Urban Threshold

Making in the city has significant value due to the proximity between people and production. The project offers smart textile manufacturing in the centre of Cambridge, namely the Mill Lane, which contains university facilities and open green areas. This aims to provide people with a production experience by taking advantage of its proximity in the city.

The project proposes threshold space articulated by manufacturing and testing space. This will enhance production experience physically and visually and become space between the city and people. In order to achieve this, two types of space were designed: one is a larger volume created by constraints of the site, another is smaller individual spaces in response to the sizes of machines and specific testing conditions. The configuration of these spaces results in the surplus space, in other words threshold. Additionally, the final proposal including the roof and facade moderate lighting conditions of threshold utilising louver and mesh system with frames structure.

Site

the Mill Lane, Cambridge

The proposal sits in a riverside area which is occupied by students and tourists due to university facilities and amenity space in open area. This space reflects the dichotomy of the two aspects of Cambridge. Remarkably, there is a reciprocal relationship between two areas in terms of occupation and views. Most university facilities open to the public whilst tourists make the area vibrant by occupying the area. Additionally, green area and the river provides open view from the university area, while those buildings give various city scape such as artificial lights.

Programme

smart textile manufacturing

The smart textile production, which is a new type of fabric reacting to surrounding conditions, is introduced in the site. Manufacturing process combines traditional and high-tech machines, and this becomes a part of view in the site which allows people to learn traditional textile production. Additionally, design process requires user tests in extreme conditions to experiment the reactions of textile to surroundings, and this offers facilities to the public. Therefore, manufacturing process and design have a potential to provide unique experience of production to the public and the city.

Development

volumetric study

The volume of the buildings is proposed based on the existing views, access, and occupations. Void spaces are created to enhance the existing characteristics of the site.

threshold

Two types of space were designed: one is larger volume created by constraints of the site including occupation, views, and access, and another is smaller individual spaces in response to the sizes of individual machines and specific testing conditions. The configuration of these spaces results in the surplus spaces, in other words, threshold.

Light

diffused light

the different types of light, including direct and diffused lights are explored through models. Each light could be used differently depending on function of the spaces.

Proposition

architectural proposal

The size of individual spaces are defined by machine sizes, which created surplus space in section. They are utilised as technical space for equipments such as pipes and electric lines. There is a correlation with the existing buildings because of voids and obscure facade.