The Resilient Gala Borders Gait Project
Gibran Nurjaman
+ Programme and Place + Prospectus + Prototype
Galagait Galashiels is a key centre in the Scottish Borders hence has in a strategic position in relation to both Scotland and south to England. We construct the project through drawing and inscribing a series of lines and axes to align places and location of local landmarks, places of industry as well as the cities of Glasgow Edinburgh and London. Identity through Axis With the series of walls stretching and overlapping above the train station and across the bus interchange, it gives the the visitor a carefully designed welcoming sequence to the town.
links to our other projects - Forming Nexus - Knowledge Corridor - Gala Gait - Eol Gala - Cycling Gala - Textile Heritage - Gala Design Hub - Textile Tectonics - Food for Thought - The Well-being Network - The Healthy Connection Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture M.Sc. Advanced Sustainable Design 2015
Identity leads to Sustainable Development > Identity Knowledge Distribution > Local production > Community based retails and shops > Interaction between visitors and local > Environmental Improvement > Nature and urban connection > Natural wildlife awareness > Urban farming generation > A Renewable energy strategy Lack of Identity, space and place is the first impression when visiting the town for the first time. There was little in terms of information signage, nodes and a sense of arrival. Before the station, the transport interchanges and vehicle access to the town does not encourage the visitor to stay. “A landmark is yet stronger if visible over an extended range of time or distance, more useful if the direction of view can be distinguished. If identifiable from near and far, while moving rapidly or slowly, by night or day, it then becomes a stable anchor for the perception of the complex and shifting urban world.� Kevin Lynch, The Image of the City, 1960
The Resilient Gala Borders Gait Project
Gibran Nurjaman
+ Programme and Place + Prospectus + Prototype
links to our other projects - Forming Nexus - Knowledge Corridor - Gala Gait - Eol Gala - Cycling Gala - Textile Heritage - Gala Design Hub - Textile Tectonics - Food for Thought - The Well-being Network - The Healthy Connection Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture M.Sc. Advanced Sustainable Design 2015
One of the most urgent meets for this project is to provide Information about sense of place and Identity of Galashiels. GalaGait provides this through a new facility whose design seeks to physically display the links and connections between the town, the Central Borders and beyond. The integration between the internal circulation of the train station platform, the bus interchange, and the GalaGait will give a real sense of arrival to the town. The series of landscape platforms that in part form the roof of the building makes a new axis for Galashiels and routes to the the Town Centre. A very direct ‘urban bridge’ makes access to promote valley, hill, river, and stunning natural landscape as well as as a festive place to become part of Galashiels’ identity. The GalaGait also provide the space for communities in Galashiels to exhibit their community programs for public. The central building provides information, orientation and retail close to the projected railway station. A series of raised landscapes formed by the axial design are a mixture of urban farming, biodiverse land left fallow and a series of decks for external exhibition, artwork and viewing.
The Resilient Gala Borders Gait Project
Gibran Nurjaman
+ Programme and Place + Prospectus + Prototype
links to our other projects - Forming Nexus - Knowledge Corridor - Gala Gait - Eol Gala - Cycling Gala - Textile Heritage - Gala Design Hub - Textile Tectonics - Food for Thought - The Well-being Network - The Healthy Connection Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture M.Sc. Advanced Sustainable Design 2015
Although the conceptual design of the building and its surrounding landscape are complex, the core functions are key to a projected transport interchange and logically laid out. It is designed with a foyer to allow for vertcal circulation throguhthe building with core office and station accommodation open longests. Depending on day and time a variety of other uses sich as exhibition, retail and cafe are open.
The Resilient Gala Borders Gait Project
Gibran Nurjaman
+ Programme and Place + Prospectus + Prototype
links to our other projects - Forming Nexus - Knowledge Corridor - Gala Gait - Eol Gala - Cycling Gala - Textile Heritage - Gala Design Hub - Textile Tectonics - Food for Thought - The Well-being Network - The Healthy Connection Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture M.Sc. Advanced Sustainable Design 2015
internal layout showing the build up of the key design elements
the scheme in traltion to the town showing the axes and landscaping. Key links to the town centre are indicated
The Resilient Gala Borders Gait Project
Gibran Nurjaman
+ Programme and Place + Prospectus + Prototype
links to our other projects - Forming Nexus - Knowledge Corridor - Gala Gait - Eol Gala - Cycling Gala - Textile Heritage - Gala Design Hub - Textile Tectonics - Food for Thought - The Well-being Network - The Healthy Connection Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture M.Sc. Advanced Sustainable Design 2015
The building is designed to grow and develop through time - with incased facilities opening as the station achieves higher visitor numbers. Low energy demand is achieved through Earth-Sheltered Building with the long side of the development facing south to maximise passive solar gain. Earth Sheltered building is proven to be able to use thermal mass to reduce heating load in winter when designed in conjunction with passive solar glazing to the south. Earth Sheltered building needs special consideration especially in structural matters, as the dead load is much heavier as it needs to accommodate both lateral soil pressure and vertical loads from the green roof. The interface between soil and the building also should be considered to prevent water ingress into the building.
The Resilient Gala Borders Gait Project
Gibran Nurjaman
+ Programme and Place + Prospectus + Prototype
links to our other projects - Forming Nexus - Knowledge Corridor - Gala Gait - Eol Gala - Cycling Gala - Textile Heritage - Gala Design Hub - Textile Tectonics - Food for Thought - The Well-being Network - The Healthy Connection Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture M.Sc. Advanced Sustainable Design 2015
“Concrete make a sustainability material because of the following criteria: > Resource efficiency. The predominant raw material for the cement in concrete is limestone, an abundant mineral. Concrete can also be made with fly ash, slag cement,and silica fume, all waste byproducts from power plants, steel mills, and othe manufacturing facilities. > Durability. Concrete builds durable, long-lasting structures that will not rust, rot, or burn. Life spans for concrete building products can be double or triple those of other common building materials. > Thermal mass. Homes built with concrete walls, foundations, and floors are highly energy efficient because they take advantage of concretes inherent thermal massor ability to absorb and retain heat.This means users can significantly cut their heating and cooling bills and install smaller-capacity HVAC equipment. > Reflectivity. Concrete minimises the effects that produce urban heat islands. Light-colored concrete pavements and roofs absorb less heat and reflect more solar radiation than dark-colored materials, such as asphalt, reducing air conditioning demands in the summer.