Impact in Future - Re-Activating St. Vincent's Quarter

IMPACT IN FUTURE

Re-Activating St. Vincent’s Quarter

Zhiyan Zhang MA Urban Design 2014-2015

CONTENTS

1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 General background 1.2 Industry in Sheffield 1.3 Introduction of St. Vincent's Quarter 1.4 Research Question 1.5 Methodology

3 4 6 7 8

p1

THEORETICAL STUDIES

2

p9 2.1 Theoretical Framework 2.2 Literature Studies 2.3 Sustainable Community 2.4 Climate Change & Reusing Buildings

11 12 13 14

SITE MAPPING

3

p17

3.1 Moments in St. Vincent's 3.2 Interview 3.3 Surrounding Context 3.4 Traffic Mapping 3.5 Public Transport 3.6 Existing Activities 3.7 Building Fabric 3.8 Significant Buildings 3.9 Issuus & Challenges

19 21 23 25 26 27 29 34 35

4

4.1 Peddler Market 4.2 Magna Science Adventure Centre 4.3 Portland Works 4.4 Impact Hub 4.5 Salbke District Library 4.6 UABB 4.7 Conclusion

43

Case Studies

44 45 46

p39

46 47 48

DESIGN PROPOSAL

5

p49

5.1 Initial Concept 5.2 Scenario Making 5.3 Activator Space 5.4 Strategy Development 5.5 Impact of Sheffield Festival 5.6 Activator Space Network 5.7 Stakeholders Map 5.8 Activities 5.9 Multi Actors Network 5.10 Permanent Change 5.11 Future Development Critical Reflction Report

51 53 55 59 63 65 67 69 73 76 78 80

01 INTRODUCTION 1.1 General background 1.2 Industry in Sheffield 1.3 Introduction of St. Vincent's Quarter 1.4 Research Question 1.5 Methodology

1

INTRODUCTION

This chapter is about the background and introduction of the project.

Based on the research about the background, the research question is put forward.

The methodoloby is formulised according to the research question that it is closely linked with it.

2

GENERAL BACKGROUND

With the development in some cities especially industrial cities, large amount of abandoned buildings are left vacant in the city, sometimes even occupy the space in the proximity of the city centre.

This situation will lead to the following result, which can be seen directly: First, a waste of land and space in the city Second, hinder the development in the surrounding area Thus, adaptive reuse of the postindustrial buildings has become an effective strategy to improve the sustainability of existing buildings, which has also become a trend globally.

This trend can be interpreted by these reasons. First, put old buildings back into use by convert them to new uses is often cheaper than demolition and then rebuilding.

Second, old buildings are often with memorable moments especially to local residents, which can become the characteristics of the buildings.

Sheffield, United Kingdom

Guangzhou, China

3

INDUSTRY IN SHEFFIELD INDUSTRIAL HISTORY OF SHEFFIELD

This is Sheffield — a city with fastf l o w i n g r i v e r s a n d s t re a m s a n d surrounded by hills containing raw materials such as coal, iron ore, g a n i s t e r , a n d m i l l s t o n e g r i t fo r grindstoness, which makes it an ideal place for water-powered industries to develop.

By 1600 Sheffield was the main centre of cutlery production in England outside London. Crucible steel process for making better quality of steel and Sheffield Plate as a technique for fusing a thin sheet of silver onto a copper ingot, were both invented in around the 1740s. Stainless steel was discovered

by Harry Brearley in 1912, at the Brown Firth Laboratories in Sheffield

These innovations helped Sheffield to gain a worldwide recognition for the production of cutlery; Sheffield became one of the main centres for trade union organisation and agitation in the UK.The population of the town increased rapidly. In 1736 Sheffield and its surrounding hamlets held about 7000 people,[64] in 1801 there were 60,000, and by 1901, the population had grown to 451,195.

Aerial View of Sheffield 1920-1939

However, during the First World War and the Second World War, Sheffield suffered heavy losses. Then Sheffield's traditional manufacturing industries (along with those of many other areas in the UK), declined during the 20th century.

Globe Works

4

INDUSTRY IN SHEFFIELD POST-INDUSTRIAL IN SHEFFIELD

Post- industrial Area

Source from Sheffield City Coucncil

The dominant character of this zone (which lies mostly within the Upper andLower Don valleys, as well as in part of the Sheaf valley) has altered markedly in the years following the collapse of Sheffield’s main industrial base in the late 1970s. As this zone is typified by much of the most recent developments to affectthe Sheffield landscape it is perhaps best to consider it as a growing landscape, highly likely to expand over the next decade. During the life of the characterisation project development work has been in progress in all the character areas of this zone.

5

INTRODUCTION OF ST.VINCENT'S QUARTER

St Vincent's Quarter is one of Sheffield's eleven designated quarters, centring on and named after St Vincent's Church.

T h e S t . V i n ce n t ' s q u a r te r i s located in the north west of the city and rises from the Don Valley basin in the south west, affording views to the nothern hills and the dry ski slope. It's topography h a s re s u l t e d i n m a n y o f i t s streets being developed on steep gradients with slopes up to 1:8 in some parts of the quarter.

The quarter retains much of the original 18th and 19th century industrial street pattern, but has suffered as a result of slum clearance and war damage have removed most of the evedence of the original public realm and built form within the quarter.

Sheffield Fire and Police Museum

St. Vincent's retains a number of industrial buildings of significance. Primarily an office and industrial location,its re g e n e r a t i o n h a s i n c re a s e d rapidly over the past few years, with the new Metier residential block and Velocity Village office and residential accommodation springing up on the north side of Tenter Street. Despite recent d e v e lo p m e n t , t h e a re a s t i l l contains several dilapidated o r d e re l i c t wo r k s h o p s a n d prostitution is common in the area.

St.Vincen's Church

6

RESEARCH QUESTION

“ What strategies can be developed to reactivate post industrial areas in St Vincent's Quarter and how can these benefit surrounding area?

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7

METHODOLOGY Main Methodology Product from the former step

The diagram show the methodology used in the whole process of the project.

Starting at the research of the site, the whole project is done according to the existing Situation. There are 6 main parts in the methodology, however, they are linked closely with each other instead of seperate. Thus, each step will influence or be influenced by another step, which produces certain products.

8

02 THEORETICAL STUDIES 2.1 Theoretical Framework 2.2 Literature Studies 2.3 Sustainable Community 2.4 Climate Change & Reusing Buildings

9

THEORETICAL STUDIES This chapter is to illustrate the theoretical framework of the whole project.

In the process of formulating the theoretical framework, literature review has been done to guide the project. While the project is about re-activation of empty houses, studies on related literature including Urban Acupuncture, Urban Catalyst are crucial.

Apart from the methods in re-activation, the issues towards the refurbishment of the empty buildings are essential as well. Thus, a study on a research of the comparison of buildings new homes and reusing vacant buildings towards the climate issuu, to be specific, the CO2 emissions.

In the end of the chapter is an Egan Wheel, indicates the important elements in building a sustainable community.

10

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK Re-Approriation Interventions

Making Place Accessble Urban Acupuncture

Urban Tactics

Urban Catalyst Temporary Event

Open Space

Vacant Propeties

St. Vincent's Quarter

Legacy of Temporary Use Re-Activate

Further development

Enlarge Open Space

Sustainable Community

Refurbish Vacant Propeties

CO2 Emissions

Climate Change 11

LITERATURE STUDIES Ecobox Paris, Sheffield Image from Internet

URBAN TACTICS

1

Urban Tactic is a method which promotes the re-appropriation and reinvention of collective space in the city through everyday life activities (gardening, cooking, chatting, DIY making, reading, debating etc.), understood as creative practices in urban contexts.

The aim is to create a network of self-managed places by encouraging residents to gain access to their neighbourhood and to appropriate and transform temporary available and underused spaces. It is an approach that valorises a flexible and reversible use of space, and aims to preserve urban ‘biodiversity’ by allowing a wide range of life styles and living practices to coexist.1

1 Relationscapes:Mapping agencies of relational practice in architecture Doina Petrescu

12

LITERATURE STUDIES

Taipei Organic Acupuncture Image from Internet

URBAN ACPUNCTURE Marco Casagrande

13

As a socio-environmental theory Urban Acupuncture combines contemporary urban design with Chinese acupuncture by using small-scale interventions to transform the larger urban context.

Through analysis of aggregate social, economic and ecological factors, the sites are selected and developed through a dialogue between designers and the community. The goal of urban acupuncture is to relieve stress in the built environment. Urban acupuncture is intended to produce small-scale but socially catalytic interventions in the urban fabric.

LITERATURE STUDIES

Strategies in Conducting 1 Temporary Use Enable Initiate

Claim

Coach

Exploit Formalise

Image from Internet

URBAN CATALYST The Power of Temporary Use Oswalt Philipp Overmeyer Klaus Misselwitz Philipp

Nowadays, many lands or properties are left vacant after the city planners and the real estate market failed in their initial attempts to develop them.

However, innovative cultural production and a vibrand public sphere are found in thses sites.

The research team explored the process of these unplanned temporary use projects, in which experience and inspiration can be concluded.

1 Urban Catalyst The Power of Temporary Use Oswalt, Philipp Overmeyer Klaus,Misselwitz Philipp DOM Publishers pp 151-157

14

SUSTANABLE COMMUNITY

Egan suggests that sustainable communities must meet ‘the diverse needs of existing and future residents, their children and other users’ by offering choice. In order to be sustainable, communities must: Make effective use of natural resources Enhance the environment Promote social cohesion and inclusion and Strengthen economic prosperity.

Source from The Egan Review: Skill for Sustainable Communities Egan J.

15

CLIMATE & RE-USING BUILDINGS

Lifetime CO2 Emissions

As emissions of CO2 are believed to be the biggest single cause of climate change, which has become a worldwide problem, the UK government also made commitment to cut the CO2 emissions.

kg/ CO2 30,000 25,000 200,000

There is always a conflict on the CO2 emissions of new homes and refurbished homes. It is increasingly common for developers to make environmental claims for the b uildings they produce. A significant body of wider opinion holds that demolition of existing housing and replacement with new housing (built to high energy efficiency standards) is broadly preferable in many cases to refurbishment.

150,000 100,000 50,000

Embodied CO2

Re fu

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rb is he d

However, according to a research done by Empty Homes Agency and Building and Social Housing Foundationn indicates that it is not true.

Ho m

Ho m

es

es

Operational CO2

CO2 EMISSIONS It can be seen from the diagram that in 50 years, the total CO2 emissions are nearly the same in embodied CO2 and operational CO2. However, the one new home which ‘catches up’ with the two more efficient older houses’ CO2 performance overall only starts to do so 35-50 years after construction.

CO2 emisstions mesured in this research consist of two main types: Embodied CO2 CO2 that is emitted during the the CO2 emitted as a direct result of constructing a new building including manufacture and transport of a product.

Operational CO2 CO2 that would be emitted by each house over a fifty-year period into the future

So embodied CO2 becomes a very important measurement standards in the CO2 emissions.

Distribution of Embodied CO2

kg/ CO2 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000

Refurbished Homes

5,000

CONCLUSTION

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New Homes

Since lifetime CO2 emissions are similar in new homes and refurbished homes while it takes decades to witness new homes' effect, the emissions of embodied CO2 becomes the measurement.

Through comparisons, it can be seen that in terms of embodied CO2, the emissions from new homes are significantly higher than those emitted by refurbished homes. Thus, it is more sustainable to reuse old buildings, which will be of great benefit to the climate issue.

Source from New Tricks with Old Bricks Empty Homes Agency

16

03 SITE MAPPING 3.1 Moments in St. Vincent's 3.2 Interview 3.3 Surrounding Context 3.4 Traffic Mapping 3.5 Public Transport 3.6 Existing Activities 3.7 Building Fabric 3.8 Significant Buildings 3.9 Issuus & Challenges

17

SITE MAPPING In this chapter, site analysis by multiple methods including mapping, researching, photographing etc is integrated.

The analysis can be divided into two parts that the first part is about personal impression towards St. Vincent's Quarter, which is the subjective analysis. And the other is objective analysis by gathering and analysing information.

Subjective Impression In this part, I chose to use walking and photographing as the tools to situate the site. In this process, I find my own particular moments in the site while established the initial impression towards this area.

In the process of site survey, I had some chat with people working or living in that area, which can be regarded as an informal interview. Definitely they cannot represent the majority in the area, however, it helps me frame my direction.

Located in the proximity of the heart of the city, St. Vincent's has the potential to become an important and popular part of the city. In addition, landmark buildings such as St. Vincent's Church, Stephenson Blake Building, Cementation Furnace, are with strong identity and characteristic.

However, it has developed very slowly for multiple reasons, the most obvious of which is the large amount of vacant properties.

Vacant properties result in serious issues, which can be divided into 4 categories: Community, Economy, Individual and Environment.

Besides, another issue is lack of social life in this area.

Through analysis, it turns out the this issue is closely linked with the former one. The space is taken up by the vacant buildings, then residents do not have enough space to enhance their social life.

Objective Analysis Through former research, the most obvious issue is the abandoned, empty post-industrial buildings in the area.

Then further research and analysis was conducted towards this direction By analysing the existing situation including surrounding area, traffic network, public transport, building fabric and other situation in the site, more issues are found.

18

MOMENTS IN ST.VINCENT'S In order to know more about as well as to engage in the site, I used waking and photographing as tools to define my moments in St. Vincent's.

Doncaster Street

Industrial Heritage and Creative Event Venue

Empty Industrial Buildings

The empty buildings and Furnace park are both located on Doncaster Street. However, Furnace Park is a venue utilised by the independant artists for events while the Don Cutlery Works and Oscar Works are left vacant, which shows an interesting comparison.

Don Cutlery Works

19

Event at Furnace Park

Garden Street

New Apartments Being Constructed

Abandoned Factory

Another comparison impressed me is the new construction and the old factories with broken windows.

They are both located on Garden Street, which makes the comparison more stronger.

Such scenes can be seen very often in St. Vincent's that the old buildings representing memories are fading and being replaced by the new homes.

Wasteland

Abandoned Buildings

20

INTERVIEW During site survey, I had a little chat with people I met in St. Vincent's Quarter. It can be regarded as an informail interview, which helps me know more about the site and the thoughts of the people.

Simple questions were asked in the talk. The following content demonstrates the key points in the conversation.

“ Security Working in Tesco Express Edward Street

“

I am new here. There are a lot of students living here.

No, I haven't been to the empty buildings in the other side. They are of no interest to me.

”

I am from China. Though there are many Chinese students living around, but at first I thought it was hard to meet new friends.

Student Living in Velocity Village Solly Street

It is good to live here, but I will go to city centre instead of staying around here in weekends.

” CONCLUSION Through the informal interview with two people who almost stays in the area everyday, a initial rough conclusion can be got that St. Vincent's Quarter is regarded as a place for working or living without any identity or attraction places. What's more, students have become a significant group in this area, which should be taken into consideration in the design process.

21

+

+ United Kingdom

+ Sheffield

22

SURROUNDING CONTEXT

CITY CENTRE QUARTERS

Kelham Island Riverside

St Vincent's Cathedral

St George's

Heart of the City

Castle Gate

KELHAM ISLAND

Sheaf Valley

Devonshire Moor

CIQ

W i t h a st ro n g h e r i ta g e o f metal working and unique topography and distinctive urban landscape, St. Vincent's Quarter is a protential developing area near the heart of the centre.

However, as a post industiral area used for metal workshop for the city, there are dying buildings and space which caused the isolation of the area. It cut off the conncetion between other quarters.

+ UNIVERSITY

In the proximity to the University of Sheffield, St. Vincent's has become a place for students to live in.

ST VINCENT'S

HEART OF THE CITY The heart of the city provide the principal facilities and space for citizens, which can be defined athe cuvic, cultural and retail forcus of Sheffield.

23

Located to the north of the City Centre in Sheffield, Kelham Island Conservation Area plays the major role in this quarter, which represents the most significant industrial heritage in Sheffield.

Significant historical industrial buildings can be seen in this area including Glboe Works, Cornish Place and Green Lane Works as well as Kelham Island Museum which engaged visitors into the manufactoring process in the old times.

Kelham Island is becoming a mix-used area.

WICKER RIVERSIDE

+ + +

RIVER DON Located along River Don, unique urban landscape can be seen in Wicker Riverside area. As a post industrial area as well, there are numbers of industrial buildings in this area.

Riverside remains busy today, carrying heavey traffic on main roads, However, it became remote and lack of connection with the city centre.

+ CATHEDRAL

+ Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul is an important landmark building in the City Centre Conservation Area. Dramatic views can be seen in Cathedral Quarter as the result of the special location situated on a sleep slope.

Street pattern in this quarter reflects the medieval origins in the city. Later in the Georgian era, it developed into a speculative residential area.

Today this quarter is a business precinct for legal and property services.

24

TRAFFIC MAPPING

Main Road Secondary Road 1000m Kelham Island Museum

500m

The Pandorosa

Sheffield Cathedral The University of Sheffield

Peace Garden

Sheffield Station

Sheffield Hallam University

The diagram illustrates vicinal roads and significant locations in other quarters of the city in a larger scale.

Velocity Village is set as the starting point as the largest student apartment in the quarter.

Located in the important part of the city, St. Vincent's plays a very significant part in the mutual development of the city centre.

25

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Shalesmoor

Gibraltar Street Hoyle Street

Corporation Street

Netherorpe Road

Tenter Street

Broad Lane

Upper Hanover Street

Tramline Busline

Tram Station

Bus Station

The diagram shows the public transport in St. Vincent's Quarter.

It can be ssen that the area is located in the very proximity to the tramline, which provides great oppotunity to the development of the quarter. Bus lines cross the area, however, the bus stations are more concentrated at the nothern part of the quarter, which consists of plenty of empty buildings and brownfields. Thus, car became the dominant vechicle of the quarter.

Though the site is located near the heart of the city and the Sheffield Cathedral, where people gather and conduct everyday activities, yet the connection remains weak.

26

EXISTING ACTIVITIES

The diagram aims to analyse the existing activities happening in the existing community nodes targeting at different users in St. Vincent's Quarter.

It can be seen that there are certain community nodes in the St. Vincent's Quarter.

However, the activities provided by these are mosted aimed at serving local residents. With large numbers of international students living in the area, it would be better to take their needs into consideration.

Second, the activities are not attractive to some extent that people living in this area tend to attend the events outside the quarter while the people from other parts are not coming to St. Vincent's Quarter.

Third, events and exhibitions are held not frequently, which makes is less popular among the community.

Activities

Basketball game

Live Music

Lessons and events

Crafts selling, events

Workshop, events

Popularity

Commnunity events

27

Boxing

Exhibition, events

Music events

Target Users

Students Bands Artists, Handcraftmen Residents

Workers

Sports societies

Community Nodes

Nichols Building

Chinese Cultural Centre

Shakespeares

St Vincent’s Catholic Men’s Society

Red House

CADS Croft House Settlement

Edward St Park Furnace Park

28

BUILDING FABRIC St. Vincent's used to provide a workshop for the city in the industrial time in Sheffield. Since the decline of the industry, this area are left with empty buildings and brownfields.

The original street patterns and buidling fabric are still recogisable in this area

29

30

BUILDING ANALYSIS

Original Source from St. Vincent's Action Plan by Sheffield City Council in 2004 Adjustment has been done according to the updated fabric

Gap Sites - Potential to reuse Building in Good Quality - Remain / Reuse Buildings in Poorer Quality Landmarks

The space and buildings are devided into four different types.

Gap sites include empty space between buidlings and open carpark which are mostly vacant in weekends and holidays. Gap sites can be regarded of great potential to be reused.

Building in Good Quality comprise newly constructed apartments as well as vacant old building which still stay in good condition. Empty buildings can be adaptive reused. On contrast, buidlings in poorer quality, mostly legacy of the industry in the area, are harder and ineffective to reuse.

Landmarks in the digram indicates the historical buildings which represents the characteristics of the site.

The diagram refers to and is developed from the document St.. Vincent's Action Plan in 2004.

31

BUILDING ANALYSIS

Source from SKINN

Empty Buildings

It can be seen from this diagram that there are quantity of empty buildings in this area, most of which are former industrial buildings.

Though the diagrams it can be easily seen that many empty buildings still stay in good quality. However, they are left vacant. Apart from a waste of space in the central part of the city, the more serious problem is that the vacant buildngs lead to multiple issues.

32

BUILDING ANALYSIS

Long-term Residents Student Apartments Apartments Under Construction

Open Space

33

Source of both of the mapping is from SKINN

It can be seen that the main function of St. Vincent's is residence while student apartments account the majority.

Open space in this area is comparatively not enough that it fails in supporting the daily needs for various activities for the residents.

SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS

Stephenson Blake Building

St. Vincent's Church

Cementation Furnace

34

SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS

Stephenson Blake Building

IMPACT A former type foundry in Sheffield.

T h o u g h t h e fo u n d r y h a s b e e n closed for years, yet it was the building where Britain's last great typefoundry operated lives on.

Cementation Furnace

IMPACT is a sans-serif typeface d e s i g n e d b y G e o f fe r y L e e fo r Stephenson, Blake in 1965. The co m p ­ a n y , w h i c h i n i t s h e y ­d a y was unmatched in the world of typefound­ing, left its Upper Allen Street home of nearly 200 years i n 2 0 0 6 . T h e t y p e fa ce I M PACT is undoubtedly famous and still brought impact nowadays that it is the typeface adopted for the logo of St. Pancras and the new Eurostar terminal in London and what's more, the standard typeface on nearly every personal computer in the world.

Source from British Letterpress.co.uk

Kutrite Works Cutlery Works Grade II listed building

Steelmaking Furnace Grade II listed building

Flats are being cre­ated in a devel­op­ ment called Impact, yet the majority hardly know the origin of the name.

+

+ + 35

The furnace was built in 1848 to produce steel by the local steel firm of Daniel Doncasters and Sons. By 1860 there were 250 cementation furnaces in Sheffield capable of producing 80,000 tons of blister steel and the large conical structures were a characteristic feature of the city‘s industrial landscape It is currently the only example of this type of steel making furnace to survive intact in Great Britain.

St. Vincent's Quarter used to be the centre of the cutlery and steel manufacturing in the earlier years. However, with the deciline of the manufacturing industry, the factories started to close or move to other areas, left the area with numbers of vacant buildings.

The building in this area are with abundant industrial characteristics and cultural spirits, which are mostly ignored by the people in current days.

St. Vincent's Church

Footprint Tools Tools Works The works opened in 1900. In 2008, the company sold the p re m i s e s i n H o l i s Croft and completed the move in 2009.

Since then the place was left unused

Oscar Works Record Tools Works

With the developing of cutlery and tool industries of Sheffield, many irish emigrants left Ireland were attracted to this area settling in "The Crofts" area centred on Solly Street. At that time ,that was the centre of the Sheffield steel, cultery and filemaking industries. The chapelschool was established to meet their needs in 1851. Then the chapel turned into St. Vincent's Church, however, it was closed as a place of worship in 1998.

+ +

+ 36

ISSUES & CHALLENGES VACANT PROPERTIES

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Arson and Accidental Fires

Why vacant properties hinder the development of St. Vincent's Quarter and surrounding quarters?

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The harm of abandoned or vacant properties is divided into the following 4 categories: Community, Economy, Individual and Envrionment. Multiple issue existing in the area resulted from the vacant properties have become a barrier for the further development of St. Vincent's.

37

SOCIAL LIFE

What cause the lack of social life in this area?

Language barriers

Lack of Basic Infrastructure

LACK OF SOCIAL LIFE

Short - Term Inhabitance

Lack of Social Space

Isolation

Lack of Street Furniture

Lack of Social Activities

Since residence has dorminated the area, social life has become an important part in the analysis. Though it is not fully accurate to demonstrate that the problem of lacking social life is caused by the vacant properties, however, the issues caused by the empty old buildings and messy brownfield are definitely contributors to this issue.

38

04 CASE STUDIES 4.1 Peddler Market 4.2 Magna Science Adventure Centre 4.3 Portland Works 4.4 Impact Hub 4.5 Salbke District Library 4.6 UABB 4.7 Conclusion

39

CASE STUDIES In this chapter, six projects from different countries and districts are presented as case studies to inspire the development of the project.

In order to probe into different methods used in reactivating St. Vincent's Quarter, all of the cases selected in this chapter are related to activation. In addition , the selection of the projects are not limited in the postindustrial area.

Among the cased in this chapter, there are 1 project in Magdeburg, Germany, 1 project from Shenzhen, China, and the 4 of rest are from United Kingdom. By comparing the projects from different area, a comprehensive conclusion may be achieved Dealing with different scale, location and timescale, the projects generated various impact. So as to get a conclusion, a parallel comparison is made among the cases, including measuring the size of the sites, the time they cause impact to surrounding area, the distance from local city centre and the influence they brought. It is hard to quantify the result but it can be roughly measured.

By comparison, a conclusion has been made at the end of the chapter that the different condition of the site will definitely influence the effect of the project and they share a point in common that they all emphasise the relationship between space and people.

40

United Kingdom

Site Location

+ +

Sheffield, United Kingdom

+

Milan, Italy

+

Shenzhen, China

6 projects from England, Italy and China are selected as the precedent studies. Though the projects are run in different contries, yet different strategies applied can be concluded. By critically learning from the cases, a clearer concept and strategy can be developed, which can be applied among various district.

41

Magna Science Adventure Centre

Peddler Market

+

Sheffield Road, Rotherham

Arundel Street

Portland Works

Randall Street

+ +

Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Three projects in Sheffield are seleted as the case studies.

With the similar background and time period, the cases can inform the development of the re-activation of St. Vincent's Quarter.

42

Peddler Market

Peddler Market provides an oppotunity for people to have social activities outdoor, which attracts a considerable crowd monthly.

Arundel Street, Sheffield, United Kingdom from 2014 With a tasty mix of award winning street food, craft beers, live music and art, Peddler Market has become a popular place for leisure and entertainment in Sheffield.

Peddler Market takes place montly, occupying 156 Arundel Street, which is a glorious ex-industrial building in Sheffield's Cultural Industries Quarter.

Located in the proximity to the city centre, Peddler Market has successfully got citizens' attention that it re-activated the postindustrial building in great way.

Pop-up stores provide people with street food, beverage and even artcrafts.

43

Magna Science Adventure Centre Sheffield Road, Rotherham Year 2001

The site of Magna Science Adventure Centre used to be steel works. After its closure in 1993, the original building has been largely preserved as a monument to its industrial heritage.

The principal exhibits are divided into five pavilions: Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Power. Huge and impressive artefacts were preserved in the exhibition including ulking hooks, winding passages, cupolas and cranes.

Magna Science Adventure Centre is an educational visitor attraction, appealing primarily to children. And it is often used as the place for staging events.

The buidling itself was re-activated and plays a role as an activator in the neighbouring environment.

Workshop is hold regularly here, attracting children and parents to take part in the activities in weekends.

Workshop is hold regularly here, attracting children and parents to take part in the activities in weekends.

The Structure of the mill retained while it has been furnished and developed for current use.

44

Portland Works

Randal Street, Sheffield United Kingdom Year 2009-2013

Timeline 1877 1915

Built Established Cutlery Manufactoring

1958

Closed Workshops Moved in

2003

Artists, Musicians Joined Landlord wanted to change the works into flats

Image from Internet

Built in 1877, Portland Works is an affordable place for independent artists and craftmen to work in. However, the workspace was faced with a striking threat in 2009 that the landlord wanted to convert it into flats for more profit.

The campaign on saving Portland Works lauched. Then the social enterprise, Portland Works Little Sheffield Ltd. was established in 2011 to buy, renovate and manage the buildings. They finally succeeded in purchasing the building in 2013.

2009

1st Public Meeting

2010

2nd Public Meeting

Workshop 2011

Fundraising Began

2013

Successfully Bought the Works

Thus Portland Works can retain a workspace for the little manufuture and even independent music. Moreover, the prosperous scene in Portland Works has activated surrounding area by regularly events.

Events are held approximately monthly, in which handcrafts are sold to the visitors while the manufacture process is open to the public.

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Image from Internet

Impact Hub Worldwide from 2005 The first Impact Hub was built in London in early 2005 that it located on the top floor of an old warehouse. Then the network spread across the world.

The idea of Impact Hub is to create space as a prototyping lab, a startup incubator, an inspiring office, a learning space and a think tank. It creates a unique ecosystem for social innovation, flexible highly functional space for impacters to meet, learn and connect.

Impact Hub in Amsterdam Image from Internet

Though the size of each Impact Hub is not large, yet it caused impact by connecting people by this inspiring network.

Salbke District Library Magdeburg, Germany Completion in 2009 The outdoor library is located in the centre of the former fishing village, which was transformed by industry during the Wilhelminian period. Then the area was left derelict.

The idea for a temporary construction of an outdoor library was discussed in 2005. After a one-day workshop , they decided to set up an installation as bookshelves. Although the library furniture only defined urban space for two days, it developted a lasting impact. Immedaitely it became an informal citizens' library.

With the increase of the popularity of the library, an application was submitted for converting the temporary solution into a permanent structure.

Image from Internet

Now the library has a stock of more than thirty thousand books. The shelves are not closed, books can be borrowed around the clock. It is a library of trust, without bureaucracy or a borrower's slip.

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UABB Shekou District, Shenzhen, China Year 2013 UABB is Bi-City Biennale of Architecture/ Urbanism, held in Shenzhen in the fringe of the city.

T h e s i te o f t h e b i e n n a le i s post-industrial area in Shekou District. There are two main venues in UABB. One of the venues is called Value Factory, changed from a former Guangdong Float Glass Factor y which was built in 1986 and had been derelict since 2009. The other exhibition site, the Border Warehouse was old warehouse at Shekou Ferry Terminal.

"I am fascinated about factories. From my perspective, they are most potential places.

I am going to re-design remote, fringe and abandoned factories."

- Ole Bourman Main curator and Creative Director of UABB

By the impressive reformed ex - i n d u st r i a l b u i l d i n g s a n d organisation of the exhibition, the fringe site successfully attracted a considerable amount of visitors. Besides, the curators hope that the factories can be the activators to the creative industry in Shenzhen.

Value Factory

Border Warehouse

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B y re - a c t i v a t i n g t h e s p a c e during the exhibition period of UABB, the space can be used as workspace or other potential use for creative industry in the future.

The success of the exhibition can be regarded as a text for the future development and potential use of the site.

CONCLUSION In order to summary from the above case studies, a parellel comparison has been made to conclude the similarities as well as the difference among the projects, which helps inspire the design propostiion of the thesis project.

PEDDLER MARKET

Influence (How strong it benefits the city) Timescale (How long it impacts the city) (Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large) Scale (Distance from the site to city centre) Location Approaches or Strategies applied PORTLAND WORKS

Location

Influence Timescale Scale

The projects are compared on these aspects:

Location

Influence Timescale Scale

City Centre

Event

Social Space

Entertainment

City Centre

Work Space Social Space

MAGNA SCIENCE ADVENTURE CENTRE

History

Event

IMPACT HUB

Location

Location

Influence Timescale Scale

Influence Timescale Scale

City Centre

City Centre

Education

Event

Social Space

Reform

Entertainment History

SALBKE DISTRICT LIBRARY Influence Timescale Scale

Work Space

Social Space

Network

UABB EXHIBITION

Location

Influence Timescale Scale

Location

City Centre

Education

Event

Social Space

City Centre

Reform Education Social Space

Event

History

By comparing the projects, A conclusion can be got that the location of the site, or the distance from the site to the city centre will influence the time it causes influence to the city. Events can be the mutual approahes as the activators to the places.

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05 DESIGN PROPOSITION 5.1 Initial Concept 5.2 Scenario Making 5.3 Activator Space 5.4 Strategy Development 5.5 Impact of Sheffield Festival 5.6 Activator Space Network 5.7 Stakeholders Map 5.8 Activities 5.9 Multi Actors Network 5.10 Permanent Change 5.11 Future Development

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DESIGN PROPOSAL

After the research of the background, site survey and case studies, design proposal is put forward in this chapter. The overall strategy in this project is divided into two phase, the first of which is temporary strategy, and the second is longterm strategy.

Strategies in two stages focus on different scale, different timespan and different beneficiaries.

Scale In the first stage, the event targeted at small or medium interventions across the area while the scale become larger in the second stage.

Timespan Temporary use takes short period while the long-term strategy takes much longer time.

Beneficiaries The coverage of beneficiaries are expanded.

Tactics & Output In the first stage of the strategy, activities and users are the most important factors in the proposal of holding festival as temporary urban tactics. Enhancing social life by inserting activities in the vacant properties as the cutin point is an effective way for a two-fold aim, one of which is to re-activate St. Vincent's Quarter in shorter time by attracting more people flow, and the other aim is to test the multiple possibilities of the site development. To be more specific, in the temporary event, certain functions will be

imposed on selected venues. Then it can be regarded as a experiment to test that whether this assumed function is suitable for the site.

While the first stage strategy focused on the relationship between users and activities, the second stage strategy pays more attention on the multiple values generated by the design proposal. According to the former research and conclusion, the issues resulted from the vacant properties can be divided into 4 aspects including the harm to community, economy, individual and environment. Thus, the design proposal is formulated based on the issues and targeting at alleviating or decreasing the problems effectively.

In order to generate values, two main improvements are conducted in the second stage as cut-in points.

First, reusing old buildings is a sustainable way in terms of the issues. For example, after temporarily occupying and re-appropriating the vacant buildings, the condition of the buildings are developed that they can be refurbished and transformed into work space provided for the independent artists, craftsmen and manufacturers, who used to dominated this area before.

Affordable renting enables their space for working instead of suffering from high rent. Meanwhile the land value and tax revenues will increase, which contributes to the economy in the area. The second improvement is to enlarge open space in the area by turning redundant land into accessible space, which is of great benefit.

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INITIAL CONCEPT After the analysis of the site, two main problems existing in St. Vincent't Quarter are pointed out: Problems caused by vacant properties Lack of social life According to these main issues, the initial concept is to change the situation in two stage. The diagrams illustrates the improvement of the site and the interaction between it and the surrounding quarters, which are represented by their own landmark building.

TEMPORARY CHANGE

Attract People Flow Urban Acupuncture

Year

2016 - 2020

Urban Acupuncture is used as the main method in this stage. Temporary events are held in the area, which attract people flow from other surrounding quarters including .

The events will be held in different venues, consists of small and large interventions. Through the Re-appropriation of the space, which structures a network, the area can be activated by the coming people flow.

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PERMANENT CHANGE

Mutuai Impact

Further Planning

Year

2020 - 2024

After the fist stage of the strategy, the re-appropriation may change the use of particular building or space. Then the Further planning can be drafted and formulated based on the needs of the users.

Legacy of temporary use from the first stage can be utilised for further use. Furthermore, according to the experimentation through temporary intervention, in can be concluded that the optimum function of the sites. Thus, poorer and dispensable buildings can be demolished while more open space can be created.

Instead of attracting citizens from other quarters, St. Vincent's quarter can work with others to develop the city centre in a more effective way.

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SCENARIOS MAKING

The sceanrio is made based on the initial concept.

By making scenarios, the future scene as well as the opinions from different stakeholders can be simulated.

City Council Want to construct more residence in this area.

Local Resident Afraid that the memory of the former industry are fading out.

Community Engage in holding the festival and enjoy having s o m e le i s u re a c t i v i t i e s around home while bring back the memory.

University Help organise the workshops and events

Developer Plan to change the buildings into aparments for more profit

Local Manufacture Faced with clousure if the buildings are converted into apartments

Students Get oriented in the festival and meet new friends

Artists, Craftmen and Manufacturers Create and sell works in the events.

2015

2016

A festival is held. Temporay infrastructure are set. Citizens can take part in the festival by engaging in the live workshops, live shows, pop-up stores and parties.

The festival can be held under the collabaration of the council, university and the NGOs.

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URBAN DESIGNER

City Council Keen to support the operation of the events; Encourage more smallscale manufacture

Developer Public backlash cause the developer to reconsider providing public space for residents.

Local Residents Glad to see the memory of St. Vincent's is back. But afraid that the facilities can't meet the needs of incresing residents .

City Council Support the projects on providing more social space for the residents

Community Raise more events, attacting more people to the area

Artists, Craftmen and Manufacturers Glad with the affordable renting, move in the area to establish their career.

Organisations Think it is a good place for holding different events for it is already known for many people .

2020

The festival can be held regularly, Some temporary infrastructure can remain for daily use in the community.

URBAN DESIGNER

2024

Further planning is designed based on people's activities.

Poor quality industrial buildings are domolished. New infrastructure added.

URBAN DESIGNER

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ACIVATOR SPACE Accessibility Can be easily reached from other locations

In order to re-activate St. Vincent's Quarter, Urban Acpuncture is used as the method to particular space in the site, which is the activators. They play an important role in the structure of the network. Space as activator are defined and selected through specific reasons.

People Flow Usual users in everyday life Characteristic Distinctive Indusurial scape or other feature

In terms of centrality of location and accessibility, the spatial preferences of temporary users are often no difference from those of the conventional real estate market. However, it is more flexible and creative.

Infrastructure Existing basic infrastructure inside or near the site

Every activator space seleted is of different feature and chosed out of varied reason including targeting 1 at particular groups or avoiding influencing residents' daily life.

Usability The extent of the space or frequency in using the site Potential The future development of the site

However, there is a common criteria in selecting the sites. The measurement contains the following aspects:

1 2 3

4 5 6

Site Plan

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Urban Tactics: The Power of Temporary Use Philipp Oswalt, Klaus Overmeyer, Philipp Misselwitz, Dom Publishers pp.54

1

Furnace Park

Named after an 18th-century cementation furnace in the v i c i n i t y , T h e b row n f i e l d h a s become a park for various creative activities, provided it with existing infrastucture and certain reputation. However, few people flow there results in the difficulty in holding events.

Characteristic

Us

ab

ple

ilit

o Pe

y

Ac ce ssi b

al

nti

te Po

w Flo

ilit

y

Infrastructure

2

Don Cutlery Works

Built in the 1850s for Southern & Richardson Ltd, Don Cutlery Works has fallen into a "deplorable" condition that it has become a disused space for years.

However, the abandoned building is still in good quality (demonstrated in p31), which makes it potential for temporay use as well as further change.

Characteristic

Us

ab

ple

ilit

o Pe

y

Ac ce ssi b

al

nti

te Po

w Flo

ilit

y

Infrastructure

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Characteristic

3

Oscar Works

Us

ab

ple

ilit

o Pe

y

Ac ce ssi b

al

nti

te Po

w Flo

ilit

y

Infrastructure

Used to be a record tools company, Oscar Works is currently a derelict building which housed several prestigious toolmakers in Sheffield for nearly fifty years Staying in good construction quality with sizable space, Oscar Works can be utilised as a place providing people with various activities.

Characteristic

Us

ab

ple

ilit

o Pe

y

Ac ce ssi b

al

nti

te Po

ilit

Infrastructure

Built in 1853, Saint Vincent's Church is a Roman Catholic Church situated on Solly Street at its junction with Hollis Croft in the former industrial quarter.

The church has fallen into disused since 1998.

Nowadays, the yard of the church has become a parking lot.

Located near Velocity Village, the church yard can be transfromed into a place for activities attracting neighbouring residents in holidays.

5

St. Vincent's Church Yard 57

w Flo

y

Characteristic

Us

ab

ple

ilit

o Pe

y

Ac ce ssi b

al

nti

te Po

w Flo

ilit

y

Infrastructure

Open in 2013, the park has become an important and main place for sports activites in the area, which fulfills the needs of students . In addition, it was located in the intersection, which garantees certain people flow in everyday life.

Thus, it is an ideal place for holding events, which can attract more people.

5

Edward St Park

Characteristic

Us

ab

ple

ilit

o Pe

y

Ac ce ssi b

al

nti

te Po

w Flo

ilit

y

Infrastructure

6

Redundant Land

As a sizable land in the quarter, it is an important juction between different blocks.

People cross the narrow passage way in daily life. However, most of the land is left disused. It is of potential that it can be a place for outdoor activities.

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STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT

PHASE 2

PHASE 1 Year 2016 - 2020

Brownfield Former Don Cuterly Works

Former Oscar Works

Redundant Land Sports Space in Community

Former St. Vincent's Church

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PHASE 1 TEMPORARY STRATEGY

VACANT PROPERTIES

Year 2016 - 2020 According to the analysis of issues&challenges faced with in St. Vincent's Quarter, the main problems of the area are mostly caused by plenty of vacant post-industrial buildings, which also result in the lack of social life of people living here.

In phase 1, a festival is held regularly to enhance people's social life as the cut-in point to re-activated the site while while 5 disused properties and 1 existing community nodeare used as the activators.

The strategy is formulated based on the issues including the problems in terms of Community, Economy, Individual and Environment.

?

Cause

Re-Activate

LACK OF SOCIAL LIFE

The folloing diagram illustrates the relationship between different activities and their users.

Activities

Dining

Social

Commercial

Leisure

Art, Craft and Manufacture

Education

Entertainment

Users

Residents

Artists, Craftmen and Manufacturers

Visitors

Bands

Students

Workers

Kids

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OPEN

ART, MANUFACTURING CAMPUS

STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT

PHASE 2

SPAC

Year 2020 - 2024

E

CADS Art Studio

+ + Edward St. Park Sports Space

+

+

+ +

PHASE 1 Art, Manufacturing Space Open Space Impact Imposed Permanent Change Potential Nodes Exiting Nodes

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PHASE 2 LONG - TERM STRATEGY Year 2020 - 2030 Through the activation in phase 1, temporary change impact the area that permanent change will take place based on people's needs.

In this stage, measure targeting at larger scale will be conducted including Reuse of Vacant Buildings and Transform redundant Lands into Open Space.

The diagram indicates the Output generated by the strategy.

Reduce CO2 Emissions

Affordable Renting

COMMUNITY Increase Tax Revenue

Reuse of Vacant Buildings Increase Employment

Efficient Traffic Network

ECONOMY

Raise Land Values

Higher Quality of Life

Enhance Social Life

INDIVIDUAL

Recreational Value Add Open Space Ecological Value

Aesthetic Value

ENVIRONMENT

Public Health 62

IMPACT OF SHEFFIELD FESTIVAL

Type Lab IMPACT, a famous typeface known by alomost everybody. However, few people know that it was designed and manufactured in Stephenson Blake Building, a former type foundry in Sheffield.

Create and Bring your own type home!

History of IMPACT

Type Tour

The festival is about the IMPACT brought by Sheffield.

Letter Game Letterprinting The process of Letter printing

Exhibition

63

Find the Letter with Fun

Lecture

Film Music

Street Food

Future IMPACT in Sheffield

Workshop

Play Facilities

Pop-up Art Gallery

Play on IMPACT!

Mobile Library

Type Graffiti

Write your own type!

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ACTIVATOR SPACE NETWORK

Route Entrance 65

Venues

Activities

St. Vincent's Square Located in the vicinity of the student apartments while with sizable empty parking lot in holidays and weekends, the church yard can be transformed as a main venue for the pop-up art galleries and food stores.

Furnace Park Having held a series of creativity event, the park can attract people more easily. People can enjoy street food, entertainment activity including music event here.

Impact Park The vacant land is changed to a park for children and residents to have leisure time.

Oscar Lecture Hall The former works can be transformed to a large hall for film playing, lecture and conference.

Don Hub People gather here in the indoor leisure space to enjoy food and chat.

HSBC Parking Lot The parking lot belonging to HSBC Bank can be used as the lot for the festival in weekends.

Edward St. Park The park can easily attract residents, students and visitors that it can promote the event.

5 entrances are set in the festival to lead people from different quarters. The route covers daily routes of local residents, students to get the event known for more people. To avoid the influence of noise, the venues are mostly located in a certain distance to the residential clusters.

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STAKEHOLDER NETWORK STAKEHOLDERS MAPPING The digram shows the key stakeholders in holding the festival. They are devided into 5 aspects : FUNDING CURATORS USERS VANUES SUPPLIERS

Worldwide

Untited Kingdom

Sheffield

St. Vincent's

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According to the research of the area, Chinese student residents account a considerable protportion.

Thus, Wechat, the main correspondence software is introduced in the whole p ro j e c t to e n h a n ce t h e promotion.

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ACTIVITIES

Notice Board ST. VINCENT'S SQUARE Mobile Toilet

Food Stores Pop - up Art Galleries

Type Design Printing Booth

Tent

69

IMPACT PARK Children's Play Facilities

Sitting Platform

70

ACTIVITIES

71

FURNACE PARK

Mobile Toilet Pop-up Art Gallery

Tent

Music Equipment Unit

Mobile Food Store

DON HUB

OSCAR LECTURE HALL Notice Board

72

MULTI ACTORS NETWORK

Different activites are installed in different venues. Legacy of the furnitures and facilities can be used for long-term development.

PROFESSTIONALS

USERS

Furnace Park

Redundant Land

73

Oscar Works

Furnace Park

Edward St. Park

75

PERMANENT CHANGE

Temporary event result in the permanent changes in the venues. Vacant building can be refurbished and reused as work space for independent artists, craftsmen and manufacturers, which provide affordable renting.

Footprint Tools Works More potential vacant buildings are taken into the plan in the future development. More affordable work space can be provided to the manufacturers, which can meanwhile help keep the memories alive.

ECOLOGICAL VALUE Furnace Park More people have known the park through the festival. More events are held regularly in the park.

AESTHETIC VALUE RECREATIONAL VALUE

PUBLIC HEALTH

ENHANCE SOCIAL LIFE

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HIGHER QUALITY OF LIFE

EFFICIENT TRAFFIC NETWORK

Legacy of the festival can be used that the works has become a permanent social space Don Hub for people to create and have leisure time Former Don Cutlery Works

Oscar Works Though the activation from the festival as a lecture hall, Oscar Works can be transformed into workspace for the manufacturers

RAISE LAND VALUES

INCREASE TAX REVENUE INCREASE EMPLOYMENT

AFFORDABLE RENTING

REDUCTION IN CO2 EMISSIONS

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FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

Furnace Park CADS Art Studio

Edward. St. Park

Open Space Art, Craft and Manufacturer Space 78

Year 2024 Proposal As part of a bottom-up planning strategy, the improvement maybe slowers. However, the scale starts to become larger to involve more buildings, which are in good condition to fit in the new use.

Year 2020 Proposal Though the impact brought by the festival, permanent changes can take place in some sites successfully.

However, not all the sites have the potential to the changes due to the current condition including the quality of the building, policy issue, which make them only suitble for temporary change of use.

Current Situation Currently, the only work space for independant artists, craftsmen and manufacturers is CADS, who can lead the development of other places as pioneers to create more space for them.

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CRITICAL REFLECTION St. Vincent's is a post-industrial quarter located in the city centre of Sheffield. As an important industrial area in Sheffield, a city famous for manufacturing, it was once prosperous in the old times.

This thesis project starts from the site in St. Vincent's Quarter in Sheffield, the thesis project was conducted according to the step-by-step methodology. Different methods and tools are utilised in the process so that the information can be obtained and synthesised. As taught by the practice in studio and tools session, I used walking as the very first tool to situate the site. The first impression St. Vincent's brought me is about the comparison of new buildings and abandoned buildings, which is a very strong and interesting contrast especially they are located just in the very vicinity to each other.

Existing situation in the site remains the central part and the most important part throughout the whole process, that the following steps all stick to the site, which guarantees the consistency of the design proposal to meet users' needs.

Thus, gathering and analysing information are crucial parts in the project. Information from different resources including Internet, literature etc. are gathered. Then the information was integrated and illustrated by diagrams. In order to take everything into consideration, the analysis should cover all the essential information including the building fabric, the situation of the vacant buildings, open space, traffic network, public transportation, surrounding area etc. Only by fully understanding the urban context and current situation and existing issues can the proposal be suitable for the site.

After the analysis of the information, an initial concept is put forward that temporary event can be used as a method to attract people flow from other quarters, after which St. Vincent's can develop into a more prosperous area in the city centre.

However, it is faced with challenges that there is no open space for holding events in the area. Thus, the vacant buildings can become the roles as venues to activate themselves and then activate the whole area. In terms of choosing the suitable site for the event, multiple conditions should be taken into consideration such as the construction quality of the buildings, in case of the problems caused by the dangerous buildings.

Then the overall strategies are put forward. In the first stage, temporary event will be the activator to re-activate St. Vincent's while the legacy of temporary use and the uncountable but considerable impact will result in the permanent changes in the area.

However, there are some limitations in the methodology I utilised. First, information online regarding the site is not enough for me to know the condition of the building completely. Though I have searched for various information including political documents, however, information obtained are partly outdated. Second, the buildings are inaccessible, resulting in the difficulty in the selection of sites.

Nevertheless, I have gained abundant experience and inspiration through the process and the useful comments from my supervisor.

However, due to the limited time and inadequate personal skill, the proposal is not detailed enough to show the changes of the site.

In conclusion, the thesis project equip me with more skills at gathering and analysing information, which is beneficial towards future practice. On the other hand, the efficiency should be improved.

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