Duncan Sparks - Architectural Portfolio by Duncan Sparks

WWW.DUNCAN SPARKS.CO.UK ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO

This project looks to construct an identity for the South bank of London whose value is not

This masterplan provides a strategy to enhance the creative potential of London. Building

A memorial portal to the Festival of Britain, functioning as a pier during the day and a beacon

purely practical, that strives for beauty, that communicates a cultural value, through trade and

upon the already strong presence of the creative industries throughout the area we have

articulating the future during the night. The Festival held in 1951 on the Southbank, sat

innovation. This talent factory will hold an expressive value with social, cultural and economic

introduced a series of pavilions for the twelve key sectors. These sectors are, advertising,

opposite London’s historic skyline of Westminster; this pier projects out on to the Thames

benefits, defined by inclusiveness of social gathering within the Park. Providing a sustainable

architecture, art, arts, crafts & antiques, broadcast media, design, fashion, film & video, music

and gives views across the modern skyline of The City of London. Before taking you back to

environment for creative industries, a point of encounter for collaboration between students,

& performing arts, photography, publishing and software. These temporary pavilions once

the water’s edge to catch the next boat or ferry along the river.

councils and employers.

redundant will be redesigned and replenished by the very industries they serve. This design looks to express the ephemeral experience of the festival for those who were

The need for such a project upon the site of Potter’s Field is vital to the smaller industries

Since the Global Financial Crisis in 2007-2008 it has been a key aim of many within British

not able not experience the captivating occasion over six decades ago. A short screenplay

that this park is attempting to promote and revitalise. The future is held by those currently

politics to strengthen our economy through the creative industries in order to relieve the

accompanies this ‘Waystation’ design, Experience Tomorrow follows the journey of a young

progressing through education, apprenticeships and young professionals. This creative

country’s dependency on the volatile financial services sector. Technological developments

man heading to the festival.

industries park will enhance the South bank and support the surrounding areas of Southwark,

allow developed nations who’s manufacturing industries have diminished to capitalise upon

not only will the retail units be affordable but the facilities will introduce enthusiastic skilled

the creative and cultural economy.

young people into familiar surroundings, at highly competitive rates. By choosing a 2 mile stretch of the South Bank with a popular public promenade it is hoped Based on the principles of open innovation, where new collaborative projects can be conceived,

a synergetic connection between the public and industry can be created. Building from this

developed and delivered. The purpose is in getting these ideas and concepts into use quickly

masterplan we have each chosen projects which will provide a platform to nurture creative

and efficiently, and where possible and appropriate, aiding the commercial development and

talent and public engagement with the creative sectors.

MA rc h 2, MARCH 2013

SKYLINE PIER POTTER’S FEILD, LONDON

MA rc h 2, JANUARY -MAY 2013

MAPPING THE CREATIVE INDUSTRIES SOUTHBANK, LONDON

TOWERS OF INNOVATION POTTER’S FEILD, LONDON

wealth creation that these new projects can produce.

MA rc h 2, MARCH 2013

This project is situated to the north of Somerstown, Portsmouth. A technical college that

The first part of our final third year project includes reading and mapping the city, the approach

The brief to this project stated that a building would be integrated with the existing church

will house approximately 700 students and 50 staff, the students, it is hoped, will become a

here is to sketch the proposed site and its conditions. The purpose of this exercise is to

that remains on the site; the new build would provide a place for the interpretation of the local

community of learning. The proposal for Somerstown Technical Community stems from the

become thoroughly acquainted with as many aspects of the design task as possible, the brief

context for various visitors to the area. With no single definition, or model for an Interpretation

need for educational reform, the governing bodies working towards this scheme feel duty

includes public space, mediathèque facilities , housing and retail.

Centre the brief gave flexibility to create the type of building that would be necessary for the

bound to respond to the increasingly closed environment of which education has become.

area. The grid of Brighton runs north to south towards the seafront, from the districts around the

The concept of the classroom is to ensure learning is interactive and fast paced, the building

seafront, from the districts around the proposed site it is possible to see different urban

Opting for an Architecture Centre after reading ‘Cities for a small planet’ by Sir Richard Rogers

is design with large communal spaces. With the use of the corridor removed from the design,

blocks. From the lanes that are so well known of Brighton, to more open spaces such as the

I discovered the potential of the project; the centre would be the venue for public debates on

as larger open plan spaces act as circulation, and do not allow the social meeting points that

Brighton dome. When travelling to Brighton it was easy to understand the build up of public

strategic plans and architectural competitions. Exhibiting adaptable working models of the

corridors provide. Corridors provide the link from individual classrooms to bigger spaces such

spaces, from public squares to elongated streets, from this the concept was generated.

surrounding area; holding lectures, exhibitions and courses about the city, its architecture

as the atrium space which is devised as a ‘town square’ where the activities of the school site. The public square opens up four entrances (North, East, South and West) by being

information – a vehicle for the citizen to learn and to ensure that the planning professions

With the design of workshops that would reimburse the built community of Somerstown

rotated; his then creates the form of the scheme and the Mediatheque. An elongated street

serve the needs of the public.

through the manufacturing of innovative products. Creating environmental devices that would

runs through the site on the grid of the city. The street houses the main retail and shopping

be replicated throughout the future design of houses and flats, seen as an icon for regeneration

units on the ground floor, with a restaurant and cafe also located close by. The drop in level

throughout the United Kingdom.

of the site is counteracted by a large set of steps and a water feature.

MA rc h 1, SEPT 2011 - MAY 2012

BA3, JANUARY - MAY 2010

INTERPRETATION CENTRE THE REDOUBT, PORTSMOUTH

forums and physical meeting places, providing interaction and access to a broad range of

MEDIATHEQUE JUBLIEE STREET, BRIGHTON

Attempting to create a public space with the urban block and elongated street through the

TECHNICAL COLLEGE SOMERSTOWN, PORTSMOUTH

meet.

and its ecology. In effect an ‘electronic town hall’ has Rogers suggests, both multi-media

BA3, JANUARY - MAY 2010

This project looks to construct an identity for the South bank of London whose value is not purely practical, that strives for beauty, that communicates a cultural value, through trade and innovation. This talent factory will hold an expressive value with social, cultural and economic benefits, defined by inclusiveness of social gathering within the Park. Providing a sustainable environment for creative industries, a point of encounter for collaboration between students, councils and employers. The need for such a project upon the site of Potterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Field is vital to the smaller industries that this park is attempting to promote and revitalise. The future is held by those currently progressing through education, apprenticeships and young professionals. This creative industries park will enhance the South bank and support the surrounding areas of Southwark, not only will the retail units be affordable but the facilities will introduce enthusiastic skilled young people into familiar surroundings, at highly competitive rates. Based on the principles of open innovation, where new collaborative projects can be conceived, developed and delivered. The purpose is in getting these ideas and concepts into use quickly and efficiently, and where possible and appropriate, aiding the commercial development and

TOWERS OF INNOVATION SOUTHBANK, LONDON

wealth creation that these new projects can produce.

20 21

16 22 06 02

Lower ground floor plan

01. More London 3 02. Green theatre 03. CIty Hall 04. Performing arts pavilion 05. Film pavilion 06. Information kiosk 07. Broadcast media pavilion 08. Photography pavilion 09. Arts, crafts and Antiques pavilion 10. Software pavilion 11. Arts pavilions 12. Publishing pavilion 13. Waystation pier 14. Design Pavilion 15. Architecture Pavilion 16. Cafe 17. Fashion pavilion 18. Advertising pavilion 19. Restaurant 20. Lower ground entrance 21. Lower ground foyer 22. Trade hall 23. Lower ground foyer 24. Cafe entrance

View at night over river

04 03 02 01 05

Street side internal

07 08

Axonometric of park 01. Design 02. Architecture 03. Fashion 04. Advertising 05. Lecture hall 06. Summer events area 07. Cafe 08. Information kiosk 09. Waystation pier

View towards towers

Lower public floors

Intermediate office floors

Rooftop cafes

01. Towers

02. Step down towers for south facing light

03. Shift elevations to create axial routes

East elevation

04. Insert circulation cores

05. Join cores to create dynamic workspace

06. Facet elevations to give views towards the river

Site section

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