the lost garden architectural design|tectonics|arch10003 unit 4| a beacon in the dark olle blomquist| s0954531 esala may 2013
monday 14 january 2013 at 10.22 pm. somewhere on blackfriars street, edinburgh. -
spare some change please. ‌ this is a danish coin!? ‌
monday 14 january 2013 at 10.29 pm. holyrood road, edinburgh. - what’s your name? - kim. kim is the child of a scottish father and a danish mother. mother left for unclear reasons when kim was five years old and has not been heard of since. kim has a twin sister and the strict father took the twins to scotland to find a job. - where have you been? - everywhere. the family never settled but moved from place to place. from an early age the father put a lot of pressure on the talented child and in the late teens kim could not take it anymore, left the father and started using drugs. - how old are you? - 23. kim has managed to keep good jobs and do well, but regularly falls back into heavy drug abuse which led to a bad breakup with the twin sister who is now estranged and missed. Kim is now all alone. - here is your key. room nr 7.
site p.4 development p.16 room p.22 foyer p.26 part p.34 the lost garden p.40
site / development / room / foyer / part / the lost garden corridor plan 1:2500 the site is located on the east side of the corridor where the cowgate turns into holyrood road. protected by a wall facing the street it is almost not noticable. homlessness has traditionally and to this day been a problem in the core of edinburgh’s old town where the grassmarket and the cowgate are located. the site was chosen for its proximity to this ‘problem zone’, while at the same time keeping some distance from the busy bar district on the cowgate.
The site sits very close to the busy road but is deep and as one progresses the outer activity is muted. the surrounding buildings are on the north and west side primarliy residential and on the east side owned by the university and used for storage and waste handling. the site has through the analysis been understood as a series of outdoor rooms creating a void. the ground is slightly sloping downwards into the site as the boundaries of the void become more present, the area gets smaller and the raw but beautiful materiaity of the sourounding buidlings and old strcutures is noticed. two large tress clad in ivy stands out particularly in the void as well as the industrial character of the building forms around it. colour, found objects, and the bird’s tweets form the nearby garden adds another layer of intense detail and prescence to this place. 4
unit 4 / a beacon in the dark / chris lowry and clare slifer
st. mary’s st.
george iv bridge
holydood road
south bridge
cowgate
the pleasance
grassmarket
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esala year 4 / semester 2 / 2013.05.02 / module code arch10003 / architectural design / tectonics / s0954531 / olle blomquist
site / development / room / foyer / part / the lost garden site detail photographs
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unit 4 / a beacon in the dark / chris lowry and clare slifer
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esala year 4 / semester 2 / 2013.05.02 / module code arch10003 / architectural design / tectonics / s0954531 / olle blomquist
site / development / room / foyer / part / the lost garden site survey - plan and sections 1:500
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unit 4 / a beacon in the dark / chris lowry and clare slifer
section a-a
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esala year 4 / semester 2 / 2013.05.02 / module code arch10003 / architectural design / tectonics / s0954531 / olle blomquist
site / development / room / foyer / part / the lost garden three rooms
expressive sketches explored the volumes of the void and the three rooms, emphasising the heightened intensity of the urban fabric of the the deeper parts of the site. this informed the tectonic site model. the model raised the problem of getting light into all parts of the site.
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unit 4 / a beacon in the dark / chris lowry and clare slifer
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esala year 4 / semester 2 / 2013.05.02 / module code arch10003 / architectural design / tectonics / s0954531 / olle blomquist
site / development / room / foyer / part / the lost garden this elongated hand drawing explored the boundaries of the site, walking in to the last room and then back again on the opposit side. it emphasises the fluidity of the site and explores the difference in intensity. a digital replica was later created from exact site surveys.
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unit 4 / a beacon in the dark / chris lowry and clare slifer
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esala year 4 / semester 2 / 2013.05.02 / module code arch10003 / architectural design / tectonics / s0954531 / olle blomquist
site / development / room / foyer / part / the lost garden the elevation hand drawing was manipulated to recreate the boundaries of the site from another perspective. the project has aspired to continuosly shift between digital and manual media to create an atmospheric and expressive style that goes with the project’s ethos.
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unit 4 / a beacon in the dark / chris lowry and clare slifer
further explorative drawings mapping different tectonic characteristics in order to start formulating a strategy for distributing the programme.
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esala year 4 / semester 2 / 2013.05.02 / module code arch10003 / architectural design / tectonics / s0954531 / olle blomquist
site / development / room / foyer / part / the lost garden diagrams - decision making and program distribution
1a. arrived at site.
2a. direction of movement and location of gardens.
3. immediate context. what is creating the void? height, enclosure, geometry, neighbours, views, sun light.
1b. found site tectonics - walls, corners, trees, boundaries.
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2b. from street, to public, to semi-public, to private. distribution of program according to these three distinct rooms and their corresponding gardens.
unit 4 / a beacon in the dark / chris lowry and clare slifer
4a. design problem 1: light-tectonic solution - rising platform.
4b. concrete platform.
5. glazed elements creates mixture of dark/private and light/public spaces.
6a. design problem 2: distribtuion of program, heavy cellurlar private spaces on top of light open semi-public spaces. tectonic solution concrete ‘table’.
7. form of building identifying room. the geometry is more expressive further into the site. informed by the gemotry of the surrounding buildings. the curve also accomodates the three, creating a nice juxtaposition of found and made tectonics.
6b. walls carrying concrete slab transferring load to foundations.
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esala year 4 / semester 2 / 2013.05.02 / module code arch10003 / architectural design / tectonics / s0954531 / olle blomquist
site / development / room / foyer / part / the lost garden
development models. spatial (left) ramp (middle) roof (left) structural (opposit)
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unit 4 / a beacon in the dark / chris lowry and clare slifer
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esala year 4 / semester 2 / 2013.05.02 / module code arch10003 / architectural design / tectonics / s0954531 / olle blomquist
site / development / room / foyer / part / the lost garden precedent - brick house - caruso st. john plan (nts) and photos
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unit 4 / a beacon in the dark / chris lowry and clare slifer
the brick house in london by caruso st. john acted as a precedent, primarily because of the similar tight site condition where the new architecture has very few elevations. the foyer proposal similarily take advantage of courtyards within the site. this contemporary project, as well as sigurd lewerentz’ church, st. mark’s at klippan in southern sweden informed the materiality. v
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esala year 4 / semester 2 / 2013.05.02 / module code arch10003 / architectural design / tectonics / s0954531 / olle blomquist
site / development / room / foyer / part / the lost garden photo of model displaying room and plan 1:20
room number 7 is a single room with shared wc. and toilet on the same floor, and kitchen and living area including a private garden on the ground floor. the foyer offer two kinds of rooms that can be modified to suit the tenant’s personality. they are located in pairs, or ‘twins’, partly inspired by kim’s estranged twin sister, this creates a ‘buddy system’ making sure everyone is looked after. half of the rooms are rectangular and less expressive and the other takes on a curved shape with an inhabited wall which holds several functions that can be concealed with the sliding screen mechanism. kim used to work in the business district on the other side of the ‘corridor’ and has a habit of taking good care of his clothes and appearance. “he was dressed rather better than most tramps, in a tweed shooting jacket and a pair of very old evening trouseres with the braid still on them. evidently the braid figured in his mind as a lingering scrap of respectability and he took care to sew it on again when it came loose. he wavs careful of his appearance altogeher and carried a razor and boothbrush that he would not sell...” -paddy, down and out in london and paris, george orwell
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unit 4 / a beacon in the dark / chris lowry and clare slifer
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esala year 4 / semester 2 / 2013.05.02 / module code arch10003 / architectural design / tectonics / s0954531 / olle blomquist
site / development / room / foyer / part / the lost garden
the teak panel blocks out light when needed but can be hidden behind walls or cover other functions. when not blocking the window the large window offers views towards the craggs. the smaller window give a rather passive light. from it one can see the street and gets very close to the tree. the flexibility of the sliding screen has been further developed and is employed throughout the whole foyer.
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unit 4 / a beacon in the dark / chris lowry and clare slifer
all twin rooms have a communal space just outside where residents can meet and spend some time together. the large windows offers views out towards the front of the building and to the back through the elevator window.
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esala year 4 / semester 2 / 2013.05.02 / module code arch10003 / architectural design / tectonics / s0954531 / olle blomquist
site / development / room / foyer / part / the lost garden ground floor plan
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1. entrance a. main b. deilvery c. reception d. cafe e. warden’s apt. 2. garden a. public b. semi-public c. private d. private 3. warden’s apt. 4. wc./shower 5. entrance 6. reception 7. administration 8. storage 9,10,11. wc. 12. cafe a. public b. private 13. kitchen a. delivery b. preparation c. service 14. living space 15,16. wc. 17. life skills suit a.semi-public b.private 18. shared kitchen 19. material storage 20. creche 21,22. wc.
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unit 4 / a beacon in the dark / chris lowry and clare slifer
third floor
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1. single room 2. single mother room 3. private garden 4. therapy suit 5,6. wc 7. wc./shower 8. wc. 9. office 10. privtae single room
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esala year 4 / semester 2 / 2013.05.02 / module code arch10003 / architectural design / tectonics / s0954531 / olle blomquist
site / development / room / foyer / part / the lost garden photo of final model showing roof and section a-a 1:200
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unit 4 / a beacon in the dark / chris lowry and clare slifer
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esala year 4 / semester 2 / 2013.05.02 / module code arch10003 / architectural design / tectonics / s0954531 / olle blomquist
site / development / room / foyer / part / the lost garden section b-b with elevation worm’s-eye view from stairs leading up from the semi plublic garden. a set of floor to ceiling glazed panels are set close to the existing wall offering views, light and air circulation. roof is supported in steel columns.
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unit 4 / a beacon in the dark / chris lowry and clare slifer
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esala year 4 / semester 2 / 2013.05.02 / module code arch10003 / architectural design / tectonics / s0954531 / olle blomquist
site / development / room / foyer / part / the lost garden section c-c and d-d 1:200
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unit 4 / a beacon in the dark / chris lowry and clare slifer
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esala year 4 / semester 2 / 2013.05.02 / module code arch10003 / architectural design / tectonics / s0954531 / olle blomquist
site / development / room / foyer / part / the lost garden tectonic statement and exploded axonometric (nts)
the dominating material of the site is masonry, and especially brick of different kind, quality, texture and colour. brick is also the main material employed for the foyer and very dominating from the exterior. the heavy structure is used to create a sense of safety and the thickness of the walls offers opportunity to be inhabited. the project’s ambition has been from an early stage to experiment with the possibilities of this modular material and be expressive in its form, especially as you move further into the void. as you enter the foyer you step on a slab of concrete that rises as one passes through the building to raise the space in order to gain light. large glazed sliding doors also contributes to this aspect and offers important relationships between the interior spaces and exterior gardens. the private part of the building has been placed on top a concrete ‘table’, held up by chunky concrete walls clad in brick. by employing this structural system the form of the rooms could be more expressive on top of the concrete structure and it can sustain the weight of the thick walls only penetrated by small windows to allow sufficient and atmospheric light into the rooms, while also offer maximum privacy. dark teak wood completes the material palette and has been used for details throughout the project to offer a warm feeling next to the concrete and brick. to emphasise the private nature of the rooms the floor finish changes from concrete to brick as you step into the rooms.
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unit 4 / a beacon in the dark / chris lowry and clare slifer
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esala year 4 / semester 2 / 2013.05.02 / module code arch10003 / architectural design / tectonics / s0954531 / olle blomquist
site / development / room / foyer / part / the lost garden detail section and part of interior and exterior elevation 1:50
key 1. reinforced concrete 2. wall construction: 102.5 mm facing brick 10 mm off-white flush mortar joints 175mm cavity vapour barrier 100 mm thermal insulation 100 mm reinforced concrete 102.5 mm brick 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
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185 x 330 x 10 mm insulated steel lintel stainless steel wall tie with insulation clip and drip disc window construction: 50 x 30 x 5 mm aluminium window frame with double glazing 900 x 30 x 5 mm steel channel for sliding window 150 x 110 mm steel angle, 20 mm teak sliding panel 20 mm x 20 mm steel channel 30 x 10 mm steel rail with fastener 65 mm teak table top floor construction: 20/40 mm brick 20 mm mortar bed 10 mm sound insulation 150 mm reinforced concrete roof construction: 65 mm brick 20 mm gravel vapour barrier 100 mm thermal insulation light-weight concrete for slopes 150 mm reinforced concrete 5 mm galvanised steel gutter 5 mm galvanised steel drip
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unit 4 / a beacon in the dark / chris lowry and clare slifer
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esala year 4 / semester 2 / 2013.05.02 / module code arch10003 / architectural design / tectonics / s0954531 / olle blomquist
site / development / room / foyer / part / the lost garden sectional tectonic model
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unit 4 / a beacon in the dark / chris lowry and clare slifer
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esala year 4 / semester 2 / 2013.05.02 / module code arch10003 / architectural design / tectonics / s0954531 / olle blomquist
site / development / room / foyer / part / the lost garden visualisation showing the lost garden from the apartment block behind. the form and placement of the building offers neighbours to see beyond the massive brick structure.
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unit 4 / a beacon in the dark / chris lowry and clare slifer
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esala year 4 / semester 2 / 2013.05.02 / module code arch10003 / architectural design / tectonics / s0954531 / olle blomquist