Portfolio by andycroftapc

ANDY CROFT Portfolio

ANDY CROFT andycroftapc@gmail.com

This portfolio contains a collection of the work I have completed whilst at university. The majority of the work was produced during the third year of university, throughout which we worked on the Trafford Park project. This included producing design and analysis work at various scales, under the over arching theme of aesthetics, as defined in the GLVIA and Landscape Character Assessment guidance.

Contents 1-4

Trafford Park Brief Development, Analysis and Diagram

5-6

Trafford Park Concepts and Masterplan

7-10

Trafford Park Site Analysis and Design Development

11-13

Trafford Park Site Design

14-16

Trafford Park Construction and Planting Details

17-19

European & Urban Studies

20-21

Hulme Masterplan

22-23

Bootle 2020 Neigbourhood Plan

24-25

Castlefield Plot G Consultancy

OVERVIEW

Trafford Park

What Doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Work Collage: vacant plots, lack of scale, wide carriageways, poor footpaths, large dominant buildings.

Landscape Study, Trafford Park This study was undertaken in order to develop a personal brief for the final year Trafford Park project. Initial site analysis was distilled into collages showing elements that work and elements that do not work.

What Does Work Collage: canals and water ways, green infrastructure and untouched ecologies, private industries and their economic value.

Trafford Park

Building Types Map non clean sheds retail buildings leisure buildings office buildings warehouse/ distribution clean sheds

Landscape Study, Trafford Park The study also included graphics which mapped key site conditions, such as building uses, soil types and green infrastructure. The graphic below illustrates the ongoing cyclical processes within the site of development, production followed by closure and vacancy. Understanding the existing nature of the site allowed me to develop proposals which were inline with the existing landscape and considerate of how to innovatively improve conditions.

Site Process Illustration

Trafford Park

Soil Analysis Map glaciofluvial sand and gravel till alluvium - clay, silt, sand, gravel peat arsenic, lead, cadmium and zinc measured above 80%

Landscape Study, Trafford Park Further research identified key aspects of the site to be considered within the design. This included issues such as soil contamination from the industrial use of the site, which was mapped to direct development and understand where the most usable land was situated. Issues such as public transport and cycle routes through the site were also analysed and compared to the average traffic flows of HGVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in certain areas.

Transport Links Map

Trafford Park

Diagram This large scale diagram was created to plan indicative interventions across the entirety of the site. My diagram proposed developing a network of green infrastructure throughout the site to bring texture and enclosure and soften the landscape of concrete and pre-fab industrial units, whilst creating an ecological base. This was to be combined with a pedestrian priority network of paths and cycle ways improving access and movement around the site, and the creation of unique relief spaces to be based on the sites history, such as using timber as the main material on sites where timber mills and warehouses were situated. The intention was to transform the site into a dynamic ecological medium that could allow for diverse industrial and commercial uses whilst remaining a stable and usable landscape.

1:10,000@A1

Trafford Park

Modular Space Concept Sketch

Masterplan Development A continued to develop the concepts established within the diagram, exploring the potential to integrate a network of green infrastructure. I developed the concepts into interventions creating enclosure and movement corridors, linking temporal communal spaces.

Concept Plan

Green Infrastructure Sketch

Trafford Park

Masterplan At 1:2000 scale I then produced a masterplan to develop the concepts of the diagram into a functional plan. The plan demonstrates the transition of the site from a mass of concrete into a soft and green ecological base which the buildings sit within. The design incorporates the green network of tree lined streets with seasonal colour, hedgerows and meadows and reedbeds and wetlands where land requires remediation. Public spaces are proposed based on the concept of temporality. These would be created from movable timber and steel structures, such as benches and sports nets, which could be placed on vacant plots around the site for the benefit of the employees.

1:2000@A1

Trafford Park

Design Development These sketches are part of the design development for the final year Trafford Park project. As part of my design I developed an understanding of the sites genius loci, which included the prominence of the shipping canal and rich industrial heritage. I applied my understanding of aesthetics to extract key elements such as the lines of the canal, movement of water and textures of vegetation. I employed the use of simple card models to generate forms that could be progressed into a design.

Trafford Park

1890 Map

Design Development A historical analysis of the site was undertaken to understand how the area had developed over time and why. The industrial heritage of the site was then integrated into design concepts.

1920 Map

1980 Map

Trafford Park

Design Development

Sketch Plans

Theses sketches illustrate the process of transforming my design ideas into a plan. Using the motif of water, I proposed the idea of the aquaduct becoming an essential focal point and gateway into the site. From this, I developed the idea of concentric rings dissipating from this point to structure the design. This allowed for a central point of activity and intensity, fading to a looser more naturalistic landscape, allowing for ease of movement and a mix of uses. During this process, I used precedent studies as shown to improve my understanding of how to successfully use elements such as colour, movement and texture combined with the idea of informal play within the landscape.

Image References Top - AFAR.com Middle Top - Lanezine Middle Bottom - Landezine Bottom - Landezine

Trafford Park

Design Development As part of my design development I developed a programme for the site. This was informed by theories surrounding landscape urbanism as discussed by professionals such as Charles Waldheim and James Corner and Ian McHarghâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Design with Nature. My programme combined Ecology with Public Recreational space and the issue of Urban Homelessness, which I then spatially applied to the site. Again, precedents were used to enable me to generate ideas and understand what works and how.

Function Programme

Spatial Programme

Image References Top Left- Landezine Top Right - WorldLandscapeArchitect Bottom Left - Dirt/ASLA Bottom - Turenscape

Trafford Park

Design Proposal Within the Trafford Park site I selected a smaller site and produced a 1:200 design. I chose the site for its advantages location towards at the wastern gateway, which had access to key public footpaths and roads and the juncture of both bridge and aquaduct crossing the canal. My design proposed a central communal and recreational space with both hardstanding and lawn areas, with a repurposed lock keepers house, communal biomass fire pits and new mooring posts to form a functional event space. Views and access to the ship canal were maximised to the north of the site, with cantilever concrete steps and platforms. Surrounding this, the landscape becomes a functional and diverse ecological space, using rhizofiltration and bioremediation to clean the land and water, with timber and steel boardwalks forming accessible paths through. To the south of the site, meadows have been combined with crop production and homeless shelters to form a help programme bringing the homeless into agricultural work.

Design Plan 1:200@A1

Trafford Park

Perspectives These images were produced to illustrate the design, showcasing the footpaths through the bioremediation site (top) and rhizofiltration wetlands (bottom). The graphics convey an image of the site which was true to the local climate and materiality of the design, but also provide a sense of place and expression away from realism.

Trafford Park

Isometric Diagram To complement my 1:200 design, I also produced an isometric graphic of the site to illustrate the design programme. I was able to create a comprehensive design through the combination of these key layers which considered how the site could take advantage of the genius loci.

Trafford Park

Construction Plan To finalise the site design, I produced 1:50 plans and sections for the hypothetical construction stage of the project. This plan shows the construction details for an area of the site where th conrete steps meet the canal and step up and back to the rhizofiltration wetlands. My designs incorporated a bespoke paving pattern and edging system to the wetlands, along with complex structures such as the constructed gravel-base reedbeds and cantilever steps.

1:50@A1

Trafford Park

Construction Section This cross-section shows the construction details for the plan, illustrating the reedbed and cantilever steps divided by a freestanding concrete wall. Beneath, bespoke details for paving and lighting columns are also shown. This enabled me to scale down large design elements into the finer site details.

1:50@A1

Trafford Park

Planting Plan For the soft landscaping within my 1:200 design I specified planting for the same area as my construction plan. This drawing was produced to show the location of plants which and trees within the reedbed and contains an accompanying specification. I selected plants for this design which were functional and would be able to efficiently remove chemicals and toxins from the canal water. I positioned plants based on their size to create areas of dramatic and calm inerfaces between people, and selected species based on seasonal interest, texture and colour. The proposed mix was a majority of Phragmites, Iris, Juncus and Willow.

1:50@A1

European Study

Holland Wind Break As part of our European study trip, I produced this diagram illustrating green/ grey infrastructure features near Rotterdams Europort. Understanding how the landscape serves a hybrid purpose of hosting storage containters to the East and a residential community to the West, with the canal dividing the two . The green infrastructure served to screen the containers and reduce the wind speed over the flat, polder landscape.

European Study

Nieuwe Ooster Cemetery Hollands forward thinking design has been analysed in this diagram and sketch, were produced to understand the way in which landscape design has pushed boundaries with standards that have been unquestioned. This innovative cemetery design by Karre es Brands created a contemplative and reflective place that also has temporal and dynamic elements. Strong linear footpaths and a still water pool are set into a sheltered landscape of moving grasses and perennials and established woodland, stitched together with formal hedges.

Urban Study

Concert Steps, Liverpool This image was created as part of a character study into the urban fabric of Liverpool. The graphic extracts the palette of colour and texture that has been used to create a lively and animated space that expresses the building and landscape uses. This contributed to the ongoing understanding of urban placemaking and the role of aesthetics and their importance within landscape architecture.

Hulme masterplan

Masterplan During the second year of university I worked within a group to produce a masterplan for a large site in the neighbourhood of Hulme, Manchester, adjacent to the dual carriageway Princess Park Way. The work we produced as a group was highly commended by tutors for proposing a highly sustainable and intuituve design to benefit the local community. Our proposals included lowrise blocks of apartments and houses with a mix of courtyards and green pedestrianised streets. We embraced current technologies such as green roofs, photovoltaic panels and community greenhouses for agricultural production.

1:500@A1

Hulme masterplan

Analysis/Perspectives As part of the Hulme masterplanning project, I also produced an isometric spatial analysis of the existing site and rendered perspectives of our group design proposals.

Neighbourhood Planning

Neighbourhood Plan, Bootle In preparation for producing a neighbourhood plan for the rural town of Bootle in Copeland, I completed an environmental baseline analysis which involved mapping GIS data and relating the analysis to relevant planning policies. These are examples of the choropleth maps, which show the grades of agricultural land and environmental assets such as SSSI’s, registered parks and gardens and the grades of agricultural land. This was combined with essential studies such as flood risk and geology, which has recently had a negative impact on the area.

Legend Risk of Flooding High Medium

Legend

Low Very Low

Bootle Parish

Bootle Ward

Copeland

Bootle Ward

National Park

Copeland

AONB

Geoology (LEX_RCS_D Classification)

National Park

ASHGILL ROCKS (UNDIFFERENTIATED) - MUDSTONE, SILTSTONE AND SANDSTONE

Registered Parks and Gardens

CARADOC ROCKS (UNDIFFERENTIATED) - MUDSTONE, SILTSTONE AND SANDSTONE

SSSI

DINANTIAN ROCKS (UNDIFFERENTIATED) - SANDSTONE, LIMESTONE AND ARGILLACEOUS ROCKS

DINANTIAN ROCKS (UNDIFFERENTIATED) - LIMESTONE WITH SUBORDINATE SANDSTONE AND ARGILLACEOUS ROCKS

ORDOVICIAN ROCKS (UNDIFFERENTIATED) - MUDSTONE, SILTSTONE AND SANDSTONE

Woodpasture and Parkland

ORDOVICIAN ROCKS (UNDIFFERENTIATED) - SANDSTONE AND CONGLOMERATE, INTERBEDDED PENNINE LOWER COAL MEASURES FORMATION AND SOUTH WALES LOWER COAL MEASURES FORMATION (UNDIFFERENTIATE

Agricultural Land Use

PENNINE MIDDLE COAL MEASURES FORMATION AND SOUTH WALES MIDDLE COAL MEASURES FORMATION (UNDIFFERENTIA

GRADE 1

PERMIAN ROCKS (UNDIFFERENTIATED) - MUDSTONE, SILTSTONE AND SANDSTONE PERMIAN ROCKS (UNDIFFERENTIATED) - SANDSTONE AND CONGLOMERATE, INTERBEDDED

GRADE 2

SILURIAN ROCKS (UNDIFFERENTIATED) - MUDSTONE, SILTSTONE AND SANDSTONE

GRADE 4 GRADE 5 NON AGRICULTURAL

TRIASSIC ROCKS (UNDIFFERENTIATED) - SANDSTONE AND CONGLOMERATE, INTERBEDDED

GRADE 3

UNNAMED EXTRUSIVE ROCKS, ORDOVICIAN - FELSIC LAVA

1.5

UNNAMED EXTRUSIVE ROCKS, ORDOVICIAN - FELSIC TUFF UNNAMED EXTRUSIVE ROCKS, ORDOVICIAN - MAFIC LAVA

UNNAMED EXTRUSIVE ROCKS, ORDOVICIAN - MAFIC TUFF

Kilometers

URBAN

UNNAMED IGNEOUS INTRUSION, ORDOVICIAN TO SILURIAN - MAFIC IGNEOUS-ROCK WARWICKSHIRE GROUP - SILTSTONE AND SANDSTONE WITH SUBORDINATE MUDSTONE WENLOCK ROCKS (UNDIFFERENTIATED) - SANDSTONE AND CONGLOMERATE, INTERBEDDED

Agricultural Land and Environmental Asset Map

1.5

UNNAMED IGNEOUS INTRUSION, ORDOVICIAN TO SILURIAN - FELSIC-ROCK

Kilometers

Flood Risk and Geology Map

Neighbourhood Planning

Neighbourhood Plan, Bootle As a group, we were tasked with producing a neighbourhood plan for Bootle which focused on infrastructure. We produced 3 options which ranged from minimal, immediate interventions, which could take place if conditions of the village (the population, GDP etc.) remained the same, to large scale interventions which would rely on increased funding. We presented these options to the community for feedback before producing a final report and plan. Our final plan outlined a scheme which would improve connectivity and circulation through the village with cycle paths and improved footpaths, linking key areas such as the village, train station and coastal footpath. Our plan also proposed flood risk defence along the vulnerable coast line and low impact tourism/sport facilities to emphasise the unique landscape features within the village,

Base Map

Infrastructure Neighbourhood Plan

walk

10min walk

5min walk

Open Space Analysis This map indicates the various categories of open space within a maximum of 10 minutes walking distance from Castlefield. The largest open green spaces such as Hulme Park and St. George Park are somewhat separated from Castlefield due to Mancunian Way This map indicates the various categories of and Chester Road restricting movement of open space within a maximum of 10 minutes pedestrians. There are also several key small walking distance from Castlefield. Thegarden largestspaces and hardscape civic spaces open green spaces such as Hulme Park anda 5 minute walk of Plot G. within St. George Park are somewhat separated from Castlefield due to Mancunian Way and Chester Road restricting movement of pedestrians. There are also several key small garden spaces and hardscape civic spaces within a 5 minute walk of Plot G.

Open Space Analysis

Consultancy

Plot G, Castlefield For a live client project at university I have been working with a group in co-operation with the Castlefield Neighbourhood Forum. For the project we have produced a baseline study which included planning study, market and demographic analysis and character study of the area, and the next stage will be the production of development proposals for the site, ranging from an improved open space as an ACV to small scale and appropriate development. The project has involved working in collaboration with members of the community to understand their aspirations for the site. This is an example of the open space analysis and character sketches I have produced for the project.

Site

1:10,000@A1

Site

Open Space Analysis

Serial Vision Sketches 24 1:10,000@A1

Consultancy

Plot G, Castlefield

Open Space Development Option & Precedents

Apartment Development Option & Precedents

Our baseline study for the site was then used to create a final report, which consisted of 5 development options for the site. These options ranged from retaining the space as an open public green space, introducing temporary event uses for the site and fully developing the site into a mixed use apartment block. Our options were produced in collaboration with the community and neighbourhood forum through the medium of workshops , and our final report was high praised by the neighbourhood forum for the sensitivity and consideration our proposals gave to the site and the community opinion. Each option was justified based on planning policy, financial viability, community opinion and urban design criteria.