Lorand Gonczol_Y5 | Unit 14 | Bartlett School of Architecture

All work produced by Unit 14

Cover design by Charlie Harris

www.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/architecture

Copyright 2021

The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system without permission in writing from the publisher.

@unit14_ucl

lorandgonczol22@outlook.com

@lorandgonczol

STATE OF THE UNION HALL

ASSEMBLY HALL AND VERTICAL AIRPORT

Paris, France

The project is inspired by the architectural programme initiated by French president François Mitterrand: Grandes Opérations d’Architecture et d’Urbanisme. The aim is to create a monumental European assembly hall with vertical intercity travel. The edifice will have a ceremonial and functional role where representatives of the European society can regularly meet and debate the future and the direction of the European Union as it transitions from a political union to a federal system. When the Assembly is not in session, more space will be dedicated to the intercity travel aspect.

Timber concrete composite technologies will be integrated into the design to create an iconic structure symbolising progress, unity, and an optimistic outlook towards the future. The Thesis module will inform this part of the project and the focus will be on understanding the aesthetic, structural and environmental implications of using timber concrete composite in a large-scale civic project. The combination of timber and concrete has the capacity to develop an unexpected architectural language that could redefine contemporary visions of the future of architecture.

Artefact

Grandes opérations d’architecture et d’urbanisme

Grand Architecture and Urban Planning Operations

Nuage de la Grande Arche

Johan Otto von Spreckelsen, Paul Andreu, Peter Rice 1989

Station Saint-Michel Notre-Dame 1910

Grandes opérations

d’architecture et d’urbanisme

Grand Architecture and Urban Planning Operations

Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie La Villette, 1986

Bibliothèque nationale de France, FrançoisMitterrand Quai François-Mauriac 1995

Ministère de l’Économie, des Finances et de l’Industrie

Bercy, 1989

Musée d’Orsay Paris, 1986

Pyramide du Louvre Paris, 1988

Grande Arche de la Défense

La Défense, 1989

Bicentenaire de la Révolution française

Bicentennial of the French Revolution

Nuage de la Grande Arche

Johan Otto von Spreckelsen, Paul Andreu, Peter Rice

1989

Station Saint-Michel Notre-Dame 1910

Brief

Outermost regions and territories of the

countries

Principality

Caribisch Nederland

Polynésie française

REGIERUNGSVIERTEL

Traditional parliament spaces separate the public from the members of the assembly.

Circular layouts tend to be associated with higher levels of democracy.

The concept of structural transparency is often used to justify the design of more recent parliament buildings.

Extra space for offices and amenities is often based in “support“ buildings located far from the main assembly hall.

Repubblica Italiana

Reichstagsgebäude

Paul-Löbe-Haus

Curia Iulia Senatus Romanus

Bonn to Berlin, into the rebuilt Reichstag Building.

Federal Republic of Germany

Reichstagsgebäude

OPPOSING BENCHES

SEMICIRCLE

Each year in the first part-session of September, a State of the Union debate will be held in which the President of the Commission shall deliver an address, taking stock of the current year and looking ahead to priorities for the following years. To that end, the President of the Commission will in parallel set out in writing to Parliament the main elements guiding the preparation of the Commission Work Programme for the following year.

Tectonics

Bundesrepublik Deutschland

Kernen im Remstal

Community of Weinstadt and Urbach Client knippershelbig + Cheret Bozic Architect

a) Tension cracks in a gravity-loaded concrete beam

b) Reinforcing bars to carry the tension in a concrete beam

Figures based on diagram by Paul Christophe in Le Beton arme et ses applications (1902)

“The perfect connection has enough strength for transfer of shear forces between the two materials, enough stiffness to allow only limited slip and enough ductility to avoid brittle failure of the connection. [...] However, the perfect connection is nearly impossible to achieve in practice.”

Fragments showing different timber-concrete composite connection methods

Connection with inclined screws at 45° in two rows

Connection with vertical screws

Notched connection with inclined sides

Notched connection with vertical sides and screws

Glued connection

Connection with nailplates

Figure 4.1.2

Figure 4.1.3

Timber-concrete composite slab

Figure 4.1.4

Birkberg Bridge Wippra, Germany 2008

2.4.1

Timber-concrete composite bridge based on the Birkberg bridge in Wippra, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

Ingenieurbüro Setzpfand 2008

Lindach bridge

Schwäbisch Hall, Germany 2023

2.4.2

Timber-concrete composite Lindach bridge in Schwäbisch Hall, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

schlaich bergermann partner 2023

Figure

Figure

Figure 4.1.5 Timber-concrete composite floor system, Thomas Clarkson Academy

Birkberg Bridge

Wippra, Germany

2008

4.2.7

Timber-concrete composite bridge based on the Birkberg Bridge in Wippra, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

Ingenieurbüro Setzpfand, 2008

Figure

Lindach bridge Schwäbisch Hall, Germany 2023

4.2.14

Timber-concrete composite

Lindach Bridge in Schwäbisch Hall, Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

schlaich bergermann partner, 2023

Figure

Figure 4.3.8

Figure 4.3.3

Figure 4.3.6

Figure 4.3.5

Urban Context

LA DÉFENSE

L’axe historique de Paris

Palais du LouvreLa Défense

1989

Grande Arche de la Défense

PARIS

L’axe historique de Paris

La Seine

LA DÉFENSE

Bois de Boulogne

Bois de Boulogne

Palais des congrès de Paris

Gare de NeuillyPorte Maillot

Bois de Boulogne

Bois de Vincennes

L’axe historique de Paris

Site

Bois de Boulogne

Nouveau Plan de Paris et des communes de la banlieue ref.1

Bois de Boulogne

Unrealised proposal by Henri Sauvage for Porte Maillot 1931

STATION LAYOUTS

Boulevard périphérique

Tunnel

Gare Porte Maillot

Station Porte Maillot

Coach Station

Gare de NeuillyPorte Maillot

Bois de Boulogne

Underground Parking

Palais des congrès de Paris

Square Alexandre et René Parodi

PORTE MAILLOT

Boulevard périphérique

EXTENSION OF URBAN FOREST

Bois de Boulogne

Square Alexandre et René Parodi

Avenue de la Grand Armée

Palais des congrès de Paris

ORIENTATION

The orientation of the project is informed by a historical road that used to link the site with the large urban forest. This creates an intuitive axis that connects the local transport cluster marked with yellow (metro and train station exits and tram stop) with the vertical landing platform that is positioned as far as possible from all the surrounding buildings.

Palais des congrès de Paris

00 Ground Level

Construction of the new RER E station, T3b tram stop and the reconnection of the historical axis are due to be completed this year.

The ridge of a signature roof will be aligned with the historical axis.

The roof forms an artificial, publicly accessible landscape, that bridges the two sides of the boulevard. This move is intended to reinterpret the historical and modern triumphal arches mentioned above.

This structure connects the various metropolitan transport methods in the lower right corner of the square with the VTOL terminal in the upper left corner, thus creating a multimodal transport hub

The roof transitions into a series of steps that connect with the extended park.

An assembly space will be placed on the main axis.

The intention is to encourage the public to attend a variety of political debates and facilitate access by connecting the assembly space with a variety of local and regional transport methods.

Skylight for the new station Reconnection of the historical axis

VTOL launchpad

ACROPOLIS HILL AND AGORA OF ATHENS

Encountered in many parliament buildings today, the SEMICIRCLE layout of the ancient theatre organises a space intended not for debate or legislation but for entertainment. The stone structure utilises the landscape and blends into its ancient urban setting.

THEATRE

“A

Oxford English Dictionary ref.1

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Acropolis Hill AD 161

Odeon of Herodes Atticus

Both diagrams display the overall arrangement of the various functions of the project.

The second option shows a layout that keeps the ground level as open and transparent as possible, by lifting the amphitheatre and opening the metro station.

All the amenities and office spaces required by the amphitheatre, are attached to the structure allowing easy access to the assembly hall.

00 Ground Level

00 Ground Level

VTOL launchpad

VTOL launchpad

01 Amphitheatre

01 Amphitheatre

VTOL Terminal

VTOL Terminal Office & Staff

Office & Staff

City Terminal

City Terminal

The offices are interconnected by a corridor on each level

The seating structure of the

is made of timber-

This system allows the transition from several narrow platforms (for individual seats for the public) into much wider platforms that give place for a series of office, meeting and amenities spaces (for MPs, delegates, committees, etc.)

assembly

concrete composite as shown above

In front of each office, there is a configurable space for members participating in a debate

If invited, members of the public can easily reach the office of a member.

Entrance to the hall

The main structure of the building is composed of several timber concrete composite ribbons, based on the system presented above.

The concrete component of the final model has a V-shaped cross section which further contributes to the strength of the overall structure and allows a much longer span.

Figure 4.3.8

Figure 4.3.3

Figure 4.3.6

Figure 4.3.5

B

GROUND LEVEL & LINK BRIDGE

Connecting the air terminal with the city terminal, the link bridge is a central element of the overall project. Passengers arriving at either terminal are also invited to walk towards the extended urban forest.

METRO PLATFORM LEVEL & UNDERPASS

Station Porte Maillot

Air Terminal

Lifts

Link Bridge

Bois de Boulogne

Boulevard périphérique

VTOL launchpad

Gare Porte Maillot

Gare de NeuillyPorte Maillot

City Terminal

Palais des congrès de Paris

AMPHITHEATRE

The lobby of the amphitheatre is a completely external space easily accessible from all directions.

STRUCTURE

Amphitheatre

GREEN ROOF

The green roof is partly accessible from the direction indicated above.

The two illustrations show the same portion of the roof from above and below, in order to highlight the efficient integration of the metro entrance into the slope of the roof.

METRO PLATFORM LEVEL & UNDERPASS

Station Porte Maillot

Gare Porte Maillot

Gare de NeuillyPorte Maillot

AIR TERMINAL & BRIDGE

GROUND LEVEL

Bois de Boulogne

Amphitheatre

Air Terminal

Boulevard périphérique

Square Alexandre et René Parodi

Avenue de la Grand Armée

Palais des congrès de Paris

Coach Station

Station Porte Maillot Lobby

Bois de Boulogne

Entrance to the hall

Palais des congrès de Paris

All work produced by Unit 14 Unit book design by Charlie Harriswww.bartlett.ucl.ac.uk/architecture

Copyright 2021 The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmited in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retreival system without permission in writing from the publisher.

CRAFTED HORIZONS 2024

At the center of Unit 14’s academic exploration lies Buckminster Fuller’s ideal of the ‘The Comprehensive Designer’, a master-builder that follows Renaissance principles and a holistic approach. Fuller referred to this ideal of the designer as somebody who is capable of comprehending the ‘integrateable significance’ of specialised findings and is able to realise and coordinate the commonwealth potentials of these discoveries while not disappearing into a career of expertise. Like Fuller, we are opportunists in search of new ideas and their benefits via architectural synthesis. As such Unit 14 is a test bed for exploration and innovation, examining the role of the architect in an environment of continuous change. We are in search of the new, leveraging technologies, workflows and modes of production seen in disciplines outside our own. We test ideas systematically by means of digital as well as physical drawings, models and prototypes. Our work evolves around technological speculation with a research-driven core, generating momentum through astute synthesis. Our propositions are ultimately made through the design of buildings and through the in-depth consideration of structural formation and tectonic. This, coupled with a strong research ethos, will generate new and unprecedented, one day viable and spectacular proposals. They will be beautiful because of their intelligence - extraordinary findings and the artful integration of those into architecture.

The focus of this year’s work evolves around the notion of ‘Crafted Horizons’. The term aims to highlight the architect’s fundamental agency and core competency of the profession to anticipate the future as the result of the highest degree of synthesis of the observed underlying principles. Constructional logic, spatial innovation, typological organisation, environmental and structural performance are all negotiated in a highly iterative process driven by intense architectural investigation. Through the deep understanding of constructional principles, we will generate highly developed architectural systems of unencountered intensity where spatial organisation arises as a result of sets of mutual interactions. Observation as well as re-examination of past and contemporary civilisatory developments will enable us to project near future scenarios and position ourselves as avant-garde in the process of designing a comprehensive vision for the forthcoming. The projects will take shape as research based, imaginative architectural visions driven by speculation.

Thanks to: ALA, Boele Architects, Daab Design, DaeWha Kang Design DKFS, Heatherwick, Knippershelbig, NK3, RSHP, Seth Stein Architects, ZHA, Expedition Engineering.