Construction, Technology, and Environment: of Royal Court Theatre - Case Study Example

NSTRUСTIОN, ТЕСHNОLОGY АND ЕNVIRОNMЕNT: RОYАL СОURT ТHЕАTRЕ САSЕ STUDY Surname Professor Module ID6.2 22 July, 2016 List of Figures Figure 1: The Royal Court Theater House (Lyndon Goode, 2014) 4 Figure 2: Library Banquette seating area of the RCT (Lyndon Goode, 2014). 6 Figure 3: Careful joinery of upholstered leather (Lyndon Goode, 2014). 11 Figure 4: Computer aided cutting template technique used for plywood fabrication (Lyndon Goode, 2014). 12 Figure 5: Uniform looking cushions in the library and restaurant areas (Lyndon Goode, 2014). 15 Table of Contents List of Figures 2 RОYАL СОURT ТHЕАTRЕ САSЕ STUDY 4 Context/History and Conception 4 Physical properties of materials 6 Appropriateness of Materials 7 Production, Transportation and Sustainability 8 Fabrication and Construction Processes 10 Advantages and Disadvantages of Wood 15 Advantages and Disadvantages of Leather 16 Evidence of Research 17 References 19 RОYАL СОURT ТHЕАTRЕ САSЕ STUDY Context/History and Conception Located opposite King’s Road in London, the Royal Court Theater (RCT) is one of the leading national companies dedicated towards the promotion of new innovative work by writers, actors and playwrights from both the United Kingdom and around the world. Much of the building has undergone immense refurbishment led by the Lyndon Goode Architects together with the Citizens Design Bureau in collaboration with Benchmark for works on special woodwork, upholstery and joinery. Figure 1: The Royal Court Theater House (Lyndon Goode, 2014) The theater has an interesting history of refurbishment dating back to 1996 when massive re-developments were first made by Haworth Tompkins Architects to include a bar, shop and restaurant. Despite this rebuilding, there was still a need to maintain the inflow of guests round the clock and improve the usability of the building. Artistic director Vicky Featherstone and her team surveyed the building to understand its materiality and to make constructions in line with its rich historic fabric. This resulted in further additions like the inclusion of the reading room and library area at the end of the space to encourage longer periods of stay. Suitable points for using laptops were also included resulting in an all-inclusive and spacious library and reading lounge with excellent performance in keeping guests comfortable. This paper will highlight on the construction and refurbishment process that took place library area with a keen focus on the materials that were used to make the library banquette seating. Together with the Citizens Design Bureau and Benchmark, Lyndon Goode Architects developed the newly designed RCT that now boasts of hosting both locally and internationally acclaimed artists, writers, actors and plays (Lyndon Good Architects, 2014). As a measure of this radical re-planning, the area now attracts guests both during daytime and in the busy evenings when performances in the timetable are packed. For 304 days annually and 83 hours every week, RCT has the capacity of hosting almost 230 visitors as it is now an ambient place where friends and acquaintances meet, socialize and work (The Royal Court Theater, 2014). To promote a highly integrated work, Lyndon Goode worked closely with Benchmark in the design and construction of the library banquette seating, Fig 2. Great care was taken to ensure sustainability as existing elements were integrated during construction to provide a necessary contrast to the concrete architecture (Benchmark, 2015). The major materials that were used in the library area were distressed leather, foam, timber, plywood and veneered MDF which helped to add a natural warmth and texture to the scene. The choice by the design team to refurbish rather than re-build the entire theater house was not only environmentally suitable but also cost effective. The retrofits and renovations on the Royal Court Theater included sustainable design attributes to reduce environmental impacts and operational costs as well as to increase the resiliency of the building. In instances when it was possible, the materials were re-used and salvaged. The old slate bar top was for instance used to make the benches (Sustainable Interior Design, 2011). Figure 2: Library Banquette seating area of the RCT (Lyndon Goode, 2014). The minute details to be considered for the construction were all developed to complement those of the existing buildings while ensuring that they exude their own unique contemporary identity. Combinations were made among designs to promote a cosmopolitan presence to help maintain the dialogue the Theater wishes to promote (Lyndon Goode, 2014). Physical properties of materials A number of physical properties were taken into account when selecting the materials used in constructing the library banquette seating. Timber together with veneered MDF and plywood were used most especially for their resistance to pressure and compression as well as their sheer strength. Moderate dimension thickness was used for the selected wood materials based on the need for strength, durability as well as aesthetic considerations. Significant effort was made to refrain from cutting out thick widths for upholstery joinery connections. The choice of using distressed leather for the banquette seating upholstery was not without doubt a brilliant choice due to its strong and durable quality in comparison to other types of leather. Distressed leather is also visually appealing with the rare quality of maintaining its original look even with passing time. The leather material was of a moderate physical density with a slight heaviness to improve durability (Lyndon Goode, 2014). The choice of the dark red distressed leather color palette was an intelligent decision by the designers in an attempt to merge it with the external color of the RCT which is brick red. Dark red is also a warm color that promotes a homey feel allowing guests, readers and writers to be comfortable. Interior lighting and the cool diffused London light accentuates the look and feel of the leather seating by producing a warm ambience. With regards to temperature, distressed leather was selected as it absorbs ambient temperatures much slowly and retains heat for longer. This helps to keep the library warm and comfortable enough for occupants especially during the cool winters and autumn. The distressed leather used had minimal patterns except for the fairly large grainy patterns that help to build on their look (Benchmark, 2015). Appropriateness of Materials The selection of distressed leather, foam for cushion padding and timber/plywood framing was based on their compatibility with cultural, climatic and aesthetic conditions. In constructing the library, great care was taken to consider the climatic and local environmental conditions and variations of London. These materials are essentially compatible to the specific aesthetic and cultural conditions of London. Sections of plywood and timber framing were utilized as bases for the seating benches and booths as a measure of their widespread use in the UK. These materials are not only climatically appropriate but also culturally embraced. Materials were designed with consideration to building occupancy, size and structure. This is important as it ensures the prevention of health and safety hazards. Because the theater has a high number of occupants at any given time, more durable construction was needed to prevent the effects of wear and tear (The Royal Court Theater, 2014). Production, Transportation and Sustainability Because construction and renovation operations have extensive impacts on the environment, the economy and the society, measures of sustainable design concepts were incorporated in the project. Lyndon Goode architects put into great consideration the environmental impact of obtaining their raw materials together with other processes of fabrication, processing and transportation. The long-term ecological footprint of material production processes was also holistically evaluated. During construction, existent timber was used together with plywood to encourage sustainability by preserving the natural reserves of timber, it is important to note that the timber used for construction was not harvested from natural forests. Throughout the project from conception to final delivery, environmental sustainability requirements were strictly followed with some of the practices utilized including, the acquisition of environmentally preferable materials, use of energy efficient fabrication process, water efficient construction processes and finally the use of recycled contents (Whole Building Design Guide, 2010). The team was also responsible for meeting the statutory process which included the obtainment of listed building consents and the production of a detailed tender information. As for the veneered MDF used as a supplementary for framing, the more environmentally sustainable hardwood veneer plywood was incorporated with a selected range of thickness. The veneer panels were manufactured from sustainably harvested lumber. Certification was sought before any processing functions began. In line with sustainable building requirements, the timber used was obtained from renewable sustainably managed old growth forests. Similarly, before the commencement of any form of harvesting, a letter of certification signed by the timber supplier was first acquired to indicate project compliance with the principles of natural forests (Crisman, 2010). Modern technology was used during the production process to recycle deteriorated wood later to be used for making the library seating. In the same way the use of engineered wood and plywood was preferred for making the banquette seating as it is more sustainable, this is because engineered wood uses less wood to make more wood (Whole Building Design Guide, 2010). Furthermore, sustainably acquired distressed leather was used for the banquette seating upholstery. In comparison to traditional systems of design where great focus is made to meet the functional and aesthetic requirements of the client, in the RCT project, great care was taken instead to consider the environmental and health effects of the leather used, its ease of maintenance and instalments as well as the initial and life cycle costs. Leather was harvested from livestock reared using environmentally friendly practices together with its processing and manufacturing procedures. Each of the operators in the supply chain submit to independent verification of documents to ensure compliance (Crisman, 2010). To minimize the damaging effects of transportation on the environment as well as to cut back on expenses, locally available resources were used instead. This was a better option in comparison to material imports or sourcing from distant locations. Local material specifications minimize transportation impacts and in some cases the overall embodied energy of the different building materials sourced. Some of the transportation impacts of long distance transportation include air pollution and fossil fuel consumption. Payment for labor and transportation fees increase overall expenditures. Credits were furthermore accumulated as the engineered plywood and timber and leather upholstery were harvested, extracted and manufactured within a radius of 500 miles from the RCT from local industries within the vicinity. Durability and re-usability were some of the significant considerations made when contacting these local suppliers. Hide used for the leather upholstery was also acquired from a free rage farm within the area. The passing of time has a great impact on material lifespan and appearance hence the careful selection of more durable materials. During construction, waste minimization was reduced as the selected materials used had minimal by-products. Re-usable formwork helped to prevent timber and plywood formwork waste on the site. Fabrication and Construction Processes Because improperly fabricated materials have a great potential of causing health and safety hazards, only professional and specialized engineers were contracted using recognized fabrication and design methods. A large part of the fabrication, construction and finishing processes were therefore carried out by Lyndon Goode Architects, Citizen Design Bureau and Benchmark in the in-house workshop. With an extensive and rich portfolio, Lyndon Goode Architects have had a significant level of experience designing artistic and cultural projects similar to the RCT refurbishment. Some of their major works include the custom built comedy venue in London that was the first of its kind together with the extensive redevelopment of their North London Home while working with YMCA and Peabody. Benchmark on the other hand is a leading design company with a talented set of over 50 knowledgeable craftspeople. It works extensively with restaurants, hotels and public buildings. The corporation has over 40,000 square feet of workshops for carpentry, timber milling, veneering, in-house upholstery and spray shops, as well as a design showroom and studio. It is Benchmark that was responsible for making the very accurate and impressive cutting designs for cushion upholstery based on their skilled experience in making sketch drawings which are later translated to deliverable products (Benchmark, 2014). This illustrates the kind of in-depth understanding of design resolution, engineering and knowledge of timber as well as other processes. Finally the Citizens Design Bureau is the other contracting company that took place in the project, an emerging architect firm based in Hackney. Some of their recent works include furniture, interior finishes and signage for the Everyman Theater while working with Haworth Tompkins together with ambassador's theatre for Sir Cameron Mackintosh and workspace projects (Benchmark, 2014). Most of the materials used to make the library banquette seating were handcrafted with only the timber being prefabricated. Prefabricated material traces were utilized in the modulation of their richness. Fabrication and assembly was a complex and delicate process with careful joinery and erection processes Fig 3. Figure 3: Careful joinery of upholstered leather (Lyndon Goode, 2014). Timber, plywood and leather utilized integrated energy systems to minimize energy consumption. These materials were considered especially appropriate as they utilize the smallest amount of motor drive energy of which they are reliant upon (Industrial Energy Efficiency, 52). Steam heat was specifically used for fabrication as it consumes a smaller amount of energy than direct heat. The construction of plywood structure was done using the latest technology of computer designed templates, all achieved through automatically programmed systems as indicated in Fig 4. Figure 4: Computer aided cutting template technique used for plywood fabrication (Lyndon Goode, 2014). Joinery involved the use of foam adhesives as it was a more relatable method considering the need to meet the overall intentions of the building. Designers paid a great level of attention to detail in the finely executed work of elegant assemblage of timber, plywood, leather and foam, Fig 5. Figure 5: Careful fixing of designed cushions to timber plywood framing (Lyndon Goode, 2014). Such is the kind of craftsmanship that helped to produce quality final results crucial for project longevity. Plywood used for making the banquette seating base was structured using glued joints. Adhering foam, a wood glue was used as the appropriate adhesive suitable for the properties and characteristics of plywood. Its low viscosity facilitated easy application allowing for the formation of thin invisible glue joints on application of pressure through clamping. This adhesive was recommended as it has close to low levels of VOC’s toxicity to prevent long term off-gassing. VOCs are usually emitted during the curing process for finishes and adhesives and construction rules, requirements and regulations advise for the use of either low or zero VOC adhesives (APA, 2015). Specified layups of plywood were used to satisfy the required load and span conditions Fig 6. Figure 6: Plywood layering using adhesive foam (Lyndon Goode, 2014). The distressed texture of the leather was fabricated off-site with a smooth to rough finishing. Patterns for making cushions were cut on site by design contractors as part of the joinery fabrication process using standard templates, Fig 7. This helped in the production of equally sized cushions for a uniform look on the banquette seating booths as is seen in Fig 8. Figure 7: Pattern Cutting for Leather Upholstery, (Lyndon Goode, 2014). Figure 5: Uniform looking cushions in the library and restaurant areas (Lyndon Goode, 2014). As can be seen, the final finish of banquette seating blends well with the other seats surrounding the restaurant and the undercroft bar. The side tables were also made with a similar finish. This was a clever way to provide breaks between guests and the table tops. Throughout the processing stage, adequate quality control measures were put in place. An independent inspection agency was contacted to ensure that adequate quality control was made. Advantages and Disadvantages of Wood Timber was selected over other materials for banquette seating frames for a number of reasons. To begin with, the processing and production of wood uses little energy in comparison to other building materials; this gives wood products a much lower carbon footprint. Wood can additionally be used for the substitution of materials that depend on the utilization of larger amounts of fossil fuels. Secondly, timber can be responsibly and sustainably sourced and is hence a renewable building material. Wood is currently naturally grown in artificial forests which helps in the removal of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This, therefore, means that the use of wood material promotes effective resource management. Natural forests have a wide berth of environmental benefits. These include: climatic control, potential sources of medicine and provision of habitats to wild animals (Erhorn, & Kluttig, 24). In addition there are numerous sources where constructors can acquire certified wood, a factor that helps to reduce devastating environmental impacts like global warming as a result if increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, habitat losses as well as pollutant run off. Wood products act as carbon sinks, storing the carbon removed from the air by growing trees. Some of the disadvantages of wood include the fact that it is not fire resistant and easily burns in incidences of fire resulting in greater property losses. Wood is also subject to deterioration from environmental agents like the sun, heat, water, wind and decay from molds, bacteria, and insects, this, however, depends on the maintenance measures taken to protect it like coating and pre-treatment measures. Advantages and Disadvantages of Leather As a natural fiber, the distressed leather upholstery was selected as it is durable and intrinsically biodegradable. It also gives a rustic setting that is appealing to many especially because of its vintage look. Its distressed effect also helps to conceal stains and fading. Leather is also an effective insulator and effective at absorbing sound and resisting static electricity. Furthermore, its ease of clean was another key consideration that was made when choosing it. Leather is also environmentally sustainable as it is extracted from slaughtered commercial and agricultural livestock in accordance to agricultural regulations for instance leather from livestock reared with minimal exposure to chemical treatments (Hayles, 44). The most significant factor in selection of the leather for upholstery was the fact that it is aesthetically appealing blending well with the smooth walls of the RCT. Leather is easily recyclable and biodegradable and can be used for other forms of upholstery. Some of the drawbacks of using leather was the fact that it is a costly purchase, that it absorbs body oils and that it easily scratches and absorbs some types of stains. It also has the potential of losing some of its color for ultra violet radiation with time. Evidence of Research This paper relied significantly on information provided by the London Goode Architects in their website page on the Royal Court Theater. From this site, data on the context and history of the renovations and refurbishment processes was gathered together with a list on the different design and fabrication companies that similarly took part in the project namely, Benchmark and Citizen Designs Bureau. The Benchmark website was also consulted on information on the delicate processes that were involved in upholstery cutting, design, joinery as well as fabrication processes. Relevant accompanying illustrations fitting that design systems described have also been adapted for this paper. The Whole Buildings Design Guide was also contacted for specifications of environmental sustainability concepts, requirements, and guidelines that were followed during the refurbishment of the RCT. Data on the specific stipulations of timber, plywood and veneered MDF usage were similarly acquired from this document. Yet another paper that was used was an article by the Industrial Energy efficiency; this was significant in providing data on requirements for construction energy efficiency measures. The RCT project took pride in the significant energy and cost savings made as a measure of utilizing integrated energy systems. Data on how this was achieved was significantly acquired from the paper. Independent sources highlighting process of the design and fabrication of all plywood was used to gain better understanding of the essence of using plywood as well as veneered MDFs to supplement the use of timber for framing the banquette seating. Finally the Royal Court Theater 2013/14 report was also contacted on data parameters used during the refurbishment process. References Benchmark. The Royal Court Theatre - the much loved Undercroft Bar. 2015. Retrieved from: https://www.benchmarkfurniture.com/Press-Info/Royal-Court-Theatre Crisman, Phoebe. Materials. Whole Building Design Guide. 2010. Retrieved from: https://www.wbdg.org/resources/materials.php Engineered Wood Association (APA). Design and Fabrication of all Plywood Beams. Plywood Design Specification, Supplement 5. 2015. Print. Erhorn, Hans., & Kluttig, Heike Erhorn. Selected examples of Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings Detailed Report. Energy Performance Buildings, 2014. Hayles, Carolyn S. Environmentally sustainable interior design: A snapshot of current supply of and demand for green, sustainable or Fair Trade products for interior 2015. Industrial Energy Efficiency. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1993. Print. Lyndon Goode. The Royal Court Theater: Culture and Arts. 2014. Retrieved from: http://www.lyndongoode.com/royal-court-theatre.html Sustainable Interior Design. Green Hoteleir. 2011. Retrieved from: http://www.greenhotelier.org/our-themes/sustainable-interior-design/ The Royal Court Theater 2013/14 Report. Creative Industry Green Cultural Buildings: 3 Star. Creative Industry Green Venue Report, 1-22. 2014. Print. Whole Building Design Guide. Federal Green Construction Guide for Specifiers, 06 20 00 (06200) – 7, 2010. Read More