deptford’s vessels Rediscovering Deptford’s Identity Through Making ALICEA CHIA UNIT 21: CURIOSITY ABOUNDED – The Gentle Art of Making Enemies MA Architecture (Part II) Year 1 / Portfolio
Historical Context
Recogni ti on
A timeline of the rise and fall of Deptford as a shipbuilding town Deptford thrived as one of London’s most important dockyards. Many specialised in shipbuilding; its community simply thrived on this. However, the economy quickly declined as shipbuilding became redundant and thus, so did Deptford.
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1700
Henry VII founded the Royal Dockyard
The Royal Victoria Victualling Yard established
Job opportunities as sailors, carpenters, shipbuilders and ropemakers emerged.
The yard provides ships space for storage and supplies for assembly.
1730
1800
Deptford is divided into two parishes: St. Pauls and St. Nicholas
Population of Deptford rises The end of Napoleonic Wars.
D ecli ne
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1869
1913
1961
The Dockyards close down; replaced by The Foreign Cattle Market
Poverty and Deprivation
The Royal Victualling Yard closes down
The Royal Dockyards become unsuitable to launch ships as ships are no longer needed.
Number of unskilled workers and unemployment increase.
Other riverside industries, the Royal Dockyards, Deptford West Power Station and Robinson Mill close and were cleared for new developments.
The proposal seeks to rebuild Deptford’s rich history of making and take advantage of its strategic location by the River Thames.
International British Trading Routes The ports of England were important for worldwide trade, especially in the 17th century. This contributed to the need for shipbuilding and yards where Deptford became recognised globally and highly dependent upon.
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The Ports of (East) London along The River Thames Ports were found all along the Thames, and to the mouth of the river, past Kent and Essex. It was a key access point for ships for trading purposes. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
London Docks Surrey Commercial Docks West India Docks South India Docks Royal Victoria & Albert and King George V Docks
Today, Deptford is located within the Borough of Lewisham.
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The Docks of London in the 18th Century This map illustrates the presence of the Docks of London along the River Thames and how The Royal Dockyards of Deptford had played a major role in the 18th century.
Source: https://booth.lse.ac.uk/map/12/-0.0737/51.5078/100/0. (17 Dec 2017).
1. London Bridge 2. Custom House 3. The Trinity House 4. The Tower 5. The Mint 6. St. Katherine Docks 7. London Docks 8. St Saviour’s Dock 9. Wapping 10. Thames Tunnel 11. Tunnel shaft 12. Rotherhithe Church 13. Shadwell Church 14. Commercial Railway 15. Regent’s Canal
16. Basin 17. Bromley Canal 18. Grand Surrey Docks 19. Commercial Docks 20. Ordnance Wharf 21. Greenland Dock 22. Victualling office 23. Royal Dockyard 24. Deptford Creek 25. Drunken Dock 26. Ferry house 27. Royal Hospital 28. Royal Naval Asylum 29. Norfold College 30. Mr. Beele’s iron works
31. Mesars Enderby’s rope works 32. Folly House Tavern 33. West India House 34. South-west India Dock 35. Timber dock 36. West India Dock reservoirs 37. East India Docks 38. Bow Creek 39. All Saints Church 40. Chapel 41. Limehouse Church
The Victualling Yard and The Royal Dockyard The Royal Dockyard became redundant in 1869 as ships were no longer needed. It was replaced by the Foreign Cattle Market. In 1961, The Victualling Yard also closed down. Today this area is known as Convoys Wharf where developments are happening rapidly.
Making in the past
What’s left of Deptford’s identity?
Deptford in Decline The disappearance of ‘making’ in Deptford
Other forms of making besides shipbuilding, took place in Deptford. Many were actively involved in these industries such as rope-making, steel / iron works for anchors, timber works for masts and ceramics (pottery).
Although the redundancy of shipbuilding led to the decline of Deptford, the community held on dearly to their maritime identity. An anchor was installed at the start of the High Street in 1988 to commemorate Deptford’s maritime history. However, it was removed by authorities in 2013 as a solution to anti-social behaviour. Since then, efforts to bring the anchor back to the High Street have been made. Deptford Is Forever is the main organisation that leads this. Their efforts had finally paid off recently when the anchor was returned to its rightful position in February 2018.
Today, Deptford is neglected and often described as a ‘rough’ area. Unemployment rates have increased between 2001 and 2011. Only 2.8% of those employed work in the manufacturing industry.
ropes anchors
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pottery
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Employed Employed (Full(Full / Part-time) / Part-time)
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Students Students / Retired / Retired / Others / Others
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Manufacturing
Employed (Full / Part-time) Retail Retail
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Source: https://www.bing.com/maps
The proposal aims to give the community a more permanent sense of identity and a place where they can gather regularly to be reminded of the rich history in making Deptford once had, be it in shipbuilding, pottery or other forms.
Deptford Is Forever teams up with Deptford Society / Deptford X : Red Tape (2015)
Deptford Is Forever (2018)
(Top Left) The anchor on a plinth being installed by the architect in 1988 / The Red Tape movement around Deptford High Street. The red tape signifies excessive bureaucracy or adherance to official rules and formalities. The aim was to talk to people about the anchor and Deptford’s maritime heritage. A petition was launched.
The anchor is finally returned to the High Street, where it was before. A procession was held for the reinstalling of the anchor as many locals cheered on. A show to commerate this occasion was also held with Sayes Court CIC at Deptford Does Art.
Source: http://deptfordisforever.net/DIF2015.html. (12 Dec 2017).
Source: http://deptfordisforever.net/dif%202018.html. (15 Feb 2018).
Isle of Dogs
Making Today Deptford High Street in relation to creative institutes Although most of the industrial sites in Deptford have closed down, the act of ‘making’ still exists, however on a much smaller scale. Creative institutes are located in Deptford and around, but remain rather discreet, and unknown to the general public.
Convoys Wharf
Art Studios / Manufacturers DLR train station
Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich
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The Albany Theatre
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Cockpit Arts
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The Laban Dance Centre
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Art Hub Studios
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The Art in Perpetuity Trust
Lewisham Arthouse The Arthouse was once the Deptford Central Library, which closed down in the 90s. It is one of the many re-purposed buildings found in this area; proving the possibility of regeneration through the love for art within the community. (Images from: http://www.lewishamarthouse.org.uk/)
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Deptford Old Police Station / 114 Amersham Vale The Old Police Station was converted into an art studio and exhibition space in 2007. Minimal refurbishment took place and the artists’ studios sit on the upper floors, while the cells and reception areas on the ground floor are let out or used by the artists to exhibit their work. From the outside there is no indication of creativity. The proposed design aims to oppose the physical characteristics of this building as a place for art. It aims to achieve street presence and engage with the community.
People
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Original facade retained
Solid cell door with small opening
The exploded axonometric shows the spaces when in use by the Police. But now the spaces have been converted accordingly: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
FACADE BASEMENT GROUND 1st FLOOR 2nd FLOOR
No indication of art studios’ presence Artists’ studios and workshops Reception, photography studio, exhibition Artists’ studios and workshops Storage, artists’ studios and workshops
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DEPTFORD OLD Cell POLICE M01 STATION CELL M01
The cells are now used as spaces for artists to exhibit their work. The structure of the cell has been retained - generally only allowing views out and not into the cell. 1. 2. 3. 4.
The cells are now used as spaces for artists to exhibit their work. The structure of the cell has been retained - generally only allowing views out andused not into cell. / platform for art astheshelf
BED WC WINDOW 1 2 DOOR 3 4
now covered up, and sealed limited views in / out used as shelf / platform for art nowopen covered up,viewers and sealed left for
BED retained; WC retained; WINDOW DOOR
retained; limited views in / out retained; left open for viewers to see art
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Transition between Layers Permeability: Deptford High Street Markets & Shops Movement, occupation and continuity were studied along Deptford High Street. The temporal nature of the market stalls successfully changes the atmosphere of the street – which would seem dead on a non-market day. The market stalls encourage a continuous flow of pedestrians from the street into the shops. A fruit and vegetable shop (81) was studied in detail to extract elements which allow for this to occur. The aim is to incorporate these elements into the artists’ studios in order for it to be rediscovered by the community.
Site Plan / Scale 1:500@A2 A study of occupation and movement along Deptford High Street and Douglas Way on a market day.
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Movement / People Occupation / Shop & Goods Temporary Structure / Market Stall Land / Softscape
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81 DEPTFORD HIGH ST Design drivers extracted from the operation of a fruit and vege shop & market stalls along the high street.
81 Deptford High Street Seeing that most buildings along the High Street adopt a live-work typology, a shop was studied at different times of the day to study how successful it was in engaging with people. The proposed design incorporates a similar tactic to demonstrate permeability and good street frontage. The artists’ work is to be seen on ground level.
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The shop on the ground floor is closed, with metal roller shutters down.0600
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Deptford High Street is quiet and deserted.
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Lights from the residential floors above not seen through the windows.
The shop on the ground floor is closed, with the metal roller shutters down. Deptford High Street is quiet and deserted. Lights from the residential floors above not seen through the windows.
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The ground floor shop opens for business; its roller shutters pulled up. The shop’s goods are clearly visible 0800 from outside to the back wall.
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Tables of fruit and vege are pulled out onto the footway, attracting passers-by.
3. Temporary market stalls occupy the street. groundMost Deptford St becomes pedestrianised on up. The floorof shop opensHigh for business; its roller shutters pulled shop’s market days like this. The goods are clearly visible from outside to the back wall. Tables of fruit and vege are pulled out onto the footway, attracting passers-by. Temporary market stalls occupy the street. Most of Deptford High St becomes pedestrianised on market days like this.
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Goods are stocked on the shelves and in crates along the walls of the shop.
1. The shop closes by 1900 hrs; its roller shutters come down again. 1930
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The back room is used for storage.
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The temporary stalls are removed completely, and tables pulled back in.
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Lights from residents are seen above. Movement / activity shift to the upper floors. The shop closes by 1900 hrs; its roller shutters come down again. The temporary stalls are removed completely, and tables pulled back in. Lights from residents are seen above. Movement / activity shift to the upper floors.
Goods are stocked on the shelves and in crates along the walls of the shop. 3. surfaces the shop, the footway and street are The back The room is usedinside for storage. The surfaces of similar This anand almost seamless inside texture. the shop, thecreates footway street are of similar texture. transition in and out of the shop. This creates an almost seamless transition in and out of the shop. Banter is heard between traders from where they stand, manning their stalls 4. Banter is heard between traders from where they stand, and shouts to attract customers. manning their stalls and shout to attract customers.
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Douglas Way Market A bric-a-brac market exists along Douglas Way and on Douglas Square, selling anything imaginable – functioning or not, in pieces or whole. The traders are bring in disused items every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. It is successful in manipulating the pedestrian flow. With everything strew across tables and the ground, customers have to weave in and out, between the goods and eventually buy something they never knew they needed.
“People just don’t come here anymore. I mean lets be honest, the things we sell are shit, but I’ve been doing this for 30 years now.” – Trader, Douglas Way Market
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Douglas Way market
Aerial Study of Deptford High Street The movement and activity happening along Deptford High Street, Douglas Way and Douglas Street are studied on a market day, when the dynamics and atmosphere of this place completely changes. Market stalls fill the street, people are constantly moving in and out of the shops, and in between the stalls.
Metamorphosis of the Whole 83 Deptford High Street : The butcher A speculative study of the butcher’s movement and processes. The pig is divided into smaller pieces, either to be cut away even more or to have other ingredients added to it – herbs, spices, string to hold it together; it is dressed to become something different. Much like the process of making, a form is changed to become something else.
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An Anatomical Study : Permeability Leading on from the analysis of the butcher’s, the anatomy of a pig was studied. How everything is compartmentalised, each with unique function and nature of ‘space’; yet ‘slot’ together as a body was taken into consideration. The chambers in a pig could be translated into spaces.
R WATE
A Potter’s Studio Similar to the change that happens to meat at the butcher’s, clay can be transformed through various means of manipulation – glazing, extrusion and firing. A spatial analysis of processes that take place in a ceramics studio was carried out. The machines and equipment required, as well as the flow of heat, water and air were studied.
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1. Damp cupboard 2 Ventilator (fresh air supply) 3. Concrete slab 4. Sink 5. Cleaning equipment 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.
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Shelves for work in progress (away from kiln/heat) Clay bins Electric wheel Porous work surface Non-porous glazing / decorating surface
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Extractor (fumes out) Fire Extinguisher Electric kiln (Adjustable) drying shelf Decorating tools
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Complementary Processes The equipment and tasks in a ceramics studio should be strategically arranged for efficiency. For example, excess heat from the kiln would be useful if the shelf for drying the ceramic products was located nearby.
COMPLEMENTARY PROCESSES
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Potters, Ceramics & the Kiln
Deptford’s Vessels
The form of the kiln became quite iconic in England in the late 18th century and 19th century. It was a large industry, especially in the north-east, Sunderland. Smaller potteries were recorded in Deptford. They were more commonly known for sprigged stoneware.
Deptford’s history of making included pottery and ceramics. Amongst the larger potteries that were established were: • • •
The Upper on Church Street and Copperas Lane (later called Bronze Street) (1701 – 1961) The Lower on Copperas Lane by Deptford Creek (1730 –1860) Church Street Pottery (1730 –1887)
Rediscovering the Identity of Making The idea of proposing a ceramics studio was explored. Besides an iconic form for making, the kiln or vessels allow for many opportunities – in terms of heating and inhabitable space, bringing something new to the live/work typography in Deptford.
Deptford Lounge former bank Douglas Square
Site Douglas Square
Giffin Street, pedestrianised
Existing Site Condition The boundary encloses Douglas Square and an existing derelict building, 88 Deptford High Street / 9 GIffin Street. A portion of Giffin Street is to be pedestrianised and people would transition through the courtyard space instead.
Proposed Urban Strategy Unifying Deptford’s Markets Scale 1:1000 @ A2
ket Yard Deptford Mar
Deptford’s markets (Douglas Way, Deptford Market Yard and High Street market) are clearly distinct from one another. The proposal aims to create a link and relationship between the two markets through function and structure. It will encourage a flow of pedestrians through from surrounding areas and key transport links (DLR and train stations in Deptford, Lewisham and Greenwich).
Douglas Way Market
Deptford High Street Market
Exploration of Aggregates in Clay Artists are to work closely with the Douglas Way Market traders in bringing in items which can be broken down into new material to be experimented with as aggregate in clay / concrete pieces. The traders would source disused items from all over London to be sorted at the site. These items are made of a range of material which could be reused and remoulded into something more. They are first disassembled, then broken down into a suitable consistency or size to be used in ceramics. The products are then displayed or sold at the markets.
London
Sorting of disused items
Disassembly / Mixing / Form
Regeneration of the streetscape Through a restructured market layout and function, the stalls would create a seamless transition into the proposed site; they would lead pedestrians into the courtyard where the making of ceramics can be observed.
Proposed Site Plan Scale 1:200 @ A2 Residential units are located above ground level, with entrances in more discreet locations. The fragmented general arrangement demonstrates permeability into a space . The narrow passages open up to a courtyard, which the vessels all face. Parts of Deptford High Street and Giffin Street have been pedestrianised.
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Proposed General Arrangement Scale 1:100 @ A2 The four units / blocks are arranged around a sunken courtyard where the vessels are prominent. People are able to wander into this space through narrow alleys. Rainwater collection pods form the undulating landscape below the elevated courtyard. The ceramic studios and 3D printing workshop are located on this level, making it easy for passers-by to see artists at work. This continues to animate Deptford High Street with all its active shop fronts and street market. 10.
1 Kilns 2 3D printing workshop 3 Ceramic studio 4 Dry room 5 Cafe 6 Kitchen (Commercial) 7 Residential access 8 Courtyard 9 Rain collection pods 10 Library / Reading room
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Transition & Permeability Movement & the exchange of elements The regeneration of a transitional space sits at the heart of the proposal’s spatial agenda. The exchange of heat and light and the movement of people were studied. Different arrangements of the units to form pockets of spaces and narrow passageways which open up into a courtyard where people can linger, enable opportunities for engaging with the making that takes place.
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ENVT1093 _ Future Representations : Physical Model Output The physical model was a study of the transitional space and how the kilns can be used as a feature within the central space. The element of stretching and ‘pulling apart’ was a recurring theme through making this model. An undulating form was explored as a topography for the building to be elevated upon.
Proposed Section AA Scale 1:200 @ A2 The proposed building sits on Giffin Square, a strategic place for people to meet in Deptford. Just adjacent to Deptford Lounge – it carves out a landscape just in front of it enabling a seamless transition between Deptford High Street and the Lounge.
Deptford Lounge
Tidemill Academy
Deptford High St
Axonometric / Sectional Perspective The vessels sit prominently amonst the other buildings as a symbol of making which can identify with Deptford’s history. The canyon-like topography and walkways which dip and turn in different directions allow for glimpses into the process of ceramics, from the mixing of the clay to firing in the kilns. The pods at the bottom harvest rainwater to be reused throughout the building and in the mixing process.
The 3D Printing Workshop The 3D printers for the ceramics are visible from the street. This animates the facade of the studio, engaging with anyone who walks by. The platforms of bases of the printers move up and down as a print is in process. This flexibility allows for different scales of objects that can be made.