3.1 [CPU]ai The Elsewhere Agora Hubert Sokołowski 20001000
21 Design Thinking 03 Client Analysis POSITION 11 Faculty Anatomy 12 Taxonomy of Challenges 14 Theoretical Position 04 Site Analysis 13 Design Drivers 16 Defining the Challenge 18 Programme and The Users 19 Developing Programme and the Brief 20 Precedents for Proposition PROPOSITION 22 Programme Development 30 Generative Diagramming 27 Futures Thinking 31 Site Masterplan 32 Iterative Planning PROPOSAL 45 Structural Considerations 46 Planar Outputs 36 Dissecting the Project 44 Rules and Regulations 49 Climate Emergency and Zero Carbon Futures 50 Future Development REFLECTION 02
MAKING THE CHANGE
IT
MMU ENVIRONMENTAL
AND
THE CLIENT[s] The brief for the project was generated from the ideas presented by the client: Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care + Faculty of Edu cation and the MMU Estate. Faculty ofHealth, Psyc hology andSocial Care AMY N E WTONDirectorofFaculty Planning&Operations MAT T HILL MMU Estate s Department AssistantDirector Cap ital Developmentat MMU 17/18 21/22 -426 +407 1000 Number of Students Faculty of Education Population: 7687 Population: 7668 Faculty of Health, Psychology & Social Care FACULTY OF HEALTH, PSYCHOLOGY & SOCIAL CARE Nursing Psychology Speech and Language Therapy Social Care and Social Work Physiotherapy FACULTY OF EDUCATION Childhood, Youth and Education Studies Teacher Education and Professional Development SPATIAL Green Energy focus Specialized Spaces Growth SIMULATION WELCOMING VR Study flat 500 staff
Research & Knowledge exchange Comfortable Daylight For All Internalisation KEEP
SIMPLE REFLECT AMBITIONS Shared facilitiesEducation Mental Health 6000 MMU ESTATE PERFORMANCE Property Condition Functional Suitability Space Utilisation Property Running Costs Environmental Sustainability EMERGING INITIATIVES International Study Centre Study & Social Space Smarter Working Environments Shared teaching facilities Post-Graduate Accommodation Improve carbon & energy literacy Promote sustainability and energy efficiency Reduce emissions and achieve Carbon Zero
PLANS
AIMS 03
MMU REALM CITY GATEWAY THE SITE BUSINESS SCHOOL BROOKS BUILDING THE SITE CAMPUSSPINE GEOFFREY MANTON BUILDING GROSVENOR BUILDING 04
SITE ANALYSIS & THE PATHS
Connection mostly occurs from the northern side of the site. A foot bridge and a bicycle path connects the site with the rest of the campus.
There is a lot of green areas around the site with a lot of wild bush areas which promote antisocial activities
The site remains exposed to the sun throughout the year with no tall structures overshadowing the site.
The calm wind mostly blows from the SSW and W directions through out the year. Strong wind gusts mostly occur from the W direction.
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JOURNEY TO THE SITE
The journey to the site taken by a student on foot and on a bike can help understand how the site can accommodate the needs of the users. 1.1 1. 2. 1.2 1.3 2.1 2.2 2.3 06
SITE MODEL 1:500 07
THE SITE SECTION 08
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE TO THE SITE 09
Currently, the site is home to a print service building. The building is a renovated car showroom with an old and inefficient structure which can be recycled for the project.
PRE-EXISTING STRUCTURE
PRINT SERVICES 10
CASE STUDY: BROOKS BUILDING
DIVISION
Brooks Building is located right next to the site of the project. This MMU building constructed in 2016 houses the Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care, as well as the Faculty of Educa tion under one roof. It is therefore “the home’ of one project’s client.
EFFECTIVE
Area
and building
Social
Cafe Catering SHARED SPACE NOT OPTIMIZED SPACE WITH ACOUSTIC PROBLEMS LESS
COLLABORATION CLEAR FACULTY
EMPTY LIGHT ATRIUM
Growing department
adaptability Department spread over two distant locations Sound reverberation and structural vibrations Utilising specialised spaces Mitigating narrow and claustrophobic spaces Balance between shared and individual spaces 11
BROOKS
Greenery around the site creates a calming environment
PV roof installation and proximity to the Energy Centre
Goods lift and side delivery area help with equipment circulation
PNearby multi-storey car park prevents parking congestion
P P
MMU Student Residence
The surroundings of Brooks building in context of Studio 3.1 Site Princess Road
The heavy fastmoving traffic causes noise pollution
Distance and the path to the main campus is a challenge
Single main entrance reduces the flow inside and around the site
Public transport infrastructure is very limited
Studio 3.1 Site
CONTEXT
Deansgate Towers Beetham Tower MMU All Saints Campus
Hulme Arch Bridge
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DESIGN DRIVERS
All the listed keywords are related to the site or the client and have occurred during the brief creation process. The highlighted keywords are the ones that were mentioned most frequently and tend to resonate within the site and the clients.
Below is a mind map which later developed from the keywords into an initial programme
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FLOOD
Such flood is not likely to occur in this area. However, it is a scary image, which is much more realistic in other places around the world.
THE
2050: Future of Campus
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This is image shows an event that is very likely to happen if we do not change the way in which we ignore climate change. How can we change?
MIAMI, USA Uncontrolled Storm Surge
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MANIFESTO
Climate Change is not a new topic. We have known about this issue for decades, yet no significant progress has been made to combat this problem. Why is that so?
The problem lies within us. Our behavioural patterns have proven to push the issue aside. The changes in climate occur slowly, enough for us to ignore the issue. We do not see the effects each individual action has on the environment due to our pluralistic ignorance. Nevertheless, all of us will be affected by climate change, however, some of us will be affected more than others in a different location.
We need to understand how to better educate ourselves and future generations. We need to better understand our behaviour and what influences our daily choices that impact the environment. We need to understand that climate change is important even if it does not affect us as much at home. Lastly, we need to understand how to do all this without inducing eco-anxiety.
DEFINING THE CHALLENGES
WELCOMING
How can people be invited with design features?
Design which makes the users comfortable and reduces eco-anxiety.
SIMULATION
How can real life conditions be simulated effectively?
Design which simulates real-life and allows users to experience remote situations.
SPATIAL
How to ensure that the rooms are efficiently used for various purposes?
Maximise the efficiency of spaces without posing spatial constrains by introducing collaboration of spaces.
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RELOCATION MODEL AND THE USERS
Analysing client’s needs allows to understand which programme is the most beneficial and the range of users it can reach.
The relocation models helped to understand which programmes are the best fit for the site and how issues the client is facing could be resolved.
FUTURE GROWTH AND SHRINKAGE
The problems of the Faculty of Health, Psychology and Social Care (FoH,P&SC) could be resolved on a new site. However, the growth issue might not be resolved. Eventually, the site would become the new “Brooks”.
Relocating Nutrition closer to Brooks could help reconnect the campus. After contacting the nutrition department representative, they stated that they are happy in their current home of Righton.
Education might redevelop with the new fresh adaptable environment. More space is given to FoH, P & SC which can grow easily.
Psychology students Mancunian families Education students The faculty academics
Future Generation
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CLIMATE EDUCATION CORES
Through an extensive research we can discover that the climate education consists of three major elements. A balance and collaboration between these cores leads to a better education standard and improved environmental awareness and actions.
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UNPRECEDENTED EMERGENCY
This collage represents ideas from different environmental education centres.
However, up till now there is no research centre examining and educating about the effects of our behavioural patterns on climate change and vice versa.
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Title 21
CLIMATE CHANGE EDUCATION LIBRARY wc Study Reading Room Office PSYCHOLOGY + EDUCATION LABS Sensory Simulation Interview Room Climate Education Simulation Classroom Interview Observation Room Interview Observation Room Familiar Setting Interview Room AWARNESS Theatre [The New Simulation Theatre] wc Staff Offices IT Storage GREEN FOOD COURT wc Servery + Sitting Area Kitchen Storage local community local products Control Room Control Room Control Room Storage Waiting Room Children Waiting Room Meet. Room Meet. Room Clean. Comp. Meet. Room research findings community Control Room Reception AGORA [MEETING SPACE] PRINCESSROAD EPPINGWALK FOOTBRIDGE ACTION EXHIBITS PRIMARY SCHOOL PROGRAMME REVISITED 22
INITIAL CONCEPTS 23
VOLUMETRIC EXPLORATION
The initial programme was translated into digital volumes. The digital aspect however, made the iterations less physical.
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BRINGING ELSEWHERE CLOSER
Climate Simulation might be the solution to the problem of not feeling what it feels like elsewhere.
The collage is representing a sensory simulation precedent: The Bicentennial Experience in Singapore.
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URBAN ROOM
Climate Change simulation at a reach of your hand
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THE ELSEWHERE AGORA 28
SITE STRATEGY
An attempt at generating the design from the site strategy ideas.
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GENERATIVE
The Elsewhere Agora centres around the main axis. This space divides program and connects the structure in an orderly manner.
FORM
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MASTERPLAN
The masterplan shows how the site will use and influence the surrounding infrastructure.
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ITERATIVE PROCESS
Experimentations with the massing model allowed find the optimal arrangement on site. The final model was achieved through an iterative modelling process.
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SKETCH PLANS 33
RETHINKING THE SPACES
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Ground floor
First floor connection exploration
RECONNECTING THE FLOORS
First floor
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SECTION WITH REGULATIONS CONSIDERATION 36
SECTION THROUGH THE SITE
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THE PUBLIC
The Elsewhere Agora is a project connecting the public with the university through the common interest of Climate Change. The structure needs to connect directly to the public areas to become a part of the urban fabric.
Different ways of connecting were developed through simple iterations. The resulting con necting element was inspired by an underground bike parking at a train station in Groningen, Netherlands.
CONNECTING
Stadsbalkon in Groningen, NL by KCAP 38
DESIGN FOR THE USERS
The Green Classroom gives the opportunity for a unique learning experience of Climate Change which the Faculty of Education can use to connect with the local community and young population
The pupils should not be scared of the climate crisis but can learn to consider distant environments and what they can do to help the environment. The classroom therefore acts as a museum of natural habitats.
INTO THE AGORA
GREEN CLASSROOM
BEATING ECO-ANXIETY
FUN
WITH
SLIDE
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THE AGORA
The Green Agora is at the centre of the project. It serves as a connecting space that allows the users to travel through the building with an exotic experience.
The idea for green connecting and gathering space was taken from the Olivia Garden in Gdansk, Poland by Malinowski Design. This precedent combines the nature with urban energy within an office building. The garden is divided into several areas of different functionality.
The areas around Olivia Garden in Gdansk
The plans and different paths around the Olivia Garden
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THE CANOPY WALKWAY
Connecting the programme on the first floor the canopy walkway allows the users to glide among the treetops of the agora and admire the beauty of nature from a unique perspective.
The Olivia Garden project in Gdansk, Poland plays with vertical and horizontal connection by introducing walkways. The walkways bring the users even closer to nature.
Cross section of the walkway at Olivia Garden allows to understand the close interaction between the users and the nature.
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The Green Agora is fully covered in grass which allows people to gather in an open space throughout the year.
Phase 1 Phase 2
The Green Agora becomes the connecting element between the two spines of the project slowly forming desire paths.
Phase 3
The desire lines become the design driver for the Green Agora and reflects the usage of the building.
SHAPING THE SPACE
The landscape of the Agora is first generated through the usage of the users. The desire lines take over The Elsewhere Agora
Public
Students
CIRCULATION
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CONSIDERATIONS
Experimentations and iterations with the environmental analysis from Ladybug. Looking at how slanting the walls of the agora affects the direct light impact on the agora.
This technique can help reduce the need for artificial heating with the concept of thermal mass keeping the heat inside.
ENVIRONMENTAL
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FIRE ESCAPES AND REGULATIONS
Fire regulations needed to be considered to ensure the safety of the users of the Elsewhere Agora. The distance to the nearest exist was considered for each room, as well as the distance the nearest exit staircase.
This simple analysis showed the need to rethink the fire escape staircase in the areas on the first floor. To the right are the initial considerations.
Point furthest from doors
Nearest room exit
Area with escape possible in more than one direction
Points out of the reach of the required travel distance to the exit
STORAGE
Maximum travel distance in one direction 25m
ASSEMBLY WITH SEATING
Maximum travel distance in one direction 15m
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PRIVACY OF SPACES
GENERATIVE PLAN
PRIVATE PUBLIC ACADEMIC 45
GROUND FLOOR PLANClimate Change Library Reading room Study space Green Agora Staff Offices Staff kitchen Storage room Meeting rooms Meeting cubicles GROW Kitchen Cold Store Dry Store Bin storage Bike storage 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 1 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 1213 14 7 2 46
FIRST FLOOR PLAN Interview observation room Climate control interview room Control room Familiar setting (flat) room Interview observation room Storage Simulation Theatre Urban Room Green Classroom GROW Dining 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 3 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 7 2 47
STRUCTURAL
The structure follows two grids coinciding at an angle of 20o . This alignment reflects the physi cal landscape of site and combines it with envi ronmental aspects of the sunpath.
The structural precedent of the Palmach Muse um of History (to the right) shows how an irreg ular grid can be formed by skewing the structure to preserve trees on site.
lot of materials
To reduce the environmental impact
be recycled from the on site
Service building as shown below.
CONSIDERATION
a
can
Print
9 .3 kgCO2 eq/m 3 6 10 .0 kgCO2 eq /m 3 680 kgCO2 eq /m 3 RammedEarth Glulam C onstructiontimb er GlobalWarming Po t ential Structural plan: Palmach Museum of History, Tel Aviv Exploded material axonometric of the on-site structure 48
ZERO CARBON
FUTURE
The Elsewhere Agora is a project which centres around the topic of climate change. The building itself implements various techniques to minimise the emissions of carbon.
Actively raising awarness on the environmental impacts of an individual
Direct Sunlight and Thermal Mass
Low Global Warming
Potential materials
Recycling of the on site structure
Providing facilities and promoting low-emissivity transport
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REFLECTION
Understanding what the mental and educational issues are with the climate crisis the project challenges the way in which we approach Climate Change problems and our future.
The Elsewhere Agora is a project which centres around the topic of climate change. The project takes the main gathering space and builds specialised climate themed rooms around it.
The design brings people closer to nature thus reducing the eco-anxiety while learning about the climate crisis. Connectivity is at the centre of the design driving the way people interact with the project.
Position Proposition Proposal Self-critique
The project plan quickly became very rational and less experimental than initially intended. The specialized spaces remain very vague and would need some more consideration
Future of the project
The design and its shape became too rationalised, taking away the uniqueness of the project which should be reiterated in the next stage. More environmental performance analysis of the building is needed to achieve Zero Carbon Future.
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