READING CONTEXT RYAN JAMES HODGE university of edinburgh architectural design option semester 1 2009/2010
1
AXONOMERIC SITE OVERVIEW
“Architecture is basically a container of something. I hope they will enjoy not so much the teacup, but the tea.� Yoshio Taniguchi
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MACRO
MICRO
CONCEPTUAL STATEMENT Translating Berwick’s intricate courtyards, alleys and level changes into a proposal for the library. Berwick’s complex urban form evolved from a need to maximise effecient use of space in an already convoluted context. This situation was created and controlled by the fortifying walls that contain/constrain the town. By treating the existing building on site as a container/constrainer we can force the library to develop within it in the same way the town did, thus creating a microcosm of Berwick embodied in its design.
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PRECEDENT THE NEW WITH THE OLD
IDENTIFYING AN APPROACH Before beginning the design process I looked at the work of architects who had done work with combining new and existing fabric, each case is headed with a caption that summarises the architects approach.
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EXISTING BUILDING INVESTIGATION
GROUND FLOOR
FIRST FLOOR
SANDGATE ELEVATION
SURVEY An initial investigation of the existing building on site was carried out to before beginning the rest of the design process.
CURRENT ENTRANCE AREA
VIEW FROM HIDE HILL
VIEW FROM SILVER STREET
VIEW OF ANDERSON COURT
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INITIAL STAGES APPLYING THE CONCEPT
INITIAL RESPONSE The zoning model left shows my initial response to the concept. Zones were placed without any reference to form only with a logic of providing the right public/private relationships, isolation from street noise and adequate light protection/exposure for each space respectively.
Zoning Model
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ZONING PROCESS INITIAL RESPONSES AND MAJOR MOVES
TUTORIAL 1
TUTORIAL 2
INTERIM CRIT
SECOND FLOOR
FIRST FLOOR
GROUND FLOOR
1.300
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ZONING PROCESS ZONING LOGIC AND MAJOR MOVES
PUBLIC
PRIVATE
LIBRARY SPACES
ZONING DIAGRAM
ZONING The spaces such as the cafe and exhibiton were located at the base of the building to give them maximum exposure to the public. Spaces such as the offices were located to keep them away from the public but also to give them access to natural light via existing window openings. The library spaces were located with a logic for giving them isolation from street noise, natural light and access to views over the Berwick roofscape.
MAJOR MOVES REMOVAL OF THE ROOF
A major move was to remove the existing pitched roof of the JJ Youngmans building in lieu for a monopitched glass canopy over the cafe. This gives more light to the cafe, opens up the hide hill facade and creates a visual link between the cafe and the rest of the library.
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CIRCULATION RESOLVING THE STAIR
COMPARTMENTALISED STAIR, INTERIM CRIT
COMPARTMENTALISED STAIR, TUTORIAL FOLLOWING INTERIM
This stair was designed to be an implanted object that could be read through the floors of the design. It offered a discrete ascent to the different floors of the library, while forming a surface on which to exhibit work in the exhibition. After the interim it was decided that other options should be considered as it was not identifiable enough as a stair and didn’t have enough light in the well or views into the library.
This stair was considered as an option following the interim as it offered more light into the well, was more centrally located, and allowed views into the central courtyard space as users ascend. It was conceived as a large monolithic gesture in the centre of the courtyard but unfortunately by using this option too much of the existing structure would need to be removed so it was deemed unfeasible.
MAJOR MOVES A major change was to reinstate the original courtyard in the heart of the building, this space ties together the surrounding library spaces visually, physically and through sound. LIFT
STAIR
STAIR
LIFT
Axonometric showing interventions. (interim)
The most major change to the circulation of the building was to remove the two existing stairwells and replace them with a new main stair, a lift and a fire stair.
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CIRCULATION RESOLVED STAIR
STAIR AS EXHIBITION PIECE The solution to resolving the stair was to create a composite of the two previous stairs best attributes. This stair sits in the same place as the original compartmentalised stair, but is easily identifiable as a stair due to its sculptural nature. The base sits in the exhibition space but also reads as a part of it. The first four steps a concrete-marble chip plinth, the rest a folded steel structure hanging from the upper floors and a third element, a piece of timber sitting below the first landing. The three elements do not quite touch but toghether create an artistic compostion within the exhibition space. Axonometric detail of main stair.
As users ascend, tactile openings allow light into the stair and views out into the library spaces, letting users understand the layout of the library as they progress through it.
EXHIBITION
FIRST FLOOR
SECOND FLOOR
A typical day at the New Berwick Library...
THE NEW BERWICK LIBRARY /////////MORNING///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
09.00 OPENING 10.00 EARLY BIRD BREAKFAST SPECIAL TILL 10.00 10.30 EXHIBITION OF LOCAL ARTISTS WORK OPENS 11.00 ‘LEARN TO DRAW A REAL CARTOON!’ IN THE READING CORNER 11.30 ‘SOUNDS OF THE FOREST’ IN MAIN AUDITORIUM
/////////MIDDAY//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
A SERIES OF INTERVENTIONS My approach to combining new and old fabric can be considered as a ‘series of interventions’. In the 1:100 model all that is not modeled in grey card represents an intervention or change in spatial configuration.
12.00 BOOK SIGNING BY EOEN COLFER IN MAIN CAFE 13.00 WEEKLY USED BOOK SALE COMMENCES IN COURTYARD LOUNGE 14.00 MATINEE OF ‘PASSPORT TO PIMLICO’ IN MAIN AUDITORIUM 15.00 STORYTELLER IN HISTORY ARCHIVE
/////////EVENING//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 18.00 RESTAURANT AND BAR OPEN 19.30 READING SPACES CLOSE 20.00 GUEST LECTURER IN MAIN AUDITORIUM 21.30 DRINKS IN COURTYARD LOUNGE AND EXHIBITION 23.00 CLOSING TIME
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FINALISED DESIGN FINAL PLANS
FIRE ESCAPE Up until the latter stages of the design the meetings space had no fire escape route. Rather than this being detrimental to the design it was possible to work the new route into the language of the proposal. The new balcony became a similar element to the steel walkways and the new stair simoultaneously acts as a bookshelf to the archive space.
BOOK STACKS On this floor book stacks are orientated along the lenght of the room to direct views towards the high ceilings. On the floor below stacks orientate widthways to emphasize views into the courtyard.
SECOND FLOOR MAIN LIBRARY
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ANDERSON COURT
B
STRUCTURAL CONSTRAINTS In every instance the existing structure has been used as much as possible to accommodate the program of the library. On this floor for instance the Janitors office was originally a through route to where the registry reception is now located. I partitioned the spaces and the left over alcove became seating for the Registry reception. To allow offices to operate independently from the rest of the library an existing entrance was utilised as a side entrance to the library.
FIRST FLOOR
LIBRARY/ADMINISTRATION
B
HIDE HILL
CITY DROP IN A
The cafe, exhibition and lecture spaces all work together to create a fluid dialogue between them.
A
For example a user could attend an evening lecture in the auditorium and after move into the courtyard lounge and exhibition space for drinks and discussion, then finally move through to the restaurant for an evening meal under a starry night sky.
1:200
GROUND FLOOR
CAFE/EXHIBITION/AUDITORIUM
SILVER STREET
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FINAL SECTIONS
SECTION A:A
HIDE HILL
SILVER ST CAR PARK
SECTION B:B 1:100
ANDERSON COURT
SILVER STREET
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COURTYARD The courtyard is designed so that it acts as a central hub to the library. It ties together all the library spaces around it. Physically - through the implemented steel walkways that traverse it, Visually - as users looking into it will see all the different layers of activity in the space, and through Sound - all the window openings facing into the space were re-opened but not sealed with glazing, instead they were left open to give the space a sense of activity.
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COURTYARD LOUNGE The base of the courtyard is a flexible space that serves primarily as the courtyard lounge but can also serve other functions such as a book sales floor or dinner party venue.
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HIDE HILL EXTERNAL TREATMENT I opted to scrape back the existing paintwork to reveal the original stonework of the building. On each major facade I created one large abstract opening. Second floor openings grab views over Berwick. The large Exhibiton opening connects the space with the street.
ANDERSON COURT
SILVER STREET 1:200
FENESTRATION New windows inspired by the work of Sigurd Lewerentz were attached to the facade. They sit flush with the wall face and emphasise the depth of the larger abstract openings.
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CAFE AND RECEPTION The canopy over the cafe has a series of modular semi-translucent panels built into it, these give shade to the cafe and reception spaces while highlighting routes into the library and toilets.
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