Architectural Portfolio (2023)_Diana Vedmedovska

THE ESCAPE

/PROJECT SUMMARY

/PLANS, SECTIONS, VISUALISATIONS

/CONSTRUCTION & SUSTAINABILITY

CLIFFORD'S THEATRE

/PROJECT SUMMARY

/ PLANS, SECTIONS, VISUALISATIONS

/ CONSTRUCTION & SUSTAINABILITY

01 THE ESCAPE

Community-led therapeutic space for users struggling with depression and identity crisis

Location: Fountainbridge Area, Harrison Park, Edinburgh along the Union Canale (site coordinates: 55.932897, -3.226410).

Project date: 2023

Description: The project is called THE ESCAPE: Space of Healing. By the author’s idea, it is a collaboration between the local government and an independent mental health care provider (similar to the Priory organisation) that will also become an owner-occupant since their office, management, and staff will be housed in the complex.

Objectives: Given the rise in suicide, depression, and anxiety rates in Edinburgh’s population , the project seeks to use design and accommodated activities to help improve mental health and well-being on both a societal and individual level. The goal of THE ESCAPE is not only to impact the well-being of an individual struggling with depression, identity crisis, and anxiety but also to create a space where inclusive, aware communities could be built, therefore, it aims to enlighten the public in the field of psychology and mental healthcare through the lectures and presentations held on THE ESCAPE building complex premises.

To achieve the project goals through architectural design, a newbuilt complex consists of three main blocks and can be classified as a mixed land use building complex as it includes a residential building, an institutional building, and an assembly building.

Figure 1.1 - Building Complex Visualisation

Figure 1.2 - Roof plan 1:500

When the project brief was drawn up, it was decided to design three separate buildings for various activities in order to provide maximum comfort for both staff and users :

In the brief client outline several key aspects, which should be prioritised in the project: build local communities, address mental health, well-being, tranquility, and privacy of the users through design, provide employment possibility in the area, and develop an environmentally sustainable design

Each building is strategically positioned on the site and has its unique characteristics in terms of material choice, lighting, and shape in order to meet the client’s requirements for the architectural concept, which is that the building complex should perform as a healing mindful walk for its users, creating a balance between a sense of privacy and community

Figure 1.4 - Activity Building South Elevation

1. Healing & Management Building (accommodates spaces designed for owner-occupant offices, users’ healing, self-reflection, and independent therapeutic activities such as crafting, reading, writing, etc.);

2. Accommodation Building (provides living spaces for 20 temporary residents).

13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27 - Individual rooms (mezzanine)

14, 17, 20, 23, 25 - Rooms for two people (mezzanine)

1 - Lobby

2 - Reception

3 - Exhibition space

4 - Changing room

5 - Pottery workshop

6 - Storage room

7 - Arts workshop

8 - Lecture theatre

9 - WC

10 - Cafeteria

11 - Kitchen

12 - Staff changing room

Figure 1.5 - Activity Building First Floor Plan (1:100)

Figure 1.5 - Accommodation Building First Floor Plan (1:100)

Figure 1.6 - Activity Building Cross Section (1:100)

Figure 1.7 - Accommodation Building Long Section (1:100)

Figure 1.7 - Activity Building Long Section (1:100)

Figure 1.7 - Accommodation Building Cross Section (1:100)

Figure 1.7 - Activity Building North Elevation (1:100)

The diagram represents how the main building elements are layered. In-situ reinforced concrete core performs as load-bearing structure. The structure is insulated and clad with prefabricated timber panels as well as finished with prefabricated, curved timber frames wrapped in glazing.

Recycled concrete According to circular economy principles it is responsible to reuse products and materials rather than extracting new resources, therefore, the constructional core will be made out of recycled concrete aggregate, which is produced out of crushed demolition waste.

In order to reduce transportation distance and embodied energy, the recycled concrete aggregate will be sourced from local demolition sites.

Layer 2 - in-situ concrete

Layer 3 - Insulation

Layer 4 - Prefabricated timber panels

Layer 1 - Reinforeced

Figure 1.8 - Construction diagram

The building has a continuous insulation, continuous vapor control barrier, sufficient waterproofing and water drainage system. The roof is slightly curved, therefore, the water easily gets to the water drain.

Figure 1.9 - Construction diagram

Figure 1.10 - Building section 1:20

Key sustainability goals of the project are: use of prefabricated panels and frames to reduce construction waste, maximisation of natural lighting in workshops, lecture theatres and library by means building orientation and opening placement, maximisation of natural ventilation, use of recycled concrete, incorporation of south facing solar panels and provision of a durable construction

Figure 1.11- Activity Building South Elevation

CLIFFORD’S THEATRE

Space to explore movement, performance and local history

Location: Cliffords Fort Moat, North Shields, NE30 1JE

Project date: 2022

Description: Clifford’s Theatre is called after the main jewel of Fish QuayClifford’s Fort, which also became one of the inspirations for design concept. The building is fully community led and houses three main activities: teaching dance, performing dance and presenting local history. Main goals of the project are to build communities, embrace history and particularities of the site, provide durable construction flexible in use, attractive tourists and help development of local economy.

Sustainability & Biodiversity Objectives: In order to increase sustainability bricks used in cladding will be collected from the adjacent construction sites and reclaimed. Existing brick walls on the western and northern sides of the site will be dismantled, reclaimed and also used as a cladding. For the glazed curtain wall construction will be used recycled steel. Strategic placement of window and skylights aims to maximise natural lighting and ventilation in order to reduce energy use.

The project aims to encourage local wildlife, therefore green areas around the site will be treated as petite biodiversity gardens.

Figure 2.1 - Clifford’s Theatre South Elevation

Figure 2.3 - Clifford’s Theatre long section (1:100)

Figure 2.4 - Clifford’s Theatre ground floor plan (1:100)

Figure 2.5 - Clifford’s Theatre North Elevation

Figure 2.6 - Clifford’s Theatre Reception & Exhibition area

Figure 2.7 - Clifford’s Theatre Coffee shop/bar area

Drawing above represent section of a glazed construction, which encloses exhibition space. Construction: curtain wall, triple glazeing (recycled steel would be used for the frame)

The drawing represent an elevation of the curtain wall construction and a polycarbonate roof. Visually lightweight glazed construction contrasts with heavy masonry studio and theatre blocks.

Polycarbonate roof detail 1:2

Curtain wall detail 1:2

Incorporation of locally found materials – loose brick, stones and tires found in North Shields. I am trying to achieve short travelling distances for our sourced materials, to limit the emissions of transportation. Around our site there were an abundance of loose spare materials, which we plan to utilise.

In Northumberland, there are many hard wood forests, so many of our group are planning to use timber as the primary structure – over non-renewable resources like concrete. In the proximity of our sites, there are also many old and listed structures present (like in-situ stairs), which I incorporate and not destroy in our construction.

Window Double glazed

Intermediate floor

Layers: plasterboard, insulation between load bearing timber joist, chipboard, internal cladding

Foundation

Type: raft foundation

Layers: concrete raft, insulation, concrete screed, internal lining

Figure 2.5 - Parti-section and elevation

Skylight