Hai Tom Nguyen
¿What if we put aside the institutional curation of archives and instead archive in a “laissez faire”-way? The project envisages a hybrid archive that makes both physical and digital archive spaces available to the public. It enables Deptford to archive seemingly “out of place” objects, but also to store memories and stories that cannot be physically preserved.
Palimpsest
Convoys Wharf, the project site, is located on the bank of the Thames in Deptford, London. It was once a significant naval and shipbuilding hub, hosting the Royal Dockyard of Deptford. Through the centuries, it thrived as a key centre for naval activities, contributing significantly to shipbuilding during various periods. The 20th century saw varied industrial and commercial uses leading up until the 21st century. Shifting ownership and redevelopment proposals of Convoys Wharf are sparking controversy, which is why there is a need for a delicate balance between preserving the historical significance but also meeting contemporary needs. From the archaeological survey conducted on the site, we learn that parts of the previous structures remain underground. These remnants symbolize the sites history and make it a Palimpsest. A place that has been overwritten and reprogrammed multiple times, but those traces are never fully erased, small parts can always be found in the layers beneath the surface.
Archiving the “out of place”
In and around the site of Convoys Wharf you will find many curiosities. Some seem misplaced, some even abandoned. After mapping a few of these local artifacts, the question arose of how did these objects end up here? What kind of stories could these „objet trouvé’s“ tell us? Traditional archives are usually built for storing something specific, like someone’s art, a cities historical data or a collection of old books. But what if we take away the institutional curation process and approach archiving in a „laissez-faire“ way, meaning to let things happen without interfering. Everybody has something of value to them, that could be worth archiving. This design proposes a hybrid archive that offers both physical and digital archive space for the public. It enables Deptford to archive the seemingly „out of place“-objects but also to store memories and stories, that can not be stored physically. People will have access to a 3D scanning service as well as kiosks where they can digitize everything themselves.
Megastructure
A permanent megastructure, in line with the axis of the olympia hall, is installed partially on the ground and partially in the water. The steel structure is made up of four identical frameworks, which by themselves serve almost no purpose other than structural intergrity. The columns are each equipped with vertical circulation elements: stairs and elevators. Additionally they also provide ducts for ventilation-, electrical- and plumbing services. By inserting a capsule-like module into the frame, the structure is given a function, similar to an exoskeleton. The capsules are designed as an interchangeable system which interlock with each other on the front side. They can also be removed and shipped to other sites that offer the same frame. Its placement and elevated nature, allow the archive to become an observer of the palimpsest, while the public will be able to observe the linear archival process on the inside of the archive intergrity. The columns are each equipped with vertical circulation elements: stairs and elevators. Additionally they also provide ducts for ventilation-, electrical- and plumbing services. By inserting a capsule-like module into the frame, the structure is given a function, similar to an exoskeleton. The capsules are designed as an interchangeable system which interlock with each other on the front side. They can also be removed and shipped to other sites that offer the same frame. Its placement and elevated nature, allow the archive to become an observer of the palimpsest, while the public will be able to observe the linear archival process on the inside of the archive.
Connecting by disconnecting
What happens if we start thinking, imagining and designing building typologies as being non-stationary? Can modern-day large scale architecture be nomadic? Like a growing city, parts can be added perpetually through modules and when linked together they can function as one organism. The structure is decoupled from the proposed Hutchinson masterplan and therefore works independently, no matter what will happen to Convoys Wharf in ten, one hundred or a thousand years. What connects the archive to the site, is on one hand the physical connection via the frame module and on the other hand the sentimental connection to the local artifacts, stories and memories of Deptford and its people. In future scenarios it could also become necessary for the building to be extended in order to host different functions such as mass housing, for example. More frame modules can be continously added and after removal, the obsolete modules, can be repurposed or recycled to build the new ones.
Circularity & sustainability
Although the carbon footprint during the construction and of the materials will be relatively high, it will be compensated by the longevity of the structure. The idea is for the framework to be installed permanently and to only have the capsules be interchanged should a new program require it to do so. Both the frame and capsules are constructed in a modular way, which are mainly put together through dry connections, in order to allow for dismantling, transport and reassembly if necessary. Furthermore the legs only require a smaller foundational footprint which keeps surface sealing to a minimum, in turn allowing for change to happen on the ground.
Author: Hai Tom Nguyen.
Website: haitomnguyen.de
Location: London, UK.
University: TU Delft.
Year: 2024