My meticulous work in 3D physical and computer-assisted model-making techniques has received high acclaim in the Manchester School of Architecture, where both my Portfolio and Degree Show presentations were awarded the highest level of praise, the Sheppard Robson Prize for Final Year Student in the category of BA (Hons) Architecture.
The models, 4 in total, were exhibited in the end-of-year Architecture Degree Show. From the 140+ BA (Hons) students, I was nominated and awarded First Prize in the Sheppard Robson Student of the Year Award.
The project to receive the award was the Water Education and Research Centre, East Manchester, my final year project and culmination of the 3-year BA (Hons) Architecture course.
The project sought to tackle the ever-pertinent issue of freshwater availability, an issue largely overlooked in a city such as Manchester, which experiences some of the highest levels of rainfall in the British Isles. The lack of awareness in the general public leads to irresponsible consumption and reliance upon antiquated and wasteful systems of water management. Meanwhile in other parts of the world, millions fight for the daily existence.
The proposed Water Education and Research Centre captures and utilises water in ways visible to the visitor in order to raise awareness of common design downfalls, and demonstrate its potential in all aspects of the building. Rainwater harvesting and permeable surfaces fulfil the water demands of the building, while helping to reduce storm water and surface water run-off. Excess water is allowed to permeate the ground, much as it was able to do before any intervention on the site.
The models, which were displayed in the final Degree Show, document the development in form and spatial design of the Centre.
The first is the conceptual ‘skeletal’ model resulting from a diagram of the perceived flow of information across the building from the research element to the educational museum element. The linear elements also gesture towards a potential primary structure to support an overarching canopy.
Development of the design saw the cladding of the skeletal model with plates to begin the visualise the form of the roof canopy. The plates, tectonic in nature, create a complete canopy of the building opening out in the museum area to create a light-filled atrium of the three floor levels.
With the structure removed, the final image of the three now demonstrates how the modelled form of the building will interact with the context, within the site and surround.
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