NIKOLAS WARD PORTFOLIO B.A. ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES SESSION 2013/2014 STAGE 3
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CONTENTS
ARC 3001 - Design Show/Store
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Can Ricart
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Charrette
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Show/Store: The graduation project brief was split into two main phases. After choosing a collection, phase one (incubator) consists of displaying an element of the collection in Newcastle City Centre for the public to interact with. Phase two involved designing a building to show and store elements of the collection in a spatially engaging way on one of the sites within Newcastle. The design should be related to the personal theoretical interests, with the programme relating to the objects evocation and the image of the city. This spatial language will inform the site response, concept design, technical detailing and environmental strategies. The key objective of the project was to explore the nature of spatial relations, sequences and forms, in connection to a specific collection which is to be given an architectural interpretation.
SHOW/STORE GRADUATION PROJECT
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Collection of Grandfathers watches: they were given to me as gifts once they passed away. Watches traditionally were seen as items to signify wealth; not only due to high monetary value, but also the plethora of memories experienced by the user whilst wearing it. The watch is an object which actively reflects the ageing of frequent use providing an insight into the personality of the user - a time capsule of the past - unique as an object which constantly displays the intangible quality of time. When separated, the internal mechanism is intricate and complex showing the precise nature of watches. All parts of the watch must work in harmony to function correctly.
Visual relationship between each plane
Re-discovering the past
Protective qualities of the facade
Separation of layers revealing internal mechanism
These themes are to be replicated, especially when understanding the spatial links and qualities of a space.
Grandfather’s Watches
In the majority of watch displays, the intricacies of technology are not presented, and the focus is on the face. By relating the intangible nature of memories to the mechanism, a physical representation of memories can be formed.
Plinth to monumentalise object
COLLECTION
Separation of layers
Streetlight Incubator
Planes within Incubator
Planes within Site
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Incubator The Incubator is a series of streetlights placed in specific locations in Newcastle. The streetlights are to be created with a series of watch cogs of varying sizes hanging from the light. These will transform the light as it passes between the separated cogs. Concept Having the internal components of a watch separated and displayed externally juxtaposes the precise and protected nature of a watch, allowing the elements to age and weather over time. The key concept derived from the incubator to utilise in the project is the relationship of light interacting with objects. The natural sunlight passing through the separation of cogs during the day provides a crisp and focused shadow. When the streetlight acts a visual aid during the night, the artificial light passing through the separated cogs disperses sporadically providing a blurred shadow. The contrasting nature of these two elements provide very different interactions depending on the light conditions of the streetlight location.
1:2 Scale Streetlight
Opposite: Blurred and Focused Photographs
INCUBATOR 9
Incubator Sites
Having lived in Newcastle for the past three years, events have occurred in key locations. Subsequently a map of my experiences and memories have built up over time. The diameter of the circle represents the importance of a specific site. When entering a new place, maps and lights provide beacons to establish a grounding within the area. This allows people to navigate more easily. By having a streetlight at each site which is significant to me, it provides an individual map of Newcastle. In the same way that people can interact with the shadows of the streetlight incubator, people can journey through the city, from streetlight to streetlight, creating their own path and map. The model was created to illustrate the blurring between locations and how they merge according to the range of journeys and can be represented as the internal workings of a watch.
INCUBATOR SITE
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1:2000 City Section
CITY SECTION
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Panorama taken in the afternoon illustrating the affect of the City Library on the light penetration into the site.
SITE EXPLORATION
Utilising the reflective qualities of the City Library Curtain Glazing facade opposite the site to introduce light into the site in the mornings.
1:500 Site model showing the sun path in the morning reflecting sunlight into the site from the reflective facade.
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Panorama illustrating the heights of the surrounding buildings in site and the narrow slit of natural daylight between the City Library and Berwick Court Tower.
SITE EXPLORATION
1:500 Site mode showing the afternoon sunlight cast into the site.
Key concept photograph identifying the void between the City Library and Berwick Court Tower.
Blurred Photograph using manual focus to highlight the beam of ambient light passing through the site.
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Plaster cast model used to experiment with the effects of light passing through materials with varying levels of transparency.
INITIAL CONCEPT
The aim of this phase was to develop the concept in a more physical way by looking at the effect of light on varying levels of transparency. Using materials which absorb and reflect light to varying levels gave a range of interesting shadow compositions. The Perspex, polystyrene and wooden pieces were all ordered perpendicularly to give a certain linearity behind spatial positioning. By using scaled down cogs from the streetlight incubator, the theme of blurred and focused shadows continued. The cogs show visual connection whilst not always providing a physical route.
More comprehensive development through models, sketching, and photography shown in the supplementary Research Journal provided.
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Solids and Voids of Spaces
Massing within Site
Longitudinal Section Organisation
SPATIAL THEORY
Cross Section Room Organisation
Light Transition
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Street-view of display cabinets
DESIGN INTENT
Focused foreground contrasting blurred background
Transparent nature of materials utilising light qualities
Narrow gap allowing light through
Cabinet and wall provide solid regions with a walkway in the void
Contrast between light and dark areas
Wearing marks representing the ageing qualities of materials
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Flow through Site
Beam of Natural Light
Planes defining Route
New Site Route
CONTEXTUAL PROPOSAL
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1:500 light density Plans
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Basement Floor
Ground Floor - 1:250
PLANS
First Floor
Second Floor
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Ground Floor Plan - 1:100
INTERNAL DECLARATION
Public and Private Circulation
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Perspective views of: Ground floor key space First floor gallery circulation
LONGITUDINAL CIRCULATION
1:200 Longitudinal Section B-B’
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Detailed Elevation studies
Perspective Elevation
FACADE DETAILING
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Sectional Models
LIGHT TRANSITION
1:100 Cross Section A-A’
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1:100 Light Machine Model
LIGHT MACHINE
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1:20 Key space model
KEY SPACE
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Exploration into the 1:1 scale of the cabinet configuration with street level. Working in intervals of 200mm, the configuration was adjusted to best suit the lighting conditions of artificial uplighting from the basement and natural sunlight from above. The studies illustrate that when the cabinet is raised up by 200mm and has a 200mm gap from the pavement edge, there is a sense of protective monumentalisation tying in with the scales of protection concept. Investigating this scale links back to the scale of a watch and the intricate mechanism inside. Left: 100mm Centre: 200mm Right: 200mm & 200mm up
MICRO DETAILING Watch Facade
Display Cabinet
200mm
Temporary Exhibition
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Natural Lighting
Thermal Mass
Mechanical Ventilation
TECHNICAL DETAILING
1:50 Technical Section
1:20 Technical Details
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IWC Schaffhausen Watch Museum Switzerland
House Extension, Guard Tillman Pollock Architects, West London
PRECEDENTS
Upon visiting the Sir John Soane Museum in London, the importance of light became more apparent. Sir John Soane was able to transform a modest-sized house into a museum of collections which was extraordinary. Objects are ordered to be aesthetically pleasing. Joseph Gandy worked with Soane as his personal illustrator. The illustrations Gandy produced explore the intangible nature of light through spaces, making the sunlight seem solid in form. The IWC Schaffhausen watch museum in Switzerland provides a crisp and minimal style to displaying watches. The museum display shows off the technical and precise nature of time pieces, whilst working heavily with layers of transparency. The use of mirrors to change the spatial identity of the rooms is well thought out. Investigating the sunlight paths in an existing building located in the UK allowed my design to be informed by a ground project.
Joseph Gandy Illustrations
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FINAL PRESENTATION
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Can Ricart: The project brief was to transform the existing buildings of Can Ricart into a Catalan headquarters for La Machine, a company who produce large scale urban performances. Conservation is key when addressing the existing buildings; with a stance to be taken on how to treat the existing walls. The build should explore a range of scales from the macro scale of the Cerda grid to the micro scale detailing of technical joints. There should be a focus on the public and private routes through the site and buildings, as well as the scale of workshops and gallery spaces due to the nature of the artwork produced.
CAN RICART BARCELONA PROJECT
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Understanding the culture of Barcelona is essential when considering the key elements towards the building design. Having only designed buildings in the North East of the UK prior to this, consideration into all aspect of weather and lighting is vitally important. The main cultural difference is the use of public space. There are many areas which are open for various public use activities. The high average temperatures allow the outdoors to be utilised throughout the year. The Cerda grid created in the mid 19th Century allowed Barcelona to have a strong grid pattern making all new builds fit to this rigid system. The intriguing nature of how the organic pre 19th Century building fit to this grid is something to investigate in site.
BARCELONA
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The old industrial buildings within the Can Ricart site provided interesting spatial qualities by being split up into large solid and void regions. The main axis route would follow the existing grid, and by producing a 4m x 4m grid within the site, a rigid scheme could be built up much like the wider site context of Barcelona’s Cerda grid. The parade route for the La Machine collection will follow the localised grid block (shown in opposite model). Building ‘B’ provided a key access point and proved to be the central axis of the grid. By utilising this void region, the two adjacent builds could be more solid. To link to the La Machine collective, a large model transportation device was necessary to move pieces of art. By designing a large gantry crane along this grid, a natural gateway could be created to anchor the building to the existing site. Monumentalising the existing walls was also key, as the past should be remembered whilst allowing the future activities to continue harmoniously within the site. By creating the grid, all new builds and spatial layouts would easily snap to the dimensions. This proved invaluable for the technical side of construction, allowing elements to be modular, reducing construction time and costs.
Left: Centre: Opposite:
1:2000 Site Plan 1:500 Existing Building Plan 1:500 Site Model
SITE
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Existing wall elevation
SITE ANALYSIS
Material Decay
Materiality of existing wall
Relationship between scales of existing buildings
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1:50 Sectional Elevation Model informing the key axis route
EXISTING BUILDINGS
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CRANE
Left:
1:100 Gantry Crane model
Right: 1:400 Sketch Plans of location of crane within site.
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OUTDOOR SPACES
The Public space will be divided into the large parade route along the main axis and an external plaza area. The external plaza space is for the smaller exhibits to be displayed on a daily basis, allowing temporary exhibitions to be displayed from local artist groups. The two public areas link with the main axis route through the building. The crane is visible from this plaza, making this area a key viewing point for the large artistic models as they are moved from the workshop to the external exhibition spaces.
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1:200 Ground Floor Plan
PLANS
1:200 First Floor Plan
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View into Private Workshop Space
1:200 Cross Section a-a’
SOLIDS/ VOIDS
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View into Private Workshop Space
1:200 Longitudinal Section b-b’
LONGITUDINAL CIRCULATION
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Entrance Perspective
Longitudinal Perspective Section
PERSPECTIVE VIEW
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1:200 Model
SOLIDS/ VOIDS
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TECHNICAL DETAILING Tertiary Structure
Curtain Glazing walls, in panels of 5000mm x 2000mm Glass walkway, in panels of 2000mm x 2000mm x 100mm Glass Roof, in panels of 2000mm x 2000mm x 150mm
Secondary Structure
Steel I-Beams, 100mm x 1500mm
Glass Fins, 12000mm x 500mm x 50mm Precast concrete roof
Primary Structure
Precast concrete structure with waffle grid concrete intermediate floor. 100mm x 100mm steel columns. Existing masonry walls - 600mm thick Precast concrete floor covering cracks in existing wall where necessary Precast concrete warm roof with inserts for steel beams
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Model photo illustrating structure
MICRO DETAILS Glass Walkway
Curtain Glazing Wall
2000mm x 2000mm x 100mm
2000mm x 2000mm x 50mm
Steel Bolt
100mm with 20mm diameter
Spider Brackets
Glass Fin
Steel Bracket
Steel Beam 100mm x 2000mm x 100mm
50mm x 500mm x 2000mm
Precast Concrete Wall
Silicon Seal
Steel Plate Vapour Control Layer
Rain Pipe Gutter Existing Wall
Concrete Foundation
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Norwich Cathedral Rectory, Hopkins Architects.
PRECEDENTS
Investigating the conservation style in Barcelona was essential in identifying how other buildings had utilised existing walls. The Bullring built by Richard Rodgers Architects monumentalised the existing wall by lifting the entire wall up and used it to encase the retail centre within. The glazing inside is offset by a few metres to allow the existing wall to stand alone, allowing people to flow between. This same intention was to be used in my design. Norwich Cathedral Rectory provided a selection of details when investigating the perpendicular use of glazing fins, as well as the joins from steel columns to the glazing.
Fira de Barcelona, trade centre
Bullring, Barcelona
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FINAL PRESENTATION
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Charrette: A week long group project working with individuals from all years within the school. The project brief was to create a market-style installation to display foraged wild fruit and veg from the local area. The week consisted of developing foraging skills within an urban environment and understanding which foods were safe to eat. The aim was to provide a sensual experience for people to enjoy and understand traditional techniques in survival and foraging.
CHARRETTE
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Foraging is a skill which has been forgotten in recent times. Relating to the Arts and Crafts movement founded by William Morris in the mid 19th Century, the art of traditional craft techniques correlate to the foraging of wild foods. After being guided by a specialist, a day was spent foraging for food in Newcastle. Camouflage is key as a survival technique, and making your own camouflage pattern is an interesting skill set. The temporary exhibition stand was used to display the foraged and cooked food for visitors to try, and indulge in the sensory experience of the group. A community spirit was essential, with a fire pit, shelters and congregation area in the centre.
Foraged Mushrooms
Zelt-Bahns
FORAGING 83
Market Stand Construction