Desitecture

Evolo Skyscraper Competiton - 'Airhive'

2012-01-26T16:11:00.000-08:00

Following the success of last years 'Vertical City' we have again entered the Evolo Skyscraper competition with 'Airhive' - Our proposal for the favelas of Rio De Janeiro.

AIRHIVE

ETHOS
Inspired by the construction on steep hillsides as the favelas struggle to find space in Rio De Janeiro, and the stilt leg construction, where it becomes vertiginous, the project is constructed over the existing favela like a hive in the air all except for the core and the legs to to the outer frame. The tower is positioned over a commercial centre, creating less upheaval for the residents but responding to the potential afforded by requirements of the tower itself in terms of support facilities etc.

SITE
The tower sits over existing buildings in a form of air rights development, through a partnership with local inhabitants, its form has been considered to minimize impact and access of amenity to light, air etc.

NIGHT
At night the light cores of the tower have the possibility to radiate light within what it is hoped will be a vibrant local district of perpetual day.

NATURE
Nature is a source of inspiration for the project the hive symbolic of the plight of the common bee that pollinates our world and its place in our eco system. It is hoped that the a series of natural habitats will be created in the aerial park areas of the scheme to support this initiative.

CONSTRUCTION
The programme supports a staged construction with the first third of the towers built and inhabited for the Olympic event and the subsequent stages built as a response to need and commercial speculation a new and interesting partnership with capital.

CHANGE
It seems nothing else could accelerate change in these areas other than a massive masterplan and direct investment. The buildings will therefore contain flats for the Olympians which later get converted into social housing and a 5 star hotel from which the hillside jungle adventures are run and in between high spec apartments, so similar to the Hancock Towers amenities, but in this case bringing in a large amount of social provision. Car parking will be in a new submerged basement 10ms under the existing favelas.

STRUCTURE
The main structure comprises of a concrete honeycomb core linked to a diamond lattice steel construction to which the outer skin is attached.

SKIN /SAIL
The outer skin is a permeable solar sail embedded with photovoltaics, it is attached to the diamond frame similar in form to a shaped mesh set in a frame on dampers attached to the main structural elements.

WATER
The outer skin also serves as water collecting membrane via the louvred elements

ENERGY
Energy is produced as the air movement presses on the flexible skin then the energy is transferred through the dampers on the main framework creating electricity.

VERTICAL WIND FARM
Horizontally positioned wind turbines exist within the sealed twin walled core elements of the buildings circular atriums, these provide local energy needs, lighting small power.

INFRASTRUCTURE
At lower levels of this steeply angled site underground car park and water storage /site drainage, further serve to support the existing substrata with controlled drainage and water management systems , recycled on site

VENTILATION
Through ventilation is provided through ducts between the circular sealed atria and the open voids at the rear of the accommodation.

BRIDGES AND VERTICAL FARMS
The bridges to the rear of the building link into the hills at the back of the site, these it is proposed, will become a nature reserve with recreational, pursuit, enclave and vertical farm supplying food to the local community.

Post WAF 2011

2011-11-30T14:46:00.001-08:00

So we didnt win an award at WAF this year.....however still enjoyed our time being part of such a brilliant event, meeting lots of interesting people and possible collaborators! Here are a few pics.

WAF 2011 is only round the corner!

2011-10-20T16:31:00.000-07:00

The Desitects are very much looking forward to WAF 2011 in Barcelona, less than a few weeks to go!

We have a group of 15 designers going, that includes a small following of Ravensbourne Architecture & IDEA students.

Not give to much away regarding the presentation of our Shortlisted Entry but below is our final vision: Stadi-City

"The notion of the stadium as a suburban icon is re invented as an in continuous use resort in constant use as a destination and port of call for ocean liners. The stadium is designed to make use of suitable off shore sites where land based stadia could not be supported."

Shelter from the Storm

2011-09-07T01:48:00.001-07:00

Many homeless people carry with them their valuables, as they do not have a secure places to keep them. With this design we have provided bags, which are located beneath the mattress, giving the homeless person the option to store the valuables within.

Not only designed for homeless people, this concept has a much wider appeal. For example, a Businessmen could begin to use as a sleeping bed as it’s easy transportable it can be transported to work set up any ware.

The design is a simple X frame structure, that houses 4 bags within each gap within the frame to provide storage for the homeless. However the bags will first come with an air mattress and an inflatable outer skin for the bed, this is optional. Meaning that this design is easy to set up and can be flat packed as well as light weight making it easy to carry away to another destination.

Desitecture Shortlisted For World Architecture Festival 2011

2011-08-19T02:12:00.000-07:00

For the 2nd year in a row we have been shortlisted for WAF in Barcelona. This year we have been shortlisted for the Future Projects, Masterplanning category!

Published in the Summer edition of de/design exchange magazine

2011-08-14T14:31:00.000-07:00

We are currently featured in the summer edition of de/design exchange magazine for our Vertical City concept.

Domus - Project Hercules

2011-08-14T14:23:00.000-07:00

200 ideas, designs and proposals received following Project Heracles, Domus's call for ideas for an imaginary infrastructure connecting Africa and Europe.

Bridge? Tunnel? Cablecar? Dam? Metropolis? Market? Power plant? Museum? Icon? Prison? Park? Airport? Send us a postcard with your ideas for a connection between Africa and Europe across the Strait of Gibraltar.

In response to recent events in North Africa, Domus is calling on architects, designers, artists, urbanists, theorists and readers to reexamine the relationship between two geographically adjacent yet politically and socially distant continents. Can infrastructure be used as a medium to articulate the complexity of the present spatial condition? Should Africa be definitively severed from—or newly reconnected to—Europe?

This was our response that recently featured on Wallpaper's Blog:

http://www.wallpaper.com/gallery/art/postcards-from-the-heracles-project-at-the-gopher-hole-london/17052573/48416

A Living Bridge

The Heracles project is not a bridge it is a living entity spanning the continents a borderless zone. Inspired by African woven material and termite construction but using current steel and lightweight concrete technology.

The application of form driven parametric mimics bone in the construction of the structure of the new terra. Heracles is a kente strip cloth inspired woven form, stiffened to create a three dimensional form supported on floating pontoons which pivot at the bridge form in response to tidal ebb and flow; rising and falling independently in support of the superstructure.

The central portion of Hercales is supported by the undersea mountain which sits midway between the continents, whilst naval traffic is regulated and used as a loading point for cargo and pleasure craft in the Mediterranean .

Over time the coral like structure will disappear under llichen and moss, seamlessly linked to the gardens and forest growing on the upper levels of the structure. We envisage a resort of hotels entertainment, businesses, fueling the interchange between the continents of Euarafrica. The sustainable nature of the endeavour is further enhanced by its ability to produce its own and surplus energy, through wave generated power which it then exports to either continent. Balancing on the tip of an underwater mountain range this new terra is at the fulcrum of a new miscegenation, and a long hoped for future.

The Postcards were on display at The Gopher Hole gallery in London.

WAF 2011 Entries

2011-08-14T14:02:00.001-07:00

We recently submitted our entries for this years World Architecture Festival. 2 Projects were entered; Linearpolis, a housing/masterplan concept for the Heliopolis Favela in Sao Paulo (Brazil) and the other Stadi_City; the notion of the stadium as a suburban icon, re invented as a continuous use resort, in constant use as a destination and port of call for ocean liners, a destination city that is formed by creating an artificial island and tidal marina.

Designed for the Qatar world cup and subsequent potential Olympics, the stadium resort has a life an community of its own and will continue to be a destination after hosting major sporting and entertainment events. The stadium resort could also be sited off the coast of a developing nation whose infrastructure would not normally be expected to support such a project , the boost to the local economy and the influx of a new tourist trade would open up a number of countries as contemporary destinations for international sporting events and activities. In respect of the Kente cloth concept it is proposed that the second site for the project would be off the coast of Accra.

Ethos
The notion of the stadium as a suburban icon is re invented as an in continuous use resort in constant use as a destination and port of call for ocean liners. The stadium is designed to make use of suitable offshore sites where land based stadia could not be supported. Its secondary use as a port and entertainment centre affords a sustainable proposition and the project itself could be sited in a multitude of sites which would otherwise not be able to economically support such a construct.

The stadium is a self contained mini city, with all the amenities which are necessary for constant inhabitation,including retail and restaurant offers, the visiting yachts and ocean liners regularly replenish it with visitors, the secure location being a welcome respite from European winters

Construction
The stadium resort comprises an Olympic sized stadium, with integrated hotels, apartments and event spaces. The construction is based on the weave of Kente cloth a traditional Ghanaian fabric woven of strips of tightly woven cloth , the most frequent pattern being a diamond shape .The strips are then sown together to form a continuous fabric sheet, if sewn together intermittently the fabric when stiffened forms a structure not unlike that of muscle tissue.

The project utilises much of the technology used in the Palms Dubai project, creating an artificial island and tidal marina. Coral frame. The resulting structural frame is redolent of coral , a permeable exoskeletal structure inspired by Brunel’s Taymar bridge.

Transport
The main connecting bridge house maglev shuttles, and service road, for visitors and spectators, its form resembles a tube at its centre but is in reality the same ribbon wall that stabilises the stadium and provides the terraced meandering park which on two sides of the stadium take you up to the aerial park. Permanent residents living in the apartments make use of electric cars to navigate the site.

Sustainability
Each tier of the two structural skins which create the bridges and envelope the stadium contains a roadway to the apartment level and meandering park which finally reaches the roof level of the stadium, the heavily shaded garden areas adjacent to the apartments provide the light to this inner world . At the roof level of the aerial park the landscape is divided by an elliptical photovoltaic sun farm and a continuous roof-light which illuminates the curving cathedral space below which lies between the stadium and its encircling apartments, hotels and retail offer. This space offers a controlled environment, for leisure and events, whilst the stadium itself , in line with many new stadia can be transformed into everything from race track to urban park, dependant on the activity programme envisaged.

Users and local benefit
The residents of the development will comprise high income individuals and those wanting an exclusive vacation with access to world class sport and entertainment.

The Stadium resort will provide employment and training at the highest level, in hospitality and event management to the local community. The new skills provided would further help to develop the local market, and it is expected that this in turn would lead to further economic development as the economy grew in response to the needs of its new

Desalination Plant, the development is supported by its own desalination plant which will produce a surplus for use on the mainland. The resulting procedure will assist in the creation of micro climatic production.

Pulished in Mexico - ACTUALIDAD AD

2011-08-14T13:18:00.000-07:00

We recently featured in a article in Actualidad AD (Architectural Digest) published in Mexico. It was an honor not only to feature in the magazine but to also be published in the same spread as Grimshaw Architects.

www.architecturaldigest.com.mx

B1-Mag Publish our Vertical City!

2011-05-23T13:00:00.000-07:00

Vertical City in Polish Newsweek

2011-03-29T15:47:00.000-07:00

Our Vertical City project was recently feature in article in Polish Newsweek. A rough translation:

VERTICAL CITY
Although This building has not yet built, there already has been acclaimed contemporary variation to the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

180-storey modern high rise Vertical City (Vertical City) has to stand in Caracas, and it inhabits people who have not yet lived in slums for having a bad reputation settlement on January 23. The Architecture consists of three oval set staggered segments.

Between them the British Architects of the portfo-Desitectura designed green areas, and even tenant gardens. Mounted in the tower block are powered devices (wind-turbines) that will produce natural energy, this sustainable tower is ever recycling and reusing energy.

D3 Housing for Tomorrow 2011 - Linearpolis

2011-03-12T13:04:00.000-08:00

Linearpolis, Sao Paulo, Brazil: Project statement

The proposition takes a radical look at the nature of space provision, and its consequences. This proposition questions the acquisition of space as an enclosure. We posit the opposite, that you can in fact acquire facility and opportunity. The scheme provides an infrastructure within which you may chose to fulfill you aspirations for enclosure.

We have selected the Heliopolis Favela in Sao Paulo Brazil as the site of this proposition, firstly to understand its issues and to determine a repeatable construct, which has the strategic flexibility to offer structured solutions to the issues encountered. The strategy is to free the ground area of the site and underpin the landmass, then to provide parkland, infrastructure and integrated transport systems. There are two main built form elements to the proposal, a regenerated landscape and a new socio economic driver.

The basic steel structural ʻdrumʼ and service cores for residential accommodation.
The ʻdrumʼ frames and services cores are sold or exchanged for legal property rights to the residents. They in turn can choose to build their own enclosure within the framework, in whatever materials they see fit, given that they provide adequate fire protection and insulation. This allows a real variety of enclosure to be developed, experimental as well as conventional. Prospective residents are also provided with a choice of location, this in itself allows for a roll out of the developments structure, while it awaits residents and creates a market for sales. The frames benefit from the greater infrastructural plan, and also photovoltaic roof elements and service core vertical wind turbines, which is an integrated part of the cross ventilation system of the apartment framework. The drum frames offer a variety of permutations of spatial configuration, and as a result makes them attractive to new urban ʻintegrationistsʼ, it is these newcomers that will spur the change in the composition of the favela and its future regeneration.

The eco concrete Aloe Vera form for commercial and recreational accommodation.
The socio economic driver is sustainability and tourism, without which there would be no commercial incentive for development and hence the capital investment for change. The undulating forms of the ʻAloe Veraʼ provide vertical circulation and access to the apartment drums whilst creating accommodation for commercial and recreational use, indoor gardens, shops & offices. The landscape element is the opening up of free land for smallholdings and recreation, bringing food production closer to consumption for the greater city.

WAF 2010 Shortlist Certificate

2011-02-01T15:16:00.001-08:00

Final Vision of Vertical City

2011-01-13T04:35:00.000-08:00

Special Mention to Vyonyx (http://vyonyx.com) for helping us visualise the Vertical City, hopefully we will collaborate again soon!

Vertical City - Twenty of the most brilliant new buildings on Earth

2010-11-09T15:59:00.000-08:00

20 new buildings the professionals judged to be the very best in the world and we have designed one of them!

Desitecture at WAF 2010

2010-11-09T15:47:00.001-08:00

The Desitects at World Architecture Festival 2010.

WAF here we come!

2010-09-21T14:55:00.000-07:00

The thoughts of Phil Gusack

2010-08-13T09:40:00.000-07:00

Below is an extract of a piece written by renowned architect, designer, and author Phil Gusack regarding the Vertical City project.

"If, as Robert Hughes proposed, line item 1 on the modernist agenda was that the new should shock, the Desitecture collective’s Vertical City slots them into the mainstream. Yes the 180-storey geometric slight-of-hand would need its water supply dosed with valium to make life for residents with vertigo a tad more sustainable, but you only have to peek into the world’s bathroom cabinets to conclude that modernism and medication go hand in hand anyway.

What is sad is not that Desitecture just spent too much time on this scheme, but the consternation it seems to have provoked that anyone should bother to try anything pro bono public in a time when the avant-garde of the 1980’s won’t get out of bed unless it’s Goldman Sachs or former KGB potentates at the door. But Vertical City is not just a stab at slum clearance in Caracas: it’s a salute to long-overdue change in Venezuela. Hugo Chavez may have the Fox News viewers of Florida practicing at the range, but at least he’s pulling his country out of its Spanish colonial coma.

Who can say what Venezuela, Bolivia or Brazil will be like in twenty years time? Their populations and politicians only know their futures have to be better than the past. In this context, carping designboom bloggers could take another look at the lineage of inspirational draftsmen: Sant'Elia, Frank Lloyd Wright, Corbusier, Costa and Niemeyer, Cedric Price and Archigram. They all drew pro bono. Who knows if Desitecture will end up in the heroic top ten, but they aren’t too timid to try."

PHIL GUSACK

Shortlisted

2010-08-04T07:37:00.000-07:00

We have been shortlisted in the Future projects section at World Architecture Festival!! This is great news.....the project can also been seen here at designboom! Let us know your views and opinions!

http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/9/view/11088/desitecture-vertical-city-venezuela.html

WAF Entry

2010-07-25T06:23:00.000-07:00

Desitecture are going to WAF!!

Desitecture Exhibition @ Iris Nation (London)

2010-07-08T11:59:00.000-07:00

Vertical Tower_ Interior Apartments_Work in Progress

2010-07-01T11:27:00.000-07:00

Vertical City Work in Progress

2010-06-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

A megastructure with a socio economic imperative , a peoples tower
The social imperative, - without ownership the disenfranchised poor cannot
hope to bequeath a viable inherited financial future to the next generation, their
children. In order that they are able to have a capital stake in the exiting societal
construct they must have ownership of the land on which they live , to this end
the tower acts as a catalyst for the creation of ownership. As the land on which
the tower is constructed, is that of the favela , this gives value to previously
worthless land. The stakeholders now have options either to move out of the
favela and reside in a new unit within the tower in its emerging micro economic
community whilst deriving an income from their share in the land development
or to relocate altogether , somewhere new. Although this would have the effect
of breaking up the established community , it could open up new social and
economic connections.

The reclaimed land and would now become available for commercial /intensive
agricultural development and would a new enhanced economic value, thus
providing a legacy for the re located former inhabitants.
The tower releases land , provides work and acts as a negotiator for an
engagement with capital. The city gains a new quarter providing fresh produce
and enhanced transport links and facilities, to a new economic zone.

The social identity
The three cups, define distinct user groups and activities, which are nonetheless
related , typically they could contain college level activity, university and
research/knowledge economy business; or retail ,hotel, apartments; or social
housing, ,local administration and offices .In whichever configuration, the tower is
a metaphor for true urban living ,having all the elements of work, leisure , home
and a sense of place in one entity, Access to and from the tower takes many
forms , cable car , helicopter, water taxi car or metro.

Bars, café’s and restaurants should flourish in such a climate, taking as their
cue many roof/ mountain top venues. The tower , it is hoped , will become a
destination in its own right with 24 hr zones of activity; and as such develop a
more open culture , and therefore , always be in flux , perhaps even a transient
culture , a place to experience.

Structure
The 180 storey tower’s structure bears a strong relationship to the folded spoon
analogy , with the bowl being the elliptical lagoon, and the shaft and vertical
legs supporting the cups .The tower appears to be a twisting cantilever , but is
in fact a simple structure , with only the top cup having a cantilevered element.
The main support are the vertical and diagonal structural frame containing
circulation and services this runs through all the cups . and in the first forty
five storey’s supports the palette shaped overlapping gardens and city farms.
Beneath the tower are four levels of vehicular access and parking covering an
expansive area , which incorporates the piled structural legs and the diagonal
main composite core ,and grows into the structure of the lagoon , acting as
a stabilizing counterweight to the tower .The inner structure of the cups is a
diagonal structural grid into which the wheatsheaf pattern of woven individual
units is embedded.

The Form
The form of the tower is derived from an inverse of the tower of babel prototype,
which is typified by a dense pyramidal structure , instead we have utilized notions
of light , air , openness and freedom as the source for a series of aerial streets
and courtyards, allowing for the development of distinct lifestyle patterns and
communities.

The ellipse favours this approach, the shape allows for four distinct experiential
zones , which can be broken down to a local level of organization and
inhabitation. The form also minimizes the side effects of wind turbulence often associated with
tall buildings.

Construction
The legs /vertical support structure contain elevators and staircases and are
linked by structured palette shaped platforms which provide aerial gardens and
parks . these parks are also farming units providing an ally ear round source of
food and leisure . each cup has its own external facing park, and internal bridges
allow easy access across the inner aerial spaces .large openings allow additional
light into these inner spaces , whilst their hollow nature provides a naturally
ventilated core.

Micro climate
The internal elliptical areas provide , distinct micro climates , within each cup,
they will each acquire their own character in terms of vegetation and aerial
wildlife, supported by balcony gardens and green loading elements which will
accrue over time.

Renewable energy sources

Skin
The external elements are of a lightweight composite , precast units contain a
hollow structure based on coral which has embedded micro turbines , these
make the skin into a wind energy generating surface providing power to augment
photovoltaic panel solar collection. Within the inner skin the effect is enhanced as
natural convection assists the production of energy.

Night
The building will appear to hover above the landscape creating a breathtaking
spectacle in the night sky, it offset elements seeming to be in motion, and
offering its users unparalleled views, and a chance to dream.

Layton Reid

Vertical City Cararcas

Orange Oversized

2010-06-21T06:07:00.001-07:00

Sustainable Cities

2010-06-21T05:51:00.000-07:00

A Collaboration with La Ola (The Wave) a Madrid based exhibition and event practice founded by Juan Carlos Diaz Vasquez.

Elementary School Gambia

2010-04-29T07:18:00.000-07:00

This is a charity pro-bono project we recently designed for a new Elementary School in Gambia. With a small budget, much of the money has been raised by local musicians and artists.

2009-10-30T09:02:00.000-07:00

World Architecture Festival_2008_1st Inaugural Student Charette

2009-10-16T05:44:00.000-07:00

2009-10-15T10:43:00.000-07:00

NEW LONDON ROOFSCAPE WINS ARUP AWARD

A competition entry from desitecture collaborator Lee Miles has won a major award from Arup Engineers and Hermes Real Estate.

The competition, known as Hermes RE:Design, was entirely focused upon providing sustainable design interventions for Londons high rise rooftops. The overriding aim was to reduce the carbon contributions that have been predicted to increase gradually as the city grows.

The winning concept was fundamentally very simple and is focused around meeting three key aims:
1) Utilise the large mass of usable flat roof terrace space in London.
2) Limit the skyward growth of taller structures within the city.
3) Ensure all structures have the capability to be fitted/retro-fitted with a design that cut backs emissions.

The design comprises a set of pre-fab parts that can be constructed easily on top of any building, minus the need for any engineering expertise, cranes or heavy plant.

Once fitted the design can evolve and grow accordingly. From a fractal floor plate system arms can be installed that support plant growth and green roofs. Green roofs are incredibly important in slowing the effects of climate change as they cool down the city in what is known as a urban heat island; the heat generated in cities is often retained in the concrete. A green roof effectively cools this. As well as this they also benefit nearby solar panels and encourage biodiversity.

Longer term the design could form part of a new skyline pedestrian transport system, that would further reduce carbon emissions by reducing the number of car trips required to cross the city. The solar panels fitted nearby will also help provide power and energy to the buildings.

The project was selected by Arup and Hermes Real Estate for the award 'Most Imaginative Design' and will be presented before a selected audience at an awards ceremony Nov. 6th.

2009-10-15T05:58:00.000-07:00

HANGING GARDENS

of Camden by HD Design

+ IDEAs at Ravensbourne

Urban analysis/ context: Gas Holder 8 offers the opportunity to define an important threshold between the new Kings Cross development and the surrounding city both physically and conceptually.

The site is pivotal point on the green link between St.Pancras Old Church, Camley Street nature park and the canal, and the new Home Zone access into the development. The silhouetted framework of the gas holder structure establishes its potential as a key reference point and connector from both within and beyond the site. Gasholder 8 also demands recognition as a pivotal temporal reference point for the development: Connecting an industrial heritage and post industrial re-use with the new realization of a twenty first century urban quarter.

The installation of a vibrant, porous and diverse pubic realm and event based program into this volume will engage local residents, site users and visitors in its new role: As destination, connector, memorial and iconic London landmark.

Forms: Within the gasholder frame we have positioned a 35m diameter raised drum. At the top it is sliced obliquely to retain the silhouette of the original gas-holder frame and maximize the penetration of light into the interior. This form and orientation have been arranged for the whole installation act as an urban scale solar clock, with day-time shadow locations marked onto the auditorium surfaces for reference across the seasons. At its heart is a conical auditorium space, opening up to the sky. The underside of the structure is tilted upwards towards the south, allowing an open and porous relationship with the adjacent canal side area, but protecting the inner spaces from higher level noise and wind.

Structures and Materials: A sense of place is generated through a dynamic dialogue between the architecture of the new King’s Cross development and a romantic notion of nature reclaiming the areas original industrial heritage.

Although the structure of the main enclosure loosely references the encompassing gas holder frame, we have broken it down into dancing thicket of columns interspersed with trees. The skins of the drum are woven from a mix of natural and industrial components to create a basket like object that glows like a lantern at night. Fluidly aligned timbers animate the external elevations, emphasizing a spiraling movement. The internal skin of the drum extends the theatrical narrative with sliding screens that can be reconfigured by occupants to create a constantly changing internal elevation.

‘Shards’ of the original gas cylinder have been integrated into the new structure, spiraling within the drum to define boundaries, frame views and create opportunities for play. We would propose a broader site-wide strategy for similar ‘shards’ to be dispersed within the development’s public spaces, forming way-finding markers, street pavilions, furniture, kiosks and urban sculpture.

Circulation and Amenity: The whole installation is arranged around a set of fully accessible gently ramped environments that take you from canal-side up to the views over the wider area from 12m above.

There is level access from the South, which continues through onto the hard sports surface within the auditorium. One half of the auditorium mounts up to provide seating, stepped access to the venue areas above, and a sizable storage underneath. The other half gently ramps up to the Northern entrance. At the Northern end a clear portal is framed towards Canal Street and an access is orientated towards the adjacent primary school. The access to the areas between the inner cone and outer drum is also situated here. These areas consist of a multilevel environment incorporating play, planting, animal habitats and event.

Vertical Park and Playscape: The Hanging Gardens are accessed via a kiosk and ramp to the West of the North Entrance. The route is flooded in dappled light through its planted walls and is punctuated by trees, climbing walls and play furniture as it rises. From a range of walkways and platforms one can catch, glimpses to levels below, walkways above and vistas into the auditorium and out to the city beyond. The walkways connect to a suspended playground and intimate sheltered platforms and finally to a viewing platform set amongst the rooftop meadows. A climbing wall, formed from the remnants of the gas cylinder sits up against the multilevel park. The climbing wall would be managed by the Jubilee Waterside Centre (a canoe and climbing club within walking distance from the site) as an extension of their existing facilities. Natural surveillance of all spaces is maintained by the proximity of the diverse activities, across a very broad time span that wrap around the drum.

Venue and event facilities: A ramp on East side of the North entrance accesses a venue facility for corporate hire and events. The venue spaces are serviced by a central catering facility and are flexible enough to make one continuous space for the rituals of a wedding reception or subdivided to cater for smaller scale corporate events. Each venue opens out into the central auditorium allowing activity to flow into public space.

The intention is that a commercial enterprise would fit-out and manage the main venue spaces, offering a unique location of terraced areas and hanging gardens overlooking an urban event space. The free standing units could also be used as extended learning facilities for the primary school, evening adult learning spaces, or bookable business meeting spaces during the day.

The underside of the drum could also be fitted with a suspended sliding track and lighting system for temporary public exhibitions by students from the University of the Arts. The flat portion of the auditorium facilitates a small multi-game area and the possibility of a central performance area.

Habitat: The walls of the drum are alive with a habitat for diverse flora and fauna. The ‘Hanging garden’ operates as an extension of the Camley Street nature park. Our strategy for a sustainable habitat has been developed in line with the work of Camden’s Nature Conservation team. Hawks, bats, sparrows and butterflies that currently house themselves at different heights on cities buildings are encouraged to adopt a new habitat. The upper reaches of the drum creates an embassy for the recovery of the house sparrow population, which prefer to live in high density urban locations.

Our approach to planting the vertical park is simple and contextual. Indigenous and resilient climbers are located in planters, increasing in density to the south. A tapestry of different species is selected to provide variety and interest across the seasons. The vertical park could be managed by a satellite office from Camden’s Nature conservation team supported by enthusiastic local green activists, amateur conservationists and local school children.

Mature trees extend up through the sloping internal park, allowing people to experience a tree from trunk to canopy. The orientation of the drum creates sloping strata of wildlife that school groups can ascend as a learning landscape. Webcams integrated into the foliage show flora and fauna at the same height above sea level around the world, interspersed with views inside ‘Big Brother’ bird boxes above and beyond.

Urban_SOS_Team_01

2009-10-13T06:17:00.000-07:00

Bronx_Intersections >The Grand Concourse

2009-09-19T13:29:00.000-07:00

Culture-tecture
A new responsive landscape!
The diverse communities of the Bronx brought together within shared space, a living vibrant 24 hour environment providing a link and a focus to a disconnected series of neighbourhoods.

Traffic control and access requires a reduction in the number of lanes in each direction, changing the perception of the area through which it passes.

Reformed central islands allow the creation of an autonomous structure and a central boulevard containing diverse activities, used by all sections of the community.

The structure has a series of overlapping zones:

Sports zone consist of activities such as basketball courts, area for a chess/domino club, hockey (inline) and softball, for users of all ages.

Health zone rooted in the community and understanding its needs includes dentists, health clinics, pharmacies, and natural and complementary medicine practitioners.
A 24hr education zone providing flexible learning modes, running a range of courses from leisure interest to gaining recognised qualifications, a forum and a place to have a voice.

Providing event/performance space, playground, kiosks shops-cafés, barbers, allotments and other local amenities.

A business zone to create opportunities for local entrepreneurs; providing business, financial, marketing skills and advice; and access to start up units along the boulevard.

Culture-scape has a LAN /WI-FI installed so everyone to can access the net 24/7. Internet café’s will be scattered along the culture scape for those who do not own laptops.

A Free Space generating a new destination, a place to grow!

Kings Cross Central > Gasholder No.8

2009-09-19T12:11:00.000-07:00

King’s Cross Central > A Community Icon.

The new building structure is designed for ease of erection; the theme follows that of the original industrial aspiration of the Gasholder. The notion of movement is enshrined in the inherent flexibility this allows as new accommodation can be added easily and economically, plugging in to the circulation spaces and adapting the void spaces between the new structural frame elements; providing space for future extensions as the need arises.
The principal concept of the scheme is to treat the Gasholder as a frame through which elements of activity are inserted; tying the site together. The effect is of moving through the gasholders structure rather than being enclosed by it, and that is the image we wish to promote.

The major elements of stair and lift core, and ramp are positioned external to the gasholder, providing translucent circulation, which doubles up as signage, and illumination for the building.

The new steel frame gives flexibility for the future. The building has been designed so that future adaptations can be made and new structures can be added.

The container forms, inhabit the structure providing a classroom, library, event space, meeting space and areas to relax and enjoy.
The key needs of the site are addressed through a range of facilities that will engage the local and wider community.

The View, a top floor food and drink outlet offering a 360 degree panorama across the city, a rooftop garden, a public place rather than space, to relax and enjoy.

Ground play area and public space: A public meeting space for the local community and an area in constant use through a range of activities, climbing wall, mixed seating and ‘play’ surface areas; using recycled rubber.

The green-loading skin within the gasholder provides the passive cooling element to the building. As well as re-animating the structure they also provide shelter from the elements such as wind and rain.

The micro climate created offers a cooling oasis, the grey-water collection tank feeds a shallow reed-bed as a focus to the area, where nature and the urban collide; a place to stop, think and make contact, shared with the local school, this amenity affords opportunities for public activity, and safe play areas, a well lit 24hour hub a night garden.

The site is meshed with the surrounding area through the placement of seating forms that help you navigate your way to and from and through the site.

The new Seating forms surround and invade the structure, reaching out to the edges of the site defining its territory.

A School Extension breakout space: an extension to the local school. A breakout classroom and lounge/library to meet the ever growing needs of the local school.

Auditorium / performance event space and lecture/activity space: where people can get together, make associations, receive and provide information and share with the local school, plays, films, lectures, classes, night-classes etc.

Youth and Community Center: A space for the local residents to actively engage with their community, creating a specific place where the community can meet (such as PTA meetings, neighbourhood watch etc) mixing generations, table tennis, study groups etc.

Exhibition space: an open venue for local artists and designers as well as more established exhibitors. The space could create a link with (University of the Arts London), making a strong link to the local community; this would also bring in new visitors to the area. The main space acts as a traditional gallery and exhibition space even indoor market, with outer balcony overlooking the river. The smaller space adjacent is a digital projection environment for digital exhibitions and projections.

Photovoltaic Panels: The structure is an energy generator, consuming only what it can produce through the photovoltaic solar panels located at the pinnacles of the existing structure. The excess energy is also sold back to the national grid, generating a small surplus income that is reinvested in the maintenance of the structure itself.

Water Collection: Water collected from pockets/grooves in the ground floor space let water draft naturally into an underground reservoir, situated under the rubber landscape. The green roof also collects water, which is re-used into the building services.