R. SOEBY

//IN BETWEEN

P. P. Ørums gade 14, View from north

The building was constructed during 1934 and is part of a colonnade of similar facades which swing down the street creating a solid rhythm. Also part of a city block the building contributes to the formation of a barrier around a green area which is accessible from the basement. A terrace area has been added later which is, remarkably, submerged 1 m below the green area. Possibly to retain a sense of privacy in the residence located at ground level. This seems to be the case for all the the buildings in the block.

Redrawung of P. P. Ørums gade 14. Revit Architecture 2012

Context

Located between main roads such as Jyllands Allé, Marselis Blvd. and Stadion Allé P. P. Ørums gade can be described as a quiet street. Traffic in the street is mainly cause by residents in the area and few by passers. The green area almost stands in contrast to the street which has no trees or spots intended for interaction. Life among the buildings have poor conditions if is to become more than routine based traffic.

The green area in the back yard

P. P. Ørums gade 14 has a commonly known issue in regards of parking bicycles and prams in a vertical based residence; a steep and narrow stair leads the residents from street level down to the basement. Hardly accessible most of the year and treacherous in the winter. The result is randomly parked bikes along the street facade which make them exposed to thieves and weather conditions.

Elevation ground floor

Short description of capacity:

Subject: P. P. Ørumsgade 14, 8000 Aarhus C
Number of apartments: 12
Apartment type: 1+2 en suite, design suits couples with maximum 1 child.
Number of residents: 12-36(1-3 individuals per residence based on apartment type)

Flow diagram #1; Photographs of a arrival/departure situation.

Flow diagram #2; Superimposed plane and section of orthogonal 1:100

Summarized description of subject. A1 tracing paper.

Analysis of arrival/departure circulation

Simple analysis of decks, load bearing and supporting walls + approximate washing circulation.

//Sketch Drawing #1
Basis for both program and sketch model #1. This drawing explores a redirection of arrival/departure movements with bike from basement to ground floor.

The main paragraph is a fluent arrival/departure movement to design around. Main goal is enhanced accessibility for bikes and prams. In addition expanded storage possibilities. In this draft it comes at the expense of the right sided apartment at ground level and direct access to the basement from the street.

//Program

Following the predetermined parameters, sketch drawing #1 and analysis of the context the program can be specified. It will consist of 5 primary elements:

The analysis reveals issues regarding parking of pram and bike which are located at basement level. The project should solve this issue through adjustment to the existing flow. “A warm welcome” and “a good departure” should make the foundation when altering the flow and the space around it.

The altered space should be considered a usable common room by residents enhancing interaction possibilities among the residents.

Establish a visual and physical contact with the terrace and green area on the northeast side of the building.

Open up the facade to the street allowing interaction between residents and bypassers to take place. Introducting the previous assignment “inside-out” should be taken into consideration which allows for further investigation into the potential of the “screen”.

Account for litter disposal.

Spatial alterations to level 0 and -1 should be made in response to the program.

Underlaying perspective drawing. A2 tracing paper.

Program collage. A2 tracing paper.

//Mock_Up #1

Responding to the program studies in model 1:50 is undertaken based on sketch drawing #1. The right sided apartment at ground level is redesigned into one space. A space that should contain parking for bikes and prams in addition to being a usable common space to the residence in the block. The thought of a hybrid space emerges where multiple functions can coexist. The assignment is a exploration into this subject.

Plan view of sketch model #1

The access point is a ramp connected to a small leveled repos. Guiding the body(= body and mind unified) from the street through the facade towards a view at the green back yard. Here the body parks the bike, turns around and continues in a straight line through the intended common area towards the stairs leading into the residential area.

The bay window is preserved as a connection to the street. Although not very clear a french window is inserted.

The wall starts out as the dividing element, but falls short. The wall disrupts the visual connections and limits the possibilities in the space, creating too much tension between body, space and ritual.

The facades are at this point considered open in full height.

//Experiment how to park 20 bikes in 3x8 m

Experiment conducted in Paradisgade entrance. The room is 314 cm broad.

Parking the bikes in this space is possible, but it will be tight due to the lack of system. Vertical parking might be the solution the system can be integrated into the spatial design.

//The Odd Couple. Mock_Up #2

A second mock-up in scale 1:50 continues the process. Based on the space that emerged during studies in mock up #1. Realizing the wall was not the right element to be introduced to this space, a look back at statics analysis gave further inspiration. Columns are introduced.

Movement through this mock-up is the same as the previous.

Although the column might be a relief to the tensions between body, space and ritual it also makes way for another tension; one between body and object. It is inevitable that the body will inherit a predetermined relationship to objects through culture. In this case the bike. The body does not eat, relax, sleep, watch television etc. in the same space as 20 parked bikes. Maybe in the case of one bike, a special bike.
The spatial openess to parked bikes from the common area threatens the presence of the body. In space which sole purpose is to contain parked bikes this is not a problem, but in this space where other rituals of the body is a paragraph it poses a threat. The very existence of the body in this space.

In an attempt to neutralize the threat a new system based on the previous assignment "The window inside/out" is introduced; the screen. Although in this assignment it is transformed into screening rather than a screen as an object. The space between the columns are used to suspend shelves, that can contain everyday objects such as plants, books, games, cups etc. In addition couches, tables, chairs etc. are also possibilities. The columns and the shelves become a subordinate system that belongs to the space.

Objects are in a discrete way on display when placed on the shelves and suspended between the columns. The system seems to adopt the bikes if they are parked vertically and the tension is under relief.

The shelves serve another purpose; they control exposure. In these photographs the shelves and the objects acts a screen that breaks visual connection from the street and limiting exposure of the body. Although this should be seen as a flexible system being able to adapt to the needs of the residents.

The facades are no longer considered open and are to receive a revision.

//Sketch Drawing #2

The sketching process continues in hand drawings. A series of perspective drawings are chosen as a tool for exploration of materials, integration between inside and outside

Underlaying perspective drawing. Street view.

Sketch upon underlay drawing.

Underlay drawing: plan projected in two-point perspective. Two views in the space.

Sketches on underlay. Exploration of spatial elements from within; facade openings, construction, light.

Sketch of movement.

Sketch of "functions".

Facade and light sketches.

Facade sketches.

Displacement in the floor is decided, to emphasize discrete thresholds between primary rituals. Pram parking in terrazzo, Common are in wood and bike parking + walk way in glossy concrete.

Axonometric draft of the displacement in the floor and material samples.

//Sketch Model #3

Third and final model 1:20. Act as both sketch and presentation model.

Elevation to the street.

The work in this model strives to connect every thought in this project, but most attention has been given to the facades and materials although not concluded at this point.

It was decided that the facade would be contrast to the existing building in materials and in shape, but in such a way that it would respond to the original fenestration.

The bordeaux red square was made to emphasize the old main entrance. Behind is the intended parking space for prams located beneath the main staircase. The square is simply displaced from the rest of the facade and allows light from both sides and above. It might seem to be a very special situation but is in fact just a pragmatic solution. There is little light under the staircase and the small window ensures you can always look outside. On a side note the square could contain a door to enhance accessibility.

Plan view

Only small changes have been made to the plan. The tree has been placed so it does not steal focus when looking out on the street but still makes a noticeable difference in the view. The tree itself should be larger.