I am passionate about the relationship between humans and the urban environment. My work focuses on responding to context, maintaining place identity, and creating spaces that encourage positive interactions, where users feel emotionally connected to the built environment.
Situated in Bethnal Green, the living archive prioritises communal engagement and facilitates collective identity through the performance of space, place and people to provide both a much-needed community space and to promote an intergenerational alternative approach to dementia research, looking towards the research of community and identity forming. Drawing on precedent from somatic movement, recognising self-transience through confrontational scale and re-using and retaining existing buildings. This site prioritises community engagement by providing a space of ownership and consistency amongst the rapidly changing urban landscape of London, much like the Gasholders presence has done for over 150 years.
The site houses two existing gasholder frames and three outbuildings. The proposal incorporates these existing structures to allow for the community to sufficiently grieve and accept the demise of these grand structures that represent significant heritage and memories for the local community. The gasholders are not just a disused industrial plot but rather a memory artefact, landmark and grounding presence. It is a moment when the grandeur and enormity of the structures remind you of just how small you are within the world.
Plays significant roles in the proposition’s site strategies. This includes re-wilding the majority of the site.
Further models testing site infrastructure language in response to performance and industrial typologies.
Embracing Humanity: Crafting compassionate care environments for Dementia patients through environmental support and Identity facilitation
Dementia is often associated with negative connotations, such as ‘losing one’s identity’ and a sense of incapability, fostering feelings of hopelessness.
However, it is crucial to challenge these perceptions. While Dementia is undoubtedly a devastating disease, it does not lead to a complete loss of identity but rather a transformation. This transformation should be embraced, and we should create spaces that facilitate the exploration and discovery of oneself, whether in embracing differences, rediscovering aspects of oneself, or finding something entirely new.
Regardless of our memory capabilities or communication skills, we are all human, and our identities naturally evolve daily in response to changes and life events.
Located in Homerton, London, adjacent to the existing hospital, the dementia respite centre is a testament to my commitment to making a difference. It seeks to restore dementia sufferers’ freedom and humanity, providing a safe and nurturing environment for those in need.
The brief challenged the notion of care, how one defines it, and how it translates spatially. The scheme responds by providing a porous plan facilitating free movement and choice within a safe ‘zone’. Identity and finding identity became the core principle within this scheme. Both in reflecting and interacting with the existing site wall alongside curating moments and a space that encourages the joy of finding your identity every day. As many with dementia may face.
Critical site reflections reveal the necessity for curated experiences, emphasising care and identity. Strategies include retaining walls, green spaces, and embracing ambiguity. Distinctive elements create complexity, while neglected areas hint at urban decay. Despite challenges, natural pockets offer solace. The juxtaposition of beauty and neglect in Homerton reflects urban ambivalence, especially for those navigating sensory challenges like Dementia. The existing arch bordering the site played a significant role in finding forms through mimicry to achieve familiarity and comfort for Dementia patients.
The architectural proposal centres on identity and four fundamental principles, promoting porosity and choice in design. It aims to revive human expression despite acknowledging dementia’s influence. Primary elements encompass a multifunctional workshop space, cafe, library exchange, and therapy facilities. These are supported by two green spaces: a primary courtyard with a small allotment and a “Wild” garden bordering the existing wall.
Mimicry of the Arch typology through the building, public and semi private courtyard as well as key connectivity to the streetscape, facilitate the heir of connectivity to society.
Door handles designed for a soothing human touch enhancing the building’s tactile experience.
