-University of Lincoln, Third Year Design Project. May 2012
My final year Bachelor of Architecture project, titled ‘Fractured Cities’, gained me the ‘Best Achievement in BA(Hons) Architecture Award’.
St Anns is a district of Nottingham that has been socially excluded from the rest of the city for a number of years. Development’s are taking place in the area, but they are repetitive and generic in nature, and are therefore failing to respond to the needs of the local community.
This projects response aimed to move away from the typical community centre ideals, and instead revolved around a scheme that had the reintegration of St Anns into Nottingham at its core. Cycling is a proud part of Nottingham’s history, with the city being the birthplace of Raleigh Cycles, and it is also a sport that is growing in popularity largely due to the success of the British cycling team at the 2008 Olympics and rising fuel prices.
Potential site idnetification
Exclusion
Chain reaction of development throughout districts
The proposed scheme is centred around creating new and exciting routes for people to travel along, whether it be through walking or cycling. The introduction of a bridge means this flow of movement is more continuous and links in with the Robin Hood Chase; which is the most commonly travelled route in St Anns. The buildings themselves offer bicycles that can be rented and used for travelling into the city, as well as workshop spaces where local people can drop in and learn how to repair common issues such as puntures. Open classrooms are used to train people in bicycle mechanics, giving them the opportunity to learn new skills and imporve their job prospects. Race training also takes place here and makes use of the on site public track, providing the community with the activities they crave.
The topography of the site and the surrounding area along with the emerging characteristics of a bicycle’s mechanics were key inspirations for the form of the design and the site plan. The design is intended to intergrate into the neighbourhood, rather than intrude, hence the small scale and use of more natural materials. Keeping one of the few green spaces left in St Anns open and virtually unintruded is fundamental to providing the community with a space that breaks away from the more claustrophobic urban environment that surrounds them.
Final Pin-up
