SURVEYING THE BUILDING IN CONTEXT
Our Site is based in the borough of Kensington in West London.
It has been built next to 'The Worlds End Estate' which is one of the most deprived areas in the borough.
One of the first things you notice when visiting the site is how the surrounding area has a massive contrast of public and private space. The actual boat centre is built in a public park, along a river pathway, surrounded by the grounds of the near by estate and sits next to a houseboat mooring.
It has been built next to 'The Worlds End Estate' which is one of the most deprived areas in the borough.
One of the first things you notice when visiting the site is how the surrounding area has a massive contrast of public and private space. The actual boat centre is built in a public park, along a river pathway, surrounded by the grounds of the near by estate and sits next to a houseboat mooring.
This is a quick sketch of the surrounding area and the Riverside Centre from the front of the site. I wanted to investigate how the site integrates with an area and how its appearance affects the verticality of the buildings on the background.
After finishing the sketch in color,I noticed how the color of the Centre really emphasizes the buildings around and links the area together.
This small project punches above its weight; it succeeds at the same time in being a powerful presence in its setting, and completely in tune with it, both in terms of the language and materials of the river edge and of the colour and massing of the nearby housing.
After finishing the sketch in color,I noticed how the color of the Centre really emphasizes the buildings around and links the area together.
This small project punches above its weight; it succeeds at the same time in being a powerful presence in its setting, and completely in tune with it, both in terms of the language and materials of the river edge and of the colour and massing of the nearby housing.
Your first impressions of the site is how well it fits into its surroundings. The colour of the building compliments not only the neighbouring buildings, but it's place in its environment next to the riverside. It is the buildings industrial quality that works here. Its purpose is not to necessarily to create a WOW factor, of which so many buildings try and shout, but to work as part of the local community.
It is evident that they have made a big effort on accessability for able and disabled children. They have included chairlift and disabled changing rooms to help encourage equality.
It is evident that they have made a big effort on accessability for able and disabled children. They have included chairlift and disabled changing rooms to help encourage equality.
SURVEYING THE BUILDING
Site Plan
Cremorne Riverside Centre.
1. Office Building
2. Boat Storage
3. Male, Female and Disabled Changing Rooms
1. Office Building
2. Boat Storage
3. Male, Female and Disabled Changing Rooms
The Cremorne riverside centre is ran by a small team of people located in building 1 (office). This comprises of desks, tables and chairs and has windows in to allow for natural light. The building is relatively warm and the space is occupied well.
Site Elevation
The site is composed of two Buildings; one is an office and storage, the other changing rooms and there is also a central platform with storage underneath. Both of the structures are identical irregular diamond shapes, yet they slant in opposite directions to create a dynamic roof scape.
It is constructed out of timber, that is built on a steel base which has been clad in Cor-Ten steel to resemble rusting boat hulls. The Cor-Ten is low maintenance but also the rusted nature is tough and gives it an austere aesthetic, that makes it difficult to graffiti over and hard to damage.
It is an environmentally friendly building, where the heating is provided through a ground source heat pump. The building is lit on the exterior by Lighting poles that sit on the steel decking like the mast of a boat.
It is constructed out of timber, that is built on a steel base which has been clad in Cor-Ten steel to resemble rusting boat hulls. The Cor-Ten is low maintenance but also the rusted nature is tough and gives it an austere aesthetic, that makes it difficult to graffiti over and hard to damage.
It is an environmentally friendly building, where the heating is provided through a ground source heat pump. The building is lit on the exterior by Lighting poles that sit on the steel decking like the mast of a boat.
During my first visit, I tried to focus on the things that I felt most interested in. This was the first time I saw the building and the area around. I did some sketches of one of the buildings from the back of it, to get the impression of size, texture and context. The shape of the building is irregular and it stands on the angular pediment (the concrete base) which is not straightly lined. Also I sketched the plan of the site trying to get the idea of dimension of the building, according to my first impression.