T H E A F A N V A L L E Y H U B
This project is based in the former mining communities of the Afan Valley in South Wales. It proposes a new centre for life and work in the Afan Valley that aims to celebrate the local history and landscape while providing a sustainable framework for life in the valley.
THE LOST HISTORY OF THE SITE
The project was centred on the small village of Pontrhydyfen. Pontrhydyfen has virtually no relics of it’s industrial past remaining apart from an aqueduct and viaduct, although these are impressive landmarks their history and purpose is left largely unexplained. This initial stage of the project looked to uncover all the ways that the industry carved into the landscape. Some of this infrastructure is still represented through scars in the landscape, such as the railways, however much of it has been lost and although this history is so important to the community it risks loosing all traces of it.
FRAMED MOMENTS
Many welsh mining villages have quite a harsh distinction between the urban and the natural environment, but it is also important to note that throughout the village there are moments where this distinction is broken down. The buildings perfectly frame a snapshot of the landscape which directs your focus out into the wider landscape.
BEACONS IN THE LANDSCAPE
Inspired by the Norway Tourist Trail this proposal will involve a series of beacons throughout the valley in addition to the main hub. These beacons will signify to moments of history that have been lost, provide a practical need for the community or simply act as a destination to draw visitors and locals off of their normal routes. The intention is that this collection of beacons will change and grow over time as the identity of the villages develops. There is a continuity in the materials of the beacons which creates a ‘trail’ to draw people through the valley, better connecting the villages to each other opposed to focusing on connections out of the valley.
CONNECTIONS THROUGH THE VALLEY
These beacons create a network of small destinations scattered across the Afan Valley. The beacons are inspired by moments in the local history which encourages people to explore the valley and further their understanding of local history. The village of Pontrhydyfen then acts as the epicentre of this network of beacons.
THE HUB OF THE VALLEY
The 'epicentre' in Pontrhydyfen then houses the main hub space. The hub includes the main central beacon which is surrounded by the visitors centre, workspace building and live/work housing. The idea was to make changes to the pattern of life and work of local people. Bringing them back together through the return of collective working as well as increasing local people's connections to the landscape and each other.
THE IRONWORKS
The Oakwood Ironworks is perhaps the most key piece of the lost history locally. All the various buildings of the Ironworks would have served different functions, and yet, as the arrangement indicates, they all feed into the operation of the central blast furnace.
Inspired by this arrangement and hierarchy of space the Afan Valley Hub will have a large central beacon which takes it’s form from that of an original stone blast furnace. Each of the functions of the hub , Collective Workspace, Live/Work Housing and Community/Visitors Centre will be allocated a separate ‘building’. The arrangement of these buildings forms a public courtyard style space with the beacon at the centre. This provides each of the buildings with a uniting outlook of the beacon whilst minimising the overlooking views between them. All of the buildings work with a variation of a very simple pitched roof form with the materials indicating the change in function.
LIVING ON SITE
The Central Beacon provides a focal point at ground floor level and reduces the exposure of the housing. The planting around the central beacon creates a soft barrier between the live/work housing and the public courtyard, still allowing access whilst creating a clear distinction. There are opportunities for residents to interact with visitors in this main courtyard as well as their access to all the facilities in the Visitors Centre and Collective Workspace.
WORKING ON SITE
The workshop spaces echo the materiality of the main Workspace building. Individual units at ground floor level spill out into the courtyard area. Depending on the resident different levels of interaction with the public are possible. Potentially as a natural progression of the progress of the ‘Hub’ individual teaching could take place within these workshop spaces for the public run directly by the artists.
VISITING ON SITE
At the reception area, there is a direct framed view through the whole building from which you can potentially see the ‘ toilet’ beacon in the woods. This also gives a ‘teaser’ of the activities happening within the building looking to draw visitors to interact with more of the facilities.
THE MULTI - PURPOSE SPACE
The main space within the Visitors Centre is a large multi-purpose space. Day to day this space can house a small gallery/ exhibition space that showcases the work of artists and makers who either work on site or in the local area. In addition to this the space can hold community events for gatherings of local groups such or activities such as yoga / dance classes. Their is also potential for visitors to have access to these events depending on the circumstances.
