Portfolio June 2021

Chloe Erskine, Year 2 MALA (Conversion) Student

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Projects 1 2 3

Writtle University College Health and Well-being Campus Chelmsford Meadow Surface Site Analysis Moonlight Garden

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Writtle University College Health and Well-being Campus

Project focus: Land use and green infrastructure Concept: Revival

Improving the health and well-being of students, staff and campus users is high priority at Writtle University College (WUC). Working in groups, we investigated how improvements to green infrastructure and land use considerations could improve the health and well-being of campus users.

Elements (agricultural college, rural setting) that provide the Writtle Campus with its sense of place were explore and how these could be incorporating into the revival of the campus.

Design Strategies Improve fragmentation of green infrastructure Support students and community with health and well-being Improve access to the public throughout the site Enhance community attachment Provide educational opportunities Improve relationship between community and nature

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Writtle University College Masterplan Health and Well-being Campus LUGI Landscapes Land Use and Green Infrastructure

Design Objectives 1. Use streams, SuDS, public rights of way to improve connections between habitats.

2. Improve access onto and through site by developing circulation routes between different areas of programming.

3. Careful consideration of the Hunting Lodge site and surrounding ancient woodland. This area will be preserved while also improving access through the creation of a woodland walk.

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4. Design consistently within the vernacular of the site by building upon the planting that is currently in situ. Hard landscaping will use natural, hard-wearing materials.

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5. Increase vegetation on site by connecting woodland corridors, underplanting woodland areas, introducing marginal planting at reservoir edge (e.g. bulrush, sedge, Iris). Any connecting footpaths will have vegetated edges.

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6. Multi-sensory planting scheme. Planting across the site will include a wide variation in colour and texture used (Betula sp., Rosa canina).

7. Creating spaces that provide people with opportunities to exercise by: Cycling: creation of a Pump Track, linking to national cycle path.

Water sports: providing access to reservoir through inclusion of a jetty. Provide storage facilities for equipment (paddleboards, kayaks).

Parkour: Creating a specific Parkour skills area.

8. Create reflective spaces by utilising King John Hunting Lodge area into wildlife garden reflective spaces developing the underplanting (e.g. hellebores, Digitalis sp.) incorporating winding paths with shielding views between paths.

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8 3 Detailed Design Area

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Detailed Design Area

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Temporal variation across the seasons at Writtle Reservoir. Exploring how the function of the site can adapt to changes.

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Planting Scheme The design intended there to be a feeling of enclosure and safety created by the surrounding tree planting. With this in mind, it was important to consider the size at which trees would be initially planted and the implicated costs of this, together with the growth rate of tree types. A mixture of fast growing and slower growing trees were selected to give that important feeling of maturity rapidly, while still providing the site with longevity.

Seasonal variation was also an important consideration. The intention is for the site to be used year round. In the winter months when activities are limited, the visual aspect of the site become further heightened. It was important to use trees that maintained their structure and visual impact even without foliage.

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Terraced Planting

Cafe Area

Storage

The Terraced planting below the cafe area will aid in transitioning from the structural cafe area to the free-form meadow area below and the water beyond.

Both the Cafe and Storage Areas will have clear views over the reservoir.

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Cafe Area Terraced Planting Lower Decking

Area

The journey to the Lower Decking Area, down the hillside will aid in giving the area a sense of calm and serenity. The Lower Decking Area will provide a multifunctional space, which will be accessible throughout the seasons. The cafe area and seating decking will be also be multifunctional. This area can easily be transformed into an event space on warmer evenings or used as an activity area.

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2 Chelmsford Meadow Surface Site Analysis Project focus: Site Analysis and Using Digital Tools

The Meadows Surface (High Bridge Road, Chelmsford, Essex) is in central Chelmsford, in the Moulsham and Central ward. The site is currently in use as a car park, servicing users of The Meadows Shopping Centre, the city centre, and surrounding shops. The site is at the confluence of the River Chelmer and Can. The River Chelmer runs from Thaxted to southeast Chelmsford, where is then channelised through the city. The River Chelmer supports a high-quality fishery and is an important source of drinking water for the public (“Environment Agency - Catchment Data Explorer,” n.d.). From the site, opposite the gasworks, the river becomes a canal. Popular for recreational boating, canoeing, walking, and cycling. It then joins the River Tet which is one of the most unspoiled rivers in Essex.

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The Meadows Surface Site

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History and Culture The areas immediately around the site have been considerably developed over the last 150 years. The river systems in Chelmsford have dictated the boundaries of development in the city. The site being at the significant meeting point between the Chelmer and the Can. These two rivers have dictated the spatial development of the city and have been instrumental in the ‘Y’ shape of the city. One of the most significant development to the site is the channelisation of the rivers in the 1950s. Channelisation is now understood to cause increased rates of flooding (Heritage and Entwistle, 2020). While it is more likely that downstream of the channelised rivers will be at greater risk, the site has been recorded as “Liable to flood” from the 1920s. Mitigating the impacts of this flooding should be a priority of the site, to ensure homes further downstream are protected from future flooding events.

Honouring the industrial heritage of the site surroundings, while integrating aspects of green space that represent the Watermeadows to the south-east of the site is important to ensure any new development of the site reflects the vernacular of the surrounding spaces.

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Local access to Blue Space The Meadow’s Surface site is well connected to green spaces in Chelmsford via walkways and cycle paths along the river’s edges.

Recreationally, the closest access points are the Chelmsford Canoe Club and Chelmsford Angling Association. Further afield, wild swimming options are found in Utling and Trifarm. These activities however, all require an entrance fee or membership. The focus for future access to blue space should be for free activities.

TriFarm (5.5 miles) Ulting Wild Swimming (9.6 miles) Chelmsford Canoe Club (<0.1 miles) Chelmsford Angling Association (<0.1 miles)

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Hydrology The site sites on Alluvial deposits (clay, slit, sand and gravel) because of the River Chelmer and Cam. These alluvial deposits highlight the risk of flooding on site because of the rivers and show historically where the land would have flooded before urbanisation. The Catchment area of the rivers is part of a large network that feeds the Lower Chelmer which meets the sea at Maldon.

From the Meadows Surface site the river is classified as the Lower Chelmer. There is a mixed record of water quality throughout the catchment area.

The upper reaches have high levels of ammonia, likely due to agricultural practices, while fish populations struggle in central regions, perhaps due to urbanisation. Phosphate levels are significantly higher in the Lower Chelmer.

Alluvial deposits – Clay, silt and gravel

High Flood risk

Wider Catchment Confluences of Chelmer and Can

Alluvial deposits mirror areas where there is higher potential for flooding.

This indicates that these areas have regularly flooded historically. The Alluvial nature of the substrate can cause issues for construction.

Wider Catchment Digimaps

Digimaps

The upper regions of the catchment area travel through largely agricultural landscape before entering the city of Chelmsford. The confluence of the River Can and Chelmer is likely to present additional flooding pressure, especially in extreme rainfall events, which are now more common.

p a m i g i D

Geological Map Data BGS © UKRI 2021. © Crown Copyright and Database Right 2021. Ordnance Survey (100025252).

May 20, 2021 09:34

Scale 1:75000

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Projection: British National Grid

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10 km

Chloe Erskine Writtle University College

Catchment

Digimaps

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Social Demographics

The Meadows Surface site is at the Intersection between dense urban development and one of the largest green space in Chelmsford.

% of inhabitants occupying a flat.

Population living in Flats

The Urban, Rural edge

Digimaps

Digimaps

Proportional material for Aspyre, a development in close proximity (<0.1miles) to the Meadows Surface Taylor Wimpey

Fig 10. The distribution of urban, agricultural and rural

The current population of Chelmsford is 168,310, and it is predicted to grow to 198,000 by 2036. This is a 12.8 % increase in 24 years. Much of the population are in this urban area. The area is densely populated with a large percentage of the population living in flats. Continued economic growth is coupled with rapid housing development resulting in confined living spaces with limited access to Green and Blue space. One of the main selling points for the new properties being developed in the Chelmsford Waterside project around the Meadows Surface is the access to the rivers, likely due to the limited outdoor space included with accommodation.

Current Issues facing Chelmsford Population: - Health inequalities - Excess weight and obesity - High levels of Hip fractures in over 65’s - Less the 1/5 adults achieving meet 30 minute of exercise per week - Loneliness and social isolation - High levels of alcohol consumption and binge drinking Many of these issues can be alleviated by improved access to green and blue space.

Land typologies Digimaps

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Connections Currently, car traffic monopolises much of the Meadow Surface site. The car park dominates that landscape, pushing pedestrians and cyclists to the periphery, resulting in conflict between large vehicles and personal transport modes. Access bridges are narrow, requiring cyclists to dismount when crossing. They are also low-lying preventing boat traffic from passing on both the river Chelmer and Can. Development proposals suggest raising the bridges to allow small boats to pass under.

This is an important consideration for future development of the site.

Fig 12. Pedestrian, cyclist and vehicle connections map Digimaps

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The proposal for the Meadows Surface site is to replace the car park with a pedestrianised series of interweaving paths over a rain garden. The aim of this proposal is to improve walking access to the site and encourage footfall by making the Meadows Surface site a destination. The rain gardens should act as not only a measure to control run-off into the Chelmer and Can, but as a safe flooding zone. The pathways are designed to be elevated above the rain gardens, enabling them to be accessible during flood events and during heavy rain fall.

Incorporated into the design is seating areas and access points to allow users of small boats such as canoes or paddle boards to access the rivers for recreation.

The speed limit across the High Bridge Road is proposed to be reduced to 20 mph. Slowing traffic has been shown to be an effective measure in reducing levels of congestion.

Schematic

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The Moonwater Garden

Project focus: Site and Concept Concept: Moonwater

The Client An intergenerational family, with busy daily schedules. They would like a space that brings them together and has dedicated space for entertaining. They are hoping to redesign their garden space to enjoy their shared passion – Stargazing. It is also important that is areas for individuals to have their own space within the garden at the same time.

With busy work schedules, the evening is when they get the most out of the space. The family have interests in both Astronomy and Astrology, the design should express elements of both in a cohesive manner.

The family use the garden all year round, so some sheltered seating for the winter would be ideal. A place they can go, wrapped up warm, and take advantage of the early evenings and clear winter skies.

Stargazing together throughout the entire year.

Design Aim The aim of this design is to provide a multi-generational space which will awaken the senses in the day and in the night. The design concept will be driven by the theme of ‘Moonwater’. By using reflection on water, hard and soft landscaping, our aim will be to capture as much of the moonlight as possible.

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Exploring the Site Site The Garden currently consists of ornamental planting, mature trees with two mounded lawn areas. Tree species including Prunus serrula, Platanus × acerifolia, Pinus sp.

With surrounding Betula pendula. There is a sunken, circular seating area close to the house. The north end of the garden has a heavy overhead canopy, and due to it’s orientation, is shaded by the house. From the area under canopy there is a feeling of security, looking out over the lawn. The mounded hills make for a popular Context The site is located in Writtle, Essex. Essex, known for its rolling countryside. The temperate region sees relatively low rain fall in comparison to the remainder or the U.K. The area sees quite large temporal fluctuations that need to be kept in mind during the design process.

Developing a garden that will be usable from warm summers to cold winters.

Being Maps, 2020 Moonlight Garden, Writtle Bing Maps [online] Available through: < https://www.bing.com/maps > [Accessed 11 November 2020]. Essex county outlined in white.

From left to right: 1. Betula sp. Run around the perimeter of the garden, providing visual shielding from overlooking apartments. 2. A view of the garden from the house (North -> South). The Platanus × acerifolia can be seen in the foreground and casts the majority of the northern area of the garden into shade.

The Moonlight Garden Site outlined in navy above. Overlook the garden from the west.

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Site Analysis Site analysis was undertaken to determine the contextual variables that need to be taken into account during the design process. Sun direction, shade, sheidling from views from overlooking buildings and views from the house were all considered.

Shielding is important from overlooking neighbouring buildings. Betula sp. surround the perimeter of the garden. The boundary of the garden is defined by a Fagus sylvatica hedge.

Views across the garden from the threestorey property across the garden should be considered.

Prevailing wind the Writtle Area is from the southwest. The area experiences relatively warm, dry summers in comparison to the rest of the British Isle.

A public footpath surrounds the garden - an important consideration when determining new access points and boundary choice.

The north facing garden experiences a considerable amount of shade throughout the day.

Evening seating/ dining areas should be place with this in mind.

The Georgian property over looks the garden

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A Moonlight Garden Moonlight + Garden

I started the design process by thinking about what makes a moonlight a garden.

R E F L E C T I O N C A N O P Y L I G H T W AT E R S H I N E B E A M M O V E M E N T S O U N D S E A S O N S G R AV I T Y T I D A L T E X T U R E M I R R O R B R A N C H E S S P O O K Y

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Moon water Thought process:

There is water on the moon! This image indicates where ice has been discovered on the moon, in craters consistently shadowed at the poles of the moon. The dark side of the moon has many more craters than it’s earth facing counterpart.

Exploring the texture of the moon. The craters could be holding pools for water.

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Experimenting with Shape After the initial schematics, we completed an exercise experimenting with shape. For this exercise I used a circle, representative of moon craters. Looking at how the craters have been formed over time gave inspiration on how to make circles fit together.

Determining form I began to think about form. Assigning elements and rough heights to the shapes.

Working over the developed crater pattern, I deciphered what should be mass and void, using site analysis.

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The Moon Water design

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The Moon Water design

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Pools and Rills catch evening light Concealed seating area

Planting to merge with off-site Betula sp.

Planting to shield views from neighbouring properties

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