Nikira Armotrading
Architectual Design ARCH5580
I aim to provide a service that can potentially help all people in Medway and one of the most deprived regions for healthcare.
A public service’s main purpose is helping people and providing aid and support for a group or community, rather than making a profit. My project proposes a Rehabilitation Centre for the Visually Impaired and the blind under a local charity: The Kent Association for the Blind collaborates with the Royal National Institute for the Blind for funding.
7% of people who are Visually Impaired can read Braille.
4 Types
3 Main Objectives
I have Identified 5 Main Issues with the Existing Site:
Exsiting Building on site
Problems:
Not Accessible to Highstreet
Structurally Unstable Building
Lack of Public Seating
Lack of Greenery
Susceptible to Floods
Solutions:
Remove Barrier and re-establish connection to Riverfront
Demolish & Recycle Exsiting Building to be Reused on the Site
Establish Community Seating Areas to Improve Social Interaction
Plant Lots of Greenery to Improve Airflow around the Site
Raise Back Portion of the Site 1M to Level it to Avoid Flooding
Deisgned by Mark Cavagnero Associates as training space for those with low vison, I used this building as a guideline for rooms Included on site.
They include an optician, a retail store showcasing adaptive technology devices, a Training Kitchen & Classrooms for learning to read Braille & use adaptive technology
These spaces circulate a central corridor usingorthogonal pathways.
The building uses Tactile Walls and high windows along the coridoor to Guide Movement through Touch & Light.
Building Plan
Precedent: The LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Designed by DRMM Architects.
Classrooms surround a Central Courtyard on 2 levels. The Glass windows surrounding the Courtyard Maximises Natural Light in teh corriodors which would be useful in my proposal for those with Low Vison.
The Circular Shaped Courtyard contrasts the orthogonal arrangement of the interior building spaces.
The building is made of a C.L.T. structure making it have a low-carbon fottprint & its superstructure sequesters 166 metric tonnes of carbon giving Wintringham
Precedent: Winteringham Primary School
I incorperated high Windows in my design to use Natural Sunlight as a guide through spaces. This concept minimises views to only use sight for contrast for the user to experience how legally blind people live their lives.
I incorperated tactile wall panels to be used as Railings along the coridooors for guidence throught my space.
Early Render Design Response
Sketch of Central Courtyard, light is the main breaks down inclosure and brings the outside into the building, making it a more fluid space.
[1] Circulation around the ‘heart of building’ i.e. Main Space, such as Class room cluster.
[2] Circulation around a Landscape
Proposal will be designed around a central courtyard to allow light into corridors through Central Courtyard.
Explored the idea to allow light in from a skylight but concluded that it would be too much light and reduce the effects of the shadows created by the windows for guidence making it redundant.
[1] [2] Massing Generation Ground Floor Section
This house was Redesigned by So & So Studio for a newly Blind Client & incorperates 3 key concepts :
[1] Spaces Oriented around a Central Spine to minimise maze effect & maximise effciency of moving around the space.
[2] Tactile Directional Paving Slabs to direct movemnt through the space
[3] Removing unessassary barriers & material changes to ease the transition bewteen spaces
Demonstraction of how isually Impaired individuals can use Floor Panels for Directional Guidence.
Precedent: The Casa Mac House
55M²
According to the National Education Union, the perfect classroom size is 55M² for 30 students. Using this figure we can estimate the maximum capacity of ‘students’ using these classrooms at once. The figure will be adjusted to 20 students per 55M² , as we’ll assume blind students need a llittle extra room.
=
55m² = 20 visually impaired students
504m² = Total area of class rooms
504/55 = 9.16
9.16 x 20 = 183.2
183
Maximum Inhabitants*
* this figure doesn’t account for the rest of the building, just educational spaces.
Perfect Class Room size
Key: Public Space
Semi-Private Space
Private Space
The facility is a multi-purpuse space incorperating elements for visuallly impaired as well as the general public. I’ve arranged my spaces to filter from public space, to semi-private, to private spaces. The permiability goes straight through the centre from the entrace to the river with diverging paths to the side.
Organisation of Spaces
Classes Classes Courtyard
Massing Blocks of Spaces
Hall Library Classes
Classes
Charity Retail Space Offices
Reception
Adjacency Diagrams
Spacial Distribution Diagram
05. Spacial Development
[3] Mobility Traing Room
Training Space to help those with Low Vison get used to navigating Spaces without using their primary sense (sight).
[1] Reception & Circulation
Large windows across the highstreet facade that creates a view directly to the Riverfront, connecting river to the Highstreet.
Field Training
Includes a 3D floor plan for guests to feel to memorise the space It will be a fluid space where visitors can go to access other areas such as classrooms or offices.
Information Point
[2] Optician
Most cases of sight-loss are preventable. As an area deprived of heathcare this space will be needed to help reduce sightloss in the Chatham area.
Main Casues of Sight-loss UK (RNIB)
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[4] Training Kitchen Classroom
There are several classrooms including a KItchen Training Class to help low-vison individulas get used to their home and ebcome more independent.
Funded by RNIB Charity & Retail Store selling specialist equipment for the visually impaired. Charity Funded Education
Side Entrance on the Main Highstreet
[5] Sensory Garden
Maximise the use of the 5 senses. This will also be a social space to help facillitate communities & combat the social isolation many people with
Precedent: 2011 Serpentine Pavillion
Zumthor ses Light & Shadow to craete an enclosed garden space. His design focuses on circulation and movement around his Landscape with a wild Garden in it’s interior.
The Central Courtyard is a mix of a Sensory Garden and a Wild Garden designed to maximise the use of the 5 Senses and creating a multi-sensory ecxperience. This space focuses on Psychological Wellbeing.
Render of Sensory Garden
I’ve included a Planting Stratagy to show what kinds of plants could be used on the site throughout the year. The scheme is colour coded to show what senses each plant affects. Smell is the most Prominent.
A stream meanders through the garden to the River which Directs users through the site using sound.
The back portion of the site is an Orchard that grows fruit trees. This space is an addendom of the Interior Courtyard and connects the riverfront to the main entrace with an extended path.
The Ground is made up of compact gravel which contrast interior flooring to highlight the Thresthold between them. The Orchards Greenery also Contrsts the River as a natural Hazard warning for those with low vison.
Circular Economy
Waste
Reuse
Current Brick Structure on the site will be knocked won and converted into brick cladding my new proposal. Asphalt form the car-park is waste which will be disposed o sustainably
Circular Economy
Less cases of visual impairments as people get them repaired early on
Circular
Reuse
Building made up of local Timber which can be constructed using panels and reconstructed afterwards to be converted into bio-fuel, timber for another structure, or recycled cardboard
Tactile Map with braille to identify and read spaces for the visually impaired.
Tactile Plan with furnishings to artiulsate space and scale for visually imapaired clients.
Section of a corridor to show how Light & Shadow can be used to help guide & direct users through a space.
Educational wellbeing is one of this proposal’s key focuses. This building contains several types of educational spaces including classrooms, an Auditorium and a Library. These spaces aim to help those that Develop Visual Impairments adjust to everyday life. Classes also available to members of the public to facilaitate understanding between the two groups.
There are several things to consider when designing classrooms for people with Visual Impairments:
[1] Colour Contrast walls & Floor to help with spacial awareness. 20 point difference in LRV* to be effective.
[2] Large windows allow in lots of light to help identify contrast between surfaces.
Illuminance must be Greater than 200 Lux*
*(Approved Document M & BS 8300)
The timber walls are Sandy Brown colour with a 52.5 LRV Value and the bottom half has a Spring Green plaster board attached with an LRV Value of 24. This is an acceptable colour contrast for people with low vison to identify the boundries of the wall.
[3] For ventilation I’ve incorperated Liniar seamless vented head that’s been designed to replace exterior trickle vents. It ventillates the spaces passively, keeping the air fresh and clean, & it lowers humidity in the room keeps condensation out.
5 Meters is the Minimum depth for an effetive classroom space. This allows for clear layout of desk spaces without clutter.
The proposal includes several social spaces. The purpose of these spaces is to help facilitate connections and relationships for the visually impaired community between the general public and one another.
Key :
Community Garden
High Street
This render shows social interaction on the rooftop between the Visually Impaired Community & the wider Chatham Community
Education & Awareness: The Centre offers Educational classes and awareness programs to help the community to learn about the challenges visually impaired people expeirence. These programs promote understanding and can help strengthen community bonds.
The Rooftop Garden is one of these facilities where classes are carried out & members of the community can grow fresh fruit & Veg.
Used for planting fresh fruit & veg by the community. It is raised so users don’t have to bend down too far which can be a problem for visually impaired people.
Used to promote Integration and Inclusion. People can sit together and interact with one another Organically.
This is a Training Space Designed to help those with Visual Impairments learn to Navitigate New & Unfamiliar Spaces.
Non- Visually Imapired users can also use this space using Blind-folds to block out their primary Sense and Maximise their use of their other 4. This is called Emmersion Training.
Orienation & Mobility Room Render
Orienation & Mobility Room Plan of possible wall arrangement
Wall panels can be Slid across the room by rails in the Ceiling. These Panels can be rotated to create differnet room Layouts to maximise Discovery Learning.
Orienation & Mobility Room Axo of possible wall arrangement
Plan view of Railing
Wayfinding elements
Sectional Perspective of Railing
The Proposal includes an intuative wayfinding system where users can find their way around the site using both tactile and visual cues without extesive signage.
Directional: Tactile Floor Panels are used to Direct users through the site. Each tile shows the direction where ones is coming from and all possible alternative routes.
Corridor Plan
Identification: Tactile Floor Panels are made out of a softer material then the surrounding floor and can be felt by the feet.
The panel is slightly indented slightly to be idetentified via touch.
Identification: Protruding door-ways in contrasting colour which interupts movement, letting users know they’ve reached their destination.
Directional: Tactile Wall Panels are along all the Interior facing walls to guide users through the building. Users can run their fingers along groves which are in the direction of movement.
Informational: Braille Text on Tactile Wall Panels which inform upcoming Spaces as a user approaches.
Corridor Axo
Key : Tactile Floor Panels
Tactile Wall Panels
High-Contrast Door Frame
Render showing how LIght and shadow can be used to guide users through the Building
[1] Stack Ventilation
Double height Library & Auditorium
Space creates Stack Ventilation which allows for stale, warm air to rise and escape though the roof window and wall vents, respectively.
[2] Polycarbonate Windows
Provides control over light transmission & UV protection to mitigate unwanted Glare for the Visually Impaired. It also provides Thermal Insulation.
[5] Micro-Climate
Cools Passively the interior Courtyard and Provides a habitat for fish, increasing biodiversity.
[6] Grey-water
[3] Cross Ventilation
Vents above doors lets cool air inside providing a natural cooling system & removes moisture from the air, improving air quality inside the building.
Water is recycled from the roof drainage system and the River Medway & used as grey water for the toilets and the stream semiunderground running down the site.
[7] Green-roof
[8] Timber Structure
Sustainable material reduces carbon footprint of the building and is adaptable for reuse.
[9] Net-Zero Energy Design
The Barsha Pump uses a Spiral pumping mechanism to generate electricity via kinetic energy from the river.
[10] Large South Facing Windows
[4] Floor to Ceiling Windows
Allows in Natural Light which saves energy,
Extensive Green roof provides Storm-water management, reducing pressure on drainage system, Increases biodiversity, & Increases Noise Reduction from surrounding traffic.
Allows in lots of Natural Sunlight to conserve energy from lighting.
[11] Skylight
Provides natural Lighting to save energy.
Staircase Railing Section
Translation: 10 Steps to go Rib Profile
I’ve designed my staircase according to regulations* for visually impaired, here are a few key components:
Uniform Treads & Risers with Contrasting Nosing
Tactile paving before the steps to warn about upcoming hazard
Braille text on the railings counting the steps left to go
*Approved Document M & K
Key: Primary Secondary
Tertiary
Oversized Timber pillars make the Structure Fire Resistant as the Pillars can be Burnt without affecting Structural Performance & Prevent Collapse.
Fire Escape Routes
Structural Component Breakdown
Exploded Axonometric
