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Altered Perception - Football Association Headquarters

Part 2 Project 2008
Michael Eales
 University of Lincoln Lincoln | UK
Through the constant questioning of the “normal” way in which things are perceived a journey has been undertaken. Development of an idea through experimentation and exploration lead me to a design far away from anything I initially conceived.

The site was chosen in the middle of Soho Square in London and it became immediately apparent that it would be an idea situation for a luxury boutique hotel. Research in to the design of hotel and the considerations that are taken in to account left me unimpressed. Although there are a large number of innovative designs the majority stick to a tried and tested layout.

Questioning why this layout was such and industry standard became my initial goal. This lead me though a number of models and explorations to a point there I had something which in no way resembled architecture. The constant questioning began again when I questioned exactly why I wanted a hotel and why could I not redesign what was there.

The FA Headquarters is in an extremely bland building in a vibrant colourful part of Central London. With the money that had been spent developing Wembley it seems as though the FA had been cheated.

The development of my design came for a totally abstract concept this helped me to stay away from simplistic ideas of football nostalgia and create something that fits the requirements of its inhabitants in an innovative way whilst hopefully providing and intriguing addition to Soho Square.



Michael’s project is underscored by his fascination of inappropriateness; the idea that something intended for one use can be appropriated for another, and in the process become slightly absurd yet gain by the ensuing juxtapositions. To this end his project started out as a design for a hotel, he developed a modular system, which aptly suited the requirements of a building that would be divided into many smaller spaces. This programme was then rejected and replaced with a programme for a new Football Association headquarters.
The resulting project is a highbred where the manipulation of scale becomes the most important factor; hence grids and volumes that were once potential rooms become structure, lighting, storage or vast open spaces. They still however retain their initial essential qualities, and by their appropriation into something else become much more than there initial potential would suggest.
The fascination in observing this project is how a set of disconnected explorations takes on a new intensity and power when set against a programme that manifestly rejects their nature. The result is a project that is rich in spatial ideas and by default transforms the notion of what, is in effect an office building, can be.


2008
Hotel design is in the most part a regular predefined pattern. Rooms follow a well organised system to ensure the largest number of rooms. My initial explorations in to this design are shown in a 3d computer generated model.
Using the parameters of my site the model was developed in to a physical form in order to allow further exploration in to the spaces between the shapes.
Viewing a model in an alternative way to convention allows us to open up an entirely new angle. My space model of a standard hotel room designs has been dissected in a number of different angles and directions.
From the sections and plans taken from my space model I was able to over lay them to create a pattern. The colour coding on this pattern reads differently to different people colours will seem to protrude more than others giving it a third dimension.
Using this third dimension on my drawing I was able to extrude parts of it to create a more tangible third dimension. This was a case of perception and my own personal interpretation of the extent to which each pare protrudes or recesses.
Choosing one colour from my original image I was able to investigate how would penetrate the initial layers of my pattern.
A physical model of this extrusion was then manufactured in order to explore the spaces between the levels of the original pattern and how they were dissected by the vertical elements.
The existing elevation of the FA HQ building is very band and as little impact on Soho Square. The verticality of the facade will alter the whole area therefore this drawing has been created with an unnatural perspective to show its vicinity.
Perception was something that I have continually questioned during these explorations and even with a simple site plan it was important to queries the natural style. Here the perception has been elongated.
The facade of the building demonstrates the verticality that runs through it. These elements act as a fantastic shading device as well a providing a large area of thermal mass.
The building in sections is a prime example of where the development of the design has been questioned from beginning to end. Every element has its own reasons and development.
As the inside of the building has been developed it begun to lend itself very kindly to many uses. The vertical elements act as heating, ventilation, lighting, air conditioning, drainage and display cases for F.A memorabilia.
With all of the elements stripped away the building becomes a simple shape with a front and rear glazed wall and a concrete roof with glazing running through the middle. This allows light to penetrate the office spaces below.
The front and rear facades of the building are independent structures that stand in front of the glazing. This creates a micro climate to regulate heat gain and loss in the building.
The FA Headquarters is a figure head building for a thriving industry in this country and with the mass expense they have gone to creating a national stadium like Wembley it seems only fitting that they should be housed in an equally fitting surroundings.
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