The Watch Tower - Castle Meads

-

CASTLE MEADS = THE CASTLE MEADOWS

A focal element in my Castle Meads design is the watchtower, commanding views over both the cityscape and the adjacent nature reserve and wetland sanctuaries. Drawing inspiration from the rich heritage of the site, which spans from the ancient motte and bailey castle of 1066 to the towering chimney of the 1978-demolished power station, the watchtower embodies the site's historical narrative. Furthermore, it symbolizes the maritime legacy and shipbuilding tradition, aligning seamlessly with the project's overarching theme and concept, akin to a 'crow's nest' atop a ship.

The Old Castle built in 1066 - Castle Meads in the background. 


The Castle built in 1113 - Castle Meads in the foreground.

Gloucester City map with Castle & Castle Meads. 

The watchtower will offer accessibility from both ground level and an overhead walkway, boasting a viewing deck and an additional tier for enhanced panoramic views. While I continue to explore various architectural shapes and designs, drawing inspiration from iconic structures like the Cathedral and castle depictions, the final form of the tower remains a work in progress.


Castle Meads Power Station.

A ship's Crow's Nest.

SKETCHES:





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Design Precedent - Parco Dora, Turin, Italy

-
Image
This precedent has been chosen due to similarities shared with the site on Alney Island, spatially defined by the river Dora and characterised by an industrial past. Designed by Latz+Partner, the urban park has varied amenity areas for walking, cycling, skating and other sporting throughout the park. Notably, it repurposes an old strip steel mill into a covered event space, transforming the post-industrial landscape into one that is multi-use for local residents. Similarly, there is a potential opportunity in Alney Island to repurpose the Electricity Sub Station building into a unique post-industrial event space. The inclusion of street art in this urban park serves as a colourful remedy for the potential eyesores stemming from existing industrial features. Alney Island shares a parallel challenge with a few particularly unwelcoming road underpasses that could be improved through thoughtfully curated street art. This design approach will narrate the island's stories, myths, and i...
Read more

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT Phase 2: Initial design overlays & concept

-
Image
My initial overlay sketches to experiment with the site layout. I am still undecided whether or not to close North Place, the road running through the centre of the site. Although it poses constraints, it provides access for vehicles away from the main pedestrian entrance on the A4019, en route from the Old Town and Brewery Quarter. Currently, I am edging towards maintaining the ends of North Place road, providing vehicle access to the carparks, whilst opening up the centre to allow for pedestrianisation through the site. My initial concept is inspired by the ecology of the surrounding area - a bioregion that integrates with the local environment. Geographical features of the Severn and Avon Vales provide a foundation - rolling hills, low lying meadows and agricultural fields.  The multi-storey carpark will feature a rooftop park imitating the undulating hills of the Cotswold scarp, blending with the north-eastern background view of Cleeve Hill. Whilst the ground plane (beneath the...
Read more

Exploring the Art of Brick Bonding

-
Image
Brick bonding refers to the arrangement and pattern in which bricks are laid in a structure, such as a wall. It plays a crucial role in the structural stability and the aesthetic appeal of the brick work. There are multiple brick bonds, variations and combinations of patterns, leading to a wide range of possibilities.  The above poster was created for Weekly Task 1: to correclty identify five different brick bonds during a walk in the local area.
Read more