The Retireless Grasshoppery
Margate (2080), United Kingdom
The current state of the Cliftonville Lido physically embodies the struggles faced by Britain’s historic coastal towns over the past century. Regenerating the Lido with the ever-changing (and increasingly top-heavy) community placed at the forefront leads to a future-facing alternative programme. The Retireless Grasshoppery suggests a new approach to positive ageing and sustainable food production for Margate in 2080, simultaneously acting to maintain the joyful and curious spirit of the seaside.
Roof Plan context model. Mixed media.
The building nestles into the context of the Margate cliff site. Roof forms and incubation towers break above the groundling creating a new low-level skyline.
North Elevation. 'The Grasshoppera chorus'.
Depicting the Grasshoppery in situ, amongst the derelict Cliftonville Lido. People gather on the promenade to hear the spectacle unfold. Maturing adult grasshoppers chorus their song.
Section AA (Short). 'Summer at the Grasshoppery'.
Short section demonstrating the stratified spaces from the basement farm to upper banquet hall, with the incubator towers breaking through.
Section AA (Short). 'Summer at the Grasshoppery'.
Short section demonstrating the stratified spaces from the basement farm to upper banquet hall, with the incubator towers breaking through.
Series of Plans. 'Promenade Level Plan'.
Section AA (Long). 'Summer at the Grasshoppery'.
Long section placing the Grasshoppery in its social context, on the coastal route between Margate Town Centre and Cliftonville East. The site is exposed to extreme environmental changes, with strong south-westerly prevailing wind diurnal and seasonal tidal changes.
Detail A. 'Incubator 01'.
Incubator 01 is situated at the physical and thematic centre of the farm proposal. It supports the growth of adult grasshoppers through their 5 weeks to maturity, allowing the public to view the farm from above, avoiding any human contamination of the micro-livestock.
C.1 - C.4. Supporting Structural analyses.
C.1 Timber conoid shell roof (Kitchen roof). C.2 Promenade Cross section similitude. C.3 Walkway timber compression ring. C.4 Concrete shell analysis.
Tensile shells for early form finding. Plaster and fabric models.
Referencing the experimental works of Frei Otto, tensile models using knit cotton and woven elastic fabrics are used to develop the upper level roof light forms.
Detail B. 'Upper Roof'.
The Upper Roof is modular precast concrete shell, with each unique shell designed to fit between existing columns whilst maximising daylight autonomy and providing a unique spatial experience.
