Sight for Sport

My Girlfriend!

2009-07-29T00:20:00.000+01:00

My Final Panel

2009-06-08T09:45:00.002+01:00

This is a poor quality version of my final Panel

Final Review Images

2009-05-20T13:40:00.002+01:00

For the final review I presented a rough draft of the final layout. There were some mixed feelings about the style of presentation but overall the design of the building seemed to go down pretty well. Just need to tidy up some areas and create an order to my ideas. Think writing a script might help that for the exam.

Materials and Construction Decisions

2009-05-07T10:56:00.003+01:00

A few of the latest images taken before this weeks technical review. Things will have to change though. Less direct sunlight from the south, reinforced concrete portal frames amongst other things.

Some sketches in progress

2009-04-22T17:32:00.006+01:00

In order to get to grips with materiality throughout the building I have decided to sketch my way through the spaces and make the decisions this way. It seems to be much more successful than to simply hatch a plan or elevation in CAD as it gives me the chance to discover where depth and recess should be applied and what lighting conditions will affect the space.

Forest Growth

2009-04-17T14:04:00.003+01:00

Just a quick image as I begin to emplore the forest space and its depth. This image will grow as I gather more textures and information about the space

Timber Swimming Pool

2009-04-17T09:57:00.001+01:00

At present I am trying to work out how feasible it is to have a timber lined swimming pool(or at least timber appearance to the lining). Not completely resolved yet.

Pool Progression

2009-03-31T02:41:00.002+01:00

Tactile Plans & 3D view of pool

2009-03-13T12:49:00.000Z

Review comments

2009-03-11T14:08:00.003Z

Before my review I knew I was not happy with the way the forms were turning out at the moment and this was also brought up by Michael Stacey and Steve Platt. They did however understand that the form was not decided and the renders merely represented the aural spaces I have designed. They seemed fairly happy with the layout and arrangement of the site, few areas need looking at and resolving in more detail (car park/drop off and retail units). I think I did a fairly good job of explaining the reasoning behind each placement and the journeys I am creating.

The points they brought up were:

- Why are the buildings the shape they are - if it is about the aural experience should the outside visuals tell you about the internal audio experiences? Or is it more like the Jorn Utzon Bagsvaerd church with rational plain exterior and undulating aural interior.

- Working out the structure and how these buildings would be made will help the drawings and also the design of the spaces.

- By 'calming' certain buildings and spaces down, this will help enhance the more interesting architecture. If the Sports played in the dry sports hall do not require anything other than a quiet box then this is what should probably be provided.

- References - Alvar Aalto plans, Utzon Church, Palladio, Sergison Bates.

The main question that still remains is how I am going to present this in the final review. I have plenty of ideas but I just havent had the chance to fully think it through.

This project is too big!

2009-03-08T00:11:00.002Z

I am beginning to realise how much I have to resolve when I start to model everything in 3D. This project is a little bigger than I had originally planned and I understand why previous 6th years advised against large buildings. Oh well......

Doggy Drop-off

2009-03-07T16:46:00.002Z

I was reminded that the Guide Dogs require a secure "Spending Pen" to relieve themselves. I have incorporated this into my NRSB design and expanded the building for the other uses set out in the Briefing document.

Finding form through Audio experiences

2009-03-06T22:14:00.003Z

I have been working out the aural experiences throughout my site and am now trying to put it all together into a three dimensional space that works on a practical level.

Pool Concept

2009-02-28T10:09:00.002Z

My initial thoughts for the pool design were very traditional and stuck in the realm of the visual. I decided it was much more to do with the feeling of the spaces, their audio qualities and the textures that guide you than whether it looks like a professional swimming arena.

The main areas I am trying to resolve are:

1. The pool ends - turning points. The visually impaired swimmer needs to be aware of the ends of the pool to turn or to reach for the finish. I want to create a bigger landmark at the end of the pool using architecture to signify and amplify this edge condition. Perhaps through natural lighting or perhaps through a textural sensation (e.g passing through an archway that has a mist of water that falls over the swimmer) and also through the changing of the reverberation of the space.

2. Lane division. Traditional red and white floating lane dividers are very hard and harsh if bumped into and do not provide a comfortable way of separating the pool water. I realise that they also help control the amount of waves and turbulence created by other swimmers so it is not as simple as just replacing them with a soft floating device as this may not work. I want to use the roof to express the lane divisions. I also want to use the roof architecture as the 5m backstroke turning markers.

Through these initial concept renders I have experimented with tapering both the roof and walls in at one end so that the Eastern end of the pool is both darker and smaller and through introducing light and increasing the size of the space, swimmers should be aware of their position in the pool hall. I have also introduced a viewing window from the tram line that passes by and a series of slit windows down the Southern facade that are set at precise intervals to help guide people along the pool edge.

This is far from complete, and I will continue to explore more ways I can use the architecture to help a visually impaired swimmers experience.

Scheme Progression

2009-02-23T22:45:00.000Z

Sensory Landmarks

2009-02-23T22:28:00.003Z

Binaural - Virtual haircut

2009-02-20T00:31:00.001Z

Some freakishly real binaural clips - It really scared me!!

Musical Architecture

2009-02-12T12:36:00.002Z

Croatian Sea Organ - An interesting idea about using the landscape to create sounds. May be useful in my scheme.

Excavation/Exploration Paths

2009-02-09T11:08:00.000Z

Site Layout

2009-02-08T21:20:00.002Z

Wordle

2009-02-03T14:38:00.002Z

Wordle Image representing my Design Briefing Document

Project in one image

2009-02-02T11:48:00.002Z

After participating in the workshop with George Clarke (the architect from channel 4's The Home Show) I decided to try and produce a single image that represents my thesis idea. I have yet to get a definitive image but this is one of the simpler ones:

Concept Plan

2009-01-27T15:49:00.001Z

Early suggestions of site layout and arrangement of key buildings/spaces.

Early Design Progression

2009-01-26T23:31:00.002Z

Very early (rather uninspired) Section through my site and building proposal.

Tactile Diagrams 2 - Drafts

2009-01-20T23:49:00.003Z

Some rough drafts of Tactile Diagrams representing my Site Layout and Sound and Smell mapping.

Tactile Diagrams

2009-01-20T23:01:00.001Z

Tactile Raised diagrams produced for the Blind/Visually Impaired.

Birdseye View of Nottingham

2009-01-19T20:16:00.000Z

2009-01-18T23:27:00.007Z

My Site is the disused area at the bottom right of the picture and expands to both sides of the tram viaduct. Thanks to Zoreil's Flickr page for this image.

Picture in Broadmarsh Subway. Thanks to Isaac EastGate's Flickr page for this one.

Script of Experiences (Arrival through other senses)

2009-01-18T20:09:00.001Z

Route from Bus Station

Stepping from the bus onto the platform is like falling into a different planet. An unknown setting of roaring engines combined with the odour of diesel sitting heavy in the air, a headache begins to stir in your head. Sirens in the distance signal that this place is city based.
Following the footsteps of the crowds from the crumbling pavements and slight smell of urine that only public bus stations manage to get away with, you head to the gleaming brightness of what can only be a shopping centre.
Unbearably bright artificial lights, hordes of bustling people pushing their way to their destination with a fist full of rustling plastic bags in one hand and a mobile phone in the other, you veer to one side following the wall to the right escaping onto a quieter path. The lighting begin to dim as you continue and the space opens out feeling slightly wider with less people. The sound of an automatic door opening and closing followed by a sharp gust of wind brings in the smells of flowers, herbs and plants blending and harshly contrasting with the smells of the traffic and busy city life. Walking through the doors you lose the comfort of mechanically heated space and are hit with the reality of fresh air and know that you are exposed to the elements. Drops of rain can now be heard beating down upon the ground and as you exit you feel them.
Overhead traffic can be heard humming past, splashing through puddles. It is the morning and the smell of coffee from a newly established local cafe is diluted slightly with the scent of damp woodchips from a path leading to the park space. Following the scent along the path it transforms into a sweet fragrance of freshly cut grass that can only be from a garden space that has been created amongst this metropolitan setting. Slowly the petrol fumes and burning rubber departs the senses and are forgotten momentarily. The sound of hard footsteps on concrete disintegrates into the air and becomes a softer crunch and then a soft padded lapping of the feet upon slightly wet grass.
Stretching out a hand the feeling of high feather reed grass blowing in the wind brushes your fingers, it acts as a boundary and you realise not to cross that line. A distant splash of water can be heard echoing inside the building beyond, at this very moment a waft of chlorine hits the nostrils and the memory of childhood swimming lessons immediately jumps to the forefront of your mind. This must be the leisure centre.
Wandering towards the smell and sounds another automatic door opens and blasts a sharp burst of heat onto you as you pass through signalling that you are now within a new building. The smell of chlorine is no longer present and you also realise the apparent sound of pool activity has also gone. It was actually an audio speaker from outside helping aid navigation to the right building. The floor finish changes again to first a blistered vinyl flooring as it slopes up and then continuing to a slightly harder echoing tiled floor. You are welcomed by a member of staff into the building and told that a tactile map and audio description of the building layout is ahead of you on the reception desk and that there is information regarding your location to the left of every door in the facility and basic directional information can be found in braille along the handrails in the corridors.
You feel on the nearest handrail the braille which tells you that the pool changing rooms are to the left of the reception desk past the smell of chocolate and into a space with the sound of the sea. Confused, you wander forward cautiously and from above you feel an air current blowing a small amount of air with the scent of chocolate out into the space. Slowly moving on through a set of automatic sliding doors you notice a speaker to your left playing the audio of waves crashing onto the beach, you are in the changing rooms. Finding a private changing room and then placing your clothes into the locker within was simple enough. Braille writing within the cubicle told you to turn right out of the cubicle and follow the line of rough tiles in the centre of the space to the pre-swim showers. Stepping out of the cubicle you carefully feel the ground with your bare foot and can easily identify the rough row of tiles. You follow them for a few steps, stopping to allow someone else to pass in the opposite direction and then hear flowing water of the showers. After showering you here the poolside is obviously straight ahead. Following the rough tiles again you make your way to the very edge of the pool where initially there is a balustrade and handrail and then the floor slopes down into the water gradually submerging you deeper and deeper until you are waist deep and can swim.......

Mapping through all the Senses

2009-01-15T10:50:00.002Z

Mapping the Senses

I discovered this podcast/radio show about mapping through the various senses. It wasn't as relevant to my project as I had expected (and wanted) but some of the ideas within the show have given me some inspiration.
The idea of breaking down a certain area (in my case, my site) into all the small simplistic elements such as cracks in the paving, overhead wires and then perhaps expanding and mixing it up with less visual elements such as mapping the sounds of cars, sound of birds, smell of food etc. These can relatively easily be plotted visually onto individual maps but I would like to try and create something a little more tactile. A 3D model with removable elements of smells, tastes, sounds that can be used to show anyone sighted or unsighted the possible journeys to my site and through my building. This would be a good idea for my final presentation but first I need to resolve the organisation of spaces.

The Rain in Minnesota amongst other things

2009-01-07T21:23:00.006Z

I have been collecting my own sounds for a while now but here are a few links to some others that I am going to use in my research surveys (listen with headphones and close your eyes for best effect):

Storm a brewing
Guess Where
Guess what animal
By the Sea
Monkey Business
Metal Roof
Brick chipping
Freaky Door

SMELL - SOUND - FEEL

2009-01-06T21:19:00.003Z

After being stuck for so long on how to progress my design and take it into new areas I have come to the conclusion that my next step must be to analyse existing environments without the visual. I have done this to some extent but not in great detail and not recorded accurately.

I will visit as many different settings/environments/buildings that i can over the next week or so and breakdown the buildings into the individual sensual stimulations. i will take smells (good, bad, indifferent, distinct, unknown, prolonged, momentary etc) and list them as they occur from a route through the environment. The same will be done with sounds that I hear and finally textures, temperature, air movement and other things we feel. I am not sure if I can do this blindfolded or wearing Sim Specs (to simulate visually impairments) but if I can I will.

The reason for this study is to try to build a world beyond the visual. To start with absolutely nothing, a blank canvas. No ground, no walls, no architecture or landscape. I want to approach my site from a fresh perspective, one without preconceived ideas of walls and doors and cantilevered glass boxes. Once i have done my research the design will be built around me as i travel through my chosen site. Materials can be chosen based upon there smell or sound or the way they feel to the hand or foot. There will also have to be visual elements to the building as the idea is to promote Paralympic sport and also the world of the visually impaired to sighted people too and colour and contrast are also very important in the world of the visually impaired. As i have found out previously only 4% of Visually impaired people have no sight at all so the visual will play its part. However, i want to try and stray away from preconceptions at this stage so the visual will be used to bring everything together in a later stage.

Initial Massing Video

2009-01-05T23:00:00.004Z

Initial Feasibility Studies

2009-01-04T23:26:00.001Z

Thesis Project

2009-01-04T22:53:00.002Z

I would like to thank Tom Potter for giving me the idea of setting up a Thesis project blog. After reading his blog (http://aireabbey.blogspot.com) i decided it would help me progress my project and aid me in organising myself a little better.

Ok, so this isn't really supposed to be read by anyone other than myself and possibly my tutor Mark if I actually manage to keep this up for more than this initial post.

In the first few months of my project I have done alot of research and gathering of information (both relevant and... well not-so-relevant) but I won't bore you with that right now. To keep things nice and brief here is my Thesis idea in 6 bite-size chunks:

Right, so i'm designing a leisure centre. Well not exactly. The idea is to get away from the general vision (excuse the pun) of a leisure facility and return to first principles. Architecture is never completely successful for every single person in the world, there are always conflicting design issues for various groups (even if it is a minority group) but I want to try and establish a set of principles for visually impaired people and the blind that considers from scratch how they can interact with the immediate environment in a much more sensual way.

I want to start by analysing the possible users of the building in turn and establish there individual needs and how exactly they would want to connect with the architecture.

By looking at the senses available to people and the possible architectural experiences that can link to them I will begin to get an idea of the organisation and layout of spaces and what type of building this would be.

I want to build up layers of sensual stimuli that can be triggered throughout the spaces but I need to work out what is too much stimulation. I have heard that the olfactory sense (smells for those of us that prefer simple words) can handle up to 5 different smells before it begins to become over stimulated and people get headaches and things. This as based upon smelling fragrances and perfumes so it may be slightly different for more natural smells.

I have been giving people a smell test with 23 different smells ranging from Freshly Cut Grass to Lemon Meringue Pie. The primary purpose of the test was to see if people could identify different smells whilst blindfolded but I was also looking to see at what point people began to need to take a break and/or got headaches etc. It seemed that under the test conditions people could handle alot of different stimulations in a short space of time. It wasnt until around the 12th or 13th smell that people began to really notice the overstimulation.

I shall continue these tests with both sighted and unsighted people to see what else i can gather from them.