Middlesbrough: Place Design Project 3: Analysis and Proposal Development James Tippling Project synopsis: The urban room The proposal seeks to reconnect the local community of Middlesbrough through the introduction of an urban room. The Farrell Review of Architecture identified the need for every town/city without an Architecture Centre to have an urban room; a platform for people to come together and actively discuss the past, present and future visions of that place. The focal point of the project concentrates on the current disengagement with the public realm such as Albert Park, a space gifted to the people of Middlesbrough by the town mayor in 1868. Located along Linthorpe Road, the proposed urban room is sited adjacent to Albert Park and on a historic access route into Middlesbrough. Establishing a North-East network of urban rooms championed by the regional architecture centre UK map indicating the locality of Middlesbrough in relation to the national architecture centres 1714 – 1837 1837 – 1901 1901 – 1914 1914 – 1918 1939– 1945 1945 - Present Georgian Era Victorian Era Edwardian WWI WWII Post-war Era 1841 1868 1879 1904 1929 1967 2007 Bolckow and Vaughan open Albert Park opened by Harrison and Dresser launch Dorman Museum opened Dorman Long construct the Steel industry privatised Middlesbrough Institute of Middlesbrough ironworks Prince Arthur the Linthorpe Art Pottery 1911 Tyne Bridge in Newcastle 1982 Modern Art opened 1850 1875 1899 Sir William Arrol & Co. 1932 The economic recession 2015 Iron ore discovered in the Dorman Long begin steel Completion of the new town construct the Tees Dorman Long construct the caused unemployment in SSI announce the closure of Cleveland Hills production on Teesside hall on Corporation Road Transporter Bridge Sydney Harbour Bridge Britain to hit an all time high Redcar Steelworks 1800 1900 2000 Middlesbrough: An infant Hercules Middlesbrough is the capital of Teesside and the Tees Valley and is renowned for its industrial, engineering and bridge-building heritage. Although Middlesbrough originated from the 12th century as a religious settlement sited between Durham and Whitby, it was not until the 1830s in which Joseph Pease of Darlington proposed plans for a port town on the banks of the River Tees. Middlesbrough quickly established itself as a commercial hub, new businesses emerged and a local marketplace acted as the central core to the town. Having experienced several fluctuations in the industrial climate, 2015 has seen the collapse of steelmaking in Teesside, leaving the people of Middlesbrough destined to endure another period of transition. 19c. Middlesbrough is conceived as a industrial port town on the Tees 20c. The town relocates south as industrial growth continues along the riverside 21c. Regeneration in progress as industries in Middlesbrough decline Site context General site analysis including main access links and primary uses within Middlesbrough Exploratory study of Linthorpe Road, a key access route connecting Albert Park to the town centre The people’s park? Albert Park was donated to the people of Middlesbrough in 1868 by Henry Bolckow, one of the founders of the iron and steel industry on Teesside. The park covers an area of 30 hectares in the centre of Middlesbrough. The Park is Middlesbrough's only Grade II listed Park in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest. Focal points within the park include the Bandstand, a central fountain,, the sundial, South African War Memorial, a canon from the Crimean War, and a recreational lake for boating and fishing. Although generally well received, Albert Park holds a social need to respond to all demographics and requires urban regeneration in order to prevent public austerity. Hero or villain? - Ambiguous tribute to former mayor Henry Bolckow, founder of Albert Park in 1868 Collaborative process - The project focuses on the realisation of an urban room through the social intervention of Albert Park Disconnection between people and place – Should public spaces be used for exhibition or interaction? Site considerations 1. Site approach and Dorman Museum 2. Closed off façade of Albert Park pavilion 3. Concealed picnic area 4. Limited access to public facilities Teesside University campus Modern sport centre 5. Disconnection between park and local care home Limited access to Albert Park from the north Local care homes 5. Ayresome Gardens 2. Outmoded 3. outdoor sport 4. facilities 1. Current housing 6. Underutilised amphitheatre space 6. development on former Clairville Dorman Dorman stadium site Museum 7. Fire station Residential housing with private gardens 7. Restricted character of allotment gardens Locality: An active dialogue The ‘Localism’ exhibition at the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (mima) is a public-driven project, offering a variety of cultural activities including, art galleries, creative workshops, poetry classes, public tours and conversations. The art exhibits showcases work from well-known Middlesbrough artists such as William Tilyer and Glynn Porteous, alongside up and coming artists from Teesside. The project seeks to make mima a public space for the people, generating a cultural account focussing on the heritage and future aspirations of Teesside. The ‘Localism’ exhibition reinstates the importance of locality in the development of art and community vitality. Open forum at mima Poetry reading and creative writing – using Teesside Archives to explore ‘Place’ through the collaborative of local artists and residents New Linthorpe at mima – A community-driven project coordinated by Emily Hesse and curator James Beighton Christopher Dresser and Linthorpe Pottery influence Vision to establish an art complex in Middlesbrough to manufacture ceramics, wallpaper, glass and pottery. The locally sourced clay provided an ideal material to form artwork of utility and beauty. Linthorpe Pottery was co-founded by Dresser and Sun brickworks owner John Harrison in 1879 to provide a workspace for redundant ironworkers. Although a notable figure in Middlesbrough heritage, Dresser only served as an art advisor to the pottery. Linthorpe Art Pottery Heritage Trail connecting the former pottery and the Christopher Dresser Gallery exhibited at the Dorman Museum Dorman Museum exhibit dedicated to Dresser. although his presence in Middlesbrough is largely undocumented Concept study: Dresser design principles • Integration of craft and production • Interest in botanical forms, using science as the root of truth merged with the beauty of art • Although Christopher Dresser was often classed as the direct contemporary to William Morris, the two designers shared similar beliefs and both used natural forms as patterns of rhythm in their artwork and products • Both also adopted truthful production methods which could not be replicated • Dresser had a very successful career although less recognised than Morris at the time • Influenced by John Ruskin’s teachings, particularly the ‘seven lamps of architecture’ • Sacrifice, truth, power, beauty, life, memory, obedience The three principal forms in Dresser’s decorative pattern design - the straight, the curve and the diagonal Interpretative apparatus Influenced by the perceived conflict between Dresser and Morris – allowing for both collaboration and/or privacy Christopher Dresser drew inspiration from the combination of botanical structures and geometric deconstruction A networked landscape • Zoning of park to address different audiences • Autonomous territories prompting collaboration • Divided zones transform the boundaries of the site into interactive devices (both private and shared) • Albert park as a social tool forming a collective community • Public define how the park functions • Retaining the key route through the site • Additional entry points to promote access Forming the programme ACCESS FROM TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY LOCAL CARE HOME CULTURE SOCIAL ACTIVITY DEMONSTRATION ACCESS FROM A172 Gauging public viewpoints and exploring possible strategies to benefit the local area Precedent: Parc de la Villette As part of an international competition, 1982-83, to revitalize the undeveloped land from the French national wholesale meat market and slaughterhouse in Paris, France, Bernard Tschumi envisioned Parc de la Villette as a place of culture where natural and artificial are forced together into a state of constant reconfiguration and discovery. The park is designed with three principles of organization which Tschumi classifies as points, lines, and surfaces. The series of follies give a dimensional and organizational quality to the park serving as points of reference. Unlike the follies, the paths do not follow any organisational structure; rather they intersect and lead to various points of interest within the park and the surrounding urban area. Tschumi’s Parc de la Villette is conceptualized as one large user-defined space that is completely open for interpretation. Each of the deconstructivist follies are centres for informal program. Urban scale – promoting access into the park Human scale – Re-establishing Albert Park as a place for the people of Middlesbrough The next stage - Intervention of a gateway building promoting access into Albert Park and creating a connection with the Dorman Museum.