Water Nest - Phase 2

Introduction: Continuing on from the first phase, we now found out that we are to work on a site in Paddington Basin. The site is quite complex with clean materials and a lot of angles and a 11 story building. It has got a basin cutting into the site with the rolling bridge.

The site is surprisingly very windy and there are not a lot of oppurtunities to sit along the canal actually facing the water. The landscaping is very simple and clean on site at the moment. It doesn't encourage people to stay here.

I started to try my concept on the site, by looking at the way the site is used at the moment and then look at areas where i might be able intervene with the site or change the landforms of the site, but keeping the way people walk through the site.

Identifying the flow of pedestrians on the site at the moment.

Looking at the different areas which are not used at the moment.

Concept Development: Then I looked at possible shapes and levels that might work with the site. Using my concept on the site using quite sharp forms, but soften it with lines of planting.

Lines of vertical and structural planting. Allowing some of the planting to be cut down into the site to place the reed beds for collecting and cleaning the water before it runs off into the canal. Playing with the planting to create views that you can see through and some you can't.

Working my way through different shapes and forms trying out what might work on site. I started at thinking of creating one kind of big seating platform of a shape in the open area on the east side of the site. The platform broken up by lines of vertical planting. Thinking this was to be where my nest where supposed to be. Also increasing the usage of the site for other people by creating platforms along the canal side for people to be able to sit in the water. This would blur the treshold between the water and land by allowing people sitting in the water. And it would also allow the towpath along the side of the canal to be kept free from people sitting there.

Moved on from the platform idea, since it didn't really connect across the whole site. I started to think of using vertical elements possibly a mix of hard material and planting to create the different views and define different areas as my possible nest sites. Tried to mix the planting with hard materials such as bamboo. Considering the height, materials and layout of the verticals.

Sketch showing bamboo verticals and reed planting.

Also developed the idea of the plaforms in the water to floating footstools. So you can sit along the canal with you legs down without actually getting wet. Possible the footstool could be bigger and still allow for people to sit on.

Footstool concept close up

Working through sketches and models trying to find the one design of verticals that work on site.

Sketch showing cluster of verticals in the basin space.

Did a diagram of the different kind of possibilities to consider when working out the positioning of the verticals. The dimension between the verticals, dimensions of lines between the lines of verticals, the different patterns of the verticals, the height, general layout and the mix between hard and soft materials. The varieties are numerous.

After that I tried a few of those of the model, first the circle and kind of cluster shapes made up of verticals. Didn't really like it with the very angular site and sharp building. And it doesn't work quite as well to play with the views and directing the usage of the site.

Then I tried to follow the angles and lines of the building to create lines and pattern that would interfere with the way people walk through the site at the moment. Changing the dimensions of the distance in between the verticals to either allow people to walk in between or not. Allowing the views to define possible spaces for the nests.

Started to think it was a bit boring, so started to think that possibly the wind could move the vertical elements around on site, creating different views from above and create a different feel for when you are walking through the site. Also possibly the movements could allow the patterns to change to create little protected spaces throughout the site.

New layout, applying circles and lines following the angles of the building. Working with 3 primary nests and letting the reeds and the columns gather there and the rest of the columns are guiding people through the site.

At this point I decided to go back to my story and original concept to resolve the design. I realised that some of the important elements of my original design had disappeared. I like the fact of having the reed beds sunken down in the site and collecting and cleaning the water. Also realised that it would be good to think of where the reeds might gather and where the best possibilities for the nests are. All this would blur the threshold between water and land. Working with the floating footstools in the design.

Close up of one of the nests, with seating platforms with movable columns so you create your own nest.

Realised that the idea of the wind moving the colums might not work, so started thinking of having columns that could be moved by people to create your own little nest. Taking the idea of creating a nest very literal. The design is working better, following the original story and concept again. The layout looks better and works better across the site.

Sketch showing the bit underneath the overhang, where a bit is cut out to just let the water overflow onto the site. A more protected nest.

Below showing section through the circle seating platforms.

Sketch showing new and final layout.

Decided to change the layout slightly, since one of the nests were too close to the rolling bridge. In the new layout the bridge is left clear and still has got a view by itself. The reed bed by the circle is slightly smaller and the cut out area underneath the overhang is changed in shape to go with the rest of the site.

The red circles marking out the nesting sites and the red lines explaining the angles of the lines of columns.

Conclusion: The finished design has changed and reduced the hardness, shapes and feel of the site without changing the actual landforms. The reeds and columns leading you through the site. The verticals matching the tall buildings on the surrounding canal. The threshold between land and water is blurred by letting some of the columns and reeds come out into the water and also by the floating footstools allowing you to come closer to the water. The character of the site is playful, sustainable and creating an urban nesting site in the city to give you a feeling of being somewhere else.

Water Nest - Phase 1

Introduction: At the beginning of the new project we were told to work to an imaginary site, to develop a concept and love story for 2 people meeting for lunch everyday. We were to create a water nest for our lovebirds, investigating the threshold between water and land.

In my research I came across a couple of images that really stood out to me - of a blackbirds nest in the reeds and one of a nesting site of flamingos. In the book 'The poetics of space' by Gaston Bachelard (Beacon Press, 1969) I read the line 'the green in the greenness'. I liked the idea of that line and how it hinted at sometimes you know don't see things unless you know that they are there. I used all this to start to think about my story and to form the concept further.

Story summary: My two lovebirds are travelling people, who are aware of nature and their surroundings. They appreciate the small things in life. They want a space for their lunch meetings which will remind them of somewhere else than London. They also want a functional space and a beautiful space that has a sense of sustainability.

Click on image below to read whole story.

Sketches showing different layouts.

Concept Development: Started by looking at the levels of the site and trying the concept on the site. Using the topography of the flamingos nesting site to create small seating platforms and then these lines of reed beds going through the site. Playing with the views. When someone is sitting down in the nest you won't be able to see them until they stand up. Using the reed beds to collect and clean the water from the site until it runs off to the canal. Bluring the threshold between land and water by letting some of the reeds grow out into the water and some platforms in the water, which you can walk out to.

Trying out the concept of the reeds hiding the person in the nest when you sit down and when you stand up you can see them.

Sketch showing how the seating platforms sit on the different levels.

In the end I decided for round platforms to match the flamingos nests and to let them drape over different levels and go out to the water. Together with some of the reeds in the water to communicate the land and the water more as one on the site and to make the step less obvious.

Sketch showing the reeds leading you out to the seating platform in the water.

Along with sketches I also worked on a model trying out different levels, how the platforms sit on site and the layout of the reed beds and how much of the site that will be in low water.

Section of the finished concept - showing the reed beds, the 'hidden nest' and how the reed beds clean the water before it joins the canal.

Below are the images of the finished concept. With seating platforms and reeds extending into the canal. A playful and adventures site with a sense of sustainability and greenness.

Inspiration

This week has been a week off Uni, dedicated to go out an learn and look at things. Wasn't quite sure at the beginning of the week what I wanted to do. I wanted to some inspiration for my project at the moment, which I had come to a bit of a stand still on, but I also wanted to take the time to go out and do something more practical.

In the end I am pretty happy with what I have done this week. The climate change lecture on Monday was interesting, even though it left me feel a bit like the small sustainable things I do in my projects are small and insignificant.

I found the geometry and playfulness of the Serpentine Pavilion interesting and inspirational.

The vertical elements and the playing with views that the birch trees do outside the Tate Modern made me feel more confident about my proposal for Paddington Basin. Where I use vertical elements and views. I never noticed that the birch trees outside the Tate do that in a way before.

It felt good to go out and do something practical with the BTCV and I look forward to doing some more.

The Matthew Barney exhibition was good for me to see, since I am not that great at drawing. It was inspirational to see good simple drawings and looked really good. It made me want to practice my drawing a lot more.

It has been nice to have a week without lectures and studio to give you time to go out and do and learn things that it sometimes is hard to have time for otherwise. I think during the focus weeks this semester I kind just want to see different things to help me realise what I think are important things to me in my design. Hopefully next semester I can then concentrate on a few things and learn them properly.

BTCV Lewisham

Went out for the day today to do some volunteer conservation work with BTCV in Lewisham. We met up in Hilly fields in Ladywell in south London. The task for the day was clearing out bramble in the entrance bit to the park and the wildlife area of the park. It was great to be doing some practical work and get some fresh air. I really enjoyed getting stung by the needles of the brambles. It was the first time I have done any work with the BTCV and it was a good experience. I was the only one under 50 I think, but everyone were really nice and very enthusiastic.

My intention is to do some more days before Christmas and try to get involved. They work across a lot of different parks in south London and it will be a good chance to see the difference in landscape and parks and space. In terms of maintenance, bad and good examples and what kind of values BTCV have. Hopefully I will learn some about trees and planting as I do along. I think it will benefit my aim in becoming a landscape architect.

Tate Modern

Outside Tate Modern at the moment stands Louise Bourgeois's monumental spider sculpture Maman from 1999. It is quite a scary sculpture when you get closer and think of what it really is and it gives you a very different feeling standing underneath the spider's legs. A different feeling of space and nature.


Inside in the Turbine Hall you can see Doris Salcedo's work Shibboleth. It is a huge crack in the floor reaching the length of the hall. It is the first installation in the turbine hall to intervene directly with the floor in the space.


When I was looking around in the hall, I didn't know what Doris Salcedo's aim and thought with the installation was. I was thinking it had to do with fragility of society, space and built world. Maybe to make people experience the space differently. When I got home I decided to find out what her intentions with the work was. The crack according to her asks questions about the interaction of sculpture and space, about architecture and its values ans symbolises the ideological foundations on which western modernity are built. It draws our eye to the floor and shifting our perception of the turbine hall. For me the crack made the hall feel bigger and was fun to see everyone looking and interacting with it in the hall. It was a bit weird to see the amount of people trying to get their feet and hands in the crack!

What I didn't know is that Doris Salcedo also is trying to address the issue of racism and colonism with the crack. Which I have a harder time to see and maybe not connecting so much to that idea. But in general it is an alright installation, it takes great photos, but maybe not so much more.