RE-IMAGINING SHREWSBURY
How can the urban space qualities of the old town be applied to future developments to create bold and resilient architecture that respects the urban grain of Shrewsbury?
The thesis creates a masterplan for the new town of Shrewsbury that incorporates the urban spatial qualities of the old town. It aims to implement long term resilience, through the distinct approach of allowing interior & exterior spaces to embrace inevitable flooding. The playful relationship between people and water is explored, in order to question how the site strategy and programme may adapt in the future.
The proposal strives towards a new way of living, looking at the notion of collective ownership to cultivate shared spaces that foster social bonding among people of varying classes, generations and backgrounds. It creates a sustainable paradigm for future developments in order to respond to climate change.
The grammar of urban space
Based on the theory of Contextualism, my approach uses the process of analysing and understanding the qualities of place and in doing so, develop new elements within the urban environment.
Shrewsbury can be split into the Intact town, damaged town and the destroyed town. The thesis analyses characteristics of the intact town that could be applicable to the new town.
Throughout my research I analysed the urban spatial qualities of the old town that creates Shrewsbury’s identify and to explore ways in which this can be introduced into future developments. A masterplan plan was created to introduce: passages, courtyards and public squares as well as responding to the floods and topography of the site.
The images show how the town is split and the initial proposal for the new town of Shrewsbury.
The images show how the town is split and the initial proposal for the new town of Shrewsbury.
Object and Plinth
The tectonic strategy of the building is influenced by the water. The spaces that can flood become the ground bearing structure and can be seen as an expansion of the earth.
The objects that sit upon this plinth, the lightweight element becomes a reinterpretation of the timber frame vernacular of Shrewsbury. The two are united through the copper detailing that allows the weathering to be expressed through its change of state.
Elevation of stepping down the hill.
The extension of the wall
Shrewsbury is a town that was once fortified through the use of a town wall due to its proximity to the Welsh border. This wall would have once been used to exclude bandits who would try to enter. However the new threat of the town is now climate change and flooding for which this wall provides protection. The site has historically been a temporary cattle market and The masterplan gives this space back to river.
The construction method for the new wall is a reinterpretation of medieval construction, where the walls would be filled with ‘leftover’ stones and the best stone would go on the outside.
A view of walking along the top of the wall towards the library.
The elevation of the new town wall.
Collective ownership
High prices of real estate and increasingly solitary lifestyle are leading people to search for new ways of living. Co-living spaces can create a sense of community, sustainability, and collaborative economy. This concept emerged in Denmark in the 1970s, originally under the name of co-housing and has been a key topic of the 2019 Architecture Triennial in Oslo.
The idea behind this is to share resources without compromise. Activities such as washing and laundry that are done in isolation can spark social interaction when done collectively. This will also work to reduce the total energy consumption.
View of the upper level courtyards.
View out to the courtyards.
The communal hall as an event space.
Upper level of the communal spaces.
Flooding
Section showing how the site responds to a flood.
A key characteristic of Shrewsbury is that it floods frequently. From the book ‘Gross ideas’ which was released at the Oslo Architecture Triennial 2019, I explored future flood scenarios using conceptual sketches. Through the use of imagining this, an adaptive programme was created. The heavyweight spaces are designed as ‘ideals forms’, based on Michael Dennis’ court and garden (1987).
These can be seen as sacrificial spaces, which is reflected in the materiality. The water is filtered before it is allowed to enter the space. This allows the people to celebrate the water entering the spaces.
Concept sketch of how water influences spatial organisation.
Images showing how the spaces can adapt.
Urban space
The final set of drawings explore the types of urban spaces are created within the masterplan. It also explores, how the space adaptsauring a flood.
Passages create an enclosed space.
The wall acting as a flood barrier.
View of the stepped courtyard.
A view of Shrewsbury in a 1 in 200 year flood.