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.