Tom Deacon Sample Portfolio
Tom Deacon
Sample Portfolio BA: Architecture Spaces and Objects Central Saint Martins 2015 tom.deacon93@gmail.com tel: 07765276106
CALEDONIAN RD HIGH STREET OF THE FUTURE? A_New_Home_For_Hausmans
Written Statement/ Project Proposal A_New_Home_For_Hausmans
The redesign of Hausmans Radical Bookshop to a flexible debate and events space. The proposal began through an investigation in to the future of the high-street in context to the Caledonian Rd. As many high streets suffer in Britain due to competition from supermarket chains and online retailers, the project aims to find solutions and potentials for regeneration. I started by studying a specific community (Hausmans Radical Bookshop), from there I researched the problems and issues in search for a solution and proposal. Hausmans is a small bookshop ran by a team of volunteers, which stocks a wide range of political literature from; Pacifism, anarchism, socialism, modern politics political zines and so on. It is a non for profit organisation ran by a team of volunteers, its focus is not on profits but establishing a place for debate and distribution of radical thought. The bookshop does this by housing weekly in-store events such as talks, lectures, book signings and debates. Hausman’s had been the centre point of a political scene in Kings Cross back in the 70’s and early 80’s which was supported by a network of local institutions such as the Scala Cinema, Rough Trade Distribution and Mole Jazz record store. At present, Hausman’s radical bookshop still remains in Kings Cross but it’s networks and have long gone. In addition, the store receives varied turnouts to its weekly events which are held on the shop floor due to it lacking a specific events space. The new design will focus on the bookshops in-store events programme. I aim to provide a much larger more flexible events space to deal with the capacity of a changing events programme, a Debating Chamber and Office Incubator space for potential start-up businesses and NGO’S.
STAGE _3
Housmans Radical Bookshop
Founding Narrative
Spaces and Organisations
First opened its doors in 1945 and is owned and run by the Peace Movement. Like the literature it sells and the events it hosts, the store employs and attracts people who support a wide range of political movements, from communists and pacifists to feminists and anarchists.
At the end WW1, writer and playwright, Laurence Hausman sponsor of the peace pledge Union suggested a permanent bookshop to promote the ideas of peace and human rights. The shop first opened in the literary area of Charings Cross before relocating to a former post office Caledonian Rd, when the Rv. TC Wills offered the shop to them rent free.
It was within the Housmans building that the CND (Campaign against Nuclear Disarmament) met and created their iconic CND badge (peace symbol), The gay liberation front had their offices above and now the Peace movement occupies the above offices. However, in 2015 these office spaces remain unused.
RESEARCH
Plan and Section The bookshop is a long narrow space occupying the ground floor and basement of a Georgian terrace. In-store events take place regularly throughout the week such as book signings, talks, debates and lecture. Due to a lack of space these events take place within the shop floor. Table and shelves are moved to the side to make space.
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Programmatic Strategy - Resilience Through Events How can Hausmans be redesigned to provide a better space for Debate and distribution of radical thought for the future?
START UP INCUBATOR/HOT DESKING
CAFE
DEBATING CHAMBER
Malcolm the volunteer - Problems and Issues
Book Shop Trends and Resilience
Malcolm has been associated with Hausmans for the last 40 years. He first discovered the shop growing up as a punk rocker heavily influenced by the situationist movement. He said in recent years the shop has been suffering from falling book-sales due to the rise of Amazon and online retailers and lower turnouts to in-store events. He explained that the store was at its height during the late 70’s “when there was a real passion for politics with a belief that one could really make a change within society”.
In the age of Amazon and online Retailers, the independent bookshop is becoming a scarcer retailer to find upon the modern high-street. Suffering due to rising rent, competition from charity shop retailers and paperless reading platforms. Now however, modern bookstores are staying resilient to bookshop trends by putting on mixed events, cafés and selling non book items to keeps doors open and visitors coming.
Old Bookshop Typology - Foyles
New Bookshop Typology - Foyles
AUDITORIUM
EVENTS SPACE
BOOK SHOP
RESEARCH
NEW HAUSMANS SITE FUTURE NETW
ORK
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SITE LOCATIONS & POINTS OF INTEREST 1. CALLY BRIDGE 2. BEMERTON CARE HOME 3. TILOCH ST. 4. TEXACO 5. ORKNEY HOUSE 6. HSS HIRE
CHOSEN SITE
CURRENT HAUSMANS SITE
MOVE STRATEGY
I propose to relocate Hausmans Bookshop to a larger site up the caledonian road. Hausman’s had been the centre point of a political scene in Kings Cross back in the 70’s and early 80’s which was supported by a network of local institutions such as the Scala Cinema, Rough Trade Distribution and Mole Jazz record store. At present, Hausman’s radical bookshop still remains in Kings Cross but it’s networks have long gone or closed down. Hausman’s now has the opportunity to make links with present local institutions such as Central Saint Martins College and Kings Place (which houses The Guardian and The Observer newspaper offices). I propose to move the store to a much larger site further up the Caledonian Rd, close to Regents Canal. The new site would take advantage of the park that backs it and foot-flow off the Regents Canal. It would make a direct route from the site to Kings Place and Csm.
FORMER NETWORK
PEDESTRIAN ACCESS TO THE PARK FROM COPENHAGEN STREET
10 MIN WALK FROM CALEDONIAN ROAD AND BARNSBURY STATION
THE SITE IS CURRENTLY OCCUPIED BY HSS (A TRADE HIRE COMPANY). I PROPOSE TO BUILD ON THE SAME AREA SPECULATING THE POSSIBILITIES OF MY PROPOSAL IF IT WERE TO REPLACE THE EXISTING BUILDING.
PEDESTRIAN ACCESS VIA REGENTS CANAL
CALEDONIAN RD. 8 MIN BUS FROM KX
SITE ANALYSIS
EXISTING BUILDING THE EXISTING BUILDING IS ONE SOLD VOLUME., SLIGHTLY RECESSED BACK INTO THE STREET TO ALLOW FOR PARKING. THE ONLY ACCESS TO THE PARK IS VIA A NARROW PASSAGE WAY ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING
PECKHAM LIBRARY - WILL ALSOP
MASSING STUDY
THE LIBRARY HAS BEEN RAISED UP ABOVE THE SURROUND BUILDING TO CREATE A PUBLIC SPACE BELOW. THE OVERHANG PROTRUDES OVER THE OPEN SPACE, THAT ENGULFS PEOPLE INTO THE BUILDING.
THE VOLUME IS FLOATED ABOVE THE SURROUNDING BUILDINGS OPENING UP THE SPACE BELOW.
MASSING STUDY
THE TABLE TOP VOLUME FLOATS ABOVE THE SURROUNDING BUILDING HEIGHTS. ITS SUPPORTING STRUCTURE IS FREE FROM THE COLLEGE BELOW, DELICATELY CONNECTED BY Ascending STAIRWELLS.
THE EXISTING VOLUME HAS BEEN HALVED ALLOWING THE PARK SPACE TO RUN THROUGH TO THE STREET. THE ROOF PROTRUDES FURTHER OUT THAN THE NEIGHBOURING BUILDINGS MAKING IT VISIBLE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD. IT THEN CREATES A SHELTERED OUTDOOR SPACE AND THRESHOLD BETWEEN THE STREET AND PARK .
SITE ANALYSIS
ONTARIO COLLEGE OF ARTS - WILL ALSOP
Applied to concept
Urban Strategy and Concept mixed
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Plan view
Urban Strategy Create access from high-street to park through the building.
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Conceptual Strategy Bookshelves define Event Space. Moveable Bookshelves will oer flexibilty within the shop floor catering for a changing events and capacity.
Plan view
Plan view
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Diverted Journey Bookshelves are rearranged to define smaller event spaces.
4.
Straight Journey From Highstreet to Park Bookshelves moved to the side to create lager event space
PRECEDENTS 1. BOOKSHOP 2. TEACHING ROOM 3. RECEPTION 4. CAFE 5. AMPHITHEATRE 1.
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INCUBATOR OFFICE UNITS
BOOKSHOP
AUDITORIUM
DEBATING CHAMBER
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AMPHITHE-
6. AUDITORIUM 7. DEBATING CHAMBER 8. INCUBATOR SPACE 9. INCUBATOR OFFICE PODS
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CONCEPT MODEL No.1 6.
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Responding to analysis of the urban conditions the model and plans attempt to lay out my programme in context to the site. The different spaces take form from related precedents. I have started by taking loosely from precedents and assembled them in context my site.
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DEVELOPMENT
PRECEDENTS
EXTERNAL STAIRS
INCUBATOR SPACE OFFICE UNITS
BOOKSHOP LEVEL BELOW
UPSTAIRS GALLERY
DEBATING CHAMBER
AUDITORIUM
SPATIAL STUDY_ DEBATING CHAMBER
Concept Design No. 2 The second iteration is built on the same precedents but tests the layout of the spatial sequence. I have increased the size of the ground floor by moving round the auditorium to the south side. This makes the incubator space more separated but creates a better route to the debating chamber which is accessed on the 1st floor. The incubator space can now be accessed by an external stairwell on the north side. I have decided to keep the debating chamber shape circular similar to the welsh assembly. Users will sit down in a circle as to feel equal to one another rather than sitting on opposed sides. A veranda circling above the chamber will allow visitors to look down upon live debated from the roof.
DEVELOPMENT
Amphithe-
Reception Bookshop
Reading Room
Bookshelves
Auditorium
Ground Floor Plan
Incubator office unit Incubator meeting Room
Incubator - Shared Space
Debating Chamber
Gallery
Auditorium Upper floor
Concept Design No. 3 The concept for this design was to focus on the debating chamber as the main element of the building. The Debating Chamber has been moved to the centre of the site. It works similar to the British Library where the reading room is a defined space and the external area is open and flexible and you ascend up the building by a staircase that spirals round it. In this design the flexible area is the bookshop allowing the bookshelves to be moved around the debating chamber for flexibility. My only concern is that the circular shape of the bookshop may make it hard to be rearranged for events. A more oblong shape around the debating chamber may improve flexibility in the book shop.
DEVELOPMENT
CAFE/ RESTAURANT/ BAR EXTERNAL AMPHI-
INSIDE AUDITORIUM
BOOK
GALLERY
DEBATING CHAMBER
INCUBATOR
FOYER
GALLERY
CONCEPT MODEL_ 3
ELEVATION
E
NE
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NW
W
SW
S
SE
CROSS SECTION 1/200
DEVELOPMENT
LONG SECTION 1/200
The Whitney Museum NY
Incubator
Events Space/ Bookshop - I’ve moved the debating chamber down to create a larger more flexible events space/bookshop
Debating Chamber
Design No. 4 Amphitheatre - The amphitheatre has been move to the south side in order to circle out from the debating chamber.
Ground Plan
DEVELOPMENT
I have moved the debating chamber back to the south edge allow for a larger flexible space in the middle for the different arrangement of bookshelves. To cover the large area of the bookshop/ events space the roof will space will be enclosed with a concrete waffle slab. The defined spaces such as the Incubator and debating chamber will then protrude out of the grid similar in form to the Taipei performing Arts Centre by OMA. The book shelves will then be ordered orthogonal to the grid above similar to how the gallery walls are arranged in the Whitney museum.
Edward Sq/Park
N
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Ground floor plan 1/100 Showing the arrangement of book-shelving on the shop floor.
Caledonian Rd.
ARIEL VIEW IN CONTEXT 1/200
INTERNAL VIEW - Moveable bookshelves composed under a grid roof, allowing to be rearranged depending on changes of program and activities on the shop floor.
Reception/ Till Main Entrance
Administration
Teaching Book
Auditorium Toilets
Bookshop
Bookshelf Kitchen Dumb Waiter
Stairs down to -1 oor
Cafe
N
N
GROUND FLOOR 1/100
-1 FLOOR 1/100 S
S
N Section 1/100
S
DEVELOPMENT
N Incubator
Admin Meeting Room
Reception
Event Space/ Book shop
Archive/ Book Storage
Kitchen
Cafe Counter
Debating Chamber
Reading Room
Cafe
Veranda
Section 1/100
S
DEVELOPMENT
Roof Terrace/Events Space
Caledonian Rd. EDWARD SQ. PARK
Section Cut of Sectional Model
Archive/Book Store
Bookshop/Event Space
N Section 1/100
S
DEVELOPMENT
STRUCTURAL STRATEGY 1/50 SECTIONAL MODEL
DEVELOPMENT
CONCRETE WAFFLE SLAB SUPPORTED BY CONCRETE COLUMNS IN THE FACADE
TWO WAY CONCRETE JOINT SYSTEM (WAFFLE SLAB)
Roof Terrace/Events
The Coffers become solid around columns to improve strength.
Park
Caledonian Rd.
Bookshop/Event Space SECTION CUT
1/50 Model
REINFORCED CONCRETE SUPPORTING WALL
BASEMENT LEVEL SITS ON A RAFT FOUNDATION
CONCRETE FLOOR SLAB
STRUCTURAL STRATEGY
Roof Terrace/Events Bookshop/Event Space
Gallery
Bar
CONE ROOF SUPPORTED WOODEN STRUTS
WAFFLE SLAB CUTS THROUGH DEBATING CHAMBER SUPPORTED BY CONCRETE
THE GAPS WITH THE ROOF CREATE LIGHT WELLS INTO THE BOOKSHOP. HOWEVER THE GRID OF THE WAFFLE SLAP WILL HELP BREAK DOWN STRONG SUMMER SUN LIGHT.
Administration office
Office Space
Book Storage
Cafe Kitchen
Debating Chamber
CONCRETE RAFT FOUNDATION
SUPPORTING CONCRETE COLUMN CONCRETE FLOOR PLATE SUPPORTED BY CONCRETE COLUMN
CONCRETE FLOOR PLATE SUPPORTED BY CONCRETE COLUMN
THE WAFFLE SLAP PROTRUDES THROUGH THE EXTERNAL WALL TO CREATES SHADING FROM THE MORNING SUN
PROPOSAL
EXTERNAL VIEW
EXTERNAL VIEW
INTERNAL VIEW
Radical Zine Fair
Speakers Corner Impromptu public Speaking
Book Signing
Debate
Talk/ Lecture at the Amphithe-
Hot Desking in the Incubator Space
N Section 1/100
S
SECTION IN CONTEXT
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7
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Basement Floor _1/100 1. Administration Meeting Room 2. Admin office 3. Teaching Space 4. Auditorium 5.Cafe 6. Kitchen 7. Outside Auditorium
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Ground Floor _1/100 1. Reception Events Space/Book Shop 2. Talk 3. Book singing 4. Zine fair 5. Bookshelves are moved to the edges to form a larger event 6. Auditorium/Seating in Park 7. Reading Room
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1st Floor _1/100 1. Debating Chamber 2. 1st floor walkway
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2nd Floor Plan 1/100 1. Incubator/Office Meeting Room 2. Incubator office unit for start-up political companies 3. Shared work space/ hot desking 4. Roof Terrace - informal events 5. Bar 6. Gallery 7. Veranda looking down into debating chamber
View from Street Level
STAGE _2