Competition Submission.

Below is the submission for the SPAB Philip Webb Award, which draws together the research and exploration undertaken regarding interventions into historic contents and articulates them into an applied response using BBW as the vehicle to facilitate this process.

It primarily addresses a responsive methodology that uses narrative (past and current human use) to firstly understand how and why the buildings are composed in the way they are in the first instance before layering thoughtful interventions onto the existing that facilitate the accommodation of a relevant need. These tectonic interventions respond to the existing fabric both by interrogating its previous use, the essential factor that dictates any buildings layout, form and materiality, before integrating and incorporating this existing condition with a new, relevant narrative through addition of new elements, process that hopefully synthesises new and old effectively, as it has responded the primary catalyst of building, the use and a need to reflect chan

ged uses, rather than the existing structure as an artefact consigned to a historical context.

Narrative and the accumulation and accommodation of human use is therefore the catalyst that should first inform any intervention not intervention for the sake of the building as an object demonstrated for example where a building is restored to a state relative to a past context or when new, often deliberately 'modern' interventions remove the existing fabrics ability to perform any new function. Both approaches render the existing obsolete, buildings must embody change in narrative in order to remain relevant and functional.

A responsive and considerate series of practical, tectonic interventions then articulate this synthesis of past and present narrative. Here therefore the existing forms part of a cohesive new whole, fulfilling new functions with the interventions applied to such an extent where it is possible for this to occur. Neither existing or new overrule.

Precedent - Carlo Scarpa

The Italian architect Carlo Scarpa uses a layered, tectonic application of materials to inform how he engages with existing buildings. At the same time allowing how the buildings are used physically to inform how these empirical interventions are articulated.

His process sketches also clearly articulate this methodology of layering and demonstrates the transition of a methodology from abstract concept, through to drawn concept and then built project.

However the question can be proposed what is ultimately informing what here? Does the architecture inform the subsequent narrative or visa versa? Images taken from the Carlo Scarpa Archive.

Bursledon Brickworks.

These models explore the current atmosphere of the brick drying sheds at Burslesdon.

Bursledon Brickworks.

Bursledon Brickworks.

Bursledon Brickworks.

In addition to a response to the existing structures an engagement with their surrounding situation and setting should also require specific attention as part of the overall whole.

The setting for the brickworks has been much fragmented and reduced from its original format at the height of its manufacturing capabilities, however it still retains an established and strong narrative of movement in regards to how it is currently used that relates directly to its original function.

To elucidate, the clay was originally dug from adjacent pits to the east of the site before moving in a linear process through the works themselves, moving from formation to drying and then finally firing before being moved to the river for transportation; primarily to Southampton.

By re-establishing and strengthening this narrative new functions and activities will sit far more comfortably within the building. This is as appose to occupying the structures in a fragmented and unassociated way; as is the case at present.

Visitors currently enter at the eastern extreme of the site before moving west towards the works. However at this point their movement and journey around the sites and buildings becomes disjointed and confusing.

The below concept therefore attempts to re-establish the clear route from the land to the rivers edge and furthermore references the gradual stratification of the site, caused by clay extraction, through the intervention of north to south installations that protrude from the ground and form a physical framework along the primary east to west route.

Onto this framework new activities can attach themselves which are subsequently accommodated within the structures of the brickworks itself and within new structures, which will possibly include accommodation, education, retreat and business facilities.

Bursledon Brickworks.

Concept collages exploring the idea of accommodating new narratives and uses amongst the existing.