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Sailing Places

Part 1 Project 2008
Niall Bird
 University of Portsmouth | UK
How can a building with a particular, functional rationale engage and converse with its natural setting yet maintain its integrity as a clear, constructed addition?

Deciphering the characteristics of the context and applying these to the building design from its basic parti through to its detailed construction and use of materials, ensures that the design reflects and reacts to its environment. At the same time by keeping these references functional and subtle the sailing centre can maintain its integrity as a working building that serves a specific purpose.

Vertical elements and a series of horizontal plains echo the immediate man-made and natural typography respectively while the design of the building uses layering to dissolve into the harbour from solid core to abstracted frame and finally to the floating pontoons. It is at the extremities of the building that the environment dictates to a greater extent how the structure can be used.
The buildings exterior reacts to its orientation by closing-up into the prevailing wind and becoming translucent and open on its sheltered sides, particularly towards the north where it seeks to engage physically and visually with Emsworth by extruding an external terrace from its core towards the town; the walls also becoming transparent.
On the exposed south side facing Emsworth harbour sliding panels and smaller, specific openings make up the elevation, they change and move according to conditions but overall essentially appear more fixed and robust.

In the tradition of artificial impositions made to the surrounding environment it is envisaged that the building will, in time and after its useful life is over, dissolve back into its context becoming one of the artificial constructed elements on the natural horizontal plain that dictated its form initially.

Integration and cohesion is central to the rationale of the scheme expressed in its form, use of materials, construction and eco-friendly design. The building sits into its landscape using the conditions as assets and allowing them to influence its design. In this way the building attempts to be eco-conscious, further emphasised by the inclusion of sustainable technologies fully integrated into the fabric of the building.




This project is designed to require an integrated consideration of a building in relationship to its site and context , but also in terms of an understanding of material, construction and environmental design. The site is on the south coast at Emsworth , West Sussex, where sailing and watersports are part of the culture of the place. The brief was for an outdoor activity centre, requiring a sensitive response to the site and a strong connection between inside and outside.
Conceptually the scheme was driven by its position alongside the shore, a frame tethered to the land, its orientation and internal organisation determined by careful consideration of immediate local climate, sun, wind . The scheme incorporates, natural ventilation and cooling and also solar panels to support heating systems.
Niall’s scheme intended to present a contrast between natural landscape and the artificiality of the structure. The frame was expressed on the outside of the building, the space within contrasted as a light timber structure. This was investigated in sketch model to develop an approach to the manufacture of the building. It was conceived as a building of layers and the construction approach was to further develop this , the sketch models explored and evolved an approach to the construction of the building.
This scheme was thoroughly considered, the first stages of placing the building and considering its location through to the detail development have been a process of testing , and intelligently responding to the site and the brief.
2008
Site plan - the contrast and clash between the natural and semi-urban environments.
Context sketches - the natural plain punctuated by artificial verticality.
Concept sketches - investigating the components of the design, in particular the concept of a solid held in a light and vulnerable wooden frame. The solid form then gradually dissolving into the water.
Ground floor plan - indicating the light tethering of the building to the shore and how it sits within prevailing conditions. Areas of the design that relate to the water are concentrated on this level. Context images - clarity of light and form.
First floor plan - the buildings working core and main space visually engaging with Emsworth to the north via a wrapped, transparent wall. A terrace extruded from the solid core of the building physically reaches through the permeable layer.
Second floor plan - concerned with the centres main focus; Emsworth harbour. Sliding glazed and solid screens open onto an extruded external platform.
Sketch models - investigating the solid core, in particular the vertical 'pin' which anchors the building to the sea bed and provides the focus for all circulation. Model in context - depicting use of materials, light and form.
Elevations and sections - illustrating the delicate connection to the land and site.
Elevation and section - taken from the north depict the transition from solid core through to floating pontoon and the gradual intensification of the relationship between the building and its environment.
Typical bay elevation, section and plan - conveying the layering that occurs in the design form and finer construction inspired by the designs basic layered form and surrounding context.
Axonometric detail - illustrating the concept of layering taken down to the fine construction, providing integrity as the buildings natural environment is fully interpreted architecturally.
Working construction models - section taken through the design and a detailed window junction. Both display the layering of spaces and construction.
Working section - integration of sustainable design from inception using orientation and basic form to encourage natural ventilation, light capture and provision of sheltered spaces. Eco-technology is built into the design such as solar panels.
External perspective - View along the bridge through the permeable frame into Emsworth harbour; with the centre as an event along the route.
Internal perspective - the main first floor space with the vertical circulation element.
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