AA GUN IN HYDE PARK c.1939
T R A J E C T O R I E S
DEFINING
THE
SITE
“During World War 2, enemy bombers followed the line of the River Thames to find their targets and anti-aircraft guns were set up in the park. Some of the trees in the Flower Garden had their tops cut off to give the guns a better field of fire - and today you can still see the strange shapes that resulted .”
Anti-aircraft fire, Algiers, c1943
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
Introduction
T R A J E C T O R I E S
Who? For not only the local residents, but the global population. The first instance in Greenwich Park will act as the first of a network of research and development centres. What? The project seeks to act as a testing ground for future foods, as a result of a changing climate, and food crisis. The research will take place in the park, using it as a temporary ‘crisis centre’ - such as that of WW2, and using the park for allotments during a similar food shortage. Where? The project is located in the flower garden in Greenwich Park, towards the south easterly corner of the park. The interest in the site started with my research into the park, and saw online that there was an anti aircraft gun emplacement in the flower garden which sparked an interest for me. When? Now - the climate crisis must be taken seriously, we have already done irreversible damage to the planet. How? The architecture will act as a testing ground for other architectures of the same type, being created in the park as a ‘temporary ’ structure. Such as that of the COVID pop up vaccination / testing centres of the current crisis. Why? The parks of London have been used for various crisis’ all through history, from WW2 to COVID-19 - for various temporary centres / uses. They act as a buffer zone of multi purpose open spaces. The project focuses on the current - and future food and environmental crisis’.
AA GUN IN HYDE PARK c.1939
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
T R A J E C T O R I E S
Trajectories of the AA Gun Fire: The nature of the night time raids demanded long exposure photography of the night sky. The AA fire’s trajectories being perfectly captured in the images. The unseen lines captured. This lends itself to an interesting juxtaposition of time, firing the gun and an explosion - a split second and fast occurrence, played off between the long exposure photography, capturing many arcs of fire painted across the sky
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
T R A J E C T O R I E S
Trajectories of the AA Gun Fire: (Right, top) Air Raid over Cologne. (Right, bottom) drawing out the trajectories of the guns and searchlights working in unison to identify the allied bombers. The AA guns would work in unison to create a ‘flak field’ the shells would explode on a certain fuse, exploding mid air and spraying shrapnel to take down the bombers.
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
T R A J E C T O R I E S
Main Cover at 15,000ft Low Cover at 500ft Chain Radar Locations
Early Radar (Above) The Post Instrument, used in WW2 to calculate the height and distance of enemy bombers. Using trigonometry, looking through
Observer Corps spot planes for accurate information on number of aircraft, altitude etc
Information relayed to air raid wardens to warn civilians of incoming danger
Information from the ‘Chain Room’ is relayed to AA sites
the eye piece, a mark would be made on the map below, using two of the devices at different locations, it is possible to calculate the height and distance, to relay back to the gunners to set the correct fuse for the height they are flying. (Right) The Steps to detecting enemy planes in the UK during WW2, there was different stages of early radar, and voluntary spotters using the post device to track and identify the enemy bombers coming in. The large towers were an early form of radar, and all systems helped one another to plot the position, type, and number of aircraft.
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
T R A J E C T O R I E S
A hybrid map of German aerial photography and bombing target maps. The pink shows the German targets, mainly shipbuilding and industrial sites over Millwall and the Isle of Dogs. An interesting duality to current day, with the importance of architectures being a total antithesis, in the time of crisis things which we would previously protect or seek to be of historic / cultural significance are ignored, and the sites which may be deemed ‘ugly ’ or of less significance are thrust into focus.
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
T R A J E C T O R I E S
A similar mapping of trajectories in a crime scene scenario. Plotting the angles or trajectories of fire from a gun. Again, freezing a split second in time, expanding the moment of an even for cross examination. Also drawing out the unseen - the bullets journey. Similar to the trajectory of the AA guns.
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
T R A J E C T O R I E S
The cones of fire from the Flower Garden AA gun-site, and the Mudchute park gun-site. The two gun-sites would have worked in unison to protect not only surrounding points of significance, but also the rest of London, as enemy bombers would use the Thames as a highway of navigation through the city. The shaded circles show the sites of V2 rocket strikes on London, intended for the industrial targets of South London.
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
T R A J E C T O R I E S
(Right) Plotted trajectories of the guns from both sites - in the Flower Garden and in Mudchute - over a scan from both sites, in wormseye view. A look into the timings at different altitudes of the fire. (Left) A drawing by Da Vinci, plotting possible trajectories of fire from a castle by mortars.
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
T R A J E C T O R I E S
Photogrammetry scans of the General Wolfe statue overlooking Greenwich Park, allegedly the statue was shot at by a German fighter in a strafing run, the scan allows for an interesting negative of the impacts, creating a material memory of the event, immortalising the trajectories of the bullets. A moment frozen in stone - again, expanding the moment.
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
T R A J E C T O R I E S
Composite drawing of the trajectories of the AA guns of the Flower Garden and Mudchute guns. Long section through the entirety of the locations. Cutting through the Thames in the middle of the section.
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
T H E
THE
S I T E
SITE
The site of the scheme is located in the Flower Garden towards the South Easterly corner of Greenwich Park. It was laid out in 1890, and relaid in 1925 in formal Victoria style flowerbeds, relaid twice a year. It contains one of the oldest trees in the park, planted in the original layout from the 1660’s. The pond within was created from an old Victorian gravel pit. The trees in the flower garden were cut to give the guns a better field of fire. Which can still be seen today due to the strange tree formations.
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
T H E
S I T E
Time line of events of a similar gun emplacement at Chadwell Heath. There is surprisingly little information on the Greenwich Park gun site, but one can assume this emplacement had a similar build and time line.
1:1250
An estimation of the gun site, there is not much information on the site, nor photos or drawings of where it was place. I have overlaid a similar style emplacement from another site, of the same time period to compare the arcs of fire.
1:1500
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
T H E
S I T E
The gun emplacement in Chadwell Heath
The gun emplacement in Chadwell Heath
The gun emplacement on the site 1:1250
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
T H E
Looking North from the estimated location of the guns
Looking South from the estimated site
S I T E
Plan view of the trees cut to improve the guns field of fire (Scan)
The field of fire casting a new ‘vista’ over Greenwich Park - the new vista land. 1:500
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
T H E
S I T E
The pruned trees of the site - scan
Plan view of the site - photogrammetry scan
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
T H E
S I T E
A Canaletto painting of the vista from Island Gardens.
1:1500 The new vista land cast across Greenwich Park by the field of fire from the guns.
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
DEFINING
THE
PROGRAMME
Using the idea of crisis - such as that of the guns in the Flower Garden during WW2, my next research is using this framework - of a time in crisis, rules and regulations can be altered, and forgotten, such as that of the COVID pandemic. Pop up centres in our parks, the parks being a key player in allowing people to go out, and being used for vaccinations and testing. I will hope to address the current crisis using this framework - the climate crisis. A crisis which must be treated with urgency, which is not currently being taken as seriously as it should be
Greenhouses in Spain.
Aerial Views of Greenwich Park in WW2 The allotments were created in WW2 to address a food shortage crisis during the period. Before WW2 we relied heavily on food imports, which were compromised during the war, hence the ‘dig for victory’ campaigns. The parks again providing a buffer zone of support for the community.
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
Pop up COVID centres in Parks The parks supporting a vital system of emergency architectures
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
Spacial Requirements // Parameters
S PAC E S
S TA G E S GARLIC AND FLOWERS IN MINI GREENHOUSES IN THE DYSTOPIAN FUTURE
POP UP CRISIS CENTRE?
GROWING FOR TESTING (SMALL SCALE)
SOIL / CROP TESTING?
ALLERGEN TESTING
INSECTS? NEW PROTEIN
G E R M I N AT I O N
PESTICIDES
HOW WILL WE GROW FOOD IN THE FUTURE?
S P I RU L I N A?
MID TO M AT U R E C U LT I V AT I O N
FOOD S H O R TA G E S
LANDSCAPE TESTING GROUNDS
S U S TA I N A B L E SYSTEM HOW WILL IT EFFECT A L L E R GY ’ S ?
HARVESTING
FOOD IN FUTURE C L I M AT E S
B U G S E AT FOOD WASTE
S PAC E F O R TESTING THE PUBLIC
TESTING
I R R I G AT I O N
V E N T I L AT I O N
LIGHTING CONDITIONS
PUBLIC / P R I V AT E
TESTING THE PUBLIC
TESTING NEW FOODS
‘FRASS’ (EXCREMENT ) CAN BE USED AS FERTILIZER
TESTING
I M P L E M E N TAT I O N
EQUIPMENT / TOOLS
PA R A M E T E R S FOR DESIGN
INSECT FARMING FROM ‘BL ADERUNNER 2049’ BAGS THAT CAN HOLD 80 KILOS - WITH PIPING, DRAINERS AND THERMOSTATS ATTACHED
MACRO/ MICRO
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
Opening // closing
Rotating A partial view out
Plan View
Speculating a possible fragment with a dynamic roof and moveable facade for maximum absorption of light into the space - for growing
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
A view of the laboratory and ‘landscape testing ground’ a space for testing possible landscapes of the future - and how future climates handle growing crops
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
A view of the laboratory and ‘landscape testing ground’ a space for testing possible landscapes of the future - and how future climates handle growing crops. The ‘windchimes’ chatter in the wind generating power for the scheme The landscape then travel down the system of rails to be implemented into the site once tested - ready for long term testing in various soil conditions.
The windchimes
The testing grounds
The windchimes
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
Development for the future representations model. An exploded landscape illustrated by the model. Initial concept drawings and models. The exploded nature of the models allows for a view into the architectures technologies at play.
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
Views of the ‘testing grounds’ space and of the ‘wind chimes’
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
3D Printed speculations of the space - looking at the massing and experimenting with light, manipulating shadows to give another dimension to the photography.
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
Machining and fabrication times of the model
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
In progress model images. The underside of the model is a series of pieces of CNC’ed model board, fastened together with CNC routed metal inlays, and set screws. I used this method of the model in order to achieve the topography heights I desired, without wasting a vast amount of material. This was used on the upper level of the exploded landscape. I used a series of mirrors to give the viewer a view up at these fixtures once in place.
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
Work in progress images of various components of the model. The
The windchimes that blow in the wind to create power for the scheme.
pipes supporting showing the autonomous water system, sucking up moisture from the subterranean to be used for irrigation.
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
‘The Utilitarian Topology; Combing the Fragile Landscape’ Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
High tech infrastructures operate autonomously to maintain the optimum state of harmony. Nodal points monitor the processes, acting as a barometer of the landscape. The architecture houses ‘testing grounds’ for future topologies, before moving across the site, acting as a roaming sentinel to tend to, and deploy the created, prototype ecologies. The model illustrates the exploded landscape and subterranean technologies impregnated into the given site, constantly battling to maintain a state of equilibrium in a dynamic, and fragile climate, through its various technologies.
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021
An animation demonstration the landscape testing grounds being deployed across the site, and beyond & the windchimes chattering in the breeze.
Jack Taylor | Trajectories | 2021