Peoples Parlour: Overview Sustainability, community and regeneration are common buzzwords of the London Olympic legacy. Currently there are no significant cultural venues or civic buildings planned post Olympic games. In response to this we have been working with Diploma Unit 1 to develop the Lea Valley as a new city made up of the five Olympic Boroughs. This would be known as ‘City East’. Consisting of two connecting projects. First a temporary ‘Pavilion’ project focusing on an experience exploring the notions of typology time and play. The second, a permanent and planned local cultural building - A People’s Parlour.
Vertical Project: Greenwich Politics and Protest Before considering the idea of the London Olympic Legacy we constructed a walk through the London Borough of Greenwich. This allowed us and others to discover and reveal the richness that already exists in East London.
Our walk took us through some of the most valued locations of Greenwich relating to politics and protest. 1. Spiral Stair - Queens House 2. A Thames Tale 3. Interior of Greenwich University
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Sketching City Rooms Portland Place, London We were asked to carry out a personal investigation of what a ‘city room’ is through sketching, exploring the fabric of existing spaces which can be thought of as exterior ‘city rooms’ using pen or pencil. We focused on recording what we saw, not what we assume others expect us to see.
100 Words: Courtyards like the one at Chandos House clearly represent a ‘city room’ enclosed by high rising exterior walls. As do the converted stables of Weymouth Mews. Once you enter through the small arch you feel totally isolated from the rest of London – as if you walked into a quiet city room. Less obvious city rooms may be experienced walking down Portland Place Many buildings have overhanging cornices mimicking the beginnings of a ceiling. This was particularly the case of the view from the RIBA courtyard. First floor balconies overshadow you while walking, containing you in the ‘city room’. I tried to highlight these effects in my sketches.
Overhangs, Balconies, Cornices Sketching the dominance of the surrounding buildings on the Portland Place/Devonshire Street crossroad.
Waymouth Mews These converted stables have tight roads, complex like a maze. Enclosed away from the main street it is like entering into another exterior room.
Rooms for Gathering Palmer Room at Hoxton Hall, Hoxton Street, Hackney, N1 The Palmer room displays a clear spatial structure. As a group we were asked to explore the qualities of the room in detail through model making. The delicate qualities of this room proved to be a useful lexicon to my later ‘Pavilion Project’.
The Palmer Room Hoxton Hall is East London longest running community arts centre, built in 1863 by James Mortimer. It is not used for meetings, rehearsals, seminars, workshops and civil ceremonies. A large filigree window is the dominant feature of the room.
Lightness Plain white walls highlight the spacious The Palmer room is very spacious, highlighted by the plain white walls. The main feature is a large filigree window facing into a light well. which is its only source of natural light. Delicateness The Palmer room rarely gets used to its full potential. You get the impression that the room used to be very proud boasting a grand window and ornate fireplace. Paint pealing off the thin window frame reveals the weathered and delicate qualities.
The plan and elevations of the room depict the dominance of the large window.
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Levels An observation we made was the constant changing of levels of the walls. We wanted to show this in a block like material, therefore experimented with plaster.
Fine Detail Continuing with the idea of different levels we experimented with embossing. Embossing was more suitable than plaster casting as it also relevant with the observation of lightness and delicateness.
White card was an ideal material because of the light colour and its ability to be cut very precisely and delicately. Representing the light delicate qualities of the Palmer Room.
Interim Pin Up From the feedback my group received, we were encouraged to develop the qualities of lightness in our model making. I was pleased with the amount of fragment models tested. We had strong ideas but were struggling to make them obvious through models.
We experimented with watercolour paper in contrast with the white card. Watercolour paper has a subtle soft texture. It is also much thinner and easier to make clean, fine, delicate cuts. We preferred the colour as well. It is a much purer white.
Final Model In response to feedback from the critique, we hung the model to express the light qualities of the Palmer Room.
Rooms and Façades Porto, Portugal Sketching Sketching places and gathering spaces in Porto, Portugal helped me develop skills learnt during the ‘City Room’ brief. I practiced different techniques, redrawing when necessary. Sketching axonometric, plan, section, elevation, and detail views helped me capture the spatial qualities of rooms. Elevation Study A detailed 1:20 elevation study of an interesting facade in Porto. This was about looking carefully, recording and drawing in careful delicate detail.
Lining Sketching the lining of the corridor of Alvaro Siza’s House. My thoughts lead me back to the delicate lining around the doors in the Palmer Room, Hoxton Hall.
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While sketching these columns in the Palacio de Bolsa, they gave the impression of being carved into this wall. This can be compared to The Mary Ward House, a gathering room studied by another group. 1. Mary Ward House, Tavistock Place, London
1:20 Elevation These two buildings are from completely different backgrounds. Comparisons can be made between the use of symmetry, floor levels, railings and doors. The Porto elevation was more successful from developing techniques learnt from my Hackney elevation for the Design Representation module. 1. 15 Clapton Square, Hackney, London 2. 210 Rua dos Caldeireiros, Porto, Portugal
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Pavilion for Gathering Hackney Marshes We were asked to individually translate one key architectural idea Palmer Room we modelled, into a design proposal for a small pavilion situated next to Walthamstow marshes in the Lea Valley. Designing from the inside�out, considering qualities we wish the room to display. The pavilion was to include 2 rooms, a stair, an inside/outside space and accessible WC. My interests were in carrying on the theme of lightness but contrasting it with heaviness. A light space supported by a sturdy base, like a plinth displaying a fine object.
Our site was the Coppermill Playing Fields in Waltham Forest, one of the Olympic boroughs.
The Copper Mill The Copper Mill has played a large part of the areas history. It increased employment thus increasing the population of Walthamstow. The tower sits on top of the solid structure. Like a delicate lantern placed on a sturdy plinth. My interest in the contrast of light and heavy can be linked to the heritage of Walthamstow in this way.
Initial Pavilion Designs Following the idea of lightness, thinness and delicateness from my precedent model. Designed from the inside out. Based on angles for the view and thin delicate material. If I were to remake these, I would photograph these models within context. Here I am critical of the brief as it did not take account of the context which is a key part of the design process.
1. Suspended floor and ceiling make the room feel feather weight. 2. Windows are positioned for views.
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Contrast The contrast between a delicate, light room and a solid heavy room is interesting. The lines of the roof direct your eye to the main panoramic view while also give the streamlined lightness effect. In contrast the box shaped solid room feels solid, it is firmly fixed to the ground and is dominated by rightangles and straight lined form.
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Delicate windows Fine detail on large bright windows can portray the desired fine, light detail as in the Palmer Room. The swooping lines in this small model direct your eye to the fine bay window. 1. The Palmer Room, Hoxton Hall 2. Directed window view, The Tea House by Alvaro Siza, Porto
Lantern Our final precedent model was hung up at eye level during the presentation and was like a beacon of lightness and fine detail. The fine detailed room of my pavilion would represent this beacon. This beacon could have stereotomic qualities like an object situated on a base, like a fine lantern that has been placed on a sturdy plinth.
Proportion Dividing the plan into thirds might help me proportion my pavilion well to make it seem pleasing to the eye.
Deciding the position of the light ‘lantern room’.
The plaster cast in this model represents the solidarity of the ground floor room and the wax represents the light, delicate first floor room. It is raised by delicate supports.
Drawing showing the relationship between the pavilion and Coppermill.
Lightness The contrasting room representing a beacon of lightness and fine detail is raised up slightly. This disconnects the two rooms to hint that it is an object placed down on a sturdy plinth. It is primarily made out of wood which is a delicate warm natural material. The roof is brought back from earlier stages of design to give a sense of lightness and flow to the room.
Solidity The model is made out of plaster as it is similar to what would be used in the full scale pavilions’ concrete base. Concrete and plaster are heavy materials but when smoothened can be very pleasing to the eye. The thickness of the walls are shown by the reveals of the windows and the purposely shown ends of the walls. This makes the room feel more secure and heavy portraying the image of a strong plinth.
People’s Parlour We have been working with Diploma Unit 1 to develop the Lea Valley as a new city made up of the five Olympic Boroughs. This would be known as ‘City East’. The People Parlour project sets out to create a small local ‘satellite’ civic building as a branch from the central civic hub - The Olympic Park
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CHANNEL SEA VILLAGE CLAPTON PARK
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STRATFORD CITY SOUTH HACKNEY
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PUDDING MILL
‘City East’ - A new city within Greater London
This map shows a social analysis of London in 1943. The tracing paper overlay displays how the Olympics will change the demographics of London and add ‘City East’ as another main social hub.
Abercrombie/s London Community Map, 1943
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1. Waltham Forest 2. Hackney 3. Newham 4. Tower Hamlets 5. Greenwich 6. Centralised Civic Forum
The map shows the location of the five London Olympic Boroughs. The tracing paper overlay plots the positions of ‘satellite’ civic buildings that I imagine will develop after the Olympics.
London Olympic Boroughs Imagined Scenario: 2050
The Chequers Inn courtyard - The site for my People’s Parlour.
100 Words: Storey Road sits quietly and reserved along the high street dominated by the bustling market. The road is lined with repeated housing with constant form but individual characteristics. Directly behind the shops, rubbish and building material have been left. The houses begin with a solid blank face brick wall with little relation to the rubbish, as if ignoring it. Security is of high importance. The gates are lined with barbed wire and heavy locks communicating high crime levels and the want of privacy.
Sketch showing how the back of the Chequers Inn is protected and hidden from the street.
The high street stretches from the Coppermill Playing Fields where the Pavilion is situated linking the two gathering buildings.
Existing Site Plan - I removed three run down buildings (shown in grey) belonging to the Chequers Inn to make way for my proposal.
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My site is surrounded by high walls, creating a ‘City Room’ this took me back to my sketches of city rooms for the first brief.
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Sun Path Diagrams 26.07.12 Summer Solstice The site had direct sunlight for most of the day. This affected where I positioned my windows on the south facing facade.
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The Chequers Coaching Inn Defensive Courtyard The area behind the Chequers Inn was very private and defensive to the outside. Barbed wire and large locks dominated any view into the area. My proposal for a People’s Parlour is in large contrast to this.
The fist step to designing my People’s Parlour was to develop a typical timetable for a week of activity. This helped me understand what I needed to account for in my design.
Monday 09/04/12 7:00 AM
Tuesday 10/04/12
Wednesday 11/04/12
Thursday 12/04/12
Friday 13/04/12
Saturday 14/04/12
Sunday 15/04/12
Doors Open
Doors Open
Doors Open
Cleaner
Cleaner
Cleaner
8:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM
Doors Open E17 Baby Massage Group
The Health Works -‐ Beginners Zumba Class
11:00 AM Noon 1:00 PM
Taslimah Dauhoo, Arts and Cra> Tutor
2:00 PM
Doors Open
AcQvity prep
Carl Harris Art ExhibiQon Prep
The Health Works -‐ Advance Zumba Class
Doors Open The Health Works -‐ Beginners Pilates Class The Health Works -‐ Advanced Pilates Class
E17 Baby Massage Group
Waltham Forest Market ExhibiQon Prep
The Health Works -‐ Beginners Yoga Class
3:00 PM 4:00 PM 5:00 PM 6:00 PM
Waltham Forest Careers Service drop in sessions
13 Plus Youth Service Group
Connexion s advisors drop in sessions -‐ Under 21's
Local ArQst ExhibiQon/ AucQon evenQng -‐ Carl Harris
Connexion s advisors drop in sessions -‐ Over 21's
Waltham Forest Market ExhibiQon 13 Plus Youth Service Group
50+ Social Group
Waltham Forest Market ExhibiQon
Gala Bingo Group
7:00 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 10:00 PM
Strum and Drum Under 18 music club
The Health Works -‐ Advanced Yoga Class
AcQvity prep
Doors Open
X7eaven Academy Drama Club
Local School Childrens' Magician Birthday Party
Waltham Forest Market ExhibiQon
Market leaders meet for lunch
Waltham Forest Market ExhibiQon
E17 Neighbou-‐ hood Watch MeeQng
AcQvity perp
13 Plus Youth Service Group
Doors Close
Doors Close
Doors Close
Doors Close
Doors Close
Doors Close
Doors Close
11:00 PM
Gathering Room 1 Gathering Room 2
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I developed simple massing models and placed them in the site model. I started with a large massing model which covered my whole site. With each model I perfected my design to fit the context.
I experimented using similar proportions as my earlier Pavilion Project. However I began to break out of the proportions because I believed it was holding back my design.
Window Moment I based an interior moment of the People’s Parlour on the Lisson Gallery by Tony Fretton Architects. The ground floor is lowered from the outside ground level. The Idea behind this was to create an equality between people inside, and people outside the gallery. Tony Fretton wanted the average person who walked past the gallery to feel like they were able to walk in. This idea suited my People’s Parlour. I wanted anyone walking past on street level to feel like they were welcome to join in with the activities taking place. Therefore I sunk the ground floor down 830mm which is also a good leaning height.
The top of the window was sloped to let in more sunlight and to direct the view upwards to the high street level. 1. Front Elevation/Section 2. Side Section 3. Plan
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1:1 Testing Testing my window at 1:1 with my own body helped me achieve the scale I wanted. It made me realise that the sloped window also directs the view into the building.
Final Window Design The concrete lining the lower part of the wall represents being underground. This also relates to my previous pavilion design having the same stereotomic qualities. Heavy concrete base with lighter walls sitting on top. Reflecting on my design choices I would have designed the window to be wider to improve the view in and out and to improve the light qualities.
Development of plans
Developing plans and 1:100 model This model made me realise that my south facing windows were too large. Direct sunlight would overheat the gathering room.
1:50 Model in Context Seeing my model at 1:50 was very helpful for me to realise the faults with my design. The position of windows on the front elevation needed adjusting. The buildings roof plan did not flow with the context.
Precedent: Stortorget, Kalmar, Sweden - Caruso St John Architects Three different types of stone cover the ground surface of the exterior room. As the back of house walls behind the Inn are very uneven and disjointed, rough stones create an even edge for delicate paving. When you get to the entrance of the People’s Parlour you come to very fine stone which acts as a ‘welcome mat’.
Charcoal Interior of Ground Floor
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Proposed Roof Plan in Context
Proposed Site Plan The shape of my proposal allows a lorry to make deliveries within the courtyard and turn round 360 degrees.
Proposed Ground Floor Plan in Context 1m
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1. Gathering Room 1 2. Hallway/Anteroom 3. Disabled Lift 4. Cafe/ Seating Area 5. Kitchenette 6. Plant Room 7. Bins/Outdoor Service Area 8. Terrace 9. Disabled Lift 10. Gathering Room 2 11. Kitchenette 12. W/C 13. W/C
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First Floor Plan
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Ground Floor Plan
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1. Plant Room 2. Kitchenette 3. Kitchenette 4. Cafe 5. Gathering Room 2 6. Hall/Anteroom 7. Terrace 8. Gathering Room 1
Proposed Site Sections To compensate for the lowered ground level, the ground of the courtyard is slopped from the high street.
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Christopher Kelly k1000740 Studio 2.1 AR2019: Precident, Diagram and Study Section and Elevation Scale 1:20 9/05/12
Final 1:50 Massing Model in Context There is a concrete strip at the bottom of the building indicating how much it has been lowered from high street level. It also links back to the idea of a heavy sporting base from the earlier pavilion design.
Final Elevation