DESA1002 'Nine Quarter City' - <Catherine Turnbull>

Abstract

This semester’s design project to create a building given a site and city to work within was an exciting and challenging prospect. Our city of Isfahan, a city dominated by traditional Islamic architecture paved the way for a modern interpretation of an ancient city. Our challenge was to take some of the traditions of this city and transform them into modern, functional buildings that honour the city as well as bringing it into the 21st century. I decided on the program of a train station after my travels to Europe over the holidays where I spent much time in places of transit. The vast and varied architecture of Europe inspired me in many ways along with the research on Isfahan and its landscape. To me train stations are busy and exciting places full of movement and people. They are inhabited day and night and are often the first building a person will see as they enter a new city so their design and practicality are extremely important. I decided to create underground platforms which interact with the above ground cafes and shops. This was done by creating voids in the ground over the trains and bridges which allowed people to dine and circulate and interact with the movement below. It was very important to have lots of light and air flow on the platforms as underground spaces can often be very cramped and claustrophobic. Also circulation was another important factor as many people will be moving through the space at one time and the transition between ground and platform must be swift and smooth. The two rows of cafes and shops open onto a square which is a feature of many main stations around the world. This public space welcomes people to the station and makes the building part of instead of separate to the rest of the site. I felt it vital to take a piece of Islamic architecture and interpret it for my building. I chose the arch and reinterpreted it by varying height and shape and also I varied the wall height to create large triangular rooves. Overall I believe I have created a functional and interesting space which pays homage to traditional Isfahan whilst giving it a modern twist.