Artist Colony & Music Hub

De Montfort University

Project idea

The aim of this project was to design 250 units that would accommodate the artist. The new build also needed a new function which would generate revenue for the residence to run the accommodations. The secondary function for the site was decided to be a music venue/Hub. The area did not have any music venues, nor did it have any other musical gathering, apart from music being played in bars and restaurants. Music venues are also capable of drawing large groups of people which as a result will generate more revenue.

Instead of the traditional enclosed ecosystem of a high rise building I propose a ‘vertical street’ that allows the public to interact with parts of the building all the way from ground level to the top to provide a place for the exchanging of ideas between creative people and the community as well as across different creative disciplines - art and music.

Project description

Design Concept

Areas around the site are currently going through future development and many of the historic buildings, factories, and warehouses most of which with great history are being demolished. Steps need to be taken to preserve the unique history for the future generation. One way of achieving this could possibly be by persevering the historic sounds and celebrating the current sounds. Although the sound isn’t exactly music but it’s certainly a form of music to the site.

Using the site’s own music in the form of its historic and current sound will not only preserve the history but also celebrate the future. A sound-wave method for visualising the sound will be used to generate the frequencies both current and historic sounds.

Historic Sounds
Warehouses/factories
Machinery
people
Taxidepot

Current Sounds
People
River
Planes

Technical information

The Kinetic facade is a key element of this project. Inspired by the 'Al Bahar Towers, Abu Dhabi. The shading system was developed by using a parametric description for the geometry of the actuated facade panels. The panel's response to sun exposure and changing incidence angles during the different days of the year.

The screen operates as a curtain wall, sitting one meter outside the buildings’ exterior on an independent frame. Each triangle is coated with fiberglass and programmed to respond to the movement of the sun as a way to reduce solar gain and glare. In the evening, all the screens will close. At night they will all fold, so they will all close.