CSM Croydon (2016) 06 clock tower square

Does Croydon have potential to further integrate its spaces?

Revitalising Croydon’s unused spaces

1

Project statement

3

Site analysis

4

People mapping & Interviews

5

Making a case for civic spaces

6

Site conditions

7

Players on site

8

Design strategy

9

Placemaking

10

Social enterprise

11

Initial design proposal axonometric drawing

12

1:500 Plan

13

1:200 Front elevation

14

1:200 Section

15

Final revised axonometric drawing

16

2

Project Statement Through a well researched scan of Croydon’s current public and social spaces we have identified a major lack of any public space of civic or cultural pride.

Our strategy acknowledged three key observations made in the immediate area on the area: -The existing intensity around Croydon Town Hall and Croydon Town Library and the potential for that to spill across and to activate our site.

-The need to celebrate the existing space and occupants of the site without a top down approach to renewal.

-The need for more visual cohesion between the three disparate urban players: The Town Hall and Clocktower, the road and its constant buses, and then Katherine House and the site itself.

Our strategy then sets out to play with the passive and active areas on the site identified through the observations above. Specifically intend to intensify both areas of passive space; turning passive-neglect into natural-calm near the east end of the site where the site becomes more sunken. Conversely massively intensifying the underused but potentially active west end of the site through an architectural realisation of both the existing theatrical and civic program of the Town Hall and Fairfield Halls.

There was large learning curve on this project in respect to the role of temporary architecture.

The shift in what we wanted our scheme to achieve clarified both our thinking on the project and the design proposal. The focus changed from a fix oriented strategy to a give orientated proposal, The proposal does not set out to fix or even address every social consideration on the site, instead it wishes to do two things of significance: One, to create a more inviting space for people to sit and enjoy through a general clean up of the site. Secondly to gift the area a new magnet of civic and cultural vibrance through a bold architectural insertion into the existing environment.

Our desired outcome links back to our original assertion that Croydon lacks a civic space to celebrate. By first providing a temporary platform for civic celebration we hope Croydon Council will look more seriously at providing a much needed permanent space to achieve this.

In a programmatic sense we saws Fairfield Halls as an actor whose role would increase and decrease in importance depending on the stage we were at in the project. As is common in a project involving this level of social and locational complexity the focus began quite narrowly then quickly opened out in response to the number of different concerns on the site.

3

SITE ANALYSIS Photographs from the site showing key features: - Sunken site that creates a barrier from street level to site.

- Bus stops.

- Under-used site with great potential being across a landmark.

4

70-80s, Female, Katherine House site What are you doing here?

“Nothing, just enjoying the sun. I just did my food shopping so I’ll sit here for a while.”

56, Female, Busstop 9:00 - 10:30

11:00 - 12:30

“There is not enough integration between anyone, specially with the youngsters.”

“This place needs to be more inclusive.”

38, Male, Library

“I’ve worked here [library] for two years and I’ve only walked through this place twice.”

“It’s just associated with the general area - abit run down.”

15:00 - 16:30

17:00 - 18:30

PEOPLE MAPPING & INTERVIEWS

5

4 3

1

SITE

2

GREEN SPACE ATTRACTIONS NEAR SITE EAST CROYDON STATION

1

2

3

4

MAP OF CROYDON: MAKING A CASE FOR CIVIC PLACES

6

SITE CONDITIONS These site conditions were all reasons we were attracted to the site.

There are many potentions and barriers that make the site exciting and refreshing.

For example, the sunkeness of the site gives it a sense of privacy and border whilst being close enough to the highstreet .

7

MACRO-USERS

MICRO-USERS

TOWN HALL LIBRARY

DAVID LEAN CINEMA

ST. GEORGES WALK FAIRFIELD BUSINESS SCHOOL

REFUGEE CENTRE

AGE UK

CROYDON CARE

CUYP

USERS ON SITE INFORMING OUR DESIGN STRATEGY

8

MIRROR THE TOWN HALL FACADE

(BY USING RED FIBRE-GLASS CONCRETE)

TACKLE THE BARRIER

(CREATED BY CONGESTION FROM BUSES AND PEOPLE)

INTENSIFY THE SITE

(BY PUNCHING THROUGH KATHERINE HOUSE FACADE)

2

Gordon Matta-Clark

3

1

DESIGN STRATEGY

9

FLEXBILE OPEN SPACE Can be market, extended theatre, or open space suiting the needs of people

TREES Provide a fresh environment and filter the noise

SEATING Seating on the passive side of site

PASSAGEWAY Internal route making it easier for local shopowners and users to manouvre

10

IMPLEMENTING FAIRFIELD HALLS PROGRAMME Taking the concept of performance into our programme by proposing a theatre/cinema

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE Cardboard Citizens is the chosen social enterprise for our programme.

It is focused on inhabiting empty spaces to host theatre performances for the homeless and less-abled whilst also giving them a chance to increase their acting skills.

11

INITIAL DESIGN PROPOSAL AXONOMETRIC

12

1:500 PLAN

13

FRONT ELEVATION 1:200

SOUTHBANK CENTER The leveling has informed our stair design on site

14

SECTION 1:200

15

RED FIBRE GLASS CONCRETE To be used across Katherine House facade, to compliment the soft terracotta colours on the town hall and liven the space.

TIMBER FRAMING The cinema canopy, decking and staircase are designed using timber - as it is lightweight, versatile, easily adaptable and temporary.

STEEL SUPPORT The timber framing will need steel support, in particular underneath the stairs and landing.

FINAL REVISED PROPOSAL AND MATERIAL STUDY

16