THE SUN GREAT

It Was Until It Hit The Side Of A Building

Throughout the years, as we as humans evolve and become fitter and more connected. The need for a gym or training spaces become ever more in demand. For my design, I wish to create a space that allows for people to train and become interconnected, to not only function as a gym but something more. Such a space will allow the surrounding community to reside in sweat and happiness within a space that ultimately reflects them. Of course this can only be possible with a site that actually needs it. A space that is in dire need of such design and connection, My site of a choice is the Upminster train station car park. The reason being while I'm aware that this car park can get full, its most of the time empty and with the designs I have in mind I may be able to retain the same parking spaces. A gym in this location is extremely ideal, the nearest gym to locals in Upminster is harrow lodge leisure centre in Hornchurch. There are smaller other 'fitness shops' like 'New Heights Fitness Limited' and 'Exercise with Sally Guise' which are very small fitness shops that offer classes and sessions. I think that these facilities are nowhere near enough to suffice. Thus Upminster Train Station car park is so ideal, it allows commuters from Upminster train station as well as locals to benefit from the gym. I think that while there is a lot of traffic and noise the site is somewhat in an enclosure and provides privacy for gym goers. NOTE: I'm only designing the Exterior with lesser significance on Site and interior

The site however does not come without its issue. The entrance to the site is very narrow and enclosed, the layout of the road means that people have to turn in from a busy main road which creates some traffic. The train station being practically adjacent means that surrounding area suffers from noise pollution and low-level rumbling, which means that the building design would have to be structurally sound to be able to withstand constant movement from the trains racing by and the noise pollution. While this is also good, the site is very enclosed and hidden. If a gym were to be there, I would have to workout a way to publicize the gym more and make it more apparent. Lastly the road layout into the car park is in my opinion in efficient, there is no clear lane marking which from personal experience makes crossing the road difficult as cars are just all over the place. The mini roundabout I also think is not utilised properly; with my gym idea I think that I would change the mini roundabout into a more compact roundabout that’s a lot more visible.

While I list some solutions here, These solutions are just concepts and ideas. It would be foolish to think that without research and development a solution can just appear. I think that with the noise pollution and low-level rumbling from the train station a design that perhaps is lifted off the floor would mitigate this. Soundproof windows and sound reflective design would also be crucial towards the building's survival. Within the building design itself there would be some soundproofing measures to ensure that the only thing heard is iron clanging and aggressive music. For the road layout problems, although much more research would be needed to see if this would work. But a new changed road layout with marked lanes, traffic lights and a proper roundabout doesn't seem like the worst idea. Although research within urban town planning would be needed for this and perhaps more analysis on road layouts and their effects on people

Upon a visit to the site, I gathered some interesting information on the site. Walking up station road, and further gazing upon the entrance. I truly realised how enclosed and cocooned it is, there is not much/any knowledge or information onto this area being a car park. Considering the sheer size of the car park and how much it can capacitate; it should be made more apparent that this area is a car park. Walking further in, you could see a fairly large number of cars parked up on the left-hand side. I'm assuming that this is to set and pick up passengers off to the station. However there are double yellow lines right there, which is incredibly confusing as this seems like an ideal spot for people to quickly set down passengers or pick up. The entrance to the site is large enough for buses and cars to go by so I do not see as to why cars cannot park on the left. Walking further into the site and nearer to the car park, it became apparent that there was no pavement on the right-hand side of the road. For my design I would most certainly have to address this as one pavement for people to walk on with commuters and gym goers all at once, it could quite packed and unsafe. Walking into and further up the car park, the sheer size and potential of the site became quickly apparent. Bear in mind I had gone to the site at a 'peak time' of around 4:30-5 and the car park was only half full slightly less in fact. To the left of the car park from the entrance we can see some disabled spaces on a slight hill, which bearing In mind who its for I don’t think the incline is helpful towards disabled people. On the south elevation an oasis of large vibrant green traces covered the southern side. This is something I would most certainly keep and take advantage of..

Upminster, a suburban town located in the London Borough of Havering, experiences sunpaths that follow a predictable pattern throughout the year. Understanding the sunpaths in Upminster is crucial for architects, urban planners, and individuals interested in optimizing natural lighting and solar energy utilization in their projects and daily lives.

As Upminster is situated in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun's path changes over the course of the year due to the tilt of the Earth's axis. During the summer solstice, which typically occurs around June 21st, the sun rises in the northeast and follows a high and elongated trajectory in the sky, reaching its peak at noon in the southern direction. This results in longer daylight hours and a higher angle of incidence for sunlight, providing ample opportunities for natural lighting and solar energy harvesting.

Conversely, during the winter solstice, around December 21st, the sun rises in the southeast and follows a lower and shorter path across the sky, with its zenith shifted towards the north. Consequently, daylight hours are shorter, and the angle of sunlight is lower, impacting the availability and intensity of natural light.