Before reading this, please make sure you also read the post outlining tomorrow's meeting.
Pre-SWAT - WHAT WE THINK IS GOOD ABOUT THE SITE:
some good views and potential views of the river; central city airport; plenty of water to play with; some good existing attractions - excel, thames barrier, thames barrier park; mixed land-use; close proximity to canary wharf; easy access to other parts of london; central vista; flat topography; good (transport) infrastructure; airport (eg employment); local schools; big interesting and diverse events at the Excel centre; people drawn into the area from outside; Uni of East London; City Farm; new residential developments; famous and historic site; links to river Lea and Barking Creek; public open spaces; capital ring (walk).
Pre-SWAT - WHAT WE THINK IS BAD ABOUT THE SITE:
traffic congestion; noise eg planes; pollution (traffic and planes); too many visitors sometimes - local infrastructure fails, local people overrun; doubt the sustainable credentials of Excel; not enough services; linear shape; poor legibility within the site and wayfinding information; its a long circuit around the docks; safety issues around the airport; a windy, cold and exposed site; there's a flood risk; little local economic activity; not pedestrian friendly; many buildings like big sheds; lack of habitats; little vegetation development; space broken up into four quarters; its difficult to get to from some directions; not a good view to the other side of the Thames; cannot cross the river; lots of derelict sites; ground contamination; can't get to the riverbank; dominated by roads and cars; very little reason to visit the area; poor links to the olympic park.
Pre-SWAT - HOW WE PROPOSE TO CHANGE THE SITE
Biomass; flood-it; improve/ enlarge the City Farm; introduce pedestrian areas/ public transport; green-up the airport; more bridges; more habitats/vegetation; remove airport (no more domestic flights); drain royal docks (make bigger versions of Thames Barrier Park); Bird reserve at airport; roof gardens and underground gardens; shopping centres; wetland; canal network; glass manufacturing site (the new KEW/ Crystal Palace Exhibition); change the four quarters with circulation routes; improve the views; create direct access to the south bank; improve access to Stratford; riverside walk(s); marinas; river transport; reed beds - water filtration; wooded areas; kitchen gardens; river railway; fish-farming/ seafood; link up to Ebbsfleet; residential areas by the waters edge; exciting new quality architecture.
There's some really good stuff here.
Simon
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Meeting tomorrow 7 Oct 2010 11:00 @ Excel
Hi everyone,
Another good day which is particularly satisfying after all our hard work up to this point!
For tomorrow, we have the general project aim "to use your professional skill to make the area a better and more sustainable place". We need to consider all the elements of visual composition of landscape ie buildings, water, vegetation, landform (including massing of buildings) and paving. We have been asked to focus our efforts on the 30 year period.
More specifically we'll need to complete an initial visual survey of our allocated area with the following outputs in mind:
To help, today's brainstorm produced the following items to consider during the visual survey:
transport nodes; views and vistas; building heights and skyline; noise; pollution; vegetation; landmarks; paving; water; demographics and social use; morphology and topography; land-use; public open spaces; photographic survey; film survey; sketches.
Please refer to the next blog-post for details of todays pre-SWOT.
Cheers
Simon
Another good day which is particularly satisfying after all our hard work up to this point!
For tomorrow, we have the general project aim "to use your professional skill to make the area a better and more sustainable place". We need to consider all the elements of visual composition of landscape ie buildings, water, vegetation, landform (including massing of buildings) and paving. We have been asked to focus our efforts on the 30 year period.
More specifically we'll need to complete an initial visual survey of our allocated area with the following outputs in mind:
- slogan
- review our pre-SWOT from today to highlight the key issues
- allocate the desk research activities across the team (to include any Unitary Development Plan and Biodiversity Action Plan)
- individually produce an "eyesore-it" image for discussion later
- produce a concept model
To help, today's brainstorm produced the following items to consider during the visual survey:
transport nodes; views and vistas; building heights and skyline; noise; pollution; vegetation; landmarks; paving; water; demographics and social use; morphology and topography; land-use; public open spaces; photographic survey; film survey; sketches.
Please refer to the next blog-post for details of todays pre-SWOT.
Cheers
Simon
Summary of meeting 5th October
Firstly well done everyone with the big effort putting together our 30 and 300 sketch designs - whether it was research, providing maps, having great ideas, drawing, sketching, summarising, focusing or providing food and space to work.
We finished late so agreed to briefly review the work at this mornings mini-meeting (maybe more woodland/ walks along the river or cultivated land amongst the housing districts) as well as producing:
a slogan that reflects our concept.
See you all later
Simon
We finished late so agreed to briefly review the work at this mornings mini-meeting (maybe more woodland/ walks along the river or cultivated land amongst the housing districts) as well as producing:
a slogan that reflects our concept.
See you all later
Simon
Monday, October 4, 2010
GROUP MEETING LOG
Meeting 1: Wednesday, 29 September 2010. 10.00am - 1.30pm, Avery Hill
Present: Simon, Jenny, Lili, Stevie, Anka
Created version 1 of 30 year and 300 year habitat and vegetation plans for whole site
Meeting 2: Friday 1, 1 October 2010. 1.15pm - 1.45pm, Avery Hill
Present: Simon, Jenny, Lili, Stevie, Athanase, Anka
Discussed approach to habitat designation and incorporation of other groups' designs for 30 and 300 year habitat and vegetation plans for whole site
Meeting 3: Tuesday, 5 October 2010. 11.30am - 10.00pm, Kennington
Present: Simon, Lili, Stevie, Athanase, Anka
Created version 2 of 30 year and 300 year habitat and vegetation plans for whole site
Meeting 4: Thursday, 7 October 2010. 11.00am - 5.00pm, Site 3
Present: Simon, Jenny, Lili, Stevie, Athanase, Anka
Explored the group's site, initial survey. Discussed concept design.
Meeting 5: Wednesday, 13 October 2010. 10.00am - 1.30pm, Avery Hill
Present: Simon, Jenny, Lili, Stevie, Athanase, Anka
Created concept model. Discussed slogan. Reviewed Eye-sore its.
Meeting 6: Wednesday, 20 October 2010. 10.00am - 1.30pm, Avery Hill
Present: Simon, Jenny, Lili, Stevie, Athanase, Anka
Created revised concept model. Reviewed Eye-sore its. Preparation for crit.
Meeting 7: Wednesday, 27 October 2010. 10.00am - 1.30pm, Avery Hill
Present: Simon, Jenny, Lili, Stevie, Athanase
Produced designs for 5 elements for -300, present day, +3 years, +30 years and +300 years
Produced 300 year sketch design and draft model design
First draft of storyboard
Meeting 8: Wednesday, 3 November 2010. 10.00am - 1.30pm, Avery Hill
Present: Simon, Lili, Anka
Refinement of storyboard
Meeting 9: Monday, 15 November 2010. 11.00am - 2.00pm, Avery Hill
Present: Simon, Lili, Stevie, Athanase
Review of storyboard and materials
Revision of 5-element diagrams
Meeting 10: Wednesday, 17 November 2010. 11.00 - 1.30pm, Avery Hill
Present: Simon, Anka, Jenny
Review of storyboard, refinement of concept model
Present: Simon, Jenny, Lili, Stevie, Anka
Created version 1 of 30 year and 300 year habitat and vegetation plans for whole site
Meeting 2: Friday 1, 1 October 2010. 1.15pm - 1.45pm, Avery Hill
Present: Simon, Jenny, Lili, Stevie, Athanase, Anka
Discussed approach to habitat designation and incorporation of other groups' designs for 30 and 300 year habitat and vegetation plans for whole site
Meeting 3: Tuesday, 5 October 2010. 11.30am - 10.00pm, Kennington
Present: Simon, Lili, Stevie, Athanase, Anka
Created version 2 of 30 year and 300 year habitat and vegetation plans for whole site
Meeting 4: Thursday, 7 October 2010. 11.00am - 5.00pm, Site 3
Present: Simon, Jenny, Lili, Stevie, Athanase, Anka
Explored the group's site, initial survey. Discussed concept design.
Meeting 5: Wednesday, 13 October 2010. 10.00am - 1.30pm, Avery Hill
Present: Simon, Jenny, Lili, Stevie, Athanase, Anka
Created concept model. Discussed slogan. Reviewed Eye-sore its.
Meeting 6: Wednesday, 20 October 2010. 10.00am - 1.30pm, Avery Hill
Present: Simon, Jenny, Lili, Stevie, Athanase, Anka
Created revised concept model. Reviewed Eye-sore its. Preparation for crit.
Meeting 7: Wednesday, 27 October 2010. 10.00am - 1.30pm, Avery Hill
Present: Simon, Jenny, Lili, Stevie, Athanase
Produced designs for 5 elements for -300, present day, +3 years, +30 years and +300 years
Produced 300 year sketch design and draft model design
First draft of storyboard
Meeting 8: Wednesday, 3 November 2010. 10.00am - 1.30pm, Avery Hill
Present: Simon, Lili, Anka
Refinement of storyboard
Meeting 9: Monday, 15 November 2010. 11.00am - 2.00pm, Avery Hill
Present: Simon, Lili, Stevie, Athanase
Review of storyboard and materials
Revision of 5-element diagrams
Meeting 10: Wednesday, 17 November 2010. 11.00 - 1.30pm, Avery Hill
Present: Simon, Anka, Jenny
Review of storyboard, refinement of concept model
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Outline of the ideas of the morphology group
I have spoken to Chris, chairman of the morphology group, and garnered some information about their project. This should in turn help us a little in our process of overlaying habitats onto and underneath the ideas of the other groups.
The big hand-like structures were their 300 year plan. They came up with this quite quickly after their original model had been criticised. Their 30 year plan isn't fully formulated yet and will only be resolved on Wednesday morning.
However, this is the concept they are thinking of for 300 years on:
The large many 'fingered' buildings are rather star trek/le corbusier...big structures to house many people and centralise the distribution of resources required and the treatment of waste products/water recycling etc. An interesting and very different approach from our decentralised residential system.
The buildings are near the river edge, the fingers are there to gather the cool air from the river and suck it into the building. The spaces between the 'fingers' are also effectively wind tunnels, allowing breezes to flow up and over the structure (I can't really call it a building as it is too massive!)
They are hoping to create these structures so they are very efficient in shape. They are also man-made hills that create areas of higher ground near the river (terrific if there is flooding/widening of the thames). We could easily green roof them or plant woodland on top or biomass plantations etc so they could be a really positive addition to our habitat plan.
The spaces between the 'fingers' could become cool shady parks, sheltered swimming bays, areas for silt collection and farming etc.
I think that although our green residential housing matrix is a great idea, it could benefit from us looking at this groups ideas ideas and perhaps making some changes?
Some questions to think about for Friday:
- Would we be better off creating man-made higher ground near the river?
- Would housing be better off on high-ground, or being nearer the mirror?
- Is decentralisation/ distribtion or intensity/centralisation the right solution for the future of ciies?
- Is centralisation sustainable?
- How might we create habitats on and around this mega-structure?
Well, I hope that helps a bit. Some things to add to our discussion tomorrow.
Jenny
The big hand-like structures were their 300 year plan. They came up with this quite quickly after their original model had been criticised. Their 30 year plan isn't fully formulated yet and will only be resolved on Wednesday morning.
However, this is the concept they are thinking of for 300 years on:
The large many 'fingered' buildings are rather star trek/le corbusier...big structures to house many people and centralise the distribution of resources required and the treatment of waste products/water recycling etc. An interesting and very different approach from our decentralised residential system.
The buildings are near the river edge, the fingers are there to gather the cool air from the river and suck it into the building. The spaces between the 'fingers' are also effectively wind tunnels, allowing breezes to flow up and over the structure (I can't really call it a building as it is too massive!)
They are hoping to create these structures so they are very efficient in shape. They are also man-made hills that create areas of higher ground near the river (terrific if there is flooding/widening of the thames). We could easily green roof them or plant woodland on top or biomass plantations etc so they could be a really positive addition to our habitat plan.
The spaces between the 'fingers' could become cool shady parks, sheltered swimming bays, areas for silt collection and farming etc.
I think that although our green residential housing matrix is a great idea, it could benefit from us looking at this groups ideas ideas and perhaps making some changes?
Some questions to think about for Friday:
- Would we be better off creating man-made higher ground near the river?
- Would housing be better off on high-ground, or being nearer the mirror?
- Is decentralisation/ distribtion or intensity/centralisation the right solution for the future of ciies?
- Is centralisation sustainable?
- How might we create habitats on and around this mega-structure?
Well, I hope that helps a bit. Some things to add to our discussion tomorrow.
Jenny
WETLAND TYPES
HABITAT TYPE: 1. WETLAND, 2.WOODLAND, 3.GRASSLAND, 4.HEATHLAND....
I FIND SOME EXAMPLES OF WETLAND TYPE.
Marshes
This wet meadow is in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
I FIND SOME EXAMPLES OF WETLAND TYPE.
Marshes
Tidal marsh along the Edisto River, South Carolina
Wet meadows
This wet meadow is in Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado.
Vernal Pools
Vernal pools are usually quite small and ponded only during the wetter part of the year.
Forested swamps
Swamps frequently support highly diverse vegetation because of the many
layers of vegetation present: shrubs, saplings, and herbacous plants.
I am not going to list plant species at this stage, because the planning should be done before planting.
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As well all know that wetlands have recreational, historical, scientific, and cultural values.
what people do in the wetland? they may hunt, fish, birdwatch or photograph wildlife, hiking, boating, and recreational activities(e.g. painters, writers or photographers).
------------------------------------------------------------
please edit this post if you have more information.
Summary of group activities following 29 September class
Jenny:
Talk to morphology group for detail on sketch design
Lili:
Provide a list of habitat types that could be relevant to our sketch design
Stevie:
Post photos of the other groups' sketch designs on the blog
Group:
- Discuss which habitats to include in our 30 and 300 year plans and where to locate them (Friday 1 October, lunchtime, Avery Hill)
- Research habitats individually and where to locate them [Athanase - agriculture (allotments, commercial, gardens), Anka - waterways and margins, Jenny - buildings, gardens, exhibition spaces, Lili - grassland (parkland and grazing), Simon - trees (woodland, hedges, coppice), Stevie - transport corridors]
- Redraw our plans with the other groups' plans in mind (meet outside Kennington Station - northern line - at 11.30am)
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