Project OverviewThis project shows how the prospect and refuge theory has been implemented and tested in the context of a community building in rural Ireland. The objective was to create spaces that contribute to a person’s sense of well-being in an agricultural co-operative to serve the farming community of Rathcroghan, Co. Roscommon and its surrounding areas.
The prospect and refuge theory is based on experiencing a bright and expansive view from a place of enclosure. The theory has been adopted by architects and applied to the design of buildings. This theory aligns with the broader research area of designing for well-being in the built environment where views to nature and a sense of enclosure both contribute to a person’s sense of well-being. |
The Research AreaMy research on the prospect and refuge theory has stemmed from my initial research into what factors contribute to a person’s sense of wellbeing in the built environment. My research on the topic included the general factors and the design factors that contribute to a person’s sense of wellbeing.
The general factors that contribute to a person’s sense of well-being are; "Connect, Keep Active, Take notice, Keep learning and Give", (What works well-being, 2017, January 18). These factors are "evidence based actions which promote people’s well-being", established by The New Economics Foundation, (What works well-being, 2017, January 18). |
The Project Location - Rathcroghan, Co. RoscommonThe project is based in Rathcroghan, Co. Roscommon, an area currently in a state of socio-economic decline. Rathcroghan is the largest and oldest unexcavated Royal site in Europe (Rathcroghan, 2020). Three overriding factors are at play here which contribute to the character of the area and the parameters within which I have designed. These are; mythology, archaeology, and farming.
The tradition of farming has been present since the days of Queen Meab - Beef farming being the predominant method. The main issue that farmers are facing there today is how they can generate profits from farming on a land with such a vast number of archaeological monuments, which they are the guardians of. The Farming Rathcroghan European Innovation Partnership (EIP), (Fitzgerald, Maher, 2018), was a framework devised to reward farmers for their efforts of caring for the monuments while farming. The rewards are in the form of government and EU subsidies. My interest lay in how the farmers of the area could generate additional income while enhancing their sense of well-being. With this information I asked: In an area of socio-economic decline, how can the well-being of the farming community be enhanced while generating additional income? In order to answer this question through design, I looked to the five innovations that were established by the EIP to support the twenty-two farmers participating in the project plan. Innovation 3 - "Development of Archaeological friendly practices (Precision Farming, Collective Purchase of low archaeological impact machinery and equipment, innovative fencing methods, adaption of certain GLAS[1] Measures." (Fitzgerald, Maher, 2018). Innovation 5 – "Engaging the wider community and the general public in the farmed archaeological landscape, and in the culture and tradition of farming in Rathcroghan." (Fitzgerald, Maher, 2018). It emerged that a co-operative would be the most suitable building to deliver these innovations while supporting the well-being of the farming community of Rathcroghan. [1] GLAS: Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme. "part of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020", (Agriland, 2020). |
The Co-operative Movement in IrelandThe Co-operative Movement in Ireland dates back to 1889 when the first co-operative creamery was established under the umbrella of the Manchester originated Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS), (Doyle, 2019). The Co-operative Movement sought to improve rural farming methods by providing the resources for ‘self-help’ through further education. At this time, co-operatives were judged based on, "the extent by which they elevate the social and improve the material well-being of the community’’, (Doyle, 2019, p.31).
The Co-operative Movement is still thriving in Ireland today. The IAOS was renamed the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS), in 1979 and is the ‘unifying force’ for co-operatives in Ireland today, (ICOS, 2020). |
The BriefThe co-operative consists of; a market space for the sale of heritage cattle and food produce, spaces for learning, a space to store shared farming equipment and spaces for meetings and congregation.
The provision of the market space for the sale of heritage cattle emerged from the growing interest amongst the EIP Team in Rathcroghan for the existing cattle stock to be diversified and in future, replaced. Due to the weight of the existing cattle stock, the ground and its monuments are being damaged. Heritage breeds such as the Dexter, Irish Moiled or Kerry, are much smaller and lighter, causing far less damage to the land. By replacing the existing cattle stock with a heritage breed, the land and its monuments would be preserved and there would be scope for the farmers to generate additional income from breeding and selling them. A space for learning was appropriate to allow the farmers participating in the EIP to avail of physical resources and publications related to farming and business, allowing them to further their knowledge in their field. The provision of a space for learning was inspired by Horrace Plunkett’s foundation of the Co-operative Reference Library in 1914 (Doyle, 2019. P.103-104). A space for the storage of shared farming equipment emerged due to the need for the farmers participating in the EIP to pool their resources and contribute to the collective purchase of low archaeological impact machinery and equipment. Spaces for meetings and congregation were included to facilitate EIP Project Plan meetings, community gatherings and market day activities. These spaces included a meeting room, an office space for the EIP project plan and a larger space for eating during market days. The provision of the market space for the sale of heritage cattle emerged from the growing interest amongst the EIP Team in Rathcroghan for the existing cattle stock to be diversified and in future, replaced. Due to the weight of the existing cattle stock, the ground and its monuments are being damaged. Heritage breeds such as the Dexter, Irish Moiled or Kerry, are much smaller and lighter, causing far less damage to the land. By replacing the existing cattle stock with a heritage breed, the land and its monuments would be preserved and there would be scope for the farmers to generate additional income from breeding and selling them. A space for learning was appropriate to allow the farmers participating in the EIP to avail of physical resources and publications related to farming and business, allowing them to further their knowledge in their field. The provision of a space for learning was inspired by Horrace Plunkett’s foundation of the Co-operative Reference Library in 1914 (Doyle, 2019. P.103-104). A space for the storage of shared farming equipment emerged due to the need for the farmers participating in the EIP to pool their resources and contribute to the collective purchase of low archaeological impact machinery and equipment. Spaces for meetings and congregation were included to facilitate EIP Project Plan meetings, community gatherings and market day activities. These spaces included a meeting room, an office space for the EIP project plan and a larger space for eating during market days. |
The Structural SolutionThe current system is comprised of a Glulam and CLT Hybrid system. CLT walls resting on concrete ground beams support a CLT waffle slab. Extending from the CLT walls are glulam beams at first floor level to support the first floor. Those structural components support the lightweight timber envelope that wraps around the four facades, providing varied levels of prospect depending on the function of plan.
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The Iterations of the BuildingTesting through models at 1:1000 enabled me to analyse the height, shape and scale of the building against the existing context. At each stage of development I produced a model of the advancements, testing the design against its surroundings and altering it as appropriate
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The SpatialityThe objective of this space was to evoke an immediate sense of refuge from the vast uninterrupted landscape. To achieve this, the design is such that the user enters into a small, dark and low space. This space is then followed by a big, bright and high space, playing on Stamps' Hypotheses one.
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The Methods of Investigation1. Initial tests using physical models
2. Implementing the findings from model tests into plans 3. Additional tests using physical models with a focus on specific elements 4. Constantly implementing the thinking and findings into perspective sketches 5. Production of computer generated images to represent the design in a more refined manner 6. Testing refined design decisions on plans 7. Further exploration and representation of the design using perspective drawings |