Hey,
Thought I'd post an update on
my project.
In the attached document are
various drawings and photos– just to remind everyone its a series
of piers on the Princes Dock site in Liverpool. So far the
information gathering is going great and I'm working on various
drawings and research.
I am slightly stuck at the
moment on what the exact programme for the site will be. Because of
its location on the river I would like to incorporate it into the
building.
My first idea is an aquarium
used as a conservation and education centre for the species living in
the river. Over the last decade the “Mersey Basin” trust has
cleaned up the river and this building would act as a continuation of
that work. With the aim to reintroducing species into the river and
ensuring current ones are protected.
My second idea is a seafood
market. Which would provide eating on the premises as well as stalls
to buy from. The pier on site could be used to bring in food directly
from the river.
I am currently leaning towards
the first aquarium and conservation idea but I'd like to hear some
feedback about either.
Thanks,
Paul
http://www.scribd.com/doc/162987811/Sheet-1
Hello Paul,
ReplyDeletehope youre having a good summer. Looking forward to catching up again bra.
Thought I'd share my opinions on the two programmes you're pondering... my humblest opinions.
Seafood market is a cool idea, cause its got cultural issues to think about, like in what way and at what times of day is the fish sold, what architecture does that require, etc.
Basically you're dealing much more with the way of life of liverpudlians specifically.
But, personally, I personally prefer the idea of the aquarium, perrrsonally! as a project.
It allows you to research the local species and their environment/conservation for architectural reasons (rich stuff), and research on how they might be displayed to visitors; combination of which could produce a wicked design.
Also, an aquarium has such potential to be a crazy ass building, with views into hammerhead shark tanks here, walks underneath giant squid tanks there and all that jazz (please dont tell me there are no giant squids in Mersey river).
So, the location of your site, to me, seems perfect for this kind of project.
Or! why not merge the two ideas. Perhaps a building that is all about local fish is also interested in the local fishing industry. So, an idea might be that the building is encouraging people to learn about what fish they can buy without disrupting the ecology of Liverpool, the country and the oceans.
Push the boat out as it were.
Just thoughts, hope it helped.
x
Hey cheers for the reply!
ReplyDeleteI actually visited an aquarium over the weekend so I've got a better idea of what to do now. I've decided not to pursue the aquarium idea as I think architecturally it won't make a great project. Most aquariums tend to have no natural light and are enclosed units with artificial light focusing on the tanks. So I'm thinking for the 6th year project this could be a disadvantage.
So I'm going for a “River Mersey Fish Farm and Market”. So it would be a building that would bring fish in from the river (either caught locally or transported in via the Mersey) and then sell them via the market. With the Fish Farm element of the building having areas of tanks that breed certain types of fish. Also I think I'll have a a restaurant/ relaxation area where these types of food could be sampled.
Basically in my head I can picture it having lower private level where the fish can be brought in and farmed. Then a higher public level with a market stalls and restaurant area.
So happy to see a debate about this forming. I'd pile it all in at this stage. literally puke in the river, and sift through the debris afterwards. Spill and edit. I'm SO excited about the photos you have, showing the beautiful existing materials. Such a lot to work with in there. DO you think the existing structures can be adapted / re-inhabited? I can feel a VERY detailed 1:100 model coming on, showing ALL of the layers of decayed / fragmented material. On your plan I wonder if a more sympathertic brown / green may work better than blue for the water? SO - detailed material model, maybe in textured / roughed up grey card; Maybe some very detailed 1:25? plans and sections of the existing structures.s REALLY get to know them through techinical drawings, through photographs, through hand drawings showing the love you have for them. I'd be intersted to see how you can deal with the dumb volums of a tank in this location. They could actually be a great backdrop to some of the more textured foreground? Every theatre faces this problem. How to bring the scale of the vast black box into the city. Think of it in these terms. I'd vote for a place which brings the river/docks into the cultural and economic conciousness of the city. Whereas the docks used to be about stuff coming from and going to elsewhere, they are now actually all about themselves, and the life in and around them. That to my mind is super interesting.
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