From a sailing convey to a docked brewery : elucidating layers of time and adaptability using the SS nomadic as ideal archetype and Robinson dry dock as host

Abstract

Countless centuries has sailed by since humanity first discovered the method of travelling across the far stretched oceans that divided undiscovered continents. As noted by Le Corbusier, these liners were deemed being an engineering feat of the twentieth century, as their design resembled an epitome of indulgence and hospitality. As the average lifespan of a commercial liner is 25 years, the shipping industry is reaching a pinnacle point in time where countless ships will be decommissioned. As these vessels were originally built to be both functional and appealing in nature, why have them reduced to hazardous scrap metal, when they can be repurposed on land? In order to physically implement such an interior endeavor, both a decommissioned ship ideal in typology and status, along with a suited location for docking was to be advocated. The selection of Robinson Dry Dock as host and the SS Nomadic as habitant allowed for the spatial intervention of a retail-orientated and recreational facility to be envisioned. As opposed to the mere institution of a heritage approach, the appendage of a new layer is proposed that will allow for past recollection and future addition thereon - thus a palimpsest of design in terms of programmatic response and actual materiality. As the spatial and structural formation of vessels primarily rely on steel and the construction of a dock on concrete, these materials will be probed comprehensively in standings of their vulnerability to degradation. Proposed avenues of material investigation permits corrosion protection, historic decay preservation and intentional oxidation techniques that can conceivably ground potential design implementations. The decisive spatial outcome aims to endorse the idea that corrosion can act as a tool of architectural beautification, rather than a mere entity of intimidation. This idea is heightened by the insertion of a microbrewery that factually exemplifies the splendor of aging. Rather than promoting slavish alternative shipbreaking approaches and mere demolition practices, layered architectural alteration, as outlined by Fred Scott in his book, On Altering Architecture, will allow for the creation of a spatial intervention that is honest, nonintrusive and profound.

Ontelbare eeue het verby geseil sedert die mensdom 'n reismetode ontwikkel het wat hul in staat sou stel om uitgestrekte oseane, wat onontdekte kontinente verdeel, te verken. Soos opgeteken deur Le Corbusier, was hierdie lynbote beskou as 'n kordaatstuk vir ingenieurswese in die 20ste eeu, aangesien die ontwerp daarvan getuig van toegeeflikheid en gasvryheid. Omdat die gemiddelde leeftyd van 'n kommersi?le boot 25 jaar is, het die skeepindustrie 'n punt bereik waar heelwat skepe onaktief verklaar is. As hierdie werktuie oorspronklik bedoel was om funksioneel sowel as aantreklik van aard te wees, waarom dit dan reduseer tot 'n hoop skrootmetaal as dit vir 'n ander doel op land aangewend kan word? Ten einde so 'n poging te implementeer, moes 'n onaktiewe boot, tesame met 'n gepaste ligging vir die dok daarvan, voorgestel word. Die keuse van Robinson Droogdok as gasheer en die SS Nomadic as inwoner, laat ruimte vir 'n omgewings-vriendelike produk waarin die moontlikheid van kleinhandel en fasiliteite vir vermaak, voorkeur geniet. Teenoor die blote ingesteldheid van 'n erfenis-aanslag, is die byvoeging van 'n nuwe laag voorgestel, wat ruimte laat vir dit wat in die verlede gevestig is, sowel as toekomstige byvoeging ? dus 'n palimpses van ontwerp in terme van 'n programmatiese oplossing en materialiteit. Soos wat die ruimtelike en struktuele formasie van werktuie hoofsaaklik afhanklik is van staal en die konstruksie van 'n dok uit beton, sal hierdie materiale deeglik en omvattend ondersoek word in terme van hul kwesbaarheid wat degradering betref. Voorgestelde maniere om hierdie materiale te ondersoek en te toets, sal beskerming teen roes, asook historiese verval en doelbewuste oksidasie-tegnieke insluit, wat moontlik die grondslag kan l? vir potensi?le ontwerp implementering. Die uitkoms kan die idee bevorder dat verval en agteruitgang kan bydra tot argitektuele verfraaiing, eerder as om 'n blote entiteit vir intimidasie te wees. Hierdie idee word verder bevorder deur die 'n mikro-brouery by te voeg, wat die glorie van oudword beklemtoon. Eerder as om skeepsloping en blote vernietiging voor te staan, sal argitektuele verandering, soos uiteen gesit deur Fred Scott in sy boek, On Altering Architecture, die skep van 'n ruimtelike ingryping toelaat wat eerlik, nie-opdringerig en grondig sal wees.