James Primmer

architecture Portfolio

*This abridged portfolio exhibits the progression of a single project. Additional projects and work available upon request.

West elevation South elevation North elevationEast elevation

literary & PhilosoPhical society

Durham Site: Drury LaneCultural Heritage

The Literary & Philosophical Society is the largest independentlibrary outside London, housing over 150,000 current and historical texts, with the collection covering every field of interest.

From its outset, The Society was enterprising, inquisitive and liberalin nature: the first female members were admitted in 1804 and the society has trialled a number of ground-breaking technologies, start-ing with George Stephenson’s “Miners Safety Lamp” in 1815.

The Young Lit & Phil will be a specialist library. While maintaining the social focus of the original Lit & Phil, the new building will capture the cultural heritage of Durham.

Community groups from across the region will be encouraged to use the Young Lit & Phil as a learning resource. It will re-establish the act of thinking as well as the pursuit and exchange of knowledge as a rewarding pastime and as a social experience.Considerations: - topography - the levels of the site informed the initial response

- accessibility - specific routes through the site were a result of limited access

- conservation - integrating light wells around the existing trees (influences from Louis Kahn) and a complex pile foundation allows all trees to be preserved

- culture - materiality, atmospheres and organisation was informed by the traditional culture of the site and the original Lit & Phil

elevations

site Plan

PersPectives

Entrance to The Young Lit & Phil Debating/Performance Area

Atrium Circulation Space Flexible Space

Staff room 8Lobby, meeting area & reception 9

Lift to all floors 10Male, female & disabled toilets 11

Stairs to -1 floor 12Integrated light wells around trees 13

Cafe, store & cleaning area 14Social seating 15Group seating 16

Stairs to debating area 17 Social seating & viewing terrace 18

Plant room 19Archive 20

Lift to all floors 21Catalogue search 22

Philosophy social shelving 23Stairs to ground floor 24

Meeting area 25Integrated light wells around trees 26

Study area 27Politics integrated shelving 28

Economics integrating shelving 29Flexible storage space 30

Study, hire, exhibition, flexible space 31

Disabled access to roof 1Lift to all floors 2

Debating/performance space 3Trees integrated into study area 4

Social seating on rooftop 5Stairs to ground floor 6

Social seating and viewing terrace 7

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PlansRoof plan

Ground floor plan

Basement floor plan

isometric technical section

- 36 sqm

- 60 sqm

- 60 sqm

- 56sqm

- 100sqm

- 60 sqm

technical Detail

WALL 1 - 225mm Retaining block-work wall 2 - Damp Proof Course 3 - 50mm Kingspan rigid insulation 4 - 15mm Gyproc acoustic wallboard 5 - 10mm Oak skirting-boardFLOOR 6 - 10mm carpet finish 7 - 25mm acoustic underlay 8 - 45mm underfloor waterpipe heating 9 - Vapour control layer 10 - 18mm plywood boarding 11 - Cavity within joists for wiring and services 12 - 150mm mineral wool insulation 13 - Damp proof membrane 14 - 18mm plywood boarding underside of joistsFOUNDATION 15 - 225 x 400mm concrete groundbeam reinforced with 12mm dia rods and A142 steel mesh 16 - Specified concrete piles to be cast insitu with reinforced A142 cage and integrated geothermal piping for ground heat exchange

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Both axonometrics show the construction of the standard components used throughout the building. The use of double timbers with noggins allows for integrated services to be fitted into the void within the beams or columns. This significantly reduces waste as any lengths cut producing excess from the standard ‘off the shelf’ lengths can be reused to create the noggins to build the finished members.

structural strategy

founDation Detail