Rhea Lathia- RIBA Part 1 Graduate Portfolio

RIBA Part 1 Graduate Portfolio

Is well-being considered a luxury? A study into how the cost of housing correlates with communal well-being

Given that poor mental health and an increase in the value of house prices, has been a common theme during the COVID-19 pandemic, it raises a question as to what the solution is for the future of residents in the UK. The pandemic is an ongoing issue which means that the problems arising are going to continue to disrupt everyday life for years to come.

This paper aims to focus on the correlation between house prices and communal well-being by looking at the city of Leicester which is host the biggest Indian community outside of London because of the great migration of 1970 in which, African-Asian migrants were exiled from Uganda whilst working under the rule of the British Empire. The paper focuses on two specific streets in Belgrave and Oadby which are districts in Leicester. Given that the houses on both streets are priced very differently, this means that the residents are from different social backgrounds and therefore have two very different communities.

Project Summary: The Indoor Street

A street can be referred to as the foundation of community, it is where we socialise with our neighbours whether that be children riding their bikes or asking to borrow some sugar from the friendly faces that live across the road. The indoor street aims to replicate these connections by providing the opportunity for social interaction within the seemingly disconnected demographics located in Coventry. I do believe that as humans we can learn a lot from each other, which is why the main aim of this project is to create bridging spaces to allow for these skills and knowledge to be exchanged. The redesign of the Pool Meadow bus station provides the transport for each individual and the building takes care of the rest. Food is used as the mechanism for creating lasting bonds between individuals, this is because it is a concept that is differs from person to person therefore by sharing our experiences and expanding our horizons to new flavours or even new skills we are able to find like-minded people who in return can give us the perception of safety. This is especially useful for Coventry City Centre which has high crime rates and gives a hostile atmosphere overall. Given that Coventry is a complicated city to get around using public transport the other objective for this project is simplicity- the unspoken language of boundaries meaning that every one should be able to navigate their way around Coventry regardless of their familiarity with the city.

My Vision of Coventry 2030

398AAD: Exploratory Project

To develop a design brief for an architectural project which would be executed in the final design module of 399AAD.

Pool Meadow Bus Station, Coventry

Topics Covered:

• Public transportation

• Safety

• Connection

• Community

Software Used:

• Adobe InDesign

• Adobe Photoshop

• Adobe illustrator

• AutoCAD

• Well-being

• Crime

• Nature

• Space

• Activity

Pool Meadow

University Square

This map shows the number of crimes that took place in December 2020. As you can see I have chosen 3 areas where crime is more prominent and analysed them based on the criteria above. I believe these attributes influence ones perception of safety. These parameters in particular can allow spaces to be more inviting, therefore allowing more people to be drawn to it thus creating a safe space.

Nicer spaces deter crime as subconsciously a criminal knows that they will be caught.

Shopping Area

Community

The most common types of buildings located in Coventry city centre are shown. Upon observation, the types of shops and restaurants present seem to be franchises and fast food places hence why it doesn’t add to the identity of Coventry as a whole. By looking into how each building is connected via transport as shown, it was shown that the bus routes can be very confusing due to there being a lot of them. This also adds to the congestion that can occur at peak times which is already an issue with vehicles such as cars and vans.

Phase 1:

• Create small transport stations at the point of entry of the buses in the city centre.

• Allow spaces for bus parking and a transit area so that people can switch from their bus to the city centre bus.

Phase 2:

• Establish one route in the city centre that goes around to each of the small transport stations on the outskirts of the city centre.

• These buses are planned to be frequent, around 1 every 10-20 minutes.

• Establish a shuttle system that takes people from Pool Meadow bus station to the railway station and vice versa

• These shuttles will also be frequent, also around 1 every 10-20 minutes.

Result of this change:

As a result of this change I aim to make the bus system easier to use as previously there were way too many buses in the city centre. I also aim to reduce congestion by decreasing the number of buses in the city centre. By providing a shuttle to the railway station, I am making it more accessible and quicker to travel. By reducing the number of buses and congestion in the city centre I am also reducing the amount of carbon emissions produced by transport.

Phase 3:

• Improve the safety of allocated areas by adding the following as shown.

• Implement a green corridor route where people can walk past and around these areas. Green route can help with a sense of direction and can also help create a pleasant atmosphere

Phase 4:

• Limit vehicular access between 10am and 5pm.

Result of this change:

As a result, clients should feel safer when walking around the city due to the positive atmosphere, carbon dioxide levels should also go down further due to the limited time for vehicular access. The city should be easier to navigate without the addition of a green corridor.

Proposed Routes

Topics Covered:

• Public transportation

• Safety

• Connection

• Community

• Well-being

• Crime

• Nature

• Space

• Activity

• Food

Software Used:

• Adobe InDesign

• Adobe Photoshop

• Adobe illustrator

• AutoCAD

• SketchUp

• ArchiCAD

Potential Outcomes The 4 Pillars of the Project

Allowing easy access throughout the city

Simple systems for transport

Networking opportunities

Bridging spaces required

User friendly Connection of different people

Utilising all spaces

A group of people with similar interests

Attraction to Wider Public

More lowrise buildings Sense of Security

Less need for travel- a more compacted city

Dedicated Pedestrian spaces

Allowing natural light and space

Better lit streets at night

colour in the city More green spaces

Familiar faces

Attraction to Wider Public

Spaces for downtime More active open spaces

Building tolerance

Better connected city= better knowledge of the city

Access to blue infrastructure

Emotional support network

Building trust Active areas

Creating safer spaces

Feeling at peace with the city- escape from reality

The main aim of this building is to provide an aspect of safety by bridging the gap between the large student demographic in the city centre with other user groups in the suburbs. This will allow the formation of a community through a common interest of food, hence allowing relations to develop which in turn would aid in better connectivity throughout the city, as those local to the city centre would be able to guide those who are not local, thus giving them the confidence of familiarity. The building will provide food related activities which include oriental street food restaurants from various cultures. This not only gives clients the knowledge of other cultures, but also may expand their interests thus increasing the likelihood of forming other relations. The social spaces in the building aid in further supporting these connections. The Pool Meadow bus station will aid in transporting those outside of Coventry to the city centre.

Travelling through the city without any sense of fear

User Group Analysis

Types of User Groups

Ethnic User Group Analysis

AsianPopulation Distribution

BlackPopulation Distribution

WhitePopulation Distribution

Looking at the site in context with the whole city we can see that there aren’t many food places, if so it is evident that they are fast food or franchise restaurants

EXCHANGE

The trading of not only food but knowledge of healthy eating and growing information through the farmers market and communal roof garden

PRODUCTION

The making of food in the communal kitchen and street food restaurants. Also waste management- how it is dealt with to avoid an unpleasant atmosphere in the building. Growth and decay of plants in the communal garden

CONSUMPTION

The consumption of the fruits and vegetables used to create flavourful oriental dishes that celebrate heritage and culture.

Examples of Al-Fresco dining experiences in Coventry

All examples are showcased on the street therefore it can engage with peoples senses. Different to westernised al-fresco dining as it solely consists of carts and public spaces. Most al-fresco dining experiences in the UK are outdoor seating areas for restaurants which are only utilised in the summer months when the weather is pleasant

Bangkok, Thailand

• Serves breakfast and dinner

• Regular Rotation

• Dishes represent the atmosphere of the city and delicacies native to the country

• Gives the city an identity which is missing in Coventry food places consist of fast food franchises

Tokyo, Japan

Mumbai, India

• Japan consists of Michelin star restaurants however street food is a popular alternative

• Sushi is sold in street food stalls

• Usually consists on family recipes- stalls are passed down from generation to generation.

• Fresh ingredients

• Beautiful vibrant colours that can attract business

• Fragrant spices- therefore engaging more than one of five senses

• Usually smaller snacks- can be uncomfortable to eat large amounts of food in the open due to the extremely hot weather in India

• Most known street food- a few falafel carts spotted in Coventry City Centre.

• Serves both desert and lunch.

Cairo, Egypt

1. Turtle Bay 2. Wagamama 3. Pizza Express

Community and connection = Cogs. Without one, none can function efficiently therefore highlights the importance of these two pillars

Round off the edges to create a more organic look, represents fluidity of movement reflected by people and transport

Layer created shape on one another to form final courtyard form

Modern-day courtyard?

This shape allows users to circulate efficiently which allows for better communication and therefore encourages connections between each user group

Massing in context

Connections between spaces

The circulation had been inspired by a street hence the name of the project “The Indoor Street”. The floor plans show the separation of the activities but also how the circulation works. This is due to the shape the form originated from as shown.

Spacial Coordination Summary

Food from different cultures used to expose each user group to new food which is not available in the city. A place to exchange gardening information and seeds as well as buy organic vegetables whilst encouraging healthy eating. A space to exchange information about cooking as well as teaching and learning new types of skills and food

Elderly/Adults/ Students/ Children

Elderly/ Adults/ Students

Open to all as this space provides a cultural experience as well as an opportunity to expand culinary experiences

Open for all user groups. Students could use the space to learn about healthy foods whilst families and elderly could educate as well as take the opportunity as a family outing

Specifically for those who live alone or wish to pass on meaningful dishes to a new generation of people. Students are the main group that would benefit from learning however it is open for all.

For all to use to get to places both within and outside Coventry

Provides

Open for those who feel isolated from others or a need to help the community. Can also be used for those who experience stress from work and studies or those who are retired and would like to take up a new hobby.

396AAD: CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY AND

ENVIRONMENT

To present construction and environmental solutions to support the 399AAD design proposal.

Pool Meadow Bus Station, Coventry

Topics Covered:

• Public transportation

• Safety

• Connection

• Community

• Well-being

• Crime

• Nature

• Space

• Activity

• Food

• Double Skin Facade

• Brick Facade

Software Used:

• Adobe InDesign

• Adobe Photoshop

• Adobe illustrator

• AutoCAD

• SketchUp

• ArchiCAD

Summer solstice

Winter Solstice

Wind Direction

Environmental Strategy MVHR +Underground Heating and Cooling 25

in the building

1. Air is taken from outside

2. Stale air is passed over the fresh air and then exhausted. The stale air heats the fresh air

3. The heated fresh air is circulated around the building by using fans as shown

4. As stale air is hot, it rises which allows the air to circulate though the system again

5. Eventually the need for outside air is eliminated as the fresh warm air is introduced to each room. Therefore this can eliminate pathogens and germs as the air is recycled

Pipes that supply the hot/ cold water though the building floors

Pipes that carry the air around the building

Ventilation

Water Harvesting

1. Catchment- funnel shaped to collect the water

2. Filter- used to purify rainwater and remove pollutants

3. Conveyance system- used to transport purified water to transport the filter

4. Tanks- Used to store the rainwater collected.

5. Pipes- allow the water to reach required destinations.

6. Excess water pipe- allows the excess water to escape into the ground.

Pipes transporting water to the roof Water Tank

1. Light from the sun contains many tiny bits of energy called photons

2. Some of these photons hit solar modules which consist of many solar cells

3. Photons hitting the top layer of the cell cause electrons to flow through the bottom layer.

4. A DC (direct current) is created Inverters convert DC electricity to AC (alternating current)

5. AC current is used to power the building, reducing carbon emissions and electricity bills

6. This solar electricity can also charge an energy system or flow back into the grid to other buildings

Entrance points to the solar panels for maintenance

Brick will be used on the south facade as the environmental aspects of the double skin facade are effective on the north facade therefore it would be pointless to have a double skin facade all the way around. To keep the transparent aspect of the double skin facade, I will use large windows.

Low-e-glass (double glazing)

Brass cladding (1000mmx100mm)

Brass cladding (100mm frame)

Louvres Deta l SCALE1:10

Carl Jung developed the model of the human psyche which consists of three layers. Like a trifle, to get to the deepest level one would have to break through the top layers hence the imagery represented below.

Ego: Represents the conscious mind, compromises thoughts, memories and emotions. Largely responsible for identity and continuity

Personal unconsciousness: Contains temporary forgotten information and repressed memories

Collective unconsciousness: Holds mental patterns, memory traces as well as the archetypes

The 4 main archetypes

Conclusions

In order to have an influence on a persons archetypes one would need to change the ego persona first which is the first layer of the human psyche, therefore by presenting an individual in a comforting, safe environment one would break through the ego layer the collective unconsciousness layer (personal unconsciousness is set) . By doing so the archetypes can also

BronzeHoneycomb Cladding Low-E-Glass Behind BrassCladding Brickfacade on the NorthFacade

1. Bronze Cladding: Honeycomb pattern represents unity and connection as represented by bees. Also adds to the aesthetic of the building.

2. Low-E-Glass: Second layer of the double skin facade, brings the safety element of the building by allowing light in.

3. Brick on north facade: Light colour to match the aesthetic of the rest of the building. It is strong and durable.