Diskudhans
This project was developed for the independent exploratory module at Falmouth University. This involved selecting a rural site near Falmouth or Penryn, and exploring an environmental aspect of the site through some sort of device. This exploration would than be developed into a brief for an architectural intervention on the site.
Site Selection
Starting with an initial plan to choose a site along the coast south of Falmouth, I embarked on a walk to choose one that had views of Falmouth, St Anthony's Head Light, and a wide view of the Sea. After the investigation, I determined that Pennance Point best met these requirements.
Site Background.
Geologically Speaking, Pennance Point sits on top of the Portscatho formation,which is Sandstone and argillaceous rocks, sedimentary rocks formed 372 - 388 millionyears ago. In addition, Quartz veins are also present. The site is the location of a disused sewer outflow, the only previous development on the site, although there may have been chimneys nearby for the arsenic works at Stack Point.
St Anthony's Head, the Lighthouse visible from the site, was feature in the British version of Fraggle Rock. It features a light pattern of about sevenseconds on, about seven seconds off,through a fresnel lens.
Site Investigation
As I decided to investigate the site in terms of vision, I made acamera obscura to enhance myinvestigation. These use a pinholeto focus light onto a blank surface,forming an image (See diagram at right).
I took the camera obscura out one evening at sunset to observe the site. Despite struggles with fading light levels and having to make adaptations, I was sucessfully able to investigate the sunsets interactions with the site.
below are several Images captured by the Camera Obscura.
The Brief
From early on in the project, I hadthe goal of creating an ‘observatory’in a loose sense, and a cultural space.It should also be orientated with andreflective of certain solar and otherastronomical events. After evaluating Stonehenge, I came to the conclusion that the brief is to create a spiritualobservatory and cultural space thatsupports both quiet contemplationand gatherings. The observatory should feature some sort of alignments both with the lighthouse and some sort ofastronomical events. While potentiallunar alignments and an open area forstargazing were both considered earlyon, these were ruled out for simplicity,leading to the selection of two or threesolar alignments.
Draft Solar Diagram
Final solar and alignment diagram.
Image credits:
background map: cycleosm/Open street map. Solar Data: Timeanddate.com/Vladimir Agafonkin.
The Proposal
After further development, one lightshaftwould be orientated to allow views of thewinter solstice sunset, marking the deepestpart of winter. The other lightshaftwould be orientated towards the moment, in the beginning of September and April, when the sunrises pass from being over landto over water and vice versa. These eventsframe both the summer and the academicyear. In addition, that lightshaft will alsoprovide views of a nearby lighthouse, St.Anthony’s Head. The final proposal features these spaces:
Central gathering ‘viewing’ chamber
Solar alignments ‘lightshafts’
Lighthouse alignment (also a lightshaft)
Falmouth Viewing Gallery
Sea viewing gallery
Foyer
As I want the central viewing chamber tofunction as a gathering space yet remainintimate, a diameter of about 10 meters waschosen.
Draft Development
Lighting
While the structure is designed toprimarily work with sunlight throughthe lightshafts, artificial lighting willstill be needed sometimes during badweather or at night for safety reasons.The system will use custom led arraysconcealed in the walls and benches to direct light only on the floor and the dome of the viewing chamber.These arrays will be designed toactively match the sunlight coming into the room during the day, controlledthrough light sensors. During theevenings, the lights will be a dim, deepred to protect peoples night vision,and they can be programed to be usedduring events as well.
Visual Performance.
Visually, the structure comprisesthree main elements. The majorityof the building is constructed of stone. The stone used is alimestone called Cotswold Cream,which has a nice warm color thatwill gently glow during the goldenhour. Additionally, the walls andcelling of the light shafts will be made of willow glass that isback painted black to provide adark mirror effect. The viewingchamber will be lined with quartz,which provides a neutral canvasfor the sunlight, and also reflectsthe local geology.
