P R O F E S S I O N A L P O S I T I O N
My personal position within the architectural discourse has been constantly evolving during the MArch course. Two main issues that have been prominent throughout my studies have been the ongoing investigation of the value of the waterways within our cities, particularly the River Thames. My projects explore methods to re-introduce the waterways back into the city through new urban commons. Another interest that has been developing throughout the course is the use of filmic exploration which has played an integral part of my design process. By using film and set as a primary tool in the designing process has enabled me to understand and critique architectural qualities.
I am fascinated by the rituals of the everyday, and I aim to express this theme through my design. My projects are driven by narrative and aim to take root in their context whilst exploring materiality , composition and experiential quality.
After completing my Masters course, I intend to develop my interest in the value of water within cities. The duration of my masters course and particularly my thesis year, is a time where I wish to construct a project of conceptual clarity that relates to my personal architectural interests. It is also an opportunity to develop and refine a personal artistic and spatial practice, which I can take forward into the next stage of my career.
S T U D I O C O N T E X T
The Cinematic Commons studio aims to investigate the metaphorical and material dimensions of existing and new 'commons', using the film essay as a fundamental design tool. The studio articulates and frames a filmic perspective of architectural design and uses film to explore and represent architectural ideas and narratives.
The studio focuses on London and Mumbai, and aims to reinterpret the spatial reality between physical and social structures and questions the role played in defining space within and around the river and canal infrastructures with the aim to create new interventions and urban commons in or adjacent to the waterways.
Continuing my ongoing interest of the waterways being a unique piece of infrastructure, my site is located in the Lower Lea Valley in London. The project critiques the unused waterways and the canal systems and reinterprets the spatial reality between physical and social structures that are existing and anticipated along the canals.
Set making is an integral aspect of the Cinematic Commons design studio, large and detailed set models at scales of 1:20, 1:10 and 1:1 are used to explore architectural qualities and frame spatial moments throughout the design. Alongside this, the studio uses film to gain a deeper understanding of architectural design and narratives. Film and set making is a tool that I will be implementing throughout each stage of the design stage and representation.
T H E S I S P R O P O S I T I O N
The thesis project critiques and investigates the intricate waterways and canal systems in the Lower Lea Valley. The project responds to two main issues; the increasing number of boats using the canals under the 'continuous cruiser' license - due to the increasing movement to live on the water, the cruising license is currently being abused and the lack of facilities are consequently resulting in congestion along the canals. There are currently 3,000 boats for 2,000 mooring spaces within London. The project explores the potential of the waterways as a unique piece of infrastructure and aims to utilise this by inserting programs and industry back into the area.
The design proposition is a response to the 14 day cycle of the 'Constant Cruiser' license that occupies the canal system. A new infrastructure and architectural language will facilitate permanent and also temporary programs. Permanent programs will include a narrow boat workshop; used for boat maintenance, boat building, recycling and reclamation of materials. This will reinsert a trade and industry back into the Lea Valley. Other permanent programs will include kitchens, washing areas, cooking areas, teaching facilities , NHS drop in service, post office, nursery and workshops. New mooring facilities will also be provided. The programs are selected from analysing the rituals of the everyday on the canal from a residential perspective, and also introducing new programs that can enhance and enrich life for the canal residents. The architecture also aims to respond to the issues of shared 'common' spaces with canal and land residents.
The architecture will adapt to the 14 day constant cruising license cycle, the architecture will allow residents to detach certain programs from the main 'hub', these programs can travel along the canals. These 'travelling' programs will consist of teaching spaces, performance spaces, storage, showers, a market for reclaimed boat materials and a food market. These will insert into different communities along the canal for within a 14 day cycle. Some programs will be constantly travelling back and forth in order to replenish goods, such as the markets , whereas others will stay stationary for up to 14 days, such as the nursery. The architecture will act as an evolving and adapting infrastructure that supports the nomadic life style of living on the water.
There are currently projects in place in East London that are tackling some of the issues from living on the canals in London. The charity C.H.U.G (Canals in Hackney Users Group) is a unique organisation which supports life on the canal. Innovative ideas such as floating allotments, markets and cafes surround the canal basin. C.H.U.G also offer sustainable and affordable mooring spaces which are a rarity given its central location. The charity is completely self-managed and relies on the participation of its community to function. The charity has recognised the issues of living on the canal and provides a holistic approach to supporting its community. C.H.U.G has offered a source of inspiration for the thesis project, the pressures of canal living in London have been recognised and I feel the that my thesis project takes these issues and aims to develop an architectural language on a larger and more dynamic level.
T E C H N O L O G I E S & T E C H N I Q U E S
Throughout the design process of the thesis project, several techniques have been developed and employed as design tools. These techniques consist of the storyboard, film essay, set making and the axonometric drawing. The film essay is an integral design tool within all areas of the design process, it allows the narrative , programmatic and materiality elements to be critically analysed.
The set are populated using props (people and projection) and filmed and inserted into the film essays to overlay a secondary narrative relating to time, event and sound. The tool of the storyboard has been a successful method in documenting architectural programs and spatial conditions and this is something I will continue to develop and refine throughout my thesis project.
The axonometric drawing has been a constant technique throughout the project, it allows the project to be read at both plan and section simultaneously, as well as showing elevation treatments and relation to context. The technique of collage and montage over the axonometric is a successful way to introduce materiality and contextual qualities to the drawings.
The project has three architectural languages that have each been developed throughout the project. These languages consist of Industrial, Domestic and Floating. Each architectural type is a response to the programs that are taking place. The industrial language responds to the narrow boat workshop, its language responds to the industrial heritage of the Lower Lea Valley , the structure will need to have significant strength to carry the loads of narrow boats whilst they undergo construction and maintenance. Cranes and pulley systems will be used throughout the building to lift narrow boats and materials. The floating aspect of the project houses the adaptable programs, such as the markets and a nursery. These structures respond to the canal condition and are built upon pontoon structures to allow them to float up and down the canals.
The structure also needs to be adaptable, to enable detaching and moving. The three architectural languages are a direct response from site specific conditions and historic and present construction issues in London.
F U R T H E R D E V E L O P M E N T
If the scheme was to be developed on a larger scale, the new infrastructure could act as a paradigm for introducing a similar architectural infrastructure along the canals of London and also other cities around the world, as a new dynamic architectural vocabulary of canal living which supports the increasing number of residential boats that are occupying the waterways. The potential expansion will allow each city and community to highlight specific aspects of canal living which is relevant to its context. I feel that the thesis project responds to a prominent issue surrounding London and its waterways. The thesis project could be seen as an anticipation of how the waterways and canals can be reused and regenerated as a part of a different way of living. The property prices in London are increasing which puts strain upon people getting onto the property ladder. If a new infrastructure was developed that supported living on the water for a larger community, the stresses of inland demands would be decreased.
Aside from these issues, I am interested in the gentrification of the riverside within cities, and creating shared commons with a varied mix of communities