I have chosen to base my project in derby as i was interested from the start in a general production/market theme. Derby has a rich industrial history and continues to in high tech manufacturing (Bombardier,Rolls Royce) and the citys scale makes it comprehendable. Derby like many east midlands citys and others across the country are suffering from a high number of unemployed, derbys at 10%. With many of those out of work being skilled engineers or technicians.
The site in question is in the city centre next to the River Derwent which runs through the town, currently an unused brownfeild site (previuosly a site for the ironworks corporate baths) next to a dilapitated building previously the citys police hq built in the 70s earmarked for development as offices or flats. The site is located just off of cathedral quarter which contains the citys gothic cathedral, opposite the site to the north is silk mill park recently landscaped and the industrial museum a redeveloped mill that was built on the site of the old silk mill which was a key player in derbys growth. 30m x 40m all estimates are rough at present.
Incase this site is not worth pursuing i have three back up sites
Derwent Street site historicley the site of the victorian timber industry(timberyard and sawmill), is opposite the silk mill park site, the other side of the river. The site faces on two roads either side Derwent St to the north and Exeter place to the south which as well as a small park provides views in front of the river. The east side of the area has had little investment and development, the buildings around the site are low 1 storey industrial units offering poor context. 20m x 30m
The Site on queens street is within the city centre offering good context, it is situated in the centre of a block of shops, very long over grown site it is very overlooked. 20m x 60m
The Duckworth square site is a locally notorious brownfeild site, located just outside the city centre it was a shopping centre built in the 70s since demolished. fairly larger site than others but surrounding by dilapadated 70s town planning buildings. 50m x 70m
Precedents include the Fab Labs and hackerspace open source technology concept and Zahas Bmw factory - Leipzig.
I have included images of satelite photos (which face north) of the sites and panoramas as jpegs
apologies for the late response hope this post will shed some enlightenment on my project
Regards
Adam
Nice clear site pages Adam. How have your investigations into each moved on? Are you still favouring the Silk Mill Park site? All could be good for this years' project, except I think for the Duckworth which is very large and the surrounding context is quite unforgiving. It's good to start with a nice piece of paper (or silk :-). I'd really like to see now some first stabs at what programme you are intending to work with, and how this may work on the site. Good so far, but let's move it along now. This post was a month ago, so please do share what new work you have.
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