Mona Tamaru Selected Works 2016-2021

M o n a Ta m a r u S e l e c te d Wo r k s 2 0 16 - 2021

My n a m e i s M o n a Ta m a r u a n d I a m a postgraduate student at the Manchester School of Architecture. This is a short version of my portfolio.

Many of my projects focuses on social and environmental sustainability; the aspiration to give positive impacts to both the people and the planet is my underlying motivation.

My d e s i g n i nte re s t l i e s i n t h e sy n e rgy between the architecture and the surrounding environment. I believe that it is the interaction with the external habitat that facilitates sustainability both for the use of the physical environment and the creation of the human environment.

T h e s e a r e s e l e c t e d p r o j e c t s f r o m my studies, many of which have investigated designs to achieve my aim. Thank you very much for taking a look.

Mona Tamaru

Contents

The Layered Enclave 01 2021 | MArch 2 | Community Centre Complex

Shrewbury Gild

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2020 | MArch 1 | Educational Complex

Finding Your Way Home 2019 | MArch 1 | Residential Complex

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Living with Rain

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2018 | BA 4 | Collective Housing

Shelter Museum for the Nakazato Shell Midden 2017 | BA 3 | Museum

Renovation of Kominka 2016 | BA 2 | Building Reuse

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The Layered Enclave

Programme : Community Centre Complex / aaaaaaaaaaaa Building reuse project Location

: Bradford, UK

Year

: Winter 2021 | Master 2nd year

Duration

: 9 months (Pair work)

The thesis project explores the artefacts of Bradford and how they can regenerate the collective and cultural identity for the city's present and future. Research has revealed that Bradford is a city of invisible layers, where it consists of various tangible and intangible elements that were hidden, lost or forgotten through its history. By examining such neglected characters within the city, the project aims to rediscover the identity the place once had, to create a city of prophecy and memory where its own characters are celebrated.

The proposal brings together a collective of redundant and vacant buildings within the outskirts of Bradford’s city centre. With a notion of Bradford as a layered enclave, the island plots follow the hidden beck and historic waterway of Bradford which would be uncovered, bringing together the lost artefacts and forgotten buildings along the route.

The framework of characteristics developed based on Bradford aims to bring a migration of people towards the city providing new communities that run along the beck, enhancing life, the environment, and the artefacts of Bradford. This creates not only an urban layering of connected sites, but a layering of the communities, as well as the laying of design right down to the details.

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T H EORY ; T H E UR BA N A RC H I P E LAGO

‘Berlin as a green archipelago’ by Oswald Mathias Ungers and Rem Koolhaas and the 'Masques' project by John Hejduk brought inspirations to interpret Bradford as a series of urban archipelagos, where each artefact has become independent and anonymous substances over neglect.

Berlin as a green archipelagos

Hejduk's Berlin Masque

With the perception of the urban blocks of Bradford as isolated enclaves, the Urban Archipelago highlights the enclaved city. Within this space, each artefacts are revealed, connected and layered to generate a distinctive urban space. These communal and functional spaces begin to form the basis of the characters of the city.

Taxonomy of Site Characters

Conceptual painting, homage to Giorgio de Chirico’s techniques & ideology (Acrylic on Canvas, 203mm x 254mm)

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Insertion Addition of vertical routes to improve the accessibility for modern use. A sense of completeness, where the old and the new are working together as one entity.

Exposure Existing buildings are hollowed out to let the light in and allow natural ventilation. The upper levels are exposed to serve as private outdoor space for the users, encouraging social interaction within the communities.

Connection Bridges create dialogues between buildings across the beck. Permeable facade marking the grandeur entrance to the site.

Digging Down The exposure of the beck allows historic structures to be revealed. By opening up the basement level and creating various access points leading to the central void, a new public flow would be inter weaved to the enclave.

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DESIGN STRATEGY The environmental analysis of the existing buildings revealed that a large proportion of the buildings is under lit especially in the inner spaces as the buildings stand directly next to each other and the spaces are distant from openings. Given the conditions, the inner volumes are hollowed out vertically which allows light even to the lower levels. In addition, top floors of the buildings are opened up to provide outdoor spaces which would be shared among the residents. These spaces could also be provided as allotments, where it becomes a space for the community to grow and self sustain in the heart of the residential buildings.

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New voids GF

New exterior spaces 0%

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Proposal

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(% of occupied hours - Illuminance min. 28 footcandles, 0.85m above the floor plate)

The allotment - Framing views onto the beck below and the Performance Centre accross.

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75%

Sec t io n a l D raw in g : C o - l iv i n g Fa m i l y Re s i d e n ce ( l e f t) & Pe r f o r m a n ce C e ntre ( r i g ht )

PROGRAMME Research on Bradford’s societal conditions revealed serious issues around the l a c k o f h o u s i n g , l ow q u a l i ty l iv i n g environment and social separation. Given the background, the proposal consists of a co-living residential complex with a multifunctional communal facility at the core of the site. Based on Bradford’s long history of theatre culture, the communal facility includes a performance centre which could be used by local theatre groups and communities. The strategy aims to encourage social inclusion among diverse inhabitants in the city, as well as to resurrect Bradford’s identity through strengthening its theatrical culture.

B F&G F De t ai l Pl a n ; E x ist in g fa c a d e re te nt i o n w i t h n ew steel in ser t io n .

C LT Pan e l f lo o r | C o n c rete exter n a l wall bac k i n g ( I n sit u & Prec a st ) , | Sto n e b a s e m e nt exte rn a l c l a d . E x ist in g sto n e a n d bri c k c u lve r t to t he l ef t, w it h n ew s te e l co n n e c t i n g t he st r u c t u ra l b r id ge.

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L e f t: Performance Centre - Restaurant & Reception | Right: 1 : 5 0 Det a i l Mo d e l ; B ra d f o rd i a n ch a ra cte rs i d e nti f i e d th ro u g h re sea rc h a re re i nte r p re te d to cre ate a n i m p r i nte d i nte r i o r fa c a de, re p re s e nti n g th e i d e nti ty a ro u n d th e s i te a n d B radf ord.

T h e h i s to r i c textu re i s l aye re d , s h i f te d f ro m th e exi st i n g co m p o s i ti o n , cre ati n g a n i ntr i g u i n g d i a l o g u e b e twe en t h e n ew a n d th e o l d .

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Shrewsbury Gild Programme : Building reuse project (Library to Rehabilitation School) Location

: Castle Gates, Shrewsbury, UK

Year

: Winter 2020 | Master 1st year

Duration

: 3 months (Pair work)

The Shrewsbury Library, originally built as a free grammar school in 1400s, has always played a crucial role as a public educational facility in the town. The proposal is to convert the Grade I Listed building into a craft rehabilitation school for the homeless in Shrewsbury, to address the serious issue in the town and rethink the building’s social value in the society today.

The history of gild, a group of skilled craftsmen in Shrewsbury, revealed its critical influence on building relationships among the locals. In addition, modern examples of craft workshops revealed that they do not only provide people the skill but also allow self-expression, which is what the people are in need.

Based on the tangible and intangible heritage of the historic building, the project aims to solve the social issue, and create a new hub of sustainable, local crafts and community.

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Site Plan S=1:1200

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P RO CES S TIMEL I N E To consolidate the scheme a rehabilitation programme was designed; it is a maximum of 2 years course, beginsing with making tableware for the learners themselves, which help them learn the skill but also encourage their self expression.

Subsequently, the people will be making crafts for the building, such as the tiles and the furnitures; the building itself would be completed by the people’s work. As the they complete the course, they will be hired as teachers to the new homeless, which would establish a virtuous cycle

of rehabilitation.

To overcome the funding issues found through research, the crafts ultimately will be sold to the public, which would also get the homeless back to the society. In addition, the craft courses will be offered to the public, which will encourage interactions between the homeless and the locals and remove the stigma of the homeless. Some rooms such as the lecture room and galleries could be lend for events both to support funds and to contribute to the local society.

PROGR AMME

BASIC ROOM IS PROVIDED

MAKING FOR THEMSELVES

MAKING FOR THE BUILDING

MAKING FOR THE PEOPLE

MATER IALS As for the materials of the crafts, the wastes from the demolished buildings would be reused. The idea derived from the Granbyware project by Assemble, where they create ceramic tableware from 100% recycled materials. This would not only create a sustainable construction chain but also ingenerate a new building regenerated by the old.

PEOPLE GET BACK TO THE SOCIETY

Materials: Industrial clay waste/ crushed glass/marble dust/refractory bricks/broken slates/crushed tiles (Reference from “Granbyware” by Granby Workshop, Aseemble)

BUILDINGS COMPLETE

CONSTRUCTION

EXISTING IS ANALYSED

11 - The Shrewsbury Gild

SUBTRACTION WITH AWARENESS

ADDITION FOR NEEDS

COMPLETION BY PEOPLE

DES IG N P RO POSAL As the building consists of various structures constructed over time, the uses of each building are allocated to follow that of the original; the timber building which was originally a townhouse will be used for residential purposes, while the stone building which was a school will be refurbished for craft courses. The new atrium inbetween connects the two buildings.

The space gradually shift from public spaces on the ground floor to more private spaces on upper floors. The atrium in the exhibition space allows the activities to be seen which creates unity and avoids the feel of isolation.

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Complete demolition Partial demolition

o p Extension

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Performance space Private rehabilitation room

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1F j. k. l. m. n. o. p. q.

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Lecture room IT training room Storage Private rehabilitation room Living & Common room Kitchen Residence Bathroom

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GF a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i.

Material show room Wood studio Ceramic Studio Exhibition Space Lobby Cafe Reception Shower room Counselling room

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New elements

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New structure New access

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First Floor | Common Space, facing the residence 13 - The Shrewsbury Gild

Ground Floor | Exhibition Space

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ST RUC T U R AL DETAI L All works are completed to provide an excellent level of air tightness to allow for better thermal envelope. The blackened steel is used for the primary frames, to contrast with the existing oak beams. For environmental purposes, the floors and walls will be composed of CLT panels, which will be bolted to the top of the steels.

The section cuts the Riggs hall, exposing the skeletal frame of the existing structure and the new facade, compromising of brick and curtain walling cladding. The old infill panels of the Riggs hall will be removed carefully and recycled. New insulation will be added to existing to provide for a higher standard heat retention. The new brick facade will improve thermal capabilities, and natural ventilation is provided to the rooms via operable louvred windows, contributing to less energy cost.

1. Insertion cut into beam to allow skylight to be secured with mastic sealant.

2. Triple glazed window panel.

3. Blackened steel gutter fixed flush to the primary steel structure.

4. Coltlite natural louvred window ventilator 1000x300mm - Thermally broken frame 47mm.

5. Safety rail for sun room.

Existing New

6. Operable glazed door to sun space.

7. Blackened flashing.

steel

rain

8. Horizontal 5 ply CLT panel - to support new sun room ‘balcony’.

9. Existing Structural beam.

10. Cladding rail bolted to wooden vertical truss.

11. Perforated brickwork covering window.

12. Horizontal 5 ply CLT floor panel bolted to the wall panel.

13. Wall build-up - Vertical 5 ply CLT wall panel bolted to the ground panel. Vertical truss 600mm centres, 24mm OSB, VCL, 50mm cavity, brick cladding.

14. Insulation to cover existing wall and new CLT panel.

15. Brick cladding attached metal bracket 16. Block work support 17. Marmox Thermoblock Structurally insulating block

15 - The Shrewsbury Gild

North Elevation in Detail S=1:75 Infill panels are removed to showcase skeletal wooden beams, and framed with a contemporary yet contextual brick facade, allowing light to permeate through however still providing privacy for the residents. The subtle change in the brick pattern indicates the boundary of floor levels inside, responding to the decorative frieze of the existing buildings. A new perforated brick facade to the building wraps the entirety, consolidating a wholeness of design.

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Finding Your Way Home Programme : Residential Location

: Wyle Cop, Shrewsbury, UK

Year

: Autumn 2019 | Master 1st year

Duration

: 3 months (Pair work)

This proposal aims to encourage the live&work lifestyle in Shrewsbury. The council stated an elder demographic within the town, with people often commuting to work and young people vacating the town as there is insufficient employment. Given the background, the project proposes residential complex to encourage an independent yet communal style of living and working. The design strategy includes a flexible ground floor-plan allowing for shops, studios, offices to inhabit the space.

The sequence of space derives from the spatial analysis that was prominent in the town. A succession of spaces was evident from large (town squares) to small (alleys that create nooks of space). These are all incorporated into the design, helped by the inclusion of public and private allowances. Being seated beside a window or a balcony provide private spaces to gather or relax. By creating such instances of interaction where residents can socialise, the project aims to establish a modern lifestyle in the town and to provide a new working hub.

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SERIAL VISION

1. Active frontage at the entrance.

Following the dramatic yet intimate spatial changes in the town, the masterplan is designed in human scale to create a sequence of experience. The inner visions framed by the gates and the arches, decorated by nooks, street furnitures and hints of greenery create a rich journey, leading people to walk through.

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4. Narrow alleys following the propo Shrewsbury. The arched gate softly se space.

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1 19 - Finding Your Way Home

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7. An irregular open void at the end of th inviting path to the site.

2. Curves in the pathway lead people to walk forward.

3. A small square at the meeting point of alleys, where the tree becomes a focal point and provides seating spaces.

ortion of that of eparates the inner

5. The courtyard provides an enclosure, creating another space of comfort.

6. The sunken square allows a dramatic exposure of the view, with a scenery to the river.

he site provides an

8. The arched wall subtly separates the entrance of the nursery to the public pathway, creating a social area for the parents.

9. The courtyard becoming the connecting point of various pathways. Arches in difference size meeting the need of uses, a pedestrianised way and an emergency route.

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SPAT I A L A NALYS I S Shrewsbury had its distinct sequence of spaces within the town. Field work revealed that the once fortified town has layers of separation between spaces, which creates a separation between the public and the private and a sense of enclosed community throughout the town.

Following the analysis, the spatial sequence of the proposal follows the pattern; from a street to a gate, a narrow alley to a courtyard. There is a hierarchy of private spaces within the site; the courtyard on the ground level is a public one shared among the residents, while the balconies on the upper floors are for individual households.

I. Square

II. Street

III. Gate

IV. Alley

V. Courtyard

VI. Balcony

Site Massing Model 1:200

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Courtyard

Balcony & View

E NV I RON MEN TA L & D E S I G N ST R AT EGY To gain the thermal performance desired throughout the building, passive house construction was used, allowing for a reduction of 2.5-3 times less heating energy compared to the UK zero carbon standard.

This construction will require an MVHR system allowing for the ventilation of the building and using the heat exchanger to heat our water system. Combining this with the passive house allows for low energy consumption as the thermal barrier is so great.

hot dry air outlets fresh warm/cool air

Illustration of the MVHR flow Ground Floor Wall-to-Floor Detail: 1. Triple glaze argon filled windows with blackened steel clad frame to achieve passive house standards.

2. Blackened steel sill/seater 3. Twin stud timber frame 4. Cladding tie, brick to wooden frame 5. Acoustic panelling 45mm service gap 6. Brick cladding attached metal bracket 7. 300mm Rock wool insulation 8. 50mm Cavity 9. DPC & VCL overlapping from floor and wall to give seal on OSB 10.Insulated structural block 11.Fine mesh filter to block waste run-off 12. Steel ‘L’ boundary bracket 13. Telescopic flood water storage pipe 14. Concrete planter 15. Concrete block and beam floor construction 225mm deep 600mm centres (resistance to uplift forces), 200mm rigid insulation, DPM, 50mm screed, floor battens, hard wood flooring

NOTE : Air tightness tape to seal the fabric of the building eg. (OSB, Vapour control and plaster board layers) to passive house standards.

As the passive house standards require highly insulated frames, this thickness of wall was used for advantage, creating nooks and spaces within these recesses which evokes communal interactions.

The wooden interior with black metal framing create a modern and warm feel, contrasting to the traditional brick exterior facade.

Bay Window Model with Collage 1:20 22

Living with Rain Programme : Collective Housing Location

: Musashino, Tokyo

Year

: Fall 2018/Graduation work

Duration

: 4 months

This proposal aims to pursue symbiosis between housings and its regional water cycle. In Tokyo, rainwater rarely penetrate underground as a result of extensive housing development. In addition, riverr pollution has been a serious problem for many years, as most districts in Tokyo adopt combined sewage system which discharge sewage in the river during heavy rains.

Thus instead of processing water away from people, the project proposes housings which land absorbs as much rainwater as possible, as well as creating an interaction between people's living and the exterior ambient.

Musashino City

Groundwater Level Map of Tokyo

The site lies in Musashino City, where the geographical data of the underground water level revealed an urgent need to increase the amount of groundwater recharge. The city is pumping the greatest amount of groundwater in Tokyo, and the data revealed its decrease around the city caused by over extraction. Under these conditions, the proposal aims to realise a sustainable use of groundwater, and to remedy the groundwater circulation of the surrounding area in the long term.

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area previously occupied

L A N D S C A PE To increase the amount of recharge, maximum surface ground area is ensured, to let the land to hold as much rain as possible and allow rainwater to gradually penetrate into the ground.

Maximising the ground surface area

By undulating the land, reservoirs are created

Adapting the landscape to surroundings

Reducing the contact area allows rainwater to permeate

Distributing space improves daylight and ventilation

Various private areas arise by shifting parts of each house

A RC H I T EC T U R E The houses are designed to make a minimal contact with the ground to leave as much ground area as possible for recharge. Building each residence separately also enables amenity for residences from the surrounding nature.

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Wet areas are vertically placed on the same position

The water surface reflects light and illuminates the interior

The deck space continuous from the waterside

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Ground Floor Plan

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First Floor Plan

Rainwater creates ponds and connects individual dwellings. The water penetrated in this land is percolated by the stratum over a long time, resurrecting as drinking water for the citizens in the city.

Keeping an appropriate distance between the alley and the living space

The entrance is set back from the road

Rich waterside scenery from the window

A-A' Section Plan S=1:150

Shelter Museum for the Nakazato Shell Midden Programme

: Museum

Location

: Kaminakazato, Tokyo

Year

: Fall 2017 /Barchelor 3rd year

Duration

: 2.5 months

This is a museum which acts as a shelter of the remain, to protect and to inform about

Oku St.

existing trench

its history. Commonly in a museum, interior

utilising trench

space is completely shuttered from the exterior

new excavation

to protect the articles on display. However, as the remains were parts of the geological strata directly deposited on the ground, it did not seem appropriate to cut it off from the ground

Nursing home

and display as pieces. Therefore this museum is

site Ⅰ

designed with semi-outdoor galleries, where the remains are displayed in its original state.

The plan also utilises passive design so that the remains are kept at a stable condition using

Kindergarten Kaminakazato St.

the insulation from the ground and natural ventilation from curved roofs. Through this project an idea of sustainable museum is

Tababa St.

presented, maximising the potential of nature.

Sunlight is reflected on the round shell-like roof, bringing in a soft light to the interior. From the dim entrance, the void gradually gets brighter to dramatise the journey through space and time from the Jomon era to present.

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Section Plan S=1:200

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Renovation of Kominka Programme : Housing Location

: Kitasaku-gun, Nagano, Japan

Year

: Fall 2016 /Bachelor 2nd year

Duration

: 2 months

The aim of this project was to revitalise a traditional Japanese house Kominka named Hirose's House. Making the most of its structure, materials, layout and the characteristics of each space, we were required to revive an old traditional house to a house suitable to today's lifestyle.

Leveraging the dynamism of the traditional wooden structure, the existing layout was reconsidered by removing some of the internal walls and replacing external infills partially by glazing. This allowed flexibility for modern use as well as plenty of sunlight in the interior space. Examining eye-level views, distance and the openness of each room, the house provides a number of small private spaces scattered within an open space, where individuals can feel at ease at their own places while having a sense of belonging.

Structural Model of the Existing 29

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Mona Tamaru +44 (0) 7377374334 | +81 468952556 (current temporary no.) mona.maru007@gmail.com

An elevation drawing from a housing project, 2016 (Awarded Jury Prize in Residential Studio Project 2016)