Materiality/development Andy Croft
1:50 development I developed a 1:50 design based upon the principles of my 1:200 design. This is the process of my design development, based on research, concepts and precedents. The work focusses upon the finer details of the site, and the application of the broader design incentives at a smaller scale.
Site
Materiality/development Andy Croft
The site I have chosen to detail within my 1:200 consists of a constructed wetland, footpaths, raised amenity lawn, freestanding partition walls and a stepped descent to a suspended walkway over the Manchester Ship canal.
Palette
Materiality/development Andy Croft
To begin detailing my design I developed a palette based upon the distinct elements within my chosen area. Through abstract sketching I analysed examined how textures would work together.
rough surface
rigid coarse vegetation
Based on the chosen area I also developed a possible colour palette to work from using the water as a base colour to match from.
rough uneven and broken surface
Smooth surface
Fine broken surface Fine coarse vegetation
Transitions and joints
Materiality/development Andy Croft
I then began to consider how materials would meet and combine, again using texture as the leading aesthetic to explore the physical properties of the materials.
Smooth surfaces would become rough and uneven surfaces where the hardscape meets the wetland edge. This variety of texture creates an interest and a visual division of elements.
Linear and geometric lines of the paving would become undulating, sinuous and random lines within the stones at the wetland edge.
The rough and coarse textures of the wetland aggregate would be mimicked by the retaining wall, with the footpath acting as a break between the two as a smooth surface.
Paving
Materiality/development Andy Croft
When considering the paving I began with a standard stacked bond and explored the possiblities of stretcher bonds for areas of standard paving and general hardscape, further progressing into a bespoke pattern which would be used to identify different areas within the site.
I developed a bespoke paving pattern by taking the forms from my larger scale design work and compressing them into a smaller size to be applied to paving slab shapes. I developed the pattern into one which can be repeated as a unit but keeps the identity of the distinguishable form.
Trees and vegetation
Materiality/development Andy Croft
When considering the vegetation I examined the spatial properties of items such as trees, and in the sketch below I broke the form of a tree into lines to analyse enclosure as shown by the density of lines below the tree and the openness of the foliage which allows a gradient of exposure
Vegetation can be used in the same way as the physical objects of the site to create gradients of enclosure and textures as the sketch below shows. The smooth paving surface transitions below the coarse textured tree into the rigid and rough texture of wetland grasses such as Juncus and then further into larger more regular formed Phragmites
Vegetation
Materiality/development Andy Croft
At the waters edge, river boulders could be used to create a rough and uneven surface that almost mimics the rippled water surface. To add interest to this edge, the use of vine like awuatic species which would intertwine between the rocks would be advantageous. As the water becomes deeper, aquatic species such as waterlillies would add interest to the waters surface and match the form of the boulders
The selection of vegetation will greatly impact the variety of textures and colour within the site, although the colour palette chosen will be of muted colours. Texture can be emphasised by using flexible and rigid forms of grasses which contrast the river boulders but match the paving lines. Species with broader leaves would then provide further contrast and interest.
Waterfront steps
Materiality/development Andy Croft
For the steps that descend to the Manchester Ship Canal I wanted to maintain an industrial essence but with the application of attention to detail and clean fixtures and joints. The steps and cantilever walk way should be intentionally simple but effective, using concrete as a base material for its durability and appearance. The main purpose of this structure is to create a relationship between the individual and the water
The use of a glass baulestrade allows visibility to the water from a variety of angles and does not obscure or obstruct the view, emphasising the individuals suspension above the water. The walkway extending from the site and over the water further emphasises this with the water receding beneath the cantilever platform.
Lighting
Materiality/development Andy Croft
To light the wetland area which contains a number of footpaths, I decided upon a bespoke lighting method inspired by a precedent. The lighting would consist of thin columns protruding through the aggregate and matching the form of the Phalaris and Typha. The lighting column would be attached to a submersed spotlight allowing for flexiblity of movement and maintenance.
At the waterfront descent, the simple cast concrete steps would consist of recessed wall lights which will illuminate the steps and the cantilever walkway and add night time interest to the space. To emohasise the connection of the water to the design of the site, recessed strips would take the form used in my larger scale design of connecting lines, illuminating a connection between the Manchester Ship canal, up the steps and into the site.
Bespoke Bench
Materiality/development Andy Croft
I developed my idea further, again applying the folding form of my larger design, considering an item of forged or cast metal. I further expanded upon the idea of suspension to recreate a smaller scale version of the suspension the cantilever walkway creates. I chose a bench as my bespoke element, as I had the idea of using a bench that reflected the site and my design in the early stages of my larger scale design. The original idea I began with was a unit using two columns clad in granite, with a single piece of steel as the seat and backrest between the two columns with a void beneath.
I then applied the folding form the support of the bench rather than the seat to give the impression the bench is folding upwards out of the ground and providing an even and smooth seating surface top.
Precedents
Materiality/development Andy Croft
Zhongshan Shipyard park uses vegetation in a way I would apply to my design, with the smooth hardscape met immediately by cparse vegetation the meets the path and rises above it. Image: LandscapeArchitectsNetwork [online] Available at: http://landarchs.com/forgotten-landscapes/
Reedbeds at Silverdale, UK utilise a limited palette of colour and form in a near monoculture. The form of the Phalaris and Typha remains continuous and upright, whilst their height provides enclosure but restricts views.
Precedents
Materiality/development Andy Croft
The use of a limited palette of materials at Sea Organs has a visual impact against the water and makes the landscape easy to understand. The clean and crisp edges of the concrete contrast the water and make the landscape appear well crafted.
Ă˜rnesvingen by 3RW Arkitekter utilises a suspended walkway to create a phenomenological response as individuals stand suspended above the descent. The baulestrade is composed of thin wire and metal columns allowing for views through to the landscape below from many angles.
Image: Landezine [online] Available at: http://www.landezine.com/index.php/2009/07/198/
Image: Landezine [online] Available at: http://www.landezine.com/index.php/2010/10/%C3%B8rnesvingen/
Precedents
Materiality/development Andy Croft
My site consists of a constructed wetland which operates as shown below, however my application will take a slightly different form to accomodate for further planting and aesthetic differences.
My wetland will combine functional rhizofiltration species with more naturalistic wetlands such as the one shown below which uses a wider variety of species for aesthetic and ecological reasons.
Image: Akvo [online] Available at: http://iati-test.akvo.org/wiki/index.php/Horizontal_Subsurface_Flow_Constructed_Wetland
Image: Technorati [online] Available at: http://scm-l3.technorati.com/11/09/19/51419/wetlands.jpg?t=20110919200407
1:50 Plans
Materiality/development Andy Croft
Original @ A1 The 1:50 plans I produced detail a section of my site, including dimensions, suppliers and installation notes for some elements. I have developed my 1:50 design work to reflect my larger scale design work as much as possible.
1:50 Section
Materiality/development Andy Croft
Original @ A1 My 1:50 section shows the construction specifications for my design, beginning at the Manchester Ship canal with a cantilever walkway and cutting through a freestanding wall, constructed wetland , footpaths and tree plantings.
Bespoke Detail
Materiality/development Andy Croft
Original @ A1 I chose to design a bench as my bespoke element, using the form of my larger scale design as an initial starting point. I decided upon a simple but effective material palette of cast steel and wood to design a structure that needed very few supports or joints. To further the unique identity and style of the bench, I opted to incorporate a Chamomile planting as part of the seat top for comfort, interest, and a stronger relation to my ecological design.