At the Liverpool School of Architecture, I recently completed two impactful projects. The first project involved retrofitting the Chadwick tower and laboratories, originally designed by Basil Spence. My objective was to find an environmentally friendly alternative to everyday objects. I chose to address the issue of disposable plastic furniture by proposing pulp furniture made from recycled wastepaper.
To showcase the production process, I envisioned a conveyor belt system running through the 4000 square meter building. This system would collect and distribute the furniture. Once offloaded, the furniture would be placed on a 7-storey high paternoster, which would double as a drying rack. The heat generated during the drying process would be cleverly directed to warm the building’s spaces in winter. In summer, the paternoster would act as a thermal chimney, enhancing air circulation throughout the tower.
For my first-semester project, the Sefton Park Bee Education Centre, I focused on renewable building materials. I selected Hempcrete and Green Oak due to their carbon sequestration properties and high thermal mass. Hempcrete provides excellent insulation, while Green Oak can be used without harmful chemicals. To create a thoroughfare between the park’s upper and lower footpaths, I used tires for pad foundations and gabions for retaining walls.
The centre’s facades facing the lake serve as habitat walls filled with various materials to attract different insects. This design element enhances biodiversity and supports local ecosystems.
These projects demonstrate my commitment to sustainability and innovative design solutions. By exploring environmentally friendly alternatives and integrating renewable materials, I aimed to create spaces that minimize environmental impact while offering functional and aesthetically pleasing solutions.
External render of a main entrance and paternoster
Serial Vision sketches moving through the building
Sefton Bee education centre 1:50 Section
Sefton Bee education centre perspective section showing the level change of the site
Render of cafe with conveyor belt overhead
