Loughborough Junction Farm - new local centre and gardens

Loughborough Junction Farm - new local centre and gardens

Gabriela Milobedzka

CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION

2. DESIGN

3. FOCUS ELEMENTS

URBAN CONTEXT Locating the site - Loughborough Junction Site location & green spaces Site location - history History of the site Photographic survey

STRATEGY Urban strategy diagrams Zoning Functions Initial sketches, model Initial plans Conceptual collages

Cooking school section Cooking school elevation Sketches

ANALYSIS OF EXISTING BUILDING External elevations Existing plan Exisiting sections Existing materials Photographs Arches - analysis

DESIGN Plan of the area Perspetive sections External elevations Section - elevation Sections Zoning plans Plans Axonometric view Arches - plans, sections, views Marketplace

DESIGN PROPOSAL Socio - demographic context Client & users Loughborough Junction Farm - improvements Aims of the project Precedents Sun/ Shade areas

DETAILS Main interior structure Interior - exterior sketches Interior sketches Main interior structure Door detail Interior construction detail Gantry - container detail Interior views Materials Study of light Photos of the model

INTRODUCTION

Brixton is a borough teaming with a unique, local life, which fills even the most unusual spaces. Its inhabitants value their uniqueness and diversity of cultures which make up the local community.

500 people are working and living in the Loughborough JUnction area. There are a lot of small local and multicultural ( from South America, Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Europe ) businesses , workshops, craft, and services which are developing. However the employment rate is 7.5% lower than London and almost 1 in 5 residents has no qualifications. Big global enterprises are minority in Brixton. There is a strong sense of local community, lots of local buisnesses ( like IT companies providing coding classes, art studios, or various workshops ) that are adapting old, industrial spaces or aches ( 60 % of arches are reused ). Loughborough Junction Farm was founded by Loughborough Junction Action Group and is mostly run by volunteers taking care of the farm, organising events and markets selling local produce. 
What caught my eye in the Brixton landscape was the Electrical Substation, which sits in a degraded area, among warehouses and industrial spaces. But I believe it has the potential to become the hub of a new project which would allow the local community to reclaim this area.

The starting point for this project is an initiative started by Brixton inhabitants – the idea for an urban farm-garden, which was founded on a small area of unused land. My concept could contribute to building a new centre for social initiatives, co-creating and strengthening the existing network of green spaces, but also a compliment to the new local centre that is meant to be created in the yards between train overpasses, whose arcades were opened up as part of a new initiative promoting walking.

SITE LOCATION

Battersea Park

Clapham Junction BATTERSEA

STOCKWELL

Clapham Common

Brixton, Lambeth, South London

Brixton & Loughbrough Junction centre highlighting Brixton station, Brixton Market, Library, Black Cultural Archives, Lambeth Town Hall, St. Matthew’s Church and Pop - Brixton

Loughborough Junction area

SITE LOCATION - GREEN SPACES

Elam Open Space

LOUGHBOROUGH JUNCTION Ruskin Park

Loughborough Park Max Roach Park

Wyck Gardens

BRIXTON CENTRE I wanted to transform the industrial area along the train tracks by placing the social programme in an enlarged garden /Loughborough Junction Farm/ which would link two existing parks together ( Wyck Gardens & Elam Open Space ) (integration of these spaces with the planned centre around the Loughborough Junctions train station)

St Mathew’s Garden

SITE LOCATION - HISTORY

Current access to the site

Residential buildings

Sub - station building

Loughborough Junction railway statio

Residential buildings / ‘Maisonette ‘ houses /

Loughborough Junction Farm

Local shops

Around 100 years ago a railway ran through the orchards and gardens on an overpass. With time, with increased industrialization and urban development, this area was turned into an area with warehouses, storage and intensive urbanization. As a result, the natural elements were built-over.

Paradoxically, contemporary local urban communities are converting these areas back to green spaces. Small local groups are being formed which engage in environmentally-friendly activities. Just like 100 years ago, parks and orchards can accompany the rails.

Industrial buildings

HISTORY OF THE SITE

ELECTRICAL SUB - STATIONS

- built around 1910-1915 - when the railway lines in south London were converted from trains of steam locomotive-hauled coaches to electrically-powered ‘multiple-unit’ trains - faster, cleaner, cheaper, and used power from a single generating source - ‘sub-stations’ which convert the electricity to a lower voltage using transformers and rectifiers - they were not usually designed by architects, but by engineers, because they were considered to be functional enclosures for equipment rather than people

1864 First platforms opened

1900 A traffic-free scene from the turn of the century. The building to the right can be seen the name, ‘David Greig’, who opened his first shop in Atlantic Road in 1870. He went on to create one of the biggest grocery chains in the country.

1905 Streets of Loughborough Junction - introduction of electric trams

1910 Sub - stations

1916 Brixton line closes as a wartime economy measure

1950 A number 34 tram trundles along Coldharbour Lane towards Loughborough Junction, ominously followed by a RT bus, which would replace the tram service later that year

1956 The original platforms were those on the left serving Brixton and Victoria; they opened in 1864 and the station was called Loughborough Road

1982 View from the platform showing the sub - station

2003

PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY HOUSING TYPES LOUGHBOROUGH JUNCTION AREA 1. Maisonettte houses, ‘50 2. Big communal estates, ‘50 - ‘60 3. Youth Center 4. Arches

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PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY B

Maisonettte houses, ‘50 designed by Sir Leslie Martin , inspired by Le Corbusier ‘Unite d’ habitation’ Loughborough Junction area: people running small local buisnesses, IT companies, providing spaces for local artists ( a lot of artists in the area ) . People living in big communal estates with very little space are trying to escape from their houses and engage into outdoor activities - a lot of them are volunteering on the Loughborough Junction farm

IT company employess Small local business owners & workers

Residential buildings

Volunteers Loughborough Junction farm

B

Youth

Electrical substation

Youth center

Arches car services , IT company

SECTION B-B

EXISTING ELEVATIONS, PLAN, SECTIONS

A

B

B

A

PLAN SCALE 1:200

SECTION A-A SCALE 1:200

SECTION B-B SCALE 1:200

SOUTH ELEVATION SCALE 1:200

NORTH ELEVATION SCALE 1:200

EXISTING MATERIALS

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EXISITING MATERIALS 1.

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DETAILED FACADE

Metal beam structure Green metal ( structure ) White bricks Wood ( roof construction ) Wooden panels ( temporary ) Glazed bricks - green Glazed bricks - brown

SUB - STATION BUILDING

ARCHES - ANALYSIS

252 arches in Loughborough Junction Area 41% are currently vacant others used as car services, storages

ARCHES - ANALYSIS

Sketches from the site Initial ideas, measurements

SOCIO - DEMOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

most deprived

Information gathered from Loughborough Junction masterplan

OPPORTUNITIES

Employment rate 7.5% lower then London Youth Unemployment 2.5% higher then London Almost 1 in 5 residents with no qualifications Job Growth rate is 1/3 of Lambeth/ London average

MAKING LAND PRODUCTIVE 2182sqm underutilised council land MAKING ARCHES PRODUCTIVE 252 arches in Loughborough Junction Area 41% are currently vacant

STATISTICS Income - most deprived Crime - deprived Living environment - most deprived Educations, skills and training - average Employment - deprived Health and disability - average

EMPLOYMENT

less deprived

CLIENTS & USERS

VARIOUS CULTURES Exotic vegetables, fruits, herbs or plants imported from their home countires, mainly kept in the Green Houses Spices South America Caribbean Africa Asia Europe

FOOD MARKET Local seasonal produce Exotic vegetables and fruits grown in the Green House such as okra, melons, sweet potatos SPICES / HERBS like: Italian basil, Greek oregano from their home countries

LOCALS Loughborough Junction Farm local produce seasonal vegetables, fruits and herbs grown in the UK

COLLABORATIONS “Wish you were here “ foundation

“ We have built our own small greenhouse where we can keep more tropical fruits, vegetables and plants, but it’s only temporary and we need a bigger, more proper one” “ I would love to have some animals on the farm”

* Quotes gathered from conversations with people from Loughborough Junction Farm

Main focus is urban agriculture - high demand for more open activities, DIY workshops Run by volunteers - 20 people from Loughborugh Junction area, only one person is being paid, only one day a week Open 2 sessions a week - but there is a high demand for it to be open more often

“ We want to cook and eat together using our local produce grown on the farm “

“ We love organising DIY workshops, concerts and gatherings but unfortunatelly we don’t have space to do all of that” *

“ We want to have a proper market and sell our produce more often “

LOUGHBOROUGH JUNCTION FARM - IMPROVEMENTS

Everdyday tasks

CARE

HARVEST

PEST CONTROL

COMPOST

EVENTS

FOUNDING

CAFES COOKING

Everdyday activities

SALE / MARKETS

Informations gathered from interviews with people from Loughborough Junction Farm: - More volunteers currently - only 20 - More space for the farm - A proper Greenhouse currently a shed made by themselvs - Cafe / restaurant to sell their produce - A proper market open more often - Place for performances / concerts / gatherings - Place for studios, workshop - Place for cooking and eating together - Animals on a farm - Better access

AIMS OF THE PROJECT

AIMS OF THE PROJECT: - Transformation of the industrial area along the train tracks by placing the social programme in an enlarged garden-farm /Loughborough Junction Farm/ which would link two existing parks, creation of new pedestrian and cycling routes, areas for leisure, work, education and entertainment. The integration of these spaces with the planned centre around the Loughborough Junctions train station New market space in the area between the Sub - station building and the arches, placed on wooden railway sleepers with mobile canopies - Creation of spaces for social integration, a cultural centre which introduces new functions to the train overpass arcades, such as: shops selling local produce, bars, restaurants, workshops and artists studios, public crossings, Loughborough Junction Farm facilities, storage spaces for tools, seedlings, seeds, changing rooms, public toilets, spaces for pop - up events, etc. Creation of spaces for performances, concerts and exhibitions - Transformation of Electrical Sub - Station, one of the unusual ‘electric cathedrals’ created during the era of the London railway electrification. Making use of its unusual architectural qualities - its open plan – to create a new centre for local community, with a cooking school, restaurant, space for communal cooking, eating and spending time together. The large window and skylight in the upper area could allow for the creation of a greenhouse where fruit and vegetables could be grown all year

PRECEDENTS

from left to right: New York, Highline Various urban farm examples Urban Farm containers ( for the gantry ) Pop Brixton Dalston Eastern Curve Gardens

SUN / SHADE AREAS

VEGETABLES

COMPANION PLANT

VEGETABLES THAT GROW IN THE SHADE

VEGETABLES THAT GROW IN THE SUN

Asparagus

Tomatoes

Beans

Cellery, corn, cucumbers, radish,

Salad Greens, such as leaf lettuce, arugula, endive, and cress.

Broccoli Cauliflower Peas Beets Brussels Sprouts Radishes Swiss Chard Leafy Greens, such as collards, mustard greens, spinach, and kale Beans

Tomatoes Cucumbers, Peppers Peas Beans Corn Squash Carrots Beets Spinach Kale Radishes Zucchini

FRUIT THAT GROW IN THE SHADE

FRUIT THAT GROW IN THE SUN

Cherries Gooseberries Rhubarb Blackberries Blackcurrant Raspberries Pears

Strawberries Lemon Blueberries Watermelon Melon

HERBS THAT GROW IN THE SHADE

HERBS THAT GROW IN THE SUN

Mint Chives Cilantro Golden Oregano Lemon Balm Thyme Sweet Wodruff Parsley

Cilantro Basil Mint Tricolor sage

strawberries and summer savory Beets

Bush beans, kale, lettuce, onions, garlic

Cabbage Family

Beans, celery, dill, lettuce, spinach, onions, potatos

Carrots

Beans, tomatoes

Celery

Beans, tomatoes, cabbage

Corn

Cucumber, melons, squash, peas, pumpkin

Cucumber

Beans, corn, peas, cabbage

Eggplant

Beans, pepper

Melons

Corn, pumpkin, radish, squash

Onions

Beets, carrots, Swiss chard, lettuce, peppers

Peas

Beets, carrots, corn, cucumbers, radish, turnip

Potatos

Beans, corn, peas

Squash

Corn, melons, pumpkins

Tomatoes

Carrots, celery, cucumbers, onions, peppers

Sunlight areas Partly shaded areas Shaded areas

DESIGN

URBAN STRATEGY DIAGRAMS

LOUGHBOROUGH JUNCTION

10 min

BRIXTON CENTRE Brixton centre & Loughborough Junction centres

EXISTING Loughborough Junction area - existing Warehouses and industrial spaces Loughborough Junction farm

PROPOSAL Loughborough Junction farm New green spaces

Industrial spaces, warehouses, storages

Industrial spaces, warehouses, storages

Local shops, bars

Local shops, bars

Loughborough Junction Farm

Residential apartaments ( ‘Maisonette’ houses ) Parks, green spaces Local centre with retail, bars

ZONING

C

B

A

ZONE A - FARMING eating places cultivation and market selling vegetables, fruit, herbs, flowers small greenhouse

ZONE B - SOCIAL greenhouse cooking school restaurants and bars toilets changing rooms, lockers storage cultivation of plants that don’t need sun like mushrooms pavilions sheep farm

ZONE C - CULTURAL / ORCHARD small shops selling local products galleries fruit trees sitting , eating places

FUNCTIONS

ECOLOGICAL

SOCIAL

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•

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introducing horticulture to degraded or polluted land own food (from farming) for local people no chemicals no transport source of oxygen restoring a natural balance thanks to green spaces and local produce local produce is very healthy as it does not require much transport or storage

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ECONOMIC allowing inhabitants of nearby housing to grow their own vegetables, fruits and herbs cultivating a community spirit through working together meeting place (for lectures and debates, concerts, shows, eating together, selling of the produce..) actions that promote this community to the public selling of oversupply promotion of healthy and varied nutrition cooking classes horticulture classes

• • • • • • •

institutions that support the volunteers for the benefit of the commune local institutions a partly non-profit organization income can support further development can be a source of income for individuals leasing of the space for events holds great potential

INITIAL PLAN

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CIRCULATION

CAR DELIVERY ACCESS

BIKE PATH

FARMING

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1. FARMING 2. GREENHOUSE 3. SITTING PLACE 4. SCENE 5. FARMING 6. CAFES / RESTAURANTS 7. COOKING SCHOOL 8. LOCKERS / CHANGING ROOMS 9. STORAGE 1O. ORCHARD 11. GREEN HOUSE 12. SHOPS 13. SPACE FOR POP - UP EVENTS

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13.

13.

ZONING

BARS & RESTAURANTS

LOCAL SHOPS, BARS, CAFES

POP - UP EVENTS

INITIAL SKETCHES

INITIAL SKETCHES & MODEL

CONCEPTUAL COLLAGE

CONCEPTUAL COLLAGE

PLAN OF THE AREA

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1. Farm ares 2. Greenhouse 3. Sitting places for performances 4. Scene 5. Sub - station building / cooking school 6. Storage 7. Farming shops: seeds, equipment 8. Local buisnesses: workshops & shops 9. Bars 10. Public toilets 11. Spaces for pop - up events 12. Orchard 13. Sheep farm 14. Wooden railway sleepers 15. Market place 16. Compost 17. Changing rooms 18. Washrooms

SUB - STATION AREA

ARCHES

MARKETPLACE

PERSPECTIVE SECTION

PERSPECTIVE SECTION

ELEVATIONS

NORTH ELEVATION scale 1:250

SOUTH ELEVATION scale 1:250

WEST ELEVATION

scale 1:200

SECTION - ELEVATION

SECTIONS

A

A

+ 5.2

+ 2.6

+- 0.00

SECTION A -A scale 1:100

SECTIONS

B

B

+ 5.2

+ 2.6

+- 0.00

SECTION B - B scale 1:100

PLANS

LIFT TOILETS BAR AREA STAFF ROOM / OFFICE COOKING SCHOOL GALLERY SPACE TOP FLOOR - PLANTS & GANTRY ( MOBILE )

PLANS 1. Lockers 2. Lift 3. Plant room 4. Staff room 5. Fridges, microwaves, sink for the bar 6. Cooking school 7. Bar 8. Toilets 9. Art gallery 10. Office 11. Gantry

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GROUND FLOOR scale 1:100

PLANS

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10.

SECOND FLOOR scale 1:100

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1. Lockers 2. Lift 3. Plant room 4. Staff room 5. Fridges, microwaves, sink for the bar 6. Cooking school 7. Bar 8. Toilets 9. Art gallery 10. Office 11. Gantry FIRST FLOOR scale 1:100

PLANS

11.

11. Gantry THIRD FLOOR scale 1:100

AXONOMETRIC VIEW

Gantry - container

Staff room

Lift

Gallery

Toilet Lockers changing room

Storage Seating places

Bar seating area

ARCHES - PLANS, SECTIONS & VIEWS

CAFE

OFFICES

kitchen

storage

WORKSHOPS

storage

storage WC WC

WC

meeting place

WC

bar

scale 1:200

scale 1:200

MARKETPLACE

source of light

steel structure

wooden railway sleepers

shade structure

SUB - STATION BUILDING

The market place is situated in the space between the arches and the sub - station building. The shade structure sits on wooden railway sleepers. They also illuminate during the night.

ARCADES

MARKETPLACE

FOCUS ELEMENTS

COOKING SCHOOL A

A

Expanded metal mesh

Ventilation through steel pipes

Light source for the kitchen

Shelf for keeping fresh herbs steel structure on wheels

Steel countertops

Oven Dishwashers

wooden railway sleepers for the farm raised 400mm

Fridges, coolers

SECTION A - A scale 1:20

COOKING SCHOOL

B

B

Steel countertops

Ventilation through steel pipes

Ventilation through steel pipes

Shelf for keeping fresh herbs steel structure on wheels

Light source for the kitchen attached to the steel ventilation pipes

ELEVATION B - B scale 1:20

INITIAL INTERIOR SKETCHES

INTERIOR SKETCHES

INTERIOR - EXTERIOR VIEWS

The interiors of the electric sub - station are visible from surrounding areas through the wide windows and doors. From the inside of the substation, in turn, one can see the terrace, pedestrian service boulevard, arches, farm and gardens.

INTERIOR - EXTERIOR VIEWS

View from the inside of the substation looking at the farm.

MAIN INTERIOR STRUCTURE

DOOR DETAIL

Inspiration: Olson Kunding

1. Gear 2. Counter balance 3. Chain 4. Window frame 5. Column

concrete balance

2.35 m

INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION DETAIL

Wooden floor panels Wooden floor panels C - beam

Steel colums

Steel mesh

C - beam Steel mesh

Wooden panels Rectangular beam Column I profile

GANTRY - CONTAINER DETAIL

2.26 m

2m

4.5 m

The gantry is mobile and can be moved with the natural light.

The roof is made from polycarbonate, providing natural lighting to the whole building.

INTERIOR VIEWS

Interior views showing the bar area (on the ground floor level), cooking school at the back, gallery ( on the first floor ) and various positions of the gantry

MATERIALS

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3.

1. Expanded metal mesh galvanized steel, structural steel Producent: F.H. BRUNDLE Application: gallery floor level balustrade ( interior) 2. Wooden panels Weathered wood Producent: SiOO: x wood protection, Gothenburg, Sweden Application: steps outside the sub - station building

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3. Concrete Producent: Natural Power Float Concrete Floors, Victoria Miro Gallery Application: Ground floor & platform outside the sub station building 4. Raw brick ( existing walls ) 5. Brushed concrete Application: Floor 6. Brushed wooden panels Application: Ground floor & second floor walls ( boxes )

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7. Black construction steel painted dark green for example with ‘Hammerite’ paint Application: Main construction of the interior, doors openings frame 8. Stainless steel welded mesh Application: farm areas, sheep farm fence ( exterior )

STUDY OF LIGHT

1. Scattered light attached to the trusses 2. Light within the green container - gantry 3. ‘ Shining boxes’ 4. Light source for the kitchen attached to the steel ventilation pipes

The boxes are exposed by the light which shine from within the green container. The steel construction of the ceiling is also exposed through the illumination from the scattered light.

The boxes walls are dimmed. Additionally, the ceiling boxes would shine from the linear lights.

The tables and kitchen surfaces are lit by linear suspended lights which also shine on the ceiling. The bricks of the exterior can be illuminated by spotlights attached to poles and the grates. Lights shouldn’t be suspended between the gantry and the ground floor because the movable structure/greenhouse would cancel them out.

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NIGHT & DAY

STUDY OF LIGHT

PHOTOS OF THE MODEL

Model scale 1:50

PHOTOS OF THE MODEL

Model photos showing the market place in relation with the arches and Sub - station building Photos from inside the arches looking at the market place and the building

Model scale 1:50

PHOTOS OF THE MODEL

Model photos showing the interior of the Sub - station, the bar area, gallery on th first floor, sitting and meeting places and the gantry

Model scale 1:25