The research I did this for this project involves looking at futuristic architectural visualisations and environmental housing projects that inspired me. 

I also looked at some historical research such as the works of Thomas Cole, the hanging gardens of Babylon and examples of ancient technology

Furthermore, the natural research I looked at involved geometric shapes in nature such as honeycombs, termite mounds, rocks and crystals

Here are some acrylic models experiments that I made in the workshop using the oven to show bend the acrylic to resemble the natural forms I had researched

I then went to King's Cross which is an area of great urban growth and made some collages emphasising the densely packed architectural environment

The site I chose is one that I used to walk past on the way to school. It is a brownfield site that is due to be demolished. It is close to other high rise residential buildings and one of the largest parks in London

This is the first high rise concept that I created in google sketchup following a series of quick idea sketches. The reason why I didnt choose this model for my final concept was that I thought it was too ordinary, and that I was capable of something much more ambitious and abstract.

Therefore, I looked back to nature. I went to the Barbican conservatory to get inspiration from the plants they had there and the forms of the building. This was a great opportunity for me to think about the new direction of my project could take. In conjunction with my studies of nature, I looked at several brutalist high rises and abstract art to get a better understanding of what my project's new direction should be.

After being inspired again and energised to start anew, I used a 3D program called blender to model and animate a honeycomb pattern mesh by hand. This is the first time that I had used this program, so I learnt it as my project progressed, using youtube and the Blender forums as learning tools.

Whilst this was only a simple experiment, I could already see how this could influence a building design. This is the first three-dimensional architectural model that I made using a honeycomb, hexagonal motif. As I progressed with the program, I made the model slowly more complex and closer related to the honeycomb and termite mound structures until the models started to look much more like an abstract high-rise tower block. I noticed that my model was essentially made up of several ‘seed pods’ connected to long vertical stems, and decided that the seed pods could house several apartments.

Split down the middle and through the centre to create four apartments, each has a large conservatory inspired by the Barbican conservatory to keep plants and to function greenhouse expanding upon the idea of ecological verticality using suspended gardens. Much like the second wonder of the ancient world, the hanging gardens of babylon.

The final outcome this project is much more of my own personal style than the first concept, more abstract, developed and closer to the brief that I set myself. This has been by far my favorite project to date, and the adversity of Covid 19 lockdown has forced me to use new programs and techniques to get the job done, which has in turn greatly positively impacted my Unit 4 project in many ways.

Project Concept -
To create a viable modern high density residential concept that incorporates environmental and communal elements and utilizes the high rise verticality as space for greenery

Site

'Murphy's Yard' in Gospel Oak, Camden, London. Large open industrial space that is due to be demolished. Close to shops, train station and Hampstead Heath. Also, there are already a few high rise buildings in the local area so it would not be out of place or an intrusion to the local vernacular

Form

Main blocks inspired by post war modern architects such as Le Corbusier but with a more contemporary, natural twist. Central park/canopy inspired by bio mimetic architecture and animal habitats.

Structure

Two main high rise tower blocks and one low rise block for variety, one central canopy where there is a park for added open green space

Material

Modern 'grasscrete' concrete environmental solutions with other cutting edge materials such as mushroom renewable insulation

Scale

No larger than a standard London council estate

User

Mixture of socio-economic groups

Inspired by the natural forms of the plants inside the Barbican conservatory, I made a series of acrylic sketch models. By heating up scrap sheets of acrylic in the oven, they became really malleable and perfectly formable to create some natural looking three dimensional forms. At the moment, I am just simply responding to the visual research and experimenting with space and form, however, these models will influence my later designs greatly as I really want my architectural concept to mimic natural aesthetically s it is important that the users of the building feel as if they are closer connected to nature, and that the structure itself is a growing, evolving entity that must be treated with as much care as a plant or flower.

From the bank of images I took in and around Kings Cross, to represent the 'explosion' of new development as one abstract, geometric visual, I decided to do a series of collages, starting with some simpler collages that obeyed rules of 'gravity' on the page and were clearly recognizable as a clustered architectural skyline, and then moving to some more interesting and abstract collages that were inspired by my use of the word 'explosion' to create a bustling architectural environment that seemed to be bursting out from a central point.

More obvious, realistic collages that are simply visuals of a more cluster, denser urban environment.

More exciting, dynamic and abstract collage that is literally an explosion of buildings as multiple architectural styles are fighting for space as they bustle out from the center. There is almost a sense of time, as if the architectural explosion will grow and expand, and that this collage is the first few seconds of the blast.

After doing extensive research on the three possible projects bellow, I found myself drawing parallels between the projects and thought that I should combine all the projects together to form one comprehensive and multilayered project with the one main theme of high density, environmentally friendly residential living.

Thinking about two possible themes for the new Unit 4 self directed brief

• Housing the Multitude -  investigating overcrowding in cities and how large amounts of people live in an urban environment, what are the negatives of this style of living, what can be improved about this way of living? Similar themes for exploration as the dense cities project however I will be looking at this issue from a more environmental and community stand point which will lead to a completely different outcome. Less looking at a specific site and more on the city as a whole. More conceptual initially but will quickly become practical as an architectural concept is found. This is the project that, having done the research, I am most passionate about and would most like to explore.

• Divided City - an exploration of the schism between ethnic, economic and social groups in London, can these divides be healed? Looking at other countries and history for answers. Similar to the themes explored in thresholds, is bringing several polar opposite communities together a potentially dangerous and negative activity or would it help solve gaps in our society? Would look at a specific site/area in London and then how that concept could be applied to the whole city.

• Green London - how far can we go with environmentally minded improvements to the city before we start to radically change peoples lives? How will we have to live in the future considering the impending climate disaster. Looking at cutting edge environmental architectural techniques and technologies and how you can engage the local communities to help progress this change

11th Feb

Identify a theme that reflects your personal interests.

What inspires you?
Bold exploration of space and form. Innovative use of media/thinking outside of the box

What do you find interesting, fascinating, important?

Our society- what subjects divide us or bring us together. On all scales from local communities to a more global view. Historical matters as a method for reflection and learning from previous societal failures to improve our world

What do you like to observe?

Urban life, everyday inner workings of a large city

What do you like to experience emotionally or physically?

Having interesting conversations with people about their lives and humanity in general. Moving through London, either walking or cycling to experience every corner of the city

Which artists or designers are you interested in or admire?

Peter Keetman - photographer (fotoform)

Man Ray - photographic artist

Weirdcore - digital artists

Basil Spence - architect (Swiss Cottage Library)

Erno Goldfinger - architect (Trellick Tower)

Le Corbusier - architect (Habite D'habitation and Villa Savoye

Why?

Most of these designers are innovate and thinking about communities or wider humanitarian matters

What is conceptually and intellectually challenging to you?

Thinking of ways to make something that encompasses multiple sections of society. Now more than ever it is incredibly important to be thinking globally more than locally as the age of ultimate freedom of information means that something in one area of the world has the potential to affect the entire world extremely quickly.