THE LAPISQUE PROJECT CHARLOTTE M PORTFOLIO : COMPREHENSIVE DESIGN 2 COVENTRY UNIVERSITY, UNITED KINGDOM 2020
Introduction | DESIGN BRIEF
The Lapisque project is a mixed-use residential building designed for a community of young professionals. As this community grows, it will in turn be a support to the surrounding local businesses. The collage on the right represents a day in the life of this client group. In a co-living style environment, neighbours enjoy views of greenery, talk with one another, and make connections in an urban yet inviting atmosphere. Inspired by ‘The big concludes: neighbourhood as the expansion of the home’ by Peter Buchanan, this project intends to enhance the daily interactions of residents through the program layout and function. This is achieved by designing spaces that allow for gathering and incidental interactions. So that over time, people with similar habits, interests and routines, cross paths with each other, allowing long lasting neighbourhood connections to develop organically.
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Introduction | SITE LOCATION
The site area is located within the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham (United Kingdom), an area of industrial heritage dating back to the 18th Century. Site research showed that a number of buildings within the Jewellery Quarter were built out of sandstone. Historically, this was a popular construction technique as sandstone quarries were common in the Midlands area.
The main existing building on the site is an abandoned car showroom. As a corner block, this site has the potential to become a landmark on the edge of the Jewellery Quarter and act as a gate way or beacon for the local area.
EXISTING SITE STUDY -
Further back in history, in medieval times, there was formerly a sandstone quarry on the chosen site itself. The adjacent street named ‘sandpits’ is an apparent reference to this. This history formed the basis of the concept for the building’s exterior and form. Ideas related to rocks, stones, fragmentation, clusters, angles and edges were explored, as a reference to the work with stones that have taken place throughout history of the Jewellery Quarter.
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- LOCALITY MAP
Design Response | THE LAPISQUE PROJECT Existing site features: The ground floor maintains its connection to the street by following the existing site shape. The majority of the project will incorporate the existing structures and extend into the existing car park. Public Space: The ground floor consists of a café, community hub and artist’s studio. These are multipurpose spaces for the wider community to use for workshops and exhibitions. Residential: The development will provide housing for 108 residents, with private access from the main lobby entrance on Camden Street. The first floor will be the hive of living activities with a south facing rooftop garden and multiple lobby areas to encourage gathering. The upper levels of micro-apartments are smaller in floor area, as the residents are encouraged to spend much of their time in the shared spaces, interacting with each other. Exterior: The materiality intends to complement the surrounding neighbourhood and is also influenced by the concept of fragmented rocks.
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Ground level and rooftop landscaping aims to re-vegetate the site and provide residents with outdoor space.
‘Lapisque angularis’ Latin meaning ‘cornerstone’
Approach and Strategies | PROPOSED SITE RESPONSE ANALYSIS
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SOLAR ORIENTATION Proposal aims to take advantage of south facing aspect to capture daylight and thermal energy.
ECOLOGY Through green roofs and green walls, the proposal aims to re-vegetate the site and improve the ecology of the neighbourhood.
PREDOMINANT VIEWS Surrounding buildings dominate the landscape, so the proposal aims to provide a visually dynamic view to pedestrians and surrounding neighbours.
NOISE Noise from the main roads is constant, so residential areas are set back from the street and rooftop gardens and balconies act as buffers.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT ACCESS Public transport is highly accessible by foot, so the proposal minimises vehicle parking areas and access, in favour of pedestrian street access.
VEHICLE ACCESS The existing vehicle access on the site remains and the proposed ‘share car’ access is aligned with this.
Approach and Strategies | SPACE PLANNING
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Ground floor sketch diagram (a) : Access to public and commercial activities and spaces.
First floor sketch diagram (a) : Multiple connections between shared activity areas.
First floor sketch diagram (b) : Central access spine between shared areas
Apartment layout sketch diagram (a) : Pinwheel corridor access to living spaces. Open entry space for multiple dwellings.
Apartment layout sketch diagram (b) : Living spaces oriented toward outdoor balcony, to maximise access to daylight.
Apartment layout sketch diagram (c) : Minimal separation between public and private spaces.
Design Response | PROPOSED GROUND FLOOR PLAN 1:200 @ A3
LEGEND Main lobby with stair and lift access Public spaces accessible from street and main lobby Shared facilities including garage for bicycle and electric car storage Building management and mechanical services room Fire escape stair core with exit to street level
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Design Response | FIRST FLOOR PLAN 1:200 @ A3
LEGEND Main lobby with stair and lift access Shared spaces for residents recreational use and living Shared facilities including laundry area and bathrooms Shared dining hall space overlooking rooftop food garden Fire escape stair core with exit to street level
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Design Response | PROPOSED ‘TYPICAL’ UPPER FLOOR PLAN 1:200 @ A3
LEGEND Main lobby with stair and lift access One bedroom apartment with kitchenette (2 per floor) Two bedroom apartment with kitchenette (2 per floor) Three bedroom apartment with kitchenette (2 per floor) South facing balconies provide private outdoor space Fire escape stair core with exit to street level
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Design Response | THE LAPISQUE PROJECT
SOUTH ELEVATION 1:200 @A3
PROPOSED SECTION 1:200 @ A3 10
NORTH ELEVATION 1:200 @A3s
Design Response | ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY
ECOLOGY Second floor and rooftop garden terraces aim to increase plant and animal life on the site.
RAINWATER Roof space maximised to collect rainwater, to discharge into rainwater tanks for garden maintenance.
ENERGY Solar panels to collect energy to offset electricity usage of shared spaces.
THERMAL MASS Residential floors are oriented south facing to maximise daylight and exposure of floor mass to sunlight and thermal energy absorption.
DAYLIGHT Curtain wall glazing to central atrium and shared spaces intends to maximise daylight on each floor, therefore minimising usage of artificial lighting.
VENTILATION Central atrium and lobby spaces allow for natural ventilation and heat to rise and escape through the voids.
PROPOSED SECTION 1:200 @ A3
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Design Response | CONSTRUCTION DETAIL 1:20 @ A2
Green Roof Over
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Balcony with CLT panel as balustrade
Angular CLT structure with south facing openings and metal roofing
Suspended ceiling to conceal services between apartments
CLT panels act as finished ceiling in lobby areas
Fire stair within concrete core walls
Design Response | 3D PERSPECTIVES
LEVEL ONE LOUNGE
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LEVEL TWO ROOFTOP GARDEN
APARTMENT INTERIOR
APPENDIX | THE LAPISQUE PROJECT
Approach and Strategies | DESIGN ITERATIONS
The smaller squares represent scaled area of apartments
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2D massing of initial overall floor plan coverage and resulting form
Massing model of initial form based concept inspiration of fragmentation
Massing model of initial form showing site surrounds and solar orientation
Approach and Strategies - DESIGN ITERATIONS
Sketch perspectives of form and connecting bridge spaces, based on initial massing models and space arrangements
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Appendix | PRECEDENT STUDIES Caroline Street Units BPN Architects, Birmingham
The Yellow Diamond, JMA, Usangdong, S.Korea
SKETCH ANALYSIS: New & Old Retaining existing buildings and adding new works where needed or apace for specific function is required. This is a sustainable approach to building, uses and retaining existing materials.
SKETCH ANALYSIS: Rocks & Stones Interpretation Angled panels of glass provide a dynamic facade. Intended to represent the facets of a gem stone and indicative of the creative area district and the artists that use the building.
The Collective Old Oak, PLP Architecture, London
Barrett’s Grove Amin Taha, London
SKETCH ANALYSIS: Vertical Community Shared co-living spaces with public space gradually transitioning to private spaces moving vertically. Area dedicated to shared spaces is greater than private space.
IMAGE ANALYSIS: CLT Construction Low rise apartment building is constructed of cross-laminated timber (CLT) from floor to ceiling. Utilising the raw finish of the timber as the interior finishes, significantly reduced the use of plasterboard and other non-recyclable materials.
Moriyama House SANAA, Sejima, Tokyo
Dollis Valley Alison Brooks, London
SKETCH ANALYSIS: Modular Blocks ‘De-constructed’ spaces are at different scales, some spaces are shared and some private, yet visually are not distinct. Garden spaces act as multiple corridors for access and entry. 17
SKETCH ANALYSIS: Views & Green Space Residents visual access to gardens and encourages outdoor activities on ground. Courtyard typology focuses on providing central open space for enjoyment and gathering.
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