NTU Architecture Subject Group

CASTELLUM

Encapsulated by the trees of the Green’s Windmill hill in Steinton, Castellum is assembled in a contemporary formation of a fortress which provides refuge for its visitors whilst offering the prospectivity over the framed view of southern area of Nottingham.

The primal sense of shelter is consecutively stimulated throughout the architecture through phenomenological interplay between refuge this dwelling provides and the threatening outside occurrences, as emphasised through my context thesis.

Based on Roman philosophy, successful dwelling contains the manifestation of four natural elements. Each wing of the building identifies a specific element as its conceptual basis.
FIRE
Embodied in the form of the Bar area. Fire’s ever moving nature and transformation of matter is translated into change of form and materials. Additionally, the notion of warmth is tackled as a gradual enclosure into the building.
WATER
Embodied in the form of the Pool area. Alongside applying the obvious physical matter of this element, its conception is exhibited through the movement, flow and curvature of circulation throughout the project’s spaces.
AIR
Embodied in the form of the Private Suites. This northern part of the site is driven by the heavy focus on the framed vista of Nottingham alongside the intuitive link with the windmill itself.
EARTH
Embodied in the form of the Entrance. It acts as a transition - blurring the line between the terrain and architecture on the site. The passage serves as a doorway for the landscape impending from the outside, which then crawls through the whole complex of Castellum. The combination of these notional ideas form Castellum. From its landscaping and architectural arrangement, all over to its detailing in the form of my designed Textile Block (inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright), I am enabling the user to subconsciously feel, live and breathe the concept of the whole project.

Borna Cvrtila
Student name
Borna Cvrtila
Course
BArch Architecture
Contact
LinkedIn
@borna-cvrtila

BArch Architecture

The BArch (Hons) in Architecture course is focused on the creative and practical development of architectural design, investigated in a studio environment through a series of carefully considered practical and theoretical projects in a variety of spatial, social, cultural and topographical situations.

The purpose of the course is to align architectural concepts, thinking, techniques and values with current architectural thought and practice. It involves strategic thinking and creative imagination; problem-solving and research tasks; attention to detail and tectonic resolution; traditional and digital forms of representation; and public presentations and reviews. This course addresses the challenges of designing for diverse communities and cultures and develops Part 1 graduates with creative vision, practical skills and an ethical position in respect of the role of the architect in a globalised world.

Read more about the BArch Architecture course

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