Meadow Orchard Project

Meadow Orchard Project Park Road, Crouch End, London N8

Building Design

Introduction & Brief Close to main entrance, acting as orientation/reception point and following zone 1 of permaculture principles Natural path to garden and path from main access paths merge at sheltered boot room Compost toilet block helps direct people into the building Visual links to remaining site. Maintain large open space meadow, rare in dense urban areas.

Private/ lockable indoor classroom area.

Sheltered outdoor space acts as intermediate space between indoor classroom and outdoor fire circle.

Reinforce woodland along perimeter making area continuous.

Classroom orientated south to maximise solar gains with views out towards site.

Relocate existing wood shelter close to woodchip pile.

Removal or relocation of bender.

Relocation of willow arch.

Meadow Orchard Project - Building Design Feb 2011

Location 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

6

Dry Grassland

9

Damp grassland Run off Woodland edge habitat

5

Bramble scrub

13

2 3

5

Seasonal wet depressions

1

Tool shed Compost toilet Ant hills Bee Hive Old brick drain

12

10 14

4 4

11

Conifer trees Rare meadow flowers Proposed fruit and nut trees

6 9

Meadow Orchard Project - Building Design Feb 2011

8

Meadow Orchard Project - Building Design Feb 2011 Re planting

Wishing tree

Bender

Fire circle

Site entrance

Pond

Ant hills

Hornsey Medical centre

Tool shed

Toilet

Cricket club

Site Analysis

Circulation from site entrance

Development M o vem e n t a n d S p a c e s

Model 1 : rear elevation too closed off to garden

Model 2 : development of central stove as pivot

Movement from the entrance through to the fire circle and rest of the site is key to this design, the walls were situated to pull people through a series of spaces that slowly unveil the site to the visitor. Our aim is to create spaces with different degrees of privacy allowing the building to be versatile and used by a number of different people and functions.

Meadow Orchard Project - Building Design Feb 2011

Model 3 : development of roof span, one roof is too expansive, needs to be broken down

Development Sketch S e c t i o n

Meadow Orchard Project - Building Design Feb 2011

Development Walls , S t o v e & Fi re C i rc l e

Meadow Orchard Project - Building Design Feb 2011

Proposed Location

Meadow Orchard Project - Building Design Feb 2011

Plan Direct visual link to fire circle, and physical connection via flooring material/ pattern Back to back clay oven acts as central pivot point for movement through and around the building. Provides both indoor and outdoor cooking facilities.

Obscured view of main meadow, creating surprise visual revelation and helping draw visitors through the building, sinuous curved wall echo’s this movement.

Structural low cost cob wall sat on 2 courses of tyres, incorporating thermal mass and storage built into building.

Visual link to garden/allotment from kitchen prep area Adaptability of opening building to outside in summer to pergola decking area.

Limit access to vulnerable anthills, whilst maintaining ‘bird hide’ views to raise awareness and education of species richness on site.

1m

Monopitch timber frame roof sloping down towards tree to catch rainwater and blend into landscape. Catchement via water butts and/or water swell.

Handmade clay brick floor adds thermal mass Disabled access, 2 chamber compost toilet linked via roofing of boot area.

Herb planters act as seating.

Meadow Orchard Project - Building Design Feb 2011

Phasing

PHASING 1 Classroom and boot area

PHASING 2 Toilet block

PHASING 4 Containing wall

PHASING 5 Growing structure / external covered space

Meadow Orchard Project - Building Design Feb 2011

PHASING 3 Covered link to toilet

Ideas and Materials The images illustrate materials and methods of building that could be used at Meadow Orchard. We feel that a key aspect of the design is to tread lightly upon the earth locally and globally. Reclaiming and recycling materials either sourced on site or in the local area is important as well as using natural ad abundant materials such as cay and straw.

Images from left to right - roundwood, car windscreen roof, cob wall, cob, cob wall with ‘hat’, cob details, cord wood wall being built, cord wood spiral wall, cord wood floor, gabion wall

Meadow Orchard Project - Building Design Feb 2011

Views Lo o kin g fro m t h e We st

Meadow Orchard Project - Building Design Feb 2011

Views Lo o kin g fro m t h e E a st

Meadow Orchard Project - Building Design Feb 2011

Summary Building that treads lightly and is respectful of existing habitats, blending into landscape, whilst encouraging biodiversity.

Low impact, materials.

off

grid,

sustainably

sourced

local

Covered outdoor dry sheltered space.

Indoor classroom space for 20 adults, that is flexible and adaptable for multi-use.

Welcoming entrance/ orientation reception point.

Porch area/ boot room.

Next Steps . . .

All season use.

Low energy.

Finalise design

Wood burning stove.

Planning - prepare documents and drawings

Food preparation area, linking to allotment, gardens.

Consult Structural Engineer about foundations and roof

Permaculture design.

principles

incorporated

into

building

Meadow Orchard Project - Building Design Feb 2011

Build!