Joshua J Welch Portfolio

PORTFOLIO J . J .W

JOSHUA JOSEF WELCH RIBA PA R T 1 A R C H I T ECT U R A L AS SI S TA N T

CONTENTS

DOB : 3 rd J U N E 1 9 9 7

ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO Being a young designer in such a collaborative digital university such as Ravensbourne has allowed me to work in a multi-disciplinary environment pushing my capabilties on projects allowing for a holistic approach to design.

I am proficient in the Adobe suite, Rhino and Autocad which allow me to elevate my visualisation skills while providing a foundation for my model making skills to flourish.

Having a built project within my second year has also allowed me to experience what it’s like to deal with clients and contractors providing a foundation to move into the industry with a skillset which allows me to approach all angles of the design process with fluency.

I spend the majority of my time exploring London’s architecture - finding new spaces to sketch and observe, ever-growing my perception of architecture and how it shapes the way we live. Architecture to me, is something that is incredibly personal and a method of personal discovery.

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T H E C H I N A EXC H A N GE

ACA D E M I C

THIRD

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A R I S TOT L E S G A R D E N

C O M PE T I T I O N

SEC O N D

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OUR GARDEN

ACA D E M I C

THIRD

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W E I GH T L E S S C I T Y

PE R S O N A L

SEC O N D

YEAR: THIRD (7th JAN - 11th JUN)

LOCATION: 32 GERRARD STREET, CHINATOWN

TYPE: ACADEMIC

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THE CHINA EXCHANGE A PERSONAL VENTURE THROUGH CHINESE CULTURE

CHINESE NEW YEAR 2020 IN THE CHINA EXCHANGE

KEY INFLUENCE

‘The China Exchange’ was a personal exploration of my own Chinese culture - after receiving a black and white photo of my mother perched next to a frail old woman - later finding out it was my great-grandmother, a wave of guilt fell over me and instigated an exploration of Chinese culture to inform me of the culture I had been so ignorant too in the past. The existing building sits at the core of Chinatown and my intervention draws from significant Chinese cultural tectonics such as the ‘Tea House’ and the beautiful cavernous landscapes of Meijiawu Tea Village. I tried to compliment the, already existing, community of Chinatown and provide a space to truly appreciate Chinese culture not only for the theatre goers of the west-end but, for the local Chinese community which reside in the narrow streets of Chinatown.

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S S UU M N ME SE R T

R E M ISE M U R S UN S

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R TE T IN SE W N SU

950 m2

W SU INT NR ER IS E

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CHARING CROSS / WATERLOO

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PICADILLY CIRCUS / REGENT STREET

NEAR GALE

SOFT WINDS

KU BAR

COVENT GARDEN / LEICSTER SQUARE

CHINATOWN BAKERY

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1:2500 @ A3

L OON FUNG GROCER

TOTTENHAM COURT ROAD / HOLBORN

SEE WOO G RO CER

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LOCATION, ACCESSIBILITY, WINDFLOW& SUNPATH

FO UR SEASO NS

SOHO / OXFORD CIRCUS

CHINATOWN GATE

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BUSKING AREA

SITE ANALYSIS

H OTS P OTS A N D C IR C U LA TION

1:1000 @ A 3

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LONDON’S ‘THEATRELAND’ Naturally Gerrard Street has an organic theatrical element at play from it’s gates which denote chinatown, or the eccentrics which frequent the alleys - there’s always some sort of visual noise which pulls your

CAVERNOUS LANDSCAPE

TEA HOUSE ENVIRONMENT

attention like a string as you move through the street. I intend to take that attentino and attract you into a space which multiplies that theatrical element tenfold.

Within modern day China - tea houses are a significant part of social

The cavernous tea landscapes of Meijiawu Tea Village provided

life - mahjong and and drink tea over conversation, these events can

a beautiful cavernous landscape which caught my attention has a

also extend into local parks in Hong Kong.

captivating architectural element as you enter the China exchange you enter into the underbelly of a mountain.

This social environment is lacking in Chinatown - disconnecting the chinese community from the wider community of Soho. The tea house will be a catalyst to provide this intergration and enhance the existing community of Chinatown.

YEAR: THIRD (7th JAN - 11th JUN)

LOCATION: 32 GERRARD STREET, CHINATOWN

TYPE: ACADEMIC

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TEA DELIVERY SYSTEM

HUTONG INSPIRED FLOOR DETAIL DEVELOPMENT MODEL PHOTOGRAPHS

TEA HARVESTING

The model was a key role in the development of my process - it allowed me to move away from sketching into the sections and plans and develop the space three dimensionally.

YEAR: THIRD (7th JAN - 11th JUN)

CEREMONIAL TEA HOUSE

different areas and play with the tactility of the different areas. I began by making the framework of the landscape and then moving into slotting the programs into the logical positions; such as the Social Teahouse, later to be renamed to the Tea Masters Abode, had to be the core of the project as the tea would travel equal distance to each other zone - keeping the temperature of the tea intact.

FACADE VIEWS = FOREST OF BAMBOO (COLUMNS)

It provided me with an outlet to zone the

LOCATION: 32 GERRARD STREET, CHINATOWN

TYPE: ACADEMIC

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HAND DRAWING + COLLAGE OF INITIAL CONCEPT

YEAR: THIRD (7th JAN - 11th JUN)

LOCATION: 32 GERRARD STREET, CHINATOWN

TYPE: ACADEMIC

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CAST IRON

The kiln will use firewood to power the furnace, allowing for a renewable energy source to be used rather than fossil fuels - the diagram depicts the full circle system which not only provides heat from the building (excess from kettles/kiln) but also, recycles the excess bi-products from the process such as; steam, smoke and heat to use in the process of

SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY BUILDING SYSTEM

YEAR: THIRD (7th JAN - 11th JUN)

watering and drying the tea.

LOCATION: 32 GERRARD STREET, CHINATOWN

TYPE: ACADEMIC

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HAND DRAWN DETAIL DRAWING OF EXISTING FACADE

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FRONT OF HOUSE

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DUMB WAITER

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ARCADE

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BLENDING STATION

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BANQUET HALL

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BASKET STORAGE

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COURTYARD

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TEA DELIVERY

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FIRE CORE

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LIFT

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LIFT

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FIRE CORE

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TOILET

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GROUND FLOOR PLAN 1:100 / A2

FIRST FLOOR PLAN 1:100 / A2

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MOONCHU HALL

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PRUDENTIAL HALL

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STAGE

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RECEPTION

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KILN

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OFFICE

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METAL COIL

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TEA DRYING RACK

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POTTERY STORAGE

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TEA STORAGE

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POTTERS WHEEL

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HAND-DRYING POT

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LIFT

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LIFT

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FIRE CORE

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FIRE CORE

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LANDSCAPE

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SECOND FLOOR PLAN 1:100 / A2

THIRD FLOOR PLAN 1:100 / A2

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FOURTH FLOOR PLAN 1:100 / A2

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CEREMONIAL TEA HOUSE

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TEA BOOTHS

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BALCONY

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TEA HARVESTING

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LIFT

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FIRE CORE

Gerrard street Chinese new year festivities extend into the china exchanges arcade!

Dumb waiter system on lisle st facade renovated to provide goods to the different floors of the China Exchange.

11/100 SECTIONAL SCALE MODEL OF LISLE ST FACING FACADE

Here is a craftsman hard at work firing the kiln to make the cups/teapots for the china exchange!

YEAR: THIRD (7th JAN - 11th JUN)

LOCATION: 32 GERRARD STREET, CHINATOWN

TYPE: ACADEMIC

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32 GERRARD ST The front of the China Exchange! As seen on tv, I thought I would check it out for myself, although it seems to be a thriving Chinese community it appears diluted by betting shops and the lack of an anchoring cultural hub means there’s a disconnect between not only, the older generation of Chinatown to the new generation of students studying in London however, the tourists who visit are not engaging enough with Chinatown. The China Exchange will provide for the older generation much like the tea houses in Cheng Du, a place to socialise and commune on a larger scale. While also allowing for the younger generation and tourists to engage with the cultural hub that Chinatown has become.

TAI PO The recollection of my mother’s Hong Kong Apartment was a key role in forming this space the wooden sofa where my grandmother would be perched drinking tea, kids running through the hallways with the door always being open, welcome for anyone to come in. Much of the core values of the China Exchange: a place for juxtaposition - the exciting nature of social splendour and the serene process of tea drinking.

LO, PURVEYOR OF ANTIQUES Lo is a collector, he came from Hong Kong to the docks of lime house after the war to set up shop. He holds all sorts of weird and wonderful trinkets, some dating back to the Qing dynasty, others not so much. He describes the lack of engagement of the tourists: only pouring in to Gerrard street for a selfie with the gates to then, move on into the West End. With rent doubling every two years, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for small business’ like Lo’s to sustain themselves with huge Chinese conglomerates moving in - looking for an opportunity.

Once there, you realise the beauty of it all, the shimmering porcelain pots, the cast iron tea pots - it becomes a sort of museum of Chinese culture.

He holds two jars which describe the tectonics of the China Exchange. The Tea Houses of Chengdu and the Cavernous Tea Hills of Meijiawu Village.

THE CHINA EXCHANGE The retention of the existing facade was important as it allowed the language of Chinatown to remain intact, Victorian architecture with Chinese interiors. Thus, using steel facade retention bracing to hold either facades up while using a timber glulam structure for the landscape and a vertical forest of columns mimicking bamboo forests found in Shunan, which supports the structure from shear load. The cascading glulam structure holds the opportunities for tea growing and acts as a roof for the majority of the building area - the system utilises and recycles the majority of the building resources produced in the self sustaining process of tea culture whereby, the tea pots which are spun in the workshop are fired in the kiln which provides heat to dry the tea leaves after harvesting. The excess heat is also taken a long a metal coil, into the kettles, which store some of the water for the building and are in a state of constant boiling - providing the hot water for the building. The excess steam is then extracted up through the building and down the pitched roofs back onto the landscape to provide water for the crops.

THE TEA MASTERS ABODE All of the tea is processed by the Tea Master, residing above the Arcade, on the first floor.

Tokens are purchased from the Front of House as you enter either side of the Arcade which signify the blend of tea and the amount of people are in your party. When you are ready, you send off the token up one of the many shoots up a floor to the Tea Masters Abode. He then brews and blends new variations of tea with different qualities of tea which are combined for the perfect drinking experience. He packages a ceremonial tea set for the upper floors while only providing a teapot and the specific number of cups necessary for the floors below in a bamboo basket.

THE HUTONG ARCADE A true extension of the street, exaggerating the notion of the Chinese interior versus the western facade - taking inspiration from the Beijing Hutongs - the Arcade joins Gerrard Street to Lisle Street providing a thoroughfare from the west end to Leicester Square. Providing the necessary circulation for Chinatown to thrive while funneling people through a true cultural experience will encourage engagement across all demographics. Although, the street scenes feel genuine, there is a constant reminder of the artificial skeleton of the China Exchange: Yes, it tries to encourage an existing Chinese Culture with a very true Chinese Cultural motifs however, reminds us of overhead servicing to provide for the building, commenting on the nature of Chinese occupancy of a western building and doesn’t shy away from it - it is to be celebrated after all.

LAYERING The layers of the China Exchange provide the necessary solutions for the building system to function. The arcade pierces through the building to allow for access from either streets safely, with the banquet hall and courtyard either side offering two different styles of drinking spaces. The Tea Masters Abode stretches across the length of the Arcade to provide for the whole building along the different shoots which deliver the tokens and tea. The Workshop and Event halls reside on the second floor housing the China Exchange company which organise local chinese cultural events, workshops and talks. The third floor provides tea drying areas, storage and also accommodates permanent offices for the China Exchange to operate out of rather than, their current operation which is a few makeshift tables in the middle of their event spaces. The final floor is the ceremonial tea house which looks out at the landscape while

The Courtyard Similar to a chinese garden, the courtyard space provides an artificial environment which allows for picnics, benches and tables to enjoy. The garden is not meant to be seen all at once, providing carefully composed glimpses of scenery as you move between the different pavilions connected by small bridges over a central pond anchoring the garden which contains lotus flowers and koi - allowing for a full immersive experience from the hustle and bustle of Gerrard Street.

PORCELAIN WORKSHOP The second floor houses the workshop. Traditional potters wheels spin teapots, cups and the baskets, which house the utensils for delivery internally, are hand woven; craftsmanship is encouraged by local chinese artisans who migrated from China providing a framework for the culture to thrive. The firewood kiln then fires the pots and cups - while the third floor artisans hand dry the tea in a large cast-iron wok when there is a surplus of tea on the drying racks located above the kiln. The tea is then stored in jars until requested by the Tea Master on the first floor which is then couriered down the mountain to be brewed.

CHINESE NEW YEAR 2020 Chinese New Year extends from the streets of Chinatown into the China Exchange! The celebrations ensue, with tea drinking galore, ceramic workshops and Bian Lian performances.

Dragons weave through the arches of the arcade and pierce into the Banquet Hall. Contrasting to the splendour on the ground floor - the fourth floor hosts the Ceremonial Tea House which educates guests on the ‘Gongfu’ Tea Ceremony. As you enjoy your tea you look out onto the serene tea hills while the staff carefully hand pick the tea leaves.

YEAR: THIRD (2nd OCT - 28th NOV)

LOCATION: HYDE PARK, SERPENTINE LAKE

TYPE: ACADEMIC

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ARISTOTLES GARDEN A C E L E BR ATI ON OF AGRICULTURE TH ROUGH PH ILO SOPHY

The garden is a monument to agricultural knowledge and celebrating the process of growth through a natural process. Utilizing bird droppings through dove cots allows for fertilizer to enrich the crops below, the symbiosis of the two gardens provides a self-sufficient garden which gives to the community. The fountain of aristole grows melons around the base of the fountain - with a stream of water (when it rains) washing down the bird droppings below the crops through a small crevice in the fountain; which then composts and enriches the soil above.

Bus sinimpo rerovit, eos quodiat laut vereped ipsapit, nos nonest, quunt eliqui veliquiam quaepel lacerrovid earisci sequo to ius a est elescillabo. Upti optiasp iditatem. Et excerer itemporerum rerero omnimi, nullabo rehendamus.

Ipieturibus et fugia quidio.

Ut libus ut et autecate nostisse min ex es solo te prae occus, sam, quatus eiciis sus exceatatia verum, sunt et magnihit volor re et eatur sectem etus, omnihiliquam into mil et fuga. Ceped

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Bus sinimpo rerovit, eos quodiat laut vereped ipsapit, nos nonest, quunt eliqui veliquiam quaepel lacerrovid earisci sequo to ius a est elescillabo. Upti optiasp iditatem. Et excerer itemporerum rerero omnimi, nullabo rehendamus.

Ipieturibus et fugia quidio.

Ut libus ut et autecate nostisse min ex es solo te prae occus, sam, quatus eiciis sus exceatatia verum, sunt et magnihit volor re et eatur sectem etus, omnihiliquam into mil et fuga. Ceped

YEAR: THIRD (2nd OCT - 28th NOV)

LOCATION: HYDE PARK, SERPENTINE LAKE

TYPE: ACADEMIC

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THE WHY Due to the amount of people that feed the pigeons - commoditizing it as a tourist attraction creates the problem of tarnishing the facade of marble arch with bird spikes to prevent birds sitting on any ledges. It also proves problematic to the floor all over marble arch with the obscene about of bird droppings showering the area.

This is why Aristotle’s garden is necessary to relocate these pigeons elsewhere and share them in a different light not just vermin but, can be resourceful and reinstate them as an animal.

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THE HOW We will provide feed within the dovecots which will direct the birds over towards Hyde Park from Marble Arch. They will then excrete onto the groop which will flow down the side when it rains dropping into the composting area once composted the nutrients will pass through the perforated sheet metal and the gardeners from the ‘royal park’ charity will collect the watermelons to use within the local restaurant and cafe for consumption of the public.

YEAR: THIRD (2nd OCT - 28th NOV)

LOCATION: HYDE PARK, SERPENTINE LAKE

TYPE: ACADEMIC

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The depicts the symbiosis of the two gardens - united to produce and procure agriculture.

A haven for knowledge within the realms of agriculture without the bias of modernday technology. Plato’s Garden embodies the spiritual realm, Mirroring the heavens while providing a shelter for pigeons to nest and feed within the dovecots. Re-imagine the notion of vermin to give them a use.

Aristotle’s garden, similar to his theory, revolves around the physical realm.

Grounded in concrete theory - the use of soil and agriculture is a given; it exists regardless of quarrel or contradiction. The melons feed off of the rules of agriculture.

The two gardens create a cycle of growth - without one the other would become redundant. The pigeons are given a new home, re-purposed from Marble Arch and given feed. Their droppings are harvested without disturbing the animals and utilized within a mesh container which composts the waste thus, enriching the soil to providing nutrients for the watermelons.

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YEAR: THIRD (2nd OCT - 28th NOV)

LOCATION: HYDE PARK, SERPENTINE LAKE

TYPE: ACADEMIC

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A3 SCALE 1:200

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FABRICATION The structure will be assembled within a factory with the required water systems prefabricated into the cement using Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GFRB) due to the nature of the material being lighter than regular concrete due to the lack of steel reinforced beams they are substituted by glass fibre.

These fibres have the positive of never rusting as opposed to their steel counterparts. The material is 80% lighter than regular concrete allowing for transportation of the individual pieces to the site. It will then be disassembled and reassembled onsite by the same contractors to retain cohesion.

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The details describe the construction of each of the key spaces within Aristotles Garden. The dovecots will use a dowel-like pin that holds each brick in place. The garden bed which houses the composting system and soil to grow the watermelons within is made of a perforated sheet metal to allow for the composting nutrients to pass through into the soil for fertilization.

YEAR: SECOND (1st MAY - 21st SEPT)

LOCATION: WALWORTH METHODIST CHURCH

TYPE: COMPETITION

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OUR GARDEN KNIFE CRIME PREVENTION WITHIN SOUTHWARK

We started with the community at the heart of our approach, providing a space for growth and rehabilitation. We noticed three main threads which ran through a lot of victims we approached that there was a disconnected from their parents, a lack of ambition and generally, the environment the individual was in promoted this sort of behaviour.

With this knowledge considered, we wanted to provide a space which allowed for social connections to be made, a place of education and a reflective environment where the individual has a haven to reside within and question themselves.

This led to us formulating three R’s, based on the cirulation found within the garden it began with reflecting as an individual in ‘Reflection’, moving through to ‘Relief’ and finally ‘Resolution’. All three combined would allow a solution for troubled individuals who are involved in knife crime directly.

Students studying BA (Hons) Interior Design Environment Architectures and BA (Hons) Architecture at Ravensbourne were challenged by the Southwark community to design a garden for people affected by knife crime to reflect, and escape dayto-day societal problems within a budget of £15,000.

Students worked together with local community members including representatives from the Walworth Methodist Church who own the land, representatives from Kew Gardens, World of Hope and Southwark Construction Skills.

The project challenged students to rethink the role of landscape design in relation to the victims of increasing levels of knife crime, bringing together contemporary issues concerning education and social and economic problems. They were also faced with the challenge of ensuring the garden has a positive impact on visitors of all ages as well as cultural and religious backgrounds

‘Our Garden’, comprised of Joshua Welch, Malachy Safsafand Qudus Patrick were awarded first place for their design which incorporated three distinct areas, themed around ‘reflection’, ‘relief’ and ‘resolution’. The group sought to create intimate seating pockets to encourage interaction, aiming to make their design “as simple as possible, but also as impactful as possible”.

REFLECTION

As you enter the garden we wanted the user to reflect on their lifestyle, decisions and culture as an individual. Once you understand yourself it is easier to express your problems to others. The sculpture also allows you to question the greater impact of knife crime on a community.

RELIEF

Relieve your problems while providing a social space to communicate with others who may be able to support you. It is a space for all ages and backgrounds to engage with eachother and enough open space for different activities.

Providing an area to recieve talks from mentors and influencers to guide individuals who have lost their direction and put them back on the path to success.

RESOLUTION

YEAR: SECOND (1st MAY - 21st SEPT)

LOCATION: WALWORTH METHODIST CHURCH

TYPE: COMPETITION

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YEAR: SECOND (1st MAY - 21st SEPT)

LOCATION: WALWORTH METHODIST CHURCH

BEFORE CONSTRUCTION

RENDERING EXISTING

REMOVING TILES

BUILDING GARDEN BEDS

TYPE: COMPETITION

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YEAR: SECOND (1st MAY - 21st SEPT)

LOCATION: WALWORTH METHODIST CHURCH

CONSTRUCTING TIMBER FRAME

LAYING BRICKWORK

RENDERING WALLS

PAINTING BEDS/FILLING WITH SOIL

TYPE: COMPETITION

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PLANTING R.C.P/KEW GARDEN FLOWERS

PLACING CLIMBERS ON FRAME

YEAR: SECOND (1st MAY - 21st SEPT)

LOCATION: WALWORTH METHODIST CHURCH

TYPE: COMPETITION

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AERIAL SHOT OF GARDEN

THE TEAM

YEAR: SECOND (1st MAY - 21st SEPT)

LOCATION: WALWORTH METHODIST CHURCH

TYPE: COMPETITION

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YEAR: SECOND (17th AUG)

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TYPE: PERSONAL

WEIGHTLESS CITY A HYPOTHESIS OF A CITY WITHOUT GRAVITY

Weightless city was a product of a period in-between second and third year trying to brush up on my software skills it was a conceptual project to re-imagine the future of our cities and how it may be viable to colonise the aquatic world due to rising sea levels. This would open up a new realm of verticality to our cities allowing for movement not only on a horizontal plane but upward - what if the entrance to our monolithic skyscrapers was on the roof. What would the repercussions be to the big office boss at the pinnacle.

SOFTWARE: PHOTOSHOP CINEMA 4D

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YEAR: SECOND (16th AUG)

LOCATION: ENGLISH CHANNEL

TYPE: PERSONAL

WEIGHTLESS CITY A HYPOTHESIS OF A CITY WITHOUT GRAVITY

SOFTWARE: PHOTOSHOP RHINOCEROS 6

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0 1 pg 1 YEAR: SECOND (16th AUG)

SOFTWARE: PHOTOSHOP RHINOCEROS 6

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