Restorative Industries: The 21st Century Mill

RESTORATIVE INDUSTRIES:

THE 21ST CENTURY MILL

CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS HYDROLOGICAL GARDENS IS A 90-ACRE FLOOD RESILIENT PARK LOCATED WITHIN HUDDERSFIELD, WEST YORKSHIRE; A LARGE INDUSTRIAL TOWN FAMED FOR ITS ROLE WITHIN THE MILL INDUSTRY SINCE THE 1800’S. AS PART OF THE 2050 MASTERPLAN OF THE TOWN, HYDROLOGICAL GARDENS IS EQUIPPED TO PRODUCE HYDROELECTRICITY FOR USE BY NEIGHBOURING COMMUNITIES FROM USE OF THE EXISTING CANAL AND RIVER NETWORKS CONNECTED TO THE PARK IN ADDITION TO PRESERVING THE TOWN IN THE CASE OF A 100-YEAR FLOOD. THE EXISTING GRADE II LISTED JOHN L BRIERLEY MILLS LOCATED ALONG PRIMARY AXIS OF THE PARK AND ADJACENT TO THE HUDDERSFIELD BROAD CANAL ARE NOT ONLY THE PARKS PRIMARY LANDMARK BUT ARE ALSO IMPORTANT HERITAGE LANDMARKS FOR THE TOWN.

STRATEGIC APPROACH

THE COMMON: KNOWLEDGE THROUGH COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE THREE KEY ACTORS WITHIN THE SCHEME (STUDENTS, EMPLOYERS AND THE COLLEGE), KNOWLEDGE CAN BE SHARED TO CREATE A NEW POPULATION OF SKILLED WORKERS, BENEFITING ALL INVOLVED.

COINCIDING WITH THE LOSS OF SKILLED WORKERS POST-BREXIT, THE SCHEME INTENDS TO REVIVE THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY THROUGH THE CONVERSION OF RUSTING INFRASTRUCTURE INTO AN INDUSTRY OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOCUSED ON PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS. BOTH EXISTING IN-USE AND ABANDONED MILLS POSITIONED ALONG THE REGENERATED WEST YORKSHIRE AND LANCASHIRE CANAL NETWORK WILL BE RENOVATED AS FACTORIES AND EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES, FROM WHICH BOTH STUDENTS AND MANUFACTURERS CAN COLLABORATE WITHIN SPECIALIST ENVIRONMENTS TO MUTUALLY BENEFIT FROM SHARED RESEARCH AND PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE. A SERIES OF REGIONAL HUBS WILL BE LOCATED ACROSS THE NETWORK, PERMANENTLY HOSTING STAFF, WHILST TEMPORARILY ACCOMMODATING STUDENTS BEFORE THEIR DISTRIBUTION ACROSS THE NETWORK.

STUDENT/COLLEGE: S: SPECIALIST TECHNICAL FACILITIES ON-SITE - C: PUBLICATION OF SPECIALIST RESEARCH. COLLEGE/EMPLOYER: C: LECTURES FROM LEADING MANUFACTURERS - E: ACCESS TO STUDENT RESEARCH.

CANAL BOATS ARE ALSO INTENTED TO BECOME PART OF THE EDUCATION NETWORK, WITH BOATS ACCOMODATING LECTURES DURING JOURNEYS, STREAMED DIRECTLY FROM THE HUB. AS WELL AS TRANSPORTING STUDENTS, THE BOATS WILL ALSO FORM A MODE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT, WITH STANDARDISED BOATS TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS ACROSS THE NETWORK. ALL BOATS ARE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BY BEING FULLY ELECTRIC AS WELL AS BEING FITTED WITH A SERIES OF ALGAE TILES, DESIGNED TO FILTER HISTORIC POLLUTION OUT OF THE CANALS.

EMPLOYER/STUDENT: E: ACCESS TO HIGHLY SKILLED WORKERS - S: PRACTICAL WORK EXPERIENCE.

REGIONAL NETWORK MAP NTS

ALGAE TILES: TILES ARE COATED WITH MICRO-ALGAE. POLLUTION WITHIN THE WATER FILTERS THROUGH THE CHANNELS OF THE TILE, WITH POLLUTANTS BEING BROKEN DOWN THROUGH BIOREMEDIATION. EACH TILE IS A STANDARDISED SIZE, MEANING EASY REPLACEMENT EVERY SIX MONTHS.

CANAL BOAT SCHEMATICS 1:200

INTERNAL PROGRAMME THE MILL SERVES PRIMARILY AS A DOCKING STATION FOR THE HUB, PROVIDING KEY SOCIAL SPACES AND SERVICES UPON ARRIVAL. ON THE UPPER FLOORS, PROFESSIONAL AREAS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE PERMANENT ACCOMMODATION TO STAFF AS WELL AS TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION TO VISITORS FROM INDUSTRY. OTHER SPECIALIST ACCOMMODATION FOCUSING UPON PRACTICAL EDUCATION SUCH AS WORKSHOPS, LABORATORIES AND EXHIBITION HALLS ARE LOCATED IN THE ADJACENT MILL BUILDINGS. THE INTERNAL ORGANISATION OF THE MILL HAS BEEN COMPARTMENTALISED; HOWEVER, THESE ZONES ARE STILL EASILY PERMEABLE THROUGH THE DOMINANT CIRCULATION ROUTE AT THE CORE OF THE BUILDING. THE ZONES ARE ORGANISED PRIMARILY THROUGH MOVEMENT FLOWS AND NOISE POLLUTION, WITH THE PUBLIC TERMINAL ON THE GROUND FLOOR TRANSITIONING INTO WORK AREAS ON THE UPPER FLOORS. COLLABORATION IS ENCOURAGED THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING THROUGH THE PURPOSEFUL POSITIONING OF GROUP SPACES ALONG CIRCULATION ROUTES AND AMONGST PRIVATE SPACES.

EXAMPLES OF MILLS ALONG CANAL NETWORK REQUIRING RENOVATION

EXTERNAL EXPRESSION THE MAIN AIM OF THE EXTENSIONS FORM IS TO ENHANCE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO KEY THEMES OF THE SITE (LANDSCAPE AND HERITAGE), ACHIEVED THROUGH THE MANIPULATION OF LEVELS WHICH SOFTEN THE EXTENSION INTO ITS CONTEXT. THE HERITAGE OF THE MILL ALSO IS REPRESENTED THROUGH THE MATERIALITY OF THE BUILDING, DRAWING ON INDUSTRIAL MATERIALS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY PRESENT ON THE SITE, SUCH AS CORRUGATED AND PERFORATED STEEL. THE DARKER TONES OF SUCH MATERIALS ALLOW THE BRIGHTER TONES OF THE MILL TO DOMINATE THE VIEW, HIGHLIGHTING ITS STATUS WITHIN THE SCHEME. DUE TO THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE SURROUNDING THE BUILDING, LARGE EXPANSES OF GLAZING ARE INCORPORATED TO CAPTURE THE PICTURESQUE VIEWS AS WELL PROVIDE AS MUCH NATURAL LIGHT AS POSSIBLE. DUE TO THE DOMINANCE OF SUCH EXPANSES OF GLAZING WITHIN THE LANDSCAPE, LOUVRES ARE INSTALLED AS MEANS OF SOFTENING THE EXTERNAL APPEARANCE, WHILST ALSO PROVIDING A METHOD OF SHADING THE INTERIOR WHEN REQUIRED.

STAGE 1: MASS INTRODUCED UP TO SECOND FLOOR LEVEL, CONNECTING THE MILL AND THE CANAL WHILST COVERING WORN REGIONS OF THE MILL FROM WHERE EXISTING DECAYING BUILDINGS WERE DEMOLISHED.

STAGE 2: LOWER LEVEL INTRODUCED THAT PROTRUDES OVER THE CANAL, SOFTENING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BUILDING AND LANDSCAPE WHILST PROVIDING ADDITIONAL OUTDOOR TERRACES.

STAGE 3: DECONSTRUCTION OF MAIN MASS TO ALLOW PRIMARY FOCUS ON THE GRADE II LISTED MILL, CREATING A SERIES OF LEVELS/TERRACES THAT IMITATE THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE.

STAGE 4: CONNECTION OF LEVELS THROUGH VARIOUS RAMPS AND STAIRCASES, BREAKING THE RIGIDNESS OF THE EXTENSION AND REPRESENTING THE NATURAL FLOW OF THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE MORE EFFECTIVELY.

VERTICAL BRISE SOLEIL

VIEW OF MILL + EXTENSION FROM PARK MAIN ENTRANCE

VIEW OF MILL + EXTENSION FROM PARKS CENTRAL PAVILION

CORREGATED STEEL

PERFORATED ALUMINIUM

VIEW FROM FIRST FLOOR OF STUDENTS UNION

MILL + EXTENSION SECTION 1:200

MILL INTERIOR RECONFIGURATION THE INTERIOR OF THE EXISTING MILL HAS BEEN COMPLETELY RECONFIGURED, WITH ALL FLOORS BEING DIVIDED AND REPLACED TO CREATE A SERIES OF SINGLE, DOUBLE AND TRIPLE HEIGHT SPACES. THE OPENNESS OF THESE SPACES IS A PRIMARY INDICATOR OF FUNCTION, WITH EXPOSED SPACES INTENDED TO BE MORE SOCIALLY ORIENTATED AND ENCLOSED SPACES INTENDED AS PRIVATE OR WORKING SPACES. MEZZANINE LEVELS HAVE ALSO BEEN INSTALLED TO FURTHER THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL ZONES, WHILST ALSO CREATING A SERIES OF INDEPENDENT LEVELS SUITABLE FOR PARTICULAR FUNCTIONS.

VIEW FROM SECOND FLOOR ACROSS STUDENTS UNION

VIEW FROM FIFTH FLOOR OF MILL DOWN MAIN STAIRCASE

CIRCULATION FLUENCY THE SCHEME IS DESIGNED SO THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE CLEAR AND FLUENT CIRCULATION ROUTES THROUGH AND BETWEEN SPACES, ESPECIALLY AT THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE EXTERIOR, THE EXTENSION AND THE MILL. WITH THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE THREE KEY SPACES DEFINING THE EXTERIOR FORM AND APPEARANCE OF THE EXTENSION, IT IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT THE RELATIONSHIP IS CONTINUED THROUGH THE INTERIOR CONFIGURATION. THIS FLUENCY IS ACHIEVED THROUGH OVERLY WIDE PATHS, OPEN-PLAN CONNECTIONS AND EXAGGERATED STAIRWAYS. THE CENTRAL CIRCULATION ROUTE WHICH DIVIDES THE CENTRE OF MILL IS NOT ONLY DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SMOOTH PASSAGE BETWEEN FLOORS BUT IS ALSO INTENDED TO SOFTEN THE RIGIDNESS OF THE BUILDINGS FORM.

MILL + EXTENSION SECTION 1:200

KEY CIRCULATION ROUTES 1:1000

VIEW UPON DISEMBARKING FROM CANAL BOATS

VIEW ACROSS ROOF TERRACE

VIEW TOWARDS DOCKING AREA

EXTENSION SECTION 1:200

EXTENSION CONFIGURATION INTERNALLY, THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF THE EXTENSION IS TO SERVE AS A DOCKING TERMINAL, WORKING ALONGSIDE THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE MILL TO PROVIDE WAITING FACILITIES AND OTHER SERVICES. ADJACENT TO THE WAITING ALL FACILITIES IS THE DOCKING AREA, WHICH PLUGS INTO EXTENSION, PHYSICALLY INCORPORATING THE CANAL INTO THE FORM OF THE BUILDING. EXTERNALLY, THE SERIES OF TERRACES ARE INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE A RANGE OF SOCIAL FUNCTIONS, BLURRING THE INHABITANT’S PERCEPTION OF BUILDING AND LANDSCAPE. THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE EXTERIOR LANDSCAPE IS FURTHER ENHANCED THROUGH THE CONSTANT LEVEL VARIATIONS (BOTH INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY), IMITATING THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE, AS WELL AS SUBTLY UNIFYING WITH IT.

STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS THE INTERIOR STRUCTURE OF THE MILL IS TO BE STRIPED, LEAVING ONLY THE SHELL OF THE MILL. A NEW STEEL FRAME WILL BE ADDED TO RETAIN THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE EXISTING MILL, WHILST PROVIDING FLEXIBILITY IN THE INSERTION OF NEW FLOORS AND LEVELS. NEW FLOORS ARE COMPOSED SOLELY OF EXPOSED IN-SITU REINFORCED CONCRETE. THE STEEL WILL BE CONNECTED USING A COMBINATION OF BOLTED AND WELDED JOINTS, WITH THE FRAME BOLTED TO THE EXISTING MILL WALLS. THE EXISTING MILL UTILISES PAD FOUNDATIONS, HOWEVER DUE TO THE DISTURBANCE OF SUBSOIL AROUND THE MILL - RESULTANT FROM THE MANIPULATION OF THE SITE’S TOPOGRAPHY - PILE FOUNDATIONS ARE MORE APPROPRIATE FOR THE EXTENSION IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE OCCURRENCE OF SUBSIDENCE. THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE EXTENSION SHOULD ALSO ACT A RETAINER TO PREVENT SUBSIDENCE OF THE MILL.

STRUCTURAL FRAME NTS

TYPICAL COLUMN/BEAM ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD OF CONNECTION

TYPICAL COLUMN CONNECTION TO FOUNDATION PAD

KEY WALL SECTION 1:20

TYPICAL FRAME CONNECTION TO EXISTING MILL WALL

SOLAR POWER: SOLAR PANELS POSITIONED ACROSS THE ROOF OF THE TWO MILLS TO PROVIDE CLEAN ENERGY FOR THE SITE.

HEAT RETENTION: EXPOSED CONCRETE FLOORS THROUGHOUT TO RETAIN AND RELEASE HEAT DURING WINTER MONTHS AND PROVIDE NATURAL COOLING DURING SUMMER MONTHS.

ACOUSTIC SEGREGATION: POSITIONING OF FLOOR LEVELS AND INTERNAL FUNCTIONS PROVIDES DISTINCT ACOUSTIC BARRIERS WHERE NECESSARY.

NATURAL LIGHTING: COMBINATION OF DEEP PLAN WINDOWS AND DOUBLE HEIGHT SPACES TO CREATE BRIGHT OPEN SPACES ARE THAT COMFORTABLE FOR THE INHABITANT.

VENTILATION: NATURAL VENTILATION THROUGH AUTOMATED WINDOWS, CONTROLLED VIA FACTORS SUCH AS TEMPERATURE AND CARBON DIOXIDE LEVELS.

WATER CLEANSING: GRADUAL REMOVAL OF POLLUTION FROM THE CANAL NETWORK THROUGH A SERIES OF ALGAE TILES FITTED TO THE BASE OF BOATS.

ENVIRONMENTAL STRATEGY HYDRONIC HEATING SYSTEM FUNCTIONALITY

THE SCHEME INTENDS TO PROVIDE THE BUILDING WITH AS MUCH NATURAL HEAT, VENTILATION AND LIGHT SOURCE AS POSSIBLE THROUGH DEEP-PLAN WINDOWS, DOUBLE/TRIPLE HEIGHT SPACES, AUTOMATED WINDOWS, AND EXPOSED CONCRETE. FOR ANY ADDITIONAL HEAT AND LIGHT, CLEAN SOLAR ENERGY POWERS THE MULTIPLE SYSTEMS IN OPERATION THROUGHOUT THE BUILDINGS. THERE IS ALSO A HYDROELECTRIC SYSTEM LOCATED WITHIN THE PARK, GENERATING ELECTRICITY FROM THE CANAL. IN THE CASE OF FLOODING, EXCESS WATER IS STORED AND USED TO GENERATE ADDITIONAL POWER FOR THE TOWN. THE SCHEME ALSO PLACES PRIORITY OF RECTIFYING ISSUES OF POLLUTION AND TOXINS IN THE WATER CAUSED FROM EXCESSIVE USE DURING THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION THROUGH THE FLEET OF ELECTRIC BOATS FITTED WITH POLLUTANT REMOVING ALGAE TILES.

A HYDRONIC HEATING SYSTEM IS EMPLOYED, WITH CLEAN ENERGY SOURCED PRIMARILY FROM SOLAR PANELS ON THE BUILDINGS ROOF. HYDROELECTRIC ENERGY IS ALSO PRODUCED FROM THE WATER IN THE CANAL, BUT THAT WILL BE UTILISED AT OTHER SITES AROUND THE TOWN.

BUILDING SECTION VENTILATION STRATEGY