TEACHER – CHAPTER 4: “REFURBISHMENT”

LESSON OVERVIEW AND AIMS, FOR CHAPTER 4 – “REFURBISHMENT”

MORE DETAILED INFO CAN BE FOUND IN THE DOWNLOAD BELOW:

Aims

To allow students to appreciate the remarkable characteristics of a historic building.

To allow students to gain experience with an authentic, large-scale construction project.

To challenge students to work in larger teams.

Lesson overview

Battersea Power Station is a gigantic monument, and represents a piece of history that is worthy of preservation. The building is iconic and serves as a landmark for the city, for which reason it is a listed building. The preservation order applies specifically to the four distinctive chimneys at each corner of the building, which may not be demolished. Apart from these, the groups may freely decide which new features they will give the building.

As input for this challenge, it can be an advantage to break the task down into several possible tracks.

This may be structured by considering the basis of the following functions:

Live: Install residences.

Work: Give companies office facilities.

Play: Transform into an interactive, entertaining and playful environment.

Shop: Equip with shops and shopping facilities.

Eat: Equip with restaurants and cafes.

Stay: Create accommodation possibilities.

This division is taken from the current redevelopment project, which creates a mixture of all six possibilities. The groups can draw inspiration from this and plan their project with emphasis on specific functions.

The construction planning may be based on the following questions:

What functions does our group wish to emphasise when we redevelop the building?

Which parts of the existing structure are suitable for the various tracks?

Which parts of the structure should be demolished / preserved?

Which group members will take responsibility for the various phases?

The project undergoes five different phases:

Design and planning (off game)

Demolition

Basic structure

Facades /exterior

Detailing / interior