Woolworks - Vol II by marcus.

“WoolWorks”

Marcus Myles AR41001: Urban Theory, Analysis and Strategy Volume 1 1

This journal has been designed to be read as a two page spread. Studio D lead: Helen O’Connor AR41001

Wool

Works

[ “Woolies”-Woolworths]

[ Working - Labour]

abbreviation

Verb

Woolworths was a high street retail icon, it sold a range of house-

A place where workers go to undertake a task or tasks in order to

hold goods, clothes & confectionary.

achieve a result or purpose.

Integrated design

1.0

Volume II - Introduction Woolworks 2021

“How can we apply urban acupuncture as a method for reclaiming the city for the homosapien, re-inhabiting the dying high street and re-industrialising Perth’s mill street.” This Journal - Volume II, Integrates the urban strategy developed in volume 1 into an architectural resolution. The Initial stages of the journal addresses the client and brief, in which lays the groundwork for this project. This project applies an Urban Acupuncture methodology which looks to develop a building within the existing fabric of Perth. Therefore it is important to understand the existing building before developing a programme for the architectural intervention. The project then develops through iterations of design, drawing influence from Architects and buildings such as Newport Street Gallery by Caruso St John Architects. This will help address both the urban challenges noted in the first journal as well the clients brief. Finally the Volume II journal will focus on elements of the design in a technical resolution to form environmental, structural and service solutions.

“A more radical formal strategy is one that considers and re-presents the existing and the known. In this way artistic production can critically engage with an existing situation and contribute to an ongoing and progressive cultural discourse, allowing for alternative meanings” (Caruso & St John 1996)

Fragments:

Critical Reflection

0.0

Page 4-25

Volume II - Introduction

1.0

Page 26-43

Development

2.0

Page 44-125

Resolution

3.0

Page 126-161

Acknowledgements & Bibliography

4.0

Page 164-167

Brief

Project Outline

Client

2020

The projects architectural intention is to provide

The Client for this project is Wasps Studios

a balance of both temporary and permanent

(Workshop & Artist Studio Provision Scotland), they

adaptable configurations aiding in a sustainable

are a charity in Scotland which have a portfolio

design approach.

of creative works and support art organisations

The over-arching ambition is to invigorate the High Street and Woolworth’s existing building by the provision of mix programmed and creative industry activities by process of repair and re-use. The project outlines an approach to re-inhabiting the high street by creating 18 live/work units proving homes for creatives. in addition, there is the provision for a large workshop which will serve as a space to facilitate the buildings configurations and will provide an opportunity for local artists and

completed a project in Perth called the “Creative Exchange” which saw the regeneration of the old St John’s School to form 26 Studio Spaces for creatives & 13 spaces for creative industries and enterprises. The project was funded in partnership with Perth & Kinross Council. They are now looking to expand their portfolio to Live/Work Studios as a Post Covid response, giving more creatives and artists opportunities is part of

residents to engage in creative programmes.

a wider initiative to regenerate the creative spine

There will be a gallery space which will join the

(Wasps Artists Studios, 2021)

high street and will serve to engage with the public realm, displaying work from the buildings inhabitants. The building will also feature a winch which will serve as a landmark for Mill St, highlighting the re-industrialisation and project intervention.

as well as creative businesses. They have recently

in Perth.

Fig 01 29

WoolWorths

Why it’s worth Restoring 2021

Woolworths was arguably the most iconic retailer of the high-street until its collapse into administration in 2008. It marked the beginning of the dying high-street trend with retailers like Debenhams following. The result is large vacant buildings sitting on our high streets which lay dormant for years and go into disrepair. A Woolworths was on almost every large highstreet in the UK and often had a bold and distinctive design. The distinctive DNA of these stores remain predominant today long after the companies closure. As a symbol of the high street, it is important to preserve the Woolworth historical dialogue due to its significance within British culture. The project addresses the buildings history and seeks to retain the past and its DNA while addressing the challenge of re-inhabiting the high street.

“A High-street Icon”

Woolworths in Perth, Scotland. The existing building on the site which was built in 1925. The High Street was healthy and was a retail hot spot, with Woolworths being an icon on the street. These images demonstrating its bold DNA.

Fig 02 31

Programme

Outlined Building Contents 2021

The building programme is comprised of vibrant multifaceted spaces for creativity. The diagram on the right is an overview of the projected building contents and their requirements. It was developed in co-ordination with Wasps Studios and their project brief.

Programme Vertical Gallery Shared Workspace

Storey

Capacity SQM

Artificial/Natural

Light

Public/Private

GF, 4 Storey Volume

220m²

A&N

Public

GF/Double Height

265m²

Semi private

GF, Double Height

230m²

n/a

Public

460m²

A&N

Semi Private

Lobby

Elevator

Void

Workshop (-1)

(-1) Quad height

100m² 9m²

A A

WC x3

(-1) Single Height (-1) Double Height

5m² x3 27m² 20m²

A&N

Workshop (GF)

GF, Double Height

230m²

A&N

Semi Private

Private

Check in/Office Winch

(-1) 5 Storey

A A

Private Private

Semi Private Public Private

WC x3

GF, Single Height GF, Double Height

5m² x3 42m² 20m²

Loading Space

FF, Double Height

27m²

Private

Individual Workshops

FF, Double Height

40m²

A&N

Private

Living Units

SF, Single Height

46m²

A&N

Private

800m²

n/a

Semi Private

Staff Office Winch

(x18) (x18)

Roof Terrace

GF, 4 Storey

A A

Semi Private Private

Fig 03 33

Accomodation Schedule Allocating Programme 2021

The project proposal principally organises the programmes for Woolworks within the existing fabric, footprint and volume of the former Woolworths. The public and semi/private spaces are organised on the ground floor to integrate and engage with the public realm, an example of this is the workshop which sits on and under mill st. The shared workspace (orange) will act as a semi public space during the day but will become a lobby for residents within the evening, with elevator services accesible. The Live/work units have been organised onto the first & second floor and sit contained by the rising volumes at the front and back of the building, providing a safe and private space for creative residents. The roof terrace will be accessible by the vertical gallery and rear stairwell and will provide spaces for reflection, respite & dialogue which is essential to the post-covid city.

Fig 04 35

Existing Fabric & Conditions Site Images 2021

Fig 05 36

Building Languages Site

2021

South Facing View on Perth’s High St displays a formal orderly proportioned facade clad with stone panels. Fig 06 38

View along Perth’s High St displays how the facade ties in with the High Street retail context.

The buildings changes on Mill St to an industrial

brutalist language, predominantly made from red brick.

The rear of the building has multiple volumes creating an exciting facade along Mill St.

PRODUCE

Existing Building Site

2021

a large factory like building currently occupied by retail giants New look & Next. However, The building is currently up for sale or development opportunity highlighting the dying high street issue. The building structure is constructed from concrete floor slabs supported by a grid of concrete columns and beams which allowW large 5m floor to ceiling heights on the ground and first floor. There is 3 floors, a basement and an accessible roof with rooms, plant spaces and services. The building also has intergrated services like the hidden siphonic drainage, aswell as ventilation extract shoots in the rear volumes.

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The existing building is of an industrial nature, it is

ERSION 40

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Fig 07

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“WoolWorks” Site Strategy Embedding intervention 2021

Location The Site is located between Perth’s High St and Mill St with narrow vennels on both sides of the site.

Fig 08 42

Volume On the site sits an old Woolworths building built in 1925. This building looks at retaining much of the existing building fabric and volume.

Voi

The building has a void cut areas of development adja a through route. The footpr thirds providing the opport respond to the High St and

through the centre to join acent to the site, providing rint is then divided into unity for the front to the rear to Mill St.

Depth The front of the building becomes a vertical gallery which engages with the High St. The rear is recessed down to form a workshop which acts as a preformance within the public realm.

Contain Contained between the two volumes is the Live/Work levels.

Project Development

2.0

Development

Focused Areas of Study 2021

Organising the Programme

P 30

Environmental Approach

P 32

Mill St Workshop

P 34

Winch & Beam Crane

P 36

Terrace & Activity Space

P 46

Vertical Gallery

P 48

Void & Skin

P 54

Plotting Units

P 66

Staircase Event

P 98

Forming an Indoor Street

P 104

Organising the Programme Initial Ideas 2021

This Project draws organisation influence from the west ward works design which incorporated the range of the new programmes within the confines of the existing building. This proposal principally organises the programmes for Woolworks within the existing fabric, footprint and volume of the former Woolworths. The initial organisation of the project was developed in sketch section, like the west ward works strategy. It demonstrated the volume and structure of the existing building well and allowed for the programmes to be clearly divided across the floors in order to accommodate the brief. This also served well to develop the public and private spaces which is integral to a live/work intervention. One of the key design moves within this strategy was plotting the Live/work units on the first floor, contained by the volumes at the front and rear of the existing building.

Fig 09 48

Fig 10

Fig 11 49

Environmental Approach Initial Ideas 2021

The ambition of this project was to follow the precedents outlined in the previous journal which underpin the significance of retaining, recycling and re-using. This project retains over 80% of the existing building on site and the intervention follows an adaptive/reuse strategy which incorporates using lightweight, affordable and adaptable materials between the existing building structure. One of the ideas for this project is to enable the building to build itself with the use of a large workshop, but to also dismantle itself should it need to change programme in 20 years.

Fig 12 51

Mill St Workshop Initial Ideas 2021

The initial response to the Workshop portion of the brief was to incorporate a space within the existing footprint which will accommodate large & industrial grade machinery to form a multi-faceted space. The original purpose for this workshop was going to be for developing pre fabricated SIPS wall panels which would contribute to the housing crisis solution whilst minimising one of the largest contributors to the construction industry CO2 emissions. This would be done by the application of off-site manufacturing reducing on-site wastage. This concept was derived from the Architects Declare document in the previous journal. “The research and technology exist for us to begin that transformation now, but what has been lacking is collective will.” In addition the proposed workshop would manufacture the lightweight live/work units on the first floor In order for the workshop to accommodate the large machinery and material used for manufacturing, the first key move in the development was to dig down and place retaining walls to increase the floor to ceiling clearance. 52

Fig 13

Fig 14 53

Winch & Beam Crane Initial Ideas 2021

The process of recessing the workshop down would also contribute to the idea of the space becoming a performance for the public walking by and are able to see through large glazed panels, witnessing the process of making. One of the noted requirements for the workshop was the inclusion of devices which can move heavy loads from ground level to the basement level and likewise. Therefore the project integrated a winch and beam crane.

Fig 15

Capturing influence from the Scottish Story Telling centre, who restored an old royal mile bell and integrated it within the intervention project to serve as a landmark on the royal mile. The design decision was to celebrate this winch by placing it on the rear of the roof within one of the existing rising volumes, acting as a landmark in the re-industrialisation of Mill St. The winch also creates opportunities for woolworks residents to transfer heavy loads such as materials to furniture from the ground floor to their studios or residence.

Fig 16 54

Fig 17 55

BlackHorse Workshop Programme Precedent 2021

“At Blackhorse Workshop you can escape your role as a mere spectator by getting involved in the gritty act of putting stuff together. If the Maker revolution is happening anywhere, it’s here” (Blackhorse Workshop, 2021). During a project review, it was noted that Mill St might not be the most suitable location for the production of SIPS panels prompting the change in programme to a flexible public workshop space. The programme and principles of Blackhorse Workshop was then integrated into the project which offers flexible walk in studio sessions and classes for the public as well as memberships for residents from half a day to a full year. The blackhorse workshop offers a range of spaces for multiple programmes enabling people to work with all sorts of materials and at a range of scales. The workshops are also constructed our of industrial materials with exposed services and machinery ventilation. A similar approach has been developed with the woolworks workshop creating a industrial enivronment with exposed servicing.

Fig 18

The initial design demonstrates the core programmes and uses being applied.

Development includes the addition of glazing for public engagement as well as entrance and circulation.

Plotting the structural grid and drawing the space in auto cad.

Fig 19 58

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The addition of the main entrance

which provides clearance for large objects, materials and machinery. Plotting activity spaces onto the

plan as well as a stairwell down to the workshop.

Detail resolution of the design with offices & toilets added. A second wall which allows for structures

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

large industrial door added on east to be taken out to the sites activity space for micro engagement

opportunities such as an outdoor cinemas or temporary exhibition.

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Workshop Development Project Development 2021

Due to the change in primary programme within the workshop, it was then discussed to reduce the scale of the excavated/recessed area. Two strategies were devised which included; Strategy A - digging down the full area but only to half a level change. This approach would increase the areas with larger floor to ceiling room but would impact the scale of works undertaken within the workshop. Strategy B - digging down the less area with a full level change. This approach would decrease the workshop footprint but allows for larger works and machinery to be added. The selected approach was Strategy B which offers the increased floor to ceiling clearance, the cross section diagram displays a large scale sculpture incorporated underneathe a 1m hung service ceiling.

Fig 20 60

Strategy A

Strategy B

Workshop Result Detail Design 2021

These drawings demonstrate the final detailed

The ground floor also has a second door on the

design. The thick walls demonstrate the improved

east wall which is used for transporting the built

structure which is retaining walls, underpinning the

structures and work out into the public realm and

existing foundation in the building.

activity space adjoining the site.

The basement floor features a check-in office

There are 4 large windows which have been

space which will be used for the public to sign up

placed along the east and north wall to allow the

or for members to sign in, it will be a contact-less

public to interact with the working of the space.

space in order for the workshop to align with post

These openings have been placed along the more

covid strategies. It also incorporates 3 WC’s and

popular pedestrian routes past the site.

storage space for private/lockers or expensive machinery (special drill bits, etc). In addition the floor has two stairs for circulation which serve as efficient fire escape routes with 3 nearby doors. This floor will have the most predominant works with larger scale sculptures and heavy machinery. The Ground floor has a large industrial bi-fold door at the rear which will serve to allow for large objects to pass through. It shares a balcony over the basement level and has access to the winch and beam crane which sits beside the bi-fold and will lower and raise the loads to the basement level. In addition there are another 3 WC’s and staff offices which will run the organisation & programming of the workshop with skilled staff members to train and induct new members. 62

The workshop features exposed services with some hidden within a hung service ceiling, as it is a workshop there is a strong focus on ventilation which will be mechanically assisted and extracted up the rear volume and out one of the existing rising elements.

Workshop (BL)

Fig 21

Ground (GFL)

Terrace & Activity Space Respite and Dialogue 2021

Covid-19 has taught us the importance of access to equitable light and fresh air, it is integral to a sustainable, healthy well-being. The Project sees the removal of the existing plant spaces which sit on the roof currently and proposes to develop it into a rooftop terrace which will have light green landscaping with benches and structures for residents to use for respite and dialogue. In addition to providing spaces for interaction for the residents, the spaces will sit in relationship to the mill street winch which will be clad with glass to expose the workings. This will form a unity between spaces and make for an interactive environment.

Fig 22 65

The Vertical Gallery High Street Interaction 2021

This project transforms the front volume of the former woolworths into a “vertical gallery” space which will engage with the high street and entice the public to get involved with temporary art exhibitions. Its more lasting programme will be to display the works of the residents in the building and work from local artists such as Arthur Watson. This relationship of a space which can display residents work, derived from the cafe in Poplar works discussed in volume one of the journals.

Fig 23

Fig 24 66

Fig 25 67

Using the existing front volume within the previous woolworths for the vertical gallery space.

The ambition is to have engagement at ground level with hung artwork above, all of which can be seen from the high street through the glazing in the facade.

Refining the ideas with the addition of a staircase which will act as a vertical journey through the temporary exhibition artwork, connection to terrace - semiprivate.

Fig 26 68

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The existing facade which is clad with stone panels and small glazed windows, some covered up with

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Interest in subtle facade intervention with no structural work just the increasing the glazing, offering more engagement from the highstreet - square glazed panels.

The final approach is subtle and just connects the two first rows of glazing. No structural adjustments and a subtle intervention retaining the Woolworths DNA - rectangular glazed panels.

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retail graphics.

The Vertical Gallery Resident Circulation December, 2020

This section on the right outlines the final design approach to the vertical gallery, the intervention has been placed beside the existing building to demonstrates what of the existing has been removed - the floor slab across the 3 floors. In order to support the facade and the additional staircase which has been implemented, the facade has been propped up with a new steel structure which will span across the volume to the intervention behind. This allows for new platforms to be introduced which will be occupied by plinths with models or sculptures. Paintings and art will be hung on the existing walls, from the intervention structures or the existing roof. The sketch on right indicates the type of structural developent which allows this intervention.

Fig 27 70

Existing

Fig 28

Intervention 71

Void & Skin Initial Ideas

December, 2020 PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

The most evident intervention to the existing building is the void which is carved through the ground floor, dividing the floor into thirds and creating passage through the site. This move embeds the PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

activity space within the project with the outline

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

building into the public realm, linking the proposed proposal another Studio D student is working on situated in the neighbouring site.

This key design decision aids to the buildings objective to become a “walk able building” inspired from David Sims Soft Cities, discussed in the previous Journal.

Urban Strategy PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

The approach equally drew influence from Aires Mateus and their powerful void/passage created

Fig 29

in a recent project “Architecture Faculty”. The buildings facade follows a minimal design with a plain rendered wall which transforms into a sculptural form which punctures the building, forming a house like shape carving a passage to the courtyard behind The carved passage causes intruige and prompts engagement, enticing you to walk through. This concept has been drawn and developed into the woolworks intervention strategy. Fig 30 72

Fig 31 73

Initial Approach embeds the building and intervention into context by the addition of a passage through the site.

Early design plots the position of the passage dividing the buildings footprint into thirds. PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Detailed design retains the existing PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

structural columns but provides a sculptural intervention within the existing fabric, increasing engagement within the public realm. Fig 32 74

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A red dashed box overlay onto the existing building section outlines where the intervention will transcend.

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PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

The east elevation drawing explores how the void passage will carve through the existing skin.

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Void & Skin Initial Ideas

December, 2020

The city at eye level. The render on the right illustrates how the void might look at the human scale becoming a walk able building. The approach across the existing building skin is to retain as much as possible with subtle pragmatic work where needed (e.g windows for light), but the intervention of the void is an opportunity to illustrate the architectural intervention. The design transcends this ambition with the addition of sculptural forms.

Fig 33

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Newport Street Gallery Initial Ideas

December, 2020

Newport Street Gallery has been the most prominent precedent when dealing with the former woolworths building fabric. Caruso St Johns approach to integrating the intervention into the existing is both respectful and striking (Caruso, 2016). There is an evident and particular focus to the detailing of the fabric within this project, blending the old and the new, the existing and the intervention. The result feels like a new building which has been here for decades, or an old building which is new. An example of this is evident in the image across, this can be seen with the black brick which has been used for the ground floor of the new building (intervention on the left) has also been integrated into the window sill on the existing building on the right. The red brick size & bond used in the new building intervention is similar to the brick used in the existing and the mortar lines align perfectly, the result is a seamless facade between new and old.

Fig 34 78

Fig 35

New (intervention)

Old (retained)

Skin

Identifying the Intervention 2021

The study of the detailing within Newport Street Gallery has prompted the interest with playing with brick bonds within the former woolworths building. The existing brick used within the woolworths skin is a red brick, formed in an English bond. As identified in a detail study of brick bonds shown on the right. This ambition is to apply this approach to highlight the architectural intervention which can be read within the punctuation of the Void.

Fig 36 81

Visual Intervention

Identifying the Intervention 2021

The void design achieves the visual intervention concept through the implementation of a new brick and bond. The floor of the void is paved with reclaimed red bricks, recycled from the new wholes punctured into the fabric and demolition of plant spaces on the roof. The walls of the sculptural void apply a similar red brick to the existing fabric, but will be bonded in a vertical stacked bond. This creates a more contemporary visual, highlighting the intervention while respecting the existing.

Existing bond

Intervention bond

Fig 37 83

The Container - Live & Work Live/Work 2021

The live Work is Labelled the container as it the private area of the building and sits between the two volumes at the front and rear. This is demonstrated by the key diagram on the right, the container highlighted in green. The initial approach to developing the live/work units within the container was to plot them using the existing concrete grid as a form-work.

Fig 38 85

Materiality - Affordable & Adaptable The Container 2021

The container draws materiality influence from the creative spaces found within poplar works. The spaces use the existing garage structure and clad them with lightweight timber and glazed with polycarbonate privacy panels. The approach is affordable, adaptable and sustainable. The services run along the walls exposed with hung artificial lighting from the ceilings. This is to allow the spaces to be usable all day, as during the daytime the skylights and polycarbonate panels will provide sufficient lighting for creatives.

Fig 39 87

Plotting Parti Live/Work 2021

Plotting the vertical units using the existing structural grid.

Punching out several units to form stairwells which will serve a handful of the residents.

Fig 40 88

Connecting the units to the ground floor by use of Sculptural stairwells.

The formation of the stairwells in plan and the “Indoor Street” concept connecting the residents together.

Sculptural Staircase Staircase Event 2021

The architectural approach to intervention of former woolworths has been respectful and integrated, retaining much of the character & DNA of the building. One of key design decisions within this intervention however, is the implementation of the “sculptural stair” Idea. The influence and ambition for the design was abstracted from the Newport Street Gallery Stairwells. The ideas behind this intervention stem from wanting to create an event which the residents will engage with everyday of their lives, as the live/ work spaces sit on the first & second floor. The event is formed by application of beautiful stair-

Fig 41

case which is illuminated with light and sculpted with matt white bricks. The materiality creates a bold but soft intervention which again wont detract from the character of the existing building.

Fig 42

Fig 43 91

Fig 44 92

Identifying the types of stairwell within Newport street gallery & which to incorporate into the woolworks design.

Plotting the sculptural stairs within the established unit grid, positioning so a stairwell can serve 5 units.

Detailed plan demonstrates how they are developed and intergrated into the container design.

Sculptural Staircase Model of Event 2021

Fig 45 94

Organisation of Live/Work Development of first and second 2021

The container, the area of the building housing the new live/work units is the area of focused importance within this intervention. The series of plans across the following pages breaks down some of the key moves and design decisions made across the development of the project.

Fig 46 96

Iteration 1 The initial plans began with plotting units between the existing concrete structural columns on both the first and second floor, the implement of the stairwells and began discussing a skylight for circulation.

Fig 47 97

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Iteration 2 Iteration 2, sees the full design of the two floors. All circulation is to the first floor with co-shared stairs up to the living spaces. The stairwells and vertical gallery volumes create in-habited walls and there is the first iteration of the skylights. The front and rear volumes sealed containing the live/work spaces. Fig 48 98

Iteration 3 The interim review prompted changes to the design such as using the stairwells to circulate imediate residents to both the first and second floor without a co shared stair. The introduction of the loading space at the right side of the container which residents can request furniture/materials or heavy loads be transported from ground level to this space. Room overhangs on the second floor forming the skylight openings.

Fig 49 99

Development From the feedback across reviews and development of the container, diagrams were drawn up to explain the intricacies by labelling what units were larger, what units had an overhand forming a skylight, what units used the stairwells to circulate and what units used a co shared stair. The drawings also introduce mezzanine levels and the implementation of a elevator. Fig 50 100

Iteration 4 The design at Final review responded to the feedback and developments across the project. This drawing shows accommodation and activity in different scale and adjustments rooms to make sure that they all are suitable for living and working. Each studio has a false wall for storage and services, some of which have a service stair which can access the living floor and likewise. Fig 51 101

Forming the “Indoor Street” Resident Circulation December, 2020

One of the key design decisions was to create an “indoor street” through the centre of the container, between the units. The concept was partially influenced from Jan Gehl’s “life between buildings” which was discussed in volume I. This relationship is an opportunity for residents to engage with one another forming a community within the building. The building is 21meters in width and so it was noted that there was a need to get light into the centre of the building along the circulation route. The series of diagrams demonstrate the iterations of design, discussing what level (first or second) the circulation would suit best and how the void might be formed by the units. Strategy B was selected as the best solution, the skylight form would provide a good light well for the circulation route and the internal walls of the street could have polycarbonate privacy panels above doorways to bring borrowed light into the workshop spaces.

102

Fig 52

Strategy B

103

Forming the “Indoor Street” Resident Circulation December, 2020

The rendered model demonstrates the exploration into the skylights qualities, while testing the indoor street at eye level. The model effectively conveys the dialogue between spaces and levels which encourages engagement between residents. The ambition within the working level was to have large industrial doors to the studios which slide open fusing the individual spaces with the circulation of the street, increasing the likelihood of sharing interdisciplinary skills.

Fig 53 104

Fig 54 105

Bringing Light In Elevation Studies 2021

These series of drawing study the integral relationship of providing equitable natural light for the units workshop and living space without detrimental removal of the existing fabric, with a goal to preserve and retain the woolworths DNA.

Fig 55 106

Fig 56 107

Bringing Light In Resident Circulation December, 2020

The developed elevations follow a pragmatic approach to bringing light into the live/work spaces. The workshop level has larger rectangular openings which sit 1.4 meters off of the first floor level in order to maximise the natural light input. The living space openings on the second floor are smaller in size to accommodate the space, there has also been the addition of a skylight into the living space which means the opening on the facade doesn’t need to work as hard to bring light in. All openings have a concrete sill which matches the existing character of the building, blending the intervention with the existing.

108

109 Fig 57 PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Void

Nicholass’ Studio

Workshop Level Precedent 2021

Nicholass Hurey’s workshop has been the primary source of influence for the design of the working spaces. It is a simple workshop in which incorporates all the facilities for needed for Nicholass to make. The organisation of the workshop is of particular interest. The work benches are placed against the wall and act work area, retaining the floorspace for larger sculpture works & activity. The walls also act as a storage solution with hung tools, material, previous works and even contain services such as a sink used for mould work and washing up creative mess. One of the most interesting concepts within the workshop is the service stair which leads up to the residence. The workshop features polycarbonate glazing high up to bring soft diffused light into the space. Nicholass’ Workshop has provided a brief of contents for the design of the live/work units within woolworks.

110

Fig 58

111

Narrow House

Living Level Precedent 2021

The Narrow house was used as an early precedent within the design of the live/work units. The study was interested in similar characteristics seen in the narrow house, such as the form of the live/ work units which have been plotted between the existing structural grid in woolworks. The projects demonstrates how to space manage a tight site through the application of a 2 story rectangular box constructed from simple timber panels clad onto a lightweight steel frame The main concept drawn from this study was using the core services (toilet, storage, boiler, etc) to divide the living floor, with the bedroom tucked to the back of the design providing enclosure and comfort and bringing the living space to the front of the floor which is naturally well lit and engages with the urban realm.

Fig 59 112

Fig 60 113

Live/Work Study Initial Ideas

December, 2020

The third primary influence applied to the live/work studios was the study of my own environment. In coordination with my DRU studies on “Subjective Space”, i have been interested in the relationship between living and working from the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic and transformed my own living space to better integrate this relationship. Included on the following page is a series of studies which are abstracted from my DRU “Subjective Space” and follow how I (the occupant), engage with the confines of my live work space over a typical day. The study was developed in particular to aid my knowledge which could transcend into the design development and formation of the live/ work units within Woolworks. The studies highlight how a small space can accommodate the rituals of living and working, and has been applied as a scale precedent within the development of the units. The study provided insight into effectively managing space solutions within the design of the live/work units.

114

Fig 61 115

Fig 30

Fig 62 116

6am

8am

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Live & Work Unit Initial Ideas

December, 2020

The initial design of the live/work units started with taking a standard plan area of one of the units and overlaying the drawing i used for my live/work studio study. This provided a good scale comparison for the initial development stages. This method helped form the accommodation of the units and prompted the initial sketches on the following page. The model on the right explores the initial designs in three dimensions whilst providing an insight into how the light might work in the living space. The model incorporates a false wall used for a service stair, similar to the one seen in Nicholass’ Workshop.

Fig 63 118

Fig 64 119

Development Live/Work Spaces 2021

Fig 65 120

al “House”

Workshop

Typical “House”

Workshop *SAMPLE Renders

SF SF

121

A Live & Work Unit Initial Ideas

December, 2020

The programme and spatial organisation with-

space increasing a residents access to equitable

in the working unit is abstracted from Nicholass’

light and air. The bathroom is situated between

Workshop. However, it is tidied up.

the bedroom and living space making it easily

The final design of the workshop space has a false wall for all the storage of materials, machinery,

travel down the false wall.

services (sink), desk, and staircase. The workshop

The bedroom also incorporates the false storage

uses the existing concrete slab floor but grind

wall into the design and uses it to form a ward-

and polished, in order to provide a nice finish and

robe and a desk space which overhangs the void.

bounce the natural light around the room. The structure of the unit is a standard timber frame design which acts as a divider rather than a load bearing element within the container, as the project intervention retains the existing concrete column and slab structure. The timber frame is clad with Birch-ply sheets creating a fresh neutral and adaptable design. The internal wall joining the “indoor street” exposes the timber frame with polycarbonate panels, engaging with the street and community and bringing borrowed light from the void into the space. The living floor is accessible from the service stair within a standard unit. The live floor situated the kitchen/living space on the buildings exterior wall to gain views into the public realm. As well as this, a mechanical skylight has been added to the 122

accessible and the downpipe/service pipes can

Fig 66 123

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

Output

Initial Ideas December, 2020

This render is the accumulation of thought and development discussed over container portion of the journal. It demonstrates the light weight timber units clad with affordable and adaptable birch-ply panels and placed along the indoor street with the void/ skylight shinning down. The Polycarbonate panels blur a dialogue along the street but enough to see the activity and engagement behind. The large industrial doors slid open inviting the micro community in. The platform/mezzanine living level overlooking and bridging the street.

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Fig 67

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Resolution

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Building Resolution

Building Structure & Services 2021

Although these categories have been developed throughout this journal holistically, this segment of the Journal discusses selected elements of the building development in further detail forming an environmental, service, fire and structural strategy.

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Environmental

P 112

Sound

P 120

Services

P 122

Fire

P 128

Structure

P 136

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Environmental Strategy Sustainability 2021

In order for Perth to move towards its goal of achieving “the most sustainable small city in Europe”, we must explore sustainable solutions. Some may be drawn from the “Architects Declare Climate and Biodiversity Emergency”. This project responds to two elements of the declaration. The ability to upgrade the existing buildings for extended use as a more carbon efficient alternative to demolition. Additionally, Building offsite with prefabrication could also provide a good solution to the build up of wasteful material. The intervention to the existing woolworths building is a sustainable strategy, retaining over 70% of the existing. The additions such as the live/work units are lightweight timber frame structures clad with plywood panels which are low cost, adaptable materials which can be adjusted or dismantled as an alternative to demolition. Additionally the building has been enabled to build itself as all unit/s components can be constructed by the workshop, lifted by the winch, passed through the loading space and installed in the container.

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Fig 68 131

Environmental Design Sustainability 2021

The building applies a ground source heat pump

integrated throughout to aid specific spaces to

which uses natural elements close to the site

enable their programmes and enable the building

such as the River Tay. The heat can be transferred

to function in evening hours.

throughout the building through exposed piping, keeping spaces like the live/work warm while providing warm water bathrooms and showers. The building follows an environmental design

The retention of the existing concrete structure allows for adaptable configurations aiding to the sustainability of the design and contributing to heat retention across the building.

which enables natural lighting and ventilation. The workshop isn’t artificially heated but allows for the workshop machinery to heat the space and the heavy concrete walls retain the heat. The space has large industrial doors which will be open whilst the workshop is in use providing cross ventilation, all machinery is mechanically assisted with extraction out of the existing rear volumes. The vertical gallery maximises the solar gain to heat the space and the ground floor is opening allowing for fresh air to enter, a ventilation unit sits within the inhabited wall to push fresh air into the indoor street. Stack ventilation is introduced into the indoor street with stale air being rising and dispersing out of the vents built into the void skylights. The void skylights provide a lot of natural light indoor street and energy efficient artificial lighting has been 132

Fig 69

Fig 70

Fig 71 133

Ventilation Live/Work 2021

The environmental strategy transcends into the detail design of the building which is illustrated in this 1:20 detail of the live/work unit mechanical skylight. The mechanical properties enable the skylight to open 20 degrees which will serve to remove any stale air from within the living spaces of the unit.

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1:20 Skylight Detail

Fig 72 135

Keeping it Dry Water 2021

The existing building has siphonic drainage integrated into the external brick walls, allowing for a gutter-less facade with no downpipes exposed. The intervention retains the existing drainage pipes and any new additions will make connections to them where relelvant. The siphonic drainage pipes will act as a cooling strategy within several spaces. The sketch of the wall structure illustrates the siphonic drainage incorporating into the design. An example of this strategy is the tilted mechanical skylight detail which illustrates how the skylight in the live/work units runs the water off into a hidden gutter and down into the siphonic drainage pipes.

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Fig 73 137

Sound Strategy Live/Work 2021

The Living spaces are placed on the second floor of the building minimising the potential noise spill from the large workshop on mill st and the vertical gallery on the high street. The only desired barrier of noise might be stuck between the individual workshops and the individual living spaces. Retaining the existing 300mm deep floor slab will dampen the majority of any noise created within these spaces but as an added layer of absorption, 40mm sound proof panels have been added between timber batons and clad behind the plywood ceiling in the workshop. This strategy should soak up any noise produced by machinery or heavy work in these creative spaces.

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Living Level

Studio Level 1:20 Unit Ceiling Detail

Fig 74 139

Services Live/Work 2021

The live/work units utilise the false wall to hide all of the services and ventilation extracts, the wall panels may be opened in order to maintain the services. The bathroom space in the living section of the unit uses runs the down pipes/wastage down through the storage wall so they are not exposed in the workshop. The individual workshops also have a sink/basin built into the storage wall which connects to the service cavity built into the external wall. The majority of the services (electrical, plumbing, gas) in the large workshop are exposed with a selection of the larger extracts hidden behind a hung service ceiling.

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Fig 75 141

Lighting Live/Work 2021

The majority of spaces within the building use a

The live/work units will use a hybrid of lighting. The

hybrid of natural and artificial lighting where ap-

live portion will use the large windows to incorpo-

propriate.

rate natural lighting as a primary light source for

However, certain spaces within this intervention need specific conditions to accommodate their programme. The vertical gallery is on the south facade and will get a lot of strong natural sunlight, so a film has been applied to the glazing to diffuse the light into the gallery allowing for artwork and models. Hung exposed flexible artificial lighting has also been added to highlight specific work and enable the gallery to operate after the sun goes down. The shared workspace will use borrowed light from the vertical gallery but the majority of the time use energy efficient artificial lighting. The workshop is a space which needs certain conditions for it to operate so use hung energy efficient artificial lighting as the primary light source, windows have been added to the space to allow the public to look in and provide elements of natural light.

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well-being purposes but will use energy efficient artificial lighting where applicable. Drawn from Nichollass’ workshop, the individual workspaces have a series of positioned hung energy efficient artificial lighting back from the window to create the desired lighting conditions for a work space.

Programme Vertical Gallery Shared Workspace Lobby

Elevator

Storey GF, 4 Storey Volume

Programme Capacity SQM

220m² Vertical Gallery

GF/Double Height Shared Workspace 265m² 100m² Lobby Elevator 9m²

GF, Double Height Void

Void

Workshop (-1) WC x3

Check in/Office Winch

230m²

(-1) Quad height Workshop 460m² (-1)

(-1) Single Height WC x3 5m² x3 (-1) Double Height Check in/Office 27m² (-1) 5 Storey 20m² Winch

Storey Light

Artificial/Natural

GF, 4A Storey &N Volume

GF, Double n/aHeight

230m² Public

(-1) Quad A & height N

(-1) Single A Height A Height (-1) Double (-1) 5A Storey &N

Loading Space

FF, Double Height Loading Space 27m²

Individual Workshops Living Units

Staff Office Winch

GF, 4 Storey

(x18) (x18)

Roof Terrace

GF, Single A Height GF, Double A Height

Semi 460m² Private Semi 5m² x3 Private 27m² Public 20m² Private

Semi 230m² Private Semi 5m² x3 Private 42m² Private

A&N A A A n/a A&N A A

A&N A&N A A

FF, Double A Height

27m² Private

FF, Double Height Individual40m² Workshops

FF, Double A&N Height

40m² Private

A&N

SF, Single Height Living Units 46m²

SF, Single A & Height N

46m² Private

A&N

(x18)

800m² Roof Terrace

GF, 4 Storey N

100m² Private 9m² Private

Light

Artificial/Natural

20m² Private

Winch

20m²

220m² Public Semi 265m² private

A A

GF, Double A & NHeight

WC x3

SQM

GF/Double A Height

GF, Double Height Workshop 230m² (GF) GF, Single Height WC x3 5m² x3 GF, Double Height Staff Office42m²

Workshop (GF)

Public/Private Capacity

n/a RF

Semi 800m² Private

n/a

Fig 76 143

Pub

Served & Servants Inhabited walls 2021

Drawing from Louis Kahn’s Served and Servants theory, this building incorporates inhabited walls which serve utilities for the larger spaces. This can be seen within the ground floor plan of this intervention. The black sculptural forms dividing the plan into sections carry the utilities and services like the ventilation system beside the elevator shaft which incorporates storage space for the shared workspace. (Cacciatore, 2020)

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Fig 77 145

Fire Strategy Live/Work 2021

This project intervention proposes a safe design incorporating all elements of fire safety. The first of which is plotted assembly points, should a fire arise in any area of the building. The assembly points are placed with adequate distance, in areas with plenty of space and plotted with proximity to elements of the design allowing all spaces within the building to have an immediate escape and assembly.

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Fig 78 147

Dry Risers Live/Work 2021

The project retains the dry risers built into the existing fabric of the building, they are plotted at several points around the perimeter of the building to maximise coverage area. Some units however, have been damaged by vandalism and will be replaced to ensure they all function appropriately. In event of a fire, firemen can attach their pressurised hose and input water up the vertical pipes to distribute across multiple levels as a method of fire suppression.

Fig 79 148

Fig 80

Fig 81

Fig 82

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Spread Live/Work 2021

One of the urban strategies addressed in the project was to make micro activity spaces enabling people to exchange or interact, following the urban acupuncture method of small scale interventions the two adjacent buildings to the site were incorporated into this model. The building to the left has been turned into adaptable rental studios for local artists and residents, the building to the right turns the flat roof into a garden space for engagement in the public realm. This strategy has benefited the potential fire spread strategy as the projects boundaries have been increased, allowing windows in all live/work units. However, To minimise any potential spread, Fire-rated glass has been used across the building.

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Fig 83 151

Stairwells Live/Work 2021

The intervention proposes a safe design with many escape routes and fire stairwells incorporated into the design. The sculptural stairwells are enclosed from the indoor street forming a fire escape stair, they are clad in fire rated white bricks for extended fire protection of 2 hours. They are have been placed accurately and dispersed across the design to maximise the escape routes from the units. The workshop has multiple exit routes and the industrial doors will be open as regulation when the workshop is in operation. The inhabited walls within the design carry utilities such as all types of fire extinguisher to put out any fires quickly.

Fig 84 152

Fig 85 153

The 50/50

Old & New Wall Construction 2021

The urban strategy and concept for the architectural intervention transcends into the detail construction of this project. The rational of retaining the existing and implementing a lightweight and adaptable intervention can be seen in the 50/50 wall construction. The first 50 is the retention of the existing woolworths DNA preserving it, the second 50 is the intervention of the live/work units which sit behind existing. 225mm for the existing brick work, and 225mm for the intervention. The wall construction has 225mm of brick work, 25 mm air gap, 100mm glass wool insulation, 80mm service gap for siphonic drainage and other utilities, 12mm of OSB, then the 12mm birch plywood finishing sheet.

Fig 86 154

450mm wall thickness

1:20 Wall Construction Detail

Fig 87 155

Propped Facade

Supporting the Intervention 2021

The area of the existing building with the most removal is the 2 floors of concrete floor slab within the vertical gallery space. The removal of the floor slab while retaining the shell allows the space to have adaptable configurations, enabling programmes like temporary exhibitions. In order for the existing shell to stand without collapse, the shell will need to be propped and braced with an additional steel structure. The projects approach is to fasten a steel plate up the internal wall of the exiting facade, and prop it up with 400mm steel beams which span the space and connect against the internal concrete structure.

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Fig 88

Fig 89

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Underpinning Existing Live/Work 2021

In order to create the depth of the workshop which can accommodate large machinery and work. The existing concrete floor slab will need to be removed and the ground beneath excavated to 3m below ground level. To support this, the existing foundations of the building will need to be increased. The process used is known as “underpinning” will strengthen the existing foundations. The existing foundation is connected to the underpinning by 50mm of dry packed concrete and the new 600mm wide concrete foundation acts as a retaining wall keeping the ground out. DPM is wrapped around the outside of the underpinning to keep moisture out of the structure and space behind.

Fig 90 158

SF FFL

Fig 91

FF FFL

ce GF FFL

1:20 Underpinng Detail 159

Structural Strategy & Technical Live/Work 2021

The technical section highlights some of the aspects discussed over this segment of the journal. It demonstrates the existing fabric brick work and concrete structure and the series of red dashed boxes indicates where the intervention has removed material and created openings through these. The blue dashed boxes indicate some of the areas where the intervention has added structure, such as the light weight timber stud work for the live/ work units on the first floor and the excavation of the workshop with the implementation of underpinning and retaining wall. The yellow dashed boxes demonstrate sections of the design which illustrate the services used within the intervention such as the hung service ceiling in the workshop carrying ventilation extracts, lighting, cabling and sprinklers. Another area is the mechanical skylight in the live/ work units which follows the stack ventilation concept, removing stale air. There is also visible extracts within the workshop of the live work which remove fine material like sawdust. 160

RL FFL

SF FFL

FF FFL

Venne GF FFL

Workshop

Fig 92 161

End of Volume II

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Bibliography

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Figures

References for images not directly credited in main body of text. Images not referenced are Author’s own. Fig 1 - Wasps Artists Studios, 2021. | Home. [online] Available at:

Fig 16 - Visitscotland.com. 2021. Scottish Storytelling Centre -

<https://www.waspsstudios.org.uk/>

John Knox House, Edinburgh – Museums. [online] Available at:

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<https://www.visitscotland.com/info/see-do/scottish-storytelling-centre-john-knox-house-p254581> Fig 18 - Blackhorse Workshop. 2021. Blackhorse Workshop. [online] Available at: <https://www.blackhorseworkshop.co.uk/>

and sub-division of existing retail units | 111-119 High Street

Fig 24 - Poplar Works. 2021. Poplar Works. [online] Available at:

Perth. [online] Available at: <https://planningapps.pkc.gov.uk/

<https://poplarworks.co.uk/>

online-applications/caseDetails.do?caseType=Application&keyVal=L8DWIMMK6H000> Fig 9 & 10 - Mcginlaybell.com. 2020. McGinlay Bell » West Ward Works. [online] Available at: <https://mcginlaybell.com/work/ west-ward-works/> Fig 14 - Theconstructionindex.co.uk. 2018. CCG expands off-site manufacturing. [online] Available at: <https://www.theconstructionindex.co.uk/news/view/ccg-expands-off-site-manufacturing> Fig 15 - Reddit.com. 2020. [online] Available at: <https://www. reddit.com/r/urbanexploration/comments/c2hmxc/abandoned_ winch_building_in_a_quarry_at_sunset/>

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