Brief Adaptation - Information from the brief arranged by room sizes with the different rooms categorised by their functions. These functions determine whether the space can be utilised by the public or if the fuction of that room is private.

Form Generator - A character analysis was taken place to better understand the area of Longton and its neighbouring five towns in the city of Stoke-on-Trent in the peak of its industrial era. From the research I found that there were four main characters that played a major role in the development of Longton where you had the Miners, Potters, Chartists and the self appointed Government. From the information I have gathered I drew up a series of 'Top Trump Cards' where I can add in the following information about the class, wages, social status, and education etc, to determine a sort of heirachy between the characters. The heirachy of these characters would then directly influence where I place specific functions and activities and which way they face.

 

For example : The 'Miners', they were of a lower rank in the heirachy and having a direct connotation with ground work meant that that floor would then be placed as the Ground Floor of the Building. The 'Goverment' card on the heirachy study suggest that with their connotation of being a governing body, they are at the top. This suggests the floor was to be situated at the very top which then has specific views that overlooks the town and the Town Hall. 

 

The Shape of the building came from the four characters and typically the movements that they would have used to commute to the different towns of Stoke-on-Trent as well as theire links to those towns. 

Floor Arrangement - A series of development sketches of the floor plans to determine how each room would fit within them. As the development progresses and changes, so do the shapes of the floors. This was to determine different views on to the town and to provide a structure to the circulation.

Working Models -  A physical representation of the floor arrangement sketches. 

Building Programme - These three diagrams are to help understand the function of the building, what happens in side and out. You have your Wood Workshop, Glass Blowing Workshop, Hydroponic Pods and Office Spaces. Longton has a rich market history where trading was the main source of income for most. That history is slowly dwindling and the remaining market is struggling as the footfall continues to decrease leading to its cultural diversity becoming almost non existent. This project's aim was to bring this cultural diversity back into the town of Longton where people would be able to use this building for the benefit of the Market Town. 

Wood Workshop: A carpenters paradise where he has all the tools, technology and equipment needed to make any sort of furniture he would like. This floor is shared with a shop floor where items then can be displayed for sale. Thats if they choose not to take it to the Longton Market downt the street to sell it. The sawdust that is a biproduct of making the furniture then can be converted into fuel for the biomass boiler that powers the building.

Glass Blowing Workshop - Practically the same idea as the wood workshop, where the glass products from this department can be used to sell in the market. The only difference there is no biproduct that helps fuel the biomass boiler and the room had to be set in particular zones to make the process of blowing glass more efficient.

 

Hydroponic Pods: These pods house and grow many types of produce that you would typically find in a market veg section. The produce grown here is to be sold in the Longton Market. The produce that isnt used or sold gets taken to the lab for inspection, then when cleaned gets moved to the fuel processing room. This room takes the produce and turns them into dried pellets for the biomass boiler.

 

Office Spaces - Two meeting rooms that overlooks the Town Hall, two offices and a Business Development office.

Ground Floor - Two entrances, one coming from the viaduct. Wood Workshop Floor

First Floor -  Glass Blowing workshop floor

Second Floor - Hydroponic Floor

Third Floor - Office Spaces

Short and Long Sections -  There is no linear cutting plane, more of a zig-zag cutting plane to show as much building function as possible. Linear cutting planes would not allow for this due to the way the floors are shaped.

Large glazing that 'consumes' the South end of the building. This was to allow for as much natural lighting throughout the building and for hydroponic pods. To avoind too much light getting in and to stop it overheating, a bimetal clad system will be used to create solar shading. This bimetal clad made from two different metals reacts to the heat from the sun where when in light the cladding closes to create more shade. When it is dark out of shading from another building passes over the builing, the cladding reacts in such a way that it opens up to allow in more lighting. The cladding sits over the glazing, both the glazing and cladding are fixed to the steel structure.

Working Models of the roof structre and shape.

External Construction Detail

External Render

Internal Render - Hydroponic pods that lead from the 2nd - 3rd floor.

Internal Render - Communal area behind the glass blowing workshop with the stairs leading to the shop on the gound floor

External Render - As the building is attached to the viaduct, this is what it may look like passing the building on the train

External Night Render - A night render with an x-ray overlay just to give a sense of the space inside of the building

The Trade Hub Model - External Faces