FMP Week 1 part 2

Further on into the first week I have continued with my primary research. I drove up to both Brighton and Southend to visit the seaside piers. I first went to Brighton and looked at Hastings pier, then Brighton pier. This helped me in regards to my research, as I was able to view what is available on both piers and how the pier is structured. It was really fun to spend the day out in Brighton as well as viewing the pier. I was able to see the design of the pier as well and how it is one straight line all the way down with a big circular end. It made me think how with my final major project I don't want to design a pier similar to existing ones and that I actually really want to experiment with different shapes and sizes of piers as it will be something new and exciting. 
However, once I visited Southend pier I was amazed by the length of the pier and how far out into the sea it went. It is known as the world’s longest pleasure pier. I was able to walk the 12 meters to the end and take photos the whole way. The difference with this pier was that it was just a straight walk to the end before you reached a cafe/ restaurant, where as Brighton pier had rides and stalls the whole way up. Another incredible fact about Southend pier was that it had railway tracks along the pier as a train goes up and down the pier to carry passengers to save the long walk. I had the experience of sitting on this train on my way back down. It was honestly so crazy how there was a train on a pier and looking out the window to view the seaside. It amazed me how much the pier has been adapted over the years and made me think what more could be adapted to this pier. I carried out some questionnaires regarding Southend pier as I consider it a possible location to use. In addition to visiting these piers I made a stop to Hyde Park Corner to view the small working pier used for passengers to get on and off the boats used as an activity. I went on to a peddling boat around the large lake to view the sight and consider any potential areas of a new building and recording this into my sketchbook. I am happy I made these visits as I feel it helped me gain ideas and get a better understanding of the piers. Time wise I have been able to catch up with my primary research and get it all organized before starting week 2 of my project. 

Figure 1: Southend Pier, Railway Track (Authors Own, 2014)

Figure 2: Brighton Pier, (Authors Own, 2014)

FMP Week 1

For the first week of my FMP I began my research by taking a trip to the Royal Academy to view the exhibition of 'Sensing Spaces'. I found this exhibition really helpful to gain ideas and sat down at the RA to watch a clip of all the architects talking about their project and ideas and how and why they had come up with them. It was interesting to view how they gained an idea and how they adapted it so well. My favorite piece in the gallery was by Li Xiaodong where he had created a library using a natural material and converted this into modern architecture. This made me think into materials that could be used when designing my building and how to reflect and let in natural sunlight to my building. When looking at the design it was like walking through a maze, getting lost on dead ends and finding different rooms. This was something exciting to have as a design for a library. Finally, after finding your route you are lead to a pit of stone with a glass mirror where children could play in the library. I liked this idea and wanted to also use or experiment with natural materials such as twigs and wood to create something natural on the exterior of the building looking old to then adapt this to a modern design on the interior of the building. 
I also visited the Halcyon Gallery in Bond Street. I felt that this exhibition really related to my project, as it was all to do with sea life objects. However, it only related in the sense of it giving me ideas of patterns and colours of what to include when designing my building that would be surrounded by the sea. It was very beautiful to view and had immense detail involved which I really admired. At this point during the week I felt that timing was quite an issue in regards to primary research. I had so many more places I intended to visit with only little time left. However, according to my action plan I am still following my targets well and will continue to carry out my primary research as much as I can for the rest of this week. 

Halcyon Gallery, Indigo Trumpet (Authors Own, 2014)

Halcyon Gallery, Amethyst Icicle Tower (Authors Own, 2014)

RA, Library (Authors Own, 2014) 

FMP Idea

For my Final Major Project I want to create a living space/building that will contain a beautiful sight. As a part of this I intend to research into the sea life. Things that exist at sea, on sea or around sea. My aim is to first research into existing piers that have been around for centuries and how they've adapted over the years, what they contain and what they could possibly contain. Adapting an idea for my final major project was really difficult at first as I wasn't entirely sure of what I wanted to work with. I then decided that working around the sea with water could be something really interesting to look in to and gather some exciting primary research from. However, working towards something residential along a seaside could be problematic depending on my location, because of this I intend to carry out surveys of what the general public would prefer. I will work along side with this and try and improve my design with the help of my questionnaires and necessary research carried out. I have in fact already began my primary research by visiting the RIBA exhibition to get a better input of ideas in regards to my project. There wasn't anything in particular that struck my eye but as a whole I found the exhibition really exciting to look at. The structures and shapes used with the models really interested me and made me consider the types of initial designs I will eventually create. I also made a visit to the V&A Museum, the work held there is altogether excellent however, I felt that not much of the work there actually related to my project. In saying that I did enjoy looking at the glass room as I enjoy looking into that material and is something I would aim on potentially using. I feel that beginning my research before actually starting my project has helped enormously. I look forward to next week starting my research properly and starting my final major project. 

Figure 1: V&A, Glass Structure (Authors Own, 2014)

Figure 2: RIBA, Heydar Aliyev Centre (Authors Own, 2014)