Hi,

I have uploaded a file to dropbox that provides some form of an update to where I am and what I’m doing. It’s effectively the report that I will submit for the main review 1, and reflects the structure of what I intend to present:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/v8jvbew8ic7b8l0/174%20Report%201.pdf?dl=0

At the moment, most of the relevant things are just ‘thrown’ on and requires significant editing, although, I hope that it provides some understanding of the research that has ‘guided’ the project. I intend to significantly refine the ‘presentation’ for the actual hand-in at the end of October.
The ‘report’ should give some idea of my process and how I’ve been working things out and where the project is going?
All the notes represent my intentions and provide the rationale for the research/ thesis, etc.

I’ve outlined everything I want and need to do for the project, and I then hope the rest is straight forward, once I've got the 'intellectual' side of it sorted. There is a lot of info I haven’t yet shown, but I just need to continue compiling the details.

I’ve clearly lots do and I don’t think I’ll have much ‘formal’ info or completed documentation for this Thursday, but hopefully I will be able to present the site, how/what I’ve been researching, and explain the brief (or at least part of it).

I hope the above makes sense and if you get the chance to provide me with some comments then it will be highly appreciated.

Kind regards,

Dipun

CDP 2014 - Jamie Evans

https://www.dropbox.com/s/1mz1d9n8dqmtjfh/1.pdf?dl=0

Project Site - Dipun

Hi All,

My Project update:

Site Location Plan

This area lies to the West of Frog Island in Leicester.

Qualities of this area are under-appreciated. Many of the buildings are becoming vacant after industrial decline, and they are being demolished for developments that don't necessarily reflect the essence of this place (not that the existing buildings do either).

View of the site building from the street in the direction towards the river.

My programme intends to attempt to use as much of the existing building as possible, but with some necessary removal, alterations, and 2,000sqm of new built fabric in accordance with the brief (tbc).

This project will hope to set an example for all buildings of this type and this area, as opposed to only listed buildings being retained and re-activated.

Cheers

Abandoned spaces and lost places, Leicester.

Hi Everyone, hope you've all enjoyed the summer break!

I have found it difficult to narrow down my research for the CDP so I just wanted to share my starting points and initial ideas with you all in hope of some feedback!

I have started this research by reverting back to my thesis, which was based on how cities (mainly looking at Detroit) have become burdened with derelict building and abandoned spaces. My first conversations with Geraldine on this lead me to look at what makes a city, and how such places can become waste lands. From this I feel I have found that industry is what makes a city or town and is what gives it its identity.

In my thesis I looked at Detroit which was one of the leading cities in the motorcar industry until the industry declined. The city has now been left with hundreds of abandoned factory buildings, houses and areas of complete abandonment. For the CDP I have chosen to base my project in Leicester - a post industrial city itself. The main industries being that of shoe making, hosiery and fabric such as cotton and lace.





Through research I have found that as a result of the decline / relocation of the industries mentioned above, Leicester has a number of abandoned factory buildings and areas of wasteland. Many of these buildings have been previously demolished however, I would propose to regenerate such buildings to give them a use again. I have also seen in my research that the River Soar played a vital role in the transportation of trade goods since the Roman times and although the river is no longer used for this I think it's an interesting point.

I have found two sites which interest me. The first is the Dunisthorpe Mill, the first cotton mill in Leicester which lies on the site of the former Monastery of the Black Friars (which is why the mill is often refferred to as Black Friars Mill). And the second is an area of waste land at the top of Braunstone Gate, located under the old Great Central Railway in the Viaduct. Both sites are along the River Soar and are quite close to one another. The map below shows the location of both sites, the first being north of the second.

Also, these images are of the Dunisthorpe Mill....

And these images are of the second potential site...

I am unsure on building program at this stage. I am thinking along the lines of art studios / gallery spaces etc.

Any feedback and comments on this is most welcome!

Thanks and see you all at the beginning of term!

Veena :)

SPAB Seminar 'Contemporary Design in Historic Contexts'

Thank you Lucy for notification of this seminar in London on 3rd December organised by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) entitled 'Contemporary Design in Historic Contexts.

It costs £60 for students. Lucy and I, and probably other colleagues from my office will be there.

Contact Skye for details of the student rate:

Skye Stevenson
Education Officer
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings

Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7456 0915
Email: skye@spab.org.uk

http://www.spab.org.uk/spab-events-awards/events/

CDP - Dipun Gandhi

Hi Everyone,

I just thought I would update all on my progress with an interest in continuing the support for each others' process.

My current position is that I've resolved the broad scale of my project and the basis for the thesis itself, and so the intention for my project is as follows:

·         After careful consideration, I've chosen to do my project in Leicester, with the reason coming from the notion that I believe my project should be positioned in a manner that allows me to visit the site at a frequent rate and at many different times of the day. This will then allow me to thoroughly immersive myself in the environment and ascertain a ‘phenomenological’ understanding of the experiential qualities of the ‘events’ that take place.

·         Following research of the current perceptions of Leicester, my objective for the project is being led by understanding the philosophical ‘essence’ of the city, which effectively began when 'tribal' settlements developed off the River Soar. On this basis, my project (although, yet to be set-in-stone) is to be sited on the bank of the River Soar close to the 'north-gate' toward the City Centre.

·         My intervention and project will seek to ‘reconfigure’ the conscious experience of the site and its intrinsic 'atmosphere' (philosophically), as far as possible.

In support of my discussion, spaces like this James Turrell Sky-Space installation highlight the phenomenological/ 'conscious' experience that architecture creates:

·         Although I'm coming from a philosophical underpinning, the idea is to try and understand how our Brain and Mind actually works to form the phenomenological experiences we are conscious of, and how the atmosphere of a ‘place’ is culminated.

·         I then hope by exploring the brain I can also seek to have a scientific rationale to any design, coming from the discipline of neuroscience. This notion is connected to my dissertation, which sought to understand the relationship between Neuroscience and Architecture, and how they are disciplines that may be worth connecting:

This image and diagram represents a neurological explanation for the experience of ethereal feelings when people enter the Thorncrown Chapel (USA), designed by Fay Jones. Believed to strike people with awe and emotion, Semir Zeki explains how these 'feelings' occur due to what the brain is directed to process, when looking upwards.

By understanding the processes of the Brain, can we begin to design beyond intuition?
Conversely, can neuroscientists begin to create methods that may lead them to work out how Phenomenological Consciousness is formed?

·     I will also attempt to explore an unconscious understanding of the project site based on its qualia. I believe this is an important aspect of how the environment actually affects the human mind; which our conscious reactions then ultimately combine to form the human components that contribute to the ‘atmosphere’ of a place.

·         Materials and Memory will play an intrinsic part to the project, but I hope to explain this in further detail a little later on.

I'm hoping to explore all of these ideas through my design and project; although its going to take a lot of work, so I may not be able to quite deliver in accordance with the ambition of the thesis.

Just to give some ideas of inspiration and direction to the philosophy of the project, below is a short list of who/ what I’ve been looking into:

   ·         Juhanni Pallasmaa (Architect and Philosopher)
   ·         Diébédo Francis Kéré (Architect)
   ·         Christopher Alexander (Architect - See 'Pattern Language')
   ·         Peter Zumthor (Architect)
   ·         ANFA (Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture)
   ·         Richard Dawkins (Evolutionary Biologist & Atheist)
   ·         Sou Fujimoto (Architect)
   ·         Maurice Merleau-Ponty (Philosopher)
   ·         Shigeru Ban 
   ·         Consumerism/ Materialism

Anyone doing their project around the ideas of phenomenology, or anything remotely philosophical, may find some inspiration from the above.

I have some ideas of the building typology and the brief; however, I am refraining from fully resolving all of this until the site research is completed, but the aim is to have everything outlined by the end of next week. In the meantime, I'll continue with the research and collation of information and will hope to upload comprehensive sets of images/ diagrams on the blogs/ cloud within this time.

I've got lots to do in terms of production drawings, diagrams, etc., but I believe that focus on the process and understanding what I'm looking to achieve will help make those things be completed much easier/ quicker.

I'm sure everyone, like me, is beginning to feel the pressure of getting things done, but "better together"/ "Delighted to be United" (and all that topical stuff) and I'm sure we can do as well as we hope for. ;)

Any feedback is, of course, encouraged and very welcome.

Cheers,
Dipun

Farnborough And Its Aviation History - Andrew Badley CDP

Hello Sam and All,

So I have really been struggling to get going with the project, I feel like I was a bit all over the place but I have decided to narrow my research back down to just one area for the moment and explore it fully before moving onto any other ideas. This area which I think has the most promise for the most interesting and engaging final project is actually in my home town of Farnborough. I have been exploring its aviation heritage, its current contribution and its potential future contribution (Virgin Galactic). From this I have explore wider topics that have grown from these starting points.

Farnborough is the home of British aviation and has been one of the key sites in the world in relation to aviation development. As such it has an array of listed buildings surrounding it's airfield. These predominantly consist of a series of wind tunnels which were used in the development and design of both Concorde and Spitfire, to name just two. Farnborough is also home to a Grade II listed airship hangar which was a part of the RAE airship program.

Airship Hangar Frame (Grade II Listed), Farnborough

Airship Hangar Farnborough (1911)

I have found researching both Farnborough's contribution to the airship program and in turn the use of airships both by the military and commercial sectors fascinating and believe it could potentially be the spark of a program which will be both interesting and stimulating for the whole year, I'm just not sure what yet. The other aspect of the airfield I have been researching are the facilities of historical importance on the north side of the airfield, primarily the wind tunnels, this is something which I hope to do more thoroughly over the coming week, along with some more presentable analysis of the airfield.

The wind tunnels recently hosted an art exhibition for which this cool website was made which walks you through each of the listed buildings (http://thewindtunnelproject.com/venue/q121/) and some additional images just to start:

Farnborough Wind Tunnels - Wind Tunnel Project (2014)

Farnborough Wind Tunnels - Wind Tunnel Project (2014)

Farnborough Wind Tunnels - Wind Tunnel Project (2014)

Farnborough Wind Tunnels - Wind Tunnel Project (2014)

Farnborough Wind Tunnels - Wind Tunnel Project (2014)

In terms of a site, the Airfield its self is large and has experienced development on its periphery over the last ten years. All the research facilities are located at the north side of the airfield along with the airship hangar this could provide a location for a site, but as could the more remote woodland areas that border the airfield could also provide a location for a site. See the image below:

Google Earth view of Farnborough Airfield.

Having spoken with Geraldine, around my thesis last year which looked predominantly at those who used the medium of drawing not building to try and change architecture or the way which we think about architecture, and how they went about that. I hoping that this will tie in with any idea I eventually take forward and develop into a project.

I know it's not much but it is a start,
Andrew.

Also... this project is amazing, exactly the place I would like my project sit: http://bldgblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/lightning-farm.html

CPD 2014 - Lucy Hillier

Hi Sam and All.

I thought I would be brave and post first to get the ball rolling with the blog as its ever so empty!! !I have uploaded four images of my research background so far.













My research and focus so far for the project has been on the abandoned heritage structures located in the deep crevasses of the Valley of the Mills in Sorrento, Italy formed thousands of years by volcano eruptions thousand of years ago - that are becoming more and more frail as time passes.

The structures have failed due to industry decline tourism increase, maintenance costs and population loss and are becoming blackened and covered with decay. My research has looked into urban exploration and the fascination of the aesthetics of abandonment that today is relatively
common and this has inspired me to explore the Valley of the Mills myself, through urban exploration - accessible to the local public. 

















My background research has found that heritage legislation in the Sorrento area has been established but the national government lacks funding and pressure to rescue such heritage assets. Furthermore, the Soprintendenza (regional heritage department) lack materials and enthusiastic to do anything to protect such structures as knowledge is minimal across the area. My study has found over 250+ architects in the region and no design school and institutes to promote historical regeneration of such structures are available, apart from a summer school approximately 750 miles away.

My initial proposals are to propose a design Institute to promote the principles of preservation, conservation, adaptive re-use of architectural gems like the mills- that would be available to built environment professionals; architects, conservation officers, craftsmen  that would enable them to learn ways to design with the buildings as well as learn the traditional building techniques that surround Sorrento for restoring buildings.

The proposed site is an abandoned 8th century flour mill in the heart of Sorrento, that lies 52 meters down on the Valley of the Mills floorbed that has now become abandoned due to the disconnection from the sea and river formed by the construction of the main Piazza Tasso in 1855 in Sorrento. 

Any feedback would be great.

Thanks,

Lucy :)