I wanted to reflect the duality of Percy’s life through materials and the design of the property. As he is becoming of age as a demi-god he faces many dangers in the mortal world meaning that it is important for the building to merge with the existing materiality of the surrounding areas so that Percy can remain safe and unharmed when not living in camp half-blood (the only truly safe place for demigods in the mortal world). Therefore, the main exterior of the building should be red brick with English bond masonry, to match the neighbouring buildings, however blue bricks are the indigenous bricks in the midlands area and so this was also a consideration.[1] Blue bricks would also link back with the nearby viaduct- yet I felt that these were too dark for a site with already very limited options for lighting.
In terms of window frames, I felt as though timber looked slightly too residential aesthetically but also did not provide the most durable solution in the event of a monster attack- Percy needs to have a home that can protect him. Therefore, an option that I have researched into is aluminium. Despite being on the higher end of in terms of cost, aluminium frames can be designed traditionally to tie in with the windows of the neighbouring properties as well as looking rather industrial and tying into the history of the site. Aluminium windows also have limited insulating properties which can be used to the advantage of the property all year long due to the large south facing windows towards the rear of the property which would produce ample amounts of heat due to the temperature of the sunlight entering the building.[2] The internal materiality was also an important consideration; a balance of hints towards the context of the site and the reflection of lighting. To link the exterior of the building with the interior I decided to maintain exposed brick walls along the shortest sides of the property whilst the longitudinal interior walls are plastered and painted white so that light from the central atrium can be reflected into the internal spaces. Similarly, throughout the upper floors, I needed a material that was water resistant so that it would not get damaged in the event of being exposed to Percy’s god-like powers, but one that would psychologically induce a sense of comfort and warmth- a material that met these specifications is engineered wood flooring with a European oak top layer. This type of wooden floor is very resistant to moisture as a result of the way that it has been manufactured, unlike the common alternative of laminate flooring which is easily damaged by moisture.[3] [1] Jeffery, D. (20160, Choosing Bricks for your Project, https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/choosing-bricks/, [accessed 29/11/2018] [2] Window frame material – What choice of materials is available?, http://www.inoutic.de/en/tips-on-window-purchase/window-technology/material-for-window-frames/material-for-window-frames.html, [accessed 29/11/2018] [3] What are the best types of timber for Interior Flooring?, 920160, http://www.internationaltimber.com/news/timber/what-are-the-best-types-of-timber-for-interior-flooring-, [accessed 29/11/2018] |
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