Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Technology Report
Unit 15 000622628
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Project Outline 1.2 Client and Funding 1.3 Programme 1.4 Urban Context 1.5 Location Map 1.6 History of the Royal Bank of Scotland 1.7 Controversy 1.8 Bishops Square 1.9 RBS Headquarters
1.0 INTRODUCTION
to understand the complicated process that is hidden within the A building that allows them to gain back some control over power within the financial system. However, this project only exists because of the way in which the banks have worked and the trust that they have lost along the way. It is a failed system, one that requires a new system to be put into place which allows us to survey the procedures within. Because of this, the banks will fund the new social programmes that are found within the city as part of this project. The Financial Disparency is an architecture of consequence.
1.3 Programme
As mentioned before, this report will be focusing on the
Communication Centre of the new social programmes within the surveillance system that is found through out the city. It is a place where meetings can take place between the people in charge of each programme and it also offers a meeting space for these programmes ensuring that there is constant communication between all programmes. However, whilst it acts as the main communication centre for these social programmes it also houses a social programme itself. Due to the media skin of the parasite, this will also be mirrored within the programme of the building as it will hold a gallery for media and digital art. The building will offer a small lecture theatre, which can be used by the programme representatives as their meeting place, or it can be used to screen films. The building also holds an open plan space with a cafe/bar and shop which can be used for day and evening events.
For Royal Bank of Scotland it looks more of a challenge, especially as it is acquiring the business most affected by the recent market turbulence.
Christopher Wheeler, Bear Stearns Along with the takeover of ABN AMRO, RBS also moved into their existing headquarters situated in Bishopsgate. Completed in 2007 by EPR Architects, the building was designed for Spitalfields Development Group as part of a redevelopment programme for the area.
BBC Business 2007 RBS secures takeover of ABN Amro Monday [online] Available at: <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7033176.stm> [Accessed 15th April 2012] Robbins, Mathieu 2009
Wilson, Harry and Aldrick, Philip 2011 RBS investigation: Chapter 2 - the ABN Amro takeover [online] Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/8947530/RBS-investigation-Chapter-2-the-ABN-Amro-takeover.html> [Accessed 15th April 2012]
1.7 Controversy
Many branches of the Royal Bank of Scotland, and in particular the headquarters, have been the focus of many protests. include the bonuses that have been paid to the staff. bonuses, although they had estimated a loss of 2bn. Recent controversies
For example, in 2012 it was reported that the bank would pay out nearly 400m in
The bank has also been involved in the latest controversial headlines where they have In 2008, RBS was bailed out by the public due to the recession and Tensions are high between the public and the banks, with
been selling a service known as Payment Protection Service which has been sold to its customers without them realising or when they dont need it, and because of this the bank has received a 1bn provision. many people calling for a change in the system. The Royal Bank of Scotland has not only angered the public with its large payouts but many of the protests that took place were due to the bank being a part of the biggest environmental crime on the planet. Activists criticised the bank for their part in funding firms which were extracting oil from Canadian oil sands and called for a change in the system.
Treanor, Jill 2012 RBS prepares to pay out 400m in bonuses despite expected 2bn loss [online] Available at: <http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/feb/22/ rbs-400m-pound-bonuses-expected-loss> [Accessed 15th April 2012] Arnott, Sarah. 20120 RBS accused over funding for tar sands blood oil [online] Available at :<http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/rbs-accusedover-funding-for-tar-sands-blood-oil-1914354.html > [Accessed 15th April 2012]
because of this, it is estimated that the taxpayer now owns over 80% of the bank.
4 1 Entrance 2 Entrance Foyer 3 Escalators 4 Lifts 5 Fire Escape 6 7 Main Atrium 8 Retail 9 Bishops Square 10 Broadgate Street 3 2 1
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experimenting with different forms, a system began to develop where the outer skin of the parasite was made of a series of planes.
3.2 Treatment of the host building when meeting with the first form of the parasite
The areas that will need the most work and attention throughout the project will be the facade and glass elements. Before construction begins, areas However, glass will be removed to allow the new structure to be built. back into position once the structure has been built.
panels that are not directly affected by the new structure area can be placed The panels that are in direct contact with the new structure will have to be replaced with new elements that have been adapted to fit around the new structure.
The highlighted area represents the elements that will have to be removed during the construction of the parasite.
These areas will be removed during construction but replaced once the new parasite has been completed. They will be removed in order to allow easier construction.
This area represents the area that will be punctured through by the parasite, illustrating the panels that have been adapted or simply put back in place.
This area will require more work as it is at this point that the parasite punctures through the host building. Some panels will need to be adapted whilst others can be replaced with the original.
3.3 Treatment of the host building when meeting with the second form of the parasite
This area will require more work as it is at this point that the parasite punctures through the host building. Some panels will need to be adapted whilst others can be replaced with the original.
This area represents the area that will be punctured through by the parasite, illustrating the panels that have been adapted or simply put back in place.
When the parasite punctures through the facade of the host building it meets directly with the existing fire escape stairs.
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4.1 Entering the first exhibition space situated within the parasite.
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4.2 The parasite connecting to the existing stairs within the host building.
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4.3 The second area of the parasite housing a second exhibition space feeding from the existing circulation.
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4.4 The cafe/bar area with open shop and balcony area.
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4.5 Circulation from the first form of the parasite to the second.
4.6 Circulation
The circulation within the building is integral to the idea of the new building acting as a parasite and feeding off certain elements of the host building. system that this is most apparent. In order to gain access to the new building, the user must first enter the existing RBS building and use the escalators, which up until now, have not been accessible by the public. to enter the new building. On reaching the first level of the escalators, the use is then able However, in order to gain access to the second area of the parasite, which includes a second smaller It is within the circulation
gallery, cafe and open shop, the user must first re-enter the host building. Climbing the existing stairs, the user is then able to enter this area.
As the parasite plugs into the existing circulation of the host building, disabled access can be easily adapted as the existing lifts can be used and allow access to both areas of the parasite. 1 Existing escalators of the host building. 2 Entrance to the first area of the parasite. 3 Re-entering the host building by gaining access to the stairs. 4 Re-entering the second area of the parasitic form. 5 The cafe and shop area. 6 Ground floor access to the lifts for disabled users. 7 Access to the first area of the parasite from the lifts. 8 Access to the second parasite from the lifts.
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portray the amount of information being transferred within the financial system the most sufficient way for this information to be shown and understood by the public. The more information that is transferred within the financial system the more active the facade becomes. Because of this it allows us the opportunity to combine it with photovoltaics which will power the LEDs and so the facade becomes self sufficient.
on to the steel frame which supported the LEDs on the interior of the building which were exposed, allowing the user to see the structure of the building. After researching and experimenting with this idea, a few areas
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to be developed and also at his point it did not offer and environmental qualities or control. structure of the facade. The second idea developed along with the development of the structure. A series of ribs were created in order to support the parasite and individual panels would be made consisting of glass, photovoltaic cells, LEDs, a steel structure and insulation. With the insertion of insulation and the vapour barrier, the building started to develop into a from with an internal quality. At this point, the glass panels on the exterior of the skin were water tight, however, after investigating this further, it would be extremely difficult to make each individual glass panel fit perfectly with the other and the cost of the project would soar. However, this led to the development of the current structure and skin of the parasite. structure and support of the building led to a change in the
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Initial Structure Ideas cont. 1 Circualtion 2 Floor Planes 3 Walls 4 Main ribs of structure 5 Connecting frame between ribs 6 LED Frame 7 LEDs 8 Internal Panels 9 External Skin
As mentioned before, the facade of the parasite will include a media wall, and within certain areas it will also combine the use of photovoltaic cells. by Peter Cook. The main precedent that was used for the structure of the parasite was the Kunsthuas in Graz, designed Completed in 2003, the fabric of the building Similar to the project, The Financial includes over 1200 panels and an area with 930 lights designed by Realities: United. Disparency, the Kunsthuas also houses media art, yet it was the structure of the building that has had the greatest amount of influence on this project. The design, process and construction of the building was highly complicated and had to be adapted and changed many times. steel frame. For example, many configurations were explored for the layout of the
As mentioned before within the report, the use of a media skin is integral to the concept of the project. configuration as the steel structure. Elements of the facade will be made off-site and brought together on-site. However, the two layers of synthetic membrane and the The parasite will consist of triangular panels that follow the same triangular
insulation (3,4 and 5) will be combined together off site as they can then be placed within the triangular forms that are created within the steel frame. The other elements, including mesh, glass connections, LEDS and glass panels will be constructed individually off-site and then positioned in place on-site. The Kunsthaus uses acrylic panels instead of the glass panels as
1 Mesh 2 Steel Structure 3 Synthetic Membrane 4 Insulation 5 Synthetic Membrane 6 Glass Connection 7 LED 8 Glass Panels
panels on the exterior of the building due to the characteristics For example, when comparing the two materials, The plastic panels will weather and crack when the glass elements will react better to the weather than the in use, creating more damage and therefore more maintenance than what would be needed if glass panels would be used. Also, unlike the Kunsthaus facade, this project will use glass panels that do not consist of any curvatures and will follow the same configuration of the steel structure. Because of this, each panel will allow easier construction.
Synthetic Membrane Insulation 150mm Cavity Synthetic Membrane (Bitumen waterproofing sheet) LED Support LED Glass Exterior
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1 Mesh 2 Connection between mesh and structure 3 Structural rib 4 Synthetic Barrier 5 Insulation 6 Synthetic Barrier 7 LED frame 8 LED 9 Glass 10 Connection between glass and structure. Detail A. Scale 1.5
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Detail B. Scale 1.5
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5.8 1.50 Section through the main gallery space and theatre.
The glass window sits on the outer edge of the steel frame and so the structure is exposed to the interior of the building.
5.10 Windows
In certain areas of the building, windows have been positioned within the facade to allow more light into the building. They expose the structure of the building.
6.2 Media Wall Precedent: Green Pix Zero Energy Media Wall, 2008
Project: Architects: Completion:
Green Pix Zero Energy Media Wall Simone Giostra and Partners 2008
When thinking about the combined media and photovoltaic wall, one of the main influences was the Green Pix media wall that is situated in Beijing and completed in 2008 the wall is the largest of its kind in China. The project uses photovoltaic cells that are integrated into the glass curtain. power The wall harvests solar energy throughout the day with the help of these cells and this energy is then used to the LEDs at night.
large media wall and also a harvesting system for the sun, Initially the wall was designed to act purely as a
the skin combines digital media technology with a sustainable technology. media wall, however, because of the nature of the wall and the energy it would need, combined with the position and orientation of the wall, it offered the project a great opportunity to use a system of photovoltaic cells. These cells would be combined within the glass panels of the wall. The photovoltaic cells would harvest and absorb solar energy through out the day, and then it would use this energy to illuminate itself during the night. The skin, is a self sufficient system.
6.6 An early diagram illustrating the combination of the different panels for the media skin.
frame that holds the skin away from the facade of the existing
building, allowing the wall to become a curtain wall that hangs from the host building. Attached to this frame will be the supports for each individual panel and in between this support will be a support for the lights. The LEDs will then be positioned upon this frame along with connections for the glass panels. include photovoltaic cells. The panels will then sit on these connections and some of these may
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1 Existing Columns 2 Existing Connection between column and facade 3 Connection between main frame existing column connection. 4 Main frame of media wall 5 Glass Panels 6 Support frame of individual panels.
to the nature of the art being digital, the lighting within this space will have to be controlled and therefore artificial. This will then allow maximum flexibility for the use of media screens, and also pieces of art that require a darker setting in order to increase the impacts of light.
7.7 Services
As this new building is a parasite and it feeds off the existing circulation of the host building, the parasite also feeds off the existing services. The area of the new building is less than 10% of the existing area of the host and so to supply the new parasite with heating, water and ventilation, the system would not see a great increase .
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Although the new building will essentially plug into the existing services, the use of the gallery as a media space would bring into question the need of an extra ventilation system. Due to the type of art the gallery will be
exhibiting, such as the monitors, and other digital media, combined with the users, the gallery space may become hot due to the heat that will be produced. Because of this, a new ventilation system may be integrated
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with the new building. This also allows us the opportunity for the warm air extracted from the gallery to transfer its heat to the fresh air parasite. The services of the host building, will be the fundamental system for the parasite. that enters the building. This warm air would then be used to heat up the cafe area of the
Warm Air inserted into the gallery, cafe and lecture theatre of the parasite by the existing services. Extraction of stale air by existing services that supply the host building.
Fresh Air Inlet Extraction of stale warm air by a new system within the parasite. Supply of warm air, supplied by the new system, recovering the heat from the stale air.
1 Connection to Existing Services 2 Warm air inserted into gallery 3 Warm air inserted into small lecture Theatre 4 Warm air inserted cafe area 5 Stale air extracted from cafe area, by existing system
6 Warm stale air is extracted from media gallery and lecture theatre 7 Inlet for fresh air 8 Cool air passes through heat exchanger where it absorbs the heat from the warm stale air 9 Stale air outlet 10 Warm air outlet into the cafe area.
The run
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within the parasite will floor. The air will be inserted from and fans extracted situated
Images that are not mentioned here belong to the author. 1.3 Programme Image 1 Steinkamp, Jennifer San Jose Museum Shows Digital Art [electronic print] Available at: http://www.artknowledgenews. com/New-Media-Digital-Animation-Installations-by-JenniferSteinkamp-Jimmy-Carter-Digital-at-SJMA.html [Accessed 23 January 2012]. Image 2 Shelley 2012 A Bigger Picture: David Hockney [electronic print] Available at: http://shelleysdavies. com/?p=12488 [Accessed 23 January 2012]. Image 3 David Hockney at RA 2012 Paris Breakfast [electronic print] Available at: http://parisbreakfasts.blogspot. co.uk/2012/03/david-hockney-at-ra.html [Accessed 23 January 2012]. Image 4 video_dumbo, briefly revisited [electronic print] Available at: http://post.thing.net/taxonomy/term/294 [Accessed 26 January 2012]. Image 5 John Nousis , 2009. [electronic print] Available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nousis/3733469474/ [Accessed 15 January 2012]. Image 6 Aniden Interactive Designs User Interface for Guggenheims YouTube Play Digital Gallery. Dexigner [electronic print] Available at: http://www.dexigner.com/news/21768 [Accessed 26 January 2012]. 1.4 Urban Context Images 1 and 2 (Maps) Google Maps , London [electronic print] Available at: http://maps.google.com/ [Accessed 15 January 2012]. Image 3 and 4 Bishopgate Tower. e-architect [electronic print] Available at: http://www.e-architect.co.uk/london/ bishopsgate_tower.htm [Accessed 15 January 2012]. Image 5 Fahey, Fin. Commercial Street, Spitalfields. Wikipedia [electronic print] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/ wiki/Commercial_Street_(London) [Accessed 15 January 2012]. Image 6 Bishopgate Tower. e-architect [electronic print] Available at: http://www.e-architect.co.uk/london/ bishopsgate_tower.htm [Accessed 15 January 2012]. Image 7 Image print] Authors Own Image 8 Spitalfields Market. e-architect [electronic Available at: http://www.e-architect.co.uk/london/ Image 9 Google Maps Google Maps , London [electronic print] Available at: http://maps.google.com/ [Accessed 8 February 2012]. Image 10 Brushfield Street, Spitalfields. Geograph [electronic print] Available at: http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/221029 TQ3381 [Accessed 8 February 2012]. Image Old 11 Spitalfields Market. London Visit Places [electronic print] Available at: http://www.londonvisitplaces.com/ shopping/old-spitalfields-market [Accessed 8 February 2012]. 1.6 History of the Royal Bank of Scotland Image 1. Nylind, Linda Guardian ABN joins in bank cost-cutting with 2,350 jobs to go [electronic print] Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/aug/26/abn-amro2350-jobs-to-be-cut [Accessed 23 January 2012]. Image 2 Drumaboy epr architects [electronic print] Available at: http://www.flickriver.com/photos/tags/eprarchitects/ interesting/ flick river [Accessed 23 January 2012]. 1.7 Controversy Image 1 Wermuth, Stefan Anger at further RBS bonus payouts oalition. Lord Oakeshott has attacked the 1m payout to Stephen Hester [electronic print] Available at: http://www. guardian.co.uk/business/2012/jan/28/rbs-staff-bonus-davidcameron [Accessed 25 February 2012]. Image 2 and 4 Climate Camp RBS Protest [electronic print] Available at: http://www.lbc.co.uk/climate-camps-rbs-protest---photos-12390/album/climate_camp_rbs_protest/270 [Accessed 25 February 2012] Image 3 Mitchell , Jeff J Police react to G20 protesters as they block access to a branch of RBS in London [electronic print] Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/ apr/03/g20-teenage-girl-jail [Accessed 15 February 2012] 1.8 Bishops Square Images 1-4 Bishops Square, Townshend Landsacpe Architects [electronic print] Available at: http://www.townshendla. com/projects/london/bishops-square-10/ [Accessed 15 January 2012] 1.9 RBS Headquarters Images 1 -3 ABN AMRO City [electronic print] Available at: http://www.epr.co.uk/practice/notable-projects/abn-amrocity-london/ [Accessed 15 January 2012] 2.1 Design Concept Image 1 (Black and White Image) The Burns Archive , Panopticon Prison: Inmates standing in their cells, Cuba, 1926. [electronic print] Available at:http: http://chocolatealaska.tumblr.com/post/2309220563/ panopticon-prison-inmates-standing-in-their [Accessed 30 January 2012] 2.2 The Parasite Images 1 Woods, Lebbeus Parasitic intervention in a postapocalyptic world Tricoder [electronic print] Available at:http://tricorder.at/?p=439 [Accessed 15 January 2012] Image 2 Lebbeus Woods, Injection Parasite, Sarajevo,1992-93 Sanna Johnels [electronic print] Available at: http://www. etsavega.net/dibex/Woods_Parasite.htm [Accessed 15 January 2012] Image 3 Woods, Lebbeus War and Architecture Princeton Architectural Press, 1993 Images 4-5 Prefab-Parasite. Calder Flower [electronic print] Available at: http://www.calderflower.com.au/projects/ competitions/prefab-parasite/ [Accessed 25 January 2012] 3.1 Treatment of the existing RBS building. Images 1-3 (RBS Photographs) Google Maps, London [electronic print] Available at: http://maps.google.com/ [Accessed 25 January 2012].
9.0 APPENDIX
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9.1 1.100 Floor Plan of first form of the parasite 1 Entrance into the parasite from the existing escalators. 2 Main Gallery space for digital and media art. 3 Moveable gallery planes 4 Wall with monitors inserted 5 Small Lecture Theatre 6 Connection to the existing fire escape stairs 7 Existing Lifts 8 Entrance Foyer
9.2 1.100 Floor Plan of the second form of the parasite 1 Entrance into the parasite from the existing stairs. 2 Circulation space which can also be used as a second gallery 3 Moveable gallery planes 4 Open shop 5 Small cafe/bar 6 Existing offices 7 Existing Lifts 8 Existing Atrium
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9.3 1.100 Floor Plan of the second form of the parasite 1 Small cafe/bar 2 Open shop 3 Seating area for cafe and bar 4 Exterior Seating Area 5 Bishops Square situated on ground floor (3 floors below) 6 Existing offices 7 Existing Atrium
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9.4 1.200 Floor Plan of the second form of the parasite 1 Roof of entrance into the existing building 2 Entrance foyer 3 Existing Lifts 4 Existing Atrium 5 Existing Offices 6 Connection into the parasite 7 Circulation space and optional gallery space 8 Open shop 9 Small cafe/bar 10 Seating area for cafe and bar 11 Exterior sitting area. 12 Bishops Square situated on ground floor (3 floors below)