Creating a new, positive future for Neath Abbey

The project aims to create a new link in the existing town's infrastructure to connect the community together across a new community assembly and intergenerational skill-share. To do this I want to use the broken down material of two industrial revolution era Blast Furnaces; these furnaces would become a conduit to a better future as opposed to monuments of an oppressive past.

The project wants the proposal to 'prove its vitality' to those who live in the surrounding community; as per Aldo Rossi in Architecture of the City. Utilising the site to create useable spaces for the future of the town was key. Furthermore, the proposal acts as a piece of water processing, using water to power the proposals cooling and heating systems.

The project used multiple different methods to develop and refine the initial concepts. My initial concept was a result of plaster-cast and wire frame models. The project revolved around the development of a masterplan that was central to my entire proposal. This masterplan was tested through an iterative process and constantly refined before moving forward with my site strategy.

I utilised collages to development my client and programme design, the collages allowed me to build individual personalities which would spearhead my proposal. These collages proved vital to the development of my project.

Plans after plans is what concluded my project development, every tutorial I would bring a new and revised floor plan to discuss. Throughout the weeks, the scribbling over these plans got less and less however this led to large aspects of the final project. Namely being, the revised water processing strategy (key to my proposal's environmental credentials) and the entire floor plan and spatial divisions.

The project used a large rage of media to get to where it finished.

The processes behind my designs helped create a more well rounded and thoughtful proposal. Dozens of iterations were created and tweaked to end up with the final outcome, I have learnt a lot from each of these iterations.