Third Year Design Portfolio
Thomas Fairbrother
Parliament Square: Container for Protest Parliament Square should be a place for protest but it is an inaccessible roundabout. Protestors resist the order capitalism forces upon them. The entropic process of decay in organic matter resists an ordered state, naturally moving to a state of disorder. The process of protest and decay are both required to maintain a dynamic equilibrium. Order is imposed on the Square daily as the hoggin surface is carefully raked and any artefacts within its boundary are collected. Over the course of the day the square becomes disordered. The raked hoggin surface becomes disturbed, picking up traces of the linear movement of vehicles and the wandering of pedestrians. Artefacts may accumulate on the surface, remnants of the event. The day to day functioning of the square is an ongoing protest against the order imposed on it. It is through remnants that we are able to observe the event. These used to be purely physical objects, be it an archaeological artefact or a piece of writing on paper. Today, much event is observed by means of digital remnants. Hidden internet infrastructure dislocates remnants from their respective event place. This proposal aims to reconfigure Parliament Square to function as a CONTAINER FOR PROTEST. THE LID of the container is event space where the event occurs and is captured, the extent of which is defined by a perimeter brass boundary line. INSIDE of the container, two storage objects reside, one accumulates digital remnants the other physical remnants. Remnants outside the protective shells of the storage objects are subject to the entropic process of decay. The objects manifest themselves above through markers in the form of an observation tower and floodlight. The perimeter wall of the container has a thickness, accommodating necessary services for the objects inside the container and for circulation.
EVENT SPACE
STORAGE SPACE
1:200 Schematic Section
MODELLING MHOUST42 BROADCAST OF ANONYMOUS OPERATION V Fire Jugglers 20:28:35 182 viewers
START
17:15 Protesters begin to collect at Trafalgar Square 19:30 Organisers use megaphone to coordinate protesters 20:00 Protesters leave Trafalgar Square and begin march 20:14 Protesters march down Whitehall and past Downing Street 20:19 Protesters arrive at Parliament Square
FINISH
Mask Wearing 20:42:48 189 viewers
On 5th November the group ‘Anonymous’ marched from Trafalgar square to parliament square. Observation of the event was prevented by avoidance by the media and live online CCTV cameras being disabled. The only exposure of the protest was though this live feed by one of the protesters. To investigate further I decided to model the protest, seeing the live feed of the protest as a serial viewing of artefacts to the backdrop of Parliament.
A carousel keeps the objects in motion while they are concealed inside a box, representing the media shield. The box prevents live observation of the artefacts. A mobile phone is placed inside and records the event, representing the protest broadcaster. The video is uploaded live to servers and then accessible to watch wherever there is internet access, giving the protest a global audience. A protest’s success relies on its exposure.
Demonstration poster 20:52:22 188 viewers
This video stream was the lifeline to the event.
The Beatboxer 21:05:23 182 viewers
Anonymous Flag 21:17:14 170 viewers
Sparklers 21:55:58 174 viewers
dis·lo·ca·tion
[tel-uh-skohp] Noun An optical instrument for making distant objects appear larger and therefore nearer. [dislōˈkāSHən] Noun ANOITACUDE KSEDOTUA NA YB DECUDORP (from the Greek τῆλε, tele “far” and σκοπεῖν, skopein “to look or see”; τηλεσκόπος, TCUDORP LDisturbance from a proper, original, or usual place or state. teleskopos “far-seeing”) Light=Information
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Real time observation of events -Chronological
A
Consequently, the context changes due to:
TCUDORP LANOITACUDE KSEDOTUA NA YB DECUDORP
Focus Incoming light is bent into a bright point
3 STAGE PROCESS 1 EVENT SPACE-the environment in which events
Eyepiece Lens Brings the bright image from the focus and magnifies it to the size of your pupil. 1
3
take place and are captured by a recording device into an invisible eventfile
2a PROCESSING SPACE-the environment in
3 OBSERVATION SPACE-the environment in
Interaction and intervention within the environment of each stage may alter the viewing process. The quality of capture in stage 1, the skewness of the editing in stage 2 and distractions in stage 3 are just some examples of how portrayal of event may be affected.
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which the eventfile is filtered. 2b STORAGE SPACE-the environment in which the eventfile is stored. which the eventfile is magnified, through an interface, in order to observe the event.
Telescope for GOVERNMENT The government keeps the population under surveillance using CCTV cameras relayed to fixed monitors by means of a digital store. This method of surveillance is a static closed system and the information is restricted and hidden.
Lagged time observation of events -Nonchronological
A
C Time
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The quality of camera installed in portable communication devices is of high enough resolution and the quantity of cameras in public space means that the old closed method of surveillance is out of date. The most comprehensive source of surveillance today is from a commons resource.
B
B
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The people keeps the world under surveillance using mobile phone cameras relayed to other mobile phone screens by means of a digital store. This method of surveillance is a dyanamic commons system and the information is accessible and shared.
C
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Telescope for ALL
B
A
b) the social/cultural/political properties of the observation SPACE.
2a
C Time
a) TIME difference between event occurrence and observation and other events observed within this time difference Objective Lens Gathers light and bends it into focus.
B
TCUDORP LANOITACUDE KSEDOTUA NA YB DECUDORP
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Chronological and geographic dislocation of event. Observation is no longer real time. The event becomes object. PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
Information = Knowledge = Power
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tel·e·scope
The viewing process consists of 3 main stages, each attributed its own environment. Modern communication technologies allows for these 3 stages to be geographically dislocated. Physical visual barriers and distance are no longer a prevention from seeing.
Explanation of Conceptual Tile
Observation Space Infrastructure is necessary if the stored event objects are to be observed. In the case of digital artefacts, the observer is reliant on a mediating interface to magnify the invisible information.
Event Space Participants and capturers inhabit the event space, each with differing motives and aims.
Located eventfiles
Storage Space The event is known through the recordings made in the event space. They exist in an anticipatory realm. They are free from their chronological shadows.
Dislocated eventfiles
Chronological time scale | Real time event
BOUNDARY LINE
STORAGE SPACE | EVENT SPACE
Marker above ground indicates subterranean store
PUBLIC PLINTHS EVENT SPACE Real time observation singularity. STORAGE SPACE Captured event dislocated observation.
recent event
A chronological boundary line exists that separates the present from the past. At this point the observation of the event changes from real time singularity to observation through stored remnants. The threshold may seem invisible but one can understand it when one takes in a greater geological time scale. If the scale is read vertically, the boundary can be seen to be the surface of the earth, the point at which air becomes a solid palimpsest. Present event takes place upon accumulated remnants of past event. The chronological timeline can be seen to be the threshold between event space and storage space. distant event
Decay as Protest Protestors resist the order capitalism forces upon them. The entropic process of decay in organic matter resists an ordered state, naturally moving to a state of disorder. Order is imposed on the square daily as the hoggin surface is carefully raked and any artefacts within the boundary are collected. Some material may fall down the perimeter wells as the surface is raked and accumulate in the cloisters below with unpreserved artefacts, forming a layered palimpsest. Over the course of the day the square becomes disordered. The raked hoggin surface becomes disturbed, picking up traces of movement by pedestrians and vehicles, and artefacts may accumulate, acting as remnants of the event. The day to day running of the square is an ongoing protest against the order imposed on it.
Parliament Square Ordered State 1:500
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Container for Protest Event Space Parliament Square 1:1000
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View from HM Treasury
View of Parliament Square from London Eye
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Container for Protest Storage Space Service Level -2 1:500
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Service Area WC Plinth entrance Plinth exit
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Container for Protest Storage Space Undercroft Level 1:500
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HM Treasury
Westminster Underground Station
New Palace Yard Underground Car Park
Container for Protest Storage Space Pedestrian Level 1:500
Houses of Parliament
-1 St Margaret’s Church
Westminster Abbey
RIVER THAMES
Exploded Structural Axonometric of Main Container Structural System
Construction Procedure of Main Container Stages of construction:
Spanning the lid:
Drill concrete pile retaining walls [1.5m diameter piles].
8.
Pour base of container including permanent artefact store plinth and reuse cloister form-work to form bed of thorns.
2.
Excavate earth between retaining walls, using temporary tubular steel propping as the perimeter trench deepens.
9.
Install steel viaduct to support underground line permanantly.
3.
Once perimeter trench excavation is complete, pour 2m concrete base, remove lower propping and construct cellular concrete cloister structure.
4.
Waterproof piles and pour internal concrete walls [using permanent form-work and insulation between piles and new wall] using temporary propping.
5.
Pour remaining concrete floor slabs, integrating the pre-cast concrete wells and remove all remaining temporary propping.
6.
Concrete base, floorplates and cellular concrete structure act as permament propping between pile walls and are sufficient to allow excavation of central space of main container without need for temporary propping.
7.
Excavate earth to level of underground line. Encase the underground line using prefab concrete parts. As excavation deepens temporarily prop the new concrete encasement of underground line.
12m Pre-fabricated Hollowcore concrete deck
Problem: 90m clear span over the excavated space. Solution:Split the large span into 2 smaller spans, using the underground line viaduct as a central pier to span from. Reducing the large span also helps to counter the effects of vibrations from the event space above. Incorporating the viaduct into the spanning of the lid also counters the cantilevering effect on the viaduct. The two smaller spans shall be made using deep steel truss structures at 12m centres. This span shall be made using composite prefab concrete panels.
1.
In-situ reinforced concrete deck
10. Pour final internal finish concrete walls surrounding central space, install spanning trusses and prefab concrete infill structure for lid. 11. Install brass boundary line and well caps, spread hoggin surface on main container lid.
5m tubular steel truss Concrete casing made from prefabricated parts around underground line,
Housing of underground line:
500x500mm steel girders with cross bracing
Problem: Containing UG line whilst operational and viaduct. Solution: As excavation gets to the level of the underground line, pre fabricated concrete beams will be slotted below the track and a concrete box built to surround it. The box shall be propped whilst excavation continues and then a steel viaduct shall be constructed as a permanent prop, stiffened laterally using cross bracing.
500mm thick hollow reinforced concrete columns
In-situ reinforced concrete deck
432000m3 earth 650 consituencies 645m3 each
Excavating the box: Problem: Retention of surrounding earth.
1.5m diameter contiguous pile walls
What happens to the excavated earth of Parliament Square?
Solution: excavate in stages. Retaining earth back: using a double 1.5m diameter contiguous piled retaining wall with integrated horizontal props(floor plates) and 3m thick concrete base to restrain retaining walls from buckling in. Concrete base also acts as foundations for the 2 buildings inside the main container.
Constituency: Cardiff Central
The earth of Parliament Square is shared amongst the 650 constituencies of the UK acts as fertilizer for protest. The earth shall form mounds marking a place for protest.
3m thick concrete base slab
120x120x30m excavated volume
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Aerial image showing potential location of protest mound
Perspective illustrating protest mound outside City Hall
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PARLIAMENT SQUARE
A Place of Unpreserved Artefacts and Decay - Cloister 1:20 Section Detail 1
2 120mm Hoggin 120mm Medium sized gravel Waterproof membrane 75mm C30 structural topping 450x1200 Reinforced hollowcore concrete panels 30mm Steel T plate 5m Steel truss 3
450x700 Concrete cable box channel
4
1500mm Contiguous concrete piles 10mm Vandex waterproof layer 100mm Rigid board insulation Reinforced in situ poured concrete 150mm Shotcrete shell
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15mm Embossed “PARLIAMENT SQUARE” brass plate 1000mm Cast brass well cap with grille and weepholes 12mm Metal mesh
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-2 -3
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Entrance to Main Container + Observation tower
-1
Security
-2 / -3 Offices
Staff WC Data Floor
-4
Data Floor
-5
Authority Observation Space [a] Protestors Observation Space [b] Back-up Data Floor
Container for Digital Remnants Floor Plans 1:500
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Public Access Through Container of Digital Remnants to Main Container
Entry Sequence 1.
Initial Descent
2.
Security
3.
Second Descent or Ascent of tower
4.
5.
Observation Spaces
There are two volumes housing observation spaces where footage is shown that is relevant to event occurring in the event space above. One is attributed to the protestors and the other to the authority being protested against.
Crossing the Bridge.
3b 3a 3a 1
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3b
4
5
Operation of container of digital remnants: Photos and videos are captured from the observation tower exposing the protesters below to a global audience-fixed CCTV cameras, and of media broadcast, and uploaded footage from protesters from smartphones via wifi. This is then transferred to the hard drives in the data centre. The tower is non selective, access is free to all public. Lower levels provide places for members of the public to observe the happenings below. The tower may be dressed with banners and posters. The photo luminescent facade captures photons throughout the day and then emits light once more at night. Temporary traces of the days events are stored and visible as shadows on the facade panels at night. The facade is patterned by the cover of Debord’s society of spectacle. The tower is blinkered, facing towards the protesters and away from parliament. Unlike the clock tower representing the government, this tower occupying parliament square is for the common people.
Container of Digital Remnants 1:50
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General Store Delivery + Handling area [a]
1
General Store Exhibition Room 3 [b] Special Store [c]
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General Store Exhibition Room 1 [d] Exhibition Room 2 [e] Special Store [f]
3
General Store
4
Examination/ Conservation room
Container of Physical Remnants Floor Plans 1:500
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3
b
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Daily Operational Logistics of Container of Physical Remnants Public labyrinthine route cuts through the building with 3 unique exhibition rooms, curated to display objects relevant to current events occurring in event space of Parliament Square.
EXIT
The catalogue of artefacts stored inside the plinth, upon which sits the container of physcial remnants, is inscribed into the concrete surface ENTRANCE
1a
Riot Shield
Container is clad in 24mm clear PMMA gaining a patina of scrathces and marks from artefacts offered to the store, the external shell acts to resist the assault and protect the artefacts inside.
2
1b
1. Collection of artefacts
From the event space within the defined brass boundary of Parliament Square and that have accumulated over the day inside the main container.
2. Sorting of collected artefacts
Artefacts aretransported to the base of the container of physical remnants for sorting. A bay for each day of the week is allocated for temporary storage of artefacts awaiting sorting. Notation made of time collection is made and of repetition of artefacts.
3. Preserved artefacts
From every days event are stored inside a 600x600mm polycarbonate box
4
4. Unpreserved artefacts
Any repeated artefacts are discarded into the surrounding cloister of the main container, Unprotectected, they are subject to the entropic process of decay.
Container of Physical Remnants 1:50 3
Edinburgh Court Gateways A brick wall divides two communities of riverside;the Edinburgh court residents and those living on Rennie and Craddock street. I believe the design intent was to redirect potential pedestrian thoroughfare through the estate and provide a level of privacy and security to residents. Designers broke the wall into smaller staggered sections in an attempt to make the wall less offensive, and more porous. However, the wall has only helped to divide the two communities and contributed to negative feelings of captivity of those living in Edinburgh Court. The threatening signs adorning the wall and lack of seating make this corner of Rennie Street an uninviting place to stay. By redirecting road traffic and repositioning the current bus stop, I intend to allow pedestrians to occupy the corner of Rennie Street, creating a place for play, stay and socialising. The wall will change from a place of division to a place of attraction. The space will be made accessible to Edinburgh Court residents through two breaches in the wall. To mark the thresholds, two sculptural copper gateways will be inserted to create controlled access points. They will symbolise the bridge between the two sides and decks, seats, niches and shelter will invite occupation and dwelling. To match the scale of existing structures on site, I have based the gateway dimensions on the stairwell towers for estate. Simple street furniture will double as large planters to encourage wildlife and create natural screens to break up the urban realm into smaller spaces. All interventions are designed as insertions around the existing urban fabric, minimising installation time, cost, waste material and disruption to residents. Robust materials and simple detailing should help prevent potential vandalism.
Edinburgh Court Gateways
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I believe the design intent was to redirect potential pedestrian thoroughfare through the estate and provide a level of privacy and security to residents. Designers broke the wall into smaller staggered sections in an attempt to make the wall less offensive, and more porous. However, the wall has only helped to divide the two communities and contributed to negative feelings of captivity of those living in Edinburgh Court. The threatening signs adorning the wall and lack of seating make this corner of Rennie Street an uninviting place to stay. By redirecting road traffic and repositioning
Copper plated two pence coin - new and old: Initially, the gateways will have a mirror like quality but,will oxidise over time, ageing like a 2p coin.
gateway n.
All interventions are designed as insertions around the existing urban fabric, minimising installation time, cost, waste material and disruption to residents. Robust materials and simple detailing should help prevent potential vandalism.
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Re
do
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e tat Es
Cr
To mark the thresholds, two sculptural copper gateways will be inserted to create controlled access points. They will symbolise the bridge between the two sides and decks, seats, niches and shelter will invite occupation and dwelling. To match the scale of existing structures on site, I have based the gateway dimensions on the stairwell towers for estate. Simple street furniture will double as large planters to encourage wildlife and create natural screens to break up the urban realm into smaller spaces.
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t ur Co
gh ur inb Ed
A brick wall divides two communities of the current bus stop, I intend to allow riverside;the Edinburgh court residents and pedestrians to occupy the corner of Rennie those living on Rennie and Craddock street. Street, creating a place for play, stay and socialising. The wall will change from a place of division to a place of attraction. The space will be made accessible to Edinburgh Court residents through two breaches in the wall.
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Long stemmed crops, grasses and lavender: Tall plants will act as natural screens, and lavender will introduce colour and perfume the space.
N buff gravel mastertint tarmac
1. an opening that can be closed by a gate: we turned into a gateway leading to a cottage 2. a frame or arch built around or over a gate: a big house with a wrought-iron gateway 3. a place regarded as giving access to another place: Mombasa, the gateway to East Africa 4. a means of achieving a state or condition: to me a home in the country was a gateway to happiness
polished copper
grasses and lavendar
welsh oak
Schematic Plan 1:200 concrete planters
Steel sections welded, sanded and copper plated
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Steel beams welded to raise gateway above ground PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
30mm steel plate cut and brake pressed into sections
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Exploded Fabrication Axonometric 125x65x15 parallel flange channel steel beams
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Schematic model 1:100 TF