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SETTING OUT THE PROJECT BY PULLING APART THE LAYERS OF THE BRIEF
TAKING ARCHITECTURAL ANALYSIS INTO A DEPTH OF QUESTIONING - RIGHT BEFORE OUR VERY EYES...
BUILDING THE CONCEPT WITH THE LAYERS OF HERITAGE, FABRIC AND THE EXPERIENCE
The brief focuses on the adaptive retrofit of The White Building, an early 20th-century structure housing Lab4Living within Sheffield Hallam University’s Art and Design faculty. It sets out to investigate how this building can be reimagined as a civic and inclusive space that strengthens the reciprocal relationship between the university and the city.
Through a process of rigorous and creative designresearch, the brief explores ways in which The White Building might support more open, collaborative, and ethically grounded forms of research and learning. It engages with questions of power, justice, and care, examining the role of the university in shaping – and being shaped by – the wider social and urban context.
The brief considers how architectural interventions— whether through physical alterations, spatial reconfigurations, or changes in use—can transform The White Building into a more responsive system. In doing so, it seeks to position the building as a civic agent, capable of fostering deeper connections between academic practice and the everyday lives of local communities.
THE PROJECT IS SITUATED IN THE RETROFIT OF THE WHITE BUILDING. HOME TO THE ‘LAB 4 LIVING’ COMMUNITY THAT ADDRESSES CRITICAL ISSUES RELATED TO HEALTH AND WELLBEING THROUGH WORKSHOPS, INNOVATIVE DESIGN AND INVENTION.
THE WHITE BUILDING HAS COME UNDER CRITICAL THREAT OF DECOMMISSION DUE TO THE CURRENT STATE OF DECAY.
LAB 4 LIVING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SHEFFIELD HALLAM UNIVERSITY HAVE APPROACHED THE BUILDING WITH A CRITICAL NEED FOR CARE IN ORDER TO RETAIN THE BUILDING AND EXPAND ITS POTENTIALS OUTWARDS UNTO THE CITY AND TRANSFORM THE EXISTING SPACES INTO A SHOWCASE OF THEIR IDEAS, WORKSHOPS AND LEARNING PROCESSES THAT TAKE PLACE BEHIND THE WALLS OF THE MARBLE FACADE.
WITH GRANT FUNDING RECEIVED FROM THE UNIVERSITY AND THE COUNCIL, HERITAGE ENGLAND HAS ALLOWED FOR THE NECESSARY CONSTRUCTIONS TO BE UNDERTAKEN GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT THE PROPOSAL TAKES POSITIVE IMPACT OF CARE THE BUILDING AND THE SURROUNDING URBAN SPACE.
IN A COLLABORATIVE WAY THE BRIEF REMAINS OPEN TO CREATIVE FREEDOM OF HOW WE CAN RETROFIT OUR HERITAGE THROUGH MULTIPLE ACTORS AND AGENTS (SEE FIG) AND PROVIDE A LEVEL OF CARE THROUGH THE SUBTRACTION AND ADDITION OF FRAGMENTS OF SPACE IN THE EXPLORATION OF WHAT LIES BEYOND THE FAÇADES OF OUR SPACES.
VIEWS OUT
PATHS
PRIMARY VEHICLE ACCESS
VIEWS
SITE APPROACH ON FOOT
DESIRE PATH
- CASCINA OTTO
THE APPROACH THAT THEY TOOK WAS TO CARE FOR THE EXTERNAL FACADE BY CREATING A
ADDITION
SUBTRACTION
STUDIO WOK
- A COUNTRY HOME IN CHIEVO
THE CONCEPT OF THE DESIGN USES THIS FORM MORPHED BY ADDITION AND SUBTRACTION OF SPACE BASED ON CUTTING OUT SPACE AND ADDING SPACE TO CREATE A DIFFERENT FEEL FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.
BORDEAUX HOUSING TRANSFORMATION
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROJECT INVOLVES MAKING EQUAL SPACE FOR THE OCCUPANTS OF THE HOUSING PROJECT. RATHER THAN SUBTACTING FROM THE BUILDING AND TAKING DOWN THE EXISTING, THE SPACE IS MAINTAINED AND CARED FOR THROUGH A PROCESS OF ADDITIONAL BALCONY SPACES THAT ACT AS A WINTER GARDEN FOR THE OCCUPANTS.
Carlo Scarpa was an Italian architect known for his sensitive approach to restoring and reinterpreting historic buildings. His concept of layering involved integrating new architectural elements while respecting the past, creating a dialogue between old and new. Scarpa used materials, details, and spatial sequences to highlight historical layers, emphasizing depth, transparency, and craftsmanship. His work, such as the Castelvecchio Museum renovation, showcases how contemporary interventions can enhance heritage structures without
THE MANIFESTO OF THE PROJECT LOOKS TOWARDS DEVELOPING THE INTERIOR SPACES AND CHANGING THE DYNAMIC BETWEEN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE.
WITH AN INCORPORATION OF GREEN SPACES TO ENGAGE AND BRING IN THE PUBLIC FROM THE GROUND FLOOR THROUGH THE DESIGN OF SPACE FOCUSED ON WELL BEING AND SENSORY CLARITY.
THE SPACES AIM TO EXHIBIT THE SENSES THROUGH A SERIES OF BIOPHILIC IMPLEMENTATION FOR SMELL AND TOUCH - WHILE OTHERS AIM TO CREATE VISUAL FRAMES OF THE SKY - RECOGNISING THE ELEMENTS WE OFTEN FORGET ARE ALL AROUND US IN THE BUSTY CITY WHILST A SERIES OF CAREFUL INSURGENTS CAREFUL ALLOW LIGHT TO FILTER INTO THE SPACE CHANGING THE DYNAMICS BETWEEN THE PUBLIC INTEGRATION AND THE LAB 4 LIVING EXHIBITS AND ON GOING WORKSHOPS.
RAW MATERIAL OF THE EXISTING STRUCTURE IS TO BE EXPOSED AND OPEN TO EXPRESS THE ORIGINAL STATE OF THE BUILDING TO PROVOKE A CONTRAST BETWEEN MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND HERITAGE MATERIAL.
THE JOURNEY THROUGH THE SITE REVEALS CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF TEXTURE AS THE USER MOVES ALONG ITS PATHWAYS.
THE TEXTURES GIVES CHARACTERISTICS TO THE MICRO-ENVIRONMENTS THAT TELL US WHERE ON THE SITE WE ARE WITHOUT USING ANOTHER SENSES OTHER THAN TOUCH.
THE TEXTURES NOT ONLY TELL US WHAT THE MATERIAL MAY BE, BUT ALSO:
- THE CLIMATE IN WHICH WE ARE SITUATED IN.
- THE DAMPNESS IN THE AIR.
- THE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
- THE BIOPHILIC RECLAMATION OF THE URBAN STATE OF DECAY.
- THE URBAN STRUCTURES PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES
THE TEXTURE DIMENSIONS
THE URBAN GRAIN OF THE CITY IS BUILT UP OF DIFFERENT STRUCTURES THAT FOLLOW DIFFERENT USES - ULTIMATELY FORMING THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CITY AND THE UNIVERSITY.
STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
THE SITE IS LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE RETAILDISTRICTS OF THE IMMEDIATE CONTEXT. THE SITE IS FURTHER AWAY FROM THE COMMUNITY THEREFORE, ITS POSITIONING ACTS AS A GATEWAY TO THE EDUCATIONAL DISTRICT.
HOW COULD THE EXPERIENCE OF THE FACADE FEEL DIFFERENT?
The buildings stunning Facade was noticed when using the prop displaying key features of the facade that was not originally seen prior to its use.
how can one appreciate it when on can not see it...?
MAINTAINING THE ORIGINAL MAPPING OF THE MOVEMENT AROUND THE BUILDING - THE CONCEPT LOOKS TO INCORPORATE ADDITIONS THAT ALLOW THE EXPERIENCE OF THE FACADE TO BECOME PART OF ITS JOURNEY...
AS THE BUILDING WILL INCORPORATE THESE CUTS AND VOIDS TO EXPOSE HWAT THE FABRIC TRULY IS- THE MOVEMENT THROUGH THE BUILDING WILL REVEAL MULTIPLE PATHWAYS THROUGH THE USABLE SPACES AS WELL AS THROUGH THE SERIES OF LAYERS THAT THE BUIDING WILL EXHIBIT WITHIN ITSELF.
WHERE THRE TOP OF THE BUILDING WILL BECOME THE BRIDGE BETWEEN KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE AND FRAMING OF THE SURROUNDING CONTEXT FROM ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE.. CONNECTING THEUNIVERISTY TO THE CITY AND THE CITY BACK TO THE UNIVERISTY.
TIMBER FACADE
SECTION OF EVENT SPACE
THE SECTION CUTS THROUGH THE READAPTED BUILDING FOR THE LAB 4 LIVING BY EXPRESSING THE SPACES AS REDEVELOPED YET STRIPPED BACK TO THE ORIGINAL STATE OF MATERIALITY.
THE SPACES AIM TO START AT THE LOWER FLOORS BY TRIGGERING SENSORY ADAPTATION TO THE SPACES.
AS THE SPACES PROGRESS UPWARDS THEY BECOME MORE RELEVANT TO THE LAB 4 LIVING BY INCORPORATING THEIR WORKSPACES ON THE FIRST FLOOR AND COMMUNITY ENGAGMENT AND KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE ON THE UPPER FLOORS TO ALLOW FOR INSTITUTIONAL VISIBILITY TO THE PUBLIC.
THE CONCEPT OF ADDITION THROUGH SUBTRACTION MEANS TAKING AWAY THE FLOOR SPACE AS CUTS THROUGH THE BUILDING AND ALLOWING A PHYSICAL ‘TEMPORARY’ STRUCTURE TO HINT THE EMOTION OF EVERCHANGING DYNAMICS OF A SPACE.... SOMETHING JUST ISN’T QUITE ‘FIXED’...
WITHT THE WHITE BUILDINGS STATE OF DECAY THE BUILDING WORKS WITH THE CONCEPT BY ACCEPTING THE STATE OF DECAY IN THE BUILDING AND EXHIBITING IT AS A PART OF ‘ TIME ITSELF AS A FEATURE.
AS THE BUILDING IS CONSTANTLY IN A STATE OF DECAY THE BUILDINGS EVER CHANGING ADAPTATION WILL LAYER ITSELF IN CURRENT AND HISTORICAL PARADIGMES - TIME ITSELF WLL BE AN EXHIBIT OF THE 4TH DIMENTION.
LAYER 1 : USER
LAYER 2 : BUILDING FACADE
LAYER 3 : MOVEMENT
LAYER 3 : PRESENT PERCEPTION
THE OBSERVERS BELOW CAN SEE THE FACADE WHEN LOOKING STRAIGHT ON HOWEVER, FROM CERTAIN ANGLES ON THE SITE ONLY THE CONTEMPORARY MATERIAL IS VISIBLE - OFFERING THE PERCEPTION OF THE LAYERS OF THE DESIGNER.
THE INTERNAL EXHIBITION IS A CONSTANTLY CHANGING SPACE THAT PROVOKES AND UNSTABLE FEELING OF CHANGING DYNAMIC.
THE EXHIBIT IS THE BUILDING ITSELF THAT TELLS THE STORY OF THOUGH OUR HERITAGE REQUIRES A LEVEL OF CARE... AS THE BUILDING DETERIORATES THE BUILDING WILL KEEP ADAPTING THROUGH THE COMMUNITY EFFORT TO KEEP THE BUILDING STRUCTURAL AND INHABITABLE....
THE BUILDINGS FACADE IS GIVEN THE LAYERS TO ALLOW FOR THE PEOPLE TO EXHIBIT THE FACADE IN A DIFFERENT WAY..
WITHOUT DISTURBIT THE FACADE THE STEEL GRATED WALKWAYS OFFER SAFE PASSAFE PASSAGE FOR THE OBSERVER TO TOUCH AND FEEL THE FACADE.
EXISTING FACADE
RECLAIMED AND TREATED TIMBER STRAT
STEEL BRACKET TIES SAME COLOUR AS THE STEEL FRAME BACLCONY
STEEL BALCONY FRAME
STEEL TIES IN THE FAÇADE (DISTRIBUTED LOAD BEARING)
REUSED VERTICAL TIMBER FINS
STEEL ROLL SYSTEM FOR TIMBER FIN CONNECTION TO STEEL GRATED WALKWAY
CRANE LIFTING AS A PERMANENT FEATURE
STEEL GRATED SYSTEM WALKWAY
EXISTING FAÇADE CONNECTION TO ADAPTIVE WALKWAYS
PART 3: CROSS SECTION 1:20 @ A2
LIFECYCLE OF REUSED TIMBER ALLOWS FOR A CIRCULAR ECONOMY AND A RENEWABLE SOURCE OF MATERIAL CONTRIBUTING TO A CIRCULAR ECONOMY WITHIN THE BUILDING.
VERTICAL TIMBER STRUTS PROTECT THE BUILDING DURING THE SUMMER FROM OVERHEATING AND UNCOFORTABLE LIGTHING IN THE EXHIBITION SPACES
REUSED TIMBER FOUND IN SHEFFIELD
HOOK ON BALCONIES FOR THE WALKWAYS MAKE FAST AND EASY ASSEMBLY AND DISASSEMBLY DURING CONSTRUCTION PHASE AND BUILDING LIFE CYCLE
PREFABRICATED FAÇADE UNITS ALLOW FOR FAST CRANE CONSTRUCTION AND CRANE ALLOWS FOR A PERMANTENT FEATURE FOR THE BUILDING FOR DISASSEMBLY IN FUTURE USE OF THE FAÇADE.
RECYCLED METAL / STEEL GRATED WALKWAYS
SINGLE SIDED VENTILATION IS UTILISED IN THE BUILDING TO ALLOW FOR THE HOT AIR TO RIDE AND DOOR DETAILS ALLOW FOR DAMP AIR TO ESCAPE THROUGH VENTS
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