Howarth, Tom

LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES ARCHITECTURAL PORTFOLIO BA ARCHITECTURE

TOM HOWARTH

The brief for the CDP project of the final year of the degree was the design a new school of arts building that would sit within either the Northern or Southern corner of Hamilton Square. This site features a context that is of high georgian quality and has been granted the grade 2 listed title, which means that any design for a new building must carefully respond to this architectural quality and whilst having its own identity, should avoid resorting to pastiche. This new school building would provide facilities for a number of disciplines like fine art, photopography, 3D workshop and more. The design challenged me to look at how a school of art can be reinvented and create a modern setting. A personal decision for the direction of this brief is to create facilities and features that embrace the unity of the community of Birkenhead with the education demogrphic that will be introduced as a result. With accessible studio spaces and environments that are both public and private use, the design of the new School of Arts building will be one that becomes a precedent for how other schools may take form.

03 DESIGN BRIEF

The overarching concept that underpins the design of the Birkenhead School of Arts is derived from the site analysis stage of the Comprehensive Design Project. Initial observations taken from the Hamilton Square site visit, discovered that the Laird grid which was imposed onto the town gives the area a much more connected atmosphere. What is considered the smaller site out of the two alterative corners of the site, is made to feel much larger as a result of this grid. The thematic research that was taken before the design process started, looking into the power of the facade and how it can be used a tool to unite the internal and external environments as opposed to being a feature that separates the two sides. The grid will be a feature that is used for the internal layout of the school to create a scheme that feels inclusive and well connected, aiming to unify the community with the educational demographics. The grid is a key aspect of Hamilton Square and will be a key aspect to the design of the school.

04 CONCEPT

Laird Grid Model Diagram

05 SITE PLAN

06 SITE ANALYSIS

Photograph of Hamilton Square Station Photograph of the Parallel Context to the Site Photograph from Hamilton Square Park of Town Hall

07 LAIRD GRID PRESENCE

Photographs of the Laird Grid Witnessed from the Site

08 CONTEXT FACADE STUDY

Facade analysis of site context: Facade analysis of site context: Facade Analysis of Surrounding Context

Context Material Palate:

09

CONTEXT MATERIAL PALETTE

10 DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

and Parti

Design Journal

Diagrams

The two precedents selected to inform the design development of the School of Arts were Bedales School of Art and Design (left) and Tony Frettons buildings facades (right). Bedales gave a base point on the layout of the scheme as well as highlighting how a grid could depict the spacial orientation. Anougher key feature inspired by Bedales, was the utilize the pitched roof form, which would create internal environments that make best use of the natural North light.

Tony Frettons buildings which are shown to the right are a key influencer in the design of the Birkenhead School of Arts facade. Similar to the context of Hamilton Square, Georgian architecture has a seperation of the layers, that is visible externally. This breakdown of a bottom, middle and top section which is part of that architectural language. Tony Frettons architecture continues this language through a more modern setting. This feature is one that is present through my design.

11 PRECEDENT ANALYSIS

12

13 MODEL EXPERIMENTATION

1:500 Site Model Developed Massing Model Initial Design Massing Model

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1:200 Facade Development Model 1:100 Development Model 1:250 Context Model

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The visualisations to the right show images from around the School of Arts in key spaces found within the scheme. The top left image is of the double height cafe space at the public entrance. The top right image is taken from the top floor of the smaller block of the school, showcasing the rooflight and the brick tile flooring that features throughout the design. The bottom right image is of the double height gallery space that features within the top rear section. Finally the bottom right image shows the bridges that connect the two blocks that make up the school and provide views down into the internal street feature of the scheme.

17 INTERNAL SPACES VISUALISATIONS

1:100 SHORT SECTION AND ELEVATION

NORTH ELEVATION WEST ELEVATION

18 SECTION AND ELEVATIONS

SHORT SECTION

19 FINAL MODEL

1:50 Final Model Facade View 1:50 Final Model Internal View

20

1:50 Final Model Spacial Section View

21 ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY SUMMER SECTION

WINTER SECTION 22

STRUCTURAL MODEL 23

STRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION

DETAIL (1:20)

5mm blue slate roof tile

Horizontal battens for roof tiles

vertical battens for roof tiles

Aliminium layer to repel water out from within roof structure

Damp Proof Coarse

280mm x 175mm Aluminium guttering

50mm Birchwood sill and window framing

120mm CLT wall bracing panel

300mm x 700mm primary Glulam beam

160mm Mycelium based insulation panel

50mm Cavity spacing

Precast concrete facade panel

Stone finish adhesive layer

40mm sandstone finish

1 6 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 4 5 6 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 7 8 9 10 CONSTRUCTION DETAIL 24

Roof to Wall Construction Detail

20mm Reclaimed brick tile floor

40mm Screed layer

12mm Underfloor heating pipes

20mm Mycelium based insulation panel

15mm OSB floor base layer

100mm x 300mm secondary Glulam beams

Acoustic ceiling hangers (reduce noise pollution from higher levels)

30mm Plasterboard finish

Aluminium finish to allow for rain run off

Triple glazed windows

20mm drip channel on stone finish

Breather membrane

Concrete slab foundation

Concrete pad foundation

15 19 21 20 22 17 16 18 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 28 27 26 25 24 28 27 26 25 24 23 25 Floor

to Wall Construction Detail

CONTENTS

Design Brief

Concept

Site Analysis

Design Development

Models

Plans

Section

Key Drawings and Models

Environmental Design

TOM HOWARTH WEATHER OR NOT: REDWOOD ARC

26

The weather or not project was a sustainability and climate research based building that would, in its basic programme, feature a laboratory space that would investigate an aspect of the climate crisis. The other space were created around the labratorys role. Within the umbrella topic of the climate crisis, the lab would study its effect on plant life, specifically the trees that had been imported to the site by the previous owner of the land.

Redwood Arc focusses on its effect on biodiversity and resource depletion to reduce its environmental impact. Through the careful consideration of materials and the functions of the building, the Arc works to support the landscape it resides in to produce a unity between the natural and artificial environments. The buildings aims is to use the research gathered about climate changes effect on the trees through tree core sampling, and pass this information to the general public who can experience this research on a more personal level and take a more active approach to the current climate crisis.

DESIGN BRIEF

27

Both the form and function of Redwood Arc was inspidered by the research into sustainable design strategies before ides where formed. the specific area of research I investigated was the use of biomaterials, specifically the combination of mycelium fungus with agricultural fibres to produce low energy insulation panels. This practise allowed for low emission and more natural and sustainable materiality for the building and would keep the carbon footprint of the project to a minimum.

Mycelium fungus, when grown naturally in woodland areas like those in the lake district, has an unique ability to allow the local trees to communicate with one another. This link grants the trees the power to warn the area of potential dangers and risks so they can adapt to the conditions. That communication link is a concept that is integrated into this design, with the laboratory acting as the fungus that relays its data to the rest of the site and its inhabitants, keeping them up to date with relevant developments that are a result of the climate crisis and the affect it will have and has already had on the surrounding trees and landscape.

CONCEPT

28

Site Images Of Ecology and Potential spaces

SITE ANALYSIS 29

30

31

Site Images Of Ecology and Potential spaces

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT: MODELS 32

1:200 PLANS 33

Site Images Of Ecology and Potential spaces Site Images Of Ecology and Potential spaces

1:200 SECTIONS 34

1:100 ELEVATION 35

36

VISUALISATION AND MODELS 37

38

ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY 1:50 SECTIONS 39

Site Images Of Ecology and Potential spaces Site Images Of Ecology and Potential spaces

STREETSCAPE:

CONTENTS TOM HOWARTH 40 Design Brief Concept Site Model Design Development Programme Material Precedent Site Model Structure Model Plans Section Axonometric Detail Mode 02-03 04-05 06-07 08-09 10-11 12-13 14-15 16-17 18-19 19-20 20-1 22-23 24-25

ROSCOE CANOPY

This project entailed exploring how the global pandemic has affected our streets and urban landscapes, and how they may need to be adapted to survive in a digital world. The lockdowns provided a reason for people to avoid the outdoors and almost created a fear or hesitance to venture back out into our towns and cities, which results in places such as Bold Street fighting to maintain their purpose and relevance in today’s society.

Timber as a material with its strength and its renewable nature makes it a perfect choice to be the primary element for the structure and the fabric of the proposal. Using the resource and exploring its form and properties to manipulate it into a range of styles allows for a durable building That is less damaging to the site. With a global shift towards adapting our current building practices and lifestyles to a more renewable method that is less harsh on our landscapes and our planet, timber allows for strong and beautiful structures to be built without the need for high production emissions and comes with a significantly smaller carbon footprint.

DESIGN BRIEF 41

Post Covid High Street

Ecology 42 Open spaces of Bold Street How People Meet

SIITE OBSERVATIONS | THE STREET 43

Site Images Of Ecology and Potential spaces Streescape Anaysis Drawing 1:500 and 3D Site plan

44

Laser cutting material layers

45 SITE MODEL | The Material Facade

Assembly

46 Local Site Analysis Drawing 1:50 99 ANDREW COLLINGE g r a d u a t e s

Kengo Kuma

Nest We Grow

MATERIAL PRECEDENTS 47

48 Structural Model 1:50

49

PHYSICAL SITE MODEL

Site Model 1:50

50

Site Model With Concept Within 1:50

51 STRUCTURAL MODEL

Structural Model 1:20

52 MASSING MODEL

Massing Model 1:200

53 PLANS Ground, 1st, Roof Plans 1:50

54 SECTION

Rendered Section 1:50

55 CONCEPT ART

Concept Sketch Using Procreate

56 ELEVATION

Rendered Elevation 1:50

57 AXONOMETRIC Structural Axonometric 1:50

Rendered Wall Details (Cafe And Theatre Hall)

1:20

58 DETAIL

59 Tom Howarth CITY DESIGN Design Brief Site Analysis Plans Sections Sketchup Model Model CONTENTS 21-22 23-24 25-26 27-28 29 30

The 5121AR module, city design introduced urban planning to us and made us, in groups of 3 produce an strategy to resolve an issue that arose during the site analysis of the fabric district of Liverpool.

Our strategy looked into providing a place at which people can come together and build a sense of community in the chosen site, London Road which runs parallel to the 2 TJ Hughes shopping malls.

The end result was a canopied street that was transformed into an area that celebrated the various cultures that call the fabric district home. The covered street provided services such as rest and seating points, display environments for arts and performances, and the main focal point being the street food vendors which would line the pedestrianised area

60 DESIGN BRIEF

Concept Art For Urban Strategy

61 SITE PHOTOS

Ecology Photographs of Liverpool Fabric District

Key Connections of Liverpool From Fabric District

62 SITE ANALYSIS

Historical Layout Change of Site (1850 - 2000)

63 PLANS Ground Floor Plan 1:50

64 Roof Plan 1:50

Rendered Section AA

65 SECTIONS

1:50

66 Rendered Section BB 1:50

SKETCHUP MODEL 67

Google Sketchup Rendered Concept Model

Massing Model 1:100

MODEL 68

BUILDING IN THE CITY TOM HOWARTH CONTENTS Design Brief Site Plan Precedent Analysis Plans Elevations Section Roof Plan Model 69 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 37 Retrofit Section 1:50

The infill and retrofit module introduced both the idea of renovating forgotten architecture and blending it with an infill strategy, as well as educating us in AutoCAD to produce smart and professional looking plans and sections.

The lack of site analysis was due to our chosen site being within our group project in the previous urban planning module, London Street of the fabric district. The retrofit building was situated at the rear of the smaller TJ Hughes building and was due to be demolished which made it a perfect choice.

Once Completed the newly proposed programme for the concept was a photography studio with multiple different sized studios that was fit for, based off my own choice, fashion photography. This was due to the fabric district providing that link around its material history

DESIGN BRIEF 70

71 SITE PLAN Site Plan With Ground Floor Plan Overlaid 1:50

72 PRECEDENT ANALYSIS

Lindower 22 Precedent Analysis of Existing Infill and Retrofit Project

73 PLANS

Floor Plans Basement Level to Roof Plan 1:50

74 ELEVATION

Floor Plans Basement Level to Roof Plan 1:50

75 SECTIONS Section

1:50

AA and BB

76 ROOF PLAN AND MODEL 1 2

Roof Plan 1:50 Massing Model of Retrofit (BLUE) and Infill (RED) Project 1:50 Infill and Retrofit Glazed Corridor Sketchup Model

77 TOM HOWARTH A PLACE FOR CRAFTING

Design Brief Craft Idealised Crafting Space Site Analysis Plans Sections Axonometric Perspective Section Wall Details Model 39 40 41 42-43 44 45 45 46 47 48

CONTENTS

The place for crafting project was the first large scale design project that we were introduced to, throughout the duration of the BA degree. It started with creating an axonometric of an idealised crafting space which would produce a crafted object within and then sell on, in my case, a wooden goose toy.

The project then progressed to be a design project to create a multi storey building within that liverpool that could both produce and sell the crafted object, as well as having an accomodation for the owner and producer.

The heart of my design with both the building and the crafted object itself was the playfulness and the imagination that children have when playing with these toys. And this building would help nurture that experience and that imagination that they have when stepping foot into this structure.