Portfolio A4

Redcar Spa Hospitality Stage 3 Project 2021-2022

Redcar is located in northeast England famous for its former steel industry and as a seaside holiday site during the Victorian era. Yet, with the closure of the steel factory, Redcar become one of the most deprived areas in the country.

Redcar Spa tries to provide a solution to the current situation by providing tourist facilities like spa pools, massage parlour and hotel, which helps regenerate Redcar into a tourism economy while solving health issues caused by the deprived economy.

Constructed wetland is included to help filter sewage from the building while connecting the town centre to the marshland outskirts, providing habitat to the local wildlife and quality green space to locals.

A Revival of the Past A Solution to the Current A Prospect for the Future

The idea of Redcar Spa stems from the systemic thinking approach during the site analysis phase of the project. By identifying the systems in Redcar and their ecological relationships, a solution was found to what Redcar is currently suffering from.

The past function of the site as a convalescent home and swimming bath inspired the function of the project as a spa resort. Providing attractions, facilities and accommodation for tourists, this building will be a milestone for Redcar’s regeneration towards a tourism focused economy. Health benefits of spa baths also help local residents who suffer from poor health.

Spatial Experince

From its intemate indoor spa to the exposed outdoor pool, the resort offers its experience of playing with open and enclosed, light and shadow. The unique juxtaposing view of natural wetland and the abadoned former steel works will be remembered for its past and present of Redcar.

Closing the Loop

Achieving sustainability is one of the major concepts of this design. By creating a full loop use cycle, the design mitigates the effect of the heavy use of water. Seawater is used to celebrate its improved quality and harness its medical benefit while avoiding the use of precious fresh water.

This diagram shows the relationship between the operation of the building and the water cycle. It also shows the flexibility for the users to choose their treatment or how they use the building.

Skin & Facade

Natural material like grey sandstone and larch were used to clad and decorate the building, presenting a subtle, rhythmic language of the building. Weathering of larch and the growth of moss will slowly blend the building into its natural landscape.

North Shield Art Centre Cultural Stage 2 Project 2021

This project explores the idea of cohabitation between human and non-human species. Located in North Shield quayside, North Shield Art Centre provides gallery spaces, art workshops, catering spaces as well as a habitat for local crayfish.

Utilising a former dock structure, a pier is constructed above it to provide protection for crayfish and dining space for human users. Shellfish shell-filled gabion helps maintain habitat structures while releasing calcium minerals helping the growth of crayfish.

The building facade uses shells as cladding to represent the use of such material. Gallery roofing is inspired by Menil Collection by Renzo Piano to provide dynamic lighting that enhances the viewing experience as well as responds to the quayside site.

Following the Landscape

The building follows its site landscape of the quayside and the pier structure turned towards to the river Tyne, forming this special turn of the layout. This also help leading the visitors towards the outside pier or up to the art gallery.

The Space marked as the Art Gallery Entrace is a space used for giving introduction of the exhibition, selling souvourire and gathering.

The Wave Roof Structure

Inspired from the Menil Collection, Texas by Renzo Piano, the concrete wave roof will reflect natural light into the gallery. The change of sunlight direction would affect the lighting in the gallery, creating a dynamic viewing experience

Shieling in Shieldfield Residential Stage 2 Project 2020

Located east of Newcastle city centre, Shieldfield sees rapid development into a student village due to the success of the two Universities.

In order to withhold the neighbourhood’s character, this housing project aims for young families and professionals who would stay here for decades. An open plan design is adopted to allow retrofitting the flat to suit residents’ needs.

A cantilevered garden with skylights creates different gathering spaces from public to semi-private; the covered space would be a communal space for the entire neighbourhood while the garden provides gardening space and a place for barbecue.

Public to Private

From the covered entrance to the building to the cantilevered garden, these spaces carefully unite and separate the residents from the community. This gradient of privacy was one of the main themes explored in this project.

Flexibility of Layout

The open floor plan allows residents to design their own layout that reflects their daily activities. It can also be retrofitted in the future as spatial functions or occupant numbers change.

Layout for a Reading space design Top

Layout for a Garden View Workspace Down

2022

APL Degree Show Exhibition London (Left), Newcastle (Right)

Model of a studio Stage 1 Model 2019

Redcar Spa Concept Sketch