COMPONENTTWO | Andreea Dinu
Observe, Seek, Challenge
February 5th, 2024
I'm working on a project to design a new study space. The inspiration for this space comes from greenhouses, and it will be located on the outskirts of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. My main objective is to create a harmonious space that blends in with the natural environment by incorporating indoor greenery. The idea is to provide a relaxing and inviting environment for students from nearby schools and the public, regardless of weather conditions or other potential disruptions. Additionally, the space won't be entirely designated for studying as I intend to partially make it a public space, especially since there are no sheltered areas in the park, making it challenging to enjoy on rainy days. The overall aim is to create a space that's functional, attractive, and provides a peaceful environment for anyone who uses it.
The thematic direction for this project is intricacy and patterns, with the closest comparison being bone matter –symmetry, functionality, and delicacy of it. Sustainability is also a priority for my design, particularly since the structure will be built near a protected natural area. The site where the study space will be built is flat and has patches of soil, making it easy to design without disrupting the land too much. Incorporating greenery in my design will also mean that it harmonizes the nature of the surrounding area, people will be able to experience a walk in the park or study session in a reconstructed more leisurable manner.
❖ Intricate form
❖ Public space with indoor and outdoor seating
❖ Study booths
❖ Large openings for traffic, including a skylight
❖ Loads of greenery
❖ Evokes the feeling of nature but inside
❖ Interestingly shaped walls
SITE ANALYSIS
Stratford, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
The site is surrounded by streams of water and greenery and there is tall fencing outlining it. Upon finding an opening I went inside to take photos and it looks relatively upkept, the ground is all flat and there is a mixture of gravel, greenery, scrap metals, asphalt, and concrete covering the surface area.
There is a road running through the site however it's unlikely that I'll keep this in. Being located extremely close to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park means that the area already has a natural aspect to it however it is all very open so in times like winter there is no shelter, I think a library would be fitting for this space especially since there are two educational buildings in proximity.
On the opposite side of the site, beyond the water stream, there are many elevated buildings. To ensure that my structure blends in with its surroundings, I'd like to keep it relatively flat. Additionally, I've noticed that there is a lot of greenery in the area that I don't want to disturb. Therefore, I'm considering incorporating a greenhouse or conservatory into my library and its surroundings.
SURROUNDINGAREA
Research and analysis
Boat houses
The body of water adjacent to the site holds several boat houses, these all have a warmer colourful palette, and the bridge is also red. I notice that there are also a series of quirky steps leading down to the walkway which people use to run, I want these elements to reflect in my design.
Great British Garden
On the other side of the site, there is a beautiful garden with a pond, a swing, an arrangement of lavender flowers, benches, and two wooden walkways. The layout of this is very beautiful and inspiring to translate the natural factors into my site.
Site surroundings
There are a lot of walkways with seats, everything around is very walkable and reachable, and there are two bus stops in walking distance from the site meaning that transportation isn’t an issue either especially considering Stratford train station is a 15 min walk.
SURROUNDINGARCHITECTURE
Research and analysis
This is a very useful facility located about a 10-minute walk away from the site. The mall offers a variety of amenities such as restaurants, stores, communal areas, and banks. I particularly like the slits in the structure and the glass details, and would like to incorporate them into my own design.
Westfield, shopping mall
UAL, Fashion University
I think that this is a key place that would bring visitors to my site, finding a regular study place is important for students so it think that having a library in the vicinity of an university would be beneficial. This is just one of the 4 educational establishments in the area. The people coming from this place are of a more mature and artistic demographic which is something I should keep in mind while designing.
Physical activity establishments
Adjacent to the site there is a primary school that has a sports centre extension, which consists of a football pitch and a running track. It would be convenient for sports students to unwind in a library. 10 min away there is an aquatics centre with a gym and pool. The area generally has a good set of activities and having a calmer space to be productive in would be useful.
London Football Stadium
The London Stadium is a well-known attraction for football games and concerts, this means that large volumes of people would be visiting the area at the same time. A downside of this would be the noise caused by the commotion, as well as the traffic so this could be an issue I could design around.
COLOURS AND AESTHETICS
Secondary images of interiors
I like the fine and structured form of this
A focus in my design is playing around with light, I like the idea of using windows and openings to create interesting patterns. To cater to the privacy and intimacy of a library I think that having blurred glass in some areas would be a good aspect to include.
Wooden furniture, catering to the natural palette
Interior
Flowy vines replicating nature, creating ambiance
BOMBAYSAPPHIRE DISTILLERY
Hampshire, England
The Heatherwick Studio, led by renowned designer Thomas Heatherwick, played a key role in designing the distillery. The establishment boasts two glasshouses with a unique structural skin that takes on an extruded circular 'pleated form.' The skin extends upwards, bending and then narrowing, creating a blend of historical industrial buildings with modern sustainable design. This blend offers visitors a one-of-a-kind experience.
Model of functionality and form, deriving from my mood board the idea of having an outer shell over a subject. I was able to use the functionality of the distillery to work out how id be able to bring my idea into a functional starting point for a design.
Fashion inspo, I’m inspired by this idea of a clear outer shell enveloping the main subject/ a more intricate design. This is a main point I’d like to translate in my design considering I’m looking to design a greenhouse.
INTRICACYAND PATTERNS
Secondary images research
Symmetry in bones, I like the idea of a series of objects chaining to each other. I think that its an idea I could develop nicely, as well as the aspect of each object getting progressively bigger than the other. Things looking like they’re protruding from the ground?
ANALYSIS OF FORMS
Sketching fashion elements
I enjoy the form of this, the angular edges combined with curved lines, and the almost transparent material.
Using garments as a form of inspiration for architectural forms has been really helpful as the clothes ive looked at have intricate structures and are made to be functional, similar to building designs.
Mesh skirt
DEVELOPING A MODEL
Derived from fashion elements
I focused on symmetry and intricate details in my model, my sketches are mostly related to the general structure of a building being encapsulated by a glass structure.
Further developments
FURTHER DEVELOPING MODEL
Interior developments
I like the idea of randomly placing things similarly to how nature randomly sprouts. It would be a good contrast to the symmetry of the buildings design.
I visited some retail stores that had knitwear, I thought that the complexity that goes into knitting would be a good point to use as a reference for my paper models. I played around with scarves and arranged them in a way that looked interesting. I also found that the shape and form of stones also reflect my theme through their repeated asymmetrical patterns.
INTRICACYOF FABRICS
Primary photos of theme
At the science museum, I kept an eye out for repeated patterns, I was inspired more by the decoration rather than the displays. The tiling and wood carvings on the walls are good points for models, however, I think that the ribcage bones are too dainty to formulate a similar model however if I were to use it more as inspiration for décor or structure I think would be successful.
NATURALSCIENCEMUSEUM
Primary photos of theme
ANALYSIS OF FORMS
Sketching bones
The aspect that inspired me the most is how bones interlock with each other somewhat like reaching toward something. They all have steady structures due to their functionality
Clothing inspired by bones
ANALYSIS OF FORMS
Derived from bone forms
Hand Anatomy
As I researched bone forms, I noticed that my hands also have similar characteristics, the idea of repeated patterns protruding and going from big to small to big. I thought it’d be an interesting reference for my model-making.
DEVELOPING A MODEL
Derived from bone forms
My intention for this model was to experiment with how bones interlock each other. However, the model itself looks more like an architectural sculpture/ pavilion rather than a functional structure. I’ve added glass to avoid this and I think it did give me more clarity on things I should tweak within the design.
Developments
Developments
Here I thought about the delicacy of greenhouse structures, they have very fine strips between each glass panel which reminded me of ribs. This is not an idea I’d like to explore at the moment as I’m more focused on figuring out the core of my design structure
FURTHER DEVELOPING MODEL
Derived from bone forms
I’ve been seeking how designers have used bones to design clothing as I think it would be an interesting thing to translate into architecture. Having designs on the body demonstrates structure and functionality which I also have to be mindful of in my design process. While making this model I referenced the form of the image on the left as well as the bone forms I analysed.
Clothing inspired by bones
FURTHER RESEARCH
Looking at existing architecture
Surrounding architecture. Very close to the site is a series of connecting bridges which reminds me of spiderwebs and holes in knitted fabric. Id like to translate this concept into my own design, I like the idea of overlapping and expanding things and being able to see something beneath them.
LOOKINGAT SCULPTURES
Interesting forms inspiration
SANTIAGOCALATRAVA
Skeletal architecture
Santiago Calatrava is a Spanish architect known for his use of dramatic curves and organic shapes in his designs. His architectural style is characterized by his use of flowing linesand a deep appreciation for natural elements. He often draws inspiration from the human body and the natural world, creating buildings that resemble birds, shells, and other organic forms. Overall, Calatrava's work is known for its beauty, elegance, and ability to inspire wonder and awe. His designs push the boundaries of what is possible in architecture, and his innovative use of form, structure, and materials continues to influence architects and engineers around the world.
UAE Pavilion in Dubai
Opera House in Valencia
Concert Hall in Tenerife
Top
Side
MODELLINGUSINGBLENDER
Referencing Santiago Calatrava’s work
Model 1
Looking at Calatrava’s work, I noticed the core of his designs is blocky with finer details added around so I thickened and elongated the spine of my initial model
Developments
This model was inspired by his UAE Pavilion, his design somewhat reminds me of petals or a flower blooming, I tried to translate this into bone matter by simplifying the form. I’m not too fond of this model I think there would be ways to tweak it to make it seem more like a building rather than an architecturalsculpture.
Model 2
WOODEN KRAKEN CLIMBS
Remote ruins in France
Artist Thomas Voillaume, also known as APACH, incorporates his background in sculptures which he digitally designs. These are mapped onto large public sculptures in urban areas. The Wooden Kraken Climbs is an open skeletal structure within the ruins of Val d’Escrein, which is located in a remote valley in Hautes-Alpes, France. The structure’s body is situated at the center of the stone building, while its six-pointed legs extend over the crumbling walls.
I decided to look at this structure because I felt it fit the greenhouse aspect of my design, it also covers the site in an interesting way. I like the way that each end reaches and engulfs the walls- this is something id like to translate in my own design. Having a structure which fits the site like a glove.
Experimenting with thin strips for structure
MODELLINGUSINGBLENDER
Structure spreading over site
Beginning stages
I started designing with the mesh and sticks prototype tin mind, I pinched and pulled faces while still maintaining symmetry tom form structure in my model.
Each edge protruding from my model joins up with the sides of my site, I think that this could complicate some things in terms of aligning everything perfectly. I like the direction in which my design is going however I think the surface area of indoor space for this model isn’t enough for my intention of a greenhouse like design. To develop this I could try to simplify the form.
Model 1
FURTHER MODELLING
Referencing Santiago Calatrava’s work
At this stage I feel I’m getting close to my desired design, I think that the form of this resembles the bone matter I’ve been looking at, this structure is intended to have glass covering the large openings like the initial greenhouse models I made earlier on
Developments
Adding a skylight is a feature which I think is necessary due to the function of the space. This feature ensures the functionality of my model since the structure isn’t entirely made out of glass like a greenhouse there is a limitation on the amount of light reaching the natural elements inside.
Model 2
Top Side Back Front
View from below
View from the top
FINAL MODEL
Preparing to build my final model
CHOSEN FINAL MODEL
Making a physical prototype
This is the outcome ive designed using bone forms and fashion elements, I feel its representative of my research and ive added elements from each stage of the process. My intention was to have a both enclosed but open space, the photo on the right is while I was in the process of putting everything together- the white structure acts as a shell for the public space. My main objective was to design a space in the park where people can visit without worrying about the weather. The building has four largely welcoming openings, these not only make the space feel more natural but also allows for light to enter in an aidful way for the greenery.
I’ve also incorporated a skylight, a feature usually associated with sacred buildings so I think this will add to the intended peaceful ambiance of the space. On opposite sides of the entrance, there are two enclosed rooms that act as study booths for nearby students, I’ve scattered seating around the site to make leisure accessible for everyone’s preference. I’ve elevated my design two levels higher than the site surface; the steps can also be used to sit on by the public.
I’ve added yellow accents throughout my design to one harmonize each element with one another, and two to enhance the natural feel as it is representative of sunshine and warmth.
FUNCTIONALITY
Showing how people fill the space
Overall I’m happy with the outcome, I think it’s a functional space that will bring traction to the park. One development point I should consider would be the choice of greenery, certain trees may be inappropriate in terms of upkeep. Another point to consider would be bathrooms, the activity of studying is something that people spend hours doing so it would be beneficial to have a relieving facility nearby.
THE END
