DEVELOPMENTS | P3
CHLOE YUNSHU YE
Greater London
Newham
London City Airport North Woolwich
Woolwich
The Site
North Woolwich Waiting Room Woolwich Waiting Room
Windrose
Sun Path
The Site Historical Building Footprint
The ‘Journey’ Axis — connecting Woolwich and North Woolwich through the Waiting Rooms
THE SITUATEDNESS The ‘Situatedness’ investigates the relationships between the proposed scheme and the site in terms of history, spatial qualities and sequence of events, helping the scheme to respond to its context. As a starting point in the design process, it will begin to inform spatial layouts according to specific site conditions through speculative drawings and exploratory maquettes. The three initial priorities of the project — ‘progression’, ‘axis’, and ‘ghost’ — is being explored. The drawing on the left uses the ‘Journey’ axis and the ‘Ghost’ axis as starting points, unfolding the potentialities of amalgamating the ‘Created’ realm and the ‘Ghost’ realm by creating an interwoven entity which originates from the three alchemical stages of transformation. (See IDA cw02 for more detailed responses and developments)
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The ‘Ghost’ Axis
The ‘Journey’ Axis
The ‘Ghost’ Realm
The ‘Created’ Realm
— responding to the historical building footprint of the beer bottling factory
— responding to the brief and the site context (e.g. environmental)
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Progression
Axis
Ghost
Initial Concept Sketches Responding to the Priorities
Priority Maquettes
Progression
Axis
Ghost
The three alchemical stages, in terms of both psychotherapy and alchemy, suggest a that clear sequence of events should be designed for the travellers. This will help to create a cohesive journey that facilitates the spiritual transformation of these ‘pilgrims’.
The institute is to respond to three axis: the journey axis that connects with the waiting rooms; the ‘ghost’ axis that follows the historic footprint of the site; and the environmental axis which maximises ventilation and solar gains (details see IDA cw02).
To create a structure which is reminiscent of the historic beer bottling factory, a ‘ghost’ a will be created. This ‘ghost’ structure will emphasise the effects of shadows and accommodate the spaces that emphasis sensuality, in opposition to the ones that accentuate rationality.
Maximising natural light Establishing visual connections with the tunnel entrance, old railways and the Royal Garden Visual barrier to block out views of the Pumping Station
Establishing visual connections with the River Thames and the Waiting Rooms
Ferry Terminal
The Waiting Room
The first ‘Situatedness’ study focused on the idea of ‘Progression’, and how each of the progressive spaces connect with the surrounding landscape. A stepping form was created as an initial response, maximising natural lighting and certain views.
Situatedness Study 01 | Progression
Environmental axis - maximising natrual ventilation ‘Journey’ axis
Ferry Terminal
The Waiting Room Prevailing south-westerly wind
The second ‘Situatedness’ study explored how the building form could respond to different axes. Continuing the initial concepts, the main spaces will follow the ‘Journey’ axis, while an additional environmental axis was created to maximise natural light and ventilation.
Situatedness Study 02 | Axis
Structures on ground level responds directly to the historic building boundaries
Ferry Terminal
The Waiting Room
The third ‘Situatedness’ study referred to the historical condition of the site in order to create a response to the historical and cultural context of the site. Consequently, the lower part of the structure was made to follow part of the historic building footprint, creating a ‘ghost’.
Situatedness Study 03 | Ghost
Visual Barrier
Stepping Form
The Environmental Axis
The ‘Ghost’ Axis
Visual Connections
The ‘Journey’ Axis
The exploratory maquette was made as the first step towards the development of an initial layout. It unites the three priorities and the ideas from the ‘Situatedness’ studies, creating a ‘framework’ for the spatial explorations to be implemented.
Response to Sunlight Conditions: Utilising Northern Diffused Light
Response to Wind Conditions: Stepping Form Along Environmental Axis
‘Created’ Realm
Exploratory Maquette
Key Spaces: A circular form was developed from the geometries of lightwells and rainwater collectors in IDA cw02
Access Level ‘Ghost’ Level
‘Ghost’ Realm
SPATIAL EXPLORATION Now that the ‘Situatedness’ studies have formed an outline for the spatial explorations, an initial layout is created and iterated based on the priorities and proposed site responses. During this process, the key spaces are being studied in detail — with the help of selected ‘moments’ from the Barcelona field trip — the ‘moments’ in the building therefore starts to take on more character and atmospheric qualities as they develop. The drawing on the left uses the ‘journey’, ‘ghost’, and ‘environmental’ axes as starting points, exploring how the three key spaces can form a progressive journey while responding to the intersection and overlapping of the three axes.
The Ceremonial Chamber
The Cathedral of Bottles
Bottle Making Labs The Psychoanalysts’ Hub
Rainwater Pond
Key Spaces 03
Key Spaces 02
Key Spaces 01
Transitional Space
The Psychoanalysts’ Hub
The Ceremonial Chamber
The Alchemists’ Hub
Therapy Rooms
The Cathedral of Bottles
The Rainwater Pond
The Bottle Making Labs The Sleeping Chambers
Ground Level (the ‘ghost - unconscious’ realm)
Access Level (the ‘created - conscious’ realm)
Barcelona ‘Moment’ 01: Mercury Fountain — Mercury is a key ingredient in alchemy, and the fountain seemed to manifest the liquidity of the material perfectly. This ‘moment’ inspired the rainwater collection process in the building, recreating the sense of fluidity and tranquillity brought about by the liquid material while also ‘renewing’ and repurposing the collected rainwater.
Barcelona ‘Moment’ 02: Archway — creates a play of light and shadows; separates the public and the private while maintaining visual connection to the main event space. The idea of arches will be used as the most prominent method of space separation.
The Cathedral of Bottles
The Alchemists’ Hub
The Ceremonial Chamber
The first key space that the travellers will come across after having had glimpses into the glass making labs. This will be an intimate and phenomenological space that triggers emotional response.
The second key space and the central point of the scheme, where the ceremony of initiation takes place before the therapy sessions start. This space will be more open, with a more industrial aesthetic.
The final key space where the whole ‘pilgrimage’ journey ends. This is the most generous space, bringing about a sense of calmness before the travellers depart again.
Key Space 01:
The Cathedral of Bottles The rainwater collector takes on an exaggerated form inspired by a ribbed vault (expanding from the notion of archways), creating a shape which naturally allows the rainwater to gather in the centre and flow down into the collection pond. The geometry also channels light down into the dimmed and more ‘fortified’ lower floors, generating an almost ethereal atmosphere.
Key Space 02:
The Alchemists’ Hub As the pivotal point of the scheme, the Alchemists’ Hub is where the different axes intersect and the different functions interact. The geometry of a groin vault roof was being explored as it emphasises the concept of intersection, allowing the space to to be naturally perceived as the centre of the building.
Key Space 01:
The Ceremonial Chamber As the journey progresses, the key spaces start to become more and more open and spacious. In this space, the travellers are to achieve a state of ‘elevation’, therefore a sacred and pure atmosphere is essential. A domed roof helps to accentuate the height, and the opening in the centre allows light to penetrate deep into the space, creating an area of reflection and spiritual liberation.
Roof Maquettes
The Cathedral of Bottles
The Alchemists’ Hub
The Ceremonial Chamber
Access Level (the ‘created - conscious’ realm)
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Ground Level (the ‘ghost - unconscious’ realm)
Key Space 03 Key Space 02 Key Space 01
Massing Model - exploring the spatial qualities around the key spaces