BLURRED BOUNDARIES A thesis exploring the concept of ‘non-space’ THE PROCESS Chiquita Hart
CONTENTS
PART I The ‘non-phase’ 03 The ‘non-place’ 05 The canopy 06 Taxonomy 07 Taxonomy analysis 09
PART II Spatial diagrams 12 Functional arrangements 13 Form developing 14 Diagrammatic sections 15 Form refinement with precedents 17 Sunlight analysis 18 Node technical detail 21 Plans: resolution 23 Analytical building diagrams 25
I.
CONCEPT
The Arts Programme
?
An arts programme directed towards supporting young adult males in the BAME community
A
YOUNG ADULTS
B
In a young adults life, there is a period of transition before they enter adulthood. This period is often confusing, the boundaries between childhood and adulthood are blurred. So what do we call this blurry phase between A and B?
Les Rites de Passage A. Preliminaire B. Liminaire C. Postliminaire
ARNOLD VAN GENNEP
A
B
C
LES RITES DE PASSAGE
1909
Arnold Van Gennep speaks of this transitional period in his 1909 book, Les Rites de Passage which discusses three key rites of passage in ones life from birth to Death
Separation
The philosophical approach helps us understand that the Liminal phase is one of which these young adults are going through. One where they are not quite adults and not quite children
Incorporation
LIMINAL EXPERIENCES INCLUDE...
Transition
Movement, passage, from one state to another
Abstraction
Being seperated or taken from something
Aggregation
A part of an overall whole collection
Seperation
Dissasociation
State of withdrawal from a previous association
Point of parting
Layering
Blurring
Confusing, obscuring and indistinctiveness
Dissolution
Dispersion from an organization of components
Overlapping elements
Integration
Being combined with something to form a whole component
P. 03
SUBHA MUKHE
RJI
What is liminal is situated at a sensory threshold, something barely perceptible; poised between the explicit and the implicit, between external and interal, and by extension, between familiar and alien.
THINKIN G ON THRES HOLDS
Writer, Subha Mukherji offers an architectural analysis of Van Genneps, Rites de Passage by discussing how a transitional space can be implied, through the use of doors, opens and other thresholds
EXPLICIT
EXTERNAL
FAMILIAR
?
?
?
IMPLICIT
INTERNAL
ALIEN
She describes the liminal phase as one that is blurred between explicit and implicit...
as one that is blurred between external and internal...
as one that is blurred familiar and alien.
?
?
?
Mukherji’s analysis allows us to start realising this blurry space that exists. How one feels as they enter a space which is not defined, and could perhaps never be defines, but can be orchestrated through the use of architecture.
EXPLICIT
IMPLICIT
EXTERNAL
INTERNAL
FAMILIAR
ALIEN
P. 05
...
Jean Nouvel’s use of a shell which envelopes the buildings below inspired the idea of using the ‘shell’ as a form of blurring, essentially creating this non place.
The analysis of the Louvre in Abu Dhabi resulted in a parti diagram of the building which illustrates this idea of the ‘blurring’ structure which could flow through the viaduct. In order to further develop the concept of non-place, the spaces must be analysed and defined with ways in which this ‘blurring’ can be done. For this reason a taxonomy is created and therefore applied to the individual spaces along with the understanding of the space. This can be seen in the following pages.
RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL RESIDENTIAL MENTOR SPACES
COMMUNITY SPACES
Dark
Filtered
Light
Step up
Elevate
Hidden
In Between
Enlarge
Reduce
In & Out
Amplify
Narrow
The space is less open to light
The space uses transitions to create or seperate spaces
A sense of confusion created between to places
Light with the space is obscured or manipulated sightly
Heightening the volume of space from one space to another
Widening a space
The space is filled with light
The use of an element to obscure or hide another element
Reducing the volume from one space to another
Reducing the width of a space
P. 07
An area which is not sheltered within a sheltered area
Light with the space is obscured or manipulated sightly
Taxonomy applied
Function
Blurred B.
Storage
Function
Blurred B.
Cleaning storage
Services
Reading room
Activity room
Kicthenette
Circulation
Toilets
Residential units
Community Spaces
Function
Blurred B.
Foyer
Function
Blurred B.
Meeting room
Services
CAfe
Delivery/post room
Additonal storage
WAste room
Flexible art space
Office
Art exhibition space
Art workshop
P. 09
Private Office
II.
PROCESS & RESOLUTION
Spatial Diagram 1
These spatial diagrams allow us to see the possible arrangements of spaces following the taxonomy
Spatial Diagram 2
Spatial Diagram 3
Spatial Diagram 4
Spatial Diagram 5
Spatial Diagram 6
Functional arrangement Residential block
Art workshop
Social space below residential units
Art workshop
Community buidings
Residential block
Cafe faces river Rea
Mentor offces Urban corridors Services
Residential Block
Residential Block Courtyard spaces
Offices
Mentor offices Services access
Community cluster spaces
Residential Block
Residential Block
Walkway outdoor area
Urban corridors
Services
Services
Residential Block
River facing outdoor area
Open to river Rea
Services
Entrance
P. 13
Services
Having identified the idea of a structure enveloping the buildings like a canopy, developing form continues from the first phase of the project with the use of the field diagram.
Community spaces below Folds from field diagram
Urban corridors Paper used as a lightweight form finding tool
Zoom in shows the exploration of folds
Folds from field diagram
Card used as a lightweight yet rigid form finding tool
Balsa wood follows field diagram fold lines and is laid atop of rigid card form
geometry filters light
Community spaces are below canopy Balsa shows the idea of a lightweight structure
The first step of realising this concept began in diagramming rough sections which allows us to see the relationship between the ‘shell’ and the spaces below it. However, the relationship between the spaces still remain unclear.
List o f 1. Foye spaces r 2. Com mu Art w nity Hall orksho p 3. Act ivity r o o 4. Rea ding r m oom 5. Popup caf e 6. Serv ices 7. Men to 8. Res r offices identia l block 9. Toil s ets 10. Soc ial spa ce
The diagrammatic section here shows an idea of how this shell could envelope and fall on the community spaces.
With analysis from both philisophical and architectural texts, we can now list the spaces and begin to form our own language with a taxonomy approach
P. 15
In the first phase of formfinding for the canopy the structure begins very simply using the field diagram from the first phase of the project, ‘Diffused’. The canopy is thereby formed by folding and manioulating these triangular patterns
As teh form developes we can see the use of this metal structure similar to Jean Nouvel’s shell. The geometry begins to meet at these somehwhat ‘node points’.
Jean Nouvel’s Louvre in Abu DHabi uses a space frame with nodes of which connect and support the geometric layered patterns which create this filtered light within the space.
More of these nodes are created through the geometry of triangles. The structure also developes to flow through the viaduc in testing the form. We can also see a visible change in the enveloping of the community courtyard-like spaces. Small triangles= Private
During this part of development, the scale of traingles are experimented to control the amount of light within a space where the canopy sits.
Large Triangles= Public
Diagram illustrating how triangles are used to define where spaces could be more priavte or public.
The structure no longer flows through/under the viaduct and is instead manipulated to appear as if it bursts through to both maximise space and avoid maintenance issues.
BAsed on precedents we begin to see a more regular arrangement in the triangular pattern which forms the canopy. The node points hold a maximum of 6 members whislt remaining true to its tectonic form.
The Herbert museum shows similarities in that its structre is also similar to a diagrid. It has a consistent of 4 members which meet at the node. This helped simplify the complexity of the canopy’s structure.
When thinking about materiality and the environment in relation to the canopy structure, the Eden project is an inspiring precedent. Its etfe Foil cushions not only create a comfortable tempertaure but control the solar gain.
T
The different opacities of etfe are applied to the canopy and lead to the resoltuion of the canopy, which creates the blurred space.
P. 17
The triangles hold etfe foil cushions are used instead of smaller triangles to create this aperture of controlling light, suggesting more private and public areas.
Here we use the structure to test the shadows and amount of sunlight during summer solstice.
Shadows analysis June 21st 9:00am
10:00Am
11:00Am
12:00pm
13:00pm
14:00pm
16:00pm
17:00pm
18:00pm
19:00pm
20:00pm
P. 19
15:00pm
6
3 2
4
1
7
8
9
10
5
5 3
4
2
A 1:5 detail of the node connections and members which for the triangular geometry of the canopy with an axonometric to view the detail in perspective. 1. RHS member 200mm x 100mm 2. 6mm steel sheet bent to shape 3. Etfe cushion 4. Aluminum extrusion 5. Aluminium clamping strip 6. Antibird wire attachment 7. Galvanised steel pin for acces to scaffold, connected to node wit bolt. 8. Extruded aluminium restraint for foil cushion 9. Restraint mounted to steel upstand
1
10. Steel node
P. 21
Resolution of plans
Mentor offices
Residential
Circulation
Services
Community spaces Views
The first phase consisted of arranging the spaces to create these mini streets and courtyards.
Inspired by CHARLES CORREA grid like courtyard system, a grid of 5x5m allowed the community spaces to be arranged to create these urban corridors and open the buildings up.
Residential River Rea views
Urban corridors Community courtyard River Rea Views
Views from the community building specifically the reading room as well as the residential blocks into the River Rea
The organization of spaces continues to consider view into the River Rea and how interactive the community buildings are.
Seperate services
Art workshop
Services access
Central cafe
The services become seperate and the community spaces become more defined by this courtyard.
The pushback of services from the canopy and the buildings below
Residential entrance added
Residential social space extended to deck
Viaduct arch as main entrance Cafe spills into courtyard
River Rea views Bridge moved for additonal entrance
Furniture is organized and entrances to the art workshop are defined by the existing interior arches which the viadcut offers.
The community spaces arr arranged to create a courtyard space
Services also pushed back
Social area visible from street view
MAST
Outdoor art exhibition
Place of loitering is identified and therefore opened up into a social area
Services pushed to blend withexisting neighbouring wall
The outdoor seating for the cafe is more accesible and creates an open and social environment for the public and community.
Art mezzanine added
MAST
Spaces adjusted for circulation Services access
A possible space of loitering is identified and corrected with the cafe adjusted to open to an outdoor seating area facing the River.
Social area is more visible from street view
P. 23
Area of seating for cafe and public
Walkway extended
Building analysis
Residential Block
Maximises more sunlight into viaduct
Circulation
Public, Semi-private, Private
Points of entry
User Groups
art workshop
=Points of entry =Circulation
Circulation
Public, Semi-private, Private Students on Arts programme identified as user
Public, Semi-private, Private
P. 25
Points of entry
Private
User Groups