Final Major Project Week 5 Part 2

This is one of my most effective ideas, it is made from melted acetate and inspired byimages of the Crystal Palace itself burning down as the glass and structure,melted,twisted and collapsed on itself. I like the simplicity of

the form howeverI would not want it too be too large a structure asI think it would loose the impact of its shape. I amhowever not sure what function the structure would have at the moment as I think to add elements inside the shape would take away from its melting form because it is transparent. Perhaps it could be used

as a temporary installation.

Final Major Project Week 5 Part 1

This week I have used to make lots of models from my design ideas.These are some of my favourite quick ideas.I like the idea of using materials on the site that are sympathetic to their surroundings, using natural materials like stone or wood or using glass in a structure for it to blend in effectively.

Final Major Project Week 4 Part 2

I again visited Crystal Palace park this time to look at areas I could transform in more detail taking rubbings, sketches and photos. I looked at how in parts of the park the ruins are crumbling into the ground and be surrounded by plants and trees.This idea of nature controlling the man made environment interests me and I would like to look at how to reverse this trend by proposing structures that work with their environment and in harmony with nature and their surroundings.Perhaps I could think about the use of underground spaces.The terraces are very interesting to me as in their ruins state you can still see glimpses of their former glory (like headless statues and broken archways) although it is hard to see how they could be transformed as they still have the same original purpose of somewhere to walk through and it seems hard to understand how I could propose something of a contemporary style there that would not look too out of place. Also the very formal layout of the terraces area is something I am not sure if I would alter much. This weekend I began to think about design ideas and sketched some initial proposals inspired by all my research so far.Most of these ideas looked at how I could directly attach a structure to the terraces.

Final Major Project Week 4 Part 1

I was inspired by my visit to Crystal Palace Park after wandering around the crumbling victorian terraces with their headless and eroded statues to look at the junta-position between historical and modern architecture when they are situated nearby each other.I visited the City of London and documented all the interesting contrasts between the ages and styles of architecture looking at how well a church steeple fits next door to a skyscraper.This has made me think of possibly combining old and new in my project proposal design ideas.I have begun to look at examples of mixing different architectural styles looking at the Norman Foster extension to the British Museum and modern extensions on victorian terraced houses.I like the way that these extensions are a contemporary version of what were originally victorian glass and usually white painted steel conservatories.If my proposal combines old and new I want it to fit the area and connect to its past.

Final Major Project Week 3 Part 2

Also this week I made a site visit to Crystal Palace Park.I initially thought that the park would be one of many sites I would look at, but the more I thought about it the more I thought the park could be a perfect place to base more than a quick few day project.There are lots of different uses in the park from an athletics park to a museum and a 700ft high TV transmitter.I am going to return to the park fairly soon to carry on my research but what stuck out to me was the historic victorian terraces in the park and the idea that I may be able to propose something that could regenerate this area.I also looked at the Stratford London 2012 Olympics site and its multi uses, this further made me think of Crystal Palace park and how I could add uses to the site.

Final Major Project Week 3 Part 1

At the beginning of the week I began to research an area of London near where I live called Penge.I began by looking at what the area was made up of, a mix of victorian suburbia and grand arms house mixed with 70s block buildings.I looked at the abandoned police station site as a place to work with.My proposal was for a community centre to bring life back to the community.It would be square in shape with randomly located windows and covered by a large glass exterior wrap around the building which was inspired by looking at the Rose Earth and Space Center in New York. The site also stands on a busy crossroads which would add to the buildings prominence and hopefully make passers by wanted to know what the building is and engage with it. My sketch model was created out of acetate and plastic.

Final Major Project Week 2 Part 2

When visiting the South bank again I was intrigued after seeing the temporary use under Waterloo Bridge for the SB book market so I visited the other side of the bridge where there is very little under this side of the bridge apart from a bench so I began to propose ideas for a structure to be placed under the bridge. My main idea was for a box like structure that would provide a quiet relaxation space away from the busy road, the proposal would have tables inside and chairs for people to watch the world go by.

Final Major Project Week 2 Part 1

This week Inspired by high level walkways I decide to look at high level walkways in brutalist buildings so i visited the Barbican to carry out site research.I am a fan of brutalist buildings, their emptiness, simple use of raw materials and their boldness.However walking round the barbican I felt like something was missing, so I decided to look at Brutalist buildings as a regeneration topic.I visited the main other notable brutalist building in London, the South bank Centre.Here i looked at unused and empty spaces often at the end of passageways. I began to propose ideas for structures that would bring some life into the area.Looking at the Southbank Centre and its heavily dense location I thought of trying to bring some sort of nature back in the city.My quick proposal was a pod like shape made from twigs and wood, all natural materials.My main problem with my design was its function but as a concept I think it fits my aim.

Final Major Project Week 1 Part 2

Also this week I have visited Elephant and Castle to look at how urban planning has failed there and led to the area become arun down area near the centre of London. In a way to me the only way to truly regenerate Elephant and castle is to pedestrianise the area and send the cars travelling in tunnels underground , instead of towards the roundabout at all directions. An example of this kind of solution is the proposal by designer Tom Karen for a pedestrianization of Regent St.I realise however that because Elephant and castle is such an important road junction it would be near impossible to recreate this kind of scheme.So myidea was to create high level walkways between the buildings and from them and the other side of the road leading to the roundabout therefore it would be safe for pedestrians.Also the Tube station would be placed onthe roundabout for easy access.

Final Major Project Week 1

Final Major Project Week 1 Part 1

For my final major project I am looking at the theme of ruins to regeneration.I started by looking at urban decay looking at abandoned buildings in London and Detroit.Their is something i like about abandoned buildings in their post apocolyptic state, the fact that they appear so abnormal to me almost makes them beautiful.This week I have spent time researching and visiting the Battersea ad Elephant and castle parts of London.Looking at Battersea it reminds me of a relic of the past industrial London and it seems clear to me that the main reason why the wider sites redevelopment plans always seem to fail is the power station itself.It is simply too big and too iconic a structure to alter dramatically.The building itself is listed and with so many proposals to knock down parts of the power station and its roof already removed it seems that any future proposal needs to respect the building and work in harmony with it.This week I have visited the Nine Elms/Battersea area and proposed some designs for structures at the site.I think however that my proposals work to a certain extent juxta-positioning the old structure with a new modern one however I feel like to truly propose an idea that works fully with the site without detracting from it would take much longer than the time I have.I created a quick cardboard and acetate sketch model of my proposal. It was inspired by the Louvre Pyramids.This also made me think of the power station in context and how the nearest site in context and one that has been regenerated is the Tate Modern in London.

Thomas Heatherwick Sculpture

This sculpture was inside the welcome trust building. It is by designer/architect Thomas Heatherwick. It is made out of 142070 crystal spheres and 26732 steel wires and weighs 14 tonnes!

The welcome Building

DNA project