1
Civic Estates Angell Town, Brixton Pallet Portico Preliminary Making Places Project Semester 1, Weeks 1-5
“…place: a place for trading and networking, some said, a waiting place – somewhere you know you’ve arrived. A place for wasting time and for spontaneous events or chance encounters or encounters by choice where public and private life are mostly indistinguishable. It should be a place where the old can sit and dream and pass on their wisdom and tell stories and gossip. Somewhere not intimidating for women and children, where people feel safe in the company of others because the surroundings are familiar, because you don’t get lost, because help is always at hand and because you feel a sense of belonging.” Nabeel Hamdi, Small Change
Brixton
History
Lambeth
Brixton is located in the London Borough of Lambeth, South of the river. It has a multi-ethnic population, with a majority Caribbean of Caribbean descent. The first wave of immigrants that formed the British AfricanCaribbean community arrived in 1948 at Tilbury Docks on the Empire Windrush from Jamaica and were temporarily housed in the Clapham South deep shelter. The nearest Labour Exchange (Jobcentre) was on Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, and the new arrivals spread out into local accommodation.
Above is a map illustrating social deprivation in Brixton in 1889, showing Coldharbour Lane, Angell Town and Loughborough Road. Published in Life and Labour of the People in London by Charles Booth, 1889. Brixton was the scene of riots in April 1981 at a time when Brixton underwent deep social and economic problems—high unemployment, high crime, poor housing, no amenities—in a predominantly African-Caribbean community.
Sink Estates
Brixton is home to six large housing estates: Stockwell Park, Myatts Field, Angell Town, Loughborough, Moorlands and St Matthew’s, Tulse Hill. The six estates account for a large part of the Brixton residence.
Angell Town was built up in the early 19th century as a desirable estate for the new middle classes. Most of the old town was replaced in the 1970s by a council estate that combined 1960s-style blocks with the newer concept of overhead walkways and linking bridges, some of which were later removed in an attempt to prevent robbers and vandals making easy getaways.
Housing, Gentrification & Communities
Photo source: http://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2014/12/the-brixtonbuzz-review-of-brixton-in-2014-housing-gentrification-andcommunities/
‘Unchecked capitalism has wounded small businesses in Brixton’ (Ben McMahon) ‘fear that Brixton’s kaleidoscopic character will be diluted and displaced, to be replaced by a sterile monoculture of well-heeled financiers and bland, corporate retail chains’ (http://www.theguardian.com/cities/davehillblog/2015/apr/28/ brixton-anti-gentrification-protest-reclaim-foxtons-estate-agent)
10
‘The Estate We’re In’: Evening Standard Coverage on Angell Town
Coincedentally, the Evening Standard was running a series of daily essays about the life on Angell Town estate at the same time as our preliminary project began. Focusing predominantly on the gang culture within the estate, the articles portray Angell Town in isolation from the larger socioeconomic context of Brixton and London.
Retaliating to the series, a resident wrote on online brixtonblog. com: ‘Angell Town has problems, but it shouldn’t have to count negativity and poverty tourism amongst them. It’s a good place with good people and it deserves more opportunities than that series suggested.’
11
12
Existing condition of the undercroft in Newbury House , Angell Town
Brief
For the month of October Unit 6 will study and find ways to intervene in a site in Angell Town Estate, Brixton culminating in a building workshop. The project involves using the site as a provocation to build temporary structures from scrap materials to interact and engage with the community who live in and around Newbury House. Preliminary research will involve meeting residents, studying and surveying the surrounding site and wider context, sketching ideas and developing proposals and planning for the building workshop. This preliminary project will introduce students to Unit 6’s working methods, encourage you to find new ways of representing your ideas, foster cooperation between fellow students and act as a warm up for the main project. For the Civic Estate project Unit 6 will be collaborating with the Residents Management Organisation (RMO) (contact Hannah Wilson chair of Community Development sub-committee) who have kindly agreed to provide access to the Undercroft of Newbury House. The RMO would like to consider holding community gatherings and meetings in and around the Undercroft and would like to work towards holding a Xmas party there. Anne Thorne Architects have been commissioned by Angell Town RMO to explore the potential of the Undercroft. Zana Dean, the project architect has kindly provided recently measured survey drawings of Newbury House and a list of residents’ preferences which they obtained through an engagement process during an Estates Fair. Objectives: > Using the site to provoke responses > Use locally resourced scrap material > Studying and surveying the surroundings > Meeting and engaging residents in the building
13
01.10.15
Memorandum of Understanding Angell Town Resident Management Organisation manages 444 properties on behalf of Lambeth Council. The organisation is a registered society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. The core services the organisation provides are: Repairs, Housing Services, Estate Cleaning, Grounds Maintenance, Control Parking.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Cass and the Angell Town RMO
14
Project Beneficiaries & Organisational Structure
01.10.15
Lambeth Council
Angell Town RMO
Unit 6 Students from the CASS
Hannah Lewis Community Engagement Officer
Zana Dean Architect Anne Thorne Architects
Angell Town Residents
Diagram showing the organisational structure of the project
Risk Assessment requirements
15
02.10.15
Newbury House, Angell Town The undercroft is fronted by a yard that serves as a mediatory space between it and the park between Newbury House and Loughbourough Estate. A ramped path, lined by large gabion cages, awkwardly leads into the yard from the park. The cages are intiimidating and form a barrier which disconnects the yard from the park and the pedestrain traffic that moves through it.
The yard in front of the undercroft, currently unused
Sketch section through the yard showing relationship between the sunken yard and park above
16
Detachment & Neglect
02.10.15
The undercroft was initially designed for the purpose of parking for residents of properties in the lfats above. The space, long and vast, encouraged the violence and crime that made the estate notorious and the bays were enclosed and made internal. The plans were to turn the space into a creche, but mismanagement in the housing association made this proposal falter. The space has since been unoccupied, though used by gang members.
The neglected undercroft space
Sketch section through the yard and undercroft space, showing detachment to the surroundings
17
02.10.15
Remnants of gang activity The undercroft is fronted by a yard that serves as a mediatory space between it and the park between Newbury House and Loughbourough Estate. A ramped path, lined by large gabion cages, awkwardly leads into the yard from the park. The cages are intiimidating and form a barrier which disconnects the yard from the park and the pedestrain traffic that moves through it.
1
2
3 1 2. 3
Graffiti tag of the notorious ‘Gas Gang’ on the wall in the undercroft Further graffiti on the concrete blockwork Smashed glass doors, now boarded up
Article about a large police raid in 2014 to reduce gang-related crime in the Estate (source: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/700-police-launch-dawn-raids-targeted-at-notorious-brixton-based-gang-9095533.
18
Urban Farming, Football & Murder: Community Noticeboard
02.10.15
The community noticeboard in the RMO office is illustrative of the pull between aspirations and greivances inherent in the community. There is obvious encouragement for activities and groups, such as ‘Word 4 Weapons’ or ‘Street Cricket’ to attempt to get youth to be productive with free time.
Community noticeboard with a poster announcing the murder of a young resident in September
19
02.10.15
Community Initiated Change 1988-2006, Dora Boatemah In 1987 residents of the crime-ridden deck access estate, built with connecting bridges and unsurveilled pedestrian spaces, set up the Angell Town Community Project (ATCP) as a charitable company to press Lambeth Council to solve problems which got worse when bridges were removed shortly afterwards. In 1991 ATCP won ÂŁ5m of European Regional Development Funding to start regeneration and, led by the effective Dora Boatemah (who died in 2001), residents took an active role in changing their unsatisfactory conditions.
Portrait of Dora Boatemah on the former walkways of Angell Town Estate (source: http://philipwolmuth.photoshelter.com/image/I0000HfO.XXZtPCY)
Images showing the changes to estate buildings, particularly in terms of access (source: http://bff-architects.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/bff-30th-anniversary-angell-town.html)
20
Material Striation in the Elevation of Newbury House
02.10.15
Balconies of repeating brick and balustrades
Gabion cages full of rubble from the demolished buildings
21
02.10.15
Helping the Gardening Club A chance encounter with Simon Ghartey, founder of ‘Progress’ - a charity that aims to encourage urban gardening in inner-city communities - led us to be involved in an afternoon gardening session. Working alongside members of the Estate, annd predominantly with members of the local Indo-American community represented by the organisation IRMO, we were able to gauge the aspirational mentality of certain residents.
Simon of Progress
IRMO Representative
Utilising our making skills to build a protective structure for the plants
Local organisations and charities
22
Using scrap timber to create a support structure
Getting Familiar with the Estate
02.10.15
Documenting the activity in plan and sketches
23
04.10.15
Choosing our Site, Material & Proposition: Entrance Ramp, Pallet & Porch Wanting to respond quickly to our first impressions of the site, we decided that we wanted to focus our intervention on the ramp entrance to the undercroft. At the moment, the entrance is unassuming and uninviting, the gabion cages and metal balustrade railing are hostile and disconnect the undercroft and yard from the park. We wish to explore the idea of intervening at this threshold, connecting the undercroft to the higher park level through a porch or similar device.
SITE: The currently unassuming ramp down to the undercroft - inconspicuous and univiting
MATERIAL: Pallets from local building sites
24
PROPOSITION: Initial sketch ideas (by James Newsham)
Unseen Undercroft
04.10.15
Axo showing the ramped entrance down o the neglected undercroft and lack of connection to existing paths
25
05.10.15
Sweeping, Clearing and Preparing the Site for Making After equipping ourselves with masks, brooms, rubbish bags and appropriate footwear, we started to clear the undercroft and yard area. Neglect of the site had meant that dust had accumulated, broken glass was scattered inside and outside, and weeds had become overgrown.
Photos of the clearing process showing sweeping, collecting plant waste and careful removal of shattered glass.
26
Group Tutorial with MM Discussed: Outcomes:
05.10.15
Initial site observations, intentions for the site, choice of material Explore how to span across with pallet timber, try to keep things loose fit, think about entrances and progression
27
06.10.15
Pallet Timber Beams: Testing Ways of Spanning Having decosntructed the shipping pallets into slats, we began to experiment with ways of creating beams to span across entrance ramp.
Photos showing taking the pallets apart and creating a beam using overlapping slats
28
Canopy and Columns: More Experimentation with Pallet Timber
07.10.15
To create a canopy that could form our porch, we looked into creating a lamella roof with the slats. For columns, we used cut shipping pallet modules. We felt this was unsucessful however - the columns became too weighty and required bracing at the bottom.
Testing making a lamella canopy from timber slats
Experimenting with making columns from leftover pallet modules
29
08.10.15
Assembling the Components and Testing Form Having made the beam and column components, we assembled them on the ramp to get a sense of scale, fit and feasibility. The joints weren’t connected, and the beams were held in balance. How things fix to each other - and to the cages - will need to be thought about.
Photos showing the assembly of our porch structure
30
Tutorial with FP & MM Discussed: Outcomes:
08.10.15
Structural stability, entrance proposition and initial reactions to site Research precedents for entrances and porches, increase depth of beam, think about connections
Tutorial on the ramp
31
09.10.15
Exploring the Estate : Eerie & Empty Green Spaces The estate had been carefully planned to provide sufficient green spaces dispersed between buildings. However, due to overlooking by many buildings, signs prohibiting ball games and dogs, as well as fierce boundary markers such as gabion cages and excessive metal fencing, these spaces were eeriely unoccupied and uninviting.
3 1 2
gabion cages Angell Town Map
Green Space 1: park, garden, playground
Green Space 2: playground, pitch
32
Green Space 3: park, playground
‘surveillance’, overlooking
metal fencing
Green Space 3: Fenced-Off & Surveilled
09.10.15
This particular green space, bounded by buildings overlooking into it, was peculiar - despite attractive trees and a playground, the otherwise fenced park felt isolated and empty.
33
09.10.15
Shuttered Shop-fronts & Closed Community Amenities After extensive redevlopment in the 1990s, the deck-​​access system was converted to a street format based on terraced homes with individual entrances and unused garages were replaced with shops and community facilities. Due to council spending cuts and lack of clarity in the management of the estate, these facilities have slowly been shutting down - such as the youth club shown below.
Evening Standard article discussing the decline of social and community spaces in Angell Town
34
From Garages to Ghost Shops
09.10.15
The two photos below show the change of garage spaces into retail spaces for the community. Most of the converted units were shuttered for most of the day in our time here, though signs and placards behind the shopfronts allude to the sort of activities and communities that are present in the estate.
http://www.theguardian.com/cities/gallery/2016/jan/14/brixton-makeover-gentrification-then-and-now-in-pictures
Examples of shuttered shop-fronts on the main streets
35
09.10.15
Mapping Un-used Units
Brixton Road
Fairfax House
Newbury House
Site plan of the estate: grey highlights the converted garage units (including the undercroft) observed as not being in use during our time in Angell Town
36
Street-level Animosity
09.10.15
This unit, at Fairfax House, is an typical example of the converted garage. It was shuttered, along with most of the other shops - save a hairdressers - throughout our time. The shuttering creates a hostile ground floor level, adding to the animosity of the streetscape.
Sketch of the converted retail unit at Fairfax House
37
Meeting Paddy: Confined Life of an Elderly Resident
09.10.15
Paddy lives by himself in Fairfax House, one of the houses in Angell Town. Even though he’s partially blind and has a carer come to cook his meals, he lives on the first floor and has to go up a set of stairs to enter his house. Due to this, as well as animosity he feels within the community, he feels its unsafe to go out and is confined to his flat.
Paddy with his cat in the living room
Annotated sketch plan of Paddy’s flat
38
Market Day: Gauging Interest and Ideas
10.10.15
We were invited to partake in the ‘It’s your local market’ launch. We used the opportunity to meet local residents and businesses, artists etc, and talk about the Newbury House Project and Angell Town and their views on what they wanted from their community. Outcomes: Coffee shop/cafe, cinema, vineyard, gym/sports facilities, place to gather, place for the elderly
Setting up alongside music and market stalls
Local residents of all ages contributing their ideas
39
13.10.15
Aspirational Individuals: Market Day Coverage in the Evening Standard Continuing the coverage on Angell Town in the Evening Standard, the market day held on Saturday was covered and the spotlight shone on the lady who initiated the event.
Cuttings from the article
40
Working out Connections
13.10.15
Having been told to look at the connections by MM and FP, I sketched out ways in which pallet modules, making up beams columns and bases, could interlock toegther.
Sketches showing how connections could work
41
15.10.15
Inconspicuous Entrances: Front and Back Entrances to the Undercroft The initial impression of the undercroft was that it was tucked away and inconspicuous. The entrances alluded nothing to the vast space hidden underneath, and we felt that this was one reason for its neglect.
42
Mapping Discreet-ness
15.10.15
The drawing below shows the accessibility and inconspicuousness of the undercroft in relation to the rest of the park behind Newbury House (red from most, to yellow least).
43
15.10.15
Transition Points: The Role of an Entrance ‘...the human ability to seperate space - that is, to establish a boundary between them - and the need to then connect them again. With the connection, we create a threshold, a possibility to enter and to exit. Without a transition point, there is no connection between the interior and exterior spatiality.’ Till Boettger
Sketch of our proposed ‘transition point’
44
Inhabited Thresholds: Porches & Porticos
15.10.15
The porticos of the Romans, and the stoas of the Greeks are perhaps the best classical example of architectural typologies that are at thresholds. They are amabulatory spaces, that dont divide or impose, but soften the transition into a space/building.
The Roman Antiquities, T. 4, Plate XXXIX. Plans And Elevations Of The Remains Of The Portico D`Ottavia. Giovanni Battista Piranesi
Plan of a Stoa (source: https://classconnection.s3.amazonaws.com/768/flashcards/806768/jpg/stoa_of_attalos_ii21318193599884.jpg)
45
16.10.15
Refining the Structure As a group we explored how the pallet could be utlised best to create structural components. We decided it was best to completely remove the usable timber from the pallets and adopt an overlapping technique with bolts to achieve this.
Sketches showing the transformation of the pallet to usable timber
46
Making Corners
16.10.15
The overlapping technique enables the components to slot easily into one another to form a joint. The frame we create with the beams and columns done in this manner can be replicated to create a porch structure.
Sketches showing how the components can come together to make an entrance device
47
16.10.15
Constructing a Section with a Deeper Beam We discovered that for more structural stability, it was better to double up slats for the beam to make it thicker than the columns.
Photos showing the construction of a beam
48
Testing Fit & Dimension
16.10.15
Once we had a corner joint constructed, we decided to test it on the ramp to assess fit and dimension and think about ways it could connect to, or be supported by, the gabion cages.
Photos showing the structure on the ramp
49
19.10.15
Adapting and Adjusting: Putting the Structure in Place The slope of the ramp meant that we had to adjust the method we had devised of attaching the structure to the cages. A sloped footing was developed as a result so that structure remained orthogonal.
Attaching the structure to the railings and cages, and the development of a sloped footing
50
Adding Footings & Bracing
20.10.15
Once the connections to the railing and cages was finalised and attached, we added bracing in the form of slats connecting the two frames together.
Footings on the railings and cages side
Bracing added connecting the two frames together
51
20.10.15
Entrance into the Undercroft
52
The finished structure in place
Reconfiguration of Pallet Timber
Bolts and slats detail
20.10.15
53
20.10.15
Tutorial with MM Discussed: Outcomes:
Tutorial notes
54
Progress of construction, intentions for the structure as part of a larger proposal Look at the structure as a device that could be replicated/added to, assess what a ‘portal’ is, what activities happen and how it connects to the other group proposals
Measuring the Structure
21.10.15
Taking measurement of the components which all relate to the dimension of a pallet slat
55
23.10.15
Preparing for Events Day: Making an Entrance & Painting a Screen Prior to displaying our interventions and hosting an open house to the residents of Newbury House, we prepared the site, marking (and testing) proposed paths to the undercroft and painting a screen for projections as part of the light painting event.
Making the entrance obvious
Painting over old graffiti tags for a projection screen
56
Testing: Connecting the Existing Path to our Porch
23.10.15
Marking out a pathway
Using strings and twigs
57
24.10.15
Events Day: Showcasing the Interventions Th groups all displayed their interventions including a recycled pallet canopy and floor, as well as pallet and fabric partitions. Outcomes: This was the first time many residents actually went into the undercroft, having now seen how generous the space is they are now vested in utilising it to its full potential, ideas for a gym and workshop spaces.
Photo showing the porch in use for a quick chat
The interventions
58
Light Painting in the Undercroft
24.10.15
As part of our event, we invited light artist Richard Taylor, a fellow CASS student, to host a light painting workshop. We wanted to make use of the dark conditions within the undercroft, and see how people would interact with the space. It was a good way of showcasing the undercroft to the residents, and particularly the youth, and getting them to engage with it pro-actively. The captures were then projected onto the screen we had painted on the wall.
Light painting photo capture
The captures projected onto the white painted wall
59
24.10.15
60
Animating the Undercroft
An example of resident children using light to animate the space
24.10.15
61
27.10.15
Reading Angell Town as a City In attempting to read Angell Town as if it were a microcosm of a city, I wanted to understand emerging zones of acitivities: 1) commercial : imagining the streets with converted units as a High Street connected to Brixton Road 2) recreational: imagining the football pitch (stadium) and playground as recreational space 3) social: an emerging community heart around the church and local school 4) industrial: the periphery where gardening (farming) occurs, with potential for more productive activity.
Angell Town as a City diagram
62
Building Scale Thresholds: Improving Connections
27.10.15
63
27.10.15
64
Building Element: Celebrating Thresholds
Material Scale: Repeatable, Reconfigured Pallet Timber
27.10.15
65
29.10.15
Final Crit: Presenting to Zana & RMO Discussed: the group’s intervention and proposals for Angell Town Outcomes: idea of imagining AT as a city could be explored further, think about how any proposal could relate to the new school
Presenting our work in the yard next to our structure at Newbury House
66
Evaluation In our preliminary making places project in brixton we explored ideas of how a redundant undercroft could be transformed into a useful space for the local community. The catalyst for developing these ideas was experimenting with making, using a single type of locally sourced reclaimed material. By testing ideas at a 1:1 scale on site, we attracted the attention of people who passed by or lived on the estate, encouraging debate about the characteristics of the space, its occupation and potentials. The conversations and interactions with these people assisted in decision-making and the development of design ideas.
Cultural Context & Communication
Professional Context
-
Learning about the social and architectural history of Angell Town from news/historic sources, and then in communication with local residents
-
Abiding by the Memorandum of Understanding drafted between ourselves and the RMO through the community officer, Hannah.
-
Engaging in community events, such as Market Day, and using drawings and models as a means of provoking discussion and gauging ideas
-
Communicating our progress and events with Hannah and fellow members of the RMO
-
Using making projects as means of not only testing ideas, but generating ideas by the reactions and evocations of proposals
-
Engaging with local organisations and NGO’s such as Progress (urban gardening charity) and IRMO (Indo-American Refugee & Migrant Association)
-
Taking influence from classical sources to understand the idea of a ‘portico’, a threshold space that is enlivened by inhabitaiton which is lacking in the current entrance
-
Following health and safety regulations by abiding by the risk assessment
Environment & Sustainability
Construction, Materials & Structures
-
Sourcing materials within the locality and therefore reducing energy needed for transportation
-
Making use of existing materials by recycling shipping pallet timber; reduces waste and more cost-effective than sourcing new timber
-
Re-configuring shipping pallets for usable timber, and understanding the pre- set dimensions of the slats in order to make a structure that is not overworked, and can be repeatable.
-
Using minimals materials (timber and bolts) to make the structure, as well as only hand tools (crowbar, saw, drill)
-
Designing the structure with minimal material, and easy assembly so that design could be repeated
-
Make a structurally sound object to withstand weather
67