Term 2 Review

As I did for the first term, I would like to talk about how this second term has gone in terms of work and also socially.

This term, the work load has certainly increased compared to that of first term. First term it seems that the work was just to ease us into the way of life of university and the work demand. However this term the deadlines have seemed to flow thick and fast, meaning I’ve had to be better with my time-management. I personally have found the work load manageable and haven’t had any sleepless nights; I am truthfully trying to avoid them as much as I can! With the increased work load it has meant that there hasn’t been as many nights out as there were in first term; as much as we haven’t had nights out in our group we try to fit in little meals and trips to the pub when we can.

I would have to admit that my most enjoyable piece of work I have done is the House Extension project. I found it very entertaining just to think that my design could become a real life project and could be there for the foreseeable future. I also loved the design element of the project; even though we had to design our ‘Make and Break’ group project and small amounts of the ‘LifeBox’, it wasn’t the same as this. In this project we had an open design brief, we could look at traditional, modern and advanced technologies to incorporate them into our extension and design an exclusive extension (see my ‘House Extension Review’ blog post to learn more about the project, what I enjoyed and my final

design).

This term, unlike last term, there has been a piece of work which I haven’t enjoyed as much as the rest; the Hand Drawings Portfolio for Design Communications. I believe that there could have been changes made which would have made the work a lot more enjoyable to me and my cohort. The project was a drawing portfolio which seemed to be dragged out, and the work towards the end was not helping in the development of our course; more the Architecture and Interior Designer courses.

I have to admit that these last 12 weeks have flown by and I cannot believe that there are only the 5 weeks left until the end of the year. We have been given our final project titled ‘Pop-Up Kitchen’ which will be similar to the house extension project (working for a real client of a live project). I am looking forward to it very much, but first, a two week Easter back at home.

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House Extension Project

This project quickly followed the LifeBox project (which if you have read my blog about that project I was happily to see go). When we were given to project brief for this I was very excited to say the least; working on a real project with a real client is the way I want to work.

In the first week of the project we were assigned to a team, we were divided up to focus on different tasks, choosing to my strength I decided to do the group CAD work. Another sub group where tasked to do a site survey and within a 2hr visit produce a fully measure survey of the house, which had its problems with the measurements now adding up. After a couple of days of recalculating dimensions with site photographs, the base drawings were complete and the design stage of the project begun. Below are some photographs of the original house.

Side Facade

Front Facade

Back Facade

 As can be seen on the photograph of the back facade, there had already been a single extension done on the back of the property with a conservatory. However both the conservatory and extension had been poorly constructed and therefore my design incorporated the demolition of this previous extension to make way for the new, 2-storey extension. 

Over the next few weeks we built up our portfolio of work which included a series of deadlines. These deadlines, every fortnight, where challenging yet helped pushing you to finish the work off early, which I believe  made the project more and more interesting. The work we had to was nothing which we hadn’t done before, the Construction Tech 1 module we have done throughout the year has been very helpful in completing this work, however I had to find new details for boundary gutter work (to avoid a party wall agreement). Below is a collection of pdf images of my final, 2 storey extension on the read of the property.

Ground Floor Plan

First Floor Plan

My 2-storey extension provides a new, open plan kitchen and dining area with an enclosed utility room. I also have added the conversation of the understairs storage into a small powder room (toilet ans sink). Upstairs the extension provides a nice master bedroom, and the split of the original spare room creates an en-suite for the master bedroom and separate bathroom (as shown in the ground and first floor plans).

Side (South-East) Elevation

Back (North East) Elevation

I have to admit that this has been the most enjoyable project I have done in the past two years of university. This is the first project that I’ve done which has real life potential and could be used in the design of the client’s extension (waiting on the result on which design the client has chosen). Also, because the project has been a real one it has made it very interesting and pushed me into doing the best work I could do. No words could describe how happy I would be if my design was chosen by the client! 

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Task 4. Re-Appropriating The Past

In this task, we have been asked to walk around the Lace Market and uncover an Industrial Revolution era factory or commercial building which has been redeveloped and converted into new accommodation, retail, leisure or either a residential building. As I live within the Lace Market, I walk through it every day to get to university of the city centre, and I have already identified an old factory (of the industrial rev era) which has been converted into retail;47 Stoney Street. By using the Planning Portal on the Nottingham City Council website, I would like to explore the work done on the factory and any problems/constraints placed on the conversion. 

Fig 1. Location Plan of 47 Stoney Street (Nottingham City Council, 2004)

Fig 2. Corner of 47 Stoney Street
(Bagnall, 2014) 

 After looking on the Planning Portal on the Nottingham City Council, I found that to this present day, one conversion have been made to 47 Stoney Street with an alteration to a single floor made later on. The conversion was given planning permission in 1996, which allowed the original factory building to be converted into student accommodation. Like most industrial era factories, each floor was an open plan which had to be changed for the proposed conversion; therefore the addition of partitioning walls was approved in each floor to create the individual flats. As well as additional walls, planning approved the addition of dormer windows for the top floor accommodation, the addition of new external doors and finally the incorporation of a patio doors opening out onto a roof terrace (planning application reference 96/01919/LLIS1). In the same year, the conversion of the basement into a restaurant/bar was approved (planning application reference 96/01920/PFUL3).

The client/developer’s main intentions in this conversion were to provide addition accommodation to the public (aimed at students), turning an old and then disused factory building into accommodation with retail (bar/restaurant) below. Between the client/developer’s and the Local Authority there would have been some potential comprises made; for example as the building itself is Grade II listed, the exterior aesthetics could not be altered unless permission was granted (acceptable for new dormer windows). Also the consideration of the bar/restaurant in the basement of the building would have to of been considered, as this would bring a new social group of people to this quiet part of town (sound considerations to be considered).

Fig 3. Access to 47 Stoney Street (Bagnall, 2014)

Fig 4. View of Roof Terrace & Chimney
(Bagnall, 2014)

As previously mentioned 47 Stoney Street has more recently been under alteration work. In 2004 a planning application was submitted to alter the ground floor of the building from accommodation into retail/offices. Within this alteration, it was planned that the partition walls which were incorporated within the original conversion would be knocked down to once again create an open plan floor space. This open plan would be in keeping with the original factory floor design and also would be beneficial for retail/office use. Furthermore this planning application sought the creation of a new external door which would be in the place of an original door which was on the building when it was still a factory and removed during the conversion to accommodation.

Bibliography

Fig 1. Nottingham City Council, 2004.  Location Plan of 47 Stoney Street. Available at: http://publicaccess.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/online-applications/propertySearchResults.do?action=firstPage [Accessed 8th March 2014] 

Fig 2. Shaun Bagnall, 2014. 47 Corner of 47 Stoney Street. Photograph taken from 7^th March 2014.

Fig 3. Shaun Bagnall, 2014. 47 Access to 47 Stoney Street. Photograph taken from 7^th March 2014.

Fig 4. Shaun Bagnall, 2014. View of Roof Terrace and Chimney. Photograph taken from 7^th March 2014.

Nottingham City Council, 2014. 96/01919/LLIS1 (Ref No. . Available at: http://publicaccess.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=9601919LLIS1&documentOrdering.orderBy=description&documentOrdering.orderDirection=ascending [Accessed 8^th March 2014]

Nottingham City Council, 2014. 96/01920/PFUL3 (Ref No). Available at: http://publicaccess.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=9601920PFUL3 [Accessed 8^th March 2014]

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Task 3. Drawing Exercise

All copies seen below can be seen in my A5 sketchbook. The sketchbook includes all other drawings of Nottingham; different building and architectural feature which i have like.

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Sheffield Park Hill Redevelopment

When I first went to Sheffield in September 2012, I was led out of the back of the Railway Station and confronted by this very run down estate, otherwise known as the Park Hill Estate. Small areas of redevelopment work had already begun, however in my opinion it didn't think that this estate had any sense of life left within. Nevertheless, nearly 18 months has passed and I couldn't disagree more with my first impression.

Built in the late 50’s and opening its doors in 1961, concrete flat like this where very popular in the mid 50’s and this estate was no exception. 13 storeys tall, this brutalist-styled monolith designed by Jack Lynn and Ivor Smith sat on one of the seven hills of Sheffield, which at the time when it was seen as popular was given the name of ‘Streets in the Sky’ (UrbanSplash, 2014). The estate itself consisted over nearly 1000’s homes and shops which combined to establish a community within. Built on one of the largest hills in Sheffield, the architects tried to keep the roof heights low so the estate didn’t stick out of the hills outline, however the estate still dominates the hill and overlooks the city below (BBC, 2009).

Park Hill Estate Facades (Bagnall, 2014)

Like most brutalist flats and estates built across the country in the 50’s, the 80’s brought about a new view on these once loved structures. The accommodation aspect seemed poor to the newer properties available, and with estates and flats seeing vast increases in crime within the community people left, one by one, until no one wanted to live in them. By the early 90’s, Park Hill had become a rundown estate which the majority wanted to knock down. However since then the estate has seen it become Grade II listed (1998) and now the redevelopment to create it into a modern, and again loved accommodation. The new refurbishment included providing more spacious and modern accommodation (which was achieved by stripping the building down to its bones and rebuilding) and the use of coloured polycarbonate sheets on the facades to provide dynamic colour and attraction against the flat concrete (Townsend, 2013).

Interior of New Accommodation (Bennett, 2013)

With seeing how the redevelopment of this project has brought back new life into this one named ‘Old Lady’, it shows how even the most run down building can be brought new life and provide for the newer and ever growing generation. Even though in previous blogs I have said how pleased I am to see the Lenton Tower Blocks being knocked down, the question can now be asked of whether a smart mind could have transformed them into the modern/futuristic housing that everybody wants in the present day. 

Bibliography 

BBC News, (2014). Stirling Prize: Park Hill Phase 1. [online] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24054185 [Accessed 10 Feb. 2014].

BBC, (2014). BBC - Community living: Park Hill's history. [online] Available at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/sheffield/hi/people_and_places/history/newsid_8207000/8207206.stm [Accessed 10 Feb. 2014].

Peter Bennett, (2014). Interior Of New Accommadation. [image] Available at: http://ribastirlingprize.architecture.com/riba-stirling-shortlist-2013-park-hill-sheffield/ [Accessed 10 Feb. 2014].

Splash, U. (2014). Park Hill, Sheffield - project information | Urban Splash. [online] Urbansplash.co.uk. Available at: http://www.urbansplash.co.uk/residential/park-hill [Accessed 10 Feb. 2014].

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Living In The Lace Market

As mentioned previously, this is my second year in the City of Nottingham, and whereas last year I was living out of town in Lenton, this year I am currently living with friends in the heart of the Lace Market.

In my opinion, there is a substantial difference between living within the Lace Market, compared to living in Lenton. First of all in terms of location; for a Nottingham Trent student the Lace Market is a based in the heart of the city, with the university and shops within an easy walking distance.  Relate this to Lenton, situated just outside the city it is ideal for people with cars, however I rely more on me feet. Because of this, the walk to university armed with equipment and drawings board each morning up the mountain-like hill used to be a killer; this was also the same each time you just wanted to go into town!

Fig 1. Lenton Tower Block (During Demolition)
(Thorne, 2013)

However the problem of transport is not my only nor my main reason between my love for the Lace Market. The overall love for the Lace Market over Lenton comes from its setting and context within the areas. Last year, I lived in the shadow of the famous Lenton Tower blocks. The Lenton tower blocks where built in the 1960’s due to the ever-growing population of England, however in the late 20^th – early 21^st century the tower blocks have become an unwelcoming site and are currently being demolished (Howard, 2014). When living in Lenton, I would look through the window or walk out the door to be embraced with these truly saddening and aging structures.  In all truth they were painful to look at.

The Lace Market is home to vast range of historical landmarks and architectural styles from the Gothic-styled St. Marys Cathedral to the modern expressionism-style of the Nottingham Contemporary Building.  I would have to say my favourite building within the Lace Market at the present time (I say this as I feel I haven’t explored the Lace Market completely) is the current NCN building on Stoney Street. This building, which is known as the Adams Building, is a Grade II listed Victorian building built by Thomas Hine. The Adams Building was original one of the largest factories in the Lace Market; it was acquired by the Lace Market Heritage Trust and converted into the New College Nottingham (NCN) (NCN, 2014).  

Fig 3. Side Facade of Adams Building (Bagnall, 2014) 

Fig 2. Date Stone (On Plaque) (Bagnall, 2014)

The reason that the Adams Building is my favourite building is because it is so unlike the rest of the building within the Lace Market. Every morning I walk down Stoney Street from Malin Hill to Hockley, and the buildings either side are quite flat, acting like a stone wall. However once you reach the Adams building, I feel that the space seems to opens up due to its double curved shape of the front facade (Fig 3). The building itself is a very powerful yet elegant figure in the Lace Market and I would argue that the building itself is the finest landmark in the Lace Market. 

Fig 4. Front Facade of Adams Building (Bagnall, 2014)

Bibliography 

Fig 1. Alex Thorne. Lenton Tower Block (During Demolition) Photograph taken 8th October 2013

Fig 2. Shaun Bagnall, 2013. Date stone (on plaque). Photograph taken 7th February 2014

Fig 3. Side Facade of Adams Building. Photograph taken 7th February 2014

Fig 4. Shaun Bagnall, 2013. Front Facade of Adams Building. Photograph taken 7th February 2014

Howard, R. (2014). BBC - Nottingham - Places - Lenton with Robert Howard. [online] Bbc.co.uk. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/image_galleries/lenton_walk_gallery.shtml?21 [Accessed 8 Feb. 2014].

NCN, (2014). Nottingham English School - The Adams Building - NCN. [online] Available at: http://www.nottinghamenglishschool.com/the-adams-building.aspx [Accessed 8 Feb. 2014].

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LifeBox

Coming back after Christmas and the first project was LifeBox. The LifeBox project was about producing a living space for a specifically chosen client in a 6600mm x 3600mm x 2400mm box area. Now, we are 3 weeks into second term with the LifeBox project just handed in, and all I can say is THANK GOD!!

When the project was first explained to us back in the last week of first term, the majority including myself thought that this project sounded very exciting; which combined our new knowledge from the other modules and our own creativity to produce this final project. However this project was a lot more demanding than previously expected. The decision on which architect to choose was simple; out of all the architects to pin up I chose the design which was as close to what I personally would of designed if I was doing this project.

The original design by the architect was very unique and was one reason why I chose it, however when I then started to look more in-depth into the design how it would be produced practically and this is when the problems arose. As my client (the architect) had chosen her client as Paralympic Gold Medallist Ellie Simmonds, within the design space she had included a swimming line measuring 6200mm (length) x 1005mm (width). However when looking at this at practically the swimming lane was far too small, meaning that change the design of the whole of the LifeBox, with the clients approval.

Original Design 

Final Design

I admit that I have learnt a lot of from this project (such as the use and construction of steel frames), however I have found it more stressful than fun. The transformation from the original design to the final design was very complicated; I do wish that I could have had more time to improve the final design, but then again I’m glad its over. 

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Patchwork 3 - Comparison of Arkwright and Newton

Through the evolution of the architecture, cities have become richly diverse in the different styles of architecture on show. Even when buildings are grouped together, an example of that being Arkwright and Newton, it does not mean that the styles of these buildings have to be similar.

The Arkwright building is of a Gothic Revival style, which was very common in Nottingham during the time it was built in the late 19^th century (constructed 1877-1881). At this time, the building was coordinated with its surroundings, however today the evolution of modern architectural styles surrounding it has enhanced its historical context (Bagnall&Humphries, 2013). This can be directly linked with that of the Newton building; it too was built in a time when its style of Art Deco was popular in England and Nottingham itself (early-mid 19^th century). The Newton ‘Tower’ has been a standout landmark in Nottingham ever since it’s construction, still holding strong to its historical value in its growing environment (Bagnall&Humphries, 2013). These buildings used to be two neighbouring structures with no connection, yet now after a multimillion pound refurbishment they sit next to each other hand-in-hand, working together yet separately at the same time. The Arkwright building provides a sense of age and wisdom, whereas the Newton building provides a sense of a futuristic idea in way a building should be designed. In the context of the city today, these buildings produce a partnership which no other can match; the contrast between these buildings and their styles work together, making the unique connection between them stronger.

“The relationship between the object and the intervening spaces is not formal: it is always rooted in the context of a particular setting.” Dalibor Vesley (in Brooker and Stone, 2007, p. 57).

The above quotation defines that a buildings style is not directly related to that of the spaces created by it. The intervening space of the building is connected to what the context and function of the building is. These statements can be associated with that of the Newton and Arkwright buildings. As mentioned previously the two building themselves have their own dissimilar styles; Newton’s Art Deco and Arkwright’s Gothic Revival. However, since The Hopkins Architect renovation in 2010, the two central and linking spaces within and between each building has been given new life through modernisation and practicality for the working staff and students within. The renovation to these two buildings has brought the most of the original designs (photographs to be added); the spaces have had extensive work done to them, however the resulting spaces are simple (simple in terms of how comfort and practicality of the students/staff has been achieved although the space itself is very open). Physically linking these two monumental buildings together is a minimalistic corridor and courtyard; a glazed wall spanning the length of the corridor provides vast amounts of natural light in, making it seem larger and providing a panoramic view of Arkwright itself.

“The project secured the future of both historically significant Grade II* listed buildings, providing extensive renovation and modernisation to their dated, inefficient and incoherent spaces. It then utilised the residual space between the two buildings.” (HopkinsArchitects, 2009)

These building and their respected spaces are used and/or passed on a daily basis; they are both in their own right very exceptionally beautiful buildings within the landscape of Nottingham. From the outside, they both hold their own (styles) within a multi-contextual setting; however the refurbished interior provides a warm, comforting environment which caters for the social and academic aspects of university life.

Bibliography

Bagnall&Humphries, 2013. Arkwright, Patchwork One. Shaun Bagnall & Kelly Humphries, 2013.

Bagnall&Humphries, 2013. Newton, Patchwork Two. Shaun Bagnall & Kelly Humphries, 2013.

Brooker and Stone, 2007. Form and Structure [eBook]. Switzerland: AVA. Available via: Safari Books Online [18^th January 2014]

Hopkins Architects, 2009. Nottingham Trent University: Newton and Arkwright Buildings. Hopkins Architects. Available at: http://www.hopkins.co.uk/projects/2/113/ [18^th January 2014]

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Sheffield Train Station

As I travel up to Sheffield often to see my girlfriend, I thought that while I was up there that I would start exploring the building and architecture which Sheffield holds. The first building which I would like to talk about is Sheffield’s train station, a building which I use each and every time I go to and from Sheffield.

Sheffield train station (also known as Midland Railway Station) is a Grade II listed Victorian building originally built in 1870 but refurbished by architect Charles Trubshaw in 1905 (Landow, 2014). Charles Trubshaw was a Midland architect, raised by a family of architects, was best known for his work as architect for the Northern Division Midland Railway Stations in 1874 (Davies, 2010).

The station itself has some interesting features such as the iron-glass roof (Fig 1) in the main atrium and refurbished front facades mirrored glass (Fig 2) and finally the walkway linking Park Hill behind the station, the platforms and Sheaf Square in front. However the station building is not what I find most interesting; for me the combination of context of the Victorian Station building and the 2010 refurbishment of Sheaf Square in front of the station. 

Fig 1. Iron-Glass Roof (Bagnall, 2014)

Fig 2. Front Facade (Bagnall 2014)

As I have only been in Sheffield over the past two years I had not seen for myself what the original square was like, however looking at photographs of the past square the refurbishment has brought new life back into the entrance of Sheffield. The square has been transformed from a flat concrete field to this guided path leading from the station, up Owen Hill into the heart of the city. 

Fig 3. Sheaf Square (Bagnall, 2014)

The new design of the square still has some of the original, open concrete areas however the addition of two large water features adds a new dynamic to Sheaf Square. On one side of the square there is a stepped flow of water leading towards the bottom of the square into a large water fountain; however I much prefer the converging metal wall with pouring water opposite. Together the water features create an elegant path up towards the city centre (Fig 4). This modern feature is very diverse compared to that of the old Victorian station building, producing a very memorable and distinctive setting.

Fig 4. Sheaf Square and Sheffield Train Station (Bagnall, 2014)

Bibliography

Fig 1. Shaun Bagnall, 2014. Iron and Glass Roof of Sheffield Station. Photograph Taken 13^th January 2014.

Fig 2. Shaun Bagnall, 2014. Station Front Façade. Photograph Taken 13^th January 2014.

Fig 3. Shaun Bagnall, 2014. Sheaf Square. Photograph Taken 13^th January 2014.           

Fig 4. Shaun Bagnall, 2014. Sheaf Square and Sheffield Railway Station. Photograph Taken 13^th January 2014.

Davies, M. (2014). Charles Trubshaw, Architect | The Midland Hotel - Bradford. [online] Bradfordmidlandhotel.com. Available at: http://www.bradfordmidlandhotel.com/charles-trubshaw-architect [Accessed 15th January. 2014].

Living Rail, (2014). Sheffield Station Gateway. [online] Available at: http://81.47.175.201/livingrail/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=665:sheffield-station-gateway&catid=29:rail-terminals&Itemid=102 [Accessed 15th January. 2014].

Landow, G. (2011). The Midland Railway Station (now East Midland) at Sheffield (1874). [online] Victorianweb.org. Available at: http://www.victorianweb.org/technology/railways/82.html [Accessed 15th January. 2014].

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