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BA3 Mini Portfolio Tales of the Pipe-End Amber Goh Siow Ping | USE Atelier
C O N T E N T Being a beast
1-2
Tackling Pollution
3-4
Tales of the Pipe-End
5-6
Optimising the Reading Atmosphere
7-8
Your Preferred Reading Atmosphere?
9-10
Living Out your Favourite Tale
11-12
Finding your Safe Spot
13-14
Mingling of Young and Old
15-16
The Courtyard of Serenity
17-18
Insects Central
19-20
Web of Soothe
21-22
Seeing the Whole Tale
23-24
Appendix
26-37
Site
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Design process
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Draft plan
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CAD ground floor plan
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Structure
31
Services
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User-centred design
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Construction Detail
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Construction
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Physical models
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Humanities essay: [re]writing the city (Rotterdam)
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c r e a t i v e
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p e r s p e c t i v e s
BEING A BEAST Spiders along a transect
INSPIRATION FROM SPIDERS In our first atelier USE task, we explored our territory by walking along a transect and gathering sensory information as we went along. Personally, I was thrilled to be observing spiders and their webs in different areas. It is interesting to see that not only are there various types of webs (eg. tubular, spiral, tangle, funnel, sheet, single thread, etc.) but also that countless places can be home to spiders; it can be somewhere high up or low down, a dark hidden corner, and even a quite open place, as long as there is some structure upon which their can build their web. In short, spiders are creative creatures, and unlike human beings they can have various viewing perspectives depending on where they build their web home or just as they crawl along! How amazing if we are able to view things from a spider’s perspective?
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Illustrations of the pipeline system that stretches across the transect. INSECT PIPE
GREEN WALL moss cork soil Section A
Section B
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nutrient water
TACKLING POLLUTION Group work: Towards everyday nature
POLLUTION IN MANCHESTER Also in USE, we split into four groups of different themes, i.e. health, pollution, waste and water, where we look deeper into each issue, particularly in Manchester. RENDERS OF INTERVENTION: Pipeline system + green wall/green space
ISSUE Pollution level increases with urbanization in Manchester. Simultaneously the city becomes a place less conducive for wildlife; they are driven out. There occurs a separation between the urban and natural worlds.
AIM Our intention is to reduce the effect of pollution on wildlife, particularly insects, bats and plants. Simultaneously we aim to raise awareness on pollution, especially among school children. We aspire to dissolve the polarised notion between urban and nature by celebrating the value of ruderal everyday nature.
PROPOSAL We proposed a linear insect pipeline that runs along the entire transect, accompanied by a series of green walls and green spaces. The pipe protects small plants and insects from pollution. The micro-ecosystem in the pipeline is a more ideal habitat for those species. These interventions bring everyday nature to school children and the general public in the city.
Note: Works presented are my contribution to the group.
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INSPIRATION FROM SPIDER WEBS
The pipeline culminates at the...
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TALES OF THE PIPE-END Enter a world of tales
‘INSECT CENTRAL’
A NATURE-INSPIRED LIBRARY FOR THE YOUNG With an insect-attracting steel mesh façade, the children’s library Tales of the Pipe-End is the culmination point of an insect pipeline along a transect in Manchester. As in the Theme Pollution group project we considered the impact of the intervention on wildlife and young people, the focused users in my project are also the young. Inspired by nature - particularly from observations of spider webs, this library aims to foster a strong intimacy between people and nature through its underlying designs.
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GROUND FLOOR
Mayfield Station
1:200 4m
0
NB EE GR
Water courtyard
T EL ring
Ba eet
Str
Entrance
NOISY ZONE
SOUTH (FRONT) ELEVATION
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FedEX Carpark
River Medlock
Knit Shop
BUFFER ZONE (NON-READING)
QUIET ZONE (READING)
4m
8m
OPTIMISING THE READING ATMOSPHERE ROOF
Shunning noise and creating calmness
SECOND FLOOR
FIRST FLOOR
THE BUFFER ZONE One problem that arises with the site is noise pollution due to busy traffic of taxis at Baring street. As quietness is favoured for a library, the effect of noise pollution is minimized by a ‘green belt’ that absorbs noise. Spaces that require less quietness (cafe, kitchen, storage, etc.) are situated at the buffer zone, while reading spaces the quiet zone. The atmosphere of calmness and serenity is enhanced by having a central water courtyard, which hopefully further ‘distract’ building users from the busy streets outside.
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Entrance
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YOUR PREFERRED READING ATMOSPHERE?
SOLITUDE INDIVIDUAL NOOK solitary reading
A hierachy of reading spaces confined to public, solitude to multitude
MEDIUM NOOK small group reading
COMPUTER CLUSTER e-reading / AV style reading
ART STUDIO drawing from stories
PUBLIC READING AREA joint reading (even parents)
READING NETS relaxed outdoor reading over a mint field
READING STEPS & MINI STAGE reading / acting out stories on stage!
READING AS THE PROGRAMME
MULTITUDE
There are many ways one choose to read a book, from being in total silence to drawing and acting out the stories within. This project aims to provide these different spaces to accomodate for creative reading styles, for children mainly, and even parents!
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LIVING OUT YOUR FAVOURITE TALE An extraverted reading style - acting out stories
Witch of Narnia..!
1:50 PHYSICAL MODEL THE MAIN READING SPACE
You are condemned!
READING STEPS & MINI STAGE In this public reading space, children have the opportunity to be creative and be acting out stories from their favourite books. Sat along the reading steps, parents and fellow friends of ‘actors and actresses’ can watch and support them! The curves of the steps are inspired by the topography lines of the site.
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That’s just too much for me! I want a quiet and reflective read.
I love story-telling from mummy! And there’s cake!
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FINDING YOUR SAFE SPOT Reading in a nook - on your own or with your buddy
INSPIRATION: HOLE IN BRICK WALL AS SPIDER’S HABITAT
READING NOOKS If performing a story up front is too scary for some, then an option is to grab your favourite storybooks and be tucked away in one of the nooks, which all provides good view of the water courtyard. Well, just like a spider in its secret hideout!
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MINGLING OF YOUNG AND OLD Share stories over tea
CAFE This library is definitely not just for the young. The cafe is the space that least require quietness, and therefore is the buffer zone of the building. This is where the young and old mingle, read books, have some cake and tea together. One of the library’s aims is to promote parents’ involvement in children’s reading culture and education and to foster a stronger bond between generations. This space overlooks to the water courtyard.
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THE COURTYARD OF SERENITY A source of calmness for reading
BLUE PICKEREL WEED & DRAGONFLY
WATER COURTYARD This central courtyard of shallow water and vegetation aims to create a serene ambience for the reading spaces surrounding it, while promoting an ecosystem. During dryer seasons, water is released to the courtyard from the cistern, above which is a green roof that filters rainwater. The cistern also supplies water to the rest of the building.
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INSECTS CENTRAL The facade of the art space as the culmination point of the insect pipeline
INSPIRATION: DEW DROPS // WEB
STEEL MESH FACADE This is the culmination ‘central’ of the insect pipeline along the transect. Insects gather and there exists a little ecosystem around the facade. The features that attracts them are the tiny round containers that grow small plants. These ‘shiny droplet’ containers are inspired by the dew drops that naturally form when rain hits a spider web. When viewed afar, the facade appears like a giant web with water droplets.
ART STUDIO Beyond this facade is the activity/art studio where children can draw or create art from children’s stories. Perhaps the facade wrapping around the space can promote the little ones to be creative in their artwork and be drawing inspiration from nature as well.
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WEB OF SOOTHE
Experiencing the soothing effect of mint plants
INSPIRATION: SPIRAL/SHEET WEB
PEOPLE PURPLE HORSEMINT
READING NETS Maximum interaction with the aromatic and soothing purple horsemint without posing harm to the plants.
Here children can enjoy relaxed outdoor reading (with their parents if they wish!). They can walk around or lie on the nets, which hover just over the aromatic purple horsemint field. The purple horsemint helps in relieving anxiety and promoting relaxation. Apart from providing ample seating area for children to read, this structure also allows children to observe and interact with the mint plants in an unconventional way.
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SEEING THE WHOLE TALE
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A
P
P
E
N
D
I
X
SITE
Appendix
N
Mayfield train station Piccadilly Point (Unite Students)
1 t
rin Ba
tree
nS uxto
gS
B
et
tre
FedEx UK station
3
5
2 4
sun path existing tree
Riv
er
Me
dlo
ck
original topography line
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2
3
4
5
DESIGN PROCESS
Appendix
READING STEPS ALONG TOPOGRAPHY LINES
DIVING UP THE MASS
CHANGE OF CAFE LOCATION
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Appendix
29
DRAFT PLAN
CAD GROUND FLOOR PLAN
Appendix MAYFIELD STATION
19 13
14
7
15
+7.6
11
16
T EE TR GS
RIN BA
17 18
10
19 4
7
6
3
12
8
12 +7.1
2
5
20
9
+6.7 +6.3
1
+5.9
FedEX CARPARK +5.5
RIVER MEDLOCK
+2.0
+7.2
1:200 4m
0
4m
8m
KEY 1 Entrance 2 Reception & foyer 3 Cafe 4 Kitchen 5 Main reading space with steps and a mini stage 6 Water courtyard 7 Reading space 8 Outdoor terrace 9 Reading nets (above mint field) 10 Activity space
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
Exhibition space (children’s artwork) Fire escape staircase WC Storage Loading bay Substation Gas meter room Water tank room Riser Bike racks
fire escape staircase exits of building lift ramp
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STRUCTURE
Appendix
RAIN/SNOW CONCRETE ROOF
WIND
FURNITURE / PEOPLE CONCRETE SLABS AND LOADBEARING WALLS
CONCRETE BEAMS FOR ‘CUT’ SLABS
N
TIO DA
UN
FO D/
UN
W
LO
BE
O GR
STRIP FOUNDATION LOAD TRANSSION TO GROUND KEY Live load Dead load
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SERVICES
Appendix
1 2
WC
UNDERFLOOR HEATING
RISER WC
LOADING BAY
KEY
ENTRANCE FOR PLANT ROOMS MAIN ENTRANCE 3 4
5
1 2 3 4 5
Water cistern (above: green roof) Boiler room Gas meter room Plant room Substation Plant rooms & services Water cistern & services Natural light atrium
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USER-CENTRED DESIGN
Appendix
1:50 on A3
READING SPACE
achievable shelf height for children
READING NOOK
medium illuminace spotlight for comfort reading seating height 400 mm
safe ceiling height ensure children do not knock their head on their way in
CAFE CAFE NOOK
all nooks are of minimal design, as is fitting for the building theme
WATER COURTYARD
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CONSTRUCTION DETAIL 1:10 on A3
Appendix 1
KEY 1 waterproof membrane 2 10 mm parquet 3 80 mm cement and sand screed with underfloor heating 4 plastic membrane 5 80 mm thermal insulation 6 200 mm reinforced concrete floor 7 services and pipes 8 20 mm polystyrene thermal insulation 9 30 mm mineral-wool acoustic soffit with sound-absorbing surface
10 timber frame 11 15 mm wooden board
10 11
2 3 5
4
6
7
8
9
1:10 200mm
0
200mm
400mm
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CONSTRUCTION
Appendix
1. SITE
2. STRIP FOUNDATION, FOLLOWED BY GROUND FLOOR SLAB
3. WALLS OF GROUND FLOOR
5. WALLS OF FIRST FLOOR
6. SLABS AND ROOF
Site digging to lay foundation
4. FIRST FLOOR SLAB
7. SECOND FLOOR AND ROOF FINISHES
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8. FACADE, CLADDINGS & FINISHES, OUTDOOR FACILITIES, FURNITURE
PHYSICAL MODELS
Appendix
1:200 Physical model
1:50 Sectional model
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Appendix
HUMANITIES ESSAY [re]writing the city (Rotterdam)
Three perspectives which I rendered for essay group work: the urban design features in Rotterdam. We studied the historical development of the city and its regeneration after the German bombardment. For my individual essay I wrote on how the city could be appreciated through cinematic lens, focussing particularly on the works of the cinematographer Andor Von Barsy. The doing of this project compelled me to be more observant of things happening in the streets of Rotterdam. This encouraged me to in turn observe details in Manchester, in this case I focussed on spiders’ habitat which becomes my design inspiration.
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