Unit C

Off The Grid

Unit C has a strong unit agenda themed around sustainable innovation, public participation and speculative design as a catalyst for transformation. Together we explore an immersive and community centered take on architecture, with a focus on small communities at the brink of a major shift: Come-back-Cities.

This year we looked at a Come-Back City scenario in the UK: The Cumbrian Coastline, home to Sellafield, the largest nuclear reprocessing site in Europe and one of the biggest employers in the North West. The halting of reprocessing operations in 2018, marked a new chapter for the borough of Copeland: a place where unspoilt nature and man-made contamination coexist, where pre-industrial, industrial and nuclear history was made, and technological ambition found one of its biggest, globally connected testbeds. Inspired by a coach road trip exploring the Cumbrian Coast and the Lake District, Unit C explored new opportunities for the borough of Copeland.

Tutors.

Johanna Just, Ness Lafoy, Agostino Nickl

Students.

Adam Din, Aidil Supaat, Amir Azrin, Austin McGrath, Bengisu Efe, Irmak Kuzu, Kristin Chan, Lydia Owen, Samuel Leeming, Laura Hill, Jagoda Bugaj

Visitors.

Ellie Sampson, Emma Colthurst, Felicity Barbur, Christopher Delahunt, Colin Smith, Madeleine Kessler, Laura Allen, Mark Smout, Joe Mckenzie, Michael Pemberton

Generously supported and hosted by: TP Bennett, Steve Pattinson & Rob Miller at Sellafield Ltd, Holly, Jenni, Simon and Gilbert at The Florence Mine Art Centre.

Mining Memorial Museum

Adam Din

The "Mining Memorial Museum" is situated on top of Wellington Pit, which became a grave for many miners. The museum’s experiential design gives the impression of being underground, offering visitors an opportunity to get close to the sealed mine shaft.

Adam Din_Mining Memorial Museum_Site Plan.jpg — Site Plan - Mining Memorial Museum- Adam Din

Site Section - Mining Memorial Museum - Adam Din

Whitehaven Observatory

Aidil Supaat

‘Whitehaven Observatory’ proposes a high-tech stargazing facility on the old harbour piers, inviting the local community to study the Cumbrian sky. Fuelled by tidal power and rotating around the North Star, it becomes a cosmical instrument in itself.

Floating Stargazi - Whitehaven Observatory - Aidil Supaat

Lake District Visitor Centre

Amir Azrin

Located right on the boundary of the Lake District, ‘Lake District Visitor Centre’ encourages visitors to continue their exploration towards Whitehaven and the Cumbrian Coast. Its structure is derived from the stone bridges found in and around the Lake District.

Lake District Extension Map - District Visitor Centre - Azrin Lake

Sellafield Memorial Hostel

Austin McGrath

‘Sellafield Memorial Hostel’ remains functional for the same duration as Sellafield’s decommissioning process, before disappearing into the Irish Sea. Its linear stone structure is designed to experience an accelerated yet controlled ruination process, eventually becoming an Arcadian ruin itself.

Plan - Sellafield Memorial Hostel - Austin McGrath

Section - Sellafield Memorial Hostel - Austin McGrath

Cumbria Astronaut Training Facility

Bengisu Efe

The ‘Cumbria Astronaut Training Facility’ harnesses the innovative spirit of Copeland. Sited at an abandoned cliff-side quarry, the centre provides facilities for vehicle testing, zero gravity training and weather simulation connected by a cable car isolation training pod.

Section - Cumbria Astronaut Training Facility - Bengisu Efe

New Market Whitehaven

Irmak Kuzu

Harnessing the Cumbrian sun through mirrors, the ‘New Market Whitehaven’ creates a micro-climate suited to grow a wide variety of otherwise imported fruits and vegetables on its own terraces. This allows Whitehaven’s community to grow, shop, cook and eat hyperlocally.

First Floor Plan - New Whitehaven Market - Irmak Kuzu

The Art Mine

Kristin Chan

After mining operations were abandoned, Florence Mine became a community art center. ‘The Art Mine’ imagines this site sensitively transformed into an international beacon for art and culture, augmenting existing facilities with galleries, state-of-the-art artist studios and accommodations.

Long Section - The Art Mine - Kristin Chan

The Story Collective

Lydia Owen

‘The Story Collective’ builds on the history of folklore in Cumbria. An archive and library for local myths and legends , it encourages the culture of storytelling through architectural form, including immersive reading nooks and an auditorium made from cnc-cut ply.

Workshop - The Story Collective - Lydia Owen

Lydia Owen_The Story Collective_Auditorium.jpg — Auditorium - The Story Collective - Lydia Owen

The Vernacular Workshop

Samuel Leeming

‘The Vernacular Workshop’ builds on the Georgian history of Whitehaven and offers a large workshop space for residents to acquire restoration skills. The architecture is inspired by the local Georgian houses and integrates several prototypical building elements for training.