Architecture Y5. Portfolio | RIBA Part 2 M.Arch | Atta Ahmed

Atta-Ul-Karim Ahmed Unit 2 Design Portfolio Tony Fretton & Jillian Jones 14012695 2020/21

Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Volumetric Mimicry: Localised Induction of a new Masterplan 2

Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Creative Kentish Town: Interdisciplinary Architecture

Neighbourhood Organic Cafe and Kentish Boxing Club

Allotments

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Cafe

Holmes Road Studios

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Cabaret

Boxing Club

Light Industry

Kindergarten

Carpet Emporium

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Public Realm

Market

The Walled Gardens Park

The project proposal accentuates the two industrial sites with two distinct building elements: the horizontal volume of the Regis Road gives a strong urban statement located in between the railway and warehouses whereas the vertical volume of the multifunctional Highgate tower creates a focal point within Kentish Town.

The Highgate Tower

The thesis integrates numerous disciplines, approaches and studies of the cultural context of Kentish Town, and how each programme and forms relationships to existing businesses and change the heavily gentrified way of redevelopment. This system aims to conceptualise how masterplans can become interdisciplinary architectural pieces that strongly tie themselves to the circular economy, promote wellbeing through biophilia and act as a public mediator for a wealth of cultural exchanges.

There are 3 unique drivers to the scheme: The Highgate Tower, The Walled Gardens, Neighbourhood Organic Cafe and Cabaret and lastly the Kentish Town Boxing Club.

The Masterplan: an Insertion of a new diverse public scheme 3

Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Neighbourhood Organic Cafe and Kentish Boxing Club

The Walled Gardens The Focus: A New Public Masterplan for Kentish Town 4

The Highgate Tower

Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Creative Kentish Town: Interdisciplinary Architecture

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The two sides of Kentish Town

The initial sketch explores the dynamic forms between the two sites derived from the series of design interventions within the scheme. The landscape strategy creates a consolidation of the two sites that drives the public towards the private and stitches the scheme into the local fabric of the district.

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The proposal feature two sites, Regis Road (south) and Highgate Road (north).

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Key: 1 - The Plaza 2 - Neighbourhood Organic Cafe and Cabaret 3 - The Kentish Town Boxing Club 4 - Reception 5 - Carpet Emporium 6 - Regis Road Public Studios 7 - The Light House 8 - The Piano House 9 - The Tech House 10 - Kindergarten 11 - Kentish Town Farms Allotments 12 - The Highgate House 13 - The Highgate Tower 14 - Kentish Town Gardens

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Kentish Town Key Connections:

Points of Interest:

1 - Queen’s Crescent 2 - Kentish Town Road linked to Queen’s Road Crescent neighbourhood centre 3 - Create new link to Arctic Street 4 - Create new local green space providing play to support new residents and families in the area 5 - Create new connection to Holmes Road 6 - Link to York Mews 7 - Connection to Kentish Town West 8 - Entrance route to Wilkin Street Mews 9 - Create new entrance to Regis Road from Spring Place 10 - New railway crossing for pedestrian and cyclist 11 - Potential route to Highgate Studios

1 - Kentish Town City Farms 2 - Carlton primary School 3 - Kentish Town Business Park 4 - Council Building 5 - Warehouses (Mixed) 6 - Regis Road Recycling Centre 7 - Select Fashion HQ 8 - Warehouses and Design Studios 9 - St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School. Holmes Studios 10 - Kentish Town Police Station 11 - Kentish Town Section House 12 - The o2 Forum 13 - Highgate Road Studios 14 - Rocksteady Studios 15 - J. Murphy & Son LTD 16 - Neighbourhood Organic Cafe

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The London Borough of Camden 15

Regis Road and Highgate Road have limited circulation around them, with existing access solely located at the front of the UPS building. Furthermore, the existing routes create issues when planning for the new design development on the respective sites.

The highlighted routes (dark blue) illustrate how site circulation is crowded between the residential and industrial areas, with the red circles representing junctions with high levels of pollution through vehicle congestion. However, a simple alteration of the KTPF allows for a new route to be established from the west of Regis Road to Kentish Town high-street. The west to east access will be implemented in the planning of the scheme which will see the demolition of the warehouses located adjacent to the viaducts.

The new routes (light blue) aim to improve pedestrian, cyclists and vehicles circulation by minimising congestion and pollution. Therefore, the scheme in place will operate under the premise that no vehicles are to be permitted on site and cycling and walking will be encouraged to minimise the environmental impact within the Town Centre.

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Public Circulation: A redirection of local circulation in Kentish Town

Points of Interest and Building Use 6

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Highgate Road Site Regis Road Site

Regis Road Site

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Regis Road and Highgate Road have a level variation sloping around 1.68m end to end. The railway falls by 3.6m below the site levels from Regis Road Site to 4.5m. The Highgate is comparatively flat, with an average slope of 650mm in X direction and 850mm Y direction. The overall site area for Regis Road 22,000sqm with the smaller Highgate Site being 4750sqm.

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Light Industry Studios

Boxing Club

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Kindergarten

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Regis Road Proposed Site Sections

The proposal accentuates two distinct forms between the two sites. The horizontal nature of Regis Road enables the design to spread on the vast area to create distinct volumes each with their own qualities of space and individuality. Whereas the Highgate Tower concentrates those qualities from the first site into a vertical scheme.

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

The Programme Schematic 9

Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

The Kentish Farms Kindergarten

Operated by Kentish Town City Farms, located adjacent the western part of the railway at the end of Regis Road, the allotments provide a safe haven for the Kindergarten and the children with security organised at the end of the site. The Walled Gardens creates a space which enables children to learn and cultivate their own produce, which is then prepared and consumed through the Neighbourhood Organic Cafe.

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

The Landscape

Initial Landscape Collage

Through the implementation of a large plaza and a new public park, the masterplan enhances the public operation between the two sites, encouraging new circulation routes and potentially activating additional public sector programmes for the district.

The plaza could operate to provide for new festivities, markets, and public forums, whilst the park becomes a large breakout space for the workers of Highgate studios and the new Highgate Tower. The two sites become a cohesive masterplan through this infrastructure which impacts the wider context of Kentish Town. It forms relations within the local vernacular, increase its biodiversity and encourages economic growth in newly emerging industrial sectors.

Proposed Landscape Design Isometric 11

Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Neighbourhood Organic Cafe

Located at the front of the Regis Road Studios site, the Café and Cabaret, operated by Neighbourhood Organic, a café on Kentish Town High-street, provides a direct relationship to the plaza directing pedestrian circulation from the front of the site. The café aims to integrate several public programmes within the scheme as a mediator and encourage a new way of healthy eating directly from its source.

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Neighbourhood Organic Cafe

Regis Road Site Plan

The Cafe and Cabaret are designed to be operated by Neighbourhood Organic as part of a larger initiative to promote healthy living and eating in Kentish Town. The Cafe will act as a mediator to provide the necessary guidance to the allotment spaces whilst also tailoring to the needs of the Kentish Boxing Club and the Kentish Town City Farms Kindergarten. Two external courtyards break the two entities whilst its form remains as one.

The relationship between these programmes is vital in the operation of the scheme and its credibility.

Cafe and Cabaret Exploded Isometric

Cafe and Cabaret Isometric 13

Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Neighbourhood Organic Cafe

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1 - Kitchen 2 - Cafe Space 3 - Office 4 - Staff Changing 5 - Toilets 6 - Central Courtyard 7 - Herb Garden 8 - Cabaret Space 9 - Green Room 10 - Storage 11 - Stage 12 - Dressing Room 13 - Wardrobe

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Cafe + Cabaret Ground Floor Plan 1:150 14

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Neighbourhood Organic Cafe

Cafe + Cabaret East Elevation 1:200

Regis Road Site Plan

The facade and structure of the building comprise of red reclaimed brick and provides a low impact and sustainable solution matching the industrial aesthetic as seen in the works of Alvaro Siza and his Auditorium Theatre of Llinars del Valles. Two brick bonds are comprised of vertically stacked bricks with a Flemish bond running between every four passes all surrounding a 5x5m Glulam Structure.

A shallow green roof accessed through the west by stairs enables localised herb production (low impact) of herbs for the Cafe and Cabaret. The larger of the two chimneys provide an industrial aesthetic whilst also being utilised as an outdoor brick oven, in comparison the smaller one acts as a green wall in the herb garden, primarily used by the bar. This synergy between the two programmes is what encourages an integration of the vast scheme as a single entity.

Cafe + Cabaret West Elevation 1:200

Cafe + Cabaret North Elevation 1:200

Cafe + Cabaret South Elevation 1:200

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

The Kentish Boxing Club

Regis Road Site Plan

The Boxing Club has been designed to maximise the ground floor by allocating its sub spaces around the perimeter of the boxing rings. These areas aim to create a highly efficient training programme for future athletes orientating itself towards nutritional management, efficient and strategic exercises, and rehabilitation.

The Boxing club has taken inspiration from Mies Van de Rohe National Gallery, Berlin.

Constructed using CLT and Glulam Structures, the large spans enable a relatively column free space. 4 CLT Cores centred in its elevations enable the structure to support the green roof accompanied with a timber waffle system. The herb garden on the roof is to be used for the nutritional studies and natural performance enhancements for the athletes, reiterating the relationship of the adjacent cafe.

Boxing Club Exploded Isometric

Boxing Club Isometric 16

Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

The Kentish Boxing Club

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Regis Road Site Plan

1 - Reception 2 - Nutritional Guidance 3 - Cardio Gym 4 - Core 5 - Sauna 6 - Toilet 7 - Lockers and Showers 8 - Strategy Room (main office) 9 - Weight Lifting Gym 10 - Massage Therapy 11 - Boxing Ring

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Boxing Club Ground Floor Plan 1:150 17

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

The Kentish Boxing Club

Located between the Cafe and Regis Road Industrial Studios, the Boxing Club provides the necessary privacy for its athletes whilst simultaneously being open to the public. Mirrored glass runs along the lower perimeter of the building, creating privacy within the spaces whilst blending into the surroundings. The Boxing Club opens between plots of vegetation, directly aligning the central plaza through its diagonal route to the building.

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Regis Road Industrial Studios The Light Industry spaces are designed to provide flexibility though each building has its own function. The complex is divided into 3 areas. The public studios on the north, the manufacturing on the south and specialised industry on the west. Each building provides specific uses and is designed to operate certain process. The long building on the south dubbed the Piano House aims to manufacture, assemble, and repair pianos and other instruments to reintroduce instrument making into Kentish Town. The Public Studios on the north act workshops hired by local industries and managed by the council.

The Light House aims to promote creative ventures whilst the double pitched Tech House on the west aims for new technology and engineering specialisation of finer designs.

Regis Road Site Plan

The industry is sandwiched between the public programmes, enclosing the spaces with a secure perimeter which limits public entry. A reception located at the front adjacent to the Carpet Emporium guides clients and visitors during conventions or events.

Regis Road Industrial Studios Isometric 19

Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

The Courtyards

The emphasis on nature is reiterated through the relationship with the varying courtyards. Each building faces a courtyard which enables maximum natural light penetration and promotes well-being for its users, as its important as seen today through the coronavirus pandemic.

Biophilia is the study of vegetation within the working environment. The study states that plants, vegetation, and natural light in workspaces increase well-being increases productivity.

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Regis Road Studios: Light Industry

The site is generally designed to provide a diverse range of spaces for a diverse number of tenants. The Studio Spaces can be used to manufacture, design, and develop a variety of parts used in instrument repair and manufacturing whilst serving the needs of Kentish Town. The studio space can be occupied for artists creating illustrations to promote the historic venues of Kentish Town.

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Regis Road Industrial Studios

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Regis Road Industrial Studios Ground Floor Plan 1:300 22

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1 - Security Office with fencing at the front 2 - Main Reception of the Light Industrial site, 3 - Light Industry Offices 4 - Specialist Material Workshop and Fabrication 5 - Metal Workshop 6 - Specialist Timber Manufacturing (Piano Chassis Construction) 7 - Wood Workshop 8 - Central Courtyard, Garden.

9 - Offices 10 - Computer Suite 11 - Specialist Timber Manufacturing 12 - Offices and Lounge 13 - Public Workshops 14 - Carpet Emporium 15 - Courtyards 16 - Public Gallery Space (used on large plaza events) 17 - WC 18 - Water Feature

Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Regis Road Industrial Studios

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Regis Road Site Plan

Key: 1 - Terrace with Vegetation 2 - Lounge Area, Breakout Space 3 - Light Industry Offices 4 - WC 5 - Offices 6 - Printer and Amenities 7 - Staff Canteen 8 - Instrument Repair Fabrication 9 - Wood Working Area 10 - Metal Working Area 11 - Sheet Cutting Service 12 - Wood Working Office 13 - Workshop 14 - Storage 15 - Specialist Robotics Lab 16 - Fine Jewellery Manufacturing 17 - Meeting Areas with Public Hire Amenities

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Regis Road Industrial Studios

Regis Road Site Plan

The Public Studios operate to enable numerous entities such as local schools, Holmes Road Studios and other professional in the district/ borough to hire and learn from craftsmen and women operating these studios. These public hire studios will provide all tools and necessary equipment in supervision by the council. Each studio will have a specific function, ranging from furniture making to high tech robotics for complex geometries. These studios are in a form a miniature version of Highgate Studios, and provides economic value in a diminishing industrial sector through local businesses.

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Regis Road Public Studios Ground Floor Plan 1:50 24

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Regis Road Public Studios

The Studios are adjacent to the large plaza that extends into the park through Murphy’s Yard.

These workshops allow for a distinct range of manufacturing and research within the complex and encourage the public to be invested into the studios rather than be entirely left out.

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Isometric View of Regis Road Structure 26

Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Regis Road Structural Principle

The Light House

The primary structure of the Regis Road site consists of Glulam Columns (set in a 5x5m column grid), Glulam beams and LVL secondary beams with CLT Cores.

This system is flexible and adaptive as well as environmentally friendly through sustainable sources. The main driver of this structural principle is due to low embodied carbon timber offers and the low environmental impact. The exception to this system is the GGBS Concrete foundations.

Detail Wall Build Up, Timber Construction Isometric

Detail Wall Build Up, Timber Construction Worms-eye 27

Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Regis Road Industrial Studios Elevations The façades of the various buildings on the Regis Road Site are seen almost like a single entity. However, through a specific range of variation in the brick bonds, a complex and delicate façade can be achieved. This allows for each building to have its own district features, expressed solely through the reclaimed red bricks. This brick study extends into the façade application of the Highgate Tower, creating a unique synergy between the two sites expressed with its connection through the landscape and façade materials.

The façades heavily contrast the neighbouring vernacular, yet the volumes seamlessly integrate the design with pockets of nature. The main purpose of utilising the brick is to create aesthetically pleasing designs through varying brick bonds as its stereotype of industrial buildings in Kentish Town influence the volumes of the buildings.

Light Industry, The Tech House West Elevation 1:200

Regis Road Site Plan

The south of the studios opens up towards the walled gardens containing the Kindergarten and the allotments.

This sharp contrast between the nature and the brick volumes references Alvaro Siza and his Barcelona Theatre.

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Light Industry, The Tech House Section 1:200 28

Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Light Industry North Elevation 1:200

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Regis Road Studios: Sections & Elevation

The section through the Public Studios, The Light House and The Tech House illustrate the connectivity and relationship within the complex. This creates an enclosed space with limed access through the north of the site whilst enabling seamless circulation between each other.

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Light Industry South Elevation 1:200

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Regis Road Studios: Sections & Elevation

The south of the site is entirely different as additional circulation is provided through an external terrace with a series of stairs allowing access to the upper floors. This allows for controlled evacuation and flexible circulation between the workshops and outside.

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

The Central Courtyard

The central courtyard within the Regis Road Studio compound primarily acts as a large break out space for its users and an exhibition space for the public. A central gallery (Regis Road Studio gallery) is used to showcase the diversity of works produced on-site to the public on special occasions and events.

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Light Industry: The Tech House

The Tech House constitutes a series of high-tech assembly spaces using robotics, large scale CNC machinery and 3D printing, the spaces are intertwined with pockets of offices, with a larger open plan workshop on the ground floor. The view to Highgate Tower creates a visual relationship whilst also providing a point of reference to the two sites.

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

The Highgate Tower

(Left) The view to Highgate House and Highgate Tower from Highgate Road illustrates the mimicry of the local vernacular within the given public programmes in contrast to the proud standing Tower which acts as a new beacon of progress in the area. (Right) view from Forest Road approaching the junction adjacent to the Highgate Tower.

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

The Highgate Tower

Arriving to the base of the tower, the user is greeted with a double height entrance space with a mezzanine level in its centre. The ground floor primarily constitutes of heavy industry work with light office work on the upper floors. The building acts as an extension to the neighbouring Highgate Studios, managed by the council.

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

The Highgate Tower

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

The Highgate Tower

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

The Highgate Tower

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

The Highgate House

Cabaret and Kindergarten Ground Floor Plan

The Highgate House is the concentration of the public programmes within a single building. On the ground floor a large double height Cabaret located at the front of the building reintroduces that relationship of the O2 Forum whilst a Kindergarten occupies the adjacent space. The upper floors constitute of the Boxing Club with a rooftop terrace acting as a private breakout space for the athletes and users.

The Highgate House Isometric

Boxing Club and Cabaret Mezzanine Level

The Highgate House Isometric

Boxing Club First Floor 38

Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

The Highgate Cafe

The East Wing of the base of Highgate Tower is primarily utilised as a series of breakout and open plan working spaces. The ground floor engages with the users through a café and bar space that services as a canteen for the staff and allows a centralised relationship between the public and private. The Highgate Tower opens towards the park, with a direct view towards the Regis Road Studios and plaza.

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Light Industry: The Highgate Tower

The design of Highgate Towers takes all the qualities of the Regis Road Studios and conceptualises them in a vertical arrangement. Two atrium spaces at its centre, the Tower, and East Wing (as seen above) provides light, ventilation and biophilic qualities enhancing the well-being of its users, whilst acting a means of visual communication between spaces.

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

The Highgate Tower Facade

The exploration of the brick bonds, brick formations and brick properties, are presented in the designs through varying depths of façade panels as inspired by Tony Fretton’s Westkaai Towers in Antwerp. The design may seem primitive from a distance, though a closer inspection reveals complexities of the facade through simple, and sustainable materials (reclaimed brick nonstructural) similar to the Regis Road site.

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Facade Study: Brick Bonds There are numerous types of brick bonds that are commonly used in London; however, many variations of brick projections can be achieved by simply shifting a set of bricks in several patterns. These variations can create depth by making the facade appear deeper or shallower, they may make it darker through the shadows cast by them and be used with a combination of glass or stone.

A variety of textures can be achieved through the simple manipulation of the brick. The thesis aims to use these studies to form a design language that appears to fit in Kentish Town fabric but enhance it through its playful forms of façade studies.

Brick Panels Integration Test

Brick Formation on the Highgate Tower 42

Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

Structure

Precast GGBS Concrete Beams Central WC/ Lift Cores

Central Stair Cores 350mm Precast Concrete Hollow Core Slab

Precast Concrete Edge Beam Precast Concrete Column GGBS Concrete Basement A GGBS precast structure in the Highgate Tower provides flexibility in the spaces and enables the spaces to be easily compartmentalised. In addition, the structure allows flexibility in its interior layout, as varying scale companies will require a varying degree of floor space.

Therefore, the council can subdivide the spaces tailored to each new tenet.

The structure features a tall ground floor 8m high with a small mezzanine for administration work. The floor-to-floor height is set to 5m to enable maximum light penetration into the building, and further aid with cross ventilation in the spaces. The floor to ceiling height is comprised of 3.75m, with a 1m zone used for the 350mm hollow core slab, and servicing alongside a raised access floor for localised service distribution.

An atrium runs from the first floor to the top of the building to enable additional aid for ventilation as a thermal labyrinth is used to passively cool the building.

The atrium is surrounded by two stair cores with stairs measuring 1.5m width and service risers. The primary areas for the service distribution will be through the cores, the toilet blocks and riser spaces that are set around the perimeter of the atrium.

Detail Wall Build Up, Timber Construction Isometric 43

Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

The Highgate Tower Construction Drawings

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1:20 External Wall Build Up Detail 01 1 - 215x102.5x65 Reclaimed Red Brick Flemish Bond (Behind) 2 - 215x102.5x65 Reclaimed Red Brick 3 - Steel Brick Tie 4 - 50mm Air Gap 5 - 5mm Waterproofing Membrane 6 - 150mm Rockwool Insulation 7 - Medium Density Concrete Block 8 - 30mm Timber Battens 9 - 18mm Oak Boards 10 - Service Duct (Fresh Air in) 11 - Black Graphite Composite Honey Comb Sheet 12 - Fire Block 13 - Steel I-Beam Brick Lintel 14 - Timber Lintel 15 - 50x150mm Timber Window Frame 16 - Ceiling Lighting Channel 17 - Acoustic Timber Batten Ceiling Panels

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1:20 Roof/ Parapet Detail 02 1 - 1500mm Glass Balustrade 2 - Black Graphite Composite Honey Comb Sheet 3 - Fire Block 4 - 350mm Precast GGBS Concrete Edge Beam (Secondary) 5 - 350mm Precast GGBS Hollow Core Slab 6 - 500mm Precast GGBS Concrete Edge Beam (Secondary) 7 - Rolling Shutter 8 - 50mm Concrete Screed 9 - Rain Gutter 10 - 50mm Concrete Screed (Slope to 100mm) 11 - 20mm Sealed Floor Finish

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Creative Kentish Town: A Study of Interdisciplinary Architecture

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Creative Kentish Town: Interdisciplinary Architecture 46