Holmfirth Urban Study

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B A N U D Y // UNDERSTANDING PLACE & FUTURE V I S I O N S / / / / H O L M F I R T H / J A C K - P E T C H / / / /

R e c e n t M e m o r y & T O U R I S M / / / / 1 8 0 0 - 2 0 1 4 / / / /

Finding information on my individual section came from a variety of sources. I began with the information in the library, to help differentiate the different eras in Human Activity, which was then photocopied and shared to other members of the group. Finding timelines of the general history of Holmfirth helped fill in gaps of knowledge between events, which I could then pin-point and use the library to find journals and books. I segregated these findings, in different categories and began building my research around the topics that most interested me. These were: The Picturedrome // James Bamforth // Recent Tourism Effect of Tourism // Commercial Changes // Future Visions.

To gain a better understanding, I revisited as a tourist, taking photos of the landmarks for the presentation is exactly the same as visiting areas from the show. I correlated onto the map where landmarks and general walks would be, and visited them all, sometimes multiple times. I also asked locals what their opinions were — the TV Tour operator was insistant that Summer Wine tourism has increased, due to repeats being shown, despite other information disproving this. Experiancing the town this way helped idenify problems of moving about the town in part II. In the presentation I used clips from the hour-long documentary on Holmfirth’s Film history, which I loaned from the University library. It was a very informative programme, but also very fry in humour, and It was noted that using these clips of the film helped gain an understanding of what the quality and content of the Bamforth movies were like. Also, the explanations given couldn’t have been put better. (“In ‘Workmen leaving the factory, we see workmen.. leaving the factory.”)

Creating the presentation was a fairly straightforward exercise. We very early on decided that creating a PDF document would be the most efficient way to create a booklet and projection, and also to use InDesign. I created a template, for all members of the group to use, which included font sizes and layouts, all intended to make the presentation look uniform and ease printing. I also made my slides ahead of schedule to give an example, and to work on members of the group which didn’t have the programme. Unfortunately, there were problems with members of the group deciding to not use the template or change their mind about how they wanted their layout to be on the day of the presentation.

Tim and I took on working on these issues between us, and thankfully ended with a somewhat cleanlooking final product. In the presentation, comments were made about the style of presentation, (which I would like to follow up individually) though I tried to give short, dense, bursts of information, to not keep the audience looking at one screen for too long, I can understand why an audience member could be left somewhat bored after hearing so much dense information.

I believe that the scope of information was somewhat limited, and it was difficult narrowing down a field of research, though finding out information which really interested me helped stay motivated. There is so much more to learn and find out, especially on other topics about the town. However, for a short project, I feel like I learnt a lot about the recent events in Holmfirth’s Human Activity.

Holmfirth is a small town in the Holme Valley in West Yorkshire. Having come from a varied history

1000

1250

1500

1750

2010 - Last ever episode of Last of the Summer Wine.

2003 - The Picturedrome is re-pruposed and rebranded as a music venue.

1973 - The first episode of BBC’s Last of the Summer Wine is broadcast.

1944 - Latest Fllood Occours.

1913 - Holme Valley Theatre opens.

1883 - James Bamforth begins producing Magic Lantern Slides.

1852 - Flood - 81 million Gallons of Water hits Holmfirth centre and farmland.

1843 - Billsbury Reservoir Built

1777 - River Holme burts it’s banks.

1784 - Bottom Mill - Industrial Revolution starts in Holmfirth.

1651 - Holmfirth becomes a seperate parish.

1476 - First Stone church built.

1000s - First inhabitants begin to Settle.

1300s - Early records of a Corn Mill and a few houses.

of the cloth Industry, the advent of film has changed the recent town’s framework and economy, through tourism (Last of the Summer wine) and the local landmarks. Sadly, much of the town’s original history has been lost, as many of the mills were replaced or became derelict, and the river which runs through the town (though sometimes used in local festivals, such as the Duck Race) has been built over, hidden from public view, and can only be accessed at a few certain points. This has fractured the town, the element of the town’s history which both created and destroyed (the floods) Holmfirth is inaccessible to every-day commuters, who use a series of elevated paths and bridges, crossing to either side with little interaction.

2000

Records of Holmfirth date back to Saxon and Medieval times, and by the 1300s there were just under 200 taxable inhabitants living there. Slowly improving their township, by 1651 Holmfirth becomes a separate parish, before having it’s title rebuked. The Industrial revolution began in Holmfirth in 1784 by John Fallas. Acquiring land to build upon, many mills were built in the 19th and 20th century, though many have been demolished or left to ruin - for instance Wildspur mills (now flats), and the derelict Holmfirth Mill, damaged from the floods. Bottom Mill, however, is still in use today, though converted since it’s original construction.

Holmfirth has been susceptible to floods due to the nature of the surrounding landscape, since it’s creation.

Though, the earliest recorded flood was in 1738, and four more floods in 1777, 1821, 1852 and 1944 caused significant damage to the town. The most significant are the 1777 flood, the 1852 flood and the 1944 flood.

The floods in 1777 were caused by heavy rainfall, which burst the banks of the Holme river, which flooded the Riverside area of Holmfirth - including Victoria Street, Townsgate and Hollowgate. With three fatalities, there was little damage to the buildings aside from the church, which was completely washed away. This was replaced with the current Holy Trinity church, which was designed with elevated flooring, and a change of entry, to protect itself from future floods.

The 1852 flood destroyed many buildings, however, which was caused by the bursting of Bilberry reservoir, after days of heavy rain. This overflowed due to faults in construction, and released 81 million gallons of water into the town. There are memorial plaques to mark the flood height across the town, where some record the maximum depth of 18 feet high. Destruction and damage caused the deaths of 81 residents and over 300 buildings left destroyed. This was the flood which took out many of the mills, which used to use the reservoir as a supply. The Almshouses were built though charitable donations to accommodate some victims and families, who were left holmless.

1944 is the last major flooding to the town, which was caused by heavy rainfall again. There are many documentations of witnesses reports, and photos describing the destruction.

Holmfirth’s recent Human activity has changed with it’s change of town interest - from the woollen industry, to Film and creation of Postcards, to Tourism of Last of the Summer wine. The future of Holmfirth might be related to the passionate Artist community, the local businesses which often work from home, or the sports and local festivals, which bring thousands of visitors to Holmfirth, lots of which are from the surrounding areas.

The Picturedrome, a landmark which may be the first you see from arriving at the bus station, was originally known as the Holme Valley Theatre, which seated 1040 people. It had it’s projector box outside, and had live musical accompaniment. In the first 10 to 15 years, the theatre put on live acs with Musicians, Actors and stage appearances. But, by the late 1950s, the theatre began to have dwindling audiences, and closed eventually in 1967. Leased as a Bingo Hall, it was purchased in 1997 and became a new, intimate, music venue called “The Picturedrome”, which holds 690 people.

Holmfirth Human Activity Timeline; The effect of the 1944 floods.

In the early 1900s, Holmfirth became known for making film, and surpassed hollywood in productivity and originality. The Riley Brothers of Bradford started making and selling cameras, and James Bamforth (a painter and decorator) began making Magic-Lantern slides (a form of static story-telling, using music, verbal explanation, and projections.) The most prominent feature of these was Bamforth blending reality and fantasy with painted backcloths and elaborate costumes. Their films often depict normal village life, but Bamforth’s innovations in plot construction lead to one of the earliest examples of film cutting - jumping between locations to continue the line of action - and comedy. It was theorised that they stopped making films due to film material being used in explosives, though post-cards were an emerging market. Having a large back-catalogue meant these were much cheaper to produce. Beginning humble and romantic (adorned with poems and secret meanings with post-stamp placement) they became garish and rude in the 1930s, after an attempted jump back into producing film.

Last of the Summer Wine is still the longest running sitcom in the world, after premiering in 1973 and ended after 31 series and 39 years. The first to do away with a live studio audience, the filming was entirely done in Holmfirth with a preview audience recorded and mixed into the soundtrack later. Attracting over 18 million viewers in it’s heyday, a gigantic tourist interest was to visit places shown in the programme, especially as they were kept presentable and accessible at all times due to being filmed regularly. The influx of people into the town has been monitored in detail since 2006, and new businesses and changes developed in the town’s economy. “Boutique” markets became prominent, as convenience stores began to amalgamate and became supermarkets (such as the Co-op, which opened in 2001.) More recently still, there is the somewhat failed Riverside shopping centre, and the prominent and developing micro-breweries and vineyard which are beginning to thrive.

Holme valley vision’s report gave a lot of information about how new buildings and town reorganisation could help change Holmfirth in future developments, bringing farming back into the town centre; creating cooperative markets; returning farmers to uncultivated moorland to save money and fertiliser; expanding forestry and green space; and lastly to implement fabric-first passive design.

It was apparent from early analysis that there would be no single answer to solving Holmfirth’s problems, we started by listening to the locals about their ideas, and mapped out their passions and created schemes.

Looking at Urban regeneration projects and films, our proposals all included Green space and Pedestrianisation, putting the users of the space into the heart of our designs.

Our analysis of the town included looking at the way people moved throughout the town, finding a “line of life” and the main problematic areas of movement. There are some ‘zones’ of holmfirth, with the commercial centre and landmarks scattered around, with subsequent housing districts as you move further away. Green space is there, but often not used for it’s real purpose, disconnected from the town or without real function. Using maps and diagrams, these are visible, and from these, we developed our eight sites:

Sands and River-walkway // The Cricket Pitch and Foundry Co-Op and Car-park // Victoria Square and Road Memorial Park/Gardens // Holmfirth Market // Victoria Park.

By deciding to re-organise road layout for a multi-use, single-surface space in most of the town, pedestrians can use the spaces between landmarks much more easily - and in peak traffic times, Cars can use the surfaces with more caution, which is much safer and has easier access for all uses of roads.

The Activity Centre, as outlined in the proposal, is to counteract the lack of spaces for young people in the centre of Holmfirth. Combining Arts and Leisure, or Sports and Relaxation, the space can be used by members of the community. I proposed that the space needs to incorporate the split-level of the Foundry, and bring space in from the cricket ground to allow users to have area to be seated and enjoy the views. Using wild plants and planing more greenery, and walkways which encourage plants to grow in-between would help bring nature back into a space of industry, an issue adressed in the initial analysis. Chaging entry to the Sands would solve the diconnected entry, and having the river-walk throughout the town, community members, tourists and fringe-villages would have an enjoyable route to experiance the beauty of Holmfirth.

We chose to present our information using a physical model, interweaving lines of wool to show how our projects interconnect with the town’s fabric and with each other. As a group, we each chose areas to develop, though the unanimous consensus was to include space for users to enjoy the town’s natural features, and be respective of the surrounding context.

Last of the Summer Wine and Tourism; our final presentation and alaysis.

U R B A N DEVELOPMENT // A N A LY S I S V I S I O N + INHABITATION / / / / P A R T - 2 / H O L M F I R T H / / / /

Working together in this project seemed to be extremely productive and effective.

By combining as a group, we analysed the space, with maps and markers, using the knowledge of part 1 to note where nodes, problems and disconnected paths caused issues in the town layout. Then, after talking with the residents of Holmfirth, we began using a large projection of the map to draw on, using coloured pens to find potential sites to develop proposals and the overarching urban development. The linking river walk became a driver in how we wished to shape and pitch our proposals: a visible, tangible “line-oflife”.

Dividing the work into separate proposals across the town, we each developed a scheme with precedents and analysis and a proposal of how we’d like the outside space to work with the users. The schemes each interlinked, which was why the universal map then was overlaid with individual proposals, showing that they didn’t exist in isolation.

Working with tracing paper to zone and catagorise areas.

Creating Sequential sketches/images was an idea I pitched to show this unification, instead of having general views of the hypothesised spaces. Originally, they were going to be on a projected loop, with the figures moving through, to gain a feel of how the space could work for the users. This was then combined with the model ideas and matching the colours of the proposals to colours of string, united and brought the entire thing together.

The Red string, the Line-of-Line, ran throughout the entire proposals, and started and ended in our presentation with the layout.

After the presentation, we were invited to present to the Holmfirth Community. We did have some mild problems moving our model from it’s residency in the Studio, though committed to using it to explain the inter-connected schemes and interwoven line-of-life.

We, collectively, decided to reduce the time of our presentation by having fewer people speak. I was chosen to deliver half of the schemes, we alternated between James and I. I summarised the speeches of other members and then re-wrote them, to make sure it was my own words and tailor it towards the audience. I feel that it was a great experience to try presenting to people I didn’t know, and was really beneficial to see what was taken well and what their opinions were.

Sadly, we didn’t get much direct feedback from the few members of the community whom seemed to have issues with the proposal (I believe it was predominantly the new road layout and bridge, which is understandable as it’s the most ‘out-there’ change for the town.) but the people we spoke to seemed very positive about the change towards green, open spaces, and encouraging movement throughout the town.

Setting and re-wriring; Presenting to the community.

The next challenge is to create something which implements our aspirations and knowledge of Holmfirth into a single typology.

After being initially sceptical if the model idea would work, I’m really glad that the group decided to take this path and create the ‘artefact’ of our scheme. There were initial plans to have two, smaller scale models, which would show Human Activity (nails and wool) and proposal sites and context. Combining them into one reduced work needed, and focused our presentation. We are very proud of our creation.

The model is comprised of two wooden boards, which were laser cut with buildings, contours and roads engraved. Also, small cross-hairs were added, which were then drilled for the nails. The Grid is every 20mm (35 by 29) and took a total of 1,015 nails, which were all hammered in by hand. Working as a group, we worked from 10am till 2am on different projects, delegating between creating presentation images and hammering nails through the board into a straw bale, which kept them all (mostly) upright.

Nailing and measuring heights, and casting the concrete base.

The Concrete base and the Shadow Gap worked even better than anticipated, as many of the nails can be still be seen from the side, and gives a sense of depth. We wanted to use as many real building materials as possible, getting a sense for how these are used in true construction. Casting concrete, with it’s honey-combing at the base and engraved wood imprint textures, just like the effect in real sites - the worry if it had set or not, and the sheer weight of it all is an understanding we just wouldn’t have experienced if we had lazer-cut as originally planned.

Imagining an intervention for Holmfirth’s Town centre, we came together and created ideas and future visions for an urban development.

We started by listening to the locals and their ideas, as after studying some the different areas, we wanted to know what the real users of the space felt. Taking the real users of the town centre’s words, and the frequency at which they said them, I arranged the titles in size order, with Green space and Pedestrianisation as the largest. These run throughout all of our schemes, and work together as a single proposal.

The primary precedent for our Urban regeneration was the High Line in New York, and Urbanized, the documentary Film, we have proposed green space and outdoor landscaping in every proposal to affect and change the way people interact with the town centre - giving breathing room for activity to happen. We have looked at potential problems and created solutions to unify the line of life, and explore how people, tourists and locals will be drawn and move through spaces.

Multi-Level and Angles of Action

The site is multi-leveled, with single and two-story buildings currently occupying the space. A Current eyesore, the industrial is being overgrown with nature, one plant at a time.

Current Access

The site is multi-leveled, with single and two-story buildings currently occupying the space. A Current eyesore, the industrial is being overgrown with nature, one plant at a time.

Connection to River

Could a building incorperate it’s natural location? The current configuration of space includes links across, which could be more promiant, a feature, drawing into and out of the space. A Centre of nature, defining the beginning of a Natural Holmfirth.

Levels and Access

To access the cricket pitch, and the Sans, the road slopes downwards behind the amandoned sheds and piles of rubble. There is a raised section, piled with bricks and other discared material, with a lower section below with one-story buildings.

Sketch for Arts Centre.

Inspiration for the Photomerge style: Sara Wigglesworth Architects.

After working on seven photomerges for the project, I feel like I have developed a style and a way of representing images to show proposals and ideas. Inspired by the style of some images about future projects on Sarah Wigglesworth Architects’ website, I tried using existing precedents and the locations to form a ‘sketch’ of how the space would be used. I then added people, to show how the users would inereact with this space.

Sketch for Bamforth Park.

I initially worked with a sketch, which I then overlayed the site context and precedents ontop, but printed out and resketched ideas. As I became more confident in ability, I started drawing directly into photoshop with my tablet. The pitched ends of the Leasure centre, for example, seemed to cause the most work, as well as ‘cutting’ out individual branches for trees and placing the figures.

I then helped other members of the group to show their proposals, using their sketches as a base, and worked together by collecting precedents and implamenting them into the image. I am really proud of how the final images look and how they were recieved.

Personally, I think the second Sequential and the Bamforth Park are the most effective.

Leasure Centre & Sequential Images, Arts Centre and Bamforth Park plus adding people to Victoria Square.

Sketch for Sequential Image.

Leisure and Activity Centre : Cricket Ground + Foundry : Jack Petch

Deep set windows framing the views inside of a monolithic green wall façade. Situated beside a 100-year old mansion in Amiens, the new winnows give glimpse of views.

Designed to nestle into the street, neighbouring and

acts as a link between the existing, the gardens and the original pedestrian areas, with an atrium space acting as breathing room for light and movement though. The River walkway in Holmfirth could be this space, a protected space to enjoy nature and the scenery, sheltered yet open for activities. Openings in the walls allow people to enter the building, to “embrace a wide panoramic.. creating a fluid, light-filled space.” By moving the line of the existing plot backwards, and having conscientious design, light could enter this space and be enjoyed year-round.

Chambers of Commerce with Green Walls by Chartier-Corbasson

A renovated and extended former Prussian military uniform factory, accommodating offices and art studios, the entire form incorporates light and spaces inside of a potentially chaotic area to become calm and serene. The two-story extension contrasts with the existing brick, like how grass location, they have preserved existing features as a “historic brick base and a new addition”, there is a long glass running wall along the centre of the space to allow light to penetrate the internals. Views are framed to surrounding trees, often at multi-story heights. A Centre of physical activity and business, or accommodation for students could use these natural features and bricks to

Offices and Studio in a Renovated Factory by Sauerbruch Hutton

Continuing the series of famous Architect practices designrelaxing aesthetics. Located at The Christie Hospital, the proposal with offer a non-clinical environment where anyone “stop by for advice or support”. As a personal project, the scheme is dedicated delicately, a lightweight timber and glass pavilions intended to “engage the outdoors” by overhanging with the surrounded garden.

Norman Forster: “I believe in the power of architecture to life the spirits and help in the process of therapy.” With lattice roofs and spaces, there is an included greenhouse and glass riffing to create warm, gathering space at the south end of the building. Designed with these factors in mind, the Foundry Sports Centre would be a fantastic area to meet people and experience the beginning of the Sans.

Designed as a “Fortress covered in plants” the sports park in the De Baarsjes neighbourhood, a camouflaging facade of “bushy plants and flowers” to incorporate nature, welcoming the visitors and acting as a man-made mountain. They wished to preserve as much as possible, whereas the foundry is a brownfield site, the idea to reincorporate nature is to rejuvenate what was once lost.

Behind the plant walls, there is a three-story building, which slopes down at points, with windows “nestled in”.

Skylights were added on the rooflines to bring in natural light. The innerior spaces attract different groups of people with the different uses of the building, so different natural plants were used on the exterior, a visual metaphor for multicultural and natural living.

SportPlaza Marcator by VenhoevenCS

Visitor Centre : Sands Area : Silvi Iuliana.

Leisure and Activity Centre : Cricket Ground + Foundry : Jack Petch

Arts Centre : Co-op Car-Park : James Anderson

New Road Layout :

: Sam Eadington

Pedestrianised Victoria Square : Victoria Square : Matt Grimshaw

Bamforth Activity Space : Bamforth Building and Memorial Park

Film and Photography Centre :

Victoria Park Renovations : Victoria Park : Vlad Georgescu

: Sam Eadington

HOLMFIRTH: Proposal

// Leisure Centre.

- school children and young adults have nowhere to go, students move away to different towns and tourism means the economic factors are declining, and there are may fringe villages which lack serves themselves.

No one single building can solve every problem, but a centre for arts and leisure, a multi-functional ing visitors to try new activities.

The building needs to bring in people for their own wellbeing, light and experience can create an atmosphere, relating location to function. incorporating views that might not have been thought about before, framing the town for the residents in new ways that could have been hidden in plain sight.

Considering needs to be made with how this building can embed itself in the town redevelopment.

Targeted towards members of the community, the building could include the current sports facilities for instance the cricket pavilion, the skate park and swimming pool, the cyclists routes and walking. Also, there is a lack of central spaces for community members with artistic talents, nowhere to sell or display their work, or even to create in a social setting. A building could also work with the fringe villages as a way to encourage cross-pollination of ideas. School children can have a place to play and interact with new people, especially in summer months.

Potential Schedule of Accommodation: // Reception / Services / Lounge / CafĂŠ / Toilets /

// Changing Rooms / Lockers / Staff Facilities // Dance Studio? / Music Rooms? / Fitness Area or Spa? / Rock Climbing or Indoor Sports? // Parking / Landscaped Area / Seating / Outdoor space for activities