rd place sophie cosgrove
acknowledgements martin gledhill; rob gregory; chris fenton; tim osborn and gennady malishev
i would like to thank the people above for all their help and support throughout this stressful yet exciting experience.
1111 22223333444455556 preface
brief
investigation
proposal
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environment
regulations
evaluation
6 1111 2222333344445555 preface
1 - ephemerality and mortality 2 - anticipatory architecture
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the inspiration for this personal thesis project evolved from my broad hypothesis concerning architecture as a whole; i believe architecture should be considered as an organism; reacting to the stimuli of it’s social environment. as a mimetic response to human life and actions it is ephemeral by nature. through this acknowledgment of time as the subconscious 4th dimension of architectural design tried to address the mortality of building. i have designed with consciousness towards the
nature of society and it’s instability through time; attempting
transient
to engage with the existing economic, political and structural lexicon of place whilst exploring the capacity to nurture it’s inevitable change.
social variability is continuous; change is the constant
ephemerailty collage
-ephemeral cities ,UCL, art history, july 2012, richard tawes -changing workplace, alliance technologies, june 2013, anon
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cedric price defined the axiom of construction allowing for change. he acknowledged the unobtainability of totalised planning by building with a degree of indeterminacy, thus making provisions for uncertainties in programme and transformations throughout the building’s existence.
price enforced that rather than rely on the past, the evolution of architecture comes from an outlook to the future. to design not through prophecy, rather temporal consideration and insights:
anticipatory architecture. as a consequence his theoretical design, the fun palace, 1962, was a deviation from the accepted notion on a conformed environment. the pluralist institution represented a form of civic disobedience through it’s user dictated changeability.
my aim for this thesis was to create a pragmatic rendition of this democratic flexibility; producing a
rational interpretation of price’s formidable statement.
fun palace collage
- fun palace, responsive architecture, CCA archives, 1956, sophia sledger -fun palace, intervencion,2013, clav sicillia venagas -welcome to the fun palace, museum quality, feb 2006, chad (blogger) - “voyeur palace”, fun palace reimagined, 2013, chris pers -instant city, archigram, 1968
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3333 6 44445555 1111 2222 brief
3 - stroud’s identity 4,5 - the 3rd place 6 - site choice 7,8 - site investigation 9 - precedents 10 - programme
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“ordinary people should be able to influence what happens in the community”- mike goodenough, resident of stroud stroud is referred to as ‘a town changed by community action,’ where the residents are passionate about the fabric of their town’s society. accordingly, like the fun palace, i wanted to assert back to the public domain and reinvigorate the social persona by entrusting the users with control over their own environment. one thing all people share is the want for freedom of choice.
freedom
whilst providing a building which is versatile and accommodates change i also wanted to create a landmark: an anchor to celebrate the town’s identity. in spite of stroud’s community spirit it lacks a heart, a centre to the town. consequently, my brief was to design a lasting place for civic pride, whilst maintaining the flexibilty to create a sense of community experiential ownership for stroud. thus, unlike price’s buildings, the accentuation for my building is not what can be
changed, rather what can be permanent.
stroud: a passionate community collage
- local and national press coverage of stroud highstreet enquiry, pg 14,43 -high street carried through stroud in coffin, demolishion protests, pg 38 -post-it wall for community’s ‘wishes’, pg 73 all images from stroud: a town changed by community action, 2013, camilla hale and dominique shead
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the third place
is defined as the social surroundings separate from the two usual social environments of home and the workplace. in his influential book “the great good place”, ray oldenburg
argued that third places are important for civil society, democracy, civic engagement and establishing feelings of a sense of place. despite the world evolving, the unchanging values of life remain; social and recreational spaces always will be in demand. thus a physical manifestation of the third place could last the test of time if designed with anticipation and acceptence of change.
to act as this ‘anchor’ of community life and facilitate broader and more creative interaction the design had to satisfy the complexity and both use and user to unify people in an individualised world.
diversity of individual needs; accomodating a spectrum of
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the third place hosts
workshops,
gigs, language lessons,
film screenings,
festivals,
cafe, blues club, mamas and babies , computer and internet hub, youth club , dance class, holistic fitness,
theatre, crèche,
drop in centre,
market, exhibition, library,
fashion show,
town meetings,
alcoholics anonymous,
art classes, sing for your supper, yoga class,
play group,
bridge club, astrology classes, tabernacle choir, rainbows, coffee pot,
women’s institute,
scouts,
council meetings,
quiz night, committee gatherings,
fete,
action group, ammateur plays,
fringe festval,
gallery, living room
...etc
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pedestrian access from adjacent highstreet via entrance at top of garden and begininning of lansdown street
site located in centre of town to welcome whole community
ingress from bath street car park accessible within a 2 minute walk
site
opportunity to take advantage of southern solar gains
after researching into stroud i discovered that although there is no ‘central hub’, there is a street with a cluster of community spaces in an ideal location neighbouring the high street. following discussions with some of the residents it became apparent that these spaces are insufficient for the town’s needs. yet despite having many constraints these buildings also hold many opportunities. moreover, their location in a preservation passionate communtiy furthers the argument for the permanancy and survival of these grade 2 listed buildings. thus, to comply with my concept of
unifying functions and uses, i decided to. tie the two pre-existing places together with my scheme, the third place. the aim was to consolodate existing functions and a modern intervention to enhance the pre-existing qualities of both the site and stroud as a community.
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existing context lansdown hall, previously ‘temperance hall’, 1879 was paid for, “ by the bequest of a gentleman anxious to promote the cause of temperance.” by 1890 it was renamed and began housing public meetings and entertainments. today it houses rentable gallery and community hall spaces. following an investment, the ground floor gallery has recently been refurbished, thus i decided to leave it untouched in my scheme. lansdown is run by a small charity with one paid member of staff. after interviewing the volunteers a few of the constraints of the hall were highlighted, primarily it’s insufficient size and the impracticality of a permanent stage area. my scheme accepts this space as the minor hall, removing the performance element, adding a new multi-purpose hall with retractable seating and stage to better accommodate the town’s needs.
1885 map of site
the ‘old free library’, 1873, has undergone many changes in use, proving it’s versatility. a former grammer school it became one of the first free libraries in the uk which moved next door in 1968. it currently houses a spiritualist church on ground and crèche on first floor. however these spaces are occupied no more than 12 hours a week. within my scheme i accounted for the groups’ needs, whilst achieving efficiency of space through incorporating more uses to maintain my concept of flexibility.
7 current map of site
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
populated garden celebrating annual fringe fesival
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
enhancing context stroud library, 1968, a brutally functional building, speaks of a more distant bureaucracy than the ornamental adjacent art science museum and ‘old free library’. during discussions with the residing librarian the space was identified as underutilized by the community - “it should be linked
stroud planning documents
with another community activity”
to attract people. furthermore, for funding the space is rented out after hours to commitees and clubs for which the space is inappropriate. as a consequence i decided to remove the current library and absorb it into my scheme. with the aim of encouraging bank gardens backs these three buildings on the south side. considering it is the only green space in the centre of town it is highly underutilized day to day. however, during festival season it becomes a hive of activity proving it’s value as a public realm. through opening my scheme onto the garden, as well as creating a new through route to town i hoped to encourage pedestrian traffic and reinvigorate the gardens.
former proposal library scheme
current library elevation
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precedents of programme I searched for inspiration from these three precedents, ranging from temporary to permanent, in an attempt to extract techniques of achieving flexibility and changeability. they all successfully incorporate a range of community activities whilst making a
socio-economic statement of public control.
the ‘BMW guggenheim lab’ structure was designed to be responsive to the cities the lab visited. through the lens of the themes confronting comfort, and privacy and public Space, this global project explored how people relate to cities and public space today.
‘caravanserai’ is a community place in canning wharf for the people to make their own. art, installations, workshops, story telling and food augment the social nature of the project. ‘seomra spraoi’ is an autonomous social centre in dublin city centre. It is run by a non-hierarchical,
anti-capitalist collective on a not-for-profit basis. The centre seeks to be a hub of positive resistance in a city and society where public spaces have been eaten away by consumerism, property speculation and the culture of the car.
precedents
(left to right) - bmw guggenheim lab, atelier bow-wow, new york, berlin, mumbai -caravanserai , ash sakula architects, canning town -seomra spraoi, lucien kroll, dublin
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schedule of accommodation lansdown hall
multi-purpose hall
gallery - 240m2 hall - 150m2
ground floor plant room changing rooms
free library ground floor - administration - 120m2 main office volunteer office reception staff area first floor - defined meeting - 120m2 toilet store private meeting rooms second floor - silent library toilet store quiet library
- 120m2
first floor store toilets hall
- 170m2
- 750m2
total floor area
- 540m2
long spine first floor - 740m2 cafe toilet block -2 store kitchen large auxiliary rooms - 2 hall foyer/entrance second floor library
existing floor area
- 320m2
- 2520m2
the scheme is divided, with defined vs auxilary spaces. the existing buildings house the specific and private uses, such as administration and meeting rooms. the new intervention accomodates a range of other activites under one roof to achieve intergration and efficiency of space.
people : sponsor, client and public project funding would come from a collaboration between two bodies, the National Lottery and the stroud town Council. supported by fundraising from the town and volunteers. income would be raised through rental of multipurpose spaces. according to cedric price the client is every person to use the building over it’s life-span. accordingly the community of stroud is my client for design references; with the design attempting to address this variance in user. the physical client is the scv charity which currently run lansdown gallery which would expand to manage increase in demand.
volunteers from lansdown charity
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3333 6 44445555 1111 2222 investigation
11 - form follows function 12 - solid to open 13 - intervention of exisitng 14 - division of spine 15 - encompassing literature 16 - landscape links
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form to enable the integration of different uses a functional bandwidth had to be defined. i tried to address these prescribed operations by virtue of the design. therefore, ‘form follows function’ acquiesced to polyvalence and flexibility in the expectancy of generating freedom for the user. this resulted in what can be perceived as an ambiguous building. however, the ambition was to commit to a disposition whilst evading suggesting the direction of appetites; allowing the user to establish their own sense of place. the building acts as a framework for the town to inhabit. the long form connects new and old whilst uniting users and functions under one roof
long extruded form consolidates existing buildings and new intervention
unification
- tying existing buildings through new interposition
dentistry
- architecture ‘tooths’ between current context
precedents (left to right) - river and rowing museum, david chipperfield architects; long extruded body acts as a reinterpretation of traditional building forms -parrish art muesum, herzog and de meuron ; simplicity and elegance of design make bold statement of form in expansive landscape
necklace
- architecture ‘jewels’ offset from linking spine
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facades stroud is considered ‘the covent garden of the cotswolds’, and the third place gives it a space to showcase these talents. through bringing a spectrum of different groups and clubs together under one roof the building acts as an advertisement for these societies and activities. with one large glazed facade functioning as a ‘shop window’ and an open plan layout the building encourages partcipation the housed pursuits. the solid street facade emphasises the building’s presence and enforces the ideals of durabilty and permanence.
glazed door facade opens to public garden
solid concrete facade links to stout masonry street
precedents
anon - expansive glazed facades open up to landscape to encourage flow onto gardens beyond opens to incoroprate green space as part of auxillary spaces
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connection lansdown hall and the old free library are both beautiful grade 2 listed buildings. accordingly, i only wanted to create a light intervention; barely touching the existing fabrics and not imposing any new loads. glazed walls and gutter detail form delicate connection. the use of smooth easily maintained surfaces on the interior contrast and celebrate the aged textures of the exposed existing walls.
large gutter detail offsets spine to sensitively connect to existing fabric
precedents(left to right) - dental clinic, paulo merlini, porto bright white, smooth surfaces on upper level ‘float’ reflecting light and accentuate dark grey recption -centre for contemporary culture, arturo franco and fabrice van teslaar, madrid smooth light surfaces contrast to highlight exposed existing textures
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library the library ‘ floats’ above divisory ground floor pods via small shadow gap. the exterior materials mimick that of the ceiling and the library is embraced as part of the language of the upper level. the internal finish is a dark grey wash timber, creating a new palette which hints to the metal details. this new material defines the inside of the library as a separate experience to below, resembling odile decq’s phantom. it becomes defined as a distinguished element whilst remaining physically open to the bustle and experience of the large spine below. the user is enclosed in literature by the overbearing arm, with perpendicular shelves in line with the roof light divisions above. this creates the experience of being immersed in books with a vertical light puncture release, similar to the story tower precedent. the bend in the shelve arms also serve to protect the books from the solar radiation streaming from the light chimney.
library embraced as part of upper level language
precedents
phantom opera, odile decq, paris - bold red lining defines cafe as separate ‘world’ from grand opera house below. story tower, rtu international architecture summer school, latvia tapered shelf walls to aid easy reach; surrounding visitor in literature
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pods rather than interpret flexibility typically with moving walls and partitions i aimed to achieve this through permanent features. small concrete service pods perform as divides in the long continuous spine. this creates an open and animated space to emphasise the concept of integration of the community. pods are formed as turn ups from the lightly polished concrete floor; the heavy blocks belong to the ground plane, juxtaposing against the seemingly light library ‘floating’ above. stairs act as the tie for library storey and ground plane. the staircase maintains the shadow gap divide, whilst carrying the handrail and material palette down to cafe level.
solid pods are integrated with the floor plane; rising up from the concrete base
precedents
anon - concrete components emerge up from ground material highlighting distinction between ceiling and floor conditions - stairs penetrate down from upper level; leaving small gap above floor level
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landscape the landscape imitates the reasoning of the building, linking to the narrative - defined vs. auxiliary spaces. the majority of the garden is left bare for the community to inhabit whilst certain key areas are designated to correspond with the internal functions. - external courtyard with integrated seating has a potential as performance space; corresponding with neighbouring entertainment hall. - play area relates to large open room backing the ‘old free library.’ rotating glazed doors slide away with level threshold to incorporate exterior as one big space with external wall to shelter and define the space - small gap between existing building is sheltered from main garden space with access from private defined rooms located in ‘old free library.’ - front ‘sculpture’ provides shelter for external dining. cafe also opens out onto garden to allow freedom of spill out for visitors.
play dine
perform reflect
site images
-expanse of green area left open for community inhabitation - library demolished with new extranal courtyard platform given to street
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3333 6 44445555 1111 2222 proposal
17,20, 22,24 - plans 18,19 - elevations 21,23,25 - visuals 26 - 29 - sections
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^
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roof plan 1:500
17
street elevation 1:280
18
garden elevation 1:280
19
^
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ground plan 1:280
20
“the world, as it is, is not a permanent reality, but is a temporary product of our choices as creators.“ Bryant McGill (voice of reason, 2012)
21
^
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first floor plan 1:280
22
“ i believe that flexibilty not stability will bear creative society“ (anon)
23
^
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second floor plan 1:280
24
“the most complex unit of any piece of architecture is the human being for whom it is designed“ Cedric Price ( cedric price, 1984)
25
"far from encouraging change and accelerating its order (society), architecture and planning would appear to show no realisation of its capacity to make such a contribution" Cedric Price ( cedric price for A.D. 1980)
^
26
“to establish a valid equation between contemporary social aspirations and architecture it is essential to add to the latter doubt, delight and change as design criteria. architecture is slow and therefore requires anticipatory design. clients should never be embarrassed by admitting doubt or ignorance or by changing their minds that’s what we’re here for.” Cedric Price ( cedric price, 1984)
^
27
“act of building may be seen not as a formal or structural cobceren but as a creative interpretation of human life and action“ Joe Odgers (primitive; orginal matters in architecture, 2006)
^
28
“like a book no one is reading, a vacant building vibrates with unseen intensities ready to shed its excess, its burden of overwrought grammars, its syntax of profitability: its closed interior and its brittle shell. if we can, let us imagine emptiness recalibrated, space unfolded toward smooth and slippery and nonconforming use.“ Jill Stoner ( towards a minor achitecture, 2012)
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8888 4444555566667777 tectonic
30 - tectonic concepts 31 - assembly process 32 - materiality 33 - steel structure 34,35 - facade details 36 - library construction
overview the aim of the building is for it’s entirety to correspond to the narrartive. the proposal comprises of a new building and the reuse of two existing grade 2 listed buildings, consolidating their functions to create a civic anchor for the community’s recreational needs. consequently materials and process have been chosen to create a durable and easily upkept building to last the test of time. for something to be
sustainable it must be maintainable.
the structural design is based on a simple portal frame with 3 variances in condition; forming a shear wall, pushed out gutter wall and open exposed build wall, all taking the lateral load on the north facade. the third place aims to modestly enhance the two existing buildings whilst being distinctive as a modern insert. the solidarity of the street facade contrasts with the openess and exposed structure of the glazed wall to the garden. this allows the ‘claw’ section to enclose, lapping under, around and above and releasing to the garden. this is reiterated by the concrete ‘sculpture’ at the west entrance, defining the solid to void section.
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plaster finishes
glazing
insulation
roof construction
concrete elements
frame structure
construction sequence - contractor mobilisation and enabling works to prepare site - demolition of library - refurbishment of exisitng - materials retained/cleared as necessary - excavation for substructure with care given to retaining structures and trees - underground services including ground source heat pump - steel portal frame erected - concrete slab cast insitu for ground floor hall - precast concrete walls of ground floor hall mounted - concrete slab cast insitu of spine - concrete walls cast insitu - MEP sevices 1st fix - roof joists and light chimney glazing installed - roof tiles battens and tiles fitted - windows and doors fitted -
landscaping works MEP 2nd fix internal finishes -plaster and decoration equipment delivered and installed systems commisioned and hand-over
- defects liability period begins
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internal
external
material palette adjoining to the existing building required care to avoid confliction with the aged style. the aim was to compliment the existing architecture whilst retaining the appearance of a new modern entity. a minimal material palette was used to highlight the contrast between new and old whilst avoiding strongly imposing on the context. concrete encloses the north facade, maintaining the link with the solidarity of the masonry street. concrete, with it’s inherent endurance, was chosen for it’s durability in the aim of creating a permanent ‘anchor’. smooth precast concrete forms the sturdy platform which supports the hall and to create a distinction of levels. whilst on the upper level insitu concrete is cast with horizontal grooves to mimick the courses of the existing masonry. the steel frame allows for large open spans to enhance flexibility of space and accomodate large expanse of glazing opening to garden. slightly polished concrete floors and pods allow for easy maintainance, crucial for any community-run building. the heaviness of the material juxtaposes the smooth light plaster to give the ceiling and library distinction; dividing the interior into two languages; upper and lower, differentiated by the shadow gap between pods and library.
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super structure steel portal frame -4m c/cs
meandering street facade
- amalgamation of steel portal frame shear walls and load bearing concrete walls on outmost facade. gutter detail to pushes building away from exisiting emphasizing light touch and avoiding imposing new loads on existing, whilst creating internal service coves. large i beams carry load to neighbouring portal frames at point of exisitng to create large unobstructed openings for versatile spaces.
open garden facade
exposed columns on south facade with columns offseting glazed spin and slide doors. the double u form allows small lights to run up the height of the columns for an atmospheric night ambience.
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concrete facade shear wall
concrete wall
wall
wall
- 140mm insitu concrete with moulded grooves - 200 * 150mm steel column (with 203 * 133 ub pre-welded to later attach splice connection to beam) - breather membrane -130mm insulation - vapor barrier - 20mm sheathing -12mm plaster
roof
- 235*165mm antracite plain tile - 32 * 24mm support battens @ 200c - 32 * 24mm counter battens @ 200c - waterproofing layer - specific made steel i beam - 100*100mm rafters @ 600cc - 120mm insulation - vapor barrier - 20mm sheathing - 12mm plaster
- 250mm loadbearing insitu concrete with moulded grooves - breather membrane - 130mm insulation - vapor barrier - 20mm sheathing - 12mm plaster
gutter
-127 * 76 ub (supporting steel gutter) -diagonal 152 * 80 ub - 152 * 80 ub - 254 * 102 ub - 130mm insulation - 20mm sheathing - 12mm plaster
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glazed facade ground interior
- 1m couch pad foundations - hardcore - sand blinding - damp proof membrane - 250mm concrete slab - 120mm EPS insulation -75mm powerfloated screed cast with underfloor heating pipes
exterior
- slot drain to level exterior floor - hardcore - 75mm powerfloated screed
glazed wall
-200 * 150mm steel column (with small lights inset) - steel frame rotate and slide triple glazed low e doors - concrete retaining step
roof
- 235*165mm antracite plain tile - 32 * 24mm support battens @ 200c - 32 * 24mm counter battens @ 200c - waterproofing layer - specific made steel i beam - 100*100mm rafters @ 600cc - 120mm insulation - vapor barrier - 20mm sheathing - 12mm plaster
overhang
-152 * 80 ub - 254 * 102 ub
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED PRODUCED BY BY AN AN AUTODES AUTOD
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library structure large i beams span the length between pods transfering loads. with intermediate steel cross beams at 600c/cs encased in steel perimeter mimicking typical bridge structure. to achieve ‘floating’ gap of library bridge is supported via a secondary sloping steel structure, transfering loads to concrete sides and large central columns down to foundations void in library floor creates large opening to accomodate services such as localised mechanical ventilation with heat recovery above pods.
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33enviro 6 33 44445555 1111 2222
8888 4444555566667777 regs
environment 37 - overview 38 - passivehaus 39 - heat and ventilation 40 - daylighting
overview the driving concept behind the environmental strategy parallels the overriding ideals of the scheme; adaptability over time and user control. not aiming to overreach, rather, to endure. a symbiosis between consciously designed envelope and systems allows the occupants to engage with the building and adjust environmental
conditions through the architecture.
“to be sustainable is to be aware of the long term� - durable material selection compliments the aim of a long life building; the efficient use of which allows for minimal energy during build process. although concrete is assumed to be unenvironmental, 10% of it’s embodied energy comes from transport, thus using locally sourced concrete found in gloucester reduces this. whilst the insitu process further cuts the transportation of large components. moreover, the use of ashcrete improves the environmental impact, comprised of 97% recycled materials, it retains twice the strength of portland cement concrete; with the aggregates giving the wall a yellowy dew to compliment the masonry. - minimal site excavation supports the local context. large hall sits in remaining foot print of demolished library using existing retaining walls. long spine floor is embedded into ground for level access , thus excavation is only required for substructure and ground source heat pump. care was taken to conserve trees on garden and behind main hall to avoid disturbing ecosystem. - energy, water and waste systems are integrated into the building; with two reservoirs located under service pods for toilet and irrigation water. underground tank moderates temperature and helps reduce storm water run off. minimal flood risk, however, main spine of building is elevated a storey above street level should flooding occur. - noise pollution on site is negligible , solid street facade interrupts any incoming noise from traffic. - the concept of the spine is to have large auxiliary spaces within one roof, creating an open and welcoming atmosphere for all housed activities. the aim is to encourage interaction and participation in the contained events and pursuits. consequently noise diffusion and animation is part of the architecture. however, resonance of acoustics is controlled by internal plaster walls, ceiling and library core to avoid echoey imbalance. - surveys would be undertaken to assess to current situation in the existing buildings to establish what systems should be installed to ensure optimum environment settings.
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continuous air barrier
control
distribution
aperature
absorber
passivehaus standard my aim for the environmental strategy was to try achieve passivhaus standards. to qualify for the passive house building standard, it was not enough merely to put together passive house-appropriate components; the whole is more than the sum of its parts. because of the interaction of individual components, integrated planning was essential so that the completed building fulfills the heating, energy and air requirements. pre construction it would be ensured that all of the key passivhaus requirements were written into the appropriate contract documentation to help ensure that all parties were aware of the requirements and design targets set for the project . The passivhaus standard requires that all thermal elements have good u values, the recommended limits are – walls, floors and roofs ≤ 0.15 w/m²K. however, as the key aim of the project is permanency, i endeavoured to exceed u values, future-proofing the building to higher standards. the third place u values are composed of; walls 0.081w/m2k, the roof 0.083 w/m2k, floor 0.0867w/m2k. A number of further strategies are available to reduce overheating risk in the design. these include the use of conventional cross ventilation and night purge ventilation. mechanical options include using the heat recovery ventilation system. thermal mass is also used to attenuate some of the diurnal temperature variations induced. during the coldest weeks of the year a small amount of supplementary heating may be required and this can be provided in the form of a post-air heating unit in the MVHR ventilation system and/ or under floor heating. the building is orientated along an east/west principle axis, adhering to passivehaus standards so that the building faces within 30 degrees of due south (in the northern hemisphere). this allows the building to derive maximum benefit from useful solar gains, which are predominantly available to south facing facade. these solar gains make up a significant component of the free heat gains available to the building. overhanging eaves along spine provide shading from the high summer sun. With ‘gaulhofer’ windows and heat-conserving glazing installed as in passive houses, it was possible to achieve U-values of 0.58 W/m²K. these windows have two infra-red reflecting coatings and are filled with krypton or argon; meaning the surface temperature of the glass inside the room is comparable with the air temperature of the room itself. these window systems installed on the south facade recieve heat gains higher than heat losses even from december to february. airtightness is a critical aspect of all passivhaus designs in order to reduce the heating demand and prevent warm moisture laden air from entering the fabric. the strategic placement of insulation and suitable proprietary tape in and around junction details helps to reduce connection heat loss paths and attempt towards an almost ‘thermal bridge free’ construction. the airtightness of the building is greatly affected by the workmanship of the site operatives, so air tightness details are simple for ease of build on site. contractors would be made aware of the impacts of their trades on maintaining the airtight barrier ¬and it,s importance in achieving the overall environment standard.
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summer localised mechanical roof light vents coupled with earth tubes provide natural ventilation. operable according to location and evironment desired by occupant. large overhang shades south facade from intensive summer solar gains operable stretch of glazed doors allow extra user defined ventilation direct solar gains from long expanse of south glazing bedded coil ground source heat pump serves new and existing buildd to assist with heat management
winter building is tightly wrapped in insulattion to ensure high energy efficiency and improve mean radiant temperatures. concrete floors provide thermal mass, storing heat to minimise heating demand localised mechanical ventilation and heat recovery above pods assists extraction underfloor heating installed during casting of screed served by ground source heat pump earth tubes carry fresh air to create cross circulation at points of existing, with varying degrees of opening for optimal thermal comfort
heat and ventilation the section is derived from the standard passive solar model to obtain and store high solar gains. a hybrid of this passive design and active systems is employed for maximum cases. there is a simplicity to the environmental approach which mirrors that of the general scheme, natural resources are used where possible and systems supplement these to optimise thermal performance 39
summer generous south facing glazing electric lighting is installed as a supplement to natural daylight not a replacement large overhang protects building, controlling intense summer rays glazed walls connect long spine to existing buildings to permit light to inflitrate large auxilary rooms and balance light levels.
winter
daylighting daylight zoned to optimise energy efficiency, reducing electricity consumption and potentially cooling loads. diffuse daylight enters through light chimney to aid task visability in library and reflect down white plaster ceiling to create balanced light direct gains utilise renewable resource whilst improving thermal comfort. large glazed facade also provides visual relief to the green landscape. 40
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8888 4444555566667777 regs
regulations 41 - fire strategy 42 - part m 43 - cdm 44 - budget
fire
part b2: buildings other than dwellings
with one long extruded spine and a single floor above, escape strategies are relatively straightforward. the open plan layout allows direct views to available escapes directly onto the garden and street incase of fire means of warning and escape - early warning provided by automatic fire detection system BS558391 - generous escape corridors - both staircases to library level over 1500mm wide leading to generous exit doors to provide for escape of 160 people whilst accounting for one stair out of action. - openable roof lights and glazed door facade to provide ventilation from smoke infiltration - level exits internal fire spread - hand held fire extinguishers and sprinklers throughout the building - concrete floors and walls inherently fire resistant - main supporting steel coated in intrumescent paint to provide 60 minute escape time - fire resistant glass access - over 30% of building facade is accessible to vehicular and emergency access to comply to section 17.4
perimeter access on main road for fire truck exits and means of escape vertical escape
41
part m
access, use and sanitary provisions compliance in relation to part m elevated main bosy of building poses issues for access. a slight gradient sloping down from highstreet and up from lansdown road meets the main entrance of the spine.
access
- level thresholds - local bus stop at the top of lansdown road conveniently under a minute walk from building - the nearest car park is just off bath street accessible within a 2 minute walk - provision for disabled parking along surrounding street subject to traffic regulations - proposal adds new route from highstreet to increase accessability and pedestrian safety - landscape ramps up to west entrance with level access - main street entrance poses issues for disabled visitors, during further refinement an exterior lift would be integrated into scheme
horizontal and vertical circulation -
generously sized entrance doors with power assistance in accordance with m 2.18-2.21 non slip floor surfaces suitable for wheelchairs and for ease of maintainence staircases designed to guideline with handrails 1100 height above tread lifts provided for access up to main spine from within gallery and to library the need for signage is reduced by open plan layout and clear sightlines along sides foyer and cafe reception at both main entrances for ease of orientation and security
sanitary accommodation
- unisex disabled wcs and changing facilities are provided on both floors and throughout the building
new route connecting residential to highstreet entrances accessible wcs lifts bus stop
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cdm the aim was to eliminate, as far as possible, all hazards and risks during the building’s construction and maintenance by virtue of the design. on site information would be provided about all remaining risks, checking that the client is aware of their duties. also ensuring that a CDM coordinator has been appointed to ensure all regulatory requirements stipulated in CDM are met during the design and construction process. preconstruction
principle contractor, trained to current health and safety regulations, would hold responsibility for site personnel; checking competence of all their appointees and workers. contractor must comply with the specific requirements in part 4 of the regulations to ensure adequate welfare facilities for their workers, such as a site compound established on site. the compound would include; a signed and gated entrance around the site boundary to secure the construction site, site office (all deliveries and personnel signed in here) and w.c.s. some restrictions are imposed by the existing buildings on site to retain the two grade 2 listed buildings and demolish the existing library. demolition of library done with care due to the junctions with surrounding buildings, a method statement should be produced by the contractor to ensure the process is carried out done safely. if asbestos was discovered during this specialist contractors must be used in its removal with adequate on site decontamination facilities provided and full body suits worn. following the demolition, refurbishment of the existing buildings would take place. consultation with the english heritage as to retention of existing and integration into the new building to take place with contractor. full structural survey would be carried out upon both buildings prior to any works taking place. another method statement would be produced for ensuring the works can be completed safely without endangering the foundations of the surrounding buildings adjoining the site.
construction
upper level access during construction accommodated by temporary stairs until the precast concrete units are placed. waste material is to be cleared during working operations to ensure the site is maintained free from trip and slip hazards. the steel portal frames are designed to be assembled on ground and lifted into place, preventing the assembly of structures at height
maintenance and use
provision for external building maintenance has been allowed through restraint systems at flat roof gutter to allow safe access for cleaning of light chimney
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budget unit rate (excl VAT) gross (new) floor area
£2500 per sqm 1,770 sqm
initial construction estimate
£4,425,000
site complexity and renovation existing , 7.5%
£4,757,000
landscape costs , 7.5% contractor preliminaries and profit, 12% design and construction contingencies, 10%
£5,113,000 £5,727,000 £6,300,000
net construction estimate
£6,300,000
consultants and statutory fees, 15 %
£7,245,000
total project cost estimate (excl VAT)
£7,245,000
(architectureal, structural and mep engineers, qs, cdmc planning and building control)
the budget appears high for a charity run community building; however, designed with conciuosness towards life-span, the building’s objective is to be easily sustained and maintained at low cost whilst enduring for years to come as stroud’s liberitarian social centre, crediting it as a worthwhile investment.
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evaluation
45 - appraisals 46 - upon reflection
critiques the initial stages of the project proved crucial, as once the concept and site were established the fundamentals of the scheme immediately evolved. the succeeding proposal which emerged from that pivotal point was a developed reiteration of this first design. with the clear objectives in place to unite old and new the choice of form was indubitable. following this, all the crits focused on internal composition and relationship with existing. the primary concerns which recurrently arose throughout the evaluation process were the integration of the library, the main entrance and the hall facade. the library progressed from a separate floor, to side mezzanine to the central ribbon of the current scheme. the openness to the animation and atmosphere below coupled with staircases at both entrances harmonize the library as part of the community space. whilst the enclosing form of the shelves and it’s raised platform nature maintain the suggestion of a distinction in environment. the decision of main entrance was frequently debated. weight was obviously placed on the street entrance by the hall, with it’s grand staircase to the performance platform. however, as a social centre for recreational activities it is a casual building by nature; as such, the west entrance has significance as the town’s ‘back door’ approach. through creating an open double height space with welcoming stair i feel this entrance is also given balanced importance. the hall facade is a significant point as it affiliates the old with the new: the third street presence. the starting point was established as maintaining the datum level of the street. large glazing was desired to accommodate day lighting and views for hosting markets and festivals, etc. however, the intricate detail and small apertures on the facing art science school and attached buildings made a sizeable opening inappropriate. whilst replicating the nature of the small windows also seemed inapt. thus, it became a matter of using the roof as a literal tie. the solid concrete plinth divides along the line of the spiritualist church with thick concrete arms rising up to hold the roof light. these teeth fuse the ground plane to feature roof, while coursed insitu concrete wraps in between. i feel these were successful developments due to their acceptance in the final crit. the final review raised some further issues concerning resolution and refinement of the ends and details; but no major obstacles were highlighted and the scheme was well met. thus, if more time was allowed, i would spend it delving into finer characteristics and concentrating on evolving the design even further to achieve a refined scheme that stroud would demand to execute. the programme and brief have been deemed engaging from the outset, so hopefully the subsequent bold form and scheme followed this through to create an attractive and engrossing project. 45
conclusion the narrative and intentions affected every decision from the offset, with constant referral back to my original socio-economic aims, i feel the building in it’s entirety successfully responds to the physical and social context of stroud. further to this i believe the strengths of the building lie in the appropriate choice of site, the sequence of spaces and the relationship between new and old. the character of the building is apt to stroud and embraces change not only diurnally but annually in pursuit of creating a space to serve the community through generations. the weaknesses of this project parallel it’s virtues. the scheme can be viewed as overly simplistic and neutral. although all are convinced by the brief and hypothesis, some may not be assured by the building. i took this project as a way to challenge the task of permanency and mortality in the construction world to which there are few customs established. i began the project with very different ambitions and original intentions to use technology and elaborate moving self-build components. however, none of this seemed site appropriate, thus i went down a polyvalency and frame concept route. this led to my constant disquiet that the design would be perceived as an extension or conservatory. however, as a pragmatic rendition of a flexible space, with referral to the residents of stroud’s needs, i believe though simple, the building is bold and commits to it’s purpose of social intervention. overall it has been a steep learning curve, but the pressure and freedom of exploring our own personal brief and hypothesis has established the architect i want to be. i feel my scheme represents my ambitions to use architecture to quietly improve societies, rather than monuments to my ego as a designer.
“you must be the change you want to see in the world” mahatma gandhi
development model photos
(left to right) -portal frame design, hall form, composition on site, form connection
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