Sensing Space - The Spacial Experiences...

 Enjoy The space..

Past: Sensing Space Exhibition - Architecture Reimagined

What: 
Sensing Spaces  Exhibition - Architecture Reimagined

Where: 
Royal Academy of Arts
Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD

When: 
25' Jan - 6' April 2014

At the beginning of 2014, London was graced with this amazing exhibition that took place for 4 months. The exhibition was designed as an exploration of the functional and experimental aspects of architecture,collated of 7 world leading contemporary practices:

• Grafton Architects ( Ireland)
• Kengo Kuma ( Japan)
• Diebedo Francis Kere (Burkina Faso - West Africa  and Berlin)
• Lixiaodong (China)
• Pezo Von Ellrichshausen (Chile)
• Alvaro Siza and Eduardo Sauto de Moura ( Portugal)

All the architects were sharing the Beaux-Art Gallery in order to explore the way in which we sense space around us via participation and interaction. Each intervention takes the principles of either Space,Form or Light and Materials to transform the classically detailed interior of the gallery. The interventions vary in approach to spacial arrangement,some use illuminosity while others use framing and masking to amplify the experience through the gallery. 

Interestingly the transitional threshold from entrance to intervention in themselves added extra dimension  to the idea of sensing space.

F.B.A Favourite

Diebedo Francis Kere

Usually working with communities that experience hardship, he believes that architecture has the potential to genuinely inspire change. As a results he aims to create comfy spaces for formal gatherings to help communities to build their own inspirations.

Highlighted Interest:

Its a curvaceous wine glass shape that links two galleries and funnels people into an inter mate cave.

Built from 60MM  thick honeycomb plastic panels that were made in Germany , usually the panels are hidden between doors and walls.

The use of coloured straws through the honeycomb structure indicate a change in times.

"When you change a building, you become a part of its creation"

The Endless Stair - Video Tour

Click here for the Endless Stair article!

In addition to the previous post, here is a short journey through the staircase. It is brief, but will give you more of an emotional response to the project and you will be able to see the interaction  people had with the structure.

© 2013 Kerri Rochelle Simpson copyright 

All rights reserved

The Endless Stairs - drMM Architects, Arup Engineers & SEAM Design

River Facing View

The Endless Stair

13 September '13 - 10 October '13

Monday - Sunday 9AM - Dusk

The Lawn in front of the Tate Modern, 
Bankside,London,SE1 9TG

Who? 
dRMM Architects - Timber Studio
Arup Engineering Structures,Materials and Fire specialist
Sponsored by American Wood expert Council 
Contractor - Nussil

The Endless stair by dRMM in collaboration with Arup Engineering and SEAM Design is part of the London Design Festival, which is a nine day event with hundreds of showcases around London. The staircase is the 2013 Landmark project placed at the Tate Modern (London) . The initial site was set to be at the St. Paul's Cathedral however it is great to see the Tate host this in their front garden.
Inspired by  the works of M.C Escher's 'Relativity', it is composed of 15 interlocking staircases; the Endless Stair provides an interactive installation that creates a panoramic view of the area upon ascend and descent.

Architecturally it is exploring sustainable materials for the future of construction, as the project creators describe the timber used as ' the new concrete'. The design is the second American Hard Wood structure to be commissioned for the 2013 festival of design. The Endless stair is constructed using cross laminated timber ensuring strength and endurance.This is an ' American Tulipwood' which is an abundant type of timber originating from North America, this type of wood is usually a softwood, however this intervention uses a hardwood reducing the quantity needed and also reducing the thickness which effectively makes the structure lighter.

The structure still manages to weigh in at a staggering 11.4 tonnes with a combined total length of 436M (when all the panels used are laid flat) which is 4.5 times the size of Big Ben!

With 187 Endless Stairs this allows for an overall capacity of 93 people at any one time, the shortest staircase has 48 stairs.The intersectional landings give access to different sides of the structure via an 'up and over' methodology,contributing to the exploration of the piece and creating internal views of the structure.Ultimately all ascending routes lead to the top of the piece and all descending routes lead to the ground, however you have the choice of which route you would like to take.Like a maze.

At the highest point you are met with a glass end panel which creates the illusion that you could continue on, a staircase to the skies is what i would say. At this point you have the opportunity to take in the panoramic view of the thames.

Process and Production... 

Select image to see processes( image provided by www.nickwattsdesign.co.uk)

After the whole event, the plan is to deconstruct the stairs,enabling for the wood to be recycled for use in other projects. The project throughout has used and monitored sustainable materials, methods of transport and manufacturing processes.

Did I tell you it lights up at night...

Click Here to see dRMM explain The Endless Stair

Please look out for The Endless Stair at night and the Tour video!

Subscribe or follow us at @KRSarchitecture

Photos of Endless Stair copyright Kerri R Simpson

© 2013 Kerri Rochelle Simpson copyright 

All rights reserved

SouthBank Skate Park Saved?

The London Southbank skate park located in the undercroft of the Queen Elizabeth Hall (River Thames,London) has been alive for over 40 years, being regarded as a place that generations of skaters have rode around becoming part of the London skate cult. 

The south bank skate park forms a hub for skaters around the world, a place that could be defined as a safe skate haven, a place that is dear to the heart of many as they have explored the unit from childhood to adulthood; breaking limitations and setting new goals to achieve.

Southbank is still today a prime meeting point for a lot of London skaters, also a canvas for Graffiti artists retaining its value to the rich artistry and cultural value of the south bank. Instead of taking away from the south bank it is giving back.

For sometime the Southbank skate park has been under threat, there have been plans to demolish and relocate the park put forward by Lambeth council, this was in order to make space for new retail and restaurants that will further develop the income in the south bank area.

Distant Memories

Rich Grafitti Art, notice the SOS...

The undercroft skating area, people passing by at the background and skate boarder in the mid ground

" Thinking about what he may lose"

The Green square indicates the location of the skate park

The above images show what the current state of the skatepark is in 2013, this is a quiet week day. However when speaking to some of the locals, I was told that on a weekend it is far more busier than the week; although at evenings this is where people come to deflate after a long day. 

" What do you think about the demolition of the Southbank Skate Park?"

 A common response was revolved around devastation and a loss, I was also advised to visit this website http://www.savethesouthbank.com a website that leads to a petition, the petition is said to have drawn over 50,000 signatures from the UK and abroad demonstrating the importance it has to so many who use the area.

From an Architectural perspective, taking architecture in not the static but the emotional sense. The skate park gives the area personality, a fully interactive space connecting expressionists to one and another; holding skate jams as well as performances it relates to the static buildings in the area which host cultural and artist events alike; the removal of such a place disconnects social activities whilst depleting the areas richness.

Here is a sample of the new proposal, which looks admittedly a beautiful attachment to an existing building accompanied by the introduction of further green spaces.

Although this image is not directly showing the impact to the undercut it shows the overall vision for the area. To the common visitor it appears to be an attractive touristic place, which will indeed draw a sufficient source of further income to the area,additionally and  possibly exploring other cultural values besides the skate cult known to the area. In the ideal world, we would prefer for the existing development to accommodate the 20% remains of the SouthBank skate park.

The voices were eventually heard in the SouthBank area, however the result  comes with great compromise from the 'Long Live SouthBank Group' ( the group of skater challenging councils decisions).The group have been given the option to allow the skate park to become extinct so that the £120 Million redevelopment can go through, this is in acceptance of a new £1Million skate park to be built under the Hungerford Bridge;extending space by 10% with a 120 Meter span of floor space.

There are three different designs that could be put forward for the relocation as shown by the video above, which is just a little way from the original site. The acceptance from the skaters is still pending furthermore the idea is neither set in stone, so it is difficult to come to a conclusion until discussions have been made; it would be said that it is a very good offer, as an area like the Southbank skate park are lucky to have the opportunity to be heard. I think they should accept and create a new as well as positive outlook for the future of skating,BMX-ing and artists alike!

© 2013 Kerri Rochelle Simpson copyright 

All rights reserved