Z2P13

George Spendlove Remedial Housing Stage 3 Academic Portfolio BA (Hons) Architecture

2019/20

Contents

Illustrated Reflective Report ..........................................

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Charrette Week ...........................................................

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Project Primer .............................................................. 14 160147476 georgespendlove@gmail.com

Vienna Field Trip + Case Study ..................................... 28 Project Staging ............................................................ 38 Realisation + Thinking Through Making Week ................ 60 Synthesis .................................................................... 98 Cultural Bibliography ....................................................

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List of Figures + Bibliography .......................................

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Illustrated Reflective Report

Our studio aims to challenge the negative stigma around social housing in the UK. We studied successful examples of social housing and created a manifesto of qualities that a social housing scheme should have. In the primer, I found it interesting to see what makes a social housing scheme successful and attractive place to be.

The stigma around tower block living perceives it to be an unpleasant way to live. On our visit to Great Park housing estate of ‘affordable homes’, I realised that many of the common issues in tower block living (e.g lack of communal space and therefore lack of community presence) are present in the new low rise ‘traditional’ housing. Our trip to Vienna convinced us that social housing blocks can be successful if the right strategy is implemented, by providing the right services to the community there.

Cruddas Park is a social housing development in Newcastle and is in need of rejuvenation. The site is architecturally flawed and lacks a dynamic social demographic. The layout of the tower features 168 single-aspect apartments, all of which stem from a long anti-social corridor. Cruddas Park is the most dense community facility in the area in terms of service provision. However, these services are underused, with many of the units left empty.

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Illustrated Reflective Report

While standing on site, the scale of the podium and the volume of concrete felt intimidating and unwelcoming. Upon reflection, I decided that an aggressive remodelling of the massing was needed.

I thought this would soften the landscape and make the site more welcoming. Upon reflection, if the site model had been created sooner, a more thorough understanding of the site would have been developed, enabling our proposals to be more considered and tested by the end of staging.

When approaching the project I looked at key precedents that reflected our studio manifesto. Consequently, I looked at work by Peter Barber (PeterBarberArchitects, 2020) and read books such as Social Housing (Karakusevic and Batchelor, 2017).

‘There are whole worlds of basic repair, metal fabrication, joinery, bespoke furniture, printing, food production and catering, and courier facilities. Every city has these. They are completely normal and the way in which we house them is critical. We should not wish them away; rather we should em- brace them and make space for them.’ (Karakusevic and Batchelor, 2017:93) Fleet Street, Peter Barber project incorporates industry space into the ground floor of the homes, widening the demographic onsite.

After more research, I decided that this should be a key move for my project at Cruddas Park. Cruddas Park needs this additional social sphere (industry) to enhance its demographic alongside students, residents and retail professionals.

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In my dissertation, I researched how the demolition of concrete buildings (a natural byproduct of urbanisation) can be utilised to sequester carbon. Concrete is rich in calcium (Washbourne et al, 2015). If demolition is processed correctly, the waste can sequester inorganic carbon through non-biological means of carbonisation. The demolition waste precipitates to form solid calcium carbonate (CaCO3). My dissertation findings helped me to justify demolishing a large portion of the podium at Cruddas Park with the intent of using this material as a soil aggregate on the surrounding green land in Elswick. The sustainability strategy at Cruddas Park is not currently utilised broadly in the architectural profession. The use of demolition material in this way, across all suitable brownfield sites in the UK has huge atmospheric carbon mitigation potential - 1 Mt of CO2 a year (Research.ncl.ac.uk, 2017).

Employing modular technology within our proposals was relevant, in order to make our proposed schemes more economically feasible. Modular research has informed my design. Making models has been an important process for testing modular and structural strategies I have employed to extend off of the tower. Virtual modelling on SketchUp has been a skill I learnt quickly this year in order to adjust to the remote learning and explore technical aspects of my design further.

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Illustrated Reflective Report

When exploring cladding for my south extension and sun room modules I reverted back to hand modelling as this way of modelling encourages me to be more creative when testing ideas. This process is more time consuming.

However, I think a diverse approach to designing gives me a broader repertoire to take into future architectural projects. Once I settled on the cladding, I tested it in SketchUp. This helped me create a quick image that tested the facade I had created in context.

Modelling in SketchUp has been useful to set up drawings that highlight different aspects of my project, as well as communicating ideas to my tutors via email and Miro. I have tried to exaggerate where themes of modularity have been applied through certain drawings. Thinking about setting up drawings to express technical aspects of my design has made me extremely self-critical of each drawing/image that I have produced; I now wish to highlight more clearly, the architectural moves in my drawing.

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The other style of drawing I used was a zoomed-out detailed perspective site plan. This also uses my SketchUp model, which situates my proposal in the context of Elswick more effectively than my isometric drawing. It illustrates accurately, the abundance of greenery surrounding the site, as well as, the Riverside Dene Tower blocks and low rise terraced housing. In normal circumstances, I would have created a large site model featuring Elswick for context and my proposal. However, this option was not available which led me to use my SketchUp model to create a perspective site map.

I have been pushed to explore alternative methods of representation outside the comfort of modelling, trying to capture the context of Elswick within a flat image.

This helps me to compare a before and after image of the site which illustrates how the changes I have made impact the site and its surround. This process has pushed me to expand my skill set in regards to taking different approaches to illustrate this project and future projects.

Developing this project gave me insight into the contemporary issue that is social housing, an issue that is going to challenge architects for the foreseeable future.

Understanding how to use my model to show the entire scheme required me to dissect and cut back the tower to reveal the spaces within. This process was new to me and required an element of trial and error. I think my final drawing shows, how the variety spaces within the building relate to their immediate surround. This illustrates everything a flat section would, but also displays the complex layering within the building more clearly.

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Illustrated Reflective Report

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Charrette Week Soft room Studio

Soft Studio was tasked with converting the magz space in the Architecture building into a soft calm environment for people to work in. The week commenced by experimenting with textiles and gaining a brief understanding of how to make stencils. To do this we wrapped a variety of different vegetables in fabric, creating different forms and exploring how to use the materials given. I volunteered myself for the furniture group. We set about exploring how we could use plastics with bean bags to create a relaxing environment to work in.

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Primer Project - Great Park Newcastle

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Soft Room Exhibition

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Primer Project - Great Park Newcastle

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Project Primer Great Park Newcastle

Primer was a critical analysis of what good social housing is. I think all of us in remedial housing found it eye-opening to see how social housing schemes could go so wrong if they did not include key characteristics and community services.

Perhaps the biggest shock of primer, was to see how developers were being allowed to diverge from original plans and promises to the council and residents they had sold its homes to. Great Park, situated in Newcastle, has become a lifeless and bitter place to live because key design characteristics such as well landscaped green space and a town centre, have been neglected. The essence of the original master plan from the architect must remain rigidly present throughout the RIBA stages of development. This ensures the design is not flawed and hence becomes unsuccessful. To investigate further into the details of what creates a housing scheme, everyone in our studio integrated a particular aspect of typical suburban housing, using Great Park as a case study.

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Primer Project - Great Park Newcastle

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The Great Park Scandal!

Location Location Location

Residents are appalled, feeling deceived by the sales office of the developers. Upon our visit to Great park it was clear that the site had no visible sense of community, with an empty ‘Town Centre’. The residents have been disappointed with their new homes and the area of Great Park. Therefore, they have formed a Great Park betrayal Website.

Great Park is situated north of Newcastle. Upon visiting the site, I cycled from Jesmond whilst everyone else discovered that the public transport was slow and infrequent with no fast metro to get you in and out of the city.

The site feels isolated, unfinished and vast, therefore making it unwelcoming. No community facilities onsite and a lack of imaginative landscaping has resulted in a ghost town, inhabited only by the automobile.

No Town Centre (still!)

Outstanding Issues

For the past 10 years prospective and current residents have been promised a town centre with 18 occupied retail units, a supermarket, a pub all surrounded by beautifully landscaped areas.

Important issues reported to the consortium by Great Park residents such as pot holes, non landscaped areas, blocked drains are simply ignored.

NONE of this has been delivered, despite the continued promises of the consortium.

96% of residents surveyed felt that they had been misled by the consortium regarding the proposed development of the town centre.

Great Park

Newcastle City Centre

There is no adequate system in place to log the reported issues. As a result, some issues reported 6+ years ago still remain unresolved.

This is simply unacceptable.

Enough is enough

60% of the residents surveyed said that they had a 1 out of 10 confident rating that reported issues would be resolved in a timely fashion by the consortium.

(Great Park Action Group (v2), 2020).

(Great Park Action Group (v2), 2020)

Figure 2- (Great Park Action Group (v2), 2020)

Buyers Beware!

87% of the residents surveyed were told by sales offices when purchasing their house v the completed town centre and occupation of the shops was imminent.

38% of the residents surveyed were promised by the consortium or the sales offices that the 1st town centre shop would be occupied between 2008 - 2015.

At present we are left with NO shops and a derelict wasteland.

(Great Park Action Group (v2), 2020)

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Primer Project - Great Park Newcastle

Figure 1 - Images taken from Great Park action group website. These show neglected areas of the site that have been left. The biggest betrayal by the developers is not providing Great park with the town centre that was promised (Great Park Action Group (v2), 2020)

This model was made as group work

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Materiality + Observation Sketches These are the templates for the faรงades used at Great Park. Plastic wood aesthetic cladding and render has been used with a pallet of poorly laid brick work to create faรงades. These are failing just years after being built.

These sketches explore the lack of consideration by the designers when thinking about the relationship that the different homes have with one another. In some cases, housing types were mirrored. In other cases, smaller houses were dwarfed by 3 and 4 story buildings, with a useless narrow path partition that resulted in an unpleasant, dark space with no function.

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Primer Project - Great Park Newcastle

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Great Park Wall Materiality Poor quality cladding materials and lack of design quality control has resulted in failing ‘new’ buildings.

chose this parnding houses more expenwonder if the ssible for the t on the 14th some-what e build finish erties in the was scuffed laying process much considl as how they anels are not akes me quesC cladding as it

The language used by the different developers has clearly been an attempt to create coherent styles across the estate. However,top afterimage doingisthis collage I think this coherence was lost with the lack of build quality and poor choice of cladding and finishing.

The a photo montage to show the different houses with in the Great Park landscape. It was created with the intention of designing a new sort of typography to portray the different style housing situated in Great Park. By mixing all these differently clad houses together like this it becomes apparent that there is just one style of built form that exists there. This built form seems chaotic

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Primer Project - Great Park Newcastle

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Exterior Wall Exploration + Modelling

se. I chose this parurrounding houses ket, more expeng so I wonder if the as possible for the ur visit on the 14th eem some-what ell. The build finish properties in the ment was scuffed brick laying process how much consids well as how they ct’ panels are not his makes me quesUPVC cladding as it ng?

This page explores the most repeated cladding finish on the larger (more expensive) homes at Great Park. It is interesting to notice that the external detailing which highlights the corner windows with a box like render “addon” and WPC cladding, does not translate through to the interior finish.

The top image is a photo montage to show the different houses with in the Great Park landscape. It was created with the intention of designing a new sort of typography to portray the different style housing situated in Great Park. By mixing all these differently clad houses together like this it becomes apparent that there is just one style of built form that exists there. This built form seems chaotic

ce Survey (100025252). FOR EDUCATIONAL USE ONLY

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The image above is a drawing to show how I interpreted the construction of the rendered corners that feature on many of the buildings. From pictures of the rooms internally, it is clear that the external shape of the house I have modelled relates in no way to the internal architecture and space. The walls remain flush and the floor to ceiling windows in the corner sit deep flush to the facia of the render (see my painting below). These features are arguably inconvenient for residents that wish to extent their property in anyway.

The corners and balcony features cause the roofs of some properties to appear over complicated in their form, where the loft space is un-usable and impossible to extend in to. If the resident wished to extend off the side of some of these houses it would be a challenge to come up with a simple extension design that engages and works with the external structure shown protruding off the face of the brick in my drawing Scale above.

This suggests that many of the buildings have not been designedNovwith longevity and adaptability in 09, 2019 10:13 1:5000 George Spendlove 500 m 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400 450 mind. 0 Projection: British N ational Grid

Primer Project - Great Park Newcastle

A collage of the studios final primer models which interrogates different aspects of Great Park.

University of Newcastle

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Studio Manifesto

Studio Housing Exemplars

Influenced by the failures of Great Park and the triumphs of successful social housing examples

Housing standards should not be standard Who is standard?

Green means more than grass Ecologies won’t grow on manicured lawns

Localisation for accessibility forsustainability for community

Create to Class, Culture, Age

integrate

GOLDSMITH STREET

WOHNPARK ALTERLAA

NIGHTINGALE 1

R 50 TRENT BASIN TOUR BOIS LE PETRE TIBBY’S TRIANGLE

HANNIBAL ROAD GARDENS

OWCH

KARL MARX HOF

KITCHENLESS HOMES

DROBAK

FRAUEN WORK STADT

GASOMETERS

MARMALADE LANE

LILAC

NAKED HOUSE

TOWER FLOWER

Homes not houses No more no-mans’-land Developers don’t dictate your identity

Give public space purpose

Destroying gender stereotypes starts at home Developers don’t design women

Flexibility leads to longevity leads to sustainability

Homes that adapt to life’s changes last longer

‘Climate Crisis’? Act like it.

Call out the council: design like you declare

People before profit Active design, passivhaus Thoughtful planning for efficient houses

These images are part of our studios group work - source unknown

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Primer Project - Great Park Newcastle

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These images are part of our studios final exhibition

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Primer Project - Great Park Newcastle

This is a model that tests Great Park against our manifesto. The model shows a potential new street arrangement that focuses on creating beneficial public space with a large shared garden. We thought these shared spaces would encourage a stronger community presence and should be applied where possible to every street.

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Field Trip Case Study Report Gasometers of Vienna

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Concept + Design

Accomodation

Structural Strategy

Gasometer shell Concert hall Shield extension

Circulation through the site is via the mall and skybrides Vienna undertook a remodelling and revitalization of the protected monuments; and in 1995 called for ideas for the new use of the structures. The concept was to create new housing, commercial areas of recreation and culture, and regeneration of the industrial district turning the Gasometers into the alternative urban center of Vienna. The chosen designs by the architects Jean Nouvel (Gasometer A), Coop Himmelblau (Gasometer B), Manfred We- hdorn (Gasometer C) and Wilhelm Holzbauer (Gas- ometer D) were completed between 1999 and 2001. The original contract budget was $150 million Euros. The most modern and innovative solutions are the proposals by Jean Nouvel and Coop Himmelb(l)au. I interpret this shield as quite controversial, it challenges the attitude society sometimes has towards historic architecture and preserving the image of it.

The extension leans against the gasometer and creates an amazing threshold of contrasting architecural language in between the two buildings, complimenting and enhancing the 19th Century structure.

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Staging Vienna Case Study - Gasometers

Diagrams to show the primary structure throughout the building. As mentioned previously, this is concrete frame. These diagrams illustrate how the structural strategy has used the vertical walls going up through the structure. Attached to these are steel poles that hold up the glass window and roof of the central glass dome that supplies light to the mall passage. The large section shows the primary and secondary structural aspects to the building, highlighting where the brick Gasometer skin is connected to the concrete frame.

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Structural walls within the shell of the 29th century gasometer

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Staging Vienna Case Study - Gasometers

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Vienna’s Four Pillar Model

Vienna Field Trip Rather than focussing on making the city more “green” Vienna’s centre is more “urban’ with a dense social housing presence and therefore, a more sustainable model for a city.

It operates it’s housing schemes around the “Four Pillar Model”. This model illustrates the key processes and considerations that are made through each social housing scheme the city produces. Furthermore, on our trip to Zwischen Brucken District (see page 31), we learnt that key themes are applied to each block/ building. These themes represent key design motives such as “first buyers” or “families” or “elderly”. We decided that this lens through which Vienna has focussed each block and tailored it to it’s user was a good lens to apply to our site in staging.

PLANNING

COSTS

STRUCTURE OF THE CITY STRUCTURE OF THE BUILDING STRUCTURE OF THE APARTMENTS DESIGN

LAND COSTS TOTAL BUILDING COSTS USERS COSTS + CONTRACT RELEVANCE OF INTERIOR DESIGN TO COST

ECOLOGY

SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY

CLIMATE + RESOURCE-FRIENDLY CONSTRUCTION HEALTH + ENVIRONMENT-CONCIOUS HOUSING QUALITIES OF GREEN + OPEN SPACE THAT INFLUENCE URBAN SPACE DIVERSITY OF USE OF GREEN + OPEN SPACE

Alterlaa residential park visit

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Vienna Field Trip

SUSTAINABILITY FOR DAY-TO-DAY USE COST REDUCTION THROUGH PLANNING LIVING TOGETHER IN COMMUNITIES HOUSING FOR SPECIAL NEEDS

Figure 3 - Images taken from the publication / Vienna’s Four Pillar Model as presented in the 2017 Jovis Publication “The Vienna Model: Housing for the Twenty-First-Century City”.

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“Housing as a Basic Human Right” ‘Does Vienna ever intend to follow a similar path to the UK, reducing new building and allowing social renters to buy their properties? “We do not sell any buildings,” Puchinger says. “Buildings that are owned by the city or by a subsidised social building company are not allowed to be sold. We’ve never privatised and we never will.”’

(Ball, 2019)

This housing block in the Zwischen Brucken District contained play rooms and studios for activities such as fitness classes and yoga as well as a common kitchen and living space for the residents to use for communal events and activities. The block also contained spare rooms for visitors as well as Cafe and local shops on the street side of the ground floor.

This housing in the Zwischen Brucken District

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Vienna Field Trip

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Project Staging Cruddas Park, Elswick, Newcastle

During Project Staging our main objective as a studio was to understand our site, Cruddas Park in Elswick, Newcastle. Cruddas Park differs from our Primer site Great Park in many ways and adjusting to this change in site, meant it took a couple weeks to form our site drawings. Our visit to the Zwischen Brucken District influenced most of us in staging as we each chose our own lens through which we would try to tackle Cruddas Park. My lens was to expand the demographic present on site; this aims to strengthen the presence of community ownership at Cruddas Park past the point of locality. To bring more people to the site, I experimented with redistributing the massing for the podium, aiming to open up the site from the concrete and hard landscaping - “to let it breath�. At the time, my dissertation research about using demolished concrete for inorganic carbon sequestration, also strengthened the idea of demolishing a large part of the podium.

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Figure 4

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https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/newcastle-tower-block-residents-terrified-13934975

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/ cruddas-park-flats-newcastle-fires-16684026

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/ coronavirus-newcastle-north-east-elswick-18131493

Nobody has been injured as a result of any of the fires but it has caused concern among the community living in the 25-storey block.Most of the fires have included rubbish being set alight in bin chutes.

The 66-year-old said: “It’s not very good living here at the moment. We only have only one lift working and people are having to wait a lot of time for it. It’s been like that for over a month - it’s just horrendous.

“It’s hard not having any areas to sit outside in. I wish we had a communal garden because we can’t do anything we are just stuck in these four walls. I can’t visit my friends or to a garden to talk to my neighbours.”

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/former-cruddas-park-towers-come-1419724 https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/ woman-reveals-appalling-state-council-17214881

John Vainola has lived alone for more than 20 years.But recently he said he has been struggling to cope, as social distancing guidelines leave him stuck on his own inside a two-bed flat.

The 66-year-old said: “Living here during lockdown is terrible, there’s not a lot that you can do.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/twoyears-after-grenfell-fire-16430599

The high-rise flats in what was known as Cruddas Park have been a part of Newcastle’s skyline since the 1960s.

They were built as part of renegade council leader T Dan Smith’s vision of a “city in the sky” to replace slum terraces.

But now five of the 10 blocks will be demolished to make way for a range of new homes. And private developers will be invited to come forward with schemes in a bid to regenerate the area, which was renamed Riverside Dene in April 2009 in a “rebranding” exercise costing £45,000.Council chiefs say all tenants of the blocks will be rehoused.Newcastle City Council and Your Homes Newcastle had been working on a £90m project to revamp all the blocks.

Figure 5 - Collage of news articles that illustrate issues present at Cruddas Park (Graham, 2020) (Riddell, 2019) (Graham, 2019) (Lindesy, 2017) 42

Staging - Cruddas Park Newcastle

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1991 was knowns for riots which spread with violence from North Tyneside to Newcastle.

The slums were cleared and new flats were built by Wimpey to a Swedish pre-cast concrete modular design.

The West End was targeted as ‘copycat’ incidents broke out on September 12. Hundreds of rampaging youths threw bricks and firebombs at police and emergency services. Masked ‘joyriders’ screeched along the streets, burning cars were used as barricades, while shops and schools were looted. The Dodds Arms pub on Elswick Road was burned to the ground as disorder raged.

The tower blocks were named after trees and bushes as the former streets had been (e.g.

Sycamore, Pine, Hawthorns and Willows).

It was originally named Cruddas Park after George Cruddas who was a director of Armstrong’s arms works in Elswick and lived in the area.

The surrounding area had long been dominated by Armstrong’s arms works and Vickers who built tanks close to the Scotswood Road.

The housing scheme was part of T. Dan Smith’s grand plan for Newcastle, to make it a modern city. It was later to be alleged that Dan Smith took cash and other benefits for awarding the contracts.

During the nineteenth-century rows of closely packed houses filled the banks of the Tyne to house factory workers.

S

New entrances were added to the blocks, entry systems installed and caretakers appointed. The shopping centre was also improved with security shutters, CCTV and security patrols.

Also in the 90’s was the advent of City Challenge. This was a national government initiative with £37.5 million to spend over a five year period in defined areas with the aim of “regenerating” them.

1961

Following Grenfell Tower in June 2017, the council had the cladding on tower blocks tested and were found to be ‘not combustible’ and thus not likely to catch fire easily.

Your Homes Newcastle (YHN) also had samples tested by an independent fire testing organisation. They passed but ‘decorative panels used on blocks at Riverside Dene should not have been used above 18 metres’ and these were removed.

Staging - Cruddas Park Newcastle

The police were officially admitting that the west end of Newcastle was one of the highest crime areas in the country with problems of poverty and unemployment too.

1980’ 2015

S

2012

Meanwhile Cruddas Park House (below) and the associated shopping centre and amenities such as the library have also been refurbished. Plans were passed in February 2014 to fit replacement aluminium double-glazed windows and fix new external wall insulation and most of this work took place in 2015

By 2000 it was evident more needed to be done. The City Council launched its ‘Going for Growth’ strategy, which set out a vision for Newcastle as a “competitive, cosmopolitan and cohesive capital”.

Your Homes Newcastle, the council’s arms length housing management company, aimed to revamp Cruddas Park for the 21st century. The New Deal for Communities (NDC) initiative involved residents closely in making their area a better place to live.

Consultation was undertaken on the plans for the ten Cruddas Park tower blocks, which included new kitchens and bathrooms, new low-rise family homes and redeveloping the shopping centre.

This led to a situation of increasing ghettoisation, where those with fewest resources and least choice were concentrated together in particular areas.

2019 2017

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In the late 1980s it was decided to revitalise the area, which had become the focus of criminal activity and had gained a reputation.

The government then introduced “right to buy”, which meant that the more popular council estates became increasingly privately owned, whereas the least popular remained largely in council ownership.

By the 1950s these had become run-down residential areas and the housing was considered to be low-amenity slums.

1950’

The fallout saw the council announce plans to demolish hundreds of properties in the area and start again from scratch.

1991 2009

2000 2006

April 2009 the revamp under way the area was renamed ‘Riverside Dene’ after being chosen by residents.

The scheme’s first phase, which included complete redevelopment of The Hawthorns, The Larches and The Sycamores over a 21-month period with new outer coatings and noncombustible mineral fibre insulation, was projected to cost £31 million.

A fire in Cruddas Park House in November 2017 left residents concerned about fire alarms, the lack of sprinkler systems and safety in general. Residents at Cruddas Park were unhappy and ‘fearful’ due to arson attacks and dissatisfaction with existing fire safety features

New Deal for the Communities came to an end in March 2010 with reports of £28 million spent and Newcastle City Council had agreed to provide access to 95% mortgages, with hopes the influx of owner-occupiers to the area will help secure its future as an attractive place to live.

On the second anniversary of the Grenfell tragedy a message was projected on Cruddas Park House by Grenfell United claiming fire doors weren’t fit for purpose.

Centre West’s website reported four blocks fully let to social tenants and one block ‘nearly full’ with homeowners. The remaining five blocks, such as the Poplars had to be demolished with the reality that the flats were hard to sell to potential homeowners in financially challenging times.

Flats were made available for rent through Your Homes Newcastle. Private partners were in the scheme too but they pulled out leaving council bosses with no cash to finish it.

Work started in the autumn of 2006.

Opportunities for residents to buy affordable homes in four of the blocks and a green energy options to help reduce tenants’ fuel bills were proposed at the time (April 2006).

“The six-year scheme will include internal improvements, a striking new look to the blocks and improvements to the surrounding area. The scheme will also bring a better choice in the size of the flats, as well as environmentally friendly measures to protect the environment and keep fuel bills low.

Homes in five of the blocks will be made available for sale, whilst the five other blocks and Cruddas Park House will continue to be managed by Your Homes Newcastle.”

Image by another studio member

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Site Materiality Highlighted in the blue frame, you can see a perspective shot of this site showing the extent of the green space, as well as the sheer size of the podium and the hard landscaping. This highlights that the current massing of the podium does not relate well to its open green surround.

The photos correspond to the site map showing in more detail what it feels like to be walking through the site. They captured key moments that interested me and represent the current character of the spaces. They highlight the circulation routes that can be seen on the site map. When walking these, you are forced to walk around the podium on either side via pavement or concrete pathway rather than through the site making it feel extremely detached from its surrounding context. The facade that faces Westmorland road feels hostile and has no relationship with the street side; it is inherently uninviting.

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Staging - Cruddas Park Newcastle

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Cruddas Park: Cruddas Park:

The locality of services within a 10 minute walking radius

The Locality of Services Within a 10 Minute Walking Radius 1. McColl’s Convenience Store 2. Cruddas Park Post Office 3. Oasis cafe 4. Boots pharmacy 5. William Hill 6. Gezena Cafe 7. Convenience Store 8. St Michael’s Church 9. St Michael’s Primary School 10. Seventh Day Adventist Church 11. Cruddas Park Early Years Centre 12. Elswick Park 13. Elswick Pool 14. PC Fix North East 15. Centre West Community Centre 16. Cruddas Park Surgery 17. The Metropolitan Bar 18. Central Hall Gospel Church 19. Hawthorn Primary School 20. Ashfield Nursery School 21. West End Youth Club 22. MA Brothers Supermarket 23. Eagles Community Arena 24. SEAT car dealership 25. Ford car dealership 26. Mechanics car garage 27. Orthotic Medical Services 28. Howdens Kitchens 29. Tool Station 30. Greggs 31. Car Wash 32. Gym Elite 33. Audi car dealership 34. Whitworth Pharmacy 35. Newcastle Central Mosque 36. Pakistan Islamic Centre 37. Eemaan Restaurant 38. Fish & Chip Shop 39. Silver Dragon Chinese Takeaway 40. NCG Educational Institution 41. Redhill Castle Nursery 42. Life Transformation Church 43. Computer Repair Service 44. Newcastle College 45. Wedding Dress Outlet Store

= 10 Minute Walking Radius

Cruddas Park: The Locality of Services Within a 10 Minute Walking Radius 1. McColl’s Convenience Store 2. Cruddas Park Post Office 3. Oasis cafe 4. Boots pharmacy 5. William Hill 6. Gezena Cafe 7. Convenience Store 8. St Michael’s Church 9. St Michael’s Primary School 10. Seventh Day Adventist Church 11. Cruddas Park Early Years Centre 12. Elswick Park 13. Elswick Pool 14. PC Fix North East 15. Centre West Community Centre 16. Cruddas Park Surgery 17. The Metropolitan Bar 18. Central Hall Gospel Church 19. Hawthorn Primary School 20. Ashfield Nursery School 21. West End Youth Club 22. MA Brothers Supermarket 23. Eagles Community Arena 24. SEAT car dealership 25. Ford car dealership 26. Mechanics car garage 27. Orthotic Medical Services 28. Howdens Kitchens 29. Tool Station 30. Greggs 31. Car Wash 32. Gym Elite 33. Audi car dealership 34. Whitworth Pharmacy 35. Newcastle Central Mosque 36. Pakistan Islamic Centre 37. Eemaan Restaurant 38. Fish & Chip Shop 39. Silver Dragon Chinese Takeaway 40. NCG Educational Institution 41. Redhill Castle Nursery 42. Life Transformation Church 43. Computer Repair Service 44. Newcastle College 45. Wedding Dress Outlet Store

= 10 Minute Walking Radius = Site (Cruddas Park)

= Site (Cruddas Park)

This slide illustrates the local services available to the community within a 10 minute walking radius of the site. It is evident from this analysis that Cruddas Park, is the most dense in terms of its service provision. However, this does not translate into its use.

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Staging - Cruddas Park Newcastle

Image by another a studio member

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Elevation Tracing + Testing Massing

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21:49

04:27 West

South

W

E

15:40

08:30

S

East

North

This plan illustrates how the west-facing apartments benefit most from solar gain whilst the east side only receives a few hours of morning sun. The west side of the tower is also exposed to the strong South west prevailing winds which are often present on site. This has informed my redevelopment of the west side facade.

50

Staging - Cruddas Park Newcastle

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Analysis of the Architecture + Demographic of Cruddas Park Tower

The layout of the tower features 168 single-aspect apartments, all of which stem from a long anti-social corridor. There are two types of apartments in the tower. The small kitchen is located at the back of the larger apartment type, requiring the furthest walk from the entrance. This conforms to the unconscious gender stereotyping of housing layouts in British homes - Kitchen (women’s room) at the back of houses and the ‘mens room’ (living room) at the front. The kitchen has no natural daylight and is barely big enough to inhabit more than one person (the woman/ wife). The dark corridors leading into cramped and dark apartments is also a generally unwelcoming approach to the apartments.

The site is not only architecturally flawed, but also lacks a dynamic social demographic. Most residents in Cruddas park are male, live on their own and almost 2/3 have no qualifications. There are no children on site which is not surprising seen as the site has no communal and family friendly, amenity spaces.

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Staging - Cruddas Park Newcastle

Image by another studio member

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Regeneration of Cruddas Park

Line of Enquiry This project aims to transform Cruddas park into a desirable place to live, whilst restructuring its multifunctional

HEALTH + WELL-BEING + INTERACTION RITUALS BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION MULTIFUNCTIONALITY

spaces to create a central hub for the people of Elswick and valuable civic facility for Newcastle.

Extend floors in existing Cruddas tower block by adding balconies for each apartment and a south facing tower that contains the current lifts and stair well within it.

Refurbish the tower block, designing double floor flats going up through the building providing views out both sides of the tower.

Transform the massing of the podium. Demolish it and redesign the spacial layout of the site to encourage pedestrian traffic through the site Create stair or ramp features that slow the movement of people through the site and create feature thresholds to encourage people to come through the site Use demolition waste to re-landscape areas without trees to create wildflower meadows - wildflowers need poor nutritional substrates in order to thrive. Demolition waste can be powdered and processed on site in order to create calcium rich substrates which will encourage re-landscaped land to act as a carbon sink.

Zone off the [College + careers centre + ‘community hub’], [food shops] and [retail shops] into separate areas/ buildings as well as including a small garden centre to encourage dwellers to utilize their green space Design new homes that factor in manifesto points highlighted in the primer.

Keep most of the established trees on/ round the site by redeveloping the hard landscaped concrete and only designing houses in areas where tree cover is minimal

Socio-ecological context

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Staging - Cruddas Park Newcastle

Include numerous water features with vegetation to encourage biodiversity to thrive

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Preparation Prior to Re-development This section aims to illustrate the work that would take place prior to the tower and podium redevelopment commencing. The welfare of the current residents at Cruddas Park is important in order to maintain existing relationships.

Figure 6 (waparchitects | flex house, 2013) ‘The first phase is a flexible 4/5 bed 3-storey family home arranged around an enclosed, private courtyard with garden terraces on all levels and an integrated garage/store. Indoor/ outdoor living is encouraged by large sliding/folding doors, fully integrating the living spaces with gardens. At a later date, if required, the house can flex into two autonomous homes; a fully accessible barrier-free 1-bed ground floor courtyard flat, with a 2/3 bed duplex family home over with the option of separate entrances.’ (waparchitects | flex house, 2013)

Figure 7 - (waparchitects | flex house, 2013) This project proposes to reduce the total number of apartments with in the tower from 168 to 98. The loss of 70 apartments will be addressed by the creation of 70 low-rise terraced, flexible housing units at the south end of the site. These units are of a maisonette typology, with the opportunity to create two units into one large family house. The current tower residents will be moved into these low rise homes to keep them on the site.

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Staging - Cruddas Park Newcastle

‘The Flex House is a highly adaptable home for life, taking into account families’ changing occupancies and lifestyle requirements over time, while maintaining a close physical connection between the interiors and the outdoor natural environment. It offers a high level of sustainability, minimising energy, resource use and utility bills, during the entire life of the house. (waparchitects | flex house, 2013)’

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Key Moves + Objectives These are my final drawings for Project Staging that illustrate my original re-imagining of the site.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Before and after perspective showing the changes I wish to make to the site

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Staging - Cruddas Park Newcastle

1.

Green the immediate site to reduce the amount of concrete and hard landscaping present

1.

2.

Open up the podium and surround it with community facilities

2.

3.

Extend on the tower to provide private amenity space for the apartments

3.

4.

Reconfigure the tower to make homes that are more desirable and support a wider range of

4.

5.

households, increasing the diversity of housing in the area

5.

6.

Extend of the south of the tower to create a functional communal space for the residents

6.

Finally, I propose to master plan low rise flexible terrace housing for tower residents to move into.

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Realisation During this chapter I have taken my staging proposals and thoroughly tested them through a process of rigorous modelling. Modelling a 1:50 template concrete block that represented the “massing� of my apartments, set the foundation to design from. I found modelling like this extremely useful when exploring modular elements to attach to the tower and also, organise the new spaces within the apartments. Upon reflection, I think it was beneficial doing a physical model at this experimental stage of the designing process. I was able to properly consider the spaces I was measuring, cutting, glueing and forming. Making it this way however, was laborious and took a long time. This resulted with me focussing on the new apartments in my project for too long. In the future I plan on jumping scales (switching between master-plan and 1:50) in a project more frequently, so that I do not neglect other key issues that need to be addressed.

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Site Model 1:250 - Massing + Form

This image of my site model shows how I imagine the open space to meet Westmorland road. This offers a good view into the heart of the site for passers by, making it more inviting and encouraging through flow. The architectural language of the newly massed buildings is also softened with curved edges to reduce the hostility of the hard landscaping.

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Realisation

Here we can see how the facade of the retained part of the podium has been opened up to Westmorland road to create a transparent relationship of the different functions and spaces within.

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1:

50

0

Understanding the Existing Building Structure and access

Food Market Education Centre + College Office/ Community Extension Creative Business Workshops Garden Centre Sun Room Modules Current Tower Circulation Core

Automobile Access Pedestrian Access Tower Circulation

I plan to use the roof of the Tower and podium to create public and private (resident access only) amenity space

This site map illustrates the circulation and access to the proposed amenity spaces

Diagram to illustrate the existing podium plan, with the blue highlighting the podium being retained and how this situates within the newly proposed site.

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Realisation

65

Carbon Sequestering Increasing biodiversity and carbon capture in the urban context. (Washbourne, 2019) (Jorat et al 2019) (Lal 2008) (Washbourne et al 2015) Diagram to illustrate the atmospheric inorganic carbon sequestration potential of processed brownfield site waste used on a large scale in the UK.

CLIMATE CRISIS

Top Soil Demolition Material

Masonary Wall

Concrete Foundation

CRUDDAS PARK INCREASED BIODIVERSITY

Glacial Till

Bedrock

DEMOLITION

Figure 9 - Diagram traced from Jorat et al (2019) article to show typical section for Technosol in north-east England. I have highlighted the white minerals on the surface of a brick taken from a pit in a brownfield site in North East England which provides evidence for calcite precipitation (Jorat et al, 2019: 2). For scale reference, a spade features in the image.

INORGANIC CARBON SEQUESTRATION THROUGH PROCESS OF NON- BIOLOGICAL CARBONISATION

1900

Landscaping in Elswick using demolition 23 ha

Figure 8 - Green urban areas in Elswick that can be transformed with carbon capture aggregate and wild flowers equates to 23 ha [area calculation obtained from (Google Maps Area Calculator Tool, 2020)

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Realisation

Figure 10 - The top layers of soil (10-15 centimetres) will be a mixture of sand and demolition concrete and other different types of soils which have the capacity to sequester carbon dioxide in an inorganic form. This can be used to re-landscape the vast green spaces surrounding the site with wild flowers. (Google Earth, 2020)

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Industry + Housing

‘There are whole worlds of basic repair, metal fabrication, joinery, bespoke furniture, printing, food production and catering, and courier facilities. Every city has these. They are completely normal and the way in which we house them is critical. We should not wish them away; rather we should embrace them and make space for them.’ (Karakusevic and Batchelor, 2017:93)

Peter Barber Architects expand the demographic present at Fleet Street by creating space for industry underneath the homes that share a communal public plaza

Collaging into the site model to show industry units in the podium

Figure 11 - PeterBarberArchitects, 2020)

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Realisation

To further the use of this site, I am proposing the introduction of industry space in part of the retained podium and also by extending off the south side of the tower. Including industry space in social housing schemes in this way has been successfully implemented by Peter Barber Architects at Fleet Street. This will widen the demographic present on site and enhance the community dynamic at Cruddas park through the development of a sense of place.

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Unité d’Habitation Le Corbusier Tower renovation strategy and development

Figure 12 - Apartment plans (Martin, 2019)

This page features my first sketches of remodelling the tower. They feature me experimenting with different mulit-floor apartment layouts and thinking about how they stack together. My original key objectives for the tower was to:

Figure 13 - Apartment Section (Frearson, 2014)

- Make the apartments duel aspect to gain views east and west - Extend off of the south of the tower to provide community amenity space - Find opportunities in the long antisocial access corridors to turn them into storage space

Figure 14 - Interior images of Unite apartments (Griffiths, 2018) Unité d’Habitation by Le Corbusier interested my as a piece of architecture because it hit most of the points I was looking to achieve in the redevelopment of Cruddas Park Tower. Mirroring the “Unite” stacking system at cruddas park would reduce the apartment access corridors from 21 to 7. This creates more space to be utilized in the new apartment floor plans. It would also mean the number of apartments leading onto a corridor increases from 8 to 14. This will increase the interactions that the residents have with each other and help form strong neighbour relationships.

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Realisation

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3400mm

Lacaton & Vassal Architectes

4400mm

Tour Bois le Prêtre winter garden renovations in Paris. Testing Unite d’Habiticion stack with a Lacaton Vassal influenced modular extension

This diagram explores how I propose to remodel the apartment layout of the tower. The apartments have a “Unite” stack layout with a Lacaton Vassal influenced sun room modular extension. The ceiling heights of the extension are stepped up so that light reaches deeper into the plan.

Figure 15 - Tour Bois le Prêtre renovation (Frearson, 2013) (Buckley, 2012) Modularity is something I wanted to explore for my summer room extension. Tour Bois Le Petre in Paris, successfully used steel winter garden modules in its renovation. This inspired me to mirror this approach in my project.

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Realisation

Figure 16 - Tour Bois le Prêtre ‘before and after’ comparison in section (Buckley, 2012) These significant improvements all cost less than what it would have to demolish and build new (in the case of Bordeaux, less than half the cost of replacement) (CONNECTIVESPACES, 2020)

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Tower Reconfiguration One apartment type remains similar to Le Corbuier’s Unite building. However, the other apartment type provides opportunity for a double height space with stairs; this expands the plan in the current structure of the tower.

Figure 17 - Apartment plans (Martin, 2019)

Figure 18 - Apartment Section (Frearson, 2014)

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Realisation

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1:50 Section Tower Model Two apartment types are created through the interlocking stacked layout with a corridor on the middle floor.

Unlike Corbusier, I chose to not make the layouts similar. The plans are different so that they fully utilise the afternoon light obtained on the west facade of the tower.

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Realisation

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Facade Development

Making the apartments in the tower dual aspect creates an opportunity for a variety of facade detailing to be applied to the building.

A sun room extension is applied to the tower block to create a feature space for the apartments that leads onto a balcony.

West West Facade Facade

West

East East Facade Facade

East

The images on the left show how the facade of the sun room developed from being a full width shared balcony to alternating balconies. This was done to allow the light to reach deeper into the apartments below. The two images on the right show the development of the east facade of the tower.

This image illustrates how the light is transmitted through the modules into the plans of the two living spaces and kitchens, as well as the bedroom, shown on the middle floor.

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Realisation

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Two Apartment Typologies Homes with more than one living space, multiple working spaces, lots of natural light and ‘sunrise + sunset’ views will drastically improve the experience of living in Cruddas Park Tower.

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Realisation

81

Refurbishment Massing Diagram

CURRENT HOUSEHOLD OCCUPANCY IN THE TOWER

Reducing the amount of apartments in the tower to maximise the usable space, brings more residents to the tower by attracting families and house sharing professionals.

The total number of people that will live in the tower is predicted to increase. Both the new types of units proposed are large enough to accommodate families and house sharing professionals; a move away from single occupancy living.

EXISTING SINGLE ASPECT APARTMENTS [168 UNITS]

PROJECT PROPOSED DUAL ASPECT APARTMENTS [98 UNITS]

A

The corridor space will be utilised in the new apartments which follow the ‘Unite Le Corbusier’ stack system. This adds 764m² of bathroom and storage space to the overall building, minimising internal circulation to one corridor per 3 floors.

Corridor space being utilized in new plan adding 8.4 m² to each apartment The modular sun room extension increases the floor plan of every apartment by 17.42 m²

B

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Realisation

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Leeds Field Trip + Modular Research The main finding I took from our studio visit to the Citu factory and housing development was that, prefabricated modular construction is the most economically feasible method to create social housing.

When we visited the Citu Factory in Leeds, it was evident that modular construction is not only more economically favourable, but it is also one of the most sustainable methods of construction. The waste is minimal and the wood chippings are used for insulation in the modular panels.

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Realisation

Figure 19 - Hybrid braced post and beam structure concepts for multiple storey (Structural Timber Association, 2020)

Exploring the use of a glue laminated timber structure in the modular sun room extension

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Shigeru Ban Timber Frame This is a Japanese informed dowel glue laminated timber structure used at the Tamedia office building. It has no metal components within it; this gives the frame a beautifully simplified aesthetic. This structure inspired me to explore how I could use timber against the brutalist concrete of the Cruddas Park tower facade.

Thinking Through Making Figure 20 - Shigeru Ban, Tamedia Office Building, Switzerland (Didier Boy de la Tour & Shigeru Ban Architects, 2013)

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Connecting New Structures onto the Existing I enjoyed TTMW. It was the first model I had made, which explored timber structure using no steel components. I decided to take the time to carve and make the horizontal beams in the work shop. The columns however, were laser-cut out of 3mm and then glued and clamped under pressure similar to the process of making glue laminated timber. The concrete slab was cast using putty to mould the corrugated texture which relates to the facade of the Cruddas Park fire escape circulation core.

Image showing the corrugated concrete panels on the circulation core of Cruddas Park Tower

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Thinking Through Making

89

Site Plan 1:200

The Newcastle City College and library have been relocated to the newly proposed building on the east side of the plaza. In the background you can see the Riverside Dene tower blocks which are the most prominent mass on the site other than the Cruddas Park tower itself. The site map features grey pillars which represent the existing podium structure. I am retaining these in order to landscape the open plaza development. These pillars will be used to channel the circulation through the site and also to frame green areas in order to create a journey of ‘moments’.

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Realisation

91

Site Section 1:200

The main new functions are the workshop and office spaces, community floor, food market, garden centre and nursery. Although there is a nursery currently down the road, I deemed it necessary to include one in the new south extension in order to attract families back to the site.

Apartment type A

Apartment type B

Office space

Community floor Cafe

Workshop

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Realisation

Retail space

Plant room

Early years nursery

93

Office space Office space

Community floor

Site Section 1:200

Community floor

Cafe

Cafe

Workshop Workshop

Retail space

Retail space Plant room

Plant room

Early years nursery

Early years nursery

Open plaza created from demolishing the mall Open plaza created from demolishing the mall

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Realisation

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Site Plan 1:200 Updated plan showing new walls In the podium + how the square meets the surrounding street side

d

dR n a l r o

m West

d

R Park

Garden Center Cafe Retail Toilets Workshop Food Market Education Center/ College Public Garden/ Landscaping Plant Room Current Mall Structure

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Realisation

97

Apartments (98 in total)

Coworking office centre

Community space Plant room

Reception/ info desk

WC

Retail/ supermarket space Workshop space

Community space

Synthesis

Garden Centre

My primary focus during Synthesis was to take all the elements of my design and piece them together in a refined and controlled manner. This pushed me towards learning new skills such as becoming efficient at using CAD to create accurate plans of the tower and podium. Using CAD to create drawing files is needed to erect a SketchUp model efficiently. I had never been fond of using SketchUp in the past because my incorrect methods of modelling resulted in time wasting and disappointing results.

However, though the process of Sketching plans —> Physical modelling —> Digital drawing —> SketchUp modelling I have achieved well considered and detailed SketchUp models. I have discovered the softwares pros and cons and found a style of expressing that enables me to retain an element of creativity in the final render. I prefer to collage into my models on photoshop so that I can continue to experiment with materials and aesthetics through a more controlled process.

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Investigating Modular Construction Sunroom extension Sunroom module. This extension aspect of module. the design This provides aspect ofathe deeper design plan provides for the a deeper plan for the apartments. The stepped apartments. design and The stepped raised ceiling design height andallows raisedlight ceiling intensity heighttoallows not belight intensity to not be compromised. compromised.

South extension formed South from extension a Shigeru formed Ban influenced from a Shigeru glue lamintated Ban influenced timber glue and lamintated steel timber and steel dowel frame. The floors dowel created frame. here The mirror floorsthe created stepped herefloor mirror pattern the stepped created by floor pattern created by the sunroom extension. theThis sunroom creates extension. generousThis alternating creates generous ceiling heights alternating in office ceiling heights in office and shared community and spaces shared forcommunity the tower residents. spaces for the tower residents.

North facing extension North on the facing fire extension escape core ontothe which fire escape the common core to balconies which the feed common balconies feed into. Large windows are into. added Largehere windows to increase are added the natural here to increase light intensity the natural into thelight intensity into the corridors. corridors.

Common balconies added Common for fire balconies escapeadded and wheel for fire chair escape access. and wheel chair access.

Walls added to reorganise Walls the added apartments to reorganise into the thenew apartments plan. into the new plan.

Existing Swedish modular Existing concrete Swedish panel modular structure. concrete panel structure.

Eco- glass curtain wall.

Eco- glass curtain wall.

Existing pillars.

Existing pillars.

Steel supports to theSteel sunroom supports extension. to the sunroom extension.

Walls added to partition Walls existing added building to partition and existing create new building spaces. and create new spaces.

Circulation Diagram

Louvers to shade workshop Louvers and to shade retail spaces. workshop and retail spaces.

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Synthesis

101

Tower Plan Development Changes to the bathrooms and location of walls are made to create better living spaces and more efficient service distribution.

Modular stack of sun room extensions Secondary walls in updated plan of apartments Tertiary structures and windows Existing swedish modular primary walls Primary structural glulam columns

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Synthesis

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Fire Strategy Constraints for the Tower Using a Corbusier Unite informed layout for the tower refurbishment requires external balconies to be added to the east facade. These are used as alternative entrances for wheelchair access and fire escape routes on two thirds of the floors within the tower.

28250 mm

28250 mm

<2m

16500 mm

Compartmentalisation of the spaces within the tower

Alternave Exit Fire Door EVC Fire Protected Landings

16500 mm

Direction of Excape

S

Service Toilets, etc

L

Existing Lifts

EL

Firefighting/ Evacuation Lift Public non- compartmentalized Space

L EL

L

L

EL

1400mm

Evacuation Refuge Zone Weather Proof Evacuation Staircase

L

FirepoofEL Concrete Core

20m

L

Wheelchair Refuge Point

S L L

S L

EL

L

L EL

L

EL

1400mm

0m

10m

L

S L

EL

19400 mm

19400 mm

L

19400 mm

22350 mm

Final Exiting Escape

S S

22350 mm

Voids, Shafts

19400 mm

28250 mm

28250 mm

<2m

104

0m Synthesis

10m

20m

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Technical Exploration + Testing Mirrored apartment layouts with common service shafts allows for efficient service distribution

After making the model, I explored how I might create my 1:20 section using the same cut line. This explored how the air might circulate through the apartments and how I can utilise air from the sun room spaces, using heat recovery systems.

106

Synthesis

Stale air OUT Fresh air IN Stale air extraction Fresh circulated air INPUT Movement of stale air

Water waste Toilet waste Hot water from rooftop biomass boiler Water circulation from holding boiler

107

Environmental Strategy SketchUp model development showing the HVAC system + solar strategy applied throughout the podium + tower.

108

Synthesis

Summer Day Strategy

Summer Night Strategy

Winter Day Strategy

Winter Night Strategy

109

Modular Technical Development Designing with timber + steel to create a modular stacking system

Sections to show the development of the modular structure.

The glued laminated timber posts were made to be larger after considering the height of the structure and the forces emitted on the beams from the balconies. The floor structure was changed from CLT panel to C-16 timber joists, to reduce weight as well as to allow more space to pass electrical services through.

Section to show the joint of the Steel I Beam to the glulam Beam. Steel plates are welded to the side of the I Beams. Adding this component to the beam was needed to fix the modules together horizontally. This detail on the I beam saves the need for horizontal fixings going through the glulam posts.

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Synthesis

111

Structure + Form Breakdown of the glue laminated timber and steel module Balcony detail exploring the drainage from this area. The piping from this area will channel into the void behind the cladding and run down the facade to the roof of the mall, where it will enter the blue roof drainage system.

406mm x 178mm x 85mm Steel I Beam

C16 - Floor joists at 450mm centres

Glue laminated timber primary structure

Bespoke timber stair

Diagram to illustrate where the thermal break will be in the bolted join in order to stop cold bridging. Steel-I-beams were also chosen to go in the flooring, as it would provide structure for the steel balconies to bolt into. This join on the front of the I-beam was researched and would feature an insulative component to stop cold bridging.

Doors and Eco-tint windows with sliding door

Figure 21 - Suspended cable system (Konstruktionen, 1988)

112

Synthesis

Partition walls with 140mm Kingspan Thermal Insulation

Rigid floor board and laminated floor finish

Steel Structure Balconies with Steel Tension Cable

113

Sourcing Materials + Transport to Site Local Prefabrication - To get the module to site, it needs to be broken down into the smaller modules. This page illustrates where those breaks are and how the members join together. The three smaller components will be prefabricated like this so that they can fit on a trailer to be transported to site. A small crane will assemble the three modules to make one larger module. The 8500mm / 6250mm / 3600mm (including balconies) sunroom module will then be craned onto the facade to be fixed into the existing concrete structure and to the steel supports below.

Cruddas Park Site

114

Synthesis

115

Modular Cladding Development To design the cladding I laid pieces of card over a 1:50 drawing of the modules fixed together. This Mineral Fibre decorative cladding arrangement aims to highlight the spaces behind the facade through using smaller size panels at the corner of each space.

116

Synthesis

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Mineral fibre decorative cladding is an exterior cladding option manufactured from sustainable basalt volcanic rock and bonded with an organic binder that offer the longevity of stone and the added flexibility of being as easy to work with as wood, in one product. These unique properties result in highly durable, workable and low maintenance cladding boards.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; (Maxwell, 2020)

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Technical Section Scale 1:20

Site Section 1:200

Testing the facade through a site drawing. This illustrates how the balconies reflect the mirrored flat typology within the tower; this creates a diamond pattern up the face of the building.

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Synthesis

121

Facade Testing

Testing the modular facade from Westmorland Road + developing the south extension facade so that it remains coherent with the sun-room facade.

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Synthesis

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Technical Realisation The south extension features a double facade to help control the internal environment as well as a HVAC system.

The structure has been informed by my TTMW model. However, I have chosen to use a lower profile dowel made from steel, as I think this best suits the scale of the extension.

0m

5m

10m

Solar Panels

Hot Air in double skin faWarm Air Extraction cade rises and escapes

Louvers to reduce solar intensity on facade in summer but not winter

Hot Air in double skin facade is trapped from Solar energy supplied by winter Sun. This heat is emitted into the building.

10m

Heated/ Conditioned Air Input

5m

Winter Day Strategy

Summer Strategy

124

Synthesis

5m

10m

0m

5m

10m

Winter Strategy 0m

0m

125

Two Social Spheres This page aims to portray the relationship and interaction of the two social spheres that would be present in Cruddas Park Tower: the residents and the co-working groups that will inhabit the south extension.

The green triangles represent where the view it is taken from.

The colour coded section illustrates how the stepped sun room modules have informed the floor by floor layout of the offices. This change in level is resovled with 4 shallow steps from the towers circulation core, into one of the office floor types.

The south extension has been altered at the roof to provide a public space containing a bar/ cafe area. The new form has a better relationship with the rectangular qualities in the rest of the building.

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Synthesis

127

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Synthesis

129

Final Tower Plans Scale 1:200 The main alterations here, are enhanced storage areas upon entry to the apartment, as well as minor bedroom and bathroom layout changes so that the bedrooms take advantage of the impressive views both east and west. The green arrows represent views from key spaces or key moments when passing through doors from one room to another.

Workspace

Storage

130

Synthesis

131

A New Rooftop â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Beaconâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for Newcastle Daytime co-working amenity space and cafe Night time event space and top floor bar

Sustainability beacon featuring photo voltaic panels to subsidise power to the apartments. The bespoke rooftop biomass boiler will continue to provide the apartments in Cruddas Park and the existing Riverside Dene blocks with a sustainable heat source.

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Synthesis

133

Stimulating the senses Community sensory garden

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sadly, many gardens are planned and constructed with only one thought in mind - what they look like. While this is a very important consideration, and probably the most important consideration for those with good eyesight or a feel for design, a much more complete experience can be had by blending stimulation of all the senses. A garden which combines the sounds of leaves rustling with wafts of sweet fragrance and the gentle splash of water spraying onto skin will appeal to all kinds of people, from adventurous children to the visually impaired.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; https://www.acsedu.com/info/garden-design/designing-gardens/sensory-garden-design.aspx

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Synthesis

135

Resident Community Floor Plan 1:200 Blue highlights retained structure

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136

Isometric Community Floor

Study Detail

The sensory garden features 8 different levels, all inhabited with different plants and seating areas. Each level drops by 140 mm and is dedicated to a different function or sense provoking experience such as water features, different smelling plants as well as textured paving.

Garden Storage ‘Shed’

WC

Reading Snug

‘Smell + Texture’ Garden Children’s Sandpit + French Boules Area

Games Room ‘Noisy Water Garden’

Reading Room

Outdoor Play + Fitness Space Outdoor Cooking Area

138

Synthesis

139

Synthesis

139

Ground Floor Plan 1:200 Blue highlights retained structure

140

The Transformation of Cruddas Park Zooming out into the greater context of Elswick shows how the site is now better connected to Westmorland Road and its green surround.

142

Synthesis

143

144

Synthesis

145

Organised Community Allotments + Refreshment Units 146

Synthesis

147

Threshold created by the massing of the new Food Market and Education Centre/ College

Landscaped plaza that joins to Westmorland Road, encouraging a through-flow of pedestrian traffic

Retained concrete pillars surrounded by reed sustainable drainage systems which sculpt the plaza.

Permeable facade applied to the podium which displays the internal function to the roadside

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149

Weekend Market This image illustrates the transformation created by opening up the podium. The photo (to the right) features how the space looks currently in the mall.

150

Synthesis

151

Incentives to bring Industry + People to Cruddas Park

Workshop Spaces for Creative + Small Businesses / Garden Centre / Retail Space / Public Roof Top Event + Amenity Space

152

Synthesis

153

A Vertical Community of Spacious Homes Designed for Flexibility + Longevity

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Cultural Bibliography

“A Tailors Conservatory Conversion”

Extra curricular events, shows, readings, lectures, presentations

This drawing is a project I did for a relative who wanted to convert her conservatory into a work space. The brief was to organize the space so that her ‘bride to be’ clients to could bring their family/ friends whilst having a fitting consultation.

L I L A C - Leeds Studio Trip

Oliver Wainwright - Housing Crisis Lecture

Dispossession - The Great Social Housing Swindle + Q&A

Habitations Légèrement Modifiées + Q&A

158

Illustrated Cultural Bibliography

159

“A First Time Buyer’s Home Conversion” This project was something I completed at the start of the academic year. I wanted to challenge myself by working with builders on a small scale project. These drawings were drafted for an extension of a family friends home.

1 : 100 Key points of the brief were to SCALE open up the kitchen/ dining room and expand the floor plan to connect it with the garage.

4545mm

se Extension ossdale Grove wood y 1 2QX

House Extension 2 Crossdale Grove Oakwood Derby DE21 2QX

3584mm

Code 4 lead flashing

Timber bearer bolted to wall at rafter partition centers

FULL HEIGHT CUPBOARD

Roof tiles to comply with building regulation roof pitch

EXTENSION SECTION 1 : 50 0m

1m

2m

Timber bearer bolter to wall at centers

uPVC gutters, fascia and soffit to match in with existing Steel beam to engineers details Steel plate to engineers details

Recessed outdoor lighting detail

BREAKFAST BAR BENCH

C16 rafters to engineers details

Bifold doors

Rafters doubled up at rooflight openings

x SK10 114cm W / 160cm L

SHELF SPACE

CUPBOARD

FRIDGEFREEZER

OVEN / MICROWAVE

HIGH FIXED WALL CUPBOARD

Velux SK10 Size 1140mm W / 1600mm L with recessed flashing kit to suit

2 X Steel beam to engineers details

Joist hangers to support existing first floor

15mm Fireline Board protection to beam finished flush with existing ceiling

n Bifold doors Filling e of 3600mm

E 1 : 50

STRUCTURAL DETAIL SECTIONS 1 : 20 0m

1m

160

1m

ROOF STRUCTURE PLAN 1 : 50 0m

1m

2m

2m

Illustrated Cultural Bibliography

161

List of Figures

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4. Google Map Customizer. (2020). [Online] Available at: <http://www.chengfolio.com/google_map_customizer> [Accessed 4 May 2020] 5. Graham, H. (2020) ‘I’ve had tears running down my cheeks’: Newcastle high-rise residents speak of lockdown struggles, Chronicle Live [Online] Available at: <https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/coronavirus-newcastle-north-east-elswick-18131493> [Accessed 5 May 2020] Riddell, K. (2019) Woman arrested on suspicion of starting over 20 fires inside Cruddas Park flats, Chronicle Live [Online] Available at: <https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/cruddas-park-flats-newcastlefires-16684026 > [Accessed 5 May 2020] Graham, H. (2019) Woman reveals ‘appalling’ state of her Newcastle council flat after leak was ‘ignored for two months’, Chronicle Live [Online] Available at: <https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/woman-reveals-appalling-state-council-17214881> [Accessed 5 May 2020] Lindsey, K. (2017) Newcastle tower block residents ‘terrified’ after late night fire sees 60 people evacuated, Chronicle Live [Online] Available at: <https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/newcastle-tower-block-residents-terrified-13934975> [Accessed 5 May 2020] Newcastle Chronicle. (2013) Former Cruddas Park towers to come down, Chronicle Live [Online] Available at: <https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/former-cruddas-park-towers-come-1419724> [Accessed 5 May 2020] Graham, H. (2019) Two years after Grenfell fire, tower blocks in Newcastle and Gateshead still have flammable cladding, Chronicle Live [Online] Available at: <https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/two-years-aftergrenfell-fire-16430599> [Accessed 5 May 2020] 6. Waparchitects. (2013). [Online] Available at: <http://www.waparchitects.co.uk/flex-house.html> [Accessed 1 Feb 2020].

13. Frearson, A. (2014). Brutalist buildings: Unité d’Habitation, Marseille by Le Corbusier, de zene [Online] Available at: <https://www.dezeen.com/2014/09/15/le-corbusier-unite-d-habitation-cite-radieuse-marseille-brutalist-architecture/> [Accessed 20 Feb 2020].

14. Griffiths, A. (2018). Le Corbusier’s interior realised by Philipp Mohr at Unité d’Habitation in Berlin, de zene [Online] Available at: <https://www.dezeen.com/2018/06/18/le-corbusier-philipp-mohr-le-corbusier-berlin-unite-habitation/> [Accessed 20 Feb 2020].

15. Frearson, A. (2013). Tour Bois-le-Prêtre by Frédéric Druot, Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal, de zene [Online] Available at: <https://www.dezeen.com/2013/04/16/tour-bois-le-pretre-by-frederic-druot-anne-lacaton-andjean-philippe-vassal/> [Accessed 20 Feb 2020].

Buckley, C. (2012) “Never Demolish: Bois-le-Pretre Regrows in Paris” [Online] Available at: <https://restance.wordpress.com/2011/12/28/tour-bois-le-pretre/> [Accessed 20 Feb 2020].

16. Buckley, C. (2012) “Never Demolish: Bois-le-Pretre Regrows in Paris” [Online] Available at: <https://restance. wordpress.com/2011/12/28/tour-bois-le-pretre/> [Accessed 20 Feb 2020].

17. Martin, L. (2019). Unité d’Habitation: The Brutalist Boat, Declad [Online] Available at: <http://declad.com/ unite-dhabitation-the-brutalist-boat/> [Accessed 1 March 2020].

18. Frearson, A. (2014). Brutalist buildings: Unité d’Habitation, Marseille by Le Corbusier, de zene [Online] Available at: <https://www.dezeen.com/2014/09/15/le-corbusier-unite-d-habitation-cite-radieuse-marseille-brutalist-architecture/> [Accessed 20 Feb 2020].

19. Strucutural Timber Association. (2020) [Online] Available at: <http://www.structuraltimber.co.uk/assets/InformationCentre/eb8.pdf> [Accessed 17 March 2020].

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21. Konstruktionen, B. (1988). Vorfabrizierter Balkon der Siedlung Skarpnäck-Feld bei Stockholm, S Prefabricated Balcony of Skarpnäck-Field Development. Detail

7. Waparchitects. (2013). [Online] Available at: <http://www.waparchitects.co.uk/flex-house.html> [Accessed 1 Feb 2020].

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9. Jorat, M., Goddard, M., Manning, P., Lau, H., Ngeow, S., Sohi, S. and Manning, D. (2019). Passive CO2 removal in urban soils: Evidence from brownfield sites. Science of The Total Environment, p.135573

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[film]

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George Spendlove georgespendlove@gmail.com +447715854598