The aim of the project was to develop a proposals for an occupied bridge thats span north to south across a site within Waverly Gardens and is in dialogue with this landscape, including serviced and enclosed spaces with specific programmatic demands.
The Film School atop the bridge contributes to the vast artistic presence in Edinburgh, particularly to its theatre landscape, cultivated during the summer months of the Fringe. It could be said to add another level to performing arts as it brings a new dimension into play, just like the bridge itself adds a new level to the ground. Furthermore, it acts as a metaphor on the theme of the frame when a film is regarded as a series of captured moments, sounds and visuals. The institution is a charitable foundation that provides education in the art of cinematography for young people aged 21-35, funded through a mix of local and national government, educational institutes and business.
SITE
Located near Waverley Train Station and Waverley Gardens, the site is situated in the heart of the city, providing immediate access to one of Edinburgh’s major transportation hubs. The proximity to the gardens and Edinburgh Castle enhances the location’s appeal, offering scenic views and a green backdrop right in the urban core, as well as connecting Old Town and New Town. It is characterised by its vibrant mix of historic and contemporary architecture, making it a focal point for cultural and social interaction. The central environment ensures high visibility and accessibility, ideal for a landmark development that could integrate both commercial and public spaces. The topography of the site features multiple levels, intertwined with one another. The areas of South Bridge and the Royal Mile represent the highest points, while the Cowgate region hides down below, accessed via smaller streets, adding a curved and irregular level to an otherwise orthogonal grid.
The bridge can not only connect Old Town and New Town but also visibly bring the sea into the city.
Part of the city centre, the site is rich in various sounds coming from a range of sources and directions. The sound wave itself represents a wave that embodies the merge of the sea with the city itself. The sound wave captures the sounds of the site. Those sounds are then converted into a series of moving waves, each of them indicating an output, such as voice, transport, wind and other.
A visualisation of a continuous array of frames was projected onto the models enhancing their shape and further assimilating with the wave and framing segregated parts of the bridges. Just like the soundwave visualisation frames the sound, the actual frame can guide and direct one's experience of the space, hiding and revealing various viewports.
The curves, level discrepancies and dividing elements are emphasised in the form of the bridge which manifests the concept of framing. The structure of the bridge is made of recycled steel which would decrease the demand for raw materials and lowers the energy consumption involved in the manufacturing process, while timber is chosen for the frame of the buildings for its low embodied energy compared to conventional building materials like concrete, and local sourcing
A typical film school has several requirements with regards to its facilities - it should accommodate study halls, workshop, sound stages, technologically-equipped rooms, administrative quarters. The film school could house a small cinema to showcase individual work. The bridge is oriented towards the north, with its Western side facing the castle. Therefore, the buildings are positioned to capture the picturesque view. The buildings are relatively small in size following primitive rectangular shapes in order to improve their environmental performance - the lower surface to volume ratio, which reduces the amount of heat lost through the building’s envelope. It also implies lower energy demands for heating, decresing carbon emissions of the building. Although thewindows are rather large, given the location and the view ports it provides, they are reduced in width to prevent overheating and glare. Due to several parts of the building complex facing south, the glazing in those areas is restricted, as south-facing windows receive the most sunlight and would have to be smaller in size.
The openings allow to navigate the user experience by opening various viewpoints once they move through the bridge. Futhermore, they create a play of light and shadow that visually divides and frames the space.
