Harvey James-Bull

PROGRAMMING...

The proposed initiative encompasses a community music center supplemented with apartments specifically designed for musicians. The ground floor is designed to accommodate a bar, a practice room, and provides access to the main recital room. Notably, both the practice and recital rooms are constructed using a unique configuration of suspended laminated timber “eggs.” These egg-shaped structures are acoustically isolated by being hung from a series of springs, effectively minimizing vibrations transmitted to the building’s structure.

The apartments situated on the upper floors are equipped with individual isolated practice rooms, ensuring an optimal environment for musicians to rehearse without disturbance. Structurally, the public spaces are supported by concrete columns and a waffle slab system, while the upper floors feature a lightweight glulam lattice framework. The exterior façade combines concrete sandwich panelling with timber-clad walls, blending durability with aesthetic appeal.

Given the environmental concerns associated with the embodied carbon in concrete, the design prioritises future adaptability through a strictly regulated interior layout and a sustainable solution to structural materials. The interior spaces are conceived with adaptability in mind, featuring a regular and repeated window pattern to facilitate future internal modifications. Additionally, the interior layouts adhere to a strict grid organizational structure, allowing for flexible use and efficient spatial planning. 

BOX IN A BOX...

The structural design of this proposal draws upon the combination of a concrete column frame and a timber lattice, facilitating an exploration of central tectonic themes such as grid, scale and materiality. Rooted in both the historical context and contemporary rhythms of the site, the scheme integrates within the fabric of Edinburgh. Its distinct character serves to forge connections between the existing architectural elements and contemporary material techniques. Deliberate consideration is given to the structures adaptability overtime, with the timber lattice aimed at being reconfigurable and concrete structure being a fixed unchangeable element. The internal layout remains a standardised grid form to allow for future change and adaptability  

ACOUSTIC ISOLATION...

Acoustic isolation techniques involving sprung hangers, combined with elastomeric rubber padding, are widely recognized for their efficiency in achieving noise isolation caused through structural vibrations. These mechanisms are typically deployed in environments where extreme noise reduction measures are imperative.

The implementation of spring hangers involves fixing units to the structural framework, with the acoustically isolated space suspended via a series of springs. This configuration effectively disperses vibrations, reducing vibrations passing through the structure. Spring hangers are available in various sizes to accommodate differing weights of the suspended area, allowing for tailored applications based on specific structural requirements, with examples of hangers holding the weight of full theaters. It is important to note that the minimum number of hangers possible is more efficient in material usage and helps reducing bridging between the internal and external shells.

CONSTRUCTION...

MODELING...

DRAWING SELECTION...