Pomona Island Thesis

Pomona Island Temporary House - Permanent Assembly

Thesis Design Report Luke Bushnell-Wye Gregory Chatfield Lee Higgins Ben Simpson

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ABSTRACT The project has two aims: firstly, to create a temporary home for the British Parliament during their full decant from the Palace of Westminster during its refurbishment, and secondly but more importantly to use this move as a springboard to help devolve the democratic powers of London and establish a northern political stronghold in Manchester on a site known as Pomona Island.

This is achieved by implementing an adaptable scheme where the main focus is delivering a Northern Assembly on a permanent political campus after Parliament returns to London. This requires creating permanent and temporary typologies due to the difference in programme between Parliament and Assembly.

The Northern Assembly programme is located in the permanent typologies whilst the additional Parliament elements are housed in temporary buildings until they are disassembled.

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Acknowledgements Alan Dunlop, Alan Dunlop Architects Ben Devereau, School of Architecture, University of Liverpool Alan Ross, shedkm architects Mark Swenarton, School of Architecture, University of Liverpool Alex Dusterloh, School of Architecture, University of Liverpool Mike Kane, MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East Louise Ellman, MP for Liverpool Riverside David Chow, Environmental Consultant, University of Liverpool Brian Edmondson, Structural Engineer, University of Liverpool

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Contents Abstract Acknowledgements Contents

Introduction

Project Outline Aims

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Prelude

“That London...�

Northerners, Assemble Restoration and Renewal The Palace of West-Manchester

The Site Manchester

Pomona Island

Site Context

Site Investigation

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Precedents

Parliament Renovation Precedent Temporary Building Precedents Debating Chamber Precedents

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Research People Processes

Legal Context

Procurement Context

Concepts

Temporality and Permanence

Permanence and Industry

Temporality and What Used To Be

Permanent Elements

Temporary Elements

Key Concepts for Debating Chambers

Transportation To and From Site

Dismantlement of Temporary

Key Elements of Temporary Design Palimpsest

Design Development

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Proposals

125

Structural Strategies

145

Permanent Debating Chamber Structure of Temporary Brick Colonnade The Suspended and Negative

Sustainability Strategies

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Economic Social Environment

Conclusion

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165

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Introduction

Introduction “ “The Parliament sits in the land. We have the feeling that the building” should be land, built out of land. To carve in the land the form of gathering people together...

Enric Miralles, speaking about the Scottish Parliament

by The Team Thesis Design Report

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Introduction

Introduction

project outline

Temporary House, Permanent Assembly This thesis aims to solve two separate issues that currently face the politics and governance of Britain.

Secondly, this thesis addresses the balance of power that currently, and in our view unfairly, lies heavily in London’s favour. This project proposes that instead of just erecting a temporary building for Parliament to be housed, the political movement is used as a catalyst for generating a greater northern political power in the form of a Northern Assembly.

This allows for people in the North to better govern and represent themselves and express their own regional identity.

Firstly, and perhaps most pragmatically, we aim to create a temporary home for Parliament whilst it is being refurbished. In 2012 it was made apparent that the Palace of Westminster was going to need massive renovation works which could potentially cost upwards of ÂŁ5.7bn. The Independent Options Appraisal stated that a full decant of the Palace whilst work takes place could save taxpayers ÂŁ2.5bn.

Whilst these are lofty ambitions we feel that our proposals achieve this.

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Introduction

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Introduction

aims

Architectural Ambitions

Identity

To create an architectural language across our site that represents its context and can become as synonymous with the North as Westminster is with London.

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Introduction

Democracy

Introduction

Temporality and Permanence

To represent democracy and the people in our architectural and masterplanning responses.

To accurately portray the temporary and permanent elements of our scheme through their architectural forms, to examine their construction methods, and to create a sustainable political campus that will last for a hundred years.

Pomona Island

Monumentality

Visibility

To create a landmark scheme with gravitas and weight that creates a monument to democracy and becomes a symbol for Manchester and the North, as befitting a scheme with a programme such as this.

To ensure the corridors of power and the debating chambers and committee rooms are expressed and made permeable through their architectural forms and language.

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Prelude

Prelude “ We need to recognise that the UK has changed. Devolution for” Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland – even London – has been a success.

The North of England needs a stronger say in its own destiny and that requires an extensive debate about the most appropriate forms.

Linda Riordan MP and President, Hannah Mitchell Foundation, Debbie Abrahams MP, David Heyes MP, Barry Sheerman MP, Graham Jones MP, Tony Lloyd MP

by Luke Bushnell-Wye Thesis Design Report

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Prelude

Prelude

“That London...”

Creating a Counter-Balance to the Capital City

Rarely does one city dominate its country in the same way that London does the UK. The judiciary, parliament, government, and economic heart of the UK all reside in the capital, creating a political, cultural, and social centre of power that is unrivalled throughout Europe. France has Paris, and Russia has Moscow, but the dominant model throughout the rest of the world is one of a more balanced spread of power – a balance from which we feel the whole of the UK could benefit.

1.2m

G. Glasgow

0.8m

1.8m

Tyneside

W. Yorkshire

2.6m

G. Manchester

Merseyside 1.1m

2.4m

W. Midlands

9.8m

G. LONDON S. Hampshire 0.9m

In Germany, the economic power of Frankfurt and the constitutional court in Karlsruhe are a counter-balance to Berlin.

In The Netherlands, Den Haag is the seat of parliament and government, and coupled with the industrial might of Rotterdam, they challenge Amsterdam’s dominance. Outside of Europe, some countries like Brazil have constructed entirely new capital cities, whilst South Africa has three cities that act as its capital for different functions.

The balance of population in the UK is also highly unusual; for the majority of countries, the second largest centre of population is roughly half the size of the largest – for example, Hamburg is roughly half the size of Berlin, and Rio de Janeiro is roughly half the size of São Paulo. In the UK however, the next six largest centres of population put together still wouldn’t equal that of Greater London.

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Prelude

Prelude

Why Manchester?

northerners, assemble

London and Manchester Comparison Greater London

Greater Manchester

Population: 9.8 million Area: 607 square miles Population Density: 13,800 per square mile

Population: 2.6 million Area: 493 square miles Population Density: 5,500 per square mile

Devolution in Manchester

Greater Manchester Boundary

Why Manchester?

Greater London Boundary

Map to scale

Map to scale

London and Manchester Comparison

Manchester has the capacity for growth

Greater London

Greater Manchester

Population: 9.8 million Area: 607 square miles Population Density: 13,800 per square mile

Wigan

Population: 2.6 million Area: 493 square miles

Density: 5,500 per square mile The UK needs a counter-balance Population to fight against London’s gravitational pull. Greater Greater Manchester is the second largest Manchester Boundary Greater London Boundary Manchester Airport is the largest airport outside of the south east in metropolitan area in the country – larger than the West Midlands the UK and is 20 minutes via tram from the city centre. even though Birmingham is slightly larger than Manchester itself – and, Bury if youRochdale consider the UK without London, is situated roughly Bolton Oldham in the centre of the population balance. Manchester’s prime transport infrastructure already connects the city centre’s Salford Trams nowtrain connect all of Greater Tameside Manchester and connect to all train Manchester stations on major North-South and East-West axes even before stations for nationwide travel.

City Centre Trafford the completion of the HS2 rail project and the city is increasingly Stockport well connected regionally and internationally thanks to its Manchester Metrolink network and large airport. It is in the perfect place for Map to scale Map to scale International Airport Manchester houses four train such a counter-balance.

Manchester has the capacity for growth stations, with Manchester Piccadilly Proposed HS2 Line TransPennine Express West Coast Mainline

Map of train routes

Established public transport routes

Devolution in the UK

being the main connection between north and south. The current travel time to London takes 2h 8mins with the coming HS2 reducing that to 1h 8mins.

Manchester Airport is the largest airport outside of the south east in the UK and is 20 minutes via tram from the city centre.

Bolton

Bury

Rochdale

Media City houses BBC and ITV, with Channel 4 in the city centre, making Manchester the biggest media hub Wigan Salford outside of London

Oldham

Tameside Manchester City Centre

The University of Manchester has the largest student population outside of London, and Greater Manchester is also home to four other universities.

Manchester has rich heritage, culture, and entertainment, including The Lowry Theatre and Gallery, the Imperial War Trams connect Museum North, and manynow sporting clubs.all of Greater

Manchester and connect to all train stations for nationwide travel.

Inviting infrastructure

Trafford Stockport

Manchester International Airport Proposed HS2 Line TransPennine Express West Coast Mainline Map of train routes

Established public transport routes

Media City houses BBC and ITV, with Channel 4 in the city centre, making Manchester the biggest media hub outside of London

The University of Manchester has the largest student population outside of London, and Greater Manchester is also home to four other universities.

Manchester houses four train stations, with Manchester Piccadilly being the main connection between north and south. The current travel time to London takes 2h 8mins with the coming HS2 reducing that to 1h 8mins.

Manchester has rich heritage, culture, and entertainment, including The Lowry Theatre and Gallery, the Imperial War Museum North, and many sporting clubs.

With a growing distrust and distance establishing itself between the people of the North and the political institutions of London, devolution can reconnect people with the systems that govern their lives.

Devolution has swept through Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and London itself, and though assemblies for the individual regions of the North were rejected at the polls by voters, other systems of devolution have been accepted, such

as the creation and implementation of metropolitan mayors.

So, why not create one central assembly for the North as a whole now that the political situation has changed? Our thesis proposes just this. A clear and established second city would act as a focal point for the North and put the government’s money where its mouth is regarding the establishment of a true Northern Powerhouse.

“ ...the final thing you need in a Powerhouse is, of course – power.”

- George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer

Inviting infrastructure Pomona Island

The seat of national parliament would remain in London, but to give the people of the North a local, regional, devolved voice, a new centre for debate and a political institution needs to be created. The Salford Quays already host a large proportion of the BBC and ITV operations, and Greater Manchester will gain control of its own devolved NHS budget from 2016 onwards, so why not extend the remit of this extra power in Manchester to the North as a whole?

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Prelude

Prelude

Timeline of Events

1969

Royal Commission on the Constitution set up to report on nationalism and the possibility of local and regional government.

1973

The Commission recommends legislation and executive devolution for Scotland and Wales. The proposals are rejected as unworkable.

1978

Revised recommendations from the Commission lead to the Scotland Act and the Wales Act, both subject to referendums.

2000

Consulting engineers commissioned to report on the condition of mechanical and electrical (M&E) plant in Palace basements. They concluded that a significant amount of services plant and equipment needed replacement within 5-10 years and that repair and maintenance was uneconomic.

July 2002

City Hall in London for the Greater London Authority opens.

9 October 2004

The new Scottish Parliament building is opened by the Queen.

November 2004

Voters reject proposals for North East Assembly.

2012

Publication of Pre-Feasibility Study on the Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Programme on the condition of the Palace and the case for a major renovation.

March 1979

Scottish and Welsh voters both reject devolution in the referendums; more than 40 per cent of Scots do not bother to vote. Shortly afterwards, the incoming Conservative government repeals both acts. Devolution is declared “dead for a generation”.

September 1997

Referendums held in Scotland and Wales. Both endorse proposals for an assembly in their country, the Welsh by a very small majority.

Feb 2015

Announcement of Greater Manchester being given charge of its NHS budget.

May 2015

James Wharton is appointed ‘Northern Powerhouse’ Minister.

Spring 2016

Members of both Houses expected to make a decision in principle on a preferred way forward for carrying out the Restoration and Renewal Programme.

May 2017

Greater Manchester mayoral elections.

Early 2020’s Anticipated start date for the Restoration and Renewal Programme.

May 1998

Greater London Authority referendum.

6 May 1999

Elections to the Welsh Assembly and Scottish Parliament.

1 July 1999

The Scottish Parliament assumes its full powers in the presence of the Queen.

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Prelude

Prelude

Restoration and renewal

The Palace of Westminster is Falling Down, Falling Down, Falling Down...

The Restoration and Renewal Programme has been established to face the issues raised by the calamitous state of repair the Palace of Westminster currently finds itself in. Asbestos used in post-war repairs remains in the building fabric, as does a significant amount of combustible materials used in interior decoration. Key basement ventilation shafts have been filled with mechanical and electrical servicing since modernisation, and the hydraulic systems both inside and out are creating major flooding issues.

No Decant

Partial Decant

Full Decant

Renovation works slotted in around the day-to-day activity of Parliament

Parliament moves out its departments one at a time to allow works to occur

The whole of Parliament moves out of the Palace for the duration of works

32 years £5.67 bn

11 years £3.9 bn

6 years £3.2 bn

In 2015, the Independent Options Appraisal (IOA) report highlighted three options for restoration: no decant, a partial decant, or a full decant. The select committee formed to discuss these options and highlight a preference has already delayed the decision, raising

a scenario that we feel we can exploit. In the scenario that the full decant option is chosen, we propose temporarily relocating Parliament to the site of our proposed Northern Assembly in Greater Manchester.

As well as being the cheapest option identified by the IOA, much of the

infrastructure needed for a full decant would already be under construction for the benefit of the permanent Northern Assembly. This has the added effect of connecting Parliament to the people and shaking-up the balance of political and economic power in the UK.

Faced with such overwhelming issues the advice normally would to demolish and start again from scratch. However, with the Palace of Westminster’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a building of the utmost cultural and political significance, this is not an option.

e Y E S Pomona Island

Thesis Design Report

for a House of Parliament and Northern This brief assumes that every member of the House of Commons and Assembly. select members of the House of Lords member of the House of Commons and select of the estate Housein ofLondon Lords will require office space.

All departments in themembers parliamentary will require office to space.

All departments in the parliamentary estate in London shall be rehoused Manchester. shall be rehoused to Manchester.

1.

Prelude 1.

2.

Parliament Requirements 2.

Parliament Requirements Accommodation Elements Area Needed (M2) 3.

Accommodation Elements Area Needed (M2) 5.

3.

1. Royal 495 5.

1. Royal 495 2.

House of Lords 3140 2. House 3140 3.

House of of Lords Commons 5774 4.

3. of Commons 5774 4. House Lower Chamber Offices 23309 4.

4. Upper LowerChamber Chamber offi Offices ces 23309 5.

2091 5. Bicameral Upper Chamber 2091 6.

Officesoffices Considering the principles of democracy, visibility, 515 6.

515 7. Bicameral Press areasOffices 2804 6. monumentality, and representative architectural vernaculars, 7. Facilities Press areas 2804 7.

8. (including 8. 9.6.

7.

8. the Facilities (including 8. 9. we are to create a Northern Assembly for people of the 2637 restaurants and cafes) restaurants Services and cafes) 1717 North on a new political campus in Greater9. Manchester, with a 2637 9. Services 1717 10.

Accommodation 28050 Brief 10. first phase that will host the temporary relocation of Parliament 28050 10. Accommodation 10.

The following chapter outlines the spatial and of thethe rooms neededof Westminster. during therequirement renovation Palace Total Net Programme Area 70530 for a House of Parliament and Northern Assembly. This brief assumes that every Total Net Programme Area 70530 member of the House of Commons and select members of the House of Lords will require office space. All departments in the parliamentary estate in London shall be rehoused to Manchester.

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Prelude

the palace of west-manchester Creation of a Brief

Phase One: Northern Parliament

Phase One: Northern Parliament Parliament Requirements Brief

1.

2.

Phase Two: Northern Assembly Phase Two: Northern Assembly Northern Assembly Requirements Northern Assembly Requirements Accommodation Elements Area Needed (M2)

Accommodation Elements Accommodation Elements Area Needed (M2) 3. needed The following chapter outlines the spatial requirement and the rooms Accommodation 1. Upper Chamber Elements 5.

1.

Royal 495 for a House of Parliament and Northern Assembly. This brief assumes that every 1.2. Upper Lower Chamber Chamber 2. House Lords 3140and select members of the House of Lords member ofofthe House of Commons 2.

Lower Chamber Offices 3.

Lower Chamber 3. House Commons 5774 will requireofoffice space. All departments in the parliamentary estate4.in London 3.

Lower Chamber Offices 4.

Press areas 4.

Lower Chamber Offi ces 23309 shall be rehoused to Manchester.

4.

Press areas 5. Facilities (including 5. Upper Chamber offices 2091 5.

Facilities (including restaurants and cafes) 6. Bicameral Offices 515 1.

6. restaurants Services and cafes) 7. Press areas 2804 6.

2.

Parliament Requirements 6. Services 7.

8. Facilities (including 8. 9.

Accommodation Elements Area Needed (M2) Total Net Programme Area restaurants and cafes) 2637 3.

Total Net Programme Area 5.

1. Services Royal 495 9.

1717 2. Accommodation House of Lords 3140 10.

28050 10.

3. House of Commons 5774 4.

Total Net Chamber Programme Area 70530 4. Lower Offices 23309 5. Upper Chamber offices 2091 6. Bicameral Offices 515 7. Press areas 2804 6.

7.

8. Facilities (including 8. 9.

Devolved Powers restaurants and cafes) 2637 Devolved Powers 9. Services 1717 Northern Assembly Requirements 10. Accommodation The28050 devolved powers proposed for the Northern Assembly are 10.

Accommodation Elements Area Needed (M2) based on the powers granted to the Welsh Assembly: Total NetChamber Programme Area 70530 1.

1. Upper 2140 • Agriculture, fisheries, forestry and rural development 2. Lower Chamber 4774 • Ancient monuments and historic buildings 2.

3. Lower Chamber Offices 13339 4. Press areas 2804 • Culture 5. Facilities (including • Economic development3. restaurants and cafes) 2637 • 1717 Education and training 6. Services Northern Assembly Requirements • Environment 5.

4.

Education Accommodation Elements Area (M2) services and 6.promotion of fire safety Total Net Programme Area • 27411 FireNeeded and rescue Education 1.

1. Upper Chamber 2140 • Food 2. Lower Chamber 4774 • 13339 Health and health services 2.

3. Lower Chamber Offices • Highways and transport 4. Press areas 2804 • Housing 5. Facilities (including 3. restaurants and cafes) • 2637 Local government 6. Services 1717 • Public administration 5. 6.

4.

• 27411 Social welfare Devolved Powers Total Net Programme Area

Area Needed (M2) Area Needed (M2) 2140 2140 4774 4774 13339 13339 2804 2804 2637 2637 1717 1717

27411 27411

1.

1.

2.

2.

3.

3.

4.

4.

5.

5.

6.

6.

Bolt-on/temporary elements will be removed for the establishing of the Bolt-on/temporary elements will be removed for the establishing of the Northern Assembly Northern Assembly

Phase Two: Northern Assembly

Devolved Powers

Phase Two: Northern Assembly

Health Health

Local Government Local Government

Transport Transport

Planning Planning

Culture Culture

Environment Environment

Rural Affairs Rural Affairs

Bolt-on/temporary elements will be removed for the establishing of the Northern Assembly • Sport and recreation • Tourism • Town and country planning Bolt-on/temporary will be removed for the establishing of the • Water and floodelements defence Economic Development Social Services Economic Development Northern Assembly

Pomona Island

Devolved Powers

Social Services

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The Site

The Site “ Known originally as Cornbrook Strawberry Gardens, it was soon� renamed after Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit trees.

Guardian, 7th August 2014

by Gregory Chatfield Thesis Design Report

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The Site

The Site

manchester

The History of the City Manchester changed drastically from a minor 18th century Lancastrian town into an expansive industrial metropolis of northern England. Manchester’s huge expansion commenced at the start of the 19th century, resulting in mass urbanisation due to the Industrial Revolution and the prominence of the textile industry in and around the city.

This heavy industrialisation resulted in the construction of the Manchester Ship Canal making the North West an industrial powerhouse. The mid-20th century saw a decline in Manchester’s industrial importance, prompting social deprivation and economic decline. From the 1990’s, with investment and gentrification, Manchester’s fortunes have reversed, becoming a reinvigorated post-industrial city with multiple sporting, broadcasting, and educational institutions.

Opening of the Manchester Ship Canal by the yacht Norseman in 1894

Manchester in 1750

McConnel Textile Company Mills

Manchester in 1850 during the Industrial Revolution (Maps at the same scale) Pomona Island

Manchester’s industrial workers and families Thesis Design Report

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The Site

The Site

Pomona island Wider Site Context

The site sits on Pomona Island, straddles the boundary between Trafford, Salford and Manchester City councils, and acts as a strategic connection between the centre of Manchester and Media City in Salford.

There are several key buildings that lie in the near vicinity, some of which include the Lowry, Old Trafford, Imperial War Museum North, adding to its strategic connection.

Ordsall Ward Salford Council

Hulme Ward Manchester City Council

Clifford Ward Trafford Council

Aerial view of Pomona Island

Map illustrating the wards and city councils

Wider context site analysis Pomona Island

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The Site

The Site

Pomona island

Immediate Surrounding Context

Pomona Island is an unused brownfield site. The site is fronted by the Manchester Ship Canal and bounded at the rear by the tram line and the Bridgewater Canal. Due to the nature of the scheme, security is a major concern. The site is an ideal secure location being surrounded by a body of water.

There is great potential to extend the site over the water as part of a wider masterplan to encourage future developments within the area.

To Deansgate

Cornbrook Metrolink Station

Old Warehouses and offices containing Evolve Fitness, Tipton Jones, Maba Tyres, and Woodland Export Packaging

Scrapyard

Residential

Tra m

Warehouses containing SVL Freight Limited, Pan World, and NG Bailey.

lin

Man

che

New development including two warehouses for The Foundry.

Ordsall Hall

ster

eR ou

te

Ship

Can

al Pomona Metrolink Station

Old Offices for small businesses

Adamson House Offices Soapworks new development

Exchange Quays development

new

Bri l

ana

rC

ate

Exchange Quay Metrolink Station

w dge

To Media City

Key Proposed Site Points of Interest Pedestrian Gateways to site

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The Site

The Site

Pomona island Site History

1830 Liverpool and Manchester Railway

1869 A Major Political Meeting

Construction began in 1724 to make the rivers Mersey and Irwell navigable from the Mersey Estuary in the west to Manchester in the east.

1883 Docks on the Pomona Gardens

1845 Pomona Botanical Gardens

Moderate sized boats were able to make the journey from quays near Water Street in Manchester to the Irish Sea

1724 The River Mersey and Irwell

This was completed and opened in 1894.

Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli gave a speech to an audience of around 100,000 about the disestablishment of the Irish Church.

The opening of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, intensified competition for the carriage of goods

1734 Increased Transportation by Water

1894 Extension to the Canal

1970-1982 Removal of the Docks

Since the 1970s the site was cleared and some dock arms filled in.

Four docks of the proposed Manchester Ship Canal were built on Pomona Gardens.

Opened by William & Joseph Beardsley who leased land in Stretford from Sir Thomas Joseph de Trafford.

1842 Guy Fawkes

Harrison Ainsworth, in his 1842 novel ‘Guy Fawkes’, wrote about the local story that the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 in Ordsall Hall's Star Chamber.

1800’s Cornbrook Strawberry Gardens

Pomona Pleasure Gardens were originally named Cornbrook Strawberry Gardens. The area was renamed after Pomona, the Roman Goddess of fruit trees, gardens and orchards, to reflect the surrounding area.

1870’s Manchester Ship Canal

The construction of the Manchester Ship Canal commenced during the 1870’s. By the 1880’s the last quarter of the 19th Century saw major change 2.2 History site was almost entirely The within the area. The opening of the Manchester Ship Canal in 1894 and the construction of Salford Early plans of the Ordsall area indicate that in 1848 surrounded bythefactories.

Docks and terraced housing to serve dock workers the area was laid out as fields bordering River Ordsall Hall Museum located behind steel railings on Ordsall Lane

1868 Royal Pomona Palace Mr James Reilly purchased the land and built the Pomona Palace in 1868, whose hall could accommodate nearly 30,000 people.

Pomona Island

1960’s A Thriving Port

Irwell with terraced housing and an infantry barracks focused on Regent Road to the north and Ordsall Lane providing access to a number of riverside mills and to Ordsall Hall. There is believed to have been a house on the site of Ordsall Hall as long ago as 1251. The name Ordsall describes the location of the manor house to the large bend in the River Irwell a short distance to the south. Parts of the present building, including the Great Hall, date back to 1512. For over 300 years the hall was the family home to the Radclyffe’s. At that time, and up until the latter half of the 19th Century the hall was surrounded by meadows and woods.

The Grade I listed Ordsall Hall

transformed the area. Ordsall Hall remained, but engulfed by new development. For a time the Great Hall was used as a gymnasium, and then as a clergy training school. The Hall was purchased by the Salford Corporation in 1959 and following restoration was opened to the public in April 1972 as a period house and local history museum.

Aerial image of the docks on Ordsall Riverside in the 1950’s

Immediately opposite the Ordsall Riverside were the Pomona Docks (docks No.1 through to No. 4). The historical plan for the area dated 1896 indicated that No. 5 dock was located within the Ordsall riverside area immediately south of Ordsall Hall. This dock was infilled during the early part of the 20th Century and replaced by a flour mill. The larger docks (No. 6 through to No. 9) were located on the Salford Quays to the west.

1887 Destruction of Pomona Palace and Gardens

Salford became a maritime centre with vast docks constructed along the ship canal. From here, locallyproduced goods were shipped all over the world.

Through the 20th Century the majority of the Ordsall Riverside has been home to industrial uses including a paper works, soap works (on the Colgate site), Ordsall Dye Works, a Rubber Works, and a number of mills.

Towards the northern end of the study area much of the land was laid out as a grid of residential streets.

These were demolished in the 1970’s.

Until the late 1960’s Salford Docks had a successful history as an inland port. Local industry thrived and communities of workers migrated into the area, attracted by the availability of work and the unusual stability of local dock labour.

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In the summer of 1887, a nearby chemicals factory exploded and damaged the palace considerably, resulting in the gardens and palace closing forever the following year

Thesis Design Report

Until the late 1960’s Salford Docks had a successful history as an inland port. Local industry thrived and communities of workers migrated into the area, attracted by the availability of work and the stability of local dock labour.

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The Site

The Site

Pomona island Existing Images

View of railway bridge arches

View looking across the Manchester Ship Canal at the site

View of abandoned warehouses

View of the lock on site

View of the Bridgewater Canal and bridge crossing

View under the tramline

Vista of the site from the top of the bridge over the lock

Scale 1:5000 Pomona Island

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The Site

The Site

Site context

Pomona Island

Completed Regeneration

Regeneration Required

Completed Regeneration

Bridging the Regeneration Gap

Thesis Design Report

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The Site

The Site

Site investigation Land Use

The site is a cleared brownfield site with a few offices to the south and a scrapyard on the other side of the Bridgewater Canal. The surrounding site hosts a number of distinct uses including housing, industrial warehousing, retail and commercial. There is a strong industrial presence in the local area, especially around the Manchester Ship Canal, which is evident on a map as the buildings have large floor plates and deep plans. Residential is composed of high rise tower blocks and Victorian terraces with limited defensible space.

The surrounding urban landscape is undergoing constant change. For example, Urban Splash have made significant changes to the area with the St George’s Mill development and new build residential schemes.

Local housing example

Scrapyard

Existing offices

Previous industrial use in the area

Key Business Office Education Industrial Community Scale 1:5000

Residential

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The Site

The Site

Site investigation

Listed Buildings and Conservation Area

Castlefield Conservation Area Former Albert Mill Hulme Barracks

There are two conservation areas in the near vicinity, Castlefield and Empress.

Turville Public House

Castlefield has seen substantial development recently with warehouses being converted into flats, offices, galleries and studios.

The Empress conservation area has a strong historical connection with the Industrial Revolution in Manchester.

Empress Conservation Area

The only listed building on our site is the small circular weir designed by James Brindley to carry the old Corn Brook through a culvert under the Bridgewater Canal and into the River Irwell before it was developed into the Ship Canal.

Essence Factory Brindley’s Corn Brook Weir

Ordsall Hall - Grade II listed Key

St Clement’s Church Conservation zone

*

Listed buildings

Ordsall Hall

Brindley’s Corn Brook Weir

1- “Sports, Leisure & the Arts Castlefield Conservation Area.” Introduction. Accessed

2- Trafford Council. “The Empress Conservation Area, Altrincham: Conservation Area

March 18, 2016. http://www.manchester.gov.uk/info/511/conservation_areas/972/

Appraisal.” Trafford.gov.uk. June 2015. Accessed March 18, 2016. https://democratic.

castlefield_conservation_area.

trafford.gov.uk/documents/s8105/CAA_Empress_Draft_2015.pdf.

Pomona Island

Scale 1:5000

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The Site

The Site

Site investigation Gateways

Main vehicular access to the north of the site Footbridge across Ship Canal at north of site

New housing development on the approach to the north of the site

Entrance to the site through the railway arches

Pomona Metrolink Station Pomona Island

Scale 1:5000

Road leading down to the south of the site off the A56 Thesis Design Report

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The Site

The Site

Site investigation Urban Grain

The site has a strong urban grain defined by its industrial past and Victorian infrastructure.

Dock arms 2-4 ran along an east-west axis whilst Dock 1 ran in a more north-south direction.

This is shown on the 1870 map to the right and on the model below.

Most of the docks (1,2,4) have been infilled since the 1970s. The site has a long linear shape making it easily to orientate oneself.

Š Landmark Information Group Ltd and Crown copyright 2016. FOR EDUCATIONAL USE ONLY.

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Pomona Island

Scale 1:7500 100

200

300

400

Thesis Design Report

500

600

700

800

900

1000 m

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The Site

The Site

Site investigation

Notable Buildings and Heights of Surrounding Context MediaCityUK Studios (94m) Apartments (56m)

Old Trafford (38m)

The Lowry & Salford Quays (62m)

Soapworks (37m)

Apartments (28m)

IWM North (26m)

Exchange Quay (66m)

Residential (Average 8m)

Industrial Warehouses (Average 6m)

Pomona Island

Beetham Tower (169m)

Manchester Central Convention Complex (12m)

Residential (Average 8m)

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The Site

The Site

Constraints and Opportunities

Constraints:

- Site is constrained by the waterways and train line that run along the back of the site making expansion and connection to surrounding areas difficult.

k Lin of lar icu tre Veh cen ter to nches Ma

ink it L of ns re tra nt ss ce r Ma the este to anch M

Site investigation

- Industrial contaminated wasteland - two docks have been completely filled in which will require deep foundations for buildings placed on these areas.

A56

Scrapyard

- A few existing buildings on site have to be relocated and a scrapyard needs to be removed.

Opportunities: Strong Transportation Links: Rail / Metro: - Connections to the East Train: Manchester Piccadily Metrolink: Deansgate - Connections to the West Train: Liverpool and Warrington

Metrolink: Salford & Exchange Quay - Metrolink stations on site: Cornbrook & Pomona Stations - Potential for an additional transport hub - This will create footfall, commercial value, logistical efficiencies and can define the identity of the site.

Potential for new Transport Hub

M

an

ell Irw

ch

es

al

an

Views onto the water

*

l

rC

Point of Interest Body of Water

**

na

ate

Pomona Island

Key

Ca

ew

Connectivity: The site geographically acts as the nexus between the centres of Manchester and Salford and therefore provides a great opportunity for development.

Proximity to: The Regional Centre Salford Quays Mediacity Ordsall Hall Irwell City Park

ip

idg

k

r Pa

Water: - Manchester Ship Canal & Bridgewater Canal - Potential for a water taxi stop on site - Opportunity to take advantage of waterside frontage whilst integrating into the wider Irwell City Park initiative.

- Creates a good security buffer - Potential for bridge links across the water

Sh

Br

ty

Ci

Road: - Main road, the A56, runs along the east-west axis - Access into the site via the south and north adjacent to the two rail stations The A56 creates fantastic commercial frontage to the site. The A56 faces development plots which could accommodate higher density and height with larger buildings promoting the site and creating an identity.

te r

*

Gateways Areas to Develop

Scale 1:5000

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Research

Research “ I think that you’ll be likely to find that a regional type assembly will be” much more consensual.

Louise Ellman MP

by Ben Simpson Thesis Design Report

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59

Research

Research

People

Building User - Ian Murray

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

9.15 - Advice session with local constituents 10.30 - Train to London - catch up with casework 15.00 - Legislative committee meeting 17.30 - Parliamentary Labour Party meeting 20.00 - Business, Innovation and Skills Team meeting

8.00 - Breakfast meeting 9.30 - Tour of Parliament 10.30 - Meeting with National Company 11.30 - Question to the Chancellor 12.30 - Meeting with citizens advice 14.00 - Debate in Westminster Hall 17.00 - Catch up with senior party member 18.00 - Speech to All Party Parliamentary Group 19.00 - Vote in the House of Commons 20.00 - Speech at event on workers’ rights 23.00 - Interview with Newsnight Scotland

8.00 - Parliamentary football match for charity

8.00 - Breakfast meeting 9.30 - Question to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 11.30 - Meeting with energy companies 12.30 - E-mails 14.30 - Debate in the commons 17.00 - Votes in the commons 18.00 - E-mails 20.00 - Heads to the airport for flight back to Edinburgh

8.00 - Attends local event 9.15 - Advice session 11.00 - Visit local Charity 13.00 - Volunteer at different charity 15.00 - Local surgery 17.00 - Meeting with constituency staff 19.00 - Charity Reception

9.00 - Advice sessions in various locations around constituency 15.00 - Present local bowling trophy 19.00 - Dinner at local restaurant

MPs can have up to four separate offices. One in their government department, one in the Palace of Westminster, one in their constituency, and a home office.

21:00 - Meeting with colleagues to discuss upcoming vote 22:00 - Vote in the House of Commons 23:00 - Adjournment debate

Much of an MP’s week is taken up with meetings, whether it be on a committee, party, with other government departmentsz, with lords and of course the public.

Pomona Island

10.30 - Meeting with Lords to discuss bill 11.00 - Charity event 11.30 - Questions to secretary of state for Scotland 12.00 - Prime Minister’s Questions 12.30 - Makes calls to constituents and catch up with office 15.00 - Charity report launch 17.00 - Hands in petition to Downing Street 18.00 - Scottish MPs meeting 19.00 - Votes in the House of Commons 20.00 - E-mails

Sunday 10.00 - Walk with the family 12.00 - E-mail from the advice sessions 15.00 - Charity event

MPs will often spend Monday to Thursday in London at Westminster and Friday to Sunday in their constituencies.

One of the key aspect of an MP’s day is debating and voting in the House of Commons.

Information taken from: Murray, Ian. "A Week in the Life." Ian Murray MP. Accessed May 22, 2016. http:// www.ianmurraymp.co.uk/a_week_ in_the_life.

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Research

Research

People

Building User - Mike Kane MP

How do MPs use Parliament, and what are the current estate’s limitations?

Limitation of where I am currently is that I am a long way from the chamber. You have to be less than eight minutes from the chamber for the division.

Parliament is like the Etihad, you never want to be more than 100m from the action.

Design lots of communal work area because MPs have to book meeting rooms and things like that if they want to work together to plan a project.

Would you like to see Westminster being more accessible, do you feel people are disconnected from Parliament?

I think access to the public in a secure and orderly fashion is absolutely essential. It’s their building not ours, in your design concepts you need to think of that.

Could MPs telecommute to a debate?

No, you miss the nuances . . . You have to know who’s going to intervene on you, what’s their body language.

Telecommuting can’t be done.

You also need the mother of all cafes to entertain I’m not just talking about sandwiches and water . . . We entertain a lot of businesses and lobby groups and constituents and you want a really good space where you can do that.

People

Building User - Louise Ellman MP

What are your thoughts on the development of a Northern Assembly?

I think that you’re onto something . . . Lots of the talk at the moment is about city regions but they have lots of weaknesses like what happens to the surrounding countryside. There are new legislative bodies being developed to purely deal with the North, like Transport for the North, so I think you’re onto something.

Whilst we understand the value in making politics interesting to watch (one side vs another), we are also interested how decisions get made.

Going back to your idea of a Northern Assembly . . . When I worked in regional politics I found that most of the issues that came up weren’t really party political . . . I think that you’ll be likely to find that a regional type assembly will be much more consensual. Other debating chamber styles like a horseshoe style might suit you better.

If you had people walking through the site, would it be distracting they could see in to the debating chamber from outside?

I think it would, yes. The other thing is it would make it far easier to the most organised or the loudest pressure groups to influence politics . . . having MPs on show does not necessarily lead to better decisions.

Could MPs telecommute to a debate, watch the debate and vote remotely,or even appear on a screen if they wanted to ask a question?

It could be done, I don’t like that idea but it could be done. You need to pick up on the nuances during debates.

The other thing is that during divisions can be a good opportunity to corner a minister who has been avoiding your calls, so I don’t like that idea.

Information taken from telephone interview Pomona Island

Information taken from an interview at Toxteth Town Hall Thesis Design Report

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Research

Research

Processes

How a Bill becomes a Law Off to Buckingham Palace for Royal Assent

Introduction and first reading - In the chamber the long title is read, which is a paragraph on the bill which sums it up.

Lord’s private bill office

Up to Victoria Tower Third Reading - This is just to ensure everyone is on the same page. This is then wrapped in a ribbon and passed back to the Commons.

Second Reading - is in the form of a debate. Amendments are then allowed on the bill. Members come into the legislation office and discuss what they’d like to change. If there were much disagreement at the second reading then the whole bill can be thrown out.

Bill then proceeds upstairs to the 1st floor

Route the bill takes through Palace of Westminster

In the House of Lords the bill goes through the same process, when changes are made the bill are made the bill is passed back a forth between the houses - this is known as ping pong.

Committee of the whole house

House of Commons

House of Lords

The bill can be passed back and forth in a similar manner to that of Westminster Parliamentary Archives

Select committee

Off to Buckingham Palace for Royal Assent

Report - People come to the public bill office and discuss the report line by line.

Bill then proceeds upstairs to the 1st floor

Royal Assent Route the bill will take through Northern Parliament Pomona Island

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Research

Research

Processes

Processes

Lobbying an MP

Voting

Pass through the security check point at Cromwell Green entrance

Proceed up the public staircase to the MPs office or back out to Portcullis House

If their is no clear majority then a division is called and bells sound out around the parliamentary estate. Divisions are decided by two corridors on either side of the debating chamber.

MPs outside the Palace arrive using the staff entrance

Other MPs arrive from inside the Palace or the tea room

Proceed to the information desk in the central lobby Wait in the lower waiting hall

Route taken through Westminster to Lobby an MP

Route taken by MPs to vote in Westminster

Go with MP to their office

Get off the train in Pankhurst Square MPs proceed to the chamber to vote

Wait in the central lobby Pass through the security checkpoint

Route taken through Northern Parliament to Lobby an MP Pomona Island

Proceed to the information desk in the public information office

MPs can walk through the square or the colonnade

MPs can enter via the Royal or the Staff entrance to Parliament Route taken by MPs to vote in Northern Parliament Thesis Design Report

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Research

Legal Context Accessibility

Due to the nature of the building being both public and democratic by nature, accessibility is key. The debating chamber has stair free access using lifts off the central lobby, and has room for wheelchairs in the highlighted area on the image to the right.

Research

Procurement Context Scottish Parliament

The procurement method used for the Scottish Parliament was Construction Management, which gave the advantage of speed but the downside of lack of control over price. This was, according to the Holyrood Inquiry, one of the key reasons why the project ran over budget.

The construction management procurement route works by contracting a number of different trade contractors that are then managed by one central construction manager. The construction manager acts as a single point of call and coordinates all the work carried out.

Legal Context

Current Planning Applications

There is currently a campaign calling on town hall chiefs to reject the bid.

The surrounding properties preventing the development of the flats have been subject to a compulsory purchase order.

Pomona Island

Trade Contractor

Architect

Trade Contractor

Trade Contractor

Trade Contractor

Information taken from: Auditor General for Scotland. The New Scottish Parliament Building: An Examination of the Management of the Holyrood Project. Edinburgh: Auditor General, 2000.

Welsh Assembly

Management contracting is different to construction management in that the “management contractor is acting as a principal whereas the construction manager is acting as an agent”.

Information found at: Fitzgerald, Todd. “Pomona Island Development: Protest Gathers pace as Picnic Protest Planned for Weekend - Manchester Evening News.” Men. 2015. Accessed May 24, 2016. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/pomonaisland-development-protest-gathers-9758123.

Construction Manager

Procurement Context The chosen procurement route for the Welsh Assembly was a Management Contractor route. This is where a management contractor is paid a fee to conduct the building work, sub contracting a number of specialists. The architect is employed as a consultant by the owner/ client.

Peel Holdings, the current land owners, have submitted planning applications for a series of flats in the northern area of the site.

Scottish Government - Owner

Welsh Government - Owner

Other consultants

Trade Contractor

Contractor

Trade Contractor

Trade Contractor

Architect

Trade Contractor

Information taken from: “Frequently Asked Questions .” Senedd FAQs. Accessed May 24, 2016. http://www.assembly.wales/en/visiting/about_us-assembly_history_buildings/senedd_history/ Pages/senedd-faq.aspx.

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Precedents

Precedents “I

am confident that this assembly building will be recognisable� throughout the world as a symbol of our new democracy, into the next century.

Ron Davies, speaking about the Welsh Assembly

by Gregory Chatfield Thesis Design Report

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Precedents

Precedents

Parliament renovation precedent Parliament Hill, Canada

CITY: Ottawa1 COST: £2.5bn2 RENOVATION: 2007 - 20173 CONSTRUCTION of original Parliament: 1859-19274 A 25 year development in 5 year phases involving the rehabilitation of the historic buildings as well as provision of new services and facilities The temporary House of Commons chamber is designed to be situated within the main in-filled courtyard6 which increases the usable space of the West Block by roughly 50%.7

Positives: • The Canadian parliament is arguably the closest both legislatively and architecturally to the Westminster system. Both current Parliament buildings are in need of repair and temporarily relocating is a viable option.

• The temporary Commons chamber will be converted after use into committee rooms.8

Gothic Revival Parliament Hill building

Negatives: • The budget has been raised from $1bn to $3bn due to a number of controversial decisions and there are fears that this will continue to rise. This may not necessarily bode well for Westminster as the projects are so similar.

• Some MPs have been critical of the project. New Democrat Pat Martin said “The glass roof is a fatuous architectural flight of fancy, in my view.”10

Proposal for relocation of the House of Commons

1 - UK Government. Management Boards. Bicameral. Restoration and Renewal of the

gc.ca/citeparlementaire-parliamentaryprecinct/rehabilitation/ouest-west-eng.html.

Palace of Westminster:. By Richard Ware, Dr. October 2012. Accessed March 13, 2016.

4 - UK Government - Restoration and Renewal, 60

http://www.parliament.uk/documents/lords-information-office/2013/restoration-

5- Ibid, 60

and-renewal-study.pdf, 60

6- Public Works and Government Services, Rehabilitating the West Block

2 - “Parliament’s Very Expensive Renovation Project Is on Time and on Budget.”

7- UK Government - Restoration and Renewal, 60

Ottawa Citizen. 2015. Accessed March 13, 2016. http://ottawacitizen.com/storyline/

8 - Public Works and Government Services, Rehabilitating the West Block

parliaments-very-expensive-renovation-project-is-on-time-and-on-budget.

9- UK Government - Restoration and Renewal, 61

3 -Public Works and Government Services Canada. “Rehabilitating the West

10 - Ottawa Citizen - Parliament’s Very Expensive Renovation Project Is on Time and

Block.” Government of Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada,

on Budget

Parliamentary Precinct Branch. Accessed March 13, 2016. http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.

Proposed courtyard debating chamber Pomona Island

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Precedents

Temporary building precedents Fun Palace, Unrealised

The most famous of Archigram’s Cedric Price’s proposals was the Fun Palace, a strong conceptual idea promoting flexible architecture composed of space frames, inflatables and plug-in containers1 that never came to fruition.

Flexibility of the spaces was paramount, the building encouraged movement between spaces and encouraged people to look around.2 Price designed a structural system consisting of 14 parallel service core towers 60 feet apart, connected by steel trusses. The central area remained largely obstruction free with two movable gantry cranes spanning the full 240 foot width of the central bays, which could travel the entire length of the structure to move modular elements into place3.

Final sketch for internal proposal of the Fun Palace

Positives: • The flexibility of the spaces is the main positive for the fun palace. The use of cranes and prefabricated modules creates spaces that can be rearranged to enable individuals to make the most of the environment.4 • The permanent fixed elements of the grid lattice steel structure created interesting spaces and contrasted with the temporary aspects of the other spaces.

• A movable crane was used to arrange hanging theatres, activity spaces, cinema screens and observatories.

Negatives: Section of internal circulation and crane mechanism

• Never built.

• The permanent structure in which the prefabricated modules sit can be limiting.

1

‘Cedric Price - Icon Magazine’, 2016, accessed March 18, 2016, http://www.iconeye.com/opinion/icon-of-the-month/item/9383-cedric-price.

2 Ibid.

3

‘Analyses of Cedric’s Fun Palace + Drawing in Progress’, December 8, 2014, accessed March 18, 2016, http://dip9.aaschool.ac.uk/analyses-of-cedrics-fun-palacedrawing-in-progress/.

4

‘Intellect Ltd’, 2010, accessed March 18, 2016, http://www.intellectbooks.co.uk/journals/view-Article,id=7166/.

Pomona Island

Partial axonometric of Fun Palace Thesis Design Report

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Precedents

Precedents

Temporary building precedents IBM Travelling Pavilion

Years in use: 1983-1986 Architect: Renzo Piano In 1983, the travelling exhibition was designed to promote computer technology advancement. The temporary structures could be located anywhere, and they were dismantled and transported to each of its 20 European destinations.1

Positives •

The modular form and construction allows the repetitive elements of wood and poly carbonate to be easily assembled, disassembled, and transported.

•

All servicing aspects of the building were housed in the base so that when the pavilion was erected the building could function effectively once connected to an external power supply.

•

The 34 tunnel vaults are all self-supporting meaning that the rest of the structure could be adaptable and open.

External photograph of pavilion on site

Technical details: •

Twelve poly carbonate pyramids connect to the tunnel vaults, each pyramid also sits on a pair of timber arches creating a three-dimensional truss.2

•

Each one of the vaults is composed of two sections to keep the arches a suitable size for transportation.

•

The pavilion sits on a raised platform and is 48m long, 12m wide, and 6m tall.3

Detailing of polycarbonate pyramids

Elevation of pavilion

1

‘Renzo Piano Building Workshop - Projects - by Type - IBM Travelling Pavillion’, accessed March 19, 2016, http://www.rpbw.com/project/22/ibm-travelling-pavillion/.

2 Ibid

Construction details of pavilion

3 Ibid.

Pomona Island

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Precedents

Precedents

Temporary building precedents Schlumberger Cambridge Research Centre, Cambridge

CITY: Cambridge COST: £7.7 million CONSTRUCTION: 1985 ARCHITECTS: Hopkins Architects The research centre is composed of a fabric roof structure with inserted modular units. The building provides science rooms, laboratories, computer rooms, and conference rooms. The fabric roof houses the drilling-rig test station and the ‘winter garden’ public space, whilst the main functional rooms are located in the structural wings. This is reflected externally with the two architectural approaches.1

Positives: • Tolerance designed to allow for future expansion.

View of laboratory wing block with main public space towering behind

• The structural wings are modular and constructed in elements making it easy to add or subtract spaces.

• The main space clearly shows its dominance over the supporting spaces.

• Transparency turns the building into a piece of light-industrial theatre at night, and a pleasurable working space during the day.2

Technical Details: • The two structural systems, the tent structure and the two wing structures, are two independent structures and are expressed as such.

Internal image of the winter garden

1

‘Schlumberger Cambridge Research Centre, Phase I’, 2016, accessed March 20, 2016, http://www.hopkins.co.uk/projects/4/13/.

2

David Jenkins, Schlumberger Cambridge Research Centre: Michael Hopkins and Partners (London: Phaidon Press, 1993).

Pomona Island

Side entrance to laboratory wing block

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Precedents

Precedents

Debating Chamber Precedents EU - Hemicycle

A hemicycle chamber is a semicircular shaped debating chamber originating in ancient Greek theatres. The design is used in most European countries so was therefore used by the European Union.

Positives • The circular shape is designed to create consensus among people in power rather than dispute - like in the British Parliament where the government and opposition face each other.

Negative • System is less entertaining and can be perceived as not as engaging for the public. The politics in the arena can seem more like presentations rather than debates.

Aerial view of the chamber

Aerial view of the chamber

Plan Pomona Island

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Precedents

Precedents

Debating Chamber Precedents House of Commons - Westminster

The two bench system of British politics is seen as the inception of modern politics. The system is based off the historic arrangement of St. Stephen’s Hall which Barry decided to maintain. There were questions about redesigning the arrangement when refurbishment work occurred after the WWII, but Winston Churchill demanded that it keep its current shape.

Positives • Dramatic politics at its best, therefore the most engaging.

Negative • Having a spatial arrangement that is designed to create drama may not be the best way to make consensual decisions.

House of Commons

David Cameron making a speech

Plan Pomona Island

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Precedents

Precedents

Debating Chamber Precedents The Senedd - National Assembly for Wales

CITY: Cardiff COST: £69.6 million CONSTRUCTION: March 2006 ARCHITECTS: Richard Rogers Partnership The building’s key aims were to be accessible and sustainable.

The building is designed to be open, exemplified by curtain walling creating a transparent outer skin. Public spaces are elevated on a slate-clad plinth and covered by a lightweight undulating roof whose canopy extends out into the external areas. The debating chamber elegantly protrudes through the roof.1 The public foyer creates a welcoming non-elitist environment, successfully mixing the public and members.

The other key building aim was sustainability, with 76% of the building being naturally ventilated via the openings within the curtain walling and the large wind cowl.2 The shape of the debating chamber also funnels light into the building.

Debating Chamber from the viewing gallery

Positives • Open, engaging, and inviting building which successfully creates a good interaction between the public and members.

• Successful use of local materials and sustainability strategy.

Negative • The precedent is a little too small for our proposal.

Concourse and reception area

1 - “National Assembly for Wales · Projects · Rogers Stirk Harbour Partners.” National

2 - “ChapmanBDSP.” - National Assembly for Wales. Accessed March 17, 2016. http://

Assembly for Wales · Projects · Rogers Stirk Harbour Partners. Accessed March 17,

www.chapmanbdsp.com/our-work/public-sector/project-2.html.

2016. http://www.rsh-p.com/projects/national-assembly-for-wales/#design.

Environmental Pomona Island

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Concepts

Concepts “ Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program. �

Milton Friedman

by Lee Higgins Thesis Design Report

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Concepts

Concepts

TEMPORALITY AND PERMANENCE

A Temporary Parliament, A Permanent Northern Assembly Cedric Price, one of the most influential visionary architects of the 20th century, believed that buildings should serve the needs of the people, and be radically transformed or demolished if they are no longer serving their purpose. This phrase is echoed throughout our project.

Pomona Island needs to adapt over time to accommodate shifting political programmes in order to successfully become a parliament for the now, and a political platform for the North in the future.

Through architecture both phases of the political programmes can be expressed to highlight their longevity. Pomona Island and the surrounding context already contain characteristics of temporary and permanent structures that could effectively be replicated in our design. Along the Manchester Ship Canal only remnants of what used to be a bustling shipping industry are left, such as the dock cranes and the bridges used to traverse the canals. In contrast, mills from the textile industry have withstood the test of time and are still present all over Manchester. Using these two typologies as a base for temporality and permanence, we can start to tell the story of political progression from temporary Parliament to Northern Assembly.

To achieve this transformation we researched the elements needed to create effective temporary architecture. Richard Kronenburg identifies construction, transportation to and from site, and dismantlement as the key factors that make temporary architecture efficient.

Transportation of materials to and from site

The success or failure of Pomona Island is reliant on the relationship between the momentary and the enduring; the temporary Parliament and the permanent Northern Assembly.

Permanence and industry

Construction of temporary elements

Dismantlement of temporary elements Pomona Island

Temporary and what used to be Thesis Design Report

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Concepts

The premise is simple, but the site needs to work in both phases, as a temporary Parliament and as a Northern Assembly. Once the temporary elements are removed the spaces left behind need to work in tandem with the permanent buildings and urban spaces that were there before.

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Concepts

Concepts

PERMANENCE and Industry

Creating a Permanent Typology that Reflects Manchester

Victoria Mill

Dale Hall and Albany Works

The permanent programme for the Northern Assembly is fundamentally the most important aspect of Pomona Island; these are the elements that will be around for 100 years and more. To emphasise the importance of this we wanted the buildings to signify their permanence.

All around Manchester there are factories and mills that are still prominent in the skyline which remain from the Industrial Revolution. These buildings have withstood the test of time. Many have been converted, but the external appearances remain largely unchanged. Therefore, to illustrate the permanence of the Northern Assembly, we have designed the typologies in our masterplan to resemble the buildings left behind by the Industrial Revolution.

A study into various facade treatments

The collage illustrates just how frequently the arch is represented in brick buildings

Materiality is a prominent aspect.

The red brick is a staple building material in Manchester. Other key architectural elements used from mills and the surrounding areas are arches and key brickwork detailing.

Spinning Mill

Spinning Mill

Paragon Mill

McConnel & Company Mill

Pomona Island

In addition to Manchester mills and warehouses we also looked at how people have created civic-type office buildings and other successful examples of brick construction: in particular, the AT&T building and Casa Aurora building.

Key aspects taken from warehouse design: arch, deep windows and parapets

AT&T Building Thesis Design Report

Casa Aurora Building

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Concepts

Concepts

Temporality and what used to be Creating a Link to the Past

Temporary elements for Parliament have to first and foremost be easily transported to site, and be erected and dismantled with ease. The most successful temporary structures, such as the IBM Travelling Pavilion, consist of external framework structures with standardised elements that can be attached to the structure.

Trafford Bridge

Cadishead Bridge

In contrast with the factories and mills around Manchester, there are only remnants of what used to be a booming shipping industry; including the shipping cranes and the bridges. This provides an opportunity to create a distinction between the permanence of the Northern Assembly elements, and the temporality of ‘what used to be’ for the Parliament elements.

IBM Travelling Pavilion

Using the structures surrounding the site and the Ship Canal as references, the buildings successfully create the external structure of the Parliament buildings whilst hinting at their temporality.

Barton Swing Bridge

Widnes-Runcorn Bridge

Pomona Docks 1948

Structural systems such as Hopkins’ Patera System reflect the typology of the surrounding buildings as well as being an efficient external structural system.

Patera System

Patera System Pomona Island

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Concepts

Concepts

Permanent Elements

House of Commons / Northern Assembly and Accommodation

Temporary Elements Office Buildings

External view of House of Commons / Northern Assembly The House of Commons (above) and the accommodation block (below) both show how we use the elements of our permanent typology in our design.

Typology used for accommodation Pomona Island

Combination of temporary and permanent from street level

Temporary on site Thesis Design Report

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Concepts

Concepts

Key Concepts for Debating Chambers House of Commons and House of Lords

The main concept for the debating chambers is to illustrate the opposite nature of each; the temporary nature of the House of Lords and the permanence of the House of Commons (to be used subsequently as the Northern Assembly). To achieve this the temporary chamber is sunken into the old dock whilst the permanent chamber rises above the ground. To further strengthen the idea of temporary and permanent we looked at two main buildings, the Saga Headquarters and the National Assembly Building of Bangladesh, for the temporary and permanent debating chambers respectively.

The House of Commons also links to the ship canal. Firstly by teetering on the edge of the canal, as if the building was about to sail into the water, and secondly, by visually resembling the hull of a boat from the entrance of the main building.

Welsh National Assembly Concept Sketch

Boat Concept

Hull concept from entrance

Saga Headquarters

Initial proposal for temporary chamber National Assembly of Bangladesh

Concept sketch on debating chambers on the edge of the canal Pomona Island

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Concepts

Concepts

Transportation to and from the site Using the Existing Infrastructure

Because of the various stages of construction and deconstruction within our scheme, it is vital to have efficient transportation of materials and pre-fabricated elements to site. An invaluable point of access to Pomona Island will be the

Manchester Ship Canal, which links the site to Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire, and finally into the Irish Sea. Large components can be shipped in on barges, increasing the limitations usually set by lorry dimensions.

Dock for delivery by canal

The deliveries will be towed to site by tug boats, on barges that will be able to bypass low bridges such as Trafford Bridge.

Another alternative method of delivery to site is by road. The site is well connected, with the Trafford Road, A56, and the A57 providing simple connections to the M60, M602, and the M67. With two access points onto site, both of which are

capable of receiving large vehicles, it is possible to delivery the majority of smaller loads via lorry.

The deliveries via lorry will be limited to the dimensions of the trailer bed and therefore these loads

Gate house entry for delivery by road

Station for delivery by train Gate house entry for delivery by road

Delivery entrances to site

Height limitations from canal Pomona Island

Location of semi-permanent cranes on site Thesis Design Report

will only be considered if delivery via canal proves problematic. The deliveries from the canal will then be transported to each crane location.

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Concepts

Dismantlement of Temporary Internal Climbing Tower Cranes

Along with smooth delivery of components to site, erection and dismantlement need to be as efficient as possible. To achieve this we have designed the spaces to allow for cranes to be constructed before construction and remain until removal of temporary structures in phase two.

The cranes’ foundations will be placed and the cranes erected on site before the construction starts.

Cranes will be situated inside the cores of some permanent buildings and in the courtyards of certain zones, with the cranes inside buildings being internal climbing cranes.

Once phase one is complete, the cranes in the courtyards will be removed, retaining the foundations and connections, whilst the internal climbing cranes will be hoisted onto the rooftops of the buildings via hydraulic lifts. The cores then transform into lightwells.

Phase one: Crane is built first

Phase two: Permanent and temporary buildings are constructed around cranes Pomona Island

At the start of phase two, cranes can be fixed back into their original positions in the courtyards to help the rooftop cranes dismantle the temporary. Canal and road access will allow for easy transportation away from site.

The final stage in the process is to use derrick cranes to dismantle all cranes still on site, leaving behind all of the permanent structures and the palimpsest of what used to be there.

Phase Three: Temporary elements are dismantled

Phase four: Mobile cranes dismantle cranes from roofs leaving palimpsest lightwells Thesis Design Report

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Concepts

Concepts

Key elements of Temporary Design

Lightweight External Structure, Prefabrication, and Standardisation

During the occupation by the Parliament, the circulation between the permanent and temporary buildings is through openings which will be filled in by glazing during phase two to create a completed facade.

Section and axonometric of proposed temporary IBM Travelling Pavilion

Schlumberger Research Centre The three fundamental aspects of the temporary buildings are easy transportation, efficient construction, and quick dismantlement. Several precedents achieved all or some of these.

The IBM Travelling Pavilion was the most successful, fully constructed example. This is because the main structural elements were lightweight timber frames prefabricated off site.

Similarly, the floors, which hold all the electrics and services, were also prefabricated. In addition, to reduce the impact on site it used a raised floor on stilts.

Our temporary units will use a similar design to create structures independent from the permanent elements.

Exploded axonometric

Temporary buildings in situ

Fun Palace Pomona Island

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Concepts

Palimpsest

What is Left Behind?

Manchester and Pomona Island both have remnants connecting them to their pasts. The temporary importance of Parliament and the continued use as a Northern Assembly should both be remembered as part of Pomona’s history. Therefore, rather than remove all elements of Parliament’s presence on site, the design actually celebrates it.

After Parliament, the House of Lords building is no longer needed and can be fully dismantled. The location of the debating chamber and its sunken nature create an exciting opportunity for an external amphitheatre. By removing the structure and seating, the concrete raking can be retained for external seating.

Palimpsests from construction can be seen in the lightwells originally used to house the internal climbing cranes in the permanent buildings, providing ample amounts of light into the buildings and hinting towards their construction.

The main debating chamber houses a much larger capacity during Parliament than is required when it becomes a Northern Assembly. To overcome, this temporary seating is removed around the edges of the debating chamber. This provides a concourse that provides views into the debating chamber and out onto the canal.

Some temporary structures sit between two permanent buildings, creating opportunities to create additional entrances to courtyards when they are removed. To create interesting thresholds parts of the temporary structures can be retained.

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Design Development

Design Development “ Having a tutorial with these guys is like facing a creative swarm... �

Ben Devereau

by Ben Simpson Thesis Design Report

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Design Development

DESIGN

Responding to the Site This model was our initial investigation into the site, highlighteing bridging points, urban grain, gateways, potential debating chamber positions, and views and vistas. This helped shape the scheme and create a more contextual masterplan.

Debating Chamber positions

Urban Grain

Views and Vistas

Gateways

Potential Bridging Points

We wanted the chambers to become the landmarks of the scheme. To achieve this we positioned them on the water’s edge so that they can be appreciated on the other side of the canal.

The model also started to help us understand how we wanted to position the buildings to pull people through the site, and then to stop them at a certain point and direct them towards the debating chambers.

The orange string on the model indicates the key views and vistas that we are considering as part of the design.

The first aspect of design that we undertook was to understand how people would access the site - an important consideration throughout the design process.

From our initial walk around the area we realised that the connectivity between Manchester and Salford was hampered due to the Manchester Ship Canal. We started to understand and propose positions for the bridges in this model.

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DESIGN

Programmatic Massing This exercise helped us to understand the brief that we had set ourselves. It became a 3D association diagram and helped us to plan the structures’ relative locations. Using a model helped us to do this and relate aspects of the design to its context.

Pomona/ Westminster Hall One of the largest buildings on site other than the debating chambers is the one that creates an equivalent to Westminster Hall on our site. We are referring to this as Pomona Hall.

Creating a Prominent Waters Edge

New Transport Hub

Creating a Through Route

One of the first moves on this plan was to put down the locations of the debating chambers, as previously stated they are positioned as to create a landmark view across the river.

As this is a large new administrative building we propose that it would require a new transport hub. We suggest here that this sits where the Metrolink splits between the airport line and the line to media city.

We created a through path between the transport hub and Ordsall Hall so that when people depart they can orientate themselves into their context. Left is an early sketch showing ideas for a covered walkway.

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Car Park

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DESIGN

Volumetric Massing We continued our masterplan design by breaking down the programme into 10 m2 pieces of card . This allowed us to create spaces in relation to the buildings around them in a more obvious way then the previous exercise. We also investigated the associated landscaping.

Sketch showing potential aerial view

Volumetric massing model with and without temporary blocks

Sketching looking at masterplan iterations

various

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DESIGN

Typological Exploration Here we started to look at how the two typologies - the temporary and the permanent - work together. We also started to look at the spaces left behind after the temporary has been removed. We explored how these spaces worked with the cranes that make the site adaptable going into the future.

After exploring the typology conceptually we progressed to vignette models so as to further understand how we could put these types together. In the case of the lower images we also started to explore the ideas of what would be left behind.

Cluster

A continuous block of development could be created by bolt-on elements between buildings designed to be read as one development.

Strip To deny or otherwise channel access between areas, strips of temporary accommodation could be provided for the programme of spaces.

Anchor

Anchor units of permanent programme could develop, leading to certain spaces with a harder language of materiality.

Forum

Possibilities emerge for a series of powerful meeting places in the landscape after debating chambers or other such buildings have been removed from the site.

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DESIGN

Masterplan Development The design in the state seen here was based upon radial routes, with the masses along these becoming smaller as the scheme bled out into a parkland. These radial routes terminated in the centre of the site in two courtyards - one based around dining and social facilities, and the other based around chamber offices. The scheme’s weakness was how the public and notable people like the Queen and Prime Minister accessed the site and moved around it.

Residential Units We considered design on the other side of the Manchester Ship Canal so as to offer coherent development to both sides. The masterplanning of the blocks on the Ordsall side is considered in relation to our political masterplan, though the residential units have since moved onto the main island in our final design.

Temporary Units The temporary units were placed according to the previous pages and are highlighted on the plan to the right.

Pomona Island

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DESIGN

Masterplan Development This is the final development model of the project. The major development was moving the residential units onto Pomona Island. There is also much more consideration of routes into Parliament - firstly, with a much simpler vehicular route into the site from the south which can deliver important people right to the door of the debate chambers, and also a better designed arrival square from the transport hub.

es fices and Parliamentary Servic

Parliament

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Clearer Vehicular Route into Site

Pankhurst Square

Pomona Square

One of the previous criticisms of the scheme was the lack of a clear way in which to deliver important people at the front door of Parliament.

The square into which you arrive from the train station has been improved, and we made the decision to name it after Emmeline Pankhurst - British political activist and leader of the British suffragette movement who was from Manchester.

The scheme redesign involved creating one central square that all routes meet in - symbolised by the red string. This creates one key space where all people arrive and can access Parliament.

Pomona Island

Accomm

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DESIGN

Permanent Debating Chamber The permanent chamber was always designed to show the strength and grit of the North of England whilst being a beacon on the water front. For ideas on strong brick architecture we looked at Louis Kahn and Mario Botta. The idea was investigated thoroughly through the use of models and sketches.

The bricks rotate, creating a rippling motif up the walls.

During the course of the project we explored a multitude of solutions (two of these are shown above). We moved away from these ideas and towards the cylinder to achieve the original aims of grit and strength that we originally wanted.

The chamber has been designed as to be a cylinder in shape to reflect the circular seating arrangement inside it. The aim of this seating design was to maintain the drama of Westminster whilst creating an environment for consensus. We therefore designed the chamber so that the distance between the government and the opposition and the density was the same as Westminster, but the back benches are more circular - similar to the European Parliament - so as to provide a less hostile environment.

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DESIGN

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DESIGN

Transport Hub

Pomona Square

The train station breaks away from the heavy typology of the other permanent elements to allow for quick erection over the train tracks - ensuring less disruption. The transport hub also incorporates a Metrolink stop allowing for quick access from Piccadilly Station.

Pomona Square is where all routes meet, and also houses the entrance to Parliament. The paving in the square is a series of intersecting triangles, the axes for which are set off the angles of the surrounding buildings and the spacing of the colonnades.

The centre of the square houses a sundial with a bell in the centre of it that will ring out for divisions.

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Proposals

Proposals “ You cannot simply put something new into a place. You have to� absorb what you see around you, what exists on the land, and then use that knowledge along with contemporary thinking to interpret what you see.

Tadao Ando

by the Team Thesis Design Report

Proposal Masterplan

These were our proposals at the point of our final crit.

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Proposals

Proposal

Site Axonometric

MP OFFICES AND STAFF

This exploded axonometric illustrates the temporary elements being removed in the transition from Parliament to Northern Assembly.

HOUSING

STAFF CANTEEN EXTENSION

MP OFFICES AND STAFF

TEMPORARY DEBATING CHAMBER

CORNBROOK STATION CAR PARK

MP ACCOMMODATION

ROAD BRIDGE MP OFFICES AND STAFF

ROAD BRIDGE

MP OFFICES AND STAFF

POMONA HALL HR

GYM

HOTEL

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

HR

MP OFFICES AND STAFF

HOTEL

NURSERY

PRESS OFFICES + SQUARE

BICAMERAL OFFICES

LEGAL SERVICES

PERMANENT CHAMBER

POMONA STATION INFORMATION SERVICES

COMMON’S OFFICES

COMMITTEE DIRECTORATE

COMMITTEE DIRECTORATE COMMITTEE ROOM

DEPARTMENT OF FACILITIES

PARTY RESOURCE CENTER

GOVERNMENT HOT DESKING

GOVERNMENT HOT DESKING GOVERNMENT HOT DESKING MULTI FAITH CENTRE

CAR PARK

GATEHOUSE

EXPLODED AXOMETRIC Pomona Island

SCALE 1: 750

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Proposal Pomona Square

This is the primary external space to our scheme. The square is surrounded by a brick colonnade allowing relief from Manchester’s wet weather. Inside the cloister there is also a suspended walkway which provides a private route for parliamentarians around the square if there should be a large gathering of people in the square. In the centre of the square there is a sundial to aid with the creation of a landmark public space. The sundial also contains a bell that rings out when there is a division. Rather than for pragmatic reasons - members’ offices will contain bells that actually alert them to vote this is for reasons of visibility and making it clear to the public what is going on inside.

Worms’ Eye Axonometric

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Proposal

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Proposal

Waterfront

Section through Debate Chambers

It is our intention to create a prominent waterfront that is instantly recognisable as the Northern Assembly/Parliament. The use of the brick arches and arched metal tensile roof creates a rhythm along the front that is reflected in the canal and helps to tie the view together.

One of the key architectural intentions for the two chambers was to emphasise the difference between them, creating a positive and negative in terms of massing. To achieve this we raised the permanent debating chamber off the ground and positioned the central lobby underneath it. We sunk the temporary chamber and covered it with a temporary roof, with the aim that this will leave a public forum space once the structure is removed.

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Proposals

Proposal

Proposal

serial visions - phase one: mpAnalysis Phase Two - Constituent Meeting serial visions - phase Two: ConsTiTuenT meeTing T User their Northern Assembly Representative

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straight to accommodation from Cornbrook station

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Walking to the house of Commons along arterial route

serial visions - phase Two: ConsTiTuenT meeTing Their norThern assembly represenTaTive 3.

prime minister’s Questions

4.

Walking back to pomona 1. walkingsquare through pankhurst square 5. after select Committee meeting to debate chamber security check

frontpomona of 2.television interview in exiting square with pomona sundial representative/staff member

6.

Walking back to accommodation 3. meandering back through site in from the gym search of food

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serial visions - phase Two: ConsTiTuenT meeTing Their norThern assembly represenTaTive

serial visions - phase one: mp

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of Commons route

prime minister’s Questions 3.after select Committee meeting to debate chamber security check

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site plan

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scale 1:2000

scale 1:2000

frontpomona of 1. square withwalking6.through pankhurst square Walking back to accommodation 2.television interview in 3.

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3. meandering back through site in Walking back to pomona square member television interview in front ofsearch of food Walking back to accommodation 5.

6. pomona sundial from the gym the Transport Committeesearch meeting representative/staff to debate chamber security check representative/staff member of food after select Committee meeting

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CrossingKilling the lock after watching time in pomona square until the committee proceedings the Transport Committee meeting

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walking back to pomona station Crossing the lock after watching afterthe visiting the education Centre committee proceedings

6.

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plan

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Proposals

plan

Ground Floor

First Floor

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Proposals

plan

Proposal

Second Floor

Central Lobby

The central lobby is one of the most important spaces in the Palace of Westminster, where the work of parliamentarians and the public merge. We have therefore brought these considerations into our proposal by pulling the public into the space underneath the debating chamber. This creates a dramatic venue where the public can voice their concerns and the connection to the debate chamber is strong.

As a place of congregation, this space also has the advantage of being beyond a security checkpoint, so any visitors meeting people in this space will have already been checked before being collected and taken to the office of whomever they were coming to meet.

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Proposals

Proposal

Inside the Permanent Chamber

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Proposal

Temporary Debating Chamber

The chamber has been designed for the intensity and drama of the House of Commons whilst allowing for the more consensual nature of regional politics. The intensity has been achieved by using the same density and spacing as the Palace of Westminster. As pointed out by Louise Ellman, MP for Liverpool Riverside, regional politics is more consensual - we have therefore designed the chamber to feature strong circular patterns of seating that will benefit the debates held during the permanent Norhern Assembly phase.

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EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC Scale 1:500

Proposals

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Proposals

Proposal

Proposal

Transport Hub

Hotels

We have included hotels in our proposal, for people visiting the site for work.

These are designed to work with and complement both the office buildings and permanent accommodation on site.

VIEW OF TRAIN STATION ENTRANCE

PHOTOS OF SKETCH MODEL

POMONA STATION

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EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC Scale 1:500

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Structural Strategies

Structural Strategies “ The best engineer a few decades ago was someone who could create” the most beautiful beam or structure; today it’s to do a structure you cannot see or understand how it’s done. It disappears and you can talk only about color, symbols, and light. It’s an aesthetic of miracle.

Jean Nouvel

by Lee Higgins Thesis Design Report

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Structural Strategies

Structural Strategies

Permanent debating chamber Main Structure and Brick Ripple Construction

The structure has continually developed to reflect the vernacular of the surrounding area, focusing closely on the key elements of Manchester’s mills and shipping typologies. The structures express the temporary and permanent nature of each building, but also communicate their construction rather than hide it.

Over the extent of our site there are a number of elements that are repeated and/or help to verbalise our intentions for keys spaces.

This chapter focuses on these elements, such as the arches and the colonnade, and the structure of the two key debating chambers.

The House of Commons/Northern Assembly has two elements of its structure that differentiate it from its other permanent counterparts.

The first is the director’s chair structure, which supports the rotunda and the roof structure. The second is the rotating brick detail to create the ripple, which reflects the debating chamber’s relationship to the water.

The director’s chair is a precast concrete beam that supports the weight of the brick above. To effectively support the weight and compensate for the load from the arches the structure needs to be reflected and pinned underground.

The ripple is created by rotating each individual brick on its central axis, providing a clear distinction from the flat bricks in the facade. The whole wall can be self-supporting providing that each brick has two thirds of the base in contact with the layer below.

Glazed Dome

Rippled Brick Outerleaf

Glazed and Solid Roof

Rippled Brick

Temporary Seating Permanent Seating and Concourse Concrete Bowl Ceremonial Stairs Concrete Ring Beam Curtain Walling

Brick Colonnade with Curtain Walling infill

Circulation by Hung Walkways on the Upper Levels Nuclear Bunker

Pomona Island

Foundations reflect the shape of the ring beam, which is reminiscent of the structure of a directors chair

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Structural Strategies

Structural Strategies

Brick Colonnade Structure and Implementation

Pomona Square is dominated by the brick colonnade, since this serves as the main circulation indicator.

Glazed Roof

The nature of a brick arch means that they do not handle point loads well, providing difficulties when supporting the suspended walkways. Therefore, in order to support the walkways we have used cables to suspend them from the ceiling, which is in turn supported by the colonnade. In doing so, the load is evenly dispersed and supported by each arch. In addition, to strengthen each colonnade there is an inverted structural arch underground to complete the framework.

Guttering Zinc Covered Roof Steel RSJs

Curtain Walling Soldier Course around Brick Arch

Suspended Walkway

Internal Colonnade Cables Suspending Walkways from Roof

Concrete Screed Floor

Curtain Walling Foundation hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhh

Inverted Brick ArchFoundations

Structural Layout of Colonnade

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Structural Strategies

Structural Strategies

Structure of Temporary

Office Buildings and Temporary Debating Chamber All of the temporary structure is designed to allow for transportation, efficient construction, and quick dismantlement. Similar elements are used for each temporary building in addition to the temporary debating chamber.

1) External Structure

To adhere to each of the factors that make a temporary building successful, the temporary buildings are constructed with an external structural frame (1) with prefabricated walls and roofs (2). Over the masterplan, these temporary elements have been standardised in order to be replicated. To reduce the impact the foundations each of these buildings have on site, they will be fixed together below ground via cables (3).

2) Prefabricated Walls and Floors

The temporary House of Lords will use a combination of these elements, in addition to using a tensile roof structure to create the main space for the debating chamber. The cable ties providing the tension in the roof are connected to the external structure of the office components, which in turn transfer the loads to the ground.

All of these components should be quick and painless to dismantle when Parliament returns to Westminster. Doorways previously used to connect the temporary and permanent buildings are glazed to complete largely glazed facades.

Tensile Fabric Structure

Glazing Infill

Roof

Circular Curtain Walling

Seating for the House of Lords

House of Lords

Retained Seating and Colonnade

3) Cable Connecting Foundations Exploded Axonometric of Temporary Debating Chamber Pomona Island

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Structural Strategies

Structural Strategies

The suspended and Negative

The House of Commons’ Bowl and the House of Lords’ Fabric Roof

Typical Node 1

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The director’s chair structure of the debating chamber allows the secondary structure of the bowl to be suspended on the second floor.

The precast concrete elements of the bowl are supported by a spider web structure of steel beams that are attached to an outer ring beam, uniformly spreading the load on the concrete structure of the director’s chair.

Pomona Island

The unique temporary structure of the House of Lords is constructed to work in tandem with the structure of the temporary offices. This is achieved by connecting the cable ties to the nodes of each external structural element. Using pin joints at each connection allows for minor movement due to external conditions.

Typical Node 2 Thesis Design Report

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Sustainability Strategies

Sustainability Strategies “ There is no ecological architecture, no intelligent architecture and no� sustainable architecture - there is only good architecture. There are always problems we must not neglect. For example, energy, resources, costs, social aspects - one must always pay attention to all these.

Eduardo Souto de Moura

by Luke Bushnell-Wye Thesis Design Report

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Sustainability Strategies

Sustainability Strategies

economic

Strategies for Supporting Growth in the Local Area The opportunities for growth presented by the space opposite Pomona Island on the other side of the Ship Canal are huge, and we are suggesting that the tired business parks and old warehouses be demolished up as far as Fairbrother Street to make way for future commercial developments of a higher standard, whose massing is integrated and contextual with regards to our political campus – a significant development that we anticipate West Manchester would orientate around in the future.

As a brownfield site between Salford and Manchester, Pomona Island is perfect for a regeneration scheme that can continue to serve West Manchester long after Parliament has returned to Westminster.

Our economic strategy starts with the savings that Parliament will make by moving out entirely as part of a full decant during Westminster’s renovation. This budget includes £400m set aside for the relocation, and it is anticipated that when added to the money that would be invested in a Northern Assembly, this would be enough to construct the temporary elements of our scheme on our site.

Regeneration Connects to Salford

Existing warehouses on the other side of Fairbrother Street will be retained and converted into an artists’ village - accommodation and studio space for the creative industries that provokes the creation of political art on the doorstep of our new institutional buildings.

Fairbrother Street

Area Earmarked for Future Development

“Artists’ Village”

Regeneration Connects to Manchester

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Sustainability Strategies

social

Strategies for Supporting Local Communities Accommodation is limited on site, and during both phases it is expected that politicians and their staff will be prioritised for rentals and purchasing. It is therefore the aim that many of the permanent jobs on site will be taken by local people rather than staff imported from London. Permanent accommodation on site features amenities such as a gym and nursery to be used not just by politicians, but by local residents as well.

Additionally, the canal-side walks and sites of former temporary buildings are to be enhanced as part of our masterplan, improving the recreational green space that Greater Manchester so badly lacks, whilst the development itself will occupy a disused brownfield site between areas of development - thus preventing the anti-social behaviour that currently happens on site and improving the community.

Nursery

Gym

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Sustainability Strategies

Sustainability Strategies

environmental

Strategies for Passive Servicing and Mitigating Impact There are a number of strategies we have deployed in our project to create as passive a design as possible.

With the Manchester Ship Canal running conveniently alongside our site, a water source heat pump is an obvious choice for heating. An ammonia based system can eliminate the need for dangerous hydrofluorocarbons, and district heating can provide economy savings that reduce our scheme’s energy footprint.

After building works have been completed, green planting across site - particularly along the canal-sides and in place of removed temporary buildings in phase two - will be considered carefully to mimic the existing wild growth on site in an attempt to attract back as many bird species as possible. This permeable ground treatment will also be important to mitigate loss of drainage caused by the amount of hard landscaping our scheme requires in areas of congregation.

Manchester’s average annual rainfall is significant, at 794.4mm pa, so rainwater harvesting systems will not struggle to sustain greywater recycling methods.

Plant building under railway bridge, with easy access to canals in central position on site.

Pomona Island

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The vast majority of buildings on our masterplan have their floorplates restricted to 12m, or 15m as a maximum. This was a decision made during the early stages of volumetric masterplanning to allow for natural cross-ventilation, with openings at high and low levels on alternate sides of the buildings allowing air to circulate. Many of these openings will face courtyards or colonnade spaces, allowing the incoming air to be slightly warmer than it otherwise would be.

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Sustainability Strategies

Sustainability Strategies

3. CRANE DISSASSEMBLES TEMPORARY STRUCTURES

northern sides. Additionally, the solid construction materials of the permanent typologies on site will be excellent at retaining heat throughout the day and releasing it at night. The durable life cycle performance and recyclability of brick also make it a sustainable building material suitable for a project as big as this.

4. CRANE IS REMOVED LEAVING A LIGHT WELL

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2. CRANE ASSEMBLES PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY STRUCTURE

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The climbing cranes used in the temporary building construction strategy will leave a void in the floorplates that can later be exploited as lightwells. Elsewhere, the building floorplates will be small enough to allow for natural daylighting, with buildings on the south sides of squares and congregation spaces of lower height than those on the

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1. CRANE ERECTED

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ASSEMBLY AND DISSASSEMBLY USING CRANES

The main exception to these systems is the permanent debating chamber. Tall and monumental to provide visibility and gravitas, the environmental strategy for this building exploits the chamber’s height to make use of stack ventilation - with stale air at the top of the chamber rising out of mechanical vents at the top, thereby sucking in cool air from across the canal through openings on the central lobby in the process. This will allow for the sudden occupant heat gains from potentially 650 politicians entering at once.

Pomona Island

The chamber is tall enough that direct sunlight from above will primarily hit the walls of the chamber, with the seating at the bottom only directly lit during the height of summer – the majority of which parliament is in recess for.

Thesis Design Report

Acoustic performance inside the chamber has also been considered, with the rippling effect added to the brick courses preventing any distracting perfect echoes.

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Conclusion

Conclusion “Architecture is an expression of values.”

Norman Foster

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conclusion Achieving Aims

We set out a series of aims at the start of this project, with the main focus being to establish a permanent northern political campus that will temporarily house Parliament. This would act as a catalyst to devolve some of the democratic powers held by London and establish a political stronghold in Manchester for the North of England. We also aimed to create an architectural language across our site that represents its context and will become a landmark scheme – instantly recognisable as representing the North.

These aims have been achieved through establishing two typologies of permanent and temporary, applying these to the design of our key architectural moves, and through examining the architectural forms and construction methods of the local context to create a sustainable political campus that will last for more than a hundred years. The permanent typology is informed by the red brick and the warehouses due to their continued existence

well beyond their original purpose, whilst the temporary took reference from industrial bridges and the transient nature of shipping.

Our permanent typology is defined through the use of brick and its application by taking reference to warehouse architectural details and brick reliefs and arches. To quote Louis Kahn: “You say to a brick, ‘What do you want, brick?’ And brick says to you, ‘I like an arch.’ And you say to brick, ‘Look, I want one, too, but arches are expensive and I can use a concrete lintel.’ And then you say: ‘What do you think of that, brick?’ Brick says: ‘I like an arch.”

Using brick as a central element to the permanent typologies creates a scheme with the weight and gravitas we aimed for, with an identity that is firmly placed in its context and relatable to the North. The main building

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on the site, the permanent debating chamber, needs to become a beacon of democracy. It is designed to reflect the capabilities and triumphs of brick construction and engineering through a rippling motif of brick rotation, which reflects the movement of the water in the ship canal, suspended on a pair of gull wing concrete arches.

This architecture also ensures the corridors of power and the debating chambers are expressed and made permeable through architectural forms and language.

The temporary elements initially took inspiration from the industrial cranes and bridges in the local area. A series of in depth precedent studies into temporary architecture has helped refine our architectural intentions, noting the successes and failures of past schemes. Renzo Piano’s IBM Travelling Pavilion proved to be a good precedent, with successful elements including its modularity and location of services in the base of the pavilion. This creates a successful temporary typology that can be transported

to site easily by canal, erected quickly alongside the permanent typology via cranes located in the cores of some of the permanent structures and finally disassembled easily.

Through our masterplanning and architectural responses we have aimed to represent democracy and the people that make it. Similar to the Welsh Assembly building, we intended to create a campus and key buildings that engage and invite both the Members of Parliament and the public.

This is achieved by creating a series of accessible civic buildings and streetscapes and keeping the scale of the buildings to a maximum of four storeys.

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Process and Summary We have successfully worked as a team through many collaborative design meetings in which we have brainstormed and sketched ideas - around a large drawing on the wall or a development model - that have then been realised through computer and physical model making.

In these meetings we have clearly defined tasks for each individual that were later assessed by the group collectively. The physical and computer model making has been an effective way to test the scheme’s impact on the site, the scale of the buildings, and our architectural approach. This has allowed us to make many iterations and changes resulting in a cohesive and well realised scheme.

This thesis successfully responds to a current architectural topic, the renovation of the Palace of Westminster, and offers a campus that can then assist in devolving power to the North of England. As well as reviving political engagement at the regional level, it would also assist in creating a cohesive Northern Powerhouse that would be a successful counterbalance to the current London-centric nature of the UK. We feel as a group that the proposal comes at an opportune time in British politics where devolution is taking root in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland; but that there still remains a perceived disconnect between politicians and the public in England. Ultimately, we have achieved our architectural intentions of creating a design to house Parliament temporarily and promote a political campus with a Northern Assembly that will remain on the site for many years to come.

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Our ideas and intentions are perfectly summarised by Barry Sheerman, MP for Huddersfield, who said: “I am very passionate about this. The North has a much larger population than Scotland, and look at London, which has an assembly and a powerful mayor to protect its interests. With the scrapping of the regional development agencies, we don’t have a body to deal with strategic problems and issues for the North.”

This thesis can provide the setting for that.

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Liverpool School of Architecture 2016