Dana Maria Buenck - PROJECT 02

"REHAP THROUGH THE SENSES"

PROJECT PROPOSAL SITUATED IN HACKNEY FOR A REHAB COMMUNITY CENTRE. 2022-2023.

MY PROJECT RELATES TO THE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL SITUATION OF THE COMMUNITY AND HOW I CAN INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE THEIR APPROACHING MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS THROUGH A REINTERPRETED CONCEPT OF THERAPY COMBINED WITH MEDITATION AND ART. FOR MY BUILDING COMPLEX I ADDRESS USERS WHO NEED A BREAK FOR THEIR BODY AND MIND DUE TO THE PANDEMIC OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES. IT IS NOT ONLY A PLACE TO REFLECT AND MEDITATE OR EVEN REST OVERNIGHT, BUT ALSO TO TALK WITH OTHERS, PERHAPS WITH PROFESSIONAL DOCTORS.THE ATMOSPHERE SHOULD BE FREE OF STRESS, PRESSURE, TENSION OR OVERSTIMULATION THAT CAN OFTEN COME UP IN EVERYDAY LIFE. RECYCLED COLUMNS FROM OVER LEFT MATERIALS CREATE NOT ONLY SCULPTURAL SHAPES, BUT ALSO A PAVILION AND OPEN SPACES FOR A COMMUNITY GATHERING TO SHARE, TALK AND SIT TOGETHER. LOCAL ARTISTS CAN EXHIBIT THEIR ART IN AN INSTALLATION SPACE TO INSPIRE VISITORS‘ SENSES. IN GENERAL THE GOAL SHOULD BE TO CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR HACKNEY THROUGH AMORPHOUS SHAPES, CALMING MATERIALS AND SURFACES, VARIOUS FACILITIES AND AN OPEN JAPANESE INSPIRATIONAL GARDEN WHERE EVERYONE CAN MEET OR “HIDE‘‘.

RETHINKING COLUMNS ?

THROUGH MATERIAL EXPERIMENTATION I TRIED TO QUESTION AND CHANGE THE FORM, STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND ESPECIALLY THE MATERIAL OF COMMON COLUMNS. MY IDEA IS THAT PARTS OF THE COLUMNS CAN BE REPLACED BY LAYERS OF WOOD WASTE, SO THAT LEFTOVERS CAN BE RECYCLED. I WAS ALSO PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN COMBINING WOOD WITH CONCRETE AND COMBINING NEW AMORPHOUS FORMS WITH BASIC GEOMETRIC ELEMENTS TO CREATE A STRONG CONTRAST. BY DRAWINGS, 3D MODELS AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THROUGH MODEL MAKING I WAS ABLE TO REFLECT MY THOUGHTS AND DESIGN PROCESSES.

3D MODEL OF A CONCEPTUAL COLUMN

CONCEPTUAL SKETCH

LEFTOVER MATERIALS FROM THE WOOD WORKSHOP

DETAIL OF THE DIFFERENT LAYERS

WORK IN PROCESS 1:1 MODEL 40X40CM

SERIES OF ABSTRACT DRAWINGS ( SHAPE AND ARRANGMENT EXPERIMENTATION)

DIAGRAM OF FIRST SPATIAL ARRANGMENT

COLUMN ITERATION

SPACE BOUNDARY DETAIL

PERSPECTIVE DETAIL

GROWING CONCERNS WAS A COMMUNITY GARDEN LOCATED BETWEEN VICTORIA AND QUEEN ELIZABETH PARKS OPPOSITE THE HERTFORD UNION CANAL. THE GARDEN HAS SINCE CLOSED DUE TO AN OWNERSHIP DISPUTE AND THE EMPTY LOT IS THE SITE OF OUR BRIEF. THE GARDEN STARTED INITIALLY AS A LOCAL RESIDENT GARDENING CLUB BEFORE DEVELOPING INTO A COMMUNITY GARDEN. THIS PROVIDED A GREEN SPACE AND GARDEN FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS TO USE TO GROW AND HARVEST THEIR OWN FRUITS, VEGETABLES AND HERBS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE GARDEN WAS EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AS MANY RESIDENTS DO NOT HAVE THEIR OWN GARDENS AND THEREFORE ANY WHERE TO GROW PLANTS OR GARDEN IF THEY WANTED TO. ADDITIONALLY, THE LOCAL MONTESSORI SCHOOL USED THE SPACE TO HOLD CLASSES FOR THEIR STUDENTS. CHILDREN GREW VEGETABLES THAT THE SCHOOL COOK WOULD USE IN THEIR MEALS, WHICH HELPED WITH FUSSY EATING AND LEARNING ABOUT NUTRITION AND GARDENING. THE CHILDREN ALSO WOULD PLAY IN THE COMMUNITY GARDEN, MAKING MUD PIES.

SITE MODEL SHOWING CONTEXT

ENTRANCE FROM STREET

IN MY DESIGN PROPOSAL, COLUMNS ARE ENVISIONED AS MULTIFUNCTIONAL ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS THAT REDEFINE HOW WE EXPERIENCE SPACE. THESE COLUMNS NOT ONLY SUPPORT THE STRUCTURE BUT ALSO CREATE A HARMONIOUS BLEND OF PRIVATE AND COMMUNAL AREAS, ENRICHING THE USER EXPERIENCE.

STRATEGIC PLACEMENT : COLUMNS ARE STRATEGICALLY PLACED TO DIVIDE THE SPACE INTO DISTINCT ZONES. THIS ARRANGEMENT CREATES A NATURAL FLOW, GUIDING MOVEMENT WHILE DEFINING AREAS FOR DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES. SEMI-PRIVATE NICHES: AROUND EACH COLUMN, SEMI-PRIVATE NICHES ARE CREATED. THESE NICHES SERVE AS PERSONAL WORKSTATIONS, QUIET READING CORNERS, OR INTIMATE SEATING AREAS, PROVIDING USERS WITH A SENSE OF PRIVACY WITHIN A LARGER COMMUNAL SPACE.

INCORPORATED FEATURES : EACH COLUMN IS DESIGNED WITH BUILT-IN FUNCTIONALITIES. FOR EXAMPLE, SOME COLUMNS FEATURE INTEGRATED SEATING, TRANSFORMING THEM INTO CASUAL MEETING SPOTS. OTHERS INCLUDE SHELVES FOR BOOKS AND PERSONAL ITEMS, OR EVEN INTERACTIVE DIGITAL DISPLAYS FOR INFORMATION AND ENGAGEMENT.

ADAPTABLE USE : THE COLUMNS ARE DESIGNED TO BE ADAPTABLE, ALLOWING USERS TO CUSTOMIZE THE SPACE ACCORDING TO THEIR NEEDS. THIS FLEXIBILITY ENSURES THAT THE SPACE CAN EVOLVE WITH CHANGING REQUIREMENTS.

PATHWAYS AND FOCAL POINTS : COLUMNS ACT AS VISUAL ANCHORS, CREATING PATHWAYS AND GUIDING USERS THROUGH THE SPACE. THEY ALSO SERVE AS FOCAL POINTS, DRAWING ATTENTION AND PROVIDING ORIENTATION WITHIN THE ENVIRONMENT.

ENHANCED AESTHETICS : THE COLUMNS ARE DESIGNED WITH AESTHETIC CONSIDERATIONS IN MIND, FEATURING THE RYCLED MATERIALS AND FINISHES THAT COMPLEMENT THE OVERALL DESIGN. THIS ENHANCES THE VISUAL APPEAL AND CREATES A COHESIVE, INVITING ATMOSPHERE.

ABSTRACT PAINTING SHOWING THE LAYERS

MIXING PLASTER TO IMITATE A CONCRETE BASE WITH WOOD CHIPS TO LIGHTEN THE STRUCTURE

PLASTER BASE & DETAIL OF THE STRUCTURE

CLAY CONCEPT MODEL

CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS FOR THE CONVERSATION PIT

MODEL OF FOUR CUT OUT PIECES, 20X20CM EACH

MODEL WITH THE PLASTER BASE, SHWOING THE GAPS IN BETWEEN

3D MODEL OF A CONCEPTUAL COLUMN

SKETCHES ON SITE AND COLUMN IDEA

“WE FEEL MORE THAN EVER THAT PEOPLE NEED PLACES WHERE THEY CAN RELAX, LEARN, CONTEMPLATE AND WANDER‘‘

“WOOD CONSTRUCTION REDUCES STRESS AND OFFERS A HEALTHY LIVING ENVIRONMENT‘‘

“THE NEED TO CHOOSE MATERIALS SENSITIVELY HAS BECOME CRUCIAL THAN EVER BEFORE BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT PANDEMIC. THE ARCHITECTS SHOULD CONSIDER IT AS THEIR OBLIGATION TO SELECT MATERIALS THAT SOOTHE, RELAX, AND RE-ENERGIZE ONE’S MIND, SOUL, AND BODY.“

“COLORED LIGHTS CAN HAVE EFFECTS ON OUR BODIES, OUR PAIN LEVELS, AND OUR MOODS.“

DRAWING OF CHANGING THE USUAL COLUMN STEP BY STEP

COLLAGE OF THE LOWERED SITTING AREA AND USED MATERIALS

THE BUILDING COMPLEX CONSISTS OF EIGHT MAIN SPACES THAT DETERMINE THE ACOUSTICS THROUGH THE SIZE OF THE ROOM AND THE MATERIALS. AS THE DESIGN PROPOSAL SHOULD BE A SPACE FOR USERS TO CALM DOWN AND MEDITATE, MOST SPACES ARE DESIGNED FOR A SMALL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE. ONLY IN THE CONVERSATION PIT AND ART SPACE PEOPLE COME TOGETHER, SHARE IDEAS AND SOCIALISE.

THE STRUCTURAL PART OF THE THERAPY CENTRE IS DEVIDED IN TWO PARTS; THE LOWER PART IS MADE OUT OF LOAD BEARING MASONARY STONE/ CONCRETE WALLS AND SLAB ROOFING ALLOWING THE LOADS OF THE TIMBER STRUCTURE OF THE FIRST FLOOR TO BE PASSED DOWN TO THE FOUNDATION. THE TIMBER FRAME CONSTRUCTION ON THE UPPER LEVEL IS COMPRISED OF BEAMS, COLUMNS AND TIMBER FRAME WALLS AND IS ENTIRELY CLAD IN TIMBER. IT IS NOT ONLY ONE OF THE MOST ECO FRIENDLY BUILDING MATERIALS BUT ALSO VERY LIGHTWEIGHT WHICH IS NECESSARY FOR THE PURPOSED CONSTRUCTION. FOR GENERAL STABILITY STEEL TRUSSES WOULD BE USED AS THEY ARE NOT ONLY STRONG BUT PERHAPS LIGHT. THE THICKNESS OF THE CONCRETE WALL AND ITS INSULATOR PROPERTIES BLOCK THE TRAFFIC NOISE FROM THE OUTSIDE AND ONLY ALLOWING IT THROUGHOUT THE DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOW WHERE ONLY NATURAL NOISES WILL TAKE PLACE. THE BIG GLASS WINDOWS ENABLE A LARGE VIEW AROUND THE SITE AND WILL PROVIDE THE SPACES WITH LIGHT FROM ALL ANGLES. THE DESIGN FEATURES NATURAL VENTILATION THROUGH THESE WINDOW OPENINGS AND ALLOWS COLD AND HOT AIR TO FLOW INSIDE AND OUT. IN TERMS OF CONSTRUCTION, IT WILL HAPPEN BOTH ON SIDE AND OFF SIDE SINCE MANY OF THE STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS ARE PRE FABRICATED AS FOR EXAMPLE THE CONVERSATION PIT. AS THE SITE IS ALSO WELL- CONNECTED TO THE MAIN ROAD IT IS VERY ACCESSIBLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND DELIVERIES OF MATERIALS. SUSTAINABILITY WILL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH DIFFERENT ASPECTS AS THE MATERIAL CHOICE OF TIMER, GREEN SPACES AND THE LOW DISRUPTION OF PLANTS ON SITE. BUT THE MAIN POINT WILL BE THE SOLAR PANELS ON THE ROOF IN ORDER TO REDUCE AIR POLLUTION AND THE RECYCLED COLUMS WHICH ARE COMPLETLY MADE OUT OF WASTE MATERIALS.

USING MASONARY STONE AND CONCRETE FOR THE LOWER STRUCTURE BENEFITS THROUGH BEING NOT ONLY A HEAVY MATERIAL, BUT ALSO BEARING COMPRESSION FORCES. FURTHERMORE IT COULD BE CASTED IN AN IRREGULAR SHAPE WHICH IS REQUIRED FOR THE PURPOSED DESIGN OF THE RECEPTION AND THE MEDITATION SPACE. FOR THE UPPER PARTS THE TIMBER STRUCTURE WORKS AS A VERY LIGHT STRUCTURE AND CAN BE EASILY ASSEMBLED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE SITE AND HAS A LOW EMBODIED CARBON. ALSO BECAUSE OF DESIGN ASPECTS BRIGHT AND NATURAL MATERIAL ARE CHOOSEN, SO THE BUILDING WOULD MERGE IN WITH THE SURROUNDING AND THE STRUCTURE WOULD HAVE A CALMING EFFECT ON THE USER.THE GLASS FOR THE HUGE WINDOWS WAS NECESSARY FOR LETTING THE NATURAL SUNLIGHT IN AND ALLOWING THE NATURAL VENTILATION SYSTEM TO WORK IN MY BUILDING.

ABSTRACT PAINTING CREATING FORMS

SHAPE WORKS AS THE GREEN SPACES

SHAPE WORKS AS THE BUILDING

SYMBIOTIC PLAY, SIMPLICITY AND ECONOMY OF EXPRESSION, MULTITEXTURED SHAPES

“A GARDEN IS THE RESULT OF AN ARRANGEMENT OF NATURAL MATERIALS ACCORDING TO AESTHETIC LAWS; INTERWOVEN THROUGHOUT ARE THE ARTIST’S OUTLOOK ON LIFE, HIS PAST EXPERIENCES, HIS AFFECTIONS, HIS ATTEMPTS, HIS MISTAKES, AND HIS SUCCESSES.” — ROBERTO BURLE MARX

SERIES OF ABSTRACT DRAWINGS ( SHAPE AND ARRANGMENT EXPERIMENTATION)

IF THE STRUCTURE WOULD BE DECONSTRUCTED MOST OF THE MATERIALS COULD BE REUSED AND RECYCLED. ESPECIALLY THE DEMAND FOR TIMBER IS CONSTANTLY INCREASING AT THE MOMENT AND THEREFORE THE DEFORESTATION PROCESS AS WELL. THE DIAGRAM FOR THE TIMBER STRUCTURE SHOWS THAT RECYCLING DOES NOT ONLY HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT ON SUSTAINABILITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT BUT IS ALSO A GOOD AND MUCH CHEAPER ALTERNATIVE. THE WHOLE TIMBER STRUCTURE COULD BE REUSED IN MAKING OTHER TIMBER PRODUCTS. AS CONCRETE IS A MATERIAL WHICH SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN A LARGE SCALE IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY THERE ARE STILL SOME NEW AND EFFECTIVE WAYS ON HOW TO RECYCLE THE CONCRETE WASTE AFTERWARDS.