Benjamin Marticorena
01 BIRD’S NEST
Stage 2. Location: Canterbury, Kent
An architecture and landscape project with focus on the relation of buildings with their natural context. With its transparent facade, the bird’s nest amphitheatre complex provides a research and arts centre which experiments with the natural and man-made thresholds that separate interior from exterior. The building’s organic design gives the proposal a sculptural approach, and can be appreciated from every point of view.
Concept design
The building combines the the organic characteristic of a bird’s nest with the monumental composition of standing stones.
Amphitheatre section
GOWN IN TOWN 02
The narrow streets and compact housing in UK cities such as Canterbury can be an issue for the construction of new living spaces. However, in my first year Gown in Town project, I explored how the “leftover” areas can be transformed into modern housing developments.
This tiny house design accommodates a comfortable and well lit appartment in a 3 x 10 metres area, taking advantage of a dead end between two existing houses.
Site & Concept
The 3 x 10 metres site sits between two existing houses. These block the sides of the site, allowing light only in the street front and the back.
Orthographic Drawings
The concept of the design was to create a Cyclist’s home implementing storage spaces, workshops and ramps to facilitate the daily life of cyclists.
To compensate for the covered sides of the site, the design implements skylights and light permeable facades.
Structural diagram
03 FORMS & STRUCTURE
A structural case study report of an existing building focusing on the relationship between structure and archictecture. The report consisted on producing a set of orthographic drawings, connection details, load diagrams, construction sequences and a final model showing the structural principles of the building.
Stage 2. Case study report
Architects: Kengo Kuma & Associates, College of Enviromental Design UC Berkeley
Location: Takinoue, Japan Nest We Grow
Year: 2014
Primary
Secondary Terciary - Cladding - Beams - Load bearing columns - Roof structure - Suspended columns - Cross bracing
Structural model
Case study model showing the structural characteristics of the building, including the primary, and secondary structural components. 1:50
Joints & Details
Each column is composed of four 150 x 150mm japanese laminated timber columns.
Two pairs of 75 x 250 beams are fit into cuts in the columns and joined by moment connections. The building combines construction from Japan and the United States.
04 BOAT MUSEUM
The majesty of the white cliffs of Kent celebrated by a building with strong presence and high importance to the community. This project hosts facilities for the local Sea Scouts and maritime exhibition spaces for small boats with historical value from around the world.
Stage 1. Location: Ramsgate, Kent
Concept & Circulation models
The shape and internal spaces of the building were explored through a variety of physical models.
The massing model shows the overall external form of the building and the exploded circulation model shows the open floor spaces, stairs and lifts.
Perspective overlay drawings
Scale
The growth of a city or town always comes with a number of challenges to overcome in order to maintain its harmony and well being. One of the main challenges is housing.
Sitting on the edge of a creek, this project presents a refined but yet affordable design, combining standard block planning with a sophisticated envelope construction. Its undulating facade interacts with the waterfront and embelishes the creek’s promenade.
Concept design
Through sketches and massing models I explored the concept of a curved front on the waterside, contrasted with a rectilinear facade on the opposite side. The models also served to see which design ideas should be carried forward.
Section & Site Elevation
Stage 3. Location: Chatham, Kent
Symphony from the River: Music Complex & Urban Square
Amphitheatre
Music classrooms/Urban room
Recording/Practice studios
The proposal aims to revitilise Chatham’s music and entertainment industry, which played an important in the town’s history. The large music scene in Medway, with music festivals and University music faculties located in the area, justifies and encourages the need for both performance and learning music facilities.
Music complex and urban square plan
CHATHAM’S LIVING
Stage 3. Location: Chatham Intra, Kent
GRID
Reforming the urban fabric of Chatham High Street with a community centre for nutrition, commerce and aquaponic planting. The project tackles health deprivation present in Chatham Intra, while enhancing the quality of its High Street and riverfront. The scheme’s .walkable timber grid connects the different spaces and promote physical activity.
Community Cafe & Dining
A temple for nutrition providing affordable meals and a unique experience The building is made of structural rammed earth blocks. The blocks are stacked slightly overlapping to create the slope that shapes the building. The circular skylight at the top of the building intakes light and can also open to allow for stack ventilation. The floor plan of the dining area follows the shape of the skylight for its interior arrangement. The bar area is directly below the oculus and the tables all revolve around it.
Community Cafe & Dining - Long Section
Chatham Market Hall
The only existing building on site hosts the new Chatham Market Hall, containing affordable produce from the aquaponic plantations of the proposal. The former facade of the building is stripped to expose the brick and take out the white render allowing the weathered brick to show. The shape of the roof allows for rainwater collection which can be reused either for services or for the aquaponic system.
Chatham Market Hall - Storage Cross Section
Chatham Market Hall - East Elevation
Chatham Market Hall - Long Section
Chatham Market Hall - Cross Section
Model perspective view
Greenhouse & Workshop + Aquaponic grid
The building is constructed of CLT walls and columns at ground level. The greenhouse aspect of the building uses a steel frame for the greenhouse at the upper level.
The building contains a workshop and processing area for the aquaponic produce on ground level, and an aquaponic greenhouse on the upper level. It has a direct connection to the timber grid leading to the outdoor aquaponic planting.
Aquaponic systems
The proposal implements standard vertical planting aquaponics and air pots.
Both techniques use perforations to allow sunlight and water into the system. In both cases the nutrients are delivered through perforated fabric tubes.
Sediment tank Bio-filter
Hydroponics tank
Greenhouse & Workshop - East Elevation
Greenhouse & Workshop - Long Section
Greenhouse & Workshop - Section G
Conical structure
massing models to test different shapes and textures
Concept development
Sketch sections and elevations
Massing & sketch models
Perspective overlays
Circulation diagrams
Perspective overlays to test existing building repurposing.
SKETCHBOOK
08
A collection of sketches, precedent studies and paintings from my 3 years of architecture studies. The collection shows a wide range of themes and techniques which complimented my projects as part of my design diary both visually and conceptually.
Derek Jarman’s Garden
Stadt Park Lehen - Martin Oberascher & Partners