Jemima Smith Portfolio by PDF Uploads

Stage

Design Portfolio Jemima Smith 150174785 Newcastle University Semester 2 2020-21

Contents 01

Introduction ............................................................ 4

Urban Intervention Research........................ 7

Concept Development......................................... 15

Connection to the City............................ 31

Spatial Development.................................. 37

The Collaboration and Transport Interchange Hub......................................... 61

Spatial Experience......................................89

Appendix...(Learning Journal)..................99

Reflective Conclusion..................................118

Studio FBA - Material Change

ARB Part II Criteria are documented throughout the portfolio

new improved

01 Introduction My semester two design project develops from my research carried out in the first semester. This studied the studio brief, looking at how we can reinvent our cities as places of exchange for future generations. My intervention focussed on Monument Metro Station, with the aim to improve the natural lighting within this space in order to encourage the use of the metro in and out of the city centre (with an improved sense of safety and security). This new and improved metro concourse level would ‘double-up’ as a city-centre advice hub for those who have found themselves struggling with the impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has created. It follows that this current thesis project creates a transport hub in the centre of the city, combining the metro with the buses along the busy Blackett Street. It also proposes a new cycle hub within the

01 Introduction city centre to connect people to the wider city: This involves storage for any owned bikes, and also a rentable system of both bicycles and scooters for people to borrow and return, primarily ensuring commuters are easily connected with their city workplaces. My research has expanded beyond that of the first semester in the extents to the city being impacted by the pandemic; it explores the reasons people from areas along the local transport system would typically visit the city, and in comparison, how we expect this to be altered following the pandemic. This research highlighted the impact that an increase in home working may have on the city, primarily to the high street and hospitality sectors due to the decrease in the city’s footfall. Subsequently, my transport hub proposal incorporates collaborative workspaces which are both open for the public, and

rentable pods for private hire. These are aimed at home-workers who need to meet clients or co-workers where there is no longer a rented workspace in the city, or alternatively for those home-workers who desperately seek a change of scenery for the occasional day or week away from home. The open spaces can also be used by students and the general public as a social gathering space in the heart of the city, easy and convenient to access thanks to the numerous transport systems within. The proposal aims to create a blurring of the boundaries between public transport, public space and a collaborative working environment to encourage communication between different social groups and work ‘bubbles’, something which is extremely important in a post pandemic era and following the isolating lockdowns we

have all encountered. The importance of public transport coincides with the climate issues we are currently facing, and this new hub in the city aims to greatly reduce the number of cars in the city centre. The outcome of this would be a huge reduction in the city’s emissions, in addition to the improved city ambience. To transcend this into the architecture of the building, sustainability and environmental consideration has played a huge part in the material choices, layout and technical approaches of the proposal, primarily re-using as much of the existing Eldon Square structure as is possible and combining this with lowcarbon new materials.

02 Urban

Intervention Research

Urban Intervention Initial Research

“‘how can we reinvent our cities as places of exchange for the wants and needs of future communities?” As climate change increases, we risk the increase of future pandemics. Exploring how we can future-proof our cities for another pandemic, it was important to understand the impacts both positive and negative that the pandemic has had on our cities. My research focussed primarily on the increased cycling in cities, and unfortunately, the increased use of cars rather than public transport.

“With estimates that 68% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050, the need to design cities well for pandemics will only get more pressing” “as various forces such as climate change and human encroachment into natural wildlife habitats may increase the frequency of pandemics in the future, better knowledge of the underlying patterns and dynamics of pandemics, their effects on cities, and necessary preparation, response, and adaptation measures is needed.”

GC2, GC7

Urban Intervention Impact of the Pandemic on the use of Public Transport in the UK

These graphs represent the use of different transport types in the UK throughout the first lockdown of the pandemic (March - June 2020): As the first lockdown was imposed on the country, the use of all forms of transport quickly dropped except the increase of cycling. As restrictions began to ease, as denoted by the second dashed line on the graphs, and workers “who cannot work from home” were encouraged to return to work, the use of cars began to increase in-line with the number of people back at work. In stark contrast to this, the graphs highlight the clear lack of increase in train and bus (public transport) use, which stays slightly above 0%.

GC2, GC7

Urban Intervention A reimagination of Monument Metro Station

Through semester one, my work focussed on improving the existing metro station, by inviting light through glazed viewports to improve the atmosphere and sense of safety within the space. Creating a more inviting concourse zone aims to encourage people to travel into the city via the metro rather than the car.

GC1, GC3, GC5, GC6

03 Concept

Development

Concept Development Thesis Exploration

Carrying forward the research from semester one, my thesis explores the ways we can encourage the use of public transport in and out of the city, to both reduce our carbon emissions and also the car centricity of the city. The chart opposite explains how more than 50% of transport emissions in UK cities are produced by cars. The images depict the positive impact the reduction of cars can have not only to the reduction of pollution but also the ambience of the city, primarily for pedestrians and city dwellers.

> 50%

Congestion

GC2, GC7

Pollution

Positive effect on city ambience

Concept Development Extent of Existing Transport Networks

This study explores the extent of the transport systems to and from the central area of the city. This helped me understand the demographic and locality of the people who use them. The map includes the metro and bus routes, and highlights that the extent is quite local to the city.

Metro Route (Below Ground) 18

GC2, GC7

Bus Routes 19

Concept Development Pre-Pandemic Habits

Reasons people travel into the city from these local, surrounding neighbourhoods are primarily for the culture and leisure facilities that Newcastle has to offer, as well as for school, university and work.

GC2, GC7

Concept Development During-Pandemic Habits

Throughout the pandemic it is clear that reasons for people travelling into the city has been limited, with retail and education shifting online, and people working from home.

“The pandemic is accelerating deeper, longer-term trends affecting cities” 22

GC2, GC7

Concept Development Post-Pandemic Habits

After the Coronavirus pandemic, we anticipate the culture and leisure facilities to reopen, such as museums, galleries, bars and restaurants, and people will start heading back to school and university. Looking towards the statistics however for the typical 9-5 worker, it has been claimed that a vast majority of employees wish to continue working from home at least part of the week.

GC2, GC7

Concept Development

Strong City

Weak City

Importance of the Workplace on the Dynamic of the City

With this anticipation of workers no longer travelling to work in the same fashion as they did previously, it’s important to look at the significance of the workplace on the city and the effects that a reduction in their numbers may have. The diagrams compare the strong and the weak cities, showing how a strong city has a large proportion of office to retail space, in comparison to a weak city which is primarily retail: The workplace brings more people into a city and increases the footfall to the restaurants, bars and shops, helping maintain the high street.

GC2, GC7

Concept Development City Centre Transport Hub with Integrated Co-Working Facilities

Although working from home has many benefits, face to face interaction is still important to create relationships and increase creativity and communication. Following this research, my concept is to create a city centre transport hub that connects the different modes of public transport; the buses, metro and bicycles, with integrated coworking spaces and meeting and conference rooms for home-workers to engage with their teams and clients. This will bring people back to the city and feed into the leisure and retail sectors, whilst encouraging the use of public transport due to the ease of the location.

“Transport hubs are also social centers and expressions of civic identity that can boost or damage local pride”

GC2, GC4, GC5, GC6, GC7

04 Connection

to the City

Connection to the City Defining the Site

Jesmond

Proposed Site Outline Historic Building Outline Public Transport Stations Metro Line Bus Routes Most-Used Bus Stops

The site lies within the Northern section of the existing Eldon Square shopping centre/ restaurant zone. This allows for an improved direct connection with Monument Metro Station and the buses along Blackett Street, which currently has the two most-used bus stops in the city. This implies that this area is a popular entrance and exit to the city.

Manors

St James Park

GC5, GC7

Central 33

Connection to the City Major Developments in the City Centre

Looking at how my proposal would connect with the rest of the city, I have studied the current main developments; the pilgrim street redevelopment, the Newcastle Helix and the Stephenson Quarter, and also the more generic office spaces that are available to rent. These are all mostly long-term rentals and large open-plan spaces aimed at big corporations. In response to this, my proposal is aimed at employees who primarily work from home and wish to come into the city for client meetings or to collaborate with their co-workers on a daily or weekly basis, where the company no longer rents a workspace in the city.

GC2, GC4, GC5, GC6, GC7

05 Spatial

Development

Spatial Development Precedent Analysis Paddington Works, London (Threefold Architects) This precedent offers an example of the different spaces required within a collaborative, co-working environment. These include an auditorium, kitchen/lounge and breakout areas, and a combination of open workspaces and separate meeting and co-working rooms.

“Centred around a kitchen and social space, with informal breakout and meeting areas, phone booths, meeting rooms, private studios and shared workstations.”

“The scheme comprises private studios, open co-working areas, meeting rooms, seminar space and an auditorium for a wide range of businesses in the creative and tech industries”

GC7

Spatial Development Key Zones

This diagram maps out the spaces required within my proposal, with the key zones being the different transport elements; the bus and metro, and bicycle and scooter hire facilities to connect people to the rest of the city, in addition to the integrated workspaces. Showers are proposed for those opting to cycle, whilst the library, auditorium and bar/ café offer a more public function to the central hub, and respite for workers.

GC2, GC6, GC7

Spatial Development The Existing Site

This map highlights the pedestrian circulation routes through the existing site (including my semester one urban intervention), including the maintained use of the historical High Friar Street through Eldon Square and the ‘shortcut’ between Old Eldon Square and Clayton Street. In analysing the bus waiting facilities, it is clear that these are extremely small, leaving users to perch on the window sills of Eldon Square’s north facade, in turn blocking the circulation route and forcing city dwellers to use the pavement on the opposite side of the road.

GC2, GC5

Spatial Development Massing Attempt

Following the theme of pedestrian routes and circulation, my original concept looked at emphasising this within the plan of the proposal, to create a ground floor which offered seamless transitions between Clayton Street/Grainger Market, Old Eldon Square, and Grey’s Monument. This initial massing attempt can be seen opposite. Unfortunately this forced nature of direct pathways resulted in awkward spaces which would prove difficult to use, due to the long and narrow nature of the site. It was also clear from the plan layouts that too many spaces were incorporated at ground floor, creating a congested plan with narrow circulation.

First Attempt Massing Model

GC1, GC5, GC7

First Attempt Ground Floor Plan

Spatial Development Street Approach

Developing from the previous approach, my proposed aim at street level is to maintain the ground floor solely for transport facilities, in order to allow this seamless pedestrian transition through the site, whilst avoiding awkward, narrow layouts within the plan. The narrowing of Blackett Street to a oneway road system is proposed to improve the crossing and reduce the pollution from vast numbers of buses.

GC1, GC5, GC7

Pedestrian Routes 47

Spatial Development Connection of Spaces

Developing from my initial massing attempt, these diagrams show early spatial formations and connections between different program spaces. This emphasises the route between the transport elements with all other facilities accessible through the central visitor information/reception point within the building.

Early-Stage Massing Model

GC1, GC5, GC6, GC7

Spatial Development

Amenity space

The Future of the Workplace

These diagrams explore the future of the workplace as places to come together, connect and build relationships. The typical existing commercial buildings provide amenity space at the ground floor with offices stacked above. As we look to the future we expect this amenity space to be spread across different floors to create more of a diversity of tenants per floor and to develop vertical connections through the building. Existing commercial buildings

Peter Bacevice, John Mack, Pantea Tehrani, and Mat Triebner, “Reimagining the Urban Office”, Harvard Business Review, August 2020 50

GC5, GC7

Adaptive Reuse

Future Commercial Buildings

Pockets of space where amenities can be used by multiple tenants

• More diversity of tenants per floor • Developing vertical connections

Immersive technology to connect co-located clusters. Hybrid conference rooms with virtual/augmented reality 51

Spatial Development Precedent Analysis MIT Manukau & Transport Interchange (Warren and Mahoney) A precedent I have studied is the MIT Manukau and Transport Interchange in New Zealand, which offers a large public space at ground level with connection to the trains underground, and with open-plan working facilities above centred around a large atrium. The views across different levels aim to break down the barriers between the general public and tertiary education by creating engagement between different groups of people.

“The typical floorplate is the direct translation of MIT’s desire for open flexible spaces - creating a highly efficient, open and interconnected ‘learning landscape’ which is flexible enough to accommodate change in teaching pedagogy over the life of the building.” 52

GC5, GC7

Spatial Development Vertical Arrangement

Taking inspiration from MIT precedent, and the research of the future of the workplace, the diagram opposite shows the proposed blurring of public and private spaces across different levels of the building, to guide the general public past the workspaces to the public space at the top. This allows people to interact and build relationships across different working sectors and outside of the usual social ‘bubble’, and looks to diminish the barrier between different work and community groups.

GC5, GC7

Spatial Development Sectional Studies

These development images and models show some of the different iterations of sectional massing on the site to achieve the desired circulation routes through the proposal, forming an integration of the public and private spaces, and creating a public space at the top to encourage the weaving of people through the building.

They show the development of the form of the canopy, starting from an extremely large form that covers the entirety of the building, and then seeing this reduced to an improved human scale and used to support the buillding above in addition to the rain protection it offers to the routes between the transport elements below . Please see the Learning Journal in the Appendix for expanded detail of the design development process. 3.

GC1, GC5, GC7

Spatial Development Design Development

Following the development images, these series of sketch iterations provide a brief overview for the design development stages, from spatial massing towards the final design proposal.

1. Street level reserved for transport facilities

Open to the elements for improved functionality and pedestrianisation through the space Large open space able to hold multifunctional community events through the summer months

2. Columns to provide support to lightweight structure above

Canopy to provide rain protection to route from bus-metro-bikes+scooters

3. Form of canopy raised at East and West ends to maximise morning and evening light (peak commuter hours) to the centre of the undercroft 4. Create flow of pedestrian route through building to rooftop bar and restaurant with views over Monument and the city Through-route allows for dwelling through public spaces within and encourages socialisation between different groups

GC1, GC3, GC5,

06 The

Collaboration and Transport Interchange Hub

The Collaboration and Transport Interchange Hub Proposed Floor Plans

Succeeding the research and development studies, the proposed street level plan emphasises the new improved entrance to the metro concourse and shower areas for bicycle commuters. Partition walls provide wind shelter for the lift waiting zones, both down to the metro and up to the collaboration centre, whilst the entire ground floor is protected from rain by a canopy above, as denoted by the dotted line.

Greggs

Fenwicks

Waterstones

Blackett St

Separate pods are available for those renting bicycles and scooters to then head out to the city, and for those returning borrowed bikes. Number 3 on the plan also shows bicycle storage for those who’ve travelled to the centre by this means of transportation.

Blackett St

3. To Visitor Info

George’s Kitchen

1. 2.

tro To Me rs we + Sho

Separate bus drop-off and pick up locations are proposed, with the pedestrian grey paving of the existing surroundings continued across Blackett Street to denote the emphasis is to pedestrians rather than the bus. As this is at the bus ‘stopping points’, travel will be slow and therefore safety is not an issue.

ASK Italia

Alchemist

Tortilla

Dr.

Street Level

Yo! S

Bicycle and Scooter Rental Bicycle and Scooter Returns Bicycle Storage Bus Waiting Zone Water Refill Station Solar Powered Phone Charging

ush

Coffee Take-Out

Nel

kea

aire

Sha

Crepe Aff

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

ch Fren tion nec Con

hol ic

Entrance to Eldon Shopping

GC1, GC4, GC5, GC6, GC7

all

nt M

e num

Urb

rten

tfitt

ers

Ca Roy fé al 63

The Collaboration and Transport Interchange Hub Street Level ‘Close-up’

5. 6.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

tro To Me rs we + Sho

To Visitor Info

Bicycle and Scooter Rental Bicycle and Scooter Returns Bicycle Storage Bus Waiting Zone Water Refill Station Solar Powered Phone Charging

The Collaboration and Transport Interchange Hub

Proposed Floor Plans

The first floor plan depicts the entrance to the collaboration hub. A daycare centre is located here for those workers who usually wouldn’t require childcare. This is located to the East of the plan to allow for an external play space with views overlooking the statue. The main building is accessed through the reception, which leads directly to an openplan interactive library zone which extends to the external terrace canopy. The centre of this space is open to the large atrium void above, with glazed viewports to catch the light and transcend this to the streetscape below. This allows for a playful visual connection between the internal and external spaces of the building.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Rentable Pods WC Auditorium Individual Pods Coffee Lounge Co-Working

Second Floor

The floorplan focuses on the circulation around the atrium space, as seen in the second floor plan, which encourages visitors past the private rentable pods and open collaborative workspaces to reach to public functions such as the coffee lounge and auditorium.

5. 4.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

GC1, GC4, GC5, GC6, GC7

Visitor Information Advice Centre Daycare Library External Terrace

First Floor 67

The Collaboration and Transport Interchange Hub

Proposed Floor Plans

The third and fourth floor plans show that continuation of the fluidity of space. A multifunctional pod is proposed for classes such as yoga and pilates, with a ‘meet and greet’ information desk outside and direct connection to the showers and changing facilities. These plans show the ramping of the floor levels around the atrium to emphasise the idea of circulation continuing to the top floor. These ramps are interspersed with open workbenches on platforms.

1. 1.

1. Co-Working 2. Rentable Pods 3. Breakout

Fourth Floor

1. 2. 3.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

GC1, GC4, GC5, GC6, GC7

Breakout Meet+Greet / Waiting Lounge Multifunctional Pod (eg Yoga, Pilates Changing Facilities, Showers, WC Store Co-Working

Third Floor 69

The Collaboration and Transport Interchange Hub

Proposed Floor Plans

The top floor of the building hosts an openplan bar and restaurant, both with access to external terraces facing South with views of the River Tyne and the rest of the city.

1. 5.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

GC1, GC4, GC5, GC6, GC7

Co-Working Bar Restaurant Kitchen Store/Pantry/Freezer

Fifth Floor 71

The Collaboration and Transport Interchange Hub Precedent Analysis Market Hall, Ghent, Belgium (Robbrecht en Daem) This precedent explores using large concrete columns to support a suspended structure above, similar to in the transport hub proposal. This allows for the desired continuation and flow of the streetscape below.

GC7

The Collaboration and Transport Interchange Hub Proposed Section

Taking inspiration from the market hall, this section shows the suspension of the collaborative building above the street level, supported on giant columns. The image emphasises the flow from underground to street level, and again from the street up to the first floor entrance to the building.

Section Key

GC1, GC4, GC5, GC6, GC7

Turbinia Tyneside was the scene of the invention of the electric light bulb, the application of turbine power to marine engineering with the building of Turbinia and the development of modern electricity generation and supply

The Collaboration and Transport Interchange Hub ‘Blucher’ The First Locomotive George Stephenson constructed the locomotive for hauling coal at Killingworth Colliery

Newcastle’s Transport History

Stephenson’s locomotive ‘Rocket’ was a competition winner, stimulating the laying of railway lines all over the country, in Europe and North-America

With transport being so integral to my thesis and proposal, it was important to research the history of transport in the city: Newcastle’s coal infrastructure helped the city become the ‘Great Northern Coalfield’ which fostered the development in Newcastle of transport, which went on to change the world. It was the catalyst for the development of wagonways. It followed that in the early 19th century George Stephenson and his son then developed the first steam locomotive and with it the modern railway, originally developed to serve the coal industry. This was arguably the most important industrial advance of the century, and made Britain the ‘workshop of the world’ with exports as far as America. The region is also known for its invention during the Victorian era of the electric bulb and turbine power for marine engineering, resulting in the building of Turbinia, the world’s first steam-powered ship and the fastest ship in the world at that time.

1814

1748

1829

1821

GC2, GC7

1860

1849

Newcastle’s Stephenson appointed as engineer for the first public railway

High Level Bridge The world’s first combined rail and road bridge

1894

1914

1825

World War 1 In the years leading up to the First World War the North East constructed one third of the world’s ships

Wylam Waggonway The increasing importance of coal for domestic and early industrial use was the catalyst for the development of waggonways

The River Tyne was the second most important river in Britain with its coal mining, railway engineering and shipbuilding forming an interconnected relationship

Locomotive 1 George Stephenson built Locomotion No. 1 for the Stockton and Darlington Railway, north-east England, which was the first public steam railway in the world 77

The Collaboration and Transport Interchange Hub Material Palette

Taking the history of the transport of Newcastle into consideration, the wooden elements of the wagons and locomotive are combined with the brown brick and the large sections of glazing from the existing site and surroundings to provide the primary material palette for the proposal.

GC1, GC8

The Collaboration and Transport Interchange Hub Precedent Analysis Netherlands Open Air Museum (Mecanoo) The Netherlands Open Air Museum is a precedent I’ve looked at in terms of the use of materiality, combining the brick and the timber with large sections of glazing to create a seamless transition between the external and the internal spaces, and blurring the boundary between the above and below ground.

GC7

The Collaboration and Transport Interchange Hub Material + Structural Strategy

In order to create the desired sense of openness at ground floor, a new build structure rather than retrofit is required. My proposal looks at deconstructing the existing structure rather than demolishing, in order to reclaim panels of the brown bricks for re-use at street level to provide a thermal mass to the unheated space, and also to provide a distinction from the existing grey paving. In order to support the suspended building, large columns are proposed, inspired by the market hall precedent. These are formed by cutting sections from the existing concrete floor slabs and stacking these vertically. Above these columns a low carbon reinforced concrete slab is proposed, recycled as much as possible from the existing structure with new cement added.

GC1, GC5, GC7, GC8

The Collaboration and Transport Interchange Hub Detail Section

This section emphasises the contrast in the density of the materiality between the open street level, solid concrete slab, and the suspended lightweight mass timber structure above.

GC1, GC5, GC8

The Collaboration and Transport Interchange Hub Section through Key Space

Coffee Lounge/Breakout Zone

Individual Rentable Pod

This section zones into the individual workspace pods and second floor coffee lounge, explaining the angles of the windows aimed at framing the view of Old Eldon Square from the deskspace. The roofs of the individual pods are sloped away from the diagonal windows to extend the light over the roof and into the coffee lounge. The overhang that the angled windows create offers a sense of seclusion to the balcony space of the advice centre below. The image also explains the concrete columns at street level, and the new and improved bus waiting zone.

Advice Directory

Bus Waiting Zone

Section Key (2nd Floor)

GC1, GC5, GC8

07 Spatial

Experience

Spatial Experience View from Old Eldon Square

GC1, GC4, GC5, GC6, GC7

Spatial Experience Street Level Perspective

GC1, GC4, GC5, GC6, GC7

Spatial Experience Transport Interchange

GC1, GC4, GC5, GC6, GC7

Spatial Experience Internal Perspective

GC1, GC4, GC5, GC6, GC7

08 Appendix Learning Journal documenting and analysing the project development stages

Learning Journal Initial Concept Ideas

The early stages of the concept development process focussed on the continuation of the transport element from my semester one intervention. This initially led me to look at forming a connection North-South through the city to engage Haymarket Station with Monument and to look at re-purposing the circular Eldon Square car park and roof. The theme originally focussed on utilising the historic importance of transport in the region to educate the public on the benefits to the city and the wider world of using public transport, with a focus on Climate Change.

Climate research centre within upper floors of Haymarket Station? Demolish car park and replace with central café/bar to re-designed bus station? Connection of the two bus stations and improved pedestrianisation

Thinking initially about a potential design approach, the proposal would expand below ground to create vertical visual connections between the buses and the metro. Tutorial Notes: » What spaces will be created within the masterplan? » Decide on whether the proposal is a transport hub, museum or educational facility. This will help to depict the spaces. » Explore the programme further. » How will the history of transport be integrated into the design?

Opportunity to create visual connections to the metro tunnels and buses

Connecting the vertical planes Connecting the horizontal plane - create pedestrian route connecting the masterplan sites 100

101

Learning Journal Initial Concept Ideas and Diagrammatic Development

Developing the theme from the previous week, my proposal started to look at imagining the ‘Monument Hub’ as the gateway to Newcastle, a city without cars. This involved enhancing Monument as the centralised zone of the city with a new transport hub connecting the different modes of public transport, incorporating the historic transport achievements of the region within the centre to create an immersive and original experience on entering the city. Inspiration was taken from the Kaohsing Station, Taiwan to create a green canopy that ‘grows’ out of the ground to provide weather protection to the transport hub below Tutorial Notes: » Bring in other functions, something to bring people into the city » How does it make people use public transport? » Masterplan site too large - narrow the site to an area able to develop in detail

Initial Sectional Layout

Initial Massing - Pods set within an open streetscape under a raised canopy which bridges across to Eldon Square and creates a rooftop connection across the Masterplan Site Proposed Program of Spaces 102

103

Learning Journal Catalyst Review

This week focussed on refining the programme concept, and began to look at different reasons people travel into the city centre and how this may be affected in a post-covid era. My research found that a vast majority of people wish to continue working from home, which will have a devastating impact on the high street in cities as a result of less footfall. It led from this that my refined concept looks at creating a city-centre transport hub with integrated co-working facilities which encourage people to travel via the means of transport incorporated within the proposal. The isometric shows the first layout attempt, focussing on creating an improved access to the metro concourse level which creates a seamless transition between underground and above ground. Review Notes: » Much improved and refined concept since previous week » Look at the OMA McCormick Tribune Centre, incorporates metro into the building design » How can office spaces be laid out regarding their uses? (meeting rooms, individual offices etc) » Start to think about landscaping and what it would be made of/looks like

104

105

Learning Journal Massing Development Stages

Following the Catalyst Review, I looked at the OMA example and the ways they used the connections between the existing surrounding buildings to form their circulation spaces. The diagram opposite highlights in red the primary pedestrian routes that would be imagined through the site once the existing building is removed. I then started by adding massing into the spaces between. As clear in the proposed ground floor plan, this created awkward angles and spaces which would become difficult to use, and the narrow circulation paths would quickly become congested. A large focus of the design driver was creating visual connections between the public spaces and the underground metro tunnels. In reality and once modelled with card, it was clear that light from a central atrium would not be enough to create these underground spaces in a way which would be inviting and enjoyable. Tutorial Notes: » Why is each space where it is? Must be a driving force behind the design » Levels at basement may be difficult to make nice as lack of daylight - focus proposal above ground with key things happening at each level

106

107

Learning Journal Massing Development Stages

As I had delved quite quickly into trying to resolve floor plans, without enough massing to understand the connections of different spaces, I started again with foam masses. I have stacked these in different variations depending on their required connections with other spaces. This led me to the idea of maintaining all of the street level purely for transport facilities, with a ‘hovering’ mass above. In an attempt to visually connect this ground level with the building above, I experimented with the idea of creating a canopy which extended over the building and to the metro opening. Tutorial Notes: » Canopy would require a function in addition to just visually connecting the elements, as the volume is so large. Try to narrow this down to human scale. » Canopy creates the need to build two buildings, which would use massive amounts of embodied carbon

108

109

Learning Journal Design Development Stages

Developing further the massing strategy to suspend the building above the street level, this week started to lay out the spaces in both plan and section. The canopy was reduced to cover just the walkway between the metro and the other transport facilities. The section shows the proposed atrium with the open workspace centred around, to create visual connections across each floor. Tutorial Notes: » Explore further the fluidity of spaces - the floor plates don’t have to be the same at each level. » How are people brought up from the Metro through the building to the public rooftop space?

110

111

Learning Journal Interim Review

The majority of this week was spent on developing the section, creating an emphasis on the circulation from the ground up and back down again. The form of the canopy has been improved to emphasise the ideology of the suspended building, and is supported on giant concrete columns.

Second Floor Plan

Review Notes: » Push the plan layouts in the same way as the section » Can the light from the atrium punch down to improve the undercroft » Explore the materiality - how can the existing structure be reused?

First Floor Plan

112

113

Learning Journal Design Finalisation Stage

Through the Easter break my focus has been on developing the floor plans, as highlighted in the review to create more interesting spaces. A large part of this focussed around framing views and maximising light within the spaces. As seen at first floor, the walls are angled to engage with the greenery of Old Eldon Square, aiming to blur the boundary between inside and out, in particular to the daycare centre and advice directory. Angled windows are also introduced on the south facade to receive the west sun to the open workspaces, due to the South being blocked by the neighbouring building.

Second Floor Plan

Vision viewports are also introduced to the interactive library space to catch the light from the atrium and extend this to the undercroft below. Tutorial Notes: » Can the balcony spaces be extended across the whole of the concrete canopy at first floor? » Develop the angled window elements and expand these further across the plan

114

First Floor Plan

Ground Floor Plan

115

Learning Journal Design Finalisation Stage

Approaching the final submissions, focus has been on finalising the design in plan and section, and starting to think about how the building looks and feels externally. The material exploration shows the timber cladding on the suspended building.

Third Floor Plan

Tutorial Notes: » Try to break up West side of plan further, think about how this appears from all angles around the atrium - are these pods that sit within the space?

Second Floor Plan

Material Exploration 116

North Elevation 117

09 Reflective

My research from the first semester and the emphasis on the public transport element has been crucial to the development of my design proposal, and I feel left me in a good starting position at the beginning of this project. Although it took me a while to condense this into a narrow but thoroughly explored thesis project, as is clear in the learning journal with my numerous iterations of masterplans, integrating this with the co-working element offered me a very interesting set of spaces to play with during the developmental stages and allowed me to explore the interactions between public and private spaces. I feel the ‘breakthrough’ moment in my design process was the decision to suspend the building above street level in order to maintain the street for transport and pedestrian movement. This allows for an interesting public space at ground floor, particularly due

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09 Reflective

Conclusion to it’s proximity to both the Monument statue and Old Eldon Square (two of the main gathering spaces in the city). Although it felt at the time as though my design process was going backwards and forwards, and re-worked almost weekly, condensing it now and looking back it is clear the influence that even the first week of massing has had in my final proposal. Looking back in a constructive fashion with next year in mind, it would have been beneficial to have narrowed down on a brief quicker. This would have left me more time to really develop the design and produce numerous plan iterations ahead of the interim review before Easter. This would have allowed me time over the break to have delved into model making to realise the project in three-dimension at

Conclusion

an earlier stage rather than in the final weeks. Overall I am pleased with the outcome of this year, particularly due to the isolated nature of home-working and difficulties in not having access to printing and scanning facilities. If there was more time I would have liked to have developed the ground floor plan even further to show how it could be used for multifunctional events in summer months, and to have developed some of the internal spaces to a higher level. One of the notes from the review was to inhabit the spaces more within the perspective renders to show the messiness that life creates. Since the review I have tried to re-work these, and have intensified the textures to emphasise the materiality of the proposal.

Looking forwards to the start of Stage 6, I want to set myself the challenge of designing more through model making and sketching rather than relying on digital technology. Modelling would have provided me with a quicker way to visualise the proposal rather than modelling digitally and developing all the internal detail before this was required.

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