THE SITE
Huntley Street site is located in the center of Union street in Aberdeen city.

Within the site there are two historically noticeable buildings: the Music Hall and St Mary of the Assumption, which contribute to enrich the value of the site but sets some constraints.

There is also a three story building which has no aesthetic connection to the surroundings and the space on the back of the market looks as an uncomfortable leftover.

DESIGN APPROACH

The main aim is to maintain and improve the continuity of the facade, services and shops on Union Street to encourage the flow of people on the street, by creating an attractive place and facilities.

The courtyard block seems to be the more suitable typology to install since gives an edge not only to Union Street but also to Huntly Street.

The building has to follow the aesthetic rules of the existing ones and must not diminish the two historical ones.

We consider to build two main buildings, one will be a 4* hotel for visitors, since the site is really close to the railway station and presents good connections, and housing for families.

The ground floor of the site will be entirely occupied by a market and shops, while on the first level buildings will create an inner court where restaurant and cafes will be facing an open air square.

The buildings looking on Union Street and Hunly Street will be residential.

The access to apartments is through cores, which, where possible, are transparent.

Cores are linked together with decks looking on the inner square, which give the access to apartments.

The typology of apartments varies to gain flexibility and a variety of residents.

This lets to have an environment safer and watched due to the continuous presence of people which having different needs uses the space in different ways and at different times during the day.

Apartments have different dimensions and the douplex is introduced.

In fact, this apartments give a great flexibility since one day, having personal accesses, could be divided into two flats.

THE FAÇADE
Union Street facade is the facade of the complex which links it to the city.

To keep a continuity with surroundings, the height and lines of the closest buildings where followed.

The main direction is horizontal but the window layout underlines the verticality typical of the street.

On the ground floor there is a covered passage where people can walk and where shops overlook.

Furthermore, a glass cover is added on the facade to underline the change of level between the first

and the second level, to give shading also outside on the pavement.

There are three balconies set back and on the last level some of the windows are stretched touching the sky.

The facade is linked to the Music Hall with a plane wall to ease the link.

Huntly Street facade mediates between the unusual pattern of the hotel facade and Union Street facade with is more regular and typical.

As Union Street facade on the first level there is a covered passage with shops.

The first and the third level are on the same street line as St Mary Cathedral, while the second projects out on the street giving extra shelter.

All around the building on the third level there are balconies, specially looking on the church and the green area next to it.

The rear facade looking on the Cathedral is facing north, since this big windows were placed.

On the first level there are no walls to keep a view connection between the upper square, the new green area on the ground and the cathedral.

To the left there is the stair access which links the two squares, and a bridge link on the first level

between the upper square and the hotel reception to give accessibility from the hotel to

the restaurant, (to the right) which is part of the hotel, through a passage covered by the bridge building.

THE HOTEL
The hotel facade has an unusual pattern, which has a regularity andfollows strict rules.

The position of the double height conference room is clearly traceable from the facade layout, where the double height narrow windows are like cracks inside the concrete.

Under the bridge building the space is completely free of columns and the access core to the building is glased.

Restaurants and shops are looking on the upper square, where people can have a seat on benches.

The facades looking on the inner square are timber cladded to give warmness to the environment.

Furthermore, on the ground floor there is a market which takes light from the ceiling.

The hotel facade has an unususal pattern, which has a regualrity and follows strict rules.

The position of the double height conference room is clearly traceable from the facade layout, where the double height narrow windows are like cracks inside the concrete.

Under the bridge building the space is completely free of columns and the access core to the building is glased.

Restaurants and shops are looking on the upper square, where people can have a seat on benches.

The facades looking on the inner square are timber cladded to give warmness to the environment.

Furthermore, on the ground floor there is a market which takes light from the ceiling.

THE INNER SQUARES

The three garden-squares are coinceived as places where people can act in different way

and as warm and nice environment, there they can feel at ease, as nests.

The eastern one is totally closed around its edges and the Music Hall café is extended outside into a place that is half closed with a glas structure.

The second square is raised and it is on the market roof.

On the ground there are holes to let the natural light goes into the market.

This place has areas where to sit and rest recognizable by the timber floor, and areas to move around the edges where restauran and shops are facing.

The third one is meant to be a place for moving and connects Huntly street to the raised square and to Crimon Place.

To make the environment safer specially at night lights are placed in the ground.

Planivolumetrico

Masterplan

Piante e sezioni

Plans and secions

Concept dell'area pedonale

Conceiving the squares

Appartamento tipo e sezione tecnologica

Apartment unit and technological detail

Vista prospettica

Perspective view

Dettaglio hotel reception

Hotel hall detail