Exploring vacancy
The first step to understanding the site is to visit the site for a site survey. Upon the entrance to the site, I was in awe at the decay that has accumulated on the walls and the floors as the years went by. My initial thoughts were that I must preserve these moments of decays as signs of the history of the Sunshine Cafe. I have also noticed that some parts of the site have been replaced, such as the windows looked brand new and clean, and the hand railings have been replaced with a wooden material, which might have been replaced when the Sunshine Cafe was open. The site survey has provided us with numerical data that allowed me to produce a coherent set of drawings that can help me understand the physical aspects of the site and the immediate context around it.
Models have also been created to showcase the properties of the site and its context around it. These models include a site model and a sectional model of the site.
Disclaimer - The drawings are fully scaled at A1 size.
Old maps of Margate and Sunshine Cafe
Physical drawings
(SCALE 1:100 IN A1). The plan shows the ground floor of the Sunshine cafe. For a better view, click the link below.
(SCALE 1:100 IN A1). The plan shows the ground floor that leads to the Sunshine Cafe For a better view, click the link below.
(SCALE 1:100 IN A1). With the notation style drawing, I have aimed to visualize what the Sunshine Cafe would operate like when it was a diner decades ago in a plan view. I have aimed to capture different incidents that may have occurred during the moments back then. For a better view, click the link below.
(SCALE 1:50 IN A1). With the notation style drawing, I have aimed to visualize what the Sunshine Cafe is currently like now in plan view. The current events are based on the site survey and the incidents that may have occurred during those moments. For a better view, click the link below.
(SCALE 1:200 IN A1). With the architectural style drawing, I have aimed to include much of the immediate context to showcase what the Sunshine Cafe's surroundings are like. Furthermore, I have zoomed into parts of the building to showcase the qualities of the building and its materials. For a better view, click the link below.
(SCALE 1:200 IN A1). With the architectural style drawing, I have aimed to include the Margate beach into the side elevation. For a better view, click the link below.
(SCALE 1:200 IN A1). With the architectural style drawing, I have aimed to include the Margate beach into the side elevation. For a better view, click the link below.
(SCALE 1:50 IN A1). With the architectural style drawing, I have aimed to visualize what the Sunshine Cafe is like decades ago. I aimed to zoom into to the different qualities of the site to showcase its materiality. For a better view, click the link below.
(SCALE 1:50 IN A1). With the architectural style drawing, I have aimed to visualize what the Sunshine Cafe is currently like now. I aimed to zoom into to the different qualities of the site to showcase its materiality. For a better view, click the link below.
Photographs and models
(SCALE 1:100 IN A1). The photographic survey shows the images that have been captured from the site during the site survey. For a better view, click the link below.
(SCALE 1:100 IN A1). The photographic survey shows the images that have been captured from the site during the site survey. For a better view, click the link below.
A 1:50 section model has been made out of MDF and laser plywood and finished off with paint that imitated the decay of the site.
(SCALE 1:100 IN A1). The photographic survey shows the images that have been captured from the site during the site survey. For a better view, click the link below.
Context drawings
The environmental context shows the suns rotation in the Sunshine Cafe's immediate context.
The environmental context shows the different climate conditions in the Sunshine Cafe's immediate context.
The immediate context offers various activities that are around the Sunshine Cafe which may inform what program I want to offer in my own design. For a better view, click the link below.
The environmental context shows the suns rotation in the Sunshine Cafe's immediate context. The infrastructure context shows the difference between pedestrian and vehicle roads and how often they get busy during different times of the day.
The ephemeral context measures the engagement of the different parts of Margate during different seasons. In conclusion, Dreamland is closed during Autumn and Winter for maintenance and Margate beach is rarely used during Autumn and Winter due to the colder temperatures being introduced. This will be taken in to consideration when designing the program for the Sunshine cafe.