Aleema Aziz Portfolio

ARC3001 ACADEMIC PORTFOLIO NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY 20/21 SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING & LANDSCAPE ALEEMA AZIZ | 180360024

CONTENTS

ILLUSTRATIVE REFLECTIVE REPORT

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CULTURAL BIBLIOGRAPHY

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FRAMING

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THEMATIC CASE STUDY

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TESTING

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SYNTHESIS

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

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ILLUSTRATIVE REFLECTIVE REPORT

Studio Reflection

Much of my use of collage was heavily inspired

by Hannah Höch and Annegret Soltau, both of

The central theme of Curating the City is the rich heritage of Saltaire with the underlying idea of eco-assemblage, which revolves around the formation of a city in relation to its ecological development and the impact on its inhabitants.

Unlike other studios, which often dealt with more

experimental

and

tangible

ideals,

Curating the City is largely research-based.

As such, I looked for a way to communicate the studio’s themes in a more physical way.

Drawing from my pre-architecture work, I found that collage was a highly effective medium that allows me to demonstrate both the different facets of Saltaire’s heritage and its surrounding theoretical debates in a more visual manner. An advantage of collage is that each fragment has its own history and meaning before being assembled with other fragments

whom use collage to elicit a deeper political and psychological intensity. Hoch was known for her bold political collages during the Dada period, where she often appropriated parts of mass media to oppose issues such as the Weimar Republic and the assigned roles of women in society. Soltau’s work is much more unnerving than Hoch’s. She uses black thread as a prominent form of media, either to sew torn images together or wrapping it tightly around herself as a form of rep-resentational self-mutilation. I really enjoy featuring black thread in physical collages as it can be used to add another meaning, such as the physical or metaphorical connection between two fragments. Doing so has allowed me to represent my concepts in a much more striking and psychologically charged way.

to form the bigger picture, allowing me to form my own interpretations of Saltaire through juxtaposing elements. Furthermore, the idea of collage surprisingly resonates with the studio’s conceptual framework, investigating the layered complexity of Saltaire’s history and my own project brief, and demonstrating such

COLLAGE OF POTENTIAL INTERNAL LAYOUT

ideas through combining image fragments.

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CULTURAL BIBLIOGRAPHY EXPERIMENTAL COLLAGES INSPIRED BY HANNAH HOCH AND ANNEGRET SOLTAU

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EMBROIDERED CANVASES

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GRAPHIC DESIGN

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FRAMING Reflection The

concept

of

eco-assemblage

was

interesting to explore in relation to my design and allowed me to thing about the ways in which masterplanning and landscaping impact building users as well as other members of the public. Admittedly, it was difficult establishing a narrative for Framing as Saltaire’s heritage is incredibly broad. However, looking at it from the perspective of Patrick Geddes’ concept of ecoassemblage prompted me to think about how it

Curating the City looks at the idea of how

To this day, the people of Saltaire are determined

cities are ‘curated’, particularly in relation

to sustain Saltaire’s heritage and continue to

to Saltaire, a World Heritage Site. Saltaire

stress the importance of conserving several

was first established in 1851 by Sir Titus Salt,

areas around Saltaire. Its reputation

a textile industrialist and philanthropist, to

UNESCO World Heritage Site brings in a large

escape the pollution of Bradford. It is regarded

amount of tourism from sightseers of all ages.

as the finest example of an integrated mill

However, it could be argued that they may seem

and associated village in England as well as

firmly rooted in the past and so re-imagining

having a considerable impact on the history of

the almshouses could potentially be a way to

town planning and the ‘garden city movement’.

connect the past with the present to celebrate

Workers initially travelled to Salts Mill via

heritage in a modern context.

as a

train from Bradford, therefore Salt requested architects Mawson and Lockwood to construct terraced housing for his workers as well as other citizens of Saltaire.

could be used to solve wider issues across the UK. Between the site analysis and analysing wider issues, I decided on a housing scheme to reflect a modern-day almshouse as well as the ways in which Saltaire was a self-sustained community early on in its development.

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Patrick Geddes and Eco-Assemblage

Saltaire’s

urban

makeup

demonstrates

Patrick Geddes’ concept of eco-assemblage, particularly neotechnics. Geddes disagreed that the Industrial Revolution was the cause

Assemblage has been perceived and interpreted

of modern social injustices, instead attributing

in many different terms, such as network,

them to the monopolization of land and

apparatus, and emergence. It is an ontological

education by the elites. He referred to this as

framework used to dissect social complexities.

‘the paleotechnic order’. Its rival, neotechnics,

Though developed by Gilles Deleuze, I looked at

is a more life-centred approach with a greater

the idea of assemblage from Patrick Geddes, a

emphasis on local development than global

biologist, botanist, sociologist and geographer.

expansion. By centering the city’s development

I discoverd that Saltaire is a development of

around conservation and the wellbeing of

Geddes’ concept of ‘neotechnics’, a life-centred

Saltaire’s

approach to eco-assemblage focused on

was a clear example of neotechnics and its

regional prospects and local conservation. As a

development has continued since then,

citizens,

Saltaire’s

construction

World Heritage Site, the people of Saltaire have put greater emphasis on conservation and so it is interesting how the city continues to develop while preserving its historical character.

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Saltaire Demographic

RESIDENTS THAT ARE OVER 65

Almshouses REMAINING ALMSHOUSES

When looking at the demographics around my

One historical aspect of Saltaire that resonated

site in Saltaire, I found that two prominent groups

with idea of multigenerational housing was the

were over-65s and families with one dependent

almshouse,

child. As it happens, these two demographics

Titus Salt was determined for his workers

face considerable issues in relation to housing

to have a decent quality of life and so he

in the UK.

commissioned the almshouses on Victoria

SITE

Road. 45 almshouses were built to provide In a YouGov poll for the Affordable Housing

shelter for people who were unable to look

Commission, 2000 British adults were surveyed.

after themselves. Though the mill workers were

31% of parents with adult children living at home

prioritized, anyone of ‘good character’ who could

don’t expect them to move out or for it to take

support themselves was eligible. The residents

10+ years. Many young adults find it difficult

could live in the almshouses rent free. They

to enter the housing market, often due to the daunting prices of mortgages and rent.

RESIDENTS THAT ARE FAMILIES WITH ONE DEPENDENT CHILD

were constructed differently than the other houses, built with a warm-coloured stone in an Italianate style. Using the idea of almshouses

Brief Proposal

could then be developed into multigenerational

For the brief, I am proposing multigenerational housing that is adaptable for

housing to fit my programme.

older family members and parents with children. In Saltaire, overcrowding and

Although

multiple

generations

lived

in

the lack of suitable houses for families and the elderly are growing issues and

almshouses happily, they only provided basic

so proposing a scheme to house multiple generations feels appropriate. To tie

services like heating and water and didn’t

in with the idea of almshouses in Saltaire, I wanted to create a place where

address complex needs such as those present

different generations could live together, allowing the elderly to be independent

today, such as disability and . Therefore, the

while living with family. Each home will function as a regular home for all family

almshouse could be used as a foundation for a

members while catering to the needs of the elderly family members.

type of flexible housing.

ALMSHOUSES IN ALEXANDRA SQUARE

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MULTIPLE GENERATIONS UNDER ONE ROOF

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PASSING KNOWLEDGE ONTO NEXT GENERATIONS

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SALTAIRE’S HERITAGE BEING PASSED ON TO NEW GENERATION

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SITE ANALYSIS Sun Path Analysis The site is a large open space with almost no obstructions, meaning the housing would benefit from natural daylight from most angles throughout the day.

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Traditional Building Materials

Green Spaces

The honey-coloured stone used in Saltaire is

Zone 1:

one of the unifying elements of its identity. The

This zone is dominated by Roberts Park, the

use of stone is carried on through the use of

largest green space in Saltaire’s conservation

York stone to cover the footpaths. The pitched

area. The slopes and variations in ground level

roofs are covered in Welsh slate, a material that

open up views towards the mill, the greenery of

was widely used in the 19th century. Painted

the park, and the urban village.

timber was used for doors, window frames, and shopfronts.

Zone 2: Because this area is predominantly for housing,

Building Typology

the patches of greenery are limited to the small

Zone 1:

front gardens of the larger houses and the trees

Large monumental structures (Salts Mill, New

lining Albert Road and George Street.

Mill, United Reformed Church). Many were designed in a distinctive Italianate style.

Zone 3: Victoria Road is lined with an abundance

Zone 2:

of trees,. The almshouses nearby are built

Mainly rows of terraced housing with small

around the landscaped Alexandra Square, an

back garden areas. At the time of construction,

area formerly used by the elderly when the

were considered to be excellent housing for

almshouses were active, which is something I

workers as every house had ventilation, a

can incorporate into my brief. Shipley College

drainage system, gas, and water.

and Victoria Hall are set back from the street and fronted by simple landscaped areas to

Zone 3:

distinguish them from the terraced housing.

The buildings in this area are visually much larger and grander than those in the surrounding streets, arranged in the grid street pattern of the village.

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Transport Though many people in Saltaire, and those who travel to Saltaire, use a car as their primary mode of transport, there are other modes of transport readily available. There are several bus stops and two train stations around the site, allowing residents to make their way around without relying on a car. Saltaire’s streets and pathways also accommodate cycling, allowing people to utilize a more environmentally friendly mode of transport.

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Site Section The site slopes in different directions so it was a little bit more difficult to organise the masterplan. I chose to use the flatter green spaces for the housing and facilities building while the remaining spaces, such as the allotement and football pitch, would follow the site’s natural topography.

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THEMATIC CASE STUDY

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TESTING FIRST ITERATION To begin with, I used three conceptual elements (parent + child, grandparent, shared) to establish three volumetric units for the intial volume. The volumes were each angled slightly to facilitate a sense of movement and to also open up the building to outer views.

Although this was only a rough representation, the allocation of spaces is a bit haphazard.

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

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SECOND ITERATION - I explored the idea of replicating

the terraced housing typology of the almshouses. Mirroring the first iteration led to the formation of shared courtyards between the houses. However, the ratio of living space to circulation space was inefficient.

FOURTH ITERATION

- The courtyard was opened up to allow direct access to the private garden. However, privacy issues still persist, which could be solved by placing a fence in the middle of the courtyard and opening it up further to allow enough space for both houses.

The internal spaces are still not effectively curated and the stairs are in an unorthodox position above the living room. It would be better for the stairs to be swapped with the kitchen spaces - better circulation and allows for kitchen window for ventilation.

THIRD ITERATION

- The houses were split into paired units that mirrored each other. This would This reduced the perforation through the houses but still allowed a shared courtyard to facilitate a connection between the two houses.

Each house house had a shared courtyard but also had their own private garden.The courtyard still felt restrictive and the hallway to the garden felt like excess space.

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ITERATIVE SUMMARY

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POTENTIAL INHABITANTS BASED ON FLEXIBILITY OF INTERNAL SPACES

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FACILITIES BUILDING FIRST ITERATION The initial idea of the facilities building was to include communal facilities such as a small convenience store, a laundrette, and a computer cluster. However, considering the pandemic, I felt that a lot of people working from home may not have an adequate working environment in their own home. Therefore, the inclusion of study rooms and quiet reading spaces allows families to be able to work better during the pandemic. I also included a library as the main component of the building as an extension of the working spaces as it would also function as a hub to bring the whole community together.

However, the volume is much too simple and the ceilings are much too high for small intimate spaces like the quiet study rooms.

SECOND ITERATION Because the ceilings were too high, I added another floor to create lower ceilings but also maintain the height of the overall volume. The top floor includes a platform for seating and a roof terrace.

THIRD ITERATION The previous plans felt too rigid and diagrammatic so I tried to make the spatial organisation reflect the angles and movement of the building volume, shown in the ground floor plan on the right. I also changed the pitched roof to a double butterfly roof to resonate more with the volume of the houses and create more consistency across the scheme.

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GROUND FLOOR DIAGRAM

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MASTERPLAN FIRST ITERATION Initially, I chose to implement a street configuration within the site. It was somewhat difficult as the site is a large green space and I didn’t want to cut away from it too much. The allotment would be situated within the street, along with decked seating areas and green playing areas. The shared facilities are situated on the outside as they are also available to other members of Saltaire.

The masterplan is very rudimentary and doesn’t make effective use of the site. There needs to be enough space for access to and within the site via foot or car, and the housing needs to be more carefully placed.

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PHASED MASTERPLAN

PHASE ONE

PHASE TWO

Another possible route was to create a phased masterplan. Initially, 14 housing units would be built and later, using the money generated from the existing housing, more housing would be built. However, the site still felt like it had just been cut into and the full space had not been maximised. The houses are not efficiently situated as they are essentially in the middle of the site.

The new masterplan should aim to replicate some of the angular movements seen in the building volumes.

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SEASONAL ALLOTMENT PRODUCE CAN BE GIVEN TO LOCAL CONVENIENCE STORE TO BE PREPPED AND SOLD OR LOCALS CAN PICK IT THEMSELVES FOR FREE

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LARGE SPACE AROUND PARKING AREA TO ALLOW BIN MEN TO CIRCULATE BACK AROUND WHEN COLLECTING WASTE

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THINKING THROUGH MAKING

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HOUSES USE MODCELL STRUCTURAL PANELS

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MechSlip Cladding System

Can be easily disassembled and reused.

Brick slips = less imposed load on building than traditional bricks + can play around with façade Adhesive system would mean brick slips would get damaged and would be difficult to reuse.

Aluminium support system can be recycled

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SYNTHESIS When finalising the scheme, I added another housing typology, an apartment, which could be used by many different demographics, such as students or young couples. This added a slight depth to my scheme as it not only caters to multiple generations but also those looking for a differnt living arrangement. The scheme has become more cohesive through the careful landscaping and subtle introduction of angular forms throughout the community building and the masterplan. Although the amount and quality of the work produced could be greater, I feel as though the heart of the project has been communicated in a less diagrammatic and more fluid way, which is what I had hoped to achieve.

The use of sketches and collage aims to add a more human element to the scheme and thus places a greater emphasis on the people who will eventually inhabit these buildings.

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FINAL MASTERPLAN This

masterplan

embodies

APARTMENTS

the angular movements of the buildings much better. The motif of the housing is shown in the way the footpaths and allotments are arranged. Using the concept of eco-assemblage, many of the green spaces have also been preserved to prevent disruption to its current use as a playing field. The inner street between the housing leads to a private green space for the residents of the houses and apartments, separated. The space around the parking area allows for bin men to circle back around after

HOUSES

picking up waste, which can be left at the end of the inner street.

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MAKING APARTMENTS WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE

MAKING HOUSES ACCESSIBLE

DISABLED BATHROOM

DISABLED BATHROOM

PLATFORM LIFT

PLATFORM LIFT

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1m

2m

5m

10m

WHEELCHAIR

0

1m

2m

5m

10m

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GROUND FLOOR LIBRARY

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HOMEWORK CLUB AND PRINTING SERVICES

ALLOTMENTS

ROOF TERRACE

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MASHRABIYA WALL PANELS ON GROUND FLOOR OF HOUSE

INTERNAL STREET BETWEEN HOUSES - I designed this to be used as a non-vehicle street for playing or sitting.

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THE NEW SHAPE REFLECTS THE HOUSING VOLUME

DOMESTIC SCALE OF MASHRABIYA WALL PANEL LARGER SCALE MASHRABIYA WALL

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CELEBRATORY SECTION This section demonstrates the variety of activties that would occur in the houses and the community building on a regular day. Each house has a slightly different setup, catered to each residents’ personal taste, while the community building demonstrates the multiple different uses, such as the library, conference room, the roof terrace, and the cafe.

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