Weeks 25-26; Final Reflection
While producing final drawings that summarise the essence of the ‘Infinity Spa’, it has been a crucial process to identify what specific aspects of the research and design development have influenced the scheme. As a result, it has deviated towards four points:
- The Narrative- Alexandria’s history as a port town, its shift in border between Virginia and Washington DC and the existing building, 00 Prince Street, having been subject to border changes (almost treated like a boat itself). There is also the connection with spirituality, wellbeing and the chakra node points; relaxation from the busy urban life. Crossing the boundary from one realm to a different personal experience.
- The Structure- Excavation and revealing the existing foundations that hold up the existing building. Following the grid lines of the foundation arrangement, in order to create a new building that almost protects around the existing. Reducing as many columns as possible to create a more consistent movement, therefore there are external structural elements involved and careful placement of structural walls that hold up the building internally. Crossing the border between the old structure to the new build.
- The Materiality- Creating a similar, yet refreshed aesthetic for the existing building with the addition of external render and insulation over the cinderblock. In contrast, the new build has a more rustic, yet economical aesthetic with locally sourced Virginia quarry stone masonry. The most public areas are defined by transparent/translucent façade materiality for the benefit of views and embracing the outside context. Steel is present as external structure, both on the new and also as pile bracing for the existing. Crossing the boundary between what is exposed and what is more enclosed.
- The Environment- Investigations into how specific spa treatment areas are controlled, in terms of fresh air volumes and ventilation. The extraction of stale air being intensified in areas with a higher occupancy level or temperature, as well as how air exchange differs between the old and the new build. All other areas are naturally ventilated, depending on the flexibility of construction and materials. Crossing the boundary between one area with specific thermal conditions to ending with satisfied thermal comfort.
With these four main points in mind, this will help me to write my final reflective essay as part of the Technology and Environment module that runs parallel with the design thesis. What has become evident is that design, technology and environment have all been integrated together closer to completion of the project, but all carry the same theme: crossing a boundary. How to achieve contrasts, yet bring them together so the experiences are not too drastically apart from each other.
With great honesty, the narrative has been most consistent and strongest aspect throughout the thesis development. By having the initial research and justification for the programme in mind, it had become quite a challenge to then find technological and environmental systems that did not differentiate the spaces as though they were separate buildings. The building had to come together as a whole, and feel practical. The form was kept relatively simple, as it has been discovered that this is the architectural style most comfortable with, especially within quite an urban city in America. However, the form should not hinder the project, as it meant the structure was relatively straightforward to come to fruition, and it is the materiality that creates a changing external experience when walking around the building. Finally, the air path movements were the most difficult part of the process, as there was the tendency to avoid too many plant or services rooms, as well as finding out the size of ducts that travelled through the external envelope. To begin with, ducts travelled underneath connecting bridges between the existing and the new, however it is preferred that due to the conditions of the spaces, the ventilation systems and paths are to be different for each. This has become near resolved, with plant rooms on each floor in the new build, an underground labyrinth for the plunge pool room (which needs specific cooling) and then a roof plant on the existing building, with ducts that feed down.
Further construction processes to be discussed on final review would be how certain unique components are fit together, such as the canopy over the landscaped hill, or the exoskeletal frame or the construction of the bridges. This would promote the tectonics and subtle moments that enhance the experience of the building to passers-by.
How the design and technology are presented during final review and the sequence of explanation will determine the strength of the project and whether it can be easily explained to the upcoming judging panel. There should be the avoidance of a scheme that becomes too confusing or aspects that don’t fit into the overarching themes. As the project was initiated in America and there has been a rapid development upon return to the UK, it has been an enjoyable and thought-provoking journey, with a lot of testing and questioning along the way. It has helped to become more self-critical and specific with what makes the building work and why it is important for the community that would potentially inhabit it.