ADAPTIVE MESH

My thesis came from my personal experience while working at an office in London doing house extensions and full refurbishments. 

Over time I got frustrated by all the regulations set by Councils  in London which restricted the outlook of the house from the front to maintain the characteristics and aesthetics of the street. This frustration fueled me to think of ways to tackle this situation and possibly find a way where I can design within the regulations but also twist them in my own way. 

This thesis is an attempt to start something that i could work on in the future... 

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The Adaptive Mesh

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In the context of London’s dense urban fabric with evolving housing needs, historic preservation and navigating council regulations remains a significant challenge for architects who wish to innovate within traditional residential neighbourhoods.  Existing regulations often impose strict design guidelines on the appearance and construction of the buildings with façade uniformity on the street and heritage conservation limiting the creative expression and adaptive reuse. This thesis explores a design strategy that respects the historic façade of single-family homes while introducing modern interventions to facilitate community-oriented living.

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The project centers on a specific site in West London where the existing street features predominantly single-family residences with consistent façades maintaining the characteristics and aesthetics of the street. My approach involves maintaining the original façade’s outward appearance by pushing back and preserving the street’s visual continuity while overlaying a contemporary mesh in front of the offset brickwork. This layered façade concept aims to address regulatory constraints by creating a visual dialogue between the old and the new. This allows the historic materiality to be visible from the street while introducing a new lightweight layer that can be manipulated.

Beyond the façade treatment, the project involves transformative interior reorganisation. Gutting out the existing structures and reconfiguring 5 houses into a cohesive multi-unit complex. This reconfiguration tries to maintain the original extensions to the rear and play with the same style of levels and introduces communal spaces with shared living environments, fostering a sense of community within a dense urban context. The challenges lie in balancing the council regulation compliance such as façade materiality and style and the need for innovative sustainable design solutions.

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This thesis aims to demonstrate that regulations while essential for safety and historic conservation need not stifle innovation. By carefully designing façade interventions that respect the historic fabric and by working within regulatory frameworks, architects can create contemporary living environments that enhance community interaction without compromising the aesthetic and characteristics of the street. The layered façade concept exemplifies a method for mediating between tradition and modernity, preserving London’s rich architectural history while adapting it to meet contemporary housing demands.

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Through this work, I seek to contribute to a broader understanding of how regulatory constraints can inspire creative architectural solutions by embracing layered adaptive façades to respect historical context. Ultimately the project advocates for a nuanced approach to regulations, one that encourages architects to innovate within the existing parameters ensuring London’s architectural heritage remains vibrant and relevant in the face of modern urban challenges.