Materiality and Massing.
Whilst formalising the massing ideas I have for the design; for what relates best spatially and what maximises sunlight, privacy, structural and aesthetic intentions, I have been also considering materials and how I want to express the architectonics of the design.
Sustainability and scarcity are big themes of the design, given the current climactic and economic situations. I need to find materials that express both the conceptual intentions for the design, but that are also attainable, salvaged or renewable, and that interact within the surrounding landscape of traditional brick through Berwick.
The auditorium - being the main ideas hub of the design and central to cultural and scientific progression - is the main element of the design, celebrated and held up by the space beneath; by the pillars of ideas. The mix of heavy and lightweight materials I am still toying between.
Whether I want a cave-like flowing ground floor, or the organic flowing cave like elements to be mainly columns, having a glass skeleton facade appearing lightweight and open.
The auditorium I want to be dense, and heavy, showing its importance through materiality and presence on the facade. But whether this presence comes from material choice, or colour - wood cladding would allow for shutters to create a changeable facade, practical for lighting and ventilation, but wood isn’t the dense heavy material I envisioned. But dark wood set against light organic stonework could create enough of a contrast to make the auditorium presence strongly felt on the facade.
Plus wood is renewable, sustainable and easily accessible. And could reflect Berwick’s history of shipbuilding.
