Sample Portfolio

Architecture Portfolio AMBER WOODS

Thesis Project | A Theatre to Memories

The Theatre of Memories will allow the memories of our past, the rich history of Liverpool to manifest in physical space and be navigated, through almost a learning experience of sorts, this orchestration will help change how we navigate our minds consciously.

Every person’s experience of the space will be altered by their own individuality of experience, every person will remember the experience and ‘performance’ in a different way.

THE SITUATION

Liverpool is draped inexplicably in the tapestry of its memories and the traces left behind by the ghosts of its past, the reality of its present and the promise of its future. Waiting, the lonely creations of its past that dwell along its streets are forgotten, the traces of its stories and previous lives left suspended in the fabric of the city. Yet, these spaces are a part of the everyday of Liverpool, its lost spirits dwell within the folds of time, forgotten.

Situated within the Baltic Triangle, the creative quarter of Liverpool, and the relentless exposition of the Mersey, the Theatre to Memories is situated on a previously dilapidated site, breathing life back into this forgotten corener of the city.

The Human Condition

The human condition is a consequence of a person’s reality, the consequences of the progression of life. Through these experiences, a person ultimately loses a purity of soul, succumbing to the conflicts and indulgences of life, whilst ultimately becoming a ‘tainted’ soul. Through the Theatre to Memories, these scars and marks will be partially healed, helping to return the soul to an enhanced state, the ghosts of torment being banished.

Whilst designing the Theatre to Memories, these vital stages throughout the human condition, Birth (Innocence), Conflict (Dissonant Emergence), Awareness and Emotion (Cognition), Gaining of Wisdom (Worldliness) and lastly returning to the soul (altering), were used to create a progression through the spaces so this redefining of the mindscape can take place, alongside the subsequent healing of the soul.

Modelling Explorations

Explorations into finding forms that allow a sense of healing of the soul to take place. Later into the project this will be utilised as an installation that will hang within the cognition theatre space, allowing the light to enter the space in a more atmospheric and effective way, helping to alter perceptions, and creating this sense of healing and catharsis that can only be created through experiencing this level of performance.

Hand Drawing Explorations

Explorartory drawing looking into form finding and expanding the concept of ‘ampi-theatre’.

Explorartory drawing looking into possible sectional qualities of the design.

A glimpse into the plan and section of a theatre to Memories, with this scheme, I focused on atmosphere and experience to evoke a catharsis from the users of the building- through fluid and monolithic forms, creating contrast and complexity.

Internal Views

Projection Room Library Theatre

External Views

Samples of external views produced in Blender, focusing on atmosphere, light, and the way in which the form interacts with its surroundings and the people using it.

Tectonic Strategy

One of my main environmental strategies involved reducing energy consumption through implementation of PV panels and through controlling the internal temperature of the spaces through the perforated copper facade.

The perforated copper envelope will also contribute creatly to the internal quality and atmosphere of the space, the soflty difused light, by both the facade and the internal fabric installation will help to softly diffuse the light throughout the space and add to this ethereal, opulent quality that I wish to achieve.

Daylighting and materiality

The prevalance of sandstone in the local Geoelogy of Merseyside, means that sandstone can be used in the construction of the Theatre of Memories in a more sustainable way, as it is readily available at local builder’s merchants. therefore, The overall embodied carbon of the Theatre Memories is able to be kept low in this respect.

Chester Formation- Sandstone

Helby Formation- Sandstone Till, Devensian- Clay

Siltsone Formation- Sandstone

Tarporly Siltstone FormationSandstone and Siltstone

External View

Year 3 Project 2

A conceptual project proposing an intervention in the landscape of Liverpool.

in Year 2 of my degree, I was in the Design + Build Unit, allowing me to gain a wide breadth of appliable knowledge of how construction, sustainability and designing in a very ‘human’ centered way can produce spaces that are humanitarian at their core.

- Natural joining of spaces to encourage meetings

- A central external axis to allow the user the choice as to which space they wish to enter

-Natural framed views into, through and out of spaces to help the user connect with the site surroundings and other users of the space

- Small seated spaces to encourage discussion and meeting

- Interweaving and utilising indoor and outdoor space.

- Ensuring a hierarchy of spaces, public to private.

I used compressed earth block as the main Materialreducing carbon footprint, allowing the material to be produced locally, contributing to the local economy as well as keeping the Centre sustainable.

Entrance meeting space

Public meeting space

Circulation and observation area

Informal relaxation space

Studio Residences

Tectonic Strategy

1. Foundations

Ground (Clay Substrate)

Hardcore Base

C25 mass concrete Cut and Fill foundation

2. Ground Floor

Overlapped Damp Proof Coursing 30mm Lightweight Flowing Floor Screed

3. Ground Floor Slab Edge

Wall footing (C25 mass concrete) [300 x 150 x 90 mm] Hydraulic Compressed Earth Block (subsoil, non-expansive clay from local area and aggregate) [10 mm] Mortar

4. External Floor/ Landscaping

Hardcore Base [45 x 175 x 2400 mm] Timber Frame [12mm] Ply Decking

5. Wall

[300 x 150 x 90 mm] Internal Hydraulic Compressed Earth Block- Stretcher position

[10 mm] Mortar

[20 mm] Air cavity

Damp Proof Membrane

[40 mm] Fibre glass insulation

[200 mm] Galvanised Stainless Steel wall tie

[300 x 150 x 90 mm] Internal Hydraulic Compressed Earth Block- stretcher

6. Wall to Window

[300 x 150 x 90 mm] Internal Internal Hydraulic Compressed Earth Block- soldier [20 mm] Air Cavity

[40 mm] FIbreglass Insulation Steel Lintel with end bearing of [150 mm] [1000 x 2100 mm] Double Glazed Aluminium Frame Windows

7. Roof to wall

4 x [80 x 150 mm] Timber forming box beam Box beam filled with wool insulation

8. Timber Post

2 x [175 x 50 mm] Timber Purlin Bracket attaching [200 x 200 mm] Post to purlin.

Timber Post Base plate.

9. Roof detail

[2440 x 175 x 45 mm] Timber Rafters spaced at 350 centres, overlapped and held in place with screws

[2440 x 1220 x 12 mm] Timber Plywood Roof Sheet

Breather Membrane

[2000 x 93 mm] Bitumen Corrugated Roofing Sheets overlapped by one corrugation, attached with rows of 10 x [50mm] screws with polycarbonate washers

With this project, we designed and carried out the construction of an outdoor straw bale classroom at a local school, I learnt first-hand construction techniques, and how to actually translate architecture into a physical space.