2. BERLIN, THE SOCIAL CITY: 5TH
YEAR THESIS 2016
The thesis perseus the possibility that: well-placed
Architecture & Design in the built environment will afford
social interaction. I am interested in discovering how
architectural devices can promote social engagement
through the concept of affordance.
Streets and public spaces are the ultimate forum
connecting everyone together. Supporting and
developing social interactions between its people is the
foundation to success of a city. Within the public realm
conversations takes place in various forms of everyday
life within social, economic, and political spheres. That
is why it is vitally important to facilitate these social
goings on within a suitable architectural arena.
The illustration (pictured top left) displays some of the
events and details that create a socially active urban
environment within a plaza.
The model (pictured bottom left) and corresponding
diagram (pictured right) implies that successful
architecture should include variation, flexibility and
ultimately should provide for human beings.
3. 5TH YEAR THESIS: URBAN MASTERPLAN DESIGN
I propose a new urban layout at Mehringplatz that heals
the currently broken urban fabric. The thesis values formed
linear street edges with ‘active’ ground floors and well
considered architecture that affords interaction. Therefore,
the main design focus is a public space that is manifested
as a ‘Social’ Park. The park is intrinsically linked to the
circular long established Mehringplatz plaza and street
which have both had consideration within the proposal.
The design utilises Berlins entrepreneurial and start up
community and utilises its social culture as a valuable
resource.
If you facilitate human interaction you open the opportunity
to create social opportunities. This has a positive effect
on people’s perception of a place and human happiness.
Mehringplatz will be a place to congregate, socialize and
subsequently encourage a successful happy community.
The drawings (pictured left) visualise the regenerated plaza
and street. The design activates the street edge whilst
providing space for events and activates to spill into the
street.
The masterplan (pictured right) shows how the entire
extended block could be reconfigured to form a live/work
community.
4. 5TH YEAR THESIS: SOCIAL PARK DESIGN
The proposal provides a live, work development to the
north. This shall be complimented by the ‘Social’ Park to
the south that will utilise the current architectural features
whilst rerouting Hallesches Ufer to the other side of the
canal. Meanwhile, the original circular plaza and street will
be retained to maintain some historical identity.
The aim for this site will be to restore, in a contemporary
manner, the successful quintessential social qualities that
it once enjoyed. This will not only have a positive effect on
the immediate community but shall additionally provide an
enjoyable and useful destination for the rest of the city.
The urban park plan design (pictured below) creates a
formal end to the east and informal end to the west. The
design includes a skate park, access to water activities
along the canal, a public amphitheater, a pavilion and a
theatre area. The design provides a large area of open
space to provide opportunity’s for a variety of events.
The drawing (pictured top left) shows the approach to the
new development form the train (an important view). The
drawing (pictured top right) shows a bird’s eye view of the
new park leading into the regenerated plaza and street.
5. BIO-RETENTION BEDS SCATTERED INSIDE THE PARK
5TH YEAR THESIS: MASTERPLAN TECHNOLOGICAL APPROACH
AMPHITHEATRE DROPS BELOW THE CANAL WATERLINE UTILISING A CONCRETE RETAINING WALLTHE REEDS ARE USED TO CLEAN SURFACE WATER & ARE CONTAINED USING AN
UNDERWATER WALL AND LEVEL CHANGE
SURFACE WATER PIPE PASSES UNDER LOWER BRIDGE ACCESS
The diagrams (pictured right) show how the architectural
technology focuses on the controlled cleaning of surface
water across the site. Surface water is collected in linear
drains that run parallel to buildings and tree lines. The
water is then retained in bio-retention beds and tree
pits that are spread throughout the park in a controlled
manner.
The trees being used are predominantly poplar and willow
as they are good at surviving in an area with a high water
table additionally they drink a lot of water.
The water is then released back into the canal where
it is passed through a linear reed bed. The reeds are
controlled by the addition of an underwater wall and level
change that stop them from growing past a certain point.
The image (pictured top left) shows the birds eye view of
the masterplan leading onto the urban park.
The drawing (pictured bottom left) shows the entrance
to the area from the bridge passing under the train line
leading to the plaza. Note the various architectural devices
that are deployed (such as level changes) that create
variation within the design.
6. 5TH YEAR THESIS: USER CENTRED PARK DESIGN
The design has retained some key features such as the
long established plaza and the U-Bhan. This is so that
the area does not loose its identity. Furthermore the
design accommodates for different demographics over
different seasons at different times of the day.
The drawing (pictured top left) shows how the urban
park provides for a quiet place for an individual to
undertake personal activities such as reading in the
early afternoon on an autumnal day. Note how the
materiality and texture of the space changes to provide
variation to the design.
The drawing (pictured bottom left) describes how the
park can be used to create a private space for a group
to shade from the mid-day sun. Meanwhile the park
drops down to provide access to the canal to allow for
water activities to take place.
The drawing (pictured right) shows how the design
utilises existing architectural features such as the
U-Bahn and canal to create a boundary to the site.
Meanwhile a water feature provides a playful focal
feature to this end of the park.
7. Presently the regeneration of Glasgow Southside
follows an urban-zoning model established in the 20th
century. This model operates on the premise that it is
beneficial to create separate places where people live,
work and consume and then connect these places
efficiently. However, as pressure continues to grow on
energy and time resources this model of urban and
suburban living is becoming unsustainable and funda-
mentally undesirable.
In this project a stance is taken: that places where peo-
ple live, work and consume in close proximity are more
desirable as a model for living in the city. We investigat-
ed the propositions that through sharing, and through
letting citizens have a greater hand in the planning
and realisation of cities – both of which are becoming
increasingly important and increasingly achievable due
to modern methods of communication – we have a
greater opportunity to create liveable cities – mixed-
use, mixed-density and mixed-income.
The neighbourhood proposed is both a contained
entity and also something that is connected to the
wider city.
GLASGOW, URBAN COMMON DESIGN: 4TH
YEAR COLLABORATIVE PROJECT 2015
8. Orkidstudio are a Scottish charity that strive for social
change in developing communities (predominantly
central Africa). They provide architectural facilities such as
schools, orphanages, homes and businesses.
I took a lead role in the building of a ‘Chicken Shed’
located in Nakuru, Kenya the building was the first
structure on site which allowed for the construction of the
new St. Jerome’s orphanage.
The purpose of the chicken shed is to teach the children
entrepreneurial skills, whilst providing an income to the
orphanage from the chicken eggs.
The building was a relatively large project considering the
four-week time frame in which to complete it. The design
was Architecturally innovative in its construction using
earth bag wall construction, to keep the building cool and
a winged roof to collect rainwater, to provide water for the
chickens.
The most successful element of the project was the
reaction regarding the local workmen who gained new
knowledge and skills from the construction process. They
have since gone on to set up a business replicating the
methods used in the building.
AFRICA ‘LIVE BUILD’: VOLUNTEERING FOR CHARITY ORKIDSTUDIO 2014
