Symbiosis Cameron Jones | C1922079 | BSc3 | Semester 2 | Welsh School of Architecture
The
the community gardens Inside the Reflectionsmonumentontheclimate emergency Feasability study Site analysis The walkability of a
The Urban Wildlife Research Centre and Nature Reserve was borne to achieve this goal, but also to encourage the general public’s wider appreciation and involvement in the natural world. The space is, crucially, both a private workspace, used for developing new ways of making our towns and cities greener, and also a major public parkspace, designed for maximum interaction with the natural environment. Through this project, I aim to achieve a symbiotic relationship between people and ecology, demonstrating how nature can become an equal partner in our urban spaces. timeline of Merthyr Textural mapping of Merthyr Changing the linear directionality of Merthyr’s High Street journey towards symbiotic
Located in the Welsh town of Merthyr Tydfil (known as Merthyr), I have conceived and designed the Urban Wildlife Research Centre and Nature Reserve with the dual aims of reintroducing wildlife into the urban fabric and placing local environmental issues at the forefront of people’s lives. Merthyr is located just north of Cardiff, in the ecologically rich region of the Welsh valleys. However, the town centre does not reflect this character as, in almost all parts of the main high street and shopping areas, the incidence of nature is limited to small vegetation, such as weeds, breaching the gaps in the pavements and unmaintained structures.
In Semester One, my focus was on changing our perspective of the impact of that vegetation on the urban landscape and, instead, on making abandoned structures, such as Miner’s Hall, the framework for developing biodiversity. However, on reflection, I concluded that this strategy would not provide a long term solution, as these buildings were largely coming to the end of their structural lifetimes. Therefore, the goal that I set for myself for Semester Two was to learn how to build wellfunctioning structures, within the urban fabric, that not only support a wide variety of ecology in the area, but are durable and resistant to the potential damage caused by vegetation.
urban landscape Pathway iterations The assembly of urban vegetation Final pathway collages Merthyr Tydfil’s old bus station Merthyr Tydfil’s urban fabric Necessary facilities and ultimate aims Spatial arrangement Circulation strategy Modular design Massing strategy Material CirculationMasterplanstudydesign Open parkspace Cafeteria Exhibitiondesignhalldesign Laboratory/offices design Reflections References 14-1512-1310-118-96-7 32 36-3928-2922-2320-2118-1924-2730-3132-3334-3540-4142-4344-4546-4748-4950-5152-5354-5556-5758-6162-6364-65 66 67
(Egerer, et al, 2012)
Historical
‘Cities are losing green space driving an extinction of nature experiences for urban communities. Incremental green space loss can trigger a ratcheting-down effect where individuals’ expectations of nature continually decrease through time. This loss of everyday nature experiences may produce a citizenry with reduced knowledge and appreciation of biodiversity and the environment.’
Contents Semester 1 - ‘I couldn’t ever imagine living anywhere else’ Semester 2 - ‘Symbiosis’
This project is less about architecture than it is about paying attention to a world issue that, in modern times, is thoroughly neglected. We rely on the natural environment in everything that we do, the products that we use and everywhere that we go and yet we are not currently taking the steps needed to prevent the damage that we are creating.
… rebrand the weeds that infiltrate the cracks of the abandoned, crumbling buildings - as wild flowers and plants that thread harmoniously through the character features and imperfections of our historical artefacts.
… provide opportunities for the local people to be engaged in collective activity, increasing the cohesion and resilience of the community.
This project is more concerned with changing the perception of certain aspects of architecture, than with its creation. News tabloids generally perpetuate negative preconceptions of Merthyr, a town with severe socio-economic challenges and the lack of investment in the town’s infrastructure further reinforces the sense of a struggling, uncared for community. However, Merthyr Tydfil has a proud heritage of mining and engineering and its architecture reflects this. The primary interest of this portfolio is Miner’s Hall, which is one of many examples of heritage buildings in Merthyr that have fallen into disarray. My monument takes the form of a tiered community garden within the walls of Miner’s Hall. The aim is to introduce the public to the new possibilities provided by a structure such as this, including a closer, more tactile relationship with the local ecology. The project as a whole aims to... … reintegrate the community into the heart of the town, by making the centre a more colourful, vibrant and diverse place.
… influence the development of Merthyr’s economic, social and cultural growth, through supporting a change of emphasis towards biodiversity and sustainability.
… educate people in the importance of biodiversity in curbing global warming.
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Semester 1 - ‘I couldn’t ever imagine living anywhere else’ Cameron Jones - Semester 1 - BSc3 - Autumn Term - Welsh School of Architecture
‘there is something in the nature of urban artifacts that renders them very similar— and not only metaphorically—to a work of art. They are material constructions, but notwithstanding the material, something different: although they are conditioned, they also condition.’ (Rossi, 1984)
‘Merthyr had promise but not everyone can see past its difficulties’
This contains a video that I made, further describing my view on the current conditions of Merthyr, its architectural landscape and how I believe that Merthyr could respond to the challenges it faces.
Merthyr is commonly known for its poor and deteriorating living and working conditions and its lack of development. However, the town was formerly at the forefront of industrial development and, importantly, a place of opportunity and promise. I made this image to demonstrate how Merthyr’s history and achievements have translated into the modern day architecture and transport that we can easily take for granted. Appendix 1 - A Dis con nec ted City
Historical timeline of Merthyr
1765 - The first ironworks in Merthyr were set up by Anthony Now(Balcombe,Bacon2021)-Modern advancements in ironworks has made it become a staple in modern architecture
1801 - The ofpopulationMerthyr is 7705, the 2021)(Johnson,intownlargestWales
1804 - The first railway locomotive on a fromcarryingboardedtramwayinMerthyrirontheironworks (Balcombe, 2021) Now - Railway systems today have been adjusted over time to be more efficent and widely available
See
1754 - The population is largely shepherds (Balcombe, 2021) Now - Wales continues to be known for rearing sheep, now with modern techniquesfarming
1825 - The Cyfartha castle was built for William Crayshay II, the owner of the ironworks (Drakeford, 2015) Now - The castle is a touristic attraction used to host art exhibitions and dinners 1831 - ‘The Merthyr Rising’ was caused by the local ironworkers coal protestingminersthe un satisfactory working conditions (Balcombe, 2021) Now - ‘The Merthyr Rising’ is a festival run in the town centre There was a significant rise in the population of Merthyr due to the increased job presentedopportunitiesbythe coal and iron industries (Balcombe, 2021) 1866 - The Cefn Viaduct was built for railway (Cooper,transport2021)
1900 - James Kier Hardie became the first Labour MP when he was elected for Merthyr “Socialism(Balcombe,Tydfil2021)withits promise of freedom, its larger hope for humanity, its triumph of peace over war, its binding of the races of the earth into one all-embracing brotherhood, must prevail” (Barker, 2019) Now - The Cefn Viaduct is being used as a public pedestrian and cycle path
1901 - the Merthyrofpopulation was (Balcombe,69228 2021) 1910 - the closedironworksCyfartha (Balcombe, 2021) 1911 - the ofpopulationMerthyr was (Balcombe,80990 2021) 1928 - the duedismantledwereironworkstoits significant coastfromdistancethe (Balcombe, 2021) 1961 - the ofpopulationMerthyr was 59039 1971 - the ofpopulationMerthyr was 200155283-the ofpopulationMerthyr was (Balcombe,55981 2021)
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Sky Ground Residential Rural Eye - Level Town
‘Just a load of old crumbling buildings’
This painting is a textural mapping of Merthyr, which influenced the design of my monument. It takes elements from all over the district of Merthyr and celebrates their material quality through design. The aim is give these materials purpose again, by rebranding them as valuable snapshots of Merthyr’s history. The painting is organised in such a way that the textures are catalogued from townscape to rural (left to right) and from ground level to sky (bottom to top). The inspiration for this collage painting came from the likes of Picasso’s ‘Las Meninas’ paintings and Dali’s surrealist images (Smithson, 2021). Both of the above catalogue a specific place at a certain point in time and respond, on an emotional level, to the situation.
Metamorphosis
Textural mapping of Merthyr 8 9
Las Medinas - Pablo Picasso of Narcissus - Salvidor Dali
The monument must capture the attention of as many of Merthyr’s residents as possible. The busiest street in the town centre is High Street, with 347 passersby recorded in the space of 20 minutes (see below). This is the main retail high street and is also where people travel to access the majority of the other local amenties. This makes High Street the ideal location for the monument.
With one major high street, Merthyr’s town centre has a very linear configuration. Most people enter the high street from the indoor shopping centre (as shown on the map to the right). They typically travel northbound up this street (as indicated in the pie chart below). On the north end of the highlighted area, a pedestrian can turn off the main high street (just before the parish church) and walk in the direction of Miner’s Hall.
‘Merthyr needs to look to the future or its just going to continue to get worse’
These circumstances presented the opportunity for the tactical placement of my monument to lead people from the major high street towards primary parts of their town’s history. This would challenge perceptions of the role of these spaces and buildings in the local community and give these ruins a modern function and purpose.
DisusedKey: Space Major Roads Minor Roads Rivers and Streams Green IndoorSpaceShopping Centre RetailResidential Business and Services Parish Church Car Parks High Street Railway Line High Street (South of Penderyn Square) 12:10pm-12:30pm 14/11/21 Total = 347 Northbound = 220 Southbound = 127 Changing the linear directionality of Merthyr’s High Street N 50m 100m 200m Miner’s Hall 10 11
This model represents the full journey of my monument. Starting at High Street, outside the indoor shopping centre, the model shows the journey up towards Church Street, demonstrating how the arch ways steer people away from High Street, towards Miner’s Hall. It is designed to show a human scale and immerse the viewer, providing an appreciation of the potential of these design interventions. The model is made at 1:50 scale.
‘It wouldn’t take much to repair this town’
High St Church St 1. Telling the story of Merthyr’s past 2. Posing opportunites for community engagement and conversation 3. Showing people an alternative path to forgotten treasures 4. Framing views towards an integral part of Merthyr’s social history 5. Embracing natural regeneration 6. Encouraging community togetherness through collective engagement 1 2 3 4 5 6 The journey towards the community gardens 12 13
‘I’m not really sure what the plans are for this place it’s exciting’ Inside the monument Views over the Miner’s Hall structure towards the Brecons Intimate garden spaces for self reflection and meaningful conversation 1m 2m 4m14 15
Semester 2 - ‘Symbiosis’ Cameron Jones - Semester 2 - BSc3 - Summer Term - Welsh School of Architecture 16 17
The climate emergency is a test of priorities - a battle between two different consciences, arguing for different outcomes, resulting in a continual spiral of pros and cons. For the sake of the planet, governments and large organisations need to be brave enough to take the leap into a new future, where our economy, social standing and culture are formed, run and understood with sustainability as the preeminent, core Theconcern.narrative must change: from the individual versus the corporation to the corporation working with the individual to invest in the future of our planet. Without this, the future is ‘whilebleak.
urbanisation and technological processes have fostered the misconception that modern socities are less dependent on nature, actual demands for ecosystem services keep increasing steadily. Cities depend on vast areas beyond their boundaries to provide both the resources and ecosystem services they consume and to absorb the waste they produce’ (Niemelä and Ossola, 2017) ...and yet ‘...the UK has lost significantly more biodiversity over the long-term than the world average. Ranked twenty-ninth lowest out of 218 countries, we are one of the most nature - depleted countries in the world’ (Tree, 2016)
Our climate crisis Reflections on the climate emergency
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Architecture for future ecological and human generations Feasability Study I propose an architectural intervention for Merthyr in the form of an Urban Wildlife Research Centre and Nature Reserve. The centre should encourage a new generation of people in Merthyr to take an interest in the world’s most pressing issue, shifting the baseline expectation of nature’s place in urban settings to a more symbiotic relationship.
‘To encourage the ‘Biophilia Hypothesis’ which suggests that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life’ (Egerer, et al, 2012)
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Site analysis Key: Chosen WaterGreeneryPathwaybodies HistoricOpenBusiness/ServicesUrbanSpaceBuildings Woodland Ecosystem Urban Ecosystem Aquatic Ecosystem Residential Retail Major Roadways MinorRetail MajorResidentialForesteryRoadsRoads Site 1:200000 - Wales 1:50000 - Merthyr Tydfil 22 23 N 100m 200m 400m
These three ecosystems can play an important role in encouraging the development of ecology in the town centre, whilst ensuring that this is done responsibly, without danger to the environment.
The urban green corridor Merthyr is a town located in the Welsh valleys, north of Cardiff. The Welsh valleys are some of the most ecologically diverse areas in Wales, making the town centre an ideal place in which to develop a stronger connection between the people and its local Merthyr’secology.town centre can be considered as a set of three ecosystems: the woodland ecosystem, located in the hedgerows to the north-east of the town centre; the urban ecosystem, located in the high street and shopping areas; and the aquatic ecosystem, located at the River Taff, to the south-west of the town centre.
In order to connect the three ecosystems, a pathway will be provided, leading to the site for the Urban Wildlife Research Centre and Nature Reserve (indicated on the map).
See Appendix 2 - 100 Years
I also devised a number of rules for how to engender the city with biodiversity. These were based on an experimental study I conducted, in which I focused on ecology’s natural response to the lack of human interference. I did this as a means of exploring how nature would like to accommodate the urban landscape and how we can sensibly facilitate that to form a symbiotic ‘Pivotingrelationship.towards a more polycentric city could also help nurture a green revolution. A more lattice-like built environment should be structured around a network of green corridors that function not just as transport routes and commercial high streets but also as linear parks.’ (Rubbra, 2022) Primary Sources Convienience (Complexity) Commuting must be understandable and clearly visible. Greater pedestrianisation must lead to improvements in the public transport sector, reducing carbon emissions produced in the city from private vehicles.
Where the humans roam Using research developed from urban biodiversity and walkability principles (from the likes of Kevin Lynch), the five C’s is a rule developed by urban analysts: Ivan Blecic; Tanja Congiu; Giovanna Fancello; and Giuseppe Andrea Trunfio. The five ‘C’s help to identify the most important issues concerning how ecology can encourage a more ‘walkable’ experience.
Connected (Human Scale) Pedestrianisation must connect all of Merthyr’s major regions and must not interrupt movement, or the ongoing activity of people and the local ecology. Stripped of all wildlife
The walkability of a symbiotic urban landscape Conspicuous (Perceptability) Plant varieties can act as memorable nodes on the street, signposting different locations throughout the town Convivial (Imageability) Plant life contributes to the beautification of the streets.
Using these rules, I will begin to iterate the redesign of the streets leading to the site, helping to ‘bleed’ the research and understanding developed by the research centre into the the rest of the town, making the town itself a testing ground for new innovation developed on the site.
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Aesthetic variety of ecology develops a greater appreciation for the importance of the natural world Comfortable (Transparency) Vegetation must not make people uneasy, as would be the case through the complete concealment of the street floor.
Extensive vegetation in inner towns and cities will make the air cleaner and will cool surface temperatures down.
Unruly and irresponsibleSymbiotic
‘A rich assemblance of plant species designed to create a dynamic visual texture in every season draws people to the park; more than any botanic garden, it seems, the combination of designheavy hardscape encourage lingering, the narrowness of the track, and the park’s bustling location have made people look at plants in a way they have never seen before’ 2015)
Merthyr Tydfil’s Wildlife
The green corridor that connects the three ecosystems that exist within Merthyr must introduce as much diversity of ecology as possible, whilst also responsibly discouraging particular species from entering the urban landscape, through fear of damaging them. Merthyr Tydfil’s Wildlife Research Booklet addresses this by cataloguing all of the nature groups and species that could exist within the three ecosystems and classifying them into various groups. This is a means of ensuring that a plethora of species are represented within the scheme and will also encourage the younger generations of Merthyr to involve themselves in the cause that this project is promoting.
(Oudolf,
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The walkability of a symbiotic urban landscape
Where the humans roam See Appendix 3 -
Pathway iterationsWhere the humans roam Dead Soil
Covering topsoil can severely damage the organic matter within the soil and, therefore, its ability to hold water, affecting the micro-organisms that rely on the moisture of the soil for survival. ‘For example, it is estimated that soil organic matter (SOM) can hold up to 20 times its weight in water. Loss of topsoil and SOM results in diminished water holding capacity and affects infiltration’ (Niemelä and Ossola, 2017) ‘Covering the soil with an impervious layer, or soil sealing, is one of the most drastic changes in urban areas. It, effectively disrupts the natural exchange of water and gases at the soil-atmosphere interface and prevents plant growth’ (Niemelä and Ossola, 2017)
Raising pedestrians above the ground, and introducing a boardwalk that intersects Merthyr’s streets, creates a distinct divide between the people and the biodiversity. Dividing people from ecology grants nature its own undisturbed place in the urban fabric, making it an equal partner in the ownership of the high street.
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1. 2. 3. Raising pedestrians high above the street floor, on elevated boardwalks, enables taller and fuller plants, such as bushes and hedges, to grow tall. However... Tall, raised platforms would pose too many issues for those physically disabled to access. 4.
Removing all asphalt from the street and endowing it with vegetation would eliminate motor vehicle traffic from the streets, forcing the city to have more reliance on public transport, a more sustainable means of travel. However... ‘Human activity can result in trampled vegetation or compacted soil, affecting vegetation and inhibiting natural recruitment. Clearly defined spaces for active recreation and buffering natural areas with plantings and trail networks can allow people to move through, but not access certain areas of natural habitat.’
(Niemelä and Ossola, 2017)
‘Road trees offer comfort from the sun, make the roadscape more pleasant, and enhance the imageability of the road.’ (Blecic et al, 2020) ‘While street trees are often used to mitigate the effects of urban heat islands, they may also be significantly affected by urban heat. For example, street trees may suffer extensive damage associated with changes in thermal conditions.’ page 60 - Eliminating car traffic and increasing vegetation will decrease overall street temperatures reducing the fluctuation in heat’ (Niemelä and Ossola, 2017)
The assembly of urban vegetationWhere the humans roam Vegetation can play a significant role in helping individuals to navigate a street, as key distinctive species can be placed a nodes in the urban fabric to signify a turn. Trees are particularly effective in this role, due to their height and volume. They also help to provide shade and cool the temperature of the streets...
Trees, by their nature can be very large and heavy and can absorb a lot of water from the soil surrounding them. The poten tial damage from their roots to the foundations of buildings in their vicinity means they that must be planted at safe distanc es from neighbouring buildings, taking full consideration of the width of their roots. The list of suitable trees can be found in Appendix 3.
3m In order to maintain a sense of safety in the streets, vegetation must be kept at a reasonable height. People must be able to see over all vegetation, up to the edge of the street, in order that people are not concerned about what potential dangers they could be concealing.
In order to allow plants to grow up the sides of the high street shops, the application of timber trellis would help to protect the surface of the buildings from damage caused by the acidity of the plants.Masonry
Wall Wall Plug Trellis Screw 30 31
Final pathway collagesWhere the humans roam ‘...cities on average retain only 25% of estimated pre-urban species diversity. Planning, restoration, and management of plant communities in cities is critical to conserving and enhancing biodiversity and the ecosystem services vegetation provides in cities’ (Niemelä and Ossola, 2017) High GlebelandStreetStreet Church Street Upper Thomas Street Long-Tailed Tit Hedgehog Chaffinch Lavender Robin Daffodil Rat Starling Mistle ThrushRed Squirrel Chiff Chaff Fox Pigeons Gulls Box (Common) Pheasant’s Eye Marsh Marigold Navelwort Pellitory-of-the-wall Crosswort Glebeland Street High Street Church Street Upper Thomas Street 9.5m 11m 13m 10m Max - 5m Max - 7m 32 33
The urban/nature gradient Merthyr Tydfil’s old bus station Chosen WaterGreeneryPathwaybodies HistoricOpenBusiness/ServicesUrbanSpaceBuildings MinorRetail MajorResidentialForesteryRoadsRoads
Merthyr’s Old Bus Station is a building that is no longer in use and is situated to the south-west of the high street. The site comprises a collapsing timber-clad construction, a disused bus parkway and public green space. The building served as a place to buy tickets, with general amenities on the ground floor and an office on the first floor. The open asphalt portion of the site was designed for two large turning circles for buses to enter and exit the site. This site provides thresholds between both the private and the public and also the urban and the natural. These thresholds are a product of their surroundings, with the east side of the site backing onto the urban high street and the west side of the site facing the river and the public green space. I aim to maintain these thresholds in my design, as a means of respecting the nature of the surrounding architecture.
EcologicalPrivate&UrbanPublic& First GroundFloorFloor 34 35 N25m 50m 100m N5m 10m 20m N5m 10m 20m
Merthyr Tydfil’s urban fabric
To understand Merthyr Tydfil’s architectural identity, we must understand its primary districts: residential; church and parish; and the high street. The residential district is varied in colour, but has buildings that are typically fronted with an archway porch entrance and are built from Thermalite concrete blocks on a locally-sourced Pennant limestone footing. The church and parish district represents the historically majority christian religious beliefs held by the community that lived there. Again, materials such as the locally-sourced Pennant limestone are abundant, alongside hand-crafted stone tracery. The high street, unlike many other parts of Merthyr, consists of a much more varied material palette, particularly concerning the choice of cladding. All building follow a strict typology of highly permeable public access on the ground floor and private access to the floors above from the back of the buildings. The architecture that surrounds the bus station consists of many varieties of roof pitch, including front, side, flat and pyramid typologies. This, in conjunction with the protruding extensions at the back of the shops, makes for a complex architectural backdrop.
Groupwork: Credit Cameron Jones and Shanice Natalia (Unit 2) Merthyr’s identity
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points from almost all directions
The site for this project has the potential to be highly permeable as it has access (as The direction from which a particular demographic of people access the site is influenced by the nature of the neighbouring buildings. For example, to the west of the site, people are likely to travel from the neighbouring college and offices, making it more likely that those people are either between the ages of 16-18 (college students) or 21-70 (office workers). This type of information can be used to strategise how people would circulate the site and, therefore, the suitability and arrangement of facilities.
represented by the diagram below).
Permeable thresholds Merthyr Tydfil’s urban fabric The Existing Site Visitor circulation routes to the site Site School/Offices St ShoppingTydfil’sCentre High Street St Tydfil’s Shopping Centre Merthyr Tydfil College The Lunchbox Cafe - access to the High Street
Fishbar Cafe & Rio’s Hairdressers Access to High Street & Reed’s Taxi Service Daily CollegeAgeShoppers15-75StudentsAge16-18 Cafe Diners & Hairdresser Customers Age 16-70 Construction Workers & Shoppers Age 21-65 Delivery Drivers & Service Providers Age 25-50Groupwork: Credit Cameron Jones and Shanice Natalia (Unit 2) The Existing Site Views from various locations & the respective demographic visiting 38 39
Necessary facilities and ultimate aims 1800 1900 2000 ‘Taff was at its most 2021)waste’householdindustrialpolluted,and(Jacob,
The Old Bus Station was built in the 1960s in an effort to ‘eraze 12 acres of ugliness, Merthyr’s biggest face lift’ (Jacob, 2021) ‘One of the schemesredevelopmentbiggestin South Wales’ (Jacob, 2021) ‘Initial ideas include a street market, permanent food and drink stalls, childrens play areas and multi-use community space.’ (Mytton,
Past and the future
small‘encouraging2021)scale gatheringsfor (Mytton,picniking’studyingexercising,or2021)
‘There was once an old woollen mill in Mill Street. This district was bordered by the River Taff and 2021)Feeder’Plymouththe(Jacob, Industrial Era Old Woolen Mill Post-Industrial Era Old Bus Station Present Day Modern Park Redevelopment Facilities for the Urban Wildlife Research Centre and Nature Reserve 40 41
Necessary
The site’s past speaks of a time when the natural environment was abused in the name of the Industrial Revolution. For example, the River Taff was said to be at its ‘most polluted’ (Jacob, 2021) during this time. The local council now aims to address the ‘sins of the past’ by proposing that the Old Woollen Mill / Old Bus Station location becomes a ‘modern park redevelopment’. This was decided on the basis of a number of surveys of local public opinion, through which it was concluded that the park should include ‘a street market, permanent food and drink stalls, children’s play areas and multi-use community spaces’ (Mytton, 2021). Therefore, due to the demand for open park space, I aim to include this into my design, giving people the freedom to break from the relative sterility of the urban landscape, into a diverse ecological environment.
8. Mirroring Architectural Typology - the architecture must mirror the asymmetric, protruding nature of the buildings that face the site. This is so that the architecture’s typology celebrates the street, rather than rejecting it. 25m 50m
2. Unmanaged vegetation - ecology is separated from human activity in order to prevent damage to the ecosystem and allow it to develop as an equal partner in the ownership of the site.
Finding place Spatial arrangement
1. River Diversion - In order to bring the aquatic ecosystem into the site, the river must be diverted - flooding the west side of the site and creating a artificial pond, controlled at the river’s edge.
5. Spatial buffer - a spatial buffer must be placed to separate the public from the laboratory and offices, so that the biologists and urban analysts remain undisturbed by passersby.
7. Employee Site Permeation - the access road that borders the east edge of the site should now act as the entrance for employees working in the laboratory and office spaces. This mimics its current use, which is for workers delivering goods to the high street.
3. Public Site Permeation - the north end of the site serves as a means of permeating the site threshold onto one of the primary transport routes between the college and the high street
4. The cafeteria will sit facing the parkspace, as it is the most public of the three buildings. People should be able to ‘bleed’ freely between the cafeteria and the parkspace.
College High Street RiverRetail ManagedTaff UnmanagedVegetationVegetation1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 5m 5m 42 43N
100m
6. Exhibition hall - the exhibition spaces must sit at one of the entrances to the site, as they will be used for events that can entice people onto the site, increasing the chance that people can be encouraged to get involved with ecological urban development.
Minimum Floor Space Requirements: Laboratory, Shared Workspaces and Offices ≈ 283m2 Workspace per biologist and urban planner ≈ 8m2 21 biologists x 8m2 ≈ 168m2 (accounts for communal appliances) Multidisciplinary/multipurpose shared working areas ≈ 20m2 Shared conversation spaces ≈ 20m2 Conference room ≈ 20m2 Storage ≈ 5m2 Staff bathrooms ≈ 10m2 Storage ≈ 10m2 Plant room ≈ 50m2 Exhibition Space ≈ 120m2 Seating ≈ 75m2 for 150 people Stage ≈ 15m2 Control Room ≈ 5m2 Storage ≈ 5m2 Backstage ≈ 20m2 Cafeteria and Reception ≈ 92m2 Seating (40 people) ≈ 1.5m2 per person, 1.5m2 x 40 = 60m2 Counter and preparation ≈ 15m2 Reception Desk ≈ 5m2 Storage ≈ 5m2 Public Bathrooms ≈ 12m2 Plant room ≈ 50m2 Estimates based off of the Metric Handbook (Adler, 1999)
High Line - Piet Oudolf (Oudolf, 2015) Hylla Alpine Garden (Griffiths, 2021) Cultuurpark Westergasfabriek (Bowman, 2022) Hedgerows - Merthyr No. People Time Spent
Traversing the site
Employees will need access via narrow, unassuming pathways that take the route behind the building down an access road. This is so they are separate from the public and undisturbed. Visitors to the site can take meandering strolls around the park, by taking the narrow paths that line the park spaces and lead directly onto the cafeteria space. Unmanaged ecology takes ownership of its own space at the south end of the site, traversing across it without human interference.
Commuters will need a wide, direct pathway across the site, going to and from the points with the most pedestrian trafficthe shopping centre, the high street and the college and offices.
Commuter Employee Visitor Unmanaged Ecology
Circulation strategy
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1999) Utzon Center - Jorn Utzon46 47
The additive principle Modular design Additive Architecture - Aldo Van Eyck and Jorn Utzon ‘Such a pure addition principle produces a new form of architecture, a new architectonic expression with the same qualities and same effect as the addition of, for instance, the trees in a forest’ (Utzon, 2009)
Jorn Utzon addresses the public, semi-private and private realms, or modules, by utilising differing architectural typologies. The public module is expressed through large double/triple height spaces, with expressive roof curvature, whereas the private module features unassuming conventional flat roof structures. Repetition further emphasises these deliberate distinctive differences.
‘the architectonic expression is created in alliance with the social structure’ (Utzon, 2009) Aldo Van Eyck (Fernandez-Galliano,
Public Semi-Private Private Public Semi-Private Private The Orphanage -
Private - Individual Workspaces Within the Laboratory/Offices Simplifying the structure yet further by removing the skylight, making these the most isolated modules.
3. Issue - Unnecessary excess floor area in the laboratory/offices, making the project bigger than it needs to be and the modules too spread out.
Finalcentralised.Massing
Public - Cafeteria and Exhibition Taking a typically modest architectural proportion and scaling it up to create a dramatic triple height roof structure with a skylight to further emphasise it.
Brockholes - Adam Khan As a means of expressing the ‘public architectural typology’, in a similar manner to the ‘Utzon Center’, I have taken inspiration from the ‘barn-like’ animated skyline of the Brockholes. The Brockholes is a nature reserve based in Lancashire, England, which uses sustainable materials, such as timber and thatch, to achieve stunning triple height spaces. ‘make sustainability cross–over into the mainstream – by enticing and delighting, by demonstrating how interesting and how beautiful it could be to rise to the challenges facing us all’ (Kahn, 2012)
2.1.
Semi-Private - Shared Workspaces Within the Laboratory/Offices Replicating the same pyramid shape roof but reducing the height to a more modest, unassuming size.
Issue - Exhibition space is too far removed from the rest of the architecture and the main pathway is too
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Volume and position Massing strategy
• Has propertiesinsulatinggreaterthan the alternative material options Choice - Limestone
The sustainable choice Material study See Appendix 4 - Architectectural Technology 3 Submission Using Merthyr’s architectural material study conducted earlier in the project, a suggestion is made concerning which materials may be replaced in favour of more sustainable materials, i.e. materials that have less embodied carbon and/or have greater thermal properties. Specific property analysis of materials mentioned on this page can be view in my Architectural Technology 3 submission. ‘carbon emissions from buildings and construction constitute 38% of global carbon emissions’ (Neill, 2020) Roof - Slate Glazing - Window Glass Exterior Render/CladdingCement Render Structure - Thermalite Blocks Flooring - Oak Boards Foundations and FootingPenant Limestone Merthyr LangauageArchitectural-CommonMaterialChoices
ChoiceTransparent Wood • Has the lowest levels of production.emissionscarbonfrom
Choice - Cedar Timber Shingle
••FoundationHasthelowestlevelsofcarbonemissionsfromproduction.Limecanbesourcedfrom local South Wales minimisingquarries, transport-related carbon emissions 50 51
• Lime can be sourced from local South Wales minimisingquarries, transport-related carbon emissions. Choice - Mycelium Floor Tile
Choice - Douglas Fir Timber Frame
• Has high absorptionsound coefficient, minimising disturbance.noise
• Timber for timber shingle is grown locally, minimising transport-related carbon emissions.
• Has the lowest levels of production.emissionscarbonfrom
• Has the lowest levels of production.emissionscarbonfrom
• Has the lowest levels of production.emissionscarbonfrom
• Has the lowest levels of production.emissionscarbonfrom
•RenderHasa likeness to cement Merthyr’skeepingaestheticallyrender,(inwithaesthetic)
• Can be dyed red to match the colour of red brick, which is Merthyr.throughoutabundant
Choice - Lime
• Has a panes.conventionalconductivityandtoughnessgreaterthermalthanglass
Material Alternatives
• Can encourage the use of more innovative climateconscious building materials in construction.local
• Has a likeness to slate, aesthetically (in aesthetic).withkeepingMerthyr’s
• Can encourage the use of more innovative climateconscious building materials in construction.local
• Timber is grown locally, minimising transport-related carbon emissions.
Urban wildlife research centre and nature reserve - masterplam 52 53
Regaining appreciation for ecology ‘Exposure to and interaction with nature can provide a wide range of physical and mental health benefits, such as improved cognition, social interaction, recreation, and physical activity that may reduce chances of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity’ (Egerer, This2018) project is not only a place for people to regain their appreciation for nature but also for nature to regain their place where the urban fabric now stands. The architecture is secondary to the flourishing ecology enveloping it.
54 55 N10m 20m 40m N5m 10m 20m
The biophilic journey Urban wildlife research centre and nature reserve - circulation design
The pathways are meticulously designed to accommodate people from all demographics, who may use the site either for visiting or when commuting. The pathways are highly permeable, due to the multitude of access points, dotted around the site. Natural ecological cycles are maintained in either managed, or unmanaged, portions of the site, allowing nature to take ownership and living symbiotically among Thepeople.primary pathways are designed to accommodate managed vegetation and to take people efficiently across the site to points of major pedestrian traffic. In contrast, the secondary pathways meander around the edges of the site, allowing people to enjoy the parkscape at a slower pace.
On the lakeside
The re-landscaping of the site presented this project with the opportunity of making the landscape a comfortable place to sit and have conversations, by tiering the land down to the park level
Where ecology has met the harder urban grain of the site, the placement of vegetation has been more managed, as a means of preventing people from damaging the biodiversity. 3
A large expanse of flat open greenery located at the foot of the cafeteria opens this public space up to a multitude of events and activities. With those events, comes a large number of people, who can experience the benefits that a developed and rich biodiversity can have for an urban environment.
Small parkspaces are dotted around the lake, leaving the visitor with individual pockets of greenery, which can be used for time alone or for small groups of people. These spaces provide a means of generating more intimate and personal relationships with nature and ecology, during moments of personal reflection.
2 Vegetation against the urban grain
56 57
1 2 3 1
On the river bank Urban wildlife research centre and nature reserve - open parkspace
Pocket Gardens
Bleeding into nature Urban wildlife research centre and nature reserve - cafeteria design 58 59 N5m 10m 20m
The cafeteria has been designed around the relandscaping of the site, such that it has been partially dug into the ground. Passersby access the cafeteria from where the roof line begins, creating an intriguing vertical betweenrelationshiptheground level and the vast pyramid roof structure. The cafeteria is designed to ‘bleed’ out into the parkspace, bringing the outdoors into the cafeteria and enriching the experience.
Bleeding into nature Urban wildlife research centre and nature reserve - cafeteria design
‘We put everything in relation to ourselves. Our surroundings influence us through their relative size, light, shade and colour.’
(Utzon, 2009) 60 61 N5m 10m 20m
Accommodating the community Urban wildlife research centre and nature reserve - exhibition hall design The exhibition hall, much like the cafeteria, is designed from the principle of the ‘public’ module, as it is intended to be used to exhibit innovations of the employees working at the research groups.weddingsforoutcapableexhibitionFurthermore,centre.thehallisalsoofbeingrentedtothewiderpublicotherevents,suchasorcommunity 62 63 N5m 10m 20m
Individual OfficesShared Workspaces Pathway 64 65 N5m 10m 20m
The laboratory/office spaces are placed at the east end of the site, in the most urban portion of the site, set back from the public pathway. This area contains shared workspaces for conversation between colleagues, individual offices with integrated workstations for experimentation and testing, a conference room, a tissue culture room and a washroom. A distinct division is made between the individual offices and the shared workspaces, further reinforcing the threshold between the semi-private and public working Themodules.people using the pathway, circulating around the back of the site, will not disturb those in the individual workspaces, as clerestory windows have been chosen deliberately to avoid onlookers.
The future of urban regeneration Urban wildlife research centre and nature reserve - laboratory/offices design
14. Kahn, A., 2012. Brockholes Visitor Centre Projects Adam Khan Architects. [online] Adamkhan.co.uk. Available at: <https://adamkhan.co.uk/projects/brockholes/> [Accessed 10 May 2022].
26. Tree, I., 2019. Wilding - The Return of Nature to a British Farm. 1st ed. London: Pan Mac millan, p.7. 27. Utzon, J., 2009. Additive Architecture. Hellerup: Bløndal, pp.6-28.
Reflections
2. Balcombe, S., 2021. Timeline History of Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. [online] Visitoruk. com. Available at: <http://www.visitoruk.com/MerthyrTydfil/timeline.html> [Accessed 28 November 2021].
20. Oudolf, P., 2015. Hummelo - A Journey Through a Plantsman’s Life. 1st ed. Amsterdam: Monacelli Press, pp.11-17.
12. Griffiths, A., 2022. Z’scape designs Hylla Alpine Garden as a “place of comfort, solitude and peace”. [online] ArchDaily. Available at: hylla-alpine-garden-china-landscape-architecture/><https://www.dezeen.com/2021/10/27/zscape-[Accessed10May2022].
25. Smithson, R., 2021. Las Meninas, 1957 by Pablo Picasso. [online] Pablopicasso.org. Available at: <https://www.pablopicasso.org/las-meninas.jsp> [Accessed 28 November 2021].
11. Fernandez-Galiano, L., 1999. Labyrinth and Life - Luis Fernández-Galiano. [online] Arquitectura Viva. Available at: <https://arquitecturaviva.com/articles/el-laberinto-y-lavida-3> [Accessed 10 May 2022].
7. Carrington, D., 2018. Humanity has wiped out 60% of animal populations since 1970, report finds. [online] The Guardian. Available at: finds>environment/2018/oct/30/humanity-wiped-out-animals-since-1970-major-report-<https://www.theguardian.com/[Accessed10January2022].
8. Carrus, G., Scopelliti, M., Lafortezza, R., Colangelo, G., Ferrini, F., Salbitano, F., Agrimi, M., Portoghesi, L., Semenzato, P. and Sanesi, G., 2015. Go greener, feel better? The positive effects of biodiversity on the well-being of individuals visiting urban and peri-urban green areas. Landscape and Urban Planning, 134(1), pp.221-228.
9. Cooper, E., 2021. Cefn Viaduct. [online] Visit Merthyr. Available at: Novembervisitmerthyr.co.uk/things-to-do/places-of-interest/cefn-viaduct/><https://www.[Accessed282021].
13. Jacob, C., 2022. Mill Street – The Melting Pot. [online] The Melting Pot. Available at: <https://www.merthyr-history.com/?tag=mill-street> [Accessed 10 May 2022].
4. Blečić, I., 2020. Planning and Design Support Tools for Walkability: A Guide for Urban Analysts. Sustainability, 12(11), pp.3-8.
22. Ossola, A., 2018. Urban Gardens as a Space to Engender Biophilia: Evidence and Ways Forward. Frontiers in Built Environment, 4, pp.1-23
This project aims to reinvent biodiversity in an urban context, introducing a radical redevelopment, not just the for the site but for the town itself. Ecological considerations are present in every aspect of this design, engendering a new appreciation of their importance in our everyday lives and providing a vibrant presence and identity in the urban setting.
15. Johnson, B., 2021. The History of Merthyr Tydfil - The Town of Steel. [online] Historic UK. Available at: Welsh-Men-of-Steel/><https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofWales/Merthyr-the-[Accessed28November2021].
28. Victoria, C., 2011. Flowers. 1st ed. London: Parkstone International, p.1.
16. Llywodraeth Cymru Welsh Government, 2014. Local Area Summary Statistics - Merthyr Tydfil. Cardiff: Statistics For Wales, p.25.
29. Wohlleben, P., 2015. The Hidden Life of Trees - What they Feel, How they Communicate. 1st ed. Munich: Greystone Books Ltd., p.8.
18. Mandelbrot, B., 1982. The Fractal Geometry of Nature. 1st ed. London: W.H.Freeman & Co Ltd, p.50.
3. Barker, E., 2021. British Socialism: An Examination of Its Doctrines, Policy, Aims and Practical Proposals. London: Good Press, p.67.
24. Rubbra, N., 2022. Designing the walkable city. [online] Architecture.com. Available blog-walkable-city><https://www.architecture.com/knowledge-and-resources/knowledge-landing-page/at:[Accessed10May2022].
23. Rossi, A., 1984. The architecture of the city. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, p.24-28.
21. Ossola, A. and Niemelä, J., 2017. Urban biodiversity. 1st ed. London: Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group, pp.20-130.
19. Mytton, S., 2022. Council seeks views on former bus station site. [online] Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council. Available at: latest-news/council-seeks-views-on-former-bus-station-site/><https://www.merthyr.gov.uk/news-and-events/[Accessed10May2022].
References 1. Adler, D., 2022. Metric Handbook Planning and Design Data. 1st ed. London: Taylor and Francis, pp.247-269.
10. Drakeford, M., 2015. Merthyr Tydfil: Understanding Urban Character. Cardiff: Cadw, p.13.
30. Wright, F. and Saint, A., 2022. An Organic Architecture - The Architecture of Democracy. 1st ed. New York: Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd, pp.3-47. 66 67
In order to connect Merthyr’s three ecosystems, a pathway was implemented that connected the woodland ecosystem to the aqautic ecosystem (the location of the site) by the means of a town-wide green corridor This intervention succeeded in reinvigorating the street through the removal of vehicular traffic and the development of the town’s landscape into a linear parkscape. By doing this, the street becomes a carbon sink and also an enjoyable and readable landscape endowed with life. If I were to continue to redesign the green corridor, I would think more carefully about alternative means of transport, such as bikes and scooters and how to safely and sensibly integrate them into the pathway, encouraging the council not only to consider the further development of public transport but also to plan for an urban landscape, where sustainable modes of transport are accommodated more successfully. The localised pathways around the site itself comprise a variety of different curated circulation routes designed for the town’s different demographics. These routes are attentive to the needs of these groups of people, creating direct routes for those intending to commute quickly across the site and meandering, indirect routes for those looking to spend time in the parkspace. The site is designed to be highly permeable with many access points onto the pathways. Nevertheless, on reflection, I believe that I could have been bolder in making the site more accessible through the inclusion of wider access points, particularly along the north-west point of the site. The construction itself was designed under the additive principle, aiming to create a series of modules that all, architecturally, speak a language of how they are intended to be used. The tall pyramid roof shape of the public module invites the public to the site, through its great volume and expressive roof structure, whereas the smaller semiprivate and private modules are, in comparison, more unassuming, so that they are left undisturbed by the wider public. However, if I were to continue to work on the design of these modules, I would think more about the threshold for entering these constructions, and particularly how the public module could draw the individual in, perhaps through the use of protruding architectural features Overall, I believe that this project succeeds in incorporating a richer ecology into the urban landscape and challenging usual conventions, with regard to making a town or city ‘green’ Research into the flora and fauna that can live successfully alongside us in the urban landscape, and the conditions in which this is most effective, plays an important role in our understanding of our relationship with the natural world. Projects such as these should be used to exemplify what can be done and should be scaled up to remodel city landscapes. Our future, on a global scale and to a critical extent, depends on our resolve to co-exist in harmony with the natural world, respecting its needs and being responsible in our actions.
6. Boyce, J., Narain, S. and Stanton, E., 2007. Reclaiming Nature : Environmental Justice and Ecological Restoration. 1st ed. London: Anthem Press, p.1.
17. Lynch, K., 1960. The Image of the City. Massachusetts: M.I.T Press, pp.2-63.
5. Bowman, G., 2022. Cultuurpark Westergasfabriek — Gustafson Porter + Bowman. [online] Gustafson Porter + Bowman. Available at: <http://www.gp-b.com/cultuurparkwestergasfabriek> [Accessed 10 May 2022].