For Gavin: Isokon Housing

Isokon Housing by Wells Coates, 1931.

Gavin, this is the project I was telling you about last Friday. I think it deserves a detailed investigation. Lots of info on the web.

http://heritage.elettra.co.uk/artdeco/profile.php?building=lawn-road

http://www.open2.net/modernity/3_3.htm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2004/feb/08/observercashsection.theobserver7

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isokon_building

Compact homes: Material I have read including traditional japanse home, the fountainhead, modular homes, post ww2 prefab and never monday pods

Dissertation basic structure to date

Compact Design:

A critical analysis of ideas and influences to present and future possibilities

.Introduction

.Chapter 1

Prerequisites and early connections to compact design

- The traditional Japanese house

- The traditional terrace house

- Post world war two pre-fab

.Chapter 2

Key Forefathers and pursuers of compact living, the birth of compact design

- The Fountain head’s ideas on pod living (1940)

- Makoto Masuzawa’s ‘’Absolute minimum’’ 9tubohouse (1952)

- Nakagin Capsule Tower (1970)

.Chapter 3

Compact living of the modern era

- Never Monday project Belfast

-Eastern context: The densely populated apartments of China and Japan

- Western context: Micro-flats London

.Chapter 4

The future of Compact living

-Micro compact homes

-Inner City Living : vertical homes

.Conclusion

For Michael: Garrett Carr

Click for bigger

I was talking to Michael yesterday regarding an interesting blog about mapping in Ulster. The author of the blog is Garrett Carr. He has carried out a mapping study of the border regions of Ulster looking at previously unrecorded connections (bridges, paths etc.).

I think this is of particular interest to Michael, Garrett is interested in Connection, you're interested in Disconnection.

However, I think the simplicty and clarity of his maps should be of use to everyone in the group.

This is the blog:

http://newmapsofulster.blogspot.com/

Michael, you can find Garretts email address on his Blog.

Kieran

For Brendan: gweedore.net

This local site has information on the History of Gweedore, including a downloadable account by the local historian Cait Nic Giolla Bhride. It's not clear if she is still alive but it's certainly worth finding out.

http://www.gweedore.net/?p=1808

Kieran

For Brendan: The History Of Gweedore

Tim Robinson

I was talking yesterday to Brendan about Tim Robinson. Robinson is know for his intricate maps of the Arran Islands. He has a way of making his own maps that overlay local history and knowledge onto existing maps. This technique should be useful to everyone, you can click on the map to see it bigger. You can learn more about Robinson here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Robinson_(cartographer)

Brendan, I am sure you should be able to find his Maps of the Arran Islands in the University Library.

Kieran

Kieran

See structure below indicating an outline with suggestive headings regarding content. This is as succinct as I can get it at this stage. Will likely add/remove items as my research takes shape.

P r e l i m i n a r y   ( r o u g h )   S t r u c t u r e

Introduction

Belfast pre-troubles

    Intro

         Post war Belfast

         Evolution of the city and it's built form

         Analysis of historical maps

The era of deliberate disconnection

         Intro

         Social housing and closed communities

         Peace walls 'A very, very, temporary measure'

         Screaming Voids - Belfast's wastelands

         Perceived disconnection: Social/Political/Psychological barriers (perhaps a continuous theme)

Inadvertent  Disconnection: the irony of Belfast's transport network

         Intro

         Belfast city centre: a 1.5mile island

         The implementation of the westlink

         The wrong side of the motorway (working class communities cut off by a middle class commute)

         The spokes of the wheel: Characteristics of Belfast's other arterial routes

        

Future proposals for infrastructure: Six storey flyovers and part buried roads

         Intro

         Analysis of the potential impacts of existing proposals

         What is the alternative?

         Possible examples from other cities; Copenhagen? (maybe)

Conclusion

               

Map of Derrybeg/Bunbeg in 1906.

Patterns of Settlements, Why? Gweedore (Derrybeg or Bunbeg)
(Before and after the planning act of 1963)

STRUCTURE

Find appropriate maps
Analysis
Sketch map of settlement patterns
Sketch map of roads, rivers, high ground, low ground, forest, woodland etc...
Interview local historians, planners etc..