Constantina Charalambous

2016 | De Montfort University

Master in Architecture, Part 2 | Tutor: Sara Shafiei

Semper eadem– Πάντα ίδιο

Κωνσταντίνα Χαραλάμπους

2016 | De Montfort University

 Διπλωματική εργασία | Επιβλέπουσα: Sara Shafiei

Masterplan, © Constantina Charalambous

Semper Eadem: Always the same Semper Eadem is the personal motto of Queen Elizabeth I which also can be found above her royal coat of arms. It represents equality and identity. Additionally, it is the characteristic phrase of the city of Leicester due to the high diversity of the city and its community.

Old-new: perspective 02, © Constantina Charalambous

INSPIRATION

The concept of the design is inspired by the English Devolution and the power of the locals over their city. Leicester is among the most multicultural cities of England and a public regional assembly is a way for everyone to be part of major decisions. The scheme is stirred by the democracy of Ancient Athens and the participation of the Athenians to the politics of their city.

Old-new: perspective 03, © Constantina Charalambous

LEICESTER MARKET SQUARE

Placed at the site of the Corn Exchange, the building is surrounded by the most vital interaction places of the city; the Leicester marketplace and the town hall. It will create new noticeable links between the town hall square and the marketplace forming a new democratic public square.Markets are considered to be one of the most crucial public spaces among a city. Leicester Market is an important connection point creating unforced interaction for the highly diverse community.

Old-new: perspective 01, © Constantina Charalambous

MARKETPLAN

Markets are considered to be one of the most crucial public spaces among a city. Leicester Market is an important connection point creating unforced interaction for the highly diverse community and an iconic area within the  city . Spaces of public interaction, such as a marketplace, reveal the variety of cultures in a community. Placed at the site of the Corn Exchange, the building is surrounded by the most vital interaction places of the city; the Leicester marketplace and the town hall. It will create new noticeable links between the town hall square and the marketplace forming a new democratic public square.

Exploded isometric, © Constantina Charalambous

DESING

As shown above, noticeable changes have been made to the structures of the Leicester Market throughout the last century.  The structures have a crucial impact on the design of the project. Most noticeable is the link of the roof structure between the project and the 1970s design. Major and minor references reflect the evolution of the market’s design onto the design of the regional public assembly.

The local public spaces form the quality of life in a community while it benefits the function of the city. It is crucial factor which brings all the citizens of the city together. The building has an archive and a library, presentation rooms, meeting rooms, and a debate Chamber, which is the most vital space within the scheme which is placed at the back of the building, and is part of the public plaza.

Plan, © Constantina Charalambous

Public Regional Assembly

A civic center is a monumental building in either the topographical or the commercial core of a city. More commonly they represent the jewel of the area, and enhance the local, regional and national character of the community.  The position of the public regional assembly should reflect both, the everyday life of the citizen but also the everyday life through the building. The project investigates the civic center, or more specifically the public regional assembly as a crucial public element within the community and the relationship with the urban development of the city of Leicester. Important buildings with the same political character influence many cities, but most of all, the cities themselves influenced their political buildings.

Elevation in perspective, © Constantina Charalambous

Debate Chamber

An open-air debate chamber at the back of the building in the public plaza complements the design. Democracy was based on the act of debate since the golden age in Athens. Using this form of communication local democracy also becomes direct democracy. It is an opportunity for the citizens to share their thoughts and their concerns with the rest of their community.

The entire building in front reacts as a big stage of interaction. The theatricality of this act shows the theatricality in politics and how it can be a reflection of our everyday life. A new contemporary ancient agora can be formed as it can show a variety of public gathering spaces in a neighborhood and a regeneration of the city center.

Section 02, © Constantina Charalambouss

Local Democracy

The project is aiming to support a new form of Democracy through the Devolution of England as an attempt to decentralize its power. The main focus of the inspiration is to embrace the local communities in the government and how people can be more educated about the political conditions of their polis.

The public regional assembly is an intermediate level to link the citizens of Leicester with the town hall with a more democratic result.  As a result the project is going to be a chance of educating the public for the politics of their city, in order to  make a more unified political  system.

Section 01, © Constantina Charalambous

photograph, © Constantina Charalambous