SUSTAINABLE DESIGN ARC2004M
SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE UNIVERSITY OF LINCOLN
SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE UNIVERSITY OF LINCOLN
The first half of this brief was a regeneration of a local park, situated in a built up residential area in the East of Lincoln. This site was used a recreation ground with a fenced off play park, basketball court and a series of paths for dog walkers. At the centre of the site there are the ruins of a Medieval Benedictine Monastery.
The aim of the master plan was to merge the aspects of the site into a cohesive scheme rather than fenced off sections for each activity to encourage all aspects of the local community to engage with the site both in daylight hours and at night.
THE PROPOSED MASTERPLAN
Our proposed masterplan consisted of rearranging the existing site features into zones that functioned in terms of use, views and the visibility of the park at street level.
The sports facilities were moved to the south of the site away from street level to allow a view into the park and to accommodate a play park and café either side of a large central pathway into the rest of the park – directing views to the monastery ruins in the centre.
This freed up a large band of green space to help encourage non zoned activities such as picnics, a ‘kick about’, Frisbee, Rounders - basically a free space for everyone in the community.
The designated sports facilities had the addition of a small sports pavilion to make using the facilities easier.
The positioning of components in the masterplan are all designed to face into the centre of the park towards the ‘feature’ ruins, as the view to the South is a railway track, residential buildings to the East and West and the busy Monks Road to the North.
The positioning of components in the masterplan are all designed to face into the centre of the park towards the ‘feature’ ruins, as the view to the South is a railway track, residential buildings to the East and West and the busy Monks Road to the North.
The individual aspect of this project was to develop a small structure in the context of the masterplan that added value to the site and encouraged community space and use.
My initial proposal below was to free the ruins from the high imposing fencing which encased it by building a small community based pavilion within the ruins themselves to encourage use at the centre of the site and by using landscapingsuch as wide planted borders and lighting to provide enough security to be able to remove the barrier surrounding the ruins.
My initial proposal below was to free the ruins from the high imposing fencing which encased it by building a small community based pavilion within the ruins themselves to encourage use at the centre of the site and by using landscapingsuch as wide planted borders and lighting to provide enough security to be able to remove the barrier surrounding the ruins.
The challenges with building amongst these ruins were providing a functioning and adaptable community space whilst retaining and framing the ruins themselves. I wanted my design to be unobtrusive but still modern and interesting to engage with the whole community.
The hexagon design on the west elevation was to provide texture, depth and layers to the design of a relatively simple space.
The pitched roof is a nod to the roofing typology that surrounds the site, helping the integration of the design into its wider settings.
My use of aluminium cladding at ground level paired with a textured white render worked as both and interesting juxtaposition between the polished metal and the old stone, creating reflections and reacting to the light at different times of the day, but also as a practical solution to the longevity of the building. The aluminium provides a durable barrier at ground level and the textured white render will be easy to maintain and repaint throughout the years.
Providing the community with a sustainable structure and purpose for the site was the main aim of this project. My individual contribution to the sustainability of the site was a communal pavilion for the performing arts.
I wanted to contribute a versatile and simple structure that would allow for a variety of uses ranging from a small meeting hall for local groups throughout the year to an outdoor stage in summer to be used by local schools, local and travelling theatrical companies and artists, or as a setting for a local debate or prize giving.
All these aspects include the local residents but having a dynamic and versatile space for these activities will hopefully remove the barrier residents may feel in a more inclusive setting such as the town hall, formal theatre or gallery.
I wanted to contribute a versatile and simple structure that would allow for a variety of uses ranging from a small meeting hall for local groups throughout the year to an outdoor stage in summer to be used by local schools, local and travelling theatrical companies and artists, or as a setting for a local debate or prize giving.
All these aspects include the local residents but having a dynamic and versatile space for these activities will hopefully remove the barrier residents may feel in a more inclusive setting such as the town hall, formal theatre or gallery.
On the note of versatility I have really pushed my design to fill this important factor and as a result this pavilion is a mobile structure. It runs on a track system powered by a motor allowing the whole space from one end of the ruins to the other to be used and adapted for individual projects and events.
For example a meeting room would remained tucked away in the ruins whereas a debate would call for the structure to be in the centre to allow for a wide capacity of viewers. A theatrical company could choose a central location for a performance in the round, a smaller scale production could be held within the abbey ruins or against the backdrop of the single remaining wall to the West. I hoped this feature will encourage a wide range of uses from a simple pavilion which consists of two rooms - one private the other communal.
For example a meeting room would remained tucked away in the ruins whereas a debate would call for the structure to be in the centre to allow for a wide capacity of viewers. A theatrical company could choose a central location for a performance in the round, a smaller scale production could be held within the abbey ruins or against the backdrop of the single remaining wall to the West. I hoped this feature will encourage a wide range of uses from a simple pavilion which consists of two rooms - one private the other communal.
The other component of my sustainability aspect involved the structure itself being durable, energy efficient and environmentally conscious. Light weight, durable SIP panels make up the majority of the structure. They are heavily insulated and are tailored off site to allow for an easier, less disruptive and less costly construction process. The pitched roof supports solar panels which will help towards the cost of running the building as well as decreasing its environmental impact. Large bi-folding doors allow the space to be versatile as possible and help ventilation throughout the structure.
The outcome of this project was a proposal for a revived park in the centre of a built up and busy residential area. Encouraging a sense of community and an area for all was the driving force behind the masterplan and my individual contribution. Removing the physical and social barriers proved the most important factor in defragmenting this space, as well as helping to restore a historic ruin back into its place at the centre of the community once more.
