Where Wildflowers Bloom

  Above are my initial overlays for the design of Castle Meads. The focus for this area was the urban-rural fringe in the masterplan Alney Island. Although this remains the same I will be rethinking my design to make Castle Meads the destination, rather than a gateway to greater discovery.  Following alongside the theme of 'Tides of Time' my design will be significantly inspired by the contextual heritage of the city and the site itself, paying homage to its seafarer history and linkage to the waterways and import and export trade. I began by locating the key nodes on site and attempted a couple of overlays to be further developed.

BRIEF: MAKE A STATEMENT  The first stage for our Tatton Park competition submission was to interpret the brief into a concept. MAKE A STATEMENT immediately triggered similar ideas between the group, that of flamboyance and expression, one that is almost theatrical, resembling elements such as feather bowers, over embellishment and bold, bright colours.  We combined this idea with the natural diversity between plants, their colour, form and features into a concept that personifies the individual and striking qualities of each plant, symbolic of the differing and complementing nature of human beings. In our views, beliefs, likes and dislikes, the variety throughout humankind is a central and conflicting contributer. It has been the foundation for debate since the evolution of mankind and in today's society still poses grave adversity to varying groups and individuals.  Our concept grew to encapsulate this idea, displaying plants that are architectural and individually strik...

This blog is intended to showcase even the simplest of planning efforts in design as well as my calculations for the Environmental Data Poster. Things always evolve throughout the design and creation process, but it ensured that I had a direction I was aiming towards. Planning in scribbles that take the ideas out of my head and into a vision to follow I know I wanted some woodland planting, some animals and reference to the mounds! A1 is a big piece of paper. Crafting a poster demanded a delicate balance between presenting engaging content for a diverse audience while delving into the complexities of environmental data. To strike this balance, I carefully selected information that would resonate with a wide readership, focusing on delivering the final figures that were both compelling and comprehensible - rather than the workings. Biomass: Using an online biomass calculator, I determined the biomass of each tree based on its type, size via height and the conversion of girth to diameter...

The two images below are my initial design response for the spatial configurations for Alney Island. The second rendition is more ‘organised’, but a preference for the first means a return to the drawing board! As expected. The objective now is to decide what aspects to retain, modify, or transform. The underlying concept of 'The Tides of Time' draws inspiration from the island's rich history and its unique location amidst the tidal River Severn. This response mirrors the fluidity of waves and the rhythmic ebb and flow of water. Navigating the vast scale of the project poses a challenge. How does one design a space of such size? The overarching goal is to transform Alney Island into a  visitor attraction, enticing people to not only visit but to stay. Envisioning boujee holiday cabins positioned over the water, alongside tree houses nestled in the woodland, the plan encompasses a diverse array of activities and a heritage trail meandering through the site. The aspiration...

My initial conceptual vision for Alney Island revolves around the island's distinctive tides and rich historical tapestry, culminating in what I term 'The Tides of Time.' Alney, an island nestled between two branches of the River Severn, boasts a rich history dating back to 1016, marked by a historic duel between Edmund Ironside and Canute of the Danish Vikings for control of the English Crown. Delving into the island's historical elements, my design incorporates reclaimed railway tracks, millstones, rune stones, and envisions a potential amphitheater within the cultural center. This homage aims to encapsulate the diverse periods that have shaped Alney's unique history. A significant portion of the site is dedicated to flood prevention, specifically through the implementation of algal wetlands. Drawing from a recent project exploring algae's multifaceted potential, I find it to be an ideal solution for bioremediation, biodiversity promotion, carbon capture, and ...

After three damp and somewhat lackluster visits to Alney Island, it's time to delve into the possibilities for initial zoning. My approach involved a review of the existing zoning, which appears relatively uniform—comprising wet marshland, woodland, scrub, and pockets of unsightly industrial and human development. The next step was to explore various draft zoning options. Existing Zoning  Outlined below are three preliminary zoning concepts. The proposed zonings entail subtle adjustments, with a primary focus on dedicating the majority of the site to accessible wetland and woodland. Considering the site's susceptibility to flooding during wetter months, the incorporation of grading is essential. This ensures that specific areas retain water while others remain dry. In all three proposals, I advocate for the strategic placement of community and cultural centers predominantly to the west of the site. This aligns with the existing residential zones and cultural hubs, such as the d...

View of original Warehouses  The Docks - Gloucestershire Crime History Heritage plays a vital role in Gloucester's identity and the city's strategy for regeneration and tourism. With nearly 2000 years of history as a significant settlement, Gloucester has heritage sites spanning from Roman foundations and medieval development to the Georgian/ Victoria Gloucester Docks - a key area of recent regeneration adjacent to Alney Island.  The Docks have become a cultural hub in recent years, drawing visitors as an attractive amenity area. Due to the proximity, the Docks directly influence my design motives for Alney Island. During 19th-century industrialisation, the island transformed from farmland to support shipping. It housed timber yards, warehouses, a flour mill and railway sidings serving the docks, built 1811-1816.  At its 1850s peak, the docks saw 500 ships and 100,000 tons of goods annually. Original warehouses still stand in The Docks, providing an important physical lin...

To advance with our project of St Aidan's, we recognised the importance of finalising our design this week. Allowing ample time to concentrate on the deliverables.  During this week's group work session we used various tools to measure and grasp the dimensions of the areas we plan to propose. We then revisited the site to understand whether our current design works within the space and to gain a secondary opinion in light of our progress.  It was super helpful to see the site again, it is bigger than it looks/ feels! With a better understanding after our return to the site, we were able to finalise the plan and prepare a CAD base for the development of our model and visualisations.  Design Development - Overlay, final ideas (not to scale) AutoCAD base 

Our initial group meeting for the site of St Aidan's was productive. As a group we have lots of creative ideas that respond to the brief. Overlay, overlay, overlay!!!!!! Our first response is much like that of a bubble diagram with an understanding of the functions and features of each designated area. Prior to our first response deadline on 12th October, team mate Meg worked on a clear, neat visual representation of our ideas, I mind-mapped our conceptual ideas in relation to Christianity and the Monastic faith and the rest of the group added to our shared Pinterest mood board!!

To commence Semester 1, we are working on an exciting short project for ST3. A real-life proposal for the people of West Cheltenham. St Aidan & St Silas Church sits off of Coronation Square on Queen Elizabeth Way. The site is where the chapel once stood, since demolished and currently resting as an under-utilised, fenced-off, grassed area. Still owned by the Church, the client would like the space to be open to the wider community with gentle but significant symbolism relating to the Christian monastic faith. Our aim is to design a community centred garden inspired by the concept of the Seven Sacred Spaces, a place for worship, peace, play, education and to harvest vegetables for the local food banks. As like any new project, we began with a desktop survey and an initial site visit to understand the site and the client's intentions/ expectations - this was such a great opportunity, and an exciting, new experience for us all. Below are my notes from the  site visit - an iPad is ...

  As I embark on my third year at University, I've come to realise that change is not just a choice but a necessity for personal growth. People are often categorised as either thinkers or doers and during my first two years of study, I discovered that I find myself firmly planted in the thinkers category, which can be a challenge when tasks demand action. However, I've also learned that part of the design process involves embracing imperfections, exploring numerous ideas rapidly, and expressing creativity through visual representations that evolve and inspire throughout the journey. In our latest design endeavor, Design Project 3, we are turning our attention to Alney Island, a fascinating site located between two branches of the River Severn as it flows through Gloucester. Alney Island boasts a rich history, but today it is carefully managed as an 80 hectare wetland Nature Reserve, thanks to the collaborative efforts of Gloucestershire County Council and the Friends of Alney I...

  The Cheltenham Plan reviewed yesterday is the local town plan that supports the Joint Core Strategy (JCS) of the three neighbouring Councils: Gloucester City, Cheltenham Borough and Tewkesbury Borough. Adopted in December 2017, the JCS sets out a detailed strategy for development needed up to 2031. As expected, a lot of the same themes from the Chelt Plan are repeated, along with the visions and objectives - a focus on delivering a sustainable quality of life, thriving business opportunities and protecting the cultural and natural heritage of the town.  Throughout the JCS, Cheltenham is referred to as "a town within a park" due to its tree lined streets, open green spaces and "formal garden townscape". I am to extend this vision with tree lined entrances and a park-like ground plane in my design for North Place - although there will be less formality, representing 'now' and the future of Cheltenham, whilst nodding to the past.  Other key topics and pressin...

  Adopted in 2020, the local Cheltenham Plan sets out the visions, objectives and policies for future development throughout the town. Whilst reviewing the plan I pulled out what I gather to be important details that will inform and influence my design and intention for North Place.  Not to blow my own trumpet, but I am pleased that my concept and objectives already align with the key principles within the plan. There is a real focus on "locally specific models", ones that support cultural and social life for existing communities and for the future. Below I have outlined the links between the aims of the Cheltenham Plan and my d esign : Integration of existing communities with new communities - I aimed to conserve the open spaces directly outside of the residential properties that face onto North Place, with the intention to encourage the surrounding community to engage with the new and proposed development - it should be there one stop, local. They are the users.. why bloc...

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...

The first phase of my design development is to interrogate the brief…  During lectures we dissected the wording together, brainstorming each of the major themes; Biophilic, Vibrancy, Eco, Iconic Destination and Cultural Quarter. As you can see from the mind maps, analysing the desired components and aspirations for the project inspired lateral thinking and creative interpretation - which in turn opened a wealth of different avenues, concepts and routes to explore throughout the early stages of our design development.  Below are some of the keywords that stood out to me from the mind map theme developed in the session: EXPRESSION  GROWTH  COLOUR  CREATIVITY  ‘OF THE NOW’  I then interrogated the brief independently – highlighting the important factors and translating those into a design vision.  VISION:  A cultural hub that inspires creativity, personal expression, wisdom and humanity. A multi-functional space for work-live-play with circulari...