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The Silt City

Part 2 Project 2014
Joseph Charman
 Newcastle University | UK
Many towns have been formed on the foundation of industry, and there is a strong symbiotic relationship between the development of a town and the evolution of industry, Grimsby Town and its adjoining dock is an exemplar case of this relationship.

A microcosm of change, the decline of its industry and dockland processes has had a correlating effect on the town, not just economically but also on its built fabric and cultural identity.

The thesis line of this enquiry examines the opportunity of establishing new industrial processes within the heart of Grimsby Docks that breaks the perpetual cycle of siltation and dredging that takes place within the Humber Estuary and uses the local resource of silt to construct the local built environment.

The enquiry led into an exploration of the material properties of silt, and in the similar way in which Aberdeen established its built environment, economy and character through its use of granite, the scheme seeks to make use of the unique properties of silt to ossify the local urban fabric of the town, and to reinforce the cultural identity of place, establishing Grimsby as The Silt City.

Whilst the proposal introduces an industrial framework that can, over time, adapt in response to changing industrial needs, the silt materials and components produced by the facility, envelop parts of this framework to create polyvalent civic spaces and by re-establishing public infrastructure between town and dock, these preliminary civic spaces act as anchors along the silt roads of regeneration.

Whilst the silt components protect and solidify the industrial framework, by placing and intertwining public space and infrastructure within the heart of The Silt Factory, the civic amenities are simultaneously enveloped by the spectacle of mechanised processes, with the intention to physically re-establish cultural ties between a town and its industrial practices.

A brief developed that blended the functional with the humanistic, extracting joy from the utilitarian whilst considering honesty through materiality. Exploring themes such as the spectacle, the post-industrial and time, the project combines infrastructure with urban renewal and the establishment of civic space with mechanised processes.


Tutor(s)
Matthew Margetts
2014
Grimsby 1954 - the decline of industry and dockland processes has had a correlating effect on the town of Grimsby, not only economically, but also on its built environment and cultural identity. The Silt Factory aims to restore the ties between the town a
The Silt City investigates the intertwining of the functional with the humanistic, extracting joy from the utilitarian whilst considering honesty through materiality. Exploring themes such as the spectacle, the post-industrial and time, the project combin
Grimsby town/dock - A symbiotic relationship exists between the town of Grimsby and its adjoining dock. A microcosm of change, the decline of its industry and dockland processes has had a correlating effect on the town, not just economically but also on i
Industry/Civic - The thesis line of enquiry looks to establish a new industrial facility that integrates municipal spaces, where the public forum is enveloped by the spectacle of mechanised processes. The aim is to re-establish the cultural ties between d
Utilising a local resource - The proposal examines the opportunity of establishing new industrial processes that breaks the perpetual cycle of siltation and dredging that takes place within the Humber Estuary and uses the local resource of silt to constru
Revealing the process - Dredging of the Humber Estuary and the spectacle of industrial mechanisms.
The Silt Factory - from the adaptable construction and mechanised processes of The Silt factory to the ossification of the industrial framework to establish civic spaces, the spectacle and evolution of these processes are key drivers to form the architect
Construction Timeline - Through the process of ossification, the silt components produced by The Silt Factory are used to establish polyvalent civic spaces within the industrial framework.
The Industrial Framework - The industrial framework of The Silt Factory is designed to be adaptable and interchangeable so that it can easily respond to the changing functional requirements of the industry.
Civic construction - Over time, the silt components produced by the factory begin to ossify the industrial framework to establish polyvalent civic spaces within the structure.
The Grimsby Silt Market - Civic spaces are enveloped by the theatre of dockland processes, re-establishing cultural ties between a town and its industrial practices.
Establishing a cultural identity through materiality - The thesis explores the unique material properties of silt and investigates how through using different consistency of the material, a varying array of finishes could be achieved as it response to wea
Ossification of the Industrial Framework - Whilst the framework is functionally clad to protect industrial mechanisms, silt components are used to ossify the framework. Whilst these silt components solidify civic spaces within the framework, each element
The Silt Exchange Chamber of Commerce - Interlacing industrial mechanics, civic spaces and public infrastructure.
The Silt Road - The formation, regeneration and ossification of the urban fabric.
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