2 2 St Mary Magdelene Church The Religious neighbour
16 17 A
14 9 1 3
3 The Lychgate The Threshold - Life & Death
5
The Mitford Motte & Bailey Ruins The Ruins/ The Relic
4 7
The Undulating Landscape
The WWII Pillbox The Defensive Structure
6
The existing helical pathway
11
Site Plan Key 12
Scale 1:1000
1. The River Wansbeck
Mitford Arboretum Section AA
2. The St Mary Magdelenes Church
15
3. The St Mary Magdelenes Lychgate
7
4. The Arboretum Lychgate 5. The Memorial Trees and QR Scarf Gravestones
13
The Arboretum Glasshouse The Nursery
The Arborteum The Memorial Trees
6. The First Memorial Tree and QR Scarf Gravestone
8
7. The Tree Colonnades
4
8. Car Park
16
9. WWII Pillbox
11
The Arborteum Lychgate Threshold - life and Death
The Chapel of the Non Believers The Atheist Chapel
10. Concrete Bridge over Beck 11. The Chapel of the Non Believers 12. The Portico 13. The Social Building and Wake Services 14. The Existing Helical pathway to Mitford Ruins. 15. The Arboretum Nursery - An insertion in the Ruins 16. The Mitford, Norman, Motte and Bailey Ruins 17. The Undulating Landscape
9
15 10
The Journey 14
17
A Journey through
The Arboretum Nursery
The Journey back
the undulating Landscape
& A Tree to remember
& The precious Cargo
The Scarf Joint & The Tree
Memories & The Digital ghost
The Lychgate The Threshold between Life and Death Bereavement and Emotional Closure
A
0
20
40
60
80M
Scale 1:750
The Mitford Arboretum viewed from St Mary Madelenes Lychgate
The Chapel of the Non Believers An Arboretum for Mitford In our increasingly secular society, detached from death, the use of the Crematoria as an efficient form of corpse reduction has resulted in a disconnection between life , death and the poignancy of passing. Crematoria belch smoke as hearses arrive and depart at regular 1 hour intervals. This is the modern system of mass destruction, efficient , cold, and final. Once fulfilled by religion and religious ceremony, Atheism has struggled to reconciliate two very different programmatic agendas: The disposal of a body, and the celebration of a life. The finality of death without Faith or the promise of afterlife is terminal. Twenty score years and ten for a pocket full of dust seems a disagreeable transaction.
Mitford is a Small Northumbrian Village located approximately 2 miles West of Morpeth. Dominated by the 11th Century Norman Motte and Bailey Ruins and the Church of St Mary Madelene, the New Atheist Chapel and Arboretum enter respectfully into the historic dialogue between the Church and the Ruins. The new intervention honours existing desire lines and is scaled to mirror the existing religious architecture, introducing the new Atheist architecture into an unbiased theological discussion between faith and nonbelief. The Mitford Arboretum provides an Atheist Ceremony which uses the existing ancient helical pathway leading up to the centre of the Mitford Ruins. The Journey provides a poignant funeral procession through the undulating Mitford Landscape. The Arboretum Glasshouse is positioned as an insertion in the centre of Mitford ruins and functions as a tree Nursery from which a Tree Sapling is selected by the bereaved family. The return Journey culminates in the planting of the Sapling which represents a Memorial tree honouring the memory of the deceased. A concrete Scarf shaped Gravestone is positioned next to the Tree. Engraved with a QR code, the congregation scan the gravestone to relay digital information of the decessed, a digital ghost from which people can retrieve memories of the deceased, ensuring that a life is never forgotten. The Journey Begins and Ends at The Arboretum Lychgate which is interpretated as a threshold between Life and Death, bereavement and emotional closure.
The Lychgate
The Threshold
The Renders and Serial Vision follow a young Girl, her Teddy and her Father on a poignant Journey to celebrate the life of a lost friend.
The Architecture draws its context from the Lychgate of St Mary Magdelenes Church. The term Lych is derived from the Old Saxon word for Corpse. Traditionally the Lychgate or Corpse gate would be where the Coffin would reside overnight providing shelter to the Nightwatchmen who would safeguard the Coffin before the funeral ceremony was conducted the following day. Typically constructed from Sandstone and Timber the Lychgate materiality represents rates of decay and degrees of permanence. A Detailed Study into the Lychgate construction identified the Scarf joint as a dominant joinery method and this joint was used to connect the permanent rammed concrete components to the temporary timber elements of the Arboretum architecture. The Scarf Shaped gravestones and remaining Scarf Bases of the Arboretum Relic also suggested loss - the loss of the adjoining member and the uncomplete connection.
Externally the Arboretum Architecture draws its context from the WWII Rammed Concrete Pillbox which is sited within close proximity. The Envelope is designed in untreated Silvered Douglas Fir Cladding imitating the Heavy Mass, defensive qualities of the Pillbox typology. The Clerestory windows reflect the Embrasures or Gun slits of the Pillbox and the untreated Weathering steel advocates vertical staining, mirroring the verticality of the Arboretum treescape whilst suggesting notions of aging and decay.
The WWII Pillbox
The Defensive Structure
The Scarf Joint The Connection
550mm
620mm
The Intersecting Walls
The Chapel of the Non Believers An Arboretum for Mitford
1
Site Plan Key
The Arboretum Architecture employed Rammed Earth intersecting walls which penetrate the
1. The New Arboretum Lychgate with Seating
building envelope. Internally and Externally the
2. The Gravel Road Approach to Chapel 3. The Memorial Trees and QR Scarf Gravestones
Walls functioned as private sanctuaries providing areas of personal territory shielded from the public
2
3
23
distress typical of the funeral Typology. 2270mm
21
7. Refuse Bins and Log/biomass store for CHP System Fuel 8. Arboretum Foyer
were positioned behind the intersecting wall within
9. Arboretum Office space
22
the Chapel of the Non Believers. The area allowed the humanist orator to prepare and recite their The Wall provided an emotional barrier protecting
5. The Intersecting rammed earth wall 6. Car Port for Catering drop off and Office Staff
Humanist Chairs were designed in Solid Ash and
notes for the funeral Eulogy.
4. Line of enduring enquiry between the old Lychgate and the Ruins
28
24
4
10. Catering and Kitchen Facilities 11. Bi- fold Doors receiving Southern light 12. Outdoor secluded Seating 13. The Feast - Large Table for the Wake Ceremony
25
the Eulogist from the distressed congregation.
29
14. The Large Western facing Window 15. The Plant room with CHP System. 16. WC, Disabled toilet, and Baby Changing Facilities
27
5
It was important that the architecture provided
A
17. Timber Bridge traversing the Beck 18. Rammed Concrete Portico with Seating.
for the congregation but also empathised with the
19. Rammed Concrete Steps to Beck
difficult working conditions experienced by the
20. Storage Area, Landscaping Machinery and Plant for Burial Excavation and Arboretum Tree Surgery.
Arboretum employees.
21. First Memorial Tree and QR Scarf Gravestone 22. Large East Facing Window
Humanist Chair
23. Entrance into Chapel of the Non Believers
Scale 1:25
24. Chapel Cloister Circulation Space
26
25. Chapel Timber Seating with Concrete seating between Scarf bases 26. Entrance doors for Pall bearers
The Chapel of the Non Believers Viewed looking West
27. Eulogists pedestal
20
30
28. Catafalque and Coffin 29. Eulogist Chairs and Back-end Technology 30. Exit doors for Congregation into Portico, and then onto Journey.
Scale 1: 250
11th C
18
Motte & Bailey Ruin Arboretum Glasshouse
19 6 8
9 7 17
First Memorial Tree & Scarf Gravestone 12 13
1
11 15
Scale 1: 200
Chapel of the Non Believers
Portico
Office reception and Social Building
14
16
2
Cross Section AA
10
A
3 The Chapel of the Non Believers Viewed looking East
6
4
The Permanent Ruin 5
The Arboretum was built upon the principle of Design for Disassembly. The construction ethos is centred on temporary timber components carefully designed to be dismantled and reused at a future Arboretum site at the end of the buildings lifecycle. The Rammed Earth intersecting walls were constructed
7
without a stabilising agent, being designed to decay and dissolve into the Landscape. The Concrete Scarf Bases and Portico present a permanent Ruin reflecting the context of the Mitford Ruins whilst functioning as a memorial Sculptural element within the Arboretum Landscape.
8
Programme Large arched windows are located on the Eastern and Western elevations, with programme being governed by the Solar cycle. The morning funeral ceremony is held within the Chapel of the Non Believers, benefiting from the Eastern light. The Eastern fenestration frames the first Memorial tree and Scarf Gravestone and projects their shadow into the Chapel interior. The Wake and afternoon programme take advantage of the Western light with the diminishing light of sunset representing loss and Emotional Closure.
Construction Axo 1. Undulating Extensive Grass Roof, Mirroring Mitfords undulating Topography. 2. 200mm x 47mm C24 softwood roof joists at 400 mm centres. 3. Douglas fir Cladding, No surface treatment, permitted to silver naturally. 4. Inner & Outer leaf constructed in softwood C16 timbers, 147mm x 44mm. 5. East Facing window displaying first memorial tree and Scarf Gravestone. 6. West Facing window. 7. Intersecting Rammed earth Walls. 8. Glu-Laminated Steam Bent columns in Douglas Fir with Scarf Joint to Base. 9. Concrete Scarf Bases, representing a permanent ruin within the landscape.
9
Scale 1:500
0
5
10
15
20
Part Elevation & Construction Section 1
3
9
10
6
5 4 7
16
11
B 8
A
2 20
17
18
19
15
22 23
13
24 14 25
38
12
36
21
C
37
26 27 35
28
30 31 32 33 34
The Chapel of the Non Believers External Part Elevation showing First Memorial Tree and Scarf Gravestone.
29
3 Principle Connections 1
1:20 Scale
1 2
Section AA
Chapel of the Non Believers 1
4
6
2
3 5
A
2 3
B. Flitch Plate connection A. Structural tie to Envelope 1. M10 x 150mm Coachbolt, Nut & Washer, Zinc passivated. 2. 2 x 44mm x 147mm Trimmer joists fixed by 80mmx5mm Spax 3. Coach Screw Hex Head Zinc coated M10 x 75 4. 120mm x 425mm Steam Bent Glu-laminated Douglas Fir 5. Coach Screw Hex Head Zinc Plated M10 x 150mm 6. 60mm x 8mm x 425 mm Mild Steel Bracket/ Red Oxide finish
3
1. 8mm Steel Flitch Plate Connector, with Fillet welds to internal junctions, Red oxide Finish.
2. 9.5 mm rebated trench receiving Mild Steel Flitch Connector. 3. 6 No. M10 x 152mm Bolts and nuts. 22mm Diameter x 6mm zinc plated steel washers.
C. Scarf Joint Connection 1. 460mm x 120mm Glu-laminated Column 2. Scarf Joint 3. Rammed Re-inforced Concrete Base with Scarf Joint and water deflecting Bevel
A
Roof structure
Primary & Secondary Structure
Fenestration
Ground to Foundation
Interior Finish
1. 3mm Untreated Corten Steel Water table Capping. 2. Double Layer of ThermoCork 75mm x 1000mm x 500mm Shiplapped boards 3. Granular 50mm protective screed, 10mm Recycled Shingle and Gravel 4. Sikka Root Barrier Membrane. 5. 75mm Soil matter for Flora Growth. 6. 100/150mm Extensive Green roof 7. 22mm Marine Plywood sheeting 1220mm x 2440mm 8. Perforated Aluminium Upstand to retain Green roof 9. Box Gutter delivering rainwater runoff to Rainwater Harvester. 10. Continuous Sikka Single-Ply Membrane. 11. 200mm x 47mm C24 roof Joists at 400 mm Centres secured with Strongtie TCP47 Zinc Plated Truss Clips.
12. 460mm x 120mm Douglas Fir Steam bent Glulaminated Column. Scarf Joint to Base, finished in Osmo Natural Oil, with Flitch connection at Apex and steel bracket connection to Inner Leaf.
18. Aluminium Clerestory fenestration with Integrated Trickle vent. 19. Aluminium clad in untreated Corten Steel, with 3mm untreated corten reveal detail and lipping over Cladding. 20. YBS EasiClose Insulated Cavity Closure. 21. Large East facing Window Framing first Memorial tree. Constructed in Aluminium,clad with 3mm untreated Corten Steel
26. Continuous 1200mm Gauge continuous membrane and DPC. 27. Stepped Rammed Concrete upstand to DPC with integrated Cavity Tray and weeps disguised beneath Cladding. 28. Integrated surface drain channel. 29. Stepped Shallow Concrete foundation with M16 Re-Bar re-inforcement
36. 2 No. layers of 50mm Thermacork insulation cut to treescape abstract design. 37. Solid Ash Funeral Seating replicating arch of East Facing Window. 38. 400mm x 100mm Diameter Brass annodised Pendant Light 300 LUX, 6 W Warm white LED.
13. Inner and Outer Leaf constructed using 147mm x 44mm C16 softwood Timbers at 400 mm Centres. Trimmer joists to all apertures. 14. Thermocork insulation to Inner and Outer Leaf sat within timber 75mm x 1000mm x 500mm shiplapped boards. 72mm cavity airflow. 15. 6mm Galvanised Mild Steel straps connecting Inner and Outer leaf. 16. 1200 Gauge Visqueen Cavity Tray with weeps disguised behind Timber Cladding. 17 . Structural tie between Primary and Secondary Structure with Bespoke 8mm Mild Steel Bracket with red oxide Finish. Glu-laminated Column receiving a Birdsmouth seat to Secondary structure trimmer joists.
Envelope 22. Douglas Fir shiplap Cladding IWC8 Rainshield Profile 142mm x 19mm fresh Sawn receiving no treatment and naturally silvering with age. 23. Vertical counterbatten 19mm x 38mm tanilsed roof laths. 24. Horizontal 50mm x 25mm Tanalised Roof Laths. 25. 18mm OSB Easiboard receiving Klober Permo Breathable membrane.
Floor Slab to FFL 30. 22mm T&G solid Ash flooring secured to 18mm Plywood with secret screws, Finished in Osmo floor oil. 31. Bison slimline adjustable feet sat on 12mm OSB board. 32. 200mm Celotex XR4200 Insulation. 33. 100mm Concrete Oversite. 34. 100mm compacted 20mm to dust recycled hardcore. 35. Vitron Slimline Trench Heater with Solid Ash flush fitted Grill Cover.