Castle Bromwich Innovation Centre
Overview | Site Context | Design | Plans | Sections | Perspectives
Project Overview
Client: --
Location: Castle Bromwich, Solihull, West Midlands, UK
Site area: -- m²
Building footprint: -- m²
Year: 2014 (3rd Year University project)
The scheme is arranged around a central building which stretches out, across the site, through the use of an elevated track, which is assembled by a mechanical arm.
Once the track is assembled a movable arm moves along the track to the site and ‘prints’ the structure through a process called contour crafting. After the new unit has been printed the arm disassembles the track and retreats to the central building.
Site Context
The construction of the HS2 line through Castle Bromwich will result in the closure and partial demolition of the Castle Bromwich Business Park. This will displace a number of industries which currently reside on the site.
As part of my architectural proposal I will not only seek to provide a new location for the displaced industries but also incorporate the existing industries technologies and products into my proposal.
Design
The following images are sketches from my work book showing how the scheme developed.
Masterplan form concepts.
Arrangement and connection of Central Building and Innovation Units.
Concept design for Innovation Units.
Form generation of Central Building.
Form generation of Central Building.
Masterplan Design + Central Building axonometric.
In-situ concrete casting + Pre-cast concrete detail sketch.
Innovation Unit Construction
The mechanical arm is deployed from the central building to the track storage units.
The arm collects structural components from the storage units and places them on a flat-bed.
The mechanical arm is deployed from the central building to the track storage units.