RENGERATING ESSOLDO
The overall aim in redeveloping the Essoldo is to:
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Restore the iconicism of the Essoldo aesthetic.
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Use existing structure to frame complementing, modern addition.
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Contrast the junction between old and new, to highlight the old parts and add to the visual impression.
WHATS SO GOOD ABOUT THE ESSOLDO?
The art deco frontage is a unique and unusual form, based on a till. It has become synonymous with the imagery when mentioning the Essoldo.
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The whole building is listed at grade 2, meaning that the rear and interior are protected. We have already established the need to demolish the large brick rear, but what about the interior of the Chester Road entrance?
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The reality is that the Essoldo has been closed for over 30 years. Memory of the interior has faded and the importance is placed on the exterior appearance in defining the Essoldo.
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The interior will also be worn, and may be beyond saving. It therefore has no value to the historical value of the building and may dilute the importance of the exterior.
ADDING NEW BITS...
As the exterior shell is the only part worth saving, anything else kept would mar the integrity of what makes the Essoldo iconic.
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Shelling it creates a large volume to frame and house a completely new interior.
The new development needs to reflect the Essoldo in some way, so as to be in keeping with the historicity of the building. Interest always focuses on the blue frontage. Drawing on this form provides an opportunity to make an aesthetic connection.
SCULPTING THE INTERIOR
As a new, ultra-contemporary, contrasting development, some degree of separation between the two is important so that the old and new work together and do not clash. The inclusion of full height space adds grandeur to the scheme as well as helping the eye differentiating old from new.
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The use of a glass facade towards the garden means that this separation can be seen. It also provides a visual link and focus to the garden.
FUNCTIONALITY
what does it need?
The Essoldo will be converted into a music venue to hold approximately 100 people. In order to do so, there are certain elements that need to be included to ensure it functions properly. Like the restaurant, they can be split into the three categories of functional, inferface and space for public use.
functional
STAGE
GREEN ROOM
STORE
LOADING BAY
BACKSTAGE
LIGHTBOX
interface
FOYER
BALCONY
ENTRANCE
STAIRS
public use
AUDITORIUM
BAR
WCs
how do they connect?
COMBINING THE FUNCTIONALITY AND ARTISTIC DIRECTION THROUGH PROGRAMME
The required elements for the music venue to function properly must be ordered in such a way as to reflect a form similar to that proposed in the 'parti'.
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The principle of a 'building within a building' helps to realise this, as the new developments need to be modular units that are shut off from the interior space of the shell. This interior will be left open for the foyer and entrance spaces.
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In beginning to layout these units, it is important to consider that the full span of the old shell must be visible on each axis at some point, in order to maintain the separation needed.
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Therefore any programme spanning the whole shell is not viable.
PLAN VIEW
SECTION VIEW
To achieve a visual span on each axis, the layout must be stacked into one corner. This does not allow for enough space, and cramps up the elements.
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Therefore an extension would be needed outside of the shell. Visually however, this would work in favour of the scheme. It adds to the idea that the old and new are interlocking, giving equality between the old and new parts.
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We are left with a broad principle of interlocking plans with which to apply the adjacency. Giving us a rough layout, we can now ask, how does it all fit?
DOES IT ALL FIT?
An approximation of the space needed for each element is needed to see how everything fits together, and whether this effects the layout.
DIMENSIONS
BOXING AREAS
These areas can be arranged to fit a similar layout as proposed at the end of the previous page. This helps determine what fits, what doesn't, and where the layout can be changed to suit.
iteration 1 - it all fits, but...
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Although everything fits in, it doesn't consider access and doors, particularly between the essoldo and the outside extension where a connection is important for fire escape routes.
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It leaves a narrow passage where the light box is placed next to the auditorium.
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It doesn't make use of the second floor, and doesn't include a stair block.
The foyer space is open, empty and has potential to be better used.
iteration 2 - improvements...
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1. The lighting box has been moved inside of the auditorium. This opens up the corridor and creates a line for a new wall which would make a intermediary buffer between the foyer and auditorium, giving a greater sense of entry.
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2. Having the green room upstairs allows space to access the backstage from the foyer, giving an alternative fire escape route.
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3. The bar is moved into the middle of the foyer. This adds a central focal point to the space for people to gather around, and helps split the space as people move further into the building. The stairs add another layer in this way. Their placing also masks the entry to the toilet for privacy.
THE FIRST FLOOR
The auditorium needs to be full height in order to create the acoustic quality and sense of grandeur needed to suit the scale of the scheme. This gives an opportunity to add a second floor, which can accommodate elements which do not fit on the first floor.
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The adjacency [see left] for these help quickly form a layout that also considers the health and safety of the space.
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It can also make use of the first floor link from the booth and restaurant, which doubles as a fire escape.
SCALING BACK THE FOOTPRINT
In order to create the staggered back effect of stacked boxes as shown in the parti drawing, the footprint needs to be scaled back.
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This also creates a balcony space on top of the ground floor elements. The balcony needs to be extended in places to allow for enough space in front of thresholds.
PROGRAMME TO ACCESS
Part M of the building regulation state that a minimum of 1800mm of lobby space must follow a door, and corridors must be a minimum with of 1200mm with passing space of 1800mm.
Therefore the spaces in front of the doors need to be extended to act as lobbies and passing spaces. To leave these open, the bar is placed to one side. This also allows for access to the green room and store as a fire escape and for practicality of restocking for example.
BALCONY TO AUDITORIUM
The transfer from the balcony to the auditorium is a key point of access, as the auditorium is the main purpose in having another floor.
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The thresholds are to the sides, reflecting the ground floor so that the middle is left as uninterrupted space.
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The location of these doors is important to ensure that the balcony has enough depth to allow for safe access
THE EFFECT BELOW...
Placing the auditorium entrances in the same location as the ground floor, and adding the lobby space needed has an impact on the condition of the space downstairs.
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The lobby space acts as a roof framing the ground floor entrances, highlighting that they are points of transition.
