CRISTINA BLANCO-LION
THE SHELTER: Primary School, Islington - London
This project was my first one in the UK.
The site was a rectangular space. The shelter should cover the whole area to provide a dry space underneath which can be used by staff and pupils as a teaching and activities area during wet weather.
As another requirement, it should consider a rainwater collector, which will be use to watering the plants in the greenhouse or garden.
All the structures will have to comply with the health and safety in Primary schools. There was a budget of GBP 500.
WEEK 1: The Proporsal
After our first meeting at the school, we decided to divided ourselves into 3 sub-groups. Andy Twang, Ibrahim Buhari and me formed the 3rd group. This proposal was the result from our group. Well it was my understanding from our main idea. Kids loved the roof, but sadly it was too complicated to make it real.
Week 1: Proposal B
This belongs to Marios, Andriani and Jurgita. People at school loved the wood wall. This detail was a "must" in our final proposal.
Week 1: Final Proposal
After a few meetings and loads of coffee at the corner coffee shop, we and Rob agreed that this type of roof was the best according to our budget and mostly because the short time that we had left.
The group was divided again. This time the MA students were in charge of developing this model. Dimitra, Melanie and me suffered intensely cutting these little pieces of wood, but finally this one was the result.
The day after, we and Ibrahim were in the "cleaning"group. We became gardeners and we learnt how to use a very sharp saw to cut big trunks.
The group was divided again. This time the MA students were in charge of developing this model. Dimitra, Melanie and me suffered intensely cutting these little pieces of wood, but finally this one was the result.
The day after, we and Ibrahim were in the "cleaning"group. We became gardeners and we learnt how to use a very sharp saw to cut big trunks.
Week 2: The construction
The construction started and everyone of us had a task. Some of us cut the wood, some dug the foundations, other drilled holes at the main wall to attach the structures. That week I got a taste of the English weather, wet, cloudy and windy. I almost lost my all stars after they were covered with mud (nobody wanted to seat next to me in the tube!) Despite that, it was a great experience!
THE SCHOOL SHELTER
Before and After
Notes:
Notes:
- The trees at the back will grow next spring again.
- The tree inside the work area was chopped (it was dead) but it was used to build the wall.
- The wood used was recycled wood.
