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Twickenham Cider Mill

Part 2 Project 2007
Nick Jones
 Kingston University Kingston | UK
Once famous for its market gardening and extensive orchards Twickenham has lost much of its particular character and culture through the development of suburbia and the recognition of this established the parameters for a project which engages with the historical identity of the area. The initial phase of the project is the planting of a seed orchard which over time permeates the suburban context establishing a network of orchards across Twickenham. The mill acts as a centre reviving traditional aspects of cider production and craft with a sensitivity for the cycle and processes of the environment.


This year the diploma developed sites in Twickenham looking at the consequences of living on the fringes of the city. The Twickenham Cider Mill brief emerged from the history of brewing in the area which had utilised the water from the nearby River Crane. However, over a number of years suburbia has consumed these breweries and canalised the river. This project presents a reintroduction of cider-making within this suburban brownfield site creating an orchard which extends into the surrounding domestic gardens, reintroducing the inhabitants to the seasons of agricultural production - including festivals and the blossoming of the whole area.
2007
The mill, a place were the traditional process of cider production is both practiced and educated reviving traditional aspects of production and craft with a sensitivity and understanding of the environment.
Twickenham had a rich history for market gardening and nurseries which in the development of London has become almost extinct with much of the parish that was extensively planted with orchards given way to suburban expansion.
The site strategy is formed by four projects based around a common public square with the orchard permeating the public realm and beyond.
Planting of the orchard, spring time at the mill and the replacing of old stock. The initial seed orchard is established as spawn for orchards across the area increasing productivity and biodiversity in the area.
Ground floor plan. The project is based around four primary elements, the cider hall, mill tower, production centre and cooperage. The scale of the tower challenges the suburban context anchoring the project within the heart of Twickenham .
Section through the production and tower elements of the project revealing the internal process of the cider making and the formal gesture between the tower and production centre.
The production centre, tank lined to prevent flooding with a steel and timber louvre screen system manually adjustable maintaining a constant environment.
The sunken working yard and workshop. A shared external space carved into the ground incorporating a rain water tank for grey water collection.
The cooperage workshop and forge were the traditional craft is practiced. The brick construction recycles the brick from the existing sites disused buildings.
Internal of the coopers workshop and light from the north facing roof lights.
The tower axo, conceived as a labyrinth with a single eulerian path to the centre were the visitor enters a dark and grounded environment drawn through the space by light and prescribed views on too the upper galleries.
The ethanol lab carrying out research into ethanol production from apple pulp which is produced on site to power the facility. The tower houses a consortium of bodies involved in the production process testing and evaluating.
The primary structure of the tower is formed by cast-in-situ concrete acting as a thermal mass with larch timber lined rooms and a external steel corten panel skin tied into the primary concrete structure.
The cider hall, the final enactment of the production process and the celebration and consumption of the product.
The annual harvest festival celebrated by the community within the working yard.
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