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A M L A D I PORTFOLIO
YR3_STUDIO THREE ELY : THE FENLAND Oct 2009 - May 2010 University of Cambridge UK
01_Derive: Ely, UK The exploration of the river side site in Ely - textures, layers, horizon lines, erosion, fragmentation. A key section through the waters edge, examining pockets or ‘incidents’ of water that create incisions through the solid ground. Exposing the quiet of the vast fens that is cordoned off from the town centre due to the river and the ‘island’ site. A forgotten rural wilderness.
(Above) Site photographs (Right) Section through the site; transition from town centre, to river, to ‘island’ and finally to the vast fen
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02_The Folly Creation of a folly located within the River Ouse. A middle ground between the town centre and the vast fen. A space that hopes to draw people from the town and expose them to the fen. Inverted ground - recycling sub soil collected from a construction site in Cambridgeshire allowed for the production of a 1:1 rammed earth window detail exploring how incisions of light can puncture this monolithic mass in a similar way to how the water creates an incision into the solid ground of Ely.
SECTIONAL D ETAI L MODEL 1:10
(Above, Clockwise from Left)1:100 Model of folly (plaster, clay and wood); various sketches, 1:1 rammed earth detail of windows in the folly walls (rammed earth and wood) (Right) Section through folly showing water percolating through the brick walls, under the timber platform
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03_The Folly: Incisions of Light
dining in the fens
An isolated ‘incident’ within the vast watery fenland landscape acts as a secretive and intimate ’moment’ within the bigger picture of Ely. Either stumbled upon accidently or used purposefully as a community dining space, Embedded within the flooded fenland, it provides a communal threshold between the city and the agricultural expanse. a junction within the marshland in which human activity and natural elements of the fens overlap in a symbiotic relationship
on the edge of a watery void, the dining room acts as an intimate interior juxtaposed to the uninterrupted expanse of water that continues into the fenland landscape
dining in the fens a junction within the marshland in which human activity and natural elements of the fens overlap in a symbiotic relationship on the edge of a watery void, the dining room acts as an intimate interior juxtaposed to the uninterrupted expanse of water that continues into the fenland landscape
The structure is projected into the flooded marshland and its lower storey acts as a threshold that allows for the interior and exterior environments to overlap as water percolates through openings in the perforated brickwork. 1:250 Section looking NE
the monolithis rammed earth walls juxtapose an entanglement of brick and filligree timber that echoe the surrounding reeds and the erroded waterside structures of Ely 1:250 Section looking NE
development model 1:50 [photo not to scale]
an interior escape. a point of overlap of interior and exterior in which light and water intermingle with human activity the creation of a perforated space, that punctures the watery expanse, bringing people back to the original landscape of Ely
the monolithis rammed earth walls juxtapose an entanglement of brick and filligree timber that echoe the surrounding reeds and the erroded waterside structures of Ely
the monolithis rammed earth walls juxtapose an entanglement of brick and filligree timber that echoe the surrounding reeds and the erroded waterside structures of Ely
sectional detail model 1:10 [image not to scale]
dining
in
the
fens
a junction within the marshland in which human activity and natural elements of the fens overlap in a symbiotic relationship on the edge of a watery void, the dining room acts as an intimate interior juxtaposed to the uninterrupted expanse of water that continues into the fenland landscape
sectional detail model 1:10 [image not to scale]
sectional detail model 1:10 [image not to scale]
1:250 Section looking NE
development model 1:50 [photo not to scale]
an interior escape. a point of overlap of interior and exterior in which light and water intermingle with human activity the creation of a perforated space, that punctures the watery expanse, bringing people back to the original landscape of Ely
the monolithis rammed earth walls juxtapose an entanglement of brick and filligree timber that echoe the surrounding reeds and the erroded waterside structures of Ely
(Above) Models created at scales 1:50 and 1:5 that explore materiality and light (Right) Section; the folly is projected into the water by a walkway resting on brick piers. Timber framed opening allow light to puncture the monolithic structure
NATAS HA AM LAD I
sectional detail model 1:10 [image not to scale]
04_Masterplan Looking at the ‘island’ site in the context of the town of Ely. The island is created by the railways along the south east edge, and the river to the north west - a desolate piece of land isolated from the vast agricultural expanse to the east, and the town of Ely to the west. Production of a masterplan that allows the water’s edge to blur and merge with the land through a watery fen created via the proposed decrease in field drainage. The creation of a watery region with an ever shifting water level, will extend the boundary of Ely into a boggy marshland that creates a transition and sensitive connection between the immediate island site and the fens from which it was formerly cut off. The strategy also aims to use the ‘island’ as a primary connection between smaller green spaces within the city and the vast fens beyond the railway, via the implementation of boardwalks that cut incisions into the marshland.
(Left) Sketches analysing options for masterplanning strategy (Right) 1:1000 Plan documenting final masterplanning strategy (Mixture of model photographs and CAD treatment)
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05_The Island Youth Retreat A continuation of ‘moments’ within the watery fens, this youth retreat for inner city school children forms a key connection between the island and the boggy marshland beyond. Bridging these two environments the building begins at the waters edge and stretches into the previously ignored fenland of Ely; fragmenting and dispersing into the vast adventurous terrain. The youth retreat provides views towards the town centre and views towards the fenland allowing the children that visit to explore both realms of Ely.
(Above) Sketches examining the programme of the youth retreat and a 1:500 Model testing the treatment of the landscape around the youth retreat and ways in which the building can sit against the waters edge (Card, wood and resin) (Right) 1:200 Model examining the programme, spatial organisation, and methods of landscaping around the building (Cardboard, acetone and toner)
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06_Evolution of Materiality Following on from themes of fragmentations and erosion noted from my site research, I decided to utilise perforated brickwork as the main material for the youth retreat. Through utilising this uneven and rugged material composition I hoped to create a building that feels embedded within the site. The apertures in the brick work would either be glazed providing lighting into interior circulation routes or they would be left open to ventilate partially exterior walkways and courtyards. The use of perforate brick work would also create a layering of planes; veiling certain spaces, like jalis, to provide privacy and protecting the allotments from strong prevailing winds
(Above) 1:100 Models exploring various transparencies through varying densities of perforated brickwork (Cardboard)
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07_The Hearth The building as a whole is low lying in order to feel embedded within the ground and work symbiotically with the flat planes of the fenland, rather than dominate the landscape. The natural landscape should be enhanced by the youth retreat, not overshadowed.. The Hearth of the building is composed of a series of administrative spaces, group workshops, classrooms, the dining room, and the auditorium, all surrounding a central courtyard that maintains views north towards the town beyond the River Ouse and south, towards the vast marshland beyond the railwaysviews
(Top Left) 1:500 Massing Model - Plan and Elevation (Cardboard and wood) (Bottom Row and Far Right) Development sketches, plans, textural investigations and models of the Hearth (Cardboard, resin, acetone and toner)
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07_The Hearth: Section Section of the Hearth- the building sits along the waters edge with a courtyard at the centre. A large dining room and kitchen sit at the highest point of the building; its sloping roof as a beacon. The kitchen evokes the ‘domestic’ setting so many inner children do not experience; a means of congregation and providing a ‘family’ atmosphere
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08_Accomodation Pods: Development Adjacent to the Hearth of the building sits a more frgmented architecture. The accomodation pods are scattered within the marshland allowing the children to use raised walkways or thr rugged terrain to journey from the pods to the Hearth.
(Above) 1:500 Massing Model - Testing the arrangement of accommodation pods as single, double or triple unit configurations (Wood and Cardboard) (Right) How the pods will sit amoungst the wild unruly landscape
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08_Accomodation Pods: Threshold Due to the slight slope of the landscape, coupled with the proposed decrease in drainage, the land in which the pods sit will harbour a constantly changing water level. At certain points in the year the water level will rise from 0 - 2m in height. Hence the way in which the structure of the pods meet the ground in critical. The use of brick piers that raise the pods from the ground and allow the water levels to rise around them. Perforated brick walls also allow for privacy around each pod whilst also allowing water to percolate into the mini courtyards created for each pod - an overlap of brick, water and ground is formed provided a dynamic environment for the teenagers inhabiting these spaces. A sense of adventure is created and the inhabitants experience nature that they would not be exposed to in their typical inner city neighbourhoods
(Above) Development sketches depicting the evolution of the accommodation pods’ form, creation of courtyards, and the way in which the structure meets the ground (Right) 1:100 Massing Model - Development of accommodation pods. Testing perforated brickwork for privacy and as a sensitive method meeting point of building and marshland. Perforations encourage foliage to grow in and around the walls, becoming part of the landscape (Wood, plaster and cardboard)
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09_Construction: Development
(Left) Development sketches examining the construction of the wall and roof (Right) Final detailed section showing interior of accomodation pods and how they sit on brick piers to raise them from the sloping ground that is prone to flooding
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09_Construction: Development
(Left) Final detailed section showing interior of Dining room, the covered walkway below and landscaping in the central courtyard (Right) Development sketches examining the construction of the wall and roof and 1:5 detail model of the roof and wall junction when proposing the use of cedar shingles and brick work (wood, metal and cardboard)
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09_Construction: Roofing, Glazing and Wall Composition
(Clockwise) Detailed section looking at the roof construction; Drawing depicting how the uncontrollable rural landscape will provide an exciting and dynamic overlap between the natural and the built environments; 1:200 massing model examining the rough and rugged materiality of the building in the landscape; 1:5 model of roof-wall construction (wood, metal, cardboard) ;
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10_Final Plan of Ely Youth Retreat The Hearth sits by the water edge with its neighbouring accommodation pods being scattered within the boggy marshland. A series of perforate brick walkways join the Hearth to the larger pods intended for very young children. These raised planes provide security and semi enclosed spaces for the children to congregate outside. The smaller pods allow teenagers to use the rugged terrain whilst utilising smaller perforated brick walls to create small private courtyards for each pod
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11_Final Section of Ely Youth Retreat This section shows the low lying nature of the youth retreat. The rugged exterior mimics the rugged landscape allowing the building to embed itself next to the waters edge; evolving naturally from the landscape The accommodation pods are raised on brick piers allowing the water level to rise and fall naturally; the building accommodates this cyclical process and harnesses the ever changing environment to provide an exciting ad adventurous space for children. They are free to explore the previously ignored fenland and hence are exposed to a wilderness many of them have never before experienced in their inner city neighbourhoods.
(Above) North-East facing section (Below) View of exterior circulation routes created by layered brick planes and stairways that cut incisions into the dense brick work envelope; View of the the courtyard and the fraont face of the building that sits along the waters edge
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12_Inhabitation of Ely Youth Retreat
(Clockwise from Top Right) Exterior staircases that are protected from prevailing winds via the vertical perforated brick planes; Interior of classroom where the layered brick walls also act as shelves and desks; Undercrofts used for bicycle storage; Undercroft adjacent to the central courtyard provides a key circulation route providing bicycle storage and a space for children to congregate before entering the adjacent workshop spaces.
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13_Final Model (1:50) : The Hearth
(Clockwise from Top Right) 1:50 model of The Hearth of the youth retreat (timber); Interior view of the dining room. The room has steep sloping roof and angled roof lights that flood the room with natural light. The dining room provides a space where the children can cook and eat together. A sense of ‘family’ is provided for the duration of their stay at the reteat, providing them with the domestic structure many of them do not have in their home lives
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14_Final Model (1:200) : Sitting within the Landscape
1:200 model showing slope of the landscape, the change from solid ground to watery marshland, and the way in which the irregular pitched rooves provide a dynamic architectural landscape
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YR2_STUDIO TWO THE CRAFTHOUSE October 2008 - May 2009 University of Cambridge UK
01_Mapping Space: Lost Shoes - Public Square Using the lost shoes scattered throughout the derelict plot of land in Tottenham, North London, I plotted the human activity taking place in the space during the night. I revisited the site on a daily basis and tracked the movement of the five abandoned shoes over the course of two weeks. Never witnessing the actual movement of the shoes, the process focused instead on the effects of movement; the consequences. I observed the after effects of the inhabitation by squatters and homeless people who inhabited the site at night.
(Above, Clockwise from Left) 1:100 model tracking the movement of the forgotten shoes (string and foam core); Section sketch transferring my findings into a series of horizontal planes that would transform the forgotten wasteland into a community driven public square. (Right) 1:100 model; concept development of the public square;
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02_The Crafthouse The building that would be designed to support the public square is a ropers guild; functioning as both a craft house producing rope on site and a guild hall, the building would also utilise the rope for rock climbing workshops for children in the local community, local youth centres and the students of the College of North East London, to the west of the site. Site research carried out, highlighted that the local community lacked places for young people to occupy their time productively. The ropers guild would act as a community centre for young people in Tottenham, and would subsequently aid in reducing street crime by providing children with activities both in the building and in the neighbouring public square
Various development sketches and models examining the programme of the ropers guild and the form of the building; the production of rope requires long rooms - a form I endeavour to use throughout from the manufacturing in the basement, upwards towards the guildhall at the top of the building
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02_The Crafthouse
(Top Right and Bottom) Elevations showing ‘stacked rooms’ and incisions of light through dense foliage (Middle Right) Development sketches of double height guildhall dining space (Above Left) View of entrance atrium, stepped seating and rock climbing walls
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m ‘working square’
02_The Crafthouse: Construction Detail
1_ entrance via ground level from the north, or via a ramp from basement level from the south end of the building
2_ people enter into triple height atrium, flooded with light and punctured vertically by service core
3_ those in the waiting area can look down onto the ropewalk beneath or across into the workshops
1:100 M O D E L movement past building into ‘active square, west of the site
the craft house provokes an intense spatial arrangement within the square
multi layeredand realm offirst the ‘active square’ (Above, Clockwise from right) Section detail examining the construction detail of the basement, ground floor external envelope; Interior of the double height glazed dining hall at the top of the building; 1:200 model of the ropers guild; 1:500 model of the new public square and the way in which the ropers guild merges with the public square to bring knowledge of the craft to the local residents of Tottenham Hale (card, wood and plaster); monolithic entrance tunnel to the ropers guild movement through the squares
4_ first floor cafe is a double height, south facing space used as a social hub for CONEL students and the communities fo tottenham hale
5_ overlooking the cafe space, the offices of the second floor, work together with the manufacturing processes taking place in the basement, so as to maintain the guild
6_ the third floor, double height, guildhall is an emblem for the guild, sitting at the top of the building; looking out onto the two squares
I N T E R I O R
NATAS HA AM LAD I S E Q U E
02_The Crafthouse: Final Model The offices, meeting rooms and workshop spaces surround a triple height atrium. The atrium acts to draw in natural light and aids in ventilating the building. A series of walkways traverse the atrium joining rooms from opposite ends of the building and a glazed stairwell acts as the central feature within the ropers guild.
1_ entrance via ground level from the north, or via a ramp from basement level from the south end of the building
2_ people enter into triple height atrium, flooded with light and punctured vertically by service core
1_ entrance via ground level from the north, or via a ramp from basement level from the south end of the building
1_ entrance via ground level from the north, or via a ramp from basement level from the south end of the building
4_ first floor cafe is a double height, south facing space used as a social hub for CONEL students and the communities fo tottenham hale
2_ people enter into triple height atrium, flooded with light and punctured vertically by service core 5_ overlooking the cafe space, the offices of the second floor, work together with the manufacturing processes taking place in the basement, so as to maintain the guild
3_ those in the or across into t
2_ people puncture
3_ those in the waiting area can look down onto the ropewalk beneath or across into the workshops
6_ the third floor, double height, guildhall is an emblem for the guild, sitting at the top of the building; looking out onto the two squares
1:100 M O D E L
4_ first floor cafe is a double height, south facing space used as a social hub for CONEL students and the communities fo tottenham hale
(Right, From Top to Bottom) 1:50 model; the central foyer, foyer seating, and cafeteria balcony 4_ first floor cafe is a double height, south facing space used as a social hub for CONEL students and the communities fo tottenham
5_ overlooking the cafe space, the offices of the second floor, work together with the manufacturing processes taking place in the basemaintain the guild
so as to (Left) Section of Ropers guild showing stacked elongated storeys, with rope manufacture taking place in the basement,hale the ground floor spilling out onto the newly shapedment, public square, and the linear facade of the dining hall at the top of the building - a beacon of Tottenham Hale
5_ overlooking the cafe space, the offices of the second floor, work together with the manufacturing processes taking place in the basement, so as to maintain the guild
6_ the third floor, double height, guildhall is an emblem for the guild, sitting at the top of the building; looking out onto the two squares
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I N T E R I O R 6_ the th
sitting a
S E Q U E N C E
YR1_STUDIO HYDROLOGY CENTRE Oct 2007 - May 2008 University of Cambridge UK
01_Hydrology Centre: Deptford Creek, London, UK Using the naturally sloping nature of Deptford Creek, our brief was to create a hydrology centre that would sit both on land and under water. The Hydrology centre will contain a mixture of offices, physical modelling labs, a water flume and a public cafe and viewing platform. Siting between a high embankment and the DLR railway the narrow strip of land is liable to flooding due to the ever changing water level of the creek. In response to the brief I proposed a hydrology centre that was half embedded into the ground and partially raised up on ‘stilt’ like members creating an undercroft that would at times flood, and at other times, act as a platform from which Creek walks can be carried out by the local community
(Left) Sketch of concept - Monolithic form juxtaposed with filigree nature of uprights supporting viewing platform (Right) Series of massing models at 1:200 (timber, cardboard and metal) and sketches, exploring the embedded nature of the hydrology centre and the proposition that lighter glass element would be raised up on steel uprights and the horizontal planes will mimic the staggered slope of the creek
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02_Hydrology Centre: Strata The Concrete walls are formed using horizontally linear shuttering that creates a rough and rugged facade that mimics the strata of the water eroded ground and unruly nature of the site. In turn, the layers of human activity within the hydrology centre are staggered to mimic the sloping nature of the site. The ‘Public’ realm sits at street level acting as a beacon, with the ‘Private’ realm of offices and gradually descending underground and into the water.
(Clockwise from Top Left) Section through initial design showing the ‘public’ realm as a beacon; 1:200 massing model (timber, metal and resin) of building in the site as it sits adjacent to the high embankment and the railways line, encroaching into the creek bed; The Public realm sits at street level with access gained via entrance stairwell that leads from major public pathways onto the viewing platform; Sketch section examining staggered planes that mimic the slope of the land; Sketch plan of public realm examining programme
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03_Hydrology Centre: Programme Identifying where to locate; Lecture Hall, Exhibition Space/ Viewing Platform, Cafe, virtual modelling lab, private meeting rooms, Research work space, archive and physical modelling lab with wave flume.
(Clockwise from Top Left) 1:200 model (cardboard and acrylic) identifying sizes of rooms required for public and private realms, Section through hydrology centre identifying location of different rooms and the way in which it sits in the site; Sketch of the Exhibition space/Viewing platform and its view out towards the creek; The half submerged meeting room in which ground level is identified via a strip of glazing.
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04_Hydrology Centre: Inserted Forms - Lecture Hall The Lecture Hall has a timber envelope and sits within the centre of the public realm; in section it straddles both the private ad public realm. Entered at street level it provides a space where the scientists and local residents/ school groups can come together to be taught about the creek and learn more about the foliage and organisms that inhabit the local area
(Clockwise from Top Left) 1:10 model of the front section of the hydrology centre (timber, cardboard, aluminium rods, resin); Exploded isometric showing the way in which the lecture hall, archive and physical modelling lab slot into the stratified concrete shell; series of sketches looking at the lecture hall as a volume inserted into the main body of the hydrology centre; section though the Hydrology centre at night showing the difference between the public realm at street level and the private realm below ground; 1:5 Construction detail of the timber lecture hall inserted into the concrete shell
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05_Hydrology Centre: Final Scheme
(Clockwise from Top Left) Hand drawn axonometric of final design highlighting ‘rabbit-warren’ of rooms under ground linked by a series of stairwells; Section of hydrology centre with the iconic blue metal bridge and the forest of aluminium uprights that mimic the industrial nature of the railway that passes nearby; Plan of Hydrology centre sitting between embankment to the south and public path and railway line to the north; 1:100 model of final design (timber, cardboard, plaster, resin)
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06_Hydrology Centre: Physical Modelling Lab The primary function of the Hydrology centre is that it serves a series of research scientists investigating the water levels and water quality in Deptford. The Building provides a large wave flume that allows water into the physically modelling lab, situated at the lowest point in the building. At times fully exposed, and at other times fully submerged the lab is slowly revealed and hidden from public view as the tide rises and falls, giving the lab a temporal nature . The building straddles solid ground and the creek bed allowing it to disappear and reappear; constantly changing form in response to the changing water level
(Clockwise from Top Left) Construction detail examining the foundations and external envelope of the submerged modelling lab and the flume that sits on the creek bed; 1:200 massing model (timber, cardboard and metal) showing the way the hydrology centre sits on both dry ground and the creek bed; 1:5 construction detail looking closely at the type of foundation required; the physical modelling lab; Short section showing the partially submerged hydrology centre
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NATASHA AMLADI 91 RIVER AVENUE PALMERS GREEN LONDON N13 5RP UK T: +44 (0)2088862293 E: natasha.amladi@gmail.com