Digital Tectonics » site

Interim crit

Andrew — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:10:55 +0000

Below are a few images of the boards which were produced for yesterdays tutorial/ crit. The next day or so is to be spent storyboarding the activities of the barges, with facts and figures denoting how much they can actually produce and the population they can sustain. This needs to be done as quickly as possible so that I can really get into the design of the proposal so that it is a at a suitable stage for next week. So without further ado……

Massing studies

Andrew — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:11:49 +0000

Following on from my parameter studies which were completed earlier this week, I have started to relate the investigation to massing. The sketch below is based on the idea that form/ programme will be concentrated around each set of piers, with a pedestrian link spanning between. The piers will provide the structure from which barges can dock and be tended to; with produce being transported vertically up to the pedestrian level where it can be sold to the general public. Each pier would have differing characteristics dependent on the produce which has been harvested at water level. Some could for instance, be charecterised by the servicing of the barges whilst others would revolve around the activity of trading produce.

Above is an initial sketch of one of these docking stations.

An updated infrastructure plan….

Site visit

Andrew — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 10:45:41 +0000

a couple of night time shots from yesterday evening….

Site mapping

Andrew — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:09:43 +0000

Get the flash player here: http://www.adobe.com/flashplayer

Site register

Andrew — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:59:05 +0000

Here are a few images from last weeks interim crit, plus some initial renders from the 3D model I have been working on. The parameters I have to work within have been defined, allowing for a sculpted massing model to be created which takes into account the restricted heights set out by the UDP (Unitary Development Plan 2002).

INITIAL DESIGN NETWORK DIAGRAM

The next week will be spent on a physical model which aims to symbolize the essence of the interchange; from the underground sewage networks to paths created by flying birds….

Blackfriars Bridge

Andrew — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:49:26 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

I have spent most this week on ‘site’, in and around the area of Blackfriars, London. Blackfriars has two operational bridges at present, the earliest of which is the road and foot bridge (the furthest one on the left in the video), built in 1769 and the other, the rail bridge is used by Thameslink and was built in 1886. The pilars in between the two indicate where the original 1864 bridge stood and are what I intend to inhabit as part of my proposal. By the mid 20th century, the original bridge was considered too weak to carry modern trains and so was demolished in 1985.

Blackfriars are the only bridges in central London to have a direct north south orientation; providing the framework for potentially the ideal urban growing environment.

The video above was taken from Ludgate House, an office building opposite the site. Thanks must go to Katherine Hayes from BD who booked out one of the meeting rooms, without which I wouldn’t have been able to film. What I think is highlighted in the film is the amount of activity which surrounds the site. The static piers depict the remnants of the old London Chatcham and Dover Railway, whilst in stark contrast, the rail and road bridges carry a hive of activity. Perpendicular to all this lies the Thames, a means to ferry passengers from east to west London. These components all contribute to the sites characteristics of an orthogonal and nodal transport interchange.

SKETCH BOOK

Andrew — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:27:33 +0000

My initial thoughts for the site are the disused piers to the west of the current Blackfriars railway bridge, London. They are in fact the remnants of the original London Chatham and Dover railway bridge.