Task 7. Urban Spaces

Market Square

Known as the Old Market Square, the square sits in the heart of Nottingham and has always been the centre of this ever-growing city. The square plays host to many events throughout the year and also houses various businesses’ bringing life to this space. In 2004, a competition to the redevelopment of the area was planned and the scheme chosen was designed by one Gustafson Porter (Nottingham City Council, 2014).

When the competition was launched, the council laid out guidelines to what they wanted from the refurbished urban space which included; creating a space which would be worthy of a leading European city and accommodating a range of uses and roles of the Square (BBC, 2003). First of all, the space itself is very unique; the square is an open area with the Council House at one end and a large spanning water feature at the other. To my knowledge there is no urban space similar to this in major European Cities, therefore I would agree this part of the brief has been achieved and is worthy of its own recognition. Also, due its open design, the square allows for different events to be hosted within the centre.  The client wanted this space to be open to all members of the public to use openly, where disability access has been thought of with the incorporation of both steps and ramps to gain access to the square; see fig. 1 & 2).

Fig 1. Steps in Market Square (Bagnall, 2014)

Fig 2. Handrail down slope into Square
(Bagnall, 2014)

Market Square is a central location through the city with millions of people passing through, however I personally believe that there is something missing to the square. What I mean by this is that the square only attracts large crowds of people when events are on, when events aren’t on then the square is just a concrete field. The water feature is a nice touch, however it isn’t always turned on (taking away the water feature), and I feel that the square lacks colour as it is all concrete, the addition of a green area would be a vast improvement.

Lace Market Square

The Lace Market Square hidden in the Lace Market was designed by Wolfgang & Heron in 2005 as a space to be used in a mixture of ways such as dining and public art displays (CQ, 2013).  The square sits upon the back of the NCN and provides a courtyard for the students there. Surrounding the square there has been the construction of 46 apartments, penthouse suites, and finally office spaces. Like Market Square, the Lace Market Square is used to hold events, housing pop-up stalls throughout the year and the famous Nottingham ‘Light Night’ (TM, 2014).

As of today, I would say that the space is only being used to half of its potential; the square is much underused as it is and requires more facilities to lure the public that short walk out of town. As mentioned previously, the Square accommodates different events in the hope to bring the public to the square. As a target audience, there housing and accommodation is very highly priced (no student accommodation), but with the NCN situated in the Adam’s Building, there is a mixture of residents and students using the Square. In the last couples of months, the NCN has accommodated the parallel building to Adam’s where students run a café. Even though that this is a step in the right direct, I still believe that the Square for one does not have enough publicity about it (betting that a good proportion of people who live in the Nottingham area do not know about this square), there needs to be more of a pull towards the Square to a broader range of the public.

Fig 3. Entrance to Adam's Building From Lace Market Square
(Bagnall, 2014)

Looking closely within the space, the designers have used tress and hedges (greenery) to boarder off the space and make it its own, which when it comes to the summer time would create lush greenery with the sun overhead. The designers have included sculptural, metal trees around the space to increase the sense of landscaping art, however I personal do now understand the incorporation of these! Yes the Square is of a very modern style, trying to marge the historical value of the Lace Market surrounding and the evolving generation, however when visiting the square these metal trees stand out like a sore thumb, I don’t think they are fitting for what the scheme is trying to achieve.

Fig 4. Metal Tree Sculpture (Bagnall, 2014)

Fig 6. Square Boundary (Bagnall, 2014)

Royal Standard Place

Up until this year I had realised that this urban space was here, I have been to the Castle gates on many occasions, however this area is very hidden. Situated off Maid Marians Way, the space is out of the way of the City Centre (further than Lace Market Square), therefore I believe this area to of been built around the purpose of a courtyard/staging area for entertainment for the surrounding residents. This is backed up by the layout of the space itself; the curved like nature of the design reminded me of that of roman theatres. The design is only of a ¾ circle with a segment cut away, here the ground is flat and would be used for entertainment purposes.

Fig 6. Layout of Space (Bagnall, 2014)

Fig 7. Stairs (Bagnall, 2014)

As seen by my sketches, the main feature of this space is its used of varying stone sizes; smaller stones have been used to create the flights of stairs situated around, whereas in between these stairs, larger bricks have been used creating seating areas. The seating area could be accessed by the stairs and would provide an area to watch the entertainment in the middle of the square.

Fig 8. Curved Building that Surround the Space (Bagnall, 2014)

As an urban space, it provides a classical element to a modern space. The varying heights around make the space seem uneven, however the curved nature of the design is relating closely to that of the Roundhouse Pub which sit at the corner (tower-like design). This space, each time I have now visited it is dead, only few people wonder, similar to the Lace Market Square this space isn’t used enough to its full potential. If there was an injection of life into the square (through businesses) then this space could be saved.





Bibliography

BBC, 2003. BBC - Nottingham Features - New Design for Old Market Square. [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/features/2003/09/new_design_for_old_market_square.shtml [Accessed 25 April. 2014].

CQ, 2013. Lace Market Square - Concept, Design and Construction - Creative Quarter. [online] Available at: http://www.creativequarter.com/life/architecture/lace-market-square-concept-design-construction/ [Accessed 26 April. 2014].

Fig 1. Shaun Bagnall. 2014. Steps in Market Square. Drawn 25^th April 2014.

Fig 2. Shaun Bagnall. 2014. Handrail down Slope into Square. Drawn 25^th April 2014.

Fig 3. Shaun Bagnall. 2014. Entrance into Adam’s Building from Lace Market Square. Drawn 25^th April 2014.

Fig 4. Shaun Bagnall. 2014. Metal Tree Sculpture. Drawn 25^th April 2014.

Fig 5. Shaun Bagnall. 2014. Square Boundary. Drawn 25^th April 2014.

Fig 6. Shaun Bagnall. 2014. Layout of Space. Drawn 25^th April 2014.

Fig 7. Shaun Bagnall. 2014. Stairs. Drawn 25^th April 2014.

Fig 8. Shaun Bagnall. 2014. Curved Building surrounding the Space. Drawn 25^th April 2014.

Nottingham City Council. 2014. Old Market Square, Nottingham [online]. Available at: http://www.publicarchitecture.co.uk/knowledge-base/files/oldmarketsquarenottingham.pdf [Accessed 26 April. 2014].

TM. 2014. Lace Market Square,Nottingham. [online] Bildurn.co.uk. Available at: http://www.bildurn.co.uk/developments/view.php?id=26 [Accessed 26 April. 2014].

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Task 6. Critical Analysis 2

Up and down the country, Maggie Centres have been making the difference to family (and friends), helping people through troubling times in their lives. No one ever wishes for a loved one to be given bad news on health, and it is something hard to accept yourself, however this is where the Maggie Centres play their role. They provide support to the people who need a helping hand, or just an escape from reality. Across the country different, popular architects have taken on the challenge of designing a Maggie Centre; the difficulty in such a task is providing a getaway from the outside world and turning it into its own. Because of this, the Maggie Centres have no real brand on design; all the designs are different but achieve the same functioning goal. As all the designs are so different meaning there are mixed emotions of favourites, and here I would like to share two of mine;

Maggie Centre, West London

The Maggie Centre, situated in West London, is designed by the firm of the great Richard Rogers (Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners), which won the 2009 RIBA Stirling Prize. The design of the building is based on Richard Rogers’ interpretation of a heart protected within four walls (Maggie’s, 2014).

Fig 1. Maggie Centre, West London (Retrofit, 2014)

The building itself is very eye-catching; the walls are regular brick and mortar, however they have been finished off with a very lively orange coloured render. The interior is very spacious; as with all of the Maggie centres the internal environments aims to provide a cosy and warm space for relaxation. This is something Roger’s firm have achieved through the use of large glazed windows, transitional walls and the lifts roof (as seen in Fig 1) The internal colours have been kept bright and vibrant in each room to keep the spaces upbeat. The building also has internal and external courtyards and gardens which adds an extra dynamic and provides more relaxation to the users of this facility (Fig. 2) (Fairs, 2009).

Fig 2. Internal Space (Maggie's, 2014)

The centre looks very unusual and obscure from the public outside and the hospital next door; the bright orange render is a dominating sight, although the Maggie Centre should be like this. The centre should be different to what is on the outside of the boundary walls; the centre is there as an escape from hospitals and reality in the streets. In my opinion, this building more than fulfils the brief of the Maggie Centre, it provides an easy getaway for patients to come to and spend some quality time doing things they love in peace. This Centre has been designed to make the patients feel stronger and open in the larger internal spaces, and stretch out and enough the nature within the gardens.

Fig 3. Elevation (Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, 2014) 

Maggie Centre, Aberdeen

Designed by the Norwegian architect firm Snøhetta, this Maggie Centre is situated on the grounds of the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary outside of the city centre. Built in 2013, this Maggie Centre has added to the collection of very unique centres which have popped up around the country in the last 18 years. Each Maggie centre is completely different to the next, and this building is no exception. Snøhetta’s design is based around the principle of providing both a welcoming and inspirational centre to the people who need it most (Maggies, 2014).

The centre has one major characteristic which makes it very distinctive; the architects have designed a concrete, shell-like structure around the main timber cladded building. This ‘shell’ which has been created wraps itself around the building; one large opening provides the entrance, and another opening allows light in to the internal and the external sitting area within (see Fig 4). 

Fig 4. Maggie Centre Aberdeen, Exterior Shell (Maggie, 2014)

The main building is made up of a steel frame structure with timber cladding as an external finish. Internally, the building has been laid out in an open plan style with a high ceiling maximising the feeling of space and comfort for visitors. Timber cladding is also dominantly used within internal space to create an intimate setting, with hand-moulded insulation used specifically to help provide spacious and warm areas (Davies, 2013).

Fig 5. Interior of the centre, 2nd Floor (Building Projects, 2014)

Even though the centre has been built of the grounds of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, the designers have tried there hardest to create a new context for this centre to quietly sit in. Around the centre, sculpted green grass lawns and beech trees have been planted to provide another external area for the visitors to make full use of. In my opinion, this centre really does fulfil the client’s brief of providing a welcoming and uplifting environment and getaway. The design of the concrete ‘shell’ has been incorporated to create a psychological barrier between the calm environment of the centre and the reality on the outside, which could mean the world to the visitors of the centres. The internal spaces provide the areas for the patients and visitors to open themselves up and unwind. 

Fig 6. Plan view of Maggie Centre and the surrounding site (Snøhetta, 2013) 

While researching the different Maggie centre’s across the country, I feel that there is a running theme between all the centres. Even though all the designs are different, each and every centre is creating an escape from the outside world.  For the patients and visitors of the centres, these building can provide a release of pressure and a sense of a normal life. I do believe that each centre achieves the idea of a close retreat, although these spaces only provide the tools and space for the staff to work, the staff themselves do an unbelievably great job.

Bibliography

Architecture.com, (2014). Maggie's Centre, London. [online] Available at: http://www.architecture.com/Awards/RIBAStirlingPrize/RIBAStirlingPrize2009/MaggiesCentre/MaggiesCentre.aspx#.U2EU-PldXLk [Accessed 13 Apr. 2014].

Davies, A. (2013). Maggie's Centre Aberdeen by Snøhetta. [online] Dezeen. Available at: http://www.dezeen.com/2013/09/13/maggies-centre-aberdeen-by-snohetta/ [Accessed 13 Apr. 2014].

Fairs, M. (2009). Maggie’s Centre by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners wins Stirling Prize - Dezeen. [online] Dezeen. Available at: http://www.dezeen.com/2009/10/18/maggies-centre-by-rogers-stirk-harbour-partners-wins-stirling-prize/ [Accessed 13 Apr. 2014].

Fig 1. (Retrofit, 2014) Maggie Centre, West London. Available at:http://retrofituk.co.uk/cms/?p=185 [Accessed 13 Apr. 2014].

Fig 2. (Maggie's, 2014). Internal Space. Available at:https://www.maggiescentres.org/our-centres/maggies-west-london/architecture-and-design/ [Accessed 13 Apr. 2014].

Fig 3. (Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, 2014) Elevation. Available at:http://www.richardrogers.co.uk/work/buildings/maggie_s_centre/design [Accessed 13 Apr. 2014].

Fig 4. (Maggie, 2014) Maggie Centre Aberdeen, Exterior Shell. Available at: https://www.maggiescentres.org/our-centres/maggies-aberdeen/architecture-and-design/ [Accessed 13 Apr. 2014].

Fig 5.(Building Projects, 2014). Interior of the centre, 2nd Floor. Available at:http://www.urbanrealm.com/news/4396/Colin_Montgomerie_unveils_Maggie%E2%80%99s_Aberdeen.html [Accessed 13 Apr. 2014].

Fig 6. (Snøhetta, 2013). Plan view of Maggie Centre and the surrounding site. Available at: http://www.dezeen.com/2013/09/13/maggies-centre-aberdeen-by-snohetta/ [Accessed 13 Apr. 2014].

Maggie's (2014). The architecture and design of Maggie's Aberdeen. [online] Available at: https://www.maggiescentres.org/our-centres/maggies-aberdeen/architecture-and-design/ [Accessed 13 Apr. 2014].

Maggie's (2014). The architecture and design of Maggie's West London. [online] Available at: https://www.maggiescentres.org/our-centres/maggies-west-london/architecture-and-design/ [Accessed 13 Apr. 2014].

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Task 5. Critical Analysis 1

For this task we have been asked to look back at the RIBA Stirling award Prize winners since the turn of the millennium, choosing our favourite and least favourite buildings/concept.

Favourite Building/Concept – Accordia, Winner of 2008 Stirling Prize

This is a project which I have admired for a couple of years now. The Accordia Project was design by three different architect firms; Maccreanor Lavington, Alison Brooks Architects and Feilden Clegg Bradley. These companies are three very different companies, and the whole idea of this project was to get these companies to pull together and produce a housing development which looks at the relationship between public and private spaces (Crocker, 2014).

Fig 1. Accordia Terraced Houses (Crocker, 2014)

The houses themselves are made from a range of materials, such as traditional bricks, timber and copper. However one of the biggest materials used is glazing; the glazing provides vast amounts of sunlight to the internal spaces, which in turn makes the space seem larger than it is. The incorporation of different levels of balconies on the houses is where the architects have again looked at the combining the private and public spaces (internal and external). The homes have been designed in an environmental context; the creation of green gardens in the surrounding area with linking footpaths and roads produces a link between all the different private accommodations into these elegant public spaces. Sustainability of each of the homes has been of high important within this project; the incorporation of devices such as dual flush cisterns and building features like the green roofs provide an energy saving, reduced maintenance way of living. The idea of sustainability and low-maintenance is something which has been highly considered in the production of these very simple yet unique terraces. (CountrysideProperties, 2014).

The clients brief was to explore the relationship between public and private spaces, which I would easily agree has been achieved. The scheme could be seen as very ordinary in its final aesthetics, however the design applications and technology which has gone into this scheme shows a possibility of future living. As well as the technical aspects of buildings, the social environment has been careful thought of to produce a community within. This type of scheme could be related to that of the Park Hill scheme in Sheffield in the 60’s (See Sheffield Park Hill Blog), however the Accordia project has considered the future, and I could personally see these time of schemes being part of the future of living.

Least Favourite Building/Concept – Scottish Parliament Building, Winner of 2005 Stirling Prize

The new Scottish Parliament Building in Holyrood has been in much controversy, especially when it was built. Designed by the late Enric Miralles, the building phase began in June 1999, expected to finish in a little over a year. However the building was finally opened as a completed project in October 2004, and when calculated cost a grand total of £430.5million, where the starting budget during planning was a mere £40million (BBC, 2007).

The project was about creating a new home for the Scottish Parliament, a place which would stand out from the crowd worldwide (such as the Houses of Parliament in London). The project itself can be broken up into different but linking sections, each with different use of materials; for example this includes the Debating Chamber, the Main Hall, and finally the MSP Building. The Debating Chamber has a heavy use of timber, with steel beams used for roof support and glazing used behind the timber external cladding which natural breaks up the entering light (Fig. 2). 

Fig 2. Debating Chamber (DesignBuild, 2014)

Fig 3. Main Hall (FreeCityGuides, 2014)

The Main Hall is primarily made up of 3 large tapered concrete vaults with marble floor, the use of timber here is minimal and only used for a specially designed, 11ft desk made out of Scottish Oak. The concrete vaults have been marked by the abstract drawings of the Scottish flag by architect Miralles (Fig. 3). Finally the MSP building, having its differences to the two previous; this building has exposed steel windows with the use of oak as a frame,  a mixture of materials (such as Kemney Granite) has been used as cladding around the windows (Fig. 4) (ScottishParliament, 2014)

Fig 4. Steel windows w/ oak frames on MSP building (UniveristyofEdinburgh, 2014)

The only constant material used within the project is timber, creating an organic and sustainable style. This can be related to the context in which the building have been built in; within the site of the projected and surrounding building, architect Miralles designed large green gardens with oaks and wild grass, with the idea of allowing the Parliament building to become ‘one with the land’ (Fig. 5).

Fig 5. Scottish Parliament Building Grounds (Hurst, 2012)

Within the contained context of the site, I think that the Scottish Parliament Buildings do look as one; however in the greater context of the city in which the site is located it does not fit, at all! In my opinion, the design was to become a landmark within the city and be seen as a powerful figure; instead it doesn’t merge with the city and stands out for the wrong reasons. Even 10 years on since the project was completed, the controversy of money and the aesthetic design has clouded it, and after all that money spent on building, people want it knocked down!

Bibliography

Architecture.com, (2014). Accordia. [online] Available at: http://www.architecture.com/Awards/RIBAStirlingPrize/RIBAStirlingPrize2008/Accordia/Accordia.aspx#.U2DnbPldXLl  [Accessed 11 April. 2014].

BBC, (2014). BBC NEWS | UK | Scotland | �414m bill for Holyrood building. [online] Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6382177.stm   [Accessed 11 April. 2014].

CountrysideProperties (2014). Accordia, Cambridge - Countryside Properties Corporate website. [online] Available at: http://www.countryside-properties-corporate.com/case-studies-imaginative-design/accordia-cambridge/10449  [Accessed 11 April. 2014].

Fairs, M. (2001). Scottish parliament: The true story. [online] Building. Available at: http://www.building.co.uk/scottish-parliament-the-true-story/1011961.article [Accessed 11 April. 2014].

Fig 1. RIBA, 2014 Accordia Terraced Houses. Avaiable at: http://www.architecture.com/awards/ribastirlingprize/ribastirlingprize2008/accordia/accordia.aspx#.U2EIXPldXLk  [Accessed 11 April. 2014].

 Fig 2. DesignBuild, 2014. Debating Chamber. Avialable at: http://www.designbuild-network.com/projects/scottparliament/scottparliament5.html [Accessed 11 April. 2014].

Fig 3. FreeCityGuides, 2014. Main Hall. Available at: http://www.free-city-guides.com/edinburgh/scottish-parliament/ [Accessed 11 April. 2014].

Fig 4.University of Edinburgh.Steel Windows w/ Oak Frames on MSP Building. Available at: http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/visiting-exchange/parliamentary-programme/introduction  [Accessed 11 April. 2014].

Fig 5.Will Hurst, 2012. Scottish Parliament Grounds. Available at: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/business/industries/construction-property/article3376225.ece  [Accessed 11 April. 2014].

RIBA, (2014). Accordia, Cambridge (2008) :: RIBA Stirling Prize. [online] Available at: http://ribastirlingprize.architecture.com/accordia-cambridge-2008/  [Accessed 11 April. 2014].

ScottishParliament  (2014). Construction and Design Phase - Visit & Learn :  Scottish Parliament. [online] Available at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/visitandlearn/16167.aspx [Accessed 11 April. 2014].

ScottishParliament (2014). Parliamentary Buildings - Visit & Learn :  Scottish Parliament. [online] Available at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/visitandlearn/15807.aspx [Accessed 11 April. 2014].

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