C PORTFOLIO
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The Art School Re-Imagined
Final Major Project [Transition]
Charlotte Bywaters BA Interior Architecture and Design University of Suffolk Year 6 [2016 - 2017] This portfolio is a summation of the work produced throughout the Design Studio 3 module as part of the Batchelor of Arts degree undertaken. Production consists of self generated theoretical, historical and archietctural research, along with critical decision decision making. Conceptual and technical knowledge has underpinned the design proposals at every stage of the process and final delivery. The first project spanned 8 weeks, acting as a refresher to the course and the seond was a self driven, proposed and individually conceived 14 weeks project.
Competent Skills Freehand Rendering Conceptual Design Approach Technical Drawing Presentation Delivery Research methods Mapping 3D modelling Software Skills Adobe Creative Suite Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator CS6 Autodesk AutoCAD 2016
charlotte.bywaters@outlook.com
Web linkedin.com/in/charlotte-bywaters/ issuu.com/charlottelouisebywaters
Microsoft Office Word, Powerpoint, Excel Google SketchUp
Arts School Re-Imagined Brief To redefine the architectural envelope that houses the programmes of the Arts and Humanities department at the University of Suffolk. Through reappropriation of the space the building should be better adapted to meet the 2020 vision set by the university. The project should take influence from precedents which are also schools of the creative subjects. Floor plans and sections were to be sourced independently. And research conducted must show awareness of all users of the building, all subjects and people [staff, students, cleaners and technicians]. “Art schools are important as centres of creativity. They are places where beliefs, practices and knowledge mingle.” – Rethinking the Contemporary Art School. Coogan, J “The government seems to think creativity is just something that is here and it’ll just happen, but without the ability to educate and nurture it will disappear” - Osgerby, Dezeen.com
Influences came from the site mapping on both a macro and micro level. Macro, saw the town of ipswich and transport connections, and micro traced the footfalls found in the Ipswich School of Art. As the mapping focussed primarily on organisms the movement was entirely organic, although similair patterns could be formed dependent on interests. This activity and the route people take to move information within a space is like the tasks carried within the human body by the nervous system. This more subjective approach to the mapping within a space then influenced the way in which I mapped the activity that took place within the University building. I found that after having spent a considerable amount of tiime per floor observering the movement and general positioning of people on the floor that there where ‘hubs’ of some sort. A spot on each floor taht shared a cmmon interest with staff and students across the department. These spots of high activity included; toilets, front stairwell, water tank, computer labs
My research sought further investigation of the biological processes that are carried our by our nervous system. The process involves electrical impulses that have a stimuli to initiate the response and effector muscles that have been effectively activated. The jump of the information between neurones across the synapse via electrical impulses impacted my intial design and the concequent layout I chose. I began by experimenting with quick renders and sketch models that Iphotographed.
Sectional renders that illustrate the movement of the central pivot full length doors that have increased access across the full span of the buildings frontage. These will also regulate the movement between the inside and outside more efficiently than the previous. The two singular doors at either end that were previously operational used to bottle-neck visitors and make access awkward. The new doors, teamed with the proposed interior doors midway into the foyer will allow the front space to be operational outside of university hours. This could provide more revenue for the university if it was to be used as a rentable space, ie exhibition or exercise classes.
Section AA Closed Doors SCALE 1:50
Section AA Open Doors SCALE 1:50
Plan of Mezzanine Level SCALE 1:100
Section BB SCALE 1:20
Plan of First Floor SCALE 1:200
Section CC SCALE 1:50
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Plan Second Floor SCALE 1:200
Hydraulic powered Bi-folding studio door SCALE 1:20
The appropriated operation of the individual studio spaces will be determined by the use of hydraulic pumps on either side of the bifolding panels. These can either be automated or manual operated by a member of staff. The mechanism will be connected to fire alarms and thus will override the automated hydraulic pumps, disbaling them and allowing for safe exit from the building. The application of such studio spaces has been informed by previous mapping of the the department and its correlating movement patterns. The design proposal will regulate movement within the building dependent on class periods and discourage or reduce the affect that interruptions may have on the learning of students.
Hydraulic facilitation detail SCALE 1:20
Movement is an active process and so is the many methods used to encourage students to learn wihtin the space. The studios will act as a sort of visualisation of the movement of knowledge across boundaries. From knowledge gained to knowledge shared in on eof the many open spaces. Students will act as the vehicles for transport of knowledge. Societies main priority should ben the encouragement of learning in all its forms for the younger generation. Therefore more care and consideration should be taken into the best way to facilitate this activity.
An interruption in the current envelope which mimics the exposed structure and services already prresent in the industrialised building. The regimented studio spaces will occupy the majority of the floor area with timed interruptions to allow for movement and circulation between the studios. The ability of the the alternate doors to fully open up allows for the central gangways to also be used for particular functions. This could be for bigger group discussions than those that can be hosted within the studio, or connecting opposite studios visually when sessions are not theory or lecture based, ie: design tutorials. The maximised flexibility that the studios bring to the space enable the department to be better equipped for the more creative subjects.
The materiality of the proposed studio pods allows for light to penetrate the entire way through the building without interruptions. It also allows for learning to continue to takeplace via visual communication as the previous visual barriers are no longer present and maintains a connection accross tthe subjects, students and staff.
Transition
[A hollistic approach to services provided for care leavers in suffolk] Brief The proposal of the Broomhill Lido, takes the site into a wider scope and proposes to excavate in the woodland park which resides to the North of the pool. The extension shall be respectful to the surrounding environment and consider the best approach to construct around the trees and the topographical nature of the woodland. In order to meet the holistic needs of the care leavers, the alternative activity centre shall host sports and other activities that actively engage and educate them physically, mentally and spiritually. The lido shall be reinstated following the massively positive response to the petition to reopen it. But in accordance to the original issue which closed it back in 2002, there will be a bigger cafĂŠ and multiple activites on offer which are not weather dependent and therefore more economically viable
The design is based around an iconic and historic peice of architecture that has been left to abandonment in the North West of Ipswich. It is significant for a number of reasons, which has not gone unnoticed, and after 12 years after having closed its gates in 2001 the lido is now set to be reinstated after the unrelenting efforts of the Broomhill Pool Trust.
The intial mapping of the site took influence form the most prominent feature during primary observations at Broomhill lido. The two residential roads that lead up to the site [Broomhill Road and Sherrington Road] both show a sharp incline from the base thatis adjacent ot the main road leading out of Ipswich [Norwich Road]. Mapping from then sought to take note of the multiple levels found on the site and the surrounding land to the pool. This took the form of morphing the forms and trying to depicts the contours of the land through various media, this included lego bricks, mountboard, laser ply and sugar lumps. As the site is currently locked up to passerby, my intial mapping took me aroud the circumference of the pool which is accessible via foot. From this I noticed the neighbouring park which backs onto the pool, right behind the main set of changing cubicles. From ventruing up into the area of land known as Broomhill park, you became very aware of its vertical postion in relation to the surrounding buildings and the rest of Ipswich.
The most prominent feature when inside the lido are the trees which line the rear of the changing rooms on the left hand side. So my initial mapping took influence from this to understand the amount of room they occupy aswell. My trees studies enabled me to note the spacing of the trees, the height and type of them. The area is not under conservation and nor are the trees that reside there, though two are waiting to be felled. My proposal will have to incorporate the addition of an extension to the lido, in order to make it economically viable all year round, which is what the current proposal has enlisted.
The extension planned will however be sympathetic to the landscape and not intrude on the exisiting features or the art deco style of the lido. In order to do this, unused negative space was a possibility through the utilisation of underground domes that are interconnecting. Although the spatial orientation underground would be determined through the negative spatial arrangement of the trees [roots].
I propose for the the space to be developed for a very crucial and at risk stakeholder, care leavaers. At the age of 18 when they must start to prepare for leving governmental care and enter into adulthood on their own. With over 800 young adults in risk of suffering from this abrupt transistion on their own in Suffolk. There are 12 care homes for these individals in Ipswich alone, therefore there will be a consistent user group within a close range. By providing them with opportunities that are not available to them outside of the facility. It will allow them to grow within the maternal organic structure, through gaining a broad range of experiences opening them up to the adult world in front of them within a safe environment. It is a space where people from a common background and share similar experiences can come together and motivate and enable each other to progress towards a positive future. By opening the facility to both care leavers and the general public, it will provide the stake holders with opportunities to make those intial jumps into forming realtinships at a time when they feel comfortable to do so. The faciltity is merely presenting them with many situations which are not forced but what can be possibly advantageous should they choose to ccept the challenge and start to break down those boundaries. Its there environment, their safety zone and on their terms, a gradual transition is started within the facility which can then be replicated and carried on in further future scenarios.
The final proposal for the site includes spaces that function in unison both above and below ground. In order to visually show the connection between the lido and the transition building, an above ground walkway shall be built that will allow visitors to transition between the two. The walkway itself shall be determined through the abundance of tree trunks. Minor redevelopment will take place in the lido, extension of the sun terrace and grandstand along with appropriate concrete construction of the changing rooms. This will create a unison that was not previously present on site.
Master Plan [Transition and connection] Scale 1:500
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1.Entrance and permanent exhibtion 2. Access turnstiles 3. Equipment rental 4. Changing cubicles 5. Toilets 6. Turnstiles for lido access 7. Stairs to lido wet change and lockers 8.Skatepark facility 9. Access [Indoor climbing] 10. Access [Transition Main]
Floor 0 Plan Part 1 [Domes] Scale 1:200
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1. Access [Skatepark, Lido and Exit] 2. Services 3. Toilets 4. Dining area 5. Stair access [Floor 1 + Floor 2] 6. Reinforced concrete column 7. Concrete Beam 8. Structural glulam balustrade 9. Kitchen 10. Access [Delivery, rubish, fire exit] 11. Sun tunnel 12. Dry store 13. Walk in fridge freezer 14. Technology Workshop 15. Laundry 16. Access [Lift]
Floor 0 Plan Part 2 [Main building and Climbing wall] Scale 1:200
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1. Basketball court 2. Outdoor gym quipment area 3. Changing cubicales male + toilets 4. Communal workspace 5. Disabled toilet 6. Changing cubicles female + toilets 7. Rentable office space 8. Living area 9. Llift access [Floor 0 + Floor 2] 10. Reading area 11. Fire exit
Floor 1 Plan [Main Building and Climbing Wall] Scale 1:200
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1. Connecting overground walkway access [Lido] 2. Motivational talks area [open access] 3. One on one councilling booths 4. Storage area 5. Walk-on roof lights 6. Fire exit 7. Access lift [Floor 1 + Floor 0] 8. Yoga Space 9. Window 10. Changing cubicles multisex + toilets
Floor 1 Plan [Main building and climbing wall] Scale 1:200
[Over ground walkway lido access]
[Floor 2] Yoga space Changing cubicles + lockers Motivational talks area One on one councilling Access to Lido walkover connection 2 Fire exits
[Floor 1] Communal work space Living area Reading and contemplation space Rentable singular office spaces Changing cubicles + lockers Basketball [Floor 0 Domes] Entrance Changing cubicles +lockers Access to Lido Equiment rent facility Skatepark
[Floor 0] Laundry Kitchen Dining Services Technology workshop
The interior aesthetics of the Transition space is primarily based around materials and textures which improve the amount of light which enters the space. Seen as the majority of the square meterage of the building is subterranean in its positoning, light was the main consideration when designing the interior. Therefore sun tunnels were implemented into the structure along the foundation wall. These are angled in order to efficiently manifest enough light rays throughout the day. The spatial arrangement of the sun tunnels are also dictated by the theoretical volume of the trees roots. A coating of silexine will be applied to the reinforced concrete walls to lighten the colour of the screed and subtly tie in with the existing appearance of the Art Deco lido. Other interior furnishings will include materials that are wood based, ie plywood tables and bar stands; and mock copper for objects such as locker fronts and chairs/ bar stools.
Spaces in the main building are orientated around a central atrium space which is unique to the two levels. The movement between the two levels is crucial to the design and conccept as this transition from negative to positive space and the debate between the two has also been influenced from the psychoanalytical approach taken towards to stakeholders. This has taken on research and theories by Erik Erikson who states that people go through different stages in their lives, each is seen as a potantial crisis from the heightened vulnerability they suffer from. And in order to transition easily between the stages and attain positive side to each crisis will form a positive behaviour. The crisis stage the Care leavers will be entering into will be the ‘Intimacy vs Isolation’ stage in young adulthood. And at this stage it is crucial for people to embrace the social aspects of life and learn how to adapt and form relationships. It is well documented that care leavers tend to become isolaed and excluded from most social groups becausee of tehir unusual upbringing and thus their independent tendancies to remain in the comfort zone. The proposed space will attempt to embrace the crisis and encourage them toaim towards the positive in this vertical debate. Thus movement has influenced the design massively, therefore to orient the space it will be a physical process and one you will be concious of, it will be providing numerous viewws and many opportunites to embrace the social aspect of living and give possibel encounter points shoud they wish to accept.
The system is designed to grow with the users. So in effect it will take months until it is fully operational. It is expected that the development will grow in popularity over time in accordance with the trust formed in the relationship between the service providers and the care leavers. The intimacy aspect the site aims to support will form along with consistent user and the number of users accessing the site. By providing them with opportunities that are not available to them outside of the facility. It will allow them to grow within the maternal organic structure, through gaining a broad range of experiences opening them up to the adult world in front of them within a safe environment.
It is a space where people from a common background and share similar experiences can come together and motivate and enable each other to progress towards a positive future. By opening the facility to both care leavers and the general public, it will provide the stake holders with opportunities to make those initial jumps into forming relationships at a time when they feel comfortable to do so. The facility is merely presenting them with many situations which are not forced but what can be possibly advantageous should they choose to accept the challenge and start to break down those boundaries.