CRIT ONE

PROJECT 2: CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

                                                                    READING LIST                                         

The reading lists so far for this next stage of my course are the following:

                                                       Space & Place, Tuan

                                                    Metamorphoses - Kafka

                                                             Fresh & Stone

                                           Eyes of the skin, Juhani Pallasmaa

                                                   Architecture & Narrative

                                                             Tao of Physics

                                                          Tao of Psychology

                                                           Invisible Cities

I find Eyes of the Skin very interesting and very useful to my conceptual development, it is interesting to find how Architecture can be related to the human senses and Juhani did a very good job in his analysis. My proposed site for my intervening in the city is located near the Nottingham Castle and I have been trying to come up with a concept which would relate back to the history of the Castle and the Church. While taking a walk around the castle some of Julani’s analysis began to make meaning to me. For instance he said a walk through a forest is invigorating and healing due to the constant interaction of all senses, this I totally agree to because having researched on the history of the castle and comparing it to the history of the church there is a bridge which needs to connect the two together, this two are both mechanisms but one is a defensive mechanism (castle) and the other a salvation mechanism ( church). I do hope that by the time I am through researching and reading the books on my reading list I should be able to come up with a unique concept which would explain the relationship between the castle and the church and create the concept of LIGHT AND SHADOW.

TRIP TO COPENHAGEN AND MALMO DAY THREE

Trip to Malmo, Sweden

The day started with a light breakfast and we took the train to Malmo to see the western harbour which is a new district planned with a world class landscaping and public realm strategy.

 We arrived Malmo and to my utter most surprised Mr Snow was waiting for us, we then went to WHITE organization and we got a warm welcome from Mr Carl Backstrand who offered us cookies and hot chocolate to warm us from the cold. Mr Carl then gave us a brief introduction about the organization after which our tour guide Mr David gave us a seminar about the history and development of Malmo.

David lecture explained how Malmo was able to link energy performance to energy production. As of 1990 UK committed to 20% while Sweden was 38% down of carbon reduction. Malmo grew tremendously in period of 15years from a city of manufacturing (industrial) to a city of knowledge.

 After the seminar we continued our tour around the western harbour and saw some of the apartments which were designed to minimised energy thereby creating a sustainable environment. In Malmo, water is a big issue; the control of rain water is the main challenge to reduce the issue of flooding. Land reclamation, developers were sceptical at the beginning. The alignment of every flat in Malmo was that each flat gets a glimpse of the sea. Malmo has the following qualities:

·         Common ground for developers

·         Good pedestrian accessibility

·         Sustainable low energy

·         Minimised energy consumption

·         Good waste management

·         Quality green spaces

·         Rain water management

·         Energy efficient homes and Clean water

Both Copenhagen and Malmo have one thing in common; their harbour is used for harbour bath. Later on we went for lunch and continued on our tour and we saw some amazing buildings. After the days tour we checked into a 4 Star hotel in Sweden ( Master Johan) and had the best rest ever.

I am indeed grateful to my school for giving us this privileged to explore these wonderful countries. I do plan on taking some of the things I learnt and incorporate them into my intervening in the city.

      

TRIP TO COPENHAGEN AND MALMO DAY TWO

The day started with a light breakfast after which we met at the hotel reception lobby as a group and departed for the days walking tour which looked promising. The weather was still cold but we were all dressed for the occasion. David our tour guide took us to visit the famous Jan Gehl the author of ‘LIFE BETWEEN BUILDINGS’ I was so happy to meet the Architect whose book was the first book I read for my book reading.

We arrived the firm and were welcomed by Louis Kegel Kielgast who delivered a brief presentation about the firm and Copenhagen; she spoke about the importance of public life which has brought positive change in Copenhagen. More public spaces and pedestrian routes were provided for the people of Copenhagen as a result of creating quality public space, after the seminar we were opportune to meet Jan Gehl briefly.

Then we continued on our working tour, we walked through Stroget which is the major pedestrian street and we saw the royal Danish playhouse on our way to Nyhavn waterfront.

The Nyhavn water front is known for its sustainable waste management. The system is built and run by R98 (The waste disposal company of 1898). The users of the system are approximately 150 flats and 120 restaurants and other businesses which are around the waterfront, the system allows both kitchen waste and waste from the restaurants and other businesses to be thrown into the vacuum system. This is not allowed in the rest of the city. The amount of waste collected during the summer is about 60 – 70tons per month while during the winter the amount of waste collected is about 30 – 35 tons per month. Behind the project was a wish to:

·         Improve working conditions for the refuse collectors.

·         Improve hygiene in the restaurants, where the waste was stored in the backyard and later carried out through the restaurant for collection.

·         Remove the heavy traffic from refuse collection trunks.

Later on we went for lunch which is another typical Danish meal, from lunch we continued our tour through the kings new square to the east of stroget while at the end of the harbour was the opera house which we visited with the ferry  boat but unfortunately it was closed.

                           

Image courtesy: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Copenhagen_Opera_House_-_front_view.jpg

Then we went to Torpedohallen which was built after the World War 2. Torpedohallen was a shipyard used for the construction of torpedo boats but now it is an exclusive apartment of high quality i.e from motor boats – Condos.

                 

Image courtesy: http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/38753276.jpg

The bare concrete columns and beams that shape its profile still remains, the original exposed steel trusses and high ceiling makes the apartment quite unique and also, the centre of the hall where the boats are launched still exists. 

            

Image courtesy: http://lh5.ggpht.com/-F6G3T_TjYTc/Sipw5m9EVYI/AAAAAAAABzA/cfhpAubZN08/cimg1836.jpg

The proximity of the water on all sides of the apartments allows the residents to enjoy a lovely day out during the summer. We then took the Metro to Svanemoelle and Sluseholmen to see more residential apartments and after the tour we went back to the hotel to refresh, relax and sleep. Later on we wanted to explore more of Copenhagen but my friend Mr Snow was very extreme and harsh so we took shelter in our comfortable rooms and had time to reflect on the day’s event.

TRIP TO COPENHAGEN AND MALMO DAY ONE

The feeling of travelling overseas for the first time for a school field trip is the best break ever, I am so happy to be on this trip, I just cannot wait to have a change of environment and to explore the richness and architectural creativity of a new country. As I prepare to meet my tutors and peers at the train station I practically forgot to eat breakfast. We departed Heathrow Airport at 11:30 and arrived Copenhagen Kastrup Airport at 2:30 local time.

Just as we were landing I thought to myself what if it gets snowing, I am not properly dressed and my trainers has no friction resistance, not too long I looked out of my window and BOOM!!! 

There comes Mr Snow, I was speechless for a minute and I said to myself the weather cannot be that bad so snap out of it and enjoy the field trip. What a shock I was in for because this was just the beginning……………

                                                              ‘WELCOME TO COPENHAGEN’

I embraced the cold with love and spoke to it with a soft loving voice, ‘hey Mr Snow I am here on a tour and to study please do be kind and be gently on my skin, I do not want to fall ill in a trip such as this.’

On arrival, David Birkbeck our tour guide gave each one of us tour maps of the city and briefed us on the sites we were to visit on that day.

We started our tour of Amager Strand and we went to see the residential apartments located in Orestad which is an urban development designed by Bjaek Ingels founder and owner of BIG practice.

On arrival to the site I was amazed at the level of development and the architectural style in display which was totally different coming from the United Kingdom where I study. Looking at the building style it was obvious that the Danish Planning Policy have a unique and different approach to design which is far different, unique and more creative in style.

The development can be seen in the following areas such as the choice of building materials, wall finish & cladding (exterior and interior), wider roads for cyclists and car owners. The country is known for its sustainable green architecture style.

The residential apartments in Orestaden are outstanding building which has met the following needs.

·         Providing well designed and maintained buildings

·         Created good supply and mix of affordable low energy homes and neighbourhoods with older, disabled and younger people in mind

·         Good transport infrastructure.

·         Good private space amongst the residents.

The apartments which spread out horizontally have the kitchen and living spaces on the ground level while the upper level has the bedrooms. We toured the entire building from one level to another on a gently sloped ramp without any form of discomfort.

Another interesting aspect of the tour was the Architects idea of creating streets within the building complex so as to localise the service needs of the residents who may not be abled men /women. This is indeed a plus to the urban development because in most densely populated cities, the welfare of the residents is usually not taken into considerations.

Another interesting area we visited on the walking tour was the Mountain Dwellings which are the 2^nd generation of the VM Houses, another building designed by Bjaek Ingels for BIG. 

                                            

Image courtesy:     http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/12/BIG-Mountain-Dwellings-4.jpg                                        

                                             

Image courtesy: http://ad009cdnb.archdaily.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/2478270_big-03-528x351.jpg

                                            

Image courtesy: http://cavin2009.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/64-e_mountain-dwellings.JPG 

The Mountain Dwellings incorporated the use of green roof garden as a low energy production system, also the mountain dwellings which is a storey building look like a suburban neighbourhood of garden homes that has two merged functions (parking and housing block). The combination of a parking system gives the people the opportunity to enjoy both worlds (City & Garden Life). The roof garden consists of a terrace and a garden with plants which separates the garden by a glass façade from the apartment. The building has a huge watering system which maintains the roof garden. The facades are covered with perforated aluminium plates which allow light and air to enter into the parking area. This apartment building encouraged me to shake off my fear of height as I took the big step to climb the mountainous stairs. It is indeed a sustainable city which increases the quality of life of the residents. The vibrant colours used on the exterior facades bring life to the spaces and the people dwelling in them. After the tour for the day we checked into our hotel (Wake Up Copenhagen, got refreshed and went for a typical Danish dinner. Yeah, I almost forgot about my friend Mr Snow the weather man, I would say he came to stay and he brought all his family along with him. Thank God I was able to go through the day in one piece.