Precedents:I. In the Curuchet House, Le Corbusier work with two separete volumes volumes, a internal garden, transparency, garden-roof, monumental element - such as the ramp and the tree - and the hights of the buildings, in oder to get the view to the park in front of this house, all this elements is present in the Live-Work Houses project, included the nice view, but insted of the park is the Nottingham Catle. II. The inspiration for the volume cames from Fala Atelier - group of architects from Lisbon that has Álvaro Siza as forerunner - which is a set of blocs disposed by addition creating a lot of different space and different hights. uniteds by a modular grid and a equally shape; III. It is worth to say that Tadao Ando also was a object of inspiration, specially the Row House, where he design a good plan for very narrow spaces - such as the spaces present in this project, once the modul (V.) is 3x3 meters; VI. The last but not least important is Louis Kahn with all his work with lights and zenitals actual in Yale Art Gallery. Inicial ideas and inicial drawings:1. Finding a modular padron: following my refereces, I started to draw squares of different sizes and see how it would work in the terrain, until I find one that would fit, wich was the 3x3m - this means a have a grid to guide the structure and the spaces.
2. Finding a form: once I had a modul, I started to play with this little squares until I find a pleasent design. The ideia is based on open and closed spaces, adding and subtracting parts of this huge square. 3. Considerations at this stage when developing the volum model: hights to get the nice view to the castle, open spaces with differente uses, best arrangement to let the sun get in, green areas. 4. 16 blocks, 3x3m, making a whole massive one. Subtractions parts to make entrances and gardens. Add blocks to make second floor, open spaces creat terraces. Add another layer to get the view to the castle, only one modul so it would not block the sun light. 5. Adjusted the blocks to respond to the edges of the plot and still get the sun light. Regular shaoe on the border, irregular shape onthe center. A little more modifications to make the design pleasent. 6. I separeted the two houses so the light could better penetrad the spaces in the houses, they could be more privete, more independent and at the same time have a shared space. Plus: RESPOND TO SITE EDGES! 7. Massive block. Separeted in two. Subtractions. Responding to the edges. Addiction of another layer + subtraction of choosen areas. Addiction in hight of last blocks. Theme: LIVE WORK HOUSES. Idea: make two (or more, as much as fit) houses for small families (couples). LocationPositive aspects of the site: - natural environment (canal, vegetation, animals); - good scheme of housing, good use of space. Negative aspects of the site: - poor access to public transportation; - poor circulation because of dead ends; - noisy environment. Individual Site AnalysisWhat to consider: - sun light - wind - access (cars, pedestrians, bikes) - vegetation - uses (comercial, residential) Clients:The client consists of two couples of friends looking for a diverse neighborhood and well prepared to live with a relative proximity to each other while maintaining their privacy. They also require that the place has to have a space to work, that is, a clinic for psychoanalysis and an office, connected to the house but at the same time keeping their individuality. Perimeter block and my lot:By analysing my block I could set some guidelines to my project, such the view to the Castle that I want to put in evidence, and better undestand this site, for exemplo, where would be the best opennings, where should my entrances be, etc.
ABOUT THE FUNCTION The bridge is a school of art alive, which means that there are no restrictions, anyone can cross the bridge while the studios happen, all are users. There is vegetation growing on the panels stuck in the wooden structure, there is also space reserved for toillet, administration, caffee, as well as a square for leisure breaks and for the community to enjoy. The funds made available for users to express their emotions are several: dance, theater, music, painting, drawing, planting. ABOUT THE LOCALIZATION The Nottingham Canal carries a historical relevance to the city of Nottingham, arousing feelings and emotions in its users over decades. With the proposal to make an inhabited bridge, encouraging the flow in this region, the most appropriate location was chosen, taking into account geographical features, longest distance between two bridges, and physical, more isolated area that needed more dynamic when in the same time linked two distant areas of the city. ABOUT THE FORM The bridge in question connects the city to more residential area, surpassing the Castle Boulevard Road. The idea is to find a form and a design that covers that long area and at same time does not compete with the enviroment. ABOUT THE EMOTIONS The Canal’s region is a place that awakens calm, peace, tranquility in people. The bridge acts as a stimulus to those sensations, enhancing the serenity and the beauty of the place. The bridge function also aims at the development of positive emotions in people, an art school, open to the public and alive because of the users and the nature, can function as a therapy, a relaxation and learning site. Development of the form and the square (the pattern of the pavement): THE DESIGNFirst try: Second try and final design: Thinking about the structure: Technical draws: Models: WHY: The aim is to create a bridge that means more than a passageway: it is a conecton between the human and surroundings, a extantion of the Canal. Points to consider: 1. Location with the highest potential to receive public; 2. Location that needs more movement. WHERE: Connecting the Sainsburys and the Housing with the Castle Boulevard. WHO: The target will be the local community. WHAT: An art school that offers all kind of classes: painting, draws, music, dance, performace, theater. Along the bridge (in the «body» of the bridge) can be a gallery when necessary. The art school represents the and reflects the sorroundings, being a calm a peaceful place to be and to express the creativity. The bridge also will offer, as equipments to the school, toillets, a park and a organic coffee shop - there are already many markets and cafes around, demonstrating the potential for this type of trade in this region. The idea is to offer something the audience already has, but an innovative mennar and in accordance with the design concept. HOW: 1. Timber Structure; 2. Two floors high; 3. Design: geometric forms, mostly squares, tending to influence users perceptions of the environment, allying construction and nature to keeps the identity of the Canal. RESEARCH OF THE BRIDGE'S DESIGN At this point of project 2, I thought that would be important to ansewer some questions about the sight, such as: 1. How many bridges are in the area of study? (4 bridges) 2. How long it takes to walk from one bridge to another? (the longest one was 10 min) 3. What is that distance? (the longest distance is 0,4 miles, 640 meters) 4. What is the width of the Canal? (14.5 meters) Below you can see the area I chose for the bridge, based on some information:
1. It is the longest way in that area between two bridges; 2. Connect the residencial part on the Boulevard Castle Street with the comercial area, what would be Sainsbury's and entourage; 3. There is a housing close by, what help to makes it a more isolate area, causing problems with the security of the location, with the commerce and with the lack of utilization of a potencial area. Project 2 will be about doing a bridge. I decided to start it with some research about bridges and phenomenology architecture (as recommended by the teachers). Trying to understand what is phenomenology, specially when talking about architecture, I found this article which I selected some parts that I felt important to my work. Article: Environmental & Architectural, Phenomenology, Place, Environment, and Architecture: A Review David Seamon Editor, Environmental & Architectural Phenomenology Newsletter "In simplest terms, phenomenology is the interpretive study of human experience. The aim is to examine and clarify human situations, events, meanings, and experiences "as they spontaneously occur in the course of daily life" (von Eckartsberg, 1998, p. 3). The goal is "a rigorous description of human life as it is lived and reflected upon in all of its first-person concreteness, urgency, and ambiguity" (Pollio et al., 1997, p. 5)". "I am particularly interested in why places are important for people and how architecture and environmental design can be a vehicle for place making, so I hope to demonstrate that the phenomenological approach offers an innovative way for looking at the person-environment relationship and for identifying and understanding its complex, multi-dimensioned structure". "In exploring the value of phenomenology for environment-behavior research, I have come to believe strongly that phenomenology provides a useful conceptual language for bridging the environmental designer's more intuitive approach to understanding with the academic researcher's more intellectual approach. In this sense, phenomenology may be one useful way for the environment-behavior researcher to reconcile the difficult tensions between feeling and thinking and between firsthand lived experience and secondhand conceptual accounts of that experience". Knowing the Canal and after this research I already came up with some ideas to my bridge: something delicate and elegant, which accentuates the beauty of the place and emerges even more feelings. Through my research I separated two works that will inspire and guide for my project. THE RIDDLED CABINET, by Steven Holl Architecture. MICHAEL SCHUMACHER WORLD CHAMPION TOWER, by Lava. We had our review in the beginning of the week. Hearing my tutor's opinion and looking at my tutor's notes I would have to improve my work. In order to do that , I changed a little bit the texts, focusing on my subjetc (emotions x canal). I came up with the ideia to do a folder paper, with the same Canal in different times, in the bottom a time line to guide reader. Below, the prototype: This blog aims to show some of my work as an architecture student. To start the school year, we are working with an area that is in located in the city of Nottingham, limited by the Castle Boulevard at north, by the Wilford Road at east, by the Queen's Drive and the railway line by the south and west. 1. First visit to the site:I started from the limit with the Wilford Road, and saw the Canal for the first time. It was a unknown reality that aroused my interest and curiosity. I saw it as a new world to unravel: walking through this beautiful and relaxing site I was surprised with the quietness and the peace of this environment, caused by the lack of noise, traffic, stores, etc. Gradually I discovered surprises and charms left out to a curious look. In this first visit I took some pictures and made some registers about how I as feeling in that place. The keys words would be: peace, quite, calm, relaxing.2. Second visit to the site:On my second visit I was with my tutor and my colleagues. It was a opportunity to learn more about the Canal and the builds around it, and also a new way to see that place. I paid more attention to the sounds, such as de bike's bells, the ducks, the birds, the water and to the activites that happen on this place, people biking, jogging, feedind the ducks, etc. This second contact just reinforced my inicial idea of that site. 3. Third visit to the site:On my third visit I just walked aroud, studied a little bit more this amazing site and did some sketchs, so I could start to work on my project. 4. Developing the project:To this project I decide to explore de feelings and emotions that this place provides. I think it is important to learn a little bit about the history, so I did some reaserch and some notes and included it on my book. 4.1. The History, a little summary:The history of the Nottingham Canal began with the need to facilitate the transport of coal to the city of Nottingham. Once the project was approved for the channel, inspired by the Cromford Canal and having as chief engineer William Jessop, started its construction in 1790. During the time of the canal's construction some obstacles were encountered, such as the impass of Lord Middleton, who wanted his waterway linking mines to the canal, increasing the cost of the work; the case known as Wollaton Flight, involving Jessop's disease and the rise of Henry Green as chief engineer; and the case of the Cromford Canal Company who feared the Nottingham Canal would use too much of their water supply. The Nottingham company agreed to build extra reservoirs which oth canals could make use of. In 1973 the first couple of miles of the canal opened and in 1796 was the time of the whole of the canal. Coal was its main cargo but it also carried other products, such as building materials, bricks, lime, timber, ''night soil''. With the construction of new canals, Canal Derby, Beeston Canal, and the expansion of the River Trent, Nottingham Canal became the main navigable waterway through Nottingham. In 1832 Nottingham Canal was in it peak, living prosperous times and payed its dividends when the company was forced to reduce its tolls because of the monopoly they were holding, but this didn't increase coal carriage and only served to decrease the canal company's income so the concession was dropped, what resulted in the encouragement from the local mine owners to build railways in the area. Railway competicion arrieved on the canal, but before they could take over, the company themselves were merged with another company and became the Ambergate, Nottingham, Boston & Eastern Junction Railway Company. But very soon the company ran out of money and started a slow decline accompanied with loss of revenue, declining traffic and the onset of the railways. This was followed with selling out to the railway companies, then final closure and dereliction, returning back to the land from which it came in some areas. 4.2. Analyzing the area:It is important to highlight the sensations that the site provides. The yellow represents the most troubled locations, caused by noises, traffic, commerce, polluition and peoples mass, while the blue shows the opposite, the calm spots, provided by the nature, the animals, the silence. 5. Additional drawings: |