time | movement | space maselli... · of movement and time. while the act of bathing had hygienic...
TRANSCRIPT
time | movement | space
diandra maselli |25.09.09
public space map
When observing the Nordelec and the surrounding area of Point St.Charles, one can see that the public spac-
es are sparsly distributed and undesirable to the nearby residents. The public areas adjacent to the canal
benefit from continuous pedestrian and cyclist traffic. These active areas are more welcoming to the commu-
nity, in comparison to the parks further south, which are desolate and unfrequented. Many of the parks high-
lighted on the map have been abandoned and have become places for misdemeanors and public mischief.
Due to the industrial characteristics of the area, it still lacks pedestrian friendly amenities such as continuous
sidewalks and sufficient cross walks, especially along St.Patrick street. The Nordelec building, which pres-
ently sits on its own city block, offers an enormous potential and opportunity to re-integrate public space into
the community.
public space
400 m 200 m600 m800 m1 km
LE NORDELEC
scale 1:5000
N
site section analysis
The North-South section through the Nordelec is a good indication of the massive scale of the complex and
its relation to the neighboring buildings. In the area adjacent to the canal, there are many other industrial
buildings which have been transformed into residential lofts or commercial spaces, such as the old Redpath
sugar refinery and the Belding Corticelli silk factory. Prior to the construction of the Northern Electric factory,
Priest’s Basin extended into the site and supplied the surrounding industries with access to the water. While
the water has long been drained from the site, its former presence is quite significant in history. The water
essentially fed all of the surrounding industries and created an interdependence among companies, forming
one of the most diversified industrial sectors in Montreal.
RESIDENTIAL
INDUSTRIAL
RESIDENTIAL
COMMERCIAL
COMMERCIAL
Priest basin 1848
0 5 10 20m
Lachine Canal 2009
Caldarium
0 5 10 20 m
Central hallTepidarium
FrigidariumMarble court
Palestra
section AA
Roman bath complex at Sardis
The bath-gymnasium complex at Sardis, located in Turkey, was used for approximately 500 years by the Ro-
mans . The complex is a prime example of the ancient bath house spaces, that were designed as a function
of movement and time. While the act of bathing had hygienic and ritualistic purposes, it was mainly a public
space which encouraged social interaction and was open to everyone, from the very rich emperors to the
poor.
Moving along the East-West axis, one would pass through many different rooms, varying greatly in tempera-
ture and size. There was a great appreciation for transitional spaces such as the Tepidarium which was situ-
ated inbetween the cold Frigidarium and the very hot Caldarium. There was also an emphasis put on greater
ceiling heights for rooms that were meant for social gathering spaces and relaxation. The Roman baths were
places where movement through the complex was encouraged and time was forgotten.
Caldarium
0 5 10 20 m
Central hallTepidarium
FrigidariumMarble court
Palestra
section AA
LEVEL 7radio broadcast &
engineering
LEVEL 6waterproofing
LEVEL 5switchboard room
LEVEL 4rubber insulating
LEVEL 4rubber insulating & lunch room
LEVEL 5melting & plating
LEVEL 6waterproofing & insulating
LEVEL 7braiding, insulating,magnet
& switchboard
LEVEL 3paper insulating
LEVEL 2wire stranding
LEVEL 1rubber mill
LEVEL 3paper stranding &
cafeteria
LEVEL 2container storage
LEVEL 1drying oven & paper cable
LEVEL 1testing &shipping
LEVEL 1wire drawing
LEVEL 1wire drawing
LEVEL 2storage of finishing
LEVEL 2storage of finishing
LEVEL 3wood, metal patterns, & machine
shop & tool room
LEVEL 4rubber insulating
LEVEL 2packing & storage
rubber wire
LEVEL 3storage & repairing cable reels
& lunch room
LEVEL 4rubber insulating
LEVEL 8offices
LEVEL 8offices
0 5 10 20 m
public space
section BB
Northern Electric building in 1940
The Northern Electric building, constructed in 1913, was designed to produce cable, wiring and electric
switch gear. As seen in the section below the building was organized in such a way to facilitate production
and to increase efficiency. The complex was organized in a horizontal manner to accommodate the fabrica-
tion of very long wire and cable. Northern Electric functioned like a giant machine and appears in section like
five separate buildings. There was one of every function in each building, including lunch rooms which were
the only social gathering spaces. Unlike the Roman baths, movement was limited to repetitive motion and
time was of the essence.
0 5 10 20 m
1. PALESTRA
2. MARBLE COURT
3. ENTRANCE HALL
4. APODYTERIA (changing room/lounge)
5. CORRIDOR 6. FRIGIDARIUM
7. MEETING HALL (unheated)
8. CENTRAL HALL
9. TEPIDARIUM
10. CALDARIUM
11. FORECOURT OF SYNAGOGUE
12. SYNAGOGUE MAIN HALL
13. LONG HALL
1 2
3
4
5
6
7
7
8 9 10
11
13 13 13
12
10
105
4 4
4
4
4
4 4
3
A A
social gathering space
transitory movement
Roman bath complex at Sardis
0 5 10 20 m
B
B
social gathering space
work space
movement of goods
movement of people
main floor plan
2nd floor plan
Nordelec building
A A
0 5 10 20 m
social gathering space
transitory movement
location of baths
Movement through the Roman bath complex at Sardis
0 5 10 20 B
B
location of priest basin in 1848
location of old boiler room where water was heated
social gathering space
work space
movement of goods
movement of people
main floor plan
2nd floor plan
Movement through the Nordelec building
When asked by a foreigner why he bathed once a day, a Roman emperor is said to have replied, “Because I do not have the time to bathe twice a day.“
Ancient Roman bath culture
At one point in time, Northern Electric had its own in-house photography department that publicized photos that advertised efficiency and good working conditions.
male activities....
female activities....
Northern Electric production activities
site analysis
The connection of the Lachine Canal to that of the Nordelec building is something that should be exploited
and addressed in the redevelopment of the building. The water, as a symbolic link in the community, should
extend into the building, tying the Nordelec permanently into the surrounding landscape.
The St.Patrick facade of the building needs to be opened up and to become the main point of arrival to the
Nordelec. Learning from the Roman baths, circulation should be organized around nodes which offer places
to gather and interact socially. Multiple links in the diverse program spaces need to be made, in order for the
building to function as one entity rather than five separate buildings.
Lachine Canal
Priest’s Basin
vertical circulation grouped around gathering spaces
memory of Priest’s Basin- linking the building and the
community through water
establishing St.Patrick street as the main point of arrival
re-establishing a symbolic link to the Lachine canal
introducing nodes of social space within
circulation paths
