Idea Store, Whitechapel

Idea Store This study highlights relevant professional study topics according to my design work on how I may be able to mitigate planning issues relevant to my project design being surrounded in a similar environmental context.

Introduction Located within East London inside the heart of Shadwell, at the northern edge of Watney Market, is erected a fivestorey volume high Idea Store localised for the Tower Hamlets Neighbourhood (Fig.1). Designed by David Adjaye, the 0.11 hectare site comprises approximately 1,250 Sq. m of floor space of over three-storeys that brings together the localised main programmatic functions such as, adult, teenage and children libraries; learning classrooms; communal areas; storytelling areas and a one stop shop for council services. The surrounding predominant building fabric compromises of various styles, building types aged back to the 1960’s housing residential and mixed use development in a nonconservation area. Modern developments lay to south of Watney market towards the Shadwell Station consist of social housing that abut the southern edge of the Idea Store whilst the Northern edge uncompromising brutal Fig.1 Idea Store and Watney Market buildings creates a public realm altogether for the neighbourhood. In consideration to the surrounding environment and building context, I choose to study the Idea Store relative to my design work as it is situated on the corner of busy main road junction within a mixed residential/commercial area resonating with the scale of building design which I am aiming to perceive by the end of my project. I would be studying how lighting, shading, access, fire routes, were mitigated for the outcome of the building via the submitted planning application referenced PA/10/02224/A1 as well as other relative architectural readings.

Access and Fire Access to the site is well served easily throughout public transport, where a bus stop is located immediately outside the building front on commercial road, it is also served with the nearest Shadwell underground and DLR station. Secured cycle storage with Sheffield Cycle stands intimate customers to have secure bicycle parking whilst using the idea store. A staff and delivery entrance is located to west of the building at Hainton Close used in combination to an emergency fire escape in the result of a fire to be taken place.

Illuminated glazed vertical panels from the paving towards the top of the building at the north and east elevations visually approach people towards the building. Easy access is visibly noted from commercial road clearly defining access for pedestrians into the building via escalators leading up to the main floors (Fig.2). The continuation of illuminated glass panels to the east of the Building mitigate visual constraints to the south behind Colstead house in order to draw pedestrians in from the obscured views at Watney Market defining access to be drawn in from a far into the east entrance. Disabled access into the building Fig.2 Entrance escalator from commercial street allows members of the entire community to

make use of all the facilities in requirement to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA). Access is entered through the same entrances inclusive of other pedestrians having level thresholds at both public entrances, ‘necessitated by the fact that there is no separate escape stair,’1 hence collaborating to be used for fire escape routes. The Building Complies with Approved Document M of the building regulations serving throughout all the floors having a main public featured staircase and a secondary staircase both to be used as an emergency in the result of fire. Two Lifts serve all the floors that are used by private staff and the public compliant to the DDA. They are situated centrally through an architectural decision to serve quicker access to surrounding programs within the building. All the doors are fire rated clearing the minimal width of 800mm ensuring easy access to wheelchair users. W/C’s and showers are also approved to document M on each floor in consideration to disabled use and designated spaces are also designed with reasonable heights suitable for people with restricted growth or wheel chair use. The use of non-maintained emergency lights throughout building escape routes also allocate fire routes presumably if sufficient is not available within a certain area.

Artificial Lighting The main floors have ceiling mounted tracks that suspend artificial lighting where daylight is insufficient. The internal lighting scheme ensures ambient light is provided in all areas. All lighting is passed followed by Part P of the building regulations requirement surpassing 45 lumens per circuit watt energy efficiency as well as meeting BREEAM requirements maximising efficiency and saving energy by switching on or off artificial lighting where required. Where allocated for the use of disabled people, switches are, ‘mounted at accessible locations and heights in accordance with BS 8300:2009 ‘Design of Buildings and their Approaches to Meet the Needs of Disabled People’,’2 ensuring light is easily controlled to circulate and access general areas such as book shelves (Fig.3). The use of movement sensors allow lighting to illuminate Fig.3 Book Shelf lighting via us of asymmetric diffusers with adjustable when presence is detected along with optics providing both vertical and horizontal illumination. daylight sensors that control perimeter lighting controlling zones eliminating unnecessary use.

Artificial lighting is also used externally to complement the architecture of the building. The vision of the architect compromises an opaque façade with clear glazing illuminating the building at night time. This is controlled by a timed switch and photo cells, ‘which conform to regulations regarding light pollution and lux levels according to CISE Lighting guide LG6, meeting the criteria for BREEAM Hea 5 and Ene 4,’ 3ensuring obstructed light is at minimal giving the building a definitive appearance at night. Ground mounted LED lights at the entrance of the building enable better lighting conditions to the outside of the building where local street lighting is surpassed which ensures visitors are guided and drawn into the building.

Mitigating Noise through the Building Fabric Located on busy junction road, the building is mainly affected by road traffic noise to the north of the site at commercial road, including cars, buses, motorbikes and HGV’s. Pedestrian noise levels are also a case being adjacent to a busy market and passer-by’s. This is mitigated by the use of acoustic glass panelled façade at north wrapped around the half the east and west façade framing coloured glass panels for the protection of solar gain. ‘Behind each joint supporting the coloured glass panels is a timber fin about 300 mm deep and 60

Ellis Woodman. (28 October 2005). Ideas in store. Available: http://www.bdonline.co.uk/ideas-in-store/3058275.article. Last accessed 01 Apr 2017.

2 Tower Hamlets Council. (25 Oct 2010). PA/10/02224/A1, Lighting Assessment. Available: https://development.towerhamlets.gov.uk/onlineapplications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=DCAPR_97174. Last accessed 01 Apr 2017.

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mm thick…’4 This is seen from the entrance atrium. ‘An external envelope consisting of panels of glass backed

by Kerto timber fins is hung from the ends of four huge steel I-beams that over sail the face of the “library” proper. The steel beams sit on a flat roof and above them squat three huge steel boxes that contain the mechanical plant.’5 The south and remaining side elevations are continued to the use of glass and opaque insulated acoustic panels towards its rear making use of shading from the southern sun and letting in light where needed differing from the northern façade which allows indirect light to be absorbed through its glass panels. A vent shaft that serves the London underground is also situated on site rarely affecting significant noise levels via audible sound. Following an environment noise survey with the requirements of BS7445:1991, ’Description and Measurement of environmental noise Part 2 Acquisition to data pertinent to land use,’ long term noise of the mechanical plant on the roof is prevailed by a full enclosure and silencing ductwork achieving lower noise levels than the minimal background noise levels at 20dB. This adequate is for the neighbouring buildings subject to being residential blocks at 3-5 storey- volumes high and compliant to operate 24 hours.

Conclusion In conclusion, access to the building is resolved by collaborating with the general use of public walkways, drawn towards the building via its fabric from a far. The predominant building fabric does not match the existing site context of mixed aged developments being a juxtaposition to surrounding area, however it ultimately invites new architecture to be conceived for architects today resonate to innovating from history.

The advantage taken of having a glazed northern façade allows indirect sunlight to enter the building conserving less energy and using artificial lighting when needed. The right of light to neighbouring buildings is tackled by adjoining away yet in level to the adjacent building in infecting other surrounding buildings to be casted off by shade. The use of everyday staircases being used in combination to emergencies allows the building to house its programs within the building scale outlining a clear remembered route by users in the case of a fire to occur. The study of this building has resulted one to have further awareness of how professional issues may be mitigated around a noisy environment via lessening the impact of noise levels as well as lessening the amount of energy emitted by light by the use of censored lighting when using an area.

unknown. (2005 issue 47). Lovely idea.... Available: http://www.building.co.uk/lovelyidea/3059479.article. Last accessed 01 Apr 2017.

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