Learning from Nature COMMUNICATION PROTFOLIO
Nottingham Trent University MA Interior and Architecture Design N0880476 Yen-Chun, Liu
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Attenborough Natural Reserve
A well-known bird-watching environment Situated 7km south west of Nottingham's city centre,
Attenborough Natural Reserve is a beautiful complex of flooded former gravel pits and islands providing exceptional habitat for a wide range of wildlife. Located by the River Trent, the park was established in 1966 and opened by Sir David Attenborough. The reserve is best known for its birds. The area is an important site for winter wildfowl and often holds a high proportion of the county's shoveler and diving ducks, with larger numbers of mallard, teal, and occasionally wigeon. Scarcer wildfowl such as sawbills and sea ducks are recorded regularly and cormorants are common. All the British grebes have been recorded. In the spring and autumn, many migrants birds pass through and the Delta area attracts a wide range of waders in small numbers including the iconic bittern.
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Landmark
N Bird Hides Viewing wall
Buildings
Nature Trail
Grassland Woodland Wetland
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Pond
Attenborough Train Station
S 15M 30M
60M
The reserve now covers 145 hectares of lakes, wetland, grassland and scrub. It sits at the confluence of the River Erewash and the Trent. There are large lakes formed by the flooded pits, known as Church Pond, Clifton Pond, Main Pond, Tween Pond and Beeston Pond, plus drier areas of scrub and grassland such as Corbetts Meadow and Erewash field. There are also areas of native willow and woodland. The ponds have become the most important bird overwintering area in Nottinghamshire for shoveler and diving ducks.
Design Principles
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Bird habitat and viewing
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Connecting wetland, grassland and water
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Bird watching
Deck / Elevated structure
Bird viewing wall
San Martin Bird Hide
Elevated structure & Boardwalk
Deck & Shading devices
Birds gather on the shore
Education
Viewing
Water
Daylighting
Interactivity
Set up an educational space and learn from the environment
Creat view points for viewing and bird watching.
Harvesting daylight from the facade and skylights.
Link the envionment, building and people.
Wildlife
Watching
Flooding
Skylight
Parent - Children
Geography
Framing
Fishing / Feeding
Shading & Bird viewing
People - Wildlife
Vegetation
Night sky
Water recycling
Solar gain
People - Environment
The ground level of wetlands is always fluctuating by the tide.
Framing the view and sky
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Spatial composition Entry Walkway
1X8M
Dust Area
1.4X4M
Deck
2.2X4M
Kitchen
Sofa Area
HOLIDAY CABIN ONE
4X4M
2.2X4M
Cabin Two + 1.5X2.2M
Bedroom
3.5X4.5M
Bathroom
2.5X5M
Bird watching area
1.2X5M
A Waterside Cabin Design for two guests
Mezzaine
Staircase
3.5X3.5M
1X3.5M
Engineering room
Design a minimalist style ecological cabin to situate in the natural reserve. The idea is to integrate holiday functions, wildlife watching, natural environment and sustainable systems into the cabin which can minimize the interference and damage to the natural environment.
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Entry Path and Staircase Dust Area Bar and Kitchen Bird Viewing Wall Potable Water Collection Sleeper Sofa Deck Double Room with king size bed Washstand Composting toilet Shower Room Bathroom
Design idea The open kitchen is the focal point of this cabin which connects all spaces except for the deck and the mechanical room. The design idea is to enlarge the visual experience by forming a void room. Windows are designed at both sides of the building so that natural light can throw into the spaces in a different time. This form also creates cross ventilation to let air flow fluently.
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Front side Elevation 1/150
Left side Elevation 1/150
Wood path The idea of the wood path is to connect the main walking trail to the cabin across the wetland. The gap between the path and ground can also let wildlife to cross by. The building is also elevated to avoid the flood.
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Bird viewing wall A bird viewing wall is installed toward the woodland and shore to observe creatures. Here can also become a bird hide area for San Martin. Education programs can be executed at here.
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Dust area
Sleeper Sofa
Open Kitchen & Dinning area
An area for leaving dust and soil, changing shoes. This area is linked to bathroom, so that people can wash away the mud after entering the cabin.
A C-shape sofa is created for resting as well as a spare bed for extra guests. A large window is designed to bring in outdoor view and daylight at the sofa wall which is also facing the open kitchen.
The open kitchen is located at the centre of the cabin which aims to be the main communication and interactivity area. An island kitchen is connected to the dining table to form a continuous flow. This area is illuminated by the skylights and the sofa-side vertical window during the daytime.
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Short side Section 1/50
Long side Section 1/100
Materials
Brick Wall
Facade cladding
Zinc panel
Concrete broad
Stainless steel
CLT Broad Maple wood
Concrete Floor
Wood-plastic composite
SKYLINE contrast - vertical The modern designed timber facade Skyline Contrast allows architects to be more creative: they have the option of combining four profiled boards in different widths and depths according to their own ideas. The profile underlines various modern architectural directions and at the same time makes a valuable contribution to the insulation effect of the building envelope.
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HOLIDAY CABIN TWO
A Waterside Cabin Design for four or more guests Design a minimalist style ecological cabin to situate in the natural reserve. The idea is to integrate holiday functions, wildlife watching, natural environment and sustainable systems into the cabin which can minimize the interference and damage to the natural environment.
1 Entry Path and Staircase 2 Dust Area 3 Bird Watching Area 4 Bar and Kitchen 5 Dinning Area 6 Sleeper Sofa 7 Potable Water Collection 8 Deck 9 Double Room with king size bed 10 Bathroom 11 Shower Room 12 Composting toilet 13 Washstand 14 Sleeping Loft with two single bed
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Rear side Elevation 1/150
Right side Elevation 1/150
Design idea Located at a popular birds gathering area, cabin two is the best place for bird watching. This area is also away from the main trail which is relatively quiet and comfortable for a holiday stay.
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Sleeping Loft & Staircase In cabin two, a mezzaine layer is created to provide a second bedroom. The space under the stair is designed as closets. At the mezzaine, a long study area is settled up with a viewing window. Two single beds and a closet are also provied.
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Bathroom with green shading wall & Living wall
Shower room
Bathroom
Long side Section 1/100
The bathing area is designed at the end of the bathroom which is facing to the pond. Green curtain is planting for shading the daylight and give privacy to the outdoor bathing area. Living wall as a decoration is installed at the back wall. A barn sliding door divide the outdoor and indoor area. Furthermore, the location is not easily seen by other travellers. Skylights are settled to the top of the toilet and shower room which can bring in daylight to form the spaces' character.
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Double Room & The Deck A bedroom should be a simple space for sleeping and resting. The design idea is to let guests can only see the double bed and the outdoor view when entering. At the end of the room, a brick wall is built as a shading screens to avoid glare directly throw into the bed room. Closet and reading table are hidden behind wooden grid doors. Deck is designed for sunbathing, fishing, feeding and bird watching.
Construction and Detail Research
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Hidden gutter and Wall/ Roof Detail 1/10
Short side Section 1/40 Roof construction
Photovoltaic panel Zinc panel Zinc guttering 40*32mm horizontal counter battens 50*38mm vertical counter battens Weathering membrane Ventilation gap 10mm sheathing plywood 90mm insulation 90mm CLT board
Detail Description Wall construction
150*25mm profile cedar wood panel cladding 40*32mm horizontal counter battens 50*38mm vertical counter battens Weathering membrane Ventilation gap 10mm sheathing plywood 90mm insulation 90mm CLT board
Floor construction
50mm cement screed 50mm rigid insulation Breather membrane 100mm concrete slab
Elevated construction
125*125*6.5*9mm steel beams 150*150*7*10mm steel posts Steel base plate Concrete foundation
Window construction Double glazing Timber frame Flashing
Roof Ventilation and Ridge Detail 1/10
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