Tehmina Janjua Interior Design BA (Hons) Studio 2 Joie De Vivre
Introduction
Brief:
The location is situated in the Eastend of London , in the Spitalfields area.
City of London & London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
To design a market stall for the Petticoat Lane, a shop within the Undercroft of the Middlesex street Estate and a new way of living within the flats of the Estate and podium level.
Middlesex Street Estate is surrounded by densely built street networks,the City with its starchitecture and the east end with rows of shops and markets.
Petticoat Lane market was started primarily in medieval times. It is one of the oldest and most famous markets in London and the Eastend. It was better known for selling clothes and textiles. However its Sunday market always had a full range of stalls but now the market sells bargain products. The market is known as now a “shadow “ of itself. 2
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Photographs taken of textures and patterns upon Middlesex Street near Middlesex Street Estate. There was a variety of concrete, brick and steel. These images were transferred into an Autocad fie and rastured by a laser machine onto finn board. These textures will be explored later through the new materials within the shop and the flat briefs. I felt it was so important to bring in something from the area and the Estate as a mark of respect showing the character and heritage of Middlesex Street. 4
Gary:market tradesman I met Gary, a trader of coats and Jackets. He said his competition was online shopping and that tourists would ask about Spitalfields market instead. He said the market was a former shadow of its self and that the new traders don’t really know what there doing. I asked him what would happen to the traders If the market was no more. He said sadly that they would be on the doll and would find it hard to find a job somewhere else.
Podcast interviews : Primary Investigation
Henry Jones: Henry Jones has a long history within the area. His family moved from Wales to be diary farmers in Stepney. The family set up a dairy and grocery business within the retail units in Middlesex Street Estate and traded n the Petticoat Lane market. He talked about the building and also told us that Petticoat Lane market used to be bigger and busier in the past and extended to Bishopgate. The market was diverse with many other markets setting up on the fringes such as the Gold market in Goulston Street.
Jason , the labour councillor: Mr. Kingsley: Mr. Kingsley has lived on Middlesex Street estate for 25 years plus. He use to be a trader in the Petticoat Lane market. He says the market is not what it use to be and said the present traders just play by there own rules and don't have a business acumen for the market. He also talked about a lack of community within the estate and that a community space on the podium was taken away from them by the local council to provide more housing . He said the community spirit is very important
Jason who use to live on the estate in 2008 with his young family became a labour councillor for Portsoken, one of his roles is to represent Middlesex Street Estate. He found the podium space a safe place for his children to play in. He introduced a neighbourhood watch to the Estate communicated through WhatsAPP. He said that he tried to create more community spirit and planned many get togethers. Sometimes the community would just not join in as notice boards were full of leaflets and therefore difficult to see the events that had been laid on for them. He also said there weren't enough green spaces in the area and the new Aldgate square gave a lovey sense of community. 5
THE ESTATE Middlesex Street Estate is a Brutalist building , constructed with reinforced concrete .Made in 1965-70 by the City of London corporation. It compromises of the Petticoat Tower of 23 storeys and has low rise buildings along Petticoat square. It is situated in Portsoken ward of London.
BRUTALISM
THE BIG IDEA
British architects in the 1950s looked not to the USA but to the famous French architect Le Corbusier, who favoured raw concrete called beton brut. This is where the word Brutalism was coined and became the name of this modern movement. The architectural style divided the people. Architects often hailed these new forms as strikingly modern, but more traditionally minded citizens tended to see them as bleak and impersonal. Increasingly, high-rise became associated with crime and a lack of community - from "streets in the sky" to "slums in the sky". Tower blocks gained an image problem that never completely went away.
The envisioning idea at the time was for the estate to have shops already apart of the building for the people who live there so they wouldn’t have to leave the estate , it proposed a new way of living and was quite unique for its time. Sadly , this was discontinued as the shop keepers found it hard to look after the shops on both sides and that they couldn’t keep up with the high rent.
Grey block pathway paving
Intricate pattern made into the balcony wall i.e letter box slots shapes Pavement Glass window square lighting
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The podium was once open to anyone to enjoy. But due to antisocial behaviour and littering , it was made private and only residents of the Estate could use it.
No. 83 Middlesex Street Estate retail unit
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Dark grey bricking with light yellow mortar.
PODIUM
Floor plan of existing Boca shop PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
BBC ARTICLE , Author: Tom De Castella , 2020
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Existing Spatial Adjacencies: Sixth floors
Brutalist Precedence: Barbican Estate:
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
The Barbican Estate is a residential estate that was built during the 1960s and the 1980s within the City of London in Central London, in an area once devastated by World War II. It is not social housing it is privately designed and built for City professionals and their families, 4000 people. It is considered a landmark of its time.
Elevation: Middlesex Street PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Elevation: Looking at the Podium Staircase PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
Golden Lane Estate:
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
North of the Barbican the Golden Lane estate was built in the 1950’s in the city of London. The 1950s council housing complex in the City of London. Again a solution was needed to home several people after the blitz to re-build the City of London. Compared to other council housing of the era, here were more importance given to single people and couples rather than families with children .
Cross-Section Middlesex Street Estate. Showing Podium, flats and retail units and Podium Staircase situated on the Middlesex Street PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION
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Research development of ‘Big Idea’
Green spaces in the city as seen in the map of the area. Biophilic characteristics to work with:
Therefore I am going to use a biophilic approach to rewild the area and building to bring joy and well-being to people living in the area and for who ever visits. No garden centre nearby , people are getting their seeds from supermarkets.
Light Air
Fire
Natural landscapes
Water
Weather
Plants
Trend is back to decorate balconies and have house plants.
Encouragement of animals
Allotments introduced by the Huguenot immigrant. Bishopgate archives photo , children with their allotments.
Improptu guerilla gardening in the area.
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Bespoke Marquetry Tiles: Info-graphic information turned into marquetry tiles especially made for the retail space. 1. Demographics in Tower hamlet. 2. Demographics in City of London. 3. High rate of unemployment in the area of Tower hamlet. 4. Races that live on the Estate. 5. Variety of religions people identify with. 6.There are more males then females in the Estate.
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Inspirational picture of criss-cross wooden slates on market stalls, 1930’s.
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Precedent: The High line is a public park built on a disused historic freight line bridge , above the streets of Manhattan, New york.
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NEW ADAPTED BRIEF The project sets out to promote green and rewilding ideas that would be adopted and practiced within the shop and the undercroft of Middlesex Street Estate. The project aims to use sustainable non-toxic materials, inside and outside within the environment of the Estate. Through this project it will communicate ‘green’ thinking ideas for the community to enjoy. The local neighbourhood doesn’t have a lot of
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green spaces and the area is dense with urbanisation therefore with these elements of green we hope for the people of the area to reconnect with the space , nature and wildlife within. Using the Market stall , the shop and the flat, the project reveals 3 aspects of how it can bring nature back to life and bring the residents closer to the community.
The ‘ Big Idea ‘ collage called ‘Flower Power ‘ shows the plants with revival of Eastend characters. The idea of re-wilding the area of the Eastend with beautiful plants. A place where there are have events for the community to come together and socialise with one another in a biophilic environment. Therefore my big idea for the retail unit is for it to be a plant shop / garden centre.
THE MARKET STALL BRIEF The brief asks to design a new market stall for Petticoat Lane and a retail unit within the Undercroft of Middlesex Street Estate. The retail Unit should have a connection to the stall and help to store the stall in the evenings too.
The market stall is constructed out of natural materials that are very sturdy in weather conditions and scratch resistant. I took inspiration from old photos of the market stalls in the 1930’s. The market stall would be transported back to the retail unit when it is not in use. It could hang many house plants approximately 30-40 plants. Plants could be replenished constantly through the stock within the retail unit.
Organoid
Richlite
Perspective & plan drawing
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The ‘Big Idea’ retail : Plant Shop Brief : To encourage the rein of plants , rewilding the area of the retail unit with biophilic features and using sustainable and natural materials for the furnishing of the retail shop. Community
Floorplan
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Sections
New proposed Front shop with integrated moss , new timber bi-fold doors and plants on display outside.
Community space with rattan furniture , biophilic lighting and biophilic wall in bathroom.
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Monolith concrete moss pillars The brief asked for something to be designed for the undercroft. These monoliths are used for way-finding , placed nearby the retail shop. They light up at night time to deter anti-social behaviour in the area.
Rasters apart of kitchen cabinetry. These designs were rastered on the laser. They will be developed into embossed or marquetry ideas for the bespoke furniture in the shop. This design is aiming to bring the outside in, to show that the environment is respected and considered in all the decision making.
Mesh shelving holding up green house plants.
Natural wool acoustic panelling. Section : Community space with small kitchen
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Biophilic lights to create a warm atmosphere
Concrete with mixed sunflower and poppy seeds for walls for the context of the plant retail unit.
The Chair
With the concept of re-wilding the area I was inspired to see what would happen to a old chair If I germinated some flowers and some herbs within it. I want it to grow wild and completely take over the chair. I could speculate and say that this art installation can be a metaphor for what would happen If humans didn’t look after man made items and how mother nature at any opportunity would run wild.
Beton Brut I had the chance to experiment with concrete. The seed within the concrete sample is going to be used in the plant shop . I believe it would go great with the context of the big idea for the retail unit being a plant shop.
The moss in the concrete sample to is something I would like to use for the exterior of the building as I believe it is visually impactful and goes with ‘green thinking’ and my concept.
Concrete with seeds:
Concrete with salt crystals
Process :
Process:
4 cups of ready made concrete quarter of water Heap of seeds as aggregate
4 to 5 cups of ready made concrete quarter of water heap of salt crystals as aggregate
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‘New way of living’ Studio flat
Client Profile
ECO WARRIOR PRINCESS Jennifer is a local Eastender from the estate. She lives and works as a receptionist in the city. A profuse blogger , conservationist and activist of healthy vegan eating and a ethical fashionista.
Floorplan Sections
Fresh herbs growing
Sustainable terazzo
Biophilic wall endorsing toiletries
Wooden bathtub Linen
Bamboo slots and cabinetry Brief: ‘New way of living’ , what is the future for habitation what are the current topics we are dealing with. How can people live a more sustainable and greener way of living.
Cork kitchen tiles 16
Recycled brass tap
Rattan furniture and lighting
Bamboo wardrobe and plant husk
New way of living Studio flat
Guerilla den
Gardening workshop
Vegetarian kitchen
Herbalist
Staffroom
Laboratory conditions for growing vegetation.
Vertical growing of plants in the car-park.
Paying area of plant shop.
The green living section shows interconnected areas to do with living a healthier and sustainable way. It shows the ‘ new way of living ‘ flat , a guerilla gardening den , pruning workshop , a vegetarian’s kitchen , a herbalist , the staffroom of the plant shop , laboratory in the underground car park , the plant shop counter area and lastly urban farming indoors.
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