Built Form

I haven't posted my previous massing models or sketches of built form (these early explorations changed quite a bit during time. I was not in complete control of the initial designs so it felt uncomfortable to stop at one point and analyze. Wanted to keep going). I will now focus on one of the final designs.

From previous diagrams three forms emerged - two counterbalancing elements including all functional zones of the brief - transmitter block (public zone), receiver block (private zone) and the 'prosthesis' with amplifying properties joining both blocks together (main circulation route, main exits/entrances, look @ Pinacoteca do Estado in previous entry as tectonic inspiration)

Once the most important schematic principles established, I looked more into the site analysis and decided to rotate the receiver block towards south to accommodate more light for a rooftop terrace in artist's accommodation. This solution also helps to define an evening use courtyard inbetween. Facades of both buildings facing courtyard are transparent to make the 'apparatus' of the organization visible.
Such enclosing arrangement allows for service route to continue unobstructed. on the back of the building (detailed plans to follow)




(Diagram translated directly into built form on the right)




(revised design)




(basic plan)




(pulling a radio apparatus back together for tectonic inspiration)

Building schematics

After dismantling the apparatus and translating all the parts into analogous architectural schematics I tried to build my own - Finnish Institute Schematics.

The diagrams you see above show:

1) Architectural interpretation of transmitter, receiver and amplifier as places where energy is managed - either released, absorbed or modified. Energy in Finnish Institute is the moving part of the building, the blood of this organization - creative potential of people and collaborations.

2) Established the ultimate functional difference between transmitter and receiver by providing different spaces either feeding or being fed energy (last diagram) and made it into a building diagram. Amplifier is used as a break point where the energy 'leaks' to outside therefore the amount of it is modified more rapidly.

3) Translated the functional performance of a radio circuit which is then used to define the private (receiver) and public (transmitter) sectors.

ANALOG

Just an update that the process of dismantling an apparatus has been going on without the notice on blog. A beautiful model, no glue just studs and screws and too many wires inside. So you may guess that it took quite a while to take it a-part. The most interesting part for me were the circuit board showing all the welded nodes of interconnections (architecturally speaking, it is almost a literal representation of points where collaboration happens collaboration), and also the old-school rectifier (in the image of distributed parts in red), coils and wire systems.

Not to mention a beautiful box it all came in.

Here's my old MAYFAIR reel-on-reel for you:

Architectural Prosthesis

INSPIRATION

-A beautiful iron elevator in Pinacoteca do Estado in São Paulo (By Paulo Mendes da Rocha)





-the new Toffee Factory in Ouseburn - office for creative businesses and digital media

Design Intention

Finnish Institute @North East

In this project I am looking at a very contemporary way of experiencing a space – via media. Finnish Institute heavily relies on the collaborations initiated via media and conversation and less so – from having a sense of place. I am looking at the architectonics of sharing information and dialogue (a radio apparatus as a physical equivalent) and finding ways to make an institution that uses such architectonics benefit from having a sense of place. In other words – making also important/ visible what happens inside a radio broadcasting room.
The apparatus I am designing relies on the circuit - a constant flow from receiver – sauna, to transmitter – radio broadcasting room and even more so - on short-circuits (unexpected collaborations) occurring on the way. In architectural language – a constant circulation is at importance as an immediate evidence of an apparatus. The working principles of an apparatus and short-circuits can be experienced via plural activities evident at the same time with marginal architectural obstacles between them: dining and radio broadcasting; art workshops and pro-bono law offices - different activities are presented on the same publicity/importance level as a translation of media information diversity which makes unexpected collaborations possible.

TEST III: Invisible/visible apparatus

TEST II: invisibility

Test

Short circuits

Pro-bono collaboration

Thanks to my tutor David I found this initiative called i-Probono offering free legal advice for those who can't afford it: http://www.i-probono.com/index.aspx (featured in recent Observer article about top New Radicals in UK)
This gave me an idea.


As mentioned earlier, the closest meso-climate of the Broad Chare site, where Finnish Institute is going to be based, is pretty much defined by the activity of law - solicitors' and barristers' offices as well as the Newcastle Law Courts itself are going to be the closest neighbors of the Finnish Institute. At first I thought I am only going to be able to use the lawyers' lunchtime to get my 'asorbtion of energy' going. On the other hand...

I decided to provide an office space for a pro-bono student law firm within the institute where students work for public by using their experience and legal skills.
I am already envisioning Finnish Institute as very multidisciplinary and transparent: different activities experienced at the same time to achieve a kind of short-circuit we call a creative collaboration.


Nice one, Northumbria:

schematics

An old Russian valve radio

Some ideas on Broad Chare and amplifiers in architecture

The proposed site for Finnish Institute - Broad Chare or Trinity Court - is on Newcastle Quayside - the part facing a cultural belt of redeveloped Gateshead Quays: BALTIC centre for contemporary arts, pedestrian Millennium Bridge, The Sage music and arts centre, tourist information centre - Gateshead Heritage in St. Mary's Church and extending to the Riverside Sculpture park in PipewellGate.





The site is an evidence of a rich history of Newcastle Quays - busy marine commerce in 18th century and later, marine industries on the River Tyne. Most of the chares - little alleys that created an extraordinary urban feature - have been destroyed after the great fire. But some still remain around the site.


Newcastle Quayside map from 1732:



For the Finnish Institute I deliberatelychose a culturally and socially rich environment surrounded by multiple institutions with very contrasting (well... i will try to prove that not really) activities. Perfectly interactive area to develop my strategies in.













Following my idea of creating a place for the Finnish Institute's social networking from the beginning I aimed to create a kind of Transmitter/Receiver space which would in some way either absorb or release the energy (energy here can be understood metaphorically - as in potential ideas coming from collaborations, experience of professionals of different/contrasting disciplines - and literally - heat energy, accumulation of steam in a sauna*).



Some diagrams explaining the architectural strategy of providing transmitter spaces ( release of energy), receiver spaces (accumulation of energy) and amplifiers (boosting energetic flow: spaces for unexpected collaborations, accidental meeting spaces, venues, spaces of action).
I find it hard to somehow define whether a certain space required by the brief would necessarily be a transmitter or receiver, because both happen simultaneously, however, I have the idea of the main energetic axis in the building: RADIO and SAUNA. These spaces and activities happening within them somehow draw the boundaries for the scheme and ideally, establish it as a kind of apparatus driven by the fuel of creative collaborations. In other words, like an organism fully dependent on the efficiency of circulation/energetic flow within. The building itself becomes an organization?