gin barge

Design Flotilla Project

This project explores designing micro architecture and human experiences in the context of transience. I’ve explored innovative design proposals located on the hull of a wide beam barge and designed a flotilla suitable for the Union Canal, exploring innovative responses to the opportunities and constraints of confined dimensions whilst maximising the potential of changing context.

The idea for this design is to have Edinburgh Gin Festival as a client and suggest an extension of the festival to the Union Canal, floating over water. This business attracts a customer’s profile of mainly woman between 18 and 55 years old. The activities that are carried on board are Hen’s parties, Gin Tasting Experiences, Staff Nights Out and Birthdays, all being sophisticated events with a dress code.

Concept Sketches Concept Montage

Concept

Waves Geometry

This concept explores the geometry of the waves, which leads into triangular shapes incorporated to the architecture.

concept 2: canal’s bridge

This concept studies the shapes from the bridge located at the Union Canal, incorporating that tilted structure and the gaps that the steel creates into the design through modelling.

Concept Model

hybrid concept: final concept

The Hybrid Concept is a combination of the triangular shapes from concept 1 and the tilted structure and gaps from concept 2. Ruth Balaguer Schmidt

Final Model: Shell

Final Model: Interior

The final design is divided in four areas: toilets, bar, sitting area and herbs garden. The toilets are situated at the very back of the barge, in the most private area. Next to it there is the bar along with a stall where all the Edinburgh Gin products get shown and sold. The bar is sheltered by the roof.

The sitting area is situated next to the bar, half covered by the roof and half in the terrace area. At the very front of the barge, there is the herbs garden, which is on a half floor over the floor level of the rest of the inside, providing an experience for the customers of learning about herbs and picking up their own for their drinks.