THE SEAWEED PAVILION AND MARYLEBONE HALLS REFURBISHMENT

by Suha Faisal Valiyavettil

The seaweed pavilion, second façade addition and the consecutive redesign of student halls respond favorably to the microclimate of Paddington street gardens in Marylebone. The pavilion harvests and cleans water through a bioremediating algae wall while stimulating current and future ocean temperatures by controlling the sunlight exposure and heat intensity received through thermal properties of seaweed material and its colors and increased metabolic activity in an attempt to educate children about the concerning increase in ocean temperatures due to carbon footprint. The existing Marylebone halls propose poorly ventilated, clustered rooms that are prone to glare and overheating. The double façade designed after close deliberation of 2050 climatic conditions has manually rotating terracotta tiles (placed according to solar radiation). The in-between space advertises season friendly gardening areas and cloth drying rails along with private and communal elements Redesigning the halls was structured around providing struggling young adults with a healing environment through colors, textures, smell, community and nature. The design attempts to be net-zero through passive heating and ventilating strategies and a heat recovery ventilation system powered by exhaust gases of existing machines. The design also pushed minimalist living to declutter the limited space.