The Living Column

1/1 spring 2016

feidhlim o’neill high density housing, Nantes, France

[The Living Column]

Early Design, Public Square

The Living Column Feidhlim O’Neill

The Living Column Concept

01 The Living Column

Ile des Nantes is a 337 hectares, 5 kilometres long island situated on the banks of the Loire River,Nantes, France. The collapse of the city’s shipbuilding industry in the 1980s was the catalyst to devise a masterplan for the Ile. A plan that which will ultimately transfer the city’s cultural, healthcare and government buildings form the Medieval Town across the Loire to the island.

The Living Column is a vital component in the Ile’s masterplan; the building responds to the need for a dense housing typology, while acting as an orientating device for those moving throughout the island. The classical language [Plinth, Column, Pediment] employed within the design illustrates the power shift from monarchy to the common man, established during the French Revolution.

The building clad in white marble, a material usually reserved for the aristocracy acts as monument to man, a counter point to the Palais de Justice; an all black land scraping building of monumental proportions representing local government.

Noyades de Nantes 1793-1794

02 Noyades de Nantes

The Noyades de Nantes [also known as The Drownings at Nantes] was a four month period from November 1793 to February 1794 where as many as 9,000 members of the public were drowned in the Loire River by the Royalist Jean-Baptiste Carrier.

During the French Revolution the mass executions were justified under the Law of Suspects, Carrier was judge, juror and executioner. Despite the tragic deaths of men, women and children there is no memorial to commemorate this act of terror in Nantes.

The Living Column acts as a memorial to these victims, rising above the surrounding political and government buildings illustrating the resilience of common man to overcome adversity.

Les Machines Nantes, 1756 de L’Ile

03 Contextual Studies

Cathedral Tour Bretagne

Castle

Medieval Town

Pedestrian Bridge

Hospital

Loire River

Palais des Justice

Site

Les Machines

Ile de Nantes

N

Understanding the Urban Fabric Nante’s Medieval Town situated on the banks of the Loire River is a compact and dense settlement. The Medieval walls once protected the city from siege while separating the undesirables from the higher classes. Elements of this past can still be read in the city’s street layout.

Government

Commercial Monarchy

Entertainment

Economic

N

District Landmark Minor Pedestrian Node Major Pedestrian Node Permeable Edge Semi-Permeable Edge Impermeable Edge Under used Pedestrian Route Minor Pedestrian Route Major Pedestrian Route

Cathedral Tour Bretagne

Castle

Medieval Town

N

Study Area

Medieval Town

Courtyard Typology

N

Ile des Nantes

Traditional French Courtyard Typology The traditional courtyard housing typology is evident when travelling around the Meideval Town. The courtyard as well as allowing natural light to enter the apartments doubles up as a common meeting area. One negative aspect of this typology is the lack of permeability. The strong external edge forces the traveler around the periphery of the block.

A

D

B

E

Proportion of 1:2.6 The block is divided into 4 smaller blocks

C

Thick load-bearing external walls free the interior Further structural support from the chimney stacks People from sub-blocks do not meet

A B C D E

Living Room, Initial Design

03 Design Development

View across Loire from Pedestrian Bridge

Existing Site An old industrial yard, the site is surrounded by a mixture of architectural styles ranging from the 17th - 20th Century.

Government Residential Commercial Office Creative/ Cultural

Ideal Pedestrian Movement

N

Existing site is a warren of back alleys and awkward spaces. An existing 2 storey car park blocks direct movement from the Medieval Town to Les Machines.

Tower Orientation The Living Column is situated on the South West area of the site, defining a new public square to the North.

Public Viewing Gallery Residential Art Gallery Restaurant/ Theatre

Pedestrian Movement The Living Column is designed to be permeable for pedestrians. Allowing them to move easily from the Ile De Nantes and the Medieval Town.

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F N

A B C D E F G H I 0m

Pedestrian Bridge across Loire

F

Palais de Justice New Public Square

I

Noyades Memorial Sculpture Plinth, Public Courtyard World War II Bunkers Ile des Nantes Gallery Existing Office Block 19th Century Bistro

5

15

35

A

B

G

G

Public Square on the Plinth

South Elevation

0m

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View toward Western Elevation

B

A

G

E

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Entrance Foyer

C

+1.2m

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Public Square Noyades Memorial Sculpture Plinth Public Entrance Foyer Post Delivery Area Storage Room Plant Room Stairs to Basement

A B C D E F G

C

D

Sculpture and Painting Gallery

B

+18m

A

Core Painting Gallery Double Height Sculpture Gallery Permenant Collection Gallery

A B C D

N

0m

1

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Shower overlooking the Medieval Town

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H

G

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Typology One

F

C

2 Apartment per Floor

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Core Communal Area Storage Bathroom Double Bedroom Kitchen Pantry Living Area

E

A

A B C D E F G I

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E

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Typology Two

E A

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3 Apartments per Floor Core Bathroom Single Bedroom Kitchen/ Living Storage

D

A B C D E

N

0m

1

5

10

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Plant Room/ Basement Public Square Entrance Foyer Gallery One Sculpture Gallery Gallery Two Gallery Three Audio- Visual Gallery Housing Typology One

I

A B C D E F G H

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Housing Typology Two

J

10

15

J

H

G E F

D

C B

A

0m

5

Early Design, Noyades Memorial

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The Living Column

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