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TRANSCRIPT
alexandria besharat
Conversionhistory
The Old Street Magistrates Court Police Station was designed by architect John Dixon Butler and built in 1903-05. The site is directly across from the existing Shoreditch Town Hall. The Baroque façade facing Old Street was built to the full height allowance at the time while simultaneously is mindful of light rights of the surrounding buildings. This is shown through the east and west sections of the building are lower than the main building. There are also many light wells to bring in light into the interior of the building. The northfaçade is more utilitarian and reflects the internal functions. It is also off the car park and where the prisoners were transferred. The single building was designed to hold two civic functions but they were to be kept and run separately. The Magistrates Court had a juvenile court and a separate minor crimes court. The police station was not just an office andholding cells but also included housing for officers. The Court remained open until 1999 and the police station until 2008. (Divers 2010) The building is Grade II listed. The building footprint and main façade of Old Street are highly significant. The courtrooms and their surrounding layouts are historically sig-nificant. The courtroom on the ground floor is mildly intact with a few upgrades making it medium to high significance. The courtroom on the first floor is completely original and one of the first juvenile courts making it of high importance. The main entrance hall was once the ‘public waiting hall’ and because of this, it is the most highly and freelydecorated space in the building. The décor includes wrought-iron balusters, wood handrails, geometric windows, and globe lamps. The space is historically intact and highly significant. All stairs and major circulation paths are of medium significance. They do not contain major architectural significance but they reflect the unique nature of the separation and circula-tion of the courts and police station. The rest of the building had numerous minor interior changes over the twentieth century making them of very low significance. (Divers 2010)
proposal: two sChemes
Architecture School : Interior alterations only Student Accommodations : Parasitic addition and interior alteration
For both proposals, understanding the public and private realms of this building is crucial to its success. The building gives specific circulation access because of its unique past use. Coupling the existing stairs and access corridors with new circulation will allow the building to permeable for the public while simultaneous successfully separating it from the private pro-gram.
The building is structurally sound and is adaptable to numerous programs. Certain additions such as lifts and the addition and removal of select walls will cause minimal damage to the building. This will maintain its historical significance while transforming its use. The Old Street Magistrates Court and Police Station building is a redundant civic building with unique characteristics that will be exposed through either reuse proposal.
olD strEEt polICE stAtIon AnD Court housE london, uk 2015
arChiteCture sChool
This program would also be used for other types of education such as another art discipline. The Old Street Magistrates Court and Police Station will act as a secondary location for a studio based curriculum from either the Bartlett or an addition to the near by Prince’s Drawing school or the University of the Arts in London. This proposal would not require an addition to the building but will consist of an alteration of the interior only. This scheme will also consist of proper organization of the public and private realm within the building.
alexandria besharat
Conversionstudent aCCommodations
As a public civic building, creating a completely private building would counterintuitive to the architecture. The cellular nature of the building with unique spaces such as the court-rooms and holding cells allow for multi uses. Creating a student accommodation with public amenities would serve the most people while sustaining the historical fabric of the building.
olD strEEt polICE stAtIon AnD Court housE london, uk 2015
alexandria besharat
reuse history
Morden Hall and Park is 125 acres large. The grounds were once owned by Westmin-ster. After Henry the VIII dissolved the monasteries in 1536, it was sold to merchants and they built the country home. The property was used a residential home until William White leased the property and created a ‘school for young gentlemen’ in 1830s. It remained as a school until 1867 when Gilliat Hatfeild purchased the property. Morden Hall and Park passed through many owners but the most significant were the Hatfeilds, Gilliat Hatfeild Senior and then his son, Gilliat Edward Hatfeild. (National Trust) The property was used for tobacco merchants. There are snuff mills on the prop-erty along with other service buildings on site. Gilliat Hatfeild Senior laid out the park with avenues and clearings, as it is known today. When Gilliat Hatfeild Senior died in 1906, Gilliat Edward inherited the property. GE Hatfeild lived modestly in Morden Cottage instead of Morden Hall and used the hall for public benefit. GE Hatfeild set up numerous wildlife sanctuaries, gardens, and orchards. He also opened up the property for children of the area. He would throw parties for poorer children, tours of the rose garden and give back to the community. During the First World War, GE Hatfeild turned Morden Hall into a hospital for wounded soldiers. GE Hatfeild used Morden Hall and Park philanthropically. This theme remained when he endowed the property to the National Trust with one condition, for it to always be for public use and benefit. (National Trust) The National Trust followed GE Hatfeild’s wishes but also needed to lease out the property for an income. They threw film parties and events throughout the 1947 and 1952. The hall and park are both Grade II listed. The hall eventually became offices for council of-ficials. In 1994 the hall was leased out to a restaurant. The property and maintenance was too large for a sole restaurant and eventually closed. The National Trust is currently restoring the building to its former décor to be able to sucessfully lease out the property. (National Trust)
approaChConnectivity to park, Morden town center, Tube Park sites: Snuff Mills, book store, café, and Sustainability CenterAdhere to the needs of Morden Create a mixed-use program that is flexible and will lastFollow National Trust’s objectives Maintaining historical significance, generating income, creating a community staple
site ConneCtivity Major Axes through building Public connection from street to park and car park to parkLandscaping approach Referencing historic pictures Clear paths to Hall from street, car park, and park Visual connections
MorDEn hAll AnD pArk morden, uk 2015
1915 Morden Hal l
Today Morden Hal l
1926 Morden Hal l
Today Morden Hal l
alexandria besharat
reuse
proposal
Adhere GE Hatfield’s intention for the Hall to be for public benefit and fulfill to the needs of Morden’s low income/working class and high unemployment demographics Career training, job help, education ex: National Career Services, Training Courses Education Adult and children’s education Works in conjunction with existing education centers on site Potentially used for professional training with Career Training IE: London Youth, CityLit, etc. Generate Income Space for start up companies short term leases, flexible spaces, coworking schemes Restaurant and Venue hire Affordable, night life, continuously populatedCommunity Connections Events & Market – indoor and outdoor – food, goods, gallery Connection to outdoors, drawing people in
room typology
Restaurant & Venue Hire Using existing outfit with proper historical conservation Connection to outside – visible useCareer Services First Floor – low significance rooms allowing for flexible outfitStart up offices Second floor – low significance rooms allowing for flexible outfitEducation Using existing cellular rooms – high historical significanceMarket and Gallery Maintaining high historical significance All temporary outfits depending on event Connection to outside – visible use
MorDEn hAll AnD pArk morden, uk 2015
alexandria besharat
landsCape history
At Rousham, William Kent built off Charles Bridgeman’s existing garden. Kent combined a naturalized design and his love for Roman architecture. He used a way finding technique that moves a user through the gardens by setting up moments at classical statues, breaks in landscape, ponds, and small structures. At these pauses, there is something in the view that pulls you to the next moment. The views are key to moving through the relatively small and untraditional shaped property. The design created less of a singular intended route but a series of options to weave throughout the whole landscape.
proposal
Create an outdoor theatre with Rousham Gardens that is sensitive to its history.
approaCh
The theater intervention uses the principles from that technique. The current circulation leads to a junction to go down the existing Kent path or the new smaller one. The larger path, lined with the existing pine trees brings one through with a break in the pine. The view reiterates the layers of the working landscape. Within the view is the theater, but it not seen because the theater is sunk into the ground; the user is looking over it, through the landscape. The smaller new path is defined by thick low ground covering and existing pine trees; a similar design seen throughout Rousham. The path confronts the theater, which opens up in the middle of the existing natural forest by Kent. Much like the Romans influenced William Kent, the theater uses elements from a Roman amphitheater. The theater’s geometries are semicircular seating steps down that surround the elevated rectangular stage. The stage has two pine trees on either side framing it, as curtains. These trees also frame the view to the river and meadow beyond. These same trees provide the frame of the view from the existing path that looks over the theater to beyond. New pines create a backdrop behind the audience. The pines deliberately placed feed into the surrounding existing, Kent designed, natural forest. A secondary path leaves from the base of the theater to connect back to the primary and secondary circulation paths. The theater is another moment with views and options pushing the user through the landscape.
roushAM gArDEns rousham, uk 2014
propsed siteintersection of views and circulation
circulat ion and views
alexandria besharatsect ion sect ion
proposed view: s i t t ing in theatre
proposed view: over theatre to far f ie ld
plan
landsCape`roushAM gArDEns rousham, uk 2014
alexandria besharat
thesis Deployable architecture can be the tool to enable sustainable change and opportunity in numerous places. The deployed system conforms to a pallet that can be transported by boat, truck, and air. In order to address numerous types of program including economics, health, and disaster relief while simultaneously engaging its community, the system needs to be flexible.
The design method is to test in six different conditions, including rural and urban settings, while focusing on a primary location in Boston. By using a kit of parts it to be universal yet also be configured differently at different scales. This will allow it to be customized to any location. The next level of design steps towards sustainable change using local resources to create permanence and ownership.
thE ArChItECturE of DEployAblE opportunIty: 2011 changing lives through mobile initatives and socially conscious design
alexandria besharat
thesisdeployAn airdrop system (aircrafts that use pallet 463l) allows the structures to be placed anywhere despite if there is infrastructure. Using its delivery restraints as part of the design probletm allows for the creation of efficient and adaptive spaces.
thE ArChItECturE of DEployAblE opportunIty: changing lives through mobile initatives and socially conscious design
shipping requirementsAir DropPallet 463L 88”xu”x2.25” (84”x104”useable)
10,000 lbs (9,645 lbs. usable)weighs 355 lbs. with netting and tie downs max 250 lbs. per square inch
22 tie down rings 7500 lbs. restraint capacity
materials: aluminum skin with wood or fiberglass core side and top nets. aluminum rails
C-130 Aircrafttotal pallets: 6
C-141 Aircrafttotal pallets: 13
C-5 Aircrafttotal pallets: 36
C-3 Aircrafttotal pallets: 18
alexandria besharat
thesisKit oF partsAn airdrop system (aircrafts that use pallet 463l) allows the structures to be placed anywhere despite if there is infrastructure. Using its delivery restraints as part of the design probletm allows for the creation of efficient and adaptive spaces.
thE ArChItECturE of DEployAblE opportunIty: changing lives through mobile initatives and socially conscious design
south bostonCharacteristics-large site that breaks the barrier of industrial and can allow South Boston residents to gain access to the water front-large volume of people with numerous uses-broad spectrum of programmatic influences
Organization on Site-continuation of the residential grid and scale through to the water, connecting to the harbor walk-path is created by the street grid and the canopy shapes-deployable structure ridged and modular but the canopy is unique Programmatic Solutions-headquarters for deployable structure manufacturing and non-governmental organizations (NGO’s)-acts as an icon for humanitarian associations-education indoor and outdoor facilities to accommodate different size groups -community interaction through a market and event space-health care facilities consultation rooms to the site-the canopy is amorphous and is custom to location
alexandria besharat
thE ArChItECturE of DEployAblE opportunIty: changing lives through mobile initatives and socially conscious design thesis
global initiative
thesissouth boston
nyanga, south aFriCa | 18 pallets | C-3 transport Characteristics-high violence-unemployment-health crisis AIDS-urban landscapeBreakdown-large health clinic-numerous safe and offices formicrofinance-open outdoor gathering
Kabul, aFghanistan | 24 pallets | C-5 transport-female segregation-unemployment-low income-urban landscapeBreakdown-education and community functions-numerous safe and offices for micro finance-enclosed space to protect from extreme weather conditions
titanyen, haiti | 13 pallets | C-141 transport-disease -natural disaster relief and cannot to go to the city for help (overcrowding)-rural landscapeBreakdown-large health clinic-open outdoor interaction-education rooms
alexandria besharat
engage Competition Winner of aWorld War II Veteran’s Memorial inSomerville, MassachusettsConCEpt The memorial would stitch outdoor library seating to and open public gathering space. The limbs of the structure expand throughout the site, activating the different types of program.DEtAIls The structure uses wood that connects to nature and landscape. The pathways are sewn into the ground. The structure’s seating is both sculptural and purposeful. Merging the public library and the high school’s land as one, it allows for both public paths and introspective pauses in remembrance of the veterans. The library site features the intimate section of the memorial. There are smaller trees and plants, along with a narrower path. The other side is the public side of the memorial, opening up into the large gathering space. These spaces are depicted by scale of trees, and landscape, as well as the wooden forms. The canopies of the indigenous trees create space that flows with the architecture. The names of the 287 Somerville veterans are carved out of the cascading wooden beams. These names are back lit with LED lights. At night, the memorial radiates light
worlD wAr II MEMorIAl somerville, ma 2009
prIvAtE sEAtIng
publIC gAthErIng
prIvAtE sEAtIng
MEMorIAl
alexandria besharat
engage worlD wAr II MEMorIAl somerville, ma 2009
Hedge Maplecorresponds to int imate spaces
20-25’ high | smal l canopy
decidiousServiceberry
20-25’ high | smal l canopy
white f lowers
Freeman Maplecorresponds to open
publ ic spaces40-60’ high large open
canopydecidious
Golden Raintreecorresponds to
publ icgather ing spaces
30-40’ high | large canopy
decidious
alexandria besharat
engage worlD wAr II MEMorIAl somerville, ma 2009
MEMorIAl DEtAIl At nIght
MEMorIAl DEtAIl DurIng thE DAy
alexandria besharat
sustain An environmental center in Jamican Plain next to Jamaica PondConCEpt Separating programatic elements by orientation and using sustainable design tacticsDEtAIl Using different building techiniques for different spaceseducation - large concrete building standing out of nature outdoor multi-use space - a cantilevered light outdoor space over looking the park and floating above the green roof to be the closest to nature admistration space - partially underground and hiddensustAInAblE DEsIgn tACtICsroof gardenatrium spacewindow treatment/louver systemcut and fill foundationorientation
EnvIronMEntAl CEntEr jamaica plain, ma 2009
classroom
classroom
gallery
exhibitionspace
outdoorspace
roofgarden
administrationeducational
educational
outdoor space
administration
alexandria besharat
sustain EnvIronMEntAl CEntEr jamaica plain, ma 2009
alexandria besharat
sustain EnvIronMEntAl CEntEr jamaica plain, ma 2009
alexandria besharat
sCaleA facade for an existing building to be converted into a library by Boston Book Archives
The required program is a ten foot wide space including study carrels (private and group), stairs, and light sensitive books. stacks were in a specific unchanged space and each floor was already designated its basic program (entry, stacks and study or conference hall)
ConCEpt Using two different point of visions, pedestrian and vehicular, to create the facade
DEtAIl The entrance level is for pedestrians, the angles of display walls lure pedestrians inside. the rest of the facade is numerous digital screens displaying an image of vehicle traffic.
A painting by Chuck Close was chosen because his work embodies the concept of different points of vision, from a far the colors come together to make a picture, but close up it all blurs. for the building, the digital screens change to any image.
The grid of screens was determined by the proportion of the human body. The interior also uses that grid and punctured windows are used to create different spaces relatng to program.
fACADE ovErhAul boston, ma 2008
grounD floor plAn
alexandria besharat
unisonTo successfully combine the large-scale space of the apparatus storage with the small-scale elements associated with the living quarters
ConCEpt To have all parts of the program to act as one space. The program works in three parts, starting at private living (bed, bath, living), work related area (gym, office) to the apparatus storage.DEtAIl They are connected by a continuous reverse truss system, that is seen through the whole building the roof twists to change the scale of the volume of the space gradually and continuously.
fIrEhousE lincoln, ma 2008
alexandria besharat
unison fIrEhousE lincoln, ma 2008