Western approach road

WESTERN APPROACH ROAD DEVELOPMENT

CHRIS WILSON INTERIOR & SPATIAL DESIGN DESIGN FOR PUBLIC SPACES EDINBURGH NAPIER UNIVERSITY

BRIEF

THE IN BETWEEN...

“You will be asked to study one of the many public spaces that exist in Edinburgh- specifically around the Lothian Road area of town.

In this section of the city there are numerous public events, annual festival activities and weekly public gathering scenarios which relate to the theatres, music venues, cinemas and market places in the vicinity. The street life on and around the area is broad and varied and exists almost 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week…..

Following analysis of the wider context, you will be asked to select one particular area and develop both temporary and permanent interventions to aid the life of these spaces. You will develop your own brief and are encouraged to engage with existing or new users that you think would benefit the public space you’ve chosen. Your response may be speculative or relate to current activities in and around lothian road.”

My interpretation of the brief will be determined on site location and the main events that happen around that area. I will also take on some current precedents of successful public spaces.

Such as the ‘Superkilen’ or ‘Place to meet’ (Across).

I want to create a public space that embraces both location and purpose and design the space to create an experience for the users and passers by.

I will also work on ensuring that the design has little rule or restraint and is a free space for users to use to its full potential.

BRIEF

“Superkilen - Superflex”

“Place To Meet - Gareth Hoskins”

SITE ANALYSIS

SITE ANALYSIS

SITE ANALYSIS

SITE ANALYSIS

SITE ANALYSIS

SITE ANALYSIS

For the temporal space the purpose of the space will be a third market place that links both the Stockbridge Weekly Sunday market and the market that happens on CastleTerrace.

This defines key areas of the city that will have a temporal buzz of activity during a particular moment in time.

It gives a triangular definition rather than a linear form to create this new plan from one market to another.

INITIAL THOUGHTS

INITIAL THOUGHTS

With the existing bridge connecting the standard life buildings together, I want to create a new experience to bring the local business people and a new target market - tourists to this area of town to capture another view of the Castle witch has a fantastic view from the existing bridge.

It also creates a link between the ground plane of traffic, the horizontal footfall. It will create a pause for the people on foot and a dynamic experience as the commuters travel in and out of the city.

PERMENANT DEVELOPMENT

THE HANGING GARDENS OF BABYLON

THE HIGH LINE NEW YORK

HEATHERWICK BRIDGE LONDON

PERMENENT DEVELOPMENT

PERMENENT DEVELOPMENT

PERMENENT DEVELOPMENT

In this concept, the ‘floating garden; is spread all over the three tear platforms.

Within these areas, I’ve created temporal sheds with wooden slats to be used during the market time. They could however be kept up after the market as sheltered spaces in adverse weather conditions.

PERMENENT DEVELOPMENT

PERMENENT DEVELOPMENT

In this development model, it shows how the main platform is linear trays that create a rippled effect underneath.

This will heighten the experience from the road and the drivers coming in and out of the city. It also means that it will make the design more realistic as it allows for the trees and bushes to root and create this platform a habitable environment.

PERMENENT DEVELOPMENT

PERMENENT DEVELOPMENT

PERMENENT DEVELOPMENT

PERMENENT DEVELOPMENT

PERMENENT DEVELOPMENT

PERMENENT DEVELOPMENT

With this design, further development will need to be carried out to ensure that I consider the following aspects to create a clearer solution.

Firstly, ensure that the suspension cables are in the right position. Ensuring that the temporal design is defined and goes with the concept of my permanent space.

Also capturing the underneath of the design to see if this circular effect will work best or will need altered to create a better effect that will still have the same function on the main platform.

PERMENENT DEVELOPMENT

PERMENENT DEVELOPMENT

PERMENENT SOLUTION

After careful consideration, the suspension concept should be less about the physical method of holding the structure and more of an aesthetic representation of a ‘floating garden space’.

Going back to my precedents such as the Hanging gardens and the High Line in New York, they do have a grounding hence this space will also have that definition. The suspension will give the space height and a physical connection between the Standard life buildings and the Western Approach Road development.

PERMENENT SOLUTION

PERMENENT SOLUTION

PERMENENT SOLUTION

PERMENENT SOLUTION

PERMENENT SOLUTION

TEMPORAL SPACE

In order to give the permanent even more purpose and definition temporal structures that can be used to house the occasional market that will take place on the new permanent public space.

This first idea was created through using old recycled pallet crates to create small sheds that would house stalls and businesses selling their produce to aspiring customers.

TEMPORAL SPACE

TEMPORAL SPACE

TEMPORAL SPACE

In this temporal space, the idea of the shed has evolved to be more compact and transportable. The fold-up shed comes flat packed to create a shed space that can be used for the same purpose. Allowing the user to pick exactly where they want to be within the public space.

However these shed ideas are quite literal and don’t have a real connection to the new landscape that has been created.

Therefore more development is required to create an outcome that is simple and is involving the permanent space and the landscape around the area.

TEMPORAL SPACE

TEMPERAL SPACE

FINAL CONCEPT

FINAL CONCEPT

This temporal canopy is stitched into the cables so it can be rolled up and down depending on the occasion. It also adds another level to the design and also creates a new enclosed area which has moved away from the individual shed concept. It allows all the different producers to set up under one canopy allowing for a natural buzz of buying, selling and browsing activity.

The canopy also adds character to the whole design from all perspective and not just the road and the design itself. It will create visual stimulate from the surrounding office space, the pavements surrounding the Western Approach Road and Lothian Road.

CONCLUSION

Overall, this design has the potential to go even further. It could expand the whole length of the Approach Road - like the high line in New York. The design also has the prospect to create a new level of interest across the city.

It also has the concept to develop the city throughout by creating these permanent structures around the cities to create green spaces on top of grey areas. It will also establish green spaces all around the cityscapes that are forever becoming privatised and public spaces are becoming owned by corporate businesses.

This in conclusion means that there is a need for these spaces are in desperate need in cities to ensure that public is never lost within the city. It also will provide an opportunity to keep the sole traders and small businesses who rely on temporary market places alive to keep their produce known by the local community and their businesses healthy with an income.