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The Atlas of Content Investigation aimed to generate an image of the socio-cultural statis of modern day Levenshulme. Ideograms and mapping techniques present data collected from qualitative and quantitative findings.
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Shops Social
Services
My own focus was drawn towards food poverty in Levenshulme. Takeaways and supermarkets seriously limit the opportunity for residents to access healthy, fresh food.
Derelict
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The Filmed Reportage aimed to gain an better understanding of the social and cultural stasis of the area. Through ethnographic research, some interesting points were raised, to be cross referenced with other findings.
‘That used to be the bank, but it became a cash and carry not long ago. Loads of them popping up lately’
‘For me, I think the road is like the artery with the centre being the heart’
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‘Well, it’s a bit dirty if you ask me’
‘There is a lot of great green space, but the council don’t shout about it’
‘You know that there’s lots of people living here just moved into the country’
‘There are great schools, but many of them have very tight catchment areas’
‘There’s not much for kids to do round here, so the graffiti stuff gets really popular’
‘I would say once you get past the McVities factory you’ve left Levenshulme, but it’s very subjective’
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Redrawing given plans highlighted structural and spatial strategies in the unknown precedents.
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The Ford Foundation Headquarters operate over an orthogonal plan with the corner condition enforced by the entrance.
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The station has undergone a number of alterations, largely to coincide with the laying of the cycle track.
Existing railway station predates the 1890s. Currently derelict,it previously housed a computer repair shop.
The site adresses Stockport Road (A9) with a billboard on an empty plot.
There is a 3m level change between the lowest part of the path and the street level. The ground consists of a mixture of used building materials and earth. Underpass leading to Fallowfield and Trafford Park further down.
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Terraced housing forms almost all of the housing stock in Levenshulm. Most of which were constructed between 1900 and 1950.
The cycle path rises to meet the street level at an incline of 1:10, and descends beneath the bridge to the east.
Path leading to Highfield Park and Gorton Reservoirs.
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The site offers up a great deal of geometric information. A simple Figure Ground Study reveals different orientations, and combined with the access networks, a rich set of drawings can be created and analysed
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In section the sites changing gradients could be measured and in turn lofted to prouce accurate topographical information
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Option 2: Arrowhead
Option 1: Shear Canopy
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3: The subverted portal frame.
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Option 4: Space Frame
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Option 5: Edge Folly
Phase 1 saw the implementation of a number of cantilevered structures . Through the process of making,a number of typologies emereged,from portal and space frames, to the hyperbolic paraboloid.
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The parabolic curves are explored, and a number of joining strategies emerge. The double curvature of the module means that a single member is required to join two, in order to avoid torsion in the rods.
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The elements are repeated to create canopy of seven frames.
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Canopy drawing set: 1. Side Elevation 2. Front Elevation 3. Plan
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Constructed with proposed materials, a model gives rise to more options surrounding fixings and joints. Structural loadings become quickly apparent within the cantilevered structure.
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Within the same diagram, iterations emerged. Burdened with insolation patterns for the site, they could be assessed and then applied to the structural system of posts, beams and strip panels.
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1. Solar studies 3.
2. Canopy Isonmetric 3. Plan 4. Elevation 5. Parabolic iterations
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The frames are self illuminated through the use of photovoltaic panels, linked underground to external uplights. As each paraboloid is fixed at just two points, there is potential for the PVs to folow the path of the sun throughout the day and maximise insolation.
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The two structural systems are: 1. Recycled brick columns 2. Rigid alluminium beams, with polypropylene cladding
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The frames form a flexible canopy over a public seating area. Beams cascade with the terrain to follow the landscaping.
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The site is defined entirely by the conouring, necessitating a change in ground planes beneath the canopy. Small openings allow for exchange with the street level.
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The basic tectonics are reliant on pressure dye cast alluminium fixings to join each beam at the either end. Sloping down with the terrain, the user steps up into the canopy from the steps.
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