Thesis Project: Centro de Artesanato Continuity in Architecture
James O’Kane
Our main studio project for the year is based in Lisbon in Portugal (a southern European country on the Iberian Peninsula, bordering Spain).
We visited the city in October 2016 to identify sites for our final studio projects and to spend some time exploring the city, and finding out about Lisbon’s past, present andPortugalfuture.
Just outside Mouraria on the edge of the historic district of Alfama, the site is located on the fringe of the Castelo de Sao Jorge (one of the most popular tourist destinations in the city). Many of the surrounding buildings reflect this, and offer services for tourists (restaurants, cafés, tourist shops, hotels). However Alfama has historically been a residential district for the working class, and residential blocks are still common around the site.
Site Overview
Site Aesthetic
The existing site is accessed at either end by portals, creating a definitive moment of entry onto the existing patio. As you pass through these thresholds, the site itself is totally unveiled in one fell swoop. This phenomenon is inconsistent with the site’s wider urban
Thecontext.sense
of discovery found elsewhere in Alfama is diluted here. How can we reintroduce the element of surprise into the site?
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01: covered walkway to site 02: threshold at base of site 03: existing perspective - exposed site
Site Analysis
Design Driver 01: Discovery & Surprise
Design Driver 02: Places
How can we promote the site to somewhere people want to stay? How can we encourage people to engage with the site, rather than simply pass it by?
The existing site forms a thoroughfare connecting the historic district of Alfama with the São Jorge Castle and other parts of the city. Some tourists stop briefly to take photos, but commonly people simply pass through - the ruins relegated to background noise.
Site Analysis for Staying
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How can we control, dictate and celebrate this spectacle?
Site Analysis
01: panoramic view from top level 02: restricted view from low level
02. The lower levels on the site offer a hint at a potential view, but nothing more. One has to climb onto the ruins or stand on the tips of one’s toes in order to fully appreciate it.
01. At the top of the site, there is an incredible view overlooking Alfama and the Tagus river beyond - the problem is that access to the viewing platform from the site proper is difficult, and unnecessarily long. Also, the viewing platform itself is a poor collector of people, and ultimately an unsuccessful urban curiosity.
Design Driver 03: Controlling the View
Left: exploded isometric - proposed artefacts in relation to existing ruins and changing site levels. Below: proposed artefacts on site.
The moves and the origins of the forms will be explained on subsequent pages.
Artefacts
Based on the profile of the existing ruins, extruded up and across the site. A brazen demarcation across the centre of the patio.
Based on an extrusion of the profile of the ruins at its
Based on the profile of the existing ruins, extruded up beyond the level of the viewing platform to act as both barrier and connector.
Dictatedbase.
Artefact 04
by the orientation of the user upon entering the site from the top end. Provides a physical link between all new-build elements.
Artefact 01
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Artefact 02
Artefact 03
Level 06 - Axonometric 01 - Public Entrance 02 - First awareness of scale of building 03 - Reception 04 - Access to Level below
Entrance
Sequence 01 02 03 04
Entrance
Level 05 - Axonometric 01 - First view of garden through window 02 - Servery 03 - Roof Garden 04 - Stepped access to level below 05 - Bridge link to gallery 06 - Kitchen with staff access
Sequence 01 02 03 06 04 05
Perspective 03 suddenly reveals the extent of the building.
For example, Perspective 01 is very open with only a small portion of the building visible.
Cullen’s ideas on serial vision, I wanted to design the entrance sequence to offer a series of contrasts and revelations.
01 02 03 Perspective 01 Perspective 02 Perspective 03 Level Influenced06by
Perspective 02 is more enclosed and compressed.
Serial Vision
04 05
Perspective 04 frames a view of the garden beyond.
Perspective 05 frames the view of the River Tagus.
Perspective 05 05
Perspective 04
Serial Vision
Level
Gordon Cullen, (1961: 17-19)
This is the unfolding of a mystery, the sense that as you press on more is revealed.
To walk from one end of the plan to another, at a uniform pace, will provide a sequence of revelations (...)
An internalised street that serves both as circulation and as a communal work space. With aspirations to create a sociable and collaborative place to work, this layout provides opportunities for creative practitioners to learn new skills and work with others. It also allows visitors of the institution to see the craftspeople at work.
Workshop - The Street
0m 1 2 5Foundation to Parapet Section
Concrete finish
400mm in situ reinforced concrete
15 Suspended ceiling system
7 Concrete coping
11 Pile cap
10 Existing stone ruins
60mm timber battens
100mm timber battens
8 Long narrow peterson brick cavity wall
DPM250mm in situ reinforced concrete floor
16 150mm concrete slab on metal deck
19 Peterson brick 100mm rigid insulation
2 Roofing membrane
12
DPM250mm in situ reinforced concrete floor
3 Stainless steel coping on DPM
18 Suspended ceiling system
ConcreteSheathingfinish
Concrete finish
Timber stud infill
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 131211 14 15 16 17 18 19
6 Danpatherm K12 polycarbonate system
RigidDPM
4 Mechanically operated blind
13
400mm in situ reinforced concrete
Timber Concretebattensfinish
Concrete finish
9 Screeded in situ reinforced concrete ribbed slab
14
DPM100mm (kingspan or similar) rigid insulation
5 12mm plasterboard soffit
Timber12mminsulationplywoodjoists
100mm (kingspan or similar) rigid insulation
Air/water membrane
17 Steel structure
1 Steel support beam
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Journey 01 02 03 06 04 05 Level 04 - Axonometric
01 - Access from roof garden / work space
04 - gallery connector - enclosed gallery space with a more intimate feel - access to gallery hall below
02 - Bridge connector with views over public space
03 - flexible gallery space open to gallery hall
05
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01 Arrive into hall from area for under hall to to to
art display 03 - seating
gallery
enclave or work space below 05 - access
view exhibition 04 - access
Level 03 - Axonometric
above 02 - covered
library Journey 01 02 03 04 05
Gallery - The Atrium
A tall, naturally lit central atrium, around which different artefacts are on display. Spaces circulate around the atrium providing different conditions in which to exhibit work produced by local craftspeople and artists.
Display
Chipperfield - Valentino store
The exhibition displays in the gallery space need to be flexible to accommodate frequent changes to the items being exhibited. The system means that the width and heights of the displays can be adjusted to suit. The brass displays will marry with the brass handrails also found in the gallery.
Display - Shadow Gaps
plaster finish plaster aluminiumaluminiumtimbertimberplasterboardplasterboardfinishbattenbattentrimtrim
North light South light
Gallery - Natural Lighting
plasterboard and finish 2 timber frame
1 2 3 4 5
fluorescent light fixture
4
5
milled brass handrail Gallery - Handrail
polycarbonate lens
1
3
05 - access to rest of library
03 - private study booths
Journey 01 02 03 04 05 Level 03 - Axonometric
04 - isolated study zone
01 - direct access from atrium
02 - group study space
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02 - shelving for books
Journey 01 02 03 06 04 05 Level 02 - Axonometric
05
01 - access from higher study level
04 - access to lower library level - separate study area - access to cafe below
03 - study spaces with view down into cafe
01 - there is a visual connection from the library to the stairs in the urban space outside - the lower urban square has a visual connection to the ground floor cafeteria
02
Lewis Glucksman Gallery O’Donnell + Tuomey Photo credit: (Clancy, 2014)
Visual Connection 01 02
This glazed atrium provides a wealth of natural light that permeates throughout the library and cafeteria below. Study spaces at differing levels with a variety of conditions wrap around the central core.
Library - The Atrium
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3 built-in seating
5 slatted timber acoustic ceiling
1 built-in book shelving
Library - Seating
4 high level glazing
2 external glazing
By breaking the continuous path, I have created irregularities in the layout that helps to divide the route into a series of recognizable visual statements, so that walking through the site becomes more interesting.
Axonometric Overview of Site - Proposed
Learning from Cullen
courtyardmain gardenroof enclave courtyardsecond
The Courtyard
A space that is at once connected to all parts of the building; a reminder of the site’s past; a mixing chamber for the site’s occupants. Here, there is an awareness of people moving around the building across a number of levels. A new space for the people of Lisbon and for tourists, alike.
The Enclave
In contrast to the courtyard, the enclave provides its occupants with a serene atmosphere; a chance to escape the city and find a moments peace. The gentle sound of the running water and a welcome break from the hot Portuguese sun provides an altogether different atmosphere.
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