P2 | MAKESPACE THE DIGITAL FABRICATION FACILITY FOR CREATIVE MAKING AND MATERIAL TESTING NORTHERN QUARTER, MANCHESTER EVGENIA VLACHAKI 110175500
My proposal puts forward a digital fabrication facility set in the urban cityscape of Manchester, in Northern Quarter. The proposed facility will plug into the existing vibrant and creative community of the Northern Quarter providing its consulting services to the numerous design and art studios, fashion ateliers and multiple architecture practices, which surround the site. The project is aiming to combine equipment, expertise and perspectives of making in a way, which considers environmental implications and the fundamental issue of 21st century materiality. It will operate as a multidisciplinary facility containing open access digital fabrication workshop spaces, IT facilities, an exhibition gallery and a laboratory of biomaterials, which will be researching and testing natural polymers (composed with fungi), which could replace the unsustainable 3D printing plastics in the future. [* MakeSpace was initiated with a 3-week digital fabrication workshop aiming to create a ‘Stacking’ structure using a single machined material. This exercise informed my understanding of the workshop requirements and inspired the stacked arrangement of spaces and activity. ]
PROJECT CONTENTS STACKING -DIGITAL FABRICATION PROCESSES -EXHIBITION SITE STUDIES -LOCATION -SHIFTS IN ECONOMY AND BUILDING USES -PLACES OF PRODUCTION | INTENDED USERS -MATERIAL SURFACE | MODELMAKING PROCESS -MATERIAL SURFACE | NORTHERN QUARTER, MANCHESTER -MATERIALS & SURFACES, FRONTS & BACKS -VERTICAL ACCESS TYPOLOGIES -HORIZONTAL ACCESS TYPOLOGIES (VOIDS)
ULTIDISCIPLINARY LAB OF BIOMATERIALS
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH
SITE STRATEGY -CONCEPTS AND STRATEGY
FASHION DESIGNERS
ARCHITECTURE FIRMS
ARTISTS
Researchers
PROGRAMMATIC STUDIES Biologists
SCIENCE & RESEARCH
DESIGN THINKING & MAKING GUIDANCE
Staff
-MAKING CULTURES
Chemists
PROGRAMME
SEARCHERS
PUBLIC
N DESIGNERS, ARCHITECTS
STAFF
OPEN ACCESS PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Fashion Designers Artists
-ACTIVITIES AND USERS The proposed facility will plugTOinto the existing vibrant and creative community of the -SUSTAINABLE 3D PRINTING: FROM PLASTICS NATURAL POLYMERS Northern Quarter providing its consulting services to the numerous design and art studios, fashion ateliers and multiple architecture practices, which surround the site.
Architecture Firms
MAKESPACE -SITE LOCATION 1:500 -SPATIAL STACKING AXO & PLANS 1:200 -SECTION A-A 1:50 (*Please see tube for original drawing) -KEY SPACE | CONSTRUCTION SECTION 1:20 (*Please see tube for original drawing) -PRIMARY DESIGN DRIVER | CIRCULATION & INHABITATION IN THE VOID -1:200 MODEL LABORATORY OF BIOMATERIALS -EXTERNAL VIEWS |FRONT AND BACK
OPEN ACCESS IT SUITE
COMPOSING
INTERIOR PERSPECTIVES -INTERIOR PERSPECTIVES -KEY SPACE | MACHINE WORKSHOP -KEY SPACE | GALLERY
DESIGNING
Mushroom Growing
SOCIAL SPACE
MATERIALS SHOP
**ADDITIONAL WORK: Please see Environment Report for further analysis of the project
IT Research Suite
Main Lab
STACKING Digital Fabrication Processes
RHINO 3D EXPLORATIONS OF FORM
PROTOTYPES & MATERIAL TESTING
WORKSHOP INTENTIONS This three-week making workshop explored the cutting of real panel materials and techniques of stacking to form vertical freestanding structures. In our group of four we worked collectively with a single material, paperboard, to test its qualities and posibilities of stacking using the material in the most efficient way. In order to achieve a high standard of workmanship we engaged with learning how to use the Laser cutting machine.
STACKING MATERIAL Dufaylite’s Ultraboard Universal PROCESS Sectioning and subtraction
1:1 Slot testing was essential to ensure that the ribs structure will secure the paperboard rings
FINAL DESIGN COMPONENTS
1:5 PROTOTYPES
No.1 Prototype:
No.2 Prototype:
No.3 Prototype:
A tower stucture with multiple ribs to support the plates. Voids were introduced for economic use of the material.
Minimizing the ribs to reveal more of the rings and pushing the form to a more organic and taller shape, inspired by volcanic sections.
Rationalizing the shape and learning from prototypes No.1 and No.2, supporting the structure from four sides.
FABRICATION TEMPLATES & LASER CUTTING A1
A2
A5
A4
A3
B1
A10
A9
A8
B2
A11
B4
A7
A6
B3
B8 A16
A15
A14 A12
B7
A18
A17
B6
A13
B5
A29
A19
A22
A21
A31
A30
A23
A27
A26
A25
A35
A34
A33
A32
A24
A28
B10
B13
A36
A37 B12 A39
A38
A40
A41
B11
B9
A20
A42
A43
A44
A45 A46
A47
Testing the right speed and power of the Laser cutter for 6mm paperboard
A48
A49
A50
A51
A52
A53
A54
In order to test our structure and alternative designs we created laser cut prototypes at 1:5 scale using grey card since it had similar qualities to the Dufaylite honeycomb paperboard.
ASSEMBLY
STACKING Exhibition
1:1 STACKING MODEL
DISCOVERING THE VOIDS
INSTIGATING DISCUSSION
1:5 STACKING PROTOTYPE
SITE STUDY | LOCATION Northern Quarter, Manchester
Ancoats
Northern Quarter
New Islington
Manchester, UK
Piccadilly Gardens
The site, Port Street view
SITE STUDY | SHIFTS IN ECONMY AND BUILDING USES Northern Quarter, Manchester
FUTURE REGENERATION
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
1783 PRODUCTION
1840s
VICTORIAN ERA
1900s
1970s
1980s
PRODUCTION RETAIL
Manchester Becomes the world capital of the textile industry
Stevenson Square and Oldham Street Known for frequent political speeches and public debates
1912
Manchester
Peak of cotton industry growth
Mills are closing down
Clothing manufacture and wholesale trade prevail
Old industrial and warehouse buildings were converted into flats
SERVICES. RETAIL. HOUSING.
SERVICES
HOUSING
Warehouses are being converted into: Bars and cafes Restaurants Night clubs Clothes shops Fashion studios Photography studios Music shops
Manchester's first cotton mill on Miller Street
Formerly the fish and poultry market, the Victorian building, which has a huge glass roof, has been converted to provide a complex of two storeys of small studios with a cafe in the central space.
The buildings of Manchester's premier department store of the nineteenth century became vacant in the 1970s. The complex of nine buildings is being developed by Urban Splash to house a fitness centre, shops and apartments.
Construction of Smithfield Gardens housing estate
Oldham Street Affluent, with warehouses and shops, many of whose merchants lived within their shop premises
PRESENT
1990s
Development of Smithfield Market
Street dancing culture emerged
Manchester Craft Centre, Oak Street
Brownsfield room and power mill, Great Ancoats Road Old buildings converted to contain small shops for businesses such as retro clothing, tattooing and body piercing.
Brownsfield mill becomes UK’s first aviation factory, Great Ancoats Road
Afflecks Palace and Arcade, Oldham Street The Coliseum, Church Street
Smithfield Buildings, Oldham Street
Brownsfield mill is now vacant and will be renovated to host offices and shops, Great Ancoats Road
SITE STUDY | PLACES OF PRODUCTION | INTENDED USERS Northern Quarter, Manchester
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35 34
27 28 18
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16
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30
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31 10
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INFORMATION PRODUCTION
CONSUMABLE PRODUCTION
CLOTHES AND FABRIC WHOLESHALE 2. Rawson Terry Folia Ltd, FashineSense 3. Shubette 4. Taylor Mark 6. J & B textile 5. Ellis Franks Ltd m+r agencies Dawson Michael 15. Studio Clothing 17. Jam Agent 19. Marco Clothing 25. Philday Partnership 27. Mediacom-Active 29. The Lacamanda Group Absolute 30. Arabesque 31. Marco Trading Co Ltd 32. Jogo
SOFTWARE CREATION 5. CTI WebDevelopment 6. Eclipse Interactive Ltd. 25. Textmimedia 26. WilsonLIVE Web
PUB/BAR 2. 2022NQ 7. Dusk Til Pawn 9. Roadhouse 14. Cuba cafe Port Street Beer House 28. The Fitzgerald 32. Kosmonaut, The Whiskey Jar 36. Foo Foo s Palace
BICYCLE REPAIR 16. Keep Pedalling Limited
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11 9
8
14 12
3 33
12
17
7 29
GOODS PRODUCTION
COMMERSIAL PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS 6. Consumer and Media Intelligence 14. Large Publishing 15. Minuteman Press Manchester 29. The Unsigned Guide 31. Radge Media LTD t/a The Skinny 33. Empire Publications
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32 26
PRESENT DAY 2014
13
GRAPHIC DESIGNER 4. Modern Designers At It Design 5. Stardotstar Reform Creative Limited Cheap Leaflet Printing A to M graphic 6. Glorious creative 10. Hobs Studio Manchester 13. True North 25. Worship Digital 29. Pixel8 Ltd The Neighbourhood 33. WAVex Media StevePrescott.com 34. Sport Specific
RESTAURANT 9. Massimo Fashion 33. Go Falafel TAKE AWAY 12. Kebabis 34. Golden Tandoori 35. Larosa Pizza
PHOTOGRAPHY 6. People Staring Flawless Photography Studio ARCHITECTURAL FIRM 6. Reid Architect 5. 12/23 Architecture Design Ltd. 15. Archer Architects 27. O'Connell East Architects 5plus Architects 31. ArchitectureM33. AJ Maullin & Associates Architect Design Partnership LLP MUSIC PRODUCTION 14. Oscillate Studio - Recording Studio
14
PLACES OF PRODUCTION
25
In the Norther Quarter area of Manchester production has shifted from the Industrial times’ mass goods manufacture to mainly information and consumables production. GOODS PRODUCTION
29 INFORMATION PRODUCTION
CONSUMABLE PRODUCTION INDUSTRIAL PERIOD 1910
30
SITE STUDY | MATERIAL SURFACE Modelmaking Process
MODEL INTENTIONS To convey a true sense of the materials within the designated site we decided to categorise each building into a particular material and cast with representative materials. To add emphasis to the cast buildings it was important to provide a simple base which complimented the colours of the materials, for this we used Birch Plywood.
Preparing CNC templates for mouldmaking
Preparing Laser cutter templates for mouldmaking A. BUILDING BLOCKS MANUFACTURE Handmade due to various constraints
CNC routing would reduce the accuracy of buildings’ shape
Laser cutter is out of service
Sanding and finishing rough surfaces
Finished block
Breaking the moulds
Pouring the mixtures into the moulds
Mixing cement, sand, plaster, brick dye to create different material mixtures
FINAL MODEL
Some of the blocks were unsuccessful, so we had to re-cast.
C. CANAL MANUFACTURE Digital Fabrication: Laser cutting acrylic
B. BASE MANUFACTURE (Digital Fabrication: CNC milling Birtch Plywood)
Engraving the road network
Cutting the outline
Sanding and waxing
Resorting to manual cutting of individual MDF moulds to maintain accuracy
SITE STUDY | MATERIAL SURFACE Northern Quarter, Manchester
MATERIAL SURFACE SITE MODEL
MATERIAL SURFACES IN DETAIL
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ELEMENTAL REPRESENTATION 1:500
2
1
5 8
4
12
15
3 13
SITE
9
11
6 10
7
14
16 17
17
Terracotta brick
White glazed brick
Granite MODEL DETAILS
Stock brick
White render brick
Sandstone
Engineering Brick
Concrete
Glass
SITE STUDY | MATERIALS & SURFACES, FRONTS & BACKS Northern Quarter, Manchester
1
2
3
6
4
5
1
7
SECONDARY ROAD Port Street
PRIMARY ROAD Newton Street
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Main surface: Rendered concrete and glazing Side entrance: Stone tile cladding
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Main surface: Engineering brick Embellishment: Recessed openings and sandstone detailing
Main surface: Two types of brick Embellishment: Recessed openings and granite detailing on ground floor
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3
BUILDING FACADES VISIBLE FROM THE SITE
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2
Main surface: Engineering brick Embellishment: Sandstone detailing on ground floor and attic
Main surface: Engineering brick Embellishment: Sandstone detailing on ground floor
SITE STUDY | MATERIALS & SURFACES, FRONTS & BACKS Northern Quarter, Manchester
6 4 7
6
Main surface: Engineering brick Embellishment: Sandstone detailing on ground floor and attic
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Main surface: Engineering brick Embellishment: Sandstone detailing on ground floor
Main surface: Rough, decayed brick Lightwell: Glazed brick cladding to reflect light Embellishment: Street art piece
5 8
8
Main surface: Red brick Embellishment: Recessed openings and sandstone detailing
Main surface: Engineering brick Embellishment: Recessed openings, sandstone detailing and white render on ground floor
Main surface: Red brick Embellishment: Recessed openings and sandstone detailing
Main surface: Rough brick Partly rendered grey
SITE STUDY | HORIZONTAL ACCESS TYPOLOGIES (VOIDS) Northern Quarter, Manchester PRIMARY ROUTES
SECONDARY ROUTES
ALLEYWAYS & THROUGHWAYS
ALLEYWAYS & THROUGHWAYS TYPOLOGIES
HORIZONTAL ACCESS ROUTES
2
1
4
5
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ROUTE HIERARCHY 1:2500
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Site
Cul de sac Throughway
Primary routes Secondary routes Alleyways & throughways Canal
Open Sheltered
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IN DETAIL: EXPLORING DISTINCT ALLEYWAY TYPOLOGY AND USE
EXTERNAL ALLEYWAY
FIRE ESCAPE
SERVICING
CUL DE SAC
WASTE DISPOSAL PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES
USE
PARKING
INTERNAL ALLEYWAY
SERVICING
THROUGHWAY STORAGE
DELIVERY PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES
USE
SITE STUDY | VERTICAL ACCESS TYPOLOGIES Northern Quarter, Manchester
VERTICAL ACCESS TYPOLOGIES GOODS
A. CRANES
PEOPLE
B. STAIRCASES
BUILDING MATERIALS
C. SCAFFOLDING
WATER
A. DUCTS
B. PIPES
LIGHT
A. LIGHTWELLS
SITE STUDY | CONCEPT & STRATEGY Northern Quarter, Manchester
FRONT & BACK
EXPANDING ABOVE THE ROOFLINE
REFLECTING THE VOID
The sites between Newton street, a primary two way road, and Port street a secondary road. My design intention is to utilize the facade facing Newton Street as the front elevation of the building including the main entrance and gallery space on the ground floor. Facades will be treated accordingly to reflect the active relationship with Newton Str. while the Port Str. facade is to be considered as the “back of house�, with material deliveries arriving through the back door.
By stacking spaces and activity above the average building height of the area (5 storey) the building will offer: a. additional floor area for the required programmatic activities b. skyline views of Manchester and the hills.
The void of the adjacent property is being reflected in the building as a reference to the industrial typology of Manchester warehouses. The void will become act as an atrium space hosting the main circulation staircase.
PO
NEW T
ON
PO
RT STR .
STR .
NE W TON
Goods delivery
PO
RT STR .
NEW T
STR .
ON
RT STR .
STR .
Main entrance
Rising above 5 storeys Primary/Busy Street
Typical roof level Ground level
Existing voids
Secondary Street
10.5m
Reflected void
5.5m
SITE
SITE
SITE
PROGRAMATIC STUDIES| MAKING CULTURES
MULTIPLE USE DEVELOPMENT STUDIOS FOR HIRE
CASE STUDY: CADS, SHEFFIELD A multi-purpose art space in Sheffield providing affordable studio and exhibition space for artists and other creatives.
OFFICES
INTERLINKED SPACES
ART WORKSHOP
DIGITAL LAB HIGH CEILINGS
24hour creative culture
NIGHTLIFE EVENT SPACE
MEETING SPACE OPEN PLAN, ROBUST CONSTRUCTION EXHIBITION SPACE ASSEMBLY, PERFORMANCE & DISPLAY SPACE CHOPSHOP: CNC MAKING WORKSHOP
EXTERNAL COURTYARD
1A BECOME MEMBER
2B LEARN
CASE STUDY: INSTITUTE OF MAKING, LONDON A multidisciplinary research club for those interested in the made world: from makers of molecules to makers of buildings, synthetic skin to spacecraft, soup to diamonds, socks to cities. Its mission is to provide all makers with a creative home in which to innovate, contemplate and understand all aspects of materials and an inspiring place to explore their relationship to making.
1A INVENT NEW MATERIALS
2A TEST
3 DISPLAY
4 CHOOSE MATERIALS
Outdoor extension of making
5 DESIGN
6 MAKE
Educational Workshops
7 EXHIBIT
Talks intergrated in the workshop space
PROGRAMME | A MULTIDISCIPLINARY LAB OF BIOMATERIALS
MULTI-DISCIPLINARY APPROACH
Activities & Users
FASHION DESIGNERS
ARCHITECTURE FIRMS
ARTISTS
Researchers
Biologists
SCIENCE & RESEARCH
DESIGN THINKING & MAKING GUIDANCE
Staff
Chemists
USERS SCIENTISTS & RESEARCHERS
PUBLIC
ARTISTS, FASHION DESIGNERS, ARCHITECTS
STAFF
OPEN ACCESS PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Fashion Designers Artists
The proposed facility will plug into the existing vibrant and creative community of the Northern Quarter providing its consulting services to the numerous design and art studios, fashion ateliers and multiple architecture practices, which surround the site. Architecture Firms
OPEN ACCESS IT SUITE LABORATORY OF BIOMATERIALS
COMPOSING DESIGNING Mushroom Growing
SOCIAL SPACE
Main Lab
MATERIALS SHOP
IT Research Suite
STANDARD MATERIALS
NATURAL POLYMER PRODUCTS
SHARING KNOWLEDGE
WORKSHOP SPACES
GALLERY
MAKING
CONSULTING MEETING SPACES
KNOWING
EXHIBITING
PROGRAMME | LAB FOR SUSTAINABLE 3D PRINTING From Plastics to Natural Polymers
MATERIALITY CONSIDERATIONS: TOWARDS A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
PROBLEM NOW
SOLUTION FUTURE
3D PRINTING WITH PLASTICS
3D PRINTING WITH BIOPOLYMERS
Today, 3D printing is being advertised as a revolution in making and with unit cost of printers constantly dropping, designers and hobbyists will be making legions of objects out of toxic plastic. So the main problem of this process is its unsustainable relationship to our ecosystem. The current material platform used is largely based on oil-based plastics, compounds that do not do well in ecosystems and do not fit in natures recycling system.
Mycelium (Fungi roots)+ Water+Cropwaste A natural polymer for 3D printing
ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) Polycarbonate Thermoplastics
MUSHROOM PROCESSING 1
Nylon
2
3
5
4
PPSF
BIO-DEGRADABLE
TOXIC WASTE Irridation & humidification
Growth (2weeks)
Harvesting fungi, seperating mycelium root system
Mixing water + crop waste+ mycelium
3D printing with the new natural polymer
My proposal will aim to combine equipment, expertise and perspectives of making in a way, which considers environmental implications and the fundamental issue of 21st century materiality. It will operate as a multidisciplinary facility containing open access workshop spaces and IT facilities, and a laboratory of biomaterials, which will be researching and testing natural polymers, which could replace the unsustainable plastics in the future.
MAKESPACE | SITE LOCATION SCALE 1:500
MAKESPACE | SPATIAL STACKING AXO
MAKESPACE | PLANS 1:200
6F 1 Mushroom growing room
5F 1 Laboratory of biomaterials 2 IT Research Suite & 3D printers
4F 1 Social flexi space _lounge and events 2 External terrace cafe
4
1 3F Workshop II: 1 3D printing/handtools/manual machines 2 Tech support desk Workshop III: 3 Assembly space 4 Consulting staff desks
2
2F 1 Open acces IT suite 2 Printing Room 3 Flexible meeting/projection room
B
2 1F Workshop I : 1 Tech support desk 2 Large machines 3 Materials’ shop 4 Consulting staff desks B
SCALE 1:125 (Resized from original 1:100)
5
3
GF
1
1 Main entrance 2 Reception 3 Gallery 4 Public cafe 5 Delivery door
1
N
Public access Private access
BF 1 Plantroom 2 Server room
MAKESPACE | PLANS 1:200
1
AL STACKING AXO
MAKESPACE | PLANS 1:200
6F 1 Mushroom growing room
2 1
6F 1 1 Mushroom growing room
5F 1 Laboratory of biomaterials 2 IT Research Suite & 3D printers 2
2
1
5F 1 Laboratory of biomaterials 2 IT Research Suite 1 & 3D printers
4F 1 Social flexi space _lounge and events 2 External terrace cafe 2
4
3
1
4F 1 Social flexi space _lounge and events 2 External terrace cafe 2
1 3F Workshop II: 1 3D printing/handtools/manual machines 2 Tech support desk Workshop III: 3 Assembly space 4 Consulting staff desks
4
3
1
2
3
3F Workshop II: 1 3D printing/handtools/manual machines 2 Tech support desk Workshop III: 3 Assembly space 4 Consulting staff desks 1
2
2F 1 Open acces IT suite 2 Printing Room 3 Flexible meeting/projection room 3
3 2
B
1
2F 1 Open acces IT suite 2 Printing Room 1 3 Flexible meeting/projection room
2 1F Workshop I : 1 Tech support desk 2 Large machines 3 Materials’ shop 4 Consulting staff desks B
3
B
A 5
4 2
1
1F Workshop I : 1 Tech support desk 2 Large machines 3
3 Materials’ shop 2 staff desks 4 Consulting B
al 1:100)
GF
1
1 Main entrance 2 Reception 3 Gallery 4 Public cafe 5 Delivery door
A
A 5
4
1
2 3 2
GF
1
1 Main entrance 2 Reception 3 Gallery 4 Public cafe 5 Delivery door
A
N
Public access Private access
BF 1 Plantroom 2 Server room 1
N
Public access Private access
BF 1 Plantroom 2 Server room
2
MAKESPACE SECTION A-A 1:50 (Resized; not to scale)
MAKESPACE | KEY SPACE
1:20 SECTION
CONSTRUCTION SECTION B-B 1:20 (Resized; Not to scale.)
1 CLADDING Perforeted corten steel cladding panels 2 EXTERNAL GROWING BALCONY Mushroom growing level 50mm Substrate 40m Drainage layer Protection layer 150mm Mineral wool insulation Vapour barrier Metal coping L- section 200mm concrete slab
B
4 WORKSHOP CEILING
7 STAIRCASE
9 GLAZING WINDOW/WALL
11 GALLERY CEILING
Acoustic light system: Threaded roads attached to slab Supporting bar Acoustic pad Apparture for luminaire (fluorescent tube downlighter)
Steel channel sections 20mm Plywood cladding Transparent varnish finish
External Shading: Horizontal aerofoil corten fixed louvers
Acoustic light system: Threaded roads attached to slab Supporting bar Acoustic pad Track lighting (directional)
5 ATRIUM VENTILATION
8 INTERNAL ACOUSTIC GLAZING
Motorised adjustable grills
Stratobell acoustic double glazing: 4mm glass Air gap 4mm glass PVB acoustic insulation layer 4mm glass
6 INTERIOR WALLS 25mm plasterboard mat finish 25mm MDF sheet Steel Channel Sections 40mm acoustic insulation Air gap 25mm MDF sheet 25mm plaster board white mat finish Shadow gap detail
3 PRINTING ROOM FLOOR
B
20mm linoleum 80mm screed 200mm in-situ concrete slab 500x250mm concrete beam
1.100 Plan 1F
Glazing: 50mm Safety laminated acoustic glazing Aluminum frame Internal Shading: Blinds on plasterboard fixed on concrete slab/beam Natural ventilation system: Fixed external weather louvres Insect screen
12 GALLERY FLOOR / FOUNDATIONS Plywood floor: Transparent varnish finish 20mm plywood flooring 80mm x 80mm timber studs 10mm floor board 150mm mineral wool insulation Vapour barrier 150mm concrete blinding
10 WORKSHOP FLOOR 100mm pre-fab polished concrete floor 200mm in-situ concrete slab 500x250mm concrete beam
Foundations: Concrete Pile foundations
1 3
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MAKESPACE | KEY DESIGN DRIVER CIRCULATION & INHABITATION IN THE VOID
PRECEDENT: DE BURGEMEESTER OFFICE BY STUDIONINCEDOTS By offering views of all floors, the staircase tells occupants that they are part of a larger world.
INITIAL STAIRCASE DESIGN
DEVELOPMENT: FINAL STAIRCASE DESIGN
VISUAL CONNECTIONS
To encourage the multidisciplinary approach of sharing expertise across makers, staff and scientists a bespoke circulation staircase has been designed at the core of the building inside a void atrium.
Landings have been designed wider to provide opportunities of inhabitation inside the void (atrium). The staircase as a tool for communication, lends the building a collective identity and a social space where people can meet.
The staircase wraps around the void creating views into the various rooms, allowing users to peer into the various activities and leads to the social floor where users of all disciplines will come together to exchange ideas.
MAKESPACE | MODEL SCALE 1:200
FRONT | NEWTON STR.
BACK | PORT STR.
MAKESPACE | EXTERNAL PERSPECTIVES FRONT & BACK
FRONT | NEWTON STREET The alternate recessing slabs of the main facade demonstrate it’s active relationship to the busy, two way street. Indoor activity is partly revealed to the public, acting as a “shop front”.
BACK FACADE | DESIGN DEVELOPMENT
MAKESPACE | EXTERNAL PERSPECTIVES FRONT & BACK
INITIAL DESIGN
FINAL DESIGN
The SE facing facade was initially largely glazed to expose internal activity to passers-by. Due to its orientation though, a solar shading strategy will have to be implemented to reduce overheating, especially for higher floors.
Following the review, changes have been made on the SE facade of the building facing Port Street to ensure that adequate solar shading is provided. This is achieved with the use of adjustable shading devices made out of perforated corten steel.
ADJUSTABLE SHADING
BACK | PORT STREET The Port Street facade is to be considered as the “back of house”, with material deliveries arriving through the back door.
PERFORATED
There are three options on each solar shade to allow for precise user control all year round. Each shading panel can be adjusted independently, diffusing light and allowing SE facing rooms to be shaded differently according to internal activities.
MAKESPACE | INTERIOR PERSPECTIVES
“Entering through the gallery” (GF)
“3D Printing & Handtools’ Workshop” (3F)
“Laboratory of biomaterials; view of the Manchester skyline” (5F)
MAKESPACE | INTERIOR PERSPECTIVE
“Interacting with the void” (5F)
MAKESPACE | INTERIOR PERSPECTIVES KEY SPACE: GALLERY (GF)
GF
EXHIBITION SPACE Artists, fashion designers and small architecture firms of Northern Quarter are offered a space to exhibit their work and the objects made in the facility. The gallery is supplemented by a public cafe facing Port Street. CONNECTION WITH THE VOID Looking up the atrium, gallery visitors get a taste of the making activities occuring at the floors above.
MAKESPACE | INTERIOR PERSPECTIVES KEY SPACE: Machine Workshop (1F)
1F
TOOLS The Machine Workshop offers digital fabrication making tools such as 2 laser cutters, a 3D metal printing robot and a CNC router placed in a small room within the main space to reduce noise. CONNECTION WITH THE VOID Glazed internal openings allow visual connections with the main circulation staircase.