Nathan Arnold - Component 1 Final by NathanArnold

Component 1 - Nathan Arnold -

Design Brief:

For this project I will be designing a community leisure complex for the local community of Romford.

In the local area there are a few gyms, however none of which are focused on the community and are just basic duplicates of each other with ranging prices. Furthermore, all of which are in close proximity of fast-food restaurants, which leads to unhealthy eating habits as a result of the easy access. By building a leisure centre (located away from town centre and fast food) and including a healthy café inside, it should promote healthy eating to customers.

I will be basing my design around the themes of contrast and flow. There will also be a key focus on recovery throughout the building being an important aspect of projects identity. The theme of recovery links nicely with flow, where flowing architecture could be used to create a relaxing atmosphere within the complex.

My design will bring families and community together with overruling aim of encouraging people to workout and live healthier lifestyles, with the help of the healthy café and childcare facilities.

Finally, my chosen location is ROM VALLEY WAY, which is connected to Queens hospital in Romford. The site was previously occupied by Romford ice arena, however, now sits empty and abandoned, waiting for a redevelopment.

Specification:

• Gym - including free weights, machines and cardio equipment

• Studio, Exercise rooms, Posing room

• Recovery / spa massage rooms

• Pool and Sauna

• Community space – childcare facilities and quiet working areas

• Healthy café

• On site Parking – existing car park (approximately 100 spaces)

• Bicycle facilities: Bike terminal and secure storage areas

Possible site locations:

1. ROM VALLEY WAY, Queens hospital Romford. – Previously occupied by Romford ice arena.

2. 22 Angel way, Romford. Large triangle site located 400m from Romford station.

3. SALVAGE YARD MEADOW FARM / EASTERN AVE, ROMFORDRM3 7YY.

4. Heaton grange reservoir - 63 Grange Road, ROMFORD. RM3 7EA

Since it turns out this site is a reservoir; it is not a suitable site to build on since it is council land and currently occupied by water for an important reason.

Breakdown of key facilities:

Gym Equipment and pool:

The gym area will contain a large variety of machines and cardio equipment. With the goal of having better equipment than local competitors. There will also be individual exercise rooms for group fitness classes, alongside a main studio. A posing room will also be a feature, allowing users to see their progress in the best lighting possible. There will also be a large, state of the art free weights area containing benches, squat racks and dumbbell rack.

Bikes for hire:

In my leisure complex, I want to incorporate a Santander bike docking station so you can borrow bikes, promoting the theme of healthy living and eco friendly travel around Romford. Bikes will be available to rent and there will also be plenty of storage space available specifically designated to personal cycles encouraging people to cycle to the gym.

Recovery is also a key focus of the design and therefore special recovery rooms containing recovery equipment will be incorporated into the gym while spa / sports massage facilities will be located in the main section of the building.

Cycle to Work scheme | bike to work benefits | Cyclescheme (blackhawknetworkextras.co.uk), Santander Cycles membership - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk)

Santander Cycles membership - Transport for London (tfl.gov.uk)

The pool and sauna will also be available for public use as an individual membership cost, with day and week passes available. Including a main 2m deep pool for swimming, a shallow kids pool, alongside a separate room linked to the changing rooms containing Jacuzzi's and sauna for privacy the purpose of separating the adult room from the general-purpose pool area.

Why become a member?

• Get quicker access to Santander Cycles - you don't need to use terminals

• Check your recent trips and charges

• See your monthly and yearly activity

• Buy your own key or get extra ones for friends and family (with online membership)

Cost of membership

• 24-hour membership: £2 for 24 hour access

• Yearly membership: £90 (25p per day)

Breakdown of key facilities:

Healthy Café:

Within my leisure centre there will be a café which will provide healthy, high protein meals of varying different sizes and macros to customers. The theory being that members will be more inclined to eat healthy if its nearby and convenient, much like the current situation in Romford, where people eat unhealthy food as it is the easiest option. There will be 2 sections of the menu and café to accommodate for different people.

The first of these sections will be low-calorie meals readily available, to help those who have goal of losing weight ‘cutting’ to achieve their target.

The next section of the menu will contain high-calorie meals for those customers who have goal of gaining weight ‘Bulking’. These options alongside protein shakes of different flavours will help customers to meet their protein targets for the day or to aid them in general health and wellbeing. The high protein meals will help to build muscle which will help to lose weight.

Furthermore, there will be also be a separate section of the café for people who have ordered high calorie meals to sit. This is to deter people's cravings taking over after watching people eating high calorie meals in front of them, while they're trying to stick to a diet.

The café will also provide a child's menu so members can come out of the gym, collect their child from childcare and have lunch or dinner together before going home. This may incentivise people to go to the gym after work because they have childcare sorted out for them and dinner available before going home for the day. (without having to cook 2 separate meals after a long day at work). For this reason, I believe that many people will benefit from the café and would use it all the time due to the convenience factors involved.

Childcare and work areas:

E.g. being able to rent rooms at the centre for childcare. There is already a nursery located at Rom Valley Way called ‘Little Explorers Day Nursery’ however this centre only facilitates children up to 5 years pre-school

Located at; My Space - Harold Hill, Lets Art It ‘provides a creative child-led platform for children aged 3-11.’ They offer holiday camps and weekend workshops where children are encouraged to create, communicate, and learn with independence (through crafts and play).

Their activities include painting, crafts, sensory play, music, cold cooking, face painting and free play.

Let's Art It! (letsartit.co.uk)

• By offering rooms to rent, this will allow organizations such as ‘Lets Art It’ to access the facilities and make best use of them to the community. Fulfilling the childcare aspect with activities for kids to do while their parents are in the gym.

• Also, another possible benefit of having the adults on site is that they are still there if there was any problems.

22 Angel Way, Romford RM1 1JH

Current development plans, proposed: 22 October 2015

https://democracy.havering.gov.uk/mgai.aspx?id=10398

The planning permission for the site is for around 350 homes, a 63-bed hotel, and retail. There will also be a new office for local police. This includes a 16-story tower and blocks of around 6 to 8 stories in height. The homes will be higher end than what Romford usually has. There are plans for rooftop gardens, balconies on every home, solar panels and large underground parking facility accessed from Angel Way opposite the North Street shell. Around 50 of the homes will be classed as affordable.

The shell on North Street is just one part of a larger site. The development will extend from the edge of St Edward's way, opposite the RUSSC club, right up to North Street.Angel Way will still run, as it does, along the south border of the site and then adjacent to the North Street shell.

The site is a prime piece of land, located 100m from Romford market and just 400m from the railway station.

https://democracy.havering.gov.uk/documents/s16381/15 1022%20Item%2010%20P0886%2015%20Angel%20Way% 20Draft%20PCF.pdf

The Truth About North St. (davidtaylor.online)

I conclusion I decided to go with a different site for my final location. I chose this because although Angel way sits in the heart of Romford and is very close in proximity to all major facilities, I decided the location would be too busy and wouldn’t fit the atmosphere which I wanted my site to have. Also, being at this location would mean directly competition with local leisure centres and gyms such as; The Sapphire and Nuffield health.

FLEETWOOD MOTORS SCRAPYARD

MEADOW FARM EASTERN AVE, ROMFORD - RM3 7YY

This location is a large cleared construction area connected to Fleetwood motors. The site itself is very large approximately 260 x 80m. Its also in a convenient location; being directly linked to the A12 it allows access from many more places e.g., Chadwell heath, Ilford and the other way, Brentwood and Basildon.

I chose not to go with this location even though it had direct access to the A12. I decided that queens hospital with all its public transport links made it more easily accessible to customers

Although the location was very good, I decided that it would be just too far out to be efficient for some people eg closer to Romford centre people. This site is in the middle of nowhere although between 3-4 towns

Queens hospital site analysis:

–

ROM VALLEY WAY, ROMFORD. RM7 0AE

I have chosen this site due to its reasonable size and accessibility from many neighboring towns. However also due to its proximity to Romford town Centre. Separated from the main locations (such as the Brewery) its an ideal location for a standalone building.

Site pictures and initial design idea drawings from blank site, eg possible location or shape

However, over the road at Rom valley way retail park there is a pizza hut though this nothing like the concentration within Romford centre, with there being at least 15 different fast-food options around the shopping centre alone.

Site history:

Romford Ice Arena was an ice rink located in Romford in the London Borough of Havering, England. The venue was built in the 1980s and at the time of opening in 1987 was equipped with a full range of facilities, including a cafe and arcade games. The venue closed in April 2013.

Location site analysis: from maps

Current site conditions

Personal site analysis: from visit

Insert pictures from visit

What did I learn from visiting the site?

How did this change my design ideas ?

Interpretation and understanding of the site

2021- A125 (view)

These pictures were from google earth

Blade court (view)

Primary theme research: movement and flow

These pictures were taken at the brewery, Romford. This is of the closest high density shopping areas to my site. It features large wave like structures which act as rain protection to the main street. Whereas the pavilions almost look like bridges or ramps which leads to a contrasting affect between the flowing waves and the sharp and steep ramps of the pavilions. With the curves blue pavilions being an exception to this contrast however have aspects of both.

Drawings and development from the pictures

Secondary theme research

Secondary theme research: Tension

Tension may be defined as: the force imparted through a flexible medium (string, cable, chain, rope etc.) when a pulling force is applied to either one or both ends of that flexible medium.

Tension may be defined as: the force imparted through a flexible medium (cable, chain, rope) when a pulling force is applied to either one or both ends of that flexible medium.

Sails, cables

Tensile architecture:

Research: Gyms, leisure and community centre's

• David Lloyd

• Everlast gym Thurrock

• Alphaland gym

• https://zynkdesign.com/our-work/horizon-fitness/

Evelyn Grace Academy

- Located in Brixton, London Borough of Lambeth

- Address: 255 Shakespeare Rd, London SE24 0QN

- Theme: integrating sports with architecture

The Academy opened in September 2008 in temporary accommodation admitting its first 180 pupils in year 7. In September 2010 the academy moved to a new purpose-built school building as it admitted its third year 7 year group. The building, designed by architect Zaha Hadid, was awarded the 2011 Stirling Prize.

The building itself is intersected by the running track which cuts underneath like a railway line in a way. This also divides the building into distinct sections therefore being an effective and interesting way to divide social space.

Carnegie School of Sport

by Sheppard Robson

Architecture firm: Sheppard Robson

Client company name: Leeds Beckett University

Contract value: £30,419,673.00

• https://www.architecture.com/awards-and-competitions-landing-page/awards/riba-regional-awards/riba-yorkshire-award-winners/2022/carnegie-school-of-sport

Response writing

Ground floor plan

First floor plan

Evesham Leisure Centre

Located: Evesham, Worcestershire WR11 4SU

by: Saville Jones Architects

A: Climbing wall

B: Reception

C: Cardio machines overlooking pool (part of D)

D: main gym area (1st floor)

G: Studios and meeting rooms on ground floor.

+ Group exercise room on 1st floor

P: Pool area

• Website

Designed

Northfield Leisure Centre

It offers a fantastic range of facilities suitable for all ages and abilities, including:

• Fully air-conditioned gym

• Two swimming pools

• Workout area for a variety of different classes.

• Outstanding fully accessible disability facilities.

• Swimming lessons

• Birthday parties

• Dance lessons

• Personal training (gym)

Key:

Ground floor:

Blue box = pool

Yellow box = changing rooms

First floor: Grey box = Gym

Orange box = studio

First floor plan

Ground floor plan

St Sidwell's Point Leisure Centre

Passivhaus News

https://www.passivhaustrust.org.uk/news/detail/?nId=824

The much-anticipated St Sidwell’s Point has finally started on site. The flagship in Exeter City Council’s regenerating city centre masterplan is a pioneering Passivhaus Leisure Centre – aiming for certification and set to become a world first.

Networking breakfast and Site Visit – St Sidwell’s Point Exeter

Constructing Excellence SW

Proposed render of St Sidwell's Point

The bespoke commercial Passivhaus is expected to open to the public in the winter of 2021, forming part of a £300m city centre vision from the council, which will also see housing, offices, restaurants, and retail, as well as the possibility of a new multi-use entertainment venue.

Due to their high heating demands and substantial running costs, swimming pools often constitute a financial burden to municipalities. St Sidwell’s Point will replace an existing ageing swimming pool, deemed difficult & costly to upgrade to modern standards. The new development is expected to attract at least 500,000 visits a year, and will be built alongside a new bus station, which is due to open at the same time.

General massing of the new leisure centre is divided into two programmatic entities: wet and dry. The complex will feature an eight-lane national/county standard swimming pool and four-lane pool for learners, both with moveable floors and supporting facilities together with dry sports facilities including a150 station gym, café and crèche, and extensive health and spa amenities.

Patron member Exeter City Council & PHT member Gale & Snowden have delivered several Passivhaus multi-unit housing schemes – however, this is the first commercial Passivhaus development they are embarking upon together. Building on this experience, the benefits

Architect: Gale and Snowden

The Larick Community Centre

Designed by architecture firm: Collective architecture. Winner of the AJ architecture awards 2022 – Public Located: Tayport Fife, Scotland

https://www.collectivearchitecture.com/projects/larick_centre

My place – Harold wood

“A youth, community and cultural centre for all”

myplace@havering.gov.uk

Drawings

Interview with Claire Mears, youth club leader of ‘Friday youth group’.

“The space and facilities at my place are unmatched to anywhere locally”

Claire and Russell have worked for many years with different youth projects ranging from church halls to community venues, one problem they regularly faced was lack of facilities in general e.g; toilets, especially disabled facilities. At my place, there was a levelled entrance, lift to the upper floor and plenty of wide WCs. Watching Claire and Russell set up, I was surprised with how little they had to bring with them. (A panini griller, snacks eg bread, spreads, cheese and bananas. Also, they had a small bag of games and drawing supplies.) Claire recognized how vulnerable the young people were and providing some food really benefitted those in poverty. She quoted “The kids love creating different combo toasties and its become quite a highlight of their evenings”

The regular team on the reception desk ‘employed by my place’ are very good at noticing when regular families stop turning up or have an anomaly in their patterns. From this and their follow ups to reach out to families have unveiled some serious situations which were addressed with the right people.

The other great thing about it being a ‘Hub’ for lots of charities, agencies, youth workers, mental health team all working together in close proximity.

At My Place, a huge range of activities for different age groups are catered for including a Performance Hall, Music Room, Games Room, Frankie’s Soft-play and Cafe, Art Room, Youth Lounge, Health room and Counselling Room. It also provides ranging activities throughout the day such as kids clubs, youth groups, LGBTQ+, female empowerment, sport and fitness clubs, and even music academies.

Claires group is funded by the charity ‘Essex Boys and girls clubs’ which gives them freedom in their purpose. Most of the other activities are funded by the Local Authority however this means that every group has a function, purpose and a box to tick.

The premises is cleverly designed to use all the space available in a very creative way. (fish bowl) From the outside, the depth and space is deceptive for an urban area, from the outside you'd be surprised that there's a second level however once you're inside you're amazed how much is actually fitted on this second level. There is also a small outside area which is fully enclosed for safety.

Loads of natural light. The entire back of the building had coloured plastic ‘giving perception of stained glass windows’. The games room had a very large window wall at its end.

Beam park - Rainham

• Stylish apartments for sale in Rainham, Dagenham | Beam Park (countrysidepartnerships.com)

Beam park aims to create a neighbourhood with community at its heart. By creating a sense of belonging through schools, nursery and purpose built open spaces, there will e many ways to interact with other residents and make new friends as beam park evolves.

It offers a collection of 1, 2 bedroom apartments alongside 2, 3 and 4 bedroom family homes.

It plans to provide two primary schools, an early years nursery, medical centre, leisure centre and multi faith centre. Also having access to acres of green space with Beam Valley County Park & Nature Reserve on your doorstep. Furthermore London is only a short distance away, being only 21 mins to Fenchurch street from Dagenham dock station.

Homes vary in price from around £300,000 - £600,000. Therefore I do believe that unless a young family was going for a 300k house with a mortgage then these houses would be unaffordable to a most people In the surrounding area.

Beam park – Rainham

Examples of accommodation:

Apartment 261 – ‘Portland house’

1 bedroom apartment located on the 15th floor, Priced at £320,000.

Features:

• Top floor apartment

• Stylish open plan kitchen, living and dining area

• Integrated energy-efficient appliances

• Bedroom with fitted wardrobe

• Luxury flooring throughout

• Private balcony

• Super-fast hyper-optic broadband available

• Landscaped 1st floor podium garden

• Zipcar - onsite car club scheme

• No Stamp Duty

Industrial inspiration for architecture

Examples here represent a modern view on the theme of movement and flow for architecture, my favourite ideas which I wish to develop myself from some of these ideas is the flowing waves

Wave contour (parametric design)

Parametric design is a design method where features (such as building elements and engineering components) are shaped according to algorithmic processes, in contrast to being designed directly.

Movement and flow

Rin Wedding Studio

- District 1 architects

Rin wedding studio

I really like the façade wall of this building as is the flowing style which I wish I create on the walls of my final design. This wave like feature well represents the pool in a sports centre and waves could be seen as a symbol or linked to relaxation.

Arizona State University

pixelated aluminium louvers have a (wavy effect) like French window panels

Arizona State University

pixelated aluminium louvers (wavy effect) like french window panels

• Churchill Retirement Properties for Sale | Churchill Retirement Living

• Hallmark

https://www.hallmarkcarehomes.co.uk/

Decided to use Hallmark care homes

How

community different

living ?

in retirement

Olympics stadiums - Rio 2016

United Kingdom – London 2012 Olympics

Initial model ideas: Model 1

Plan view line drawing

Model 1 development

Although this design is effective for a leisure centre with a swimming pool. There is not enough space for a gym due to there only being one floorspace on ground level, and no upper floor. Therefore in conclusion I have decided that this design does not completely fit my needs for the desired project outcome. Also the aesthetic of the building is rather angular and geometric which doesn’t fit with the theme of movement and flow.

Alternate development for model 1

Model 2

From here I experimented with composition and developed ideas based on linking themes.

Drawings based on different development ideas from previous models.

However I decided these ideas would not fit my needs and didn’t follow my original theme of movement and flow. Therefore I started again with curved drawings this time.

Movement and flow theme development of ideas.

Hedges Pedestal

Located: Mermaid Beach, Gold Coast, Australia

Architect: CONTRERAS EARL Architecture

Although this project has an astonishing exterior design the interior is strangely minimalistic and open. However the curving steel façade resembles the crests of waves and transitions to a concrete arched interior which is vast and open appearing like a smooth natural cave eroded by the ocean.

The building acts like a barrier between the coast and the high-density residential zone behind it.

The Living Coral Biobank - Port Douglas

The building’s sculptural form is inspired by the ‘mushroom’ coral – A hard coral identified by distinctive protective radial fins.

The Living Coral Biobank is the world’s first dedicated coral conservation facility, located at the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef in Port Douglas, North Queensland, Australia. The project was developed in collaboration with the Great Barrier Reef Legacy and some of the world’s best scientific minds and educators. It will be a world-first in conservation and education of these vital marine ecosystems, under threat from climate change.

Designed by Contreras Earl Architecture, with leading engineering and sustainability consultants Arup and Werner Sobek, the primary goal of the facility is to keep alive and nurture over 800 species of the world’s hard corals. The new building typology – a ‘living ark’ – will be the only dedicated facility of its kind in the world. Through its innovative design and engineering it will be a world leader in next-generation renewable energy design, creating optimal conditions for coral storage while minimizing energy consumption and solar gain.

By working with the UN Sustainable Development Goals that holistically prescribe best practice for optimal social and environmental outcomes, the Living Coral Biobank building will be of significant importance for coral conservation and the community of Port Douglas. Operating as an education and research facility the building will contribute to the town's resilience and enhance its worldwide recognition the Great Barrier Reef. Our ambition is also to create a beacon for environmental awareness. A centre of hope, learning and wonder.

London Aquatics centre

Located: Queen Elizabeth Olympic park, London

Designed by: Zaha Hadid Architects - London Aquatics Centre

After the Olympics the London Aquatics centre is now managed by the company Better gyms.

Swim at the London Aquatics Centre

The design was inspired by the flow and movement of water. Resembling waves in the curves of the roof it perfectly matches with the function and aesthetic of the building perfectly being a professional swimming pool. This form also gives passers by an idea of what the function of the building could be even if they’ve never heard of it or seen it before.

London Olympic Village Community

Olympic park

Home Farm

Retirement home

Located: Singapore

https://archello.com/project/homefarm

Spark's model for Asian retirement community (dezeen.com)

Named Home Farm, the design aims to tackle the main issues affecting cities in Southeast Asia. The first is that the number of people above retirement age is rapidly increasing, and the second is that the majority of food is imported rather than home grown. Spark believes both of these problems can be solved by transforming retirement communities into self-sufficient farming businesses, producing fruit and vegetables that can be sold to fund healthcare and other amenities for residents.

project was the award winner in the Future Projects: Experimental category during the World Architecture Festival 2015.

The Interlace - Singapore

Architect: Ole Scheeren

Ole Scheeren's The Interlace envisioned as "reversal" of block housing (dezeen.com)

Walumba Elders Centre

Warmun, Australia

by Iredale Pedersen Hook Architects

Iredale Pedersen Hook creates Walumba Elders Centre for flood-hit Australian Aboriginal community (dezeen.com)

Final Design ideas:

• Façade made out of glass e.g. translucent blue colour

• Windows on the interior wall will allow plenty of light however you may not be able to see out from the inside. Note: this may be good for privacy for inside users

• Natural light is an important feature of the design so there will be large windows and plenty of skylights

• Pool area will be white and clean