is solar heating appropriate to heat the water in the school project?

Solar heating is where the sun is used to heat water for a building. This includes large panels with an array of copper pipes and black painted steel plates positioned similarly to a solar panel on a roof.
Painting the steel plates a black matt colour mean it will conduct the suns heat as much as possible, which in turn will heat the water. The piping system is then encased in a transparent box to create a 'greenhouse' effect trapping the heat in to the panel. This sort of system can heat up water very quick providing it is being hit by beams of light. the panels efficiency can reach around 50%, but can drop to nearly 0% when there is a lot of cloud cover, and wind that can cool the panel down.
In addition to the unreliability of solar heating, maintenance is also an issue. It is a regular occurrence for the pipes to expand and retract, meaning leaks appear at joints regularly. The expansion of the water inside the pipes as it heats up creates additional pressure to the system than can also cause damage. In some cases, even soldered joints can become loose. All of this maintenance costs a lot of money as only skilled plumbers will be able to fix the joints. Furthermore, leaks can cause lots problems in a number of ways to a building and to a site. A reputable manufacture should be searched and used when considering the installation of solar heating panels.
Another problem is the space the solar thermal heating takes up. These usually have to be positioned on a roof, which is where solar panels and a green roof could be. it must be carefully thought about which system is going to be the most sustainable for the school.
Finally, due to the size of the school, the demand for water could be quite high, especially considering there is a sports hall with showers. It is unlikely solar heating could meet the demands of hot water a school may need, so it would not be the only source of hot water the school would have.
Because of these reasons, it is unlikely solar heating would be a suitable solution to heating water

How could I use glazing or a conservatory to use the sun to heat my school?

Conservatories are often overlooked in the design of a sustainable building, when in fact they can be the best, most efficient way of heating a building. Conservatories, if positioned correctly, take the thermal energy from the sun and absorb it through glazing. It can be argued that glass is not the best material for holding in heat, but conservatories are usually a secondary structure built on the exterior of a property, so the heat already in the house is not lost. however, heat gained from the glazing can then pass through into the house and warm the house up.
The best orientation for a conservatory is south, so that it gets most of the sun. This could effect the entire orientation of the building. Similar to solar panels, this would only work during the day, and when there is good, direct beams of sun. It is also effected by shading, so if there are any buildings or trees in the way of the sun, the conservatory becomes useless.
As the school is a large multi-story building, a conservatory is not suitable, and it is more suitable for a domestic property. However, glazing could be an appropriate alternative for the school project. If the south facing wall was fully glazed, the amount of thermal energy it could create could heat the entire school, providing the ventilation was set up correctly.
A glazed wall would also allow a lot of light into the building, which typically reaches 6-7 meters into the building. this could also save a lot of energy on lighting.
One issue with a glazed wall is that usually, when it is sunny, it is generally hot. This could mean the glazing is heating a building that needs to be cooled rather than heated. A solution to this is to open the windows and let the warm air back out.
Also, when it is cloudy and the sun is not directly shining on the glazing, a negative effect can occur and heat can be lost through the glazing. this makes the idea of a glazed wall unreliable. It should certainly not be used as a prime source of heat and light in a on the school, but would be a good contributor to heating and lighting the school sustainably.

Is it possible to use hydro power on the school project?

Hydro power is a great way of using water to give us power. As well as being very efficient, huge quantities of power can be created providing the conditions are right. This usually means a large reservoir or water source situated at a point relatively high above the ground, such as a hill, or large dam which gets a continuous feed of water from rainfall or rivers and streams.
Hydro power works when the potential energy stored in the water is converted to kinetic energy. This involves the water flowing at high speed turning a turbine. It is important the pressure of which the water hits the turbine is monitored and adjusted to get the most efficiency. The average efficiency of a hydro generator is about 37%.
When calculating the pressure release of water by the water source, it can be estimated that for every 10m in height difference between the water source and the turbine, the pressure is 1 bar. It is recommended that the minimum height difference is 20m or more to make the hydro generator worth using. The turbine then turns a generator that produces the electricity. The generator should be positioned as close to the water source as possible to keep the friction caused by the plastic pipe on the water to a minimum, so the most pressure is retrieved.
Unfortunately, the site the school is going to be built on is rather flat. Although the river Trent is not far away, there is no way of building a dam or raising the water level. This means there is no potential energy to start the process of hydro power, meaning a hydro generator wouldn't produce any electricity. In addition, the electrical demands of the school are very high, and a hydro power system wouldn't be any where near sustainable and powerful enough to power a school. For these reasons, it is not deemed a useful system to add to the school.

How can solar panels be used efficiently on my school project?

Solar panels are a way of transferring the suns solar energy into electrical energy. Although there are many different types, these most commonly come in Monocrystaline modules made up of 36 separate circuits, wired in a parallel.
The amount of power produced by a solar panel is incredibly dependent on the weather. When beams of light, known as direct radiation means the solar panel can produce up to 80% more power than if the weather is cloudy, meaning the solar panel only receives diffuse radiation. Typically it should be expected for the efficiency of a solar panel to be around 14% -16%,
Shading is a serious factor when considering the installation of solar panels. Anything from a building to an Arial cable casting a shadow on a solar panel can cause it to nearly completely stop working. This is because of the electrical circuit in each module. Each module has 2 circuits running in parallel, which splits the module up into 2. If a shadow is cast upon one of these sides, it provides immense resistance and breaks the circuit, deeming the entire half panel useless. This can happen to both sides of a panel, even with the smallest of shadows. To prevent this from happening the solar panels must be positioned so that they never encounter shading. This means a detailed site investigation must be done around the site to make sure there are no building, trees or any other objects shade the panels. Furthermore, there are many different types of software that can produce solar models, with information on where the sun will go all through the year, and where it will shade. Solar calculators can be used to see how efficient the location of the solar panel is.
The hotter a solar panel gets, the lower its efficiency gets. This is because as the electrical mechanism gets warmer, so does the resistance, resulting in the currant increasing and the voltage decreasing which decreases the power output. The most effective panels are offset from the rood so there is air circulation around the whole panel. However, this means wind can get underneath and could blow the panel away. Typically, a meter of plain roof is left to help prevent this from happening, with extra strong fixings used.
Due to the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, for a static panel, it is most efficient to face it towards the south, at an angle similar to that of an average roof, which is about 35 degrees. However, panels can be put of a mechanical system that moves each panel in accordance with the sun. At the CAT centre in Wales, tests are currently being done to see if it is more efficient to have a static panel, a panel that follows the suns path, a panel that moves from east to west, and a panel that points to where it is lightest in the sky. It would be valuable to see what the results are to see if it can be incorporated within the school project.
An issue with solar panels is space. The best place for them to be positioned is on a roof, as it is out the way. However, this can complicate plans to have a green roof, or use solar thermal water heating, as well as having a roof garden. Calculations and research must be done to work out which system would have the most sustainable and positive effect for the school.
A school, especially a large multi-storey school like this given design, will use a lot of electricity. There is likely to be hundreds of computers, TVs, lights, speakers, kitchen utilities and other appliances a typical school has. A typical computer runs at about 850watts, which would need a whole solar panel that runs at 1.75kw (peak) to power it. In addition, solar panels only work when the sun is out, so at night especially another source of electricity must be used.
Because of the small power output of a solar panel, and the large usage of computers, it is in-practicable to consider using solar panels as the main electricity supply, as it would not cope with the schools usage. However, it is certainly a possibility to use solar panels to power the lighting, and maybe some appliances in the school.

Would Biomass be a suitable sustainable solution to heat my schools water?

Biomass is an alternative way, other than gas or electricity (created by fossil fuels), to heat up water in a building. This water can be used for a number of different uses such as heating and hot water outlets. The process involves burning either timber logs, wood chips or wood pellets at a fast rate to heat water, which can in turn be pumped into a building.
For biomass boilers to work as a large scale solution to sustainable energy, it must be exercised properly. This would require a very controlled reforestation program. This has a number of implications such as destroying animals habitats and planting on grazing land for livestock. As a result, it is predicted the country would have to eat less meat, and effectively become vegetarian, which I unfortunately had to experience at my field trip to the CAT centre in Wales.
In terms of efficiency, pellets are the best biomass fuel, with an average efficiency of approximately 90%, although some manufactures are offering a 96% guarantee. This is due to the wood being finely ground and then compressed meaning there is no air inside the pellet, maximising the fuel/volume ratio.Wood chips also have a very high efficiency, followed by logs, of which have an approximately 80% efficiency. When talking about efficiency, it is important to understand it only takes into account the efficiency of the biomass heater, and not the rest of the pipework ect. Also there are different grades of log, chip and pellet. The dryer the wood, and less bark it contains usually offerers the best quality fuel.
One issue with biomass heaters is the immense amount of fuel they use. For a large school, with an appropriately sized mediocre boiler, it would take approximately 2 tonnes of fuel to start the heater up, and then a continues feed is needed. Although this provides massive space problems, it also means someone must be employed specifically to feed the boiler. Despite there being hopper systems in place for pellet or wood chip boilers, these hoppers would need to be refilled quite regularly. When thinking from an economic point of view, the regular refill, fuel, maintenance, and wages to run a boiler must be considered. Also from a safety point of view, regular large lorry's delivering fuel could be considered a safety hazard with a large number of school children in and around the school. In addition, an area for the lorry delivery, store of fuel and boiler must be considered when designing the school grounds, which could be put to better use.
Another implication with biomass boilers is that they produce lots of dangerous gases. These must be extracted and deposited high into the air so they don't come into contact with humans. This must be taken very seriously, as dangerous gases around a school could be very harmful to its students.
For a biomass boiler of a size to heat a large school, it must be of a particular size. This size of boiler is very noisy and would have to be encased in a sound proof building so that it did not disturb the students who occupy the school. A separate building, or fire proofed room must also be built to store the fuel, in case there was a fire which would obviously be a serious disaster if the fuel got caught.
Taking into account the considerations and implications listed above, I do not think it is suitable for the school to have a biomass boiler, as they are too noisy, and require to much fuel to run.

All information was sourced from a guide at the CAT centre in Wales on 25/03/15.

Task 7 - Urban spaces - Victoria Square, Birmingham

As I'm from Birmingham,  thought I would choose an urban area I have spent a lot of time in, back at home. Victoria square is a very popular and busy urban space situated in the heart of Birmingham. It has many similarities with the Market Square of Nottingham, such as being situated next to the council house, and having a water feature. However, I think the design of Victoria Square makes it a much more inviting space.

 As shown in my first sketch, at the heart of Victoria Square is a large, 2 tired water fountain, where water from the upper tier falls down stairs to the bottom tier. Both pools have a water statue, which either sits in the flowing water or projects water into the air. Just the sound of running water creates a peaceful effect, which is nice in a busy city when trying to escape some where for lunch. Surrounding the water fountain is low, thick wall which is often used for seating, weather or not it is busy. The purpose of this urban area seams to be junction for people walking through, as there are many entrances and exits to this area, all leading to different parts of the city. I think this because there is very little purposely built seating, suggesting it was never in the design , or brief for this area to be used as a seating area. Maybe it should have been put in the brief, as many people sit in the area, and its almost always occupied.

My second sketch is a view from the top tier, looking upon the fountain. Many, large concrete sphere balls create an edge around the area, following the shape of the fountain wall. Although these could be there for an aesthetic impact, I believe they may serve as fancy bollards preventing drivers from going in that direction. They too could even be an informal type of seating, and together with the spheres, and the fountain wall, maybe the client brief was a seating area, but the architect has tried to disguise the seating so that its not formal.   

Finally I tried to draw the whole of the area so the layout of the area can be properly seen. Other pointers why I think the brief for this area is for 'passers by' and not for people to linger is the stairs. Both stair cases are very large, plenty enough room for the rush hour pedestrians commuting to and from work. The size of this area also means events, and markets such as the very famous German market can be held here, and can accommodate for a lot of people. Its now also viable that the design of the urban space is very symmetrical, with equal stairs either side of the fountain. then, protruding from the fountain are different coloured, yellow, floor bricks, creating an effect that nearly draws you closer to the fountain. The surroundings of this Urban space are also very impressive, with the famous Town hall, and council house facing the space. To conclude for this urban space, I again think that this urban space is very successful as it is used by a lot of people, for multiple reasons, its a flexible, attractive space in an urban landscape.

Task 7 - Urban spaces - Castle gate, Nottingham

Castle Gate, Nottingham is also home to an urban space, with much more unique properties than many other spaces. The site sits on the footstep of the towering walls of the historic Nottingham castle. Here there is the famous statue of Robin hood, with several plaques and information boards spread across the area, mainly for the benefit of tourists who visit the site all year round. This is what I chose to sketch first. Because of this statue, the access to historic information, and the castle, its hard to argue with the fact this area was designed for tourists to visit, to walk around and find out about the history of the area. Furthermore, only a 20 second walk down the road is the 'trip to Jerusalem' which claims to be the oldest 'inn' in England. This too is a tourist magnet and brings an influx of people to the area.
 My second sketch looks at the layout of the area with plenty of grass, which is well kept, where, especially in the summer months people can sit and have lunch whilst visiting this historic area. The way these paths are mapped, in relation to the information plaques, and the robin hood statue further support the claim the brief is to design an area for tourists to learn about the history of the area. Large trees offer shade, as the area gets a lot of sun during the spring and summer making it ideal for parents too take there children there too. this area is only a 5 minuet walk from market square, the centre of Nottingham, but it is a very quite area, with little traffic pedestrians.

 Finally, I sketched the site as if you where walking up to it. In the foreground you have the grass area, and in the back ground you have the large tunnels under the walls of the castle. Like the castle, the surrounding buildings are all old, or follow old, traditional styles such as Tudor. Even the Old Trip To Jerusalem was built in 1189. The lack of modern buildings makes the urban space very unusual, and it feels very separate from the rest of the city. I think the council have tried to limit the redevelopments in the area to keep this atmosphere, as plays a massive role in the phenomenology of the area. There is no seating in the area, similarly to the Victoria Square, Birmingham, so it is assumed the area was not designed for people to stay. To conclude, I think the area is another successful urban space, and the client brief has been met.

Task 7 - Urban spaces - Market Square, Nottingham

The first public space I choose to sketch was Market square. Working down the page, my first sketch is trying to represent the tranquil water feature with seating near by. Second I have drawn nearly all the floor of market square, trying to show the almost invisible changing in levels that the architect has done well to hide. Finally, the council house is a massive part of market square, as tourists will come to visit it, and will view it from market square.
 I am a big fan of market square for a number of reasons. Firstly, there is not many places in a city with such a large area of open space, that feels so clean, well kept and out in the open. In fact, Market square is the biggest of its kind in the UK. The choice of material for the paving is the main reason why this area feels so clean and open. The very pale grey, smoothly finished stone has a modern, social feel to it, and certainly is a better choice than a dark grey tarmac, or brownish concrete slabs.
Another reason why I like market square is its nearly invisible changing of levels. The landscape is uneven, and where the ground descents, Gustafson porter, the architect who redeveloped market square, cleverly divided the differences in height with seating, or steps, which makes the whole place feel the same height. Market square is also the home of many events such as the the parading of the FA and European trophies nottingham forest FC won, as well as being home to the anual christmas markets, ice rinks and summer fairs.
There are also 2 attractions at market square, both making it a nice environment to sit down, maybe eat lunch or have a chat with a friend. firstly, the water fountain is a feature based at the rear of market square. this has seating all around it, and itself is tiered to allow water to fall. This feature faces the mighty Council house. This towers over market square, and is the eye piece of the area. Having a building like this is nice to look at for nearly any one, having an effect similar to that a TV has on a lounge. In my opinion, I would certainly say market square is a successful area, and has been a successful redevelopment because the area is used by a lot of people everyday.

References : - all sketches by Matthew Parsons on 02/05/14
- information from http://www.architecturetoday.co.uk/?p=6910 , 02/05/14

Task 6 - Maggies Centres in general

Having read the BMJ article Inspiration: Maggies Centres, Edwin Heathcote, 23-30th dec 2006, I now have an understanding of the importance of these centres and what they really mean.
Its a very cruel, and barbaric idea to create a place to die in, what ever the reason, especially something as traumatic as terminal cancer. It takes a great deal of acceptance to come to terms with death, and of course I'm not speaking from experience, but it must be hard to continue with everyday life, as the little things start to become less and less important to you. This is were Maggies Centres really help. It needed someone like Maggie Keswick Jencks to come up with such an idea. As mentioned in the article, architecture cant cure cancer, but it can help in keeping you calm, relaxed, and most importantly happy.
The design of a building, as discussed in my blog post 'Phenomenology', can change your mood based on how you feel in and around it. All Maggies centres are designed with unique, vibrant shapes, colours and symbolism. These produce a positive atmosphere, which patients will feel when entering the centre. This is a good climate to come to terms with your illness, and to think positive about the future. This is very important for both the patients, and there families.

http://openbuildings.com/blog/2011/08/architecture-of-hope-maggies-centres

Each architect puts a part of themselves into each of there centres. For example, Zaha Hadid took a strong, forward approach in the design of her centre, with the reasoning that 'why should spaces built to contain some of our more traumatic moments always be modest and domestic?' This is a fair point, and she successfully designed a building that reflected this mind process, as shown in the above photo

, and will be felt by the patients that use the centre. Another example is the Dundee Centre, which takes nearly the opposite approach, in creating a very tranquil place to rest, over beautiful scenery in a domestic looking property. Again, due to the careful design, this intention will be felt by the patients, and will be reflected in how the patients feel. this is the target for all the architects who create a Maggies Centre.

http://www.bustler.net/index.php/article/2012_riba_award_winners_announced

These buildings aren't just to increase the positive mood of the patients, but also raise awareness throughout the community and the public. Its hard to notice an average domestic building in the concrete jungle we live in today, and it takes fine, unique ideas to create buildings that stand out, which the Maggies Centres do. because of this, members of the public take an interest in the building, and therefore the charity, and this is a form of fundraising. It also raises awareness among the population and further advertises the scheme. Finally, a comparison must be made between these maggies centres, and a very basic looking building offering similar support. Although its a big pill to swallow, members of the public don't want to pass a dull looking building, with the dull thought that people venture there to die. This sort of approach wont invite people support the cause. instead, if the funding is there, more attractive places give the public a more positive opinion of the idea, and make the saddening truth a more pleasant thought.

References: BMJ, inspiration: Maggies Centres, Edwin Heathcote, 23rd-30th Dec, 2006

Task 6 - Maggie Centre - Highlands

http://openbuildings.com/buildings/maggie-s-highlands-profile-2171/media

My second choice of Maggie centre is the Highlands Maggie Centre, located in Inverness, Scotland. In contrast with the Centre in Dundee, the location of this centre is much different, and arguably much harder to work with. Next to a busy main road, and only over the street from houses, the size and design of the building is compromised, as a centre to cater for the terminally ill should be a quite, peaceful, yet positive place away from loud traffic noise. Page and Park Architects worked together with Charles Jencks to try and over come these issues.

http://pagepark.co.uk/projects/maggies-centre-inverness

Again, the design of this building is very unique. however, the design is also very practical, as the curved structure of the main building flows into a fence like sound barrier effectively blocking much of the noise coming from the busy road creating a peaceful garden for the centres patients. The landscaping of the 'garden' must also be praised with eye shaped hills projecting from the ground, also known as 'Dividing cells', 'symbolising healthy growth and life' (http://openbuildings.com/buildings/maggie-s-highlands-profile-2171/media), also subtracting some of the noise, as well as being an attractive feature to walk past before entering the centre. On the right is an initial sketch of a plan for the centre, which is visibly reflected in the final product.

http://www.building.co.uk/fourth-maggie%E2%80%99s-
centre-turns-confusion-into-calm/3052313.article

The building its self is also in the shape of one of the 'dividing cells' finished in green copper cladding, which goes well with the treated timber cladding finish on the garden wall, and the well kept green grass of the garden. The interior, also covered in timber cladding, is a very bright space due to the clever roof windows that spiral around the shape of the building. this creates a positive, welcoming atmosphere inside the centre, fit for anybody seeking support with any cancer related issues. I believe all of the Maggie's Centres have similar client briefs; a place where people can go if they feel they need space from the world, or need support, which I think this building does.

References: All information accessed on 02/05/14
- http://pagepark.co.uk/projects/maggies-centre-inverness
- http://www.building.co.uk/fourth-maggie%E2%80%99s-centre-turns-confusion-into-calm/3052313.article

Task 6 - Maggie Centre - Dundee

http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/maggiescentre/

Maggie Centres are buildings across the UK where people who in some way have been effected by cancer, mainly targeted with people with terminal cancer. There seems to be a unofficial competition between leading architects on who can create the most imaginative, and positive design.
My first choice of Maggie Centres I liked was the one in Dundee. I understand that in my previous blog post I took credit away from a building because of its location, but this is brilliant! Firstly, the building, from a rear view ( above) seems to have the original structure of a large bungalow, which because of the fantastic location and views would be enough to suffice most patients. However, the architect, Frank Gehry, went the extra mile to design an eye catching building. The jagged, uneven roof puts a lid on the building, which can be seen from miles around. Furthermore, so visitors of the Centre can fully enjoy the views, Frank designed an unusual looking tower at the front of the building (below) taking everyone step higher.

https://beautifuldundee.wordpress.com/category/craft-design/

I think the use of stained wooden window frames and doors contrast well with the smooth white finished exterior walls, creating an inviting and pleasant atmosphere of the building. The client brief was to 'create a building for people with cancer that was a home, but not a home' (http://www.building.co.uk/to-be-frank/1023708.article). I certainly agree that this building fulfils its client brief, as my first impressions was that it looked homely, but had a twist with the design of the roof. This building has such a positive feel, which also satisfies the client brief because it is a very nice environment for a terminally ill cancer patient, or a person struggling with issues related to cancer, to spend there time. Also from this article, it tells us that the roof is finished in stainless steel, which had been brushed with a wire brush so that it was not shiny and reflected the tranquil colours of the sky. This further goes to show the level of designing this building has gone through, and why it is my favourite out of the Maggie Centres.

References : http://www.building.co.uk/to-be-frank/1023708.article - accessed on 02/05/14

Task 5 - The Marbach Museum Of Modern Literature

http://www.archinfo.it/david-chipperfield-museum-of-modern-
literature/0,1254,53_ART_198240,00.html

Choosing a building out of the 14 RIBA sterling prize winners that I least liked was much harder than one that I liked, as I like them all for different reasons. However I had to choose The Marbach Museum Of Modern Literature.
My reasons for the choice of this building are mainly summed up in one question: Why did this building win? Out of all the other exiting or historic buildings that are being built today, I'm slightly surprised that this building emerged as a winner. I have to give it credit that its location is beautiful, set on high ground looking over a German valley, and the fact very old German authors collected and dispersed there work from this very museum is also very interesting. But the architecture its self I don't think is all that special.
There seems to be a very limited use of materials, giving a very modern approach to what looks like the re-creation of a very old Greek temple. I must agree that the pillared structure, together with a large use of glass, has an eye catching effect which I do quite like. It is efficient, in terms of saving energy through lighting, and also provides a very light, clean atmosphere so the literature inside can be seen easily, which I believe would be a huge part of the client brief. In addition to this, as described on the RIBA website ( http://ribastirlingprize.architecture.com/marbach-museum-of-modern-literature-germany-2007/), the entrance to the building is another feature. Without being too critical, the description seems to use the setting as the main attraction, with the decent of a couple of steps, until you reach a large door. It even describes the lack of materials as a 'palate of materials'. It seems a few fancy words have been used to over sell this building. In my opinion, the beautiful location of this building won its award, and not the architecture, or the buildings relationship with the surroundings. Although I think the building has met the client brief, I think something much better could have been built.

References: http://ribastirlingprize.architecture.com/marbach-museum-of-modern-literature-germany-2007/

Task 5 - The Peckam Library

http://ribastirlingprize.architecture.com/peckham-library-london-2000/

The Peckam Library, London,  won the RIBA sterling award in the year 2000. Firstly, looking at the building, I think it looks absolutely great. Its an extremely modern looking building because of its unusual shape, and enormous use of glass. I also find it very clever and effective how the colours have been used in the glass, to give a very bright and aesthetic look, but still maintaining a level of transparency allowing plenty of light into the building. It also entered my mind that the colours are very simple, and are mainly primary colours. This reminds me of when I was a child, learning about colours, and I think these colours have been used as a library is a place where people read and learn, making it very appropriate.The building is also in the shape of an 'L', which other than coincidence, could stand for the word 'learn'. The shape is unusual, and together with the mix of colours and glass, I think creates a very attractive and welcoming building, which gets rid of the common 'dull' stereotype many libraries have. Although it can be argued the building doesn't suit its surroundings, the reason for building such an aesthetic building of an unusual nature is because the client, Southwark council, wanted a building to set a new bar for the regeneration of the 'under privileged borough'. In this sense, I feel the architect was very successful in fulfilling the client brief.

References: All information and photos was taken from http://ribastirlingprize.architecture.com/peckham-library-london-2000/ , on the 30/04/14.

Task 4 - Re-appropriating the past

32, Broadway house, Stoney street, The Lace Market, Nottingham is an old factory building erected during the industrial revaluation. Now it is common for buildings, such as this building, to be turned into living accommodation in the form of flats, apartments, or in some cases offices. This particular building has been converted into apartments. However, certain features of the building are still visible today. The ceilings of each floor are very high, as large machinery may have been used in the original factory. Although this was not something that could be changed, this
has a positive effect on each of the apartments, making them feel very light, big and spacey. Exposed brick walls have also been left unchanged, especially on the road facing wall. This again has been used as a feature by the developer, and has been considered when designing the rest of the apartment. each room is very spacious, which could be due to the structural layout of the building, restricting the shapes and sizes of each room. Large Arched windows take up a lot of the wall space, shedding light into each of the rooms.

Reference - sketch by Matthew parsons

Task 3 - Sketches (2)

Industrial revaluation

Above are my sketches for the industrial revolution period. On the left is an old factory. These where introduced in the industrial revolution so that managers could control there staff rather than them working at home. It also enabled mass production as large machines could fit in the factory and safely operate.
On the right is a canal, connecting the the river Trent. These canals meant everything made in Nottingham such as lace could be transported out in mass, at a much cheaper cost to other cities and towns. It also meant supplies could be brought into Nottingham.

Victorian architecture

Next I sketched 2 examples of Victorian architecture. Below is an example of Victorian terrace housing. These where small, cramped houses for the working class, catering for the ever growing population. typical Victorian details can be found on these houses such as cresting at the top of the roof and detailed and decorative brick work. It was also common that attractive brick was used on the side of the house facing the road, and less expensive, and less attractive brick would be used for the rest of the house. this says a lot about how the Victorians thought as they always added decorative detail to make buildings attractive, but they were also very efficient with there resources, and buildings were made well and strong.           

Although bay windows were not invented in the Victorian period, the became extremely popular. There is not one given reason why they became popular, but bay windows allow more light into a room, and also make the room slightly larger. they allow space for extra furniture, ornaments and they also look decorative from the exterior. Another feature of Victorian architecture was there very large front doors.

Gothic architecture

 For my sketches of Gothic architecture, first i decided to sketch St Cathrines church. this church is a classic example of Gothic architecture, with the use of arched windows, coming to a slight pint at the top. however, another classic example of Gothic architecture is the churches layout. nearly every Gothic church followed the same layout, which is almost like a larger square joined to a smaller square. This sort of architecture originates from the Romanesque period, but the use of flying buttresses and structural innovations that allow large, stained glass windows to be made, such as the window on the gable end of the church, tell us its Gothic.
The second building i chose to sketch isn't from the Gothic era itself, but uses a Gothic style to achieve something different. The Arkwright building is a historic building used by Nottingham Trent university. however, the newton building was built beside it, and the task was given to an architect to try and mould these buildings together, both having completely different styles. The use of Gothic windows on this building contrasts with the modern brick used to create it, but still has an old, Gothic feel to it. as a result, there is a more mellow transition between the 2 buildings and they work well together.

References: All sketches and information is by Matthew Parsons

Vitra fire station - Zaha Hadid

Despite being a massive fan of lots of Zaha Hadid's work, the Vitra Fire station I didnt quite get. Initially, as I do with most of her work, I think wow that looks new, different, interesting which I think it does. But when I came to learn that it was a fire station, I was slightly confused. Surely a design like this is the least practical design possible for a fire station, and there are no clues what so ever to give it away that it is a fire station. I could understand if the 'spiky' points reached for the sky, with a reddish tint  representing flames, but this doesn't seem to make any sense.

http://www.mimoa.eu/projects/Germany/Weil%20am%20Rhein/Vitra%20Fire%20Station

And another thing about this building is why make it out of concrete? It may be a very cost effective and sturdy way of making a building, but Zaha Hadid always seams to put aesthetics first. why not use a nice silky black, or white, or even coloured material to finish this building. instead, we are left with a rough, grey, industrial finish, that looks like its half way through its construction. I must say I'm not a massive fan of concrete buildings, and finishes such as this, as I think the black that starts to appear on them looks dirty, and they always remind me of a vile multi story car park that thankfully got demolished in my home town. However, I understand the use for concrete in a multi story car park, as its so practical and easy, but i think this was a big mistake, and to conclude, an eye sore.

Task 3 - Sketches (1)

I decided to sketch this stairway, because after walking around newton and Arkwright, I didn't find any other hand rails like this, for example, if you look at the hand rail in the background of the above photo, its a much less attractive, wooden one.
There appears to be 2 different types of marble on this staircase. firstly, there is the very dark, black marble used as the actual hand rail. this is very smooth, so its nice to touch and hold when walking down the stairs. it is however very big, and impossible to wrap your hand round, which it could be argued wouldn't offer someone, such as an elderly person, who would actually use the hand rail the correct support.
Beneath are pillars supporting the hand rail. these, also made of marble are a mix of browns, looking very earthy, and again are cut smooth and shiny.
I like the choice of material for this hand rail, and I think it has a very robust and powerful feel too it.

The next sketch I decided to do is the floor on the entrance of the Arkwright building. As you can see at the bottom of the photo, the slabs are very smooth, and plain. However, above are unusual slabs that are not cut smooth, and are almost ridged like wet sand. This effect I think gives the room a rustic feel, making the building feel old and worn. Although this may not be the case as we know the building was severely bombed during the war, the slabs could be from the original build, and if not, they serve there purpose in trying to make the building feel like it used too.


















Thirdly, I found the use of the stone in this archway interesting, and the way it connects with the brick. Its a very large arch way, and is right next to the large marble hand rail I sketched in my first sketch. Having these 2 rather large features so close together, combined with the very high ceilings almost makes me feel like the building was made for giants.
The stone used around the arch is a very dark brown, and it appears its corners/edges have been cut of, either making it safer, more aesthetic or preventing cracks and chips appear on the stone, if an edge was to get hit. Either way the stone is cut in a similar shape to the stair rail, giving me the opinion they are both original, where designed to be together, and neither are modifications to the building. This dark brown contrasts with the brick, which has been painted in a white paint. I believe this would be to create a light and airy atmosphere in the room, as there is limited light, but it also compliments the brown stone.

Walking through into the newton building, its hard not to notice the enormous glass roof suspended above your head. The entirety of the room feels very light, clean and spacious because of this, in contrast with the white, shiny, marble floor reflecting light around the room. The choice of using glass as a material for the roof is a very effective energy saving technique, as very little powered lighting will need to be used. However, I'm sure there are complications with the escape of heat during the winter, or when the sun is not shining down on the glass roof. Heat is less important in this sort of room, as people generally wont settle in this room, and use this area as a junction to different parts of the building.

Finally I decided to sketch a Gothic styled window in the newton atrium. The atrium space is the area you walk through to get from the old, historic Arkwright building, to the newer newton building. it id a difficult task for an architect to join these buildings together because of the massive contrast in styles. however, I think that the job has been done very successfully. Although the newton building is built out of a modern looking, pale brown brick, the use of Gothic windows and older style is almost a half way step between the styles of both buildings, and allows the transition to be more gradual.



References: All photos and sketches were done by Matthew Parsons on 30/04/14

Task 2 - Plagiarism

'Plagiarism is intellectual theft' (Breach, 2009, 124) is a quote that pretty much concludes plagiarism. Plagiarism is where you use someone else's words, ideas, or work without referencing it, and therefore pass it as your own. This is viewed as stealing some one elses ideas and work, and is met with serious consequences. Although its inevitable some words, and phrases may match between certain texts, long paragraphs that are identical or of similar structure can be detected by software to prevent people, especially students from cheating.  Although using someone's work isn't technically, or physically stealing, there is a zero tolerance in nearly all institutions, and if found guilty, in serious cases you can be expelled. In addition to this, you may be infringing copyright laws, and could be prosecuted. There is no problem in using quotes and information for other people, as long as you reference it, giving the author of the information credit for there work.

http://www.awesomelyluvvie.com/2012/01/protect-your-blog-content-know-your-rights.html/cartoon_plagiarism_444045

Plagiarism is a new thing for me. I've always been aware of it, I new it was cheating, but Its never really
effected me. I've always noticed the reference under information I've found on the web as well but never took much notice. In fact, I'll be honest, and throughout high school, and much of sixth form, I and plenty of people I know would copy information of the internet, especially Wikipedia, as well as sharing work with friends. I even remember using Google translate in much of my French and German lessons. the teachers would tell us not too, but we did, and that's the last we heard of it. even if we did get caught we would probably just get a small detention or something.
However, coming to university I new it was a different story. I completely agree with referencing information taken from other sources, and its only fair you don't receive credit for some one else's work. I also agree that there should be a set amount of information given in a reference, although I was surprised on how strict the order a reference must be in, and that I even have to reference my own photos, which I even got capped at a low third in one of my projects for.
And now I've been at university for a while, and I've had to use lots of different resources to get information, I feel now I fully acknowledge how important it is to reference out of respect for the person who's ideas you are using.

References : Dissertation writing for scientists and engineers, Mark Breach, 2009, accessed on 28/04/14

Task 2 - Critical thinking

If asked what I thought critical thinking is before reading 'critical reading' by Jennifer Moon, 2008, depending on the time of day, the mood I was in and who I was asked by, I would struggle, and I probably wouldn't be able to give a straight answer. It almost feels like I know what it is, but cant explain it.  However, now I have read 'critical thinking', and I must say I'm even more in the dark on how to explain it. its a very vague phrase, as people go about it in different ways but try and end up and the same conclusion, something better! The idea of critical thinking is to improve, and work towards a perfect conclusion.

http://www.comprofessor.com/2012/09/critical-thinking-and-
how-we-see-world.html

Defining critical thinking can be made as complicated or as simple as you like, and it depends on the persons brain process on what they believe it really is. Personally, when reading through my own work, a peers work, or having a conversation with someone, I constantly question in my mind what I understand, what I don't, and weather I believe things are correct or not. In fact writing this blog post alone has had me delete sentences only minutes after writing them because I have critically analysed it and found its not what I mean, or isn't good enough. I think this is brain function everyone has, when concentrating, which is needed in order to learn, and progress.
Critical thinking also requires common sense, and interest in the topic. someone who believes everything that's
told to them will massively struggle when it comes to critical thinking, and if there is a lack of interest in the topic, there is no real motive for the person to criticise the work and try and improve it.
To conclude, I believe critical thinking follows the 'its gotta get bad before it gets good' idea where you have to initially think slightly negative about something in order to solve a problem, or improve resulting in a more positive out come.

References: Critical thinking, an exploration into theory and practice, Jennifer Moon, 2008

Task 1 - Phenomenology

After reading 'place' by Christian Norberg-Shulz, 1980, I have started to get an idea of what phenomenology is. The way I interpreted it is Phenomenology is the build of of objects, both natural and man made, creating a place, or an area with context. Within this place there are conditions that our senses react too, giving us a feeling or emotion.For example, if you read my recent blog post on the park tunnel, I explain how I felt when I entered the tunnel. At the time, it was sunset, and the light created shadows, and the yellow sandstone illuminated. Also it was very cold, and the greenery outside was dark, and this gave me a certain feeling. However, if it was a summers day, much warmer and the bright sun shone down on the tunnel creating a very dark interior, with bursts of light either side, my experience would be very different. This could be further changed if someone put lighting inside the tunnel, and if there was some sort of constant noise or music in the background.  In relation to architecture, phenomenology is very important as an architect usually wants to create an emotion when some one enters the room, and they must structure the size, dimensions, aesthetics and atmosphere inside the room so that you arrive at the intended emotion.
In addition to this, it is important that a building fits in its location, and becomes part of the landscape, rather than on the landscape. with a good study of the site, the building can be designed using the correct shape, size and materials to either keep the existing natural experience of the place or to create a new one.
 There are also more practical implications, for example, building a farm where the land is fertile, building a settlement, village or town near a river so there is water, on flat land so the foundations are firm, or raised above the ground so that the buildings aren't affected by floods. This means building so that the building and nature can compliment each other, and work efficiently together.

'Our every day life-world consists of phenomena. It consists of people, of animals, of flowers, trees and forests, of stone, earth, wood, and water, of towns, streets, and houses, doors, windows, and furniture. And it consists of sun, moon and stars, of drifting clouds of night and day and of changing seasons. But it also compromises more intangible phenomena such as feelings' - 'Place', by Christian Norberg-Shulz, 1980

Although the above quote is the initial quote in 'place', I found it the most powerful, and the most meaningful as it is listing all the material things our lives are made up of, weather they be natural or man made. However, these material things are only important due to the feelings and emotions they give us, and furthermore, the reason for living is because of the feelings we receive.

References: -  'Place', Genius loci: Towards a phenomenology of architecture, London academy editions,  Christian Norberg-Shulz, 1980
 - Pallasmaa, Juhani, 'multi-sensory experience', The eyes of the skin: Architecture and the senses, Chichester, Wiley academy, 2005