DS4 - Zero Carbon FuturesA new timber revolution
Design Tutors: Mickey Kloihofer, Jason Coleman;
with Technical/Fabrication/Digital tutors by Jonah Maxted & Tom Sullivan
Guest workshop tutors/speakers:
Pablo Zamorano: Head of Computational Design - Heatherwick Studio
Angel Tenorio: Project Leader (Maggies Centre) - Heatherwick Studio
Stuart Mcalister: Project Leader/Technical Design Lead/Sustainability Champion Heatherwick Studio
Adam Brown: Designer/Maker Heatherwick Studio
Charlotte Chambers: Architect WaughThistleton
A Zero Carbon future is something we MUST embrace, if we humans want to outlast our constructions. We will need to radically rethink how we build and the materials we use and value.
Timber Technology is opening the door to new explosive tImber supermaterials like CLT, glulam, and hybrid structures that are only beginning to explore their full expressive and performative potential, re-thinking how we can build in timber. In combination with a growth in sustainable forestry, timber may hold the best promise for achieving Carbon 0 construction on a massive scale. Prompting a new revolution in timber, but where will it lead?
DS 4 posits the question “What will be the expression for architecture in a future carbon Zero World?” With an emphasis on experimenting with emergent possibilities for fabrication in Timber, and the integration of biological systems, how can we re-imagine our relationship with nature, architecture, material and urbanity in the age of the Anthroposcene? How can we think bigger and bolder about what a architecture could be? Join the revolution and help us see the forest for the trees.
Ashling Wall: The project Urban Wetlands aims to ‘ Rewild’ Oxford and it’s inhabitants through the implementation of a Wetlands and creating a structure that inhabits both people and wildlife. The project investigates the materiality of thatch and it’s contemporary uses in architecture and habitat creation possibilities for wildlife.
Marina Georgieva: The project "Forest in the City" was designed to express the idea of designing cities in a more sustainable way, whilst fighting climate change and deforestation, whilst creating a symbiotic relationship between people and nature. The aim is to restore forests within cities, reconnect the human-wildlife- nature- architecture relationship and work together in building a better, greener, cooler, cleaner Planet. The problem with deforestation is that the true extent of the damage isn't known. Forests have decreased or have been turned into monocultural forests, destroying the homes of thousands of species, and causing disharmony on earth. The “Forest in the City" would create a cradle-to-cradle method by replanting, regreening and restoring which would help reach the Carbon 0 targets and create better biodiversity as the planet is for all life, not just for people.
Mark Keogh: The purpose of the proposal is to become an oasis in the city. Forming a vital urban break out space influenced by reconfiguring the monogram of city in the forest to forest in the city, the proposal marries together concerted forestscape, a series of public functions and wide sky angles that collate to improve the health and wellbeing of its inhabitants whilst utilising air capturing techniques to sustainably deal with high humidity levels in Atlanta.
Nur Arisyah Yazid: OXFORD’S ZERO CARBON GATEWAY CENTRE - Understanding the Climate Emergency across the built environment and Oxford’s commitment to finding effective solutions. This project looks at developing Oxford in 2040 as a Zero Carbon City by using the strategic location of the site to become the doorway to the city centre. The philosophy underpinning the project is social responsibility and empowering Oxford to become a community driven city.
Melissa Or: This project explores an architectural language of aggregated engineered timber. It requires elementary skillset for application, hoping to broaden our industries’ experience in building with these new materials. The applied design establishes a sense of grandeur and serenity with the play of light and shadow for the Oxford Train Station.
AshlingWall: The project Urban Wetlands aims to ‘ Rewild’ Oxford and it’s inhabitants through the implementation of a Wetlands and creating a structure that inhabits both people and wildlife. The project investigates the materiality of thatch and it’s contemporary uses in architecture and habitat creation possibilities for wildlife.
Mark Keogh: The purpose of the proposal is to become an oasis in the city. Forming a vital urban break out space influenced by reconfiguring the monogram of city in the forest to forest in the city, the proposal marries together concerted forestscape, a series of public functions and wide sky angles that collate to improve the health and wellbeing of its inhabitants whilst utilising air capturing techniques to sustainably deal with high humidity levels in Atlanta.
Nur Arisyah Yazid: OXFORD’S ZERO CARBON GATEWAY CENTRE - Understanding the Climate Emergency across the built environment and Oxford’s commitment to finding effective solutions. This project looks at developing Oxford in 2040 as a Zero Carbon City by using the strategic location of the site to become the doorway to the city centre. The philosophy underpinning the project is social responsibility and empowering Oxford to become a community driven city.
Marina Georgieva: The project "Forest in the City" was designed to express the idea of designing cities in a more sustainable way, whilst fighting climate change and deforestation, whilst creating a symbiotic relationship between people and nature. The aim is to restore forests within cities, reconnect the human-wildlife- nature- architecture relationship and work together in building a better, greener, cooler, cleaner Planet. The problem with deforestation is that the true extent of the damage isn't known. Forests have decreased or have been turned into monocultural forests, destroying the homes of thousands of species, and causing disharmony on earth. The “Forest in the City" would create a cradle-to-cradle method by replanting, regreening and restoring which would help reach the Carbon 0 targets and create better biodiversity as the planet is for all life, not just for people.
Melissa Or: This project explores an architectural language of aggregated engineered timber. It requires elementary skillset for application, hoping to broaden our industries’ experience in building with these new materials. The applied design establishes a sense of grandeur and serenity with the play of light and shadow for the Oxford Train Station.
Olli Taylor: The project aim is to create new connections across the river to allow for interactions across the river and bank. Whilst also allowing for wildlife and the public so share this space in some areas intergrated and others seperated for the benefit of the wildlife.
Petermark Zimbwa: This project, The Hive, is aimed at reclaiming the flood plain by building with timber along a watercourse in Oxford. The proposal adopts the principles of Aquatecture to provide student accommodation, a community centre and an outdoor farmers market covered by the residential units above.
Olli Taylor: The project aim is to create new connections across the river to allow for interactions across the river and bank. Whilst also allowing for wildlife and the public so share this space in some areas intergrated and others seperated for the benefit of the wildlife.
Samuel Huntley: Oxford’s Canal Hub - With Oxford’s housing shortage many are turning to narrowboats as a viable way to live within the city. While this has its advantages currently they are detached from the city and unsustainably built and run. This project is going revolutionise how we connect and live on the waterways with a new concept for sustainable narrowboat living and architecture which provides the backbone for a new live / work typology.
Serene Law: Courtyard Inversion - The project is about courtyard inversion. For the program, the focus will be on public and private spaces. The idea of inversion of a courtyard is so that the green spaces contained can be made accessible to the public and is proposed with a sustainable model. The program is a mixed use of retails and student accommodation. The main challenge to be addressed, is to find way of making the design, (student accommodation) economical but also performed in a charming way.
Thomas Hyde: This project aims to address how waste wood can be reutilised into a castable liquid material, capable of creating a dynamic range of lighting and textural characteristics.
Kryzta Castillo: GATEWAY TO OXFORD - The focus of the project revolves around the idea of creating a gateway for the city of Oxford. This will be delivered through a careful analysis of the architectural language and streetscape features of the city, that will be therefore translated into a new pattern of designing and building to provide high quality public realm and improve the quality of life for the community.
Petermark Zimbwa : This project, The Hive, is aimed at reclaiming the flood plain by building with timber along a watercourse in Oxford. The proposal adopts the principles of Aquatecture to provide student accommodation, a community centre and an outdoor farmers market covered by the residential units above.
Samuel Huntley: Oxford’s Canal Hub - With Oxford’s housing shortage many are turning to narrowboats as a viable way to live within the city. While this has its advantages currently they are detached from the city and unsustainably built and run. This project is going revolutionise how we connect and live on the waterways with a new concept for sustainable narrowboat living and architecture which provides the backbone for a new live / work typology.
Kryzta Castillo: GATEWAY TO OXFORD - The focus of the project revolves around the idea of creating a gateway for the city of Oxford. This will be delivered through a careful analysis of the architectural language and streetscape features of the city, that will be therefore translated into a new pattern of designing and building to provide high quality public realm and improve the quality of life for the community.
Serene Law: Courtyard Inversion - The project is about courtyard inversion. For the program, the focus will be on public and private spaces. The idea of inversion of a courtyard is so that the green spaces contained can be made accessible to the public and is proposed with a sustainable model. The program is a mixed use of retails and student accommodation. The main challenge to be addressed, is to find way of making the design, (student accommodation) economical but also performed in a charming way.
Thomas Hyde: This project aims to address how waste wood can be reutilised into a castable liquid material, capable of creating a dynamic range of lighting and textural characteristics.