MICRO STUDIO / CASTLEFIELD BASIN INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE / YEAR ONE RACHEL CHADWICK
Specific location;
Location The chosen site is the Canal Basin loacted in the Castlefield area of Manchester, Uk. Castlefield is a conservation area, A historical site, being the worlds' first industrial canal. I've chosen the canal basin as the site, within this area there are 3 specific locations i have outlined. This site has been chosen for the peacefulness of the location. Existing uses In terms of land use the area remains fairly open, with multiple pedestrian and cycle routes. On observation, because of the open space, pedestrians don't stick to a particular footpath route, instead walking all over the space. The river irwell and river medlock both flow into the bridgewater canal, the canal being the prodominent water channel at the site. The canal is used by barges, this water use needs to be taken into consideration during the design process, as the canal route cannot be obstructed. User requirements The Micro-studio must be designed with the user in mind. It will be used for art, so features such as an easle should be incorpriated into the design. It should also onset feelings of calmeness to the user, this could be through observing light intensity into the space, the relationship between nature and the studio, and the interior to exterior views - the canal coloud be used as a focal point, so, the position of winodws can draw focus towards the water.
Photos Of Site / Site Three / Castlefield Basin
Location one;(yellow) Canal mooring end section Width; 6.593 length; 30m Location two;(red) Under bridge arc Width (from heighest ground level) ; 9.174M Height (of arc); 8.381M height (left wall) 6.167M Height (Right wall) 6.658M Ground level slope; 0.491M Location three; (green) Section of canal under railline bridge Width (land, across canal, to bridge support); 23.350M Height (Ground level, to under bridge); 15.374M Map of locations;
Micro Studio / Site analysis
Chosen site; Post preliminary designs for the above three sites, the final design will be positioned in locatiopn 2.
Left. Loaction one, shown by the yellow icon on the map of locations. As the photo describes, the location has a view directly down the canal of the basin. On the left of the photo the social events space, as the site is currnet ly used for is visible.
Left. Location Two, (red icon of map). The bridge the locstion re fers to is the central bridge of the three partially visible in the photograph.This location shares similar views to the location one, as it is the end point of the ca nal visible to the previous loca tion.
Left, presents a wide view of the area, the location is un der the arch of the central bridge.
Shown right and below are im ages of location three. Several angles of the location are pre sented to better describe the chosen site.
Right, is a closer view of the bridge. Elements of the bridge are more visible in this photograph, such as the vertical wall and slope of Pedestrians are seen under the bridge, presenting an observation to wards how the area is used.
Micro Studio / Preliminary Designs / Design One
Micro Stuio / Precedent studies Conceptual deisgn from Precht Architectural Studios. Originally deisgned to be a tiny house, modular spaces are incorpriated, connecting to the core structure to enable additional space to suit the occupant. The design limits imposition to the surrounding by possessing a minimal footprint. Externally, wooden shingles of varying shades of natural wood, and shaped to replicate leaves, have been utilised. This material blends into the surroundings of the proposed forest location.
Overview of elements of the precedent to include into preď€ liminary designs; - little disruption to surrounding - materials blend into surroundings
Design shares similarities, in form, to the nest egg of a spider. This inspires exploration of insect habitats/ organic shapes to be involved in preliminary designs. The entrance is via a pivotting glass door, incorpriating an element of interaction between the user and architecture.
Overview of elements of the precedent to include into preď€ liminary designs; - Organic shape mimics nature - pivot door
incorportaion of stilts in the design elevates the space to view the surroundings in an otehriwse un-reachable way. this feature also enables the deisgn to be less intrusive on the surroundings, because the ground beneath is left relatively unidistrubed.
Overview of elements of the precedent to include into preď€ liminary designs; - Minimal imposition to environment - elevation (stilts)
Design Requirements; - Must be 12-15 m2 - Designs should observe path of light into design - Design could respond to water level change - Structure should pose little imposition on surroundings - Materials should compliment enviornment, material could blend in to surroundings throiugh use of materials with similar qualities - Design could be an organic shape - Could incorpriate a pivoting door Investigation into organic forms; Taking inspiration from precedent study two, of which shares similarities in form to an insects nest. This lead to investigating other organic forms in nature. (Left, Top) Image of a spiders nest. One element to incorpriate would be how the nest stretches across, attaching to the surrounding environment for support. This would suit the site of location 2 and 3 because the design could be suspeneded under the bridge. (Right) Image of a wasps nest. The geometry of this design creates asthetical interest. This pattern could be replicated into preliminary designs, secondary use could be created here, by positioning windows or translusant material inside the shapes, allowing light to pass into the studio space.
User Requirements; - Should aid artistic use - this could incorpriate; an easle, art material storage - Could be used for listening to music - Must be light - Should have a seating area
Micro Studio / Preliminary Designs / Design Two
MICRO STUDIO / PRELIMINARY DESIGNS / DESIGN ONE
The design is positioned in the top arc section of the bridge. This lead to resrach into anthropometrics, because the height is reduced in some points of the design. The findings here being the average height of a female is 1.66m - below the ceiling height of the design at roughly 2m.
This design would suit location one. the shape would be able to float on or suspend above the water. above sketch illustrates this.
(Left) sketches of initial idea - Window has been positioned to allow light to flood the space - is also able to fold down, creating an external space. Design process revealed the design would have limited width due to m2 requirement of max 15m2. (right) illustrates a solution to this by changing the geometry of the floorplan, from rectangle to triangle.
Select hexagons on the right wall are windows with the remaing being closed. The door is within these external hexagons. The hexagonal exterior of the design mimics the form of the wasps nest, explored thorugh the investigationinto organic froms.
Internally the bottom sketch presents the interior of the left wall. Seating is incorpriated above ground level, with a central gap to provide space for an easle, the easles' legs fit within the depth of the seating to be less intruding on the floor space infront. A large hexagonal window is showcased behind the easle, making a feature of the wall, whilst allowing for external views and a source of natural light.
MICRO STUDIO / PRELIMINARY DESIGNS / DESIGN THREE
MICRO STUDIO / PRELIMINARY DESIGNS / DESIGN Three
Investigation into the history of Location; Castlefield is the first recordeded settlement of Manchester. The area holds a significant industrial and railway history, being the location of termination for the worlds first passenger railway, in 1830. In 1831, the first railway wearehouse opened.
Externally, the structure uses hydraulic lift system to seperate specification. by moving vertical position. The studio is then less impactful on the space below. The location has pedestrian access, with the ability for the studio to be raised, people are able to walk underneath the studio. In addition, the rollers link to train track, in connection to the sites history.
height - 4m length - 6m Width - 2m
Internally, the design uses built in features, by incorpriating the furniture into the main wall. The angled window allows natural light to flood the space. there's an easle attached to the right window, this can be adjusted to be used or attached vertically - covering over the window to allow privacy and reduced light when the bed is in use.
Design would be best suited for location three. The vertical back wall of the studio is parrallel to the wall of the bridge. The studio is positioned above 3m from gound level, this allows canal barges to travel underneath the studio on the canal without being obstructed. The design is of a prisim shape, thus internally the left side has reduced head room - this creates usuablity for seating and storage. whilst the right side remians open for travelling throughthe space.
Constructed to scale 1:50
Micro Stuio / Design Debeloped
Design three has been chosen as the final design to poceed the design process with. Developments to this design have been made. These changes are described below, (bottom left text). The preliminary design has been chosen to move forward with becuase of the space created by the angles. In terms of the light created, privacy and open space. Sketch, left. Developed plan design, changes include an additional window on the far side, CAD drawing of this window is shown (right of sketch). The entrance has been inverted, the angles of this triangular porch have been designed for privacy and protection from weather prior to entering the space. Models (left) constructed to scale 1:50.
MICRO STUDIO / DESIGN / Detailed Elemets
Hydraulic lift system. The main studio structure bolts onto the central section, of which extrudes 200mm from the interlocking holders. This is moverable, to adjust the height of the structure.
Diagram explains window, through front elevation of closed window and perspective view of closed and open. The top section is glass, allowing natural light to enter the space from above. The lower section is clad for privacy, as from an external perspective the internal space is not visible.
Micro Studio / Elevations
Micro Studio / Elevations Section elevation of the striucture shown stylised below, thorugh use of photoshop. The bridge visible beyond the bridge of locaď€ tion three is illustrated in the background. The wall of the location bridge is included on the left of the section sketch.
Two point and axonometric perspective view elevations are illustrated, right.
Right elevation Perspective view
Section View
Axonometric view
Section View
Plan view
Photoshop of section view