Artchitecture

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ARTCHITECTURE EXBURY PROPOSAL

JULY 2010

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ARTCHITECTURE - EXBURY PROPOSAL ST MARGARETS CREEK OS GRID SZ 427984

CONTENTS 1.0

Background

2.0

Introduction

3.0

Aims of the Project

4.0

Stephen Turner, Artist

5.0

Design Proposals: Perring Architecture and Design

6.0

Energy Use and Self Sufficiency: EDP

APPENDICES: 1.

July 2010

Design Drawings

Page 2

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ARTCHITECTURE - EXBURY PROPOSAL

1.0

Background Three teams have been collaborating to develop proposals for temporary live/work studio spaces at three sites in the New Forest.

The proposals described within this document are the collective work of one of the collaboration teams comprising: Artist: Stephen Turner Architect: Graham Perring, Perring Architecture and Design Engineer: Mike Dorgan & Carrie Baker, EDP Naval Architecture and Engineering: Robert Weguelin, DEFI The artists involved all have experience and understanding of working in sensitive environments, the architects and engineers are all locally based practices with a commitment to sustainable design.

July 2010

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ARTCHITECTURE - EXBURY PROPOSAL

2.0

Introduction ‘Artchitecture’ is being developed by the Solent Centre in partnership with ArtSway.

Solent Centre for Architecture and Design is an independent not-for-profit organisation based in Lyndhurst. SCAD facilitate a broad range of workshops, exhibitions, training programmes and other initiatives intended to increase public awareness of design excellence and to improve the understanding of the importance of high quality sustainable design in the built environment and the role people can have in shaping it.

ArtSway has over 10 years of experience of working with New Forest communities through its ‘Artists’ Residency’ programme which has attracted artists from all over the world to work in the Forest.

The artists are working in partnership with the architects and engineers to design a building which will accommodate the artistin-residence for a period of up to 12 months. The buildings may then be relocated or recycled.

The buildings will explore uses of local materials, recycling and energy efficiency. The project will consider the entire process, including transport, material production and construction methods, minimizing fossil fuel use and carbon footprint. The temporary nature of the buildings is intended to enable experimentation and innovation minimising the pressure that a permanent structure would generate in terms of planning permissions, maintenance etc. Should the buildings generate controversy, it is likely that a more productive debate can be had if people understand that the structure is testing possibilities rather than presenting a ‘fait accompli’.

There will be a range of events to involve a broad audience in debate and discussion around the artists’ work, the building itself and sustainable development. Public access to the buildings and the issues raised by them is a core concern for the project.

The programme will offer educational opportunities to all sectors of the community with the focus on the unique nature of the Forest and the need to consider very carefully future human responsibilities and interventions.

The project presents an exciting opportunity to explore creative interdisciplinary partnership working and invites innovative approaches to sustainable development in unique rural areas which will provide a valuable opportunity for the public and professionals to debate issues vital to all our futures. The project teams have been working in partnership with the National Park Authority, The Forestry Commission and Natural England to maximize the viability of the proposals towards planning and beyond.

July 2010

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ARTCHITECTURE - EXBURY PROPOSAL

3.0

Aims of the project To enable collaboration between artists, architects, and engineers to explore innovative creative solutions to sustainable construction within the New Forest.

To develop three temporary live/work spaces for the artists as a way of testing new forms of high quality, low impact building with an emphasis on recycling, sustainability, access and energy efficiency.

To design high quality, low impact buildings which may offer models with potential for adaptation to replace or improve existing building provision in the Forest (e.g. visitor facilities).

To foreground the role and value of artists’ contribution to debates on issues related to the environment and sustainability.

To explore the use of local materials and the context of a contemporary vernacular architecture in the New Forest.

To provide access to high quality contemporary visual art and architecture to audiences in the Forest locally, regionally and nationally through a programme of outreach work and events To offer public access to the buildings, the artists working in them and the issues raised by them through an education programme made available to all sectors of the community.

July 2010

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ARTCHITECTURE - EXBURY PROPOSAL

4.0

Stephen Turner, Artist St Margaret’s Creek OS Grid SZ 427984 - At the mouth of the Beaulieu River on the south east edge of the New Forest.

Background: I wanted to consider the fringes of the New Forest, the permeable edges where one place ends and another might start – dividing lines on maps, but which are hard to draw on the land itself. The estuarine and water borders looked particularly promising and members of the whole project team travelled many miles by boat, before we espied St Margaret’s Creek and I knew where I needed to be.

Climate change is already creating new shorelines and habitats. Established salt marsh is being eroded by a combination of rising sea levels and falling landmass and the entire littoral environment is in a state of flux. The implications for wildlife and for the flora as well as for people are challenging and raise awareness of a particularly 21st Century sort of tension and anxiety.

Raising awareness of the past and the unfolding present of a very special location will be the task, whist living in an ethical relationship with nature and treading as lightly as possible upon the land. I want to give a voice to mute nature; to be amanuensis to the tides, the terns and turnstones; from the standpoint of humility in our age of hubris.

The structure: The innovative and symbolic egg abode being developed by PAD and EDP will protect me from the physical elements and provide a base for contemplation. I love its physical form which relates strongly to the local environment whilst ensuring a level of basic comfort throughout the year at a time when ‘austerity’ is becoming inimical with the idea of ethical living.

The Egg will be an energy efficient self-sustaining capsule. It is a place to live in on the littoral and a laboratory for studying the life of a tidal creek; a collecting and collating centre with integral storage & display space. I want the exterior to degrade and foul. It must take on the patina of 730 daily tides below the water line, and 365 days of weathering by wind, rain and bleaching by the sun above. The interior will also evolve on a daily basis, with an insulation wall made from flotsam carried on each tide, whose different layers will form another unique calendar of these largely lunar events. Thus PAD and EDP are providing me a structure that will evolve during in the course of occupation through natural forces and by my own hand.

Later, when all the mud has settled, it will be removed to a place of exhibition. There, rather like an Apollo lunar capsule returned to earth, it will display its outward ‘scars’ and contain the other records of its passage through time and place – an archive of digital media, found materials & words.

July 2010

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ARTCHITECTURE - EXBURY PROPOSAL

Work on site: I will live out a performative role, which I have characterised as that of the (Beaulieu) Beadle.

Beualieu = beautiful Place.

From bheudh (Indo-European roots) = to be aware / to make aware

Beadle = a constable or usher of the parish

Beadle / Bedel = Latin "bidellus" or "bedellus," rooted in words for "herald."

An artist may also be a herald who ‘makes aware’ and I will find ways to share my perceptions with visitors (summer boat dwellers) and local people. People will be welcomed onto the Egg where there will be space for seminars as well as more informal opportunities for adults, families and children to ‘commune’. Simply visiting the Egg will be an induction into the importance of natural cycles, since access will only be possible at high water; a timetable of arrivals and departures whose natural rhythm will be quite distinct form the 9 – 5 we tend to impose on the day. The habit of everyday activities from washing to walking, cooking as much as collecting for example, will grow into daily rituals that signify the importance of the everyday and commonplace alongside the special and rare. Nothing at OS ref SZ 427984 will be considered waste or wasted, nor be taken for granted.

An example of a possible process is reflected in the creation of the ‘Spartina Pastels’. The grasses were documented along the tide line and then collected and burned for warmth. The spent ash was then ground and remodelled to make pastels with a new latent energy of creativity.

Concluding: This is not a romantic anti-modern back to nature project, where technology is rejected or spurned. Rather it is about demanding the best and most efficient of the new to sit four square with the tried and tested. I want to use GPS, for example, to set an invisible grid on my local parish that will help in daily explorations; web cam and world wide web will allow a live feed to be shared with anyone, anywhere. It is though, a reminder lest we forget, that we are all part of nature and not set above it.

I have found myself entirely in empathy with my architect and engineering partners from the outset and expect this to continue throughout the next stages as we seek to refine the design and to be more definite about the exact artistic activity proposed.

As the government proposes greater involvement by the public in building communities, in the ‘Big Society’, I can see a way forward for artists to be involved in re-defining citizenship through a convergence of artistic with practical purpose – where art is truly inseparable from daily 21st century life.

July 2010

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ARTCHITECTURE - EXBURY PROPOSAL

5.0

Design Proposals, Graham Perring, Perring Architecture and Design Brief: As designers our primary aim is to bring to life the ideas and aspirations of our clients, Stephen has been articulate and challenging with aspects of the brief that he has written for us. He is an artist who seems drawn to remote, sometimes derelict, often dangerous, but always intruiging landscapes… and right from the outset it was clear that we were heading for anything but the typical New Forest landscape.

Stephens brief went something like this….“I could really use an underwater observatory; a place built on the littoral perhaps; that ever changing land between low and high water, to observe the seabed, record tide fluctuation etc. A space with living room above high tide levels… a small tower for observation and contemplation isolated at high tide from the distractions of the shore even if just metres away. It could be a resource for others to visit and either access at low water or to stay in for short periods of time.” “…I imagine the project having a performative element, where I become a character with a creative role to play in the management of the river – a sort of Beaulieu Beadle, looking out for the wellbeing of nature and recording different narratives that unfold in my time there with a poetic pseudo-scientific eye. As a result of this, perhaps the structure we build should be seen as a sculptural element in a time based happening and its ultimate fate be a museum or gallery exhibit?” “…I believe in austerity, we can all make do with less…”

The brief was for a temporary, slightly exotic structure, in a very beautiful and, rightfully so, heavily protected landscape… with an absolute need for a highly sustainable solution.

Design Team Key Aims: 1. As self sufficient as possible.

2. Draw on local skills, technologies and available materials in its construction.

3. Its carbon footprint should be kept to a minimum during construction, occupancy & post occupancy (energy used in making, delivering, using & removing) 4. It should leave minimal trace on the site after removal.

5. It should provide the necessary level of security and comfort (remember ‘making do with less’) 6. Provide a working environment conducive to creative work with specific focus on Stephen’s aims and needs.

7. The building encourages Stephen and his visitors to be harmonised with the daily and seasonal patterns – tides, weather etc.

8. Stephen to adapt, add to and change, or even complete the structure – so that when removed from its temporary location it will take with it elements of the time, place and personality to any subsequent location.

July 2010

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ARTCHITECTURE - EXBURY PROPOSAL

Structure: With regard to local skills, materials and technologies in construction – the structure looks towards the marine industry and will be built locally as a cold moulded plywood sheathed timber framed structure approximately 6 metres long and 2.8 metres diameter. This continues the age old tradition of timber marine construction which can be traced back many centuries on the Beaulieu River. The structure will be brought to site by boat on a spring flood tide and located onto a single 250mm diameter post bedded into an almost flat area of mud beach – the structure’s only direct fixing into the land. The post will locate into a 350mm diameter socket formed within the egg – invisible from above or from the side, and held within bearings to allow the structure to rise and fall approximately 1 ½ metres in line with the state of tide.

Stephen will find privacy from passing boats and those on the nearby land twice daily as the structure comes to rest on the mud in St Margarets Creek at low tide. The structure, Stephen’s stage, will be most visible at high water – its pure ‘ovoid’ or ‘egg’ shape silhouetted on the saltmarsh landscape. When finally removed, all that will remain will be the egg’s imprint in the mud and its post fixing.

Site: The area which Stephen has chosen to occupy has an intruiging history, details have been shared with us by Nicolas de Rothschild, from the Exbury Estate who is the landowner and to whom we are very grateful for offering us this site. The sinuous form of the embankment is in fact entirely manmade dating back to the 18th century and was sluiced at either end in order to retain the water from each tide within linear ditches (clearly visible on the aerial view), for evaporation of the seawater in the salt making process. This embankment is effectively an isolated 1 ½ km long island accessible only by boat at high water or by the very intrepid at low water.

Accommodation: The interior of the egg is subdivided into wet - washroom, WC, overhead shower and wet locker; and dry ‘living’ areas. Rooflights are included, one large in living area and one small in washroom. Two access doors – one to a 2 metre length gangplank linking to land and one to a boarding ladder for access from inflatable dinghies.

Low level box locker seats with storage under lift-up lids run around the entire edge of the ‘egg’ interior and a central console incorporates a sleeping platform bed with fold down lid which converts into desk during daytime with adjacent cooker and basin; storage; batteries and electrical switchpanel. During the daytime, the central console acts as a large table / working area with ample seating for visitors. Incorporated into the living area is a log burning stove for heating and with back boiler for hot water during winter time.

July 2010

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ARTCHITECTURE - EXBURY PROPOSAL

Stephen has already described the work that he feels he may want to complete whilst at the structure and we can imagine that a part of his work will entail managing and documenting changes to his ‘parish’. Probably a part of his work will entail collecting material and we aim that the building be adaptable in order to accommodate collections of materials or ‘finds’.

The complete living area (from the height above the low level box seats) is subdivided by vertical structural framing members.

During occupation, we are proposing that this will be infilled by Stephen to a depth of about 150mm thickness with an adobe mix of clay, grass & ‘finds’ and will become both ‘insulation’ (for winter comfort) and visual record, revealing the changing character of finds and organic material over the period of occupancy – the building itself will accrete internally and externally and through Stephen’s creative intervention we hope to share in his experience, interpretation and visual expression of the processes (natural and human) which act on this landscape.

Conclusion: If we cut ourselves, we use a plaster and antiseptic to ensure healing without trace, on our boats we apply antifoul to prevent the growth of seaweed and algae – the structure we have designed could not be more different – the intention is that it will gather, weather, grow and possibly even become slightly sceptic – but all under Stephen’s control. The ultimate aim being that this structure becomes a living gallery and one which at the end of its 52 week placement is just as intruiging to view in a gallery as the inside of Ellen Macarthur’s Yacht Kingfisher.

July 2010

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ARTCHITECTURE - EXBURY PROPOSAL

6.0

Energy use and self sufficiency, Carrie Baker, EDP Consulting Engineers With an ambition to live in a way encompassing both austerity and self-sufficiency, our approach adopted the two key premises of “Lean, Green and Clean” and “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle”, each of these highlighting the need to minimise first.

The potential energy requirements during occupation were determined by discussing and exploring Stephen’s anticipated daily routines, including a consideration of the variations that would result from seasonal differences. Once we had a clearer understanding of Stephen’s energy needs and requirements, we were able to look at how the site could influence design decisions, exploring the opportunities to exploit available renewable energy sources such as the sun, wind and tide.

Stephen’s minimal requirements for electricity use have been calculated to be 300 Watt hours (Wh) per day which includes electricity for charging items such as a laptop, digital camera and mobile phone. To meet these needs using renewable energy, 100W of solar PV and a 300W micro-wind turbine would provide a sufficient supply throughout the four seasons, which also accounts for a potential increase in demand. With regards to heating and hot water, these energy needs can be met through the installation of a wood burning stove with a back boiler, using collected driftwood from the surrounding area as a fuel source.

Returning to the theme of austerity, Stephen intends to let his day be governed by natural light. Subsequently, the occasional requirement for artificial lighting will only be minimal and when required can be met using low energy LED lighting which reflects the need to deliver energy in a sustainable manner as part of a low energy and low carbon habitat.

July 2010

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ARTCHITECTURE - EXBURY PROPOSAL

APPENDICES:

1.

July 2010

Design Drawings

Page 12

1:1 0 0 P L A N

1:100 LONG SECTION AA

ARTCHITECTURE - EXBURY PROPOSAL

JUNE 2010

STEPHEN TURNER

(ARTIST) / EDP

( C O N S U L T I N G E N G I N E E R S ) / D E F I ( N AVA L A R C H I T E C T U R E & D E S I G N )

1 : 5 0 S EC T I O N B B

1:50 SECTION AA

B

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K EY

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A 1

D I N G H Y ( WA T E R A C C E S S )

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PA S S E R E L L E ( L A N D A C C E S S )

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DRY LOCKER

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WETROOM & WET LOCKER

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WINDOW

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CONSOLE (SLEEPING / COOKING / WORKING)

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LOW LEVEL BENCH / STORAGE

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WOOD BURNING STOVE

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L O C A L C L AY / S P A R T I N A G R A S S I N S U L A T I O N

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E X T E R N A L W O R K A R E A ( G R A S S M AT T P R O T E C T E D )

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A

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1:50 PLAN B

S CALE

METRES

ARTCHITECTURE - EXBURY PROPOSAL

JUNE 2010

STEPHEN TURNER

(ARTIST) / EDP

( C O N S U L T I N G E N G I N E E R S ) / D E F I ( N AVA L A R C H I T E C T U R E & D E S I G N )

ARTCHITECTURE - EXBURY PROPOSAL

JUNE 2010

STEPHEN TURNER

(ARTIST) / EDP

( C O N S U L T I N G E N G I N E E R S ) / D E F I ( N AVA L A R C H I T E C T U R E & D E S I G N )