Reliquary_Wright_Jessica_411_Phase2 Developed Design

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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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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bibliography Butcher, [Digital

M.

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