Design: Precedent Studies 01

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DESIGN: PRECEDENT STUDIES 01 RESEARCHING TOWN AND MARKET HALLS

SANTA CATERINA MARKET

Precedent Study

Brief 2: Research into a theme/idea within the market hall / town hall genre that we fi nd interesting: The roof & how it sits within the context.

The Santa Caterina market works around this elaborate and beautifully tiled roof sat on top of one of the olderest markest in Barcelona. The decorative aspects of the roof, however, can only be glimpsed at from the front of the building and none of the roof can be seen from the sides. There is also a very intimate connection between the markets sides and the surrounding buildings which must have an impressive view out over the market.

The tiled roof, consisting of over 33,000 hand produced ceramic tiles on a wooden shell which is then layered over an undulating frame supported by three trusses running through the centre, which bear down on pillars within the existing structure of the Old Market, as well as four new steel ‘trees’ at the front of the building.

This relationship of the roof within the context has been explored further through a model looking at the facade structure of the surrounding buildings and their interactiions with the building.

LONDON GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Precedent Study

Brief 2: Research into a theme/idea within the market hall / town hall genre that we fi nd interesting: The roof & how it sits within the context.

London’s City Hall by Foster’s and Partners provides an iconic land mark in the sea of London’s skyscrapers. A shape inspired by Foster’s previous work in the Gherkin (Swiss RE Building), and meant to promote the prominent solar shading of the main hall, the spiralling staircase rising above the hall against the back of the building is designed to promote visibility into the main chamber. In reality, the use of this staircase is limited to those using the building and the tourists willing to pay the extortionate cost of a tour.

The site sites within a strange public space, surrounded by corporate offi ces, more full with tourists than residents of the city. The glass facade, supposedly more accessible, refl ects more of the surroundings than it is permeable, apart from the evenings when the structure becomes a beacon on the edge of the Thames.

The building follows a typical hierachial structure with the Mayor’s offi ce positioned nearer the top, gaining the better views from his offi ce.

GHENT MARKET HALL

Precedent Study

Brief 2: Research into a theme/idea within the market hall / town hall genre that we fi nd interesting: The roof & how it sits within the context.

The Market Hall in Ghent becomes a design about the space beneath it and how it sits within the local context of numerous religious buildings and a prominent public square. The design of the roof itself, the strongest move on the site, references in size and shape, the town hall adjacent to it. The materials and structure also relate to the existing structures with the addition of a glazing layer to the top of the roof.

It sits between the belfry and the church in a natural public space, set back from the trams and partially accessible by road. Upon visiting the site, the space beneath it was a public ice rink, surrounded by the Christmas Markets spilling into the square.

A further level beneath the ground fl oor becomes accessible from the South, which is currently occupied by an extensive restaurant.

DARTFORD HIGHSTREET

Roofscape Study

Brief 2: Research into a theme/idea within the market hall / town hall genre that we fi nd interesting: The roof & how it sits within the context.

A simple plan of the existing conditions of the site overlayed with a shadow map cast by the various roofscapes on the highstreet show the varying height and interesting spatial properties of the roofscapes, not necessarily seen from street-level. The question is, how important is the design of such elements if they’re are only seen from Google Earth or, maybe, the surrounding buildings. Of course, the interplay of roof heights is extremely important from within, but to the external design?

A partial concept idea from this is to break up a single, solid form into the various volumes that attempt to respond to the dramatic changes in levels seen around the site.