l'école de construire

Lecole de construire

Summer 2011

Studio 4.2: Garden City

A Graduate Architectural School in Walcot Gate, Bath

Richard Winter

02

Preface

!is project has been completed over the last semester and is the "nal design project completed at the University of Bath. Forming the culmination of my undergraduate studies, it aims to showcase the skills and knowledge acquired over the past four years of architectural study.

!anksI would like to thank all tutors involved in helping me throughout the course of the project for their time and dedication, along with a continued enthusiasm, especially in times of distress or dismay!

Martin Gledhill year coordinator / tutorMatthew Wickens personal tutorHarry Charrington advice with historical essayChris Fenton environmental engineerDarren Morecom structural engineerJack Marshall landscape architectPeter Norris regulatory complianceAll visitng critics

and Adobe Illustrator

03

Contents

1 - Analysis

06 Collegiate living08 Garden City Brief10 Agenda12 Courtyard typology14 Building in a World Heritage City15 Mansard roofs16 Site choice17 Opportunities and constraints18 Progression to independent living19 Integration in to the city20 Walcot Mortuary Chapel22 Historical insight24 Archaeology26 Economic impact28 Site locale - Walcot Street30 Relationship to water32 Flood risk34 Site sections35 Views to / from site38 Programmatic allocation39 Personal agenda40 Precedent

2 - Development / rationale

46 Development diagrams54 Accessibility55 Circulation56 Key views57 Permeability

3 - Scheme

64 Plans72 Sections81 Elevation design82 Visuals88 Landscaping

4 - Detail

95 Ventilation96 Solar properties98 Renewables99 Flooding100 Materiality101 Tectonic section102 Details104 Construction sequence

5 - Regulatory compliance

108 Part B - Fire110 Construction Design and Management112 Part M - Accessibility113 Budget calculation

15 June 1767 the Baron Cosimo Piovasco di Rond decides to leave the ground in order to live in the trees. He refuses all luxuries from his aristocrat family, climbs up a holm oak towards an arboreal existence and will never touch the ground again. a person who would like to see the Earth clearly, has to keep the necessary distance [Italo Calvinos fantasies in Il Barone rampante - !e Baron in the trees, 1957]

Eviction of North American tree dwellers - Erasmus Franciscis Lustgarten 1668 (Architecture without architects - Rudofsky)

05

1. Analysisbrief / agenda / site choice / site analysis / precedent

06 Collegiate living08 Garden City Brief

10 Agenda12 Courtyard typology

14 Building in a World Heritage City15 Mansard roofs

16 Site choice17 Opportunities and constraints

18 Progression to independent living19 Integration in to the city

20 Walcot Mortuary Chapel22 Historical insight

24 Archaeology26 Economic impact

28 Site locale - Walcot Street30 Relationship to water

32 Flood risk34 Site sections

35 Views to / from site38 Programmatic allocation

39 Personal agenda40 Precedent

06

Collegiate living

Personal agenda

Having lived in and experiencing numerous models of student living, both in the UK and abroad, I am fascinated with the typology of collective living, with regard to student accommodation. Whilst living together, students have a shared sense of purpose in their study. Although an individual act, a communal environment is strong, under which the relationship between the one, the few and the many exists.

Architectural study is a prime example of this, with a studio atmosphere fostering creative and artistic learning, encouraging the individual through a communal support group.

My interest in to the approaches taken towards student living has led me to pursue a design project which investigates the aforementioned qualities of collective living. !is will be developed through the design of a architectural college located in Bath.

Historical origins of the college

!e idea of a college "rst originates in ancient Rome with the collegium, a group of persons living together under a common set of rules. In the UK, the term is "rst used in describing early learning establishments. Apart from living at home, students would historically have lodged either in colleges or halls of residences. Colleges originated from a functional association among a body of men, both students and teachers, who lived together under a common set of rules.

Oxbridge colleges (the collective term for Oxford and Cambridge), de"ned by their enclosed quads, were founded as religious establishments, typi"ed by Kings College Cambridge, founded in 1441 by Henry VI at the same time as Eton College.

Former US president !omas Je#ersons pioneering design for the University of Virginia campus in 1822 aims to achieve an almost Arcadian reality in its treating of the natural environment. !e master plan takes the form of a grassy rectangle with a rotunda at its head, $anked by colonnaded residential pavilion wings at its sides. !e combination of living and teaching space around a unifying public space has been copied throughout the United States, recognised as the prototypical image of idyllic campus life.

Monastic traditions

!rough means of an investigative essay, I explored the traditions of collegiate living with regard to its monastic traditions. As a typology, the monastery embodies a series of spaces of varying scales. !ese are designed speci"cally: for the individual (cell), the few (chapter house) and the collective (chapel/refectory). Monastic living necessitates voluntary con"nement. !e individual is diminished whilst the collective is celebrated.

!e fourteenth century monastery at Ema (1341) is a walled complex on Monte Acuto outside Florence. !e unadorned building housing monastic life sits in the Florentine hills as meditative retreat for Carthusian monks.Documented by John Ruskin during his travels through Italy, the monastery incisively captures a broad range of social life at di#ering scales - the complex embodies a reconciliation of the individual and the collective.

!e positioning of the charterhouse at Ema provides a setting in which the monks can enjoy an unmediated contact with nature. It is through this that a deeper relationship with God can be developed. !e idea of being at one with nature is longstanding, and was highly in$uential to the work of both Aalto and Le Corbusier.

!e complex structure of the charterhouse at Ema was evident to Le Corbusier on visiting in 1907 10. !e impact of the graceful repetition of the monks cells ultimately proved an inspiration for the cellular organisations in his buildings, in particular the monastery at La Tourette, as well as later urban planning works.

07

!e monastery at Ema forms an explicit relationship to its landscape. In thei primitive cells, each monk is provided with an unmediated relationship to nature.

!e University of Virginias 1822 campus aims for an almost Arcadian treatment of the natural environment

(T)o solve a large proportion of human problems you need locations and accommodation. And that

means architecture and town planning. !e Ema charterhouse was a location, and the accommodation

was there, arranged in the "nest architectural biology. !e Ema charterhouse is an organism. !e

term organism had been born in my mind

Le Corbusier

08

Garden City; Alienation, Nature & Reconciliation

Response to brief

!e brief for the project, entitled Garden City, brings about key philosophical and cultural issues relating to Alienation, Nature & Reconciliation.

Alienation

Society as a whole has become arguably more alienated within itself, paradoxically within a cultural age providing huge developments in communications which aim to connect us together. Architecturally, our built environment is becoming more and more introverted with private gates, security and CCTV rife in modern society.

!e Southgate shopping center in Bath epitomises many of these characteristics, forming a piecemeal attempt to bring a modern shopping complex in to the centre of Bath. Introverted in design, it chooses to ignore the archetypal Georgian principles such as retaining views to the surrounding countryside, whilst paying lip-service to the citys predominant architectural style with a stone faade and blocked-in windows. Unsure of what it wants to be, the Southgate center can be seen as an apt metaphor for our society as a whole, unsure and uncon"dent of what exactly it wants to be.

With regard to student living, the Oxbridge model of collegiate living promotes a strong separation between college and town. It is this so-called town / gown split which characterises many University towns, inevitably creating a sense of separation between the student and non-student populations. Is it essential for the college to alienate oneself? Arguably, some amount of separation is required for a college to function e#ectively; how this is achieved and carried out is a key architectural issue.

Nature

Especially from its monastic roots, collegiate living has had a strong relationship to a natural environment, whether the rolling hills and vineyards surrounding the monastery at Ema, or the pristine courtyard of an Oxford college. !ere is no doubt that initiating this connection to nature is not only desirable but fundamental, whether creating a secluded retreat or simply enhancing a sense of place.

!e use of the courtyard typology is inherent in both monastic and educational collegiate environments. An inward-looking building based around a courtyard provides a controlled and enclosed environment, separated from the outside world.

Reconciliation

!e reconciliation of this separation can be achieved, utilising architecture as a device to drive and encourage change both socially and politically. In a city such as Bath, are the Georgian ideals now outdated or still relevant to this day? Is a separation actually required to once again unify?

Only that which has been properly separated may be joined

Alchemical saying

09

!e new Southgate shopping center in Bath ignores fundamental Georgian principles with an introverted appraoch to nature, as well as receiving stylistic crticism. Bath is based on and generally adheres to Palladian ideals, with views at key points to the surrounding countryside a particular feature.

010

Collegiate archetype!e collegiate architype of a self-contained communal group with a shared sense of purpose has large advantages. How that age-old tradition is interpreted in a contextual and relevant way is key in making the scheme work.

High quality accommodation for graduate studentsHigh quality provisions for graduate students are low in Bath, with a large proportion of students living in poor-quality rented accommodation. Would provide a further attraction to draw in top students coming to study at the proposed Graduate School of Design and Engineering.

Learning spacesEssential in creating a collegiate atmosphere is the incorporation of spaces on-site for teaching and learning.

LocationA city-centre location will provide further city-centre presence for the University of Bath, providing a further platform for integration in the the city centre

Public forum!e way the college relates to the public realm of Bath is vital in the creation of a successful scheme. A public forum for architectural and other issues would be a signi"cant addition to the city, also allowing for the provision of the facilities to be used for conferences.

Permanent / visiting academics!e provision of new intellectual stimiulation to keep students alert and motivated. !e continuous presence of academic faculty will foster students inquisitivity, whilst maintaining a sense of continuity through a head tutor

PermeabilityIntegration in to the public realm is vital in securing a positive relationship with Bath as a city, enabling the scheme to work on an urban level

Agenda

Key ingredientsA rapid expansion in the number of University students in Bath means an increasing shortage in student provisions. !e construction of a purpose built college of architecture would give both the Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering as well as the University a self-supporting facility in the city centre.

!is facility would provide a self-supporting location for Part II architectural students to come and study, completing the proposed one-yaer long MArch course residentially in the college.

public

011

Architectural devices employed

Private courtyard / garden!e building should have a strong architectural link with a private courtyard or green space of sorts as well as a more open public landscaped element.

Link with River AvonTo provide access to a proposed new riverside walk as set out by the council in their Local Development Framework. !e site also provides the potential for a new pedestrian crossing towards Henrietta Park and Grove Street,

Public park!e currently neglected park provides very little for the public. A large amount of the site will be used to form a high quality public space, developing the Walcot Street shopping area and enhancing the citys riverside.

Personal exterior accessAll rooms should have an external presence, especially due to the buildings siting in an open meadow, and therefore all study bedrooms for both students and tutors should have access to a balcony / private exterior speace of some sorts.

Avoiding complete repetition yet developing a rhythm and order is key in balancing the relationship between the on, the few and the many

012

!e Latin term Hortus conclusus (enclosed garden) was initiated by medieval theologans interpreting the reference as a pre"gurative symbol of Marys

fruitfulness but perpetual virginity (like the shut gate, Porta clausa, through which only God may enter, from the vision of Ezekiel 44:2). Abundant trees and

$owers, especially roses and lilies may be indicated in the peaceful landscape setting.

18th century engraving of Christ Church College, Oxford

!ere is no freedom in the desert.!ough there are no fences, no posts.It is better - if you wish to be free - to elegantly wander through a laberynth

Gerrit Komrij. 1984

013

Courtyard typology

Hortus conclusus

!e enclosed garden, or Hortus conclusus in Latin, developed fromthe monastic walled garden, and provide a particular seclusion from the outside world. Paradoxically as much open as closed, the enclosed garden can be seen as a microcosm of our world, a landscape without horizon.

Used archetypically across cultures and continents, courtyard arrangements are utilised the vast majority of the time in Oxbridge college arrangements. Allowing for separation from the outside world, the typology is truly introverted in nature.

In order to integrate the scheme more so within the public realm in Bath, the entirely enclosed courtyard needs to be developed in order to create a degree of separation whilst not becoming entirely inward-looking.

014

Building in a World heritage city

An approach to building in Bath

I have decided to approach the design of the college with the aim of providing a contextual yet modern response in an historic setting, as opposed to making a bold architectural statement.

Fundamental to the success of a lot of buildings in Bath is their simple and limited material palette. So%, mellow, oolitic limestone, o%en quarried locally, is used vastly around the city, ensuring a visual uniformity throughout the city despite a mixture of architectural styles. A rhythm is created in the subtle backdrop by means of elevational treatments, including proportioned openings and regular limestone chimneys which sit on wall partitions. !e built environment forms a subtle backdrop to the citys green spaces, and the subsequent life which is carried out within it.

!e negotiation of the citys topography has driven di#erent approaches to its solution, most notably that of John Pinch, who uni"ed buildings stepped faades by means of a continuous stone cornice and parapet detail.

Walkability

Bath was the UKs pre-eminen walking and promenading city in the 18th century, and even to this day boasts easy pedestrian access and navigation on the whole. With vast swathes of the city centre lying in the hands of but a few land owners including the council, a reversal in roles allows pedestrians and cyclists priority over cars. !ere is generally a rhythm to the network of spaces with clear pedestrian circuits to wider areas, supporting both retail and cultural activity. !is accessibility is let down by lesser connections and poorer routes away from the city centre, especially in relation to the River Avon,an issue which is key to address within the proposed scheme.

Of all the gay places the world can a!ord,By gentle and simple for pastime adord,

Fine balls, and "ne concerts, "ne buildings, and springs,Fine walks, and "ne views, and a thousand "ne things,

(Not to mention the sweet situation and ait)What placem my dear mother, with Bath can compare?

Christopher AnsteyThe New Bath Guide, 1766

sketch arrangement of key Georgian features

015

Mansard roofs

Rumoured to have been developed in France as a means to bypass window taxes, mansard roofs (hipper gambrels) are found throughout Bath in di#erent variations, as a means of shaping and inhabiting a roof. Generally timber framed and requiring no extra masonry structure, they are generally doubled up and formed from dark grey slate, sat behind a parapet wall and punctuated rhythmically by a series of chimney stacks. Creating a visual contrast with Baths creamy stone faades, the incorporation of similar roof-forms throughout the city contributes to its coherence on an urban level, crowning the citys stone topography with a black dress of slate and lead.

!e unique mansard roofs of Bath are easily visible from both oblique aerial views as well as from streetscapes. !e general rules governing roof aesthetics are followed unsuccessfully in the new Southgate centre, in which di#ering roof forms clearly stand out from internal courtyards.

I believe that simply copying a building is not the correct way to develop a modern design, although an understanding of historical principles is essential if it is to be reinvented. Designing a modern interpretation of the archetypal mansard roof will become a key and fundamental driver in the development of the scheme.

016

Site choice

Walcot gate parkSitting north of the city centre, Walcot Gate Park is a council-owned park which is currently an underutilised green space which is predominantly used for dog-walking (and its associated mess).

Technically sitting in the Baths green belt, an exception to the planning rules will be assumed on the grounds that the proposed college will contribute greatly to the city on an urban level, allowing a partial development of the site if a large part is retained as a new and improved public park of some sort.

Site ownershipCurrently owned in its entirety by Bath & North East Somerset Council, an assumption is made that the council would release the land for developmental purposes, with partial funding support to aid the construction of a new and improved public park. In return the client (the University of Bath) may be expected to contribute to the parks upkeep and maintenance, possibly by means of a Section 106 Agreement.

017

HenriettaPark

!e Podium /Bath Library

CattleMarket

!eCircus

QueenSquare

BathGuildhall

Pulteney Weir

Walcot Gate Cemetery

ClevelandBridge

WalcotGate

!e P

arag

on

Great Pul

teney Stre

et

PulteneyBridge

Walc

ot St

reet

London Ro

ad

HedgemeadPark

Lansdown Road

!e Rec

Cam

den C

rescen

t

Bathwick Street

Rive

r Avo

n

River Avon

Site opportunities and constraints

Walcot Mortuary ChapelPotential to develop a collegiate relationship with the chapel, incorporating the chapels grounds and cemetery in to the proposal. Use of the space for public functions such as a seminar room or exhibition space would provide character as well as a way to relate to the sites history.

TreesLargely deciduous, planting around the perimeter of the site makes the open site feel distinctly enclosed

Public parkOpportunity to integrate the scheme on a civic and urban level within the city

Slope!e means by which the built intervention traverses the slope down the site will characterise the scheme greatly

River frontageOriginally built around the river, Bath has largely turned its back on the River Avon.

018

institutionalstudent hall

hostelstaircase!at

house

central cateringcentral catering

self-cateringcentral / self-catering

self-cateringself-catering

-corridor plan formcorridor plan form

rooms around a stair!ats o" stairs or corridors

-

Progression towards independent living

Living arrangement

Living as a student o%en provides a persons "rst experience of living away from home. A variety of di#erent student living approaches provide quite di#erent

student experiences.!ey range from more institutional setups to private house-rentals, with each method having its own bene"ts and drawbacks. I aim

to provide a central refectory for all students to use, an element which is key in the scheme in instigating a sense of togetherness within the student body, a

celebration of the many.

Grouping size

A%er extensive studies, it has been proven that groups of six form the ideal social group, not too big to get lost but not to small so as to feel trapped. Accessible from

a stairwell, the arrangement follows the general Oxford tradition of arranging accommodation around stairwells. !ese groupings of six students will be

assigned a sta# member / tutor who will live in the same block, alongside a communal kitchen and lounge facility.

019

Integration in to the city

Access routes

Walcot Street sits just north of the city centre, forming a linear retail spine towards the city centre. !e lack of an east-west connection at any point makes the street one-dimensional in nature, lacking any option to break o# in to the rest of the city.

Bath and North East Somerset council outline brief plans in their public realm strategy regarding the development of Walcot Gate Park. Demarcated as a destination park it is envisaged as a revitalised green space in the city, providing a setting for passive recreation and small scale events with the provision of skilful landscape design. I feel that the site has a greater potential however, in providing an opportunity to reconnect and enhance a small portion of the city instead.

8

94

5

7

12

3

6

proposed riverside connection

parks, gardens and recreational space

1 - Hedgemead Park2 - Walcot Gate Park3 - Henrietta Park4 - Sydney Gardens5 - !e Rec

key thoroughfare

proposed riverside walk

6 - Parade Gardens7 - Green Park8 - Norfolk Crescent9 - Victoria Park

021

Walcot Mortuary Chapel

Sitting at the top of the site, the disused mortuary chapel retains a dominance over the park. Disused largely for the last century, it has been used sporadically for various purposes, such as a scout hut and storage space.

!e way the chapel is incorporated or addressed in the scheme will a#ect the nature of what is built. Instigating a relationship with a chapel is archetypically done in Oxbridge colleges, and may add to the sense of civitas in the collegiate environment. Currently owned by the council, it is rented out from time to time for just 120 per week as a small-scale exhibition venue for artists.

Currently locked outside of exhibitions and hiding behind metal railings, opening up to the chapel and allowing a greater degree of permeability through its grounds would lead to a reinvigoration in its life.

022

1930sFencing o# of Chapel in corner of site

Development initiated on opposite side of the riverFemale penitentiary next to river

Victorian school still in use

1970sSite in use as playground

Victorian school in use as warehouse

1880sLargely undeveloped on the opposite side of the river, the Mortuary Chapel sits unadorned in the corner of the site

023

Historical insight

Residential tendencies

Historical research reveals the changing nature of the site and its surroundings. As is the case with the rest of the city, and arguably the country as a whole, there has been a gradual shi% in use in and around Walcot Street, from an industry-heavy area to a more residential-based locale. Numerous housing schemes have been built in the last 20 years nearby, including the Bridgemead Care Home just across the river, and a Methodist housing scheme adjacent to the proposed site. !e number of churches in the area is also surprising, with some, if not all of them struggling to maintain a church-going poplation, instead turning to commercial purposes (e.g. co#ee shop in St. Swithins) or an occasional recreational use, as is the case with Walcot Mortuary Chapel.

Generally, adaptive reuse allows the citys built fabric to be restored and renovated, such as the Victorian school adjacent on the south side of the site, now a high-quality residential unit. Two of the elderly housing schemes nearby are some of the few examples of new-build developments of recent times.

Considering the social and economic changes the every city inevitably undergoes, the Walcot area has fared surprisingly well, and is known outright by itself as a key shopping area now, mostly for a collection of unique and independent traders, cra%s and businesses.

!e opportunity for a new-build project on a green"eld site in Bath is an uncommon one, and in doing so there is a huge opportunity to a#ect the surrounding area and its characteristics, either in a good or bad way. !e proposed college will add another layer of history to the area, hopefully with positive consequences.

024

1694

1810

1852

1900-1904

1930-1936

1951-1980

2010

Historical development of Bath!e site sits in a small pocket of Bath dating back in places to

Medieval times. Lying o# London Road, one of four key Roman access roads to the city, the site is a last remnant of a hidden,

Medieval Bath unknown to the public.

025

Archaeology

Formerly a settlement from the 1st-5th century, the site and its surroundings boast early and late medieval developmental history as well as signs of Roman occupation. Sitting on the edge of the historic centre of Bath, some reports label the zone around Walcot Street as the Artisans Quarter.

In recent times the site sat above the intended route for a proposed subterannean tunnel across the city to ease congestion which was never carried out. With a vernacular which is largely Edwardian and Victorian, the area has been marked by the council as a site of nature conservation interest.

Development on such a sensitive site will obviously need to take account of its historical signi"cance, with the necessary detailed archaeological surveys being carried out before any development works were to be carried out.

026

Economic impact

Demand for accommodation

!e University of Bath has set out a plan for growth over the next 10 years. !e forecast for growth estimates an increase of around 4% per annum, resulting in net increase of over 4,000 students in 10 years time. !is would inevitably increase the demand for University accommodation. At current rates the University will barely be able to cover the incrase in demand for students with new on-campus provisions.

Long-term approach to student living

!e construction of just over 30 study bedrooms in the city centre will make a neglibible e#ect on the supply of student housing in Bath. What the scheme does try to pursue however is the setting of a precedent of a more collegiate-based appraoch to student living in the city, providing additional facilities such as ancillary teaching facilities and community spaces. It also makes a step in the move against students living in HMOs (Houses for Multiple Occupation) and the associated negative aspects on the (non-student) community which results when vast swathes of housing goes unoccupied for over one thirds of the year.

!e incorporation of a series of small, specialist colleges throughout the city which are linked to the University is an interesting prospect. If integrated within the public realm, there is no reason why the whole city can not be dissimilar to Oxford for example, developing a world-class knowledge-based economy based around these colleges.

Existing location of University facilities in the city centre

With exception to Carpenter House, the Universitys facilities in the city centre are primarily just residential buildings which o#er nothing back to the city on a social level. !ey are also predominantly located so the south of the city. Locating a new college belonging to the University would endeavour to provide something for the Walcot area and city centre as a whole.

!ornbank Gardens

John Wood Complex

Carpenter House

Pulteney Court

Clevelands / Canal Wharf

Walcot Gate Park

B

C

D

E

F

A

B

C

D

E

F

A

027

5

University of Bath - Current Supply of Student Accommodation

2.5 It is estimated that the University of Bath generated a need for 8,508 study bedrooms in 2009/10. The

University maintains 2,372 study bedrooms at its Claverton Campus. Elsewhere in the city the

University maintains a total of 887 study bedrooms, resulting in a total stock of 3,259.

Table 2: University of Bath Study Bedrooms

Accommodation Beds Location

Woodland Court 353 Claverton

Marlborough and Solsbury Court 463 Claverton

Westwood 632 Claverton

Brednon Court 107 Claverton

Norwood 139 Claverton

Eastwood Complex 563 Claverton

Polden Court 79 Claverton

Osborne House 36 Claverton

John Wood Court, Avon Street 176 City

John Wood, Main Building 60 City

Carpenter House, Broad Quay 133 City

Pulteney Court, Plteney Road 131 City

Thornbank gardens 217 City

Clevelands Buildings, Sydney Wharf 149 City

Canal Wharf, Sydney Wharf 21 City 2.6 The University of Baths policy on the allocation of study bedrooms is to accommodate in manged

accommodation:

All new to Bath, full-time students in their first year studying Bachelors and Masters

undergraduate programmes on the Claverton Campus.

All new Foundation Year students based at the City of Bath College.

All new full-time Foundation Degree in Sports Performance students

All new overseas fee-paying postgraduates.

A limited number of visiting/exchange students as determined by reciprocal agreement negotiated

through the Study Abroad Department at the University of Bath

Students with specific medical conditions.

2.7 In 2009/10 the stock of managed accommodation catered for 38.3% of the total estimated need for

accommodation, leaving 5,249 students to find accommodation in the private rented market. It is

estimated that this requires about 1,200 properties, assuming an average student household size of 4.5

per property. The Oldfield Park and Westmoreland areas of the city have the highest concentration of

HMOs.

6

University of Bath - Future Plans for the Claverton Campus

2.8 In October 2008, in response to Policy GDS.1/B11 of the B&NES Local Plan (see appendix A), the

University of Bath published a draft master plan for the Claverton campus that looks forward to

2020.The draft master plan is the third phase of consultation and follows previous engagement in

November 2007 and April 2008 that provided the background to the issues faced and invited comments

on the future of the campus.

2.9 The draft masterplan seeks to increase the number of bed spaces on campus by 2,358 by the year 2020.

This would double the number of on campus bed space from 2,342 to 4,700 and alongside the existing

942 off campus, bed space result in a total supply of 5,642.

2.10 The University of Bath anticipates a reduced growth rate in student numbers due to demographic

changes, global economics and changes to government spending. The emerging masterplan for

Claverton Down assesses the implications of student growth of between 1% and 3% per annum to 2020.

2.11 Table 3 projects the existing student population forward to 202/21 at an average annual growth rate of

2%. It indicates the likely full time / part time split, industrial placements and the projected additional

demand for additional bedrooms. It shows the demand for bedrooms demand growing by 2,493 to

2020/21.

2.12 Viewed in relation to the proposed masterplan for the Claverton Campus (2,358 additional bed spaces) it

can be seen the University Bath would just about consume its own smoke under a 2% growth per

annum scenario. However, this level of development / growth scenario would mean that the existing

level of HMOs would likely to remain at current levels.

2.13 Calculations presented at Appendix X show that under a growth rate of 3% per annum the increase in

the demand for study bedrooms could not be matched by deliverable on-campus development. Growth

at 1% per annum would mean a greater number of study bedrooms theoretically enabling a contraction

in the student lettings market (subject to the housing preferences of students).

7

Table 3: University of Bath, Demand and Supply for Student Accommodation

2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21 Change

Total Students 12970 13738 14013 14293 14579 14870 15168 15471 15781 16096 16418 16747 17081 4,111

Full Time 10586 11136 11359 11586 11818 12054 12295 12541 12792 13048 13309 13575 13846 3,260

Part Time 2432 2602 2654 2707 2761 2816 2873 2930 2989 3049 3110 3172 3235 803

Placements 2,500 2,628 2,681 2,734 2,789 2,845 2,902 2,960 3,019 3,079 3,141 3,204 3,268 768

Housing Need (FT minus placements)

8,086 8,508 8,678 8,852 9,029 9,209 9,393 9,581 9,773 9,968 10,168 10,371 10,579 2,493

Beds On campus 2,342 2,342 2,342 2,582 2,822 3,062 3,302 3,542 3,782 4,022 4,262 4,502 4,700 2358

Beds Off campus 952 952 952 952 952 952 952 952 952 952 952 952 952 0

Beds Total 3,294 3,294 3,294 3,534 3,774 4,014 4,254 4,494 4,734 4,974 5,214 5,454 5,652 2,358

Private Sector Demand & Supply of bedrooms

4,792 5,214 5,384 5,318 5,255 5,195 5,139 5,087 5,039 4,994 4,954 4,917 4,927 135

Private Sector Demand & Supply of HMOs

1,065 1,159 1,196 1,182 1,168 1,154 1,142 1,131 1,120 1,110 1,101 1,093 1,095 30

University documentation setting out student numbers and provisions for growth

028

Terrace, Walcot Street

A unique and small-scale shopping parade located just away from the city centre, inhabited by a series of independent shops and residential accommodation. In this case, sited along a gradual slope which is navigated gracefully at roof-level by means of a series of up-sweeps (as described by Peter Smithson) in the tradition of John Pinch.

!e way in which any slope is addressed and navigated will strongly in$uence the nature of the scheme, a problem which is further compounded by the di&culty in building down the slope at Walcot Gate due to its situation in a $ood zone.

029

Site locale - Walcot Street

Site Approach

Forming the primary access through Walcot Gate, the site sits o# Walcot Street, a small shopping centre of Bath of mostly small-scale independent shops and businesses. Key in the development of the scheme is the opening-up of the sites river frontage, providing a connection with the councils proposed riverside walk. !ere are currently no provisions for riverside access, both physical and visual, for the entire length of Walcot Street from the Cattle Market all of the way to Cleveland Bridge.

Drawing in the public through the site would inevitably be bene"cial for the Walcot locale, increasing footfall through the introduction of an appealing walking circuit, and therefore local businesses in the area. Small businesses, cra%s and independent traders are synonymous with Bath, and promoting these areas in any way, with local or tourist trade can only be bene"cial to maintaining Baths integrity and what makes it unique.

030

Explicit relationship with water

Canalettos Venice, !e Grand Canal, Looking North-East From Palazzo Balbi To !e Rialto Bridge

In an extreme example, residents of Venice have chosen to live and embrace the waters which are gradually eroding their city

031

Relationship to water

Historical relationship with water

Historically, Bath has forged a strong link with the River Avon upon which it is based. !e citys hot springs are what originally gave it its name (and business), whilst the construction of the Kennet and Avon canal allowed for industry to thrive in the 19th century. With a large portion of the city turning its back to the river, attempts to revive this connection have been proposed through the construction of a riverside walk in key areas of Baths riverscape, including the northern section running past the site up to Cleveland Bridge.

In recent times, cities such as Barcelona, Lisbon, Porto, Lyon and Bordeaux, have made large-scale design decisions in order to conciously face and address their waterfronts. Developments on this scale are harder to achieve in Bath where there are less new-build opportunities, with exception to the proposed Bath Western Riverside development.

RiversideWest

RiversideNorth

RiversideCentral

NorthQuays

RiversideSouth

Proposed riverside walk

Destination green spaces

Major riverscape areas

Improved linkages

Improvements to bridges

Proposed new bridge

032

Flood riskzone 3a (1%-5% AEP)

zone 3b (

033

site

site

extent of extreme !ood!ood risk

extent of extreme !ood!ood risk

South section

East section

Flood risk

Flooding

Even a%er a series of $ood defences were instated in the 1970s , Bath is still suceptible to the $ooding of the River Avon. !e citys history is largely cahracterised by the raising of a large part of the city centre, creating a new datum or ground level out of reach of the water.

Any proposed development must rightfully meet the Environment Agencys criteria, that a new development can not have any detrimental e#ect to $ooding at the site, or downstream.

Working with $ood levels in mind as a design parameter, I will invesitgate how a relationship with the River Avon can be forged successfully, whilst not a#ecting $ood levels at any point downstream. If at all successful, it sets an interesting and useful precedent for building in the Avons $ood plain. !is could potentially create a new riverfront design condition which is not simply to either let the builidng $ood or to stay away from the rivers edge completely.

Paradoxically there is a desire and need to get closer to nature (the river), even if it $oods and proves its strength.

034

site

site

!e Paragon

St. Swithins Church

Hedgemead Park

Walcot CourtMethodist Home

St. Swithins Church

St. Johns Church

Hedgemead Park

Walcot Gate Chapel

ClevelandBridge

London Road

Camden CrescentLansdown Road

South section1:2,000

East section1:2,000

North section1:2,000

River Avon

Walcot St.

siteRiver Avon

HenriettaPark

Bridgemeadnursing home

HiltonHotel

St. SwithinsChurch

CamdenCrescent

!e ParagonWalcot Gate

Cemetery

035

31

5

10

96

8

7

42

Site locale / views to and from

Being just one of few entirely open green spaces in the centre of Bath,Walcot Gate Park reveals relatively little of itself from the outside. Due to a series of large trees along the riverfront and south perimeter, the site remains largely hidden, with a large wall ensuring there is no physical or visual link with the River Avon. !e site really remains a hidden gem in Bath city centre, only revealing itself to those who know.

A careful dialogue between the site and River Avon must be developed which is open and permeable yet not an urban plaza. Initiating a connection between Walcot Street and the proposed riverside walk will foster greater use of the area whilst still partially developing it, integrating a high quality green space in to the citys public realm as well as providing new educational facilities. Minimal removal of trees should be encouraged however, and uitlising large trees on site should be used as a design parameter.

One of the few visual connections outwards from the site is the prospect of the surrounding green bowl which Bath sits in. Fittingly in this case it points towards Claverton Down and the University, creating a dialogue with the institution the building will belong to

14

7 8

5

2 3

037

Walcot Mortuary ChapelFormer Victorian school

site boundary

Methodist old peoples home

site boundary

Boundary to River Avon

9

10

Site boundaries and surroundings

038

-SL_PISLL]LU[ZWHJLSLJ[\YLKPUPUN250m2

7YP]H[LNHYKLUSHUKZJHWPUN

90)(IVVRZOVW75m2

*HMt150m2

2P[JOLU50m2

7SHU[YVVT100m2

-V`LY20m2

7\ISPJ9LHST

7VY[LY

)PRLZ

*VTTVUYVVT75m2

3PIYHY`50m2

>*Z50m2

:[VYL50m2

UVLUZ\P[LILKYVVTZ20m2 ea.

;\[VYHWHY[TLU[70m2 *VVRPUN25m2

*SY



*SY



*SY



*SY



*SY

UVVMMPJLZ20m2 ea.

*HYWHYR

100m2>*

20m2

UVZLTPUHYTLL[PUNYVVTZ

30m2 ea.

9VVM[VWIHY75m2

physical linkvisual link

Key

Scale 1:500

(Double height)

Study groupings- 6no. en suite bedrooms (20m) 120m- Cooking facilities 25m- Tutor appartment 70m- Cleaner / store 5m Total per study grouping 220m

O"ces (20m) 80m2Seminar / meeting rooms (30m) 120m2Library 50m2 Common room 75m2WCs 20m2

Flexible event space 250m2Cafe / co#ee shop 150m2Kitchen 50m2Roo$op bar 75m2RIBA bookshop 75m2WCs 50m2Store 50m2

Foyer 20m2Porter / caretaker 10m2Bike store 10m2Car park 100m2

Plant 100m2

Private garden / landscaping

Total 2,285m2

Circulation (+20%) 485m2

Total "oor area 2,850m2

5no.

4no.4no.

T

(JJVTTVKH[PVU

T

7\ISPJMHJPSP[PLZT

(UJPSSHY`

T

;V[HST

*VUMLYLUJLZ

Initial programmatic allocation

Programmatic development

Fundamental to the success of the scheme is the arrangement of study bedrooms in a building, craeting a speci"c relationship between the individual and the collctive. Perceived as the ideal group size for living together for means of social interaction, accommodation is to be divided in to groups of six students along with one tutor and a communal lounge, forming a study unit or group. !e concept of living together with teachers is vital in developing a coherent and respectful relationship between students and teachers.

A total of "ve living groups are proposed, with an explicit relationship around a central landscaped element, providing a separation between private bedroom spaces and public spaces.

Initially proposed to include speci"c public programme, the schedule gradually developed throughout the course of the project whereby public-only program became incorporated as the colleges program, allowing for public use at certain times.

039

Personal agenda

Project objectives

A%er experiencing the living environment provided in a well thought-out collegiate environment, I am interested in how these principles can be applied to a similar building located in Bath. Building on or near a $ood plain also encourages a strong and bold design response, as does building on a slope, both in a historical context but in a truly modern fashion.

Responding to the brief regarding alienation and reconciliation requires a concious decision to decide on what the nature of the college is. In my case, I am proposing a college which aims to reconciliate itself with the city by integrating within the public realm.

I see the design project as possibly setting a precedent for how the University could expand as a whole, running a series of satellite colleges and facilities throughout the town.

Funding

Designed as a new facility for the University of Baths Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, funding would be sourced directly from the Universtiy. A continued program of expansion and maintenance ensures the University has a generous budget to spend on student accommodation, which it aims to rapidly increase provisions for.

Potential grants and donations could be sought to aid funding, on the premise that any development would enhance the local area and city as a whole greatly. Although scarce, lottery funding for education, as well as a possible grant from the HEFC could be applied for. To supplement the sum, donations from wealthy alumni of the department, along with local "rms could be sought. A possible naming rights deal could even be considered for a large enough donation.

Once established, the college would aim to be at least self-sustaining, if not pro"t-making. A rental income would be provided by students paying rent, with income from conferences and public use of the facilities in addition

An estimated budget for the works would be in the region of 10m, assuming a cost of 3,000/sqm required to achieve a high-quality "nish.

Design life

As set out in the project description, the college would need to set the highest standards for Architecture and construction, being constructed to a high-quality "nish. A robust and well-tought-out construction method should ensure the building to have a design life of 80-100 years.

!e initial expense in providing a high-qulaity building envelope would aim to be cost-e#ective over the buildings life-cycle. Even if future changes were necessary, the interior could be refurbished or re"tted with minimal works being carried out to external strcuture or components.

Client

As set out in the project description, the college would need to set the highest standards for Architecture and construction, being constructed to a high-quality "nish. A robust and well-tought-out construction method should ensure the building to have a design life of 80-100 years.

040

Narkom!n Housing Collective, Moscow

Interlocking section

!e groundbreaking 1929 apartment block by Moisei Ginzburg utilised its spatial order to stimulate a new form of shared life. Each apartment included private cooking and bathing facilities with a communal pavilion linking each dwelling via two internal streets.

It pioneered new apartment layouts with the buildings cross-section revealing an innovative arrangement of three split-level units interlocking both above and below the internal streets, allowing for spacious units with double-height living rooms, arranged densely.

A visit on site during construction by Le Corbusier saw Corbusier use the same stratgey in his Ville Radieuse and Unit at Marseille.

Circulation route!e concept of streets in the sky was developed and promotoed by Le Corbusier. Opening the

circulation to the elements, known as deck access was generally considered a failure due to the social problems associated with the council estates they were seen on

041

Kendrew Court, St. Johns College, Oxford

!ree-sided courtyard

A high quality addition to an existing college in Oxford by MJP,, Kendrew Court orientates itself around a mature oak tree at the centre of a three-sided courtyard arrangement. A simple, yet explicit relationship is set up in the courtyard with the tree, reinforced by the the cloistered access around three side.s Stair towers at each corner of the scheme provide access to circulation on each $oor. A series of precast concrete "ns walls provide structural support, with prefabricated timber in"ll panels sitting recessed inside the openings.

042

Extension to Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge

An L-shaped etension by Allies and Morrison embraces a courtyard whilst incorporating a cloistered circulation route straight through the building. Also provides a new semi-underground lecture hall / performing space, enabling conferences and events.Vertical emphasis is provided at stairwells with vertical canopy projections.

Materials used throughout are simple, mostly brick, with relief provided by timber panels and a contrasting conrete string course.

043

Oskar von Miller Forum

!e design for a seven-storey student accommodation block in the centre of Munich by Herzog + Partner incorporates a ground $oor lecture theatre and exhibition space to mediate between the public realm and a secluded courtyard space.

Design classics are used to furnish the entire building, aiming to constantly remind the architecture and engineering students who live there of the importance of high-quality design.

Split in to study groups of 10 students on each $oor, the building also includes a communal bistro, library, lounge, meeting rooms as well as large appartments for visitng professors

045

2. Development / rationaleproject developmental diagrams

46 Development diagrams54 Accessibility55 Circulation

56 Key views57 Permeability

046

5,200m

R. Avon

1Existing Site

publicpark

developedarea

2Division of siteHalf of the site is to be developed, whilst the other half is to be retained and improved as a public park leading down to the river

047

3Communal relationships!e site provides three explicit communal relationships;

Spiritual communal - a dialogue with the Mortuary ChapelNatural communal - an inherent connection to the immediate surrounding meadowCivic communal - an association with the River Avon, providing a martime connection and martime link

civic communal

spiritualcommunal

naturalcommunal

4Riverside connection!e public park also acts as a reinforced connection to a proposed riverside walk

riverside w

alk

to Walcot

St.

048

53-sided courtyardA!er multiple studies in to di"erent courtyard variations, a 3-sided courtyard typology retains enclosed characteristics whilst instigating and opening up a dialogue with Walcot Mortuary Chapel.

6Raised plinthBuilding responds to heavy !ood risk by sitting at a raised level to allow !ood waters to pass beneath.

049

7Cloistered courtyardA new datum is set at the ground !oor (determined from the maximum !ood level). Covered circulation around the courtyard is provided by means of a cloister at one level

8Porous landscape!e landscape proposal is allowed to permeate underneath the raised building and in to the courtyard, linking the two landscapes and thus so"ening the transition between private and public

050

9Future expansionShi!ing the courtyard slightly o" axis with the church allows for potential future expansion both up and across the site

10Kinked adjustment!e plan is kinked to allow for large deciduous trees on the south boundary of the site. !e shi"ing in plan provides unique corner conditions and multiple river views down the slope

viewsto river

051

11Split section room arrangementA 3/2 storey room arrangement, similar to that used in the Narkom!n building, allows for two similar but unique student "ats with double height spaces, whilst incorporating circulation

circ.

3 storeys2 storeys

upper !at

lower !at

circ.

12Dual aspect study bedroomsOrientation of bedrooms allows for a north-facing, single height sleep/work area, with a separated double-height lounge space and balcony facing south. A bathroom / WC sits in the central non-passive zone, whilst shading from balconies prevent overheating

sleep /work

sleep /work

lounge

lounge

balcony

balcony

circ.

shower /wc

shower /wc

north-litwork/sleep

spaces

circ.

double-height loungespaces with south-facing

balconies

052

13Distorted mansardRoof is developed as a mutation of a traditional Georgian mansard roof, with the bedroom area incorporating a dormer window and lounge projecting through means of an L-shaped balcony projection

14Completed typical appartment unitClear separation of di!erent functions is obvious and allows for distinct work / sleep / relaxation / sanitary areas

053

15Study groupingsProven to be the ideal communal group size, groups of six students (three split-section units) are grouped together with a larger tutors appartment along with a communal lounge, housed in a wider variant of the same unt

6no. student appts.1no. tutor appt.1no. lounge / kitchen

3.0m

3.0m

3.0m

3.6m

a

a

a

b

tutor app

artment

student appa

rtmentstudent

appartmentstu

dent appartme

nt

lounge /

kitchen

circ.

verticalneighbours!

16Completed living unitAnalagous to an Canterbrigian stairwell grouping, each grouping of 6 students and a tutor / professor forms a social and cohesive social group. !e wider tutors room is signi"ed subtly through the incorporation of a full-height dormer window - a slight variation on the standard living unit.

054

17Residential / communal splitTwo wings of residential accommodation (three living groups each) situated for optimal solar orientation. Two-storey communal programme sited in riverside wing.

N

communal

residential 18Solar adjustment!e southern wing drops a single storey, allowing more light in to the courtyard. !e northern wing is raised one storey, allowing the insertion of communal programme at ground level, relating to the public park.

cloister

communal

residential

circulation

landscape

lowering blockencloses landscape

and allows moresun in to courtyard

raised to allow insertionof communal programmeat ground "oor

055

19Lecture hallAn underground lecture theatre sits in the centre of the courtyard in an enclosed concrete container - a swimming pool in reverse - to keep out !ood waters.

lecture theatre

residential

lecture residential

communal

20Mansard speci!c6no. living groups arranged on both north and south wings, with developed mansard roof forms.

056

21Continuous roofRoof develops to become continual at kinks creating two interlocking, continuous roofs. Tutor rooms occupy the kinked conditions on the south wing, whilst the elevated space on the north-east corner takes prime position overlooking the river.

head tutorbedroom

(M.Gledhill)

22Adjustment to special conditionsRooms at corners and on kinks become special and develop as variations of standard rooms

057

Aerial view of developed form on site

058

External circulation

boat dock /mooring

ground !oorcloister

carpark

riverside walk

Walcot St.

riverside w

alk

disabled / "re

access

circulation (disabled accessible)circulationcar accessboat accessbench / resting place

Designed primarily to make both the building and park accesssible, a long, winding landscaped ramp leads from the top of the site to the riverside walk, whilst a single-level cloister provides level access to all parts of the buiding. Although primarily access to the building is to be by foot, vehicular access to the front door is achieved through a slightly wider, hard-landscaped path accessible from the car park.

Steps are also provided in the landscape to provide a quicker route down the slope, as well as linking the Mortuary Chapels grounds to the top of the cloistered courtyard.

059

Building circulation

vertical / stepped circulationhorizontal circulationcloister circulation

Primarily, circulation between residential and communal functions takes place by means of the covered cloister running around the courtyard at a single level. Living units are accessed from six stairwells, providing access either to an external corridor (north wing) or directly o! the cloister (south wing).

060

Key viewpoints

Due to the nature of the the surrounding trees, the site is in fact relatively enclosed, with few views from outisde. !e permeable nature of the building allows for key sight lines and views to be retained and enhanced throughout the site.

1

3

2

4

1 Walcot Gate / site entranceUpon entering Walcot Gate the building is initially revealed a"er passing the high boundary wall of the chapel. !e raised building allows views through the courtyard and under the building towards the river. !is is also the #rst vantage point of the meadow.

2 View of chapel through courtyardViews of Walcot Mortuary Chapel are retained whilst walking along the riverside walk, up through the buildings courtyard

3 Top of meadowA"er entering either by foot or vehicle, a clear prospect down the meadow allows a choice between the stepped, or slower ramped route to the river.

4 Riverside walkEntering the meadow along the riverside walk from the north reveals the whole building from beneath as well as the bottom of the meadow leading to the buildings stepped courtyard.

061

Permeability

!e college proposes a modern interpretation of a traditional collegiate quad, in a sloped riverside location. Raising the building in one corner allows for a continuous landscape with two distinct characteristics. !e landscaped courtyard remains visually open, and provides for community activities, events, workshops and exhibitions.

!e chapel remains open to the public as a gallery and also provides a link to the top of the courtyard when events are taking place. !e whole landscaped courtyard also acts as a break-out space before and a"er public events take place in the subterranean lecture theatre.

lecture theatre

private

public

semi-public

063

3. Schemeplans / sections / elevation design / visuals / landscaping

64 Plans72 Sections

81 Elevation design82 Visuals

88 Landscaping

!e role of architecture is to reveal the world to you

Martin Heidegger

064

Underground 2 1:200

1 Lecture hall2 Storage

-2FLecture hall / storage

1

2

2

2

2

2

Ground Floor 1:500GF

Cloister level / upper courtyard

780m

1 Porters lodge / security2 Administration3 Studios4 Refectory5 Library6 Car park7 Kitchen8 Riverside walk

Circulation to student bedrooms

!ird "oor 1:5003F

Residential

515m

1 M. Gledhill appartment Student bedrooms Tutor appartments

Second "oor 1:5002F

Residential

175m

1 M. Gledhill o"ce Circulation to student bedrooms

First Floor 1:5001F

Seminar spaces / residential

1080m

1 Seminar rooms2 Break out space Student bedrooms Kitchen / lounges Tutor appartments

Underground 2 1:500



400m

Underground 1 1:500-1F

Lower courtyard

510m

1 Workshops2 Gym3 Laundry room4 Plant room5 Bike store6 Car park 7 Riverside walk

Student bedrooms Kitchen / lounges

Roof Plan 1:500R

Residential

065

1

1

2

3

4


Lower courtyard

510m



066

1

2

3

3

4

5

8

7

6



780m



067

1

1

1

2



780m



!ird "oor 1:5003F

Residential

515m


Second "oor 1:5002F

Residential

175m


First Floor 1:5001F


1080m


Underground 2 1:500



400m


Lower courtyard

510m



Roof Plan 1:500R

Residential

068

1

1



780m



!ird "oor 1:5003F

Residential

515m


Second "oor 1:5002F

Residential

175m


First Floor 1:5001F


1080m


Underground 2 1:500



400m


Lower courtyard

510m



Roof Plan 1:500R

Residential

069

1



780m



!ird "oor 1:5003F

Residential

515m


Second "oor 1:5002F

Residential

175m


First Floor 1:5001F


1080m


Underground 2 1:500



400m


Lower courtyard

510m



Roof Plan 1:500R

Residential

070



780m



!ird "oor 1:5003F

Residential

515m


Second "oor 1:5002F

Residential

175m


First Floor 1:5001F


1080m


Underground 2 1:500



400m


Lower courtyard

510m



Roof Plan 1:500R

Residential

072

1:1000 site sectionShows two distinct appraoches to building on the slopes of Bath. A stepped appraoch (exhibited by buildings on Lansdown Road) which works with citys topograhpy), as favoured by John Pinch, and a terraced appraoch shown by the Paragon. Driven by the rising waters of the $ood plain, the proposal develops a hybrid of the two, projecting straight out at a single level whilst accommodating the contours of the ground beneath it.

075

Section through terraced courtyard to riverHighlighting the main link from Walcot Street down to the rivers edge and riverside walk,

a series of semi-permeable spaces allow for the colleges courtyard to be used as a break-out space before and a%er events. Walcot Mortuary Chapel sits at the top of the courtyard,

maintaining a collegiate relationship whilst being utilised for public events and exhibitions.

076

Section across courtyard and public meadowAllowing the meadow to penetrate in to the courtyard allows for a continuous landscape with di#erent characteristics. Workshop spaces open out in to the buildings undercro%, a shaded carpet of ivy and ferns.

078

Section through communal front wing!e raised front wing incorporates the buildings

communal programme, including seminar rooms, teaching spaces, a library and refectory.

079

Detail of hanging staircase from communal wingNever touching the ground beneath it, the stair is indicative of being tectonically a part of the building and not of the ground

Detail of timber "n faade to communal wingA tectonic variation from the rest of the building identi"es its communal use whilst remaining part of the whole. A series of timber "ns ripple rhythmically along the riverfront elevation, providing solar shading and a degree of visual separation.

080

Elevation proportions and design

Respecting but not simply copying a traditional Georgian faade, the buidings elevations were carefully design and proportioned. In a similar way to a Georgian construction, the building was partly designed aesthetically from the outside in, although the demand for functional interior needs were carefully balanced with visual needst.

A regular rhythm is developed through the variation between the three regular-sized bays and fourth wider bay, housing circulation, a tutors apartment and communal kitchen / lounge.

Both north and south elevations retain distinct characteristics due to a di#erent number of $oors. !e north faade (open to the public meadow) reveals a more domestic character comprised of single storeys, whereas the south faade (opening up to the more private courtyard) constitutes three 1.5-storey-height rooms, more of a stylistic lean towards a generously-proportioned Georgian faade.

A series of rules were set up to create subtle visual nuances with a degree of order. One continuing theme was that of what sits in, on or behind the wall. and roof. Lower study bedrooms are perceived as having been plugged-in, seemingly like a milk crate which has been "lled in. !e use of brick throughout on the open circulation level gives the perception of a subtractive form that has been carved from a solid. Finally, tutors bedrooms are signi"ed in elevation through a di#erent style of dormer window, sitting in the roof plane as opposed to on it.

Material palette

A high-quality yet subtle material palette is utilised and again varied according to a set of rules. A zinc mansard roof crowns the top of the composition, with a rhythm of small and large dormer windows sitting on / in it.

A continuous bronze cornice is a variation on a Georgian parapet wall detail. !e continuous strip provides a visual feature, traversing the entire perimeter of the building, signifying the unique sectional changes throughout. With a concealed gutter sitting behind this parapet detail, downpipes at every wider condition (tutor rooms) provide horizontal relief.

!e use of dull but slightly re$ective materials throughout provides constant experiential changes throughout the day and even year. Brick, bronze and timber elements would be perceived as a series of golden ambers and yellows in the sun, with dark black window frames and railings providing a visual counterpoint.

081

North elevation to residential block including studio 1:100 South elevation to residential block with studio and stairwell 1:100

tutor bedroom

circulation

circulation

studio

study bedroom

circulation

study bedroom

studio

study bedroom

circulation

study bedroom

studio

study bedroom

circulation

study bedroom

studio

study bedroom

study bedroom

studio

study bedroom

study bedroom

studio

study bedroom

lounge / kitchen

stairwell

study bedroom

study bedroom

studio

082

Upper study bedroomA split-level provides a clear divide between sleeping/workng and relaxing functions. A bathroom with a

glazed light above it sits in the centre of the plan.

083

Lower study bedroomBedroom sits on one level a%er entering down a stair. A

balcony provides both solar shading as well as extension to the room, mediating between inhabited space and nature.

084

Head tutors apartmentSits in the colleges prime location, mediating between communal

and residential programme on the buildings north-east corner, overlooking the river. Dealing with a corner condition, the rooms

projecting canopy negotiates this change, demonstrating how a standard room can be varied to adapt as necessary.

!e bronze cornicing detail is also continued to meet the pro"led zinc, stepping up to reveal the buildings section within.

085

Subterranean lecture theatreA large, 120-seat lecture theatre is situated beneath the college courtyard.

Suitable for larger University lectures as well as public events and conferences.

086

Communal libraryActing as a series of layers mediating between cloister and river, a

series of timber "ns provide shading in addition to deciduous trees.

087

Seminar roomSituated in the upper level of the communal front wing, providing

river views through a timber "n screen

088

Boundary treesVital since the projects inception, trees at the south edge

condition form a natural privacy screen at the boundary to the neighbouring Victorian school, providing a dappled light

quality to south-facing bedroom elevations

Formal courtyardA formal counterpoint to the more informal meadow, a

terraced internal courtyard follows the sites contours, leading from cloister level to the riverside. A semi-permeable space

which can be utilized for informal performances and events

Shaded meadowA continuation of the landscaped meadow, with plant varieties resilient to dark, shady conditions. Fixing points to brick support piers allow for the growing of creeper plants, dematerializing the boundary between building and landscape

Mooring point / dockTransportation connection with river, allowing for access by barges, boats and kayaks

Connection to riverside walkTwo intertwined paths traverse the site, creating a connection between Walcot Gate and the proposed riverside walk. A serpentine path allows for wheelchair

access down the site, with a more direct stepped route providing a counterpoint, whilst dividing the landscape in to a number of planting areas.

Landscaping strategy

Perennial meadow!e majority of landscaped space is planted as a continuous meadow, forming a carpet of planting across the site.

Path with seating areas!e use of breedon gravel for all paths exhibit a golden amber hue which seamlessly blends in to the grassy meadow. Laid to a camber, it allows for easy drainage and easy wheelchair access. Flat rest points (max. 1:10 gradient at any point) with benches allow for easy disabled access and provide a space to sit and enjoy the park.

Riverside walkA sinuous yet simple timber boardwalk winds its

way through reeds and other wetland planting, addressing Baths lost river frontage. Linking Walcot Street and the River Avon allows for enhanced permeability in the public realm.

Courtyard seatingSituated outside the communal studio spaces on the sunny south side

of the courtyard, a series of projecting seating areas inhabit the cloister, looking in to the courtyard. Seat-back planters allow the incorporation of

planting, including creepers which form a connection to the shaded undercro".

Overall strategyImportant from the o#eset in the buildings social and urban agenda was the revitalisation of Walcot Gate Park, and the creation of a connection to the councils proposed riverside walk. For these purposes, the architecture of the building becomes almost secondary to the new riverside connection, acting as a benign backdrop to a carpet of perennial planting and grasses. A series of other measures, outlined below, encourage the incorporation of planting throughout the building and site.

089

4 5

6

9

8

10

7

1

2

3

rivers

ide w

alk

entrance

courtyard

Perennial meadowDeveloped from the concept of the hortus botanicus - a courtyard exhibiting a collection of plant species - the planted landscape incorporates a wide variety of perennial !owering species. Initiated via a mass bulb planting in springtime, they provide for a bright and varied summer appearance when the majority of plants will be in !ower. A mixture of tall grasses provide the backdrop to the perennial planting, whilst the serpentine path down the site creates multiple planting areas, producing a woven patchwork of colour.

Wetland / shade gardenPlant varieties change towards the bottom of the site (6,7,8,9) to adjust to site-speci"c needs and demands. Planting towards the river is gradually varied to include a variety of wetland plants and reeds. #e carpet of perennial planting is also gradually varied in the shaded undercro$ of the buildings footprint, using the forest !oor as inspiration by planting a combination shade-resilient and moisture-tolerant plant species.

Flowering cherryFlowering cherry trees provide a burst of colour in spring-time with a vibrant pink colour, providing shade and visual emphasis at the top of the site, also forming a partial bu%er between the planted landscape and road surface of Walcot Gate.

SeasonalityDesigned predominantly as a summer landscape, the majority of plants will die back in the colder months. Neverthess, by purposely leaving planting to die back on their own devices, the perennial meadow transforms in to a bleached landscape of crackling stalks and stems.

Key to planting areas

1,4 - Ox-eye daisy

1,2,5 - Ladys bedstraw

2, 3 - Common chicory

3,5 - Knapweed

2,7,9 - Luzula nivea

3,6 - Vinca minor

4, 6 - Harebell

4,7 - Yarrow

4,5 - Brunerra macrophylla 7,9 - Polystichum (fern)

7 - Birdsfoot trefoil

6,9 - Euphorbia amygdaloides

9 - Virginia creeper

8 - Wetland reed planting

7,9 - Vitus cognetiae

Flowering cherry

Summer appearance#e majority of perennial plants

are chosen to !ower in the summer, creating a seasonal

blanket of colour.

Winter appearanceDying back in the winter, if the perennials are le$ to their own

devices, the winter will transform the landscape in to a bleached sea

of plants stems and stalks, a ghostly re!ection of their summer

appearance.

090

Section across courtyardShows continuation of perennial meadow down slope and

under building outside workshop, with creepers growing up the building. !e building sits within the landscape which acts as a series of thresholds between the college and the rest of the city.

091

Landscaped public meadow, fully in bloom, mid-summerA%er the perennial meadow has established itself, the building starts to blend in to the background, acting as a benign backdrop to a colourful

and ever-changing carpet of planting

093

4. Detailenvironmental / tectonic / detailed design / construction

95 Ventilation96 Solar properties

98 Renewables99 Flooding

100 Materiality101 Tectonic section

102 Details104 Construction sequence

"!e brick is a di#erent master.How ingenious: a small, handy,usable format for every purpose.What logic there is in the bonding.What spiritedness in the joints.What wealth there is in even thesimplest wall surface. But what disciplinethis material demands." Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

094

Environmental philosophy

Environmental factors played a large role in the development of the scheme. On the whole the building was designed to remove the necessity of complicated work-arounds, responding and developing logical moves at every design stage. Consuming the vast majority of the buildings area, the design and orientation of the study bedrooms took a high priority.

!e building aims to maximise the use of user-control, and thus perceived and actual comfort levels. Psychologically being able to control ones own climate using simple methods such as openable windows is more e#ective than particularly complex automated systems which make the user feel constrained.

Environmental strategy

Overview

!e fundamental agenda of the college , in bringing a self-supporting part of the university in to the centre of Bath, is inherently sustainable. !e city-centre location promotes the use of walking and cycling as well as public transport networks. !e densi"cation and concentration of the city is an essential move in making a small city like Bath sustainable in the long-term. !e social bene"ts of integrating the college in to the city are manifold too.

Part L compliance

!e incorporation of high U-value glazing units and provision of maximum air-tightness using modern construction techniques would allow for the building to satisfy Part L2A (conservation of fuel and pwer) of the building regulations. A relatively compact building volume and therefore envelope would also contribute to minimising heat loss.Without the construction of costly environmental measures such as a geothermal bore, the building would employ mostly preventative measures such as intelligent control systems to minimise fuel and energy consumption.

Sustainability

!e scheme would utilise a series of measures to reduce waste and operate more sustainably. Construction is on a green"eld site, therefore there would be no demolition costs required. During construction all subsoils and topsoil would be retained during excavation, retained on site during construction for re-use during landscape works on completion. With exception to the subterranean lecture theatre, the building would require less excavation than would be expected due to its small footprint. Excavated material which would be in excess would be largely reused on site and sculpted in to mounds around the landscaped public meadow.

Materials

Materials used would on the whole be able to be sourced locally due to the largely non-specialised nature of its masonry construction. Specialist pre-cast elements could be manufactured in or around Bristol, enabling possible delivery either by truck or by barge along the river if necessary.

Without resorting to lesser-quality materials (e.g. un"red clay bricks) the buildings materials would have a relatively large embodied energy value. A high level of maintenance and a proposed design life of over 100 years would nevertheless allow for the building to be more sustainable over the buildings lifetime.

095

1

2

3

3

4

5

8

7

Ventilation

8m

From the outset the proposed design aims to minimise the use of mechanical ventilation by utilising narrow plans throughout, never exceeding a distance of 8m. !is allows for cross ventilation throughout. !e study bedrooms, which comprise the majority of usable space, are designed to be easily cross-ventilated, with trickle vents installed to ensure su"cient air changes and prevent stale air. Openable windows on both north and south facades allow a greater degree of comfort due to complete control by the occupier.

!e bathrooms at the centre of the bedrooms require a certain amount of mechanical ventialtion, and are ventilated together with an extract on the roof above. !e large ground #oor kitchen will require a larger scale provision for mechanical ventilation, as will the lecture theatre, due to the nature of it being underground. Ventilation to the lecture theatre is provided in large ducting and at low speeds to minimise frictional losses and noises.

Ground #oor - typical ventilation strategy Subterranean lecture theatre Section through studybedrooms and studio

cross ventilation

single sided ventilation

mechanical ventilation

1

2

2

2

2

2

096

Passive solar design

8m

A driving factor in the design was the designing of the optimum study bedroom. With a north-facing work / sleep zone and south-facing living zone, the bedrooms are designed for a north-south orientation. Implementing this exactly on site was not exactly possible, although orientating the building just 17 degrees out of this optimal alignment nevertheless produces the desired e!ects.

Lowered courtyard

A major step in the development of the courtyard was the lowering of the south wing by two storeys. A series of shadow studies showed proved this to enhance the internal environment considerably by providing over 50% more sunlight hours, changing the character or the space and thus making it considerably more inhabitable.

Ground "oor - 2pm Autumnal equinox

Section through study bedrooms and studio

N

downstand beam with 1.5mdeep balcony to lower bedroom

loggia / circulation providessolar shading

Projecting canopy over balcony provides solar shading

Small openingsminimise solar gains

Internal blinds to bedroomsallow control of daylight

exposed masonry construction providesdegree of thermal mass, stabilisinginternal temperatures

North facadework / sleep

Sorth facadelounge / relaxtion

Highly insulated zinc roof preventsagainst solar gain

Roof

Sit in non-passive zone dueto mechanical lighting and

ventilation requirements

Bathrooms

Alternating photovoltaic and solar panelsincorporated and used locally in building

17

lowered south wing of courrtyard

097

Internal lighting

Lighting in study bedrooms has beenn developed so as to incorporate a range of task lights, as opposed to one large multipurpose light. Controlled both locally as well as via a central control switch, the students

should learn to use lighting when needed, as opposed to lighting the whole room unnecessarily. Pre-bought lights are chosen as modern design classics, reinforcing the concepts of exceptional design where possible.

42

15

6

3

Floor lampArtemide Tolomeo lamp provides localised task light for lounge area

Built-in unit lightingFluorescent strip light provides both an ambient light source for lower level

Bathroom lightingHigh level incandescent band lighting used as light source for bathroom. Glazed upper panel retains privacy yet allows daylight in during the day, and bathroom light out at night, providing low-level ambient light as a lantern at night.

Master switch

Work lightingTolomeo incandescent desk lamp as

task lighting for work space

Bedside lightprovides additional light source

as well as for reading in bed

Privacy blinds

Task lamp

Openable tilt/turnventilation panel

Work areaNorth-facing work space provides ideal lighting conditions Lighting, ventilation and temperature are all easily adjustable and within easy reach.

Typical bedroom unit

Studio lighting

Individual task lighting

Ceiling-hung !uorescents

098

x 6

Heating / cooling / water use / renewablesWater recycling / storage!e relatively large surface area of the roof provides a substantial source of water which can be stored and processed to be recycled. Stored at the top of the site above the "ood plain, water is collected centrally where, a#er processing, it can be utilised as a grey water source, e.g. for toilets.

Water-source heat pumpAs it is a continuously moving body of water, the River Avon can be incorporated as a source of water to incorporate in to an open loop heat exchange system. Fluctuating between 7C in the winter to 20C in summer, the river provides a constant and e$ective heat source in the winter, and can be combined with a Turbocore compressor in the summer to aid any cooling demand. A licence with an associated yearly fee would need to be obtained from the council for this provision.

Localised hot water storage / solar collector panelsMounted in alternation with photovoltaic panels on the south-facing roofs of study bedrooms, providing a supply of localised hot water which is stored independently in each block.

Photovoltaic panelsProvides a source of electricity which can be stored in battery storage system and utilised around the building. Excess supply when not required can be sold back to the grid.

BMS!e multiple building systems would need to be regulated by a control system, or Building Management System (BMS). !is would control aspects such as the storage of electricity produced by photovoltaics, hot wat

l'école de construire

Documents

walcot gate

constraints18 progression

nal design project

years of architectural

typology of collective

e baron

student accommodation

baron cosimo piovasco