my studies and personal life during the three year period in the university. Balancing a part-time job and architectural studies was relatively challenging, sometimes resulting in sleepless nights or work that did not accurately represent my true potential. I strongly believe that if I was able to take the time and energy that I have dedicated to my parttime job and devote it to my architectural course I would have been able to produce a much more developed and finalised work. On the other hand, I view this as a valuable learning experience that has helped me to learn how to balance time, manage and prioritize tasks as well as be productive within strict time constraints.
In terms of design and graphics, this year was a steep learning curve. I have worked with new computer software, tried different materials and representation mediums and researched more architects, designers and buildings than during the two previous years combined. My design studio played an essential part in this process. Tutors have recommended many good architects, designers and building precedents, and showed other student’s work that was both relevant, informative and inspirational. Throughout the year studio tutors have really pushed me to develop a personal design style and graphic identity as well as collaborate with other studio members during group assignments and learn from them. I feel the studio has helped me to think about architecture in a wider context, focusing on socio-economic, environmental and historical aspects that it responds to as well as emphasise the importance of structural, environmental and social performance. Another regret during my years in the school of architecture is the fact that I was not able to research and read enough books, magazines and blogs on design, technology, history and theory of architecture. Partially due to my own lack of interest and partially due to the fact our architecture school puts an inappropriate emphasis on architectural design overlooking other modules, I was not able to develop sufficient knowledge in other areas of the profession like construction, building technology, sustainability, history and professional management. In contrast to designing skills I perceive my technology, environmental and construction knowledge as somewhat underdeveloped. Considering the fact that I am very interested in high-tech architecture, structurally expressive design and detailing I view this as a major disadvantage and weakness that I have only started to address recently. Looking ahead towards my further professional development I want to continue learning and improving as a designer. My main goal is to become a successful architect, therefore I will continue the conventional route to RIBA & ARB registration by doing Masters in Architecture and completing at least two years of practical experience in the forthcoming years. I am really looking forward to my practical work experience after graduation, where I will be able to get a better understanding of the building industry and architectural profession as well as apply my current skills when working with real projects and clients. Looking many years ahead I have a goal of starting my own architectural practise, therefore I consider practical experience, business management, finance, and building regulation knowledge to be paramount in my future learning. I put strong emphasis on design and aesthetics, however, I believe my future study goals should involve more than merely learning how to be proficient in using BIM software to make technical drawings, photorealistic renders and 3D models. As an emerging architect I want to shift my current focus from making beautiful shapes and buildings and really concentrate on creating architecture that responds to a wider social, cultural and environmental context, enhances the built environment and addresses the people’s needs.
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A40 Westway construction in London during 1964-1970. source: Rob Baker
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Infrastructures: A40 is my graduation project in Stage 3, Architectural Design module. Being part of the ‘Infrastructures’ design studio the project focuses on infrastructures as an important yet often neglected part of our built environment; its relation with architecture and how through thoughtful design these forgotten and marginalized infrastructures can be regenerated and successfully tied back into the urban fabric. The project emphasises design and analysis of architecture as a part of a wider economic, social and infrastructural system, rather than a separate entity placed onto a site. A necessary requirement for the project was choosing a space in London that had qualities of infrastructural engagement, developing a scenario (social, political, environmental problem) and designing a building that would respond to the specifics of that infrastructural context, cohering itself with that infrastructure and addressing the chosen scenario through spatial transformations and change in its function. My graduation project pursues a critical analysis and explores ways to create architecture in relation to existing physical and social infrastructures within Paddington, London. The site is located in centre of a busy road network adjacent to the A40 motorway, which spatially separates the residential and the currently developing new commercial area of Paddington. The main challenges here were to address the complex conditions induced by the existing road infrastructure such as the difficult access to the site, noise and air pollution, spatial segregation, and create architecture that could enhance the spatial qualities of the locale by being integrated into the social infrastructure system that could become an indicative catalyst for sustainability, education and communication in the future.
A-40 INFRASTRUCTURES PROJECT
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Colour identifying the population density in that area
Region/area that is suitable for agricultural practice in the next 50 years Region/area that is expected to have growth in its population
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Top - world map illustrating the disparity between the available arable land and the forecast human population *Additional Work
Bottom - Pictures depicting the process of arable land depletion due to food scarcity in the future
Infographic explaining the project brief: Increasing global population, food scarcity and resource depletion predicted for the year 2050. *Additional Work
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FOOD FOOD PRODUCTION WASTE WATER
RAINWATER TREATING
COMMERCIAL AREAS
GREENHOUSE STORMWATER RETENTION
HEATING/COOLING
FOOD STORAGE DISTRICT HEATING/ COOLING SYSTEM
BIO-GAS DIGESTION
RESIDENTIAL AREAS
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) can be defined as the growing of plants and the raising of animals within and around cities. Urban and peri-urban agriculture provides food products from different types of crops (grains, root crops, vegetables, mushrooms, fruits), animals (poultry, rabbits, goats, sheep, cattle, pigs, guinea pigs, fish, etc.) as well as nonfood products (e.g. aromatic and medicinal herbs, ornamental plants, tree products). UPA includes trees managed for producing fruit and fuewood, as well as tree systems integrated and managed with crops (agroforestry) and small-scale aquaculture. UPA can make an important contribution to global food security, especially in times of crisis or food shortages. Produce is either consumed by the producers, or sold in urban markets, such as the increasingly popular weekend farmers’ markets found in many cities. Because locally produced food requires less transportation and refrigeration, it can supply nearby markets with fresher and more nutritious products at competitive prices. Consumers - especially low-income residents - can enjoy easier access to fresh produce, greater choice and better prices as well as provides employment and incomes for poor women and other disadvantaged groups.
source: FAO United Nations
COMPOSTING
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Top - diagram explaining the principles and requirements for urban agriculture implementation *Additional Work
Bottom - Series of pictures showing possible agriculture progression and implementation in urban environments
Concept art photomontage: A collage of an imagined future London in the year of 2050, shwoing the urban agriculture implemented into the built environment and hungry people migrating to the city *Additional Work
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The chosen site is an area within a roundabout surrounded by A404, Harrow Road and the A40 Westway in Paddington basin, London; with the total footprint of 2500 sq.m. The site is adjacent to a developing commercial area called Merchant Square, existing Residential area, Paddington Green park and the water canal. It is an intricate site, which presents many challenges including: difficult site access, traffic induced pollution and noise, solar orientation problems, existing vegetation and volumetric restrictions created by the elevated A40 motorway running above the site. Nonetheless, site offers qualities of infrastructural engagement and relatively unrestricted setting allowing a wide range of stylistic approaches and designs.
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Left - Sketches showing the building site in Paddington, London
Top Right - Photograph showing the site in its immediate context
Bottom Right - Site analysis diagrams *Additional Work
Top left - Aerial view showing the site and the surrounding areas
Bottom left - Site analysis diagrams *Additional Work
Right - 1/200 scale, site model photographs showing the final building on site
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First design proposal was focused towards the site relation to its context and creation of building that would stand out from its surrounding and would optimally perform in terms of traffic noise reduction or reflection. The building had a curving surface that extended under the A40 motorway creating a continuous form. The whole roundabout was dropped one storey below its original level, additionally, a continuous 3m sound-barrier was installed around the site, thus separating the building site from the surrounding traffic infrastructure. The access to the site was through underground passageways with a nice social green space adjacent to the main building, that would serve as a vertical farm of indoor food production.
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Left - Schematics showing initial floor plans
Middle - North elevation render
Top Right - Perspective drawing depicting building’s form
Bottom Right - Perspective drawing showing the building in its context
My second design proposal was focused on the noise and pollution reduction, the main idea was to create a building that would wrap around the site and like a wall protect the inner courtyard from the surrounding noise induced by the traffic. Following the lines of existing site the building was designed in a curvilinear form, mainly to reflect the sound and create a visual impact on the surrounding area. This design approach was optimal in terms of sunlight and noise, yet was restricted by its form, had undeveloped interior spaces and poor access to the building.
Left - perspective drawing, render and wire-frame drawing showing building in its immediate context from different angles
Right - Exploded axonometric illustrating the spatial circulation and spatial organisation
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Top - Aerial view render of the final model in its surrounding context
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Bottom - Series of diagrams explaining the most important milestones in the design progress *Additional Work
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My main design idea was to treat the chosen site with care and sustain it as much as possible, therefore I decided to preserve the existing flora by making an inner courtyard with the existing vegetation and design my building around it. This way, the courtyard became the key feature of my design: I designed interior spaces and circulation around the courtyard and modified the building to maximise the natural sunlight to the courtyard and vegetation in it. Secondly, I took the ideas of my previous design proposals and applied them here: I used the building structure and mass to protect the inner courtyard from the noise and pollution generated by the surrounding traffic infrastructure. This was achieved by using heavyweight external walls and a double skin facade that absorbed the noise and pollution before it entered the interior spaces.
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To solve the difficult access problem, I extended the building corners creating 6 metre high, 20 m. long bridges that span from the site to the pedestrian access points. Additionally, I added one underground entrance on the Northern side of the building, as the bridge access option was unavailable due to the obstructing elevated motorway. Finally, I wanted to create a building that would shock and generate curiosity of the general public as well as reflect its purpose and function which were urban agriculture and modern food production. I was inspired by the high-tech architecture movement, especially by works of R. Rogers and R. Piano. I decided to design a building with an expressive exposed structure, form and materials. Similarly as in Centre Georges Pompidou I decided to expose all of the building services and hydroponic, aeroponic pipes used for irrigation to showcase the growing process and required technologies to the general public. On the other hand, the building was meant to be more than just a food producing structure, it was designed to be a research centre for urban agriculture and indoor growing. It has spaces for testing, growing, processing and serving the food as well as facilities for studying, teaching, living and socialising. In overall, the main purpose of the building was to create an environment that would be a catalyst for teaching and raising awareness of food scarcity and agriculture issues as well as encouraging testing and developing technologies for a sustainable food production.
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Top left - series of photographs showing the main precedents that informed my design
Right - 1/200 scale, final mountboard model photographs
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Ground floor plan, scale 1/200, showing immediate context, interior spaces and their main functions.
Exterior render showing the main public entrance to the building *Additional Work
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First floor plan, scale 1/200, showing immediate context, interior spaces and main vegetables/herbs that are grown inside.
Interior render showing the inner courtyard and the surrounding spaces *Additional Work
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Interior render showing the main hydroponic growing space *Additional Work
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Second floor plan, scale 1/200, showing immediate context, main public access and key interior design features
Interior render showing the public circulation and winter garden sapce *Additional Work
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Third floor plan, scale 1/200, showing immediate context, interior spaces and their main design features
Exterior render showing North elevation, car park and staff entrance and *Additional Work
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Interior render showing the main public circulation space, restaurant and inner courtyard *Additional Work
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Fourth floor plan, scale 1/200, showing immediate context, interior spaces and their main design features
Fifth floor plan, scale 1/200, showing immediate context, interior spaces and their main design features
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Longitudinal South section, illustrating vertical circulation, different plant growing and office spaces
Perspective section render illustrating the inner courtyard, growing and public spaces as well as Souther facade *Additional Work
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North Elevation showing the external building services, plant screens, A40 motorway and used space underneath it
Cross Western section, showing the surrounding context and inner courtyard
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Roof detail
1-4 floor detail
Ground floor detail
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1/50 Integrated section, showing technical detail, ventilation and sunlight control strategies *Additional Work
Left - Exploded axonometric showing structure hierarchy and used materials
Right - Wire-frame diagrams showing public, private circulation and main growing space distribution
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parapet flashing
floor finish
rigid insulation bitumen felt
concrete floor slab double glazing panel window sill building services
window frame
primary steel structure ventilated air cavity anodised aluminium rainscreen thermal insulation
plant trellis structure waterproof barrier
post tension concete floor slab tertiary steel structure
glass balustrade perforated steel walkway
sheathing plasterboard screed
primary steel beam section
heating/cooling panel
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Both pages, left to right, 1/25 scale, technical drawings illustrating roof, intermediate floor, foundation and solar shading details *Additional Work
secondary steel beam section
plasterboard
artificial lighting
louvre solar shading
cladding connection
shading supporting structure
dead load bracket
double glazed glass panel
impact sound insulation
glass panel frame
thermal insulation
isokorb thermal break
concrete base
rotating solar shading junction
damp proof membrane
glass panel sill
pile foundation
post tension concrete floor slab
primary steel structure
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Photomontage showing staithes and docks development throughout the ages
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In my first Stage 3 Architectural Design project I had to choose an obsolete infrastructure in the city of Newcastle and design a small-scale mechanism, which would be incorporated into the selected infrastructure in order to regenerate and adapt it for further use. Additionally, I had to select and investigate one global environmental issue and design my mechanism so it would address the chosen problem by suggesting possible small-scale solutions. I investigated issues related to human population growth, urbanisation, increasing global demand for food and an increasing need of new land, suitable for agriculture and farming. As one of the most potentially effective alternatives for future food production I chose to examine concepts like urban agriculture, hydroponics and vertical farming. Correspondingly, I chose to design a small mechanism for plant growth that would be integrated into the existing Manors Car Park, thus making the infrastructure suitable for small-scale urban agriculture and vegetable farming. By its structural appearance and function, the actual mechanism is similar to a small Ferris wheel used for plants. A series of trays for vegetables are stacked inside a rectilinear timber frame, and a pair of chains rotate the plant trays so that the plants receive equal sunlight, good air flow and irrigation. The structural timber frame, which holds the rotation system, is attached to the southern side of the car park faรงade, thus maximising available solar gains as well as functioning as a decorative external element.
WAKING THE SLEEPING BEAUTY
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‘A site out of mind is familiar territory to many city residents, but unseen and uninhabited in significant ways. These edges and leftover spaces, where urban and architectural scales and uses collide or social and economic divisions are manifest, are rarely considered worthy of design attention. Ugly, ordinary and out of the way, they present difficult existing conditions and unglamorous realities. Of the many types of sites out of mind, perhaps most challenging are the linear cuts incised through the morphological continuity of the city by railway and highway construction. Produced by changes in the technologies and cultures of mobility, this condition is found within dense cities largely developed before extensive 1950’s highway construction. The resulting interstice, “a space that intervenes between one thing and another,”often generates seemingly uninhabitable zones and problematic discontinuities in the physical and social fabric. Yet these sites may also be understood as fortuitous seams that offer “found” land in apparently built-out urban areas, thereby reducing rural development pressures and increasing public engagement through greater physical density and design. Reconceptualization and inhabitation of these“compromised” sites with dense and sustainable urban infill is a potent alternative to greenfield development and sprawl. The air rights above and the leftover spaces beneath and along elevated highways, rail lines and other immense infrastructural elements are particularly compelling conditions through which to question contemporary conceptions of the public realm.’
Inhabiting the in-between: architecture and infrastructure intertwined
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Left - Traffic infrastructure typology
P. Crisman
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Right - Photograph of Manors car park in Newcastle
MANORS CAR PARK Newcastle
WELBECK STREET London
PICADILLY CAR PARK Manchester
CHARLES STREET Sheffield
LIVERPOOL ONE Liverpool
FACADE
ENTRANCE
INTERIOR
ACCESS
Above - Car park typology comparing different car park infrastructures in terms of their facade, entrance, interior and site access.
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Over the last few decades the car has become more affordable and more people are able to buy one or two per family. Due to this the size of car parks have increased greatly also parking has increased in price as the demand. Pakring spaces can be a good gauge on the demand for space in a particular area; as one space could be 30 pence an hour in a rural setting however in cental cities it can be several pounds an hour. Thus showing the demand for space in that area is very high, often many buildings in central cities (like London) build under ground parking for their offices and buildings to save space. For my Semester 1 project I focus ‘Manors Car Park’ which is situated in the central area of the Newcastle city. Built in the 1960s this car park has an interesting relationship to the site, as it follows the curvature of the 60s overpass.
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Left - Outline perspective drawing showing the car park
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Right - Series of photographs showing structure, materiality and various elements of the Manors car park
The structure consists of a cast concrete frame which has very large supporting beams, with a depth of 860mm and width of 310mm. This is to support the 18 metre span of concrete above, the weight is distributed down the vertical columns along the sides of the building so the beams only need support the weight of the floor and the cars above. Apart from tarmac; pebble-dashed concrete, masonry and steel are the most prevalent materials used in the car park construction. Pebble-dashed concrete can be found on the exterior walls of the building, they provide a break in the white of the structure, also stop drivers going off the edge of the car park. Masonry was used for the end tower construction and interior walls of the building. Additionally, there are many vertical iron bars that are used above the pebble dashed concrete on the intersection side to protect the people/cars in the building.
Left - Rendered 3D section of Manors car park facade and interior
Right - Manors carpark 2D site survey drawing showing various measurements, its plan, sections and elevation
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The design brief generation process was launched by a intense ‘competition’ week where I had to brainstorm and at the end of the week present 9 ‘scenarios’ - design briefs, responding to the global issues and their specific infrastructural context. 1st one was a retreat cabin offering travellers a place to sleep or rest before continuing their journey, thus minimising risk of possible accidents. 2nd - a water purifying device mounted on staithes, that would daily provide the local community with free and fresh water. 3rd - a device in a car park that would test whether people are rested and sober enough to drive a car. 4th - a mechanism that would use the train induced vibrations to generate electricity and light the railway. 5th - a food cannon mounted on staithes that would allow public to voluntarily feed the endangered fish and bird species in that area. 6th - a mechanism that would monitor the speed of cars that drive through the bridge and use speed bumps or barriers to slow the passing vehicles down to safe speed. 7th - a rainwater collection and filtering system integrated into local shipyard structures. 8th - a soundproof structure offering long-distance travellers a relaxing and refreshing space adjacent to a busy highway. 9th - a speed regulating device that monitors speed, records data and informs local police about any possible traffic accident in the area.
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Above - Sketches of 9 initial design proposals addressing various global and local issues and their relation to selected infrastructures
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BRIEF 1, TYPE: STAITHES SCENARIO: WATER SCARCITY AND OVERCONSUMPTION META-MECHANICS IN DISUSED INFRASTRUCTURES Aspirations My scenario is a combination of two prevalent problems: 1. Global water scarcity and its irresponsible squandering 2. Overproduction, resulting in excessive waste. My aim is to raise public awareness of the current water scarcity and the importance of water, however doing it in a sustainable and creative way by up-cycling discarded metal scraps. Inspiration
DISCARDED WASTE
1. Heath Robinson, was a cartoonist who made intricate contraptions to achieve simple tasks ,thus trying to raise awareness of social and political issues prevalent at his time. 2. Jean Tinguely, was a Swiss painter who used old industrial parts and mechanisms to create industrial, kinetic sculptures. Tinguely’s art satirized the mindless overproduction of material goods in advanced industrial society. 3. Paulo Goldstein -is an Italian furniture and industrial designer, who uses discarded old items and mechanisms to repair and create interesting and provocative designs. Mechanism
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UP-CYCLING AND INTERACTION
The ‘device’ would be an intricate hand operated contraption, made using discarded wheels, levers and cogs to spritz water. The water-spouting device would act as a simple water fountain that could be controlled with the help of levers by anyone visiting the staithes, thus encouraging people to interact with the infrastructure. A good precedent is Tinguely fountains in Basel, Switzerland where nine iron eminences were put in an enormous pool of water on the site where the stage of the old city theatre was once located. These machine sculptures are in constant motion and “talk” to each other just as did the mimes and actors who once performed at this very spot. Expected Outcomes
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Device should become a water entertainment for the visitors, hopefully publicizing the value of water and promoting a more responsible view towards water. Additionally, it should serve as an example that old discarded items can be beautiful and can be used to create something useful or interesting. Finally, the device encourages interaction with the disused infrastructure making it relevant once again.
INCREASED VALUE AND AWARENESS
Above - First more developed design proposal for staiths infrastructure and mechanism that would tackle issues of water scarcity and overconsumption
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BRIEF 2, TYPE: BRIDGES SCENARIO: NOISE POLLUTION BATTLING NOISE WITH MUSIC Aspirations My scenario is noise pollution, in particular noise caused by traffic. My aim is to create a long spanning stringed music instrument integrated into the bridge structure allowing the passer-by to interact with the it by playing various strings that create different sounds and distract the participant from the noise caused by the traffic nearby. Inspiration
INTEGRATED MUSIC INSTRUMENT
1. William Close and the Earth Harp Collective. The Earth Harp is the largest stringed instrument on the planet. The body of the instrument rests on the stage and the strings travel out over the audience attaching to the back of the theatre, turning the theatre/concert hall, architecture and landscape into the instrument. 2. St. Horto by OFL Architecture studio. St. Horto is an interactive garden installation created to merge the worlds of architecture, nature, music, and social technology. Through a custom computer and audio signals, St Horto can produce in real time a musical composition, starting with a single tune that generates automatically according to homothetic principles. If someone touches the string, a note will be provided, and within a few seconds the garden will go into “resonance,” playing a melody without any external interference. Mechanism
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PASSER-BY INTERACTION
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DISTRACTION FROM NOISE
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Above - Second more developed design proposal for bridge infrastructure and mechanism that would tackle issues of traffic induced noise
The ‘device’ would fundamentally be set of strings and pegs attached to the structural elements of the High Level Bridge. The installed ‘instrument’ would not obstruct the pedestrian walkways in the bridge yet would be in a hand reach distance so any passer-by would be able to play the strings and produce interesting sounds or even music. Expected Outcomes The ‘mechanism’ should become something that would not only revive the forgotten infrastructure but possibly would allure people to take a route though it rather than other bridge in the city. The ‘device’ would distract people from adjacent traffic noise or at least raise awareness of noise pollution caused by cars. In addition, the installation could become a tourist attraction or at least something that would make our daily pedestrian commute more interesting.
BRIEF 3, TYPE: ELEVATED MOTORWAY SCENARIO: CAR ACCIDENTS AND SPEEDING ‘BIG BROTHER’ ON THE ROAD Aspirations My scenario for this type of infrastructure is speeding, careless driving which leads to car accidents and deaths. My aim is to install 24/7 CCTV cameras recording interesting or important preselected locations on the motorway or adjacent. The ‘device’ would be a big electronic installation with many TV screens showing live footage from all the selected areas. Inspiration
AVAILABLE 24/7 RECORDING
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1. The 24 hour project. It is a street photography project to document the human condition of multiple cities during one single day. By creators Renzo Grande and Sam Smotherman. 900 street photographers in 312 cities from 72 countries on 6 continents sharing one photo per hour during a 24hour day capturing the essence, complexity and the condition of humanity world wide. 2. Big Brother TV series, The premise of the show is that there is a group of people, living together in a specially constructed large house. During their time in the house they are isolated from the outside world and are not commonly aware of outside events. Contestants are continuously monitored by in-house television cameras as well as personal audio microphones during their stay. Mechanism The ‘device’ would be created using many different shape and size TV screens and projectors and exhibited either under the elevated motorway or adjacent to the road. This ‘mechanism’ allows people to get an insight of what is happening on this motorway at different places at this very moment. There would be a ‘remote control’ allowing participants to change channels, rewind record plays and record actual events. Expected Outcomes This installation should serve both as an entertainment an surveillance device. Thus possibly helping people by broadcasting a live events like car crash, speeding, a waiting hitch-hiker etc. However, the ‘device’ should be also used to provide a scenery of the motorway or adjacent countryside, information about different weather conditions or a possible traffic jam ahead. The expectation is that the device will help people by raising awareness of motorway conditions.
INFROMATION AND AWARENESS
Above - Third more developed design proposal for traffic infrastructure and mechanism that would tackle issues of speeding, safety and traffic accidents
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Below - Global carbon footprint infographic by Miller Mc- Cune
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Photomontage graphical representing the first part of my final brief: increasing car usage in the future that presents problems of pollution and ozone layer depletion
Photomontage graphical representing the second and main part of my final brief: increasing global population that affects food demand, puts more stress on agriculture and contributes towards arable land shortage in the near future
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Before starting to build my 1/1 scale device, I had to perform a dismantling exercise, where I had to select a specific mechanical object and take it apart piece by piece whilst recording the disassembly process through video and a series of photographs. This exercise helped me to comprehend the relationship between the inside and the outside of an object, and understand how various mechanisms and elements are constructed. Similarly to Todd McLellan’s ‘things come apart’ project the disassembled pieces were then laid out in a grid and photographed, illustrating the amount of detail and design though that goes into such objects . I found this representation technique to be very useful especially when presenting small scale objects, technical details and the process of (de)construction.
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Left - Photograph of the digital alarm clock radio before its dismantling
Right - Series of photographs showing the disassembly process
Left - Photograph of fully disassembled object parts and tools that were used in the process
Right - Inverted close-up depicting different details of the dismantled object
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Perspective drawing of the final device on site with annotations highlighting its main elements
Left - Souther elevation showing the frontal part of the device
Right - Side section sketch illustrating how device is mounted on the car park
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Above - Annotated sketches explaining how different parts of mechanism can operate
Above - Exploded axonometric illustrating different parts of the mechanism and its assembly
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By its structural appearance and function, the actual mechanism is similar to a small Ferris wheel used for plants. A series of trays for vegetables are stacked inside a rectilinear timber frame, and a pair of chains rotate the plant trays so that the plants receive equal sunlight, good air flow and irrigation. The structural timber frame, which holds the rotation system, is attached to the southern side of the car park faรงade, thus maximising available solar gains as well as functioning as a decorative external element. The main materials that were used to build the mechanism were: timber, metal and glass. Firstly, the main structural frame was made from softwood beams; secondly, the rotation and irrigation system was made using various alloy steel and aluminium; finally, the finished mechanism was covered with single clear glass sheets for protection and aesthetics.
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Left and top right - Model render showing the device structure and growing plants inside *Additional Work Bottom Right - Concept art illustrating the idea of turning the car park to a garden *Additional Work
Left - Model render showing the device structure and growing plants inside *Additional Work
Top and bottom Right - Render showing the device mounted on to the infrastructure, both from inside and outside of the car park *Additional Work
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Above - Series of photographs showing the final 1 to 1 scale device model and close-up shots of its different details
Left - Photograph explaining how the mechanism is transported
Right - Series of photographs explaining how the device is operated: changing the plant trays and watering the plants by rotating crank
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T THINKING THROUGH MAKING
‘Thinking Through Making’ is a week of intensive drawing, material explorations, workshops and lectures annually organised in Newcastle University, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape. In TTM 2015 there were 14 workshops over 4 days, covering everything from the capacity of concrete to nature of self-ordering systems. The intention of the week was to allow students to explore a wide variety of material practices and possibilities, and asking them to approach the talks, workshops and tasks with an open mind, allowing the potential of a new and unexplored avenue of material, technology, structure, surface, to infiltrate ongoing design projects. Throughout the week I had to produce a A0 size conceptual drawing that somehow relates and explains the ongoing graduation project. In my case, I decided to draw a series of intersecting and overlapping steel beams to illustrate the potential and playfulness of steel structures and their relation to lighting. Apart from the A0 drawing, I had the opportunity to work with carbon fibre, casting concrete, lighting and abstract photography.
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Right - Completed A0 conceptual drawing that had to be done throughout the ‘thinking through making’ week
Above - Picture thumbnails illustrating various models and drawings that were produced throughout the week in the school
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C CHARRETTE DESIGN WEEK
Academic year of 2014/15 was officially started with Newcastle University’s Charrette Project - which is innovative idea that brings together all architecture students from across the years and the masters related to Architecture. This year there were 9 groups, each one engaged with a different brief. The aim was to allow students to express their creativity, going beyond the border between architecture and art. I was assigned to charrette group called ‘Vamos’ which focused on the annual Latinos festival established in Northern England in 2006. The task was to create a ‘public home’ for the upcoming Vamos festival. This included designing furniture, lighting and decorations to create a suitable and simulating environment for workshops, exhibitions, talks, screenings, food events and performances. Throughout the week I had the possibility to interact and work with students from other academic stages, meet Vamos director N. Barrera as well as work with artists like S. Poore and M. Quiterio and learn from them.
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Right - Photograph of the stackable chair table, that was made while working as part of the charrette group
Above - Picture thumbnails illustrating various models and drawings that were produced throughout the Charrette week in the school
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A APPENDIX
This appendix contains all original presentation boards that were displayed in the final reviews of both Semester 1 & 2 projects. They can be used to compare old and new work and additionally help to identify any changes or progress made after the final reviews and received feedback. This section, however, should only be viewed as complimentary- to recognise specific design changes and development please refer to AP1 Contents and Declaration form and/or look for work identified with the label *Additional Work at the bottom of the portfolio page.
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Right - Original presentation board Nr. 1 pinned up at the Semester 2 ‘A40’ graduation project review
Left- Original presentation board Nr. 2 pinned up at the Semester 2 ‘A40’ graduation project review
Right - Original presentation board Nr. 3 pinned up at the Semester 2 ‘A40’ graduation project review
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Original presentation board Nr. 1 pinned up at the Semester 1 ‘Waking the sleeping beauty’ project review
Original presentation board Nr. 2 pinned up at the Semester 1 ‘Waking the sleeping beauty’ project review
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Original presentation board Nr. 3 pinned up at the Semester 1 ‘Waking the sleeping beauty’ project review
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