Portfolio Alanna Longworth
Interior Architect and Designer
Final Major Project- ‘The
Silk Mill’
The Silk Mill looks to re-introduce an establishment within the City of Derby that will look closely into the displaying, production and manufacturing of Silk. Derby has a long history within the silk industry and so the space will become a small silk manufacturer that will work alongside Whitchurch Silk Mill, as an expansion for its company. The scheme will house an exhibition and archive space for textile pieces owned by the V&A including historic silk samples, creating a space outside of London that specifically looks at this material.
Site The site is located within the city centre of Derby and is situated on Silk Mill Lane, off Full Street. It is surrounded by parkland and is on the banks of the River Derwent.
Concept The inspiration for the final design comes from a mixture of conceptual ideas, the main one of these being silk cocoons. The shape and formation of these cocoons helped to form the various insertions as well as the atmosphere around the rest of the spaces. A mixture of both delicate and industrial materials were also used during the project which comes from the history of the site against its new function.
Floor Plans
Ground Floor
Section A-A
Second Floor
The Silk Mill aims to re-introduce an establishment within the City of Derby that looks closely into displaying and manufacturing silk. Derby has a long history within the silk industry and so the space will become a small silk manufacturer that will work alongside Whitchurch Silk Mill, as an expansion for its company. Â The scheme will house an exhibition and archive space for textile pieces owned by the V&AÂ including historic silk samples, creating a space outside of London that specifically looks at this material.
Section B-B
The inspiration for the final design comes from a mixture of conceptual ideas, the main one of these being silk cocoons. The shape and formation of these cocoons helped to form the various insertions as well as the atmosphere around the rest of the spaces. A mixture of both delicate and industrial materials were also used during the project which comes from the history of the site against its new function. Visitors are guided through a large parkland to the wrought iron gates which mark the entrance to the site and leads into mulberry and dye gardens.The main entrance is a glazed structure at the end of the gardens which separates the mill and the exhibition spaces, as well as disconnecting the two former mill buildings. Within, a large light installation makes the separation of the buildings more prominent. Walking through into the space, the spiral stairs encourage people to move up to the second floor where the exhibition begins. The first insertion is inspired by the legend of silk where a silk cocoon drops from a mulberry tree into a princess’ cup of tea. The walls of the insertion are lined with recycled mulberry branches and the exhibits are hung on steel wires that stretch from the floor to the ceiling. In the next insertion the story of the Silk Road is told through projections onto the thick walls which are lined with foam and silk , and the outside is covered with wool felt pellets. The space is kept quite dark in order to see the film and the entrance is covered with a silk curtain. The final insertion contains the innovative ideas exhibition which is a temporary space and so will be curated by visiting artists. The walls are made using panels of metal mesh which makes it easy for new exhibitions to be installed. The Fashion and Furniture exhibition is found on the ground floor where many different items of clothing and furnishings are displayed. Set within the floor are the silkworm rearing houses which are contained in pits underneath the insertions. Guests are able to walk over the rearing houses and see down below. The archive is located in the tower at the front of the building and as this is the most historic part, it serves well for holding the valuable archives of the silk mill. A separate insertion houses the educational spaces which are kept away from the exhibition.
Section C-C
Long Section
The Exhibition
The Journey...
On approaching the building, visitors will be led through a large, open parkland with paths directing them to the entrance. Sounds of the mill and silkworm rearing houses will be played along this journey via small speakers, to give visitors a taster of what to expect.
The main entrance to the building leads visitors through the Grade 2 listed wrought iron gates and into the mulberry and dye gardens. Here the mulberry trees are cultivated as they are an important part of silkworm rearing. The garden also creates a meeting area with various seating.
Visitors enter the site through a large glazed entrance way that holds a reception and cloak room. Here people are able to collect information on the exhibition and ask any questions. A shop is also located on the first floor.
The back building houses the silk mill and can be accessed at the end of the mulberry gardens. Workers can enter through a set of doors in the back facade. The mill will be kept separate from the exhibition however visitors may be shown around if they book a place. As an extension of the Whitchurch Silk Mill, the small silk manufacturers will produce individually designed fabrics to suit the needs of the client.
On entering the exhibition space, visitors will be able to hear The archive will be located within the tower at the front of the On entering exhibition visitors will be able to hear of rain. This is the most historic part of the site as it is the the sound of rain.theThis soundspace, is actually being produced by the soundbuilding. This soundwhich is actually being produced by the silkworms which on structure of the former mill and so suits holding the the silkworms will be reared on site. Large pits are cut will be reared original site. Large pits are cut into the floor underneath the exhibition insertions and the into the floor underneath the exhibition insertions and the companies archives. This space will be available for visitors to silkworms are housed within. Visitors are able to see into and walk over the varisilkworms are housed within. Visitors are able to see into and use. ous rearing houses as a layer of glass covers the surface. Staff can gain access via a walk over the various rearing houses as a layer of glass covers set of stairs hidden beneath a trap-door. the surface. Staff can gain access via a set of stairs hidden beneath a trap-door.
Silkworm Rearing
Educational rooms are kept separate from the main exhibition at the end of the building. The separate insertion means that all of the classrooms, private study rooms and meeting areas can be kept together with there own reception and staircase. The space will offer classes teaching various aspects of textiles from textile artists in practice and will also be in partnership with Derby communities.
Education Spaces
Educationa separate from tion at the en The separat that all of th vate study ro areas can be there own staircase.Th classes teach of textiles fro practice an partnership m
Final Model
Research and Feasibility StudyComprehensive Design Report To assist with the design process of the Silk Mill project, a substantial enquiry and research was undertaken to fully understand every aspect of the site, brief and project. This included; site analysis, site history, environmental analysis and case studies.
@ Landmark Information Group Ltd and Crown copyright 2011. FOR EDUCATIONAL USE ONLY.
1900’s OS Map Scale 1:1800
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Live Project- City Varieties Music Hall Re-Imagining a New Box Office and Entrance Located in an existing gap site at the back of the building, the brief was to create an alternative box office and entrance for the Music Hall. Inspired by acts such a trapeze, structures were hung from a large steel frame to host a range of activities such as film and projection, exhibition and a bar. The design was first considered conceptually before being rigorously developed into detail.
Site
Concept
The City Varieties is located on Swan Street in the City Centre of Leeds. The given site is a gap site that connects the building to the Headrow and still contains many of the original features from when it was once used as an entrance.
The concept for the design came from research into the acts that once performed at the Varieties and in particular acts such as high-wire and trapeze. These created words that were the inspiration for the new box office.
Development
Plans Second Floor
First Floor
Ground Floor
Section
Section
The Journey...
From the street, the front box can be seen glowing as the transparent concrete is lit from behind and draws people to the site. A sensory created underneath theas box making a shel- concrete street, theexperience front boxiscan be seen glowing the transparent ter and entrance space with the spotlights above and the sound behind and draws people to the site. A sensory experience is created from the chain drain.
From the is lit from underneath the box making a shelter and entrance space with the spotlights above and the sound from the chain drain.
Internal Spaces
The box office glows red to show when it is open, enabling people to purchase their tickets and enter the rest of the spaces.
The box office glows red to show when it is open, enabling people to purchase their tickets and enter the rest of the spaces.
The original structure of the stairs will be used however they will be stripped back to bare concrete and a new be introduced hung by however metal Thebanister originalwill structure of thewhich stairswill willbebe used rods spanning through the floors. The walls will be they will be stripped back to bare concrete and kept a new plain which will allow for exhibition and advertising.
banister will be introduced which will be hung by metal rods spanning through the floors. The walls will be kept plain which will allow for exhibition and advertising.
People ments
People are able to sit down and watch clips from previous performances and also advertisements for up and coming events. These will be projected are able to sit down and of watch clipswith fromtheprevious and to also advertisedown onto the walls the space option toperformances fold the seats away create anbe open space. down onto the walls of the space for up and coming events. These will projected
with the option to fold the seats away to create an open space.
The champagne bar is located at the top of the structure and contains a large sculptural piece made out of thin metal mesh which creates the bar. This The champagne bar people is located at athe topand of enter the structure and contains sculptural piece allows to get drink the seating area creating aa large luxurious, made out of thin metal mesh which creates theatmosphere. bar. This allows people to get a drink and enter relaxing
the seating area creating a luxurious, relaxing atmosphere.
Previous Work
Conceptual Work Concept work from a range of projects.
Drawing A stair survey was carried out on a spiral staircase on the ground floor of Broadcasting Tower, Leeds. The staircase was then recreated in AutoCAD using these measurements.
Model Making Roundhay Park Coach House This project looked at the remodeling of a former coach house on the outskirts of Roundhay Park, Leeds. The brief saw the building turned into a visual arts centre that payed homage to Norman Ackroyd, centering around the concepts light and insertion. This was an indepth project that looked into all aspects of the design including the surrounding area and the creation of a staircase.
Personal Work
Alanna Longworth First Class BA (Hons) Interior Architecture and Design lana212@hotmail.co.uk