Assemble
‘Liverpool’s Sleeper Salvage Centre’
“Obsolescence is a serious threat for built property. Failed buildings are often immobile, long lasting and capital intensive.” [1] Thompsen and Van Der Flier in “Understanding obsolescence: a conceptual model for buildings”
Once a catalyst of mobilisation, the UK’s existing rail infrastructure is now in decay. A lack of investment and upkeep coupled with ambitious plans for transnational networks have left local and regional lines in a state of poor repair. Parallels can be made with the Alsop building; at the time of conception a state of the art facility which is now in dire need of modernisation.
Manufacturing modular structures from disused timber railway sleepers will encourage both sustainability through material reuse as well as positive social practices at the heart of the UOL campus. Collaborating with Network Rail’s community based programmes will look to encourage ‘greener travel choices’ and a reduction on
car dependency, as well as preventing ‘reclaimed’ sleepers from going to waste.
The proposal will also look to draw key lessons from the rail network itself, using notions of mobility and modularity to combat the obsolescence referenced by Thompsen & Van Der Flier. Dynamic in plan, the scheme should therefore consider the varying demands placed upon University Square and wider campus throughout the academic year. Notions of mobilisation and modularity [conjured by rail network] must be applied to existing fabric and beyond.
The manufacturing process is represented in conscious ‘journey’ through proposal, ‘assembling’ not only the product itself, but a community spirit culminating on the well-known University Square.
