LEEDS METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY                      Ver 1 
FACULTY OF ARTS ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIETY 
BA (HONS) ARCHITECTURE           YEAR 2 2010/11 
MODULE TITLE:             Design and the Community 
MODULE REF  :             AD 3.2 (double module)  
PROGRAMME:              HOLBECK REGENERATION 

UNIT: Urban Studio

Project 2 – Intervention Strategy _Holbeck Viaduct

Brief
• Create a masterplan for the Holbeck viaduct, transforming it into a dynamic route through Holbeck.

Brief Considerations

• In groups of no more than four within BA3, you are asked to work in groups initially, and then work
as an individual towards a group presentation.
• Walk along the length of the viaduct from below, record the route in photos, drawings, sketches
and sound recordings etc.
• Note the start and end points of the viaduct .
• Where do you propose the viaduct could lead from and to? (Elland Rd Football Stadium/
Manchester / Hull / London etc) – This does not need to be restricted to Holbeck.
• Research the history of the viaduct, using historical maps and pictures. Why was the viaduct built,
when, and who built it?

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 • As a group, design an overall masterplan strategy that enhances and reinvents the redundant
viaduct.
• The masterplan is not restricted solely to the viaduct – we want you to look at connections from and
to the viaduct, and it’s surrounding environs.
• You may wish to develop a ‘theme’ for the group design strategy – this could be sustainability /
safety / lighting / movement / heritage etc on the basis of research undertaken on the viaduct and
on Holbeck.
• Select one of the interventions identified by the masterplan and develop it individually.
• Develop as an individual one of the proposed interventions on / below / alongside the viaduct as
part of the masterplan – with the aim to improve the route to Holbeck from the City.
• This could be achieved by a number of means – sculptural / art / historical / heritage / space
changing / video / lighting interventions etc.
• The intervention(s) should relate to the group masterplan and not be a series of independent,
isolated areas along your route.
• Think about who may use the route and how you have addressed questions over health and
safety.
• Consider where the intervention could interface with the ground level, with a view to siting your
main design project.
• Consider access along / through the viaduct – stairs – lifts – wheelchair access – threshold
spaces.
• For those who have already created a masterplan in semester one of Urban Studio, use this
project to reinforce and inform the original masterplan. You may wish to alter the original
masterplan from semester one on the basis of new research.

Output

A PowerPoint presentation in groups that must contain the following:

Group Introduction
1. Title slide naming group and individual members
2. History of Holbeck – Statistics – Employment / Health / Education / Deprivation / Services. Relationship of
Holbeck to Leeds City.
3. History of Viaduct – Historical maps – Photos/ Current sections/ Current plan / Materiality
4. Strategy Development – What is your idea / masterplan? What is the link / theme and how have you
developed it in your group? – Models, development sketches, research, photos.

Individual Presentation (Sections 5-8 to be repeated to include individual slides of all students in group)
5. Individual Section Strategy - An introduction to your section (site plan) and your strategy
6. Comparison – Plan and Section indicating the existing viaduct and your proposal in context.
7. Proposal – Plan / Section / Model / Montage photos / Descriptive Text (Min 2 sheets)
8. Technology Proposal – How does your intervention work in terms of details, material and structure.

Group Conclusion
9. Summary sheet showing all projects in context with the viaduct.

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Date
Thursday 24th February 2011 - 10am
• Submit Group PowerPoint Presentation with individual slides in the format above to the architecture
studio at 10am. Presentations begin at 10.30. Submissions after 10.30 will not be accepted.
• As a group you are asked to talk through slides 1-4 & 9
• You are asked to individually talk through your slides (5-8)
• You will have no more than a minute to talk through each slide (preferably less)

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