Newark-on-Trent | Forms of Memory A space is a sequence of cumulative memories. A memory encapsualtes the full experience: what you saw, heard or felt, and together those memories make up the collective story. The project is the development of an understanding of space in terms of sound. The sound memory is embedded into the space, insofar as it can cut across time through memory and it can trigger feelings and emotions that are part of the fabric of our
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Video experiment: Sound Tree Ring
relationship not only with place, but also with people, plants and the winds. These ideas of memory and sound aim to encourage people to take take notice of how powerful the memory is, creating and evoking our memories. The sound memory will enhance different experiences in physical spaces and cast shapes of its own in our minds.
Sound tree rings explore different textures and waves of sound in Newark. Tree rings embody a cumulative memory, time and the story of trees. This visualisation highlights the natural harmony of sound bringing together the landscape and evoke our memories.
1:500 Masterplan and Illustrations 01. Clanging forest walk (glade) tN ea Gr Rd
*`The following four types of spatial structures were inspired by the tree ring pattern. Lines of hatches illustrate trees with open/accessible spaces under the canopies. A single dot in the middle of a hatch represents a single tree. Hatches with dark shady patterns represent a dense understorey.
02. Playful stepping stones
Clanging forest walk Clanging forest walk Woodland edge shows curvy lines. Slightly raised metal walkways resemble a railway line, which also creates a soundscape. Glades are created for spatial diversity.
Refer to 05. Detailed design
Whispering grove The site is rich in history, which is another form of memories. The view from across the river shows the grid of trees which represents the castle.
Scrunching grove
Picnic
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Model area
Chattering flexible seating
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Playful stepping stones
Splashing riverside
Storytelling building
03. Giggling natural playground
Open event space
Scrunching grove The trees are more spaced than those found in the whispering grove, allowing visitors to glimpse the view to/from the building. Large stepping stones are designed to interconnect with the elements of nature and history. The site’s timeline is carved onto each of the slabs, a reminder for the visitors of the site’s history.
Refer to 03. 1:100 Section
Rustling riverside
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Giggling natural playground
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Giggling natural playground An open woodland floor with curved lines of trees allows people to explore the space and recreate the sound of leaves in the breeze. Landforms are designed to create interactive environments.
Whispering grove
Building workshop
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Strategies
01. Existing sound mapping To make design intervention, the first stage is to map the existing sound patterns around the site.
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02. Design strategy The strategy for designing spaces is summarised with three key words: to contain, to augment and to dampen. Based on the existing sound map, the strategies were applied to enhance the sound experiences across the space.
03. Sound experiences in proposed design Sound typologies are summarised by four elements: people, wind, leaves and water. In consideration of the existing sound, the design will keep, amplify or add a range of sound experiences.
04. Surface strategy The subjects that make sound include not only people and natural elements, but also materials. Sound can vary depending upon the materials which creates different textures, speeds and activities.
1:100 Section (Railway edge - river edge)
GALLERY AUDITORIUM
WORKSHOP
STUDIOS
TICKET OFFICE FLEXIBLE ROOM
WORKSHOP/EVENT SPACE
SPACE
Forest edge
STRATEGY
To dampen
Building workshop
Flexible seating
Performance To contain
Storytelling hub
Splashing riverside To augment
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Isometric 01 : River Edge
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The river’s edge has two different sound textures: people and natural elements. The splashig riverside is an active area and people make the sound (chatting, running and playing), while the rustling riverside is a passive area and natural elements make the sound (fast movement of water, wind and leaves).
1:100 Detailed Plan _ Building Workshop
Located in the woodlands, the building workshop plaza is an active social space. The journey transforms from a tranquil and peaceful forest to a festive and active plaza. As an extension of the workshops and activities in the building, the outdoor space provides different daily experiences, group and intimate gathering spaces and various sound experiences through activites and materials.
1. A whispering birch grove surrounds the picnic area, creating a backdrop and a sense of enclosure. The open floor encourages visitors to be a part of the immersive landscape. 2. A bike and pet friendly environment. People can actively participate in activities and be connected with their surroundings.
Picnic
3. The riverside steps act as a group gathering space and offer access to the river with extended stepping stones. 1
Scrunching grove Market plaza
4. Riverside seating is an intimate niche gathering space, serving as the edge and frame of the spalashing riverside.
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Outdoor workshop/ classroom
Whispering garden
Delivery drop-off
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Toilets
Community garden
01. Splashing riverside 1. The timber platform is an informal threshold between the upper open lawn event space and the river’s edge. The use of different materials provides people with different experiences between the spaces. It allows people to walk comfortably.
Bike parking
Flexible workshop/ event space
Entrance/ ticket office
2. Woodland planting softens and fills the space. The upper vegetation includes tall and shrubby plants to give a glimpse of the river and foster curiosity. 3. The metal steps create the sound of footsteps alongside the river’s sounds. People expect to interact with the vegetation through the design of permeable metal steps. 1
2 4. Lower woodland planting includes low height herbaceous plants to create gradient experiences. 5. The timber deck serves as a resting and sitting point, providing a peaceful and tranquil environment.
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Gravel
Focal point, glimpse view Betula nigra
Lawn
Sense of place, privacy Acer palmatum
Timber
Screening Carpinus betulus ‘Fastigiata’
Planting
Threshold Buxus sempervirens
Concrete block paving
Design strategy
02. Rustling riverside
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Isometric 02 : Building Workshop Plaza _ Day and Night
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a. Building workshop day view 01. Whispering garden 02. Community garden 03. Rustling grove 04. Picnic
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During the daytime, the visitors can participate in a gardening workshop. The intimate gathering spaces, whispering garden and scrunching grove, create a small social space. Tall herbaceous plants serve as a backdrop and provide privacy for the seating area in the middle. Seating is designed without backrests to encourage people to interact with the vegetation. The grove area is filled with gravel, creating a scrunching and rustling sound. Group gathering spaces, the community garden, picnic area and market plaza are used as festive and active social spaces. The plaza is for temporal events and acts as a place of movement.
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a. Building workshop night view 01. Whispering garden 02. Food market plaza 03. Lighting at night 04. Picnic
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At night, lighting provides attractive and festive scenery and clearly defines the space. It allows the space to be used continuously, which promotes the active participation of the local community and visitors. Moreover, the plaza in the centre can be used as a night food market with a picnic area. The whispering garden is made more attractive thanks to the surrounding lighting which emphasizes the space.