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AISHA GIMBA ACADEMIC PORTFOLIO 2019 - 2020

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MODULE CONTENT ARC8050 -

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ARC8051-

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ARC8065-

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Contact Info: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aisha-gimba-581bba158/

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URBAN PALIMPSET - LOTHIAN MARKET SEMESTER ONE PORTFOLIO

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

00.

CRITICAL INTRODUCTION

... 6

01.

HISTORIC EDINBURGH

... 10

02.

MID REVIEW

... 12

03.

U R B A N P A L I M P S E T [Edinburgh]

... 16

03.1

U R B A N P A L I M P S E T [Crossroads]

... 24

04.

THE WEST END

... 28

05.1

URBAN NARRATIVE

... 36

05.3

PROPOSAL

... 44

06.

CONCLUSION

... 54

07.

CHARETTE

.. 56

Old

Amended

New

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00.

CRITICAL INTRODUCTION

URBAN FABRIC The output for smester one consisted of an exploration into the urban fabric of Edinburgh - Athens Of The North, though the agency of mapping and archiving as the studio criteria.

Formed from the temporal junctures where various districts of the city merged, the notion of the croosroad serves as a repository point where the various layers of the city’s history and qualities become the most appareant.

Edinburgh Initially starting off with groups of four, the pre site visit consisted of thorough historical research of the city’s formation through its environmental conditions, the city formation through the infrastructure set out in the Old Town and the monarchy rule of the city leading into its politics.

A deeper study of crossroads within the urban analysis led cured during all the stages of mapping.

Perception vs. reality was set as the groups theme for understanding the complexities of a present day global city with such rich history. In commencing mapping exercises pre-site visit, the group deided to focus on the centre of the city (Old and New Town) for the upcoming site visit.

The theoretical framework of Kevin Lynchs’ Elements of the city set the base parameter of how we mapped the city as a group. rated and collated into a model where the realities of the city as data served as the base with the perceived reality superimposed on it, to be read as one complete map of Edinburgh as an Urban Palimpset.

Crossroads The notion of the croosroad came about early on during the pre site mapping exercises, this was further developed and framed as the driving scheme for the urban analysis.

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In studying these crossroads through comparison, I decided to primarily focus on two which sit on the East and West end of Princes Street.

Princes Street Serving as the busiest street in Edinburgh, the high street is framed by the New Town on the North and uninterrupted views of the Old Town on the South. The prominence of this street being an active path and transitionary intersection between the old and new town, provides urban qualities unique to itself.

West End Historically known for being an industrial district, the West End served as the entry point for many travellers from the North of Scotland through the Caledonian railway station. the station into three; people, goods and a mineral depot.

As a result, most of the West End contains particularly increased scales, making the istrict impermeable.

Previous to the railway station, the union canal served as the main travel route into the city between 1822 - 1933

where it served as the primary transportation link from Glasgow to Edinburgh. As of today it serves as a recreational canal walk.

Market Through the historical resarch and mapping of the West End presented oppurtunities for reviving parts of its industrial past, primarily the market. By making use of three sites within the district, an urban strategy of journeying, economic value and community by proposing a main market served as the best schematic approach for activating a once vibrant Princes Street West.

The programmatc proposal involves working closely with the nearby weekend markets and with the agricultural sector at large. By giving the local farmers a daily funtional space to sell produce on individual, commercial and community scales, the market aims to facilitate the fundamental connection between people and their food.

The site for the main market serves as a current sub stato the previous meat market and it’s current accesibility to varied parts of the city makes it a viable option for developing the architectral proposal.

View of New Town, Old Town & castle rock taken from Calton Hill

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EDINBURGH CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS City, Site, urban theme

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01.

HISTORIC EDINBURGH

RESEARCH ANALYSIS

dating back to the 15th century. It’s coined nicknames ‘Old Smokey’ and ‘Athens Of The North’ has a rich history where occupancy dates back to the medieval times.

The city as an urban palimpset begins with Edinburgh castle in which the urban fabric stems from. Following the topography of the city, the Old Town was built upon the tail of a volcanic crag where Edinburgh castle has sat upon since 1633.

Edinburgh Castle: The castle dates back to the 12th century and has been a royal residence up until 1633 where it was converted into a military base and although parts of the castle still remain a military barrack, the castle is used for administrative purposes and serves as a tourist attraction.

Geology: The castle rock is one of the three volcanic remains; the other two being Arthurs seat and Calton Hill.

The castle rock sits 130m above sea level and 80m above surrounding landscape which set up a topographic understanding of Edinburgh.

Old/New Town: The Old town forms from the Edinburgh city sits parallel with the new town, designed in 1766 by James Craig. The design included an axial grid witch wider roads on acmes routes making the streets more breathable and accessible. The structures within this plan also contained neo classical and Georgian architecture. The implementation of this lasted from 1767-1850.

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16th Century

17th Century

18th Century

19th Century Through the development of Edinburgh as a city, the most notable parts of the city remain Castle Hill & the royal mile.

The very fabric of the city emerged from the Old Town, continously spreading to the New Town where the two paralel each other. This allowed the city to be understood from two urban fabric while simultaneously allowing the natural and man-made landscapes dictate their connections.

20th Century

21st Century

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02.

MID REVIEW

PERCEPTION

V S. R E A L I T Y

With the group narrative being perception vs narrative and the historcal research into historic edinburgh, the review was made up of a group model with a combined methodology of all memebrs within the group. This model served as the centre of the presentation as a mapping lens into how Edinburgh as a city reads through existing maps and how its perception could be read through super imposing other mapping parameters.

By using a model as the main mode of representation, each perceived element is able to be described not only through scale but through hapticity in the material used. My initial models consisted of two sketch models indicating the East & West of Princes Street Garden. These were made from paper to emphasise the temporailty and permeability of the architectural elements within each end. The further model study includes Caledonian Hotel which frames the west end with its scale, materiality, hostoric relevance and elaborance.

This led into individual processes of mapping the city. I began a framework known as croosroads in order to understand the meeting points of the Old & new Town, particularly how that presents itself within the urban fabric. By comparing and contrasting new and old maps, pre site and post site visit maps, I focused on Princes Street and began mapping a sectional elevation of the street. This led to an interest in study area, being the West of Princes Street.

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Reality (Base Model)

Perception (Models)

Perception (Words)

Path

Nodes

Monument

Perception

Pre - Site Visit Analysis, historical research mapping exercise

Reality

Post - Site Visit Analysis, experiential visit mapping exercise

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URBAN PALIMPSET EDINBURGH CITY Infrastructures, buildings, spaces, objects [relations between them, conditions they produce], forms, materials, routes, patterns, peo-

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Edinburgh has served as the of cial capital of Scotland dating back to the 15th century. It’s coined nicknames ‘Old Smokey’ and ‘Athens Of The North’ has a rich history where occupancy dates back to the medieval times. The city as an urban palimpset begins with Edinburgh castle in which the urban fabric stems from. Following the topography of the city, the Old Town was built upon the tail of a volcanic crag where Edinburgh castle has sat upon since 1633. Today, Edinburgh is known and received as a global city with a multi cultural city and a tourist attraction in which rich Scottish history found is still evident as the foundation of the city fabric as we know it.

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URBAN PALIMPSET

EDINBURGH Today, Edinburgh is known and received as a global city with a multi cultural city and a tourist attraction in which rich Scottish history is still evident as the foundation of the city fabric as we know it. There are seven main districts, with the primary focus of the urban analysis being New Town. The West End is also a key focus area which is further explored.

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Population - 489,000

Public Transportati Tram, Buses, Train, c

Houses/Dwelings - 489,000

Cars - 180,000

Employment - 74%

Ferry - Northern Sc

Population - 489,000

Public Transportation Tram, Buses, Train, cycle paths

Commerce - 24,00

Houses/Dwelings - 489,000

Cars - 180,000

Industry - Financial Tourism,Tech, Educ

Employment - 74%

Ferry - Northern Scotland

Population - 489,000

Public Transportation Tram, Buses, Train, cycle paths

Commerce - 24,000 gdp

Houses/Dwelings - 489,000

Cars - 180,000

Industry - Financial, Retail, Tourism,Tech, Education

Employment - 74%

Ferry - Northern Scotland

Leith Stockbridge & Canonmills East New Town West

View from Calton Hill, facing North West

Old Town

South View from Calton Hill showing leith walk

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Old Town

New Town

Princes street gardens is understood as a void a space for both New & old to take ownership of by assigned functions, the west and east end of princes steet however as the focal nodes that connect the old and new, those two to a wider context (i.e Leith & The west End)

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03.1

URBAN ANALYSIS - MAPPING

The key analysis focuses on the centre of Edinburgh, the emphasis being the New Town and the West End. Following the topographical language of the site, the boundaries voids and architectural elements of the centre.

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B C

D

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Section A

Urban Fabric - Highlighting the varied points of interest within Edinburgh centre

Path - The path taken during site visit, which led to selecting key routes

Boundaries hichlighted

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- Waverly place sits at the lowest point of the section with New & Old Town on either side

The circulation routes with the boundary points Section B - The lowest point of the site continues as Princes Street Gardens with the graig of Castle Hill framing the centre of The Old Town

Section C - Edinburgh Castle sits at the very top of Castle Hill as the highest point of the built fabric

Connections - The points within the centre which serve as repositories and resting points within the compact fabric

Green Space - The urban fabric frames main green gardens and natural rocks with the relationship between built and natural environment being key in understanding the city

Monuments - Historic Edinburgh still plays a key role as monuments in the urban fabric

Section D

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Toward the West end, the topography and building scale changes drastically with the

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03.1

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PRINCES STREET

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03.1

URBAN PALIMPSET CROSSROADS

The central urban fabric of Edinbrugh city is primarily sub divided into two; the old town and the new town. On each end where the two meet are sub divisions which stem from the transition between the two as a planned extension of the city centre. This complex network introduces a series of temporal junctures where parts of each sub division inhabit, understood within this project schema as crossroads These crossroads primarily highlight the city’s ability to read as a palimpset. By deriving iWts urban context from both the old and new town, it produces a complex network of material construct, building types, functionality and and overally time stamp which participates in both the old and the new.

In recognising the crosssroads within the urban fabric, a sebut not below three.

Not only do these elements signify a crossroad but they also serve as physical evidence of past and present habitations.

This analysis scheme drives the project from mapping to design, holistically dealing with a juxtaposition of time, place and funtion within the complex city fabric of Edingburgh.

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SITE MODEL Crossroads mapping model with the west end historic map layered with the current map

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THE WEST END SITUATING THE PROJECT social, cultural and institutional context; selecting site, developing program and pursuing design interest, current issues in urban design

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1950

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THE WEST END PRINCES STREET STATION

The historic Nor’ Loch, now known as princes street gardens became the arrival point for people journeying into Edinburgh 1848 - 1965. The Caledonian railway station stood as an entry point for people and goods with its additional depot station. Once understood as the arrival point and a lens into the city, the historic relevance of the site can hardly be seen through the present day site at the West End.

1850 Map

© Landmark Information Group Ltd and Crown copyright 2019. FOR EDUCATIONAL USE ONLY.

Oct 09, 2019 16:01

Scale 1:7500 0

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Projection: British National Grid

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1 km

Aisha Gimba University of Newcastle

Compared maps from 1950 & present day where most of the smaller structures within the bloack remain while major structures such as the

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04.1

BLOCK ANALYSIS

The historic infrastructure plays an immense role on how to understand the built fabric within the block. With past roles of being arrival points both by canal and railway, later becoming an industrial block, a rich programmatic history translates itself into the scale of the site. Once the most permeable site as a connection point to Northern Scotland, the present make up of the site lacks permeability or human scale.

Caledonian Hotel (1902 - Present) Built as part of princes street station extension to serve travellers

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Princes Street Station (1870 - 1965) Edinburgh main railway station to the North of Scotland

Lothian Road Goods Station (1848 - 1965) Served as initial station before lines were moved closer to Princes street

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Morisson St.Mineral Depot (1870 - 1966) Port Hopetoun (1822 - 1965) Union canal terminus from Glasgow

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Meat Market (1884 - 1921)

Historic Mapping 2

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The fabric of the block once understood as a gateway into the city (Caledonian Station) As such, the scale used to in placing the station and its services, serves as the base of the fabric within this block. Mega structures of spread accross the site with varied economic relevance. In order to understand the block in order to propose an urban strategy.

Live Work Community Centre Conference Centre Retail Electrical Hotel

Programmatic Function

Princes Street Station

Port Hopetoun

Meat Market

Morisson Street

Western Approach Road

Caledonian Hotel 31

BLOCK FABRIC

SITE

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SUMMARY NOTES

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THE PROPOSAL LOTHIAN MARKET propose, develop and articulate design proposals with competence, interrogation & resolution across all scales

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05.

URBAN NARRATIVE NARRATIVE COLLAGE

The scheme follows a thread of food production to consumption. Treating the site as a historic palimpset in which rail lines to Caledonian goods station and train station lay. The idea of journeying through a programmatic scheme for selling and buying sets a stage for the urban proposal. The narrative ties into the history of the industrial West End while propelling it towards an economic and viable future for the neighbourhood context and the city at large. The two main users of the scheme include; 1. The farmer/ grower 2. The buyer/user The urban strategy focuses on the having the main market as a repository and distribution engine for the food industry of the city. This strategy ranges between scales; individual, community and city which all include a reciprocatory relationship of feeding the market and the market feeding the community.

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EXISTING MARKETS +ALLOTMENTS

Having a total of 21 allotment sites accross Edinburgh, there are only 6 within a two mile radius of the chosen site. The urban strategy proposes an additional site for an allotment garden on morrison street {+} which sits roughly 200 metres from the site and strengthens the schematic agenda by making use of the vacant land and providing the centre of the city more growing options. There are also a few weekly markets within the centre of the city as well as leith where farmers are able to sell their produce and goods are sold as well.

1. Individual Scale - The market will be responsible for providing individuals with daily connections and oppurtunities for people to interact with their food. It also proposes business oppurtunities, further enhancing economic viability.

2. Community Scale - With an increasingly growing population, the market will serve as an a distributionary engine for providing the community with healthy and local foods. This initiative is aimed at introducing whole sale food 3. City Scale - The market aims at this scale in primarily supporting local and national businesses with an overall agenda for genrating a cultural change towards our relationships with food and its global impact.

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05.1

URBAN NARRATIVE THE SITE

The site is located on Dewar place which currently serves as a substation, previously a Electric company. The existing structure consists of one roofed mega structure, an attatched building and a listed facade made up of sandstone, used in Caledonian station. There is also an outdoor space presently used for transformers and other stationary equipment.

Being an existing mega structure, the building presents oppurtunities to be repurposed. This includes the additional building and the facade. The driving aim of the proposal is to create better permeability within the site while also presenting a sense of visibility within its urban fabric.

terminating at Lothian Road; not ideal for padeastrians as is. b. Gardeners Crescent: Continous from Morisson Street and terminating at fountainbrige, it has vehicle and good pedeastrian access with an outdoor green space at the heart of the crescent. c. Canning Street: Connecting Shadwick Place and Western Approach Road, canning street serves as the only perpendicular permeabilities within the site for padestrians. d. Torpichen Street: The street serves as direct route to the front of Dewar place with multiple routes into the West End block.

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BLOCK CONNECTIONS

In recognising the opportunities of three sites within the block, the urban strategy proposes connections between the main site of the proposal and two other sites. This stratgey includes, proposing new pedeastrian links, making use of temporal spaces to give enable a high street presence for the schematic proposal and assigning new functions to derelict sites. Altogether, there for an urban holistic urban strategy with functional relevance to the proposal.

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05.2

NORTH FACADE

Western Approach Road

THE SITE

The north facade serves as the starting point for the design. Noted as a listed facade, the aim is to revive that surfaceas the entry point to the market, using the entry points already suggested and also making use of the windows by providing sunlight. With an additional facade reading as a continous element of the listed facade, the proposal will make use of only the old facade.

Canning Street

Facade position within context has direct visual access through Torpichen Street, continues through Canning Street on the left Dewar Place on the right, linking to Morisson Street which serve as the main access streets. It is also accesible from dewar Place Lane.

Materiality - The facade is made from pink sandstone, predominanty found in North scotland and is also used at the caledonian hotel.

Palimpset - The retained facade is a reminant of a structure from an original substation structure in 1897 which currently serves as a substation with a super imposed structure at the back.

Dewar Place

Scale - The scale of the facade stands at a heigh of 9 m with exagerrated openings Gateway - The site sits alongside the rail lines into the caledonian HoteL with the West Approach road maintaining on of the track routes.

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Torpichen Street

Dewar Place Lane

Morisson Street

The old and new contrasting facades also showing the haptic nature of the sandstone

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NORTH FACADE STUDY

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05.3

PROPOSAL LOTHIAN MARKET

The initial design of the proposal includes a series of sketch diagrams working in elevation and plan. By making use of the existing structure while being attentive to the larger scale buildings within close proximity, the design explores notions of permeability by encouraging human scale access through the mega structure. This includes, better access between streets, both physically and visually.

The Knowledge Academy

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Caledonian Exchange

Exchange Tower

1. Initial attempt at breaking down the mega structure and visually accesible spaces that are linked through walkways, the structure/site not only becomes accesibke but a transition.

2. Starting to link Dewar Place and Canning street by promoting a route is also one of the design schemes used in the design. By allowing a continum that wraps around the site, this further breaks down the overall structure.

plan of the project starts to break up parts and of the structure while simultaneously stitching those parts together using accesible routes.

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LOTHIAN MARKET - WESTERN APPROACH ROAD

Following the earlier sketches, the proposal aims to retain the existing South facade and extending the material language to allow the structure Exchange Tower

The Knowledge Academy

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Caledonian Exchange

Canning Street

Standard Life HQ

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PROGRAMMATIC AXO

The axo shows the activity of th main market within the context of the urban fabric, the various functions assigned to the structure and surrounding context and links between various parts of the site. The main space includes a main market hall in which all other activities stem from. The mega structure is made up of two roof which signify the indoor and outdoor spaces however, the structure is to be read as one and can be seen from Western Approach road.

Main Market Restuarants Social Administrative Utility Delivery Pedeastrian

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PLEASE REFER TO LARGER PRINT

Torpichen Street/ Dewar Place

PERSPECTIVAL VIEW - WALKWAY

Western Apporach Road

The perspective shows the outdoor connection between the two perpenducular streets. With the analysis framework being crossroads and the theme of the urban narrative being permeability, this perpective shows the potential of the site being used not only as functional market but a programmatic crossroad with functions within the urban fabric.

Programmatic Crossroad

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SECTIONAL STUDY

Western Approach Road

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Dewar Place Lane

Torpichen Street

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CONCLUSION URBAN STRATEGY

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CRITICAL CONCLUSION URBAN STRATEGY

The project follows a particular thread of enquiry from the beginning to the end, providing a consice language and methodology for the initial research, design output and representational methods. The full extent of the urban strategy relied on that and present layers of the city, drawing from both in order to propose a viable urban proposal. work with, it also presents oppurtunities exclusive to the city. Within my site, more challanges posed themselves in relation to scale and programmatic functions within the block, however through historic mapping exercises, I was able to work with the density of the scales and read the site through various lenses.

The heavy dominant studio methodology used within the project is mapping while the proposal itself can be considered a living archive. By doing this, the studio methodology for archiving was not thorougly invesproject. In semester two I aim to explore further approaaches to incoperating archiving as an overarching methodology.

I have particulalry enjoyes working on mixed media representational techniques which have allowed me explore various scales of the analysis and proposal.

Because this technique is a work in progess, I understand its illegibility to some but overall it has worked

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in helping me communicate my ideas. Taking this into semester two, I aim to continue working with hand drawings, photo montages and 3d drawings in a variety of ways.

For further development into semester two, I aim to generate my programattic functions quicker and more grounded in order to develop and communicate the outcome more clearly.

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CHARETTE EMOTIONAL HIGHSTREET

Chartte involved creating an emotional highstreet. Through model making and perception, we were all assigned various stores within the shopping centre where we would interprete emotions derived from the store into a model. The store myself and my group member was assigned to is Cath Kidston and the derived emotion was ‘uneasy’. This was to be translated into a logo using a created font and transformed into a model.

Uneasy was the derived emotion due to the combination of loud prints located in the store.

Cath Kidston, Grainger Street

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Charette week; model construction

Emotional High street construction

Uneasy Model

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MODELS AS FORMATIVE TOOLS ARC8051-TOOLS FOR THINKING ESSAY

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GIARDINO IDRONICO ARC8065 -URBAN DESIGN GROUP WORK

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URBAN DESIGN AMPLIAMENTO DELLA STAZIONE DI SAN CRISTIFORO Giardino Idroponico (Hydroponics Garden) is what we envision the site to become. As an overarching theme, we explore how preserving links to the Naviglio Grande can facilitate agricultural use on the site, namely site-wide irrigation and hydroponics.

the key opportunities and demands for the site and context - enhancing the agricultural context of the site through the canal’s intended irrigation purpose, whilst providing opportunities for the existing on-site community such as employment and housing.

In stage 2, the research conclusions set out a concept for the scheme, which will be delivered through 6 strategies. The concept is further developed through zoning and movement considerations. Short and long term plans for the scheme aim to implement the strategies over time. The overall concept of the irrigation and hydroponics systems determines the plans for RosIn stage 3, the concept is developed into an illustrative masterplan. Different textures indicate varied allotments or landscaping. The secondary canal is conserved, running through the site lab, restaurant, workshops and allotments. The perspectives highlight the sense of community, as residents and visitors are brought together by activities both directly and indirectly linked to the site’s irrigation and hydroponics systems - shopping at the market, learning agricultural or cookery skills indoors, taking these agricultural skills outdoors, or exercising and relaxing alongside this.

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A R CH I V I N G T H E C I T Y O F A T H E N S SEMESTER TWO PORTFOLIO

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

00.

CRITICAL INTRODUCTION

... 1

01.

ATHENS - GREECE

... 6

02.

MODERN DAY ATHENS

... 12

03.

THE SITE

... 20

04.

THE NARRATIVE

... 28

05.

PRECEDENT STUDIES

... 38

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CARTOGRAPHY MUSUEM

... 42

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FUNCTIONAL INTENTIONS

... 52

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STRUCTURAL STRATEGIES

... 69

09.

MATERIAL STUDIES

.. 79

010.

CONCLUSION

.. 83

Amended

New

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00.

CRITICAL INTRODUCTION

A T H E N S A S A L I V E A R CH I V E Athens is known as one of the oldest cities in world with rising and growing but consistent inhabitation for over 3000 years. Our study trip to Athens took place from the 25th of January and lasted a week. During the trip each day was carefully planned toreveal to us a different part of athens allowing us to see the city through multiple lenses as well as multiple levels.

During the tour, it was explained that the Roman agora served as the centre of the city with the Fethiye mosque being the function that made this possible. The Ottomans who wer formerly nomads and practiced the faith of Islam allowed that part of the city serve as the centre for the purpose of faith but also for the markets and social spaces that it brought to the city.

Some days involved tracing the ancient city walls located 4-5 meters below todays ground level, tracing them from the city gates and walking through modern buildings and streets each revealing fragments of what was once ancient civilisation. Other days focused on neo-classical Athens, reveiling the remains of the Ottoman rule which are all concentrated in close vicinity with each other. Some other days focused on visiting the acropolis or contrastingly visiting the shipyards which cater towards Modern Greece.

The sum total of these very different tours resulted in a layered view of athens and how it evolved to what it is today.

Understanding that the value of that community resided in that area and taking into account the other layers of civilisations that makes up Athens, I wanted my project to contribute in some way to the unveiling of the layers while taking inspiration and historical references from the Ottoman Rule. This led me to my semester two project; The Cartography Musuem of Athens.

Through this, I decided to focus on the Ottoman rule in AThens, a period that lasted between mid 15th century till the 18th century. The evidence of this occupation are all present within the proximity of the Roman Agora, an anciet open market, completed in 3AD. This includes the Fethiye mosque which served formely as a church, the tower of winds which is also located in the Roman Agora, the bath house of the winds; the only remaining bathhouse from the Ottoman rule and Maison Benzilos, the oldest house in Athens.

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The project aims to provide cartographic evidence of the past civilisations where locals and tourists can visit and experience throup maps and mapping, a library of Athens as a living archive.

The project not only will serve as a library musuem of maps but also have an auxillary function of having a residency function with live spaces and workspaces for cartography.

It will also have and added funtion of a live excavation site at the botton which will serve as a live research centre not only for the cartographers but also archealogists all of which will contribute into understanding the city as a live archive.

als equipped to understand the cities history. It is also a much needed function for the city of Athens as it does not currently have a cartography library. The challanges of the project include working in the very dense old town of Athens with constraints in space for new construction.

The function and these constraints go hand in hand in ormind I will reference the studio led theme for this semester; stereotomy as a guiding tool to navigate new grounds with much deep rooted history.

View from the Parthenon through Acropolis theatre

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ATHENS-GREECE H I S TO R I C A N A L Y S I S Evolutionary City

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01.1

ATHENS

HISTORIC ANALYSIS The history of Athens begins with a 3000 year old small town named after the goddes Athena with it’s highlighted recognision towards Western civilisation taking place during 5th century B.C. Since then the city has gone through various eras, transitioning itself through numerous occupations in history such as the Byzantine Era, the Ottoman Empire and then modern day Greece.

The ancient city walls served as the city’s perimeter and the remains of this walls are still presnt in Greece, today.

Subsequently, the city expanded and an urban plan was implemented, however because of how dense the occupation of the old city was, the plan was implemented around it, mainly allowing the old town to remain.

Image reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Athens (Accessed May, 2020)

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Image reference: http://el.travelogues.gr/item.php?view=33293 (Accessed May, 2020)

Image reference: https://ids.lib.harvard.edu/ids/iiif/9538206/ full/300,/0/default.jpg?download&caption

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01.2

OTTOMAN RULE

RESEARCH ANALYSIS The Ottomon occupation lasted between 15th century - 19th century which resukted in a shift in the citys urban fabric in function as well as design typologies and archetypes. This resulted in buildings such as mosques and bath houses. Subsequently modern day Athens has preserved some of these buildings as musuems.

The urban fabric was made up of comples road networks formed as a defense strategy for foreign intruders. It also means that key structures such as the Parthenon were converted into mosques with many othe smal mosques accross the city. There were also numerous bath houses located around various parts of the city.

Image reference: W

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Fethiye Mosque: Formerly a church

Tower Of The Winds: Formerly used as a tekke during Ottoman Rule

Tower Of The Winds: Formerly used as a tekke during Ottoman Rule

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MODERN DAY ATHENS CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS City, Site, urban theme

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02.1

ATHENS

HISTORIC ANALYSIS The history of Athens begins with a 3000 year old small town named after the goddes Athena with it’s highlighted recognision towards Western civilisation taking place during 5th century B.C. Since then the city has gone through various eras, transitioning itself through numerous occupations in history such as the Byzantine Era, the Ottoman Empire and then modern day Greece.

The ancient city walls served as the city’s perimeter and the remains of this walls are still presnt in Greece, today. Subsequently, the city expanded and an urban plan was implemented, however because of how dense the occupation of the old city was, the plan was implemented around it, mainly allowing the old town to remain.

Image reference: https://athensmap360.com/athens-old-map#.XukzRS-z2qA (Accessed May, 2020)

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02.2

ATHENS

MODERN GREECE Various scales of athens showing urban scale road networks, highlighting topography and density. This involves highighting the urban planned zones which for a triangle around the old city.

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02.3

PLAKA

THE OLD CITY Plaka is an old neighbourhood within the old city walls located around the acropolis. Within it is the roman agora and hadrians library, it also was refereed to as the ‘Turkish quarter of Athens’ during the Ottoman occupation. The neighbourhood is characterised by the density of urban fabric, this includes narrow streets and tightly packed budilings.

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THE SITE S I T U A T I N G T H E P R O J E CT Exploring Plaka

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03.1

THE SITE

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SITUATING THE PROJECT This 1:500 model was initially made to highlight the surrounding buildings of the site, the change in levels and an overall understanding of the site context. The an existing car park wedges between a university library and a residential dwelling. The location of the site is one building away from the bath of the winds and on the other side the roman Agora.

01. Roman Agora 02. Fethiye Mosque 03. Tower Of The Winds 04. Bath Of The Winds 05. Webster University Library & Cultural Centre 06. Museum Of Greek Popular Musical Instruments

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Inside the Fethiye Mosque

Artifacts in the Benizelos Mansion

Fethiye Mosque

Bath House Of The Winds Ceiling

Inside the Benizelos Mansion

Hadrians Library

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03.2

THE SITE

SITE MODELS The 1:100 model was initially made to test massinng models for the project. It primarily shows the diffence in ground level with the South street level being 3m higher than the North street. Although it was left in Newcastle, the model itsef shows the intent to apply a design strategy which goes below ground level.

The other models also left in Newcastle show the stereotomic understaind of the site which were carried out.

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THE NARRATIVE DESIGN CONCEPT Archiving The City Of Athens

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04.1

COLLAGE

CARTOGRAPHY MUSEUM The proposed program follows the narrative of cartography.

This includes a library which will contain maps of historic Athens, starting from ancient greece, through all its eras up until modern greece. The aim of this will be to provide an observatory and educational space for the highlighting the city in maps, a live archive for the cities cartographic history.

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04.2

SKETCHES

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P R E L I M I NA R Y D E S I G N The initial sketches for the structure starts with organising the structure around snall courtyards in order to break down the building and sub divide it into various spaces. This includes considering the various levels that are present during the site and identifying access points.

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04.3

ENTRANCE

P R E L I M I NA R Y D E S I G N The idea of the courtyard starts to take shape in 3D by assigng an entrance point and orienting the main entrance of the structure from

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04.4

MASSING

P R E L I M I NA R Y D E S I G N Through massing, the building for starts to actualise. This includes using the surrounding building to house a part of the structure.

Through this, further spatial distribution can start to take place.

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04.5

PROGRAMS

SPATIAL CONFIGURATION Structure consists of two main buildings which are connected through courtyards. One of the above ground structures will mainly compromise of living quarters while the other will con-

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04.5

SECTION

SPATIAL CONFIGURATION The section suggests the types of spaces that will be present within the structure. This also shows the dynamics accross the horizontal planes of the structure

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04.6

SKETCH MODEL

LANDSCAPE STEREOTOMY The sketch model shows how the varying levels in conjunction with the courtyards starts to break the structure down and form a landscape stereotomy of its own.

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PRECEDENT STUDIES S T E R E O TO M I C D E S I G N Designing Stereotomy

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PRECEDENT Centro de Artes de Sines

Arts Centre located in Portugal designed by Aieres Mateus in 2005. The building is situated at the start of the main street linking the town to the sea and marking the tradi onal entrance to the historic nucleus. exhibi on rooms, a library, cinema-cum-theatre and a documenta on centre.

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PRECEDENT

CENTRO DE ARTES DE SINES This building is located in Portugal and designed by AIeres Mateus in 2005. The building is situated at the start of the main street linking the town to the sea and marking the traditional entrance to the historic nucleus. The programs within the structure include exhibition rooms, a library, a theatre and a documentation centre.

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CARTOGRAPHY MUSEUM OF ATHENS PLANS+ELEVATIONS Designing Stereotomy

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06.1

F L O O R P L A N - L O W E R L E V E L II

The plan at this level below ground is made up of spaces that do not require any sunlight. This includes the archive and working rooms for cartographic studies.

01 - Live Excavation Site 02 - Map Archive 03 - Cartography Workshop 04 - Specialist Workshop

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06.2

FLOOR PLAN- LOWER LEVEL

The plan at this level below ground is made up of spaces that do not require any sunlight. This includes some exhibition spaces and working rooms for cartographic studies.

01 - Exhibition Space 02 - Cartography Workshop 03 - Specialist Workshop

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06.3

FLOOR PLAN- GROUND FLOOR

the cartography musuem. The North entrance on the parallel street starts at the ground plane with a private entrance into a courtyard which leads to the residential part of the building.

01 - Main Enterance 02 - Bathrooms 03 - Exhibition Space 04 - Resident Communal Space 05 - Courtyard

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06.4

FLOOR PLAN- FIRST FLOOR

At this level of the plan, the programs start to diversify with the North incorparating rooms and circulation for the residency program. The Sourthern part of the structure incorperates exhibition spaces, communal spaces and a courtyard.

01 - Courtyard 02 - Communal Space 03 - Exhibition Space 04 - Residency Rooms

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06.5

F L O O R P L A N - L O W E R L E V E L II

The plan at this level below ground is made up of spaces that do not require any sunlight. This includes the archive and working rooms for cartographic studies.

01 - Live Excavation Site 02 - Map Archive 03 - Cartography Workshop 04 - Specialist Workshop

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06.6

FLOOR PLAN- LOWER LEVEL

The plan at this level below ground is made up of spaces that do not require any sunlight. This includes some exhibition spaces and working rooms for cartographic studies.

01 - Exhibition Space 02 - Cartography Workshop 03 - Specialist Workshop

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06.7

ELEVATION- SOUTH FACADE

The South elevation provides a strerotomic apperance by appearing in various depths, various levels and verious sizes.

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06.8

ELEVATION- NORTH FACADE

The North facade follows the appearance of the existing con-

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FUNCTIONAL INTENTIONS VOLUMETRIC STRATEGY Assembling the Structure

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07.1

SITUATING THE CONTEXT

The structure is wedge between a dense part of Athens, surrounded by narrow streets and bits of historical buildings. In order to allow for the structure to inhabit the site, functional and material considerations have been made which responds to its context both tectonicaly and design wise.W

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Rooms

Library

The residence contains ensuite rooms for those in residency programs with direct access to workshop spaces, communal spaces and archives. This area of the structure is private and seperate from the musuem although some ac-

cuture with access from both public and private parts of the building. It also has the most access to sunlight

Workshops

Cafe

The workshops are spaces available to thos on residency programs. Located below ground, it has no access to direct sunlight and temperatures that can be controlled.

The cafe is an extention of the topmost courtyard. The cafe does not require controlled temperature or humidity and provides the best functional space for natural ventilation

Circulation Core

The core of the structure contains two sets of stairs and lifts for the residences and for public use, respectively. Both are easily accessible from all parts of the buildings and are given two seperate entrances to ensure privacy

Courtyards tive functions for both the residency and the usuemS

The courtyards are essential to the design intent of the structure, breaking up the density of the solid form and manking up a steroetomic landscape. The function of the courtyard is also to provide and moments for outdoor spaces which provide natural air and a relationship to its context.

Exhibition Spaces

The exhibition spaces are secluded and located

Archive

The cafe is an extention of the topmost courtyard. The cafe does not require controlled temperature or humidity and provides the best functional space for natural ventilation

07.2

adequate sun, humid and noise control while also providing privacy for users

INTERNAL FUNCTION

The building contains various spaces which cater to both public and private

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Exhibition Space No access to natural light access within these spaces in order to protect cartographic artifacts.

Cartography Workshop

07.3

INTERNAL FUNCTION

L O W E R L E V E L I + II The spatial and tectonic intentions of the structure below ground follow the programattc needs of the building function which involes no sunlight.

Excavation Site Supported by raft foundation while using temporary bamboo scafolding to hold earth in place

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01 - Retaining Concrete Walls 02 - Pile Foundation

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Exhibition Space No access to natural light access within these spaces in order to protect cartographic artifacts.

Courtyard The use of courtyards is a stereotomic language that is used to form the structures own landscape while improving ventilation.

07.4

INTERNAL FUNCTION

GROUD + FIRST FLOOR The structural intentions above ground forms a tectonic landscape in the very dense site, without imposing drastic design forms of stretomy.

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01 - Retaining Concrete Walls 02 - Lightwell

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Residency Rooms No access to natural light access within these spaces in order to protect cartographic artifacts.

have been placed at the highest possidaylight.

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07.5

INTERNAL FUNCTION

SECOND FLOOR The visible envelope of the structure is primarily made up of marble stone.

01 - Marble Stone Cladding

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Library No access to natural light access within these spaces in order to protect cartographic artifacts.

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07.6

INTERNAL FUNCTION

have been placed at the highest possidaylight.

THIRD FLOOR The visible envelope of the structure is primarily made up of marble stone.

01 - Marble Stone Cladding 02 - Roof Trusses 03 - Roof Tiles

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07.7

SECTION- SOUTH

The section primarily highlights the constrained width of the structure with most of the structure located below ground.

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07.8

SECTION - WEST

The section shows the cross section highlighting the width of the structure.

It shows the interconnnectivity with the various functions.

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07.9

SECTIONIONAL AXO - ACTIVITY

This involves a controlled spaces that provide privacy from all the other activites within the structure. The relationships between the external presence of the struture within the context and the internal functions allows for a better understanding of the design intent. a. External - Responds to its context, through geometric and material construction b. Internal - Poses a more horizontal presence, isolating eaxh activity and providing controlled accesibility

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07.10

PERSPECTIVE - EXHIBITION

els that form semi private viewing booths and in formation slabs for each one. Within each exhibition space there are also maps stored in protected glass tables from maps which are not safe to be store upright. All exhibition spaces are lit with special UV light and have no direct contact with the sun. they are also cooled by a central ventilation system in order to control temperature and humidity.

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07.11

PERSPECTIVE - KITCHEN/LOUNGE

The residents are provided with a kitchen and lounge space that cater to their daily essential needs. This serves as the communal leisure space, it is accompanied with an entrance courtyard that further allows the indoor activities to be carried out outdoors.

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07.12

PERSPECTIVE - MAIN ENTRANCE

The main enterance is access through a set of stairs from the Southern entrance and opens up through a light shaft. This allows for a contrasting balance between entry through a lower level and light

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07.13

PERSPECTIVE - WORKSHOP

The workshops are private spaces primarily accesed by the residents.

The workshops serve as their main workspaces where they are provided access to cartography tools, archival material and library services. The workshop is the hub and primary objective for the residency program.

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07.14

PERSPECTIVE - CAFE COURTYARD

The Cafe courtyard is one of the three courtyards located in the building, it allows for open air ventilation and provides outdoor oppurtunities in contrast to the activities of the main building which is enclosed for protective purposes. the courtyard links both the residents section and musuem together forming a unique communal space for both users.

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07.15

PERSPECTIVE - SOUTH ENTRANCE

The outdoor perspective shows the building from street view, the activities on the courtyard, the lift entrance and how the structure will ultimately appear like on site.

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STRUCTURAL STRATEGIES ASSEMBLING STEREOTOMY Construction Methods

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ELEMENTS - STRUCTURE

01. Reinforced Concrete - Wall & Floor Construction 02. Plaster - Interior & Exterior Finishes 03. Marble - Exterior Cladding 04. Glass - Window Openings 06. Steel - Structural Reinforcment

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SECTIONIONAL AXO - INTERNAL COMFORT

such as the rooms and communal spaces have suspended ceilings while work spaces such as studey areas and some workshops have exposed services. The function of accross each 01. Study Spaces 02. Residency Rooms 03. Specialist Workshop

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08.3

SECTIONIONAL AXO - CONSTRUCTION

The structural make up of the building is primarly formed of reinforced concrete.

This structural material used is a direct translation of designing a stereotomic landscape through density and volume.

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01. Wall Construction - External Plaster Finish, Waterproof barrier, Insulation, Internal Finish

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08.4

SECTION - 1:50

The section highlights the fabrication of the building envelop .

01. 50mm marble tile, 100m ventilated cavity, water proof barrier, 50mm insulation, 300mm reinforced concrete wall 02. Double glazing in aluminium frame, 15 mm toughened glass, 15mm cavity, laminated safety glass 03. 25mm false ceiling, hanging pole 160mm suspended from reinforced concrete ceiling sound insulation 400 mm reinforced concrete

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barrier, 50 mm thermal insulation, 300mm reinforced wall -

50x120mm pitched rafters with insulation between.

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Metal Flashing Blocking Aluminium window system

Window Casing

Finished Marble Sill

Finished Plaster Sill

Wall Tie

Insulation

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SECTION - 1:20 WINDOW

The window is located further back into the wall structure in order to provide as much shading as possible. The window frame itself is hidden inside the walls allowing the interior and exterior sills to serve as the start and end of the window.

Cavity

Marble Tiles

Plaster

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08.6

EXTERNAL COMFORT - COURTYARDS

The courtyards form an integral part of the overall strategy through implementation of historic building strategies within greece by providing communal outdoor oppurtunities.

01. Residents Courtyard - An private courtayrd which serves as the entrance passage for the residents from the busy streets. I also serves as an outdoor space for leisure.

02. Public Courtyard - The public courtyard is located at the forefront of the musuem entrance providing oppurtinities for outdoor leisure, in contrast to the primarly dark spaces within the structure.

03. Cafe Courtyard - This courtyard serves as an extension of the cafe, allowing for eating to be done outdors.

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08.7

SECTION - VENTILATION

ing which is primarli made up on ventilation systems in order to keep the controlled temperatue at 15 degrees and humidity between 40-60% so as to keep the maps safe and free from damage.

01. Air vents, Providing cool air from ventilation systems 02. Air Vents; Carrying hot air out in order to minimise humidity 03. Courtyards; The courtyards provide oppurtunities for natural ventilation and open air sources.

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08.8

SECTION - SUN

ing which is primarli made up on ventilation systems in order to keep the controlled temperatue at 15 degrees and humidity between 40-60% so as to keep the maps safe and free from damage.

01. Air vents, Providing cool air from ventilation systems 02. Air Vents; Carrying hot air out in order to minimise humidity 03. Courtyards; The courtyards provide oppurtunities for natural ventilation and open air sources.

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MATERIAL STUDIES CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS City, Site, urban theme

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1. Volakos Marble - A type of white or semi white Carrara marble which is quarried in the Falakron mountains in Northern Greece.

09.1

2. Pentelikon Marble - A type of white marble which is quarried in the East attica, Pentelikon.

3. Desert Silver Marble - A type of silver marble found in Greece.

4. Desert Pink Marble - A type of pink marble found in Greece.

GREEK MARBLE - EXTERIOR CLADDING

Marble is a type of stone locally sourced in greek quarries and can be seen all around the historic remains of the anciet times and is still used in modern day greece. The characteristics of marble include; - Aesthetically pleasing - Natural material - Locally sourced - Weathers well Image References: https://www.stonecontact.com

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09.2

GREEK MARBLE - CLADDING SYSTEM

The are are numerous types of cladding systems that can be used for stone

02. Overlapped tilling creates depth across the facade 03. Linear Tiling subtly breaks down the volum of the facade Whichever one is chosen, the system will compromise of wall ties.

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09.3

GREEK MARBLE - ASSEMBLAGE

The wall system is made up of 300mm concrete, 50mm insulation, waterproof barrier, 50mm cavity and then a 50mm . Each marble tile The cladding system selcted for the structure is 01 in order to establish the parts of the structure covered by it as one solid mass further reinforcing the forming of a landscape stereotomy that is the design intent of the project.

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CONCLUSION REFLECTIVE SUMMARY Discussing the project

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CRITICAL REFLECTION

The overall conclusion of this project touched on various parts of design and technology which I have been able to communicate properly. Although, this year has been unexpected with regards to a global pandemic, working from different part of the world has proven its challenges but has also helped my push myself further. In actualising and maintaing the studio theme as a guiding focal point, I was able to produce a design I enjoyed designed for a climate I am used too. It was interesting to adapt some of the design approaches from warmer climates I had learned during my two years out in practice.

Having a function which requires no direct sunlight also helped in sheilding most of the South facade by providing only two windows. The general conscencus on how the building was designed was in direct response to its climate . A further study into understanding these systems by writing a report was also enlightening and broaded the scope of the project.

Although the process has come full circle and the design

present the effects of the courtyards.

main being not having any of the models I had prepared earlier on with me, some of which I was unable to photograph and remain in the studio currently. My abrupt trip out of England left me missing some of the works I had put much time, consideration and efforts into. The only way though I have included them in the portfolio, they do not serve the purpose they were meant for. This left me in a very tough position on how to move foward, coupled with

Overall, the project has been challanging some good some -

most challenging submissions I’ve had to make.

In terms of the project itself, the success lies in the design

The thing that could improve include, deepr tectonic explorations such as modelling material studies or stereotomic models, extrapolating all the project has to offer.

has been a re-transition back into education which allows a platform for creative applications and explorations which in my opinion allows for design growth. entire Stage 5 year over the summer and carrying along tecture school up until now and be the designer I have set out to be.

By incoorperating courtyards to break down the size of the project and aim towards natural cooling systems, it brough to light how multiple systems can be used to obtain better results.

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COURTYARD VENTILATION SEMESTER TWO REPORT

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