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ACADEMIC PORTFOLIO STAGE 3 BA (HONS) ARCHITECTURE 20198-2020 CHENG WU TEO / b70484024

ARC 3001: ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 3.1 - STUDIO 04 - HOUSE OF MEMORIES NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING AND LANDSCAPE

CONTENT

REFLECTION REPORT

1-2

CHARRETTE

3-8

Project 1: PRIMER

9-20

Project 2: STAGING

21-40

Project 3: REALISATION

41-100

Project 4: SYNTHESIS

100-126

BIBLIOGRAPHY

127-128

REFLECTION ON STAGE 3 ‘Lost in Self and Space’ Stage 3 was an interesting year, in terms of my life and my architectural career. I am very grateful to be a member of the House of Memories studio. The studio theme of researching and analysing the cognitive detours of dementia sufferers as time passes actually encouraged me to reflect on what I truly wish to accomplish before ending Part 1 of my architectural education. I have always been captivated by the push for energy-efficient, sustainable architecture of recent years. This studio has fortunately provided me with the technical knowledge on which to experiment. It was also interesting to see my methodology to design improve and evolve during the course of the past 3 years. That said, there were also times of hardship during these years.

year. I found myself needing to refer back to my original concept from time-to-time to prevent myself from being side-tracked by elements with lesser relevance during the project’s duration. Ideas and working circumstances are bound to change overtime, especially during these testing times. I feel that I have learnt to adapt and evolve my skillset to deal with these changes. For example, my digital skills have improved drastically due to inaccessibility to my previous working methods. I have had to admit that this semester was particularly challenging for me, and my overall progress suffered as a result but the hardship was worthwhile. I will definitely apply my newfound digital knowledge to all my future projects.

out the rationale behind my design philosophy for the project, which was intergenerational connectivity. My past experiences of interacting with my grandmother affected by Alzheimer’s too guided me towards the creation of a care home programme whereby elderly dementia sufferers can be introduced back into the normality of communal life through regular interaction with different people groups, especially the youths. I juggled between a few different ideas at first - one of which involved a gardening workshop - but I eventually settled on creating a venue of dementia education for the community. I realised that creating a programme that enriches the local social fabric is the indication of good architecture.

My field trip to Berlin and Hamburg was one of the more memorable moments of my university life, and also in architecture. I was amazed by the architecture of Germany’s 2 largest cities, a unique blend of old and new - whereby the past is preserved but the modern is embraced. I was particularly impressed by what I can only describe as the eagerness of German architects to produce radical and diverse design solutions in place of a common problem. The Hamburg Elbphilharmonie in particular, impressed me with its powerful presence. The building’s use of contrasting material, textures and lighting brought me on a sensoryrich journey through the internal spaces and hallways. I replicate this experience in my eventual design proposal. While there, I also gained valuable knowledge on the inner functioning of sustainable, and energy-efficient buildings while on the trip such as the Heinrich Bøll Foundation Headquarters in Berlin.

There are aspects in my design proposal which are left to be desired and their refinement requires the re-evaluation of previous conceptual and development works. I learnt that the progress of design is a back-and-forth process, sort of like a circular track and improvements can always be carried out even after the final design proposal has been submitted. I dabbled in the process of mind-mapping and graphical architecture as a legitimate way of linking abstract cognitive challenges to the production of physical architectural solutions. The method I used was inspired by James Corner, Peter & Alison Smithson. Information gathered from my concept research, as well as results from simulation softwares were used to inform my architectural response to the problem. The importance of development work is undeniable, and I learnt to reflect back on the original concept to control the following development’s trajectory.

Overall, this year was definitely a memorable one filled with interesting and unforeseen challenges. The field trip was, and will always be, the highlight of my young architectural career. I hope to bring together all the knowledge and experiences I have gained from these 3 years of my university education and make a meaningful difference to society. I also look forward to the next chapter of my architectural career while in search of the next big challenge.

I believe that my design methodology has changed quite a lot in terms of how I approach design challenges. In stage 2, I thought that the process from concept to product was a linear one but this strategy was not a feasible one this

I experimented with graphical mapping exercises to explore the visual and tactile connections between different people groups under the current social and urban fabric. The information gained was invaluable to figuring

CHARRATTE ‘Frankenstein’s Shop’ The theme of my charratte group this year is assemblage, recycle and/or regurgitate. Together with my group mates, I studied the emergence of more and more cheap and gentrified everyday products being sold in pound stores throughout the high streets of our era. We worked directly with products such as magazines, plastic products, free newspapers, empty packaging and wrappers that have been discarded. After being broken down into their most basic forms, we proceeded to reconfigure them into hybrid, Frankenstein-like range of work pieces. These works, along with their cast plaster counterparts and moulds, were displayed at the end of the week. New artistic qualities were again breathed into the previously unappealing, dull mass produced products. Although not noticeable at first, I felt that the experiences I gained from Charratte influenced the material choices of my final design proposal.

MATERIAL SORTING

EXPERIMENTATION

MOULD-MAKING

VACUUM FORMING

PLASTER WORK

PRODUCT DISPLAY

As his memory disintegrates, he is left with a chronic feeling of homelessness: as one’s memory continues to decline, so too does one’s sense of spatial orientation. The father’s walks turn into aimless meanderings, to a restless search for irretrievably lost memories. Arno Geiger describes how the place in which his father has lived for decades gradually becomes more and more foreign: The agonising impression of not feeling at home is one of the symptoms of the disease. To me it is as if the inner degeneration of the person with dementia causes them to lose their feeling of security and shelter and they now long to find the place where they can recover this feeling. But because the confusion they feel never ceases, even in the most familiar of places, not even one’s bed can offer respite.

PRIMER ‘Sensory Pod’ A series of short projects are developed in the House of Memories studio to guide us towards a better understanding of dementia as a stimulus-altering illness, alongside the various cognitive and motor afflictions that comes with it. Literature reviews on the subject matter were carried out in groups of 4 within the studio. The book titled Lost in Space: Architecture and Dementia, in particular, became our primary reference source for the year’s duration. The contents covered fundamental theories on architecture and perceived space - all from the point of view of dementia sufferers. In this stage, we had the opportunity to learn, and experiment with various methods of stimulating the fading memories of a relapsing mind. I took part in designing a ‘sensory pod’ whereby a gardening programme was proposed to aid dementia-afflicted patients acclimatise their senses to the sights and sounds of nature. In total, 4 ‘sensory pods’ were produced and displayed under our studio. The knowledge gained from this research session formed the basis of my design in subsequent design stages.

For the father, his own home has become unknown territory. He no longer recognises the house that he himself built in the late 1950s. And so it loses its homeliness and becomes uncanny, in German unhomely: Whoever was speaking, even his brethren and children, were foreign to him because what they said was confusing and unsettling. His natural conclusion that here was obviously not his home, was quite understandable. The feeling of fundamental homelessness is disturbing and unsettling. Again and again, his father wants to go home, as if by going elsewhere he can rid himself of the situation that the disease has caused.

-Ralph Fischer Clipping taken from Lost in Space: Architecture and Dementia compiled by Eckhard Fedderson

Worlds for People in All Their Uniqueness

Dementia is a disorder where one suffers from a progressive deterioration in their cognitive functions which ultimately leads to the total loss of self-being and spatial awareness.1 In other words, the disease can manifest itself ever increasingly in the subconscious of a sufferer overtime as they slowly lose track of the world and its people around them. Here, I am referring to Arno Geiger’s description of his late father’s prompt spiral into cognitive abyss due to the onset of advanced Alzheimer’s (a form of dementia) in his 2011 memoir, “The Old King in His Exile”. As such, there is no doubt that dementia and its sister illnesses such as Alzheimer’s are here to stay.2 That is why the narrative for studying and preserving the mental and spatial orientation of the conscious mind became the focal point of my project. We architects, as designers of experience of space play an important role in creating collective programmes aimed at consolidating the wondering minds of these dementia-sufferers whilest still paying homage their individual identity and uniqueness.

Rudolf Steiner: “The Invisible Human Being In Us”, Colour Plate 3, Volume XII, 1923

“The Old King in His Exile”

1 Dementia describes a disorder in which the progressive deterioration of cognitive faculties ultimately leads to a loss of the competencies one needs in everyday life. This is sometimes accompanied by noncognitive disorders in the form of apathy, depression, aggression, sleep disorders and delusion, which are often a considerable burden for the patients themselves as well as their relatives. Dementia – Forms, Prognoses, pp.62-65

Research

and

Bente Heinig, Markus Zens and Elisabeth Steinhagen-Thiessen

2 Dementia is an age-related affliction that is becoming increasingly evident in public society: almost 15 % of over-80-year-olds and almost 35 % of over-90-year-olds suffer from some form of dementia of one origin or another. Given that over the next 30 years the proportion of over-80-year-olds will rise from 6 % at present to approximately 12 %, and that we ourselves are likely to reach this old age, we become aware that we too may at some point be one of those people who suffer from dementia. Dementia As A Cultural Challenge, p.55 Andreas Kruse

1967

Fading Memories U.K.-based artist William Utermohlen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 1995. Before his death in 2007, Utermohlen created a final series of heart-wrenching self portraits as his mind and body succumbed to the disease. This series of artworks were incredibly stark and heart-wrenching, but it allowed me to get a glimpse of the world through the artist’s eyes. It is hard to say whether the changes in his portraits came about due to the loss of his artistic abilities or due to changes in his psyche. Whichever the case, they documented the emotional turmoil of an artist watching his mind slip away bit by bit. I was inspired my Utermohlen to create a visual piece of work to document the artist’s declining mental journey through time.

1967

Sensory Pod The theme of gardening was chosen for my group’s sensory pod as a wat to bring the sight and sound of nature closer to dementia sufferers. Stimulating elements are carefully laid out around a 4mx4m floor plan so as not to overwhelm the dementia sufferer’s senses when they interact with the sensory pod. We avoided sharp corners by incorporating a curved elements to the design to avoid stark shadow contrasts which may lead to patient visual discomfort.

2.5m

Curved Wall Design

Tic-Tac-Toe Game

2.5m

‘Window’ to Nature

Integrated Sitting Area

0.5m

Gardening Area

STAGE 1

STAGE 2

Projector

“Planting is Fun and Relaxing!” Entrance

STAGE 3

Gardening Table

INTERRACTIVE ACTIVTY ROOM

- Visual - Tactile - Smell

Sensory Box Game - Cognation - Visual - Tactile - Smell

An interactive and condusive environment was designed to stimulate patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cognative skills and memory, through the use of sight, smell, sound and touch stimulus i.e. games to play, plants to touch. The goal here is to have an interactive space where youngsters and adults alike can spend time with their dementia-suffering loved ones. Intergenerational mingling between patients and their family can happen freely and creatively within this recreational space (Primer Week). The plan is to have this active space integrated into the overall scheme for the latter part of this sensory-stimulating project.

PERSPECTIVE SECTION

Period Decor - Cognation - Visual 1:20 PLAN

Outdoors View - Visual -Sound - Smell a-a

b-b

ACTIVITY SPACE IN USE (INHABITED)

SENSORY BOX GAME 12 sensory box game represent the main protagonist to our interactive activity space. Our goal is to allow the dementia patients mix and match different faces of the boxes together based on their textures, materials and colours. This game can be used as a form of mental therapy to encourage dementia patients to reinforce their cognative skills. The patients will have the chance to see, touch and physically feel what the materials are. Being presented as an interactive, users of all ages will be able to play this as a recreational and fun â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;tic-tac-toeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; sort game. The elements selected all revolve around the theme of nature and gardening. The examples used here are are a variety of wood, grass, gravel and stones.

SIGHT, SOUND, TOUCH, SMELL Together with potted plants and sensory boxes, a projected ‘window’ towards the ‘outside world’ was included as well. Audio recordings of nature and running water were played in our sensory pod set-up to enrich the user experience. Scent pouches were put on the gardening table to simulate the smell of lavender flowers. Overall, the Primer show was a great success and our pod was visited by many of our peers.

STAGING

MIND-MAPPING Mind-mapping I applied the use of mind-mapping diagram techniques exemplified in James

‘Dwelling Pod’

Corner’s article The Agency of Mapping in order to visualise the emotional

Staging requires each individual to design dwelling pods i.e. accommodation suitable for use by dementia sufferers. For this project, I combined James Corner’s ‘production of graphical architecture’ technique with Alison & Peter Smithson’s Mapbuilding typology to create a visual and spatial framework within which I can set my dwelling pod design. Inspiration is sourced from literature and artwork produced by the likes of the author, Jonathan Franzen and artists, Michal Rovner and Alessandro Lupi. Their work captures an expressive snapshot of the emotional complexities one with dementia goes through on a day-to-day basis. Michal’s ‘Current’ shows human figures walking aimlessly in a morose and endless room; it represents a virtual stage where the separation of concrete thoughts i.e. personality from a person’s mind occurs. The message these artworks conveyed acted as a letter of reminder of the possible factors to avoid when designing a venue of space for dementia patient use. My goal is to aid dementia sufferers reclaim lost personalities and memories through how they experience spaces around them starting from these consolidated dwelling pods.

knowledge taken from these exercises was essential to the following process

complexities one with dementia goes through on a day-to-day basis (Fig. 4). The in figuring out the rationale behind my design philosophy for the project. Stan Allen too, recognises the cognitive significance in the production of graphical architecture, as he stated that such a practice is able to ‘locate itself between the actual and the virtual, and foregrounds architecture’s transactional character’.3 With literal support from Andreas Kruse’s “Dementia As A Cultural Challenge”, a link was able to be established between the recovery of a waining mind—due to both old age or dementia—to routine mental and physical exchange with an intergenerational, age-friendly society.4 Richard Long: “A Seven Day Circle of Ground”, Dartmoor, England, 1984

Richard Long’s Long’s “A Seven Circle Ground” Fig. 3 Richard “A Day Seven Dayof Circle of Ground” “The circle itself, like other lines and figures in Long’s work, is not visible from the ground; it exercises its effect through its (arbitary) delineation on the map. Like a frame or graticule, the circle is an imaginary figure that holds otherwise inchoate things in a field of relationship”, James Corner on Long’s exemplar diagram above.

recreational

care

routine

Alzeimer’s

learning

intelligence

programme

aid helpful

relationship

interaction conceptualisation creative

depression amnesic metaphor individuality person cognative expression memory

Spatial Map of Dementia My attempt at selecting keywords and catchphrases related to the contemporary thinking on dementia, its symptoms and treatments. These were then collaged into a visual interpretation based on their cognitive and spatial hierarchy. I am particularly interested in the spaces which lies unoccupied, but at the same time, serves as a bridge between the different mental boxes. The map served as a mental reminder for design concept from this stage of the project onwards.

wisdom challege photography

communal

knowledge

psychotherapy outdoors

living

environment

location

young

sense

smell touch sound sight

counseling

ideas

spatial memorabilia

love

people

home

information staff

circle of life

dementia caregiving knowledge

leisure relax comfort

familiar

forgetful emotion support

The diagram is architecture’s most condensed and powerful tool for thinking about organisation. Its variables include both the formal and programmatic configurations: space and event, force and resistance, density, distribution and direction. Diagrams are highly schematic and graphically reductive, but they are not simply pictorial. (…) In an immediately accessible and highly telegraphic form, diagrams specify part to whole relationships and suggests a working model of the whole. Practice: Architecture Representation, p.50

Technique

Stan Allen

Old age constitutes an integral part of an intergenerational perspective in which – and this is supported by empirical studies – there is an active exchange of ideas, knowledge, experience, assistance and goodwill between generations. The inclusion of old people in an exchange between generations represents an important means of participation for older people, and more so than for younger people – and this applies equally to those men and women who have dementia. Dementia As A Cultural Challenge, The characteristics of an age-friendly culture pp.57-59 Andreas Kruse

EVOLUTION OF FORM The form of the individual dwelling pod evolved from the manipulation of a sensory box. The residence contain a bed, a toilet, a table and a window (outside view) all within direct line of sight to one another. These input were translated from the positioning of stimulation. This would allow dementia patients to navigate their rooms freely and easily. The ability of the elderly to differentiate between shadows and contrast is also compromised; colour shades that are are too similar might even confuse them. Hence, I learnt to use VELUX sunlight simulation software to ensure that the design I chosen will not bring discomfort to the users in anyway.

‘cell to cluster’

‘cluster to stem’

‘stem to mat’

Smithson’s Map-building Typology Dwelling Pod Concept

FULL BOX

HALF

QUARTER

ROTATE

SECTION

COLLAGE. A Day in the Life of a Dementia Sufferer

MOWBRAY AND ROKER DEMENTIA CARE UNIT The studio visited the award-winning Mowbray and Roker Dementia Care Unit of the Monkwearmouth Hospital in Sunderland. This facility is specifically designed and completed in 2013 for the use of elderly dementia patients. The overall design utilised an array of material such as brickwork and wood, and special attention has been given to the rehabilitation of the patients. This is the benchmark I used when designing my dementia pod, down to the details such as the wall art and colour pallete.

Superposition of ACTIVITY ROOM with DEMENTIA POD

LIGHT AND SHADOW Together with a 1:20 model, the interior LUX levels were tested with the use of ENVI-MET simulation software. It was found that my dwelling has an average LUX illumination level of 300, which is within the recommended levels for a mediumsized bedroom. I also incorporated walls with curved corners to smoothen the transition between light and shadows.

Straight Corner

Concept Plan

Curved Corner

SKETCH-UP MODEL WITH SUNLIGHT SIMULATION

RIGHT

SECTION (ENTRANCE)

LEFT

FRONT (ENTRANCE)

PERSPECTIVE (RIGHT)

1: 20 MODEL Daytime View 1

Nighttime View

1 : 50

Daytime View 2

DWELLING PROGRAMME

DWELLING PLAN

Window Toilet Table

Entrance Bed

1 : 25

CURVING PATH ‘STEM’

Entrance -Wheelchair Accessible -Visually Distinct -Outwards-opening Door

1 : 100

Toilet -Wheelchair Accessible -Visually Distinct -Private Usage

Timber

Desk & Cupboard

WANDERING PATH The dwelling pods are connected together via a straight hallway. This was changed to a curved one to suite the wandering tendencies of some patients by providing them with a safe path to explore, while always having views towards the outdoor gardens. I wanted my eventual design to contain this feature.

-Wooden Construction -Ergonomic Design -Dementia-friendly

Single Bed

Brick

-Hospital Standard -Easily Transportable

Window

POD ‘CLUSTER’

-Southern Orientation -Large Diameter -Outdoors View

Timber Masonry

Outdoor Garden Path

THINKING THROUGH MAKING WEEK

REALISATION

12mm double layered glass

Semi-transparent shading

Programmable LED screens

Accomodation Ceiling

‘Intergenerational Connectivity’ With the initial analysis focusing on the conceptual approach towards dementia-driven design done, I then move on towards identifying the site strategy, as well as a more contextual approach towards the realisation of an actual, full-scale programme. My project will titled ‘Campus for Ageing and Vitality: Intergenerational Care Home’. The NHS will be the clients for my project. The objective of the project is to provide a facility where the elderly dementia sufferers could be housed and looked after, whilst also doubling as a venue for intergenerational-mingling. The presence of an active, yet elderly-friendly programme would allow the community to actively engage with the care home’s residents on a regular basis. The use of graphical techniques has been used to relate the site to the proposal and the proposal to the site. Investigations into the topography, building typology and pedestrian routes has been carried out to preserve the ‘atmosphere’ and the ‘connectivity’ of the neighbourhood. It is also at this stage where widespread use of simulation software has been used to guide the design process.

MULTI-LAYERED SKYLIGHT In between Staging and Realisation, a Thinking Through Making Week was held. The aim of the exercise was to design and make a ‘detail’ which we aim to include in our design proposal by employing a hands on approach. I came up with a skylight design consisting of 3 materials with different levels of opacity between them. They function as a single unit to control the input of day-light into a patient’s room. The LED screen is programmable to project different sceneries e.g. a clear blue sky during winter to help reduce sundowning syndrome among patients.

Avoiding Sundowning Syndrome Sundowning is a common psychological symptom of dementia, most commonly Alzheimer’s disease. It is a form of confusion, generally manifesting when natural sunlight begins to fade and more shadows appear. These occurances are more common during winter times, when the sun set earlier than usual. Patients will become frustrated with their confusion, which may result in mood swings and heightened irritability, especially with a caregiver. The use of artificial light-emitting skylights will hopefully reduce these occurances.

MULTI-LAYERED SKYLIGHT 1:5 MODEL

CAMPUS FOR AGING AND VITALITY The project site is located in Arthurs Hill, Newcastleupon-Tyne. It is only 10 minutes away from central Newcastle by car. It is sandwitched between Westgate Road to the South and Brighton Grove to the East. The building on site used to be a medical ward for the former Newcastle General Hospital. It has since fallen out of use. The building was built in the 1860s and is of stone construction. It is currently a LISTED BUILDING, thus some portion of the original building cannot be demolished unless properly justified.

The portion that cannot be demolished is highlighted in RED, while the portion that can has been left in BEIGE. There is also a 3m drop in building elevation at the Northern end of the site, near to the neighbourhood of Fenham. Located below are some site pictures.

SITE PICTURES

SITE MAP

SITE LOCATION - Fenham, Newcastle (54.9783° N, 1.6178° W) Newcastle General Hospital

e Str.

Stanhop

Fenham

Brighton

Grove

Brighton Grove West ga

te Ro a

Westgate Road To Cit y

Legend

Newcastle

City Centre

Arthur’s Hill

Intergenerational Dementia Care Home (Proposed)

Campus of Aging and Vitality Building (Grade II Listed)

Newcastle General Hospital (Main Entrance)

Centr e

100

150

200

PEOPLE GROUPS The site lies within a vibrant neighbourhood, with people of different ages and cultures mingling together on a regular basis, these people group can be separated into 4 distinct groups. Hence, it is only reasonable to have my facility emphasises multigenerational interaction. The new care home will be open to all, in particular the youths. As can be seen, there are a number of educational facilites which only lies within 1km radius on site. The programme and subsequent design has been carefully considered to cater this broad user spectrum.

MAP of

INTERGENERATIONAL CONNECTIVITY 0m

100

PROGRAMME STORYBOARD My programme A storyboard captures the various ‘energies’ of the various activities which are set to take place in my programme. These activities would mostly be held indoors year round, while some activities can too be held in a courtyard outside the facility during warmer months of the year.

FROM ABSTRACT TO MASSING The translation from abstract diagrams and theory to physical spaces materialised after completing a graphical analysis of the site and its surrounding features under the theme of intergenerational connectivity. I studied the use of diagrammatic mapping in architecture production, inspired by theorist Guy Debord. I experimented with the superposition of actual and virtual connections to nearby multi-generational institutions, which is similar to what I did when designing the dwelling pod.

Guy Debord’s “Discours sur les Passions de l’amour”

“In the architectural context,organisation implies both program and its distribution in space, going beyond the conventional dichotomies of function versus form, or form versus content.” “Multiple functions and action overtime are implicit in the diagram. The configuration develops momentary clusters of matter in space, subject to continual modification.” Practice: Architecture Technique + Representation, p.51

LEFT: The connection between the subjective, spatial identities of Paris’s streets and neighbourhoods is apparent in Debord’s map below. I interpreted his diagram as clusters of interconnected, yet distinct entities, grouped together to form a whole massing. RIGHT: Mapping exercises centred around the organisation and positioning of multi-generational spaces (e.g. neighbourhoods, schools) in relation to the site were done. Their names, distances, and travel times has also been included for identification and spatial reference.

As my design took inspiration from the ‘cell to cluster’, ‘cluster to stem’ and ‘stem to mat’ urban development theories of Candilis-Josic-Woods and Alison and Peter Smithson, whereby their schemes frequently emphasised the interconnection 1 Mind-map + Diagram

2 Massing on Paper

of function, space and time. These criterions will be represented in my design through the implementation of several flexible, multi-use spaces such as semipublic social ‘clusters’, a self-sustaining energy system, as well as the ability to reconfigure outdated functional spaces into newer ones. This procedure of correlating and interconnecting the micro elements in design to the macro, as exemplified by the ‘mat typology’ of Candilis-Josic-Woods and the Smithsons, offered me a flexible framework in relating my design proposal to the site. Jaime J. Ferres Fores, in his dissertation titled Mat Urbanism: Growth and Change

3 Massing in Context

4 Initial Plan

FROM MASSING FUNCTION Fig. 7 From AbstractTO to Functional I started this portion of my design project with the mapping of various spaces, abstract and functional ideas I wanted to include into my programme and massing. This was then followed by multiple sessions of layering, organsing and editing of the programmatic and spatial relationships between the different spaces, both on paper and in context. After reaching a satisfying layout, an initial plan of the design was drawn.

describes this phenomenon as ‘an uninterrupted continuation of the urban fabric into its own spatial network’.

PRECEDENTS STUDY Primary Inspiration

Secondary Inspiration

Landes Alzheimer Village Rothenburg Medical Care Centre

Oldham Maggie’s Centre Newcastle Maggie’s Centre Yorkshire Maggie’s Centre

Elements of Interest: 1.Concept of Communal Unity 2.Outdoors Landscaping 3.Materiality (Wood, Stone) 4.Floor Plan Layout 5.Wandering Pathway

Elements of Interest: 1.Concept of Spatial Openess 2.Outdoors Landscaping 3.Materiality (Glass, Wood, Stone) 4.Sustainability Strategy

During our visit in Berlin, my group and I did a case study on the Netherlands Embassy building. The theme of the report was on the circulation of interior spaces and also technical studies. The knowledge learnt was applied to my design proposal for the wandering path, as well as some aspects of the structural design.

Timeline

FIELD TRIP CASE STUDY

2003

Berlin, Germany

Rem Koolhaas, OMA

B. Typology

This typology study places Rem Koolhaas’ design for the Embassy of the Netherlands in the context of other buildings from around the world that share the same design philosophy free circulation of space and trajectory. The buildings we will be looking at in this Case Study report include the Seattle Public Library (also by Rem Koolhaas) and the Automobile Museum in Nanjing (by Francesco Gatti), both of which post-dates the Embassy by only a few years. One can already notice that the physical traits all of these buildings share (e.g., futuristic aesthetics, volumetric form and metallic facades.

Circulatory Trajectory

Netherlands Embassy

“a labyrinth circulation of different thresholds...”

2004

Seattle Public Library Washingon, USA

Rem Koolhaas, OMA “...a civic space for the circulation of knowledge in all media”

2009

Automobile Museum Nanjing, China

Francesco Gatti, 3Gatti “...movie sequence in which the principal actor is the car”

The idea of an open, yet multidimentional circulation system has been captured immaculately in the design of these buildings; whereby all horizontal planes are connected to form a single trajectory along an interiorly wrapped boulevard. In many ways, the architects were eager to challenge exisiting concepts of what it means for a space to be private or public. Koolhaas grafted a bold and extroverted corridor design onto the facade of the reclusive Dutch Embassy, whilst designing the complete opposite in the public library in Seattle - the centralised ascenting path kept away from the facade. Gatti went with a slightly different approach by electing to use a dual spiral system for his automobile museum - one for vehicle and one for pedestrian traffic. In a sense, the trajectory becomes the facade.

Public = Private Vertical Movement

Embassy (private)

Library (public)

Museum (public)

For the Dutch Embassy in Berlin, Koolhaas created a well defined block form within the strongly demarcated urban fabric surrounding it, thus awarding spacial uniqueness. Due to of its very private programme, circulation was somewhat constricted because of safety. In the end he created a labyrinth circulation of different thresholds based on views and experiences. This singular pathway can be seen through folding and unfolded the plan of the building in order to better show the different thresholds one goes through when roaming the building.

Folding + Unfolding Material Inspiration

Koolhaas used paper as the main medium for testing out his designs through cutting, folding and layering the material, resulting in an intersecting form.

Exterior Openness

Circulatory Experience

The atmosphere inside the Dutch Embassy radiates a sense of openness, in comparision to the dull monolithic box of which forms the external facade. As one follows the natural ascent by way of the continuous labyrinthine route, one is awarded with a panoramic view of the Spree river and its surrounding scenery. At one point, the trajectory even cantilevers out in a form of a glazed ramp. Towards the north, the skyline of Berlin (Mitte) is sprawled out for all to admire, just as intended by the designer Rem Koolhaas all along.

H. Structural Strategy Given the complexity of the embassy, an innovative structural solution had to be utilised. Primarily, the structural frame of the embassy consists of reinforced concrete, steel and aluminium (for some elements). The facade and the trajectory corridor gives partial support to the structure by having of evenly structured walls and aluminium supports all round, thus allowing the interior plan to be open and free to intepretation. The only other continuous support system in the building is the elevator shaft, which is located in the centre of the building.

∂ 2004 ¥ 10

The structure of the main embassy ﬂoor space is quite straight forward in terms of load bearing. The only difﬁculty that might have posed a problem to the engineers is actuDokumentation ally 1143 in the cantilevered elements of the design. These volumes are held up by 220/120mm steel RHS posts, with the addition of extra cross-bracing where necessay. The section below shows the areas where there might be high loading stress.

∂ 2004 ¥ 10

Overall Load Bearing

6 9

11 8

Concrete, Glass, Steel

Lageplan Maßstab 1:10 000 Schnitt • Grundrisse Maßstab 1:500

Site plan scale 1:10,000 Section • Floor plans scale 1:500 200

1 2 3 44 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Garage Haupteingang Foyer »Trajekt« Veranstaltungssaal Büro Besprechung Luftraum Dienstwohnung Dachaufsicht Sitzungssaal 11 Fitnessraum

Garage Main entrance Foyer “Trajectory” Hall for various functions Office Conference room Void Official dwelling View of roof over conference hall 11 Fitness studio

2 12

The construction of the glazed ramp is mostly composed of strengthened glass panes of various thickness gauges. In some places, alunimium ďŹ ns were also ďŹ tted intermittently for extra support. The end result creates an unsettling sensation of exposure with a green tint towards the world outside when viewed from within.

6 13

Cantilevered Volume

4 e

e 10

Weight of Glass (70mm)

7 8 9

Colour Perception and Contrast As a person ages, their ability to precieve colours and light clearly will be severely compromised (due to the thickening and yellowing of the lens). The movement of the elderly will be impeded if they are not able to see or differentiate between a carpet or a step on the floor if the shades used are too similar. This would lead to inconvinience of the patients, worse yet - injury. Thus, features need to be distinguished clearly through the use of contrasting colours.

Hiding Doors and Spaces While prominent colour contrast can be used to highlight important objects and add clarity to the environment, a lack of contrast can be used to visually recede elements or to blend in with the surroundings. The latter can be exploited to benefit the staff working at the care home. Entrances to staff-only spaces such as the nurseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office or the storage rooms can have their doors painted a colour that would blend into the background, usually white. This prevents patients from entering these spaces accidentally if they cannot see the entrances.

Patient + Public Accessible Entrances

Patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s View

1 Timber flooring will be used for my care home, replacing the texture of artificial linoleum. This flooring will be laid out as a single continuous plane throughout the facility, extending right into the patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accomodation with no steps or colour changes. This will prevent mishaps.

2 Entrances leading to patient-friendly spaces will be delineated by different coloured doors and doorframes which is a different colour altogether from the background. This will ease the patients in finding correct entrances and not mistake a door as just a part of the wall.

4 2

Actual View

Staff-only Accessible Entrances

3 The bathrooms will have non-white wash basins and toilets so that patients can locate them easily when they wish to relieve themselves, especially during the night. The walls of the bathroom will use a different colour to contrast with the utilities.

4 Furnishings where they will not present a safety hazard to the patients are to be chosen. These furniture will need to be sturdily-built and secured tightly to the walls and floor. This will prevent them from potentially breaking off or falling over and hurting the patients. Highlighted Step Edges

Non-white WC Backgrounds

Colour Contrast to Define the Environment For people living with dementia, using contrasting colours on floors, walls, skirting boards and benchtops can help define between vertical and horizontal surfaces. All flooring for areas that lead into each other will be homogeneously coloured so that they look continuous. Even if different materials are used, the colours will be similar so that it is perceived as a continuous level surface because using highly contrasting coloured materials might be perceived as a change in floor level or mistaken for shadows. Hanging prominent elements such as wall art or tapestries on the wall can also help to clearly differentiate walls from floors.

FIBRE OPTIC LIGHTING INSPIRATION

Daytime - White

Fibre optic ceiling lighting can be used in conjunction with conventional lighting options to help patients relieve the symptoms of sundowning syndrome. These fibre optic systems can be programmed to project varying colours and hues so that the lighting subconsciously conveys the function of a space, as well as the times when these activities are supposed to take place. This technology has most notably been applied to the interiors of aircrafts to help passengers cope with the stress of long-haul air travel when the aircraft travels through different timezones.

Colour Association & Proposed Use Blue - Blues are generally noted to have a calming and restful effect - Often recommended for use in quiet rooms and bedrooms - Cool blues can make rooms appear larger.

Patient Bedrooms and Corridors during night time. Patients will be urged to prepare for bed and not wonder about when the days become longer during summer,

Green - Associated with growth and life - It can reduce central nervous system activity and help people feel calm and restful - Similar to other cool colours, it can make rooms appear larger.

Common Areas, Cafeteria and Family Meeting Room throughout the day. Patients will be able to be relaxed and stay comfortable when they are spending time socialising with family and friends.

Red - Increases brain wave activity and can stimulate the production of adrenalin into the blood stream, and so is recommended for high activity areas and communal spaces where stimulation is - required - It can increase the perceived temperature of a room.

Activity Rooms, Cafeteria and Common Areas at set times throughout the day. This is to let the patients feel more active and energized when engaging in mental or physical exercises.

Orange - Being a warm colour, it is closely related to red and shares some of its properties - It is also an earth-base colour and like green, it often produces associations with nature and natural environments.

Patient Bedrooms, Corridors and Common Areas during daytime. This is to let patients know that daytime has begun when the sun rises and sets early during winter.

Installed Example in Building

Nightime - Blue

Timer

Section Installed Examples in Aircraft

Fibre Optic Technology

These fibre strands connect to a illuminator that houses a colour-changing bulb. A timer is installed to control the system according to a pre-set schedule. This system will work in-conjunction with the skylight system proposed in Thinking Through Making Week.

Dusk/Dawn - Maroon

Fiber optic refers to the technology used in the transmission of light through a strand or fiber medium made of glass or plastic. They utilise the principle of internal light refraction to function. Installation of these fibres to the ceiling of the care home only requires drilling small holes through and securing the fibres in place with adhesive.

*Referenced from Calkins, Margaret P. 2002. â&#x20AC;&#x153;How Colour Throws Light on Design in Dementia Careâ&#x20AC;?. Journal of Dementia Care 10 (4): 20-23.

MASSING DEVELOPMENT

DESIGN 1 This initial design puts the patient accomodation at the south of the complex. This is my first attempt at organising spaces into a functioning plan. An emphasis has been placed on allowing as much natural light as possible to enter the patient accomodation. This design is very basic and straightforward, with straight hallways and only slight alteration to the dwelling pods.

Sunrise

9AM

12PM

3PM

Sunset

9AM

12PM

3PM

Sunset

SUMMER SOLSTICE Entrance

Sunrise

Blocked Sunlight

IESVE sunlight simulation programme indicates that some of the serviced spaces would have too much sunlight exposure, especially the narrow corridors. Issues to be resolved: 1.Too much sunlight exposure 2.Hallways are too narrow 3.Foyer shaded year round

WINTER SOLSTICE

Public to Private Spaces

ENVI-MET SIMULATION

The programme requires the design to include public, semi-private, and private spaces. These spaces must be defined clearly in order not to confuse the users, especially those suffering from dementia. The proposed spaces remained similar throughout the project, albeit their arrangement changed a fair bit.

LIST OF SPACES

SIZE (Metres)

NUMBERS

Recreational Hall

7.5 x 10.0

Activity Room

7.0 x 5.5

Cafeteria

12.0 x 8.5

Foyer

12.0 x 6.0

Family Meeting Room

6.0 x 4.0

WC (Public & Staff)

2.2 x 1.5

Reception Ofﬁce

Main Ofﬁce

6.0 x 3.0

10.0 x 5.5

Medical Assessment Room

4.0 x 3.0

Staff Meeting Room

7.5 x 4.5

Staff Break Room

5.0 x 5.0

Nurse’s Station

4.0 x 3.0

Laundry Room

5.0 x 4.0

Patient Accommodation

5.0 x 3.5

Shower Room

4.0 x 3.0

WC (Patient)

2.2 x 1.5

Storage Room

4.0 x 3.5

Kitchen

8.0 x 4.0

Plant Room

9.0 x 6.0

The ENVI-MET simulation software is used to simulate how wind of the site and surrounding areas affect the airflow and temperature on-site if the design is built. The results show that the proposed building significantly changes the airflow and the resulting temperature. The design of interior spaces will need to be changed in the following iterations to mend these issues.

PRIVATE 1 2

7 3

SEMI-PRIVATE

9 15

16 14

12 13

4 13 18

12 19

PUBLIC

Unfortunately, simulations for the subsequent design changes could not be done due to inaccessiblity to the software after the university closure. I had to rely on educated guesswork to make corrections to the design from this point onwards.

DESIGN 2 This design addresses the issues of the first design. The most significant change lies in the reorganisation of the public spaces to streamline the entrnace flow. The foyer is now a fully enclosed space and is intergrated with the entrance. The overall shape of the building has been designed to respond to the simulation results, i.e. the corridor has been widened.

Sunrise

9AM

12PM

3PM

Sunset

9AM

12PM

3PM

Sunset

Blocked Sunlight

SUMMER SOLSTICE

Entrance

Sunrise

Sunlight

IESVE sunlight simulation indicates that most of the spaces is adequately lit, but the over exposure is still a problem in places, use of corridors need to be changed or phased out. Issues to be resolved: 1.Phase out the use of corridors 2.Round off corners and edges 3.Optimise sunlight usage

WINTER SOLSTICE

CONSTRUCTION SEQUENCE

1. Demolition Works

2. Excavation + Foundation Works

3. Floor Panel Installation (Pre-fabricated)

7. Glue-laminated Timber (Gluelam) Elements

8. Glazing Installation

9. Solar + Rainwater Collection System

Before any construction can begin, demolition work will need to be carried out to clear away the dilapidated buildings on-site. Care will be taken to preserve the southern portion of the Grade II listed Victorian building.

The area will be excavated and levelled, with a 1m wide trench made following the outline of the new building. In situ concrete will then be poured into the trench, which when cured, will become the building’s strip foundation. Reinforced concrete blocks will too be placed at weight bearing junctions.

The first of the pre-fabricated components, i.e., the timber floor panels, will be brought in from the assembly plant and laid (in sections) over the concrete strip foundation with a crane.

Gluelam elements of the building are now brought in and assembled on-site. The majority of the sections will contribute to the construction of the solarium. Longer spans will be secured together with heavy-duty bolts.

Glazed elements will be fitted at this stage. It is important to note that the glazing used on the solarium’s roof will contain photovoltaic elements to power its own HVAC system (separate from the rest of the building) due to differences in construction and material use.

As part of the proposed environmental strategy, the rest of the building’s roof will be incorporated into a central HVAC system whereby solar panels and rain collection systems will be employed.

4. Closed Timber Wall Panels (Pre-fabricated)

5. Ceiling + Service Installation

6. Roofing Panel Installation (Pre-fabricated)

10. Cladding (Recycled Limestone + Mortar)

11. Interior Finishes

12. Landscaping

Closed timber wall panels (both exterior and interior sections) will be brought to site and craned into position one-by-one. All exterior components should be completed before proceeding with interior elements.

Once the ceiling has been secured, service piping and wiring installation can now go ahead. These utilities are located above a false ceiling.

The roof panels will be partially assembled off site, primarily to reduce construction time when it came time to seal off the completed interior from the elements. Ideally, the ceiling and the roof sections hould be installed one after another.

Cladding of limestone, mortar will be applied to the building exterior. Salvaged limestone from the demolition works will be repurposed for this.

Floor/ceiling/wall finishes are applied to the interior. Wood for the floor, and white plaster for the walls and ceilings.

Landscape architects will be brought in to oversee the construction of the access paths + outdoors green space, as well as the planting of greenary all around.

DESIGN 3 This is the finalised massing proposal where the changes has been made based on the most ideal compromise between design and simulation. In order to allow natural light to illuminate as much of the interior as possible, an opening has been left between the reception space and the patient accomodation.

Sunrise

9AM

12PM

3PM

Sunset

9AM

12PM

3PM

Sunset

SUMMER SOLSTICE Entrance

Sunrise

Sunlight

IESVE simulation shows that the curved design lets in too much sunlight again, while the size of internal courtyard is too small. Openings such as windows need to be adjusted for optimal result. Issues to be resolved: 1.Increase the size of private garden 2.Smooth out wandering path connection

WINTER SOLSTICE

EVOLUTION OF DESIGN THROUGH TIME

FINALISED DESIGN ROOFSCAPE

1 : 250 0m

1 4

Private Staff Room Storage

Private Reception Office Medical Assessment Room Recreation Room Nurseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Station Shower Room WC (Patient) Laundry Room Courtyard Interactive Activity Space Patient Accomodation

5 10

Semi-private Family Meeting Room WC (Public & Staff) Utility Room Kitchen

Semi-private Offices

Public Conference Room Lobby WC

Public Classrooms Cafeteria Solarium/Sheltered Gardens Lobby

18 18

MASSING IN CONTEXT The proposed care home will be a double-storey building, the model of which has been experimented on with lighting simulations in conjunction with surrounding buildings. The results shows that a double-storey building will not hinder or be hindered any of the surrounding buildings in terms of massing and sunlight-wise.

EASTERN ELEVATION

NORTHERN ELEVATION

EASTERN ELEVATION (Entrance)

WESTERN ELEVATION

SOUTHERN ELEVATION

Materiality Natural Roof Lighting I proposed to illuminate the interior spaces with as much natural sunlight as possible due to its many design and environmental benefits. In suitable amounts, natural lighting can have a positive impact on ones physical and mental wellbeing (Eckhard, 2014). Technical inspiration for a roof-based lighting system was acquired from the ARMADA project in the Netherlands (VELUX, 2005). The solarium will be where I investigate the use of roof windows.

Glass

Tertiary

Construction-wise, the window consists of a 25mm single layered glazing secured with stamped aluminium frames, with a gutter system built in to drain away rainwater. Opening and closing of the roof windows will be controlled automatically through sensors programmed to detect changes in light intensity, moisture and humidity. This design is yet to be finalised, so some technical accuracy will need to be improved on.

Timber girders

Stone Glass

Timber

Glazing (sunlight)

Greenary

Curved roof window detail

Tiertiary Structure The tertiary components will be composed of cladding material (exterior/interior), glass elements (windows/solarium) and timber support structures. These are non-weight bearing structures so they do not contribute to the load distribution strategy. They do, however, add character and richness to the overall visual + tactile experience of the building through the use of natural textures and materiality. Natural stone is a durable and weather-resistant construction material. Hence I settled on using reclaimed limestone as my cladding material, but the methods of installation are still undecided as of now.. There are 2 methods which I am keen on, one is stone tiles on railing and random rubble + mortar.

Flat roof window detail

Stone Tiles on Rail Reclaimed limestone from the previous demolition work will be cut into thin tiles and mounted on the exterior wall panel using aluminium struts and railings. These aluminium elements will be mounted to plywood away from the main closed timber frame wall structure. This method produces a clean finish, but the tactile properties of the natural material will be lost.

AXONOMETRIC: Component Breakdown The building can be broken down into 4 main components e.g., accomodation, activity space, 1st floor offices, and solarium. While the first 3 are of conventional design, the last componentthe solarium resulted my interest in the concept of spatial lighting and the use of roof windows in building design.

Exterior

Office

VELUX flat roof window

Act

ivit

pac e Interior VELUX curved roof window

Random Rubble + Mortar Limestone broken rubble from the site will be collected and repurposed as the basis of a facing veneer. The random rubble masonary wall of limestones will secured with wall ties, mounted directly into the timber frame structure. The mortar joints are usually held back of the stone faces to emphasize the natural texture and shape of the stones.

Interior

Acc om

ati

lar

ium

Exterior

VELUX SUNLIGHT SIMULATION

Foundation

DETAIL SECTION + ELEVATION

Strip footing is used for the foundation system: it is of the shallow type. The entire construction bears on stable, noncohesive soil and transmit a continuous load of less than 29 kN/m, thus allowing for a shallow strip foundation. It is more economically sound to employ this type of light foundation system as the building itself is of relatively light timber construction. 1 Natural timber floorboards, 3mm 2x6 closed panel timber system with 120mm thermal insulation, 160mm Cast-in-place concrete footing Ventilation space, 200mm Waterproofing membrane, 2mm Compacted substrate 2 Concrete unit paver, 50mm Well-graded aggregate to prevent the upward migration of capillary water, 30mm Subgraded aggregate to carry the pavement weight, 70mm (OR Grass with engineered growing medium, 100mm)

Stone Façade

1 2

1: 20

SECTION

Sandstone from a demolished Victorian building on-site is repurposed as construction material. Aside from the aesthetical benefits, it is also logistically and financially feasible to incorporate reclaimed stone as part of the building’s façade. It will function as both a structural as well as a tactile element for patient interaction. 3 Sandstone and mortar held in place with stainless steel wall ties, 200mm (max.) 25mm air space Weatherproofing membrane, 2mm 2x6 closed panel timber system with 120mm thermal insulation, 160mm 20mm prefabricated plywood panel Interior wall finish of choice Wooden handrail 4 External wall finish Window head and mullion with sill extension to prevent moisture seepage Backer rod and sealant 5mm double glazing with Argon-filled air space, 50mm Jamb and stool extension to adapt window to wall thickness Interior wall finish

Entrance

The entrance to the entire facility is integrated into the solarium façade. Conventional double doors made from tempered glass are chosen for their functional design and economic pricing (the insulating qualities of double glazing is not required at this threshold). 1 Stainless steel framed door frame (double) with rubber piping to increase weatherproofing 6mm tempered single glazing with silicon sealant 2 5mm aluminium retaining frame 10mm diameter metallic rod (partition) secured with stainless steel block insert

Green Roof

1 6

The roof is vegetated, with a growing medium over a water proof membrane. This roofing option is more beneficial financially and environmentally in the long run than other conventional methods. The roof will only be accessible for maintenance purposes and will contain low-growing and hardy grass. Hence the parapet’s 400mm height. (Ching, 2014) 1 Grass with engineered growing medium, 150mm (max.) Monofilament filter fabric, 20mm HDPE water retention layer, 30mm Root barrier layer, 2mm Waterproof membrane, 2mm 2x8 closed panel timber system with built-in 60mm ventilation cavity and 120mm thermal insulation, 220mm False ceiling ties Suspended soffit ceiling for services, 280mm 2 5mm aluminium flashing with 70mm (min.) cover to cladding to cope with high winds on site Weatherproof membrane, 2mm Wooden support cap 2x6 timber studs 3 Vertical wooden cladding, 75mm 2x4 timber battens for cladding support 20mm prefabricated plywood panel Vapor retarder and insulation 2x6 timber studs 20mm prefabricated plywood panel Interior wall finish of choice

Glass Roof 3

1: 20

SECTION 1: 20

SECTION

The glass roof is a 10m deep extention to the solarium. It spans over the entirety of the 7m high semi-outdoors garden below. This allows residents to have access to the ‘outdoors’ area under any weather conditions. 4 12mm single layer glazing (tempered) 2x6 CLT rafters 5 Wood cap lined with rubber sealant, 20mm Foil-faced, butyl-backed heat sealing tape for weatherproofing purposes Metal spacers for securing glazing Closed-cell glazing tape 2x6 CLT rafters 6 Automated roof window connected to temparature and humidity monitoring system for ventilation purposes

Solarium Façade 1

The solarium’s façade is a two-storey structure constructed with an exposed cross-laminated timber (CLT) system. This allows for large panes of glass panels to be fitted to admit natural sunlight. PTFE shades can also be installed following the natural slope of the roof (operated either manually or remote control). 1 12mm single layer glazing (tempered) 15mm PTFE semi-transparent shading material mounted with manual or remote control system 2x6 CLT rafters 2 5mm aluminium flashing with 70mm (min.) cover to cladding to cope with high winds on site Wood cap lined with rubber sealant, 20mm Butyl-backed heat-sealing tape 2x6 CLT rafters 3 5mm aluminium retaining frame Foil-faced, butyl-backed heat sealing tape for weatherproofing purposes 10mm diameter metallic rod (partition) secured with timber block insert

4 2x12 CLT columns 12mm single layer glazing (tempered) Closed-cell glazing tape Metal spacers for securing glazing Foil-faced, butyl-backed heat sealing tape for weatherproofing purposes Wood cap lined with rubber sealant, 20mm

The proposed care home building will see a gradual functional change from public to semi-public to private, both in plan and elevation. Below is a threshold section of the building’s main entrance. People arriving from Brighton Grove (public road) will pass through a glazed intermediate space (solarium garden) before entering the actual compound

(interior). A closed timber panel system has been chosen for the majority of the building’s construction, while cross-laminated timber (CLT) will be used for the construction of the solarium in order to support the structure’s 10m span between the external and internal.

Solarium

Interior

Multiple thresholds

Entrance

1: 50 SECTION 1: 20

SECTION

Brighton Grove Road

SECTION 3: Sustainability Strategy + Environmental Design Improved 1:50 Section Inaccuracy of my initial sectional diagram was addresssed after consultation with tutors and technical advisors. Mainly, the depth supporting beams in the floors and roof has been increased so that they more accurately reflected timber span table specifications. Firstly, the dimension of the closed panel timber beams has been increased from 64 x 140mm to 90 x 270mm. The chosen timber dimension is suitable for spanning an unsupported

AXONOMETRIC: Structural Skeleton distance of 5m. Secondly, the depth of the Glulam beam supporting the solarium has been drastically increased to 140 x 495mm in order to bridge a 10m void, as according to the span table. Additional Glulam columns will also be installed along its length to provide secondary structural support.

Glulam Beam, supported 10m span

CPT, unsupported 5m span

1 Foundation/Floor/Roof surface finish 90 x 270mm closed panel timber system with 120mm thermal insulation, 320mm Foundation/Floor/Roof substructure 2 Wood cap lined with rubber sealant, 20mm Foil-faced, butyl-backed heat sealing tape for weatherproofing purposes Tempered glazing, 50mm Metal spacers for securing glazing Closed-cell glazing tape 140 x 495mm Glulam beams

Figure 12 - Improved 1:50 Section

SYNTHESIS ‘Exploring nature: Evoking Memories’ A brand new care home in Newcastle’s bustling centre will see elderly dementia sufferers being housed and receiving treatment and rehabilitation for their mental ailments; whilst also doubling as a venue for intergenerational mingling in the neighbourhood. A connection between the exploration of nature and the search for memories will be established as the main theme of this project. As an extension to the previous realisation stage, synthesis illustrates the design for my project. My design for a indoor garden space i.e. the solarium has been illustrated as best as I could because it represents the core programme attraction of my proposal. The other illustrations aim to show off the care home, such as the curviture of the wandering hallways and the glazed and exposed timber structure above the recreationa hall. This is not a finished design by any means, but it shows my work in progress towards producing an architectural response to what the local social and economical environment. This was achieved through my knowledge and understanding of architecture.

SITE ANALYSIS 0m

100

EXPLORING NATURE : EVOKING MEMORIES

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

Public Entrance (Vehicular) Exit (Vehicular) Car Parking Landing Main Entrance

Semi-private Service Route (Vehicular)

1 2 3

7 8

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

Private Inner Courtyard Outdoors Garden

1 3

4 2

5 2 3

1 7

1 : 500 0m

1 : 500 1

Public Conference Room Lobby

Semi-private Offices

Private Staff Room

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

AXONOMETRIC: Circulation

Towards Fenham Neighbourhood

BRIGHTON GROVE

MAIN ELEVATION (As viewed from Brighton Grove)

Framing the main entrance

MAIN ENTRANCE (BRIGHTON GROVE)

IMPROVED ENTRANCE PATH

Correcting the window

SOLARIUM The solarium exists as an intermediate space between the outdoors and indoors, the concept for such a place lying in the proposed programme for the project which is based around gardening, exposure to nature, as well as a space for intergenerational mingling. The double storey, glazed solarium meets these requirements faithfully. The solarium can be opened and visited year round, to visitors or to the dementia sufferers staying at the facility. It allows elderly dementia patients to still be able to connect with nature and its stimulating elements in a relatively safe, comfortable environment and under the watchful eye of care home workers. Patients and visitors of all ages can also take part in creating the landscaping of the solarium through the in-house gardening programme.

DWELLING PATH / PATIENT ACCOMMODATION HALLWAY

RECREATION / ACTIVITY ROOM

PUBLIC SPACE (WORK IN PROGRESS)

PRIVATE SPACE (WORK IN PROGRESS)

DWELLING POD INTERIOR (WORK IN PROGRESS)

SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY PHASE 1: Factory Production 2 main types of manufactured timber product used for the structure of the building. Once approval for the fabrication drawings has been obtained, manufacture can commence immediately within the controlled factory setting. Each stage in the manufacturing process of components can be monitored and the

Closed Panel Timber VS Cross Laminated Timber

product’s quality controlled. The speed of production allows for more accurate budgeting with more precise timescales. Another benefit of this method is that thetime, cost and material waste can be reduced. In turn, this makes the whole process of construction more environmentally sustainable in the long run.

Closed Panel Timber sections are made from timber frames and insulation material sandwiched between high-grade plywood sheets. A high degree of off-site manufacturing can be done on a production line with pre-approved plans, thus reducing construction time and material waste. Fabricating timber building components uses half the energy needed to produce concrete, and just 1% of the energy required to manufacture steel. Moreover, the green credentials are enhanced when sustainably-sourced timber sourced from FSC approved forestries.

PHASE 1 1/2: Material Recycling Limestone blocks retrieved from the demolition of the previous buildings on-site will be retrieved and sent to the factory to be processed into smaller, more managable pieces for use as cladding material for the new façade. This method is quite beneficial from a environmental and waste management standpoint, although it may cost slightly more than new materials.

Closed Panel Timber

PHASE 3: On-Site Assembly

PHASE 2: Transportation The pre-assembled components will then packaged as flatpacks, thus increasing the number of units one can fit on the back of a flatbed vehicle. They are delivered directly to the site in order to begin the next stage of the construction process. Transporting components en-masse and in fewer trips will equal out to lower transportation costs, as well as lower amount of greenhouse gases being emitted overall by vehicles.

Glue-Laminated Timber (Glulam)

Pre-assembled Components

Mass Production

Once all components are on-site, within 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the final design specification, the client will have a completely weatherproof structure. As each component/substructure has been built to pre-approved fabrication plans, little to no on-site adjustments are required when assembling them on-site. Actual construction time and material wastage on-site are significantly lower than when a conventional construction method is employed.

Gluelam is a type of cross-laminated timber. It has relatively low environmental impact material, as it has a carbon footprint of only 800kg CO2 per m3. Importantly, Gluelam can provide a dry, fast, on-site construction as it is already pre-fabricated. In terms of weight, it is also lighter than concrete or steel of the same volume, thus resulting in a lighter building all round. This negates the need for a deep fondation as the solarium (where the majority of gluelam structure will be used) will be relatively light.

Limestone Limestone is a common rock composed of the mineral calcites, but it costs around £20 to £80 per m2. Hence, my decision to recycle and reuse this material in my building ensures that the least amount of material is wasted. It is also strongly recommended that it be installed by a professional as it is very heavy and difficult to maneuver.

STRUCTURE + MATERIALITY Structure and Material go hand-inhand in this design. Closed Timber Panel and Glulam elements are used in the construction of the care home. This decision was made in reference to the 'green outlook' for the project as a whole. Both are eco-friendly materials with relatively low CO2 emission manufacturing methods.

AXONOMETRIC: Structural Skeleton 1st Floor

Ground Floor (Closed Panel Timber Frame)

AXONOMETRIC: Structural Breakdown

ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY

CONNECTIONS The connection point between glulam timber posts and beams of the solarium will be assembled using lock-and-key plates. Screws are used to attach these plates to the timber elements while corresponding keys/slots on the other side link the joints together. Additional L-brackets can also add horizontal stability to the joint.

All-Air HVAC systems

Rain Collection System

This HVAC system will be used in my building. The whole system runs on electricity from the national grid because a consistent power supply is required to run the system effectively. Thermal comfort is essential for elderly patient living. A central duct will deliver conditioned air through a low-velocity duct system to all serviced spaces, while thermostats can be installed to finetune the local temperature.

Rainwater will be drained from the rooftop through boreholes. Rather than letting it run off, the water will be distributed throughout the building for domestic use (after proper treatment) and for watering gardens on-site. This will decrease the running costs of the building. Stale Air

Lock-and-Key plates

Secondary Structure Reinforced L-angle brackets

The secondary load bearing components will be composed of the 1st floor-to-wall junction and glulam columns for some parts of the building. These components will support the weight of the roof and ceiling structure.

Fresh Air

Power Station

Solar Energy

Photovoltaic Technology

The rooftop of the building will be fitted with large solar panels concentrated towards the south. They will be exposed to more sunlight in this orientation. Transparent photovoltaic technology is also proposed to be installed in the solarium glazing to suppliment the electricity output. The electricity generated will power interior lighting and auxillary systems.

Reinforced Foundation The concrete strip foundation will have reinforcing ribs built into them to provide tensile strength. This structural system need to support the entire weight of the building, thus additional reinforcement is needed to increase the durability of the concrete strip.

Primary Structure The primary load bearing components will be composed from the cast in-situ concrete strip foundation, as well as on the closed panel timber structure. These components will distribute the weight of the whole building, thus they will be more sturdily built.

30o

Natural Ventilation

Summer HVAC Strategy

The solarium functions as a temperature buffer between external environmental elements and the interior spaces. By the principles of air updraft, cool fresh air will be drawn into this space through windows in the faรงade, where it will then replace the warm, stale air. The used air will then rise up to the top and escape through the roof windows. This exchange of cold and warm air within the solarium evens out the temperature difference between the outdoors and indoors air, allowing for less heating within the interior spaces connected to the solarium.

Daytime

31o

SUNLIGHT + WIND SIMULATION

27o 24o

24o

23o

Night

Roof Window

25o 21o

21o

SUNLIGHT RENDER (NIGHT TIME) Interior

Winter HVAC Strategy Solarium

Daytime

13o 20o

20o

Night

9o 16o

16o

Patient Accommodation Hallway

Reception Entrance

BIBLIOGRAPHY Books

Websites

Allen, S. 2009. Practice: Architecture Technique + Representation. Routledge: New York.

https://www.nordarchitects.dk/alzheimer-dax

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