The boundary between architecture and the urban environment has been blurred throughout years. The city that we understand as an ecosystem, a complex interaction network between the built environment and the set of actors that inhabit it. Integrating with research and design, architecture can act as a tool to make the built environment more inclusive and resilient for humans and nonhumans alike.
My final year warmup project is to create a civic stall for the Chapel Market, islington. The project aim is to address social interaction with the aim of making the street more inclusive. According to my research, Chapel Market acts as a community space for the local people to gather during the day. However, the market has no public seating area for the market users and visitors.
Moreover, Islington is one of the top 10 most dangerous boroughs in London. More importantly, most of the crime is related to youth crime and anti-social behaviours. On the Chapel Market, the crime rate is gradually higher on the East end compare to the West end. This this because the West end is closer to the local police station, but the East end is close to all the trasportations such as Bus stops and Underground station.
Therefore, I designed a Roaming Kiosk for the users. During the day, it is an Urban Furniture for the street and at night it is a roaming theatre with a pop-up stage on the top of the structure. This aims to reduce the crime rate at night, and at the same time to activate the street for night activities after the markets are left.
Chapel Market South Street Elevation
Chapel Market South Street Elevation
Chapel Market North Street Elevation
Chapel Market North Street Elevation
ISLINGTON’S CIVIC NETWORKS SITUATED IN PROXIMITY TO SITE
ISLINGTON’S CIVIC NETWORKS SITUATED IN PROXIMITY TO SITE
Priority Employment Location
Priority Employment Location
Primary ShoppingArea
Primary ShoppingArea
Town Centre
Town Centre
CentralActivities Zone (CAZ)
CentralActivities Zone (CAZ)
- Civic spaces are a consequence of complex interactions and superpositions of multiple civic actors, communities and networks.
- Civic spaces are a consequence of complex interactions and superpositions of multiple civic actors, communities and networks.
- The new proposed civic space situated in the ‘site proposal’ will create a collaborative moment which will allow those individual users to establish open relationship through a series of activies provided by the new civic space.
- The new proposed civic space situated in the ‘site proposal’ will create a collaborative moment which will allow those individual users to establish open relationship through a series of activies provided by the new civic space.
Almeida Theatre Claremont Project
Almeida Theatre
It is one of the oldest theatres in Islington, a 325-seats producing house with an international reputation. It helps to launch the next generation of British artists onto the world stage. It is an independent and co-educational drama/ performance theatre but also offering drama lessons to the community. It was founded in 1968.
Anna Scher Theatre Claremont Project
It is one of the oldest theatres in Islington, a 325-seats producing house with an international reputation. It helps to launch the next generation of British artists onto the world stage. It is an independent and co-educational drama/ performance theatre but also offering drama lessons to the community. It was founded in 1968.
It is a community arts/ wellbeing centre for elderly, aiming for an inclusive community by providing daily courses and activities to old people (55+). The organization has been around since 1907.
WHERE WHAT WHO?
Families with children WHERE WHAT WHO?
Vittoria Primary School Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School
Vittoria Primary School
It is one of the primary schools in Islington, which is located right next to the Chapel Market, it aims to educate primary school kids (4-11 YRS)
Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School LittleAngel Theatre
It is a community arts/ wellbeing centre for elderly, aiming for an inclusive community by providing daily courses and activities to old people (55+). The organization has been around since 1907. It is one of the primary schools in Islington, which is located right next to the Chapel Market, it aims to educate primary school kids (4-11 YRS)
It is one of the secondary schools in Islington right near by the West End of the Chapel market, it aims to educate teenagers (11-16 YRS).
It is one of the secondary schools in Islington right near by the West End of the Chapel market, it aims to educate teenagers (11-16 YRS).
with children, they provide puppetry shows.Also they co-operate with theAge UK to teach elderly shadow puppet making, and then perform to children, this intergenerational course aims to make the community more inclusive.
It is an unique theatre performance place for families with children, they provide puppetry shows.Also they co-operate with theAge UK to teach elderly shadow puppet making, and then perform to children, this intergenerational course aims to make the community more inclusive.
MAKE MAKE/ LEARNCARE/ LEARN LEARN LEARNPLAY/ MAKE
MAKE MAKE/ LEARNCARE/ LEARN LEARN LEARNPLAY/ MAKE
International actors
International actors
Young local actors (11- 25YRS) Local Elderly Children (4-11YRS)
Young local actors (11- 25YRS) Local Elderly
Children (4-11YRS)
Teenagers (11-16YRS)
Teenagers (11-16YRS)
Families with children
INCLUSIVE SOCIALBILITY AIM: To ‘MIND THE GAP’by creating a catalyst for intergenerational groups to interact, reduce hate and the gap within the existing community WHY
EXISTING CIVIC NETWORK PROPOSED PUBLIC REALM
EXISTING CIVIC NETWORK PROPOSED PUBLIC REALM
INCLUSIVE SOCIALBILITY AIM: To ‘MIND THE GAP’by creating a catalyst for intergenerational groups to interact, reduce hate and the gap within the existing community
The layout is fairly simple to do without splitting the Kiosk apart, but just by pulling out the “urban furniture”. it allows people to site with their private spaces and enjoying the view from the WEST and the EAST of the market.
The layout requires splitting the Kiosk apart, and pulling out the “urban furniture”. It allows people to sitearound together at the same time, generating collective activities.
The layout is fairly simple to do without splitting the Kiosk apart, but just by pulling out the “urban furniture”. it allows people to site with their private spaces and enjoying the view from the WEST and the EAST of the market.
Roaminng Slots Bike Parking Area Residential blocks Greenery - Foldable benches for the lack of sitting area on the Chapel market. - Foldable tables for the market users. - projector unit for shadow pupptry - Shadow pupptry performance space. - Shadow pupptry audience space with foldable roof. - The foldable benches are single modules that can be used as stock carriers.
My final year project is located in ANGEL, ISLINGTON. It was a home for many creative theatrical performers, which has been a big part of the local heritage for such a period of time. Moreover, it also became a type of local identity in recent years, However, along with the city developments and local economy development, this magnificiant part of local identity seems lost by new generations. Also, due to the fire, most of the historical theatres are demolished.
ThesiteisrightnexttotheChapelMarket,which is the local traditional street market. However, the mobility of the area is quite unfriendly to olderpeople,however,theoldpeopledomake up 9.4% of the local population, therefore, this makes them isolated from the existing society.
Over the past few decades, the increasing number of older people suffering from mental illness, the incidence of dementia and the large number of young people suffering from depression have been a major concern for society.
The proposal aims to generate a mobility hub for the society, it contains intergenerational programs, during the daytime, it is a civic centre providing youth care facilities and elderly care.Itaimstobringbothgenerationstogether to make one inclusive community. it also focuses on boosting the local heritage by creating performance programs including recreational theatre, rehearsal studio and puppetry theatre shows to engage the interaction between elderly and youth.
- The courtyard aims to create a communication for mental health healing atmosphere in the centre of the proposal. However, instead of dividing the building into two parts, it connects both entrances of the performative space and the intergenerational care centre.
- The external view of the proposal is showing the exterior finish of the building with red bricks and the surrounded by plants. The aim is to create a common backyard walkway with vegetation facing the residential area and the Chapel Market. This allows people from the Chapel Market to take a moment to rest and solving the problem of the market foe lack of sitting and green spaces.
Recycled red bricks
- Time consuming
- Very less tensile strength
+ Low maintance
+ Protection from fire and moisture
Timber frame structure
- Time consuming
- Very less tensile strength
+ Faster build, impact of weather is reduced in construction
+ Sustainable
Polycarbonate
- Not scratch resistant
- Expensive for construction
+ Thermal insulation
+ Lightweight
Self-made Bioplastic tiles
- Biodegradble - It shrinks
+ Expensive for larger scales
+ Costly for maintance
Plasterboard
- Cracks easily
- Costly repairing
+ Moisture resistance
+ Sustainable
Cork
- Not scratch resistant
- Expensive for construction
+ Sound proof
+ 100% reusable
- Section BB cuts through the care centres and the recreationaltheatre.
- The space encourages interaction through its structural design, it gathers the most amount of daylight during the day, while other parts of the building plays with shadow and patterns, this space is meant for people to take a breathe and release their mental stress.
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In an ever-changing world where emergencies andcrisesfrequentlydisplacecommunities,the importanceofprovidingrapidaccommodation that not only provides shelter but also feels like home must be highlighted.
This fuelled our project to become one that goes beyond temporary relief, instead laying the foundation for enduring new families and communities. We recognise the potential for theseemergencyshelterstoevolveintothriving villages and dynamic developing areas filled with opportunities.Central to our approach is the utilisation of locally accessible materials such as bamboo, and adobe, fostering efficiencyandreducingenvironmentalimpact.
The design weaves together public spaces such as markets, communal areas for water collection and cooking, and private spaces for living. The aim is to create a community that can grow and adapt over time.
To achieve this, flexibility and adaptability are integrated into the very fabric of the structures. Easily changeable divisions and joinery enable simpleassemblyanddisassembly,ensuringthat structures can expand, or contract as needed. Our common gathering spaces, stimulate connection and a sense of belonging. The central water collection area and Majalisa space may be connected to the core module to create a shaded open space that encourages community involvement. Ultimately, this project not only offers immediate relief but also nurtures the potential for lasting transformation.
- The front elevation of each household is a convertible structure that allows the family members to have a little market stall area facing the main street. With all the households together, the market stalls slowly form a market street for the locals. This could form a local identity as well as bringing health and wealth to the society.
-Elevationthroughthevillagers living area including livestock andwater collection.
- Elevation through the individual household’s front, itisusedasamarketspacefor commongrowth.
- Section cuts through the water collection system and the waste collection from the toilets.
- Section cuts through people’s living space showing the relationship between cooking area and thegrowingspaces.
- The central water collection structure collects rain wawter also filters water through fog meshers. Each household has its own waster collecting toilet systems underneath the structure that combines with the waste from the livestocks can be then used as fertilisers to farming and growing.
“GURYONG
Project type: Social Housing, Urban Regeneration.
Program: Marketing, Farming, Residential, Recycling.
Location: Seoul, South Korea.
Level: Architectural Competition.
Collaborators: Raymond Wong, Bee Yogasivam, Jason Yip.
Guryong Village in Seoul, South Korea, symbolises resilience amid land ownership disputes and government challenges. This project explores the community’s spatial dynamics, focusing on care architectures and the waste economy. Recognising residents’ self-sufficiency and amid ongoing debates, we highlight the proactive role of the elderly in leading the waste transformation economy.
Our goal is to propose an infrastructural framework supporting and normalising collections, and improving accessibility. This project aims to deepen understanding of selfcreated spaces and communities. Embracing sustainability, our proposed infrastructures use locally sourced materials, aligning with the green belt policy to prevent urban sprawl. Ultimately, we strive to empower Guryong Village, contributing to a sustainable, locally rooted model that harmonises with broader city planning goals.
To uplift Guryong Village, we implemented variouselementstoenrichcommunitylife.Local marketswereintroducedtostimulateeconomic activity and foster local interdependence, providing a platform for residents to exchange goods and services. Emphasising sustainability, community farming initiatives were also integrated, encouraging residents to participate in shared agricultural practices that not only promoted self-sufficiency but also strengthened communal bonds. Additionally, outdoorexercisespotswereplacedtocultivate an active lifestyle and create communal hubs for spontaneous interactions among residents. The introduction of restaurants also serve as a communal gathering space, contributing to the social fabric of the village. A recycling station reinforces a collective commitment to responsible waste management. These integratedelementsaimedtocreateavibrant, holistic living environment, empowering Guryong Village residents and fostering resilience, interconnectedness, and a deep sense of community belonging.
The Guryoung Village redevelopment aims to combine detached housing and apartment typologies, creating a hybridization that actively combats loneliness. Upon assessing the existing housing conditions on the site, it became evident that most structures were in a state reminiscent of slums, posing safety concerns for residents.
Whilst designing, a distinctive feature was introduced:awoodendeck, envelopingeach building.Thedesignopensthelivingroominall directions onto the deck, thereby creating an interstitialgatheringspacewithineachunit.This layoutfostersmeaningfulinteractionsbetween residents. Furthermore, the incorporation of two diagonal cores within each unit, both balances internal life and addresses safety concern. This approach promotes a dynamic and engaging living environment for the residents of Guryoung Village.
We designed three modules to cater to different family needs:
• A studio module is used for individuale elderlyresidents.Itprovidesindependence, and privacy, Also, it is more financially suitable for most families.
• A one bedroom module is for elderly couples, it is a combination of comfort and functionality. It also provides a closed bedroom space with private closets and working space.
• A two bedroom module is for families or thoseneedingacaretaker,itprovidesboth space and privacy.
Eachmoduleistailoredtoenhancethequality of life for the Guryong residents.
Deptford is rich in its diversity and creative art culture, art and crafting as a huge part of its intangible heritage, it is slowly fading away due to the lack of investment for the artists. The councils are building architecture for its financial benefits instead of the community. Therefore, the artists and creative people have less rooms to express their talent and pass the art culture to the younger generations.
In our Term 1 project we were required for a situated action to help with the accuracy of our research. We were doing a site survey as a group to gather the primary information through chatting with the locals, and throughout the survey, I have learned that the community is barely holding together, due to the lack of diversity and common culture awareness. so that I will use that information to design a temporary civic pavilion for everyone that is benefit- ing the society and create inclusiveness and coherence among the existing community.
I have chosen my site on the Giffin Square where is the heart of Deptford and close to the existing heritage street, the Deptford High street
In my Term 2 & 3 project we were asked to continue designing a civic place in Deptford. However, we have to design a permanent and medium sized building that fits the areas needs. In this case I am choosing my site on the Deptford High St which acts as an existing gap between the Deptford High St community and the Creekside community. Where the High St is the gathering place of the locals. However, the Creekside is more developed in terms of art and creativity. Therefore, I will be using the Deptford Church St as a bridge to fill the gap between the High St and the Creekside to create a whole community for everyone.
On the aspect of environmental benefit, growing sweet corn could reduce the nitrate nitrogen content in soil profiles efficiently,especially could decrease shallow nitrate nitrogen content,especially for the nitrate nitrogen content in the soil surface(0-20 cm) were declined the most obviously.
It is a versatile food, as the entire plant can be used. The husks can be used to make tamales, silk to create medicinal tea, kernels for food, and stalks for livestock feed. Corn is used to make tortillas, tortilla chips, polenta, cornmeal, corn oil and more.
Generally, it takes two to three months from sowing seeds to picking ripe sweet corn. The exact amount of time depends on the variety. Usually, the number of days from sowing to harvest will be noted on the seed packet.
Corn is rich in vitamin C, an antioxidant that helps protect your cells from damage and wards off diseases like cancer and heart disease.
Corn is a carbon sink, says South Dakota scientists. Per acre, every acre of corn absorbs 8 tons of carbon dioxide.
Corn has relatively low water footprint as well. It takes 1,222 liters of water to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of corn / 146 gallons of water to produce 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of corn.
(Natural and Synthetic)
Polymers are used to increase the stiffness an strength of plastic products,andBiopolymersareused inthecreationofbioplastics,which unlike their purely synthetic counterparts, biodegrade in a short amountoftime.Traditionalplastics cantakethousandsofyearstobreak down.
Plasticizers are generally nonvolatile, high boiling, low molecularweightcompoundsadded to a polymer to improve its processability, flexibility, and stretchability by modifying the mechanical properties making the films more ductile, lowering the melt viscosity and the Tg of the product without altering the fundamental chemical character of theplasticizedmaterial.
Bioplastic with additives has better tensile strength and long biodegradability than that with silicasolution.
Biopolymer: - Corn Starch
Mixer: - Water
( Starch,AgarAgar, Chitin, Cellulose, Gelatin,Alginate, Algae, Protein )
( Sorbitol, Xylitol, Glycerol, Vegetable oil ) ( Spirulina, Vinegar, Fibers, Kelp Power )
Plasticizer: - Vegetable glycerine - Vinegar - Chitin Power
Additives: - Hemp Fibres - Egg Shells (Powder)
1. Measure biopolymer powders and water seperatly according to the water to biopolymer ratio (Additives could be added too if required).
2. Put the measured water to boil in a hot pan under medium heat, and then add biopolymers (and additives if there is any) while stiring constantly until the material is completely dissolved into a homogeneous solution.
3. Add plasticizer to the hot pan with the mixed material, in this research, I will be using vegetable based glycerine for the plasticizer. Keep mixing and stiring, the more cooking the more water is evaporated which helps the shrinkage of the final outcome.
4. Roughly 6 minutes of cooking, pour the mixure out on a unsticking surface ( In this research : silicone mold, foil paper and baking paper).
5. There are several drying methods to use to create the final finish of your bioplastic: Oven dry at 50 degrees for 2 hours/ Hair dryer drying until the mixure become soild/ air dry by expose the mixure under the sun for approximately 8 days for it to get soild.
6. Document the final outcome and seer the performance of it (Shrinkage, waterpooring, compression and tension tests).
Main Ingredients:
- Water
- Cornstarch
- Glycerine
Additional; ingredients:
- Dehydrated black tea leaves, and also tea bags leaves
- Vinegar
- Food colouring: freshly made black tea
Characteristics of substance:
Generally the colour of the outcome tends to be transparent, however, the longer it is cooked in the oven, the more yellowish the outcome will be. The material tends to shrink, and it is easy to cut just by cutting knifes. It depends on the ratio of the ingredients, that can change the characteristics of the material easily. The tea leaves both from the tea bags and fresh tea can relatively reduce the amount of shrinkage on the material.
Main Ingredients:
- Water
- Cornstarch
- Glycerine
Additional; ingredients:
- Chitin powder - Vinegar
- Food colouring
- CMC (Carboxymethyl cellulose or cellulose gum)
Characteristics of substance:
The material that has CMC powder involved will be shown has transparent, and it tends to be more flexible and elastic, the ones that has the ingredient of chitin powder involved will be shown as in yellow. It tends to be less elastic but stiffer and more brittle.
Main Ingredients:
- Water
- Cornstarch
- Glycerine
Additional; ingredients:
- Dehydrated Food wasts such as: grounded coffee, egg shells, and orange peels
- Vinegar
- Food colourings and coffee drops
Characteristics of substance:
Generally speaking, the ones that are made from food wastes are the prettiest. The samples that contain grounded coffee will look darker and with the grounded coffee on the surface of the material, it tends to be less elastic and less brittle, it feels like card paper. The ones with egg shells will also end up with shells on the surface of the material, it is more flexible and also stiffer. Orange peels make the material very brittle.
My first outcomes are based on my initial test, have then developed different forms and tested out differernt ingredients of bioplastic mainly based on food wastes ( tea leaves, orange peels, and avocado seeds). However, I have also added fibre into one of my ingredients, the intension is to strengthen the material at the same time to reduce the amount of shrinkage of the material.
The problems that will address in my new experiment is that I have will pre-mix the ingredients in a container, and then cook then all together to create the mixture. This is because that in my initial attempt, I have mixed the CMC powder and cornstarch with water first, then added the vinegar and glycerine seperately after I started cooking. This is caused that some of the CMC powder was not properly mixed into the mixture, and that is why in my initial outcome there were some chunks of CMC powder left on top of the surface.
My first outcomes are based on my initial test, have then developed different forms and tested out differernt ingredients of bioplastic mainly However, I have also added fibre into one of my ingredients, the intension the CMC powder and cornstarch with water first, then added the vinegar
Shear test:
Although the test was stopped at 2.8kg, however, there was only one small cracking occured on the material, this could be prevented by increasing the thickness of the material.
