Neil Macalister 2020
Ebb and Flow - A Perception of Architectural Space
Stromness is noticeably split into two sides, the main town position to the east and the ever-growing developments on the over side facing the west. Between each half a high school sits central at the peak of the unsheltered bay. The master plan introduces many new designs that will help improve Stromness immensely, particularly a sports centre, business hubs and affordable housing. These designs are predominantly situated along the shoreline to help create a visible connection between the two sides and to increase the amount of sheltered space within the town. All aspect of this proposal aims to renew the strong sense of community that is so apparent throughout the island of Orkney.
The bridge if a fundamental part of the whole master plan as it creates a direct link between both sides. Literally reconnecting the route to complete the community and providing a new direction of access round thru town. The main low road in Stromness connect to the bridge at the point where the old ferry terminal was located; on the west side the bridge join to the new road and provides access to the new ferry terminal and the proposed public sports sports centre. At each end the bridge meets a different functional space. This design aims to encourage and promote a safe, healthier method of transport and a direct route across to the other side of the town. It will also enable easy access for the exportation and importation of products and encourage the expansion and raise the tourist appeal of the island.
In order to accommodate for the continuous movement of boats through the bay one section of the bridge will open to create an entrance and help to control the flow of marine traffic. This mechanism will be one of the main focal points and will allow visitors and pedestrians to watch the boat pass through from the restaurant and the viewpoint on the walkway. Splitting diagonally the two raised halves will symbolise the sails of boats once opened and aesthetically will create a significantly stroking feature.
Krasmir Banchev 2020
Krasmir Banchev 2020
Krasmir Banchev 2020
Cinematography and architecture intersect in their framing of moments, be that in a film or in everyday life. Both should consider light, sound, scale and movement ultimately for the goal of narrative both atmospheric and literal. My thesis sets the question of “can a building be examined through a cinematic lens, exploring everyday moments that are framed by elements of architecture and can be the design respond to embrace these moments?”
The cinemographs take us on an experiential journey through the Marine Laboratory at a human scale. The camera is never in any impossible place, no dramatic movement ever distracts from the experience of being in a space, viewing it as we would in reality. The light is still, noise is diegetic, and movement exists only in the banal. The images exist on the periphery, observing but never interrupting.
Much like the cinematic themes, the architecture seeks not to distract from the elements of life within a scheme but rather allow for them to occur. Whether that is an opening window, allowing the sounds of the outside world in, or deep white skylights drawing light and focus down onto the lab bench’s, reinforcing the importance of scientific work. Some spaces may lack human interaction, but life still exits to affect the architecture in small ways.