Polly Swaile (She/Her)
I am a stage 3 Architecture student, this series features this year’s work in designing a response to the client SISTEMA’s need for a new Residential Retreat and Performance building, located in Blloch. This project’s themes were Energy, Landscape and Culture. Though this I particularly developed an interest in the low carbon approach, exploring the ways in which the buildings fabric and structural systems enable the user to live sustainably, integrating the design of the building into the landscape.
Performance Hall and Residential Retreat at Balloch
The design for the performance hall and residential building at Loch Lomond Scotland perches to the north east side of the pier at Balloch. The design acts as a reflection of the dynamic landscape of the area, inspired by the geometry of natural features of the topography and the loch, the angular structure works to abstract the from of the building, breaking up the profile and influencing a subtle play of light when viewed for different perspectives, particularly from across the River Leven. It is made using renewable cladding of weathered silver timber from locally sourced Scotlarch, timber shingles, a structure containing recycled steel, glulam truss systems and load bearing brettstapel panels. The result is a building that has low carbon emissions within the construction and using phases. It utilizes passive design strategies to physically and environmentally embrace the landscape and culture of Balloch. The buildings work to emphasize the surrounding environment, reconnecting to nature while encouraging inquisitive exploration. The residential maintains a human scale, the comforting sense of the individual, not an impersonal public building, to best accommodate for the children’s psychological needs. The building proposal aims to work alongside the goals of the charity, SISTEMA to empower children through music, architecturally accommodating the needs of social development through appropriate assembly spaces and enables reflective decompression through retreat.