DEPTFORD HOLDINGS

Deptford Holdings is an initiative allowing the Deptford community to not only store any possessions they have, but also a place were the activities and facilities for the busy commuter or stressed shopper are provided and projected outwards through the use of symbols. Perforations in the facade distort the internal / external boundary giving a freedom of movement, while the designs allignment and intersection with key routes allows easy access. By making use of the extensive system of movement rather than trying to change it, Deptford Holdings becomes the

pit stop of any journey

INTERACTION

The primary function is storage. Each locker is designed to store a specific object, whether it be a bike, a market trailer or a shopping bag. These lockers are grouped and distrubuted around the building depending on the size, weight, route or any other special requirement of the object. The public of Deptford enter to store their objects short term, and either stay to use some of the other facilities, such as a cafe, shower or wifi, or leave to run an errand, and finally return later to pick up their object.

MATERIAL

One material could not meet the requirements of the brief alone. Only a built hybrid compromising of a range of materials with a range of functions could do this. Through visual and physical experimentation this was reduced to a three layer facade containing an outer layer of perforated steel, with the density of peroforations reactive to the urban context such as weather etc; a layer of adjustable etfe pillows, creating a transparent environmental control system; and a inner layer of perofrated steel, whose perforations are reactive to internal context, such as views or function. The result of this combination is the distortion of the boundary between internal and external space the brief set out.

BRIEF

Previous studies looked at the relationship between depositions and activity, and manifested this to create a generic architecture to fill the voids observed in a small part of Deptford, and that could be replicated in the wider environment.

The 'post office' seeks to take these ideas further. A standards post office runs on three concepts - delivery, storage and collection. These will be expanded upon. Delivery will act as a form of dispersal, reaching out to the wider community and promoting the existence of similar built models throughout Deptford; storage will give the void an immeadiate use and value, and collection will draw in the existing community through the understanding of value as a basic component of human nature.

The'post office' will get the community to help preserve this three way relationship, using each individuals activity and understanding of their local area to help it run more efficiently on a local scale than standard delivery systems.

URBANISMS

Voids observed throughout site are activated. Perforated vertical surface lights up street level; perforations create horizontal surfaces, attracting activity.

INTERVENTION

A void is a dark, empty and lifeless space. A series of small scale lightinging interventions, tactically placed across the site, encourage and redirect the population towards these voids, creating a living environment, even if only for a moment or so.

TRADING

Sale through telecommunications and delivery across Oxford

MANIFESTO

An architecture that can could grow and adapt, live or die(!), to cope with the needs and wants of a rapidly changing society

Image: Insulation studies