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The Commoners’ Hearth

Part 2 Project 2017
Louise Fisher
 University of Brighton | UK
This project focuses on the impact that humans have on landscapes, which are perceived as natural. The Ashdown forest is a protected landscape that has been manipulated by man for thousands of years. A connection was made with the commoners of the forest (people who dwell on common land) and their rights to take timber from the landscape. This was utilised to empower the people and provide a new hearth.

Tutor(s)
2017
Man vs Nature This is the beginning of an exploration in to mans’ manipulation of natural environments. Areas of natural beauty are often protected and prohibit intervention by man, which contradicts the fact that man has managed and manipulated a lot of
The Commoners Perception of an intervention Initial explorations were orientated around the commoner’s rights to remove timber. Alongside quantifying the impact that commoners could make with their rights. Explorations were made into the perceptions that
Man manipulated timber When dealing with a restricted volume of timber that originates from the Right to remove timber. [750 Commoners on the Ashdown Forest – Every commoner can remove 7.8m cubed of timber a year – 5859m cubed can be removed in one year
The Commoners’ Hearth Sat within a valley in the Ashdown forest the proposition aims to enhance the existing site not restrict or damage anything that currently happens, lives or grows there. It considers the perception from near and far as seen in the ex
1:1 Log bundle and device When interrogating the idea of converting a log pile in to an architectural proposition I explored construction logic at 1:1 generating an understanding of how to stack, bundle, fix and replace logs. This incorporated a tension s
Long Section The building and its relationship to the surrounding context were of primary importance. Through this section it explored the relationship with both sides of the valley and used the natural form of the landscape for elements such as the outsi
The perception from afar Sensitivity to place is always important to considering when dealing with a site like this, however, I wanted to challenge this by interveneing on a large scale (full span of 500m) but considering very carefully about how the prop
The Window reveal The small scale it just as important as the large within the scheme. This identifies a moment of contemplation, which is located in one of the residential spaces on the side wing of the proposition. This is a moment where you can begin t
The Commoners’ Parliament This is the main entrance. It is monumental. You enter through a large mass of timber where you see the fireplace in the center of the space retaining the original meaning of the hearth. This is the central space, which will acco
The Commoners’ Hearth The overall scheme can be viewed through this plan. It offers 2 parliament spaces for debate one for 750 Commoners and one for 7000 commoners. Surrounding the main space are meeting rooms, break out space and the Hearth Way House Pub
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