Define
Signalling Change
How might we tap into the potential of train stations so they become spaces that amplify and influence positive behaviours?
We want to see innovative ideas that rethink the role of transport hubs beyond providing transit services and moving to a broader consideration of the resilient, regenerative role stations and the rail network may play. Think about how the role of stations can become more integrated with and responsive to each place. Are there identifiable and significant gaps between what stations do now and what they need to be doing to meet our future needs? How could a campaign highlight this and suggest new uses or functionalities? Think about value and the wider system. How could your proposal communicate the value that stations provide to the wider system in our transition to a new future? What changes must be part of that?
I will aim to create sketches of a redesigned Llanelli station to promote green spaces, a sense of community and to make the area a nice place to be.
Planning
Mind map
At the beginning of the semester, we were placed in teams to come up with ideas for different briefs. At that time, I was planning on completing brief 5 'Amplify Connections - How might we amplify the potential of entertainment technology to connect people with one another from the comfort and safety of home?'. I then decided to switch to brief 3 'Signalling Change' as I thought it was a better challenge for me. I then later created my own map focusing on brief 3, after speaking with others who were doing the same.
Hierarchy of Needs
After learning about the Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs for society, I applied it to this project to gain an understanding about what are the basic necessities a train station should offer and then what aspects may improve upon those basic needs. I came up with a very simple but clear idea of what is needs, such as lighting, tracks and workers, working up towards facilities such as cafes, shops and tourist Information booths. Some other features that could be useful to include in the car park and outside of the station within the green areas are charging stations. As electric cars become more popular, travellers will want a place to leave their car all day and will want to possibly charge it. Adding charging stations now will be very beneficial for the future. The same could be said for personal devices such as mobile phones and laptops. Implementing public charge points within the designs will future proof and will make travellers very happy.
Gantt chart
At the beginning of this project, I created a Gantt chart on Google Drive as an outline for the basic tasks that I needed to complete along with a timeline as. rough guide. I then later used Monday.com as a more in depth project manager with an accurate Gantt chart. This means I am able to mark when a project has been completed and if I am on track. I can also add notes and files to each task so I can organise my work clearly and have back ups of important files. Another good thing about Monday.com is that it has an automatic and live Gantt chart feature so I can see how I am progressing and how much time I have left for the project before submission, while also knowing what tasks are still left to be done. Along with a Gantt chart, I have used a kanban to view my task progress by category of completion and how many of each category, if I have made any notes on tasks and I would be able to see who else would be working on the task if it was a group project.
Research
Stations
Train stations have been a vital part of public and industrial transport since their creation in 1807, in which the carriages were horse drawn (Link here). The first ever recorded railway station was The Mount on the Oystermouth Railway, Swansea, Wales. In 1825, Locomotion No. 1 became the world's first steam locomotive to carry passengers on a public line, the Stockton and Darlington Railway, in North East England (Link here). Over the years, stations have developed with society and technology becoming more modern, while also incorporating older architecture and designs to retain their history. I hope to achieve the same within my designs by adding extensions to the existing buildings, but also updating the surrounding areas to be greener and more community based. Some examples of modern technology being used is contactless ticket machines and pay-as-you-go where contactless payment is accepted and is taken later in the day, such as on the London Underground. Making travelling quicker and more seamless for the daily commuter.
https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/designing-for-typologies/a5908-10-things-to-remember-when-designing-railway-station/
Biophilic Design & Green Spaces
Biophilic design is being used more within architecture to allow nature back into spaces and buildings. Including these aspects within designs for areas such as office workplaces have been shown to increase productivity, mental health of employees and general wellbeing and happiness. Including this within my station designs, I hope that community will enjoy the space as much more than just a train station and similar to a park with a train line running through the area. I also hope that the wellbeing of the community and residents in the area will improve which will in turn decrease crime in the surrounding area and in the station itself.
https://www.globalrailwayreview.com/article/128140/biophilic-design-placemaking-train-stations/
https://designbuildexpo.com.au/sustainability/biophilic-design-built-new-melbourne-metro-stations/
https://www.treehugger.com/train-stations-unforgettable-architecture-4868932
https://www.fastsigns.co.uk/leeds/about-us/news-press/2021/october/biophilic-design-for-offices-ideas-and-inspirati/
Another design feature that I want to include is a lot of green spaces where people can come and relax and socialise to again get more sense of a community. I plan to also include an art feature wall within and outside the station, where people can collaborate with strangers. This means that local artists can show of their work to the public but there is also a dedicated space for people to graffiti, keeping the rest of the station clean.
Swansea Station
I first looked into redesigning my home town train station - Swansea Station. As Swansea town is currently being updated and renovated, I thought that the station was lacking in innovative and creative redesign. However, as I researched, I found that it recently has been updated to have a longer platform, easier access for disabilities (inside and out) and that a green open area had been built outside where people can meet and sit.
Llanelli Station
After my research into Swansea station, I looked into Llanelli Station. I thought this would be a good station to focus on as it has been run down for a very long time. I also read reports and hear from family and friends who live in the area that the station is very 'rough', 'tired' and it is known as a location where people are able to sell, buy and use drugs. My plan for this RSA project, is to bring a new lease of life to Llanelli station and give it back to the community and Llanelli town. I aim to incorporate biophilic design, green spaces, and more open areas, so that it is more welcoming to the people who live there but also to tourists who are visiting or passing through. I found plans from the Carmarthenshire County Council that planned a redesigned town of Llanelli to incorporate these things, but there was no mention of the station within these plans. I will try to follow to plans that the council have created for the town into my own designs so that the town and the station work well and fit together. By completing these redesigns, the drug misuse will hopefully decrease in the area and there will be a sense of community again.
Network Rail
Netwrok Rail is the sponsor of this project, offering up £1000 for the winner. However, the Network Rail line in Wales does not pass through Llanelli, stopping at cities including Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Wrexham and Shrewsbury (https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/wales/). The most common rail company in Wales is Transport for Wales, who would likely sponsor this project if it were to go forward. However, the two companies may work together to improve the station to improve rail travel and the experience for the customers.
Ideation
Sketches
To create my sketches, I used Procreate on my iPad. I used the photos of Llanelli station and also Google Maps stills, ensuring that my sketches would be accurate and clear while also being able to edit them later on if necessary. This also allowed me to study the design of the current buildings and tracks that I want to design around. Allowing me to create seamless deigns and architecture, while including biophilic design in the new and old designs. Drawing on Procreate was very comfortable for me as I am very practiced at it by drawing in my free time, but this was the first time I had ever drawn/traced a building. So this is something that I had to get comfortable with throughout the project.
Redesign Sketches
To start the resign sketches, I created a floorpan, laying out the original buildings and feature, but then also adding on the new features that will be implemented. By labelling them in the layout, it is clear for the booklet and the viewer. But also while drawing the extensions on the sketches, I was able to keep track of which facilities I had drawn and where. I think the redesigns turned out well
AI Art
One trend on social media as of late has been AI Art. Most people use these to create images of themselves in different worlds or outfits, others use these to create images for wallpapers. I used Stable Diffusion to gain some inspiration for my own designs on biophilic train stations and green spaces. Using AI means that all the drawings or pictures are unique and individual which can be very beneficial for fresh ideas and designs. This was my first time using this software and I found it very interesting, I plan to use it again for future projects as part of my development stage to generate even more ideas and to hopefully improve my own art and designs.
My searches mainly focused around green spaces and train stations trying different key words 'train station', 'green spaces', 'biophilic', 'modern', 'utopian'. I think this worked very well and the AI understood what I wanted to achieve with a few tweaks to the searches. I saved some of the images to take inspiration from.
https://huggingface.co/spaces/stabilityai/stable-diffusion
https://huggingface.co/spaces/fffiloni/stable-diffusion-img2img
Prototype
Final drawings
Due to lack of time management and technical issues, I have only made a few final sketches implementing some features that I wanted to include. The main train station has an extension added onto it made of glass to allow natural sunlight through, cutting down on the amount of energy used to light and warm the place. I have added an inside seating area to the other side of the platform as there is only one there currently, a cafe so people are able to buy food and drinks while waiting for their trains, a feature that is not currently there. I have also added a play area for parents with young children, so they are able to run around and play safely inside and away from the tracks. Being in a separate area also means that they will not be disturbing other commuters. Within the toilets I have also included a baby changing area and breastfeeding area, both facilities currently not offered at the station and allowing mother and baby some privacy to relax and take care of their children.
I also wanted to include a path following the tracks in what is currently unused space behind the side entrance. I thought this would be a great place for a green space with benches and a bike rack so people would be able to leave their bikes outside the station safely, rather than leave them just inside the station which can take up space on the platform and block the entrance. I have also designed a green space outside of the car park which is currently just cobbled and paved pavement. I have also included bike racks here to encourage more people to cycle to the station rather than drive. I would also keep the existing concrete balls as they are a nice feature and can be found at other stations around Wales, such as Swansea station.
I have also designed how the circular plant pots and benches with plants down the centre. I was keen to include as much nature as possible given the proven benefits on community spirit and mental health. I have based the bench design on some benches that are used at Gorseinon bus station, as they are very sleek and modern looking, but offer a lot of seating, but have added the line of plants down the middle.
Conclusion
If I were to complete this project again, I would try to mange my time better to produce better and more final sketches for the final outcome as I am not very happy with the results. I would also like to have modelled my ideas in a software such as Unity or Minecraft. However, I did not have time to learn Unity to a high enough level to create models to create deigns from. I have also never played Minecraft before, but I would like to pursue both of these in the future to gain a better understanding and to implement them during other projects to raise my work standard higher and to be more accurate.
Although, the designs I did create I am happy with and think that they get my idea across clearly and achieve what I wanted. I do believe that if these ideas where to be made real that they would have a real impact on Llanelli town and the surrounding ares, as the town centre has just been redeveloped itself, along with the bus station.
