reliquar[r]y JESSICA WRIGHT
A design-led research investigation submitted to the Victoria University of Wellington in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Developed Design phase of ARCI 411: Architecture Design Research for the degree of Master of Architecture (Professional)
Victoria University of Wellington School of Architecture 2016
reliquar[r]y an object that preserves and displays sacred relics
Framing devices in these projects become literal and metaphorical ways for the public viewer to see what surrounds him or her. It is as if the artist were giving eyeglasses to the public to help them comprehend their environment, to slow down and appreciate what already exists. This ... creates environments using existing constructions, or the suggestion of existing constructions, and then frames a view leading the imagination to go beyond the place... These projects provide a frame through which to look at what is already there, but is typically not noticed. Zapatka, Place.
Christian. New
RESEARCH
York:
Mary 1997.
INPUTSTheoretical
Miss:
Making
26.
Print.
framework
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preface The site of Owhiro Bay has a rich history, and these different layers encourage interpretation of the narrative of the site. Through this design-lead research I wanted to explore architecture as timepiece remnants
in
the
site;
investigating
the Maori mythology, the event of human intervention, and the bridging of these through a new architecture.
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table of contents
Table of contents
1
Abstract 2 01 INTRODUCTION
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02 SITE ANALYSIS
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03 CONCEPT DESIGN
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04 CASE STUDY ANALYSIS
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05 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK 27 Epigraph
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06 PROGRAMME ANALYSIS
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Preface
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07 PRELIMINARY DESIGN
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08 DEVELOPED DESIGN
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ABSTRACT This intervention plays off the tension surrounding the scarred site in wanting to eliminate the evidence of human intervention / disruption - questioning and responding to what can come out of
preserving
the
remnant.
Tension
lies in stating that the site must stay in its destructed state so as to enhance awareness of mankind’s impact on the environment - yet any new intervention to the site is further a destructive act. The architecture is intended to frame the beauty and drama present in the site, while preserving the history and ruins of the landscape. Through architecture there is an opportunity to not just preserve the site, but to allow the site to reveal several stories of existence that once coincided. The narrative helps to make sense of the site, and the site of the architecture.
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introduction The Owhiro Bay quarry on the South Coast
to allow a story of the existence in time
of Wellington - labelled the gateway to the
to be read; how to allow the site to be
South Coast- and with views of Mount
understood, in a way that makes sense
Tapuae-o-uenuku, in the South Island,
of the abuse of the site; and how to be
operated for nearly 80 years, providing
respectful to the connection between
huge amounts of rock and beach gravel
people and the natural environment
for the construction industry in Wellington.
so to make a transparent built object.
From an economic and environmental point of view, the excavation of the quarry
Evident shifts off grid suggest a deep
was taking a major toll on the coastline,
connection and history with the landscape.
leading to its closure. The closure is
These shifts reflect the hidden choreography
widely tribute to the local community,
of the architecture. Separation between
as it is a literal scar on the South Coast.
the ruins of old architectural elements, human intervention, and new architecture
spent
becomes blurred - questioning if the objects
$500,000 rehabilitating the stretch of the
themselves on the site created the damage.
The
Wellington
City
Council
coastline where the quarry is situated, and in 2005 won the Aggregate and Quarry
The two main vertical elements of the
Association’s
Environmental
intervention have a strong relationship
Excellence Award. This recognises the
and dialogue between them. Originally
effort in transforming the site to its natural
situated on the same axis, the eastern form
state, and improvements are evident.
has turned to face the South Island and the
Mimico
huge scale of empty framework left firmly This thesis begins by questioning the future
grounded in site has a grand presence to
of the site, and what restoring it may
it, emphasised by a shaft of light. The top
mean. It is focussed on investigating; how
of the second form has an evident shift off
architecture can be not suppressed from
axis, aligning itself on the same grid line as
the sensory realm so to create a feeling of
the first form. Approaching from the east
detachment or alienation, as the site feels
this form has a strong presence, and toward
from the environment; how to not only
the South is revealed as an abandoned
preserve the site through the architecture but
shell. The way the ruins are embedded yet stick out from the landscape suggests how the ground has shifted underneath them
since
they
have
been
there.
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research methodology
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site analysis Site analysis begins to reimagine landscape
and have served the right purpose that they’re
before human inhabitation and disruption. And plays with the two narratives of returning
no longer needed, but we want to not restore
it to how it was, rejuvenating it (and maybe
the old quarry site but keep it like a standstill
what does rejuvenating have to mean- back to
in time- another title potential- so that it is kept
original or to a state equally as tidy? What’s
there as memorial. To be a successful building
judged as to a similar state?) or keeping it as a
therefore it needs to serve its purpose so great
reminder of the damage, restoring the damage.
that it creates enough awareness but needs
The site could be used as a compass itself- the
to be kept in its original state after doing so –
direction and depth of shadows allowing to tell
creating two large challenges to withstand time
the time by where and how high the sun is in the
and changing trends not only in architecture
sky.
I like the slight shadow the grass leaves that has grown along the ridge line then out over it as
Scale of the tiers is hard to determine and could
the gravel has eroded away.
be an interesting play on perception, as it is
The fragility of the ground is something I want
only when people start to climb the cliff faces
to play on, with the number of shingle slides
that you realise how big they are. Perhaps the
there are. Making it look as if my building can
way that the height of the tiers get smaller as
slide, adapt with them. But does that contradict
they go up could be a way to help perceive as
my initial idea of wanting to be permanent??
looking smaller as they get distant. (One point
Doesn’t matter at this stage.
perspective) what if viewed through two point?
What if the tiers were cut into? Or not actually,
That’s how the tiers could be viewed if you
but the building created a portrayal of what that
envisage them as binding/ sewing the two cliff
may look like. The inverse to what is seen.
faces either side back together- attempting to
but cultures, generations, natural (earthquakes,
mend the environment. What if the building
landslides etc.), and to be so successful as a
installation seemed to try keep them apart-
memorial to educate.
pushing against the view the site’s angles
Another take could be reintroducing it into the
see them as coming together, as a way to
natural environment and architect Enric Batlle
keep awareness of land degradation (almost
who spoke to us in Barcelona on one of his
a memorial centre) (site to not be forgotten
landscape projects comes to mind with his
for future generations) in the view that while
restoration of the old rubbish dump. This project
participating to the awareness of natural land
sought “to return the public use of this area. The
abuse in the negative context, we’re keeping
proximity to urban areas, access and parking
light shed on it because in our children’s
facilities make of it, a well linked side as well as
generation, awareness will have been so great
a new entrance or “gate” to Parc Natural del
that the natural environment will have been
Garraf which is also in connection with the long
restored to near pristine condition. So centres
distance GR pathway.”
like we’re creating will have been so successful
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concept design
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4.0
case study analysis
This chapter explores how precedents with issues
similar
context
or
site
specfic
may have ideals that and be
analysed and consequently articulated through our own design experiments.
Through this first case study, I have explored the dialogue that is presented through the two structures, and with reference to the design issue of inhabiting an old structure, or a ruin, this case study is interesting from that aspect also. The hierarchy and relationships between the forms has been analysed and an applied rule of thirds is recognised.
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Figures 1 & 2: Water Tower (OfficeKGDVS, 2007)
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This case study is of interest, as is set on a dynamic coastline , where erosion is a big issue, and the architect explores the opportunity there is to design with the idea of ruins is considered. The building is designed with the intention for it to be found and reinhabited hundreds of years down the line . This is an interesting discussion, as buildins normally have a life span of 50 years and will be consequently replaced. What ensures that a building will be kept, so as to be given the opportunity for the ruins to be inhabited and reimagined? Considerations from The Terrarium case study that can be used to inform the design
research
experiment
include:
Idea of a solid facade- facing South on
our
site
protecting
against
the
sea - an empty shell of a building transparent to the hills behind and only revealed when close to the building. A
varience
in
the
of lighter
transparency facade.
A heavily weighted front yet isn’t overly heavy on this side due to appearing to be tied down to the ground at the back - suspension ties and a scaffolded like framework at the top appear to be in mid construction of the rest of the skin of the building. A machine like robust building.
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Figure 3 (Hanna,
:
The
Terrarium 2012) 15 |
This case study is interesting as a time piece, seeming to have been left in mid air, with movement paths which track a past series of existence. It has both a poetic and practical nature to it, and this is something that I want to carry forward with my investigation.
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Figure House
4: (Butcher,
Flood 2016) 17 |
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Figures (Jones
5 & 6 : Antithesis & Ginzel, 1989)
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Figure 7: The Ise Shrine (Yee Fong, 2013) | 26
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theoretical analysis This chapter explores theoretical case
of educating through the architecture,
studies to address the design objectives
to keep the site as an acknowledgment
surrounding the site. It is focussed on
and
investigating; how architecture can be
individuals. More so, the effect that is
not suppressed from the sensory realm
has for generations. How to design with
so to create a feeling of detachment
the past, present and future in mind.
lesson
of
the
disruption
of
or alienation, as the site feels from the environment; how to not only preserve the site through the architecture but to allow a story of the existence in time to be read; how to allow the site to be understood, in a way that makes sense of the abuse of the site; and how to be respectful to the connection between people and the natural environment so to make a transparent built object. Section 1 considers Christopher Alexander’s pioneering of the theory of human-made order, so to address the complex issues of architecture as responsive to the site; and distinguishing between good and bad effects on the natural environment. Section 2, through Kevin Lynch’s book ‘What Time Is This Place?’ explores how the architecture can become a representation of the history of the site, a piece in order to make sense of the abuse. The writings of Lynch help establish the importance
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section one
One of Alexander’s assumptions is based
history of the site. With exploration therefore
on the theory that the artificial order of
in how they are to propose a meaning to the
architecture is as a generational timescale
site and to seem that these historical pieces
so that individuals aren’t going to notice
have purposefully be left to serve the site.
the damage to the environment. “As a result, human beings can do things to the
His next point as the opposite of this and
natural environment and build buildings
a building as a machine, acting detached
and structures that damage the world.
from the environment mitigates the potential
It is not easy to diagnose what is good
for the site to seem, contradictory to the
and distinguish it from what is bad.”
previous point, even more detached from the site. If not able to be distinguished
The
architecture
of
the
Owhiro
Bay
clearly from the ruins of the landscape it
quarry should mitigate the appearance of
creates the appearance of the site being left
having been left as a ‘rotting time piece’.
as a ruined and not in some way preserved.
It shouldn’t appear to dominate and so
The Ise Shrine Complex in Japan, a Shinto
detract from the grand scale of the scarred
shrine in the forest of sacred Japanese
site, thus losing awareness of the violent
cypress trees is destroyed and re-built every
history of the environment. The research
20 years by an exact duplicate build in
design experiments will therefore explore
order to conquer time through the art of
an appropriate scale for the site, and more
renewal.
importantly how to create architecture in order to further emphasis awareness on the site without further creating damage on the site. With ignorance to this, as Alexander would suggest, the architecture as the artificial order upon the natural order wouldn’t necessarily be self-correcting. The theories of Alexander state that in order to make good buildings we must have a healthy conception of the world, and a connectivity. The connectivity with the land could mediate the architecture to become part of the
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section two
Kevin Lynch uses Stoke-on-Trent’s industrial
The
wasteland,
village
environment may be as significant a point in
potteries, as a case example for treatment/
its process as its creation, why not celebrate
preservation of the scarred landscape, and
that moment in some more significant way?
parallels are able to be drawn between
Even further, could we design our buildings
this wasteland and the scarred site of the
to wreck well- that is, not only to be easy
Owhiro Bay Quarry. “The strategy is to
to destroy but spectacular as well? (178)
evidence
of
the
deconstruction
and
death
of
clear away old structures, level the land, plant it in grass or trees… Will we have the
Professionals have been concerned almost
courage and the sense to see this as an
wholly with new growth rather than the
opportunity and not simply a disaster?” (13)
environment of decline. They do not know how to deal with waste…” (190)
Historical knowledge must be communicated to the public for its enjoyment and
Environment can teach its users about the
education. Words and pictures convey
nature of change and give them a chance to
much, but real things make the deepest
cause it. The rehabilitation of discarded space,
impression… To be surrounded by the
when carried out by the people themselves,
buildings and equipment of the past, or
can influence their image of change. (194)
best of all to act as if we were in the past, is an excellent way to learn about it” (51)
Wherever a feature of environment is directly linked to an important social
“One can create something, it is true, which
role,
then
the
one
will
cause
modification
of
the
will last a thousand years, but no one can tell who will be living after a hundred…” (93) These thoughts about how our environment represents or might represent the past, the present, and the future can be bought into better order if we look at how our bodies and our minds experience timehow time is built into us and yet also how we ourselves have created it.” (117)
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of
the
the other.”
modification (216
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Figure 8 : Piazza XXVI Luglio, Monumento alla Resistenze
Figure 9: Kozara Memorial Monument (Dzamonja, 1972) | 40
6.0
programme analysis
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Figure 10: Double Torqued Ellipse (Serra, 2003)
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7.0
PRELIMINARY DESIGN
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pHASE 1 REVIEW Comments from Phase 1 review impelled that I consider more closely the structure and pragmatic issues of design. A great level of attention to structure woulld further add identity and strength to the design, which is of importance as my design becomes more paired back in form, with simple geometry. As concrete construction, I will need to make the walls thicker, adding a sense of power and presence - important foremostly
in
the
memorial
space.
It was critiqued than in order to give more relevance to the intervention, while a powerful space, further programme should be specified. The memorial space that is there should lure visitors inside, and reveal. Pragmatic issues included that it is a space that could
be attractive
to
and
loitering,
littering
graffiti.
With reference to the form itself, thought needs to be had in not making the geometries conflicting- how to confirm the relationships between them- and this may be done through a seperation of elements that would otherwise touch.
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Figure 11 : Recent article highlights the issues surrounding freedom campers on the site, and gives opportunity to design for this issue. (Hunt, 2016)
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Figures 12, cylinders | 62
13
& 14w (Piranesi,
:
Inhabiting 1756)
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8.0
Developed design
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CONCLUSion This design-led research investigation has allowed me to explore an interesting, and relevant, methodology and scope. The reference to Maori legend has enabled a site and culturally specific approach, as well as a strong basis to which to set a narrative. The
investigation
has
predominately
focussed on investigating how architecture can begin to eliminate evidence of the human disruption on the natural environment,
and
acknowledge
that
any new intervention to the site is further a destruptive act. This is a degree of research that can be applied to lots of different situations and scopes, making it an important issue to resolve through design. An element to arise in Critique of this issue is the idea that the argument is framing the architecture as trying to be Utopian, and that sites of historic intervention as with the quarry convey a negative connotation. These could instead be thought of differently, and this would be a potential application to study further. Overall I am proud with what I have achieved
throughout
this
project.
I
have learnt valuable skills, and an entirely new design approach and way of thinking about architecture. I have thoroughly enjoyed this design stream.
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1.0
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