Zoe Restrick Portfolio

“THE BEAUTY OF THE FUNCTIONAL PUSHES THE POSSIBLE AS CLOSE TO THE IMPOSSIBLE AS ONE CAN COME”

Pontus Hulten

CONTENTS

1. UNDERGRAD

Up-Street - Year 3 project

2. COMPETITIONS

Villa ColabHouse IO -

3. ERASMUS (SPAIN)

Niehoff Memorial Urban planning extracts

4. PART 1 EXPERIENCE

Residential Commercial

5. WRITING

Research and design strategies

Dissertatoion extract

Organised Peculiarities _ UP Street 1 UP-STREET URBAN DEVELOPMENT

UP-Street is a group of 4 buildings creating a street intersection with multiple facades like a street scape, the project is a small-scale urban development of 4000m2 which includes 13 individual units, 1 food market, 1 wood workshop, a roof allotment, a roof terrace and all the necessary ancillary spaces. The project aims to cater to small businesses who can occupy units, but they must produce on site and /or have an experiential aspect to their business.

Bristol has a culture of sustainability, leaving unwanted household items on your doorstep to be collected by a fellow neighbour is a common occurence. Through collage I explored a utilitarian appraoch to re-use of unwanted items.

CURRENT SITE ISSUES: CORPORATOCRACY

The neighbourhood lacks mix-uses which cause the increased reliance on the city centre and increased car usage to drive to surrounding areas with mix-uses. Walkability is reduced due to this and car-usage is optomised further compromising walkability.

SITE

Commercial/ retail units (majority corporate retail chains)

The building use analysis shows that the area lacks commercial/ retail units and those that do exist are corporate retail chains.

CAR DEPENDENCY

COPY+PASTE STREETS

INDISTINGUISHABLE HOMES

INCREASED MASS CORPORATION CONSUMERISM

PAINTWORKS SAY NO TO CONSUMERISM

City centre reliance puts density pressure on the city centre and leaves no chance for smaller businesses meaning only huge corportations occupy spaces

Jacobs, J. (1961) The death and life of great american cities. New York: Random House.

SOLUTION: RETURNING BACK TO ARTISANARY

The proposed high-street supports anti-capitalism by providing facilities that encourage on-site products and lend themselves towards experiential or up-cyling purposes. The ‘higstreet’ development model improves locality in suburban areas that are heavily reliant on the City Centre or large commercial stores for commerse which causes motor vehicle dependency.

Internal 3D Block C Woodworkshop Organised

Internal 3D Block A Food Market

Block A Food market to encourage local sourced / grown food and community stalls to enable equal ‘playing ground’ for small businesses U.N SUSTAINABILITY GOALS

Urban Vitality:A focus on walkability and community interaction through pedestrian activity and liveability .

RESILIENCE

Resilience in the locality of neighbourhoods encourages networks and cycles of production within the local area by closing chains of import to keep supply as locally as possible, but also in as many and as diversified ways as possible. ‘ To produce what we consume and consume what we produce’ (R-Urban 2008) Resilience in urban planning is the idea of linking the past the present and the future through adaptation and transformative urban design. (Aboukorin et al. 2021) Resilience is a dynamic concept with no stable definition but aims to induce flexibility that harbours for vast potentials. Although resilience embodies some elements of sustainability which focus’ maintaining an environmental balance, resilience aims for this through re-thinking assumptions of constructions and developing new building systems.

MASSING DESIGN PROCESS

create a mix-use neighbourhood paintwork currently lacks members to aid to there sustainable consumerism and unsustaina of mass production and con

Types

Types of spaces realised

to

of spaces realised to achieve goals

Street

_ UP Street

1. Minimum 2 stories and 5000m2

2. Create passage public walkway joining Bath road to Printworks street

3. Create a cross-road pedestrian path to increase connectivity

4. Create main entry point with single story to allow views from to sloped site

5. Allocate FRONT and BACK of house to distinguish interactive facades and service routes/ areas

6. Defining levels - here shows the route for same level access (shown in section B too) Section A

A

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A RESIDENT OF UP-STREET

Urban vitality encourages locality which is the theory of a flourishing self-sufficient local economy with opportunities for small businesses and support communal practices (Rossi et a., 1984). Design and planning studies often associate urban vitality with pedestrian activity and liveability. It is understood that certain configurational and spatial dynamics are correlated with increased walkability and pedestrian activity in urban areas; built environment attributes such as mixed- uses, fine-grained urban blocks, connected streets, and enhanced building/street interfaces (Jacobs et al., 1961) can increase walkability and enhance pedestrian activity.

Man and child walk to their local highstreet ‘UPstreet’ They visit the food market for a locally grown snack and catch up with their neighbour who owns the stall.

They meet with a friend, Dad waves to his daughter from the window of the dance studio where she is at a class.

He takes his table from the community storage unit to take to be up-cycled at the community wood workshop.

He watches the workshop in action from the atrium. He takes his daughter to the roof allotment to check on their strawberries.

Block A+B

A.Food Market + B. Light Industry Units

1.Plant Rooms

2.Fire Staircases

3.Food Market outside + covered

4.Storage / Ancillary

5.Kitchenette/ BOH for Marketeers

Block C + D

D. Entance hall

D+C. Heavy Industry Units

1. Fire Staircases

2. Plant Rooms

MIXED USE FUNCTIONS

(Jacobs, 1961) refers to mixeduse functions to enhance urban vitality by bringing more people to city streets. For example, a mixture of uses including primary uses such as residential dwellings, offices, and other amenities for retail, manufacturing, education, and employment accommodations but also secondary functions to provide a wider range of amenities for example restaurants, cafes, or entertainment places that also generate pedestrian activity but at different times of the day and produce revenue not only from nearby residents but also from visitors from other areas of the city. The combination of mixed-uses creates a wide diversity and brings more masses of people to the neighbourhood with is critical for a rich social realm that is associated with urban vitality. The primary function of residential dwellings is key to encourage walkability as residents can access the other primary and secondary uses by foot from their home and not rely on their car.

2. Site Section

2.

2. Site Section

1. North Elevation Paintworks Road

2.

1. North Elevation Paintworks Road

2.

Block A + B 1st Floor

A. Roof B. Roof Allotment and food prep kitchen/ storage

1 Fire Staircase

2 Plant Rooms

3 Fridge/ Freezer store

4 Workshop/ Ancillary

5 Prep Kitchen

6 Roof Allotment

7 Green Houses

8 Air Source Heat Pumps

Block

C + D 1st Floor

C. Roof terrace and D. workshops/ storage

1 Fire Staircase

2

A Roof + B Roof Allotment and food prep kitchen / storage

1 Fire Staircase

2 Plant Rooms

3 Fridge / Freezer store

4 Workshop / Ancillary

5 Prep Kitchen

6 Roof Alottment

7 Green Houses

8 Air Source Heat Pumps

2 Plant Rooms

Design Proposal_ UP Street

3 Workshop/ Ancillary

4 Roof Terrace

5 Kitchenette

6 Storage / Ancillary

7 Air Source Heat Pumps

8 Bridge Link

C Roof terrace and D workshops / storage

1 Fire Staircase

2 Plant Rooms

3 Workshop / Ancillary

4 Roof Terrace

5 Kitchenette

6 Storage / Ancillary

7 Roof space for unique unit services

8 Air source Heat Pumps

9 Bridge Link

STRUCTURAL STRATEGY

Block C. Primary Structure Axo

1. Secondary structure using CLT roof deck and roof and wall build up to cladding

2. Primary Structure - CLT load-bearing frame with subsidary glulam beams

9.

A. 1:5 Glulam Pitched roof

1. Pitched roof with vertical timber cladding

2. CLT 260mm structural panel

3. Timber support for pitching

4. DPM

5. stainless steel supprt with holes for draining

6. Vapour Control Layer

8. Dowel connection visible screws for CLT joint

9. 70mm titanium zinc hidden drainage gutter

10. Timber support for drainage

11. Timber cladding support

Design Proposal

B. Typical CLT pre-fabricated staircase elements Evans, J. Arbor.tect,

C. CLT Prefab Staircase

The staircases made from CLT are supported directly onto the CLT shear walls which form the staircore. The steps connect into sockets which are pre fitted to the supporting shear walls.

Design Proposal UP Street

B. Typical CLT pre-fabricated staircase elements

2

DRAGOCOLLABVILLA

Co-working space that optimises relationship with natural environment in it’s untangiable and tangiable qualities. The villa provides public information desk/ toilets for nature reserve/ park and navigates the relationship between public and private carefully; the massing focus’ on prevention passive overlooking whilst maintaining a healthy relationship with the sun.

PRIVATE

PUBLIC

GF PRIVATE SUITES + COURTYARD

The ground floor units are positioned in a way that they all have their own completely private terrace with no chance of passive overlooking.The positioning also means that no unit looks into another but all have a view of the ocean. The sun does not directly go into any of the bedrooms of units by either positioning or an over hang meaning the need for mechanical heating is reduced.

A. SHADED EXTERNAL STUDY

B. CIRCULATION

C+D. PRIVATE SUITES WITH TERRACES

E. SOCIAL ZONE + POOL

SEMIPRIVATE PRIVATE INTIMATE+PRIVATE

Private Suite

B.

C.

D.

A.

E.

1ST FLOOR PUBLIC ENTRANCE/ EXPLORATION

1ST Floor plan navigates the relationship between public and private access for the conflicting interests of residents and public visitors of the park. The Bridge has a role that is three-fold; firstly to mark the cut off point for public entry and to allow the view out to the ocean to be framed whilst blocking any passive pverlooking into private terraces and shared courtyard. Thirdly it creates a large overhang of shaded spaces beneath which the large outdoor plant elements are. to avoid anything on the roof. Under the shade of the bridge is a ‘coolspot’ where the sun at any point does not touch making a perfect outdoor working space.

1. PRIVATE STUDY

2. MEETING ROOMS

3. SHARED STUDY

4. ROOF TERRACE

5. WC

6. PRIVATE STUDY

7. SHARED KITCHEN

8. SOCIAL ZONE

A. ENTRANCE WITH PUBLIC TOILETS FACILITIES FOR DRAGO PARK

B. SEMI-PRIVATE STUDY SPACES

A.

B.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

A.

DESIGN DECISIONS

Basic massing: Privacy +passive overlooking

Semi- Private access around GF No openings towards Public access point

Narrow massing for passive ventilation Overhangs for shading - passive cooling

Overhangs and water features shown in sun facing facades and external areas

Shaded terrace areas

2 Y-COMMUNITY (WINNER OF HOUSE IO MODULAR HOUSING COMPETITION)

USING A CLUSTER OF UNITS TO FORM TWO COURTYARDS AND A STREET THE COURTYARDS BECOME CENTRAL SPACES FPR THE COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND THE STREET RESULTS IN “COMING&GOING” AND PASSIVE OVERLOOKING FOR SAFETY AND INTERCONNECTION. SHARED AMENITIES SPACED OUT ACROSS THE SITE ENCOURAGE MOVEMENT AND INTERACTION. THE SITE ITSELF RESPONDS WELL TO THE NEEDS OF YOUNG STUDENTS IN TERMS OF ITS UPCOMING CONTEXT AND GOOD TRANSPORTATION LINKS.

ARt + NaTURE + CaBIN

Collage illustrating exterior perspective

Illustrates the elements of site.

Y community combines nature, creativity and inclusion. The community addresses isolation by creating a community that has a support network and sense of belonging. The modular houses are designed balance the general needs, sustainable aspirations and nature. The composition of the site utilises the natural enclosure of trees. Using a cluster of units to form two courtyards and a street, the courtyards central spaces for the community to come together and the street causes “coming & going” and passive overlooking for safety and interconnection. Shared amenities spaced out across the site encourage movement and interaction. The site itself responds well to the needs of young students in terms of its upcoming context and good transportation links.

Illustrates the needs of our persona

Co-Housing development which achives aspirations of sustainability and affordability, whilst connecting to the identity and historic environment of the existing environment. The project aims to address current social mobility and alienation issues that exist currently. By offering collective ownership.

SITESITESECTIONS

3 NIEHOFF MEMORIALFemale Memorial Reform

NIEHOFF MEMORIAL FEMALE MEMORIAL REFORM 5

The concept of this memorial is based on confronting people with the truth and reality of the sex industry. Historically sex work has been dismissed and ignorantly ignored causing exploitation, violence and drug abuse. The monument does the opposite, it does not hide anything but rather reveal and expose reality through reflection. The reflective material of the monument causes people to be confronted by their own reflection creating conciousness of their behaviour and encourage them to treat everyone with respect and understanding.

OUR CONCEPT IS BASED ON CONFRONTING PEOPLE WITH THE TRUTH AND THE REALITY ABOUT THE SEX INDUSTRY IN ORDER TO DIMINISH ANY TABOO. HISTORICALLY SEX WORK HAS BEEN DISMISSED AND IGNORANTLY IGNORED CAUSING EXPLOITATION, VIOLENCE AND DRUG ABUSE. HISTORICALLY WALLS WERE BUILT IN THIS AREA TO CREATE A BARRIER BETWEEN ‘RIGHT AND WRONG’. THE MONUMENT DOES THE OPPOSITE, IT DOES NOT HIDE ANTYHING BUT RATHER REVEAL AND EXPOSE THE REALITY. THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL OF THE MONUMENT CAUSES PEOPLE TO BE CONFRONTED BY THEIR OWN REFLECTION CREATING A CONCIOUSNESS OF THEIR BEHAVIOUR AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO TREAT EVERYONE WITH RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING.

NIEHOFF MEMORIAL FEMALE MEMORIAL REFORM 5

DOMENICA ANITA NIEHOFF

OUR CONCEPT IS BASED ON CONFRONTING PEOPLE WITH THE TRUTH AND THE REALITY ABOUT THE SEX INDUSTRY IN ORDER TO DIMINISH ANY TABOO. HISTORICALLY SEX WORK HAS BEEN DISMISSED AND IGNORANTLY IGNORED CAUSING EXPLOITATION, VIOLENCE AND DRUG ABUSE. HISTORICALLY WALLS WERE BUILT IN THIS AREA TO CREATE A BARRIER BETWEEN ‘RIGHT AND WRONG’. THE MONUMENT DOES THE OPPOSITE, IT DOES NOT HIDE ANTYHING BUT RATHER REVEAL AND EXPOSE THE REALITY. THE REFLECTIVE MATERIAL OF THE MONUMENT CAUSES PEOPLE TO BE CONFRONTED BY THEIR OWN REFLECTION CREATING A CONCIOUSNESS OF THEIR BEHAVIOUR AND ENCOURAGE THEM TO TREAT EVERYONE WITH RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING.

Domenica Anita Niehoff was a activist for sex workers in the sex industry in which she worked herself. She campaigned for the legalisation of the profession to achieve more regulation and rights for sex workers. In 1991 she co-founded the Ragazza Association which was dedicated in helpng young and vulnerable sex workers with addicitons and health conditions. Domenica had a hands on approach working on the streets to help ndividuals rebuild their lives and have more certainty abou the fu ure.

Overall her aim was to achieve legislation and recognition to alshe broke the taboo around the topic of “prostituition” for those

Domenica Anita Niehoff was a activist for sex workers in the sex industry in which she worked herself. She campaigned for the legalisation of the profession to achieve more regulation and ights for sex workers. In 1991 she co-founded the Ragazza Association which was dedicated in helping young and vulnerable sex workers with addicitons and health conditions. Domenica had a hands on approach working on the streets to help individuals rebuild their lives and have more certainty about the fu ure.

den where only female personlities of more “honorable” careers from Hamburg have earned a place She also wrote four books; She was also a writer, as she is the author of four books, Domenica und die Herbertstrasse, Domenicas Kopfkissenbuch, Körpermit Seele: mein Leben, Domenica: ‘’Ich war nicht schön, ich war schlimmer”.

Ove all her aim was to achieve legislation and recognition to alshe broke the taboo around the topic of “prostituition” for thoseden where only female personlities of more “honorable” careers from Hamburg have earned a place. She also wrote four books; She was also a writer, as she is the author of four books, Domenica und die Herbertstrasse, Domenicas Kopfk ssenbuch, Körpermit Seele: mein Leben, Domenica: ‘’Ich war nicht schön, ich war schlimmer”.

DOMENICA ANITA NIEHOFF WAS AN ACTIVIST FOR SEX WORKERS. SHE CAMPAIGNED FOR THE LEGISLATION OF THE PROFESSION TO ACHIEVE MORE REGULATION AND RIGHTS FOR SEX WORKERS. IN 1991 SHE COFOUNDED THE RAGAZZA ASSOCIATION WHICH WAS DEDICATED IN HELPING YOUNG AND VULNERABLE SEX WORKERS WITH ADDICTIONS AND HEALTH CONDITIONS.

Domenica Anita Niehoff was an activist for sex workers, she campaigned for legislation of the profession to achieve more regulation and rights for sex workers in 1991 she confounded The Ragazza Association which was dedicated to helping young and vulnerable sex workers with addictions and health conditions.

DOMENICA ANITA NIEHOFF WAS AN ACTIVIST FOR SEX WORKERS. SHE CAMPAIGNED FOR THE LEGISLATION OF THE PROFESSION TO ACHIEVE MORE REGULATION AND RIGHTS FOR SEX WORKERS. IN 1991 SHE COFOUNDED THE RAGAZZA ASSOCIATION WHICH WAS DEDICATED IN HELPING YOUNG AND VULNERABLE SEX WORKERS WITH ADDICTIONS AND HEALTH CONDITIONS.

DOMENICA ANITA NIEHOFF

2 Urban Planning Extracts

This project focuses on the use of the LEED Neighbourhood Development rating system to evaluate an existing mixed-use neighbourhood and an industrial site for our project proposal. Through meticulous analysis and representation, we employed QGIS to delve into the intricacies of these locations. Using LEED ND criteria, we identified opportunities for improvement and crafted innovative strategies to enhance the overall livability and sustainability of the area.

ANKE JELSMA

ZOE RESTRICK MARÍA PONCE GARRIDO

4 Residential: BUNGALOW

In this project I was fortunate to be able to undertake the desing of the bungalow proposed in the large garden of an existing property. I produced drawings for the client to iterate the design and then submit for planning.

4 Commercial: RESTAURANT

This project was a renovation of an existing property, from a car workshop into a restaurant. I helped liase with the client for their desired interior design and curate floorplans legible for contractors. The internal elevations helped for visualisation of the final output.

5 RADS Synopsis’

Collage is a process of overlapping different pieces and creating a fragmented aesthetic of various parts making up the whole. The superimposition of collage draws attention to the way that multiple histories impact one another; the idea that “no human gesture can be wholly free of symbolic content “ (Pulkit Mogha 2016) is highlighted in collage through iconography and symbolism. Collage conveys concepts through connotation: each element carries traces of ideologies, references and history. The iconographic features of collage allow it to spark a thought process that is ongoing and archival since it carries residues of previous preconceptions. “collage provides a methodological frame for exploring the fragmented nature of memory and history” (Greer 2016) in this way collage can be a visual dialectical tool for architectural design to explore multiple complex theories in flux, a tool to navigate through the control and chaos that emerges in the creative process.

Archive is a place to store something, a collection of that cumulatively creates a representation of someFor example, a library/ museum or search engine. An Archive provides a resource of objects, facts, data, reports, photographs, artwork and film. Language is used help categorise and classify Archives, we use language to label and differentiate things. For example, we use letters and numbers code library books. The library is the archive, the book is physical object, and the code classifies the object into a category. way in which you categorise objects within an archive the way in which the object is perceived or understood someone else. A pragmatic approach to Archives allows to be practically used for research purposes. Classificaand proper documentation of an archive gives it stability. Institutional Archives – “A repository that holds records created or received by its parent institution” (Dictionary of Archives Terminology, 2020). Institutional archives focus on traditional forms such as historical architecture and official documents. Institutional Archives have an infrastructure of classification and documentation which gives their archives stability and are recognised globally as reliable sources of information.

erality of symbolic representation.

An Archive is a place to store something, a collection of things that cumulatively creates a representation of something. For example, a library/ museum or search engine. An Archive provides a resource of objects, facts, data, reports, photographs, artwork and film. Language is used help categorise and classify Archives, we use language to label and differentiate things. For example, we use letters and numbers to code library books. The library is the archive, the book is the physical object, and the code classifies the object into a category.

a method of thinking to help develop spatial iterations to which their outcome usually leads to finalised projections (plans, elevations, sections and schematic drawings) Diagrams explore more than just the layout of physical space as their function enables for thought; symbols may represent intangible factors such as movement, access, view and function. By using geometric elements, a diagram can abstractly represent characteristics of human perception and behaviour by making a visual and spatial enquiry into the spatial form and habits of inhabitants. The understanding of inhabitants is used to develop building design through diagrams, for example, its symbols may represent concepts such as privacy, movement, thresholds, public and private spaces.

Planning and organising the arrangement of spaces to accommodate functional needs is a crucial skill but an architect but architecture is also conceptual organisation using a “diagram as an agent of analysis, serves to make sense of the physical environment by revealing or proposing its underlying conceptual organization.” (Wacht 2016).

aps using conventional techniques to represent tangible qualities of a piece of land such as size, shape, locational features and distances between places, limiting the function of the map to be understand an individual’s location or how to get from A to B. However, cartography has a creative potential as a medium; the diagrammatic nature of mapping allows for exploration and representation of tangible and intangible qualities.

However, the archives they create are influenced by their own agenda, focus and perspective, leaving many “reliable resources” subject to bias. In using this standardised approach set out by institutions, Urban Archives have been able to create an Archive that’s looks to include a wider scope of diverse and unconventional forms that offer a different insight and are usually overlooked by Institutional archives.

function begin to rise to the surface, highlighting the ephem-

original iconic intention, questions of symbolic purpose or

if established artistic forms are used in new ways that betray

formal vocabularies through the use of precedent. However,

recognised in artistic practise and encouraged by recognising

In collage city Karl Popper discusses this theory of continuity “we cannot start afresh; that we must make use of what people have done before us” (Rowe and Koetter 1978) he presents the idea of using understanding gained by those who have gone before us in order to make progress. This idea is recognised in artistic practise and encouraged by recognising formal vocabularies through the use of precedent. However, if established artistic forms are used in new ways that betray original iconic intention, questions of symbolic purpose or function begin to rise to the surface, highlighting the ephemerality of symbolic representation.

have gone before us in order to make progress. This idea is

presents the idea of using understanding gained by those who

people have done before us” (Rowe and Koetter 1978) he

The way in which you categorise objects within an archive effects the way in which the object is perceived or understood by someone else. A pragmatic approach to Archives allows them to be practically used for research purposes. Classification and proper documentation of an archive gives it stability. Institutional Archives – “A repository that holds records created or received by its parent institution” (Dictionary of Archives Terminology, 2020). Institutional archives focus on traditional forms such as historical architecture and official documents. Institutional Archives have an infrastructure of classification and documentation which gives their archives stability and are recognised globally as reliable sources of information.

ity “we cannot start afresh; that we must make use of what

In collage city Karl Popper discusses this theory of continu-

in the creative process.

a tool to navigate through the control and chaos that emerges

tectural design to explore multiple complex theories in flux,

in this way collage can be a visual dialectical tool for archi-

the fragmented nature of memory and history” (Greer 2016)

tions. “collage provides a methodological frame for exploring

and archival since it carries residues of previous preconcep-

of collage allow it to spark a thought process that is ongoing

Traditional Maps using conventional techniques to represent

ideologies, references and history. The iconographic features

concepts through connotation: each element carries traces of

through iconography and symbolism. Collage conveys

ic content “ (Pulkit Mogha 2016) is highlighted in collage

idea that “no human gesture can be wholly free of symbol-

to the way that multiple histories impact one another; the

the whole. The superimposition of collage draws attention

creating a fragmented aesthetic of various parts making up

tangible qualities of a piece of land such as size, shape, locational features and distances between places, limiting the function of the map to be understand an individual’s location or how to get from A to B. However, cartography has a creative potential as a medium; the diagrammatic nature of mapping allows for exploration and representation of tangible and intangible qualities.

C ollage is a process of overlapping different pieces and

However, the archives they create are influenced by their own agenda, focus and perspective, leaving many “reliable resources” subject to bias. In using this standardised approach set out by institutions, Urban Archives have been able to create an Archive that’s looks to include a wider scope of diverse and unconventional forms that offer a different insight and are usually overlooked by Institutional archives.

In Rebecca Solnits ted talk she talks about the lacking variety of ubiquitous maps in today’s society that only show conventional mainstream consensus of where we are. Google maps for example only showing roads, restaurants and shops creates a landscape of driving and consuming and doesn’t show the world in any subversive or exciting ways. Rebecca describes google maps supposedly highly personalised approach to “fit us like a strait jacket” (Creative Time 2013) as it uses data gathered by social media, Gmail and frequent Google searches to alter to the map accordingly. Google maps uses the conventional qualities as a mask to cover up a more capitalist, consumerist agenda. Places in which are yet to be encountered or have not been shown any interest will be harder to find so the idea of exploring and finding a unique place becomes very difficult. However, alternative stories of cities are being told through the wide potential of Cartography; it is a product of its time, which is interesting in modern life when times change rapidly and many changes are not physical ones but more vague developments in how we operate, think and communicate. Political, cultural and economic reflections are developed dynamically through cartography for example Justine Smith “Time Is Money” Map reflects time zones collaged together out of international banknotes which highlights the economy as an integral aspect of global life.

In ‘Urban Archive: Public memories of everyday’ (Aiello, G., Dobrowolsky, T.& Gendleman, I, 2010) the author highlights a problem with pragmatic categorisation of archives. He sees in his experience with art galleries he notes that Archives can be held back by the practical differentiation between the content, the content of the collection follows the same precedent and pattern causing it to become uniform and inert. He talks about how we can learn “almost accidentally from the adjacency of disparate things” informally assembling material from different types, different centuries and places into narratives that are new and unfamiliar. – incite more and more varied use of them as cultural documents.

In Rebecca Solnits ted talk she talks about the lacking variety of ubiquitous maps in today’s society that only show conventional mainstream consensus of where we are. Google maps for example only showing roads, restaurants and shops creates a landscape of driving and consuming and doesn’t show the world in any subversive or exciting ways. Rebecca describes google maps supposedly highly personalised approach to “fit us like a strait jacket” (Creative Time 2013) as it uses data gathered by social media, Gmail and frequent Google searches to alter to the map accordingly. Google maps uses the conventional qualities as a mask to cover up a more capitalist, consumerist agenda. Places in which are yet to be encountered or have not been shown any interest will be harder to find so the idea of exploring and finding a unique place becomes very difficult. However, alternative stories of cities are being told through the wide potential of Cartography; it is a product of its time, which is interesting in modern life when times change rapidly and many changes are not physical ones but more vague developments in how we operate, think and communicate. Political, cultural and economic reflections are developed dynamically through cartography for example Justine Smith “Time Is Money” Map reflects time zones collaged together out of international banknotes which highlights the economy as an integral aspect of global life.

(Smith 2013)

In ‘Urban Archive: Public memories of everyday’ (Aiello, G., Dobrowolsky, T.& Gendleman, I, 2010) the author highlights a problem with pragmatic categorisation of archives. He sees in his experience with art galleries he notes that Archives can be held back by the practical differentiation between the content, the content of the collection follows the same precedent and pattern causing it to become uniform and inert. He talks about how we can learn “almost accidentally from the adjacency of disparate things” informally assembling material from different types, different centuries and places into narratives that are new and unfamiliar. – incite more and more varied use of them as cultural documents.

(Dykhuis 2005)

Dykhuis superimposes a map of Halifax using envelopes; all envelopes were addressed to the artists home or work, which reveals a complex network of relationships fusing personal, professional, economic and social layers of interaction. The graphic format also questions how knowledge, information and lived experience can be explored though a cartographic format.

(Frederick 2000)

A Diagram is a simplified drawing which expresses an idea or concept. Diagrams use topology of shape, size, position and direction to explore an idea in an easy visual form.

In Architecture, Diagrams are used in the design process as a method of thinking to help develop spatial iterations to which their outcome usually leads to finalised projections (plans, elevations, sections and schematic drawings) Diagrams explore more than just the layout of physical space as their function enables for thought; symbols may represent intangible factors such as movement, access, view and function. By using geometric elements, a diagram can abstractly represent characteristics of human perception and behaviour by making a visual and spatial enquiry into the spatial form and habits of inhabitants. The understanding of inhabitants is used to develop building design through diagrams, for example, its symbols may represent concepts such as privacy, movement, thresholds, public and private spaces.

(Dykhuis 2005)

Dykhuis superimposes a map of Halifax using envelopes; all envelopes were addressed to the artists home or work, which reveals a complex network of relationships fusing personal, professional, economic and social layers of interaction. The graphic format also questions how knowledge, information and lived experience can be explored though a cartographic format.

Planning and organising the arrangement of spaces to accommodate functional needs is a crucial skill but an architect but architecture is also conceptual organisation using a “diagram as an agent of analysis, serves to make sense of the physical environment by revealing or proposing its underlying conceptual organization.” (Wacht 2016).

As well as methods of thinking, diagrams can also be used for graphic design, as a method of presentation. “Isolation is the process of abstraction by which the diagram is used to focus attention on one of many phenomena.”

(Downing and Hubka 1986)

This idea of phenomena is interesting; in a more advanced way, diagrammatic representations can use shared associations and preconceptions to further reduce a form. For example,

Abstract: The Illustration.

Downing, Frederick, London, England: Perspectives ty of Tennesse: Wacht, M. ods for architectural arch.com/diagramming-the-big-idea/ (Neimann 2017)

By using reduction to simplify something you can magnify and emphasise information in the reductive process. So, by taking advantage of features of something that people know and understand (things that are universally or even locally recognisable) you can reduce something further. This creates another layer of perception in a diagram; readers will read a diagram based on their own understanding of life, with this in mind you have to find a way you have to make readers aware of your biases and influences by communicating them in other way. One visual representation of something may only make sense with another one next to it like how in architectural drawings the section doesn’t make sense without the plan.

5 Dissertation Extract

Barriers in the provision of Affordable Housing in the UK: An Analysis of the Role of the Architect in Producing Affordable Housing with Architectural Merit

Furthermore, the trend of reduced direct public provision and reliance on the land and property market has now persisted for nearly 40 years. The top ten house builders have seen a rise in profit fuelled by government subsidy through Help to Buy, loans and grants from Homes England, (Mcmullen et al., 2021) and by planning deregulation that that facilitated housebuilders to dodge the bullet of building affordable housing by just paying more tax. Overseas cash investors reap the benefits of investment in the UK with zero capital gains tax liability on their profits (Colenutt, 2020).

The characteristics of well-designed places include having a complementary mix of uses and activities, being fit for purpose, accommodating uses well, encouraging easy movement, including successful public space, being able to adapt to changing needs and circumstances, being efficient in how land and other resources are used, having an appearance that is appealing and appreciated, having a distinctive, positive identity and sense of place. (TfL, TfL and UDL. 2019).

2. The brick tenements at Peabody Avenue, Pimlico, 1885: a courtyard model repeated throughout London (Levitt, and McCafferty, 2018)

The UK private housing market continues to fail to meet the chronic crisis of supply and has low interest in offering any new ideas or design solutions, “we cannot expect one type of body to absorb the responsibility of delivering affordable housing. The future success of social housing requires multiple agencies and a diversity of suppliers acting in tandem” (Karakusevic and Batchelor, 2019. p.5). The state and local boroughs have proven to be crucial in maintaining supply of affordable housing, but their supply is low as they are under-resourced and in thrall to the private market.

‘Firmness, Commodity and Delight’ as essential components of a well-designed building. (Charles, E. 1993)

New housing is now generated by speculation, a short-term transactional process where notions of place, longevity and community are often side-lined in favour of a quick return on capital (Levitt, and McCafferty, 2018). The market produces houses that are designed by accountants not architects, instead of new housing that people want we have soulless monoculture (Bacon, 2018). According to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), we are constructing “the smallest homes in western Europe (Fig 5.04) and over 50% of the new homes being built today are too small for families.” Recent developments have no consideration of local character or vernacular – using standard house types, and street layouts that establish a placeless ‘Anywhere-Ville’ (Henderson, 2017). modernist experiments in model living. Local authorities were able to supply desirable, sophisticated houses and integrated accommodation for diverse income groups and enhance local economies, not just the most basic dwellings for people in poverty (Karakusevic

1. Cut out and Paste Developments (Spencer, 2020)

Sense of place as Claire Bennie expresses as ‘stability’ is a place that provides social continuity, where a community persists through many generations. Bennie probes “Designers may wonder how they can have an impact on this stability, when it is surely landlord or planning policies such as tenure mix and tenancy clauses that enable deep roots to form.” (Levitt and McCafferty, 2018, pg. 7) However, she explains that a diverse and well-disposed mix of unit typologies can enable residents to move on within their community. Diverse housing typologies appeal to multi-generational occupants and effective street structure and urban layout with compelling shared spaces creates places to build community ties. The designer’s role is to cleverly integrate residents into a coherent micro-society where households’ cycle through homes.

During 1945-1980s when social and more affordable housing flourished; architects put into practice many utopian ideas and modernist experiments in model living. Local authorities were able to supply desirable, sophisticated houses and integrated accommodation for diverse income groups and enhance local economies, not just the most basic dwellings for people in poverty (Karakusevic and Batchelor, 2019). Since the shift in the housing provision, financial goals have replaced utopian ideas and most of the new homes built now are seemingly in defiance but unquestionably in ignorance of what constitutes decent housing. (Karakusevic Carson Architects, 2021)

Byker wall 6th

Byker

In terms of social continuity, the development of social interaction, is necessary to form interaction areas. The most important social interaction areas at the neighbourhood level in housing gardens and outdoor spaces (Gel, A. G. and ŞatıroŞlu, E. 2018) Recreational shared spaces for recreation are more likely to be busy and to feel safe when they are at the front of properties and incorporate points where pedestrians coming from different directions cross paths this creates passive overlooking from houses and pedestrians also increasing opportunity for interaction. Public spaces work well when designed more multifunctionally, not rigidly allocating different spaces to different uses as this might not allow residents to use and adapt spaces as their own. In a ‘multifunctional public space’ setting, walkable neighbourhoods, provision of arts and cultural facilities, and local jobs and amenities all designed to work together, can facilitate healthy and sociable lives or ‘sense of place’ (Henderson, 2017).

Successful structure and street layout that do not rely on a single distributor road, cul-de-sacs or dead-ends –are hard to understand make it difficult to move around a neighbourhood in anyway other than by car. “Dead ends are just that: dead. Having many dead ends in a residential area can stifle community cohesion by making it less likely that people will walk, cycle, meet people and feel part of their neighbourhood” (TfL, TfL and UDL. 2019 chapter 9). Leftover space can create inefficient, unused and unloved areas that struggle to fit together around junctions or be properly faced by homes. Theory of ‘front-to-front and back-to-back’ reinforce the use of space, keeping the noise and activity to the front, and the peace and privacy to the back. A public street between the fronts of homes can be the focus for comings and goings and encourage interaction. Streets are more than just for access, they provide outlook for people’s homes, they are the places where most interactions happen; to sit in them, to chat to neighbours or even to learn to ride a bike. Their design should provide space for all activities, not just movement.

Additionally parking some designs parking spaces of number of parking realistic travel can cause what over where cars and parking capacity looks like a big valued and successful ticated way.” (TfL,

Overall, the main a sense of place ing areas for munity cohesion. which is a pillar principles such building also building prevents the community.

green spaces ment for long

5. Example

3.

floor plan showing diverse mix of unit typologies (Levitt, and McCafferty, 2018)

4.

wall 1 bed and 2 bed units (Levitt, and McCafferty, 2018)

Chapter 2: What is affordable housing?

Chapter 2: What is affordable housing?

This chapter seek to define affordable housing in the UK, to understand how to define “affordability. Moving forward the chapter aims to understand how affordable housing is achieved and how it can be achieved.

This chapter seek to define affordable housing in the UK, to understand how to define “affordability. Moving forward the chapter aims to understand how affordable housing is achieved and how it can be achieved.

Historically, construction of most new social and affordable housing was subsidised with government grant, many local authorities boasted their own architecture departments and construction teams. Since 2011 the amount of grant available has been reduced, and what remained was redirected to ‘affordable rent’ and home ownership products rather than social housing. “In England, there have traditionally been three officially recognised tenures: owner occupation, private renting and social renting. Social housing was owned by local authorities or housing associations and rented at (usually) below market prices to (usually) low-income households. Until recently, affordable housing was simply a catch all term for any low-cost accommodation, whether public or private.” (Tsenkova, 2022 p.177)

Historically, construction of most new social and affordable housing was subsidised with government grant, many local authorities boasted their own architecture departments and construction teams. Since 2011 the amount of grant available has been reduced, and what remained was redirected to ‘affordable rent’ and home ownership products rather than social housing. “In England, there have traditionally been three officially recognised tenures: owner occupation, private renting and social renting. Social housing was owned by local authorities or housing associations and rented at (usually) below market prices to (usually) low-income households. Until recently, affordable housing was simply a catch all term for any low-cost accommodation, whether public or private.” (Tsenkova, 2022 p.177)

Current national planning guidance suggests that at least 10% of homes on major developments should be ‘affordable home ownership’. (Tsenkova, S. 2022) As defined in planning regulations and guidance, “‘affordable’ housing now spans a range from traditional social housing at very low rents (less than 50% of market in some areas) to homes renting for up to 80% of local market rates.” (Tsenkova, 2022 p.177) Therefore, the use of the word ‘affordable’ doesn’t relate the cost to a household’s ability to pay, but instead affordable rents are benchmarked to market rents rather than to tenant income. (Tsenkova, 2022)

Current national planning guidance suggests that at least 10% of homes on major developments should be ‘affordable home ownership’. (Tsenkova, S. 2022) As defined in planning regulations and guidance, “‘affordable’ housing now spans a range from traditional social housing at very low rents (less than 50% of market in some areas) to homes renting for up to 80% of local market rates.” (Tsenkova, 2022 p.177) Therefore, the use of the word ‘affordable’ doesn’t relate the cost to a household’s ability to pay, but instead affordable rents are benchmarked to market rents rather than to tenant income. (Tsenkova, 2022)

Design: Street Layout and Greenspaces

with the local context and addressing the dead-end routes and poor connectivity of the existing estate. Green spaces are provided at the centre of the scheme; a new garden square which provides a landscape of pedestrian and cycle routes, play spaces, gardens and parks.

Affordability and Funding

Primarily house prices are a combination of cost, cost of materials, labour, land and construction but predominantly market fluctuations. Therefore, it’s not as simple as cutting costs to keep house prices down. In theory if the reason for the lack of affordability is because of the market control and low supply and high deman the the opposite is in reverse, building more to increase supply and reduce demand therefore price. However, this would require upheaving the whole market and deep-entrenched policy and economic change. “It is in the gift of commissioners and designers to ensure that their built output matures gracefully and has enduring popularity. Speculators need to care more about their legacy and landowners need to resist the overwhelming pressure to deliver at lowest cost and highest speed”. (Levitt, and McCafferty, 2018, p.5)

Agar grove was a renovation scheme to update the housing stock that has become expensive to maintain, underused or difficult to access may be sold. Public consultation was a key theme of the design process. It was crucial for the residents to be part of the process; their views were listened to, and they were kept informed on progress and next steps. Public projects can spread costs over longer periods of time so the profit made through the 240 market properties can be used to pay for the project in the long run. (Hawkins Brown, 2023)

Primarily house prices are a combination of cost, cost of materials, labour, land and construction but predominantly market fluctuations. Therefore, it’s not as simple as cutting costs to keep house prices down. In theory if the reason for the lack of affordability is because of the market control and low supply and high deman the the opposite is in reverse, building more to increase supply and reduce demand therefore price. However, this would require upheaving the whole market and deep-entrenched policy and economic change. “It is in the gift of commissioners and designers to ensure that their built output matures gracefully and has enduring popularity. Speculators need to care more about their legacy and landowners need to resist the overwhelming pressure to deliver at lowest cost and highest speed”. (Levitt, and McCafferty, 2018, p.5)

The UK economy is heavily dependent on land and property, and on the housing market and the wider economy remains intimately linked to the value of land and property. (Collins, R) The cost of housing is directly related to the cost of land, historically local authorities owned land assets so they could build housing at affordable prices without the huge cost of land but since Thatcher’s “Right to Buy” scheme local authorities have lost their most of their land assets and housing stock which maintained income to put back into social projects. Since the government became more centralised local authorities have less power and less funding in the provision of affordable/ social housing; “their supply is low, and they are under-resourced and in thrall to the private market.” (Karakusevic and Batchelor, 2019) Fundamentally, the state really is at the heart of the solution to the housing affordability and supply due to its controls of policy, funding, and legislation.

The UK economy is heavily dependent on land and property, and on the housing market and the wider economy remains intimately linked to the value of land and property. (Collins, R) The cost of housing is directly related to the cost of land, historically local authorities owned land assets so they could build housing at affordable prices without the huge cost of land but since Thatcher’s “Right to Buy” scheme local authorities have lost their most of their land assets and housing stock which maintained income to put back into social projects. Since the government became more centralised local authorities have less power and less funding in the provision of affordable/ social housing; “their supply is low, and they are under-resourced and in thrall to the private market.” (Karakusevic and Batchelor, 2019) Fundamentally, the state really is at the heart of the solution to the housing affordability and supply due to its controls of policy, funding, and legislation.

Discussion

Fundamentally the solution to affordable housing really lies in the change of mindset of local authorities and housing associations; they need to be more innovative in making the best use of buildings and land to improve community facilities and housing stock. In post-war years an urgent need for housing encouraged great innovation, and advanced building techniques were embraced. Architects and designers responded to the challenge using providing a record number of dwellings. However, mass production and a focus on speed primarily led to poor workmanship and shoddy construction. Therefore, many existing council properties are of low quality and expensive to maintain they should be sold or redeveloped to generate funds that are not otherwise available to reinvest into improving services and facilities.

Improving the quality of existing homes is difficult process but necessary action for a brighter future, the key methodologies to enhance this process were establish in case studies 1 and 3. One method included a huge focus on community and resident engagement throughout the whole process, this mitigates the risk of disruption from the upheaval of a community in the renovation of housing developments. Nevertheless, as the case studies show when architects work closely with, the state, they can be a positive force. Public consultation was a key theme in all the case studies it was crucial for the residents to be part of the process; they were listened to and kept informed on progress. By understanding the existing housing and responding to residents’ they are able create innovative urban responses and achieve practical redevelopments. Case study 2 demonstrates good practises, particularly how close collaboration with resident groups and communities can create regeneration with real benefits, and minimise the displacement, upheaval, and disruption for existing communities.

12. Agar Grove Aerial phasing diagram of massing (Karakusevic and Batchelor, 2019)