Ham Close

Academic Project 5
Ham Close
A.Y. 2016/2017 “ Dwelling Island: Beyond demolition and stagnation ”
Collective living as an alternative solution to redevelopment
Autumn
HORIZONTAL& VERTICAL BOUNDARIES
HORIZONTAL& VERTICAL BOUNDARIES
33
33
Drawings explaining boundaries
Using Using line sketches line sketches to simplify to simplify some some of my of photographstographs,
I created I created illustrations illustrations where where I only I only used used the windows the windows as if they as if were they were cut through cut through it. it.
my pho-
This concept This concept can be can used be used in my in design my design by making by making
straight straight Drawings lines lines that differ that differ explaining thicknesses. thicknesses. These These created
depth ated depth and perspective and perspective but also but made also made it a little
a little
boundaries
cre-
abstract. Using abstract. Using line sketches line sketches to simplify to simplify some some of my of photographstographs,
I created I created illustrations illustrations where where I only I only used used the windows the windows as if they as if were they were cut through cut through it. it.
my pho-
This concept This concept can be can used be used in my in design my design by making by making
Like straight Like straight background lines background lines that and differ that foreground, and differ in thicknesses. foreground, in thicknesses. this These technique this These technique created
depth gives ated us clues depth us and clues as perspective and to as perspective which to which but could also but could be made also the be made it part the a little
part of a little of
cre-
gives
the abstract. negative the abstract. negative and positive and positive space. space. This This then then can be can be
interchange interchange depending depending on how on how you look you look at it reminding
Like minding Like background us background of us optical of and optical illusions. foreground, and illusions. foreground, this technique this technique
at it re-
gives gives us clues us clues as to as which to which could could be the be part the part of of
the negative the negative and positive and positive space. space. This This then then can be can be
35 35
interchange interchange depending depending on how on how you look you look at it remindinminding
us of us optical of optical illusions.
at it re-
illusions.
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35
Textures and Materials as Modular technique
Using this technique, one can create a certain
feeling or atmosphere depending on what kind of
material is used.
In relation to architectural spaces, when a wall
School of Architecture and has Landscape been made of a material that gives off a very
Kingston University London obvious texture, most users of those space will try
to feel the material.
It is nice to experience a space not just by our visual
senses but as well as our sense of touch or
smell. Architecture should always give enough
arousal for our senses to respond to the space.
Camille Trinidad
BA Hons Architecture

Brief
The Ham Close Uplift is an ongoing regeneration project for Ham Close Estate. This
is due to its flats’ construction and insulation falling below the current regulation
standards. The public and its residents were invited to join the public meetings and
consultations along with the estate owner and the council. The proposal was to redevelop
the site by replacing all of the existing structures with an increase in density
which the people opposed to, citing two negative effects.
“The current density is 192 units. About 25% of those are leasehold, so there are 75%
social housing units. Of the new 400 or 500 units, there will be no more than 140
social housing units meaning that the density of social housing will diminish considerably
from 75 per cent to 30 per cent.”
“They’ve got to think about transport, too – and transport infrastructure is pretty
poor at the moment.”
https://www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/news/14649148.
residents-say-ham-close-redevelopment-will-reduce-social-housing-stock-and-stretch-transport-infrastructure/
Regeneration projects tends to break up communities due to the relocation of its current
residents. Therefore, the studio looked into social housing and the idea of communal
living. Our brief was to collectively design a masterplan that has shared layout,
parking spaces and allocated plots for the individual proposals. Each proposal would
comprised of two dwelling units that engage each other in a mutually advantageous
relationship. Pre-requisites include the overall height limit of around 4-5 levels and a
sectional relationship between proposals.

Site
Politics and Geography
Ham Close Estate is a neighbourhood located in between Kingston
and Richmond. It has 3 deck access and 10 stair access building
flats with a community hall, clinic, open ground level parking and
separate garage. The estate is close to a church, nursery, primary
school and high school with sixth form. There is a nearby parade
with library, bakery, convenience shop and take away shops. The
estate itself has a playground with greenery on site. It close to a
lot of parks and the river Thames. Their mode of transport is the
371 London bus which is the only one that passes through the area.
Nevertheless, it is a 15 minute walk away
six
from
main
Ham
wards that
Common.
adjoin it.
Since 1965 Ham has been mostly in the London
Borough of Richmond upon Thames, in the
South-West of London. The rest is in London
Borough of Kingston upon Thames. The boundaries
between these two boroughs have changed
slightly since they were first established. As the
system of hundreds and manors declined, Ham
from 1786 was administered by a local vestry, but
as Ham lacked a church of its own until 1832, it
met in the New Inn.
The urban district was abolished in 1933, when
a county review order included it in an enlarged
Municipal Borough of Richmond. The main
impact on Ham was that the northern area was
linked with Petersham to create Sudbrook ward,
whilst the boundary with Kingston was moved
further north to more or less its present limit with
Ham losing the factories and surrounding land
and housing. The ward itself is now Ham, Petersham
and Richmond Riverside. This contains the
largest proportion of Richmond Park and of all
The Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 established
a Board of Guardians, comprising 21 elected
guardians for Kingston and its surrounding parishes.
Ham always had one or two representatives,
Present day
but The sent streets very few were of its arranged poor to the in workhouse, an irregular Ham pattern is a quiet between residential two area, parallel
straddling Richmond
upon
mainly assisting
roads,
them
creating
locally
a
in
representation
almshouses. Ham
of islands. The
Thames
estate becomes
and Kingston border. It
Common Local Government District was formed boasts a semi-rural, open environment, and the
and
the
was
centre
governed
of
by
this
a local
neighbourhood
board. However,
by
the
having small it parade physical of shops location along align the main road covers
vestry with system the community’s continued in practice shops, until schools the formation
public of a open local government space which board are in used 1871. The by the They residents have a its butcher, community. baker, greengrocer, bank,
and just church. about all It the also needs has of a the large local community.
Local Government Act 1894 reconstituted the hairdressers, barbers, hardware store, wine shop,
area as Ham Urban District replacing the local gift shops, restaurants, newsagents, café, petrol
of station, the structures estate agents, and betting how shop, gourmet
board. The It sectional consisted of site the gave civil parish the sense of Ham of with height
Hatch, it is which related was renamed to the neighbouring “Ham” in 1897. houses. foods, Meanwhile, dry cleaners, the grocery trees store, are etc.
30
placed to act as a barrier from the main road and the Parking spaces
are randomly placed.

Site Analysis
Each block has a porch and communal entrance that
leads to the entry hallway and stairs. Two hallways
were alongside each other, each a meter wide. It is divided
by a partition wall separating the flat and stair
access with no lifts inside the block. The building relies
on artificial light even during day time and has
poor ventilation across the building.
The buildings are about 15 meters in height with repetitive
openings all throughout its facade. Each has
five floors with the ground floor divided into four
1-storey flats. While the remaining eight were designed
as 2 storey flats accessible through first and
third floor.
Brick and concrete which are the usual building materials
for council flats were used for Ham Close Estate.
The buildings are low-rise and far from each other.
The building is modular creating a certain visual
typology that is common to its programme.
Demographics
The people currently living in this small town are
mostly family with kids or generation of families who
have resided in the area since the 60s or 70s. Ham is
also known to have a lot of affluent families (e.g. the
Goldsmith family) living in large detached houses
and townhouses – considering the prices of houses
here are a more expensive in comparison to some
of West London’s boroughs. Before, the government
decided to rehouse the families of serving inmates. It
was deemed to be more convenient for these families
when it came to visiting there loved ones inside.
This was only meant to be a short-term solution. Now,
there are Victorian terraces and a few British housings
circa 1945-79 that still exists which are more affordable.
Richmond itself is known to be the ‘Hollywood’
of England as some prominent people and celebrities
live around the area. A lot of foreigners live here as
well due to the fact that there are quite a few international
schools around.
In larger context, Ham’s residents varies from working
class to wealthy families. The estate is situated in an
expensive suburban area with a lot of terrace housing,
notable period houses and Victorian buildings. Landmarks
near the site include Cassel Hospital, Langham
house, Ormeley Lodge and Ham House. Meanwhile,
the brutalist building Langham House Close is located
on the west of Ham Common.
- Considering the commercial flats, school, clinic,
shops, etc. around Ham Close
- Difference of the form of the buidlings and houses
around Ham
Threshold: doorstep/gate/entrance/gateway/portal
Limen: transitional threshold between two dissimilar
spaces in architecture

Collective building
Each island is treated as a small unit of community to be a part of a larger
one. The concept was to respond to the existing block of flats and design in
consideration of what is already there. Sunlight, ventilation and traffic were
thought of carefully so that the proposals do not end up as a disadvantage
for the existing residents and homeowners.
JA House/ Filipe +Maria Ines Acosta, Po
The strategy was to lift up the site, building a new block of flats facing the
existing one. A straightforward approach was taken by dividing the area
equally for everyone and allocating a lot dedicated for residential lift and
stair access. The existing open space will be lifted one storey up and will be
used as the new ground level containing a shared garden for the old and new
residents. The parking space will be underground (old ground level) accessible
via its original entrance. The shared lift and stairs will serve the parking,
(new) ground level and (new) second floor walkway.
Individual plots are 5.8 x 14 meters measured between the middle of party
walls. The equal division was a scheme to encourage a common language of
building and as well as to provide a grid layout for the structural strategy.
Each proposal should leave an allotted space for the new second floor walkway.
It will function as a deck access connecting all structures, stairs and lift.
This strategy required each proposal to be designed around some mutually
agreed restrictions such as storey heights and the alignment of the building’s
front facade. The shared language used throughout the collective proposal
emphasised individuality with a sense of rhythm.

This has been co
served and serva
living and serving
WEEK 5
44
RESEARCH ON LOUIS KAHN’S PRINCIPLE OF SERVANT AND SERVED SPACES
AND AIRES MATEUS REVERSE APPROACH
- Servant space is not only the habitable space but it
is also perceived and experienced to be part of a solid
wall or construction (a habitable thickwall).
- There is a hierarchial relationship between spaces
- Served spaces such as living room, bedroom, dining
room, study, etc.
- Servant spaces include kitchens, storage, closets,
bathrooms, area of circulation such as stairs and hallways
- The idea of boundary: positive and negative boundaries
can be dynamic through using grids on plans
and sections.
- Grids: walls as rooms
“Cacciatore describes the work of Aires Mateus as reversing
the traditional relation between served and
servant spaces, where the main and auxiliary spaces
can be flipped. Cacciatore, in his discussion of the
House in the Serra de Mira de Aire, writes, “the traditional
relation between main and auxiliary areas is so
clearly reversed that the former are conceived as a sort
of huge and pervasive servant space inside which the
basic geometric shape prevails”
This reversal of Kahn’s hierarchical distinction, where
served and servant spaces, main and auxiliary spaces,
solid and void, positive and negative, figure and
ground are reversible and reciprocal interchangeable
integers or entities, seemingly able to go back and
forth between their dialectic conditions.”
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and models that
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Proposal: Design concept
Whilst taking precedents from the existing estates and maisonettes,
the explored concept was Louis Kahn’s spatial principle of
‘served and servant spaces’. It involved splitting a single volume
into many, categorising them into two types of spaces - served
(perceived and experienced as a habitable wall e.g. living room,
bedroom, dining room, study, etc.) and servant (kitchen, storage,
closets, bathrooms, area of circulation such as stairs and hallways).
Meanwhile, the idea of boundary was taken - positive and negative
boundaries can be dynamic through the use of grids on plans and
sections (Grids: walls as rooms) to simplify the concept.
Strategy
The entire width was split into an equal grid of three where the
two-thirds define the living space and the remaining third act as
an area of circulation - exterior stairs. The habitable space denotes
density with its program consisting of two flats with living, kitchen,
dining, bathroom and double bedrooms. Meanwhile, the stairs
act as both the connection and the gap. Whilst it links the units
vertically and horizontally, it also breaks the collective proposal’s
continuous facade. Its only aim was provide another access route
for the residents into the building but the “5th elevation” emerged
as a part of the design.
The stacking method of flats was used in the existing Ham Close
estate which was considered when designing the vertical relationship
of the flats. MEP, drainage, ventilation, daylight and communal
building services were also considered when designing the flat
layouts and exterior openings.

Exterior
The private outdoor spaces were inspired by
Le Corbusier’s rooftop garden in Paris, in
which he described as “an irrational living
room, featuring indoor furniture in an outdoor
setting”. This was reinterpreted by featuring
outdoor furniture in an indoor setting
and by using the balcony space as an interchangeable
indoor and outdoor dining area.
Placing large continuous windows throughout
the walls frames the outside living condition.
Hence the windows becoming a part of
the wall, mimicking an outdoor atmosphere
in an interior setting. Meanwhile, when
viewed from the outside, it becomes a layer
of space, establishing the room as a void that
act as a threshold to the interior living space.
Interior
The open interior was a strategy to resolve
spatial organisation within finite amount of
space. By replacing walls with large openings
and omitting hallways by treating them as
habitable spaces, it creates a layer of threshold
between the communal and private spaces.
They act as invisible room separating particular
types of areas, which were defined by
their distinct function or their subtle change
in height. The ‘threshold’ then creates an
indirect relationship between a door and a
space, acting as an entryway for both interior
and exterior entrances. It also creates a small
series of enfilades. The interconnecting vertical
spaces was utilised by designing an open
staircase and a mezzanine space that allows
light and ventilation to pass through.

Section
Height plays a role on determining how public or intimate a space
is. It helps us to perceive the sense of dimension and perspective.
Spaces formed using different ceiling heights create spatial hierarchy.
It explicitly identifies the use of a particular space by creating
a certain atmosphere.
The section drawing shows the vertical relationship between spaces.
It illustrates a narrative revealing the inhabitants’ routine. It
also shows human interaction between floors separated by height
e.g. conversations can be exchanged through the mezzanine and
the living room or the stairs and the kitchen. The drawing also
amplifies the relationship between the habitable and circulation
space.
Elevation
The arrangement of spaces in plan reflects the facade of the elevation
but it was further developed by studying and integrating some
techniques in photography that feature a different perspective in
taking architectural photographs.
Michael Woolf ’s ‘Transparent cities’ features a technique in photography
where you allow the indoor lights and movement tell you
what is happening inside a space. The window not only functions
as a part of the dual aspect strategy for daylight and passive ventilation,
but also frames the events happening on either side of the
wall.
The main feature is the staircase which was used as both structural
and design element. It was heavily integrated to the design that it
became the main elevation of the proposal. It acts as a foreground
component of the project, becoming a part of the building fabric.

Reflection
I think that the individual proposal responded with the brief accordingly
(in terms of requirements and pro- gramme) but was
lost in terms of integrating some context to the design. Working
in a group setting requires a strategy that would compliment
other proposals which directed the project to the idea of utopian
villages. It is a project where the importance of simplification is
needed to comply and satisfy the existential and new architecture.
The proposal raised the question ‘What does regeneration would
mean in the future? Will it impose or will it mimic?”