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Individual design output from an 8 person collective formed at University with the aim to challenge traditional architectural teaching methods
Sigi and I had always chatted about the idea of starting our own design collective, one that operated without hierarchy and everyone was there to support one another to produce the best possible outcome. This unfortunately was not possible thus far in our education due to the prescriptive architectural teaching methods of small groups (max 2 or 3 people) which allowed for easy teaching and assessment.
However, when we were offered the opportunity of a new ‘open’ design studio in our final year we saw our opportunity and co-founded an 8-person design collective for one semester. This would allow us to approach a design challenge from a new, wider perspective than previously possible.
Working as an 8-person collective we were able to complete a greater depth of research than previously possible, all having access to each other’s work. We were then all able to produce individual design projects that were inter-connected, all contributing to a single masterplan. Since we wrote our own design brief, we were able to choose a ‘real’ problem to address and engage with the Isle Martin Community.
JIG Collective’s aim was to investigate and propose a solution to the ‘brain drain’ affect experienced by rural communities in the highlands of Scotland, using the Isle Martin and surrounding community as the focus for our design. This area over the last few decades has seen massive decline in industry, forcing the youth and educated down to the central belt for work.
Our goal was a simple one. Using strategic thinking and good design propose how investment and development of the abandoned Isle Martin could not only provide jobs and education for locals but encourage the ‘brains’ of these communities to stay in the Highlands.
We spent many weekends with the locals, from fishermen to archeologists, understanding our site and the community we were designing for.
My research focused mainly on the transport and energy infrastructure within and connecting the communities near Isle Martin, or more so the lack of it. Investigating energy and renewables, I was therefore able to suggest harnessing the strong tidal currents off the west coast with the installation of a tidal turbine farm. The installation and maintenance of this would create skilled jobs with the potentially to be highly profitable, generating income for the overall masterplan.
The required maintenance of these turbines drove my design, not only a building to maintain them but a center for renewable education and innovation.
Unlike previous projects where we designed without large amounts of thought into the funding or running of projects, I wanted to understand how my design would affect not only the masterplan and its future but the surrounding community.
The design concept for my project was based on 3 axes; public, maintenance and innovation. This allowed the building to be segmented into safe and highly functioning zones while maintaining a transparency to the community.
The innovation axis was designed using a lightweight modular system which would allow for customization when required. This allowed for segmented office space, protected circulation and open plan innovation workshop space free from any obstructions. The was achieved using an exoskeleton steel structure, suspend from a central core.
The largest constraint during the design process was the maneuverability of a 60m long turbine. The solution was a water level maintenance bay that meant turbines never had to be lifted from the water. This would be accessed from an automated gantry accessible from the ground floor that would be lowered into the bay once the turbine had been positioned.
The center would have many spaces for the community to come and enjoy, from museum and education spaces to observation spaces. Visitors (yellow) would be able to observe turbines being brought it and maintained from the viewing walkway cut into the rock and protruding out from the front of the building.
Flexible Educational Space / Reception
Innovation Workshop Space
Turbine Maintenance Bay
Visitor Walkway
With a complicated site including dramatic rock formations, cliffs and of course water, the interfacing between building and the landscape was critical in the success of the technically driven design.
In order to manage this complicated project, I designed large amounts of the building in 3D as opposed to the traditional method of designing in plan and section. This included the inital modelling of the site and turbines, which then allowed for the design process to begin around them. It was a key lesson in adapting both the design method and final design to utilize technical constraints as a design benefit rather than them being an obstacle.
As important as it is to design a successful end product, that must be constructed with exceptional attention to the small details. For my final design I produced a set of technical drawings, detailing the connection between all structural elements.
2) 150mm Pre-fabricated hollowcore
3) 12mm Magply board
4) 100mm Rigid Insulation
5) Vertical support connected to bracket
6) 12mm fibre cement panel/Rivet 4.0×18-K15
8) Perforated angle
9) Fixed glazing
10) Floor covering
11) Waterproof membrane
Final Design - Render of Building In-situ