J AMES
CO T T O N
PORTFOLIO
2017
Red facing brick with recessed joints with brick ties Reveal gap Skim finish on two layers of 12.5mm Duraline board Full height glazing 200mm SFS framing
IN PRACTICE IID Architects
Concrete structural column (internally exposed) 100mm insulation
August 2016 - August 2017
Terracotta rainscreen cladding Flashing
Plan Details of Terracotta Cladding
Based in Richmond, London, the practice is comprised of four directors, six associates and eight other technical staff employees. Founded in 1984, they have amassed a varied portfolio of community and education projects and provide architectural design from inception to completion. My time as an Architectural Assistant has been spread across a number of education projects, some new build, while others utilising existing accommodation. The experience has covered a broad spectrum of the RIBA stages, with a strong balance between expanding technical skills and presentation techniques.
St Helen’s School, Northwood An independent girl’s day school, accommodating 3-18 year olds. Following prior work for the school, resulting in a master plan, an improved entrance and a new junior school building; IID architects were appointed for a new music building. The scope of works covers the demolition of the existing building, with the construction of a new building dedicated to music that encapsulates recital rooms, practice rooms, teaching spaces and offices. I was given the opportunity to work on an increased amount of detailing, with work on the 1:5 detail package given to me to carry out prior to tender. With a key focus on SFS framing, roof buildups and curtain walling, I was able to develop my knowledge of the construction process, researching and detailing Metsec and other components and adding them to the details.
The Tiffn’s Girls School, Kingston A girl’s grammar school, accomodating 11-18 year olds. Having worked with the school prior, developing new Drama and Music
While a separate building to the rest of the school, this new music building maintains similar aesthetics to previous projects in regards to facades, materials and colour. Most notably, its focal use of terracotta panels in three similar shades of brown and use of brick evoke the design of the new junior school building completed by IID in 2016.
rooms, a science extension and internal refurbishments; IID were appointed to produce a whole school master plan. A feasibility report was produced looking into the school in terms of accommodation, circulation and future expansion. Research of the school included a day shadowing pupils, seeing how the school functions and noting issues and areas of improvement. This research brings increased understanding of needs and aspirations and will have crucial impact on the quality of the design.
Fast Facts • £2,163,800 Contract Sum • RIBA Stage 4 • Submitted for Tender
My main tasks involved being an active participant in producing this master plan and subsequent phasing of the development. Iproduced sketch plans and massing as well as a redeveloped and more considered landscape. Following a number of site visits, in which alterations to the building were noted against and amended on the current plans, tasks in the period involved producing an existing model of the building and surrounding landscape as well as massing the extent of proposed demolitions and new developments.
Royal Grammar School, Guildford Long-term redevelopment of an existing independent day school for boys that had a master plan developed and accepted for planning permission in 2014. With a proposed nine phases over the estimated next 20 years. The whole master plan was accepted for full planning, albeit in a basic, volumetric form. Outside of producing drawings for tender, my key tasks within this project client visuals, demonstrating the changes to the design and cladding system. As well as this, I produced a further visual, this time an internal perspective that again showed the latest developments in the design. These tasks increasingly highlight the importance of visuals over architectural drawings in the relationship to and understanding of the client. My continued involvement in these visuals add further depth to my experience in practice.
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St Helen’s School, Northwood
- New Music Building
Phase
3
(External Landscaping for Sport and Recreation)
Phase One As Existing
Phase
2
New Sports Hall and Facilities -
Photo of the existing learning resource centre, featuring two classrooms and library facilities. Will be demolished and replaced by a new teaching block in Phase 1 of the long term master plan.
New Art, Design and Graphics Block(Demolition of Existing and External Landscaping)
Fast Facts • • • •
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New ICT Block-
Phase
Phase
1
New Teaching Block-
Phase
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Estimated £1,073,989 Construction Cost for Phase 1 Estimated £28,6100,000 Construction Cost for Whole Masterplan RIBA Stage 2 Awaiting Client Feedback
(Demolition of Existing LRC)
Proposed Ground Floor Plan
(Removal of Temorary Staircase and External Landscaping)
Dining Hall Refurbishment(New First Floor Corridor Link)
Proposed Front Elevation
Further to the overall master plan, phase 1 was designed in more detail. 1:100 plans and elevations of the proposals were developed for the bid from the Condition Improvement Fund. An annual bidding round, wherein sixth-form colleges and academies apply for capital funding. This transition from RIBA stage 1 work into concept design stage 2, has given key insight into the architectural process; progressing from sketch plans and master planning, to a developed design. Taking into account its requirements within the whole scheme, while also its requirements as a stand-alone building as subsequent Phase
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Extension of Main Hall-
(Demolition of Existing Sports Hall and Improved Circulation)
Proposed Masterplan (with Phasing)
2
Developed Phase One
The Tiffins’ Girls School, Kingston
- Master Plan
Fast Facts • • • •
£8,000,000 Construction Cost for Phase 3 Estimated £30,000,000 for Whole Master Plan RIBA Stage 4 Began on Site 27.02.2017
Second Floor
Currently on RIBA stage 4 of the third phase of this master plan. Began in 2015, this phase consists of a four storey courtyard extension and additional vertical extension to the central spine corridor, providing a new second storey level of new classrooms. This vertical extension provides substantial structural considerations, both for the current phase and for the future phase atriums that will be connected to it at a later stage.
Siphonic Drainage Route Detail
First Floor
One of my tasks was to design and integrate the siphonic drainage route. Benefiting me with an understanding of the scope of works, I liaised with structural and mechanical members of the design team to detail the route of the pipes from the high level ceiling, down through the riser, into the existing pitched roof and finally down to the break chamber. The pipework and route was purposely over designed, owing to the need to also serve the next phase of the development, internalising the East courtyard with an ETFE roof.
Ground Floor Lower Ground Floor
External Visual
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Colour Scheme
R o y a l G r a m m a r S c h o o l , G u i l d f ord - Phase 3
URBAN DESIGN SHEERNESS - ON - SEA Sheerness Aquatics Centre and Urban Masterplan
Redevelopment of the existing Beachfeilds site in Sheerness. The proposal replaces the current sports and aquatic facilities with an urban landscape consisting of new commercial opportunities. Taking precedent from the lack of connectivity around tourist potential, the fundamental aspect underpinning the project became that of cycling and opportunities to expand the Sustran’s National Cycle Network across the island, around the coastal path and subsequently onto and integrating with the site. Maintaining the wall defences from the sea, the landscape would be contoured up to its height, with a series of paths connecting the network to key urban nodes within the town. The major architectural masses where then formed in the negative spaces.
parking. An urban landscape of activity and commercial opportunities with a key focus on circulation between its zones. While an Urban scale project, the main focus was on developing the aquatic centre and its integration within the wider scheme. With this in mind the centre was positioned and internally planed, again around circulation, and utilising the main approaches to the site from the nearby train station. Connecting Sheppey, the proposed aquatic centre and additional facilities provide ample social, commercial and economic opportunities to the people of Sheerness; while also providing much needed tourism potential.
This overall ‘active site’ is divided into separate elements; aquatic, sports, commercial and public with additional facilities such as an amphitheatre, skate park as well as additional underground car
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AQUATICS
PUBLIC
SPORTS
COMMERCIAL
SPA
With a key hub of sheerness being the train station, the approach from it was important in the design process. The first aspect of the urban landscape that the tourist will experience is the main aquatic centre; with the main entrance angled to both this approach and the approach form the town.
Public space on the site includes a sea facing restaurant and community spaces, namely a skate park.
Mirroring the design and form of the aquatic centre, the sports centre is positioned to form an outdoor sports area, combining with the external pools to create a linked space.
Key to the appeal of the site is outside appeal. The reasoning for users to cycle off of the coastal path and into the urban landscape are based not only on public and sporting opportunities but also commercial outlets. A commercial building is featured, allowing for a number of shops to be brought on to the site, with the main cycle paths going over its green roof.
Separate to the main aquatic and sporting facilities, a spa/sauna is featured. In order to maintain the view of residents in current existing buildings, the area will be maintained as a public green space with integrated underground parking
Upon entering the building, the curved walls guide the visitor towards the main focal point of the central pool area, guiding them into the changing and in to the space. Integrated within the building are cycling hire and storage facilities, rendering the building the key hub of the proposed site. The access to the cycling hire is strongly linked with the path network, with users cycling past and alongside the centre on the paths down from the sea wall.
SITE ELEVATION
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THE ACTIVE SITE
SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE
Roof Plan
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25 27 29
First Floor
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30
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32 External Perspective
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Ground Floor
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9. Family Changing 10.Toilets 11. Unisex Changing Room 12. Showers 13. Meeting Room 14. Staff Room 15. Offices 16. Plant Room
17. Service Entrance 18. First Aid Room 19. Storage 20. Main Pool 21. Learner Pool 22. Sauna Facilities 23. Folding Doors to Exernal Pools 24. Dance Studios
25. Sports Room 26. Sevicing/Storage 27. Gym 28. Seating 29. Gallery Seating 30. Restaurant 31. Bar 32. Event Hire Seating
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1
0
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1. Entrance Foyer 2. Reception 3. Creche 4. Cycling Hire 5. Repairs 6. Teaching Rooms 7. Toilets 8. Dry Changing for Gym and External Sports
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20m
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Short Section Through Pool
1:50 Detail Model
Passive ventilation via side windows, with warm air rising and being released through small openings in the ETFE joints.
Internal Pool Perspective
Underground spaces such as changing rooms are mechanically ventilated with outlets at the base of the wall connected to the plant room.
A heat exchanger unit is integrated into the inner ring of the roof, where the concrete portion becomes glulam The ring encompasses the main pool areas and is connected to the plant roo, preventing a build-up of warm air in the humid area.
During winter periods, the warm air captured by the heat exchanger is taken to a heat recovery system within the plant room where it is then returned to the main building.
Fresh air is collected and cooled via an earth tube relative to ground temperature. This is then taken to the plant room with it can be distributed through the building, working alongside the existing passive system.
Openings for natural ventilation are reduced during winter periods, with mechanical ventilation from the plant room being more heavily reloied upon.
Underfloor heating is utilised. Geothermal heat pumps aid in warming the building during this period alongside mechanical means.
Earth tubes would again be utilised in these periods; warming the cool air that is utilised to ventilate the building.
Summer Stategies
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Winter Stategies
ETFE Panels
Glulam Lattice
Sectional Perspective Concrete Roof Extruded aluminium clamp with outlet for ventilation Fixing clamp Three layer inflated ETFE cushion
Glulam node
Permeable Supporting Plate
Aluminium flashing
Concrete Structure
Stone Layer Soil
Copper Lining Structural Column
Central Columns
Mechanically Operated Window
Heat Exchanger Unit
Aluminium Flashing
Upper Flooring
Window Detail
Roof Detail 0
1m
Load Bearing Elements
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The design utilised a radiated concrete frame supported by external load bearing walls and internal columns. These columns were also used to visually define the main pool space and facilities. Lateral supports were added to the below ground walls to counteract the forces generated outwards from the arced form. To increase levels of light in the building, outside of the main open space, the form was raised up to create glazing where its slope met the ground.
Exploded Structural Axonometric
ADAPT + EXTEND SHEERNESS - ON - SEA Extension of Former Dockyard Church into an Aviation Museum
Located in Sheerness, the brief asked for a refurbishment of an existing church, transforming it into an aviation and maritime museum.
extension forming a gridded link between old and new. Encasing the building, this structure is visible internally and provides a visual link between the old and the new.
First impressions of Sheerness and of the existing church were of its immediate relationship to the industrial aspects of the dockyard, as well as for its need for support. Support in regards to the economy, through the relatively poor education and work prospects, and support culturally, with the physical embodiment of this this being the need to restore the communal qualities of the dockyard church. Linked with the buildings current representation as being supported by scaffolding, due to fire damage, as well as the poor state of the education system in Sheerness, the key design principle of the project become one of “support”. Support in the sense of adding additional elements to the brief to enhance the education and construction skillsets of the population, as well as support in the sense of supporting the original structure itself and visually emulating the industrial focus of the surroundings.
Socially, the design aligns itself with the community of sheerness, maintaining the ground floor of the church as an open, special – event communal space, allowing the changing use of the space to continue through time and be utilised by the community how they see fit. More importantly however, the new development opens up the potential for educational purposes, both in terms of learning of the social history of the dockyard and the people who occupied, as well as teaching various construction techniques and skills for work through the integrated construction workshop. The proposal supports the community, the history, and the education of Sheerness, while emulating the support given by the community to the war efforts.
Visually, the idea of utilising a glulam timber roof as a means of representing this structural aspect of scheme became appealing. This structure spans over the original church and the added
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External Perspective
Conceptual Diagram “Supporting the Existing Church
Long East Elevation
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First Floor
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7 3
6
2
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Circulation Paths
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1. Entrance Foyer 2. Reception 3. Shop 4. Dockyard Model in Four Sections 5. Cafe 6. Staff Room with Kitchen 7. Meeting Room 8. Managers Office 9. Storage 10. Flexible Comunity Space/Temporary Gallery 11. Event Entrance 12. Cloakroom 13. Construction Workshop 14. Storage 15. Naval Museum 16. Avaiation Museum 17. Social History of Sheerness
10m
Old to the New
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New to the Old
Ground Floor
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Copper Roofing
Air gap with secondary studs
Insulation Plasterboard Glulam Beam Tension cable for lateral support of arch
Copper Roof
Gutter Plasterboard Insulation Steel Connecting Plate
Timber Fin
Reinforced Concret Slab Connecting Plate
Glulam Lattice
Existing Church Wall Internal Roof Structure
Roof Junction Detail Internal Roof Stucture
Insulation (wrapping around stucture to meet window) Tripple Glazed Window
First Floor Structure
Window Detail 0
Main Load Bearing Elements
1m
Wall Detail 0
Exploded Structural Axonometric
This overarching theme of support was visualised in the timber grid shell roof, a physical structure spanning both the old and the new. Shown clearly in section, these two defined areas, one dedicated to aviation, the other to maritime, are unified with this structural fabric, making the central connection the focal point of the design. This junction became a crucial element of the design to be detailed. As the proposed roof weighed more than the original church roof, cantilevered pile foundations were added to give support to the existing wall. As an arch the roof would have lateral forces that would impact the existing church wall. These were minimised by allowing the joint to slide and the lateral force to continue to the new extension without impacting the wall.
Sectional Perspective
2m
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STRUCTURES Structural Model 1:20
Bricks on Sticks (Below) The spanning structure needed to support a single standard format, fired-clay brick at mid-span over a clear span of 450mm. The aim was to achieve this with as limited material as possible. The design utilised the strength of its trusses, by consisting of two components, that when placed on the corners of the boundary and with the brick in place, formed a structural stable “arch” effortlessly supporting the load of the brick.
Roof structure (Right) The task was to get under the skin of a building; to get behind the finishes; to identify the skeleton and musculature which under-pin the architecture. Calculation loads, resistances and deflected shape were imbedded within the project. The roof was required to span an area of at least 400 square meters, with no internal columns or supports permitted within this area. Clear headroom under the roof of at least five meters was also necessary.
Testament to the success of the design was the fact that more than supporting a single brick it continued to support subsequent bricks, eventually buckling under the load of 4 ½ bricks.
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Bridge Model
In Use
SIS Building, London
PHOTOGRAPHY
Tate Modern, London
Serpentine Pavilion 2016, London
Crossrail Place, London
Constanta Casino, Romania
Design Museum, London
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