Tracing Carbon from Forest to Construction
Location Plan at 1/1000 of Dunbar
Ceramics Studio Model at 1/20
Reveal & Prop: A Holistic Design Inquiry for Supporting the Community
Reveal & Prop: A Holistic Design Inquiry for Supporting the Community is a hypothetical design proposal located in the Backland Closes behind the High Street in Dunbar, Scotland. Based on temporal investigations into the life cycle of carbon following timbers’ journey from forest to sawmill pre-construction and the rigorous documentation of routes through the existing site, a paradigm emerges of material and spatial circularity intrinsic to the project. The scheme aims to brings back the human connection to the food and material systems which have been lost in contemporary practices as a result of heavy industrialisation. By expanding upon the Ridge’s skills training programmes and community gardens, the rigs will continue to be transformed from the forgotten and underutilised spaces into a place of learning and production. This will support commerce on the High Street and nurture a sense of community spirit.
The notion of support is mirrored tectonically through the propping of timber structures onto the existing sandstone garden walls. The structures are inspired by the local vernacular of the Scottish longhouse and the work of Sverre Fehn at Hedmark, Oslo in Norway which uses contemporary construction methods onto the existing ruins to house a museum of historic artefacts. Other influences on the designs and tectonic strategy include Carlo Scrapa at Castlevecchio (Verona), Flores Il Prates at Sala Beckett (Barcelona), William Mann at Astley Castle (Warwickshire), Feilden Fowles Studio (London), Kate Darby Architects Croft Lodge Studio (Hertfordshire) and Hugh Strange Architects Drawing Matter Archive (Somerset). A key characteristic of unifying these precedents is that they are context-specific bespoke buildings which are distinctive and particular to the client’s needs. ‘Reveal and Prop’ embraces the notion of Tablua Plena, engaging with the existing materials, and advocates for a more sustainable architecture practice which considers the circularity of materials before and after construction.
By examining the life cycle of carbon, I consider its impact on the construction process which encourages the uses of recycled and locally sourced materials. The most sustainable approach is to repair and re-use what is existing. Embracing the uncanniness of materials and derelict structures adopts a more experimental approach to contemporary architecture, one that is rich with urban stories and can inspire delight as you engage with the space. Furthermore, the life cycle of carbon encourages the consideration of a building’s longevity and adaptability in the future when its function changes.
Garden Restaurant & Ceramics Studio
Site Plan, Elevation & Section at 1/100
Garden Shed & Hedmark Precedent Study
Exploded Axonometric of Ceramics Studio at 1/50
