LUIGI DI VITO FRANCESCO WORK SAMPLE
The coasts of the UK are historically known to be widely affected by coastal erosion. Huge investments are made every year to protect all those area considered at high risk with the creation of defense systems. The site, the Isle of Sheppey, is part of one of the larger areas affected by this natural phenomena. The northern coast of the island has been eroding for hundreds of years, experiencing continuous dramatic changes in the landscape. The proposal consists of a dual research centre that monitors and studies the erosion by leaving the designated site unprotected.
COASTAL EROSION IN THE UK
SITE ANALYSIS: TIDAL CALENDAR
The map on the right illustrates the process of erosion of the northern cliff of the island over a period of almost 120 years, from 1896 to late 2015. The parameters analyzed in this series of studies are coast line, cliff edge and mean low water. The diagrams show the rate of cliff erosion through the overlapping of four maps taken at different moments in time (1896, 1938, 1956 and 2015). Such studies not only provides detailed information on past changes in the coastline but it also allows to predict future erosion rate and which portions of land are most likely to be hit with greater strenght.
SITE ANALYSIS: COASTAL EROSION
The diagrams aim to represent graphically the tide table (calendar year 2015) at the location of Minster on Sea, on the Isle of Sheppey. The charts illustrate the variation in the range of the tides during each month of the past year, day by day, in relation to the gravitational forces of the Moon and the Sun. The information obtained from such study has been used to determine how the proposal sits within the chosen site and the height of certain building elements in relation to the varying sea conditions and rising water levels.
SITE ANALYSIS: TIDAL CALENDAR
The research facility makes use of weather buoys to collect a variety of environmental data including underwater currents, tidal range and wind. Buoys are floating devices that make use of antennas or sensors to collect a specific type of data. For the variety of applications they allow, the facility makes use of ‘buoy platforms’ which are big enough for a person to stand on them. These buoys consist of a rigid steel structure on which equipment in mounted, offering protection still allowing exposure to the elements the instruments measure.
THE BUOYS NETWORKS
The proposal consists of the following elements: 1. A staircase, which provides access to the site, linking the top of the cliff with the pier at the bottom; 2. Soil laboratory; 3. A pier, which extends for 225m into the sea; 4. Marine centre, located off the coast at then end of the pier.
THE PROPOSAL
The staircase is the element that allows access to the research facility, representing the first step of the arrival sequence to the building. The staircase is supported by concrete columns that go 15-20m deep into the ground to provent foreseeable damages and decreased stability due to the erosion of the cliff. While the copper staircase is covered in a thin layer of resin to prevent it from rusting, the concrete columns are cladded with copper panels which will oxidizes with time as the columns become exposed to the action of weather.
THE STAIRCASE
The pier provides a constant link between the soil laboratory and the marine centre located at its very end. Made of a series of repetitive concrete elements, the pier is designed to resist the adverse climate conditions of the site. Sitting about 4m above high water level, the pier will continue to provide a link to the marine centre in the event of sea level rise.
THE PIER
The soil analysis laboratory is found along the staircase that connects the two buildings. The building is used for research purposes and mainlyconsists of a dry lab for the analysis of sediments and rocks found along the northen coast of the island.
SOIL ANALYSIS LABORATORY
SOIL ANALYSIS LABORATORY: INTERIOR
Located off the coast to better monitor sea waves and weather conditions, the marine centre constitutes the core of the proposed research facility. The key space of the building is represented by a 300sqm wave basin where are artifical waves are created to simulate the impact of sea waves onto the Sheppey cliffs. This activity of testing and monitoring will provide useful data that will help understand and predict future erosion rate and impact this will have onto the northern coast of the island.
MARINE CENTRE
MARINE CENTRE: WAVE BASIN