learning journal
stephanie adamou
cardiff university wsa2
1. measure
2. sustainable housing
3. urban conditions
4. figure/ground
5. vertical studio
6. barcelona study trip
7. sawsa competition
8. sawsa posters
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contents
1. MEASURE The project was set over the summer period and was aimed at analysing the qualities of what makes a space feel like a dwelling. The task was to choose a space that holds a special meaning for us and analyse it through accurate physical measurements (objective measurements), followed by measurements of the experiential qualities (subjective measurements). Then the space would be analysed according to some of Herman Herzberger’s key themes, along with an environmental analysis. The final output would be an A1 key image drawn in pencil, that best communicates the ideas explored above.
AA SECTION
page 2
The space i chose to study for this project is the porch outside my home kitchen. A space where i enjoy drinking a cup of coffee in the morning, a space that allows me to relax and contemplate. The scale of the porch pays an important factor in its experience, which is why ive chosen to analyse ‘scale’ subjectively. Inspired by the quote above from Pallasma’s ‘Eyes of the Skin’ , i analysed the scale of the space in terms of the scale of my own body, through sketches like the one shown on the left. In the following two pages lies an image of my subjective analysis, where i painted with my body a composition of a 1:1 plan and section of the porch. This exercise allowed me to understand the proportions of the space and how they relate to the scale of my body.
page 3
SUBJECTIVE MEASUREMENTS
page 5
objective MEASUREMENTS
plan 1:40
page 6
aa section 1:40
bb section 1:40
page 7
finaldrawing The final A1 drawing (shown on the left at scale 1:5) portrayed a 1:1 sectional elevation of the porch. The column pictured is the place i get drawn to subconsciously when approaching the step. Pinned up at floor level, the aim was for the viewer to experience the scale, which shapes the character of the space.
INITIAL MODELS
2. sustainable
housing
The project focused around the design of a sustainable housing project in the area of Grangetown, Cardiff. The driving idea for the scheme was the concept of growing food on site. This was to be achieved on two levels; through allotments on site and the use of private gardens available to every dwelling. To achieve the form of the building, a constant unit of 5m x 5m was repeated and arranged in different ways to accomodate for the different types of dwellers. Through recesses and extrusions, opportunites for private gardens were created. The scheme consists of a total of 15 dwellings, with a mixture of 4,3,2 and single bedroom houses and several live/work units.
masterplan
SUSTAINABLEHOUSING = SUSTAINABLELIVING
page 10
allotment bands
service bands
service band
vertical circulation
storage horizontal circulation greenhouse
bands
page 11
site section
page 12
page 13
elevation
page 14
SUSTAINABLEHOUSING = SUSTAINABLELIVING
page 16
dwelling
DESIGN
The design of this twobedroom flat evolved from the concepts guiding the design of the masterplan. It consists of a harvest core unit, with the flat forming an L-shape around it, allowing links between the garden and everyday activities. The use of the 5x5 unit is carried through and emphasised by pulling forward the front unit to let light though the top.
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A
A
B
B
plan 1:250
page 18
aa section 1:250
bb section 1:250
page 19
interiorstudies
interiorstudies
exteriorstudies
page 25
exterior perspective
page 27
technical detail 1:40
3. urban
conditions Urban Conditions was a site analysis project, focusing on different aspects of the town of Pontypridd, Wales. Such aspects include its Economy, Demographics, History etc. Our group focused on Regional Urban Planning, so we looked at regeneration plans concerning the wider region of Rhondda Cynon Taf and how they relate to Pontypridd. We researched at a regional scale habits and trends concerning society, economics and the environment, aspects that could be taken into account when designing for Pontypridd.
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societaldata
page 30
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environmentaldata
page 32
economicdata
page 33 3
Brecon Beacons
North
Pontypridd South
M4
Principal Towns
Cardiff
Strategic Sites Key Settlements
local development plan map analysis
page 34
PONTYPRIDD PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL EXPANSION SITES Pontypridd
Treforest 70 Mins Walk
60 Mins Walk
Smaller Settlements
Pontypridd
8 Mins Car 10 Mins Car
Church Village
Llantwit Fardre Beddau
?
page 35
case study mwyndy/talbot green
7 Mwyndy / Talbot Green Area Dwellings (500) Employment (32 hectares) Retail (23,200m2) Leisure (10,000m2)
Retail
Countryside
Residential
p
c
Employment
p Mwyndy
c
Pontypridd
TRANSPORT STRATEGIES pONTYPRIDD-cARDIFF
page 4
4. FIGURE /GROUND As part of the urban regeneration of Pontypridd, the project is centrered on the design of an art centre on the crossing of the rivers Taff and Rhondda. The art gallery is available to everyone and includes spaces for both temporary and permanent exhibitions, as well as conference spaces and rooms for practicing and recording music. The gallery provides spaces for various types of art, since it provides rooms with different light qualities and scale. The design consists of a lighter elevating volume intersecting a solid concrete volume at the back of the site. The elevated volume provides an opening and a level of transparency between Taff street and the river. final crit pinup
page 37
SUSHI MODELS TRANSPARENCY TAFF STREET-RIVER
page 38
STUDY OF THE STREET BLOCKAGE OF VIEWS ALONG THE RIVER
page 39
STREET-RIVER frontage
access routes
sunlight exposure
sunpath diagram
page 40
routes
surrounding buildings
rivers
green spaces
page 41
exterior perspective
page 42
page 43
sitesection
page 44
page 45
sketch model
cornell architecture school precedent study
page 46
form diagrams
ground floor plan 1:400
page 48
first floor plan 1:400
N
page 49
second floor plan 1:400
N
s econ d floor p l a n 1:200
page 50
third floor plan 1:400
N
t h ir d floor p l a n 1:200
section 1:200
detailsection
page 54 CONNECT ION: steel str uctur e slo tted into t h e c o n c r e t e s t r u c t u r e . steel str uctur e r ests o n a nd b o l t e d o n t o t h e c o n c r e t e
W A L L c o nstr uc ti o n: 25 0 m m c o n c r e t e waterproof membrane 1 20m m r i g i d i n s u l a t i o n 1 0m m p l a s t e r b o a r d
FLOOR constru ction: tim ber f lo o r bo a r ds tim ber ba ttens wa ter pr o o f m em br a ne 1 2 0 m m r igid insula tio n 250 - 260 co ncr ete
ROTATED VIEW
R O O F c o ns t ruc ti o n: asphalt waterproof membrane rigid insulation timber battens va p o ur b a r r i e r p e r fo r a t e d b e a m p l as t e r b o a r d
tr u s s str uctur a l I- bea m s
POIN TS OF S UPPORT OF TH E E L E VATE D S T E E L S T R U C T U R E
S t e e l I b ea m s an d s te e l t r u s s e s a r e t h e supporting members of the elevated vo l u m e . St e e l w a s c h o s e n a s a l i g h tweight material to contrast the he a v i e r c o n cr e t e s t r u c t u r e . T h e t w o c o n t r a s t i n g vo l um e s i n t e r s e c t , w i t h t he s t e e l o n e r e s t i n g a n d b e i n g s u ppo r t e d on t o t h e c o n c r e t e s t r u c t u r e .
glass
interior study entrance
3ds max model interior gallery space
page 57
ROOM UNDER ANALYSIS
N
daylightanalysis The overall atmospheric intention for the visitor would be able to experience a daylit space, without an overwhelming level of brightness in the room. The depth of the room will allow light to reflect and diffuse within it. The choice of materials allows the galleries to appear domestic within a bigger, colder volume. The light timber choice of flooring gives the room its warm and light character, whereas the exposed concrete ceiling connects it back to the wider concrete structure.
09:00 1ST MARCH
09:00 1ST JUNE
09:00 1ST DECEMBER
12:00 1ST MARCH
12:00 1ST JUNE
12:00 1ST DECEMBER
16:00 1ST MARCH
16:00 1ST JUNE
15:00 1ST DECEMBER
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physicalmodel
page 4
5. vertical STUDIO Being part of “The Waiting Room� studio, i had to select a scenario of waiting and translate the experience into a waiting room space. I chose to articulate the feelings and concept in the act of waiting to arrive when travelling - stilness, frustration and inertia and translate it into a spatial form through a narrative. The process involved modelling, in order to generate the scene in a similar way to stage design. Through the use of photography and collage we tried to convey the atmosphere and emotion.
NARRATIVE The traveler awaits upon his arrival, in a situation where the passage of time is all that is substantial. In an event where the stillness of time contradicts the motion of travel, where in the end, the stillness is all that remains. Stillness floats within time and motion and one ends up suspended in time. The experience of his stillness clashes the reality of being in motion during travel. His tranquility suddenly becomes unsettling; his ground turns to sand; he sinks. The traveler drowns in his inertia. He reaches for his suitcase in vain, whilst the letter he has to deliver remains buried in the sand. He cannot fast forward. The song is there to remind him of that. He can no longer do nothing, but wait.
The model is divided into two worlds; that of suspension in time and that of inertia. I chose objects to portray the frustration experienced whilst travelling; chairs are suspended even though they are objects expected to be on the ground and things which are meaningless when they’re not moving, such as a letter and a suitcase that are now stuck in the sand.
model progress
6. barcelona STUDy trip
rcr library, barcelona
influential photographs
7. sawsa
competition The competition asked for the design of an architectural intervention in the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff. The poster shown on the left is the one i submitted for the competition and portrays the design of an exhibition hub in the museum’s lobby area. The form is inspired by the Cardiff docks.
8. sawsa
posters
During this academic year, i was an operative of SAWSA, the student association of WSA. Part of the propaganda team, i was in charge of designing the lecture posters organised throughout the year.
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stephanie adamou 2010-2011