Component 2
Christian Dave Bergonia
Design Brief
The Romford Library has been a landmark in Romford's history, with the same structure and appearance since 1965. With the original structure barely holding up and out of step with current architecture, there has been a call for a new design that maintains the simplicity of the current structure while making it more complex.
With enormous technical advancements, structures that have existed throughout time have begun to transform, such the library where books are kept, which has turned into a place where people may use computers and other technology to access books or other information via the internet. With this, there has been a request to transform the traditional library into a technological library in which digital technologies and online tools are critical to fostering improved library services for not only the general public but also for visually impaired readers.
The location is now placed in a relatively constrained space between major roads, a church, and Havering Town Hall. This has given the design a restricted amount of space that assures that the new design must preserve the same dimensions as the current building.
There are presently no car parks dedicated to the Romford library, making it solely accessible by foot or via public transportation. Because the current location is among shorter buildings that are common in Romford, renewable energy such as solar panels assist the library in using sustainable energy.
Specifications
o Disability access
o Washroom facilities
o Multiple stories
o Elevator and stairs
o Simple and Complex
o Futuristic
o Solar panels
Design Research
All of the images are from Pinterest. These builds will serve as my primary source of inspiration for the library's final design. The main common feature of all of these is that they adhere to the futuristic architectural style that is currently taking over the urban layout of various cities throughout the world. Futuristic architecture presently offers often rather unusual building ideas as a result of outstanding technical developments. These structures blend in nicely with their surroundings and frequently pay homage to nature by experimenting with organic materials and using materials that can simply fade into the environment.
Long thing walls with wide windows help to blend interiors and exteriors, which has led to an increase in their application in current architecture, which I shall consider. As seen in these structures, glass is employed not only in doors and windows, but also in the walls, roof and skin of the building, all of which contribute to the façade. They are recognised for their translucence, which makes the environment comfortable and makes a tiny room appear larger than it is. These buildings frequently have their roof overhanging, which not only provides their building a more artistic appearance but also protects the huge windows and doors from rain, which may stain them.
This especially helpful for my design as the site is situated in a country that has a high amount of rain fall per year.
Finally, the interior of the building is used to shape the outer façade. The floors are readily visible from outside the building as the level changes.
Location Opportunities
Red – Existing Build/Site
Green – Residential Building / Houses
Dark Blue – Retail Buildings
Purple – Community Buildings
Pink – Car Parks
Light Blue – Town Hall and Schools
The area is surrounded by the main retail districts, which are mostly crowded during the day. However, the library is located near the historic section of the high street, which is gradually losing its audience in comparison to the newer section, which has a significant concentration of people. This may make drawing customers to the new library difficult. However, because Romford is extensively connected by roundabouts, the library is easily visible because it is right up against one. Romford also features a huge number of subways that connect major districts such as the commercial district and the Romford library. This ensures that accessibility will not be an issue for walkers or bicycles. The library also has a bus stop immediately next to it, allowing people who use public transport to conveniently access it. However, because the library does not have private parking, visitors cannot access it by automobile.
The site is in between both residential and commercial areas which will make it more convenient for people to access it either from home or from a day out.
Because of the restricted quantity of room, the library must either maintain or shrink in size. This may pose a problem for the design because the site is relatively small and compact, which may entice a taller construction.
& Challenges
Location & History Analysis
Built around 1800 for the Romford Charity School, afterwards St Edward's School, the structure served as Romford's library until 1965, when it was replaced by a new Central Library for the newly formed London Borough of Havering. It hosted The Samaritans and Toc-H after it was shuttered as a library. Demolition commenced in July 1968, as part of a massive makeover of Romford town centre. The town centre is mostly surrounded by a ring road made up of St Edwards Way, Mercury Gardens, Thurloe Gardens, Oldchurch Road, and Waterloo Road. The market square, as well as much of South Street and High Street, are all pedestrianised. The railway runs through the town on a viaduct from east to west, with the majority of downtown Romford to its north. The River Rom flows under the town in underground tunnels before joining the Thames after passing through Hornchurch; elsewhere along its route, it is known as the River Beam and is part of the Blue Ribbon Network of vitalwaterways. Romford has been a part of London's continually built-up region since the 1930s, bordered by Rush Green to the west, Collier Row to the north, Gidea Park to the east, and Hornchurch to the south east. Romford is a London Buses hub, providing routes to Canning Town, Stratford, Leytonstone, and Dagenham; feeder services are also available from the big housing complexes at Collier Row and Harold Hill. Romford railway station serves the town; it is located on the Great Eastern Main Line and the Elizabeth line, in London fare zone 6. Trains on the Elizabeth line, which runs between London Paddington and Shenfield, stop at the station. When the line is completely operational, services will be extended across central London to Reading.
Current Site Layout
The current location is in a cramped space with minimal working space. The location is surrounded by a lot of flora, which will not need to be changed. The location is also in a flat area, which eliminates the need to adjust the floors of my construction. Because the site is very rectangular, I won't be able to create a complex plan, so the building itself will most likely have to be complex.
45m 35m 15m 10m 20m 12m 12m 35m
Primary Research
Here are some basic photographs of technologically linked objects that are essential components. A close examination of the components reveals that the circuit boards include designs that may be used to shape a skyscraper. I was able to visualize a possible building with these patterns in mind using some basic drawings. With the purpose of designing a tech library, these recognizable patterns provide a good link to computing and other technology.
This primary research have given me some ideas for the design I seek. These motifs will serve as the foundation for my design. This also demonstrates the simplicity and complexity of the patterns that I may apply to a façade.
Maxxi Museum, Rome
The buildings main structures overlaps with itself
The MAXXI Museum is an abstract construction consisting of glass, concrete, and steel with no simple square or rectangular shape. The structure is made up of overlapping platforms that form a multidimensional framework. This will assist me in creating a space in a restricted location. The building changes shape with the different levels
Windows are incorporated to take in sunshine in the open side
Library of Vienna university, Vienna
Façade does is kept over windows and walls
The new University campus's centre is where the new Library and Learning Centre rises as a polygonal block. The masterplan's external circulation, which depicts the building's various floors, serves as a guide for the LLC's interior. The building's exterior's straight lines diverge as they move inward, becoming curvilinear and fluid to create a free-formed interior canyon that serves as the main public plaza for the centre and to create the corridors and bridges that ensure seamless changes in level.
Patterns continue over the windows
Two parts of contrasting colours, shell and shadow, which are divided by a glass seam, define the LLC's outside appearance. The two main portions of the structure are easier to identify and grasp from the outside thanks to these various colours.
Windows are shaped with the building
Three organizations the archive, the library, and the sports department are combined under a single structure in the department de l'Herault's pierres vives building. When viewed from a distance, these numerous components join together to form a building with a distinct single identity, yet when one gets near, it is clear that the building is divided into three parts. The building's architecture, which is reminiscent of a giant tree trunk that has been laid horizontally, was created utilizing practical and economic rationale.
Façade makes the cubed building interesting
Façade continues to the back and front of the building
Pierre Vives, Montpellier
In-between the façade are small panels with the same shape
Culture & Sports Center, Zhoushi
Black, white, grey, and wooden colours make up River South's architectural palette. The architectural surfaces made of contemporary materials, such as the grey al-mg-mn roof, the undressed stone curtain wall, the semi-transparent silk screen-printed glass curtain wall, and the wooden-colored aluminum-alloy ceiling, mirror this. They all innately convey their respect for the surrounding environment and historical architecture.
Models & Development
Solution 1
With the research on existing buildings, I wanted to create and exciting but complex facade however with a simple boxed interior. This led me to this model where I stuck card on a wooden block that has a flowed form.
Using a different form of 2 pieces of curved card I was able to produce this design. However, I prefer the 2nd developed design because of the way it’s cuts through the initial piece of card.
Developing
Solution 1
After looking at my first model I thought the facade was too simple, so I decided to implement another piece of card that cuts through the initial piece of card this gave more attractive look which allows for more creativity.
Solution 2
I was able to make this simple model by stacking staples together. This inspired me to add more detail to my walls, which might appear plain when they are flat.
Developing Solution 2
I was able to reproduce the model in Sketchup and envision what it would look like with windows and on site. This also made me consider the size of my building and what might be on different floors.
Solution 3
Here is my most complex initial model with its different gaps and forms compared to my other models. I like how the the gaps on the card looks which I could potentially involve in my final model.
Combing Solutions
Using the initial solution, I decided to incorporate all the models together to create this design. The boxed shaped building with the outer facade came from the first solution along with the straight edged card and gaps gave me the inspiration to create this facade
Development
The windows are inspired from the research I did on existing building as one of the things they have in common is that they all utilize large windows, also with the second solution having larger windows in isolated areas of the building.
Further Development
Looking at the facade I felt that I needed to add more to it, so I tracked back to the Pierre vives research and looked at the buildings elevation. With that I decided to increase the size of the facade detail of it.
Further Development
With the Pierre vives as the main inspiration towards my solutions I liked how the flat and boring windows was given this pattern that followed the nonglass areas of the facade of the building. This led me to give my flat walls a pattern that followed the facade.
Final Solution & Model
Final Model
Final Model
Final Model
Final Render
Evaluation
For this project I aimed to design a building for the renovation of Romford library. My design process went through many stages such as research, model making and development.
I have done research on the site and its surrounding area to get a good knowledge and understandingof what this building could potentially be and what type of architecture I would like to achieve at the end. Therefore, I decided I wanted to keep the roughly the same shape as the old building due to the limited amount of space I could utilize.
Following my research on the site, I began to research contemporary and futuristic architecture which would help me produce a design that I could build on and develop.
Then moving onto designing my building I used the research to create potential designs of my building then combined them together whilst developing to reach my final design.
After finalizing my idea, I started on my final model with was mainly comprised of 3D printed parts out of PLA, added with card and paint. This allowed me to create my final model from sketchup in reality. However, with the limited I wish I could have had a better finish in the places that connected the walls. I also created the greenery outside of the library that I decided to keep from the current library which mainly compromised of trees made from plastic and green card. I also added people around the exterior to demonstrate the scale of the building compared to a normal building.
