This thesis explores the journey of convalescence of the amputee, responding to perceptions of the prosthesis and the healing proccess. The building cultivates algae into 3d printable filament to create the prosthetics.
The Centre is a prosthesis of the hotel, embracing the on-site trauma of the previously demolished office block, once connected to the hotel.
The two functions, healing and manufacturing, converge. This provides a journey for both the amputee and prosthetic, forming independent narratives whose journeys are finalised at the same point.
Each space is nestled within rammed earth to generate comforting, secure spaces. Each space would maintain a close connection to the garden.
This model with an overlayed sectional study expresses the dynamic topography of the context alongside the axes used for the extension.
The solid mass of rammed earth forms a barrier from the invasive railway, cradling the garden, forming a secure outdoor space of healing.
Phantom limb pain is a phenomenon causing burning or crushing pain where an amputee’s limb once was. Currently the only treatment is mirror therapy or medicinal methods. Mirror therapy heals the pain by placing a mirror between the amputated limb and intact one. By moving the intact limb whilst focusing on it in the mirror, the brain is tricked into believing the amputated limb is paralyzed and not actually moving, severing the connection, ceasing the pain.
This manipulation of the mind’s perception is used with the reflective façade of the building as it manipulates the context through the mirror, inspired by the Willem Faber Dumas building.
View from the hotel
This diagram expresses the manipulation of the park from the hotel.
View from the park
This diagram shows the reflection of the hotel from the park.
Running parallel with my thesis project, I conducted experiments using mirrors to manipulate the tectonic and light through this made artefact. I produced this model at a 1:50 scale, using it to test various sight lines and angles of mirrors. The whole artefact broke apart into modules, allowing for countless configurations to be carried out.
I used the findings from this project to further influence my developing Thesis, developing key ideas surrounding the phantom limb and mirror treatment.
The following photo shows the various modules all together, alongside the angular module.
The centre has two contrasting languages. The first part represents the relationship of an amputee and their prosthesis, and the second, an external view of a user. This is achieved through contrasting tectonic languages.
This touchstone was produced to investigate varying languages. The main aim was to produce a study that would provide an insight into forming two separate languages alongside how they would potentially interact. In this instance the three stages are represented as follows:
Broken brick – Hotel
Solid clay – rammed earth reflecting the hotels language
Balsa Frame – timber frame forming a foreign language
A rigorous study of the hotel was conducted through drawing and modelling to derive a language.
For the first part of the extension, the proportions and dimensions of the hotel were used to place the members of the glulam frame alongside the floors and ceilings. The roof aligns with the hotel’s window frames and cornice, whilst the transoms of the glazing align with the hotels.
The second part of the extension responds to the hotel in a clandestine way, using lines extracted from the roof of the hotel to create the monolithic sculptural form generating a language disconnected from the hotel.
Elevation showing the the full extension. This perfectly expresses the relation of the three forms alongside their stark differences.
The hydrotherapy pools mark the beginning of the physical healing journey. The monolithic rammed earth and PFA concrete cradle the pool, forming a protective atmosphere, with light coming in from the front and behind the pools, forming a truly evocative experience. The Therme Vals were a key precedent when designing these spaces.
1 - Forming the “dance with light”
2 - A response to context - Using the hotels key details
3 - Forming private nestled spaces
Long sectional elevation showing the sectional form inspired by the touchstone. This area houses spaces of healing.
This section shows the interior of the second part of the extension. The Workshop features an open double height space with a mezanine for the design space.
1 Hydrotherapy and Physio
2 Therapy Space
3 Hallway
4
5 Garden
6 Workshop
7 Research
8 Algae cultivation
9 Photobioreactors
Tectonic Axo 1:50 @A1
Through Sections A and B
1. Structurally Insulated Rammed Earth
350mm Structural Rammed earth with siloxane additives to provide water resistive qualities
150mm Rigid insulation
300mm internal rammed earth
Glu-lam Frame
Ties through whole structure connecting all four layers of wall composition
2. Pile Foundation Concrete pile cap Concrete Pile
3. Frameless Triple Glazed reflective façade Glazing panels with silicone joints
Horizontal Transom Structure behind glazing providing fixings to glazing
Glulam Column structure provides vertical fixings for horizontal members
Border frame providing waterproofing
4. Glulam Structure
Glulam Columns at 5-metre intervals Steel Baseplate at ground floor connection Steel splice plate connection between Columns Horizontal steel ties
5. Lower Ground Floor Structure
Ground bearing floor slab
Rigid Insulation with Marmox thermablocks in places of load bearing Concrete screed with a polished finish
6. Intermediate Floor Structure CLT panels Rigid Insulation with services embedded – wires and central heating Wooden laminate flooring
7. Roof Structure BURS finish Rigid insulation
CLT ceiling slab
8. Roof Structure Steel Standing Seam Roof with Central Valley Gutter Glulam frame with a surface sealent Vapour barrier Rigid insulation Plasterboard Internal finish – plater with light grey paint
9. Glulam frame
External glulam frame
Pinned galvanised steel base shoe on angled colums
Steel sockets at each joint with bolt fixings
10. Internal Rammed Earth Wall
500mm Rammed earth with siloxane additives provide water resistive qualities
11. Triple glazed curtain wall
Low E-value triple glazing curtain wall system
12. Rammed Earth Opening
500mm Rammed earth with siloxane additives providing water resistive qualities
Concrete lintel, exposed finish
13. Hydrotherapy Pool Structure
Ground bearing floor slab Rigid Insulation
Specialized waterproofed concrete for hydrotherapy space
This detailed 1:250 model was produced to express the mirrored facade and sectional qualities in physical form. This allowed final testing of the site composition and finalising the connection to the hotel and existing site. Primarily made from laser cut wood, the model successfully expresses the mirrored facade and the dynamic site.
Section A Pulled Away
Section A And B
This triptych, set in Preston, took place at the docks, bus station and railway station representing points of departure. I decided to form a narrative through water, connecting to the River Ribble and celebrating water inland.
The triptych contained; A pavilion – The Docks
A piece of furniture – Railway Station
A Gateway – The Bus Station
Each element of the triptych formed a different essence of water, representing arrival, departure and rest.
The boathouse would be home to the Preston Dragon’s boat racing team, being an embodiment of the powerful nature of boat racing. The building featured a grid shell structure representing the undulating waves, with oar-like forms striking down over the pavilion space
The piece of furniture, a fountain, represented a point of rest and tranquillity. Finally, the boathouse pavilion, represented the power of water.
The gateway, a sculpture guiding one to the river, represented the rhythm of the water, being a point of arrival.
A bridge is blocked off.
An old bridge, retired.
The areas absent of life. Only the wind and the rain and the trees and the leaves and my footsteps.
White noise materialises as water crashes against the old concrete struts of the bridge. The bridge is titled dangerous structure.
A crow lands on it, uncaring.
This study shows the connectivity of the railway and the sixty cotton mills through the Canal and the River Ribble. The river is the conflux in which the cotton flows through, through the powering of the mills or simply transportation. If the water was not present, there would be no Industry.
Passageway
The Archway of the station is symbolic in itself as is acts as a gateway into the threshold of departure. Passing through this marks your leave. The six nodes represent the six platforms in which goods and people have left the city for the past two hundred years.
Conflux
1. Maquette Experimentation
This study shows the connection of water to the cotton industry. The six threads passing through the land represent the six platforms of the railway, connecting the mills to the marina, where the cotton is transported to the rest of the country.
This study shows the connectivity of the railway and the sixty cotton mills through the Canal and the River Ribble. The river is the conflux in which the cotton flows through, through the powering of the mills or simply transportation. If the water was not present, there would be no Industry.
Experimentation with form; to understand how curved, wave-like shapes can be used to create forms in which the pavillion can take.
2. Weaving
Passageway
4. Conflux
The Archway of the station is symbolic in itself as is acts as a gateway into the threshold of departure. Passing through this marks your leave. The six nodes represent the six platforms in which goods and people have left the city for the past two hundred years.
This study shows the connection of water to the cotton industry. The six threads passing through the land represent the six platforms of the railway, connecting the mills to the marina, where the cotton is transported to the rest of the country.
3. Passageway
The Archway of the station is symbolic in itself as is acts as a gateway into the threshold of departure. Passing through this marks your leave.
Conflux
Weaving
This study shows the connectivity of the railway and the sixty cotton mills through the Canal and the River Ribble. The river is the conflux in which the cotton flows through, through the powering of the mills or simply transportation. If the water was not present, there would be no Industry.
This study shows the connection of water to the cotton industry. The six threads passing through the land represent the six platforms of the railway, connecting the mills to the marina, where the cotton is transported to the rest of the country.
This study shows the connectivity of the railway and the sixty cotton mills through the Canal and the River Ribble. The river is the conflux in which the cotton flows through, through the powering of the mills or simply transportation.
5. Empowerment Through Water
This study expresses how water powered the mills generated the industry within Preston, creating the boom needed for an industrial scale railway. The triptych will all be linked through water, each embracing its own aspect, power, energy and tranquility.
The Archway as a gateway through six platforms
4.
2. 3.
5.
1.
An exploration of materiality and spatial language throughout the journey through bus station.
This section shows the ‘island’ of the marina expressing the disconnection from the natural banks and the dominance of the River Ribble
Boat storage
Final
Neighbouring the River Leen, in Nottingham, this project focused on developing three types of housing which would form an affordable riverside community. With functionality and efficiency at the forefront of the brief, the housing proposal combined three type of residential building into one;
Combining the three not only formed a communal environment in which the demographic could mix, but also would reduce build cost and energy consumption. The square forms were utilised to be effiecent, being prefabricated and the brought onto site.
The PFA concrete Columns throughout the site formed a rhythm, responding to the of the river, using concrete to reflect on the previous man made interventions along the river Leen.
persons Family GroupThe River Leen was brought into the site to form a connection with the community. The external decking space, supended above the water, creating a closer relationship with the river.
Group Housing Family Apartment Single Apartment
With the current library not offering the excitement desired by the pupils of Crossley Street School, we were employed to create a space which would be nurturing yet exciting for the students to explore to their hearts content. Our goal was to make this space feel like it was straight out of a story book.
The arched openings in the shelves at the rear of the classroom, a response to Wetherby Bridge, formed reading nooks where children could be tucked away in private comfy spots. I carried out many tests with massing to ensure the spaces would comply with regulations and be as optimised as possible.
PROPOSALS
Primarily were tasked building alongside to form an and first bleak space. creating
focusing on the atrium, end of journey facilities, lifts and toilets, we tasked with redesigning and renovating the journey through the immense alongside providing an incentive to cycle to work. We took bold steps an active frontage, placing WeWork spaces in the atrium’s ground floor floor, alongside bringing a dynamic terrace planting into the existing space. I played a key role in modelling the existing building and proposals, creating the visuals and testing the proposal throughout the design process.
This project has explored various storage solutions and new research and developement labs for SIKA Everbuild, Leeds. I developed the model from a very early stage, consulting engineers from JPG and a specialist from Jungheinrich to provide an efficient automated solution to the warehouse extension. I have solved countless problems under the guidance of one of the partners and issued booklets with a variety of planning, structural, topographical and conceptual drawings and diagrams.
