Tessa Tsui

Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA)

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Exterior render

Project description

This project is grounded in the journeys of timber and food from its source to product – researching the potentiality of timber as a construction material, as well as investigating the “closed loop food network” in Dunbar, Scotland.

Client: The Ridge & Sunny Soups

The Ridge is a local charity in Dunbar which provides support and apprenticeship programmes for vulnerable members of the community in order increase their opportunities in employment. Sunny Soups is a project by The Ridge which uses unsold fruits, vegetables and herbs donated by local shops and the community to make soups available for anyone to take for free. The scope of this project surrounds the “closed loop food network” in Dunbar, specifically looking at the expansion of Sunny Soups in the future as they are looking for a permanent designated space for their production.

Forestry and Timber Production Research

Our initial research on forestry and timber production was focused on the theme of “networks”. Working as a group, we explored timber production by identifying the material uses of timber, and tracking this journey from source to site to investigate the associated processes.

Timber Species and Material Uses

Different types of timber can be used in various components of a building, from its structure, insulation to furniture. For commercial, the softwood species Sitka Spruce, Norway Spruce, Douglas Fir, and Hybrid Larch are the most common, for their comparably fast growth cycle, being able to harvest in around 40 years. Timber for expensive and particular uses include Oak and Scots Pine. Timber commonly used in furniture include Wild Cherry, Beech, and Ash.

Timber species and material uses

Investigating the Site in Dunbar

Located on the coast in South-East Scotland, Dunbar is a small town with a tight-knit community with an aim to operate on a “closed loop food network” - sourcing and growing food locally, and reusing surplus food to reduce waste. The site, located at the heart of Dunbar, lies between the High Street and West Port. Monk’s Walk encloses the site to the West however is not currently in use.

Food networks in Dunbar

Tool & Food Storage

Located in the existing Community Herb Garden in the backlands of Dunbar town centre, this timber pavilion provides storage space for gardening tools and harvested crops. A simple tectonic strategy of sourcing smaller sized timber members and sandwiched together to form the structural frame encourages community participation in construction.

Isometric of tool and food shed

Sunny Soups Food Hub

The design considers the whole life cycle of food - from growing, harvesting, cooking, storing, distribution, and waste processing. Following a challenging narrow and linear site of the backlands, the varying volumes respond to the different functions. Spaces for learning about food and soup making, as well as gathering spaces, are included to engage the local community and promote learning through practical experience and observation.

Conscious of environmentally friendly construction practices, this proposal uses timber as the main material. With close proximity to timber sources and an ease of access to timber production nearby the site, this project uses locally sourced Douglas Fir and Scottish Larch as the primary construction material with an aim to lower the buildings’ embodied carbon.