RUNCORN LANDMARK RESIDENCE

The fifth year project started with a group atlas analyzing the existing context of Runcorn and concluded with a proposal that aimed to intensify the existing juxtapositions of specific and generic identities in order to provide Runcorn with only two extremes of identity; the entirely specific and the entirely generic. The purpose of this proposal was not to advocate that this was what we believe should be employed within Runcorn, but rather to illustrate that through careful deployment of topographic and The group atlas concluded that the most logical solution was to emphasise Runcorn’s genericism, which in turn accentuates the nodes of the specific without the need to resort to outlandish interventions.
Following the group agenda from the “Runcorn Atlas of Generic and Specific” that Runcorn, itself could be split into three different parts- the old city residential areas, the generic new town residential areas and the genius loci or specific (which includes the Halton castle, the Halton shopping mall, the Rock Savage power station and the old town city centre), the overall concept of “Runcorn Landmark Residence” is to design another genius loci centre on the specific site within the generic field of Runcorn. In contrast to the generic two story houses, the project aims to deliver a high- density residential complex which could amplify the town’s specific and be the fifth node of genius loci in Runcorn.
The design development of this project was strongly influenced by the exploration of the existing limitations and contradictions in the housing policy on European, National and Local level for. The data which was collected through this study was then used for the development of a 3D housing array in Runcorn, which uses the modular housing system developed by Lang O’Rourke. The main goals of this project are to explore the application of modular housing in providing an innovative solution to the existing housing crisis in the UK. The design aims to achieve maximum density on a minimal footprint of the dwelling, and also to provide the greatest amount of indoor and outdoor space.
The Runcorn Landmark spans across 5, 400 square meters /1.33 acres/ with a footprint of the dwelling of 400 square meters. This, however, offers to the residents plenty of open green areas, playgrounds for children and resting areas within the site. The dwelling incorporates amenities such as two community gardens located in the two wings, two rooftop gardens and a plenty of semi- private spaces on each floor. Runcorn Landmark’s environment has been designed in a way to welcome the ordinary- generic Runcorn user group – from single professionals driving to the nearby cities to work, families with kids to retirees.