Mok Hiu Tsun Michelle Portfolio

MOK HIU TSUN MICHELLE

ACADEMIC PORTFOLIO 2020 - 2021

BA ( Hons ) Architecture Newcastle University

CONTENT ARC3001

ILLUSTRATED REFLECTIVE DIARY

CH.1 FRAMING

MOK HIU TSUN MICHELLE ACADEMIC PORTFOLIO 2020 - 2021

BA ( Hons ) Architecture Newcastle University

CH.2 TESTING

CH.3 SYNTHESIS

BIBLIOGRAPHY & ILLUSTRATION LIST

ILLUSTRATED CULTURAL BIBLIOGAPHY

Student ID: 180392575 Studio 6 - Building Upon Building

APPENDIX (INCLUDE THEMATIC CASE STUDY)

Studio Leaders - Josep Maria Garcia-Feuntes & Tom Ardon

Any new additional work completed after the Synthesis Review will be marked with this symbol :

*

Introductory Chapter

ILLUSTRATED REFLECTIVE REPORT

Our studio, ‘Building Upon Building’, is grounded on the core theme of ‘Experimental Preservation’ and is set up the interrogate the current notion of heritage and preservation through designing upon the existing Grade I Listed Structure, the Penguin Pond, situated at the London Zoo. As an architecture student who is actively gaining exposure in designing different types of architecture, this project has definitely opened up a rather new experience for me to look at architecture from the perspective of conservation. Although I have came across precedent studies that involve the preservation of existing heritage buildings during leisure exploration, it is definitely the first time for me to have hands-on opportunity to make design interventions and alterations to existing preserved structures. Therefore, the project brief this year felt more rooted in reality, since we as future architects, won’t always necessarily have a blank canvas to design freely, but instead, will often face different kind of constraints, for instance, site boundaries, historical context of the site area, planning and building regulations, budget, available technology etc that we have to tackle.

Fig. 1 Conceptual Collage showing the ideologies of London Zoo emerged and evolved over the years

“As an architect, you design for the present, with an awareness of the past for a future which is essentially unknown” - Norman Foster.

After 9 months of consistent research, design and refinement in my design project, although the studio theme has in fact turned out to be a far more complex field than I originally presume, I believed that I have improved throughout the course in terms of maturing my set of skills that will be particularly useful later in the workplace. For instance, I have polished my representation skills in attempting to use digital rendering for seeking for a more realistic visualization of the building. I have also improved my critical thinking and analytical skills in terms of capturing essential information explored across different modules and then integrating back the knowledge gained to the design module. The opportunity to view the project from the different perspectives, i.e. theory, technology, planning and regulations have definitely enriched the depth of the project.

A reflection of other modules are summarized in the next page.

Fig 2. Aerial View Perspective Showing the Institute for Marine Rehabilitation and Conservation of Wildlife in their immediate Site Context

From the ARC3015 Theory into Practice Essay, I have expanded my research to study various theroy regarding representation methods and theory deepened understanding of the concept of “Experimental Preservation” . I have also defined the narration of my design project in the essay through the theorectical parameters explored e.g Morton’s though on ecology in the essay.

From the ARC3014 Professional Practice and Management assessment, it involves the study of planning regulation and understanding the procedures involved in translating design concepts into buildings and integrating plans into overall planning. This has deepened my understanding in the architect’s role in the building industry.

From the ARC3013 Architectural Technology Module assessment, it encouraged a detail exploration of material and technical strategies that are later integrated back into the design proposal. For instance, I have explored the structural system of the building. Figure 4 is an exploded axonometric that shows the structural make-up of the building, with the primary sturctural frame being concrete beams and columns to celebrate the use of fair faced concrete throughout the building and to echo the materiality of the Penguin Pond . While secondary support components e.g. timber door are purposed to provide some sort of lightness and contrast to the space. This has in turn influenced the atmosphere created in my building and to achieve the design effect of bringing conrast and irregularities to space.

Overall, it is a hectic but fruitful year, and I am definitely ooking forward to exposing myself to wider aspects of architecture to better equip myself for future pursuit of career as an architect.

CHAPTER 1

FRAMING At Phase 1 “Framing” stage, we began to contextualize the project brief starting by analyzing the Regent’s Park and the Royal Zoological Society of London’s landscape through history. Understanding the historical context of the zoo and the park, as well as their changes in development over the years were essential as they laid a solid foundation for the later stages of design to come up with a more comprehensive design that would be deeply rooted its historical context. During the “Framing” stage, our studio collaboratively produced a set of timelines that marked the major changes of architectural development of the Regent’s Park, the Zoo and autobiography of Berthold Lubetkin - the architect of the Penguin Pond.

By studying the site context from macro-scale to micro-scale, I have gained better understanding of the site context and their correlation between each other. It has also sparked particular interests which has helped to narrow down the scope of exploration at the “Testing” Stage.

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OVERVIEW OF THE SITE’S HISTORY

Creation of Penguin Pond

1934 1784

1862

1980s

Gorilla House

by Tecton

1933

1880s

1820s

Regent’s Park Created

1914

The First 10 Years

A New Century

1828-1837 1790

1800

1950s

Lubetkin emigrates to the UK

1811

1780

1910s

1810

1820

1830

1931

1900-1939 1840

1850

1860

1870

1880

1890

1900

1910

1920

1930

North Gate Kiosk

by Tecton

1936 1940

1950

1960

The Victorian Years

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

The New Zoo

1837-1900

1939-1999

1828 ZSL London Zoo Opens

1829

1890s

1910s

2015

1950s

1962

Fig 2. Timeline documenting the overview of the site’s history

The timeline recorded the major events occurred from macro-scale to micro-scale (read from the top to the bottom): the development of London, Regent’s Park, ZSL London Zoo & the Penguin Pond starting from 1780 till present day. From the timeline, we can observe that these different events form a web of relations that infleunce and correlate to each other -ie. the development of the zoo and their respective architectural establishment was deeply influenced by the social and historical context of London

1930s

2020

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MACRO-SCALE: REGENT’S PARK OVERVIEW

THE MASTERPLAN

THE “PICTURESQUE” VISION

THE PROMENADE

The Regent’s Park, located in Central London, is created as a direct result of John Nash’s masterplan for the redevelopment of the fields and pastures of its five hundred-acre london estate on what was formerly known as Marylebone park. It was part of the urban development scheme in the 1800s that saw the formation of Trafalgar Square, Waterloo Place and Portland Place and to connect the proposed park to the wider London.

The park was a coherant picturesque comopostion of 21 individual housing terraces, villas, landscape and institutions such as the London Zoo located alongside its northern edge from John Nash’s vision.

The whole park is connected to the rest of London by the Outer Circle, a promenade located between picturesque landscape and reisdential terraces. Here the buildings were designed to benefit from their landscape setting, while the park was designed to benefit from the palace-like buildings around it. It is hence said to be ‘a total work of architectural and landscape art.’

The provision of roads and public footpaths was key to the park’s configuration and success. While the most significant of these is the Outer Circle, staked out and planted to John Nash’s masterplan in the 1800s, the ‘fine broad gravel road’ was among the park’s first features. It performs as the mediating physical link between the Regent’s Park and the surrounding residential terraces and their ornamental gardens.

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REGENT’S PARK - ITS HISTORICAL EVOLUTION AND SOCIAL CONTEXT

REGENT’s PARK - THE PAST

Ornamental Water and Canal Configuration Changes in the Park

1. Exclusive Residential Estate, 2. The Lake and Regent’s Canal were already in place

1. Park made accessible to public 2. Increased permeability of the Park by the addition of paths and public amenities

1820’s

1880’s

1. Continued development of public amenities in the park

Development of Regent’s Park

Fig 2. View of Regent’s Park during 1827 when there was still little development in the Park

1910’s

1950’s

The London Underground London Sprawl

1. Urbanization in London has led to a rapid densification of the city as people moved from countrysides to the city centre to pursue for job opportunities

1. The establishment of the London Underground has made travelling more convenient & intensify the situation

2. Problem raised; lack of public open space

JOHN NASH - THE CITY PLANNER & ARCHITECT The architect, developer and master scenographer John Nash masterminded the whole transformation of the Regent’s Park , with his highly personalized and idiosyncratic picturesque vision. Some of his key design principles are as follows:

Fig 2. Timeline exploring the potential correlation between the development of the Regent’s Park and London respectively

Fig 2. Miss S Rogers, View looking South from Hanover Terrace (1835)

As explored from the timeline above, the development of the Regent’s Park is correlated to the urban sprawl in London by the evidence that the Park’s layout configuration is constantly adapting to the development in London over the years - from being rather secluded from the city in the past to being an open permeable space accesible by public .

1. the Outer Circle, the interior parkland and the residential terraces were fundamentally related and connected, they are not viewed as single separated entities 2. the Outer Circle, a carriage drive, far from being a dividing line, is served to conncct the park and the surrounding terraces and articulate their relationship 3. appropriate planting techniques will be able to frame a series of deliberately composed views - from the road, from the buildings and from the park itself 4. creating visual links between the architecture and landscpae

Fig 2. Aerial View Perspective Showing the

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JOHN NASH AND THE ‘METROPOLITAN PICTURESQUE’

JOHN NASH AND THE ‘METROPOLITAN PICTURESQUE’

GASPARD POUSSIN

‘PICTURESQUE’ VIEWS FOUND LOOKING OUT FROM REGENT’s PARK Employment of the “Picturesque” technique is a deliberate design decision accentuating naturalism of the landscape composition throughout the whole area. This results in the Park being the ‘green island’ among the chaotic and polluted backdrop of the metropolis.

CLAUDE LOURRAIN

Panorama of Cornwall Terrace

View Towards Hanover Terrace

From the key design principles embodied within the creation of the park, we can concludedmuch of the “the The “Picturesque” concept became fashionable as a design concept in the 18th and early 19th century, and was derived from the paintings completed by the artists Gaspard Poussin and Claude Lorrain. Both of their paintings focused on the irregularities of the natural world and seeing the landscape as a subject of art. Hence, typical qualities of the picturesque include roughness, sudden variaition and irregularity.

While in the architectural field, the application of the “Picturesque” concept means an attempt to create a

Panorama of Sussex Place

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EXPLORATION OF THE PICTURESQUE - Mapping of Views Across the Regent’s Park *

EXPLORATION OF THE PICTURESQUE - Mapping of Views Across the Regent’s Park *

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REGENT’S PARK - THE PRESENT & FUTURE

MACRO-SCALE: LONDON ZOO

PRESENT DAY

SITE LOCATION

Although the Regent’s Park is among the most inventive and delightfully picturesque planned urban developments in London and has been described as the ‘boast and pride of the metropolis’, the Park is now facing the major challenge as listed below: The importance of CEPC’s role (an organization responsible in the managing and caring of the Park estate) has been diminishing and is replaced by a range of stakeholders (ie. The Royal Parks has responsibility for the Park, the lease-holders and the Crown Estate Commissioners are responsible for the residential estates, other stakeholders, such as the London Borough of Camden, the City of Westminster and English Heritage, also have a say in the area.

With the management of the park as a whole being split to pragmatic separated parts, even though it has been successful in some ways, this has failed to reflect the comprehensiveness of the original design and the translation of John Nash’s Concept of the ‘Picturesque’.

The accentuation of some parts of the Park at different paces and quality rather than reinforcing its composition as a whole has therefore led to the direct result of an unintentional and loss of heritage value.

We looked at the Regent’s Park, the prominent ideas involved in the design of the park, as well as the current opportunities and challenges the park is facing. Zooming into the smaller scale, we then proceeded our research to the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) . Located at the North-Eastern edge of the park, the ground enclosed within the zoo is about 3 acres, of a triangular shape.

Blocked views to terraces from the interior of the park due to mismanagement of the planting of trees

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD? Till this point of the analysis and research of the Regent’s Park, it is definitely fruitful in terms of the initial understanding of the broader context of the Park to identify the opportunities and constraints for my design proposal. While it is also thought-provoking as it has allowed me to think about what will the Park’s future be? Is it possible to reverse this decline, and ultimately revivfy Nash’s idealised vision of the ‘Picturesque’? My intiial design ideas during this stage was straightforward and can been concluded in several phrases, preserving views, unified and coherent composition, These phrases have later been a key drive for my design concept and influenced the majority of the deisgn decisions.

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MACRO-SCALE: LONDON ZOO OVERVIEW

1. Evolution of ZSL Ethics Timeline

Periods of Development within ZSL

Pre-Enlightment

First 10 Years

Enlightment

Victorian Years

19th Century

A New Century

20th Century

1826 ZSL

Nobility

Science

The New Zoo

21st Century

21th Century

1934 Penguin Pond

Education Leisure

Exclusive

Inclusive

Prison-Like Cages

Temple-Like Cage

TREND OBSERVATION

Picturesque

Laboratory-Like Cages

The top timeline records the evolution of ZSL’s ethics throughout the years in general along with the evolution of the purpopses of zoos in general. We can observe that the ZSL London Zoo has changed drastically thoroughout the years and has incorporated more functions and purposes within.

Habitat Immersion

2. Evolution of the Purpose of Zoos In General

First Open to Public Menagerie

Prison-Like Cages

19th Century Travelling Menageries

Leisure Purposes in Zoos

Temple-Like Cages

Royal Menageries

First Zoo without Bars Karl Hagenbeck’s Tiergarten in Hamburg

Science Research in Zoos

Leisure Purposes in Zoos

Paris Jardin des Plantes A Prototype of a Modern Zoo

Disney Animal Kingdom

Education in Zoos

Habitat Immersion

Picturesque Natural Habitat

London Zoo - 19th Century

The First Zoo to have an educational department - Bronx Zoo

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MICRO-SCALE - BERTHOLD LUBETKIN

MICRO-SCALE - BERTHOLD LUBETKIN

October Bolshevik Revolution

1901

1917

Immigration to London & Tecton Architects

1922

1931

1:100 Plan Lubetkin is born in Tbilisi, Georgia (USSR)

Lubetkin leaves or Berlin and Paris in search for Utopia

This timeline shows Berthold Lubetkin’s life events organized chronologically to show how his life encounters shape his way of thinking and in the end influences his design approahes.

Lower Floor Level

Upper Floor Level

Ch.1 Framing

MICRO-SCALE - THE PICTURESQUE & THE POND Berthold Lubetkin & The Penguin Pond Instead of recreating the natural habitat of each animal, Lubetkin blend 1) the natural with 2) modern technology and design in order to create the idea environment for its inhabitants 3) viewers experience was also part of the design feature

CHAPTER 1

FRAMING CONCLUSION “Testing” was the phase when the research and analysis from phase 1 “Framing” were brought further to explore early design massing proposals. Concepts phrases for instance, preserving views, unified and coherent composition, picturesque continued to be the key drive in making various design decisions and iteration. In addition to that, it was during this period of time that I extended my research on the studio theme ‘Experimental Preservation’ and found precedent studies that were helpful in terms of the devlopment of the massing that is deeply rooted in the site context. Lastly, the completion of ARC3015 Theory into Practice Essay also enabled me to explore different theoretical parameters to frame my design methodology and develop a strong narrative and early programme schedule for my design proposal.

Testing

EXPERIMENTAL PRESERVATION* The follwing are the published books and articles I have read across the ‘Testing’ phase and I have come to realize that ‘Experimental Preservation’ is in fact not only about returning the building structure to its original state, but is also about making carefully considered interventions to preserved structure to enhance our understanding of the past, the present and the future.

PRESERVATION IS OVERTAKING US REM KOOLHAAS

CHAPTER 2

TESTING “Testing” was the phase when the research and analysis from phase 1 “Framing” were brought further to explore early design massing proposals. Concepts phrases for instance, preserving views, unified and coherent composition, picturesque continued to be the key drive in making various design decisions and iteration. In addition to that, it was during this period of time that I extended my research on the studio theme ‘Experimental Preservation’ and found precedent studies that were helpful in terms of the devlopment of the massing that is deeply rooted in the site context. Lastly, the completion of ARC3015 Theory into Practice Essay also enabled me to explore different theoretical parameters to frame my design methodology and develop a strong narrative and early programme schedule for my design proposal.

According to Rem Koolhaas, he opined that preservation itself should be forward-thinking celebration of life, that it is a way of looking at something that seems to be fading or gone and incubating new life within it. [1] Through analyzing the current trend of architecture in the aspect of preservation, where he observed that the shift in the phenomenon of preservation, from only preserving ancient monuments, then religious buildings in the past to literlly everything now e.g. concentration camps, department stores, factories, and amusement rides is susceptible to preservation. Therefore he thinks that architecture should be a prospective activity rather than retrospective.

EXPERIMENTAL PRESERVATION LARS MULLER PUBLISHERS Old things, historic things, smelly dirty things, all the things that were considered the very opposite of “contemporary,” have suddenly irrupted forcefully into architecture and art, blurring their boundaries. This book takes stock of the emerging generation behind this turn, and examines their experimental engagements with the preservation of culturally charged objects. Structured around a series of interdisciplinary dialogues among practitioners and thinkers, and illustrated with recent projects, the book provides a window into the unfolding intellectual frameworks, aesthetic modes, cultural ambitions, and political commitments that are the basis of experimental preservation.

THE ECOLOGICAL THOUGHT Timothy Morton Timothy proposed that ‘The best environmental thinking is thinking big - as big as possible and maybe even bigger than that, bigger than what we can conceive.’ He also noted that this way of ‘thinking big’ is supposed to make us ‘feel humble, not proud.’

His attitude towards ecology has later tangibly influenced the architecture language in the building as well, in suggesting that the scale and dimension of the buildign should be ‘big enough’ to impose certain infleucnce towards the current landscape and enable endless possibilities for growth.

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EXPERIMENTAL PERSERVATION*

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“THE PICTURESQUE” CONCEPT IN LITERATURE AND MUSIC

SARTON, MAY I KNEW A PHOENIX: SKETCHES FOR AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY. THE WOMAN’S PRESS, 1995.

On a spring evening in 1938 John Summerson, author of an acclaimed biography of Nash though as yet un-knighted, takes the author to Clarence Terrace to admire the ‘cream-colored facades with their balconies and pillars that look like a long elegant palace’. They are on their way to dinner with Elizabeth Bowen, from whose drawing room Sarton looks down on ‘the silent groves of trees lit up by the street lamps like stage scenery, and a patch of moonlight below shivering the lake’

A Picturesque Guide to the Regent’s Park with Accurate Description of the Colosseum, the Diorama and the Zoological Gardens, ‘The grounds are laid out with great tast, and independent of the zoological attractions, are a pleasant promenade, the parterres boasting a beautiful display of flowers and shrubs, which have veen very liberally supplied from the gardens of the Horticultural Society.”

My opinion and approach to ‘experimental preservation’ will not simply be a replica of the existing Penguin Pond, after the research carried out, ‘experimental preservation’ now to me will be to think prospectively to imagine the future of the Penguin Pond by inhabiting new activites while preserving the original key ideas - i.e. Picturesque, Modernism, etc.

O’MAHONY, NORA TYNAN A BALLAD OF PRIMROSE HILL from THE WINDSOR MAGAZINE “I always thought of Lonfon As overcrowded, full; That all its streets were dust-strwen, Its skies o’ercast and dull.

I never knnow that Regent’s Park Could be quiet and still, Or that the linnet and the lark thrilled over Primrose Hill.

But oh! to wake each morning Near that sweet, precious green, And hear the wood-doves crooning Behind a leafy screen.

And oh, to walk at even Let nights be warm or chill One is not far from heaven, A-top of Primrose Hill...”

Testing

SITE DECLARATION

THE FARMYARD

ELEPHANT & RHINO HOUSE (GRADE II LISTED)

VIEWS TO THE OPEN PARKLAND

The above site map shows the

Ch.2 Testing

PROJECT DELARATION - CONCEPT COLLAGE

PROJECT BRIEF DECLARATION

The narration begins with the circle of life of an animal - birth, growth, reproduction and death. It is inevitablde that an animal, in time eventually goes through all stages within the cycle till death.

Yet everythin in the nature is interdependet, regardeless of life form (dead or alive) they still play a role in contributing towards the formation of ‘mesh’ where each point of the mesh is both the centre and edge of a system of points according to The Ecological Thought . It is also because of this intricate relationship between one matter and the other aids the maintenance of its structure and functioning of the whole ecosystem, and in the long run, it is not impossible that a continuous exploitation of these natural resources will gradually lead to the collapse of this long-standing strcuture.

Hence, my building as an Institute for Rehabilitation and Conservation of Wildlife, attemps to repair the exhaustive relationship between human and the nature through offereing treatment and care for the injured marine anima s and raiing people’s awareness towards the environment. While the concept of my insititute ‘ Unfolding’ yearns to be the living proof in arguging that both human experience and the nature can in fact coexist without causing the depletion of the other as long as both sides are fulfilled.

The main design strategy, just as the literal meaning of ‘unfolding’, will be to generate a sequence of space for people to circulate through, while each space will unfold to evnetually reveal itself through the constant framing of views and perspectives within the building, in the end achieving preservation by reaching the idealized state of the elevated nature and human experience

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PRECEDENT STUDY

Ch.2 Testing

MASSING STUDIES

HOUSE OF SEVEN GARDENS - FRAN SILVESTRE ARQUITECTOS

With the Project Brief defined, I have narrowed down my focus into looking at architectural precedents that best translate the theoretical concept into an architectural language tangibly expressed. Hence it seems that Fran Silvestre’s architecture through which they are all composed of essential signs, lines, planes and volumes will be useful to begin with. While the House of Seven Gardens is also especially relevant to my project in terms of the design strategies used to mediate architecture with its surrounding natural environment. The connection of this precedent to the project can be felt strongly when the building makes use of repeated and mirrored curving segments to generate a sequence of human landscape so that the architecture itself is blurred with the vegetation surrounding.

My intial idea is to offset the elliptical geometry to delineate a preserved boundary for the Penguin Pond, the two separated superstructure are connected to each other by a wooden frame walkway. The idea of havign a wooden frame walkway is discarded due to the obstruction of views towards the Pond, and can be reflected in the Synthesis Stage.

Testing

ANIMAL RESEARCH* The type of animals I am going to inhabit will be Marine Animals, while specifically grey seals that are widely populated across the country. Below is the poster example of the rehabilitation framework carried normally once a rescued grey seal has been found exhibited at the Basement Floor Exhibition Gallery.

Ch.2 Testing

INITIAL PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT

Testing

Testing

EXPLORATION IN PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES STEPS FOR MARINE REHABILTATION

STEP 1 - ISOLATION

STEP 2 - ADMISSION EXAM

STEP 3 - SURGICAL PROCEDURES

Injured or ill animals are quarantined to safeguard the Aquarium’s current marine population against disease, and minimize the impact of human contact.

Patients receive an admit exam during which the veterinarians will evaluate the animals’ overall health, checking vital signs, taking blood samples, and looking for signs of illness or injury.

Soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries are then performed to treat the injured animals.

STEP 4 - LABORATORY WORK FOR ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS Samples are then analyzed by the laboratory team which include blood, urine, feaces and bacterial swabs. X-Ray, ultrasound and enodscopic procedures may also be carried out when needed.

STEP 5 - REHABILITATION Animal rehabilitation usually includes nutrition, handling techniques, hygiene and sanitation, housing, disease prevention and stress reduction. At this important stage of rehabilitation, visual and physical contact with the patients should be limited and sound level should be kept low.

Testing

Ch.2 Testing

“TESTING” REVIEW DRAWINGS SECTIONS (TESTING THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE POND)

PLANS

THE PICTURESQUE CONCEPT

GROUND FLOOR PLAN TESTING IN CONTEXT

3

2

1

6

5

4

SITE MAP

7

10 9

1 Entrance Walkway (Concrete Frame) 2 Exposition Corridor 3 Open Discussion Area 4 Classroom 5 Toilet 6 Lecture Hall 7 Aquarium / Corridor 8 Private Dwelling (Living Room) 9 Private Research Area 10 Fish Hatchery Pool

8

FEEDBACK REFLECTION FROM TESTING REVIEW After Phase 2 “Testing” Review, I received feedback from tutors which I have then reflected and improved for the final review during “Synthesis”.

The following are the areas I have particularly focused: 1. How the ‘arms’ of the building can be connected back in with the zoo itself 2. Tighten the geometry of the building 3. More accurate site context for architectural drawings to enhance the scheme 4. More specific with the views I intended to frame and the internal programme of the building

CHAPTER 3

SYNTHESIS “Synthesis”, as the last stage of the design project, detailed and refined all stages of work to present a sophisticated design scheme that ensured the key line of enquires explored throughout all stages were consciously responded.

It confirmed the success of the architectural language adopted to repond to the existing Penguin Pond structure, and the ideas driven behind the building configuration. It also provided a precious final opportunity to critically reflect on the current design proposal. After all of the hard work, we now celebrate the establishment of the institute!

Synthesis

PROGRAMME & CIRCULATION AXONOMETRIC

Synthesis

MASSING *

This Exploded Axonometric Diagrams illustr

STEP 1 - Locate the Historically Protected Buildings surrounding and within the site boundary, i.e. Elephant and Rhino House (Grade II listed) and Lubetkin Penguin Pond.

STEP 2 - Develop the building geometry with the elliptical grid. The grid starts from the core centre of the Preserved Grade I Listed Penguin Pond, then extending outwards.

Synthesis

Synthesis

MASSING *

MASSING *

STEP 3 - Major axis and site boundary defined for major circulation route and the positioning of the building volumes around the pond.

STEP 5 - The displacement of the two volumes is connected to the promenade of the zoo by a walkway. The walkway then captures entrances to both volumes of the building and is also in line with the entrance of the Elephant and Rhino House to bring visitors to the building.

STEP 4 - Distortion and splitting of the main building volume to open views outward.

STEP 6 - Water Feature is added on both sides at the start of the walkway that slides into line with the existing site geometry. They distort the perspective to eliminate the site boundary, giving a sense that the building is ‘floating’ on the water.

Synthesis

Synthesis

MASSING *

STEP 7 -Extrusion of the existing volumes to create an additional floor for accomdation of residence (for researchers) and classroom space (for public).

PLAN TO SECTION

CIRCULATION TO USE

HIERARCHY

These parti diagrams illustrate the proportions of the building’s geometry, circulation, hierarchy of building programme further confirming the success of the geometry in exploiting axis and grid extrapolated from the geometry of the Penguin Pond.

SYMMETRY & BALANCE

STEP 8 -Final Step: Mass Subtraction for roof terrace space and maximize sunlight infiltration the Penguin Pond.

ADDITIVE & SUBTRACTIVE

Aerial View Perspective in Site Context* The Aerial View Perspective demonstrates how the building is situated in its site context. New paths are added to welcome people into the institute.

Aerial View Perspective in Site Context*

Synthesis

Existing Site Plan *

Synthesis

NEW SITE PLAN *

Synthesis

Synthesis

SCALED 1:200 PLAN (Refined)

SCALED 1:200 PLAN (Refined)

26 1

2

1

2 18

25 15

12

11

10

4

2

2

14

17

27

4 3

13 10

8

9

2

12 2

11

2

18

8

7

8 9

8

16

7 3

8

28

8

19 20

6

6

27

21

5

5

23 24

22

G/F

BASEMENT FLOOR

1/F

BASEMENT

G/F

G/F (cont)

1/F

1 Staircase Leading to G/F Exhibition Gallery 2 W.C 3 Lecture Theatre 4 Cave Concept Exhibition Area 5 Underwater Viewing Dome 6 Rehabilitation Tank 7 Tank Services 8 Testing Laboratory 9 Research Library 10 Reading Room 11 Storage 12 Plant Room

13 Exhibition Gallery 14 Reception Area 15 Souvenir Shop 16 Preserved Penguin Pond (Grade I Listed) 17 External Concrete Paving 18 Water Feature 19 X-Ray Room 20 Surgical Room 21 Food Preparation Kitchen 22 Delivery 23 Marine Animal Isolation Tanks

13 Exhibition Gallery 14 Reception Area 15 Souvenir Shop 16 Preserved Penguin Pond (Grade I Listed) 17 External Concrete Paving 18 Water Feature 19 X-Ray Room 20 Surgical Room 21 Food Preparation Kitchen 22 Delivery 23 Marine Animal Isolation Tanks 24 Tank Maintenance & Feeding Platform

25 Classroom 26 The Lounge 27 Roof Terrace 28 Researchers’s Residence

Synthesis

Synthesis

EAST ELEVATION *

WEST ELEVATION BB” *

Penguin Pond

Synthesis

Synthesis

PERSPECTIVE SECTION AA” (Refined with Inhabitation of People & Site Context)

Researchers

Researchers & The Animals

Researchers, The Public & Animals

This perspective section cuts through the research sector of the building, it demonstrates the type of user group occupying each space and the respective lighting quality. It also reveals the celebrated exposed concrete structure within the building.

SECTION CUT

Synthesis

Synthesis

SERIAL VISION - THE REGULAR PUBLIC *

The serial vision records a regular public member visiting the institute. From the first person perspective, it demonstrates the sequential order of unfolding views framed as they walk through the building. The princple behind the building configuration was to create ‘a succession of views distinct from each other’ through the alternation of light and dark, change of framed landscape view, distance and elevation that ultimately, aiming to preserve the both opposing ideas -the ‘Picturesque’ from the Regent’s Park and ‘Modernism’ of the Penguin Pond to the buiding itself. For each step in the serial vision, the rendered areas represent the curated views I intend to frame as the public walk through the building. An attempt is also tried to use literature in the description for each of the space encounter.

STEP 1 - THE ARRIVAL

STEP 2 - THE ENTRANCE

STEP 2 - THE ENTRANCE

STEP 3 - THE ENTRY

Looking from afar, the institute is almost belted with the surrounding flourishing trees and shurbs and is barely visible. The prominant Elephant and Rhino House come into sight.

Looking from afar, the institue is almost belted with the surrounding flourishing trees and shurbs and is barely visible. The prominant Ele-

Looking from afar, the institue is almost belted with the surrounding flourishing trees and shurbs and is barely visible. The prominant Ele-

Looking from afar, the institue is almost belted with the surrounding flourishing trees and shurbs and is barely visible. The prominant Ele-

Option 1 - RECREATIONAL

STEP 5 - TURNED TO THE RECREATIONAL SIDE OF THE BUILDING

STEP 6 - WIDE PANORAMA VIEW OF THE PENGUIN POND

STEP 9 - ARRIVAL AT THE LONG BASEMENT EXHIBITION GALLERY

STEP 7 - NARROW STAIRCASE, LINING OF COLUMNS IMPOSE A CERTAIN VISUAL RHYTHM TO SPACE

STEP 10 - FOCUSED VIEW TOWARD THE UNDERWATER VIEWING DOME

STEP 8 - TRANSITION FROM BRIGHT TO DIMMER SPACE, SUGGESTION OF CROSSING A THRESHOLD

STEP 11 - CULUMINATED AT THE REHABILITATION TANK, ENJOY WIDE PANARAMA VIEWS OF THE TANK

Option 2 - EDUCATIONAL

STEP 5 - AGAIN, THE NARROW WALKWAY HINTS NOTHING ABOUT THE SPACE ONE IS GOING TO ENTER

STEP 6 - CURATED VIEWS TO THE DISPLAY LAWN BY PICTUREFRAME WINDOW

STEP 7 - VISUAL LINKS BETWEEN ROOF TERRACES OF THE RESEARCH AND PUBLIC SECTOR OF THE BUILDING + COMMON CENTRAL VIEW OF THE PENGUIN POND

Here, visitors will be able to pick their routes for own exploration. Depending on their individual explorations, it will create a whole new expereince . The building’s configuration is following the rhythm of wide-narrow-widenarrow..., ‘wide’ when one enters a new space, ‘narrow’ during the transition between space, which limit the visual links created from one space to another, the journey full of contrast and irregularites heighten and elevate the expereince inside the building

Synthesis

Synthesis

EXTERNAL PERSPECTIVE* (Refined with the addition of site context to the drawing

1

PUBLIC ENTRANCE The Arrival - Public

‘A building’s entrance is the threshold between the exterior and interior, it contributes to the overall identity of the development and plays an important role in the impression and expeience formed by visitors.‘ Therefore, both the profile and entrance of the new building is kept as simple as possible to avoid unnecessary distraction to the existing Penguin Pond caused by the overly expressive geometry and to create a consistent language dialogue with the old structure.

VIEWPOINT LOCATION PLAN

Synthesis

Synthesis

Set-back of the entrance to make the entrance more prominent

External Paving to make entrance more prominent Illuminate Building Signage Introduce water feature to blend and soften building edges on both sides Concrete tiling used on external paving to create a threshold that differs and separates itself from the rest of the zoo area

Public Entrance Design Language Explanation* The above illustrates the design features incorporated in the making of the public entrance. (Upper Image). While precedent inspiration is particularly useful in the study and translation of a consistant architectural language for the design of the entrances.

(Right-Hand Side)

1. The study of Set-Back Entrances

2. Introduction of Water Features at Entry Portal

3. Promenade Entrance

Visitor Centre in Niederstotsingen

Gallery of Cultural Centre of Beijing Cultural Park in Hufei

Legend Villa

Synthesis

2

Synthesis

REHABILITATION SECTOR Surgical Room *

Soon after arriving the institute, injured seals will first be placed in isolation tanks. They will then receive an X-Ray Exam through which their health condition are evaluated thoroughly, while injured seals will be transferred to the surgical room for the carrying out of diagnostic and surgical procedures befoore they are released to the Rehabilitation Tank for preparing their leave.

Floor to ceiling height pictureframe windows are introduced for the following reasons: 1. To increase sunlight infiltration 2. To maintain visual connection with the promenade of the zoo

VIEWPOINT LOCATION PLAN

Synthesis

3

Synthesis

REHABILITATION SECTOR Tank Maintenance & Feeding Platform

Here, looking outwards from the raised Tank Maintenance & Feeding Platform, Researchers can enjoy the seclusion from the external paving. They can carry out their daily maintenance and feeding work without being disrupted by the public flow at the ground level. While for public who are interested in their rehabilitation work, by reaching the roof terrace of the Education and Research sector, the terrace terminates at the point where it provides the best visual connection to the open air tanks. (See Next Page) In addition, researchers can enjoy views to the tanks from their residence roof terraces as well.

VIEWPOINT LOCATION PLAN

Synthesis

4

Synthesis

EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATION SECTOR Tank Maintenance & Feeding Platform *

Here, looking outwards from the raised Tank Maintenance & Feeding Platform, researchers can enjoy the seclusion from the external paving. They can carry out their daily maintenance and feeding work without being disrupted by the public flow at the ground level. While for public who are interested in their rehabilitation work, by reaching the roof terrace of the Education and Research sector, the terrace terminates at the point where it provides the best visual connection to the open air tanks. (See Next Page) In addition, researchers can enjoy views to the tanks from their residence roof terraces as well.

VIEWPOINT LOCATION PLAN

Synthesis

5

Synthesis

EDUCATION & RECREATION SECTOR The Lounge *

The journey for a regular visit to the building terminates as the last step at the Lounge, where the public is provided a place to interact and share their fruits of success after the educaional journey they have gone through with each other. The windows here are outlined with particularly deeepened eaves. Every scenery is captured in a picture frame.

VIEWPOINT LOCATION PLAN

Synthesis

Synthesis

ARC3013 TECHNOLOGY x DESIGN (Refined) The module assessment in ARC3013 has provided me with a precious opportunity to explore in depth regarding the materiality make-up of the building , its structural system.

Primary Structure

1

(Primary) 400 x 400 mm Precast Reinforced Concrete Columns, 8m Structural Grid

3

(Primary) Precast Concrete Cores

Raft Foundation - This type of foundation transfer all load of the building over an extension area, thus reducing the pressure on the ground.

2

(Primary) 400x400 mm Precast Post-tensioned Curved Reinforced Concrete Beams, 8m Structural Grid Formwork

Precast Reinforced Concrete Columns - Vertical elements which transfer all loads to the foundation Precast Post-Tensioned Curved Reinforced Concrete Beams - Horizontal elements which transfer loads from the imposed loads to the columns Basement Retaining Wall - Vertical Structure to resist earth forces, thus preventing it from collapsing or slipping Precast Concrete Cores - For lateral restraint

5

(Secondary) 140mm Timber Partition Wall , Non Load-Bearing

6

(Secondary) Hermetically Sealed Glazed Observation Opening, Acrylic Viewing Panels, Translucent Acylic Panels of 150mm thickness

9

(Tertiary) Roof Finishes Green Roof

Concrete Flooring -Loads of walls and columns and imposed loads are first tranferred to the floor before reaching the foundation

Secondary Structure Hermetically Sealed Glazed Acrylic Panels - Specified curved sections to absorb loads imposed from the water habitat when filling and operating of the rehabilitation tank

4

(Primary) 400mm Basement Retaining Wall

7

(Primary) Concrete Flooring

Non Load-Bearing Timber Partition Wall Concrete Flat Slab Roof

Tertiary Structure Textured Paving Glazing (Aluminium Framed Windows) External Concrete Facade and Roof Finishes (Green Roof )

8

(Secondary) Concrete Flat Slab Roof

10

(Tertiary) Textured Paving

Synthesis

Synthesis

ARC3013 TECHNOLOGY x DESIGN

The section belong explores the detailed design and build of the 30 x 30m rehabilitation tank (900 m3) volume at 1:20 scale which is designed primarily to provide a suitable habitat for marine species, while additionally, is a public viewing space for demonstration of marine species. Therefore, when considering the design and build of the rehabilitation tank, it aims to fulfill these two main goals: 1. To maintain the structural integrity of the tank and prevent leakage 2. To allow for submerged 360o viewing of a variety of marine wildlife

Construction Details 1. 200 mm External Concrete Wall 2. 120 mm Thermal Insulation 3. Double Layer Waterproof Membrane 4. 150 mm Polyethylene Sheet 5. 140mm Sealed Wall Enclosure 6. Overflow Device 7. 70 mm Mortar Screed 8. Moving Walkway 9. 200 mm PGTM Acrylic Curved Viewing Panel 10. Cantileved Walkway

Biblliography

BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Beta.Architecture & Collective by Carlos Gonzalvo, House of Seven Gardens () <https://www.beta-architecture.com/house-of-the-seven-gardens-fran-silvestre-arquitectos/> [accessed 10 March 2021].

2. Lars Müller Publishers, Experimental Preservation () <https://www.lars-mueller-publishers.com/experimental-preservation> [accessed 17 March 2021].

3. The Marine Mammal Centre , The Marine Mammal Centre () <https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/animal-care/patient-journey/rehabilitation> [accessed 9 March 2021].

4. Oregon Coast Aquarium Capital Campaign, Build Marine Rehabilitation Center () <https://www.givetoaquarium.org/build-marine-rehabilitation-center/> [accessed 24 February 2021].

5. Todd Longstaffe-Gowan & David Lambert , ‘’A Total Work of Architectural and Landscape Art’’, , , (), 44, in <https://www.cepc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/CEPC-Vision-for-Regents-Park-C.pdf> [accessed 12 April 2021].

6. The Royal Parks , ‘The Regent’s Park & Primrose Hill Conservation Management Plan’, , , (2015), , in <https://www.royalparks.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/41769/2015-The-Regents-Park-And-Primrose-HillConservation-Management-Plan.pdf> [accessed 12 April 2021].

7. Biosystems, Public Aquaria () <https://www.hydrosight.com/services/aquarium-window-installation/public-aquarium-construction> [accessed 19 May 2021].

Bibliography

Biblliography

CULTURAL BIBLIOGRAPHY

NUAS TALK

Lorenzo Boddi (BIG Architects)

ILLUSTRATION BOOKLETS

Ingrid Petit (Feiden Fowles)

Jessica Peynolds (vPPR Architects)

Small Talk was a series of lectures organized by NUAS through zoom during the year. This year, I found the talks rather enjoyable and fruitful as they have broadened my perspective in terms of gaining knowledge outside of the university curriculum. While I particularly enjoyed the talk by Ingrid Petit where I found inspirational for my project development as she touched upon her thoughts and approach to site, heritage and atmosphere.

COMPETITION

During the summer of 2020, I was offered a summer placement in which I was involved mostly in researching Hong Kong’s History and Culture. A set of illustration booklets were produced during the period of time.

Bibliography

CULTURAL BIBLIOGRAPHY

Biblliography

Appendix

ARC3001: THEMATIC CASE STUDY - THE HILL HOUSE

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THE END