REVIVE THE COURTYARD VENNELS

Inspired by Herzberger, I strive to explore a systematic architectural approach, incorporating it into the nuanced operations of the ancient site; seeking coexistence between old and new, while carefully designing based on human behavior and experience. The idea of this “structure” comes directly from the vennels on the site. A series of walls are generated alongside some divisions of ancient territories as a historic call back to Stirling.

Year: 2023-2024

Type: Academic Project Site: Stirling, Scotland, UK

Program: Community center design Role: Individual Work

A typical layout of medieval age can be found somewhere in Scottish cities and towns. A plan originating from the reign of King David I, 1124-1153, who viewed the planning of burghs as a way of gaining control. As the same as Edinburgh and St Andrews, The “Royal Burgh” in Stirling developed on the steep slopes below the castle before the 19th century, with a medieval layout in which land was divided in long narrow plots, which are called “vennels” in Scottish word.

The characteristic division of the territory causes each building around the courtyard to extend inward along the direction of the vennel, creating a series of nearly parallel spatial boundaries in today's urban maps. Behind the bustling high street, the semipublic space between public and private appears to be a neglected area. Instead of fostering neighborhood interactions, these spaces not only block connections between different corners of the courtyard (due to geographical factors) but also become chaotic places where nobody wishes to linger.

1 Site map and strategy

2 Sketch model shows the “vennel wall” strategy

3 Axonometric drawing of community center

In this situation, an architecture system can be a catalyst to revive the courtyard space. It will create new functions that bringing people together, relink the circulation around courtyards, reorganize the space to avoid the mess, and increase the diversity of life.

In the public spaces, the building incorporates a series of user-operated adaptable features, such as foldable canopies in the central courtyard and horizontally rotating doors in the activity center, to respond to weather changes, fostering a close connection between people and nature, allowing them to enjoy the pleasant temperatures of Scotland's spring and summer.

In Hertzberger’s design, “humanism” is often to be considered under his “polyvalent” structuralism. He often designs elements in the in-between spaces to encourage social interaction, such as the recessed areas and halfheight walls in De Drie Hoven, which resonate with human scale. In this project, I also designed lots of comfortable details for human beings in life.

This section will mainly use renderings to tell the experience of people living in this building, aiming at creating cozy feeling and sense of belonging, and express my attitude towards communicating architecture design and interior design.

To express the locality of building materials, reduce the significant carbon emissions associated with concrete usage, and provide a warm, artisanal texture to the atmosphere of the care home, I chose gabion walls for the wall surfaces. The stones are sourced from local quarries and constructed in an environmentally friendly manner alongside CLT frames The design of the walls also integrates seating, window sills, bookshelves, and air conditioning systems while maintaining a smooth surface without protrusions