United Arab Emirates impressions - Ras Al Khaimah
‘The construction is a mismatch of materials which looks like they could be locally found or left over from the construction sites these workers work for, this assumption is based upon what I saw and the fact that there is no government help to maintain these structures. Most of them are in very poor conditions almost in ruins, the residents have made obvious attempts to try and repair their houses, but it looks like they have limited resources.’
United Arab Emirates impressions - Ras Al Khaimah
‘The rubbish covers the streets like a blanket, after talking to a local resident who had lived there for 31 years I had more of a insight to their way of life. He complained to me about the rent being increased yet there was no government or help from the sheikh to improve their sanitation…their drainage…the rubbish on the streets. I myself walked into a clearing in the centre of Ras Al Khaimah which had houses along the periphery, yet in the centre of this clearing was a rubbish mound. He told me how the children don’t have a local school to go to, and that if you have a car you can drive the children to a public school further out. The children suffer from health problems from playing in the rubbish, because there is nowhere for them to play. But how do you draw attention to this, when most of these children do not even legally exist.’
United Arab Emirates impressions - Ras Al Khaimah
‘The lanes are cluttered with rubble; they are narrow to maintain privacy like a maze only the occupier can find his way around. The windows will look in on the lane on one side yet the houses on the other will not have any windows this is to prevent overlooking. For a outsider the streets of Ras Al Khaimah can feel unsafe and dangerous even, however this may not be the case for the people who live there…I saw children playing hide and seek in this very lane, they seemed to know their way around just fine.’
United Arab Emirates impressions - Ras Al Khaimah
‘Ras Al Khaimah could be described as the ‘slums’, the one storey buildings house a workers community in poor conditions. The people I came across were Pakistani and Bengali Muslims, some of them with families also living in these compounds. The endless electrical poles with their tangled lines running from house to house like a spiders web through these narrow lanes which appear to be gritty and unsafe. These people have electricity, some have air-conditioning, so why do they not have the basics…where is the drainage system, why do they not have sanitation or garbage disposal?'
United Arab Emirates impressions - Fujairah
‘After my conversation with two Punjabi workers who ironically came from the same city as my parents I felt quite sad…they explained to me how they were housed in ‘tin cans’ rather then the mud brick housing which keeps cool in the hot climate. They told me that their work would never be recognised and as soon as they finish they will be kicked out of the area like they never existed. They described their current situation as desperate yet necessary all at the same time, they are there because they earn more then what they would back home, they have families to feed which they see every two years. It’s upsetting to see how these men work so hard but will be forgotten as soon as the work is completed…all that will be left is the brick and mortar which they worked so hard for.’
United Arab Emirates impressions - Fujairah
‘Fujairah restoration work is being carried out by foreign builders who acquire the knowledge and construction techniques through the rest of their team who are also foreign- coming from
United Arab Emirates impressions - Bastakiya, Dubia
‘Bastakiya the heritage town in Dubai feels and looks like a theme park, its been built to imitate the past, apart from one old house in which a family remains there are no people occupying the area …everyone else has moved on. You can pay for a ride on a camel, but again the environment is tweaked and controlled. Is it educational; is it a performance…and who is it for; could it be for the tourists or is it the indigenous people that visit this site?’
United Arab Emirates impressions - Dubia
‘
Developing the form
a)
Examining my initial studies of weaving layers of space to create composite layers which intersect to create different types of spaces, 1 - filled space, 2 - void space, 3 - semi void space i began to implement this into the form. I extended the reception strip another floor so it could start to begin the intersection points for the other strips.
b)
The gym strip intersects into the reception strip so it begins to extend from it. Because of the site constraints there is a need for a 4m gap from the railway into my site for the overall master plan. The intersecting of space saves space as well as integrating the spaces together more tightly.
Examining my initial studies of weaving layers of space to create composite layers which intersect to create different types of spaces, 1 - filled space, 2 - void space, 3 - semi void space i began to implement this into the form. I extended the reception strip another floor so it could start to begin the intersection points for the other strips.
b)
The gym strip intersects into the reception strip so it begins to extend from it. Because of the site constraints there is a need for a 4m gap from the railway into my site for the overall master plan. The intersecting of space saves space as well as integrating the spaces together more tightly.
c)
The physiotherapy strip is now intersecting into the reception but it’s not sitting completely on the reception strip so therefore needs to be supported some other way.
The Health education strip is orientated on the reception; it leaves a huge open air surface above the reception for the public as an open space to enjoy the surroundings to.
f)
The health education strip which is private will be a segment within the public library/ research centre. The segment within the strip cantilevers above the restaurant and decking area.
The physiotherapy strip is now intersecting into the reception but it’s not sitting completely on the reception strip so therefore needs to be supported some other way.
d)
The gym strip intersects physiotherapy strip structurally, so the two spaces become one strip almost except that the gym cantilevers over the creek.
e)
The Health education strip is orientated on the reception; it leaves a huge open air surface above the reception for the public as an open space to enjoy the surroundings to.
f)
The health education strip which is private will be a segment within the public library/ research centre. The segment within the strip cantilevers above the restaurant and decking area.
Organisation of layers
a)
The first layer needed to be the strongest because the other layers of strips would be sitting upon this strip. The public orientation would also work around this strip. I had already decided early on not to demolish anything but work within the constraints already in place within the site. So keeping the existing cycle and pedestrian route I orientated the reception so it can be entered from both directions, one side facing the road and the other elevated diagonally along the existing cycle and pedestrian route, this will allow people to enter without disruption.The restaurant which would promote healthy eating and the decking area which would act as a quiet area to enjoy the creek is orientated on the other side of the reception so the strip continues with a break between it, this is so people can enter the restaurant and decking area without it being part of the health care centre. However the restaurant and decking area will be subtly aiding certain departments of the health centre, you should be able to see into the gym and the health education strip which would then promote these departments to the public eye.
b)
The second layer would be the GP strip which would travel along the railway, the underside of the strip would act like an informal entrance for the prospective public travelling from the bridge and Lewisham, and the strip would act as a private space to contain the GP services.
c)
The third layer would be the physiotherapy strip which would run along the DLR; again this is going to be a private strip so will need to be the outer sandwich, which will allow the inner strips to be viewed by the restaurant and decking area.
d)
The fourth layer will be the health education strip, this will consist of a private and public space, so the private space would be situate closer to the end facing the reception. The public apace would be orientated more along the end cantilevered over the restaurant and decking area. The public area will be a library/research centre to educate the public on health situations.
e)
The Fifth layer is the gym strip which will cantilevers over the creek, it will also be viewed into by the restaurant and decking area.
The first layer needed to be the strongest because the other layers of strips would be sitting upon this strip. The public orientation would also work around this strip. I had already decided early on not to demolish anything but work within the constraints already in place within the site. So keeping the existing cycle and pedestrian route I orientated the reception so it can be entered from both directions, one side facing the road and the other elevated diagonally along the existing cycle and pedestrian route, this will allow people to enter without disruption.The restaurant which would promote healthy eating and the decking area which would act as a quiet area to enjoy the creek is orientated on the other side of the reception so the strip continues with a break between it, this is so people can enter the restaurant and decking area without it being part of the health care centre. However the restaurant and decking area will be subtly aiding certain departments of the health centre, you should be able to see into the gym and the health education strip which would then promote these departments to the public eye.
b)
The second layer would be the GP strip which would travel along the railway, the underside of the strip would act like an informal entrance for the prospective public travelling from the bridge and Lewisham, and the strip would act as a private space to contain the GP services.
c)
The third layer would be the physiotherapy strip which would run along the DLR; again this is going to be a private strip so will need to be the outer sandwich, which will allow the inner strips to be viewed by the restaurant and decking area.
d)
The fourth layer will be the health education strip, this will consist of a private and public space, so the private space would be situate closer to the end facing the reception. The public apace would be orientated more along the end cantilevered over the restaurant and decking area. The public area will be a library/research centre to educate the public on health situations.
e)
The Fifth layer is the gym strip which will cantilevers over the creek, it will also be viewed into by the restaurant and decking area.
Form Strategy
Fig 1: Conceptual strategy model
Fig 2: Strategy
The diagram shows the components involved in creating the Health care centre. The components are strategically placed, the reception area is placed on the focal point so acting as a main entrance, it wont be on the ground floor to attract people and to allow people to see into the rest of the health care centre. The consulting rooms will be private and more contained, leading into the waiting rooms which is placed centrally to allow people to view their surroundings. The health education block and physiotherapy block will sandwich the GP clock to allow more privacy for the GP surgery and reduce noise level. The Gym will be raised and transparent to fully absorb the surrounding space and allow people to be attracted to it from the river front. Below this the restaurant and the decking area will be positioned becasue the ground floor will be the easiest to access by the public.
Fig 2: Strategy
The diagram shows the components involved in creating the Health care centre. The components are strategically placed, the reception area is placed on the focal point so acting as a main entrance, it wont be on the ground floor to attract people and to allow people to see into the rest of the health care centre. The consulting rooms will be private and more contained, leading into the waiting rooms which is placed centrally to allow people to view their surroundings. The health education block and physiotherapy block will sandwich the GP clock to allow more privacy for the GP surgery and reduce noise level. The Gym will be raised and transparent to fully absorb the surrounding space and allow people to be attracted to it from the river front. Below this the restaurant and the decking area will be positioned becasue the ground floor will be the easiest to access by the public.
First Form Ideas
Fig 1: Sketch
Fig 2: Model
Fig 3: Model: view from river
The first form needs to be more flexible to be able to create three spaces -
- Void
- Semi- Void
- Transparent
The strips need to be more organised and thought out.
Fig 2: Model
Fig 3: Model: view from river
The first form needs to be more flexible to be able to create three spaces -
- Void
- Semi- Void
- Transparent
The strips need to be more organised and thought out.
Development of Form
Fig 1:
Fig 2:
Fig 4:
Through the sketches I began to develop a language which coincides with the conceptual models and experiments at the beginning of the project. I decided to use the focal point as a starting point.
Fig 2:
Fig 3:
Fig 4:
Through the sketches I began to develop a language which coincides with the conceptual models and experiments at the beginning of the project. I decided to use the focal point as a starting point.
Site
Fig 1: Site Plan
Fig 2: Photograph of site taken from the footbridge
Fig 3: Site boundarys
Fig 2: Photograph of site taken from the footbridge
Fig 3: Site boundarys
The brief for this project is to design a Health care centre which will provide both for Greenwich and
Deptford which comes under Lewisham. It will incorporate the cycle and pedestrian route to encourage a healthy living which will cut from the station along the side of the DLR through my site. The health care centre will provide many services including a gym, GP and many services. Site 4 along the side of my main site will be landscaped and provide disabled spaces for the health care centre. This will be supported by research on health care centres.
Deptford which comes under Lewisham. It will incorporate the cycle and pedestrian route to encourage a healthy living which will cut from the station along the side of the DLR through my site. The health care centre will provide many services including a gym, GP and many services. Site 4 along the side of my main site will be landscaped and provide disabled spaces for the health care centre. This will be supported by research on health care centres.
Weaving in space
Weaving of space experiment was carried out so that I could find a way to view the ‘weaves’ in a new context which was space and how it would inhabit the space. I found that it created many different types of spaces -
- ‘Void space’
- ‘Semi-void space’
- ‘Opaque space’
These three types of space inhabit this area which brings issues of -
- depth
- transparency
- solid
- overlap
- wrapping
- layers
Weaving in material and light
Fig 1: Glass render 
Fig 2: Glass & Tinted glass render
Fig 3: Steel Render
Fig 4: Section cut through Fig 2 exploring the space created.
This experiment was very fascinating because I was able to see how the light would weave through my model which is not something I would have been able to understand otherwise. It also made clear the intersecting points of the weaves so the weaving worked with a new purpose -
- intersecting
- direction
- wrapping
- overlapping
- levels and layers
This experiment was very fascinating because I was able to see how the light would weave through my model which is not something I would have been able to understand otherwise. It also made clear the intersecting points of the weaves so the weaving worked with a new purpose -
- intersecting
- direction
- wrapping
- overlapping
- levels and layers
- it also begins to explore space and its boundaries.
Weaving Experiments
Fig 1: Sketch derived from the cloth and body weaving
Fig 2: Plasticine model
Fig 3: Computer model
By making a plasticine model which looked at weaving literally from the image I designed a rule system to weave the strips -
- overlapping
- direction
- levels and layers
However when I took this into the next stage by recreating it on the computer I found I could intersect the strips into each other which introduced a new element I could explore.
Fig 2: Plasticine model
Fig 3: Computer model
By making a plasticine model which looked at weaving literally from the image I designed a rule system to weave the strips -
- overlapping
- direction
- levels and layers
However when I took this into the next stage by recreating it on the computer I found I could intersect the strips into each other which introduced a new element I could explore.
Grain Experiments
Fig 1: Sketch exploring the grain created by the image
Fig 2: Directional Grain- wax model
Fig 3: Chaotic grain- wax+clay model
By experimenting with wax to explore grain allowed me to see the grain more clearly by shining a light through it and giving it a translucent effect like the initial painting, it also allowed me to assess -
- direction
- depth
- texture
- scale
I looked at grain through three stages-
Stage 1: chaotic grain
Stage 2: directional grain
Stage 3: manipulating the lengths/
edges of the grain and over lapping.
Fig 2: Directional Grain- wax model
Fig 3: Chaotic grain- wax+clay model
By experimenting with wax to explore grain allowed me to see the grain more clearly by shining a light through it and giving it a translucent effect like the initial painting, it also allowed me to assess -
- direction
- depth
- texture
- scale
I looked at grain through three stages-
Stage 1: chaotic grain
Stage 2: directional grain
Stage 3: manipulating the lengths/
edges of the grain and over lapping.
Concept: Weaving and Grain
The concept was inspired by the artist Hilaire-Germain-Edgar Degas painting 'After the Bath, Woman drying herself' of which I recreated the image using a SLR camera with a high speed film (3200), the camera picked up a lot of the detail giving the photograph a pixel effect; this has a similar effect to the strokes in the pastel painting.
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