Masterplan Revised

UNIVERSITY OF BATH MASTERPLAN REVISED

BY JAKUB RYNG BSc ARCHITECTURE STUDENT

‘University of Bath Masterplan Revised’

by Jakub Ryng Written in response to the official University masterplan for the years 2009-2026.

Text and Illustrations by Jakub Ryng The Hague Summer 2012

MASTERPLAN

THE EXISTING MASTERPLAN

A VISION

2009-2026 p. 1-2

p. 5-6

MASTERPLAN

REVISED p. 3-4

MASTERPLAN

IN FOCUS p. 7-12

THE EXISTING MASTERPLAN 2009-2026 The current masterplan for the University of Bath was drawn up by the Department of Estates for the years 2009-2026. It identifies the areas for potential development and sets out a defined strategy pertaining all construction, infrastructure and landscaping works to be carried out on campus.

The perspective plan on the right attempts to provide a succinct summary of the proposed changes to the Claverton Down campus. The entire masterplan brochure can be found on the Department of Estates website under the following address: http://www.bath.ac.uk/estates/ Masterplan%20Final%201.pdf

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An extension to the car park near 1 South.

The following areas of development are identified by the official University masterplan:

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A new woodland car park to the north of the Westwood Residences.

1

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A new coach/car park south of the East Car Park.

Student residences to the north of the Medical Centre.

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Student residences on the site of the East Car Park.

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Student residences adjacent to Polden Court.

4

A new general teaching building and/or student residences to the north of the bus arrivals area.

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New academic buildings surrounding the University Park.

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New Centre for Arts Building.

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Library extension.

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STV extension.

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3 5 5

1 9

1

Student residences Academic buildings

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Proposed new parking space

2 7

Sports facilities

4

6

5 8 5

5 5

Adapted from the ‘University of Bath Masterplan 2009-2026’ document to be found on the Department of Estates website.

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A B

4

1

3 6

5 2

Student residences Academic buildings Proposed new parking space Sports facilities Proposed development areas To be demolished

3

7

MASTERPLAN REVISED The proposed revisions to the masterplan were drawn up in direct response to the existing official masterplan for the years 2009-2026 presented on the previous pages.

My driving goals and underlying objectives for the proposed revisions have been:

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1. The slight change of emphasis from student residence-oriented development to focusing on improving and expanding the academic and research facilities of the University.

2. The preservation of the University’s central green areas and their further integration with the campus infrastructure.

3. The maximizing of land usage by relocating most of the parking spaces to multi-storey, underground garages.

4. Maintaining student accommodation blocks away from the main access routes to the campus.

5. The injection into the master plan a slightly more daring, forwardlooking and ambitious vision befitting an institution of Bath’s stature.

THE WEST WING In place of the West Car Park I propose the construction of a new complex of buildings - both academic and residential. The lost parking space would be compensated by building a two-storey underground parking lot directly connected to the offices and residences on the ground.

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NEW ACADEMIC BUILDING TO THE SOUTH OF THE ARRIVAL SQUARE This is an extension to the proposed academic buildings to the north of the University Park.

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ROAD RELOCATION In order to maximize the potential area for development north of the arrival square as well as eliminate the awkward, ‘pointy’ corner (marked ‘A’) I would argue that the connecting road (marked ‘B’) be relocated to the east of the development area as a continuation of Convocation Avenue.

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GREEN AREA PRESERVATION Given the highly development-sensitive, green nature of the areas in question as well as the extremely problematic context, I would argue for the preservation of the areas marked 4 and 5 as green space free of development.

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TO BE DEMOLISHED Given the rather poor condition of the Founders’ Hall and the low architectural or urbanistic value of the Estates Department Building I would propose to demolish both.

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NEW ACADEMIC BUILDINGS TO THE SOUTH OF THE UNIVERSITY PARK EXTENSION In order to make full use of the development area, I would argue for the extentension of the proposed building boundaries all the way to the south boundary of the campus.

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MASTERPLAN

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WEST WING RESEARCH COMPLEX North of the proposed student residences I envisage a new research centre comprising six 6-storey towers overlooking the Quarry Road entrance.

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WEST ARRIVAL SQUARE In response to the growing traffic to and from the campus, I propose the building of a new arrival square, together with setting up a new bus connection along North Road.

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SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT TOWER Connected directly to the current School of Management Building, this high-rise would offer additional office and teaching space.

A VISION Student residences Academic buildings Sports facilities

WEST WING ACCOMMODATION Overlooking the green area north of the Medical Centre I envisage a new student residence complex comprising eight 6-storey towers, providing up to 1100 new beds.

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EAST WING ACCOMMODATION In line with the vision set out in the original masterplan, I propose building a complex of six courtyard-based accommodation blocks, totalling in up to 2150 new beds.

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ACCOMMODATION NORTH OF ARRIVAL CENTRE Directly north of the new proposed arrival centre, I propose the building of a new student residence providing up to 400 new beds.

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5

7

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NEW ARRIVAL CENTRE North of the main arrival square I propose the construction of a muchneeded representative centre of the University, comprising a new lecture theatre (surpassing the University Hall in capacity), a new building to replace the ageing Founders Hall as well as additional office and teaching space.

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NEW ACADEMIC BUILDING TO THE SOUTH OF THE ARRIVAL SQUARE This is an extension to the proposed academic buildings to the north of the University Park.

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NEW ACADEMIC BUILDINGS PROPOSED IN THE ORIGINAL MASTERPLAN

7 5 4

1

2 3 7

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8 11 9

7

13

7 12 14 7

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NEW DEPARTMENT OF ESTATES BUILDING

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NEW CENTRE FOR ARTS BUILDING AS PROPOSED IN THE ORIGINAL MASTERPLAN.

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NEW DEPARTAMENT OF ARCHITECTURE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING BUIDLING

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STV EXTENSION AS PROPOSED IN THE ORIGINAL MASTERPLAN.

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NEW ACADEMIC BUILDINGS

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MASTERPLAN IN FOCUS

GONDOLA LIFT

With a growing student population of 14000 and some 2600 staff, the University needs to rethink its transport policy. As an alternative to increasing the frequency of the bus service, which may prove to be quite unreliable and result in excessive congestion on the roads, I propose the construction of an aerial passenger ropeway to connect the University campus with the City.

Columbia, this scheme sets out a vision for a bicable gondola ropeway, comprising 52 cabins, departing at 9 sec. intervals, which in effect would significantly reduce the travel time from the campus to the City.

The bottom terminal would be located on the grounds of the Bath Cricket Club parking lot, across the street from the Bath Law Courts, while the top terminal would be situated at the westernmost corner of what is currently the West Car Park. Such an arrangement would require over 2.9km of cable (in a loop) carried by 6 towers placed at different intervals along the route.

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2935m GONDOLA CABINS

OF STEEL CABLE

BOTTOM TERMINAL Located in place of the Bath Cricket Club Parking Lot.

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7ms

-1

Inspired by the proposed gondola lift to the Burnaby Mountain campus of the Simon Fraser University in British

LIFT SPEED

8

PASSANGERS PER CABIN

3500

pph

MAXIMUM CAPACITY

8.6 sec

TOP TERMINAL Located in the westernmost corner of the current West Car Park.

INTERVALS

Given an average speed of 7ms-1, the travel time would only be around 3.5 mins. - a significant reduction from the 10 mins. required by the bus to reach the North Road bus stop (when departing from the University’s main bus stop).

The reduced travel time is only one of many potential benefits the gondola lift project could bring - not

only to the University, but also the wider community. Provided that the gondola lift would results in the a reduction of the frequency and operational hours of the current transit system, it is bound to cut the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the busses. With considerably low embedded energy and negligible (when compared to alternatives) operational costs, the gondola lift project would certainly contribute to achieving the University’s target of reducing its CO2 emissions by 43% by 2020 (from the 2005 baseline).

The placing of the top terminal in close proximity with the Bath Golf Club as well as the residential areas along North Road and Bathwick Hill would also serve to extend the accessibility of the gondola to the wider local community so as not to restrict it to the University staff, students and visitors only.

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THE WEST WING

The West Wing is a brand new proposed complex of buildings comprising student residences, research and teaching facilities as well as new representative public areas including the gateway promenade with the gondola lift station situated on the westernmost corner of the site.

My vision for the site includes the construction of new student residences to the south of the gateway promenade overlooking the greenery of the University Park.

On the other side of the promenade facing Quarry Road, new academic buildings are to be located, adding onto the arrival experience for University visitors.

Underneath the proposed development a new two-storey car park is proposed to be accessed from Quarry Road.

As a replacement strategy for the gondola lift, I would also like to highlight the site’s potential to accommodate the arrival square for the new proposed bus route to the west of the current School of Management Building.

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NEW ARRIVAL CENTRE

In an effort to develop the main bus arrival square into the central hub of the campus, a number of GTA buildings are envisaged in this the area. The most prominent of these is the new lecture theatre intended to replace the University Hall as the largest theatre in terms of capacity. In this respect, my vision is congruous with the previous official University masterplan from the year 2001.

ACE

BUILDING

The new ACE building would comprise the offices, studios and laboratories required by the Department’s staff and students, all contained within one building to be located to the south of the University Park. As one of the University’s top departments, its position is further accentuated by placing the building along the main access road to the campus, with the semi-circular lecture theatre serving as a recognizable visual marker, greatly adding onto the journey of entering the campus.

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NEW PARKING SPACES In an effort to use the campus grounds to their full potential, I propose to move the two main University car parks underground.

This revision seeks to preserve the traffic balance between the two access roads to the campus as well as keep a number of smaller allotted parking spaces scattered throughout the campus.

In total the two new underground garages would provide spaces for up to 2070 cars.

NEW BUS ROUTE

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In order to relieve some pressure off the (at times) overloaded bus service to the central arrival square, a second bus route running along North and Quarry Roads is proposed.

In light of the envisaged West Wing accommodation and academic complex, this new bus route would partially satisfy the forecasted rising demand for transit links with the campus. In addition to this, the proposed route would provide the much needed connection to the northern areas of the City, which currently lack sufficient transit links with the University.

940

new parking spaces spread among the two levels of the west underground car park.

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new parking spaces spread among the two levels of the east underground car park.

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