The site is located in the very center of Cultural Quarter in Northampton, 34 Guildhall Road. The
building, its façade and the site area itself represent very rich and layered history of
Northampton. You should consider the surrounding physical context carefully. Access will be a key
concern especially because of the listed nature of the building façade as well, as the sloped
nature of the site.
Analysis
This location is a highly dense urban landscape. Analyze the conditions of scale, pattern, land use
and vegetation, colour, buildings and other objects that you have previously recorded and
considered. The site orientation, access points and views are critical here, as are the climatic
conditions. How do you use and analyze this data to make impact on decisions you make, rather than
simply recording and recounting it?
Aims
The aims of this project are to build upon your existing knowledge of architecture technology with
minimum environmental impact [structure / material / form] and build on this with new set of skills
and attention to detail. You will be assigned two sub-‐briefs during this project that will test
your response to each of these issues. You will be assessed on the analysis, design process, the
formal quality of your intervention, the understanding you demonstrate of
materials and structure and the quality of your finished outputs.
Project timeline
- 12 Dec. (week 11) - 2.3.1 Introduction of project, Research, Site visit, Surveying
- 19 Dec. (week 12) - 2.3.2 Research, Surveying, Brief, Precedents, Strategy, Concept
- 16 Jan. (week 13) - 2.3.3 Massing models, Plans, Sections
- 30 Jan. (week 15) - 2.3.4 Materiality and Technology
- 13 Feb. (week 17) - 2.3.5 Environmental strategy, Plans and Sections
- 27 Feb. (week 19) - 2.3.6 Elevations
- 06 Mar. (week 20) - 2.3.7 Technology and Services
- 20 Mar. (week 22) - 2.3.8 Visuals and Models
- 03 Apr. (week 24) - 2.3.9 Final Presentation
Output
You are required to produce the following minimum finished work for this project:
Drawing pack
- Site Plan 1:500 to show roof and context
- Building Plan 1:100 floors with finishes and any external treatment
- Section(s) 1:200 to show topographical context
- Section 1:50 to show technology / structure / envelope / finishes
- Details 1:20 and 1:10 to show technology / structure / envelope / finishes
- Elevations 1:100 including context
- Environmental strategy schematics component scale / building scale
- Exploded axonometric of building envelope
Concept + proposition communication
- Site analysis
- Diagram the program and energy resource flow of your scheme. Indicate the seasonal and
occupational activity phases of the building
Vertical circulation
- 1:50 section through tower to show structure, linings and finishes, methods of fixing,
openings, detail to stair etc.
- 1:20 Stairs detail
- 1:5/1:10 model [physical or CAD] or cutaway axonometric/isometric drawing of detailed junction
between stair, structure and skin.
Models + experimentation [photographed / presented in portfolio]
- Model 1:100 to show external form + immediate context